THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY : : fl^<>- CHAMPAIGTJNTY, ILL,, CONTAINING Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, TOGETHER WITH PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS, AND OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. fr- CHICAGO: CHAPMAN BBOTHEES, 1887. P E HAVE completed our labors in writing and compiling the PORTRAIT AND Bio- iGRAPHiCAL ALBUM of this county, and wish, in presenting it to our patrons, to speak briefly of the importance of local works of this nature. It is certainly the duty of the present to commemorate the past, to perpetuate the names of the pioneers, to furnish a record of their early settlement, and to relate the story of their progress. The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age, and this solemn duty which men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity, demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In local 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 region from its primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the noble men, who in their vigor and prime came early to the county and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their graves. The number remaining who can relate the history of the first days of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preservation of his- torical matter without delay, before the settlers of the wilderness are cut down by time. Not only is it of the greatest importance to render history of pioneer times full and accurate, but it is also essen- tial that the history of the county, from its settlement to the present day, should be treated through its various phases, so that a record, complete and impartial, may be handed down to the future. The present the age of progress, is reviewed, standing out in bold relief over the quiet, unostentatious olden times; it is a brilliant record, which is destined to live in the future; the good works of men, their magnificent enterprises, theii lives, whether commercial or military, do not sink into oblivion, but, on the contrary, grow brighter with age, and contribute to build up a record which carries with it precedents and principles that will l.e advanced and observed when the acts of soulless men will be forgotten and their very names hidden in obscurity. In the preparation of the personal sketches contained in this volume, unusual care and pains were taken to have them accurate, even in the smallest detail. Indeed, nothing was passed lightly over or treated indifferently ; and we flatter ourselves that it is one of the most accurate works of its nature ever published. As one of the most interesting features of this work, we present the portraits of numerous represent- ative citizens. It has been our aim to have the prominent men of to-day, as well as the pioneers, represented in this department; and we congratulate ourselves on the uniformly high character of the gentlemen whose portraits we present. They are in the strictest sense representative men, and are selected from all the call- ings and professions worthy to be given. There are others, it is true, who claim equal prominence with those given ; but of course it was impossible for us to give portraits of all the leading men and pioneers of the county. We are under great obligation to many of the noble and generous people of this county for kindly and material assistance in the preparation of this ALBUM. CHICAGO, October, 1887. CHAPMAN BROTHERS. *r - OF THE AND OF THE RY - 1 ' FIRST PRESIDENT. ^.' v .' i 1 : i 1 ; i 1 : >' : ,< : i 1 .:. i 1 ; ,< ; ,' : ,' : ,< : ,< ; ,. :, . ', , -, . >, . ', . >, . ', ;\ ; >, -. , ; <, ,_, . ' " HE Father of our Country was Ixsrn in Westmorland Co., Va., Feb. 22, 1732. His parents were Augustine and Mary (Ball) Washington. The family to which he belonged has riot 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, John 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 he left school, when he received private instruction in mathematics, His spelling was rather defective. I Remarkable stories are told of his great physical strength and development at an early age. He was an acknowledged leader among his companions, and was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. When George was 1 4 years 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. In 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 active 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 George. 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 was to pro- ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, and the journey was to be made without military escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The t 20 GEORGE WASHINGTON. trip was a perilpus one, and several limes 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 leveling 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, to 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 of 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 member of the Congress. He accepted it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he receive no salary. He would keep an exact account of expenses and expect Congress lo 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, 1783, 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 resumed his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all connection with public life. In February, 1 7 89, Washington was unanimously elected President. In his presidential career ht 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, owing to 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 wi'h 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 he as lasting as the existence of man. The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect and well proportioned. His muscular strength w;is great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry. He commanded respect without any appearance of haughtiness, and ever serious without being dull. I SECOND PRESIDENT. 2 3 ^..t.,A A & A^&jkJMfci&&!&i*&&.&4&&''fc ;!.. A A A .t .t.,,t t .fe&jfc.dt &&A 4A.ttA .t.jM-.,.fe!-.gt. >t. ':'(:; fointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately appoirted Minister to England, where he went the same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned home, apparently untroubled; 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 mure than any other cause, secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu- tive. On the 2oth 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 delight 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 the Constitution had conferred upon him 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, the 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. With the exception of being nominated for the Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, Mr. 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 patriotism, 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; enjoying in a healthy old age, probably far more happiness than he had before experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life, LIBRARY OF THE ..YY or iLLINOIS *-*r-* PRESIDENT. 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 the most distinguished men of his day. He was an intimate friend of George Washington, was early elected a member of the Continental Congress, and was conspicuous among the patriots of Virginia in resisting the encroachments of the British crown. In the celebrated Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- rison and John Hancock were both candidates for the office of speaker. Mr Harrison was subsequently chosen Governor 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 then 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 19 years old. From that time he passed gradually upward in rank until he became aid to General Wayne, 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 that 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- pointed 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. W T henhe began his adminstration there were but three white settlements in that almost boundless region, now crowded with cities and resounding with all the tumult of wealth and traffic. One of 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 reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. About Km ml T yjf4 WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. I 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, Olliwacheca, 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 anorator, 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 the 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 Gov. Harrison was approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a short conference, arrangements were made for a 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 had crept as near as possi- ble, and just then, with a savage ysit:on, 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 schools, 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 with 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 demeanor. 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 halls and then enters a law office, who is by no means as t 68 MILLARD FILLMORR. \ 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 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the practice 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 parties, that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very unusual degree 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 him strength and confidence. The first term of service in Congress to any man can be but little more than an introduction. "He was now prepared 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, had given him very con- siderable fame. The Whigs 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 tiumpet-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 names of Zachary 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 gth 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 able cabinet, of which the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend with, since the opposition had a majority in both Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate the South ; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt the inadequacy of all measuresof 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 Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. ' ^ * FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. tf- * FRANKLIN PIERCED ***** 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 him. The neighbors looked upon him with pride and affection. He was by instinct a gentleman; always speakingkind words, doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact which taught him what was agreeable. Without 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 most 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 the practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here he served for four years. The last two years he was chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 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 the FRANKLIN PIERCE. > I 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 2jih of May, 1847. He took an imi>ortant 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. 1 ' 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 was 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 conflict every year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution of the Union were borne to the North on every 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 sentiment, 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. LIBRARY OF THE / OF riLINOIS fiFTEENTH PRESIDENT. ; v / 1'.; i> ; ,' : ,' : , r ; ,' ; .' ; i'.. i -i'-.''i'..-i r . J ,''i'.. 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. , Penn. ,011 the 23d of April, 1791. The place where the humble 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 father was a native of the north of Ireland ; a poor man, who had emigrated in 1783, with little property save his. 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 drama of life. In this se- cluded home, where James was born, he remained lor eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual advantages. When James was eight years 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 Greek. 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 first scholars in the institution. His application to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with facility. In the year 1809, 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 .1812, 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 important case. In 1831, he retired altogether from the toils of his profession, having ao. quired an ample fortune. Gen. Jackson, 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, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- ures proposed by President Jackson, of making repri- f JAMES BUCHAtfAti. I 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 question he was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging from the journal of the Senate the vote of censure against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. Earnestly lie 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. Folk'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 the 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 the account of the course our Government pursued in that movement. Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with the party devoted to the 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 for the Presidency. The 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- ceived 1 14 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 been allied in political principles and action for years, were seeking the destruction ol the Government, that they might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. In 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, bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws, he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- lic. He therefore did nothing. The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration nominated Abraham Lincoln 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 offerthem 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, 1860; 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 deplorable it is for his fame, that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows of flame and blood over our whole 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. * VT SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT. 4- 7$ , i ABRAHAMS BRAHAM LINCOLN, the sixteenth President of the Jnited States, was 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 into the then wilds of Kentucky. Only two years after this emigration, 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 witlvfive little children, three boys and two 1 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 forever 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 compelled 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 built a log- r.nbin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their sei ond 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 teach him to put thoughts into words. He also became an eager reader. The books he could obtain were few ; but these he read and re-read until they were almost committed to 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 shall 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 adven- i ' I ABRAHAM LINCOLN. t 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 appointment of 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 them 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 he 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 the 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 i6th of June, 1860. 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 prominent. 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 a place in the affections of his countrymen, second only, if second, to that of Washington. 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 vas 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 February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started for Washington, stopping 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 up 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 the night. The train started at half-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 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 important 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, bo f .h personal and national 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 his assassination, 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 Le present. Gen. Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- ing, witn 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 will live with that of Washington's, its father; hiscountry- men being unable to decide which is the greater. LIBRARY OF THE ft; ""' t~ LUHOIS SE VENTEENTH PRESIDENT. 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, 1808, 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 on- 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 pos- 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, which 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 1843,116 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 res)>onsible posi- tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abiu 8 4 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 free States of the North should return to the South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin: on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir,"' said he 0:1 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 1860, he was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- ern 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 retuined 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 the most stringent military rule. 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 they 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 beginning 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. Il was certain that as the court voted upon that article so would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced the 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 impotently, 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- mortalize 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 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, with every demonstration of respect. - - GF THE --LINOJS EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. I LYSSES S. GRANT, the eighteenth President of the United States, was born on the 291)1 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 the 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 posts 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 Resaca de 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 horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along a route exposed to the 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 aniro.il, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, to 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 1860. 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 i5th of 88 UL YSSES S. GRA NT. 4 Tune, 1 86 1, 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 Major-General, and the military 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 the Gulf. 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 his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he was laid up for months. He then rushed to 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 upon the duties of his new office. Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of the 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 cf 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 it.; 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 cf 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 civilized world, 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 nameof 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 suffered 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. NINETEENTH PRESIDENT. . l v..v..v..v..'r'..'.". v..'i .,'! '. .v. .'x> .; v : ,' ; ,' ; ,'.-,' ,",'.. ,' : UTHERFORD B. HAYES, the nineteenth 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- ried 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 Ezekiel 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 established 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 stock, 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 i8r7- He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 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 i RUTHERFORD J3. 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. Haves' 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 were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being his sister and her associates. These circumstances tended, no 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 Wesleyan 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 1845, after graduating at the Law School, he was admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly afterward went into practice as an attorn ey-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 rs Chief 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 Cluu brought Mr. Hayes into constant association with young men of high char- acter and nob)e 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 1861, 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 ard illustrious. In October, 1861, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 7gth 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 sei vices in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted Major-General, "for gallant and distinguished ftrvices 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- ocratic. 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 corne 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 i86g 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 Presidential 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 ad mi nitration was an average on a ''-LINOIS f TWENTIETH PRESIDENT. 95 -"'^.Bt **" A -""^dh -*" JLJ^"- A^"-^ * V "'^ in."-'" """(& ""'^ A^"-^!?* ~"" .ft^"'^ A''" J 'ifc' JJ '^A"" J gBi~ t "' ill T "yiv-^^^iv** ** *^JW ->., * ^y . ^- ^T v,t> *5T' <^iV> " >V.i>- "' *?!>,*>. 1* *?lf* *W x> iv^ ' *VlO- V *V,i-- *V ^>i^ T 14 \FF;S- A AM?-KTP:.Ti 1 S3h AMES A. GARl'IELD, twen- tieth President of the United States, was born Nov. 19, 1831, in the woods of Orange, Cuyahoga Co., O His par- ents were Abram and Eliza 3 (Ballou) Garfield, both of New England ancestry and from fami- lies well known in the early his- \l, 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 farmers of that day. It was about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- tween the logs filled with clay. His father was a hard working farmer, and he soon had his fields cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built. The household comprised the father and mother and their four children Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and James. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con- tracted 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 tell how much James was indebted to his biother's toil 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' struggles 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 friend of his boyhood was as kindly greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the 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, plain, 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 should 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 to 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, President of Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion : t I 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" show a similar loyalty to the less stately and cultured Christian communions in which 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- larian charity for all 'who loveour Lord in sincerity.'" Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. n, 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, i86r. 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 Gen. 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 R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- tered Congress he was the youngest member in that body. There he remained by successive re- elections until he was elected President in 1 880. Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which has 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. r4, r88o, 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, iSSr, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- ministration ever opened its existence under brighter auspices than that of President Gaifield, 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 Williams College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- pany with Secretary Elaine, 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 grar.dly 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 cf 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. TWENTY-FIRST PRESIDENT. HESTER A. ARTHUR, twenty-first Pres:' : .-m of the United States was born in F ranklin Cour 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 Arthur, a Baptist d'.rgyman, who emigrated to tb'.s country' from the county Antrim, Ireland, in his 1 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 pocket, 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 I). 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 iTv.rr'pd 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 nomination 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 went to the Supreme Court of the United States. Charles 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 if 100 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 him 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 York, 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 in State and city jxjlitics. 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 leading 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 were 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 was 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 hud 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 embarr.issing 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 him he did not fail to realize under what circumstances he became President, and knew the feelings of 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 great 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. 1 UBRARY TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. * +m^ SiHNKge, a reflex of the popular sentiment, and a majority ot 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 man- ner. It is difficult for us at this distant day to esti- mate the critical and extremely delicate situation in winch 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 ancestry, who cam i to this country with Win. 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 he died July 7, 1868, and is buried at Woodland, near that city. LIBRARY OF THE '- ' L - UINOIS GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. INIAN EDWARDS, Governor from 1827 to 1830, was a sou of Benjamin Edwards, and was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, in March, 1775. His domestic train- " ing was well fitted to give his mind strength, firmness and ho: oiable principles, and a good foundation was laid for the elevated character to which he afterwards attained. His parents were Bap- tists, and very strict in their moral piinciples. His education in early youth was in company with and partly under the tuition of Hon. Win. Wirt, whom his father patronized, and who was more than two years older. An intimacy was thus fornud between them which was lasting for life. He was further 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 bounty before he was 2 1 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- About this time he left Nelson County for see. 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, 1809. 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 Superin- tendent of the United States Saline, this Government interest then developing into considerable proportions in Southern Illinois. Although during the first three years of his administration he had the power to make new counties and appoint all the officers, yet he always allowed the people of each county, by an informal I NINIAN EDWARDS. 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 1810 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 .years 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 1818 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- bater and a conscientious statesman. He thought seriously of resigning this situation in 1821, but was persuaded 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 the State of Illinois during the whole of his career in this commonwealth, and Mr. Edwards always main- tained the doctrines of freedom, and was an important actor in the great struggle which ended in a victory f or his party in 1824. In 1826 7 the Winnebago and other Indians com- mitted soire depredations in the northern part of the State, and the white settlers, who desired the lands 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 Ke.itucky, 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 l: Prairie State," namely, Ninian Wirt Edwards, once the Superintendent of Public Instruction and still a resident of Springfield. Gov. Edwards resided at and in the vicinity of Kas- kaskia from 180910 1818; in Edwardsville (named after him) from that time to 1824; and from the lat- ter date at Belleville, St. Claii County, until his death, July 20, 1833, of Asiatic cholera. Edwards County is also named in his honor. THE }- GL> VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 3;OHN REYNOLDS, Governor 1831- 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 1785, 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- posed 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 1800 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 Edwardsville. On arriving at his 2oth year, Mr. Reynolds, seeing that 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 himself 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 discipline. 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 1812 resumed his college and law studies at Knoxville. In the fall of 1812 he was admitted to the Bar at Kaskaskia. About this time 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. ' f 124 JOHN REYNOLDS. 1 From his services in the 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, in the French village of Cahokia, then the capital of St. Clair County. In the fall of 1818 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 preserved a judicial calmness and moderation. The real animus of the campaign was " Jackson " and " anti-Jackson," the former party carrying the State. In August, 1830, Mr. Reynolds was elected Gov- ernor, amid 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, it was heartily condemned by both President Jackson and Gov. Reynolds, who took precisely the same grounds as the Unionists in the last war. On the termination of his gubernatorial term in 1834, Gov. Reynolds was elected a Member of Con- gress, still considering himself a backwoodsman, as he had scarcely been outside of the State since he became of age, and had spent nearly all his youthful days in the wildest region of the frontier. His first move in Congress was to adopt a resolution that in all elections made by the House for officers the votes should be given viva vote, 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 ex Governor was scarcely absent from his seat a single day, during eight ses- sions of Congress, covering a period of seven year->, 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. During 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. H-iving 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 1 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 miles. 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 1860, 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, 1861, he urged upon the Buchanan officials the seizure of the treasure and arms in the custom-house and arson, il at St. Louis. Mr. Reynolds was a ratlur 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. LIBRARY OF THE 'IM'-LINOIS / GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. ILLIAM LEE D. EWING, Governor of Illinois Nov. 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 this State, and that the public moneys in his hands were deposited in various banks, as they are usually at the present day. In 1823 the State Bank was robbed, by which disaster Mr. Ewing lost a thousand- dollar deposit. The subject of this sketch had a commission as Colonel in the Black Hawk War, and in emergencies he acted also as Major. In the summer of 1832, when it was rumored among the whites that Black Hawk and his 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 subordinate 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- cle.; were piled up and left, so that the army might make speedy and forced marches. For some miles tho travel was exceedingly bad, crossing swamps and the worst thickets; but the large, fresh trail gave life and animation to the Americans. Gen. Dodge and Col. Ewing were both acting as Majors, and composed the " spy corps " or vanguard of the army. 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-skin-; 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 the 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- , .fr. 4 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, Chailes 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 171)1 days, in- clusive, of November. On the 171!! 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 was 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 29th 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 Semple, 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 Audit?r 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 affable, with fair talent, though of no high degree of originality. He died March 25, 1846. r CF THE GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. i '3' ,, OSEPH DUNCAN, Governor 1834-8, was born at Paris, Ky., Feb. 23, 1794- At the tender age of 19 years he en- listed in the war against Grea'. Britain, and as a soldier he acquitted himself with credit. He was an Ensign under the daunt- less Croghan at Lower Sandusky, or Fort Stiphenson. In Illinois I e 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 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, Elias 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 military 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 641 votes ahead! He received 6,321 votes, and Mr. Cook 5,680. Un- til this denouement, 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 !ocal and personal considerations had ever before controlled an election in Illinois. From the above date Mr. Duncan retained his seat in Co.igress 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 JOSEPH DUNCAN. 4 sincere in his opposition to the old hero, as the latter had 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 against the course of the President. The measures he 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 mainly 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 improvement schemes that well nigh bank- rupted the State. The hard times of 1837 came on, and the disasters that attended the inauguration of these 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; but as many jealous men had hold of the same plow handle, no success followed and each blamed the other for 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 Wabash, Bloomington 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 placed at a little over $10,000,000, which was not more than 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 term as Governor. Lovejoy was an " Abolitionist," editing the Observer at that place, and the pro- i y 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, that Mr. Ford was opposed to any given policy en- tertained 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 right. 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. t OF THE Y i * UINOIS GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. I HOMAS 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. The opportunities for an education being very meager in his native place, he, on approaching years of judgment and maturity, applied himself to those branches of learn- ing that seemed most important, and thus became a self-made man ; and his taste for reading and study remained with him through life. In 1803 his father removed lo Missouri, then a part of " New Spain," where he died in 1810. In 1812 young Carlin came to Illinois and partici- pated in all the "ranging" service incident to the war of that period, proving himself a soldier of un- daunted bravery. In 1814 he married Rebecca Huitt, and lived for four years on the bank of the Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Mis- sc.tvi, where he followed farming, and then removed to Greene County. He located the town site of Car- n/".ton, 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 organization, and afterward was twice elected, as a Jackson Democrat, to the Illinois Senate. In the Black 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, brotherof Ninian Ed wards, 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,- 7*5- Upon the meeting of the subsequent Legislature (1839), the retiring Governor CDuncan*) in his mes- 136 THOMAS CARLTN. 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. Cti'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. McClernand, 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. Scales, 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," they 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 sup|x>'ted 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 to oppose) a charter for the city of Nauvoo which vir- 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 De-ember, 1841, the Democratic Convention nominated Ada:n W. Snyder, of Belleville, fir Gov- ernor. Ai he had been, as a mem'>er of the Legisla- ture, rather friendly to the M mnons, the latter naturally turned their support to the Democratic narty. The next spring the Whig; 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 pirties for success became very problematical. Mr. S.iyder died in May, and Thomas Ford, a Supre ne 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 Carrollton, where he spent the rem. under 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, 1852,31 his residence at Carrollton, leaving a wife and seven children. ^94 THE f l r "-UHOIS 4*- GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. JHOMAS FORD, Governor from 1842 to 1846, and au- thor of a. very interesting history of Illinois, was bom 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 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 a 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 early 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 Illinois 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 THOMAS FORD. this gentleman, Mr. Ford turned his attention to the study of law; nut Forquer, then merchandising, re- garding his education defective, sent him to Transyl- vania University, where, however, he remained but one term, owing to Forquer'-; failure in business. On his return he alternated his law reading with teach- ing school for support. In 1829 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 Chicago, and as As- sociate Judge of the Supreme 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 he was holding 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 place and entered upon the canvass. In August, 1842, 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 Jefferson- 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- sinuating 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, that 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 ! " 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 establishment of the high financial credit of the State, the " Mormon War "and the Mexican War. In the first of these the Governor proved himself to be eminently wise. On coming into office he found the State badly paralyzed by the ruinous effects of the notorious "internal improvement" schemes of the preceding decade, with scarcely anything to show by way 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 wa- almost concentrated upon it, in order to rush it on U- completion. The bonded indebtedness of the State- was growing so large as to frighten the people, mid 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 their leader, Jo Smith, by 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-corarnittal (Concerning Mor.non affairs, and was therefore claimed by both parties and also accused by each 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 doubtless felt greatly relieved when that pestilential people left the State. Such compli- cated matters, 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 su-cessor. 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 very 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. LIBRARY GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. Augustus C. French 4ft AUGUSTUS 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 npt 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. Scales. 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 absbrbihg 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 votes. I k J44 AUGUSTUS C. FRRNC&. 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 1,361 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, 1848. 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, 1847, 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 1839, 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 I y population 851,470. I In 1849 the Legislature adopted the township or- ganization law, which, however, proved defective, and was properly amended in 185 r. 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 there complained thai 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, 1850, 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 spjech 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. I :f GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 4 '47 3:OEL A. MATTESON, Governor 1 85 3-6, 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 English 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 building 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 father'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 An SaMe River, in what is- now Kendall County. At that time there were not more than two neighbors within a range of ten miles of his place, and only three or four houses between him and Chicago. He opened a large farm. His family \ras boarded f miles away while he erected a house on his claim, sleeping, during 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 1836 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 f 148 JOEL A. MATTESON. I 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 $r, 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 th.e Whigs nominated Edwin B. Webb and Dexter A. Knowlton. 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 trie 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 us " Ne- braska or Douglas Democrats." It was during this embryo stage of the Republican party that Abraham Lincoln was brought forward as the "Anti-Nebraska " candidate for the United States Senatorship, wh le Gen. James Shields, the incumbent, was re-nom- inated by the Democrats. But after a fewballotings 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 1855 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 $137,818.079 to $349,951,272; the pub- lic debt w:is reduced from $17,398,985 to $[2,843,- 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 les,s 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 res]>ects an upright man and a good Governor, was implicated in a false re-issue of redeemed canal scrip, 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 $27,500. He died in the winter of 1872-3, at Chicago. V - ~Y OF THE YC (I i GO VEKNORS OF ILLINOIS. VVV.V'i^.-'rVW^ii^r'^^^ ILLIAM H. BISSELL, Gov- ernor 1857-60, was born f'f$ April 25, 1811, 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- ble 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 1 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, 15* WILLIAM H. BISSELL. of 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 Hon. D.on 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 distinguished 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, lie 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 1854 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, Ad 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 1859 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 remains 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, 1860, 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 hart been a member since 1854. C Vi*HJiniOlf Gi. VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. '55 OHN WOOD, Governor 1860-1, and the first settler of Quincy, 111., was bom 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, he 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- ing fall (1822) erected near the river a small cabin, 18 x 20 feet, the first building in Quincy, of which 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 yet 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 a city of over 30,000 population. In 1824 Mr. Wood gave a newspaper 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. During the next summer Quincy was se- lected as the county seat, it and the vicinity then containing but four adult male residents and half JOHN 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 Win. H. Bissell for Governor, and on the death of the latter, March 18, 1860, 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 1860, 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 tiie 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 nacion from destruction. In 1861 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 breaking 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 i37th 111. Vol. Inf., with whom he served until the period of 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 4, 1880, at his residence in Quiiicy. Four of his eight children are now living, namely: Ann E., wife of Gen. John Till son; 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. t * T.-Y IF GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 4 '59 , , HCHARD 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 afier 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 la*, 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 the party of his idol. In 1840 he engaged with great ardor in the exciting " hard cider " campaign for Harrison. 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- tory that by 1850 his large Congressional District, extending from Morgan and Sangamon Counties ivjrth to include LaSalle, unanimously tendered him the 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 Ccrro Gordo, in the Mexican War, and who had beaten 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 1860 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 t 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 were 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 in 1863 to the Democratic Legislature of this State 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 the law calling it was no longer binding, and that it had 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 sine 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 liis 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 Charles Walsh was arrested, most of whom were convicted by a court-martial 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, 1873, Gov. Yates was appointed a 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. 1 LIBRARY OF THE ' < * -1INOIS GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 163 t , Michard JT. Ogles i UCHARD 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 s;.x 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 Sullivan, 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 no.ainee for the Lower House of Congress, but was defeated by the Hon. James C. Robinson, Democrat. In 1860 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 im- i t 1 164 RICHARD J. OGLESB Y. mediate death. That rebel ball he carries to this day. On his partial recovery he was promoted as Major General, for gillantry, 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 fro n 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-;n irtial a id try the Surgeon General of the Army at Washington, where he remained until May, 1864, wh-'n he returned home. The Republican, or U lion, 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 ('lark, 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 b.nh thi 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 lu ne 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 post|x>aed a week. The political events of the Legislative session of 1865 were the election of ex-Gov. Yates to the United States Senate, and the ratification of the 13111 amend. nent to the Constitutio.i of the United States, abolishing slavery. This session also signalized itself by repealing the 'v>torioa$ " 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 ov*r 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 ptoposed, and some passed. The contests over the location of the Industrial College, the Capital, the 4. 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 35>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 had 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 party to checkmate the latter in the organization of the 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 pre]x>ssessing, 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. L f GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 167 k ^^^ " 'J O HN M, PA L HER ^^ |:OHN Me AULEY PALMER, Gov- ernor 1869-72, was born on Engle 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 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. Duiing the summer of 1838 he formed the ac- quaintance of Stephen A. Douglas, then making his ea.ly aptitude. first canvass for Congress. Young, eloquent and in political accord with Mr. Palmer, he won his confi- dence, Sred 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 clergy man, 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 he was elected to the State Senate, and at the special session of February, 1854, true to the anti-slavery 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 party issue he refused to receive a re-nomination for the Senatorship at the hands of the Democracy, issuing a circular to that effect. A few weeks afterward, t 168 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 elects 1. The following winter he put in nomination for the United States Senate Mr. Trumbiill, 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 1860 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 141)1 111. Vol. Inf., and participated in the engagements at Island No. 10; at Fanriington, 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 his 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. Palmar 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 e.itering wedge f >r the criticisms and reproofs he afterward received from the Republican party, and ultimately resulted 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 yeto, the "tax-grabbing law" tc pay rmlror.i subscriptions, the Chicago Lake Front bill, etc. The riew 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, 1871, 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 [wlitics, 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 point 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. I" r , I ( t c 'I.LINOIS GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 171 ."<''.< ''' '. 'i 'i ;.'<;;. '^.H^tg.' OHN LOWRiE' BEVER- IDGE, Governor 1 87 3-6, 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, Tames and Agnes Hoy, emigrated from Scotland at the close of the 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 being 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 iu his ipth 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 supply the means of an education. In the fall of 1842 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 the family, he packed his trunk and with only $40 in money started South to seek his fortune. I 7 2 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 offices, 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, 1 86 1, his law partner, Gen. John F. Farnsworth, secured authority to raise a regiment of cavalry, and authorized Mr. Beveridge to raise a company forit. 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. 1 8, and on its organiza- tion Mr. B. was elected Second Major. It was at- tached, Oct. n, 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- vine and Gettysburg. He commanded the regiment the greater part of the summer of 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 iyth 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 of 1866 he was elected Sheriff of Cook County, serving one term; next, until November, 1870, he practiced law and closed up the unfinished business of his office. He was then elected State Senator; in No- vember, 1871, 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 the statutes, begun in 1869; the partial success of th , "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 71 Dearborn Street (McCormick Block), Chicago, and since November, 1881, 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. iteft v-v,5f t. r , -i-** GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. T M. CULLOM. HELBY M. CULLOM, Gover- nor 1877-83,13 the sixth child of the late Richard N. Cullom, and was born Nov. 22, 1829,111 Wayne Co., Ky., where 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., 111., 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 tiie 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 capital from Vandalia to Springfield. He died about 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 teachino- school, 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. Mbrris, 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 more to out-door life. Accordingly he bought hogs foi 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 organization of the House, he received the vote of the Fillmore men for Speaker. Practicing i 176 SHELB Y M. CULLOM. law until 1860, 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 1861, 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 the Eighth (Springfield) District, in opposition to the incumbent, John T. 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. Cullom 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. Cullom 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, ulaced in nomination Lewis Steward, a wealthy farmer and manufacturer, and A. A. Glenn. The result of the election was rather close, Mr. Cullom 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 Governor's 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 short 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, 1880, Gov. Cullom was re-nominated by the Republicans, against Lyman Trumbull, by the Democrats; and although the former 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. Cullom was re-elected by about 314,565, 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. Cullom was inaugurated Jan. 10, iS8i. In his mes- sage he announced that the last dollar of the State debt had been provided for. March 4, 1883, the term of David Davis as United States Senator from Illinois expired, and Gov. Cul- lom was chosen to succeed him. This promoted Lieutenant-Governor John M. Hamilton to the 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 Cullom, Scholes & Mather, at 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. LIBRARY r THE f r "-UNOIS GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. '79 t J *JHt+&&ait+m&ms*m+9j&*^^ !-'. * its ;;^j^ OHN MARSHALL HAMIL- TON, Governor 1883-5, was 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. VVm. 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 McMorris, 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. In 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 2 1 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 comforta'^-" home. John was, of course, brought up to hard manual labor, with no 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 1860 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 war, 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 ; i8o JOHN MARSHALL HAMILTON. and in the following May he again enlisted, for the fourth time, when he was placed in the 14151 111. Vol. Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, 111., for the loo-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, Mr. Hamilton taught school, and during the two college years 1865-7, he 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 time he had commenced the study of law, and after earning some money as a temporary Professor of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyau 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 he 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, 1871, Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Win. 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 competitors. He took an active part " on the stump " in the campaign, for the success of his 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 for 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 Democrats and Independents elected Judge David Davis. At this session, also, was passed the first Board of Health and Medical Practice act, of which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, aga'.r:'" . . much opposition that the bill was seveial times " laid on the table." Also, this session authorized the location and establishment of a southern pel tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the session of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President pro tern. of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who wa?. 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. Win. 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. Clairand Madison Counties in May, 1883, 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, where his first choice for President was Toh:i 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.f Governor expired Ja;:. 30, 1885, when the great favorite " Dick " Oglesby was inaugurated. "iO/te^ 4 J f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ~ INTRODUCTORY -* IIAMPAIGN COUNTY has an exceptionally interesting history. We have not, how- ever, proposed to place this on record, yet a few lines re- garding its location, advan- tages, and the wonderful transformation made from the wilder- ness of forty years ago, will not, we deem, be inappropriate. While there is no county in the State that possesses all the advantages of an Acadin, yet Champaign County may be credited with coming as near 1o this as any one of them. Jts geographical location is very favorable, being only 128 miles south of Chi- cago, 160 norttrwesFof St. Louis, 106 west of In- dianapolis, and ninety miles east of Peoria. This happy location gives it ready access by vail to the cities named, and enables it to secure the benefits of favorable markets. In area, Champaign County is among the largest in the State, and for the value of its products, it is excelled by few. It is exceed- ingly well laid out, being an oblong square, thirty-six miles north and south and twenty-eight miles east and west, and having an acreage of 645,120, with a population in round numbers of about 42,000. This entire area is under good cultivation, having good roads, elegant farms, fine houses and excellent schools. The county is traversed by four different lines of railroads, giving it ample transportation facilities. Its topography is very favorable. The land forms a watershed which carries the water off in every direction. One of the highest points between Chi- cago and Cairo is at Ludlow. The drainage is good, and there are very few sloughs now in the county. The soil is a rich, black vegetable loam, varying from one to two feet in depth, and very productive. The county is covered mostly with undulating prairies with occasional groves, and some slightly broken lands. It is well watered by numerous streams. Underlying the surface are ex- tensive coal beds which afford a ready and cheap article of fuel. The climate is of the medium tem- perature, which makes it very desirable as a place of residence, and very favorable to agricultural inter- ests as well as stock-raising. Though settlers came into the county at a very early date, the commencement of its rapid growth may be dated from the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1854-55. This was the turning point in the history of the county. The settlements at first were confined to groves and timber belts, and the cabins were built of logs. The first white men to come into the county, as far as is known, were the United States surveyors, who divided the county into townships. This was in the summer of 1 H2 1 . Prior to this, it is supposed, there were hunters and trappers here, but they left no name or sign behind them of their coming or going. The first settler or squatter, was Runnel Fielder, who came in j I 186 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 1822, and located in the northeast corner of section 11, Urbana Township. Fielder, however, made no entry of land until 1828, which was on section 12, Urbana Township. This pioneer has also the credit of planting the first orchard in the county. Per- manent settlement was not begun until the year 1828. Champaign, like all new counties in this State, until brought under cultivation, was the home and nursery of malarial diseases. They were a great hindrance to the settlement of the count}'. Some- times there were not well persons enough in a neighborhood to take care of the sick. Physicians were few, or entirely wanting. The first school-house was built in 1832, near Ur- bana. Not long before this was the first school taught. The county was organized from lands at- tached to Vermilion County by an act of the Legis- lature, approved Feb. 28, 1833. The first meeting of the County Commissioners was held in May fol- lowing. Commissioners from Clark, Coles and Edgar Counties were appointed to locate the county seat. Urbana received this honor, though there were other places contesting. The only post- office in the county at that time was on the farm of Mathias Rhinehart, and was named Van Bnren, after Martin Van Buren, who was then occupying the position of Vice President of the United States. As soon as the county seat was determined upon, settlers began to gather in. They located at first on the south side of the grove. Stores and shops were soon started, and roads opened to the differ- ent parts of the county. The Van Buren post-office was moved to Urbana and its name perished. The population of the county at that time was about 800. In 1835 it had increased to 1,250, and in 1850 to 2,649, not quite 100 a year. From the advent of the railroads, Champaign County has bad a steady and healthy growth. until now she is one of the foremost counties in the State. The principal city is Champaign, which is a very active business place, and an attractive place of residence. Urbana is the county seat ;uid the next in population. Homer. Itantoul, Tolono and Mahomet are also thriving little cities. There are several prosperous villages, among which arc St. Joseph and Philo. Champaign County is the seat of one of the great educational institutions of Illinois, the State Uni- versity. It has an attractive and healthy location on high grounds, between Champaign and Urbana. The domain occupied by this University embraces about 625 acres. There are several buildings con- nected with this institution, all of which are well built, commodious and attractive. In addition to agriculture, horticulture, practical mechanics and engineering, the curriculum embraces a full Kn- glish and a classic course. Great pains have been taken by the State in selecting the best professors and educators for this University, in all its depart- ments, and thoroughness in all branches of study is its distinguishing feature. The public schools the county has endeavored to make first-class. Some of the city school buildings are elegant, and all are substantial, num- bering within the borders of the county about 245. In the growth and development of her vast re- sources, in her agriculture and stock-raising, in all the departments of labor in which busy man is en- gaged ; in her churches and schools, in civilization and culture, Champaign County has taken a front rank. Well ma}' her people be proud of their prod- uct; well may her pioneers turn with pride to their achievements. Within a half century a wilderness has been subdued and converted into beautiful farms and thriving, populous cities, and a com- munity established commanding the admiration of the country. L --Y OF THE r - . ~( CF ILLINOIS 4*- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 189 t , HE portrait upon the oppo- site page is that of one of the best known and most highly esteemed men in Champaign Count)', Mark Carley. He was one of the early benefactors of its capital city, and has probably done more than any other one man in bringing it to its present prosperous^ condition. He has spent very much time and money upon improvements for the gen- eral good, and on every hand may be seen the silent evidences of the work which he inaugurated in this locality nearly thirty-five years ago. Our subject was born in Hancock, Hillsboro Co., N. II., Aug. 24, 1799. With the history of his ancestors prior to his grandfather he is not familiar, further than that he knows they were of English extraction. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Car- ley, was born in Massachusetts, Feb. 17, 1718, and in early manhood married Miss Sallie Washburu, who was born Sept. 1, 1729. This lady was con- nected with the numerous family of Washburns, who have since filled so large a space in .State and National affairs of this country. The father of Mark Carley was Elijah, the youngest of his par- ents' family, and who was born in Massachusetts, May 21, 1771. The mother of our subject, for- merly Miss Agnes Graham, was born in New Hampshire, July 18, 1772. The elder brothers of Elijah Carley served in the Revolutionary War, and one of them left a soldier's discharge signed by the hand of Washington himself. As may be sup- posed, this document is carefully preserved as an invaluable relic. Elijah Carley, Sr., and one of his eldest sons, served in the War of 1812. Two years prior to -this, however, the former removed from New Hampshire to Vermont with his family. In the year 1815 young Mark commenced to learn the trade of a house carpenter aiid millwright, at which he served an apprenticeship of four years, and subsequently followed milling and the gin busi- ness in Louisiana for seventeen years, and until he was thirty-five years old. In 1835 he removed to Clermont County, Ohio, where he purchased 300 acres of land and engaged in agricultural pursuits He subsequently added to his first possessions and remained a resident of the Buckeye State until 1853, in the meantime having visited California. After his return from the Pacific Slope he decided to make his home further westward, and coming to this county located first at Urbana, whence he removed to Champaign. Soon afterward he put up a dwelling on State street, and erected the first grain warehouse in the city, placing within it the first steam engine which operated a corn-sheller. In 1857 Mr. Carley purchased lots in Tolono, and there also built the first warehouse, and put in the first steam engine and side track for cars. He encouraged the settling up of Champaign by every means within his power, such as erecting, building and buying city property, and disposing of it at a reasonable figure to those who desired to become citi- ,1 , 100 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. zens. His fine business abilities, in connection with his genial disposition and courteous manners to all, have secured for him scores of life-long friends, who esteem him as much as the}' are grateful to him for what he has done for them personally, and for what he has done for the community in general. He has now arrived at fourscore years and eight, with all his faculties in fine preservation, and retains the same love of sociabilit}' vhich characterized his younger years. He has contributed liberally to all worthy enterprises, giving of his time, means and influence to the support of every project calculated to increase the welfare and prosperity of Champaign County. Mark Carley was united in marriage with Miss Abigail W. Stevens, of Springfield, Vt., April 27, 1830. Of this union there were born eleven chil- dren, only three of whom are now living, and are residents of Champaign. Mrs. Carle}- departed this life in the latter city, Nov. 12, 1871. She was a lady of much force of character, highly esteemed, and well worthy to be the companion of such a man as Mark Carley. Mr. Carley, during his earlier years, was a Clay Whig, and a Fremont and Lincoln Republican, but later has voted independently, giving his support to the men whom he believed best qualified for office. In this, as in all other duties of life, he has brought his conscience to bear, and has little to regret dur- ing the course of a remarkably long and worthy life. LLISON LOWMAN. This prosperous and enterprising farmer of Scott Town- ship came to this vicinity in the winter of 1883, and has lived here since that time. His homestead, which is pleasantly located on section 1 4, consists of eighty acres of good land with first- class improvements, where he has operated success- fully, and by his upright course as a business man and industry as a farmer, has gained for himself a good position socially and financially, and is es- teemed a valued factor of society. The parents of our subject, John and Mary (Alli- son) Lowman, were born, reared and married in Indiana County, Pa., where the father died about 1881. The mother still survives, and continues to live in the Keystone State. The parental family included seven children, of whom Allison of our sketch was the oldest. He was born in the same Q county as his parents, on the 28th of October, 1837. He remained under the home roof until twenty- one years of age, and was soon afterward married, locating on his father's farm, where he remained un- til 18G2. In July of that year, the Civil War be- ing then in progress, he became a member of the 1 1 th Pennsylvania Infantry, and served faithfully as a soldier until the preservation of the Union was fully assured. He was mustered out of the service at Harrisburg, Pa., and returning to his native coun- ty, resumed the peaceful vocation of a farmer's life on the old homestead, where he continued until starting for the West. The marriage of Allison Lowman with Miss Sarah Lytle was celebrated in Indiana County, Pa., . Dec. 18, 1858. Mrs. L. is the daughter of John and Mary (Robinson) Lytlc, both natives of Penn- sylvania. They located in Indiana County after their marriage, became the parents of thirteen children, and there passed the remainder of their days. Mrs. L. was born in that county on the 1st of Ma}', 1838. The children of our subject and his wife, eight in number, areas follows: Inez J., Alice M., Belle A., Elizabeth E., John L., Mary A., Samuel L. and Cora. Inez J. became the wife of "Chalmers Stitt, a farmer of Scott Township; Alice died in Indiana County, Pa., when but nine years old, while on a visit to her grandfather; Belle is the wife of Joseph Mullikin, and resides in Scott Township. Mr. Lowman has held the offices of Road Commisioner, School Director and Constable. Socially he is a member of Champaign Post No. 140, G. A. It. Politically, he is a true blue Re- publican, and with his excellent wife a member in good standing of the Methodist Church. In March, 1869, after Mr. L. became a resident of Scott Township, and was living three-fourths of a mile south of Bondville, on a small tract of land where he had erected a new house, and which he had occupied but five days, about eleven o'clock at night a terrific storm of wind and rain burst upon them and the entire house with its contents was I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 191 , , blown to the four winds. Mr. and Mr3. Lowmau with their three children were landed in the garden without serious injury, but as may be supposed, badly frightened. Mr. L., clad in only a shirt and overcoat, set out on horseback to find a shelter for his f ami 13', but the night was so dark that he became bewildered on the prairie and lost his wa3". lie finall3' gave the reins to his faithful horse, which carried him all right to the residence of a Mr. Fos- ter, who returned with him and assisted in the search for the wife and children. They twice passed the place where the house had stood before they could locate it, on account of the darkness. They finally found the stable where he had placed his family for shelter, and it was four o'clock in the morning before he had them . comfortably housed in the dwelling of Mr. Foster. R. SHAWHAN, County Superintendent Schools, is located at Urbana, of which he became a resident in 1882. He is a graduate of the Illinois University, and has been a teacher of long experience and more than ordinary abilitj'. He was called to the duties of his present position in 1881, and has acquitted himself with credit and satisfaction to all concerned. He was born in Rush County, Ind., March 20, 1844, and is the sou of William M. and Nancy (Redmond) Shawhan, who were both natives of Harrison Coun- ty, Ivy. The grandfather of our subject, John Shaw- han, married Miss McCune, of Kentucky, of which State he was also a native, and afterward engaged in milling on the Licking River. Their son, William M.. was born in 1803, received a practical education, and was associated with his father in the mill until 1836. He then removed to Indiana, purchasing 300 acres of land in Rush County, which he occupied for twenty years, and then sold, to become a resident of this county. Here he purchased 320 acres of land in Ra3*mond Township, together with 100 acres for his sons. He remained on this farm until his death, which took place while he was attending divine service at the Christian Church at Sidney, on the 2d of May, 1875. At the close of the serv- ice he droped dead, of heart disease as it is sup- posed. He had been a member of this religious organization since a young man, and later was elect- ed an Elder, in which capacit3' he served for many years. He was a man of large benevolence, and be- sides contributing money to the erection of the church building near his Indiana home, donated the land upon which it stood and also the sites for the academj" and district school-houses. He always took an active interest in the establishment of schools and churches throughout the county, and was School Treasurer of Raymond Township for a period of twelve years. Prior to the election of 1846, he was Democratic in politics, and cast his last vote that 3"car, for which purpose he rode on horseback twelve miles to deposit his ballot in favor of the Free School law of Indiana. He assisted in the establishment of Butler University at Irvington, near Indianapolis, and kept up a scholarship for many years. During his residence in Kentucky he was a Captain in the State Militia. His family included ten children, of whom seven are now liv- ing, and the record is as follows: Charles is farm- ing in Nebraska, and Daniel in Indiana; Joseph, a resident of Kentucky, is employed as a traveling salesman; Margaret, Mrs. Higginbotham, is a resi- dent of Champaign; G. R., of our sketch, is the next eldest; James is farming in Champaign Coun- ty, and William is Postmaster in Nebraska. The subject of this biography spent his childhood and youth on the farm, receiving a good common- school education, and when seventeen years of age, commenced teaching. He was thus occupied mostly during the winter seasons for ten years following. He entered upon a course of study in the Illinois State University in 1871, and after graduating, re- sumed his labors as a teacher in Mansfield, Piatt County, having charge of a graded school which he conducted for two years. He then came to this .county, and was made Principal of the Homer graded school, which included five departments, and of which he had charge for a period of four and one-half years. In December, 1881, he was ap- pointed County Superintendent to fill a vacancy, elected in 1882 and re-elected in 1886. Prof. Shawhan was united in marriage with Miss Vista Brown in the spring of 1867. Mrs. Shavvhan 192 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. is a native of Roscoe. Ohio, and the daughter of Samuel W. and Catherine (Potter) Brown, natives respectively of Marblehead, Mass., and Pennsylva- nia. The early representatives of the Potter family in this country were descendants of a brother of (leu. Joseph Wai-rcMi, of Bunker Hill fame, and by intermarriage, from Gov. Gage, of Boston. Of this marriage there have been born four children; two are living Gertrude and William VV. Prof. Sliaw- hau is Republican in politics, and with his excellent wife, a member in good standing of the Christian Church. Socially he belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, and is a Good Templar. The family resi- dence is pleasantly located, and is the resort of the cultured and intelligent people of Urbana. 1 V RRISON SHREVE, one of the oldest and most honored pioneers of St. Joseph Town- ship, is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Brown County, Dec. 2, 1811, and is now fast ad- vancing to fourscore years. He came to this county with his family in the spring of 1853, and has consequently been a witness of the remarkable . changes which have occurred during a period of over thirty years. The scenes which he has wit- nessed and the experiences through which he has passed have probably brought to his mind many times the m:ixiin that "truth is stranger thin fic- tion." He came to Illinois when it was compara- tively young in years, and when he himself was strong and in the pride of his manhood, and he has witnessed with a feeling of gratification, the devel- opment of the State, which has now become one of the principal commonwealths in the West. The first representatives of the Shreve family in this country emigrated from Amsterdam, making their first settlement in Pennsylvania, a branch of the family settling in Mason County, Ky., in the early settlement of that region. In that locality, too, was born Caleb Shreve, the father of our sub- ject, whose marriage is recorded as having taken place in about 1799, in Mason County. Five years later, in 1804, he removed with his family to Ohio, and locating in Brown Count} 7 , continued a resident there until the spring of. 1834, whence he removed to Fountain County, lud., and from there in the spring of 1835 to this county. He purchased land in Sidney Township, upon which he settled, but only lived until the September following. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Miss Anna Slack, who was born near the city of Baltimore, Md., and was the daughter of John Slack, Esq.. who was also a native of that locality. By her marriage with Caleb Shreve she became the mother of twelve children, six sons and six daugh- ters, who all lived to mature years, married and reared families of their own. Caleb Shreve had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and our subject still has in his possession the land warrant which was issued in payment of his services. Orrison Shreve passed his boyhood and youth iu Brown County, Ohio, and after repairing to Ripley learned the tanner's trade, which he followed in his native State for eleven years. When twenty- three years old he was married, Aug. 14, 1834, to Miss Eleanor Hamilton, a native of his own county, and the daughter of Robert and Nancy Hamilton. Our subject, resolving then to change his occupa- tion, located on a farm in Brown County, where he remained until fall, in 1853, and then began mak- ing preparations for a removal to the Prairie State. After reaching this county he located in St. Joseph Township near the Sidney line, where for several years he farmed on rented land, and met with good success. In 1871 he became a resident of the town of St. Joseph, and for thirteen years had charge of a water tank of the I., B. & W. R. R. Later he retired from active labor, and is passing the sunset of life in peace and quiet in St. Joseph. Mr. S. has been twice married. She who was the first companion, and whom he married in his native State, became the mother of eight children, namely: Joseph H., Robert N. ; Nancy A., now de- ceased; William O., a merchant of St. Joseph; Mary E., Amanda J., Joshua E. and Ely F. The lat- ler served as a soldier in the late war and was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro. Of these children, five died of cholera. The second wife of Mr. S. was formerly Miss Rebecca Hayden, our subject being her third husband. Of her former marriages there were born five children, and by her union with Mr. Shrevi- five children were born. ' CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 193 i Mr. S. became a member of the Methodist Episco- iml Church in 1834, with which he IIMS since been connected, and strives to perform his duties faith- fully. His wife is ;i member of the same church and attends quite regularly at St. .Joseph. AVID B. STAYTON, Ju., senior member of the linn of Stay ton A- Son, dealers in general merchandise, is numbered among the representative business men of St. .Jo- seph, among whose people he has grown up and among whom he was born on his father's old home- stead in St. Joseph Township, Dec. 2, 1862. Our subject is the sou of David B. and Sarah ( Hartley) Stayton, who are numbered among the oldest and mo:4 highly respected residents of St. Joseph Town- ship. The father, a native of Mason County, Ivy., was reared to farming pursuits, and at an early pe- riod in life became skilled in its various duties, also receiving fair advantages educationally. By the assistance of his worthy and intelligent wife he be- came an important factor in the business and ag- ricultural community, establishing a good home- stead and rearing a fine family of sons and daugh- ters. . The subject of this sketch took kindly to the ex- cellent parental training which he received at home, and has continually improved his mind bv the pe- rusal of books and the various periodicals of the day, which have kept him well posted upon the affairs of the world in general." He remained a member of his father's household until the spring of 1881, and was then united in marriage with Miss Lydia Bird/ell, of this county. Mrs. S. is the youngest daughter of John and Catherine Birdzell, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The former was born in 1828, and died in March, 1884. His wife was born in 1832. Mrs. S. was born Nov. 6, 1864, and reared on the farm by her parents, receiving a fair education. Of her marriage with our subject there have been born three bright daughters, named respectively Maude, Lettie and Oral Anna. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. S. located in St. Joseph Township, where they continued until July, 1884. Mr. S. then formed a partnership with William II. Swearingen, and they embarked in the grocery business. At the end of six months Mr. Swearingen disposed of his interests to D. B. Stay- ton, Sr., the father of our subject. The firm is a strong one, and carries a full stock of dry-goods, groceries -and notions, and has an extensive and constantly increasing trade. Their straightforward methods of doing business and promptness in meet- ing their obligations have commended them to the respect of the people in that section, by whom they are generously patronized and whose confidence they enjoy in a more than ordinary degree. <* MLLIAM WHITE, of St. Joseph Township, \f\/// has distinguished himself as one of the ^7\y most energetic and successful farmers and stock-raisers of that region, where he is the owner of 300 acres of valuable land, a commodious and substantial residence, good barns and out-buildings, and everything required by the progressive and in- telligent agriculturist. The dwelling stands upon a gentle elevation, and commands a fine view of the surrounding country. The eye of the passer-by is invariably attracted to the neatness and good order of the entire premises, and the spirit of thrift which is one of its prevailing elements. The master spirit which has presided over the homestead which we have described, was first intro- duced to the responsibilities of life in Greenbrier County, W. Va., on the 3d of June, 1832. His parents, David and Elizabeth (Reynolds) White, were also natives of the Old Dominion, where they were married and remained until removing to Ross County, Ohio, where the death of both parents took place, the father dying in 1847, and the mother in 1860. They reared a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, who, with one excep- tion, were all married, and all but two remained residents of the Buckeye State. One brother is a resident of this count}', another was accidentally killed by a mowing-machine in Ohio. The subject of this sketch, who was the third child and son of his parents, spent his earliest years in his native State, but completed his education in the district schools of Ross County, Ohio. lie was t. f 194 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. but sixteen years old when his father died, and re- mained with his mother three years afterward, then began life on his own account. b_y laboring on a farm at #1;") per month for three months. He was afterward proffered larger wages from another party, whieli he accepted, and remained in that vicinity until the fall of 186(J. His attention was then attracted by the reports coming from the rap- idly growing State of Illinois, and he resolved to investigate. He spent his first winter in Moultrie County, and in the spring of 1863 came to this county and commenced operating on a rented farm, of which he remained in possession as a tenant for five years. He then purchased eighty acres from the railroad company on section 30, in St. Joseph Township, upon which there were no improvements. He first put up a small log house which is still standing, and proceeded with the cultivation of his laud, meeting with success in his labors. He in- vested his surplus capital in additional real estate, and is now the owner of 300 acres, most of which is in a good state -of cultivation, well fenced and thoroughly drained with about 23,000 rods of tile. He has also added to his annual income by fattening each year numbers of cattle, usually shipping two carloads to the Eastern markets. He has attained quite a reputation also as a breeder of Belgian horses,, and exhibits some fine draft animals and roadsters. While energetically engaged in the labors and cares of farming, Mr. White, with a due appreciation^ the value of the home circle and domestic ties, was mar- ried, after reaching his majority, to Miss Mary Peni- will, and they commenced housekeeping in the hum- ble dwelling which our subject had erected when taking possession of his first purchase. His early hopes, however, were destined to disappointment, as his young wife died eleven months after her marriage. The thread of his life thus broken was again taken up in 1865, when he was united to Miss Mahala F., daughter of Lewis and Sarah Jones, who had become residents of St. Joseph Township in 1835. Of this union there were born seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, viz., Marion E., Leona, Isaac. Sarah E., Bertha, Homer K. and Frederick. Mrs White is a member in good standing of the I'nited Brethren Church, in which Mr. White has been Trustee, and is one of its most valued sup- porters. He has never been backward in any en- terprise calculated for the welfare of the community when called upon for assistance, and is one of the Trustees of iluss Cemetery, which was laid out and devoted to burial purposes hi about IS.MO. I'.iliiu-all v he is stanch Republican, and om; of tin; strongest advocates of law and good order in these times when so many subjects tsnd to agitate and unsettle the people. In the career of Mr. White, who commenced the battle of life dependent entirely upon his own re- sources, we find a striking example of the results of an upright course and persevering industry. His possessions have been but the just reward of a man who has labored faithfully, been prompt to meet his obligations, and who has built up a recordijof which his children may well be proud. G. PARR, of Champaign, is filling an im- portant place in its business interests, and is at present employed as wholesale presser and shipper of hay, his business being located on Lynn street, north of the C., H. & W. R. K. Mr. Parr was born near Greenville, Bond Co., 111., Oct. 2, 1832, and is the son of Samuel and Nancy (Cor- rick) Parr, natives respectively of Ireland and Virginia. The mother of our subject descended from substantial Scotch ancestry. Her father, Sam- uel Corrick, emigrated to America with his parents when four years old. Tliey located in Harrison County, Ohio, and engaged in farming pursuits, and Samuel resided in that county until twenty-five years of age. He then removed to Illinois and set- tled near Greenville on the east fork of Shoal Creek, where he built a grist and saw mill, and was occupied in running these until 1847. In the mean- time he had entered 400 acres of timber land, of which he cleared 100 acres. In the year named he sold out and removed to La Salle County, pur- chasing .'!20 acres of land near Peru, where he en- gaged in farming and remained until his death, in l,st;o. lie was married in 1816, to Miss Nancy * CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 195 Corrick. They became the parents of eight chil- dren, and the mother departed this life upon the homestead of her husband in 1859. Of the eight children comprising the parental household, three only are now living, namely. Mrs. Sarah J. Delatour, of Chicago; James, a resident of Wilmettc, Cook Co., 111., now retired from active business, and W. G., our subject. Young Parr was reared on his father's farm and remained under the home roof until twenty-six years of age, taking care of his parents until they passed to their final rest. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Maria L. Mitchell, of Wisconsin, who was born in 1839, and was the daughter of Samuel Mitchell, of Virginia. Two years previously our subject had engaged in the dry-goods trade at Granville, Putnam County, but after eighteen months sold out and took charge of the old home- stead until 1864. He then sold this also, and re- moving to McLean County, opened up a stock of goods at Normal, selling the first commodity of the kind in that town. He remained there until the fall of 1870, and the following spring removed to Bloomington, where, in company with Mr. Aldrich, he engaged in the buying and shipping of hay. They left Bloomington in 1874, and established a similar business at Henderson Station, where our subject remained one year, and in 1875 came to Champaign, where he established his present busi- ness and has operated since that time. Here he has thirteen acres of land, which he purchased in 1884^ supplied with a shapely and convenient residence, and the requisite machinery and buildings for carry- ing on his business. He employs upon an average six men the year round, and has a profitable and constantly increasing trade. Mr. and Mrs. Parr became the parents of three children: Nora is a graduate of the High School; Harry G. is in the insurance business in Chicago; Katie is studying art in college. Mr. Parr is Re- publican in politics, and with his wife and two daughters is prominently connected with the Con- gregational Church. While living at Normal the first society of this denomination there, was organ- ized, in the parlor of our subject, in 18G4, and he was Secretary and Treasurer for seven years after- ward. . He has taken a genuine interest in the prog- ress of morality and education, and has contributed his full share toward the building up of society since coining here. ffiRA A. MANLEY, Agent of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad and the American Express Com- pany at Tolono, became a resident of this county in 1872. He is a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., born Sept. 30, 1829, and is the son of Ad- dison and Henrietta (Parsons) Manley, the former a native of Vermont, born in 1794, and the latter of Connecticut, born in 1796. The parents were mar- ried in Norway, Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1820, and resided on a farm until 1842, when they took pos- session of a hotel in the town of Norway, which they carried on two years. Then, resolving to come to the West, in May, 1844, they started for Illinois, and located first on a farm at Byron, Rock River, ii: Ogle County. The father died in November following, leaving a wife aifd three children : Mary, the eldest, became the wife of Samuel Willard, of Newport, Herkimer Co., N. Y. ; Henrietta A. mar- ried John W. Andrews, and resides at' Kirkwood, Mo. ; her husband is engaged in the jewelry business in St. Louis. Our subject is tha second child and only son. The mother was married the second time, in 1847, to a .Mr. Jones, and died at Burling- ton, Iowa, in March, 1860. Ira A. Manley was fifteen years of age when the family came to Illinois. He completed his educa- tion at Mt. Morris Seminary in 1848, and then going to Philadelphia, Pa., entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, under whom he served as telegraph operator and clerk until the latter part of 1855. Then return- ing to Illinois he located in Iroquois County on a farm, where he remained until 1872, during the last ten years of which time he was also employed as agent of the Illinois Central at Bulkley, being the first railroad agent at that point. In 1872 he re- moved to Tolono, having been appointed to his present office. Our subject was married, on the 13th of October, 1852, to Miss Amanda F. Eraley, who is a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and was born Jan. 23, 1831. She f IOC. CHAMPAION COUNTY. is the daughter of Thomas and Margaret. (IJakei-) Fraley. also natives of the (junker City. Of this marriage there were born live children: Ira A., Jr., was accidentally killed at the station at Tolono. Dec. 4, 1875, being then seventeen years of age. Those living are Alice V., now the wife of Charles II. Bell; Mary L,, Mrs. Ralph L. Brown; George W. and Horace A. Mr. Manley, politically, votes with the Repub- lican party, which he has cordially endorsed since its organization in 1850. He is also a strung advo- cate of temperance and interested in the success of the prohibition movement. Mr; and Mrs. M. are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, our subject having been Superintendent in the Sab- bath-school for the last ten years. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason. He owns his present home in Tolono. and Mrs. Manley has 1 10 acres of land ad- joining the town limits. ma J HOMAS W. CIIAMBERLIN, of the Ex- change Bank of Rantoul, is a gentleman highly respected for his excellent business qualities as well as for his genial and companiona- ble character. He has been identified with the business interests of Rantoul since 1875, and estab- lished the Exchange Bank in November of that year. Here a general banking business is con- ducted, and the institution, which is considered thoroughly reliable, has become one of the indis- pensable features of this locality one of which Rantoul has reason to be proud. The childhood and youth of our subject were passed in Hamilton and Warren Cos., Ohio, where his birth took place near Cincinnati, Aug. 20, 1840. His parents, Reuben and Susan (McClane) Cham- berlin, were natives respectively of Vermont and New Hampshire, of English and Scottish ancestry. After his marriage Reuben Chamberlin with his young wife located near Cincinnati, Ohio, and for many years was engaged as teacher in the public schools. Later he embarked in mercantile business, but did not live to cany out the plans which he had inaugurated, passing from earth when our subject was a small boy. The family included five children, of whom Thomas \V. is the the only surviving child. The mother is still living, making her home in Ran- toul, and for one of her years is quite active in mind and body. The subject of this sketch, after finishing his pri- mary studies, took a course in the Cincinnati Com- mercial College, and in May, 1864, came into Ford County, this State, where for a period of seven years he was in the employ of the American Ex- press Company. In 1872 he engaged in banking in Vermjlion County, where he remained until the es- tablishment of the Exchange Bank in Rantoul. .He has been prominent in local matters since coming here, having been at once recognized as a gentle- man of more than ordinary abilities, and one whose judgment could be relied upon. He has served as Village Treasurer, and is Director of the Rantoul Building and Loan Association, besides giving his support to other worthy enterprises. The Congre- gational Church recognizes in him one of its most useful and valued members, and in fact he has be- come quite indispensable to the best interests of the town in general. In only one particular has he failed to signalize himself as having performed all the duties of life he has never married. He is of that courteous and pleasing manner which at once indicates him as the true gentleman, whom the stranger recognizes at once, and for whom his friends have a faithful and lasting regard. ONALD McINTOSH, V. S., and Professor |] of Veterinary Science, has charge of one of the most important departments in the Illinois Industrial University, at Urbana. For this his natural talents have eminently fitted him, and he takes a genuine interest in the profes- sion to which he has given years of time and thought. He is a native of Scotland, born in the city of Perth, June 28, 1841, and is the son of William and Kate (Pennycook) Me In tosh, natives of the same country. They emigrated to America in 1 848, and located in New York City, where the father of our subject engaged as a contractor and builder. After two years' residence there he was recommended to a fine position at Kingston, Can- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 197 ad.-i, which he acceptcil, and was there employed at his chosen calling for a period of nine years. Af- terward he went to Guelph, in the western part of the Dominion, where he followed his vocation until his death, in 1887; the mother is still living. The parental family included nine children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth. Young Mclntosh began his education in the schools of his native Scotland, and completed it at the grammar school in Elora, Canada. In 1804 he took up the study of medicine, which he pursued two years, and then entered the Veterinary College in the Province of Ontario, from which he grad- uated in 1869. Soon afterward he was appointed Veterinary Surgeon of the Dominion artillery, which position he occupied for a period of thirteen years. He then resigned, and started for the North- west Territory on a pleasure and exploring expedi- tion combined. In 1881 he returned East to New York City, and engaging with his brother as Veter- inary Surgeon, operated in that line until 1886, when he came to this county and took the position in the University which had been proffered him, and which he still holds. He has carried on the duties of his department with credit and success, and as an instructor is scarcely to be excelled. Prof. Mclntosh was married, in November, 1871, to Miss Charlotte Urquhart, a native of Niagara County, Canada. Their three children are named Winnifred, Mabel and Kate. The Professor is Republican in politics, and a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. ffiSAAC THOMPSON LEAS, who has distin- guished himself principally as a successful / breeder of fine stock, is one of the valued land- marks of St. Joseph Township, where he has been an important factor of the rural community since 1860. His birth took place near Covington, the county seat of Fountain County, Ind., Oct. 27, 1833, and he traces his descendants across the water to where they originated, in England, whence they emigrated to this country in the Colonial days, set- tling in Pennsylvania. Daniel Leas, the grand- father of our subject, removed in early life from his native State of Ohio, and there reared a family of sons and daughters, among whom was George, the father of our subject. This lad, although born in Pennsylvania, was reared in Ohio, and there grew to manhood, learning the potter's trade, which he followed for several years thereafter. He was mar- ried, in 1830, to Miss Lydia, the eldest child of Abner and Huldah (Robinson) Crane. Her par- ents were natives of New Jersey, and Abner Crane was a private in the War of 1812. George Leas after his marriage removed to Foun- tain County, Ind., where he first followed his trade, and then took up farming, remaining there until his decease, in 1877. Isaac T., of our sketch, passed his boyhood and youth in his native count}' and upon reaching his majority and setting out to do for himself traced his steps to Central Illinois. He first engaged in stock-raising, meeting with unusual success, and ere long was considered an expert at his calling. In 1858 he purchased a tract of land on section 9, St. Joseph Township, to which he lias since added by degrees until he is the owner of 520 broad acres, beautifully laid off in grain fields and pasture lands, and which invariably attracts the attention of the passer-l>3' on account of its loca- tion, its handsome and substantial buildings, and the evident care and forethought exercised, both as regards the estate as a homestead and a stock farm. Of late years he has turned his attention principally to the breeding of Norman horses, and . exhibits some of the finest animals in this section of country, models of beauty and strength. In connection with his cattle operations he ships sev- eral carloads annually to Chicago and other Eastern markets, from the proceeds of which he realizes a handsome sum annually. The marriage of Isaac T. Leas and Miss Ervilla Sumner, was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents near Covington, Ind., in October, 1860. The wife of our subject is the youngest daughter of the first settler of Champaign .County, namely, Selby Sumner, who married Miss Rebecca Hatha- way. Our subject and wife became the parents of eight children, two sons and six daughters, of whom two, Nettie and Frank, are deceased. Those sur- viving are Emma, Jennie, Clara, Gertrude, Sadie and Earnest, all at home with their parents. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. The family residence is a commodious and sub- stantial structure, finely finished and furnished, and was erected in 1879. The barn in the rear had been put up two years previously. The grounds surrounding it are ample and neatly kept, and the whole has an air of plenty and comfort, refreshing to the eye. Mr. and Mrs. Leas are active members of Prairie Hope Church, in which our subject has served as Clerk for many years, and officiated as teacher in the Sabbath-school, in which he has al- ways maintained a lively interest. Their children have been carefully trained and well educated and present a group of which the parents may well be proud. f EC If: JIJ' EONARD McELWEE, a highly respected member of the farming community of St. Joseph Township, became a resident of the Prairie State when a youth of nineteen years, and located with his father's family upon the land which constitutes his present homestead. This is a good body of land, finely located, furnished with all nec- essary farm buildings, and constitutes one of the desirable homes so often seen in the district settled up by an intelligent and progressive ctass of peo- ple. Knell year adds something to its value and attractiveness, and our subject, if we ma}' judge from appearances, has availed himself uniformly of the modern improvements of the age. Mr. McElwee is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lancaster County, Nov. 29, 1837. His grand- father, John McElwee, was a prominent iron manu- facturer of that county, and a descendant of sub- stantial Scotch ancestry, possessing in a marked de- gree the qualities for which that race is noted. He married and reared a.familj' of sons and daughters, among whom was Carson J., the father of our sub- ject, who was born in Maryland in about 1811. The latter learned the carpenter's trade in his youth, but later engaged in farming. Upon assum- ing domestic ties he chose for his wife Miss Eliza, the daughter of John and Ann J. Buchanan, and going into Pennsylvania they located on a farm in Lancaster County. This, however, they only occu- pied about three years, and thence removed to fountain County, Ind., where Mr. McElwee en- tered forty acres of land, in the improvement and cultivation of which he was engaged for ten years following. lie then sold out and purchased another farm, but only remained upon it until the spring of 1856. Then, resolving to push further westward he came with his family to this county, and took possession of a tract of land on section 1, St. Joseph Township, where he remained until 1876. He then crossed the Mississippi into Cherokee County, Kan., where his death took place in 1883. The mother died on the homestead in St. Joseph Township, in August, 1864. The parental family included nine children, of whom seven lived to mature years, but three only now survive. Leonard C. of our sketch was the second born, and received his education mainly in the schools of Fountain County, Ind. He contin- ued with his parents until his marriage, coming with them to this county, but had previously formed an attachment to a young lad} 7 in Indiana, where he afterward returned, and was married in Fountain County, in the twenty-second year of his age. The maiden of his choice was Miss Anna M., daughter of David and Margaret Simons, of the latter-named county. The Simons' family first set- tled in Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ohio and afterward to Indiana. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. McElwee re- turned to this county and located upon the home- stead which had built up from the uncultivated prairie by the father of our subject. Afterward, however, they were induced to return to Indiana, where Mr. McE. rented a farm in the neighborhood where he had been reared, and which he occupied with his family thereafter ten years. Subsequently he, purchased a timber tract of eighty acres in that vicinity, of which he cleared forty. He then sold out, and returning to this county purchased his father's farm in St. Joseph Township, where he now resides. This included 120 acres of thor- oughly cultivated land, to which he has since added forty-eight acres. He also put up a good residence in 1883, and this, together with the com- modious barn and other necessary out-buildings, forms a homestead which will bear comparison with those around it in its appearance and manage- '\ .t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 201 ment. Mr. McE. has given particular attention to stock-raising, and has a number of graded animals which are in the habit of carry ing off the blue ribbon at county fairs. The six children which completed the household circle of our subject and wife, consisted of three sons and three daughters, as follows : Samira J., now the wife of Thomas F. Mapes; Charles F. ; Eliza I)., the wife of William Osborne, of Edgar Count}*; James C., who married Miss Mary Alsop; Anderson C. and Orpha D. The latter two are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. McE. are members and regular attendants of the United Brethren Church, and politically, our subject is an independent voter, aiming to support the candi- dates best qualified for office. OLOMON NOX, a prosperous farmer of Urbana Township, is one of the old settlers of this county, having come here w.ith his parents in 1827, since which time he has been continuously identified with its agricultural development. He was born in Gallia County, Ohio, near Gallipolis, May 20, 1813. His maternal grand- father was of Irish descent and was a resident of Gallia County. Our subject's father, William Nox, was a farmer by calling and born in the State of Delaware. He was twice married, his first wife, whose name was Miss Reed, leaving at her death a family of ten children. The second marriage was with Miss Mary Gillespie, a native of Virginia. Soon after his first marriage William Nox moved to Gallia County, Ohio, and located on a farm, which he cleared and improved. Before he removed to Champaign Coun- ty, 111., he had cleared and cultivated three farms in Ohio. In 18-27 he first established himself near Sid- ney, this county, which was at that time in Vermilion County, and on that farm he passed the remainder of his days. His death occurred April 4, 1840, and ' his wife died April 20. 1847. He was the father of twenty children, having had ten by each marriage. Solomon Nox was born of the second marriage and passed his early boyhood in Ohio. He was about fifteen years of age when he removed to Champaign County with his parents. He received a limited education and remained with his parents until his marriage with Miss Mary A. Busey, in 1837. She was the daughter of Matthew and Sarah Busey. Her father died in 1863, and her mother May 1 3, 1 887, aged ninety-six years. After his marriage Mr. Nox settled on a farm near Sidney, where he remained for a number of years. He then removed to his present home on section 15, in Urbana Township, the date of his locating being in the spring of 1851. His farm contains 160 acres of valuable, well-improved land. In 1862 Mr. Nox enlisted in Co. G, 36th 111. Vol. Inf., and served his country faithfully for three years. He was engaged in several battles but fortunately escaped being either wounded or taken prisoner v In August, 1865, he was mustered out, returning to his home, and resumed his former occupation of general farming. He is very success- ful in stock-raising and supervises his farm without doing much active work himself. Although in the seventy-fourth year of his age he is strong and vigorous. He voted for Gen. Grant although he is a Democrat of the old Jacksoriian school. Mr. Nox began his career in life with but little capital except his own energy, and has acquired a fine property, enabling him to pass the declining years of his life in comfort and ease. ?ILLIAM MEHARRY, for more than twenty years one of the most active and prosper- ous farmers of Champaign County, and one of the large land-owners of the Prairie State, left his rural residence and moved into the pleasant village of Tolono, where, surrounded by the comforts and luxuries of a modern home, secured through early industry and enterprise, he is passing the sun- set of life and enjoying the esteem and confidence of hosts of friends. The early years of Mr. Meharry were spent in Montgomery County, Ind., where he was born Oct. 27, 1830. He is the son of Thomas and Unity (Patton) Meharry, natives of the Buckeye State, where the father followed farming until he re- .1 202 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. moved to Indiana, where he died when seventy- four years of age. The mother, who was born Aug. 16, 1802, died Aug. 7, 1887. The seven chil- dren of the parental household are all living and re- corded as follows: Jane, the wife of Eli H. Dick, is a resident of Philo, 111.; William, of our sketch, was the second child ; Ellen, Mrs. John Martin, is a resi- dent of Montgomery County, Ind.; Jesse resides in Philo Township (see sketch) ; Polly Ann, who mar- ried Calvin McCorkle, was born July 3, 1838, and died Aug. 19, 1887; Abraham and Isaac were twins; the former is a resident of this county, and the latter occupies a part of the homestead in In- diana. Mr. Meharry remained under the home roof un- til twenty-seven years old, passing his time in as- sisting in the cultivation of the farm and in at- tendance upon the common schools. He early in life very wisely began to accumulate property. His first purchase of land was near Attica, Ind. This he tilled until 1864. In the meantime his father had purchased section 9 of Crittenden Township, this county which he gave to William, a few years later, when he sold out his property in Fountain County, Ind., and removed to the Prairie State, and in 1864 added to his landed interests by the pur- chase of section 32 of Philo Township, upon which he lived until the year 1883, and then, leaving his farm property in good shape, removed to the village of Tolono and purchased his present home, which is one of the most complete in the town. The dwelling is finished and furnished in modern style, and everything about the premises indicates culti- vated tastes and ample means. Mr. Meharry still owns the two sections of land above mentioned and a farm of 160 acres near the town limits of Tolono, besides valuable village property. His career has been marked by industry, energy and excellent judgment, and he has performed an important part in the building up of Tolono Township, and -the development of its resources. He has been honest and upright in his dealings, prompt to meet his obligations, and while enjoying the good things of this life and regard of his fellow-citizens, is simply in possession of that which he has justly earned. One of the most important events in the life of our subject, and which undoubtedly had much to do in shaping his future course, was his marriage with Miss Margaret McCorkle, which took place in 1869. Mrs. M. is a native of Putnam Count}', Ind., and their union has been blest by the birth of two daughters May and Lelia. Mr. Meharry is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and his estima- ble wife a member in good standing of the Presby- terian Church. The portrait department of the BIOGRAPHICAL Ai.itrM of Champaign County is greatly enhanced by including in it a likeness of this prominent and wealthy citizen. OBERT M. PORTERFIELD, a prominent hardware merchant of Sidney, was born in Armstrong County, Pa., Sept. 23, 1847. His parents were R. G. and Hannah (Campbell) Porterfield. His father was born May 31, 1814, and his mother Jan. 22, 1815. They were reared in Arm- strong County, and were there married May 16, 1837. In 1867 R. G. and Hannah Porterfield moved from Pennsylvania to Sidney, this county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The former died Oct. 22, 1872, and his wife Feb. 25, 1879. Robert M. Porterfield was the^sixth in order of birth in a family of ten children, of whom the record is as follows: Nancy became the wife of George Forsy th, and is now deceased ; L. C. married Miss Mary A. Toy, and they live in Sidney Township; Sarah is deceased; S. A. married Miss Lydia Williams, who is deceased; Malinda, formerly the wife of George Wilson, is also dead ; Robert M. is the subject of this sketch ; Mary E. is single; J. W. is deceased; Hannah M. is the wife of John Kennie, and they reside in Sidney Town- ship, and Martha A. is dead. Robert M. Porterfield was married to Miss Maggie Hunter, Oct. 31, 1876. She was born Jan. 16, 1853, and is the daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Fleming) Hunter. Her father was a prominent merchant, and was born in Armstrong County, Pa., July 21, 1826. Both parents died in Pennsylvania. Their family consisted of four children, of whom Margaret was the third in order of birth. The '4 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 203 others' were John, William and Tillie. The latter, who is the wife of Samuel Beck, lives in Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. Porterfleld has become the mother of four interesting children, namely : Ira B., born Oct. 15, 1877; Charles C., Oct. 22, 1880; Frank M., Dec. 30, 1882, and Zula V., Jan. 13, 1885. Mr. Porterfleld is the owner of an extensive and highly cultivated farm, being the southeast quarter of section 22, Sidney Township. His farm is ex- cellently managed, and successfully carried on with the aid of all the best modern appliances. He also owns three well-improved town lots, upon which is erected one of the most elegant frame residences in the place. It is surrounded by an extensive lawn, planted with evergreen shrubbery and the fin- est hard maple trees in the township. His house and barn are unsurpassed by any in the county, everything within and without bearing witness to the cultured taste of its owner. Mr. Porterfteld and his wife are members in high standing of the Methodist Church. His political sympathies are with the Republican party. IfclLLISON HA WORTH. This gentleman has attained quite a reputation in Stanton Township and vicinity, as a stock-raiser and feeder, and dealer in Durham cattle. He is essen- tially a self-made man. provided with but limited advantages in his youth, but who, with the aid of his natural talents and industry, has secured a com- petency and a good position socially among his fellow-men. His real estate consists of a good farm located on section 27, which is provided with a complete family residence, a convenient and sub- stantial barn, and a proper assortment of valuable modern machinery. Our subject is a native of this State, born at Ver- milion Grove, Dec. 10, 1835. His parents, David and Miiriam (Mills) Haworth, were also natives of Ver- milion County, where they were reared and married, and where the mother is still living on the old homestead. David Haworth departed this life July 25, 1876. The eleven children of the household included eight sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to mature years and present one of the finest families found in the Prairie State. Willison, the subject of this sketch, is the oldest; Clayborn married Miss Esther Williams; Maria died .Sept. 1, 1864; James W., married Miss Rose Porter, of Ver- milion County; Elvin is living in California; John married Miss Ann Sigler, of Vermilion County, and went to Colorado, dying at Golden, that State, April 11, 1880. His wife died two years later, leaving two children, both now living. Beriah mar- ried Miss Anna Lewis, and is farming on the old homestead in Vermilion County; Horace married Miss Dora Kennedy; Mary J. became the wife of James Jndd ; Cecelia is the wife of Joseph Cook, and Lindley married Miss Mollie Hoskins. These are living in Vermilion County, mostly engaged in farming pursuits. The subject of our sketch passed his early days in his native county, and chose from its daughters Miss Martha E. Judd, who became his wife Feb. 28, 1861. Mrs. Haworth is the daughter of Syl- vester R. and Eliza (Gowen) Judd, being the third of eleven children born to her parents, of whom only five are living. The mother is living and a resident of Champaign County. Her brothers and sisters are recorded as follows: James H. married Miss Haworth ; Thomas married Carrie Cline, and is a resident of Fulton County, 111. ; Martha E. is the wife of our subject; Josephine married James Mundy; Lorena is the wife of Eli Stratton, of Somers Township. The father of Mrs. Haworth was born in Kentucky, March 7, 1812. He was a miller by trade and a man generally respected in his community, being a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and holding the various town- ship offices. He died at Georgetown, in this State, on the 5th of May, 1877. The -mother was born Sept, 27, 1818, and is still living among her children. She became connected with the Christian Church at an early day, of which she has remained a consist- ent member to this time. Three sons of the family served as Union soldiers in the late war, all in Illi- nois regiments, and afterward returned safely to their homes. Mr. and Mrs. Haworth after their marriage, lo- cated first in Vermilion County, where they lived two years, and in the spring of 1863 took up their residence in Stanton Township, upon the eighty t. 204 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. acres of land which Mr. II. had purchased, :md which is now included in the homestead. He after- ward purchased forty acres additional, which makes a farm of 120 acres, upon which he has effected fine improvements, setting out a good orchard, building neat fences, and in 1 882 put up a residence, which, with its adjacent buildings, is not excelled by any in the county. The live-stock is of excel- lent quality and receives the best of care. None of the land is allowed to run to waste, being utilized either in pasturage or the growing of grain and other -crops, either for market or the use of the household. Their two children are daughters. Flora E. is now the wife of Milton Simcox, of Stan- ton Township; Maria T., a music teacher, remains at home with her p_arents. The grandparents of our subject, John and Cecilia Haworth, were natives of North] Carolina- They spent their last days in Vermilion County, and their children became residents of this State, where some of them spent the remainder of their lives. The Haworths were of English ancestry, and were Quakers on both sides of the family. Willison, of our sketch, cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and his last one for James G. Blaine, indicating that for a period of nearly thirty years he has been connected with the Republican party. (,-ILLIAM HENDERSON. On section in, in Homer Township, is located one of the best conducted farms in that locality, owned and occupied by the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He is the de- scendant of an excellent family who were of strong and sturdy character, possessing the spirit of the pioneer days, and who worked hand in hand with the courageous colonists, who, from time to time, left their homes in the East, or the other side of the Atlantic, to found new associations and build up new homes in an untried country. The parents of our subject, Alexander and Isabella (Chapman) Henderson, were natives respectively of North Carolina and Ohio, the former born Sept. C, 1815, and the latter Dec. 31, 181!). Both are still living, and residents of Montgomery County, Ind., and the father is in a moderate way carrying on agri- culture, with which he has been familiar through life. Alexander Henderson and his wife were careful and conscientious in their lives, and trained up their children in those moral and religious princi- ples which formed the basis of their own course in life. They were married on the 1 1th of Novem- ber, 1838, and in early life identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the father has been Steward and otherwise prominently connected with it for many years. He was a man of much force of character, and great energy and industry, which qualities have become but little lessened by the flight of years, and he is now in the enjoyment of a competency. The ten children of the parental household are recorded as follows: Elizabeth, who became the wife of J. W. Hendrick, died at the home of her husband in Indiana in 1874; William, of our sketch, was the second child; Amanda became the second wife of J. W. Hendrick; James married Miss Amanda Thomas; Milton mar- ried Miss Sarah Macomb; Mary became the wife of Simon Lynch; Alice is the wife of George Munns; Martha is Mrs. James Miller, and John married Miss Jennie Quick. One child died in infancy un- named. William Henderson, of our sketch, is a native of Parke County, Ind., and was born Feb. 17, 1841. He received thorough training in agricultural pur- suits, and, considering his early education and asso- ciations, it is not to be wondered at that he is more than ordinarily skillful in his tilling of the soil and the breeding of fine stock, to the latter of which he has given much attention, especially of late years. The youth and boyhood of our subject were passed mostly upon the farm and in attendance at the dis- trict schools. The pleasures of the young people of those days were simple and few, but it is proba- ble that they reaped fully as much enjoyment as do the sons and daughters of the present age, with their more expensive tastes. He was employed as a teacher at intervals for a period of ten years, making an excellent tutor and instructor. After the breaking out of the late war, and while in Indiana, resolving to become a Union soldier, Mr. II. enlisted in the 72d Indiana Infantry, and i pm CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 205 served three year:; in Cum puny B. In the mean- time he was promoted Corporal. He participated with his comrades in many important battles, in- cluding the fight at Chickamanga, and served with the Army of the Cumberland the greater portion ' of the time. Although experiencing many hair- breadth escapes, enduring wearisome marches and other hardships connected with a soldier's life, he escaped without serious injury, and received his honorable discharge on the Oth of July, 1865. Our subject then came to Illinois, and after teaching school a part of one season returned to Indiana, where he was married. He had already become proprietor of 150 acres of land, upon which he now located, and occupied his time in improv- ing his farm during the summer seasons, while in thn winter he added to his income by teaching. His present homestead embraces 110 acres of land, which by constant and careful cultivation will now compare with the soil of any farm in its vicinity. All the farm stock is well cared for and in good condition, together with the machinery, fences, buildings, and everything about the place. In his various enterprises Mr. H. ha~s been at- tended by his faithful wife and companion, who be- came the sharer of his home and fortunes on the 28th of March, 1867. This lady, formerly Miss Nancy J. Hoff, is also a native of Indiana, born Oct. 15, 1848, and the daughter of James and Han- nah (Barnett) Hoff, of Ohio. The ceremony which united her with William Henderson was performed by Squire J. T. Miller, of Waynetown, Ind., the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents near that city. Her father, James Hoff, was born in Ohio, June 27, 1823, and is still living on his farm near Waynetown. His wife, Hannah, a native of the same State, was born Sept. 18, 1826, and died very suddenly of heart disease, on Sun- day morning, July 11, 1886, on the old homestead. The four children of this household were, Nancy J., the wife of our subject; Jernsha A., who married Ambrose Fruits; Mnhala, who became the wife of Samuel Nixon, and Emma, who died of typhoid fever on the 25th of November, 1882. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. William Hen- derson are recorded as follows: Minnie was born Feb. 24, 1868; Edgar, born Oct. 20, 1809, died Oct. 6, 1870; Alice, born Feb. 23, 1871, died Aug. 19. 1872; Oscar was born Sept. 1, 1872; Emma, Oct. 22, 1877, and Alma, Nov. 20, 1881. Mr. Hender- son, with his wife and children, attends the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Lost Grove, where our subject is Steward and Trustee, and for several years has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is especially active in all matters pertaining to religious work, and has been one of the first in or- ganizing societies and encouraging the erection of church buildings. He was a member of the first committee appointed to undertake the erection of the Methodist Church in Lost Grove, and has con- tributed liberally toward the support of the society, keeping up the Sunday-school and assisting in fur- nishing the house of worship with the conveniences necessary to make it an attractive resort for the young and a place of comfort for the old. Politi- cally he affiliates with the Republican party, and has served as School Trustee in Homer Township for a period of fifteen years. AMES H. FLATT, who is located on sec- tion 17, Somer Township, is a native of the Province of Ontario, Canada, and was born near the city of Hamilton, June 20, 1831. When fifteen years of age he started out in life to battle for himself, and coming to the States pro- ceeded westward to Lee County, 111., where he was engaged as a farm laborer for a period of seven years, with the exception of a time when he was ly- ing ill. The balance of the time was principally spent in working hard to pa3' the doctor's bill, which amounted to at least $100 per year. Not- withstanding this outlay and the low price paid for labor in those days, he managed to save something from his wages. In 1858 he returned to his old home in Canada, where he leased the farm for seven years, spending that time, however, for naught, as the venture did not prove successful. In the midst of his difficulties, however, Mr. Flatt found one true friend and sympathizer who was willing to share his fortunes for better or for worse. This vvas Miss Lovila Matilda Campbell, who be- came his wife on the 25th of November, 1858. She i 206 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 was the daughter of Louis Campbell, of Hamilton, Ontario, and was born not far from the birthplace of her husband. Resolving to again make his home in the West, Mr. Flatt, with his wife, came to Sa- dorus Township, this county, where he rented a tract of land, which he cultivated five years with fair success, and from the proceeds of which he was enabled to purchase 1 60 acres of raw prairie on sec- tion 22, in Sadorus Township. He at once com- menced the improvement of this property, and la- bored thereon for fifteen years following, until 1883. His fortunes had greatly mended, and he now dis- posed of his farm in order to purchase 357 acres, lying along the Illinois Central Railroad, in Somer Township, five miles northeast of Champaign. Robert Flatt, the father of our subject, was a Scotchman by birth, and died in the prime of life when James H., of our sketch, was but a lad. He was possessed of moderate means, his estate includ- ing seventy-five acres of land, which is now owned by his son William. The maiden name of the mother was Mary Baker. She was born in Penn- sylvania, and is still living, making her home with Jennett Flatt, at Waterville, Canada, and having arrived at the advanced age of eighty-six years. The parental household included twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, of whom five sons and four daughters arc still living. Margaret be- came the wife of Samuel Mordeu, and resides in the Province of Ontario; Abram married Miss Betsey Long, and is now a resident of Fairbury, 111. ; Will- iam married Miss Eleanor Boyle, and they are liv- ing on the homestead in Ontario; Fannie is the wife of Ed. Brown; Sarah, Samuel, Jenuettand John, are all residents of Ontario, and all, with one exception, have families of their own. The early education of our subject, with that of his brothers and sisters, was obtained in the old log school-house, with its seats and desks rudely fashioned out of slabs, and the other primitive fur- nishings of the pioneer days. Notwithstanding his limited advantages, Mr. Flatt is a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence; one who has kept his eyes open to what was going on around him, and made the most of his opportunities. Since com- ing to this county he has been quite prominent in local affairs, the excellent character of the man and his value as a citizen receiving ready recognition. He is a believer in the Christian religion, and socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity, whose principles he learned to admire many years ago, be- ing made a Mason in about 1875. He now belongs to Lodge No. 537, at Sadorus. Politically he exerts his influence in support of Republican principles. At the time of coming to this vicinity, much of the land adjacent was considered absolutely worth- less. After the advent, however, of a few intelli- gent men, who understood drainage and the benefits arising from it, the Beaver Lake Drainage Associa- tion was formed, and Mr. Flatt became prominently identified with this, the result being that through the efforts of himself and others as persevering; a tract of territory was redeemed from the swamps and brought to a tillable condition. The record of the seven living children of Mr. and Mrs. Flatt is as follows: Orrnand married Miss Harriet Ann Rock, and lives in Sadorus Township; James Alvah married Miss Mary Earl, and located in Somer Township; Lovila Annis became the wife of George M. Fowler; those unmarried arc Sarah, Carrie, George and Edward. Ira W. and Charlotte Edgar are now deceased. Mrs. James H. Flatt is the daughter of Lewis and Jemima (Roy) Camp- bell, both natives of New Jersey. The father was born in 1799, and died July 3, 1877, being buried on the following day. He was a good man in every sense of the wqrd, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Campbell was born Sept. 16, 1805, and is still living, making her home in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. The children of the parental household are re- corded as follows: The eldest son, Daniel R., died when thirty years of age; Samuel S. upon leaving the parental roof located in St. Joseph County, Mich., and was afterward elected to the office of Road Commissioner. One day he sent his men to work informing them he would soon follow. He has never been seen by his friends since that day, although supposed to be still living; he was unmar- ried. Elizabeth T. died when twelve years of age; Lovila M. is the wife of our subject; Joseph R. married Miss Hannah Fcatherstone, and is carrying on a farm near Ft. Dodge, Iowa; Jemima A. be- came the wife of James Barlow, who is engaged in ^ T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 207 handling agricultural implements in Wise County, Tex.; Mary L.. the wife of Charles F. Flavveling, is living in this county; Carrie S., Mrs. J. Herod, is a resident of Texas; David L. married Miss Eleanor Hall, and is living in Sadorus Township; Margaret A., died in 1870, when about twenty-two years of age. No man is held in higher respect in Champaign County than James II. Flatt. As a man, citizen and farmer he is filling his niche in life most worth- ily, and present? in his daily walk an example worthy of imitation as a Christian gentleman of the noblest impulses, having a good influence upon all with whom he associates. His intelligence has led him to keenly appreciate the westward march of civilization, and he has taken great satisfaction in the prosperity of his adopted State, identifying himself with its interests, and jealous of its reputation as a commonwealth. No man feeling thus can fail be- ing of groat value to a county and a community. There is no truer saying than "that the works of men live after them," and Mr. Flatt will leave to his descendants a life history which they will be proud to peruse and to teach their children when he shall have passed from the scenes of his earthly labor. AVID B. GEORGE took possession of his present homestead on section 2, in Tolono Township, on the 10th of March, 1885. He was born in McLean County, this State, July 30, 1856, and is the son of James S. and Eliza- beth (Bennett) George, who are still residents of the township of Dauvers in that county. Our sub- ject was reared to farming pursuits, and received a good common-school education, supplemented by a full term at the Business College at Bloom- ington, whence he graduated in 1879. After leaving school he returned to the farm, where he continued until the fall of 1880. He was married, November 6 of that year, to Miss Charity M., daughter of Nathaniel and Margaret (McCullongh) Perry. Mrs. G. was born in McLean County in 1861, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of two children Clyde and Scdella May. After marriage, Mr. George followed farming in his native county until 1885, then sold out and re- moved to his present homestead. This embraces 1 60 acres, fairly improved and provided with a com- fortable dwelling and barn. Mr. George has not yet reached middle life, in fact has only just begun as a member of the fanning community, and bids fair to become one of its valued factors. He is in- telligent and well informed, has held the various local odices of his township, and politically casts his vote with the Democratic party. A lithographic view of his handsome residence is shown on another page of this work. James S. George, the father of our subject, is pleasantly located on section 36, Danvers Town- ship, McLean County, where he is engaged as a far- mer and carpenter. He is a native of Pendleton County, Va., and was born on the 24th of March, 1824. His parents were William and Mary A. (Hawkins) George, both natives of Virginia, and the mother of German ancestry. William George was a carpenter by trade; he was born in 1796, and removed to Champaign County, 111., where he died in April, 1875. The parents were married in Hamp- shire County, Va., in 1816, the mother being eight- een years old. She removed with her husband to Illinois, and died of cholera in Danvers Township in 1854, at the age of fifty-four years. The parental household included the following children : Samuel married Miss Rebecca Idleman, in Virginia; John died of cholera in 1 854; Thomas married Miss Col- lins Betts; James S. is our subject; Catharine, Mrs. Simons, lives in Harrison County, W. Va. ; Elsie, the wife of Elijah White, resides in Randolph County, W. Va. ; Mary became the wife of William Brown, of Virginia; Sarah married Silas Smith, of Tazewell Count}', 111.; Rebecca married William Emmett, of Tazewell County, 111.; William mar- ried Miss E. Deraming, of McLean County; Abraham and Isaac were twins; the first married Miss Goram, and Isaac married Miss R. Cook, of McLean County, 111. James S. George became a resident of the Prai- rie State in 1852, and for two years followed the trade of a carpenter. Not being quite satisfied with the results in this direction, he took up fanning pursuits, locating on the tract of land which lie now owns and occupies. He is making a specialty of , ' 208 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. stock-raising, and deals in high-grade Short-horn cattle. After coming to Illinois, Mr. George was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Bennett, on the 1 2th of Sep- tember, 1853, in Tazewell County. Mrs. George was born in Virginia, on the 12th of September, 1829, and is the daughter of John and Catharine (Grapes) Bennett, natives of the same State, the father born in 1797. He emigrated to Iowa after his marriage, and died there in 1873. The mother died in Tazewell County, 'this State, in 1836, leav- ing four children, two boys and two girls. Eliza married John Roarbeck-; Elizabeth, Mrs. George, is the second child; David married Miss Salina Green; William was killed by lightning when sixteen years old. The education of Mr. and Mrs. George was necessarily somewhat limited, their parents being pioneers of a new country, and schooling facilities very meager. Realizing the advantages of mental culture they have given their children the best ad- vantages which the schools of the present day af- ford. Of these children, John died of cholera, in 1854; David B. married Miss Charity Perry ; James W., Ida and Elmer are at home. While Mr. and Mrs. George have not identified themselves with any church organization they are firm believers in the Scriptures, and endeavor to follow the precepts of the Golden Rule. Mr. George is Democratic in politics, and in all respects is a worthy citizen and a valued member of society. -*- y Cf THE ; ( if UIHOIS f -*- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 211 lie bought forty acres of partly improved land, and afterward purchased the interest of tin- other heirs to the estate of which his land formed a part. This constituted a fine property of 240 acres, and from this handsome beginning he steadily pro- gressed to his present position. The marriage of Lewis Kuder and Miss Susanna Wood was celebrated in 1844. Mrs. Kuder was the fourth in a family of sixteen children born to Henry and Nancy (Hoover) Wood. Her father was a native of Virginia, the son of John and Mary (Harper) Wood, also of the Old Dominion. Her mother, a native of Ohio, was the daughter of Daniel and Nancy Hoover, who were natives of Virginia, of German descent. Mrs. Kuder was born neir London, Madison Co., Ohio, Oct. 14, 1826. Mr. Kuder and his wife settled on the Kerr Town- ship farm in 1845. Their first dwelling was a small cabin, located there when our subject purchased the land. Thirty years ago he built a fine resi- dence, which is now in an excellent state of preserv- ation, and is occupied by his family. In 1869 he erected a fine, commodious barn, which accommo- dates a large number of horses and cattle. When Mr. Kuder first settled in Kerr Township there were but three cabins within live miles of his farm. Deer and wolves roamed over the prairie and the grass was as high as his little cabin. Dur- ing the first few years of his residence on the farm he continued to follow his trade, and employed help to run the farm, but a freshet having occurred which swept away many of his valuable horses, cattle and hogs, he gave up his trade and took charge of the farm himself. Among the improve- ments which he has instituted are five artesian wells which supply his stock with an abundance of the best water, and he annually replenishes his pastures with large numbers of young cattle, purchased chiefly from the best to be found in the Chicago market. Mr. Kuder and his wife have had a family of nine children Henry, Candus, Nancy, Sarah, Al- bert, Lincoln, Lydia, and two who died in infancy unnamed. Only two are now living, Albert and Lincoln, who arc married, and sketches of whom ap- pear elsewhere in this work. Mr. Kuder 1ms served as Supervisor of Kerr Township for several terms, and has held various local offices, but his farm in- terests require so much of his time that he has of late declined assuming additional cares, although he attends important elections, and is one of the most conscientious voters of the Republican party. A view of the handsome home farm of Mr. Kuder is shown on an adjoining page; also the residences of his two sons, who have inherited the thrift and energy of the father and arc already numbered among the important members of the agricultural community. OHN W. PARK, who became a resident of Champaign County in the fall of 1863, is widely and favorably known in this locality as having at one time been one of its most extensive land-owners, and at one time the pro- prietor of 700 acres in one body. Although now retired from active labor, he is still possessed of 272 acres in Mahomet Township, which is operated by a tenant, but whose cultivation he superintends with the same good 'judgment as of old. He also owns 320 acres in Sherburne County, Minn. He now owns and occupies a pleasant home in Ma- homet, besides other valuable village property. Mr. Park is a native of Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson Co., Ohio, and was born'Oct. 14, 1813. His par- ents were John and Elizabeth (Hannah) Park, both natives of Virginia, where they were married and located for a time after. They afterward removed to Ohio, and from there to Kentucky, returning finally to the Buckeye State and settling in Clarke County, of which they- remained residents for sev- eral years. Afterward they lived in Marion and Ottawa Counties, where John Park was engaged in farming and butchering, and where both parents died. The household included five sons and three daughters. John W. Park remained with his parents until he was of age, and then commenced fanning on his own account. He was married in Ottawa County, Ohio, March 17, 1844, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Solomon and Sallie (Arnold) Streeter, both na- tives of New Hampshire, who, after, their marriage, located first in Genesee County, N. Y., whence 212 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. they removed to Huron County, Ohio, and from there to Ottawa County, same State, where they passed tin: remainder of their lives. They reared a family of ten children, three boys and seven girls, of whom Caroline, Mrs. Park, was the eighth. She was born in Genesee County. Dec. 12, 1824, and by her marriage witli our subject became the mother of eleven children, seven of whom survive. Elizabeth A., the eldest, met her death by drown- ing in the Sangamon Uiver, when twenty-two years old; David G., the youngest, and two others, un- named, died in infancy; Mary .1. is the wife of William II. Paisley, who is farming in Mahomet Township; William W. married Miss Alice Clark, and is living in Kansas; James S. married Miss Sarah Angeline C'onniar, and lives in Nebraska; Clarissa I. is the wife of J. II. Hume, and lives in Mahomet Township; Caroline F., Mrs. William Harland, resides with her husband in Kureka, 111.; Abraham L. married Miss E. M. Kilgorc. and lives in Mahomet Township; Hugh V. is at home with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Park are members in good stand- ing of the Baptist Church, and our subject, politi- cally, is a warm adherent of Republican principle. He has taken a genuine interest in the progress and welfa're of his township, and has served as Trustee of Mahomet Village. ISAAC BROWN, who makes a specialty of breeding fine stock, owns and occupies ICO acres of good land on section 21, in Homer Township, of which he took possession in 1857. He has a good residence, a substantial barn, and all the other b'uildings necessary for convenience and comfort, and his fields are tenanted by high- grade Short-horn cattle, his stables with line horses, and various pens adjacent contain a fine assortment of Poland-China hogs. Among his horses is one especially fine stallion, Bonny B., sixteen hands high, a bright bay in color, and besides this valua- ble animal he has a number of English carriage horses. He has gained an enviable reputation in this locality as a breeder and stock-dealer, and ex- I hibits some of the finest animals in Central Illi- nois. Mr. Brown comes of stanch Pennsylvania stock, his parents having been George W. and Ruth (Rogers) Brown, natives of the Keystone State. and the father a farmer by occupation. He was born in 1807, and died in Homer Township, Sept. 13, 1884. The mother was born in 1808, and died on the old homestead in Homer Township, Jan. 13, 1872. Both parents were members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and the father a Democrat in politics. Their five children, all born in Penn- sylvania except the youngest, who was born in Ohio, were Ann M., who only lived to be four years of age; Isaac, of our sketch; David, John and William M. The latter followed farming, and died at his home in Homer Township on the 13th of November, 1871. The youth and boyhood of Isaac Brown were spent mostly in his native State occupied in agri- cultural pursuits. In September, 1857, deciding to change his location, he came to this State and county, locating near the town of Sidney. He was there employed at farming until purchasing the land in Homer Township where he is now living. He was first married in Indiana to Miss Sarah C. Cunningham, Dec. 25, 18(54. Nine years later this lady passed from earth at the age of thirty-one years, her death taking place on the 1st of April, 1873. The seven children born of this union were George L. and Laura B., twins, born Dec. 25, 1865 ; William O., March 7, 1868; Irvin C., Dec. 23, 1870; . Elizabeth O., Sept. 21, 1872. The next child died in infancy unnamed, and the youngest was James A., born March 26, 1873. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Dec. 23, 1875, was formerly Miss Lucinda Forbis, a na- tive of Madison County, Ohio, whose birth took place at the home of her parents in Paint Town- ship, Nov. 22, 1846. This lady became the mother of six children, viz., Francis R. and Minnie, died in infancy; Milo E. was born March 15, 1871); Jessie W., May 8, 1881 ; Charles D.,Sept. 26, 1883, and Clarence, Sept. 28, 1885. Mr. Brown has been an Elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and is independ- ent in politics. He carries on the operations of his t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 213 farm and the breeding of stock after the most ap- proved modern methods, and everything about his premises indicates the enterprise and thrift of its proprietor. A lithographic view of the place and surroundings is shown on another page. George W. Brown, the father of our subject, was born in Fayette County, Pa., Jan 24, 1807, and died Sept. 13, 1884. He removed from his native State in 1836, and four years later purchased 157 acres of land in Fayette County. To this he added fifty-seven acres, and afterward sold the whole with a view of coming to this State. He started from Ohio Sept. 13, 1857, landing in this county thirteen days later, and purchased 3G9 acres of land in Homer Township, which he occupied for a period of twenty-seven years, effecting many improve- ments, and becoming one of the most important members' of the farming community of that section. He was for many years a member of the Methodist Church, Democratic in politics, and a man straight and strict in his business affairs. He became very successful, and at his death had accumulated a large property. He was noted for his industry and frugality, and was the most highly respected by those who knew him best, being greatly missed by his near friends and neighbors when his earthly labors had ended. While in Ohio he occupied the office of Justice of the Peace for fifteen years. -*>- <\f| ACOB TINDALL. This gentleman in 1 876, after having been successfully engaged in various enterprises, in all of which he was remarkably successful, turned his attention to farming pursuits, and selected for his future operations a fine tract of land consisting of 191 acres on section 31. in Homer Township. He had abundant faith in his venture, and time has proved that he was correct in regard to the capacities of the soil and his own judgment in presiding over its cultivation. The farm is finely laid off in pasture lands and grain fields, Mr. Tindall devoting his at- tention principally to the breeding of fine Short-horn cattle. It is said by those who are judges of stock, that his animals are scarcely to be equaled in any section of the State. He 1ms been particularly fortunate in his selections, and they have been given the care and treatment necessary to the develop- ment of their finest points. Our subject's birth took place in Morgan County, i this State, on the 10th of April, 1840. His par- ents were Jacob T. and Isabella (Ferguson) Tin- dall; the former born in Delaware, in February, 1800, and the latter in the city of Baltimore, Nov. 30, 1805. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Robert Ferguson, of Scotland. Jacob Tindall in early life learned the trade of a carpen- ter in Philadelphia, Pa., and for many years was in the employ of the well-known capitalist, Stephen Girard. Later he removed to Morgan County, 111., and engaged in farming pursuits. He was a man of limited education, quiet in his habits, and was a keen but silent observer of what was going on around him, thus gaining a good fund of gen- eral information. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity during the early years of its organization, and was a man of deep religious con- victions, being connected with the Christian Church, and was often the host of Alexander Campbell, who put up at his house and shared his hospitality. The mother was a member of the same church, and is still living, making her home in Jacksonville, 111. Jacob Tindall, Jr., remained a resident of his native county until reaching manhood, in the meantime receiving a common-school education and learning the trade of a carpenter from his father. He was occupied by the latter until the breaking out of the Rebellion, and enlisted first with the 100-days' men in the 145th Illinois In- fantry. At the expiration of that time, determining to see the fight to the end, he re-enlisted in> Co. E, 58th 111. Vol. Inf., as a private, being mustered in at Camp Butler for the three years' service. He was soon promoted First Sergeant. With his com- rades he followed the fortunes of the regiment in its tedious marching through the South and its various encounters with the enemy, being present at the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and engaged in many other important battles of the war. At its close he received his honorable discharge and f f > 214 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. returned to his home in .Morgan County, where he resinned his trade of a carpenter. In 1805 Mr. Tindall crossed the Mississippi and went over into Missouri, where, for eight months following, he was employed as clerk in a drug- store. Upon returning to Illinois he took up his abode in Aycrs Township, this county, and for the (irst time in his life began to work on a farm, not as a laborer, but as foreman of a tract which was called the Broad Lands, owned by John Alexander. Two years later he was promoted, and given larger liberties and more responsibilities. At the end of three years, during which time he had been econom- ical and saved quite a little sum of money, he was enabled to purchase a quarter section of land in Vermilion County. This he sold a year later, and receiving a tempting offer to engage in the drug business, purchased stock and set up a store, which he conducted for three years. At the end of this time he sold out, and going to Danville engaged in the livery business. This also proved a fortunate venture, and at the end of two years he was en- abled to purchase a valuable tract of 191 acres, which he still owns and occupies. In the spring of 1885 his house was destroyed by fire. He then moved a house from another part of the farm, and is now living in it. The lady who for the last seventeen years has presided with dignity and excellent judgment over his household affairs, and has proved herself full worthy to have been the companion of her hus- band, was in her girlhood Miss Ella M. Holmes, to whom he was married the 29th of December, 1870, the service being performed by Rev. Heath, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Tindall is a native of the same county as her husband, and was born Nov. 10, 1844. Her parents, Robert and Mary (Leach) Holmes, were natives of England, the fatlier born in Scarborough and the mother in Gool. The mother had been previously married to a Mr. Martin. Her death took place in Morgan County, April 28, 1858. Robert Holmes died Sept. 13, 1847. Mrs. Tindall was reared by her grandparents in Morgan County, 111. The children of our subject and wife were born as follows: Robert E., born April 12,1872, died the 6th of .Inly following; Almah I., born March 3, 1874, died Aug. 17, 1875; Mary V., born Aug. 19, 1877; Ella .!., Dec. 10, 187!). .Mr. and Mrs. Tindall after their marriage, located in Vermilion County, where they lived until taking possession of their present farm. Politically.. .Mr. T. is a li true-blue" Republican, and has held var- ious township offices, being Commissioner of High- ways three years, a member of the Town Board for five years, and School Trustee. He is connected with the I. O. O. F., Lima Lodge No. 4, and En- campment No. 9, at Jacksonville. He also be- longs to Homer Lodge No. 199, A. F. ^.+".s- t >-,^.-'5'f' --.-^ ci- x^rras-ir-^-xit^i* r ' y^^-HJ ^ V"1''^- C *- y --V^^T^%r?. eC ,-*,^ZV ,^ J '-rr-* j -f'\-C. j5r.%ai'^,<.^X_..~r-;^x- -rr^.-^-- - - 1-.-2'' '.^ < ^l"*_^^Sl;(f RESIDENCE OF G.W.GRISWOLD,SEC. 17 ,HARWOOD TOWNSHIP. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 229 , , of Commodore Perry's fleet for the memorable cruise on Lake Erie. He witnessed the Indian war dance and the bloody massacre which followed, and during the early days of the settlement of Penn- sylvania, incurred, in common with those around him, the dangers and hardships of life in the wilder- ness. Henry Sadorus lived, however, to note the disap- pearance of the untamed savages, and to behold the native soil, where many years before had roamed wild animals and Indians, cultivated by the civil- ized whites and teeming with settlements. Upon coming to Illinois' his rich experience enabled him at once to grasp the duties of the pioneer, which he performed in a manner worthy his high character and the principles which had ruled his life. He was a citizen who enjoyed in a marked degree the re- spect of those around him, and of whom still fur- ther mention is made in the biography of his sons. ., LEXANDER YEXLEY. Oil made his first advent \ This gentleman into Champaign County thirty years ago, in 1857. He is thoroughly acquainted with the vicissitudes of pioneer life, having had a rare experience with the difficulties of a new country, his first experi- ence having been when he was a boy in the Buck- eye State, to which he had emigrated with his par- ents from his native city of Quebec, Ontario, Canada. There he first opened his eyes to the light on the 24th of May, 1 834. His father, Alexander Yexley, Sr., was born in the city of London, En- gland, where he grew to manhood, was married, and soon afterward emigrated to America. He was a horse-trainer by profession, which he followed until his death, which occurred in 1835. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Mary J. Brown, also a native of London. Their son, our subject, was but a year old when his father died. . The mother was subsequently mar- ried to W. Wood, and they removed to New York State, where they lived for a short time, thence going to Toledo, Ohio, and afterward into Defiance County, that State, where Mrs. Wood still lives. Mr. Yexley of our sketch was but a child when i his mother became a resident of Defiance County, Ohio. They located on the present site of Hicks- ville, which was then a wilderness, and the boy as- sisted in clearing a farm and establishing a comf orta- able home, remaining with his mother until eight- een years old, when he paid his stepfather $30 for his time, and started out for himself. He com- menced working for $8 a month, but his wages were raised as his usefulness increased, never, however, going over $14. When twenty-one years old he commenced dealing in stock, in which he was occupied until 1857. In that year he decided to tiy his fortunes in the farther West, and made the journey overland into Illinois, bringing with him four horses and selling three after his arrival. Coming into this county he commenced to break- prairie at $20 per month and during the summer season worked in the harvest field. In December of that year he returned to Ohio and resumed his stock operations, to which he also added that of a lively trade in furs. In 1863 Mr. Yexley returned to this county and purchased the farm which he now owns and occu- pies. Its condition, however, is now widely differ- ent from that in which he found it. There was then a house of one room, very little of the land was enclosed, and but a few acres had been turned by the plow. The passing traveler now descries an attractive homestead with shapely and substantial farm buildings, and the land under a good state of cultivation. Everything about the premises de- notes the supervision of the intelligent modern farmer. The lady who has been the sharer of the labors and successes of our subject, and to whom he was married Nov. 28, 1857, was formerly Miss Jane Ham. She was born in Fayette County, Pa., May 23, 1841, and is the daughter of Bartholomew and Lucinda Ham, natives of Virginia. Mr. Ham re- moved from his native State to Ohio at an early period in the settlement of Fayette County, where he was one of the first pioneers. He cleared a farm from the wilderness and built a comfortable home which he occupied for many years. In 1851 he came to Illinois, locating first in Piatt County, and after operating there five years on rented land en- tered a claim in Condit Township, this county, ' t t t 230 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. which bfcaiiie his home until about 18GO. He is now :i ivsiilent of Fisher. .Mr. anil Mrs. Yexley have become the parents of live children, namely: Lillie V., the wife of Will- iam .1'orter. of Merrick County, Neb.; Alta M., Tina 15., George A. and Katie M. Mrs. Y. is con- nected with the Methodist Church ; our subject po- litically is a supporter of Republican principles. LEXANDER P. WI1ITMORE owns and occupies one of the finest farms in Philo Township, which is located on section 4, and invariably attracts the attention of the passing traveler on account of the beauty of its location, the tasteful and imposing residence, and the substantial barn situated in the midst of fine grounds, everything indicating the cultivated tastes and ample means of the proprietor. Our subject purchased his present homestead in 1873. but did not take possession until four years later. It com- prises 164 acres drained by 500 rods of tile, in- closed with substantial fencing and cultivated by means of the most improved machinery. Mr. Whitmore has been a resident of Champaign County since 1865, arriving here on the 14th of April, the day made memorable by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He located in the city of Champaign, of which he remained a resident until 1871, when he removed to a farm in Homer Town- ship, which he occupied until the removal to Philo. In the former township he became proprietor of 150 acres, which he secured solely through his own industry and by the exercise of the closest econo- my, as he started out in the world poor in pocket, with no possessions but his rare good sense and willing hands. His subsequent career has been a fine illustration of what may be accomplished by energy, industry and prudence. The birth of Alexander P. Whitmore took place in Rutland County, Vt., April 15, 1834. He resided in his native State until reaching years of manhood, and thence removed to Washington County, N. Y., lo- cating at Ft. Ann, where he remained until coming to Illinois. He was married, Dec. 9, 1861, to Miss Susan J. Bourne, a native of his own town in Ver- mont, where she grew to womanhood, receiving a common-school education. Of this union there were born four children: Susie became the wife of Rev. George W. Morrow, who is now attending the Christian Church College on the Hudson at Stanford ville, N. Y., completing his studies for the ministry; the younger daughter, May, is at home with her parents. Two died in infancy unnamed. The Whitmore family were originally from New England, the father of our subject, Perley Whit- more, having been born in Rhode Island, where the first representatives of the family, who were of English descent, settled at an early day. He mar- ried Miss Marbury Stafford, of Rutland County, Vt., who descended from the German. They lo- cated in Granville, N. Y., where the father died in 1850, when sixty years of age. The mother, who afterward remained a widow, came to Illinois and spent the remainder of her days with one of her sons, Thomas S., in Champaign, departing this life in 1884, when eighty-seven years of age. The parents of Mrs. Whitmore were also of New England birth. Her father, Orson Bourne, de- parted this life in Hubbardton, Vt., in 1885, when about seventy-five years old. The mother, who was formerly Miss Susan Sherman, died in New York near the Vermont State line, about the year 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore have come honestly by every penny of their possessions. Their beautiful home with its surroundings is the result of many years of industry and economy, the wife working side by side with her husband in the endeavor to place themselves in a worthy and honored position in the community. Their efforts have been amply rewarded, and their later years witness them enjoy- ing the fruits of their labors, and the esteem of all who know them. J- OHN K. BARD WELL, of Hensley Township, was born in Shelburne, Franklin Co., Mass., March 9, 1 835. His father, Ebenezer Bard- 1 well, and his grandfather, Zenas, were born on the same farm. The Bard wells were among the earliest settlers of that section of the country, the farm having been handed down from father to son for several generations; it is now owned by a t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 231 brother of our subject. Ebene/.er Bard well spent his entire life on the farm where he first opened his eyes, and died there hi about 1872. He was mar- ried in early manhood to Miss Clarinda Rice, who was born in Conway, Franklin Co., Mass.. and was the (laughter of Daniel Rice, whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers there. The mother of our subject died on the old homestead in 1844. There the latter was reared, and received his early education in the district schools. He afterward pursued his studies in the academy at Bernardstown, and after his school days were over engaged at fanning. He remained with his parents until 1860, when he came West and purchased land in Critten- den Township, this county, which he occupied four years, and then purchased his present farm. This he has brought to a fine state of cultivation, has erected a commodious frame barn, and is now building a handsome house. Mr. Bardwell was married, in August, 1860, to Miss Levilla Kellogg, who was a native of his own town in Massachusetts, and the daughter of Elam and Betsey (Dole) Kellogg, both also natives of Shelburne. Elam Kellogg held the office of Deacon in the Congregational Church of Franklin County, Mass., for a period of over fifty years, and was one of three who voted the Free-Soil ticket at its birth , in Shelburne. lie was widely known as Deacon Kel- logg. Of the union of our subject and his wife there have been born seven children, three living Ellen, Julia and Faith. Four died in infancy,, Mr. and Mrs. B. and two of their children are con- nected with the Congregational Church at Cham- paign. Our subject is a stanch Republican, and greatly interested in the success of the Prohibition party. ILLIAM H. JOHNSON is proprietor of 520 acres of improved land, embracing the greater part of section 12 in Sadorus Township. As a man of great force of character, who arose from a humble position in life to become one of the most important factors of a wealthy and prosperous community, he presents an example of courage and resolution which is highly worthy of emulation by the young man of to-day, who is so situated that if he rises at all it must be through his own efforts. Mr. Johnson was born in the city of Boston, Mass., Sept. 14, 1825, and was the twelfth child in a family of thirteen, of whom he is the only surviv- ing member. His parents, Enoch and Lydia John- son, were also natives of the Bay State, and pos- sessed but a moderate amount of this world's goods. When William H. was ten years of age he started out to do for himself. He had in his pocket a cash capital of $1.50, which he had earned pick- ing currants, and which he spent in paying his fare to New York City. He had formed large ideas of the metropolis from the stories recited by his young associates, and entered its gates with high hopes. His bright, open and intelligent face com- mended him to those from he sought employment, and he found a berth in Lovejoy's Hotel, where he remained for over three years. In the meantime, with the natural impulse of youth to be gay and foolish, he became surrounded by a group of young men, who began to lead him astray. His good sense saved him, however, and breaking away from them he left his situation and sought work elsewhere. A year later he left the city in company with a jour- neyman printer, and wandered up the river, first to Albany and thence to Troy, where he bound him- self to Thomas Henderson, an iron-nail maker, for a period of four years, but remained with him only three years, when he married, Nov. 20, 1842, at the age of sixteen years and two months. After this event his employer gave him his time, and he commenced work at journeyman's wages. Having a sensible and economic wife he was ena- bled to save some money, and one year later in- vested in real estate, purchasing two lots in the city of Troy, where he built a two-story house, of which he rented a part, and occupied the balance with his family. His wife was formerly Miss Catherine Leagle, and was only fourteen years of age at the time of her marriage. The first year of their union there was born a daughter, Adaline A., and two years later a boy, whom they named William. In 1847 another daughter was added to the household, whom they named Sarah. When little Sarah was ten months old her mother was taken away by the cholera, which swept over the Eastern States, and 1 t *--* 232 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. the life of Willie was saved only by the most des- perate remedies. This occurred in 1848, when our subject, was but twenty-three years of age. After the death of his wife Mr. Johnson em- ployed a housekeeper, and attempted to keep his little family together. This proved anything but satisfactory, and he then placed his children to board while he left them to toil for their support. His burden of sorrow was soon added to by the death of his only son, from the measles, about six months after the death of the mother. These afflictions had the effect of causing the father to lose his interest in the old scenes and sur- roundings, and placing his two little girls in the hands of his brother-in-law in the country, near by, he accepted a proposition from a company of nail- makers, to go to Cuba and construct and operate a nail-mill there. lie arrived in the West Indies in the fall of 1849, and located the site of the mill at Regains near Havana, where he put up the first nail and iron mill on the Island, under the pro- tection of the (Jueen of Spain, who gave his com- pany the exclusive right of manufacture, and for- bade the importation of spikes or nails to the Island for a long period of years. Mr. Johnson remained in Cuba a little over two years, and while there was married to Mrs. Cather- ine Louisa Hartman, a native of Hanover, Germany. After suffering a spell of the j'ellow fever he was again forced to face another cholera scourge, but determined to evade its dangers by returning North until the trouble was over. Before he could get away, however, his wife was stricken down, but after a desperate struggle for her life, finally recov- ered. The first husband of Mrs. Johnson died from cholera very suddenly at Havana, being taken down one Sunday morning while they were pre- paring for church. Of this union there was born one son, Frederick, who now makes his home with his mother and stepfather. After his wife was able to travel Mr. Johnson re- turned to Troy, N. Y., remaining unemployed there until the danger was over. In the meantime nearly all his friends and acquaintances had been carried off by the dreadful epidemic, and as he had lost all his property he left there, determined never to re- turn, lie accordingly engaged in the butchering business in Troy, which he followed four years, and then abandoned this to engage in the grocery trade-. Two years later ill-health compelled him to give up business entirely and receive treatment for con- sumption, which seemed to have taken hold upon i his constitution. Not experiencing any relief he concluded to go West. After reaching Chicago, in 1856, upon his west- ern venture, Mr. Johnson concluded to remain there for a time, and put up at the Massasoit House, near the Central Depot. Shortly afterward, however, he started out with a company of speculators to view the land in Central Illinois. He was greatly pleased, and purchased eighty acres on section 12, in Piatt County. Returning to Chicago he pur- chased two horses, some farming implements, and seed potatoes, and returning to his purchase, planted his potatoes on a piece of sod that had been broken on his land, unintentionally, by a man who owned land adjoining and supposed that his prop- erty included this strip also. Mr. Johnson raised a fine crop of "murphies," and the people came for miles around to buy them. He found himself unable to turn the sod with the team he had, and returning to Chicago, bought another horse and hired a trusty man to come to the farm with him. About this time, his wife who had remained in Troy, wrote that her little boy, who > had suf- fered severely with the measles, was still in feeble health, and he returned home, to find that the De- stroyer had again invaded his household. He ar- rived there just as the funeral was leaving, but with a sorrow born of despair, set himself mechan- ically about the arrangements for the future com- fort of his remaining family. Mr. Johnson now sold out all his possessions in Troy, and returned to the West with his family. At Toledo he purchased lumber for a house and shipped it, together with his household goods, to Bement on the Wabash Railroad, which had just been put in operation. Upon arriving at his farm and estab- lishing .his family in a house near by, he proceeded to the woods and cut the timbers for the frame of his projected dwelling, which in due time was completed and the family moved in. As will be seen, Mr. Johnson was entirely ignorant of the art CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 233 of farming, and he conquered it only by the hard- est work and long continued efforts. Providence now smiled upon the efforts of our subject, and he remained upon the farm which he had built up until 18G2. In the meantime his own child and the child of his wife by her former husband were growing up, and he determined to give them the advantages of a better education than they could secure in Sadorus Township. He accordingly rented his farm and moving to the city of Quincy, placed the children in school, and re- mained there until they had completed their stud- ies, in 1865. Then all returned to the farm, which had been occupied by the husband of his daughter, James Gilman. While in (Quincy Mr. J. employed his time operating in grain, of which business he made a success. Upon returning to the farm he put up a fine residence, into which his family moved in the fall of 1865, and which our subject has since occupied. The beautiful dwelling, situated in the midst of choice fruit trees and surrounded by hand- some grounds, with stately and substantial out- houses, and the fields stretching away on either side, presents a picture of one of the finest home- steads in Central Illinois. The career of Mr. Johnson as a man and citizen, has been one of which his children will be proud to read in years to come. During his residence on the farm Mr. Johnson opened a station, a quarter of a mile away, which is now known as Ivesdale. For a period of fifteen years he conducted general merchandising in con- nection with the grain trade, while at the same time he officiated as Postmaster, Station Agent and Ex- press Agent, and was in fact, with his employes, al- most a village by himself. The post-office was opened in 18GC, and remained in his hands until he sold out his stock of merchandise. He had also es- tablished on the farm a nursery, which was man- aged by John Blocker, a native of Sweden, and a man well posted in his business. Mr. B. had charge of this for sixteen years. After retiring from his other business Mr. Johnson was able to give this branch more of his time. Our subject might live in luxury the balance of his days, without raising a finger to labor, but his natural habits of life have been such that it is im- possible for him to remain idle. His mind, at least, is actively engaged in projects that will en- hance the beauty of his homestead, and in this way reflect credit on his county. He spends his winters mainly in the South, returning to the farni in the spring, and while not lavish in his outlays for the convenience and comfort of himself and his family, wisely assists in the circulation of the " legal tender," benefiting the industrial and trade interests about him equally with himself. He takes no active part in politics, and to the repeated solicitations to be- come an office-holder, has steadily turned a deaf ear. Of the five children born to William II. and Catherine L. Johnson, two little boys (twins) died in infancy; William married Mary C., daughter of Elijah and Mary Centers, and lives in Chicago; he is employed on the Wabash Railroad as engineer, and is the father of five children Etta M., Will- iam II., Mary Louisa, Charles and Freddie, all liv- ing; Miss Mayola Johnson is at home with her par- ents; Charles is deceased. \7 EMUEL CRAWFORD, an esteemed mcm- ^ ^ ne f armm ' community of Pesotum Township, is pursuing the even tenor of his way as a successful agriculturist on 120 acres of good land in the southeast quarter of section 22. Here, with the members of his family who are at home, and those who are married and living not far away, he is enjoying, as he deserves, the good things of life and the friendship of his fellow-citi- zens. The childhood and youth of Mr. Crawford were spent in Jefferson County, Ohio, where he was born on Independence Day in 1829. He was the tenth child of Benedict and Catherine (Arnold) Craw- ford, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Jefferson County. Ohio. They lived quiet and unassuming lives as agriculturists on the moderately sized farm, and Lemuel remained un- der the home roof with his brothers and sisters un- til attaining his twentieth year. The young men of those days formed marital and domestic ties earlier in life than at the present, and at the age mentioned our subject was united in marriage with > 234 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Miss S;iruli Henderson, a native of Maryland. Mrs. C. was the sixth child of John and Lavina (Henderson) Henderson, the father a native of Ire- land and the mother of Maryland. After marriage our subject and wife located upon a farm in Carroll County, Ohio, whence they removed six years later to Tuscarawas County, where Mr. Crawford purchased seventy-five acres of improved land and followed farming there for about seven years. He then sold out for the purpose of coming to Illinois. He located first in McLean County, where he was a resident five years, engaged in farming and operating a corn- shelter. Thence in 1869 he came to this county, and purchasing eighty acres of land in Pesotum Township, occupied his time successfully in its cul- tivation and improvement. He afterward added forty acres and erected a good set of frame build- ings. He has the requisite machinery, and ^he farm is moderately stocked with good grades of the domestic animals. The seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford which still constitute a family circle unbroken by the Destroyer are located as follows : John married Miss Anna Nelson, and is engaged as a grain buyer and general merchant in the village of Pesotum, being associated with J. E. Davis under the firm name of Crawford & Davis; Sanford married Miss Callie, daughter' of Charles Johnson, of Pesotum Township, and lives on the Mills farm near his par- ents; Lavina married J. E. Davis, the partner of her brother and the young and prosperous mer- chant heretofore mentioned ; Amanda is the wife of David Mix, a carpenter by trade, which he is now following, but who also understands farming and now resides in Pesotum ; Hulda is the wife of Will- iam Carringer, a shoemaker by trade, and they re- side in iSeymore, 111. ; Cynthia and Grant, the two remaining, are at home with their parents. Mr. Crawford has frequently served his town- ship as School Director and Road Commissioner but has never had political aspirations. He is a Democrat of the old faith and of long standing. With his excellent wife he united with the Method- ist Episcopal Church many years ago, and is looked upon affectionately as one of its chief pillars and supporters. Although never having been the hero of any thrilling event he has performed with fidel- ity the duties in life assigned him, and exerted a good influence over those around him. Could this be said of the world in general, that happy time designated as the Millenium would be consid- ered as not far away. -HH- - BRAM CRIST. Upon sectioir 33, Cham- paign Township, lies a fine tract of 240 acres, the property of the subject of this sketch, which is chiefly devoted to grain and stock raising, besides forming one of the most attractive homesteads in Champaign Township. Mr. C. took possession of this land in 18C9, but its condition then bears no comparison with what it is at present. The estate as it now stands is under fine cultivation, with handsome and substantial farm buildings, and all the appliances for the carrying on of agriculture in a first-class manner, besides those which constitute the perfect home. It is hardly necessary to say that the proprietor is a man of en- terprise and resolution, who takes delight in labor and in the effects produced by industry and fore- thought. Mr. Crist was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, April 20. 1844, and is the son of Hiram Crist, who was born in the same county. His grandfather, Abram Crist, Sr., and his great-grandfather, Jacob, were natives of Germany. The latter emigrated to America when a young man and located in the Buckeye State at an early period in its history. He engaged in farming and there spent the remainder of his life. His son Abram was for some years a trader on the river, shipping produce on flatboats for the plantations South and at New Orleans. Later he operated a flourmill on the Miami River in Western Ohio, and spent his entire life in that Stafe. He married and reared a family, among whom was Hiram, the father of our subject. Hiram Crist commenced business with his father on the flatboat when but a small boy, and before twenty-one years of age was established in trade on his own account. He often exchanged his load of northern produce for sugar and molasses, which he would load on his flatboat, have it towed up the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 235 I river, and dispose of his goods at the country stores. After marriage he purchased a farm in Montgomery Count}', Ohio, which, however, he did not cultivate himself, but continued employed at his trading until 184G. That year he sold out his river interests, and coming to Illinois located in Tremont, Tazewell County, where he kept a hotel for a number of years. Thence he removed to Bloomington, and was engaged in the same busi- ness there three years. Afterward he rented a farm at Mosquito Grove, west of Bloom ington, which he operated two years, and removed from there to Stout's Grove, where for a few years he farmed on rented land, and then purchased a tract of land three miles south. This included 1 60 acres, forty only of which were improved. He placed the bal- ance under a good state of cultivation, put up a substantial set of frame buildings, and made his home there until his death, which took place in Au- gust, 1869. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Clarinda Brown, who was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and by her union with Hiram Crist became the mother of nine chil- dren. She is now living in Danvers, McLean Co., 111. Abram Crist, Jr., was but two years old when he came to Illinois with his parents. He remained under the home roof until twenty-five years of age, and then started out for himself, purchasing first a part of the farm which he now owns and occupies. To this he afterward added, and has been uniformly successful in his business and farming operations. He was married, Oct. 2, 1869, to Miss Mary F. Perry, who was born in Danvers Township, McLean Co., 111., Dec. 4, 1848. Her father, Nathaniel Perry, was a native of Jessamine County, Ky., and her grandfather, John Perry, was born in Wales. The latter when a young man came to this country, and locating in Kentucky resided there until 1835. He then came north into Danvers Township. Me- , Lean County, where he improved a farm and es- tablished a comfortable homestead, which he occu- pied the remainder of his life. His youngest son, Samuel, is now in possession of the homestead. The father of Mrs. Crist was nineteen years old when his parents became residents of this State. He re- mained under the home roof until his marriage, when he settled in Allin Township, McLean Coun- ty, where he improved a farm and now lives. His wife, the mother of Mrs. C., was formerly Miss Polly Margaret McCulloiigh, also a native of Jes- samine County, Ky., and the daughter of Peter McCullough, one of the earliest pioneers of Mc- Lean County, this State. He became a resident of that county in 1830, and put up the first log cabin at Dry Grove. This he afterward converted into a hotel, and served as " mine host " for many years. Both he and his excellent wife died in Dry Grove Township, and their remains were laid to rest in McCullough Cemetery. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Crist there have been born two children Hiram and Charles. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and greatly respected by all who know them for their personal worth as members of society, and having a good influence upon the community around them. Politically Mr. Crist affiliates with the Democratic party. J-~~ ESSE NEWTON DICK, one of the most en- terprising young farmers of Philo Town- ship, is at present devoting his attention to the cultivation of a fine farm of 320 acres, pleasantly located on section 20, which comprises one of the choicest bodies of land in Champaign County. Of this our subject took possession April 5, 1878, proceeding first to bring it to a good state of cultivation by thorough draining with tile. The soil soon responded to its excellent care and culture, and now yields in abundance the choicest products of the Prairie State. The famil}' residence and out-buildings are shapely and of substantial charac- ter ; the fences and machinery are kept in good re- pair, and the stock well fed and sheltered. Every- thing about the farm indicates the supervision of the intelligent and progressive modern agricult- urist. The subject of our sketch was born in Jackson Township, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Dec. 7, 1857. He is the son of Ely and Jane (Meharry) Dick, na- tives of Maryland and Indiana respectively. Ely Dick in former years was one of the most extensive , 236 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. land-owners of Champaign County, and is also the possessor of 500 acres in Indiana. The parental family included three children, of whom two are deceased ; Kllen became the wife of Richard N. Cording, and was formerly a resident of Tippeca- noe County, Ind., occupying the old homestead in Jackson Township; she died in Decatur, 111., while under treatment, April 20, 1887. Jesse N. of our sketch spent his boyhood days under the home roof and attended the public schools. He was not quite twenty-one years old when he came with his parents to Illinois. The year following, on the 15th of April, 1879, he was married, in Montgomery County, Ind., to Miss Harriet E., daughter of Jacob and Charlotte (Mar- tin) Lnse. Mrs. Dick was born Feb. 22, 1857. Her parents were natives respectively of Pennsyl- vania and Indiana, and are both now living near Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, the latter State, where for many years Mr. L. carried on farming in a highly successful manner. Mr. and Mrs. Dick have one child only, a daugh- ter, Estella Pearl, born Aug. 6, 1881. Our sub- ject politically is a reliable Democrat, fearless in the expression of his views and honest in Jiis con- victions. He is frank and outspoken, noted for his kindly impulses, and is highly esteemed among those who know him best as a citizen, a business man and a friend. AMUEL H. LYONS, a highly respected citi- zen of Mahomet Township, came to Illinois with his parents in 1849. They located in the above-named township, of which he has been a resident since that time and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is the owner of a fine es- tate, comprising 2GO acres of land under a good state of cultivation, with substantial and convenient buildings, well stocked, and provided with all the accessories of a comfortable rural home. Mr. Lyons was born in Lewis County, Ky., April 15, 1831, and is the son of William D. and Sarah (Hampton) Lyons, the former a native of New En- gland, and the latter of Virginia. After coming to Illinois they remained residents of Mahomet Town- ship until their decease. Our subject was the fourth of eight children, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. He was married in Newcomb Township, Feb. 3, 185G, to Miss Martha M. Newell, of New York, where she was born in 1831. They have become the parents of four children William B., Laurie B., Wyinan II. and D wight. Wyinan II. died when about ten years old. Mr. Lyons has held the various minor offices of his township, and votes the Democratic ticket. He has always been busily engaged with his own affairs, to which he has given the strictest attention, with little time to investigate those of his neighbors. ERNEST L. DUNLAP. The gentleman whose biography we briefly note below is promi- nently identified with the business interests of Sa\oy as a merchant and grain-buyer, in which he established himself Dec. 1, 1886. Mr. D. is a native of the Prairie State, and was born in Cook County, June 25, 1851. He is the sixth child and fifth son of M. L. and Emeline Dnnlap, a sketch of whom will be found in another part of this work. When our subject was a lad of seven years his par- ents removed to Champaign County, of which he has been a resident since that time. He received his early education at the district schools, which was completed under private tutors in Tuscola and Champaign, and by an attendance of several terms at the State University at Urbana. Mr. Dunlap was reared to farming pursuits, and after the death of his father took charge of the nur- sery business which the latter had conducted, and in due time closed out the stock. In 1885 he pur- chased a part of the old homestead, which was lo- cated on section 36, in Champaign Township, and which he still owns. He still superintends the cul- tivation of his land, the proceeds of which yield him a handsome income. In 1886 he succeeded his brother, Albert, in his present business, which is steadily increasing, and in which he has met with uniform success. The marriage of Ernest L. Dunlap and Miss Fan- nie I). Bet/c took place Aug. 30, 1*7 I. Mrs. 1). was UERA3Y OF THE / cF UINOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 239 born in Circle ville, Ohio, July 20, 1853, and is the daughter of Solomon and Catherine (Dunkle) Betz, both natives of Lewisburg, Pa. They re- moved from there to Ohio, in October, 1839, and purchased a farm in Pickaway County, five miles from Circleville. The mother died there in 1864, and four years later the father came to Illinois and purchased a farm on section 36, Champaign Town- ship, which he cultivated and occupied until his death, in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. D. have four chil- dren Gertie, Fred, Lela and Nora M. ylLLIAM HENRY HARRISON. One fine spring morning in 1836 there started out from Pleasant Township, in Madison County, Ohio, two families, equipped with ox-teams for a journey overland to the prairies of Illi- nois. One of these was our subject, who, accom- panied by his wife and child, had decided to seek his fortunes in the farther west. The thoroughfare in those days could scarcely be dignified by the name of a road, being merely a wagon track, over which at times they were compelled to wade through mud and water to the waist and to urge on the poor beasts, who had no western aspirations, and could not understand why they were leaving the more substantial soil of the Buckeye State. The travelers finally passed the boundary line be- tween Indiana and Illinois, and coming into Mont- gomery County our subject contracted to remain with his employer, Samuel Haller, the balance of the year. He was engaged in breaking prairie and hauling various commodities to and from the near- est market, a distance of sixty miles with ox-teams. Two months before his time was up, on account of his honesty and industry, his employer gave him the balance of the year to work for himself. He had in the meantime purchased eighty acres of wild land, and now set about breaking the sod on his own property. He was thus occupied in its improvement for a year following. Then, selling forty acres, he returned to Ohio, being afflicted with an attack of home-sickness, from which it took him twelve years to recover. In the meantime our subject sold the remaining forty acres of his land in Montgomery County, 111., and his father having died in Ohio, himself and his brother attempted to buy out the other heirs of the estate. In this they failed, however, on account of ill-health, and lost much time and money. Our sub- ject now concluded to return to Illinois, and com- ing into Coles County, pre-empted forty acres, for which he afterward paid $3.40 per acre. He put up a small house, as a temporary shelter for his family, rented a tract of improved land on the El- lars" farm, in the meantime improving his own, as time permitted, and was finally enabled to purchase eighty acres more. In 1863 he sold out at a profit of more than $2,000. The outbreak of the Civil War now induced Mr. Harrison to lay aside his personal interests, and he volunteered as a Union soldier to assist in the sub- jection of the Confederates. Becoming a member of Co. H, 25th 111. Vol. Inf., he marched with his comrades to the scene of conflict, but after six months was discharged, very much against his own wishes, on account of ill-health. He was then com- pelled to return to where he had left his family, and soon afterward purchased 160 acres of land on section 28, in Sadorus Township, which constitutes a part of the present homestead. To this he after- ward added forty acres, so that he has now 200 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. Being now seventy-five years of age, the farm is principally managed by his son, while Mr. Harrison has practically retired from the active labors of life. The early years of our subject were spent in Pleasant Township, near London, the county seat of Madison County, Ohio, where his birth took place Nov. 7, 1812. He was the seventh of the thirteen children of Jonathan and Amelia (Wal- lace) Harrison, natives of Maryland, and born across the Bay, in Baltimore, where they spent their childhood and youth. Jonathan Harrison was a substantial farmer, and emigrated from his native State to Ohio during its early settlement, when In- dians and wild animals were more plentiful than white men. He cleared ten acres from the forest, and for his first crop raised four acres of corn. He never became an extensive land-owner, but was content with a few acres, well tilled. William Henry remained under the parental roof i t 240 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 1 go* rec until after reaching his majority, in the meantime gaining an intimate acquaintance with the hardships and privations of pioneer life, which bred within him the spirit of perseverance and self-reliance which served him so well in after years. In laying his plans for the future, he selected for his wife Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Hempleman) Pucket, to whom he was married in the spring of 1834. The parents of Mrs. H. were natives of Adams County, Ohio, and spent their entire lives in that State. Soon after their marriage, Mr. Harrison with his young wife settled upon a tract of land in Pleasant Township, where he pursued farming on his own account for four years, after which he began making preparations for a change of location. The results of this we have already indicated. The blooming family which grew up around the hearthstone of our subject and his wife, with the exception of two, Benjamin E. and Elizabeth, have passed to the silent land. Nine times there was made a place in the country churchyard, over which the parents bowed with sorrowing tears, while a child was hidden from their sight. Their living son, Benjamin, married Miss Martha J., daughter of Ely and Emily (Shupp) Cook, and with his family occupies the homestead of his father. The parents of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were natives of this State and are now deceased. Elizabeth, the only remaining daughter of our sub- ject, is the widow of Charles B. Monroe, and lives on a farm in the northern part of Douglas County, 111. Mr. Monroe departed this life on the 4th of May, 1887, leaving a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, with means for their proper training and education. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison united with the Methodist Episcopal Church many 3^ears ago, since which time they have been consistent and active mem- bers, doing good as they have opportunity, and working faithfully for the Master. Although never a zealous politician, Mr. Harrison, formerly a Whig, is now a cordial supporter of Republican princi- ples, believes in universal freedom, and cheerfully supports every measure calculated for the most good to the greatest number. He has built up n record as an honest man and a good citizen, arid receives his abundant reward in the confidence and esteem of all who know him. It is with pleasure we present the portrait of Mr. Harrison in this connection, and as a fitting com- panion picture that of his wife. For over fifty- three years they have lived together, and during that time have worthily fulfilled all the duties of life, living up to the noble principles which for so many years they have professed. THOMAS ENNIS, of Philo Village, is a mem- ber of the family whose first representative in this country emigrated from Ireland. His grandfather. Thomas Ennis, who descended from an excellent family, was educated for an Episcopal minister, which, however, was not in ac- cordance with his tastes, and he made a decided change in his life occupation by learning the trade of a saddler. This greatly displeased his parents, who were strongly opposed to his leaving the Church, and caused a rupture between him and them. He was a youth of rare intelligence, how- ever, and a colleague of Robert Emmett, the cele- brated Irish patriot, whom it will be remembered was executed during the struggle for freedom'more than a century ago in that oppressed country. About this time Thomas Ennis decided to leave a land which promised little for the future, and emigrating to the United States located in Phila- delphia, Pa., and became the founder of the family in this country. He was married in the Quaker City, Oct. 22, 1795, to Miss Lydia Cassell, who had been reared and educated in the Society of Friends and possessed in a marked degree their excellent characteristics. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ennis established themselves in Baltimore, Md., where the grandfather of our subject pursued his occupation as a saddler, and became the father of a son, William, who was born Sept. 28, 1801. After a few years they returned to Philadelphia, where the grandfather of our subject became prominent in the affairs of that locality, and \v;is lard inspector for the city of Philadelphia and .1 part of the State of Pennsylvania for a number of years. He died in Philadelphia on the same day CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 241 \ that Lafayette made his visit to that city in 1824. He had reared a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters. Of these four are still living in Philadelphia, all being over seventy-five years of age. William A. Ennis, the father of our subject, was the eldest of his parents' children. He engaged in the manufacture of umbrella frames during his earlier years and followed this until forty-five years old, most of the time being established in business for himself. He married Miss Mary E. Sayre, who was the descendant of an old New England family, and whose father, uncles and grandfathers were all seafaring men of considerable importance. Of this marriage there were born eight children, of whom our subject alone survives. The last member of the family who died was a son, Sayre, who had en- listed during the late war in the 2d Illinois Cavalry, and died on the Gulf of Mexico. The father died in Philo, 111., Dec. 23, 1881. The mother's death took place at the home of her son in Philo Town- ship, March 29, 1885. Both parents were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and highly respected by all who knew them. William A. Ennis before the war was a supporter of the Democratic party but afterward became a stanch Republican. Thomas Ennis of our sketch was born in Phila- delphia, April 25, 1827, and remained a resident of his native city until twenty-nine years of age. He was educated in the public schools, learned the trade of his father, and early in life set out to earn his own livelihood. His marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Charlton took place 'in the Quaker City, Feb. 24, 1851. Mrs. E. was born in Philadelphia, Feb. 24, 1834, of English parentage and ancestry, and lived at home until her marriage. She became the mother of seven children, the record of whom is as follows: Cornelia became the wife of James Marquette. now deceased; she has two children, and makes her home with her father in Philo; William A., Jr., was first married to Miss Mary A. Buxton, who died in Philo, and he was then mar- ried to Miss Lillie Crosier; he is a tinner by trade and a resident of Seward County, Neb. Mercy C., Mrs. Charles S. Morrison, is a resident of Gol- conda, 111. ; her husband is a professor of music. Susannah C., an engraver by profession, is at pres- ent at Birmingham, Ala. ; Mary and Betty are at home with their parents. The first daughter, who was named Mary, is now deceased. A few years after his marriage Mr. Ennis came with his family to Illinois and purchased a tract of land on section 4, in Philo Township, which had belonged to the Illinois Central Railroad. But on account of sickness and misfortune he returned to Philadelphia, where he remained until 1861. In that year he returned to the West and engaged in farming in Philo Township until 1872. He then purchased the hardware business of Frank L. Van Vleck. which is now one of the largest establish- ments of the kind in the town. Besides his stock and store he owns good village property, and is con- sidered one of the most valued citizens of Philo. He has held the various offices of the township and is accounted a representative business man and valuable member of the community. Before the war he was Democratic in politics but since that time has been a warm supporter of Republican principles. J"~ H. CLARK, a leading farmer and land- owner of Philo Township, is the possessor of eighty acres on section 2, and 100 on sec- tion 3. His land is thoroughly drained and under a fine state of cultivation, well stocked with good grades of horses, cattle and swine. Our sub- ject located here in 1866, since which time he has labored for the establishment of a permanent home, and in his business and farming operations has been remarkably successful. He is a native of West Virginia, born in Morgan County in January, 1836. His father, Isaac Clark, was a native of the same State and followed farming pursuits. He was mar- ried in Morgan County to Miss Mary Ambrose, a native of the same county as her husband, where she was reared and educated by her parents, who occupied a good position among the people of that section. The parents of our subject lived to a good old age and were greatly respected and beloved by a host of friends. They connected themselves with the United Brethren Church early in life, and were 242 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. its cheerful and liberal supporters from that time. The father, in early life, politically was an old-Hue Whig, but after the abandonment of that party identified himself with the Republicans. He died in Ohio in 1884. The mother is still living in Cham- paign County, Ohio, and is about eighty years old. Young Clark spent his childhood and 3'outh un- der the parental roof, receiving a fair education in the public schools, and when he removed from his native State became a resident of Ohio. He lo- cated near the city of Urbana, where he engaged in farming, and in due time was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Evilsizor, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents. Mrs. Clark was born at Urbana, Ohio, in 1844, and was the daughter of William and Nancy (Jenkins) Evilsizor. The mother died in middle life. The father is still living and a resident of Ohio. Al- though nearly eighty years of age lie is still hale and hearty and remarkably active. Of the union of our subject and his wife there were born seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom three are deceased. The mother of these children died at the home of her husband in Philo Township, in 1875. The present wife of Mr. Clark, to whom he was married in the latter-named township, April 13, 1876, was Miss Malinda Stout, who was born in Orange County, Ind., in 1845. Of this marriage there have been born four sons, two living George and Eldo J. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and our subject, politi- cally, is an uncompromising Republican. [ ACOB F. HUFFMAN. This gentleman, who is a highly esteemed resident of Hensley Township, may be properly classed among _ the self-made men, who, starting in life at the foot of the ladder, have by their own resolution made their way slowly but surely to a good posi- tion among their fellow-citizens, socially and finan- cially. Our subject commenced the struggle of life with a cash sum of 15. He is now the owner of a fine homestead, comprising 197 acres of land, a handsome and substantial farm residence, a good barn and plenty of stock and farm machinery. His land is thoroughly drained with tile and produces in abundance all the crops for which the Prairie State is noted. Our subject has accumulated his possessions by honest toil and is not ashamed to own it. Mr. Huffman was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Jan. 1, 1830, and comes of substantial Penn- sylvania stock, his grandfather, George Huffman, having been born in New York State, from which he emigrated to the western border of Pennsylva- nia when the latter was considered quite the front- ier, and where he was one of the earliest settlers. He was a man of remarkable industry, and opened up three farms in that section, which was afterward included in Westmoreland County, and where he spent the last years of his life. There also he reared his family. John George Huffman, the father of our subject, was but a child when his parents became residents of Westmoreland County, where he was reared to manhood, and during the War of 1812 left home to become a soldier of the army. When peace was again declared, he was married and established himself with his bride in a log cabin, in Westmore- land County. This humble dwelling was covered with clapboards, there being no sawmills in that country, and these were held in place with "weight poles." The floor was of puncheon, and the chim- ney was built outside with mud and sticks. Within this humble abode our subject was born, before the days of either railroads or canals, when the country developed slowly and the settlers were constantly annoyed by Indians and wild animals. John G. Huffman had learned the trade of wagon-maker and carried on business at the cross-roads near Harrison City, where he spent the last years of his life. The mother of our subject, who before her marriage was Miss Martha Fink, was born in Westmoreland County, and still lives there on the old homestead. When Jacob F. Huffman was fourteen years of age he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade, to which he served an apprenticeship of three years. He worked as a " jour " fourteen years in different places in his native State, Ohio, Indiana and Vir- ginia, locating finally in North Middleton, Ky., where he opened a shop, and did custom work until CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 243 1858. That year he came to Illinois and purchased eighty acres of his present farm, only a few acres of which were broken, and the only building on it was a small frame shanty. He at once commenced the improvement and cultivation of his purchase, with the result as above stated. The same year in which he came to Illinois Mr. Huffman was united in marriage, April 7, 1858, with Miss Rebecca Stivers. She was born in Bour- bon County, Ky., Sept. 5, 1835, and was the daugh- ter of Rozelle P. Stivers, a native of Fayette Coun- ty, Ky., and the son of Reuben Stivers. The latter was a cooper by trade. He served in the War of 1812, and was wounded in battle at the time St. Clair was defeated. After leaving the arm}' he re- turned to Kentucky and spent his last days in Bourbon County. The father of Mrs. H., who was a natural mechanic, also learned the trade of a cooper, and could make almost anything that could be fashioned out of wood. He followed his trade the greater part of his life and died near North Middletown, Ky., in 1856. He was married in early manhood to Miss Nancy A. Bargar, who was born in Culpeper, Va. She died in Bourbon Coun- ty, Ky., before her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have four children: Ed- ward L., of Los Angeles, Cal. ; William T. ; Mattie A., who became the wife of Sherman Stivers, of Bourbon County, Ky., and George F. The two sons are living at home with their parents. Mr. H. is Democratic, and is held in high regard as a citi- zen, business man and member of society. tral OHN C. PARRY. The subject of this biog- raphy became a resident of Philo Town- ship in 1861, at which time he purchased eighty acres of land from the Illinois Cen- Railroad Company, to which he afterward added forty acres, and which was then in a wild and unbroken state. By years of persevering in- dustry he has converted it into a beautiful farm, and established one of the most complete home- steads in Champaign County. The quality and con- dition of the land in its original state required the exercise of more than ordinary good judgment and industry, but Mr. Parry was equal to the emergency, and in a few years had reduced the barren soil to cultivated fields and smiling meadows. The laud is well drained with tile, and its proprietor has planted an orchard of the finest fruit, while the grounds around the residence are beautified with handsome shade trees and flowering shrubs. His agricultural operations include the breeding of fine stock, consisting of Norman horses and high-grade cattle. His machinery and farm buildings are of first-class description, and kept in good repair, and everything about the premises indicates the enter- prise and intelligence of the proprietor. Our subject is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., and was born in Manlius Township, Dec. 26, 1826. He was reared to manhood in his mother's house, and completed his education in the High Schools of his native county. He is the eldest son of John and Abigail (Cutting) Parry, natives re- spectively of England and Vermont. John Parry, Sr., was born in 1801, and came to this country when a young man, locating in Manlius, N. Y., where he met the lady who subsequently became his wife. After their marriage they located on a farm in Onondaga County, where the mother of our subject died in 1869, after becoming quite aged. Mr. Parry of our sketch when of age started out for himself. In 1846 he went to North Carolina, where he was engaged as a machinist and engineer for thirteen years following. In June, 1861, he came north to Illinois and located on his present farm. In the meantime he had been married, in Randolph Count}', N. C., to Miss Jane Craven, the daughter of Lawrence and Mary Craven, who was born in that State and county, Feb. 28, 1840, and became a wife when sixteen years of age. Her par- ents were also natives of North Carolina, and spent their entire lives in Randolph Township. She re- ceived a limited education in the public schools of the South. Mr. and Mrs. Parry became the parents of six children, of whom the record is as follows : Mary L. is at home with her parents; John F., a plumber by trade, married Miss Helen Reinhard, and resides in Champaign City: Fidelia died when two and one-half years old ; George, Joseph L. and Frank f -'- 't 244 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. arc lit home with their parents. Mrs. Parry has proved in all respects the worthy companion of her husband, and their beautiful and tasteful home is the result of their united efforts. Mr. P. has been Supervisor and Collector of his township two years each, and has held various other offices of trust. He is Democratic in politics, and as a business man and a citizen has contributed his full share to the progress and welfare of the community in general. Both our subject and his wife attend quite regu- larly the Methodist Episcopal Church in Tolono. J. NASH, proprietor of Pleasant Hill Farm, is pleasantly located on section 9, which embraces some of the best land in Philo Township. In the scale of assessment it ranks second to none. The farm is finely laid out, with a view to both beauty and convenience in the carrying on of its various departments. The fences and buildings are in prime order, and the resi- dence is a handsome structure, finished and fur- nished in the most modern style, the whole giving evidence of refinement and wealth. Mr. Nash was the first man to introduce a sys- tem of drainage in Philo Township. He possesses more than ordinary intelligence, and keeps himself well posted upon everything pertaining to general agriculture, so that he may take advantage of mod- ern invention and improvements. As a stock- breeder he ranks among the first in Champaign County, dealing in Hambletonian and draft horses, high-grade cattle and Poland-China swine. His operations in this department of agriculture have secured for him an enviable reputation as a breeder of fine stock. He has had an experience of twelve years thereat and takes pride in the production of his farm and stables. At the county fairs of Cen- tral Illinois he has carried off scores of blue rib- bons, and his stock has obtained an enviable notori- ety at the State fairs of this and other States. His hogs include about 200 head, the chief of the herd being Nash's Star, sired by Reveal Star, regis- tered No. 180. He also owns Bravo Nash and Bravo Perfection, bred by Kidgley, of White Heath, 111. The most prominent of his dams are Lady Grant, of Pleasant Hill Farm, and Minnie Palmer, bred by McWilliams of Knightstown, Ind. Several of the fine animals which belong to this herd are familiarly known throughout this section. Pleasant Hill Farm was purchased by Mr. Nash in the fall of 1867, and he located on it in the fol- lowing spring. Since that time he has been indus- triously engaged in superintending its improve- ment and remodeling and enlarging the buildings. The land is finely located and yields in abundance the richest crops of the Prairie State. Mr. Nash is a native of Erie County, Pa., born Dec. 5, 1831. His father, Justin J. Nash, was a native of Vermont, of New England parentage, born Nov. 20, 1797. The Nash family were prin- cipally connected with the Methodist Church, and widely known throughout New England. The fa- ther of our subject removed to Pennsylvania just after the War of 1812, and about the time of the destruction by fire of the city of Buffalo, N. Y. He was married, in Erie County, Pa., to Miss Maria Underwood, who was also of New England birth and parentage. After some years they removed to Sturgis, Mich., where the mother died in January, 1868, aged sixty-eight years. The father after- ward returned to Pennsylvania, and died in Erie County in 1873, at the age of seventy-six. The subject of this history was the youngest of two sons and three daughters included in the household circle. Of these Sylvester married Miss Lina Wilson, and they reside in the northeastern part of Erie Count}', Pa., retired from active la- bor; Julia became the wife of Stewart Crawford, of Reading Township, Hillsdale Co., Mich. These and our subject are the only surviving children. Young Nash spent his childhood upon the farm in his native county, and when fourteen years of age removed with his father's family to Lockport, Pa., and thence to Springfield, where he completed his education. Our subject was married in Kane County, 111., Sept. 27, 1855, the lady of his choice being Miss Antoinette C. Francisco, a native of Michigan, who was born at Grass Lake, Jackson County, June 12, 1835. Her father, Heniy A. Francisco, was a farmer by occupation, of New England birth and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 245 Scottish ancestry, and married Miss Catherine O vcrrafker. After marriage they settled first in New York State, thence removed to Michigan, and later the father with his children came to this Stat, locat- ing in Kane County in 1853. The mother had died in Grass Lake, Mich. Mr. F. finally came to Cham- paign County and died iu Philo Township, in Sep- tember, 1875, when nearly eighty-three years old. He served as a soldier iu the War of 1812, for which he was awarded a land grant in Grass Lake. He was politically a Free-soiler. He also served as Associate Judge at Jackson, Mich., for twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Nash became the parents of three children, one of whom, Frank H., died when six j-ears of age ; Lydia L. is the wife of John Savage, Deputy County Clerk, and resides at Urbana; Martha E., an intelligent and accomplished young lady, is living at home with her parents. All were born in Seneca County, Ohio, and both daughters were educated at the Urbana High School. Our subject and his family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Nash, formerly a Democrat, now affiliates with the Republican party. ANIEL A. FISHER, deceased, formerly an honored resident of Philo Township, passed from the scene of his earthly labors on the 2Cth of November, 1886. His death occurred on the homestead which lie had la- bored many years to establish and beautify, and was the cause of regret both far and near, as he had been an honest man, a good citizen, and one un- selfishly devoted to the interests of his community. Our subject was born in Wayne County, Ind., Aug. 14, 1821, and was the son of John and Jane Fisher, natives of North Carolina. John Fisher followed farming until late in life and finally removed to Union City, near which he had lived for several years, and died at the advanced age of eighty-six. His death was the result of an accident, he having fallen and broken his hip, from the effects of which lie died about two months later. His wife's maiden name was Miss Jane Starbnck, and they lived to celebrate their golden wedding. Their married life had been blest with mutual affection and pros- perity, John Fisher being worth about $35,000, upon the interest of which they lived in comfort and luxury during their declining years. The Fisher family were Quakers in religious belief, and of Scotch origin. The mother of our subject departed this life in about 1873, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. John Fisher was a man of strong views and a hearty supporter of Republican principles. Daniel A. Fisher was the eldest of his parents' children, and spent his childhood and youth on the farm, receiving a fair education in the district schools. He was first married in Wayne County, Ind., March 18, 1846, to Miss Luzena Baldwin, a native of that county, born Aug. 10, 1824. She survived her marriage only nine years, dying at her home in Randolph County, Ind., May 23, 1855. She was of an amiable Christian character, and the offspring of an old Quaker family of good standing and members of the farming community. The second marriage of Mr. Fisher was cele- brated in Randolph County, Ind., with Miss Eunice E. Sherman, who was born in Franklin Township, that county, Nov. 20, 1837. She is the third daughter and fourth child of Pardon and Mary (Parks) Sherman, natives of New York State, and who were born, reared, and married in Greene County. They likewise engaged in farming pur- suits, and after the birth of two children, removed to Miami County, Ohio, where their third child was born. Thence they removed to Franklin County, Ind., settling upon an unbroken tract of timber land, in Franklin Township, and which they im- proved and brought to a good state of cultivation, building a fine homestead, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives in well-earned comfort. There the mother died Jan. 22, 1882, when seventy- six years old, and the father 011 the 8th of Febru- ary, following, aged eighty-one. They were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and devoted Christian people, revered bv all who knew them. Mr. Sherman politically! was a solid Republican and took a genuine interest in the prosperity of the country at large. Their six children included one son and five daughters, of whom the record is as follows: Larwon W. mar T f 246 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ried Miss Mary Ollen, and is engaged in merchan- dising in Randolph County; Julia C. M. is the wife of William Simpson, and resides in Excelsior, 111. ; Mary A. became the wife of Westley Mann, a far- mer of Douglas County, Minn.; the wife of our subject was the fourth child ; Emily H. married J. Pucket, who died in the army during the late war, and her deatli occurred in 1864; Eliza died when five years of age. Mrs. Fisher was reared by her parents, with whom she remained until her marriage, which oc- curred Oct. 16. 1856. After this event she and her husband lived for eight years in Randolph County, lud.. whence after the war they came to this county, where Mr. Fisher purchased 160 acres on section 6 in Philo Township. To this he added until the homestead included 200 acres, which Mr. F. by his industry and energy brought to a fine state of cul- tivation. In addition to this are 320 acres on section 36 in Scott Township, and 400 acres in Champaign Township, on sections 28 and 29, all highly improved, and supplied with commodious and substantial farm buildings. Of the first marriage of Mr. Fisher there were bora four children, of whom one son, James, is de- ceased ; Rachel is the wife of James Morrow, and resides on a farm in Douglas County, this State ; Dillon B. is at home; Hannah M., the wife of George W. Johnson, resides with her husband in Weldon, 111. The present Mrs. Fisher by her union with our subject became the mother of one child, Nathan C., who died when nearly five years old, on the 3d of May, 1864. Mrs. F. was reared in the doctrines of the Methodist Church. Mr. F. was at different times entrusted with the various township offices, and in the duties of each acquitted himself creditably and with satisfaction to all con- cerned. eHARLES W. CRAW. This honored citi- zen of Colfax Township was one of, the pioneer settlers who came to this county in the spring of 1865. He took possession of 350 acres on section 2, and for a period of twenty years thereafter industriously pursued his chosen calling as a farmer. He is a native of Franklin County, Vt., born March 4, 1828, and the son of Allen and Lucy (Griswold) Craw, also natives of Vermont. When he was a lad of ten years old his parents emigrated to the Prairie State, locating in White Hall, Greene County, where our subject grew to manhood, receiving excellent home training and a common-school education. He assisted his father in tilling the soil and remained an inmate of the parental home until several years after attaining his majority. In 1856 Mr. Craw took unto himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Lucy, daughter of James and Elizabeth Rives, who were natives of Kentucky, whence they removed to Illinois and lo- cated in Greene County in the pioneer days. Mrs. Craw was born in Greene County, 111., Dec. 21, 1838, and remained with her parents until her mar- riage. Our subject at that time was the owner of 200 acres of land which he had brought to a good state of cultivation, and . in addition to this also leased a tract and carried on farming until 1860. He then decided to change his occupation, and pur- chasing a stock of merchandise, took possession of a store building at Greenfield, in the same county. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits at that point until about 1863, when he disposed of his stock of goods and other property ; he came into this county in 1865, locating upon the land which he now oc- cupies. Since that time he has given his principal attention to agriculture, with the exception of five years, during which he carried on a general store at Sadorus. Mr. Craw has been greatly prospered in his farm- ing and mercantile pursuits, and is now the owner of 550 acres of land in Colfax Township, all of which, which the exception of 100 acres, is included in the home farm. He owns over 1,300 acres in Kansas 991 in Barber County, and 324 in Harper County. His land is largely devoted to stock- raising, and he exhibits some of the finest horses, cattle and hogs to be found in the country. In addition to his farm property Mr. C. is the owner of houses and lots in both Sadorus and Tolono. Our subject, politically, has endorsed the princi- ples of the Republican party since its organization.' He has steadily declined to become an office-holder, having enough private business to occupy his time RESIDENCE OF MORRIS E. JONES , SEC. 2 9., Co ND IT TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCE OF JACOB MS/CLOSKEY ,SEC.35.,URBANA TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCEOF JOSEPH DECKER, SEc.22.,EAsr BENDTOWNSHIP. OF THE "' UF LLIMOIS hr CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 249 t , and attention. He has been an active member of the Methodist Church for many years, and has con- tributed liberally and cheerfully for its advance- ment and maintenance. He was trained from a child in the doctrines of this church, and takes great satisfaction in thus doing honor to his excel- lent parents, who were also firm believers in and followers of the Methodist faith. Mr. and Mrs. Craw have eight children living, namely : Fannie, the wife of D. W. Smith, of Greene County, 111. ; Nellie, Sylvester, James W., Elmer, Lidia J., William G. and John W. Ada died when ten months old. Our subject commenced life without a dollar in capital, and received very little assistance afterward. He had been trained to habits of industry and economy, and was naturally wide-awake, ambitious, and always willing to work. He has the satisfaction of knowing that he has al- ways given his creditors abundant time and made allowance for misfortune and sickness. He is naturally of a very kind and generous disposition, willing to " live and let live." The Craw family in Vermont were widely and favorably known and represented by a large fol- lowing. Allen Craw, the father of our subject, was born Feb. 21, 1798, and departed this life at Sadorus, 111, on the 23d of March, 1887. When twenty-one years of age, he married in his native State Miss Lucy Griswold, who was also born in Vermont, in 1800. She is still living, and a resi- dent of Sadorus. The fathers of both parents served in the Eevolutionary. War, and were cap- tured by the British. Allen Craw and his wife, Lucy, lived together harmoniously for a period of sixty-eight years and nineteen days. Their union was blest by the birth of six children, of whom the eldest daughter, Polly, died in 1835, and is buried in Vermont; the second one,_George B., is a resi- dent of Sadorus, this county; Lucinda married John H. Waller; she is deceased and is buried in Greene County ; Jane resides on the old home- stead ; the youngest son, Edmond, died at the home of his father in this county, and his remains were laid to rest in Craw Cemetery, near Sadorus, he being the first one buried there. Samuel lives near Sadorus. A brother of Allen Craw lived to be ninety-six years old and another ninety-three. The father of our subject was a man greatly re- spected wherever known, and his funeral was at- tended by a large concourse of people who had gathered from different parts of the township to show respect to his memory. He became a resident of White Hall in 1837, and resided there until 1865, cultivating a farm of 300 acres. He was converted when twenty-two years of age at a camp- meeting in Vermont, which meetings he was very fond of attending and never lost an opportunity of being present when possible. His home was a stop- ping-place for the itinerant preachers, and for sev- eral years after settling in Greene County, 111., di- vine services were held in his pioneer cabin. His name is held in affectionate remembrance by his wife and children, as well as his friends outside the family circle. He accumulated a goodly amount of this world's goods, and in his declining years lived at ease and in contentment, as the just reward of his labors. J-~- OIIN FRANKLIN PHILLIPPE, -youngest son of John and Susan J. (Bnsey) Phillippe (see sketch), was born in Coudit Township, this county, Oct. 29, 1852. He was reared on a farm and pursued his primary studies in the district schools, his education afterward being ad- vanced by an attendance at Asbury, now DePew University, at Greencastle, Ind. When not in school he assisted in the duties of the farm, and made his home with his parents until 1875. In that year he was married, and settled on the farm which he now owns and occupies, located on sec- tion 3, Hensley Township. The homestead of our subject includes 175 acres of choice land, all enclosed and improved, and sup- plied with a good set of buildings. He also has twenty acres of timber. He was reared to habits of industry, and early in life evinced those quali- ties which have since constituted him a good citi- zen and an excellent business man. He has con- ducted the management of his farm with ability and success, and is rated among the representative and progressive agriculturists of one of the wealth- iest counties in the State. The farm buildings, ma- t 250 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. chinery and stuck arc well oared for, and every- thing about the place indicates the exercise of cul- tivated tastes and ample means. Mr. Phillippe was married, in April, 1875, to Miss Ella Herriott, who was born in Fayette Coun- ty, Ky., and is the daughter of Ephrairn and Eliza- beth (Washington) Herriott. Of this union there have been born four children John II., Matthew A., Marah F. and William. Mr. P., as an enter- prising citizen, interested in the welfare of his county and community, was elected Commissioner in 18G. for a term of three years. Politically he is Republican, and uniformly casts his vote and in- fluence in support of the principles of his party. 1 US. EUNICE MINER, daughter of Thomas Franklin, and widow of Charles Miner, oc- cupies a fine homestead of 320 acres on section 19, Hensley Township. She was born in Vigo County, Ind., Aug. 17, 1823. Her father was a native of New York, born it is be- lieved in Ontario County. Her grandfather, Benja- min Franklin, was bom in Connecticut, and her great-grandfather, Jehial Franklin, who it is sup- posed was a native of the same State, descended from excellent English ancestry. He became a resident of Ontario County, N. Y., in the early settlement of that region, and there spent the last years of his life. There also his family was reared, and Benja- min, one of the sons, established a homestead among the pioneers before the day of either canals or rail- roads, and when the emigrants traveled slowly with wagons over the country to their various destina- tions. The grandfather of Mrs. Miner removed from Ontario County, N. Y., to Indiana in 1820, and settled among the pioneers of Vigo County, where he spent the remainder of his days. Among the members of his family was Thomas, the father of Mrs. M., who was reared in the Empire State, where he was married and resided until 1820. Then, with his wife and four children, he joined his parents and emigrated with them to Indiana. He also purchased a tract of timber land in Vigo County, and in the midst of the wilderness erected a log house in which his daughter, Eunice, was born. He toiled indus- triously some years, opening up a fine farm and be- coming quite extensively engaged in raising grain and stock. His death occurred there in about 1845. He had been married in early manhood to Miss Annie Reeves, a native of Essex County, N. .1. This lady survived her husband eight years, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. M., in Heusley Township, Aug. 21, 1853. Mrs. Miner received careful home training at the hands of her excellent parents, and a fair education in the common schools. She remained with her parents until her marriage, assisting her mother in the various duties of the household, and became quite an expert in spinning and knitting. She was united in marriage with Charles Miner, at the home of her parents, in Vigo County, Ind., April 30, 1850. Mr. M. was a native of Fayette County, Ky., born March 29, 1808. He was the son of Rufus Miner, of Stonington, Conn., and the grand- son of .Rufus Miner, Sr., who had received an ex- cellent education, and for many years taught school in Stontngton, where he spent the last years of his life. His son, Rufus, removed from Connecticut to Kentucky in 1799, being one of the pioneers of the Blue Grass region. He was there married to Miss Betsey White, who was born in Virginia, and was the daughter of Charles and Sarah (Monroe) White. In 1811 they removed to Highland Coun- ty, Ohio, during its curly settlement, and there re- mained residents for many years. In 1852 they bade adieu to old friends and associations, and coming to this State located in Shelby County, where their lives terminated. The Miner family was noted for its education and intelligence, and the son, Charles, inherited the excellent qualities of both parents. His mother, while spinning at the old-fashioned wheel, taught him the rudiments of the common English branches, which lessons his father continued at night by the light of a hickory-bark fire. Even tallow candles in those days were luxuries, and the lamp of the present was entirely unknown. Aside from this, three weeks' schooling in the log house was all the instruction Charles Miner received. He was natur- ally, however, a bright and observing boy, and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 251 through his own efforts, by reading' and study as he had opportunity, became possessed of a practical business education, and was well informed upon all matters of general interest. When nineteen years of age he went to Hamilton County, Ohio, where he spent four years working on a farm and making an occasional trip down the river on a flatboat loaded with produce, which he disposed of at New Orleans and other points along the Mississippi. He spent two or three seasons in Louisiana, chopping cord wood for steamboats. Although his wages were small, he receiving a part of the time but $8 per month, he saved a good portion of his earnings, and in 1837 went up into Indiana and purchased a small farm in Vigo County. This land lay about eleven miles north of Terre Haute. In 1849 he purchased several Mexican land warrants, and com- ing to Illinois entered land with these warrants on sections 1 1) and 20 of what is now Hensley Township. The year following he removed his family hither, the journey being made overland with wagons. After they were comfortably established he com- menced the improvement and cultivation of his farm. This part of the county was very thinly settled at that time, there being but one house between the farm of Mr. Miner and what is now the city of Champaign. The house stood on the State road, and for some time Mr. M. disposed of a large por- tion of his produce to emigrants passing westward. He was prospered in his business and farming op- erations, and lived to see the country around him opened up and improved by a good class of people. He watched with keen interest its various stages of development, and as time and opportunity afforded, contributed his quota toward its growth and pros- perity. The primitive dwelling of the settler after the lapse of years was replaced by a handsome, modern farm-house, with a fine barn and all other necessary out-buildings. He was an honest man and a good citizen to the fullest extent of the term, and was held in high esteem by the friends and neighbors among whom he had lived for over thirty years. After a useful and unostentatious life he pased to his final rest, on the 21st of July, 1885. The widowed mother with her sons re r mained on the homestead, the business of which Mrs. Miner has conducted since the death of her husband with rare good sense and ability. Mr. and Mrs. Miner became the parents of eight children Thomas, Ellen, Charles, Daniel, Monroe, Grant, John and Seth. The three children by a former marriage of Mr. Miner are Annie, Elizabeth and Frank. The eldest son of Mr. Miner at the outbreak of the late war enlisted as a Union soldier in the 25th Illinois Infantry, serving first in Mis- souri and Arkansas, and later with the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in many important battles, and was wounded at Chickamauga. After suffering seven months he attempted the journey home, but did not live to reach his destination, dy- ing at the Doan House in Champaign Cit}', April 11, 1864. Charles Miner after v becoming a resident of this section, and as the country gradually settled up, became an important factor among its business and agricultural interests. His good sense and intelli- gence commanded ready recognition, and he was appointed to various offices within the gift of his townsmen. He was School Treasurer for a period of sixteen years, and was the first Justice of the Peace elected after the organization of Hensley Township. During the existence of the Whig party he was its stanch adherent, hut later cordially en- dorsed the principles of the Republicans, and upon the abandonment of the old party uniformly sup- ported the principles of the new, of which he was a member for the space of nearly thirty years. ENRY CLAY WEST. In 1855 the traveler through Hensley Township, then an unset- tled stretch of country, might have descried a lonely cabin situated on the open prairie with but few dwellings in sight. This humble abode was the original home of our subject, who came to this county when a young man, deciding to here establish a permanent home. The courage re- quired to thus practically isolate himself from his fellow-men, as it were, in order to carry on the plans which he had in view may be better imagined than described. Mr. West^however, possessed an inherent independence and resolution which pre- i f t 252 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. vented him from looking back when he had once pl.-icod liis hand to the plow, and he settled down in his pioneer cabin, determined to stay, to labor and wait for results. Considering the fine home- stead whose doors he now hospitably opens to his old friends, it is hardly necessary to say that his labors and patience have been richly rewarded. The log cabin has been replaced by a handsome and commodious dwelling, and the once unfenced prairie upon which lie laid claim has been trans- formed into smiling fields of green meadows and growing grain. Everything about the homestead indicates thrift and prosperity, and is a forcible il- lustration of what may be accomplished by steady perseverance and unflagging industry. Mr. West was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Aug. 9, 1831. His father, Russell W.. and his grandfather, William West, were both natives of Virginia. Russell West grew to manhood in his native State and was there first married. His wife lived but a few years, and soon after her death he removed to Kentucky in about 1826, settling in Bourbon Count}", where he became *a foreman on a large plantation. There also he married Mrs. Margaret (Herriott) Carter, the mother of our sub- ject. In 1 847 he purchased a farm in Scott County, Ky., which he occupied until 1854, when he re- moved to Champaign County, settling in Mahomet Township. He also purchased land in Piatt County. He remained a resident of Mahomet until his death, which occurred Jan. 26, 1861, and his re- maii.s are buried in a pleasant spot on the old farm. The mother died in Bourbon County, Ky., Nov. 7, 1835, and was buried in the Cane Ridge Church- yard. The subject of this history was reared in his na- tive State and educated in the subscription schools. After his father purchased land he assisted in its improvement and remained under the home roof until twenty-one years of age. InSeptember, 1851, he started for Illinois on horseback, riding the en- tire distance in this manner. He stopped here three months, then saddled his horse and started for his old home in Kentucky, which he reached after a twelve days' journey. He remained with his father on the farm 0416 year, and in 1 853 returned to this county. He was still a single man and se- cured employment by the month with one of the pioneer farmers. The following August he was married in Hensley Township, and started South once more, this time accompanied by his bride. They made the journey with an outfit of two horses and a covered wagon. After reaching the old home they visited with his father's family and friends until November, then started for the West once more, and spent the following winter in Condit Township. In the spring of 1854, Mr. West rented land in Hensley Township. They spent the fall of that year with the father of Mrs. W. on section 28, and on the 17th of April, 1855, located on the farm which they have occupied continuously since, but which as we have seen was very far from being a farm when they took possession of it. There was little then but open prairie on all sides, especially the eastern part of the township. Most of the people who there located and improved farms, have sold out and gone to other parts of the country, or to their long home. Mr. West is now the oldest settler in this part of the township, and is tacitly accorded that reverence and respect due to ,one who looked upon the prairie in its virgin state and assisted in its transformation. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married Aug. 11, 1853, was formerly Miss Harriett E. Gra- ham, also a native of Bourbon County, Ky. Her father, James M. Graham, was a native of Bath County in the Blue Grass State, and her grand- father, James Graham, Sr., a native of Virginia, was among the early pioneers of Kentucky, where he engaged in farming and spent his last years in Bath County. His son, James M., was also reared to farming pursuits, and then began to teach a sub- scription school. He then went into the general merchandise and commission business, and remained in his native State until 1852, when he came to this county, and purchased land on section 28, in Hens- ley Township. He opened up a good farm and re- mained a resident of the township until 1885, when he removed to Kansas and is now living there in Republic County. He was a man of much force of character, prominent in local affairs, and held the various offices of trust within the gift of his S fellow-citizens, among them being that of Super- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. visor, which he filled very satisfactorily for sev- eral terms. The mother of Mrs. West before her marriage was Miss Margaret Herriott, also a native of Kentucky. She died when Mrs. West was but three years old. Mr. and Mrs. West have six children living: Margaret became the wife of L. P. Wamacks, and lives in Hensley Township; .Susan E., Mrs. John P. Grindley, lives in Mahomet Township; George C. took to wife Miss Rosetta Bell, of Champaign Township, and resides on the homestead ; Sarah A., the wife of John Jordan, resides in Hensley Township; Thomas and William are on the old homestead, and single. These children, who have inherited in a marked degree the excellent traits of character possessed by their parents, are greatly respected as citizens and members of society. Mr. and Mrs. W. became connected with the Presby- terian Church at Champaign in 1854, our subject being one of the three charter members now liv- ing who assisted in its organization, the other two being ladies. *-5 $ p -^ i<* \ EV. DAVID CRAWFORD, who was con- nected with the ministry of Northwestern Indiana Conference for many years, has i)since 1872 employed himself in agricultural pursuits. He owns and occupies a fine farm on sec- tion 31, in Philo Township, where he has built up a comfortable home, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his friends and neighbors. Mr. Crawford was born in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1811, and is the son of James Crawford, also a native of the Empire State, and of Scotch ancestry. He was bred to farming pursuits, in which he was occupied during his youth and early manhood, and was married in his native coun- ty to Miss Mary Graham, a native of New York State. They located on a farm in Washington County, N. Y., and accumulated a competency. They were excellent Christian people, and widely known for their hospitality and kindness to the af- flicted and distressed. Both parents had been fairly educated, and were above the average in intelli- gence. They spent their entire lives in Washing- ton County, the mother dying in middle life, and the father at an advanced age. 253 Of the nine children in the parental family, con- sisting of three daughters and six sons, one daugh- ter and two sons only are now living. Of these the record is as follows: John, who followed farming pursuits, after arriving at the age of eighty-eight years, departed this life in 1885; William died when a young man before leaving home; he was a youth of great promise and much beloved by his family and a large circle of friends; Martha became the wife of Daniel Rice, and died near East Cam- den, Oneida Co., N. Y., when about seventy years old ; Isaac, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, died in Indiana, leaving a wife and three children ; David, of our sketch, was the next in order of birth; a daughter died in infancy ; James, who was connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church the greater part of his life, died at Hope, Bartholomew Co., Ind., in 1872, leaving a wife and two sons; Thomas C. is living in Cincinnati, Ohio, and actively engaged as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he has a wife and seven children; Mary E., the widow of Mr. Jameson, is a resident of Rising Sun, Ohio Co., Ind., having two children who maintain her in ease and comfort, her son being a practicing physi- cian in that city. The subject of our sketch was educated princi- pally at Casenovia, N. Y., and Kent's Hill, Me. He was licensed to preach by the Williamstown Con- ference in New York, July 4, 1840, and later ad- mitted on trial during the Annual Conference at Terre Haute, Ind., in 1840. He was appointed tq Knightstown Circuit by Bishop R. R. Roberts; his labors also included the Morrisville Circuit. He was ordained Deacon by the Indiana Annual Con- ference, Nov. 21, 1842, by Bishop Thomas A. Mor- ris. Afterward he was transferred, at his own re- quest, to the Arkansas Conference, by which he was ordained Elder in November following, at its ses- sion at Little Rock. Three years later, desiring to go to Iowa, Mr. Crawford was transferred to the Iowa Conference, and labored in the vineyard there for a period of six years. In the meantime he had met with a severe affliction in the loss of his excel- lent wife. This lady was formerly Miss Elizabeth Toner, who was a native of Indiana, and married to our subject at Shelby ville, that State. She pos- 254 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. M .->(.< I all womanly virtues, and was ever the active sympathizer and helper of her husband in his relig- ious work. The one child born to them died in in- fancy. The second marriage of Mr. Crawford took place at Pleasant Hill, Montgomery Co., Ind., Aug. 23, 1854. His wife, Miss Mary A. Meharry, was the daughter of James Meharry, the latter horn in Ad- ams County, Ohio, of Scottish parentage. He mar- ried Miss Margaret Francis, of Irish and Scotch de- scent, in 1827. In the spring of 1828 they removed from Ohio to Fountain County, Ind., and thence three years later to Montgomery County, where the father followed farming, and where both parents spent the remainder of their lives. Their four chil- dren consisted of two daughters and two sons, of whom the wife of our subject was the eldest: Green C. is farming in Tippecanoe County, Ind.; he married Miss Letitia Meharry, of Canada; Cor- nelia B. is the wife of James Hickman, a farmer of Iroqnois County, 111. ; A. W., a mute, lives with his sister, the wife of our subject. Mrs. Crawford was reared and educated mostly in Montgomery and Allen Counties, Ind., completing her studies at the Ft. Wayne Methodist Episcopal College. After- ward she returned to her parents and remained with them until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there have been born ten children, of whom three Charles G., M. L. and an infant are de- ceased. Those surviving are C. M., Jessie C. E., Ella M. F., Allen J., Anna L., Emma G. and John W. W. All these are at home with the exception of Allen, who is attending college at Ouarga. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford soon after their marriage settled in Crown Point. Ind., where our subject had charge of a congregation one year. He was thence removed to Pine Village, and afterward to Pleasant Hill. He was placed on the superannuated list four years before coming to Illinois. Since 1872 he has given his time principally to farming, and is the possessor of over 1,000 acres of land, half of it be- ing in Indiana. His homestead in Philo Township is finely improved, with good buildings, and the land is under an advanced state of cultivation. His stock and farm implements compare favorably with those of the other prosperous and intelligent farmers of Champaign County. A VII) F. BROWN. One of the best con- ducted farms in Champaign County is lo- cated in Hensley Township on section 20, and invariably attracts the eye of the pass- ing traveler as indicating on every hand the super- vision of a proprietor with cultivated tastes and abundant means. This beautiful and valuable home- stead is the property of the subject of our sketch, who became its occupant in 1867. From the time of taking possession he has industriously labored for its improvement and beautification, until there is little lacking that could be reasonably desired. Mr. B. is essentially a self-made man, who was fortu- nate in securing an admirable wife and helpmeet, and they together have built up one of those envia- ble homes which so materially assist in defining the status of a iieighborhood or community. Mr. Brown is a native of Highland County, Ohio. He was born Jan. 15, 1823, and is the son of Henry Brown, who, with his father, Nathan Brown, was a native of Virginia. The grandfather of our sub- ject removed with his family from the Old Domin- ion to Ohio at an early day, being among the pio- neers of Highland County, where he spent the re- mainder of his life, and where his remains are bur- ied. His son Henry, the father of our subject, was reared to manhood and married in Highland Coun- ty, Ohio, where he purchased a tract of land and cleared a farm, which he occupied until 1826. He then sold out, and with his wife and seven children started overland for what was then called the frontier, but is now the important State of Indiana. Their road lay through the wilderness, and in many places they had to cut a passage with their axes. After reaching the boundaries of Putnam Count}' Henry Brown purchased a tract of land, mostly timber, a few acres being partially cleared, and sup- plied with a log cabin. He, however, possessed the genuine pioneer spirit, and was not the man to turn back from an undertaking that had any prospect of success. .He unloaded his family and their limited supply of household goods, and with them took up his abode in the cabin and at once set about the improvement of his purchase. In due time the timber gave way to cultivated fields, and the prim- itive cabin to a pretentious and substantial log house, supplemented by a barn of the same de- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 255 scription. In that pioneer home, whose occupants at that time felt rich, the father of our subject re- sided until his death, in May, 1838. He had mar- ried, in early life, Miss Rachel Clearwater, a native of South Carolina, and the daughter of Jacob Clear- water, who proved a faithful and companionable wife and mother, sharing cheerfully the difficulties and hardships of settlement in a new country. After the death of her husband she made her home with her son, our subject, dying in Hensley Town- ship, Oct. 5, 1872. Of the children of Henry and Rachel Brown, nine in number, David F. of our sketch was the fifth in order of birth. He was but three years old when his parents journeyed overland from Ohio to Indi- ana, and was there reared in Putman County, that State, receiving a limited education in the sub- scription schools. He was fifteen years old when his father died, and remained with his mother until twenty-two, when he returned to his native county and engaged as a stock-dealer the following year. He then joined his mother's family in Indiana, where he worked at farming for three years, after which he operated on rented land until 1846. That year he provided himself with a stock of clocks and Yankee notions, and coming over into the Prairie State, peddled first on commission for another man and afterward for himself. Two years later our subject returned to Indiana, and purchased 120 acres of partially improved land in Montgomery County. This he improved and cultivated for several years thereafter, then rented his farm, and returning to Illinois, purchased 600 acres of unimproved prairie in Blue Ridge Town- ship, Piatt County. He soon afterward put up a house, commenced the improvement of his pur- chase, and after a residence there of a few years, removed to De Witt County, and purchased a tract of land near Farmer City. This he also improved and occupied four years, at the expiration of which time he returned to his property in Piatt County, which he occupied until 1867. Then leaving this in charge of a tenant he came to this county and purchased eighty acres in Hensley Township, which is now included in his present farm. He retained his Piatt County farm until 1872, when he sold it. He has added to his first purchase in this count}' until he is now the owner of 818 acres, besides val- uable tracts of timber elsewhere. He has also en- larged his house and barn, and vastly improved the original condition of his purchase. His land is finely adapted to grain and stock-raising, to which of late years he has principally turned his attention, and has met with remarkable success. The first wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Crawfordsville, Ind., July 19, 1849, was formerly Miss Rachel Pierce, who was born in Montgomery County, Ind., May 28, 1827. Mrs. B. was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Gatral) Pierce, both natives of Pennsylvania. This lady became the mother of two children, both now de- ceased, and departed this life Dec. 2, 1851. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was- mar- ried in 1853, wa's Miss Elizabeth Bailey, a native of Kentucky, born Nov. 2, 1829. She is the daugh- ter of Charles Bailey, who was born in Hanover, Plymouth Co., Mass., and the granddaughter of Charles Bailey, Sr., a native of the same place and of excellent English parentage and descent. He met his death by being crushed under the walls of a burning building in his native town. His father, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Brown, also died in that town. Charles Bailey, Jr., the father of Mrs. Brown, became a resident of Indiana when it was a Territory. He was a machinist by trade, and put in the apparatus of a carding-mill at Brookville, Franklin County, the first of its kind in that local- ity. From there he went to Kentucky, and in 1 837 back to Indiana, where he purchased a farm in Montgomery County, and spent the remainder of his life, dying Aug. 28, 1868. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Brown, was formerly Miss Cather- ine Vanhook; of Bourbon County, Ivy., and the daughter of Archibald Vanhook, who was born in South Carolina, and was of Holland parentage and ancestry. He removed from the South at an early day, and was one of the early settlers of Bourbon Country. Mrs. Catherine Bailey departed this life in September, 1861, in Crawfordsville, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have nine children living, of whom the record is as follows : Alice, the wife of George Rising, is a resident of Hensley Town- ship; Willard lives in Woodbury County, Iowa; Mary, Mrs. Emerson W. Womacks, lives in Og- . k 256 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. den Township, this county; Frances is the wife of Luther Lindsey, of Hensley Township; Olive, El- ery, F. Lincoln, Ida May and Florence Josephine are at home with their parents. Mr. Brown during the existence of the old Whig- party was a warm sympathizer with its principles, but when the old party was abandoned, heartily en- dorsed the Republican party, and is now a Prohi- bitionist. He has always taken a lively interest in local and general matters, and keeps himself well posted upon current events. He has been promi- nent in the counsels of his fellow-townsmen, and in 1875 served as a member of the Board of Super- visors. Mrs. B. is a lady of more than ordinary intel- ligence, and for a period of more than thirty yeais has assisted her husband in every worthy enter- prise, and has been his sympathizer and helper in his undertakings, whether they were for the benefit of the family or the public at large. J "JEFFERSON TROTTER, a gentleman promi- nent in the affairs .of Champaign County I since he became a resident in 1859, has been ' distinguished for more than ordinary energy and enterprise in the pursuit of his occupation as an agriculturist, and of late years as a breeder of fine stock. He is essentially a self-made man, hav- ing commenced humbly in life, but is now one of the most important factors in the agricultural and business interests of this section. Mr. Trotter was born in Frederick County, Va., Dec. 19, 1825, and is the son of Matthew Trotter, a native of the same State and county, who was the son of Matthew Trotter, Sr. The latter was born in Ireland in 1717, and emigrated to America at an early period in the history of the country, taking up his abode in Frederick County, Va., where he opened up a farm, and upon it spent the re- mainder of his life. His son Matthew, the father of our subject, was born May 5, 1786. He was reared on the farm in Frederick County, Va., and after reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Kcdy, a native of the same county, and of German ancestry. After the birth of six children, they emigrated to Ohio in locating in Clarke Count}'. The journey was made overland with wagons, and they camped and cooked by the way. After a four years' residence in the latter-named county they removed further West- ward to Indiana, locating in Tippecanoe County, and from there went to Clinton County, where Matthew Trotter purchased an improved farm. He only occupied this, however, a few years, and then returned to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he spent the last days of his life. The mother, in her declining years, lived with one of her sons in Champaign Township, this county. Of the seven children comprising the parental household, Jefferson Trotter of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth. He was but four years old when his parents removed to Ohio, and eight years of age when they became residents of Indi- ana. He attended the district schools in the latter State as opportunity offered, and when not thus oc- cupied assisted his father ori the farm. He was fond of his books, however, and after he had grown to manhood earned money with which to advance his education. In due time he entered the Farm- ers' Institute in Wayne Township, Tippecanoe County, where he studied for one year, and after- ward attended Wabash College. For a few years following he engaged in teaching six months in the year, and worked at farming the remainder. In 1859 he purchased 160 acres of wild prairie in Champaign Township, this county, in company with his brother, J. W. Trotter. They farmed to- gether harmoniously for more than twenty years, in the meantime adding to their first purchase until they became the owners of 480 acres, which they brought to a fine state of cultivation. In 1880 they divided the property. Our subject has since added to his share, and his possessions now aggre- gate 200 acres, all in Champaign Township. Upon it he has erected handsome and substantial modern farm buildings, and this, together with the manner in which it is cared for, makes the homestead one of the most attractive features of the landscape of this section. The marriage of Jefferson Trotter and Miss Eliza C. Kirkpatrick took place in LaFayette, Ind., May 20, 1879. Mrs. T. is the daughter of George W. ,. . A CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. t and Catherine (Porter) Kirkpatrick, the former a native of Kentucky, born in 1796, and the latter of Ohio, born in 1801. The grandfather of Mrs. T., Samuel Kirkpatrick by name, descended from ex- cellent Scottish ancestry, and emigrated to this country, locating in Pickaway County, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. His son, George W., grew to manhood in Ohio, where he was mar- ried and resided until about 1827, when he removed to Indiana, and was among the pioneer settlers of Tippecanoe County. He purchased a tract of un- improved prairie land in Wea Township. Here he opened up a farm, and remained a resident of that township until his death. The mother of Mrs. T. was of Irish parentage, and was born in Ohio, of which State her parents were among the earliest settlers, locating there while it was yet a Territory. Mrs. T. has a distinct recollection of the privations and hardships encountered in the settlement of a new country, amid whose wild scenes her native strength of character was developed, and where she became fitted for the suitable wife and helpmeet of such a man as her husband. She is a member in good standing of the Christian Church. Politically Mr. Trotter uniformly casts his vote with the Dem- ocratic party, and is a firm supporter of the present administration. IRAM TROTTER, a gentleman of South- ern birth and parentage, who is well known and highly respected throughout Newcomb Township, where he carried on farming for a period of thirty years, in 1884 abandoned active labor and retired to the village of Fisher, where he is now living upon a competency secured mainly by his own efforts. Besides his fine property in the village, consisting of a handsome residence, set in the midst of ample grounds, ornamented with shade trees and choice shrubbery, he has a farm of 270 acres on sections 14 and lf>, in Newcomb Township, which is now operated by his son John. Mr. Trotter is the third child of William and Barbara (Dick) Trotter, natives of West Virginia. They located after their marriage in Frederick County, whence they emigrated to Clinton County, Ind., and after a residence there of seven years came in 1854 to Piatt County, 111., where they spent the remainder of their days, occupied in farming pursuits. Their family consisted of six sons and three daughters, of whom Hiram of onr sketch was born Jan. 22, 1813. He remained a resident of the Old Dominion until 1850, removing thence to Clinton County, Ind., with his parents, and six years later became a resident of Cham- paign County, locating on a tract of land in New- comb Township, where he engaged successfully in farm pursuits until his retirement in 1884. Dur- ing the period of over thirty years in which he has gone in and out among the people of this vicinity, he has distinguished himself as an honorable and upright citizen, and a skillful and thorough farmer. He has always been ready to assist in any enter- prise calculated to benefit his community, and is possessed of that wise judgment and temperance of counsel which has commended him to his fellow- citizens as an important factor in their delibera- tions, and a man whose opinions it were wise to follow. The first marriage of our subject took place in his native county, the maiden of his choice being Miss Susan Stotler, who became his wife in the summer of 1835. The three children born of this marriage were Peter, Mary and Susanna. The first mentioned married Miss Elizabeth Yeager, of Indiana, and is a successful farmer of Newcomb Township; Mary married Andrew McBride, who died shortty after; she is a resident of Clinton County, Indiana; Susanna died in Piatt County, this State, when twenty-five years of age. Mrs. Susan Trotter departed this life in Frederick County, Va., in 1839, and her remains were laid to rest near the place of her birth. Mr. T. was again married, in Virginia, to Miss Lydia M. Allemang, also a native of the Old Do- minion, and who by her marriage with our subject became the mother of ten children, seven now liv- ing, namely, Nathan, Elizabeth, Virginia, John, Al- bert, Barbara and Jane. Nathan, who married Miss Merrill, is farming in Iowa; Elizabeth, the wife of Capt. J. B. Lester, whose biography ap- pears elsewhere in this ALBUM, is a 'resident of Newcomb Township; Virginia, Mrs. David Ins- t. 4 260 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. keep, resides in Iowa; John married Miss Eliza- beth ,1. Funston, and is farming in Newcomb Township; Albert married Miss Carrie Dorr, and resides in Piatt County, this .State, as does also Barbara, the wife of George Teats; Jane is the wife of Oscar Mulvain, and they are living in Newcomb Township; three children died in infancy. Mrs. Lydia M. Trotter died at the home of her husband in Newcomb Township in 1 880. Our subject, on the 1 1th of May, 1882, was mar- ried to Mrs. Mary A. (Starling) Sehoppell, daughter of William and Eliza (Wallace) Starling, and widow of Jackson Sehoppell, who died in Mahomet Town- ship in 1864. By her first marriage this lady be- came the mother of eight children, viz., Ann E., Mary J., Martha, Susan E., Rose, Sarah, Charlie and Oliver. Ann married George T. Pearce, and they reside in McLean County, this State; Martha is the wife of D. W. Stewart, of Michigan; Susan E. died in infancy ; Rose, the wife of Al Hinton, re- sides on a farm with her husband in Newcomb Township; Sarah, Charlie and Ollie died in in- fancy. The mother of these children was born in Picka way County, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1827. Of her union with our subject there have been no chil- dren. While living in Newcomb Township Mr. Trotter served as Highway Commissioner for nine years in succession, and held the minor offices. He is Dem- ocratic in politics, and with his wife a member in good standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Fisher. It is with pleasure that we present the portrait of Mr. Trotter in this connection, as being that of a representative and honored citizen of Newcomb County. ., LFRED N. LOVELESS, of Newcomb Oil Township, is the son of Isaac N. and Louisa M. (Pawley) Loveless, who were natives respectively of Clinton and Boone Coun- ties, Ind., and of Irish descent. After their mar- riage they first located in Clinton County, Ind., whence they removed to Harrison County, Mo., and engaged in fanning. They subsequently returned to Indiana and after a residence there of about fifteen years moved to Champaign County, 111., where they lived about three years. They then re- turned to Harrison County, Mo., where they still live. Their eight children included six sons and two daughters, of whom Alfred N., of our sketch, was the eldest. He was born in Clinton County, Ind., June 15, 1858, becoming a resident of Champaign County, 111., when thirteen years of age, and with the exception of three or four years spent with his parents in Missouri, has resided here since that time. He is the proprietor of a good farm on section 3, in Newcomb Township, which consists of eighty acres, and is under a good state of cultivation. Our subject was married at the residence of the bride's parents, in Newcomb Township, Nov. 24, 1879, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of David and Mahala Naylor, of whom a sketch appears else- where in this work. Mrs. Loveless was born in Adams County, Ohio, Sept. 20, 1856, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of three .children Olin D., Jesse P. and Ida G. Mr. L. is Republican in politics, and in all respects is fulfilling his obligations as a good citizen. EHU DAVIS. Not quite twenty-five years ago the subject of the following history took the first steps in inaugurating the splendid } homestead which forms one of the most at- ^zs/ tractive spots in Pesotum Township. It is finely located, and the central feature, the handsome residence, with its adjacent out-buildings, com- mands an extended view of the surrounding country. The estate includes 356 acres of some of the most valuable land in the locality, finely improved, and stocked with graded animals. The building up of this homestead has comprised the labor of years and the outlay of thousands of dol- lars, but the result cannot be otherwise than emi- nently satisfactory to the proprietor. Nature en- dowed him with rare persistence, almost exhaust- less energy and excellent judgment. These IIMVC all been called into action, and the result is no less a matter of pride to the neighboring farmers than to our subject and his family. The reputation of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. a township or community depends upon the charac- ter of its citizens, and Pesotum Township is proud to claim within her borders a man of the character and capacities of Jehu Davis. Mr. Davis is a native of the Old Dominion, born in Monongalia County, Dec. 29, 1822. He lived in his native county until eleven years of age and then, accompanied by his uncle, Jehu, migrated to Indiana, in which State he lived until a young man about twenty-two years of age. His occupation was mostly farming, but he had also learned the carpenter's trade in the little city of New Castle, whence he removed to Clinton County, Ohio, and on the 23d of November, 1848, became the husband of Miss Susie Hanley, a native of that county. They remained in that locality about six- teen years, three of which were spent on the farm and the balance of the time occupied principally by Mr. Davis in carrying on a gristmill. Upon coming to the West in 1866, he purchased a quarter section of land in Pesotum Township, on section 26, and at once entered vigorously upon its im- provement. He broke the sod, fenced the fields, and was prospered in his efforts from the start. He selected the wisest manner in which to invest his surplus funds, namely, real estate, and which re- mains to his children the fairest heritage which a father could bequeath in the matter of property. The nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Davis were as follows: Christopher B., born June 10, 1850, died Aug. 8, 1851 ; James E., born Nov. 9, 1851 ; Mary E., born Aug. 9, 1853, died the same day; William, born Oct. 27, 1855, died Jan. 20, 1881; Frank,' born July 7, 1858; Jehu, born Dec. 5, 1861, died Dec. 25, 1863; Ralph, born April 29, 1860, died Jan. 9, 1861 ; Fanny B., born April 28, 1864; Wal- ter S., born Feb. 25, 1867, died Nov. 8, 1868; James E. married Miss Lavina Crawford, of this county, and is carrying on general merchandising in Pesotum. Frank married Miss Emma Ervin, of Clinton County, Ohio, and occupies a part of the homestead. Fannie B. is the wife of Eli Starkey, formerly of Clermont County, Ohio. He is carry- ing on merchandising in Parksville, this county. The father of our subject, William Davis, was a native of Delaware, whence he moved to AVest Virginia in his youth. He married Miss Sarah Pride, and was occupied in farming in the Old Do- minion until 1850, when he moved to Ohio, and retiring from active labor made his home with his son, Jehu, until his decease, which occurred in the spring of 1855. The wife and mother departed this life over a score of years before her husband, her death taking place before the removal to Ohio, in 1832. William Davis served in the War of 1812, as a member of the Virginia Regiment. The parents of Mrs. Davis removed from New York to Ohio at an early period in the history of the latter State, taking up 'their abode in Clermont County. Her father died when she was but six years of age, in 1833. The mother survived until 1870, making her home with her oldest daughter, Hannah, the wife of James Brunson, of Clermont County, Ohio. Mr. Davis, politicalh', as in all other respects, prefers principle to men, and refuses to be con- trolled by party factions. He has taken a deep in- terest in the success of the temperance movement, being an ardent Prohibitionist, and improving every opportunity to announce his opposition to the manu- facture and sale of ardent spirits. Both he and his excellent wife are valued members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, of Pesotum, and as oppor- tunity permits endeavor to adorn their profession by evincing a Christian kindness and character and encouraging the cause of morality and religion. ~HOMAS RUCKMAN, located on section 28, in Brown Township, since 1877. has been " cultivating a quarter section of land to which he has an undisputed title, and which is without encumbrance. He is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and born March 1C, 1836, whence he emigrated when a young man twenty-two years old to Illinois. His parents, Thomas and Christena (Staw) Ruckman, were natives of Pennsylvania, and subsequently settled in Ohio. They came to the Prairie State two years before their son, and locating in Will County, remained there until the death of the father in 1863. The mother afterward removed with her family to Ford County, where her death i f 262 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. took place in the winter of 188-2. The parental family included eight children. Upon the breaking out of the late Civil Wai- young Ruckman, then a resident of Will County, 111., enlisted in the 100th Illinois Infantry, serving with Company E for a period of nearly three years. Upon receiving his honorable discharge he returned to Will County, remaining there until the spring of 1877. He then came to this county and took up his abode in Brown Township, where he has since lived. At the time of coming here he was accompanied by a small family, having on the 1st of January. 1868, been married to Miss Amanda McGowan, who was born in Lockport, 111., March 2, 1842, and is the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Brown) McGowan, both of whom were natives of Scotland. Four children were added to the family circle after Mr. R. and his wife took up their resi- dence in this county, making six in all, who are named as follows: Charles W., Frederick, Harry, Nellie, Christena and Thomas. Mr. Ruckman has been School Director for nine successive years, and Commissioner of Highways two years. Politically he is Republican, and so- cially belongs to Van Wert Post No. 300, G. A. R., at Fisher. EDWARD MARSHALL. On section 15, in Ludlow Township, where he owns 160 acres, lies the well-cultivated and valuable farm of the subject of this sketch, where since 1866 he has been industriously tilling the soil and mak- ing a specialty of the breeding of fine stock. He is what may be truly termed a self-made man, hav- ing commenced life at the foot of the ladder, with- out means or influential friends. His present pos- sessions have been accumulated by his own industry which, with other excellent traits of character, has gained him the respect of all who know him. He is ranked among the representative citizens and business men of his township, and has contributed his full share in building up its agricultural inter- ests. Mr. Marshall first opened his eyes to the light in Erin's green isle, County Limerick, Nov. 20, 1834. His parents were John and Catherine (Garvin) Marshall. His paternal great-grandfather, a native of France, emigrated from there to Ireland and bought a large estate in County Limerick. The title to this, however, was defective, and after spending a large sum of money in trying to adjust the matter in the courts he lost the greater part of his property. He settled down upon the remain- der and spent the last years of his life, and the es- tate reverted first to his son and then to his grand- son, the father of our subject. Mr. Marshall during his childhood and youth at- tended school quite steadily, and when seventeen years of age set sail from Liverpool for the New World. After a voyage of four weeks and five days he landed in New York City and made it his first business to secure employment. In this he succeeded, and commenced as a brick and plaster mason in New York. After working in the cities of Brooklyn, Boston and Lebanon Springs, he turned his face toward the West, and coming into this State located in Warren County, where he worked by the month until his marriage. After- ward he took up a tract of land which he cultivated for three years following. He then removed to Cold Brook Township, where he lived until 1868, and during that year came to this county, and with the money which he had saved by close economy purchased the farm which he now owns and occu- pies. Upon it at the time was a small frame house which needed many repairs, and which he fitted up for the reception of his family temporarily. In due time this was replaced by a substantial farm dwelling. Mr. M. planted hedge, and fruit and shade trees, and has combined beauty and utility in the most happy manner. Everything about the place is kept in good repair, and the stock and ma- chinery are well sheltered by the snug barn and other out-buildings, which he has put up for the purpose. Mr. Marshall was married at Monmouth, 111., Sept. 28, 1858, to Miss Mary A. Bradley, a native of Mercer County, Pa., and born July 8, 1842. Mrs. M. is the daughter of David and Sarah (Gil- lespie) Bradlej', the former a native of Beaver County, Pa., and the latter of Kittauning, Arm- strong County, the same State. Her paternal grandfather, John Bradley, also a native of Ire- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 263 land, was the son of Robert Bradley, who partici- pated in the Rebellion of 1798, in that country. He emigrated to America in 1800, and located in Beaver County, Pa., during the first settlement of that section. He served in the War of 1812, for which he received a land warrant, and spent his last days in Beaver County. The father of Mrs. Marshall was reared and married in Beaver County, whence he afterward removed to Veuango County, and from there to Warren County, 111., where his death took place in 1857. The mother afterward removed to Oregon, where she is still living. The grandfather of Mrs. Marshall was a soldier in the French and Indian War, and at the close of the struggle settled down in Venango County, where he lived many years and passed the remainder of his days, living to be one hundred and two years old. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, eleven in number, are John W., Emma C., Sarah, Mary, Charles, Frank, George, Ida, Harry and Harvey (twins) and Edna. The parents and four children are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. M. voted the Democratic ticket until 1876, and since that time has identified himself with the Greenbackers and Prohibitionists. TEPHEN NORTON. The fine farm which lies mainly on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 1 2 and southeast quarter of section 1 in Pesotum Township, and which consists of 240 acres of the choicest land in that locality, was accumulated by degrees by the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. The homestead with its buildings is the result of years of labor and the just reward of enterprise and in- dustry. Mr. Norton is widely and favorably known as a representative farmer, a business man of rare judgment, and a citizen who has contributed his full quota in building up and sustaining the repu- tation of Pesotum Township as the abiding-place of an intelligent and prosperous community. Our subject is a native of the Empire State, and was born in Onondaga County June 17, 1826. He was the eldest son and child of Harvey and Sallie (Merry) Norton. The father, a native of Sherbnrne County, N. Y., was born in 1805, but while he was quite young his parents removed to Onoudaga County, locating on a farm near Spafford, where the mother departed this life in 1839, leaving a family of four children. Our subject was then but a lad of thirteen years. His father five years later was married to Miss Betsey Ilaight, of Geauga County, Ohio, to which place he had removed in about 1844. He still followed farming. The second wife died in 1871, and the father of our subject after- ward made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Cath- erine Merritt, in Pesotum Township, where his death occurred on the 13th of February, 1886. After the death of his mother Stephen Norton, his father having given Up housekeeping, was em- ployed by the farmers in that neighborhood during the summer and attended school in the winter. He remained there until twenty years of age and then followed his father to Ohio, where he spent six years on the farm. When he felt that his means and prospects would justify the step, he was united in marriage with Miss Abigail Moffett, the wedding taking place on the 7th of June, 1852, at the resi- dence of the bride's parents. Mrs. Norton was the fourth child of James W. and Margaret (Neal) Moffett, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. They passed the greater part of their lives in Ohio, but the death of the mother took place in Michigan in 1878. The father died four years later, in 1882. The parents after their marriage located in Kent County, Mich., upon ninety acres of timber land, where the father cleared a home from the wilderness and remained a period of eleven years. In 1863, desiring a change of lo- cation and climate, our subject came to this county and purchased forty acres in Pesotum Township, which is included in his present farm. The household circle of Mr. and Mrs. Norton was completed by the birth of the following children : Cyrena C., James M., Laura B., Harvey J.,Eva A., Kate M., Frank M. (a twin) and Albert E. The eldest, daughter, Cyrena, is the wife of D. W. Adair, who owns a farm near that of his father-in-law; James M. married Miss Viola C. Merry, and owns a good farm in Pesotum Township near our subject; Harvey J., a successful agriculturist, with a farm of -*~. 264 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. his own, married Miss Cynthia B. Roddick; Eva A. is the wife of Nelson Gordy, and moved the farthest of any from her parents, her husband owning a farm five miles distant. The remaining children are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Norton have been connected with the Presbyterian Church at Tolono for over fifteen years. Our subject is one of the most valuable members of the Republican party in this locality whom his brethren can rely upon implicitly. He carries this quality of honesty and integrity into all his transactions in life, both socially and in a busi- ness point of view, and his word is considered as good as his bond. EWIS A. McLEAN is the well-known and talented associate editor of the Champa tyn County Herald. His family is one of the oldest among the pioneers of Illinois. Mr. McLean was born in Grafton, 111., May 5, 1843, and re- moved to Urbana with his mother, Mrs. Mary B. Vanderveer, and stepfather, Cornelius Vanderveer, from Vermilion County, 111., April 15, 1853. His father was Dr. John H. McLean, a physician, who died in 1844 at Carlyle, 111. His mother, Mrs. Mary B. Webber, is a resident of this city, and is well known by the old settlers of the county. Mr. McLean received his education at the public schools until eighteen years of age, two years of which, 1857 and 1858, were spent at the 4th dis- trict High School in the city of New Orleans, La. In December, 18G2, he entered the office of the Cir- cuit Clerk and Recorder of this county, as deputy of W. H. Somers, who was then serving his second term, and retained that position for seven 3'ears; he was then for a time Deputy United States As- sessor. From 187-2 to 1879 he was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. In the fall of 1879 he accepted the position of book-keeper and assistant editor of the Champaign Gazette, which he creditably -filled until Oct. 9, 1882. when he took his present posi- tion as associate editor with M. W. Mathews, the proprietor of the Clunii/inii/ii County Herald. .That he is a man remarkably well adapted to literary pursuits is apparent from the fact that the success of the paper has been phenomenal in the newspa- per history of the county, and it is only just to say that as its business manager and local editor he is entitled to much credit for its unusual growth and rapidly increasing circulation. Mr. McLean was married, May 12, 1864, to Miss Jennie E. Russell, daughter of Dr. E. L. Russell, now of Des Moines, Iowa. She is a member and an active worker in the Baptist Church. Their children are: Nellie, who is in her senior year at the University of Illinois, and Albert H. and Clare F., who are both at home, attending school. In 1863 Mr. McLean united with the Baptist Church, and for over twenty years has been connected with the Sabbath-school as Superintendent or Assistant Su- perintendent. He is actively interested in Church and Sunday-school work, and has served three years as Secretary of the Champaign County Sunday- School Association. He is also Secretary of the Old Settlers' Association of the county, in which he is vigilant and active in rescuing from oblivion ev- ery fact relating to the old settlers of the county. In politics Mr. McL. is a Republican. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and since that time has been actively identified with the Re- publican party. JOHN HALBERSTADT. Among the promi- nent and successful farmers of the township of Philo, is the subject of this personal notice, who is located on a good homestead of 160 acres on section 26. He came into posses- sion of this in the fall of 1866, and since that time has been industriously engaged in improving and beautifying what he determined from the first should be his permanent home. A small portion of the sod had been broken when he located here, but the whole is now under a good state of cultivation, and admirably adapted to the raising in abundance of the various rich crops of the Prairie State. Besides the homestead Mr. H. is the owner of 400 acres in Ottawa County, Kan., which is also under the plow, and being intelligently operated by his children. Mr. Halberstadt is a native of Franklin County, Ind., born Oct. 13, 1820. His father, John Ilalber- .t f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 26.5 stadt, Si-., was born and reared in Philadelphia, where he served an apprenticeship of seven years fit shoemaldng. When twenty-two years of age he removed with his father to Indiana. The latter, Anthony Halberstadt, was born in Russia, and came to the United States during the Revolutionary War as a Hessian soldier. He fought in the British army for some time, but his sympathies were finally turned toward the American people, and deserting the ranks of the English, he went over to the Col- onists and became a driver for one of the Generals in the Continental army. This gentleman way the original progenitor of the family in the United States. After the independence of the Colonies had been established he retired to civil life, married an English lady, and became the father of four children. Anthony Halberstadt finally emigrated to Indi- ana, and settled in what was afterward Franklin County, before the advent of any white people in that locality. Indians and wild game were plenti- ful, but the grandfather of our subject was a man of great courage and endurance and took up his residence there to stay. He established a comfortable home for those days, in the wilderness, where he passed the remainder of his life, and was buried upon the farm where he had lived for fifty years or more. His wife had previously returned to Ken- tucky with her son-in-law, and there died at an ad- vanced age. Their son John, the father of our subject, assisted his father in the clearing of the timber from their claim in Franklin County, Ind. The Queen City of Ohio was at that time but a hamlet, and for years was their nearest trading-post. John Halberstadt afterward removed to Sullivan County, Ind., where he died when over eighty-five years old. The mother of our subject, who before her marriage was Miss Mary Truslcy, of West Vir- ginia, removed with her parents to Indiana also during the first settlement of the territory. She survived her husband some years, and passed her last days with her children in Philo Township, this county. The subject of our sketch was the eldest of nine children who completed the parental household. His early life was spent in Franklin County, Ind., where he was educated, and upon reaching manhood was married to Miss Ruth Peterson, who was a na- tive of that county. Her parents were reared and married in Philadelphia, Pa., whence they emigra- ted to Indiana after the birth of several children. They remained residents of Franklin County until their daughter, the wife of our subject, came to Illi- nois, when they accompanied her, spent their last days in Philo Township, and were buried at Linn Grove. Our subject and his wife were married in Indiana, and have become the parents of twelve children, four now deceased. The record is as fol- lows: Catherine married Mead Bottsferd, a farmer of Critteuden Township, this county ; Jane, the wife of Alex Welsh, lives on a farm in Ottawa County, Kan. ; Anna is at home with her parents; Edith married John Copely, and lives in Ottawa County, Kan., where her husband is carrying on farming; Hattie is at home with her parents; Jerome married Miss Ella Brown, and is farming in Kan- sas; Franklin married Miss Fannie Toler, and with his brother. Wilbur, lives in Ottawa County, Kan. ; Wilson was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun in the hands of a cousin ; Larion Roscoe was thrown from a wagon by a runaway team, and instantly killed ; one infant died unnamed; Charles M. died of rheumatism when twelve years old. Our subject, with his wife and several of their children, is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. II. is a solid Republican, and a warm supporter of the principles of his party. LINDSEY. This honored pioneer of Champaign County and township, is the oldest settler now residing within its limits, and is accordingly held in more than ordinary re- spect as one who ventured upon the soil unturned by the plowshare and before the march of civiliza- tion had brought to this locality any of its con- veniences or pleasures. He is a native of West Middletown, Washington Co., Pa., and was born July 8, 1 820. His father, Thomas Lindsey, a na- tive of the same county as his son, was born Jan. 13, 1791. The grandfather of our subject, also named Thomas Lindsey, who was born in Eastern Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County, it is believed was one of the earliest pioneers of Washington ^ 266 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. County, where he purchased a tract of timbered land eleven miles from where West Middletovvn was subsequently located, cleared a farm and es- tablished a homestead, upon which he passed the remainder of his life. There with his excellent wife he reared a line family, among whom was Thomas, Sr., the father of our subject. The latter in early youth learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed nearly all his life. He became a resident of West Middletown during his declin- ing years, and died there April 1, 1835. Thomas Lindsey, Jr., attended school quite steadily until eighteen years of age and then, like his father before him, commenced to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker with his uncle, John Boyd, at West Middletown, where he served a thorough apprenticeship and worked at that and carpenter- ing for several years. In the fall of 1841 he re- solved to seek his fortunes in the great West. He came to this locality with limited means, most of the way on foot, and being twenty-two days on the road. He first stopped at Urbana, which at that time was but a hamlet, and Champaign had not even begun. He soon secured employment at his trade, remaining at Urbaua during the winter. The following summer he spent at Mahomet, and in the fall of 1842, returning to Urbana, set up a shop and started in business for himself. He manu- factured furniture in the winter, which his wife sold during the summer season while he worked out at his trade and as a carpenter and joiner. He was a natural mechanic and became the favorite builder of that time. He put up about thirty school-houses in Champaign County alone. As time passed on his business increased, his means also accumulating, and he added undertaking to his business. He carried this on for seven years, making colflns by hand. Many times he worked at the bench all night while his wife held the can- dle for him. The success of the pioneers of those days, in many instances, was due in a large measure to the industry and good management of their wives. In his life companion Mr. Lindsey was peculiarly fortunate, having for his partner a true helpmeet and sympathizer, one who aided him by her coun- sel and sympathy as well as by her industry and wise judgment. Mr. Lindsey, in 1862, found him- self on the high road to a competency, and by his excellent personal worth had fully established him- self in the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances. He concluded that the most sensible way in which lie could invest his savings would be in real estate, which could not be carried off to Canada by a defaulting cashier. He accord- ingly purchased a farm on section 24, in Cham- paign Township, to which he removed with his family, and while his sons managed the farm Mr. L. carried on business in town. He was thus oc- cupied for several years until failing health com- pelled him to retire. He spent the winter of 1885-86 in Florida. The maiden name of Mrs. Lindsey was Martha A. Bruer. She was born in Urbana, April 26, 1829, and was the daughter of Ashel and Martha (Day) Bruer, who came to this section of the coun- try at an early day. Mr. B. was born in Mason County, Ky., whence he afterward removed to Bracken County, that State, and afterward to Illi- nois, locating three miles from the present site of Urbana. After the latter town was started he be- came one of its residents and put up the first hotel in the city, which he operated for many years. He died there in 1879, having arrived at the advanced age of nearly ninety years. The mother, who was born in Bracken County, Ky., also departed this life at Urbana in about 1875. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Liudsey there were born the following children : William is a resident of Humboldt, Kan^ ; Cornelia became the wife of W. S. McWilliams and lives in Ft. Scott., Kan.; James and Charles are residents of Urbana; Laura Belle married James Thornton, and lives at Yellow Springs, Ohio ; George and Thomas E. oc- cupy, the homestead. This is one of the most beautiful farms in Champaign County, and gives evidence in all its appointments of cultivated tastes and ample means. The farm buildings and machinery are kept in good repair, the stock is well cared for, and the residence of the family is all that heart could wish. Politically Mr. Lindsey was an adherent of the Democratic party until after the breaking out of the war. Since that time he has cast his lot with RESIDENCE OF C.E.WRIGHT, SEC. 21. ,NCWCOMB TOWNSHIP. RES.OF J OH N A .OSBO RN ^.(BREEDER OFTHOROUSHBKC.D POLAND CHINA 5w//vf) l SEC.6.( R.IO.E^^ANTOU ifo WNSH i p. RES. or JAMES W.VANSCHOYCK.SEC L. 1 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 269 the Republicans, and uniformly gives his influence and vote to the support of its principles. He is not connected with any religious organization but is a regular attendant of the Presbyterian Church. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Permelia Williams, and was born in Penn- sylvania, March 1, 1789. She departed this life at her home in West Middletown, Pa, Nov. 24, 1835, when our subject was but a youth. His early edu- cation was conducted in the log school-house of the pioneer days with its puncheon floor and slabs for seats and writing-desks. The teacher was em- ployed upon the subscription plan. The building and the course of instruction in those days were widely different from those of the present time, but the inconveniences and difficulties under which the children of the pioneers labored developed in them that hardy and self-dependent character which was the secret of their success in their later lives, and by which they made names for themselves which their children were glad to own. Socially Mr. Lindsey is a member of Urbana Lodge No. 139. ' NDREW D. RICKETTS, grain dealer and shipper of stock at Fisher, became a resi- dent of the village in 1878, to which he removed from Ford County, this State. He is the son of John C. and Catherine (Duncan) Ricketts, the latter a sister of the Confederate Gen- eral, Duncan, who commanded the forts at New Orleans during the siege of that city by the Union troops. The father was a native of Ohio, and the mother of Pennsylvania. After marriage they located in the Buckeye State, and Mrs. Ricketts died in Hancock County, in 1855. The father of our subject is still living, and a resident of Lincoln, Neb. The parental household comprised five sons and one daughter, Andrew D. being the eldest. His birth took place in Hancock County, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1843, where he was reared and pursued his studies in the common school with the intention of enter- ing college. This plan, however, was frustrated by the outbreak of the late war, the patriotism of young Ricketts inducing him to lay aside his per- sonal interests to assist in the preservation of the Union. He enlisted directly after the first call for troops in April, 1861, becoming a member of Co. F, 21st Ohio Vol. Inf., and serving with the three- months' men. At the expiration of that time, he re-enlisted in the sauie company and -regiment, do- ing duty in the field until the fall of 1864. During this time our subject participated in many of the important battles of the war, being present at the siege in front of Petersburg and Richmond, which, as is well known, engaged the troops for the summer of 1864, when they were constantly under fire. While many of his com- rades were falling around him, however, our sub- ject escaped unharmed, and at the expiration of his term of service, received his honorable dis- charge. Returning to Ohio he engaged in buying and shipping stock until the spring of 1873, when he came to McLean County, this State, and after residing at Saybrook one year, removed to a farm in Ford County, upon which he operated four years. Not quite satisfied, he then came to Fisher and engaged in his present business. His elevator here has a capacity of 15,000 bushels, and being in constant use is the source of a good revenue. Be- sides this property he also has 526 acres of finely improved land in Brown Township, much of it ad- joining Fisher, and chiefly devoted to grain and pasturage. Mr. Ricketts is always full of business, and when not engaged in his own affairs is looking about to do some good turn to a neighbor or his commu- nity. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Ricketts being Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and working in many other ways for the good of the cause and the prosperity of the Church society. He is Re- publican in politics, and a member in good stand- ing of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Fisher Lodge No. 704. The marriage of our subject took place in the town of Findlay, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1867, when Miss Nancy J. Taylor, daughter of Thomas and Agnes (Haverfield) Taylor, became his wife. Mrs. Rick- etts was born in Findlay, Ohio, Jan. 16, 1844. In due time there came to the household thus estab- f t . < i 270 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. lished seven children, :ill living anil bearing the following names: ( 'harles K., Howard T., Gilbert, Dolly, .John T., Clifton and Clara. The family residence is pleasantly located, and our subject- and liis wife .-ire numbered among the first citizens of the village. I S M( CLINTOCK. This worthy cit- izen of Crittenden Township first opened his eyes to the light beyond the sea in County Fermanagh, Ireland, on the 4th of April, 1835. Ill's parents were Alexander and Barbara (Wyley) McClintock, who had a family of five sons and three daughters. Of these our subject was the fourth, and the only one who left his na- tive land to locate in the United States. He con- tinued a resident of his native county until 1859, when he was twenty-four years of age, and then set sail from Liverpool, after a safe voyage landing in New York City in the early part of May. From there he proceeded to Center County, Pa., where he was employed as a laborer one year. Thence he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining a' resident of the Queen City until August., 1861, when he en- gaged to do the baking for K. B. Field, for a sec- tion of the Union army. He was similarly cm- ployed until after the war and into the spring of 1867, when he determined to remove further west- ward, and coming to this State located first in Will County, where he carried on fanning one year, and then removed to Champaign County and settled where he now resides. When our subject first took possession of the land which he now owns, it was in an uncultivated condition with no improvements. He has now 275 acres under the plow and productive of the choic- est crops of the Prairie State. Of late years his land has been devoted mainly to grain and stock raising. He began as a land-holder in a modest way, at first purchasing but eighty acres, to which he added as time progressed and his means justi- fied. His energy and industry have met with a just reward, and he has fully established himself in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Mr. McClintock was married, at Chicago, 111., in the spring of 18(11, to Miss Mary Ann Freeh, a na- tive of Bavaria, Germany. Of this union there were born eleven children, one of whom died in in- fancy. Those living are, Mary Alice, Robert J., Alex W., The mas II., John W., Alfred E., Barbara A., Charles P., Estella K. and Oscar E. It is hardly necessary to say that our subject is duly proud of his fine family, and that they are being trained to those habits of industry and principles of honor which have made their honored father successful in life, and placed him in a good position among his fellow-men. Politically Mr. McClintock usually supports Re- publican principles, but will vote for a Democrat if he considers that he is the proper man for the oflice. He has served as Justice of the Peace and School Director three terms, and has also been School Trustee and Road Commissioner. ARVIN READ, of Champaign Township, is a son of one of the earliest pioneers of this county, his father having emigrated to Illinois the year following its admission into the Union as a State. He is a native of On- tario County, N. Y., and was born in Phelps Town- ship, April 28, 1817. His father, Joseph Read, was a native of North Adams. Berkshire Co., Mass.. and his paternal grandfather, who served as a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War, was one of the earliest pioneers of North Adams, where he spent the last years of his life, and died in 1838, at a good old age. His son Joseph, in early life, learned the trade of a saddler and harness-maker, and emigrated from Massachusetts to New York State in 1812. He first located in Canajoharie, Montgomery County, whence he removed two years later to Ontario County, of which he was one of the earliest settlers. This was before the days of canals or railroads, and the nearest market was miles away. Joseph Read purchased a tract of timber land, a part of which he cleared and cultivated until 181 'J, then pushed on further westward into Illinois, mak- ing his first purchase of land in the Military Tract. He soon afterward set out to bring his family to *m t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 271 , , his new location, but was attacked with fever, died, and was buried among strangers. He left a widow with four children. The mother before her mar- riage was Miss Lorinda Eddy, also a native of North Adams, Mass. Her father removed to New York State in about 1 820, and settled in Farmington, Ontario County, where he died in 1831. The mother of our subject kept her children together, although left without means of support. She was a woman of great industry and energy, and proved herself equal to the emergency, and with the as- sistance of her children, purchased a small tract of land in Ontario with a log house upon it, into which the family removed and which remained their home for ten years following. Here the mother died in 1834. The record of her four sons is as follows: Hulbert emigrated to Michigan and located in Lapeer County at an early period in its history, 1836; Carlos went to live with an uncle at Palatine Bridge, where he married and died, leaving two children; Henry removed from Mich- igan to Minnesota, and died there about 18G5; our subject was the fourth. Marvin Read, the youngest child of his parents, was but two years old when his father died. After his mother purchased her little tract of land, he as- sisted his brothers in clearing the farm, and re- mained with his mother until her death. He then started for the far West, via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, intending to go from there by the lakes to Michigan, On account of rough weather, how- ever, the boat was obliged to put in at Ashtabula, Ohio, and young Read, with live others, started on foot for Michigan. After a long and roundabout journey, our subject reached Lapeer County, where he engaged in chopping wood. He saved what he could of his moderate earnings, and the following year purchased forty acres of land in the " oak openings," for which he paid 11.25 per acre. In 1840 he received $100 from his grandfather's es- tate, and with it entered eighty acres of land ad- joining his first possessions. Mr. Read's circumstances now seemed to justify him in thinking about the establishment of a future home and domestic tics, and accordingly, in 1842, he took unto himself a wife and helpmeet. The young couple settled in a frame " house " which he had erected on his land, and with hope and courage began the battle of life together. In the summer season Mr. Read devoted his time to the improvement and cultivation of his land, and in the winter, with two yoke of oxen, worked in the timber region seven miles distant, going to the woods on Monday morning and returning Satur- day night, the brave young wife in the meanwhile being left with but few neighbors in sight and very little opportunity to discuss " the fashions." Our subject and his wife occupied their primi- tive home in Michigan until 1850. He had been prospered in his operations and had added to his first purchase until he became the owner of 224 acres of cultivated land, besides 1 1 5 acres of pine timber. In the year mentioned he sold his posses- sions in Michigan and started in the month of February with his wife and four children for Illi- nois. Their outfit consisted of a span of horses and a large sleigh with a double canvas covering in which, among other things, they placed a small stove. The journey, a distance of 500 miles, was completed in twelve days. Corning into Cham- paign Township, Mr. Read purchased forty acres of land, which is now included in the city limits, and commenced farming. Their residence was within the corporation, and they lived there about four years, then removed to their present home- stead. Here Mr. Read has erected "a shapely and substantial set of farm buildings, planted fruit and shade trees, and otherwise beautified his premises. He has 320 acres of valuable land, a part of which is devoted to pasture. He mostly raises grain and stock, the latter including graded Short-horn cattle. The first wife of our subject, to whom he was married Jan. 31, 1842, was Miss Theodora Alver- son, who was born in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y.. in November, 1 825. She was the daughter of Lewis and Finie Alverson, who removed from the Empire State to Michigan at an early day, settling in Washtenaw County. From there he moved in 1834, to Almont, Lapeer County, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. Detroit, fifty miles distant, was then the nearest market, to which the grain was hauled with ox-teams. Mrs. Theodora Read, after becoming the mother of six children, departed this life at the home of her husband in Champaign, 272 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 on the 14th of May, 1858. Two of their children died in childhood; Alfred lives in San Diego, Cal. ; Caroline, who became the wife of S. K. Hiker, and Emelinc, Mrs. D. C. Hamilton, both live in Cham- paign Township. On the 25th of February, 1861, Mr. Read was united in marriage with Mrs. Kate (Loper) IIuft\ This lady was born in Camden, N. J., in 1828, and is the daughter of David II. and Matilda (Huston) Loper, of New Jersey. She was first married to Charles M. Huff, of New Jersey, and they re- moved to Champaign County, this State, where Mr. Huff died. Of this union there were two chil- dren: Sallie II. married L. W. Ambrose, and lives in Galesburg, this State ; Charles M. is a resident of Tolono Township. The two children of the present marriage of our subject are Josie and Addie F. Mr. Read politically, is a stanch Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Harrison in the days before the old Whig was abandoned by llie organization of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Read arc both members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which our subject became connected while he lived in Michi- gan. In this he has held the offices of Trustee and Steward, and has contributed liberally and cheer- fully to the support of the Gospel for many years. AMUEL WILLS, who is located on section 20, Newcornb Township, came to Cham- paign County from McHenry County, 111., ' in 1870. He first located in Colfax Town- ship, whence in the spring of 1876 he removed to the farm where he now resides. This includes 370 acres of good land, all-of which is under cultiva- tion, and improved with suitable farm buildings. He is engaged in mixed husbandry, and raises and handles considerable stock. Mr. Wills was born in Devonshire, Eno-land, May 21, 1836, and is the sou of John and Nancy ( Partridge) Wills, also natives of the same shire ; they were farmers by occupation. Our subject em- i grated to America July 15, 18C>G, and stopped with his brother at Chicago for a while, thence go- ing to Mcllenry County. He has all his life been engaged in farming pursuits. He was married in England, June 10, I860, to Miss Sarah A. Austin, the daughter of James and Drusella Austin, and a native of his own country. Since becoming a nat- uralized citizen Mr. Wills has uniformly voted with the Republican party. While residing in their na- tive land he and his wife became members of the Presbyterian Church. ENRV FISHER, an extensive farmer of To- lono Township, is the owner of 320 acres of finely cultivated land on section 15. Of this he came into possession on the 1st of May, 1870, and since that time has been indus- triously engaged in beautifying and improving his property. The land is thoroughly drained with tile, and produces in abundance the choicest crops of the Prairie State. His residence and other farm buildings are of first-class description, and the homestead in all its appointments presents one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of this section. Mr. Fisher was born in Clark County, Ind., Oct. 10, 1831, and is the son of Frederick and Sarah (Fouts) Fisher, natives of Indiana. In 1832, Frederick Fisher with his family came to Illinois and settled on a farm in Fulton County, where he died on the 5th of July, 187G. The mother sur- vived until February, 1887. Our subject was the fourth of the twelve children comprising the par- ental household. He received a good common- school education, and was reared to farming pur- suits. When twenty-two years of age he pur- chased a tract of land in Fulton County, which he cultivated industriously until his marriage in 185U, and in the meantime had laid the foundations for a good home and a competency. The lady of his choice was Miss Naomi E. Shields, a native of Ful- ton County, 111., and the daughter of Andrew J. and Margaret (Reed) Shields. Mr. Fisher contin- ued on his farm, which consisted of 200 acres, until 1868, then removed to Canton, in Fulton County, and in company with his brother David, engaged in the livery business. The year following they sold t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 273 out and David came to Champaign County. He was greatly pleased with the prospects in this re- gion, and persuaded our subject to move here also. The latter then purchased the land which he now owns and occupies. He has brought about vast im- provements since taking possession of it. as .it had then been practically untilled. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have become the parents of ten children Elmer, Minnie, Walter, John, Elsie, Zell, Naomi, Grace, Scott and Claude. Our sub- ject takes an intelligent interest in .State and Na- tional affairs, and casts his vote in support of Re- publican principles. He has never desired office, as his private business engages all his time and at- tention. He was for many years a member of the Christian Church, and socially belongs to the Ma- sonic fraternity, Tolouo Lodge No. 321. OIIN W. DAY. One day in 1870 there started out on foot from McLean County, 111., a traveler with a limited amount of money, seeking a location and the best land to be obtained for the, cash which he had in hand. After coming into East Bend, this county, he found 160 acres of unimproved prairie, within his means, which he at once contracted for, and which is now included in his present homestead. The land is now enclosed with neat fences, thoroughly drained with tile, supplied with a shapely and convenient set of frame buildings, and in all respects illustrates the enterprise and industry of its proprietor. Mr. Day was born near Green Pond, N. J., March 5, 1824. This was also the birthplace of his father, Cornelius Day. His grandfather, Thomas Day, was a native of France, whence he emigrated to America in the Colonial days, and served as a soldier on the side of the Colonies in the Revolu- tionary War. After being mustered out he located in New Jersey, where his family was reared and where he passed the remainder of his days. His son,- Cornelius, remained a resident of his native State until reaching manhood, and was married to Miss Nancy Wetherholt, of New Jersey. She was the daughter of John Wetherholt, who was born in Germany, came with his parents to America when . eleven years old, and afterward fought in the War of the Revolution, and in the interests of the Colo- nies. After the close of this struggle, he lived in New Jersey until about 1830, then removed to Ohio, locating at Galena, eleven miles from Colum- bus, and was there drowned in Elm Creek, when eighty-two years of age. He received a pension from the Government during the last years of his life. The parents of our subject, in 1828, removed to Ohio and located in Franklin County, twelve miles east of Columbus. The father rented a tract of land which he cultivated the remainder of his life, and in 1862 died at the home of his son, our sub- ject. The. mother survived her husband seven years, dying in 1869. John W. was a lad of not quite five years old when his parents became resi- dents of the young and rapidly growing Buckeye State. The opportunities for an education, how- ever, in his vicinity were extremely limited and he was obliged to go three miles to pursue his studies. As soon as old enough he commenced to assist his parents on the farm. During the winter season when not in the harvest field, he chopped wood and split rails, receiving for the former twenty -five cents per cord, and for the latter fifty cents a hun- dred. He worked by the day and month until 1861, and became famous as a cradler of grain, cutting down one year eighty-five acres of wheat. When in his prime six acres was an average day's work. At the date mentioned he had saved quite a little sum of money and with it purchased twenty- one acres of good land five miles from Columbus, Ohio. From this he cleared the timber, put up a house and barn, and remained there four years. In 1865 he came into Cumberland County, this State, and purchased 160 acres of heavy timbered land which, however, he never settled upon, but rented land in Woodford and McLean Counties until he had accumulated enough means to buy something more suited to his business. In 1870 the time came when his hopes were realized. Mr. Day, was married in Ohio, Oct. 5, 1861, to Miss Emma Ilouck, a native of Fairfield Count3 7 , that State, and born Feb. 22, 1836. Her father, Solomon Houck, was of German ancestry and par- 271 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. eentage. He was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was married, and soon afterward removed to Ohio, locating in Fail-field County, where he re- mained until J839. He then started with his family overland for Illinois, and arrived upon the present site of Metamora, Woodford County. His family, however, was soon prostrated with fever and ague, and becoming dissatisfied they retraced their steps to their old home in Ohio, where the father died soon after his return. The mother of Mrs. J. was formerly Miss Sarah Gawthroup, who was born Nov. 14, 1783, in Maryland. After the death of her husband she made her home with her daughter, the wife of our subject, and died in McLean County, this State, on the 8th of February, 1873. She was a most excellent and worthy lady, born of English parents, and was left an orphan when ten years of age. After her marriage she became, with her husband, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Day received a good education in her youth, and when eighteen years old commenced teaching, which she followed quite steadily until her marriage. The children of our subject and his wife, four in number, are, Pearl W., Dwight, Ella M. and Harry. The eldest son, Pearl, lost his hearing from sickness when four years old. Two years later he entered the Jacksonville Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, where he graduated in June, 1884, and afterward attended Kendall Green College, at Washington, D. C. Mr. John W. Day is a Repub- lican in politics, and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. ., BRAHAM P. MEHARRY, of Crittenden LUI Township, is one of the well-known resi- dents and land-owners who have assisted materially in advancing the agricultural and industrial interests of this section. He came to this county in 18(J5, and took possession of the land which his father had given him, comprising an entire section, and upon which he now resides. This excellent parent at the same time presented his sou with 12,000 iu cash, so that he began life with abundant means, and to his credit it may be said he has taken good care of what was given him. Our subject was born in Montgomery County, Ind., Feb. 10, 1842, and is the son of Thomas and Unity (Patton) Meharry (see sketch of Jesse Me- harry)> from whom he received careful training and a good common-school education. He remained a member of the parental household until twenty- three years of age, at which time he came to this county, as we have stated. Soon afterward he formed a partnership with his brother Jesse, and they engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1879, extensively and successfully. After dissolv- ing partnership with his brother our subject took unto himself another partner, namely, Miss Martha J. McMillin. of Tippecanoe County, Ind., to whom he was married on the 3d of June of that same year. Mrs. M. was born Nov. 23, 1846, and is the daughter of John K. and Sarah E. (Stafford) McMil- lin, the former of whom is a prominent farmer of Tippecanoe County, Ind., and is widely known throughout that section as an extensive stock-raiser and shipper. The wife and mother departed this life in 1885, at the home of our subject while on a visit. Mrs. Meharry received an academic educa- tion, and resided in her native county until her marriage. After this event Mr. and Mrs. M. took up their location on their present farm, which has been greatly improved since that time. The land has been thoroughly drained with tile and supplied with good buildings. Their first dwelling will soon be abandoned by the removal of the family into the fine residence which is now being erected and which will bear comparison with anything of the kind in this part of Champaign County. Besides the home farm Mr. M. afterward purchased 100 acres on sec- tion 7. His land is mostly devoted to stock-rais- ing, which he has followed the principal part of the time since taking possession of it. His cattle are of the Polled-Angus breed, and he exhibits some of the finest specimens of the kind along the Missis- sippi Valley. Our subject and wife became the parents of two children, one of whom died in infancy; the other, a son, Charles, was born March 11, 1885. Mr. M., politically, is a warm supporter of Republican prin- 215 * ' CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ciples, but has steadily declined to become an of- fice-seeker, having all he can possibly attend to in the management of his extensive farming interests. He is a valued member of the Methodist Church, and takes a genuine interest in the advancement of his community, religiously, morally and intellect- ually. RS. LUCY M. NELSON. This lady is well known among the intelligent residents of Condit and highly respected by all. She comes of an excellent New England family and was born in Guilford. Windham Co., Vt., March 5, 1826. Her father, Arad W. Lynde, was a native of the same town, and the son of Lemuel Lynde, a highly respected farmer whose land la} 7 near the town limits. He 'was reared to farming pursuits, and when a young man also learned the blacksmith's trade in Guilford Village. Subse- quently he built a shop on his father's homestead, and carried on the business there until his death, which took place in May, 1827. His wife, the mother of Mrs. N., before her marriage was Miss Mary Bolster, also a native of Guilford. When her husband died she was left with three children. She purchased a lot in Green River Village, upon which she built a house and there spent the remainder of her life. Lucy M. Nelson, of our sketch, remained with her mother until her marriage in January, 1844, to Myron E. Nelson. Mr. N. was a native of Colcrain, Franklin Co., Mass., and born Dee. 20, 1821. His parents were Obed and Elizabeth (Sturtevant) Nel- son, who owned and occupied a farm in Colerain, and with whom he resided until his marriage. He received a good education and engaged in teaching in Massachussetts and Vermont, and for a brief time in Cook County, 111., after coming to the West. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nelson settled on a farm of Mr. N. was part owner, in Colerain Township, Mass. After two years they removed to Green River, where they kept a hotel for a brief season and then removed to Colcrain. In 1856 they started westward, and coming to this State lo- cated first in Cook County, where Mr. Nelson was engaged four years at farming, and the following four years kept a boarding-house six miles west of the County Court-IIouse. In 1864 they removed to this county. Mr. N. had previously visited this locality and purchased 160 acres of railroad land in Condit Township. This had never been broken, and upon removing to this place he rented a farm, upon which he raised crops of broom corn for two years. In the meantime he worked upon his wild land as he had opportunity. He put up a house upon this in 1866, into which he removed with his family, and fora number of years was industriously engaged in the improvement of his new farm. He erected a good set of frame buildings, planted fruit and shade trees, and established a permanent and pleasant home, where his death took place Dec. 29, 1884. The children of this household who now survive, four in number, are Myron E., Ahi S., Charles C. and Benjamin F. The only daughter, May Eliza- beth, died when one year and seven months old. Mr. Nelson was a good citizen in the broadest sense of the term, and took a genuine interest in the welfare and advancement of his community. He was a warm supporter of Republican principles and greatly respected by his fellow-townsmen. L. TABLER, a successful lumber dealer of Philo Village, is one of its most energetic business men and a representative citizen of Champaign County. He became a resident of this locality in 1868, and passed his first three years as clerk in a general store. Early in life he displayed good judgment and business capacity, and saw the propriety of establishing a lumber- yard at Philo, by which he could supply the sur- rounding community with building material, which would be a convenience not only to his fellow-citi- zens, but a benefit to himself financially. Accord- ingly, in 1871, he began business in a modest way, meeting with success from the start, and finall}" building up a profitable trade. Mr. Tabler is a native of Martinsburg, W. Va., and was born May 15, 1849. He descended from f ' . 276 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. I excellent German ancestry, and the family history in this country dates back to about the beginning of the present century. His father, Christian Tab- ler, was born and reared in Baltimore, Md., where he met Miss Sarah R. Lyeth, who became his wife in 1848. The mother of our subject was born and reared in Maryland. Her parents were also of American birth but of Scottish ancestry. They re- mained in Maryland some time after their marriage, then removed to Martinsbnrg, W. Va., where their only child, our subject, was born. The father died six years later, in 1854. The mother was left with small means, but she possessed a brave and cour- ageous spirit, and set about maintaining herself and her boy, at the same time training him to habits of industry and principles of honor. He grew to man- hood with a strong affection for this, his best friend, and became her comfort and support in her declining years. Late in life she rejoined him in the Prairie State, and died at his home in Philo, Aug. 2, 1885. Mr. Tabler began in early life to lay his plans for the future, and applied himself diligently to what- ever he undertook. By his own efforts he secured a practical knowledge of business matters, becom- ing his own book-keeper and gaining a good insight into business methods. After having been estab- lished two years at Philo he returned to his old home in West Virginia, and was there married to Miss Mary H. Rankin, on the 7th of June, 1870, Mrs. T. was born in Stan ton, W. Va., in 1852, and yielded up her life at the birth of her first child, Feb. 14, 1873, at Martinsburg in her native State. The loss of this excellent lady, an affection- ate wife, was a sore bereavement to our subject, and he was further afflicted in the death of his lit- tle child, six months later. On the 26th of Au- gust, 1875, he was again married, to Miss Belle L. Campbell, a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, born in 1848, and the accomplished daughter of Patrick and Rachel (Mitchel) Campbell. This lady was orphaned at an early age and afterward re- ceived into the home of her uncle in Ohio. She pursued her first studies in the common schools and subsequently took a course in the college at West Lebanon, Ohio. She came to Illinois before her marriage with some of her relatives, locating with them in Sydney Township. She has become the mother of four children, of whom two died in in- fancy. Those living are Clyde L. and Virginia C. Mr. and Mrs. Tabler are members in good stand- ing of the Episcopal Church, and our subject, po- litically, affiliates with the Democratic party. He has served his township as Supervisor for several terms, and has held other local offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens. IIILL1P McLENNAN. Among the quiet, unobtrusive workers and the law-abiding citizens of Pesotum Township, the subject of this sketch is spoken of with the re- spect due his course of conduct in looking after the affairs of his homestead and providing for the wants of his family. He owned a snug farm of 130 acres in McLean County until 1882, and then on account of failing health sold out and moved into the town of Pesotum, this county, where he put up a good residence and provided the other conveniences of a modern home, which he now en- joys with his family. He is not at present engaged in any business, his labors in earlier life having en- abled him to put by a snug sum for a rainy day. Our subject is a native of the Dominion of Canada, and was born near Montreal, June 11, 1848. He is the sixth child of Alexander and Jane (Bicket) McLennan, natives of Scotland, who came to the Western Continent with their parents during their early childhood. Alexander McLennan, who had been bred to farming pursuits, owned about 100 acres of land near Montreal, whose cultivation he superintended and where he passed the later years of his life. He was a man who attended strictly to his own concerns, and while keeping himself well posted upon Governmental affairs, never participated in any of the agitations which periodically attack the Dominion. Our subject remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, and coming to the States located first at Danville, 111., where he worked as a carpenter about three years, and thence re- moved to Bloomfield, where he engaged in farming. After two years thus occupied in Edgar County he L .: . _ Y i '.LINOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 279 came to Champaign County, began the establish- ment of a home, and placed at the head of his do- mestic affairs the young wife, whose maiden name was Miss Sarah lluggins, the daughter of Washing- ton and Saphronia (Johnson) lluggins, formerly of Ohio. Into the household thus formed there came in due time seven children, one of whom died in infancy unnamed. The others were James Edwin, Frank, Alexander, Jessie, George and Fred. Mr. McLennan has usually voted independently of party, but is strongly inclined to Republican principles, and now gives his support to the party representing these. He has mingled but little jn public affairs, preferring the retirement of his home, and expects after two or three years of life in town to return to the farm, and in the employments and enjoyments of rural life to probably spend the re- mainder of his days. i; ESSE R. GULICK, a resident of Newcomb I Township, and the son of Joseph and Eliza (Hilleary) Gulick, is a native of Pickawa}- County, Ohio, and was born Dec. 8, 1840. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Ohio. They settled in Pickaway County, the latter State, soon after marriage, whence they re- moved to Champaign County, 111., in 1858. The elder Gulick was a farmer by occupation. After coming into this county they first located in Con- dit Township, whence in 1860 they removed to Piatt County, this State, of which the}- remained residents for seven years following. In the fall of 1867 they removed to Jasper County, Mo., where they still reside. The parental household included twelve chil- dren, six sons and six daughters, of whom Jesse R. of our sketch was the second of the family. He came to Champaign County with his parents and remained with them until twenty-one years old. He had for three years, however, been engaged in teaching during the winter season. In the fall of 1862 he entered Asbury University, at Greencastle, Ind., where he remained for three years, in the meantime furnishing by his own labors the money necessary for his expenses. This course, however, had a serious effect upon his health and he was obliged to abandon his studies before graduating. Returning to Piatt County, our subject worked on the farm in the summer and taught school in the winter. His tastes, however, inclined to the legal profession, and in the summer of 1866 he en- tered the law office of Coler & Smith, under whose instruction he pursued his studies for one year. He was admitted to the bar in 1867, and at once opened an office in the city of Champaign, where he followed his profession for two years, and thence removed to Vandalia, 111. He built up a good practice in the latter place, but in 1872, on account of failing health, was obliged to abandon it. He was School Commissioner pro tern for about three months, and was also tendered the office of Prosecuting Attorney, which he declined. He once more resumed briefly his farm life, returning to his profession when able, in the meantime vary- ing its duties by dealing in live stock until the spring of 1875. He then returned to Champaign, and followed his profession until 1878, when he virtually abandoned the practice of law and took possession of his present farm in Newcomb Township, which he has since occupied. This comprises 630 acres, most of which is tillable, and upon which he has erected a fine modern dwelling, with all the other accessories of a first-class farm estate. He has been remarkably successful in his fanning and business operations, and ranks among the representative citizens of the township, who began life in a mod- est way, and have by their own efforts attained to a good position, both socially and financially. Mr. Gulick was married in the city of Cham- paign, Dec. 17, 1867, to Miss Louisa L. Everett, a native of Newcomb Township, born Dec. 4, 1848. She is the daughter of Joseph T. and Je- mima (Piper) Everett, who were natives of Lewis County, Ky., and a sketcli of whom appears in the biography of David L. Yancy, elsewhere in this volume. Our subject and his wife became the par- ents of seven children Edward E., Joseph P., Roscoe E., Clyde D., Maggie G., an infant de- ceased, and Wilber L. While living in Mahomet Mr. Gulick served as Police Magistrate, and he has been School Director in Newcomb Township. Socially he belongs to the I. O. O. F. Mr. and i i f * [' '280 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Mrs. G. are both members of Hie Baptist Church. While Mr. Gulick has always been a stanch Dem- ocrat, and 1ms contributed in a large measure to the success of the party in the county, yet he has never sought office for himself but has preferred to assist his friends in their ambition for party or political honors, and he numbers among his friends many of the prominent men of both the dominant parties in the county, as well as in his old home at Vandalia and other counties in this section of the State. As a lawyer during his practice he brought to bear on the duties of his profession a mind well trained in that most difficult and exacting of all professions. He was a pleasing and graceful speaker, and a strong and vigorous thinker, and his pleadings and legal papers were prepared with that degree of accuracy and legal acumen which charac- terizes the well-informed lawyer. Mr. Gulick is a gentleman of large stature, good appearance and pleasing address, and it is with pleasure that we present to our numerous readers his portrait, together with a view of his handsome and elegant country home. ffi AMES P. MITCHELL became a resident of Raymond Township in 1877. although his first entrance into the Prairie State was made fifteen years before. He first located in Sidney Township, this county, where he farmed on eighty acres, but afterward disposed of this prop- erty to take possession of his present homestead in Raymond Township, on section 3. Mr. Mitchell was born in Parke County, Ind., Oct. 14, 1830. His parents, James and Nancy (Burton) Mitchell, were both natives of Virginia, as was also his pa- ternal grandfather, William Mitchell, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and after- ward drew a pension. After retiring from the army he engaged in farming and lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-eight years. His wife, the grandmother of our subject, was ninety -one years old at the time of her death. They removed from the Old Dominion to Indiana and reared a family of eleven children. Both died in Parke County, Ind. James, the father of our subject, was the young- cst child, and was married in Kentucky, where his four oldest children were born. After crossing the line into Indiana he settled on the Wabash River when there was scarcely a white man to be seen in that part of the State. He was compelled, how- ever, to leave this locality 011 account of sickness, whence he removed to Parke County, and from there in 1833, to Woodford County, 111. He was also one of the early pioneers of that locality, and opened up a farm from the uncultivated soil, upon which he remained until his advanced age rendered labor no longer practicable. He finally removed with his wife into the village of Eureka, where he died at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother two years later, aged seventy-seven. Of their ten children, two died in childhood. The remaining eight lived to attain their majority, and the record is as follows: William and Josephus are farming in Woodford County; Elizabeth married John E. Craton, and is now deceased ; Frederick is engaged in the hardware trade at Chicago, 111.; John is de- ceased ; James P. is our subject ; Mary Ann became the wife of William S. Bullock, a successful stock- raiser of Woodford County; Eliza, who was mar- ried to John Foster of Woodford, is now deceased. Our subject was but three years old when his father's family came to Illinois. He grew to man- hood on the farm in Woodford County, and re- mained a member of the parental household until 1855, when he set out to farm for himself and was fairly successful in his business and agricultural operations. The present fine residence which he occupies with his family was erected in 1880. It is a shapely and commodious two-story structure and the only brick residence in the township. The premises on all sides indicate the enterprise and in- dustry of the proprietor, who has done good service in building up a valuable homestead and advancing the agricultural interests of his township. The marriage of James P. Mitchell and Miss Alice McElroy took place in 1881. Mrs. Mitchell was born near Marietta, Ohio, and is the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Franklin) McElroy. Of this union there have been born four children, of whom two, twins, died in September, 1880. Those sur- viving are Henry W. and Mary A. Our subject, politically, is a decided Democrat, but in local mat- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ters supports the candidate whom he thinks best qualified for office. He has been quite contented to remain as a private citizen, with no desire for official honors. He joined the Christian Church when sixteen years of age, and has remained faith- ful to its doctrines since that time. EORGE STUART, a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., whose birth occurred on the 28th of June, 1817, became a resident of Champaign, this county, in the spring of 1865. He is comfortably located on section 4, where he owns eighty acres of good land which lies on a pleasant ridge overlooking a large stretch of coun- try. The father of our subject, Nathaniel Stuart, was a native of Danbury, Conn., born in Decem- ber, 1786. When three years of age, his father re- moved with the family to Saratoga County, N. Y. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Stuart, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. At the close of this struggle and after the removal to New York State, Nathaniel was reared upon a farm in Saratoga County. Upon reaching manhood he was married to Miss Keziah Toby, who was born in Saratoga County in May, 1795. After marriage they located upon a small farm, but Mr. Stuart be- ing afflicted with asthma, was able to do but little manual labor. He was not idle, however, but served as Deputy Sheriff of the county and also as Assessor and Tax Collector. They remained in Saratoga County until 1836, then removed to Union County, Ohio, where they took possession of a farm and where the mother died on the 21st of August, 1859. The parental household included twelve children, eleven of whom survived the mother. Of these the record is as follows: Ephraim is a retired farmer of Mechanicsburg, Ohio; Eliza A., Mrs. Green, resides in Union County, that State; Isaac is carrying on the business of a woolen factory in Carthage, Ind. ; Orlando died in Marysville, Ohio, in 1881; Lucinda became the wife of Nathaniel Raymond, of this county; she had formerly been married to Dr. Crew, of Logan County, Ohio. George, of our sketch; Melissa, deceased, was the first wife of Nathaniel Raymond ; Adeline, Mrs. Monroe, is a resident of Allen County, Ohio; Jane, Mrs. Wilkins, resides in Union County, Ohio, and her son, Beriah Wilkins, is a Member of Congress from Zanesville district, Ohio; Mary, Mrs. Hender- son, and Joseph, are living in Olathe, Kan. After the death of his wife, Mr. Stuart, with the exception of two years, during which time he vis- ited among his children in Illinois, continued to reside in Ohio until his death, which occurred on the 12th of October, 1872. He was a stanch sup- porter of the Democratic party, and took a lively interest in State and National affairs. He was also a consistent member of the Christian Church, and although not wealthy, accumulated a fair amounf of this world's goods. George Stuart, of our sketch, passed his child- hood and youth on the homestead in his native county, and was educated in the common schools of that day. He removed with the family to Ohio in 1836, and seven years later, on the 6th of April, 1843, was married to Miss Frances Fisher, a na- tive of Ross County, Ohio. After becoming the mother of two children, Mrs. Stuart departed this life on the 10th of October, 1853. Her eldest son, Ephraim, died in Texas, April 11, 1887. William is a resident of Corsicana, that State. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Jan. 17, 1855, was formerly Miss Mary A. Vail, a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, and born Sept. 8, 1832. Her parents were Isaac and Julia (Richards) Vail, the former a native of Rich- land County, Ohio, and the latter of Lancaster County, Pa. Mr. Stuart gave his entire attention to agricultural pursuits until 1859. then engaged in general merchandising in Newton, Ohio, which he carried on in connection with farming until 1864. The year following he came to this State, locating first in Vermilion County, whence after a residence of one year, he removed to Champaign City, and was there occupied as a merchant until 1870. In that year he purchased the homestead which he has since occupied. Of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart, one daughter, Grace, died at the age of two years. Those surviving are, Fannie, a teacher in Cham- paign, and Frank, a real-estate and loan agent in I t 282 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Kansas. Mr. Stuart is Democratic in politics, and has held various offices in the township. He be- came connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 18o6, of which he has since been an act- ive and consistent member. DHILLIP SHAFFER, in the fall of 1868, be- came a resident of Newcomb Township, this county, starting out in a modest man- ner and working thereafter faithfully and industriously until he acquired possession of his present farm, which is now unincumbered, pro- vided with good buildings, and under a fine state of cultivation. His family consists of his wife and six children, the latter constituting a bright and interesting group, who are being well reared and receiving the benefits of the admirably conducted free school system. Our subject is a native of Knox County, Ohio, and the tenth of eleven children born to his parents, Valentine and Nancy (Taylor) Shaffer, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The mother was of German and Irish ancestry, and after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer located in Knox County, Ohio, where they spent the greater part of their lives. In 1872 they disposed of their prop- erty in the Buckeye State, and came West to live among their children. The father died at the home of his son Paul in Condit Township in 1880. The mother still survives, making her home with her children. The parental household included seven sons and four daughters. Phillip, of our sketch, attended school only until he was about thirteen years of age, and then began assisting his father and brothers on the farm, remaining'there until he was nineteen years old, when, starting out for himself he worked by the month in Knox County, Ohio, a year after- ward, and in the fall of 1868, commenced working in Newcomb Township, this county, being thus employed three years. He lived economically and saved his earnings, and at the expiration of this time got together the necessary implements and commenced farming on rented land. Two years later he purchased fifty-seven and one-half acres on section 24, in Newcomb Township, which is in- cluded in his present homestead; it now comprises 120 acres. In January, 1873, Mr. Shaffer was united in marriage with Miss Irene Fisher, at the home of the bride's parents in Mahomet. Mrs. S. is the daugh- ter of Jonathan and Ziphora Fisher, and was born in Condit Township, Dec. 12, 1851. Their union resulted in the birth of seven children, of whom one died in infancy. Those surviving are Alberta B., Cora E., Elza J., Lillie G., Maude and Bessie M. Mr. Shaffer from a humble position in life, by his honest industry and moral worth, lias arisen to a worthy place among his fellow-citizens, who re- gard him with confidence and esteem. In the spring of 1880 he was elected Supervisor of Newcomb Township, which office he held until the spring of 1887. He holds strong views upon the temper- ance question, being a decided Prohibitionist, and gives his support to Democratic principles. Both Mr. and Mrs. S. are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. ENRY W. STEPHENSON, one of the most enterprising ^oung farmers of Hensley Township, is pleasantly located on a good farm on section 15. He belongs to a fam- ily well and favorably known in this section, be- ing the son of Leonidas and Nancy Stephenson, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this work. Our subject was born in Center Township, Boone Co., Ind., Oct. 4, 1844, and commenced his educa- tion in the subscription schools of his native town- ship. He afterward attended the free schools, and being a bright, ambitious boy, acquired a good fund of useful information. He remained under the parental roof until after the removal of the fam- ily to this State. Our subject's marriage occurred in Indiana on the same day they started for Illinois. He first lo- cated in Logan County, purchasing a tract of land near that of his father, in East Lincoln Township. This was unimproved, but he was the son of a pio- neer, and knew just what steps to take in opening CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 283 I l\ up a farm. He operated there successfully a few years, and became quite a speculator in land, buy- ing and selling at different times until 1878. In the spring of that year he took possession of his present farm. This is under a good state of culti- vation, and supplied with all necessary farm build- ings and machinery. Mr. Stephenson possesses in a marked degree the industry and system which have always characterized the transactions of his father, and is on the road to prosperity. The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- ried in February, 1865, was formerly Miss Cynthia Abbott, who was born in Clinton County, Ind., and is the daughter of Joseph and Annie (Dunn) Ab- bott. Their four children are, Albert, Annie, Le- onidas and George W. The homestead is pleas- antly located, and presents a picture of peaceful country life never found within the confines of the crowded metropolis, or in a community lacking in thrift and intelligence. GRACE HAZEN, the proprietor of 260 acres of choice land in Newcomb Township^ became a resident of this county in Febru- ary, 1876, and took possession of a part of his present homestead. His birth occurred in the Green Mountain State, July 13, 1823, where he was reared on a farm and obtained a common- school education. He remained a resident of his native State until 1853, then emigrated to Ohio, and shortly afterward to Woodford County, 111., where he lived until becoming a resident of this county. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he has followed all his life, and in which he has been uniformly successful. The marriage of Mr. Hazen took place in Stowe, Vt., on the 2d of June, 1847, Miss Sarah A. Kel- logg becoming his wife. The parents of Mrs. H. were Warner and Jennie (Gregg) Kellogg, also na- tives of Vermont. Of this union there were born eight children: Alma and Ellen M. died when quite young; George K. married Miss Emma Ellis, and resides in Fisher, 111.; Fred married Miss Lelia lionner, and is a resident of Newcomb Township; Pearl married Miss Addie Jayne, and lives in Brown Township; Mark married Miss Cora Funs- ton, and is farming in Newcomb Township; Dan is a resident of Woodford, 111., and Ed resides at home. Mr. Hazen, politically, uniformly supports the principles of the Republican party. ILTON J. FRAME. This gentleman, one of the successful farmers of Hensley Town- ship and also a skilled mechanic, is pleas- antly located on section 22. Here he has a snug homestead, with 160 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, and a convenient set of frame buildings. He has been a resident of this township since 1876, and is regarded as one of the important factors of the agricultural interests in this locality. Our subject is a native of Montgomery County, Ind., born April 30, 1829. His father, William Frame, of Kentucky, grew to manhood in the Blue Grass State, where he was married. Thence he removed to Indiana and was one of the earliest pioneers of Montgomery County. He purchased a tract of heavy timber land, in the midst of which was a log cabin, into which he removed with his family. He cleared a part of the land and in due time erected a brick dwelling which remained his home until his death. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Susan Davis, of Vir- ginia. The fourteen children of the parental house- hold all grew to mature years. Of these our sub- ject was the youngest and was but seven years old when his father died. After the death of her hus- band the mother kept the family together until they were old enough to start out in life for them- selves. Her death occurred in Des Moines County, Iowa, in about 1862. Milton J. Frame lived with his mother until he was twenty-two years old, then started West to seek his fortune. He went to Iowa, locating in Kossuth, Des Moines County, and there carried on farming, together with blacksmithing and wagon-making, until the outbreak of the late war. In December, 1863, he enlisted in Co. K, 14th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served until the close. He was present at the battles of Pleasant Hill, Old Oaks, Mentotock, Miss., and participated in various i 284 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. minor engagements and skirmishes. lie escaped wounds and imprisonment, and in August, 18G5, received his honorable discharge. He returned to Kossuth, Iowa, and resumed his trade until 1876, when lie sold out, and coming into this county, purchased the farm in Hensley Township which he now owns and occupies. The marriage of Milton J. Frame and Miss Maria Allen took place in Indiana in 1 852. Mrs. F. was born in Fleming County, Ky., and is the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Sullivan) Allen (see sketch of Joseph Allen). Of the seven children born to them, six are now living: Mary, Mrs. Seeds, and Elizabeth, Mrs. Bandy, live in Des Moines County, Iowa; Susan, Mrs. Rogers, is a resident of Butler County, Kan. ; William, Robert and Mattie are at home ; Julia became the wife of Charles Wright, and died in Hensley Township, Nov. 1 4, 1 884, aged twenty-two years. Politically Mr. Frame is a warm supporter of the Republican party. He is a gentleman of more than ordinary ability and keeps himself well posted upon the current events of the day. His opinions are those of a man decided in his views and whose counsels it will be usually safe to follow. He has been successful in his business and farming opera- tions and both as a business man and a citizen is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. J"~ OHN G. CAMPBELL, who is Postmaster of Dewey, is one of the oldest settlers of East Bend Township, of which he became a resi- dent in 1857, and locating upon a tract of wild prairie land, commenced its improvement and cultivation, having in view from the first the estab- lishment of a permanent home. In due time his labors met with their just reward and he occupied the farm thus opened up for a period of twenty years. He then practically retired from active labor and made his home with his oldest son three years. In 1885 he took up his abode in Dewey, where he has since lived, being appointed Post- master in the fall of that year. Mr. Campbell was born in Cumberland County, Pa., April 1,1818. His father, James Campbell, was a native of the same count}', and his grand- father, who was born in the North of Ireland, was a descendant of Scottish ancestry. The first repre- sentative of the family came to this country and located in Cumberland County, Pa., where he fol- lowed farming ar.d spent the remainder of his days. Upon this farm James Campbell was born and reared, seven miles from the town of Carlisle. After reaching manhood he was married to Miss Elizabeth French, a native, of the same county as her husband, where they remained until 1827. They then determined to remove to Indiana, and started with a four-horse team for Pittsburgh, Pa., where they embarked on a river steamer said to be the first of the kind that ever ploughed the Ohio. They located in Switzerland County, Ind., among the earliest settlers, and the elder Campbell rented land the first year. The next spring he purchased a farm in Cotton Township, the same county, in the cultivation and improvement of which he was engaged until his death, in 1802. The wife and mother departed this life two years later. Of their thirteen children, eleven grew to mature years, and the record is as follows: Joseph taught school for a number of years, and when last heard from was at Walla Walla, Wash. Ty. ; Robert died in Switzerland County, Ind.; Jane, the wife of Abraham Atkinson, lives in Dearborn County, Ind. ; Eliza, Mrs. David Weaver, is a resident of Atchisou County, Kan.; William died in New Orleans; John G. of our sketch was the sixth child - r James lives in Switzerland County, Ind,; Samuel in Lamonte, Pettis Co., Mo. ; Oliver, now deceased, located at Pensacola, Fla., and during the Rebellion was con- scripted into the rebel army; Caroline married Henry Faubra, and lives in Switzerland County, Ind. ; Mary, the wife of Amsley Morrison, lives in Jennings County, Ind. Our subject passed his boyhood and youth in the manner common to the sons of pioneers, receiv- ing a limited education in the subscription schools, which were conducted in the typical structure built of logs, and covered with clapboards held in place by weight-poles. The benches and writing- desks were made by splitting a small log, turning the flat side upward, and putting in wooden pins f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 285 , for legs. The school was kept up on the subscrip- tion plan and the teacher " boarded around." John G. remained with his parents until eighteen years of age, and then started out in life for himself. For six years following he was variously employed, most of the time in flatboating, taking produce down the river, which he sold at Natchez, Vicks- burg or New Orleans. His time was thus occupied until after his marriage, when he rented a tract of land in Switzerland County, Ind., upon which he operated a few years and then, in company with another man, erected a set of buildings and provided all the appliances of a steam-turning establishment, putting in an engine, and had everything ready for operation and in good running order when the boiler exploded and the building and machinery wore ruined. Thus nearly the entire capital of Mr. Campbell was destroyed and a radical change of plans ensued. He engaged as a laborer in the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad Shops for three years, and afterward became a traveling salesman for the firm of Clark & Mooney, remaining with them also three years. In 1857 he came to this county to sell fanning-mills. The face of the country pleased him greatty and he determined to locate, which resolve he put in execution the fol- lowing spring, and renting a farm in Champaign Township, established himself upon it with his family. The next year he removed to East Bend, where he purchased the land upon which he perma- nently settled. Mr. Campbell was married in Switzerland County, Ind., in the spring of 1842, to Miss Ruby Peabody, a native of that county, and born Dec. 15, 1821. She is the daughter of Stephen G. Peabody, a na- tive of New York, who became one of the pioneers of Switzerland County, whence he removed in 1855 to Champaign County, 111. Here he purchased 1,000 acres of land, all in P^ast Bend Township, and in 1858 took possession of it, but finally removed to the city of Champaign, where his death occurred. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell the record is as follows: Oliver A. is a resident of Riintuul Township, this county; James is a member of the Nebraska Legislature, elected in 188(5; he served four years as Clerk of Sarpy County, and is a resident of Papillion, the county seat; Mary be- came the wife of John Strouse, who is farming in Coudit Township; Elizabeth, the wife of William Wagoner, lives in Columbus, Kan. ; John R. is farm- ing in Rantoul Township, this county ; Artemus W. is a resident of and the Sheriff of Sarpy County, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically our sub- ject is Democratic, and represented his township in the Board of Supervisors six years. >ILLIAM McMILLEN. The subject of the following history, a resident of Champaign Township, and one of the honored pioneers of the Prairie State, is widely and favorably known throughout this county as a man revered alike for his genial and social qualities and his value as a citizen, and has done much to advance the interests of his adopted county and township. He comes of excellent ancestry, and was born in Highland County, Ohio, in November, 1809. It has been his lot to witness the remarkable growth of a country which was comparatively in its infancy when he first opened his eyes to the light. lie remembers the time when the canal was considered a fine medium of transportation, and when a rail- road project was considered a wild and improbable scheme. The remarkable changes which have oc- curred since he became old enough to note the development of the resources of the country have been witnessed by him with that satisfaction always felt by the intelligent man who has a genuine and patriotic regard for the land which gave him birth. The father of our subject, Thomas McMillen, was a native of Pennsylvania. He grew to man- hood in the Keystone State, whence after his mar- riage, he removed to Ohio and was among the first settlers of Highland County. He purchased land in the Military Tract and erected a log cabin in the midst of the heavy timber. He cleared 100 acres, and established a comfortable homestead where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife, the mother of our subject, was formerly Miss Jane Irving. After the death of her husband, she be- came a resident of Cass County, Ind.. where she died in about 1839. She kept her children together until they were old enough to do for themselves. .*. I 286 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. T William McMillcu first saw the light of day in the humble cabin erected by his father in the woods of Highland County, Ohio, and was only ten years of age when the latter died. He re- mained with his mother, assisting his elder brothers in the improvement of the farm, and continued a member of the family until he had arrived at years' of manhood. He still remembers seeing, in his childhood, the deer and wolves that scampered through the timber, and the howling of the latter at night around their cabin home. Before his mar- riage he had purchased a tract of land, and after this event he erected a log house to which he proudly conveyed his young wife, and they entered upon their future life with hope and happiness. In 1859 Mr. McMillen disposed of his real estate in Cass County, Ind., and started overland for the Prairie State. His outfit consisted of three horses and a wagon of his own, in addition to which he hired another wagon and team to accompany him and his family. They traveled after the manner of the emigrants of those days, camping and cooking by the wayside, and upon their arrival in this county, Mr. McMillen purchased the farm which he now occupies. It is scarcely necessary to say that he has greatly improved its original condition, and that it compares favorably with the other beautiful and comfortable homesteads which are scattered so plenteously through one of the richest counties of Illinois. It is located about four miles from town, and the familiar form of its proprietor is always greeted with pleasure as he travels back and forth through the section of country which he first looked upon nearly thirty years ago. The marriage of William McMillen and Miss Rosanna Henderson took place at the residence of the bride's parents in Cass County, Ind., in 1835. The death of this esteemed lady occurred at the home of her husband in Champaign Township, in January, 1886. Of the children which came to bless the household six are now living, of whom the record is as follows: Lucinda became the wife of William Bell, and lives in Pratt County, Kan. ; Susan married Frank Gothshall, and their home is in Logansport, Ind. ; Newton is engaged in mining in Mexico; Isabel, Mrs. Thomas Graham, is a resi- dent of Nebraska; Joseph lives in New Salem, Kan., and Fremont carries <>u the business of the homestead for his father in Champaign County. Mrs. McMillen became a member of the Presby- terian Church soon after her marriage, and Mr. McM. in 1868. In politics he is Republican. r;ILLIAM ELLARS came to this county in 1850, comparatively a poor man, when thirty-four years of age. He is now the owner of 1,300 acres of the finest farming land in Sadorus Township, where he has an elegant resi- dence, with a fine barn and other substantial out- buildings, a valuable assortment of live-stock, costly and modern farm machinery and all the ap- pliances of a first-class country estate. It is hardly necessary to say that to accomplish this has required persistent labor, with rare good management of his farming operations and a wise investment of sur- plus funds. His home stands prominently as one of the most attractive features in the landscape of Central Illinois, the fairest monument that could be reared to the resolution and energy of its pro- prietor. Mr. Ellars was introduced to life audits responsi- bilities among the hills of Ross County, Ohio, on the 16th of July, 1816, and was the sixth child of Benjamin and Eunice (Taylor) Ellars, natives of Delaware, where the father followed farming, and where both parents spent their entire lives. The mother, however, was called away from her family of little ones when our subject was but a boy twelve years of age. His father married a second time, and William left home to carve out his own fortune, from the vicissitudes of a sometimes unfriendly world. Going to Chillicothe, Ohio, he entered upon an apprenticeship to the tailor's trade, to which his father had bound him. He became dis- satisfied, however, and after eighteen months ran away to Washington, in Fayette County, where he worked at whatever his hands could find to do, un- til twenty-one years of age, most of his time, how- ever, being spent in the tailor shop. Our subject's health now began to fail, and he found that he could no longer endure the confine- ment involved in following his trade, and abandon- f RESIDENCE OF F. B. B ATTLE5 D J5EC.28.HARWOOD TP ___ RESIDENCE OF W. S . CO R LI S , 5 EC . 25, 5 I DN EY TOWNSHIP RESIDENCE OF MINERVA PUTNAM ,SEC.4 .CT-20-N-). OGDEN TP. ffi V V 7 ' THE ' i r ''.LINOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 289 ' ing it, engaged as a farm laborer. He worked by the month for five years following, sowing, reap- ing, plowing and mowing, there being little farm machinery in those days, and recovered his health, so that he felt fully competent to provide for a family. His heart had already been captured by Miss Eliza Jane, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Coon) Harrison, natives of Ohio, and they were married in the fall of 1 842. Mr. Ellars, then feel- ing quite independent, proceeded to rent a farm and begin agriculture on his own account. He was thus employed in Madison County for eight years following, his father in the mean time having joined . him there, and making his home with his son. In 1850 Mr. Ellars decided to find out for him- self about the truthfulness of the reports coming from the Prairie State, which was offering great in- ducements to the enterprising emigrant. Getting his family and household goods together he jour- neyed into this county, and located on a tract of wild land in Sadorus Township, which embraced 190 acres and was located on section 34. His in- tention had been to enter land from the Govern- ment, but the day after his arrival, Sept. 20, 1850, the United States laud office, at Vandalia, was closed, for the purpose of allowing the Central Illinois Company to choose their territory, which was to be each alternate section, on a strip of land fifteen miles wide, through the center of which the tract was to pass. Thus cut off from entering laud, Mr. Ellars was obliged to content himself with what he could purchase and cultivate. He pro- ceeded with his improvements, fencing his ground and putting up suitable buildings, and added to his landed interests .by degrees until the result was ob- tained which we now behold. Although the neces- sity for arduous labor on his part has long gone past, he still retains the same active oversight of his affairs as ever, and exercises his uniformly good judgment in all important matters. During the first years of their resolute and per- sistent labor, there came into the household of our subject and his wife a family of eight little ones, of whom seven are still living to administer to their joy and comfort. Their children were named re- spectively, James, John, Catherine, Sarah, Martin, Melissa, Emma and Martha. Their eldest sou first married Miss Jane Moore, who departed this life in 1885, leaving two children; the second wife was Miss Jane Bye, and they are residents of Douglas County ; John married Miss Mary Quick, and is a resident of Bement, Piatt County; Catherine is the widow of James Webster, and is living in Philo ; Sarah became the wife of A. J. Hunter, a farmer of Douglas County, and died in 1881, leaving a child, Anna, whom her grandparents took to their hearts and home when she was but four days old, and are now raising her as their own; Martin mar- ried Miss Ella Hess; he is now Postmaster of Philo, and is also engaged in the grocery trade there; Melissa is the wife of W. Collins, a prosperous far- mer of Douglas County; Emma and Martha are at home with their parents. Mr. Ellars. as a citizen having extensive interests in the real estate of Sadorus Township, could not evade a portion of the duties devolving upon a citi- zen of more than ordinary ability as a business man, and a member of an intelligent community. He has represented the township in the Board of Super- visors several times, and his influence has been sen- sibly felt in the ranks of the Democratic party in this locality. His enterprise has furnished an ex- ample which others have sought to emulate, and the result has been that the homesteads around him have attained to a higher degree of perfection, by the mere force of the example set before them in the beauty of the Ellars estate, in the cultivation of its soil, and the care which has been exercised in its entire management. HILIP HUMMEL. This gentleman, who is widely and favorably known through- out the township of P^ast Bend, came to this section in the pioneer days, and has been one of its most industrious, intelligent and public-spirited citizens. He owns a good farm on section 28, besides property in the present village of Dewey, where he proposes to retire in due time and spend his declining years in the ease and com- fort which he has justly earned. Mr. H. is a fine representative of the substantial German element which has assisted so greatly in i r f t 290 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. building up the western country. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, June 13, 1815, and :it an early age commenced attending the public schools, con- tinuing his studies until fifteen years old. After- ward he remained with his father for some years, working on the farm of the latter, and in 1853 took possession of a tract of land which he inher- ited from the parental estate. In the meantime he had been married and become the father of three children, and believing that he could better his condition and that of his family in the New World, he sold his property in Germany and set sail from Havre for the United States. He landed with his family in New York City on the 4th of July, 1853, after a voyage of thirty-nine days. He proceeded directly westward, and after reaching Kane County, this State, was employed as a laborer for two years following, in the meantime having purchased a home in Kaneville, where his family were comfortably located. At the expiration of this time he rented a tract of laud which he operated on until 1859. During the latter-named year Mr. Hummel came to this county and purchased 120 acres on section 28, in East Bend Township, which are iiow included in his present farm. The laud at that time was un- enclosed and uncultivated, and the embryo town of Rautoul was the nearest trading-post. Deer and wolves still roamed over the prairie, which was un- settled, save here and there, where a lonely cabin would be seen. Mr. Hummel, however, with true pioneer courage set about the improvement of his laud, which in due time responded generously to his labor and yielded excellent crops. He had the land enclosed with good fences and put up all nec- essary farm buildings. He also added to his estate as his means accumulated, and is now the owner of 320 acres under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Hummell was first married, in 18-13, to Miss Lizzie Kell, a native of his own Province in Ger- many, and they became the parents of two children Philip, now living in East Bend Township, and Mary, the wife of Frank Brush, a resident of Ore- gon. The mother of these children died at the home of our subject in Germany, in 1848. His second wife, who in her girlhood was Miss Kate Bloss, was also a native of Hesse-Darmstadt. Of this later marriage there were born five children, of whom the record is as follows: Henry is a resident of East Bend Township; Dora married John Clark, a farmer of Rantoul Township; Christian lives with his sister Dora; William is at home with his father, and Annie, the youngest, also resides in Rantoul with her sister. Mrs. Kate Hummel died in East Bend Township in 1872. Our subject was again married, the following year, to Mrs. Amelia Hcrzbe.g. Mrs. Hummel was born in Prussia, and was the daughter of Fred- erick Rusch, a native of the same country, and she was first married there, in 1861, to Herman Herz- berg, with whom she came to the United States five years later. They located in Bloomington, 111., where Mr. H. died in 1870. The children of her first marriage were Frank, now a resident of Bloom- ington, and Hannah, who lives with her mother. Mr. Hummel is a decided Republican, politically, and both he and his wife are members of the Luth- eran Church. He is a wide-awake citizen, having contributed $1,000 toward securing the narrow- gauge railroad, and also having with a few others put up the school building in his neighborhood. ON. FIELDING L. SCOTT, deceased. The name of this late esteemed resident of Ma- . hornet was well and favorably known in past years among the business men and so- cial circles of this locality, as a man of more than ordinary business talent and personal worth. He became connected with the affairs of Champaign County at an early day, coming with his wife and child from Kentucky in 1830. He endured with his brother pioneers the difficulties and hardships of settlement in a new section and contributed his full share toward its growth and development. Judge Scott was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Jan. 27, 1807. His father was a native of Washing- ton County, Pa., of Scotch ancestry, and his mother was born in Ireland. The latter came to America with her parents when a child. In 1778 the grand- father of our subject, in company with his own and about twenty other families, emigrated from Penn- sylvania to Kentucky and located in Bourbon CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 291 County, where be died in 1 S06, leaving, among other members of his family, F. L. Scott, the father of our subject. The latter remained in Bourbon County, where he married and reared a family. Fielding L. Scott, the subject of this biography, remained under the home roof until he reached his majority and was married, Sept. 18, 1827, to Miss Julia A. Herriott. Three years later he emigrated with his wife aad child to this State, as we have stated. They located in Vermilion County, whence after a residence of six years they came to Cham- paign County and settled upon the farm in Ma- homet Township which is now owned by Jacob Bellinger. Our subject carried on the cultivation and improvement of his land for a period of over forty years, and departed this life Nov. 16, 1877. He was a man greatly respected in his community; a Republican of the strictest type, and religiously a Missionaiy Baptist. During the late war he was a vigorous supporter of the Union cause and en- couraged the enlistment of two of his sons in the army. One of these met his death at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain; the other, Thomas J., is ex- Sheriff of Champaign County. ILLIAM SADORUS, in honor of whose father the township bearing this name was called, has been a continuous resident on section 1 for a period of sixty-three years, and is now, with his two brothers, among the oldest sel- lers of Champaign County. His father, Henry, in the journey from Indiana to this State was accom- panied by the celebrated Mormon, Joe Smith, and his family. They reached Big Raccoon Creek on the east side of the Wabash River, and in the early spring set out for Illinois equipped with several yoke of oxen and cows. During the entire journey they required not even an ear of corn for /their cattle, but fed them on the rich grass that grew by the way. On account of the rough condition of the thoroughfare they were obliged at times to put all the cattle to one wagon in order to pull through. Mr. Smith settled in Sadorus Township, this county, and spent the summer in clearing and fenc- ing his land, but in the fall became discouraged and gave Mr. Sadorus all his improvements, together with 7,000 rails, on condition of Mr. S. hauling one load of household goods to Peoria. This now flourishing city was then a small French village, i giving little promise of its future importance. Our subject in his prime was considered one of the most skillful hands with a gun in the country, and prided himself on his record as a deer hunter, hav- ing killed hundreds of these animals before they were frightened or destroyed by the march of a later civilization. For nearly forty years he battled with the hardships of the wilderness before the railroad was built and he could safely say he had a neighbor. William Sadorus is a native of Allegheny County, Pa., born July 4, 1812, and was the eldest child of Henry and Mary '(Titus) Sadorus, also of the Key- stone State, but of German extraction. He remained at home with his parents until nearly twenty-six years of age, and on the llth of March, 1838, was united in marriage with Miss Mary Moore, a na- tive of Kentucky and the daughter of John and Hannah Moore, who were also born in the Blue Grass regions. Of this marriage there were seven children, namely, George W. B., Henry YV., Marga- ret E., Samuel S., Sarilda J., Sarah S. and John T. In the summer of 1851, Mrs. Mary Sudorus. the affectionate wife and mother, yielded up her life, after having been the companion of her husband thirteen years. In September following Mr. Sa- dorus was married to Miss Quincy Ann Brunnley, of Kentucky, and of this union there were born two children, Mary E. and John A., both now de- ceased. The mother died Oct. 9, 1877. On Octo- ber 7 of the following year our subject was married to Mrs. Charity Hastings, daughter of Bailey and i Mary A. (Henson) Phillips, natives of South Caro- lina. The one child of this union, a daughter, Ida, is now away at school. Previous to his first marriage Mr. Sadorus, in 1 834. purchased eight3 r acres of land in this town- ship, upon which he moved and engaged in its im- provement and cultivation. He was successful from the start, and in due time added to his prop- ! erty until he was possessed of a good farm of 3t>0 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. acres. This he has since divided among his chil- dren, having now but 104 acres, located on section 1, Sadorus Township. His son, George W. B., married Miss Phebc J. Brown, and is farming in Tolono Township; Henry married Miss Marvilla F. Padgett, and lives on a farm near his father; Mar- garet E. is the wife of O. C. MeConney, a retired farmer now living in the village of Sadorus; Samuel was married in Utah, where he has spent many years as a minister in the Mormon Church; Sarilda, Mrs. T. M. Hixson, lives on a farm in Missouri; Sarah married Charles E. Mills, who is engaged in railroading at Pana, 111.; John T., John A. and Mary E. are deceased.' Politically Mr. Sadorus is an uncompromising Democrat, and a fearless advocate of the doctrines of his party. He has for many years been connected with the Baptist Church, of which his wife is also a member. He has never been desirous of political distinction and uniformly declines to run for office, although he maintains a warm interest in State and National affairs. He is one of the hon- ored landmarks of this section, who will be held in kind remembrance by numbers of its people long after he shall have been gathered to his fathers. OSEPII M. IIARNIT. The people of Lud- low Township made the acquaintance of this gentleman in the fall of 1864, when he came to this county with his father and set- tled on the northwest quarter of section 7. Of this forty-five acres were broken, which constituted its only improvement. The land to-day with its appurtenances presents one of the finest country estates in this section. The fields are enclosed with neat hedges and supplied with a fine set of frame buildings, the whole constituting a monument of what may be accomplished by the energy and in- genuity of one man alone. Our subject occupied this fine farm until 1876, and after living upon an adjoining one for a year, removed to Ludlow Vil- lage where he has since been engaged in the prac- tice of law. He became a member of the legal profession in 1877, and since that time has devoted the greater part of his efforts to his law business and oHieial duties, lie has been Supervisor of Ludlow Township for a period of fifteen years and also held the office of Assessor and Collector, while at the same time serving as a member of the School Board, and giving his time to every worthy enter- prise calculated to advance the moral and intellect- ual welfare of his community. He cast his first vote on Culpeper Plains on the march in Virginia, for Governor and other officers of Ohio, and sup- ported the principles of the Republican party until the nomination of Peter Cooper as Presidential candidate of the Greenback party, since which time he has given his support to that political organiza- tion. The subject of our sketch was born near Enou Station, Beaver Co., Pal, May 20, 1842. His father, Samuel Harnit, a native of the same county, was born Feb. 9, 1804. His grandfather, a native of Wales, emigrated to the United States when a young man and located in Pennsylvania, where he soon afterward took to himself a wife in the person of Miss Anna B. Lutzenheizer, who was a native of Westmoreland County, Pa. Grandfather Harnit was a blacksmith by trade, and built a shop upon a small tract of land which he had purchased and which he cleared from the timber, carrying on farming and his trade, and also mining the coal which he used as fuel in his shop and house. He met his death in the coalmine, which caved in upon htm with fatal results before he could be extricated. This occurred in December, 1803, two mouths be- fore the birth of his son, Samuel, the father of our subject. The family then consisted of five chil- dren, who were all obliged to assist their mother in the maintenance of the family as soon as old enough to work. Young Samuel learned the trade of a wheelwright, which he followed until about 1852, then purchased a flouring-mill in Lawrence County, to which he devoted his time for ten years following. He was quite successful in his business and mill operations, and spent the last years of his life retired from active labor and in the enjoyment of a competency. His last residence was in Youngstowu, Mahoning Co., Ohio, where he yielded up his life on the 4th of February, 1886, after reaching the advanced age of eighty-two years. The mother of our subject in her girlhood was Miss i f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 293 Sarah Corey, who was born in Beaver Countv, Pa., and after becoming the mother of ten chilflren, died there in 1848. Mr. Harnit of our sketch, who was the eighth child and youngest son of the household, was ten years old when his father moved to Lawrence County. Four years later he yvent to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he remained two years, and from there to Marion County, of which he remained a resident until 1861. That year will long be re- membered by every patriot as the time when both young and middle-aged men were called from home and the bosoms of their families to fight for the protection of those homes and families. Young Harnit was one of the first to respond to the call for troops, and on the 17th of April became a mem- ber of Co. K, 4th Ohio Vol. Inf., which was or- ganized under the call for three-months' men. Six weeks later he re-enlisted for the three years' serv- ice in the same company and regiment, with which he remained until finally mustered out, June 23, 1864. He was present at the battle of Rich Moun- tain, Petersburg, Winchester, Antictam, Fredericks- burg, Chanccllorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, being under fire for a period of thirty days, from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, in May and June, 1864. During the weary marches and all other hardships incident to a soldier's life, he never evaded his duty, and at the close received his honorable discharge and tlje commendation of his superiors. After becoming a citizen he pro- ceeded to Marion County, Ohio, and worked in the harvest field on his uncle's farm the following sum- mer, and in the fall of 1864 made his first advent into Champaign County His subsequent course we have already detailed. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married on the 10th of January, 1871, was Miss Libby, daughter of John Newlin, who was born in Mont- gomery County, Ind., May 24, 1852. Her father was a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, to which State her grandfather Newlin removed at an early period in its history. His son John was reared in his native county, whence he removed to Indiana, and was there married to Miss Cynthia Fleming, who was born near Middletown, Ohio, and is the daughter of Thomas Fleming, of Pennsylvania. The parents of Mrs. II. removed from the Keystone State to Putnam County, 111., in about 1854, where the father died three years later. Mrs. Newlin is still living, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. H. Our subject and his wife became the parents of four interesting children, namely, William, Claude E., Jessie L. and Joseph M. Mr. Harnit socially be- longs to Pera Lodge No. >574, A. F. & A. M., of which he became a member in December, 1866, and served eight years as W. M. He was the first Com- mander of Ord Post No. 372, G. A. R. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Harnit, who was a native of Switzerland, located in Eastern Penn- sylvania when a young man, whence he removed later across the mountains to Westmoreland Count}'. After marriage he removed to Beaver County dur- ing the early settlement of that region, where he spent the remainder of his life. OSEPH T. GRIMES, who was born and | reared among the hills of New Castle Coun- ty in the State of Delaware, is now num- bered among the highly respected citizens of Tolono Township, of which he became a resi- dent in 1866. He owns eighty acres of improved land, which is thoroughly drained and enclosed with good fences, and ' upon which stands a model farm-house "and all necessary out-buildings. Although perhaps his farming operations have not covered as much ground as some of his neighbors, he has adhered to the theories of Horace Greeley and taken 'good 'care of his snug estate. P^very acre is made available either for pasture or the rais- ing of farm produce, and the premises present the picture of comfort and contentment, with plenty on every hand. The birth of Mr. Grimes occurred on the 1st of October, 1841, and; he is the son of John and Sally Ann (Sharp) Grimes, also natives of the State of Delaware, whence they removed to Ohio in 1852. They selected a location in Butler Count}', but subsequently removed ^ to Hamilton County, the same State, where John Grimes followed farm- ing until 1869. He then removed with his family 294 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. to Illinois, and after a residence of three years in Champaign County, took up his abode in Marion County, Kan., where lie now lives, and has arrived at the age of seventy-two years. The mother died in August, 1879, when a little over sixty-three years old. The household circle, which was com- pleted by the birth of eight children, was broken by the death of one daughter in childhood. Seven are yet living, of whom our subject is the eldest. The others are Levi; Mary Ann, now Mrs. John Dole; John A.; Emma, the wife of Hiram Beck; Robert, and Narcissa, Mrs. H. Smith. The subject of this biography spent his childhood and youth amidst the peaceful surroundings of farm life. He was eleven years old when his par- ents removed from Delaware to Ohio, and re- mained with them the greater portion of the time until his marriage, which took place on the 30th of November, 1865. The maiden of his choice, Miss Mary Grace Louks, was a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and the daughter of John and Mary (McLain) Louks. Her father is now a resident of Tolono. Mrs. G. was born on the 24th of Febru- ary, 1848, and received careful home training and a fair education in the common schools. She was instructed in all needful household duties and re- mained a member of her father's family until her marriage. A year afterward Joseph Grimes and his young wife set out for Illinois and located in this county upon the homestead where the}' now reside. Their union has been blest by the birth of three children, all daughters Ada Florence, Ida Blanche and Lena Ethel. Mr. and Mrs. G. are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, and our subject politically is a hearty supporter of the Republican party. ^ILLIAM II. SWAYZE, ore of the honored pioneers of East Bond Township, was born in AVyandot County, Ohio, June 28, 1840. His grandfather, James Swayze, a native of New Jersey, emigrated to Ohio in the early settle- ment of the State, purchased a tract of timber land in Wyandot County, and spent the remainder of his life in its improvement and cultivation. With scores of others in that vicinity he labored indus- triously for years in cutting down the forest trees and preparing the land for the raising of fa>-m prod- uce. This with the limited conveniences at hand would seem to the people of the present day an Herculean task, but the men of that period pos- sessed a rugged industry which laughed at all ob- stacles and knew no such word as "fail." James Swayze possessed these qualities in a remarkable degree, and they have been transmitted to his chil- dren and grandchildren. The father of our subject, Bescherer Swayze, was born in New Jersey, and was a young child when his parents made the journey overland to the Buckeye State. He grew to manhood in Wyandot County, and among the maidens of that region chose for his wife Miss Matilda Hunt, a native of his own State, who had removed to Ohio with her parents about 1820. Her father, William Hunt, located on a farm in Wyandot County, Ohio, where he die,d in about 1840. Bescherer Swayze in 1863 came to this county, where he purchased 120 acres of land which was partly improved, and later added to his estate 240 acres more. He became very successful in farming and stock-raising and accumulated a competency. He departed this life Feb. 5, 1867. The mother survived him over nine years, and died at Rantoul, Sept. 20, 1876. The subject of this history was the second of ten children. His early education was conducted in the district schools, and when but a boy he com- menced to assist his father on the farm. He re- mained a member of the home circle until 1861, and on the 17th of September of that year, the Civil War being in progress, he enlisted in the 1 1th Ohio Artillery and served for three years and three months. He marched with his comrades through the States of Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Louis- iana, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee, participat- ing in many of the important battles of the war. He escaped wounds and imprisonment, and after his honorable discharge joined his p/irents in East Bend Township, this county, of which he has since been a resident. Mr. Swayze took possession of his present farm in the spring of 1870. Considering that he now had a firm foothold on the road to prosperity and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 295 a competence, and finding no pleasure in working for himself alone, he proffered his hand and fortune to the only Indy whom he desired to share them, this being Miss Mary McJilton, and they were united in marriage Sept. 15, 1870. Mrs. S. is a native of Woodford County, this State, born Dec. 8, 1854, and the daughter of John T. and Elizabeth (Shaf- fer) McJilton. To this household there came seven children, viz., Delia Maj', Barbara Belle, Jay T., Lora Alice, Nira Edith, Myrtle Edna and Clara Elizabeth. The homestead includes 160 acres of finely im- proved land, with a tasteful farm residence and good out-buildings. Mr. Swayze and his family are held in high respect by the community. He has performed all the duties of a good citizen, and although never an office-seeker, has taken a genu- ine interest in placing the best men where they could do the inost good, not confining himself to party lines but voting independently. I iHEODORE FRY. The subject of the fol- lowing sketch is the proprietor of a beauti- ful farm homestead in Champaign Town- ship, on section 17, where since 1865 he has been industriously engaged in the cultivation of the soil and the various duties of farm life. He is de- scended from excellent German ancestry, and the first representative of the family in this country was his great-grandfather, who located in Pennsyl- vania and there spent the remainder of his life. His son John, also born in Germany, was quite young when his parents came to this country. He was reared to farm pursuits, which he prosecuted mostly near the homestead of his father in Pennsyl- vania, but spent the last years of his life near Har- rodsburg. He was a man of great force of charac- ter, self educated, and of more than ordinary ability. He represented his county in the State Legislature, and took an active interest in the af- fairs of his State and Nation at large. His son Cornelius, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, reared on the farm, and trained in those habits of industry and principles of honor for which the family has always been distinguished. When quite young he entered the army and served in the War of 1812. In 1815, after his marriage, Cornelius Fry re- moved with his wife and child to Ohio, locating in Butler County. The removal was made on a flat- boat down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, and thence overland to Butler County, where Mr. Fry arrived with but $1.25 in his pocket. He at once com- menced working at whatever he could find to do, and was emplo3 r ed by the day or month at small wages. His wife possessed a spinning-wheel, and with the aid of this manufactured the cloth for the family wear. By the closest economy Mr. Fry was in due time enabled to save money enough to buy a team which, in 182C, he utilized in remov- ing to Preble County, where he purchased eighty acres of timber land on time. One acre of this was cleared, and upon it stood a small log cabin, of which the family took possession, and the father immediately set about clearing more of the land and placing it under cultivation. For his first crop of wheat he received thirty-three and one- half cents per bushel. He progressed slowly but surely, and in time was enabled to clear the little farm of debt. Upon the homestead which he thus established after many years of toil, he passed the remainder of his days. In the meantime the log cabin was replaced by a substantial hewed log house, after which a barn was put up and an orchard planted. Cornelius Fry, after a goodly and pleasant life, closed his eyes upon earthl}' scenes on the 21st of October, 1850, amid the universal regret of the friends whom he made by his straightforward and honest life and kindly Christian character. The mother of our subject, who before her marriage was Miss Catherine Sliafer, was also of German an- cestry and a native of the Keystone State. Of her union with Cornelius Fry there were borji five chil- dren, the record of whom is as follows: Eliza A. became the wife of Robert McDivitt, and is a resi- dent of Preble County, Ohio; John lives in New Boston, Mercer Co., 111.; Thompson died in D.irke County, Ohio, when about sixty-two years of age ; Theodore of our sketch was the fourth child ; An- drew served in the Union army during the late war, and has not been heard from since its close. , > 29C CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in his native county in Ohio, and pursued his early studies in the subscription schools. As soon as old enough he went out to work at very small wages, receiving the summer before his fourteenth birthday but $4 per month and board. As his usefulness increased his wages were raised, and three years later he was considered worth $16 per month during the summer season. He was occu- pied in this manner until twenty-one years of age, and then determined to seek a new location for his future efforts. Going westward into Indiana he rented land in Tippccanoe County, which he cul- tivated for the following fifteen years. He had been successful in his business and farming opera- tions, and now found himself possessed of sufficient means to purchase a tract of land in the same county. There was upon it a small frame house, and twelve acres were cleared. He cleared thirty acres additional and erected a good set of frame buildings, also planting an orchard and adding other improvements. After a residence there of five years he exchanged for a prairie farm of eighty acres in Perry Township. This he sold two years later, and purchased another farm not far away, lo- cating in Sheffield Township. Before removing upon this he sold it, making $700 by fhe operation. He then purchased a tract of land in Fail-field Township, which he took possession of and occu- pied until 1865, then traded it for land in Cham- paign County. In October of that year, gathering together his family and household effects, he started with an outfit of four teams for Illinois. He did not, however, settle upon the land he had purchased, but traded for that which constitutes his present homestead. There was upon it at the time a small frame house and another, structure dignified by the name of a stable, -rije family took possession of the former, and Mr. Fry began in earnest the cultivation and improvement of his land. In due time the first rude dwelling gave place to a handsome and modern structure, and the stable to a barn of goodly proportions. Mr. Fry also planted a variety of fruit and shade trees, and by other means beautified his premises until they became both attractive and valuable. The marriage of Theodore Fry and Miss Lucy A. Dryer took place in Indiana on the 18th of October, 184G. Mrs. Fry was born near Nobles- ville, Hamilton Co., Ind., in 1823. Her father, Edward M. Dryer, was a native of Massachusetts, and her grandfather, also a native of New En- gland, removed from there to New York State at an early day, and spent the last days of his life in Cattaraugus County. His son. Edward M., was quite young when the family became residents of the Empire State, where he grew to manhood, re- ceived a good education, and adopted the pro- fession of a teacher, which he followed the greater part of his life. When twenty -one years of age he located in Butler County, Ohio, where he married and lived until early in 1823. Thence he removed to a point near Noblesville, Ind., from which a year afterward he returned to the Buckeye State. Five years later he came back to Indiana and pur- chased a farm in Sheffield Township, Tippecanoe County, where he established a permanent home and spent the remainder of his life. His decease occurred on the 7th of April, 1836. The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Fry was Margaret M. Gregory. She was born in Vir- ginia, July 24, 1792. and was of Scotch-Irish an- cestry. She departed this life in Tippecanoe County, Ind., Nov. 19, 1878. The maternal grand- parents of Mrs. Fry were both natives of Virginia, whence they removed to Kentucky, and after a short residence there took up their abode in the Buckeye State. These removals were made before the days of wagon-roads, their goods being trans- ported upon pack horses. The grandmother, then a young woman, rode one horse and carried the mother of Mrs. F., then a little child, together with a large bundle of household goods. They located in Butler County, and were among the earliest sct- tl^rs of that region. The grandfather, in company with others, erected a fort in which they all lived secure from the Indians. No one went into the fields without being armed, as the redskins were plenty in those days. The grandfather became possessed of a large extent of land and passed the last years of his life in Butler County. The marriage of our subject and his wife was blest by the birth of six children, of whom the rec- ord is as follows: John D. is a resident of Cham- LIBRARY .tf THE 1 '<- M.INOIS I T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 299 paign; Edward is farming in Scott Township; Margaret Catherine became the wife of John W. King, and resides in Newman, Douglas Co., 111. ; Alonzo lives in Scott Township; Jay in Ludlow Township, and Hiram G. on the old homestead. Mr. Fry during his early life affiliated with the Democratic party, but upon the organization of the Republican changed his views, and has since cast his vote in support of the principles of the latter. -i ~l AMES GOUDIE, deceased. The name of this gentleman can scarcely be forgotten for rnanjs years to come, as he has left one of the fin- est homesteads in Pesotum Township, which will remain a monument to his enterprise and skill long after the present generation has begun to go down the other side of the hill. This beautiful coun- try seat is located on section 5, and forms one of the most attractive spots in the landscape. Its broad acres stretch away on either side from the hand- some and substantial buildings, and the green fields, with the yellow grain, form in the summer season a picture delightful to the eye. He who thus effected the elimination of a home- stead from the uncultivated prairie was a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, born in 1815, and the son of James and Mary (Alexander) Goudie. They were also natives of the Keystone State, where they re- mained until after their marriage, and whence, in 1819, they removed to Franklin County, Ind. There the father purchased a tract of land, which he cultivated industriously, and which both parents occupied until called from life and its labors. James Goudie was a child of two years when his parents removed from his native State to Indiana, lie remained with them until after resiling his n jority and then set out for himself. About the fi important step was his marriage with Miss Susanna.. Mathewsou, which took place in the spring of 1839. Mrs. G. was the second daughter of James and Mary (Edgar) Mathewson, natives of Ireland, who crossed the ocean to this country when their daugh- er, Susanna, was a little girl eight years of age. They located in the East, but shortly afterward re- moved to Indiana and settled upon a farm. Their daughter remained under the parental roof assisting her mother in household duties, receiving careful parental training and a fair education in the com- mon school. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. G. lo- cated upon the quarter section of land in Franklin County, Ind., which our subject had purchased and upon which he labored until it was brought to a high state of cultivation. There most of the children were born, and there they remained residents for a period of twenty-five years. In 1863 Mr. Goudie became desirous of changing his location, and com- ing to this county entered a tract of land in Peso- tum Township, to which he added by purchase from time to time until he became the owner of several hundred acres. This came into his hands wholly unimproved, and it is hardly necessary to say that it required years of labor to bring it to its present state. His farm was his pride, however, and he spared no pains to make it one of the finest in the county. He received a rich reward in the products of the soil, and in the income which ena- bled him to make the improvements he so much de- sired. In his later years he was enabled to rest and look around him upon the work of his hands, and truly had reason to feel that his labors had not been in vain. His death took place in this township in 1885, when he had reached the ripe old age of sev- enty years. The farm is now carried on by his sons, with whom the mother remains, an excellent and worthy lady held in the highest respect by all who know her. Mr. Goudie was not an active poli- tician, nor did he ever seek political preferment. He was a careful reader, however, and kept himself well posted upon State and National affairs, and when casting his vote gave his support to the can- didate whom he esteemed best qualified for the >fflce. The twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Goudie were named respectively Mary E., John A., Sarah J., iOamuel F., Ida B., Eddie G., Rachel G., Re- bcjbca A., Joseph B., James M., Aaron E. and Ar- thur N. Of these but six are living. John mar- ried Miss Rowena Sclmltz, of Indiana: Mary, the wife of James Barnard, and Sarah, Mrs, Archie 9 4nrt CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Allen, are also residents of the above (State; Joseph, on account of ill-health, is traveling in California; Aaron E. and Arthur N. are at home with their mother. The accompanying portrait of Mr. Gondie will be looked upon with pleasure by all who enjoyed his acquaintance, and will go down to posterity as the features of a man who aimed to do all the good possible, and. who in all the relations of life was honorable and upright. xp^EORGE W. JOHNSTON. The subject of (If (=1 the following sketch occupies a prominent ^^S) position among the representative business men and farmers of Hensley Township, of which he has been a resident since 1859. In that year he emigrated from the town of his birth in the old Granite State, and soon afterward purchased 180 acres of land on section 4 of what is now Hensley Township. Upon this there was a log cabin, and 100 acres were broken. Aside from this the land was practically in its original condition. During many years of industry and forethought Mr. John- ston has brought about the transformation which is now so pleasant to contemplate. The smiling fields are in a fine state of cultivation, enclosed with beautiful hedge fencing, and Mr. J. has planted shade and other ornamental trees around the resi- dence and farm buildings. He has also drained the soil with about three miles of tiling. His original purchase has been added to until he is now the owner of 320 acres, all of which is under a good state of cultivation. The birthplace of our subject was Haverhill, N. H., and the date thereof June 4, 1836. His father, George Johnston, Sr., was a native of the same town, where he spent his entire life, and died there in 1837, when our subject was but a child lit- tle over a year old. The latter remained on the homestead with his mother, and after becoming of suitable age attended school, assisted in the labors of the farm, and spent his childhood and youth in a manner common to country boys. In 1859 he left his native State and came to this county, lo- cating in Condit Township, whither his brother had preceded him. There he lived with the latter until he established himself on a homestead of his own. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Susan Atkinson, a native of Boscawen. N. H., where she was educated and lived on the old homestead with her mother for some years. To this she returned after the death of her husband, and there spent the last years of her life, dying in March, 1887, after having reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years. Mr. Johnston was married in this county, in Sep- tember, 1864, to Miss Sarah C. Shearer, a native of Delaware County, N. Y.,and the daughter of Arad Shearer. Her father was a native of Franklin County, Mass., where he followed farming pursuits and spent his entire life. The mother of Mrs. John- ston, before her marriage, was Miss Nancy Olin, a native of Vermont. She died at the home of her husband in Colerain, in 1857. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, four in number, are Lee, Jessie L., Herbert and Harley T. Mr. J. is a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Pres- byterian Church. They are highly respected in their community, and have done much in shaping its moral sentiment and aiding in its general welfare and prosperity. ULIUS CRANSTON, one of the honored pioneers of East Bend Township, is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Champaign County, Oct. 26, 1833. His father, Stephen, and'his grandfather, John Cranston, were natives of Rhode Island, the former born in Foster, Oct. 1, 1793; the latter was an immediate descendant of Scottish ancestry, and the first representatives of the family in this country located in Rhode Island during the Colonial days. From there John Crans- ton; in 1813, emigrated to Ohio to Union County. He purchased a large tract of timber land, where he opened up a farm, and upon it remained until his death. The journey from Rhode Island to Olyp was made overland with horses and wagons. The father of our subject grew to manhood in his CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 301 native State, received a limited education in the subscription schools, and was bred to farming pur- suits. He was twenty years of age when the fam- ily removed to Ohio, and six years later was united in marriage with Miss Esther Hammond, their wed- ding occurring July 25, 1819. Mrs. Cranston was born in Canterbury, Conn., Jan. 1, 1802. The young people located upon land which the father had purchased, where they resided for many years, but finally removed to a timber tract in Union County, from which Stephen Cranston cleared a farm which he occupied until his death, which oc- curred on the 10th of May, 1884. The mother is still living upon the old homestead. The father of our subject was one of the early Abolitionists, and his house an important depot of the underground railroad. Through his assistance many a fugitive was helped on to freedom. He was a sincere, whole-souled gentleman, and a member of the Christian Church. The seven sons and two (laughters of the paren- tal family all lived to become men and women, and are located as follows : George is a resident of this State; John occupies the old homestead in Cham- paign County, Ohio; James and Stephen are resi- dents of Union County, that State ; Edwin is mer- chandising in Hardin County, Ohio; William died in the Union army during the late war; Phebe be- came the wife of Hiram Benton, and was herself a minister of the United Brethren Church, but is now deceased; Melissa married a minister who was of the Methodist persuasion; she was well educated and is now a practicing physician at Topeka, Kan. The subject of this sketch was the fourth son of his parents, and remained with his brothers and sisters on the farm, pursuing his primary studies in the district schools. He completed his education in the seminary at Mechanicsburg. After reach- ing his majority he was employed as a canvasser, mostly in Virginia. In 1855 he came to Illinois, locating first at Clinton, and engaging as a laborer in a brickyard. Two years later he came into tnis county, having previously purchased a tract of land in East Bend Township, which he located upon and still occupies. In 1868 he sold his land and purchased a farm in Ford County, which he culti- vated for a period of eight years, then returWd and took possession of his present homestead. Mr. Cranston was married, on the 1st of May, 1859, to Miss Artemesia R. Atwood. Mrs. Crans- ton was a native of Stowe, Lamoille Co., Vt., born Feb. 6, 1839, and the daughter of Luke Atwood, a native of Woodstock, Windsor Co., Vt., born May 4, 1801. He was married in the town of Stowe, Oct. 13, 1828. to Miss Eoxanna Kelsey, the latter also a native of Stowe, bom Feb. 3, 1808. They located near that town, where they lived until 1851, and then emigrated to Ohio, settling in Champaign County. Three years later they again gathered together their household goods and started overland for the Prairie State. Their out- fit consisted of four horses and two wagons, and they traveled after the manner of the emigrants of those days, carrying with them their provisions, cooking by the wayside and sleeping in their wag- ons at night. Mr. Atwood purchased land in Penola Township, Woodford County, which he oc- cupied with his family until 1864, then sold and purchased a farm on section 6 of East Bend Town- ship in this county. He proceeded with the culti- vation of the soil, erected a frame house, and built up a comfortable home, where he passed the re- mainder of his life. His death occurred Dec. 5, 1875. Mrs. Atwood resides on the old homestead. Mr. Atwood, religiously, was a Universalist in be- lief. Our subject and his wife became the parents of the following children, namely, Leslie A., Clara J., Mary E., Lucy R. ; Phebe M., now deceased; Stephen C., Grace A. and Artie F. Leslie grad- uated from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, in June, 1887, and Mary is now a student in that institution. Mr. Cranston is a pronounced Re- publican. His first ballot was cast for Fremont, and all subsequent ballots for Republican nominees. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Cranston, Luke Atwoodjlifiy name, was born in Middleboro, Vt., and on her mother's side, her grandfather, Nathan P. Kelsey, was born in New Hampshire, whence he removed to Vermont during its early settlement, when he was obliged to cut down the trees and burn them before he could secure a space large CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. enough to build his house. His father, Giles Kcl- sey, was born in Scotland, whence he emigrated to America before the Revolutionary War, and be- came a soldier on the side of the Colonists. Mrs. Cranston's great-grandfather, Jacob Churchill, was also a Revolutionary soldier. ff.., BRAHAM ORDEL, a successful farmer and 'Ul\ stock-raiser, is pleasantly located on section 35, in Philo Township. He came here in 1871, and is in possession of 1GO acres of choice land, under a good state of cultivation and supplied with convenient and substantial buildings. He became a resident of the Prairie State when a young man twenty-one years old, but only remained two years, when he returned to Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a resident there until 1871. His birth took place in Washington County, Md., Jan. 8, 1831. His father, George Ordel, was a native of Germany, whence he emigrated to the United States early in life, and settling in Maryland, met and married Miss Catherine Baker, a native of his own country. They remained for a time in the latter-named State, where the father followed his trade of a weaver. In 1 83G they removed with their children to Ohio, and settled on s. farm in Franklin Count}', where both parents spent the remainder of their lives. Upon first coming to this State our subject spent two years in Edwards and Tazewell Counties, then, returning to Ohio, was married in Fairfleld County, to Miss Mary J. Hoshor, who was born there Feb. 8, 1833. Her parents were George and Mary (Litz- enberger) Hoshor, natives of Pennsylvania, but of German ancestry. They removed to Ohio before their marriage, their wedding also taking place in Fairfield County. The father was born in 1800, followed fanning all his life, and departed hence in 1882. The mother is yet living in Ohio. Mrs. O. was reared in her native county, and remained with her parents until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there were born nine children, two of whom, M. Catherine and Edward, are deceased. Those living are Ida B. and George, married, and John, Emma V.., William H., Samuel and Franklin at home. After the marriage of our subject he settled with his wife upon a farm in Fairfield County, Ohio, where they remained until their removal to this State. They became residents of Champaign County in 1871, operating on rented land in Philo Township two years before the purchase of their present homestead. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Raymond Township, of which Mr. O. is Trustee. Politically he uniformly casts his vote in support of the principles of the Demo- cratic party. HAZEN, a representative business man of Philo Village, is engaged as a dealer in grain and all kinds of farm implements, in fact nearly everything pertaining to the carrying on of agriculture. He established business here in 1878, and has been uniformly successful, building up a good patronage and securing for himself the confi- . dence of his fellow-citizens. He ships annually about 300,000 bushels of grain, and in addition to his town business carries on a good farm of 120 acres, located on section 24 in Philo Township. His land is well drained and finely improved, and produces in abundance the ordinary farm crops and vegetables. Mr. Hazen became a resident of Champaign County in 18GO, since which time he has lived in both Sidney and Philo Townships. He carried on agriculture during the early part of his life, his first trade venture being his present busi- ness. Our subject was born in Hampshire County, Mass., June 17, 1849, and is the son of Elbridge Hazen, also a native of the Bay State, but of En- glish descent, tracing the history of the family back to the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in this coun- try. The grandfather, Nathan L. Hazen, was born in Connecticut, whence he removed to Massachu- setts when a young man, locating in Hampshire County. He was there married to Mrs. Phebe Starkweather, a lady of New England ancestry, born and reared in Connecticut. Her father was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and her grand- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 303 parents died in Hampshire County, both being about eighty -five years old. Elbridge llazen was born, reared, educated and married in Elampshire County, Mass. The maiden of his choice was Miss Lucy Brewster, a native of his own county, whose ancestors came from En- gland in the Mayflower. After marriage the young people located on a farm in their native State, where they spent their entire lives, honored and re- spected by all who knew them. They were noted for their charities and hospitality, and were active members of the Congregational Church. The subject of this history was the fifth of eighth children born to his pai-ents, four sons and four daughters. Five of these are yet living. Elisha early in life was trained to habits of industry, and when of suitable years went to work for himself. After reaching manhood he was married, in Worth- ington Township, Hampshire County, to Miss Helen E. Burr, their wedding taking place Dec. 13, 1864. Mrs. H. is a native of the same county as her husband, and was born July 1, 1842. She is the daughter of Amos Burr, who lived and died in Massachusetts, and remained under the parental roof until her marriage. Of this union there have been no children. Our subject and his wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Hazen, politically, is a warm supporter of the Republican party. \|j AMES E. DAVIS, Postmaster at Pesotum, and otherwise identified with its interests, is one who considers the welfare of his township his own. and is willing to contrib- ute generously of his time and means toward its well-being and advancement. He is a native of Clinton County, Ohio, where he first drew breath on the 9th of November, 1851, and is the second child of Jehu and Susan (Hanley) Davis, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. In de- tailing the personal character of our subject the fact that he is the son of one of the most valued citizens of Champaign County is sufficient to com- mend him to the people of this section of the State. He came here with his parents in the spring of I860, at the conclusion of the Rebellion, and re- mained on his father's farm, making himself useful as opportunity offered until after reaching his ma- jority. Our subject then took possession of a farm ad- joining the parental homestead, and two years later, on the 1st of October, 1873, secured a partner of his fortunes in the person of Miss Lavina C. Craw- ford, who has been the sensible presiding genius of his domestic affairs, and an earnest sympathizer in his efforts to maintain a commendable position in society and among his fellow-men. The brother of this lady, John Crawford, in 1883 joined with him in the establishment of a tile factory in the vil- lage of Pesotum, which they operated successfully two years, then sold out and purchased the busi- ness and stock of S. M. Harvey, who had estab- lished a store of general merchandise. This then consisted of all the commodities required in town and a rural community. Mr. Davis has since added to his transactions the purchase and sale of coal and grain, in which he has built up a good patronage, and from which he realizes a handsome income. Mr. Davis commenced fulfilling the duties of a citizen soon after reaching his majority, and has been elected to office nearly every year. He has served as Assessor, Collector, Town Clerk, etc., and the ease 'and good judgment with which he has up- held the dignity of the various positions to which he has been called has become proverbial. While thoroughly alive to his own interests he gives a generous share of his thoughts to the interest of his community, and devotes much time to the va- rious enterprises which are set on foot tending to this end. Although Democratic in politics he re- serves the right of a free American citizen to give his support to the most worthy candidate, regard- less of party bias. Both himself and his business partner are well equipped for their undertaking, and are rapidly building up an extensive patron- age among the best people of Pesotum Township. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of one child, a son, Jehu Everett, born in 1874, and who is at home with his parents. They are members of the Pesotum Methodist Episcopal Church, where 304 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. their influence is sensibly felt both by their gener- ous support of the society and their uniform inter- est in its maintenance and growth. J"~ ONATIIAN T. SEWELL, who resides with his son on a farm in Sadorus Township, has j been a resident of this county since the ' spring of 1868. He at that time purchased eighty acres of land on section 2, which, with the exception of a brief residence in the village, has since been his home. Through his enterprise and industry the land has been brought to a fine state of cultivation, yielding in abundance the rich prod- ucts of the Prairie State. Mr. Sewell is a native of Jackson County, Ind., his birth taking place Sept. 7, 1819. He was the third child of his mother, Mrs. Polly (Tullis) Sew- ell, and the eighth child of Peter Sewell, of Vir- ginia, who was thrice married, and the father of three families of children. In 1826 Peter Sewell removed with his family from Indiana to Cham- paign County, Ohio, and later to Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his days. Our subject re- mained a resident of Champaign County, Ohio, un- til the spring of 1854, when he started West in company with a brother-in-law, and located in Ed- gar County, 111., where they contemplated buying land. They were induced, however, to abandon the project of buying, but remained in that county fourteen years, engaged in farming on rented land. In 1868 Jonathan Sewell came to this county; his life thereafter we have already partially indi- cated. His marriage took place in Urbana, Ohio, in December, 1843, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha T., daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Wilson) Wilson. The parents of Mrs. S., al- though of the same name, were in no wise related. Of this union there were born seven children, four now deceased, viz., Mary E., Sarah, Clayton and Charles Philander. Laura became the wife of Joseph Lawrence, who is now engaged as Principal of the schools at Philo, and is assisted in his duties by his wife; they have become the parents of five children. Lucy married Thomas Stevens and re- sides with her husband on a farm two miles north of her father's home; Wilson W., in 1876, married Miss Ida, daughter of Darwin and Penelope (Swayze) White, who were natives of Canada; this son lives on the home farm which his father put into his hands four years ago. The latter then removed to the town of Sadorus. where he had pur- chased seven lots, and prepared a home for himself and his aged companion, thinking to retire from active life and spend the remainder of his days in the comfort which he had so justly earned. In 1886 his residence, with all its contents, was de- stroyed by fire, and he returned to the farm to live with his son Wilson, and where he still remains. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Sadorus v and our subject although not mixing actively in polit- ical affairs, fulfills the duties of a good citizen each year at the polls, casting his vote and his influence with the Republican party. <^ps) DW1N H. SHARPE owns eighty acres of land on section 3, in Sadorus Township, which he has carefully managed since lo- cating upon it in the spring of 1869. He has strictly adhered to the theory that a few acres well cultivated are of more real profit than a large es- tate indifferently cared for. He has pursued a quiet and unobtrusive life, looking well to his bus- iness affairs and the comfort of his family, and en- joying the respect and confidence of his fellow- citizens. He has devoted considerable attention to the raising of fine stock, which for a number of years consumed a larger part of the products of the field, and in return, by their salable value, yielded him a handsome sum annually. The deli- cate health of his wife has of late years induced him to abandon the more active labors of the farm, and content himself with keeping it up in good shape rather than the accumulation of more property. He has taken an intelligent interest in the welfare of his township, holding its minor offices and con- tributing whenever he could to the furtherance of worthy projects. Mr. Sharpe is a native of this State, and was born in Pike County, Jan. 9, 1838. He is the old- f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 305 est child of Abisha P. and Fanny L. (Hutching) Sharpe, natives of Connecticut, who came to Illi- nois in 1834. Since that time they have been resi- dents of Pike County, their property there embrac- ing 480 acres of valuable land, a part of which Abisha Sharpe entered from the Government, and afterward purchased the balance. The parents of our subject are most estimable people, and the father in his younger days was prominently identi- fied with the growth and progress of Griggsville Township, where his farm is located. The parental family consisted of ten children. Our subject remained a member of the parental household until over twenty-nine years of age, and then assumed marital and domestic ties, taking for his wife Miss Eva Chapman, the fourth child of Wilson and Alviua (Wood) Chapman, who were na- tives of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. S. remained on the father's farm two years after their marriage, our subject being engaged in the raising of grain and stock. He then came to this county, and pur- chased eighty acres of wild land in Sadorus Town- ship, on section 3. His labors, extending over a period of twenty years, have resulted with great credit to himself, his skill and industry as a farmer, and his good judgment in his investments. In the meantime the advent of five children into the family served to increase its pleasures with its responsiblities also. These are named respectively William, Iva, Mattie, Julia and Fannie. The life- less form of the first-born was borne from the sor- rowing home circle, and laid to rest in the quiet country burying-ground after he had brightened the household but four years. Those surviving are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe, with their eldest daughter, are members of the Baptist Church. NDREW JACKSON DEVORE, one of the (s/U\\ earliest pioneers of East Bend Township, is the oldest one now living who came in at that time. In the storehouse of his mem- ory are treasured up hundreds of interesting inci- dents of pioneer life and its peculiar experiences, which, if properly compiled, would make a most in- teresting volume. He came to this section when it was peopled principally by wild animals, and has seen as many as ninety-three deer in a herd at one time roaming over the then uncultivated prairie, but which is now smiling with fields of growing grain. Our subject during his young manhood was a great hunter and very lively on foot, being able to travel over the country at a rapid pace and pos- sessed of great endurance. He has been a resident of East Bend Township for a period of over thirty years, and has noted with satisfaction the changes which have transpired since he arrived here after an overland journey of ten days, made with ox- teams. Mr. Devore was born in Owen County, Ind., April 18, 1826, and is the son of Nicholas Devore, a native of Kentucky. His grandfather, Jerry De- vore, whom it is supposed was born in Pennsylva- nia, passed the early years of his life in Kentucky, whence he afterward removed to Indiana and died in Putnam County, that State. Nicholas Devore grew to manhood and was married in Kentucky, and after the removal to Indiana located in Owen County, where he became proprietor of a large tract of tim- ber land. From this he cleared a farm, which he occupied with his family until 1840, and then set out for the Prairie State. He was accompanied by his family which, with the household goods, were transported by means of two wagons and four yoke of oxen. They carried their provisions and camped and cooked by the wayside. After reaching Cham- paign County Nicholas Devore made a claim of Government land on section 2, in what was then township 22, range 8, now known as East Bend Township. There was a small log cabin near by and in this the family lived temporarily while the father proceeded to construct a hewed-log house of larger dimensions. When the land came into market Mr. D. re- paired to Danville, secured his title, and at once commenced the improvement and cultivation of his property. Chicago at that time was the nearest market and Bloomington the nearest trading point. Here the father lived and labored until one year before his death, when both parents removed to McLean County and died at the home of their t 306 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. daugliter, Mrs. Joseph Newton, the father in 1 853, and the mother in 1862. The mother of our sub- ject, who in her girlhood was Miss Mary Hardsock, was born in either Kentucky or Maryland. The parental household included twelve children. Our subject was fourteen years old when the re- moval was made to this State, and attended all the athletic sports of that day in the surrounding towns after the country began to settle up. He became a champion foot- racer of that section, which position of honor he retained until voluntarily withdrawing from the field. He remained with his parents until after his marriage and then, locating on a part of the homestead, remained until 1852, when he pur- chased the farm which he now owns and occupies. It was new land at the time he took possession, but after years of industrious labor it has been transformed into a fertile farm with a good set of frame buildings, neat and substantial fences, and all the requirements essential to the successful agri- culturist. ''-te''jJ I T 1_o!j/7 '-t June 17, 1847, and they have been blest with four children Sarah, David A., William Eldorado and Mary J. The parents and all the children are active members of the Protestant Methodist Church, and no family in the community is more highly re- spected than that of Andrew Devore. He is a thor- ough-bred Republican, and never expects to be any- thing else. \Ij SAAC S. RAYMOND. The subject of the fol- lowing biography is a gentleman highly es- /il teemed in the farming community of Ray- mond Township, and favorably known throughout Champaign County as a fair representative of its progress and enterprise. He is a son of Nathaniel Raymond, one of the early pioneers of this county, who emigrated from Ohio to Illinois in 1864, be- fore the organization of the township which now bears the family name, given it in honor of this most estimable man and citizen. T*'-te -JJi' uiosu uebuuuuiu man aim cuizen. Mr. Devore was married, June 17, 1J&7/W Miss I 'Our subject was born in Union County, Ohio, Susanna Veatch. She was born, in Ind., Oct. 10, 1826, and is the daughter of James Veatch, who became a resident of Indiana in an early day, whence he removed to this State in 1837, and located two and one-half miles northeast of Mahomet, where his death occurred six years later. He had married in early life Miss Barbara Hammer, who survived him twenty years, and died in Ur- bana, this county, in 1865. The wife of our sub- ject was eleven years of age when her father's fam- ily came to this State, and she remained with her mother until her marriage, assisting in the duties of the farm and household, learning to spin and weave, and becoming an expert in this as in other employ- ments common to the wives and daughters of the pioneers. She was naturally of industrious habits, and when not needed at home would often earn a little " pin money " by spinning or weaving for the neighbors at the munificent wages of seventy-five cents per week. Calico at that time was worth twenty cents per yard, and other " store goods" in proportion. Mr. Devore says that the first time he called upon his future wife she wore a dress of her own manufacture, having done the spinning, weav- ing, cutting and sewing. Their wedding took place i. 29, 1849. His mother was formerly Miss Melissa Stewart, of that State. He resided with his parents in Ohio until fifteen years of age, and since that time has been a resident of this county. Here he completed his primary education, and when the State University at Urbana was opened for the reception of students, he was among the first to enter. After a thorough course of three years he returned to the farm and assisted his par- ents in tilling the soil. He was thus occupied until his marriage, in 1875. At that time he united his fortunes with those of Miss Edith, daughter of Lu- cius and Lucy Eaton, who were among the early pioneers of Philo Township. After their marriage, the young people located in Raymond Township on section 8, upon a tract of land which our subject had purchased previ- ously, and which comprised 160 acres, partially improved. He resided upon and occupied this until November, 1884, in the meantime having brought the land to a good state of cultivation, and embellished it with a fine set of farm buildings. At this time he traded farms with his father and now owns and occupies the old Raymond home- stead. This includes 360 acres of choice land, UMMV OF THE of ILLWOK *' J CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 309 well drained, and supplied with good farm build- ings. Of late years he has given most of his at- tention to the raising of graded stock. Two children came to bless the union of our sub- ject and his wife, namely, John and Ruth, who are still at home with their parents. Mrs. Raymond is connected with the Congregational Church, and a lady of much refinement, greatly respected for her personal worth and kindly disposition. She was born in Monmouth County, N. J., Sept. 1, 1853, and came with her mother to Illinois two years later, her father having already located in Philo Township, this county. Her education was com- pleted in the public schools of the city of Cham- paign and the State University. She taught a country school for six years, and afterward pre- sided over one of the village schools at Philo. Mr. Raymond, politically, casts his vote with the Democratic party. He has served as School Trustee in his township for a period of fourteen years, and with his excellent wife takes an active interest in the establishment and maintenance of institutions of learning. He was also Collector of the township four years, and has been the encour- ager and supporter of everything pertaining to its progress and welfare. The home of our subject and his family is the abode of peace and refinement, and they enjoy the society of the most cultivated people of their locality. 4 -=^^=-# = GUIS REINHART. This substantial and ghly respected German citizen of Pesotum was born in Alsace-Lorraine in 1837, his birthplace then being a Province of France. He drew his first breath in the month of April, and re- mained in his native land until a boy six years of age, when his parents resolved to emigrate to America. With their family they embarked on a sailing-vessel at Havre, and after a voyage of . several weeks, landed at New Orleans. Thence they followed the river up to the city of Peoria, where the father of our subject purchased eighty acres of land and commenced farming after the primitive style of those days. Their neighbors were neither numerous nor troublesome. The elder Reinhart broke the first sod on his embryo farm and pros- pered in his labors. In due time he doubled his first purchase and finally had a comfortable home- stead, where he passed his later years in peace and quiet, and folded his hands for his final rest in 1878. The mother is now living with her son, Anthony, in Crittenden Township, having arrived at the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years. She was a woman of splendid constitution and is still hale and hearty, retaining her mental faculties to a remarkable de- gree. Two years after reaching his majority, the sub- ject of this history was united in marriage with Miss Mary Eisenraenger, of Peoria County, but a native of Pennsylvania. The parents of Mrs. R. were natives of the same Province a's her husband, and came to this country in 1836. The parents of both our subject and his wife were quiet, unassum- ing people, performing faithfully their duties around their home and to their children, and were greatly respected by their neighbors. When they first settled in Peoria County there were few people around them and they may be properly classed among the earliest pioneers. Land at that time in the vicinity of what is now a flourishing city could be purchased at $3 per acre. After his marriage Mr. Reinhart pursued farm- ing in Peoria County for five years. From there he went into Marshall County, and three years later came to Pesotum Township, this county, where he first purchased eighty acres oji section 24. This is now included in his present farm. His course from the beginning was uniformly prosperous, and he added to his first estate until he became the owner of 200 acres, all of which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation and supplied with good build- ings. The residence is a two-story frame, finished lid furnished in excellent style, and finely located, he barn is a shapely and substantial structure, and our subject has a good assortment of the better grades of live stock, including horses, cattle and hogs. In January, 1882, Mr. Reinhart met with a severe affliction in the death of his wife, who had been his affectionate companion for nearly twenty-two years. The children born of this marriage were Catherine, Peter, Joseph, George, Edward, Weudel f 310 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. fj (now deceased,) Annie, Matilda and Louis. Cath- erine is the wife of Richard Scott, a farmer of Crit- tenden Township. In October, 1882, Mr. Reinhart was married the second time, to Mrs. Annie (Kob- ler) Kennedy. By her former marriage Mrs. R. had :i daughter. May, who is still at home. Mrs. Reinhart is the daughter of John Kobler, who was a native of Switzerland, and after emigrating to the United States served as a soldier in the Mexican War. He is now truly termed a veteran and re- ceives a pension from the Government. Of the second marriage of our subject there were born four children John, Clara. Emma and Frederick. Mr. R. has never troubled himself with politics more than to deposit his ticket at the time of gen- eral elections, and then he usually votes for a Democratic candidate. Both he and his excellent wife are members of the German Catholic Church, and their home is the resort of the best people of the county. A lithographic view of Mr. Reinhart's handsome residence is shown on another page of this work. AMUEL CRAW, a prominent farmer of Col- fax Township, is a member of the family widely and favorably known in this section as valued factors of the farming and busi- ness community. Our subject is the owner of 260 acres of choice land, the greater part of which is devoted to stock-raising. His residence in this county dates from 1857, and he took possession of his present farm nine years later. His birth took place in the State of Vermont, March 4, 1836, and his parents were Allen and Lucy (Griswold) Craw, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The family came to Illinois in 1837, settling first in Greene County, where Samuel of our sketch grew to manhood and was bred to farming pur- suits. In 1858 he accompanied his brother, George B., to Champaign County, and purchased 160 acres of land in Colfax Township. Upon this he farmed for two years, and in 1 859 was married to Miss Eve- line E. Brown, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Richard and Rebecca Brown. After the birth of two children Mr. C. disposed of his property on section 24, and took possession of his present home- stead, a view of which is shown in this connection. The family of our subject and his wife consists of four children Charlie A., Richard, George and Eugene. They attend the Methodist Church, and our subject politically votes with the Republican party. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. When Mr. Craw came to this township there were only two houses between his land and the embryo village of Champaign. He was the third settler in Colfax Township, and is now the oldest one living of the pioneers. Among the few amusements which the early settlers engaged in were the deer hunts, which Mr. C. and one of his neighbors often en- gaged in, the latter having a fine pack of greyhounds which gave additional zest and excitement to the chase. Where the fleet-footed tenants of the wilder- ness used to roam, the iron horse now rushes from cfty to city, and the once untrodden prairie is now laid off in beautiful farms and valuable homesteads. Our subject has watched with pride and satisfaction the march of civilization and progress, and has con- tributed his full quota toward bringing about the present prosperous condition of Champaign County. EDWARD STYAN, an enterprising young farmer of Sadorus Township, has a fine body of land lying on sections 1 and 2. He pos- sesses more than ordinary intelligence and ability, and it is expected that in due time he will become one of the weighty and influential citizens of this lo- cality. He possesses excellent habits and since start- ing out in life for himself has made remarkably good progress. As one of the finest representatives of the foreign' element which has been of such invaluable aid to this section, he is regarded as an important factor among its business and agricultural interests. The childhood and youth of Mr. Styan were spent on the other side of the Atlantic, in York- shire, England, where he first opened his eyes to the light on the 3d of February, 1858, at Park- house, Newton-on-Ouse, the estate of the Hon. Payan Dawnay, where he remained until 18G2, when his father removed to Beuingbrough, under 311 , , CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. the same landlord, and here he resided until his advent to this county in 1881. Mr. Robert Styan until his coming to America, had always lived on the same estate, and even his father, Seth Styan, and his grandfather, John Styan, lived there their entire lives, which speaks volumes for both the tenants and landlord. Our subject was the only child of Robert and Ann (Jackson) Styau, natives of the same Province as their son, and where the mother passed from earth in 1858. Six years later the father was a second time married, to Miss Ann Cockerill, of Hackness, near Scarborough, Yorkshire. Of this later union there were born seven children, all living at present, and named respectively, William, Edith M., Lizzie J., George H., Beatrice E., Robert and Frances E. In 1882 Robert Styan left England with his family and sailed for the United States. He at once lo- cated in this county, and now lives with his son, assisting the latter in the lighter labors around the farm, and giving him the benefit of his experience and judgment. Edward Styan came to America in 1881, the year before his father, and proceeding westward to this State, worked first on a farm in this county, and the second year purchased a quarter section of im- proved land, which constitutes his present home- stead. It is located on sections 1 and 2, and bears fair comparison with that of his neighbors. He has become thoroughly Americanized, keeps himself well informed in regard to current events, and casts his vote with the Republican party. J"l OHN T. JSSE. This gentleman, who is a resident of Crittenden Township, is a na- I tive of Russell County, Va., whctf-H^he first ' opened his eyes to the light on the 7th of August, 1836. His parents, Joseph and Cynthia (Smith) Jessee, were natives of the same county and State as their son, where they resided after their marriage on a farm until the death of the father when he was fifty-two years of age. The mother is still living in her native county, having now arrived at the advanced age of eighty-three years, and enjoys remarkably good health for one of her age. Her mental facilities likewise are wonderfully preserved. Since her eightieth birth- day she has frequently saddled a horse and ridden over the country, leaping over the fences as when a girl. The household circle was completed by the birth of eight children, who grew to man and womanhood. Of these, Tabitha is now deceased ; Timothy was a soldier in Co. A, 29th Va. Vol. Inf., C. S. A., and in a skirmisli near Richmond received a wound which caused his death; Mary became the wife of D. Gilmore ; Ephraim K. was the second sou: Sylvesta married Mr. John Percel; Eliza is the 1 wife of John Browning; Eunice married A. Smith ; John T. is our subject. The subject of our sketch was reared with his brothers and sisters on the homestead, and after the outbreak of the Rebellion, in 1861, became a soldier in the Southern army, enlisting in Co. A, 29th Va. Vol. Inf., in which he served until the surrender of Gen. Lee. He participated in the en- gagements at Cold Harbor, Corinth, Culpeper court-house and Suffolk, Va. Two days before the surrender of Lee, he received a gunshot wound in the right foot which disabled him so that he was compelled to use crutches for three years after- ward. After receiving his discharge he returned to his home in the Old Dominion, where he re- mained until 1869, and then came to Illinois, lo- cating upon the tract of laud in Crittenden Town- ship, which constitutes his present homestead. Here he has 120 acres lying on section 4, under a good state of cultivation, and supplied with all the buildings and other appliances essential to a mod- ern farm estate. Before coming to this county Mr. Jessee was mar- ried, in the spring of 1863, in Russell County, Va., to Miss America E. Bickley, who was a native of that county, born in 1853, and the daughter of James and Eveline (Bartec) Bickley. Their six living children, all born in this county, are as fol- lows: Robert L., Minnie E., Belle, Grace, Clarence and Nellie. The two deeea^d are John B. and James B. Our subject and his wife are both sincere be- lievers in the Christian religion, and Mrs. Jessee is a worthy member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Jessee politically supports the principles of the ^ i 312 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Democratic party ; has served as Supervisor of his township one term, and was School Trustee for a period of six years. AMES H. POLLOCK, second child and elder son of Samuel and Margaret (Morrow) Pollock, was born in what is now Lawrence County, Pa., Oct. 24, 1822. His father was a native of Northumberland County, Pa., and his mother of Delaware. After uniting their fortunes for life, they located on a farm in Beaver, afterward Lawrence County, Pa., where they lived worthily and faithfully until life's duties for them were ended. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters. James H. of our sketch spent his boyhood and youth on the homestead, receiving a good educa- tion, and at about the age of twenty-five years be- gan to learn the stone-cutter's trade, which, how- ever, he abandoned for the more congenial pursuits of teaching and farming alternately. He continued a resident of his native State until October, 18G3, in the meantime having assumed domestic ties, and then with his wife and six children started for the West. His first stopping-place was in McLean County, this State, where he farmed in Old Town Township for about nine years, and then removed to Brown Township, in this county. Here he has 160 acres of improved land on section 21, besides village property in Foosland. His residence and farm buildings compare favorably with those of his neighbors, and his career as a member of the farm- ing community has been eminently creditable and one by which he has secured the respect of his fel- low-citizens, both on account of his industry and enterprise, and his excellent personal qualities. Mr. Pollock has held the offices of Township Clerk, Assessor, Collector and Trustee. He is Re- publican in politics, a strong temperance man and a Prohibitionist. In 1864 he and his wife became members of the Methodist Protestant Church, of which they have since remained cheerful and liberal supporters, interested in everything pertaining to the religious and moral welfare of the community. During their residence in Pennsylvania they had been members of the Presbyterian Church, but on removing here that church being so far distant they identified themselves with the Methodist Prot- estant Church. The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- ried in Darlington, Beaver Co., Pa., Oct. 31, 1850, was formerly Miss Lyclia M. Phillips, born near Vershire, Vt., June 25, 1831, and the third child of Joseph and Lydia (Davis) Phillips, al-o natives of the Green Mountain State, where they were reared and married and where they lived until 1835. Thence they emigrated to what is now Lawrence County, Pa., becoming the parents of three daugh- ters and four sons, and passing to their final rest at the old homestead in the Keystone State. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Pollock, eight in number, were named as follows: David W., Joseph P., Samuel II., Robert M., Charles K., Milton D., Ulysses S. G, and Emma M. Joseph married Miss Ida Ball, and is engaged in merchandising in Foos- laud; from 1882 to the present he has officiated as Postmaster of that place. Samuel married Miss Jen- nie Carlyle, and Robert married Miss Jennie Maltby. They also are residents of Foosland. In 1880 Mr. Pollock began merchandising with his three sons Joseph, Samuel and Robert under the firm name of J. H. Pollock & Sons. Since that time David and Milton have been admitted to the firm. They carry a large and well-selected stock of goods and have built up an extensive patronage. Of late they have added grain and coal and farm machinery of all kind. ATTHEW A. PIIILLIPPE, an esteemed farm resident, located on section 3, Hens- ley Township, is a native of this county, having been born in Condit Township, April 29, 1848. His father, John Phillippe, who is now deceased, was a native of Virginia, born in Wythe County, Jan. 13, 1821, and his grandfather, John Phillippe, Sr., also a native of the Old Do- minion, was born April 22, 1779. He followed farming pursuits in his native State until 1832, then emigrated with his family to Illinois, the entire journey being made overland with horse-teams. i f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. -4 313 1 They brought their household goods with them and camped by the way. On arriving in Illinois the elder Phillippe located with his family in that part of Vermilion now included in Champaign County. He entered 160 acres of Government laud on section 32 of what is now Condit Township, and erected a hewed log house which is still standing. Here he made his home until his death, which occurred about 1884. John, Jr., the father of our subject, was but fifteen years old when his parents came to Illinois. He as- ssisted his father in clearing the farm and remained under the home roof until his marriage. Afterward, his father having given him a part of the old home- stead he settled upon it, -and with the exception of five years made it his residence until the close of his life. In those days the nearest market was Chicago, whither the grain and other produce was transported in wagons, which trip over bad roads consumed two weeks' time. In 1880 Mr. P. re- moved to Butler County, Kan., where for five years following he made his residence, after which he returned to this county, and died in the city of Champaign in 1884. His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery there and a handsome monument marks the spot where Le was buried. The widowed mother still occupies the old homestead. She was formerly Miss Susan J. Busey, and a native of Shelby County, Ky., born April 31, 1821. She was the daughter of Mathew E. and Sarah E. (Smiser) Busey (see sketch of Sanford Busey.) The parental household included six children, four of whom are now living: Mary F. became the wife of Alfred Scrogins, and lives in Logan Coun- ty, this State; Matthew A. of our sketch is the third child; John F. is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Nellie F. became the wife of George Clev- inger, and lives in Butler County, Kan. ; Sarah E. married Wiley Buckles, and is now deceased ; Me- lissa, Mrs. R. M. Buckles, died in Logan County. The father was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which he con- tributed cheerfully and liberally of his means and influence. The homestead of our subject is pleasantly lo- cated, and Mr. P. has spent much time in beautify- ing it with shade and other choice trees; he has also erected a good set of frame buildings. The premises in all respects denote the thrift and enter- prise of their proprietor and indicate the home of the progressive and intelligent modern farmer. The excellent grades of farm stock are well cared for, and the fences and buildings are kept in good repair. Mr. P. has distinguished himself as an ex- cellent citizen and a good business man, and enjoys in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of the friends who have known him as a man prompt to meet his obligations, and as one of the impor- tant factors in the business and agricultural com- munity. The marriage of our subject occurred Dec. 1 1 , 1871, the maiden of his choice being Miss Ida Simpson, who was born in Fayette County, Ind.. Nov. 29, 1849. She was the daughter of Henry and Melinda (Lemon) Simpson, who were natives respectively of Tennessee and Kentucky. They emigrated to this State in about 1857, and located in Hensley Township, where the father died Oct. 27, 1858. The mother still survives and is a resi- dent of Hensley Township. Our subject is Repub- lican in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote in 1868 for U. S. Grant. ;ALLACE_SILVER is a well-known and re- spected citizen of Philo Township. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Silver by name, spent the earlier part of his life in New Jersey, and from there removed to Ohio, where he carried on farming in Warren County, was uniformly successful, and lived to a good old age. He married and reared a family, and among the children was David, the father of our subject, who was born Feb. 15, 1798, before the removal to Ohio, and died in Warren County, the latter State, Nov. 10, 1875, aged seventy-eight years. He was fairly successful as a farmer and business man, and took an active part in local politics. During the existence of the Whig party he was one of its stanchest supporters, and after its disbandment identified himself with the Republicans. The mother of our subject, who was Miss Eliza Mun- ger, was married to David Silver in Warren Coun- 314 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ty, Ohio, June 26, 1823. Her birth occurred in Montgomery County, same State, Jan. 2, 1802. She came with her husband to Champaign County) 111., where her death occurred in 1863, when she was sixty-one years old. The parental household of our subject included five children, four sons and one daughter; one of the former is deceased. Wallace of our sketch was born May 29, 1829, near Springboro, Warren Co., Ohio, where he was reared and educated. He was first married in Warren County, Ohio, April 25, 1850, to Miss Rebecca Mullen, a native of that county, where she was reared by her parents, who are now living in Warren County, Ohio, at an ad- vanced age. By this union there were two chil- dren, Howard and Charles W. The former married Miss Edna Foster, and is teaching in Springfield, Mo. ; Charles W. is a resident of Rice County, Kan. The boys were both graduates of the State University at Champaign, and after the completion of their studies engaged in teaching. Our subject was a second time married, Nov. 13, 1866, to Miss Mary D., daughter of Andrew and Mary (Morris) Karr, natives of Monmouth County, N. J. The wife of our subject was also born there, where her father followed the trade of a carpenter until after the birth of three children. The par- ents then moved to Burlington County, same State. Mrs. Silver was born Oct. 15, 1832, and was fifteen years of age when her parents removed from her native State to Ohio. The father afterward died at Miamisburg, in 1876, aged eighty-five years. The mother also lived to an advanced age. depart- ing this life on the 23d of December, 1885, aged eighty-six. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father, politically, was a stanch Democrat. Of her union with our subject Mrs. Silver has become the mother of one child, David A., who completed his studies in the Busi- ness College at Champaign. The homestead of our subject and his family in- cludes 160 acres of land on section 3, Philo Town- ship, and substantial and convenient farm build- ings. The land is well drained and has been brought to a high state of cultivation. Of late years Mr. Silver has given much attention to the breeding of French draft horses. lie has been Assistant Supervisor of Urbana Township for sev- eral terms, and politically is a warm supporter of the Republican party. Religiously Mrs. Silver is a member of the Baptist Church at Urbana. OHN SAMUEL BUSEY, . a worthy repre- sentative of that well-known family who were among the first citizens and pioneers of this county, is a native of Shelby County, Ky., and first opened his eyes to the light on the 16th of April, 1827. His father, Mathew E. Bu- sey, was a native of North Carolina, from which State he emigrated to Kentucky at an early day with his parents, who were among the pioneer set- tlers of Shelby County. The father of our subject was quite a youth at the time of the removal. He developed into man- hood and was married to Miss Sallie Fibel, who was a native of the Blue Grass State and of Ger- man parentage. They lived in Kentucky until 1829, and then with their family of seven children started overland for Illinois. Their outfit con- sisted of two pair of oxen and a horse and cart. They brought with them their household goods and lived after the manner of the emigrants of those days, cooking and camping by the way. A great part of the journey lay through the wilder- ness, in which they followed Indian trails. Their objective point was the present site of Jackson- ville, but upon landing they found themselves two miles east of the present site of Urbana. They camped in the timber and meeting a man who had a "squatter's" claim and who offered to sell it for $600, Mr. B. offered him $>500 if he would throw in what meat he had on hand to carry him through the winter. This consisted of bacon from the wild hogs which abounded here at that time. At first the man refused this offer, but the morning after Mr. B. had hitched up his teams ready for start- ing he came to him and accepted the proposition of the night before. At this time there were five log cabins at the grove, which were all covered with bark for the roofs, and had puncheon floors. These contained the only settlers for many miles. The nearest 315 ' ' CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. mills and depot for supplies were over the line in Indiana and the journey occupied sixteen days to go and return. Chicago at that time was a place of no importance, but after the lapse of a few years it became a market where Mr. Busey and his neigh- bors disposed of their grain for cash or needful household and farm supplies. The corn was shelled by hand and transported to the market by means of ox-teams, which journey usually con- sumed twenty-two days. After the land came into market Mr. B. entered 1,240 acres in what is now Urbana Township. He lived to see the county well developed and a town of upward of 2,000 in- habitants within two miles of his first location. He improved a large tract of land and erected a good set of frame buildings, and established a comforta- ble home which he occupied until his death, in 1862. The wife and mother died in May, 1887, on the old homestead, aged ninety-six years. Mr. Busey of our sketch was the seventh child of the parental household, and was two years old when his parents came to this county. He pur- sued his primary studies in the pioneer schools, which were ' carried on in a log cabin with its puncheon floor, its huge fireplace, and seats and desks made by splitting logs and turning the flat side upward. The school was supported by sub- scription, and in other respects was widely differ- ent from those of the present day. When not in school young Busey assisted in the improvement and cultivation of his father's land, remaining un- der the home roof until twenty-three years old, at which time he started out to do for himself. Our subject had been reared to habits of econ- omy and saved what he could of his modest earn- ings of *1 2 per month. In due time he was able to enter fifty acres of land on section 31 of what is now Homer Township. He erected a set of build- ings, improved his first purchase, and in due time his father presented him with 160 acres of land. This little farm he occupied for three years follow- ing, then sold out and removed to Iowa, locating in Marion County, and being among the earliest settlers of that region. There also he entered a tract of Government land, which he occupied and cultivated for eight years following. He then re- turned to Illinois, and traded his Iowa farm for a farm in Urbana Township, this county, which he occupied for ten years, then sold out and purchased his present homestead. This consists of 160 acres, all improved, and provided with a good set of frame buildings. This now constitutes an ample and comfortable homestead, under a good state of cultivation, well cared for and indicating in all re- spects the cultivated tastes of its proprietor. Our subject was first married to Miss Marilla Waterman, who was born near Columbus, Ohio, and was the daughter of Aden Waterman. This lady died in Iowa, May 3. 1858. The second wife of our subject was Miss Permelia Loudenback, who was a native of Indiana, and also died at the home of her husband in Iowa. The present wife of our subject was formerly Miss Phebe Midaugh, a native of Ohio. Of the first marriage there were four children, of whom only two are living Sarah F., Mrs. Stickrood, a resident of Champaign, and Charles A., of Missouri. Of the second marriage there was one child, who is now deceased. Of the third marriage there have been born four children Mary E. and Isaac, who died in infancy, and Ora and George, at home. Our subject is Demo- cratic in politics, but beyond casting his vote does not meddle much with political affairs, preferring the more peaceful pursuits of the farm, to which he gives the greater part of his time and attention. PIC HARD B. VAIL. The homestead of this . successful farmer and stock-breeder of ft Philo Township, is pleasantly located on ^H section 21. Here he has eighty acres of finely cultivated land, upon which he settled in the spring of 1886, and to which he removed from Crittenden Township, where he owned 100 acres. He is a native of Hancock County, Ohio, and was born March 16, 1849. His father, Isaac Vail, also a native of the Buckeye State, was a tanner by trade, and married Miss Julia A. Richards, a native of Ohio, and of German ancestry. The Vails originated in Scotland. The grandfather of our subject, Jonathan Vail, was sixteen years old at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, and before its close he was 316 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. seen carrying :i musket to shoot the British with, whom he disliked as cordially as any native Ameri- can. Besides himself his four brothers at the same time were engaged in assisting the Colonists to maintain their independence. At the second out- break in 1812, although then too old for fighting in the field, he aided the cause of liberty by his voice and influence whenever opportunity occurred. After his retirement from military service he removed to Coshocton County, Ohio, where he died at a ripe old age. The maiden name of the grandmother was Miss Polly Rendfrew. She also lived to be quite aged, and died in Ohio. Their son Isaac, the father of our subject, pos- sessed in a marked degree the substantial qualities of his parents, and upon reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Richards. He had served an apprenticeship to the tanner's trade, at which he was employed until fetf.t^.-iyears of age, and then, in company with fifty .well' .disci- plined men, Capt. Carlin, of Fiadlay, P^to^Sft^t^p.. head, set out with teams and provisions to cross the plains. They left Independence, Mo., in 1849, and pursued their course toward the setting sun until they arrived in Sacramento, Cal. The journey consumed four months' time. Mr. Vail located in the Sacramento Valley on the river of that name, and for three years following engaged in cutting and selling grass and hay. At the expiration of this time he returned to Ohio, and locating in Put- nam County engaged in farming. He is still living there with his aged wife, being about seventy-eight years of age, and the mother seventy-five. He has adhered tenaciously to Democratic principles and held various offices in his county and township. Both he and his aged partner united with the Methodist Church over fifty years ago, and have lived together as husband and wife in peace and harmony for a period of fifty-five years. Richard B. Vail was the third son and seventh child in a family of four sons and six daughters. He received a fair education in the primitive schools of his native county, where he spent his boyhood and youth. His first trip to Illinois was made in 1867, and he spent three years in Champaign, De Witt and Piatt Counties. He then returned to the old homestead, and was married in his native town on the 1st of October, 1872, to Miss Mary E. Burt, of Coshocton County, Ohio. Mrs. Vail was the daughter of Thomas II. and Mary L. (Chapin) Burt, and was born Dec. 8, 1851. Her father was a na- tive of New York, and the mother of Massachu- setts. They emigrated to Ohio in their youth, and were there married, subsequently locating on a farm in Coshocton County. Besides his agricultural operations, Mr. Burt was quite extensively engaged in the coal business, which for a period of several years yielded him a handsome income. He was cut down in the prime of life, dying when thirty-eight years of age, in 1869. The mother is yet living and engaged as a teacher in the public schools of Peoria. Although fifty-five years of age she re- tains her mental faculties as brightly as ever, and in the duties of her profession is remarkably effic- ient and popular. Mrs. Vail of our sketch, after receiving her education, also engaged as a teacher in Putnam County some time before her marriage, her union with our subject there have been born four children Isaac B., Lenora A., Julia and Richard W. Mr. and Mrs. V. are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and our subject, politically, votes with the Demo- cratic party. eURTIS E. PERCIVAL, a promising young farmer of Philo Township, is pleasantly lo- cated on sections 5 and 6, where he has 120 acres, fairly well improved, and where he is mak- ing arrangements to add still further to its beauty and value. He is a native of Urbana Township, this county, and was born on his father's old home- stead Feb. 29, 1856. He began his education in the public schools and completed his studies at the University in Champaign, where he took a three years' course. His father, S. P. Percival, a resi- dent of Champaign Township, is widely and favora- bly known as a representative citizen and business man, fully entitled to the position which he holds in the esteem of his community. After our subject had completed three years at the University he became a teacher in the public schools, which profession he followed for several CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 319 years. He was married, March 30, 1881, at the residence of the bride's parents in Dunlap, Peoria County, to Miss Helen, daughter of Burley and Sylvia (Pride) Dunlap, natives of New York State, and both born in Sandy Creek, Oswego County, where they were reared, and whence they removed to Peoria County before their marriage. Their union took place in the latter county, and Mr. Dunlap carried on farming until the death of the mother in 1873. Mr. D., who is now fifty-seven years of age, is a resident of Dunlap. Mrs. Percival was the eldest child of her parents. She was educated in her native county and re- mained a member of the parental household until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there were born two children Avis H. and one deceased. Mr. and Mrs. P. soon after their marriage located upon their present farm, which our subject pur- chased after reaching his majority. They enjoy the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. P. is Steward, Trustee and Class- Leader. He is also School Director. Politically he is a stanch supporter of Prohibition principles. He wag nominated as County Clerk in 1886, re- ceiving the full vote of his party ticket. AMES S. HANNAH, Justice of the Peace of Newcomb Township, is the proprietor of a snug homestead on section 34, which he op- erates successfully in connection with his of- ficial duties. He is practically what may be termed a self-made man, starting out in life with little save his resolute will and willing hands. He has been a resident of Champaign County since the fall of 1851, when he took up his abode in Newcomb Township, where he has since resided. He is a man of note in his township, in which he has exerted a healthy influence since his residence here, being the encouragcr of every enterprise calculated to pro- mote the welfare of the people. His farm com- prises 300 acres of finely improved land, with a handsome and substantial dwelling, whose inmates are surrounded by the comforts and refinements of modern life. 'Squire Hannah is the son of David and Jane (Smith) Hannah, who were of English and Irish descent, and were married in Clarke County, Ohio, where they located soon afterward. From there they removed to Logan County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Of their ten children, James 8. of our sketch was the third in order of birth. He first opened his eyes to the light in Clarke County, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1817. He was reared on his father's farm, and has followed agri- cultural pursuits all his life. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-seven years of age, then married, and located first in Logan County, Ohio, whence he removed, as "we have said, to this county. Mrs. Hannah, who before her marriage was Miss Sina J. Banes, was the daughter of Ga- briel H. and Sallie (McKinnon) Banes. Her par- ents located in Clarke County, Ohio, at an early period in the history of that region, and afterward removed to Logan County and then to Champaign, where the father died. The mother is still living, having arrived at an advanced age, and is a resi- dent of Newcomb Township, this county. Mrs. Hannah was born in Clarke County, Ohio, Oct. 12, 1826. She became the wife of our subject April 13, 1844, and departed this life at her home in Newcomb Township, April 10, 1879. The ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Hannah are re- corded as follows: Sarah J. died in infancy; Nancy H. is the wife of C. E.Wright, of Newcomb Township; Mary A. married George Wyant, of this county ; Joseph Vf, married Miss Sarah Lyons, and is a resident of Seward County, Neb. ; Martha W., Mrs. Henry J. Caldwell, is a resident of Piatt County, 111. ; Gabriella married J. W. Morris, of Seward County, Neb. ; Maria B., Mrs. J. Tucker, and Emma, Mrs. J. W. Lyons, are residents of Newcomb Township; Abraham L. and John are at home. Mr. Hannah has served as Justice of the Peace for a period of thirty years, and has held the offices of School Treasurer and Collector. Everybody knows 'Squire Hannah, and he is probably the most popular man in his township. Politically he is a strong Republican, and religiously is a member in CHAMPAION COUNTY. good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which his wife was also connected. His career through life has been one well worthy of imita- tion by the [ambitious youth of the present day. and a forciblejllustration of what may be accom- plished by an honorable and upright course of action, and steady perseverance in the effort to ob- tain a good position, both in the business world and society at large. The portrait of Mr.'. Hannah, which is presented in this connection, will be looked upon with pleas- ure by his many friends and associates, who have seen in him at all times a man who has striven to uphold the right, and to better the condition of his fellow-men. ENJAMIN F. MERRY, deceased. There are few permanent residents of Pesotum Township to whom the name of this pio- neer settler is not familiar, and none name him but to praise. His character was that of a man noble in his impulses, enterprising and industrious, and as jealous of the reputation of his township and its interests as he was of his own and that of his family. From the time of coming to this locality, over thirty years ago, he was identified with its in- terests, and to him it has been in a large measure indebted for some of its best features, as indicated in the homesteads around that which he built up, and whose proprietors had profited by his own ex- ample of thrift and industry. Both socially and in a business sense he was the same, a model of integ- rity and sterling worth, one who could be relied upon, and whose judgment it was safe to follow. Mr. Merry was a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., born April 14, 1831, and departed this life at his home in Pesotum Township, Dec. 3, 1870. He was the eleventh child of Jirah and Hannah (Jones) Merry, natives of Connecticut, who became residents of the Empire State. Their son Benja- min remained under the home roof, where he was taught filial obedience, and those principles which formed the basis of his character in later years. He was trained to habits of industry and economy, and early in life learned to depend upon himself. When eighteen years of age he had already formed his plans for the future, the first important step being his marriage. This took place on the 3d of October, 1841), the lady of his choice being Miss Catherine, daughter of Harvey and Sallie (Merry) Norton, natives of New York. After this event Mr. Merry remained four years in his native State, where he owned and operated a farm of 135 acres, in con- nection with his brother, James M. In 1853 he sold out his interest in the property to his brother, and removed to Geauga County, Ohio. His brother in the meantime had sold the farm which they owned together, and followed Benjamin F. to Ohio, but died soon after his arrival. Our subject engaged in dairying for two years, manufacturing cheese for the trade in the surrounding country. In 1855 Mr. Merry resolved to migrate further West, and coming to this county rented a tract of land known as the University Farm. The same year he purchased 102 acres on section 12, in Peso- tum Township, moving upon it the following spring, where he labored for ten years following, brought the land to a good state of cultivation and put up a set of substantial buildings, then, selling his farm at a good price, he purchased the quarter section which now constitutes the home- stead of his widow and the children who remain with her. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Merry consisted of two daughters and a son, namely, Cyrena E., Ma- tilda and Charles D. The eldest daughter, Cyrena, married Shadrack II. Brown, who owns and oper- ates eighty acres adjoining the Merry homestead, but lives on the latter; Matilda is the wife of Eg- bert P. Little, proprietor of a farm of ninety-four acres in Crittenden Township; Charles D. married Miss Eva, daughter of Willis Stone of Tolono, and cultivates the east eighty acres of the homestead, and forty acres adjoining, which his mother pur- chased since the death of her husband. He has put up a tasteful residence near his mother's home, and is considered one of the promising young citizens of Pesotum Township. Mr. Merry had never identified himself with any church organization, but was preparing to unite with the Presbyterian Church at the time of his *- -4 321 i i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 1 death. He was Democratic in his political views, and occupied the various offices of his township, representing it in the Board of Supervisors two or three terms, and serving as School Trustee, Di- rector and Road Commissioner. His whole course in life was one which commends itself to the young men of to-day, and he has left a record which is viewed with pride by the bereaved wtfe and chil- dren. Mrs. Merry in 1870 identified herself with the Presbyterian Church at Tolono, and presents the example of a consistent Christian. In assuming the management of her husband's affairs she has displayed excellent judgment, and is the safe ad- viser of her sons, who bid fair to emulate the virtues of their father and to preserve his memory with credit and honor. R. JAMES M. BARTHOLOW located in Philo in 1869, and by his skill as a practi- tioner and integrity as a citizen, has built u pa large and profitable patronage. He is an extensive reader, a close student, and applies him- self conscientiously to the duties of his profession. He is also one of the substantial property holders of the village, and the possessor of a fine farm of 120 acres in Philo Township, the cultivation of which he superintends in a successful manner. Dr. Bartholow is the second son and child of his parents, whose household included four children, one of whom, a daughter, died in infancy. Of the three sons living, E. C., the eldest, is a practicing physician of Mahomet, this county, and the young- est, John H., is one of the leading druggists of Mans- field, Piatt County. Our subject was born in Uh- richsville, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1847. His childhood and youth were spent under the parental roof, his early education in the meantime being conducted in the public schools. Later he entered Wesleyan State University at Bloomington, 111. The war breaking out about this time he responded to the call for three-months' men, and at the expiration of this time enlisted for the three years' service in Co. G, 94th 111. Vol. Inf. Young Bartholow served out his term of enlist- ment and then veteranized, and was transferred to the 37th Illinois Infantry, with which he re- mained until his honorable discharge in the begin- ning of 1 866. He had seen much hard service but fortunately escaped gunshot wounds and imprison- ment, although he was seriously injured by a log accidentally being thrown upon him at the battle of Five-Mile Creek. While in the army he im- proved his leisure moments in reading medicine, and after his retirement to civil life entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, where he took a thor- ough course and graduated with honors in the class of 1866. He commenced the practice of his profes- sion at Lincoln, 111., and soon became distinguished as a skillful surgeon for many miles along the dif- ferent railroad lines in that vicinity. After a resi- dence, of eighteen months at Lincoln he had a good opportunity to purchase the practice of Dr. Hill, an old and reputable physician of Philo, and soon suc- ceeded to his large and lucrative practice. He ar- rived in this place at evening and the following day earned $45 at his profession. His success since that time speaks well for him as a practi- tioner. The father of our subject, Rev. Benjamin Bar- tholow, was a native of Ohio, and of Scottish ances- try. He was an active minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church fora period of forty years, thirty- two of which were spent in the Central Illinois Conference. He was a man of fine abilities and ex- erted a wide influence for good in whatever direc- tion his duty lay. He was possessed of sound judg- ment and fluent speech, and performed a great work in establishing and maintaining Church so- cieties. His first charge was at Lytleville, which before the days of railroads was a promising town of McLean County, this State, but which is now practically extinct. The associate of Rev. Mr. Bartholow was James Shaw, the well-known author. On the 16th of February, 1885, while at the home of his son, our subject, in Philo, Rev. Benja- min Bartholow departed this life at the age of sixtv-two, and went to receive the reward of the faithful. There are in the museum at Cincinnati, Ohio, various interesting relics formerly in the pos- session of the Bartholow family, and which were brought from England by some of its first repre- sentatives in this country over 250 years ago. The f 322 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. parents of our subject were reared and married in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, the mother having been Miss Mary Heller, whose father and mother were of German and English descent respectively. She was carefully trained and well educated by her par- ents, remaining with them until her marriage, and, with her husband, experienced bravely and pa- tiently the vicissitudes of itinerant life. She passed away one year before his death at her home in Ur- bana, March 18, 1884, leaving behind her a record of womanly virtues and a host of friends to mourn their loss. Dr. Bartholow of our sketch was united in mar- riage with Miss Florence Ford at Mason City, 111.. Feb. 29, 1867. Mrs. B. was born and reared near Lafayette, Ind., and came to Illinois when a young woman some time before her marriage. Her fa- ther, who was formerly a grain merchant and stock dealer, is now retired from active business and a resident of Normal, 111., superintending the educa- tion of the younger members of the family. The mother before her marriage was Miss Elizabeth Eothrock, of Lafayette, Ind. Mrs. B. received a good education, and for several years before her marriage was employed as a teacher in the public schools. Of her marriage with our subject there have been born two children: Otho F. will soon graduate from the State University with the title of Doctor of Philosophy, and he is now known as one of the most efficient teachers. of Champaign County ; the daughter, Mary Hortensia, is at home with her parents. Our subject and his family are members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and politically the Doctor uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. 7 |)ILLIAM QUINLAN, Assessor of Critten- den Township, is also one of its most high- ly respected citizens, and carries on a farm of 120 acres, which is pleasantly located on section 20. He was born near Covington, Ky., March 15, 1856, and is the son of Daniel and Margaret Quin- lan, who soon after his birth emigrated from their native State to Illinois and located in Peoria, where the childhood of the latter wns principally spent. Twelve years later the family came to this county, and located in Crittenden Township, of which our subject has been a resident since that time. William Quinlan received a common-school edu- cation, and assisted his father in tilling the soil of the home farm until 1879. He was then united in marriage with the maiden of his choice, Miss Mar3 r A., daughter of James and Ellen Ryan, and who was born in Ohio, in October, 1855. After their marriage the young people settled upon the farm which constitutes their present homestead. Their family consists of four children Maggie, John, James and Ellen. Although Democratic in politics Mr. Q. does not confine himself strictly to his party, but supports the candidate who in his estimation is best fitted for office. He possesses good judgment, both in polit- ical and business affairs, and has been connected with the School Board of his township for several terms. Mr. and Mrs. Quinlan are both prominent members of the Catholic Church at Tolono. ENRY PUTNAM. The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch is one of the earliest pioneers of Condit Town- ship, and located on section 33, on the land which by his industry and enterprise has been transformed into one of the finest farms in Cham- paign County. It lies on a pleasant ridge drained partly by the Vermilion and partly by the San- gamon Rivers, and attracts the attention of the passing traveler on account of its neat fences and fields, its shapeby and substantial buildings, its general air of thrift a,nd prosperity, and the evidence of cultivated tastes and ample means. Mr. Putnam is one of the most intelligent and progressive men of his community, always in- terested in whatever pertains to its welfare and ad- vancement, morally, intellectually and religiously. He has been the encourager and supporter of edu- cational institutions, and an honored Elder of the Presbyterian Church since 1868. Our subject is a native of Jersey Township, Licking Co.. Ohio, born Aug. 13, 1832, and the son of Charles Putnam, born in Marietta, Ohio. His CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 323 grandfather, David Putnam, was a native of Con- necticut, and the grandson of Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame, whose name is perpetuated in history. The paternal grandfather, of our subject removed to the Northwest Territory in about 1798, and located on the present site of the city of Marietta, among the earliest settlers of that region. He was a lawyer by profession and soon after his removal to what was afterward the State of Ohio, accepted the position of Agent of the Ohio Land Company, which he held until withdrawing from active business. His death took place in Marietta in about 1860. The father of our subject, who had been care- fully reared under the home roof, united with the church when quite young and became a minister of the Presbyterian faith. His first and only charge was the church of Jersey, Ohio, of which he re- mained pastor for a period of nearly forty years. He only survived his father eight years, dying in 18G8. He had married in early life Miss Abbie Edgerton, a native of Connecticut, and the daughter of Luther Edgerton, of New England. She de- parted this life in Columbus, Ohio, eleven years after the death of her husband, in 1879. Of the nine children comprising the parental household, six are yet living: Henry of our sketch was the eldest born; Luther; Lydia and David are resi- dents of Columbus, Ohio; Douglas lives in Spring- field, Mo., and Howard in Colorado. Henry Putnam of our sketch attended school quite steadily until reaching manhood and acquired a good education for those days. He then com- menced teaching, in which he was occupied during the seven winters following, and in the summer season was employed in fanning. He remained a resident of Ohio until the fall of 1856, when he was married, and, accompanied by his bride, came to this county and located on their present homestead. The land was almost uncultivated at that time, but under his excellent management, as we have said, has been transformed into one of the finest country estates in this section. He was prospered from the start and added to his first purchase until he now has 440 acres, all under cultivation, with the ex- ception of fifty acres in timber and pasture. Mr. Putnam was married, Sept. 10, l5G,to Miss Phebe Coudit. a native of the same township as her husband, and the daughter of Wyckliff and Nancj' (Mingis) Condit, natives of New Jersey, who afterward became residents of Licking County, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The union of our subject and his wife was blest by the birth of five children, all living bat one, namely, Alice C., Julia C., C. Wyckliff and J. Willett. Mr. Putnam is Republican in politics, and with his wife a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. ^fl OSEPH ALLEN, Assessor and Collector of Hensley Township, owns and occupies a com- fortable homestead on section 27. His birth- place was Fleming County, Ky., and the date thereof, June 21, 1829. He is a son of Henry Allen, a native of the same State. His grandfather, Joseph Allen, is supposed to have been a native of New England. He served in the Revolutionary War, and after its close removed to Kentucky, being among the 1 earliest settlers of the Blue Grass region. He was well educated for those days and while engaged in agricultural pursuits, employed the winter seasons in teaching school. His death took place in Kentucky. The father of our subject was reared in hjs na- tive State, and after reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Sullivan, Of the same locality. He was a natural mechanic and readily became master of his trade as millwright, while also employed at cabinet- making. He died in Fleming County, Ky., leaving a widow and ten children. The mother kept the remainder of her family together in Kentucky where she rented land until 1852. In that year she removed north to Indiana, settling in Montgomery County, which re- mained her home for the following ten years. She then came to Illinois. The removal from Indiana to this county was made overland with wagons. Mrs. Allen settled with her little family in Hensley Township, and lived to see her children established in comfortable homes of their own. She died there in about 1882. After coming to Hensley Township our subject commenced his career as an independent farmer on M f t 324 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. rented land. In 1867 he made his first purchase of land, including eighty acres of his present farm. To this he has added from time to time until he is now the possessor of 280 acres, finely improved and under a good state of cultivation. This is embel- lished with a convenient set of farm buildings and his family and domestic ties are all that could be desired. The marriage of Joseph Allen and Miss Annie Baker, was celebrated Dec. 19, 1867. Mrs. A. was born in Mason County, Ky., in February, 1843. Her father was Hiram, and her mother, Mrs. Mar- garet (VanBuskirk) Baker, both of whom it is be- lieved were natives of Virginia. Mr. Baker died in Mason County, Ky., in 1847. The wife of our subject was reared in her native county, whence she came to Illinois, and located in Champaign County in 1866. Here her mother joined her a few years later, and departed this life in 1882. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. A. are Maggie E., Cora A., Charles M., Mary M. and Lulu M. Our sub- ject is Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. ell. WYMANN. Lying on .section 19 in Philo Township, is one of the most valuable farms of that locality, the cultivation of which has been superintended for many years by the subject of our sketch. He comes of excellent German an- cestry, and is a fine representative of that reliable element to which the West is so largely indebted for its development and progress. All over the fair prairies of Illinois are scattered the substantial homesteads of the men who mostly in their youth left their native land to seek their fortunes in the New World. Among these was Mr. Wymaun, who was born in Edenkoben, Germany, June 10, 1838. His father, Dr. Charles Wymann, is now a resident of Landau, Bavaria, where he is still practic- ing his profession, in which he has been remarkably skillful. He is now seventy-five years of age, but through life has followed those habits that have lengthened his days and preserved his health and strength beyond the usual threescore years and ten. The mother of our subject was formerly Miss Car- oline Kline, a native of the same Province as the father and son, where she died in about 1881, when sixty-three years old. The family is of pure Ger- man stock, possessing the best elements of their race. The parental family of our subject included four children, of whom he was the only son. His eldest sister, Matilda, became the wife of F. M. Bowman, a Government official in the Postal Depart- ment at Munich; Minnie married Jasper Manlove, editor of the Air-Line Neivs at Kirklin, Ind. ; Emily is the wife of a Government official in the Postal Department of Bavaria, and located at Landau. Our subject lived at home until fourteen years of age, completing his studies in the college at Eden- koben, where he graduated with a good knowledge of his mother tongue. Soon afterward, in 1852, in company with friends, Mr. Wymann set sail for the United States, and lo- cated first in Philadelphia, where he engaged as a gunsmith. Two years later he started for the West, and after arriving in Indiana located near Shawnee Mound in Tippecanoe County. There he engaged as a farm laborer, and there met Miss Catherine Bowers, the lady to whom, he was after- ward married, the wedding taking place Sept. 5, 1861. Mrs. Wymann was born at Trier-on-the- Rhine in Prussia, May 25, 1 842, and was the daugh- ter of Adam and Eva Bowers, who emigrated to America when their daughter was about two years of age. They settled in Lafayette, Ind., where the father died the folio wing year. Mrs. Wymann became a member of the well-known family of Samuel Me- harry. of Shawnee Prairie, Ind., but now a resident of Lafayette, Ind. She remained with the family of Mr. M. 'until her marriage with our subject, and received a fair education in the public schools. She was treated as kindly by her foster parents as though she were their own child, and repaid their care and affection with an ever-grateful heart. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wymann located in this county, where they have since lived, with the exception of nine years spent in Chicago. They took possession of their present farm in the spring of 1877. To this household there has been born one child only, a daughter. Carrie, and they f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 325 have an adopted son, Lincoln, who married Miss Lena Morris, and is a resident of Tolono. Our sub- ject and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Wymann is a solid Republican. f I ?ILLIAM W. WOOD, of Condit Town- ship, is a gentleman of more than or- dinary ability both as a business man and a citizen. He sprang from a humble condition in life, but nature did much for him in providing him with a good amount of common sense, an ob- serving eye to what was going on around him, and the qualities of perseverance and energy which have served him well in the battle of life. He is descended from excellent English ancestry, his fa- ther having been a native of Lincolnshire, where he was reared, and when quite young commenced life as a sailor in the merchant service. Upon abandoning the sea, he emigrated to America, set- tling first in New York ^State. From there after two or three years he removed to Ohio, locating on a tract of timber land in Defiance County, from which he cleared a farm, which he occupied until his death in 1882. He was married, in New York State, to Miss Mary J. Yexley, who was born in the city of London, England, and they became the parents of three children: William W., of our sketch ; Lucy, who married Azariah Mattery, a res- ident of Hicksville. Ohio, and Edward, who died at that place in 1863 or 1864. Our subject was reared on his father's farm amid the surroundings of pioneer life, when wild game was plenty and white men were few. He recol- lects seeing his father stand in the doorway of their log cabin and kill a deer which passed by. The nearest market was at Ft. Wayne, twenty-four miles distant, and the produce was transported in wagons. Young Wood commenced to assist his parents as soon as he was large enough, and re- mained with them until reaching manhood. He first visited Illinois in 1857, and engaged as a farm laborer one year. At the expiration of this time he returned to the old homestead in Ohio. He came back to the Prairie State two years later, and worked by the month as before, in this county, then, believing that the possession of a home and family would prove a stimulus to his efforts in battling for a livelihood, and having become already greatly attached to a certain fair lady of his acquaintance, Miss Susan Johnson, he consulted with her upon this important matter, and finding her willing to take him for better or worse, they were made hus- band and wife on Jan. 1, 1861. They commenced housekeeping in unpretentious style, and in due time additional plates were laid on the table, until the family circle was completed by the birth of the fourth child. Of these but three are now living Edith L., Arthur and Wylie V. After his marriage, Mr. Wood located upon forty acres of land which he purchased in 1863, and which is now included in his present farm. A part of this had been broken and a small amount of fence laid. He made a small cash payment and had three years in which to pay the balance. He put up a small plank house or shanty, 15x18 feet square, which the family occupied three years be- fore making any addition. In 1886 he erected the present fine residence, which is surrounded by fruit and shade trees with a good barn in the rear, and all other necessary buildings required by the thorough and intelligent farmer. Martin Johnson, the father of Mrs. Wood, was born in Madison County, Ohio, March 11, 1812. He was the son of Abraham Johnson, a native of Virginia, who removed to Ohio during its early settlement, and spent the last years of his life in Madison County. Martin grew to manhood and was married, Aug. 28, 1833, to Miss Luranah Mortimer. This lady was born in that part of Guilford now included in Greene County, N. C., July 19, 1811, and was the daughter of Robert and Sarah Mortimer. Her parents removed from North Carolina to Ohio in about 1815, and were among the early pioneers of Fayette County. They afterward became residents of Madison and Mercer Counties, spending their last years in the latter. Martin Johnson after his marriage remained a resident of his native county four years, then pur- chased a tract of timber land in Williams County, where he opened up a farm which he occupied ten I 320 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. years. He removed from there in 1846, to Illi- nois, and purchasing land in Pike County, lived upon it until his decease, which occurred July 15, 1865. The mother is now living with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Wood. Our subject and his wife are connected with Mt. Vernon Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Wood is a decided Re- publican. His fine home and productive farm are the results of his own industry. He received but limited advantages when a boy, but kept his eyes open to what was going on around him, and ranks among the most intelligent citizens and valuable members of his community. He possesses excel- lent judgment as a farmer and business man, is prompt in meeting his obligations, and great!}' re- spected by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. \ ^ OSEPH BONGARD, a wealthy pioneer set- tler of Raymond Township, came to this vi- cinity in 1857. He is a native of "fail- France," born in the Province of Lorraine ^ - -^ on the 3d of January, 1822. His parents, Sebas- tian and Ann (Florentine) Bongard, natives of the same country, passed their entire lives there, where their remains are buried. Of their family, which included six children, our subject was the youngest and the only one who came to the United States. He was reared on a farm in his native France, and on the 4th of July, 1843, was united in marriage with Miss Victory Vallance, who was born June 22, 1821, and reared in the same neighborhood as her husband. They became the parents of six chil- dren, and in 1854 our subject and wife with their eldest daughter set sail from Havre for the United States. They reached New York Harbor after a voyage of twenty-eight da3~s and proceeded directly to Chicago, 111., where for seven months Mr. B. was employed at whatever his hands could find to do. The following year he took possession of a farm in Cook County, and a portion of the time was employed by Emanuel Dunlap, who afterward became a resident of Champaign County. Our subject was prospered in his labors and was soon enabled to purchase eighty acres of railroad land in Champaign County, to which he removed with his family and household goods, making the journey with a yoke of cattle and a wagon valued at *'>.">. After breaking about fifty acres of the sod and finding it unprofitable, he allowed the company to take possession of it, and afterward purchased 120 acres on section 19, in Raymond Township, which is now included in his present homestead. Under his cultivation this land responded generously with the choice products of the Prairie State, and he soon began to realize satisfactory profits. He added by degrees to his estate until he is now the proprietor of 640 acres, thoroughly improved and valuable. Upon this he has been largely engaged in corn-raising, and some years has sold as many as 14,000 bushels. His residence is a commodi- ous and convenient structure, and the barns and other out-buildings meet all the requirements of the modern and progressive farmer. A view of the place is shown on another page of this work. In addition to his farm property Mr. B. has a store building in Tolono which rents for a good round sum. The eldest daughter of our subject, Mary, is the wife of H. D. Waldo, and Amelia married John Hagen, of Sumner County. Kan. Mr. B. is Repub- lican in politics, and has served as School Treasurer in his township for two years. He believes in the rights of American-born citizens, and that they should hold the offices and govern the country. The family, religiously, hold to the faith of the Roman Catholic Church. M. STONE, who settled in Tolouo Township in 1875, occupies a comfortable homestead on section 22, where he owns seventy-five acres of good land, which is well culti- vated and supplied with good buildings. His fam- ily consists of his wife and nine children, the latter being named as follows: John S. and Lucy E. (twins), Willis, Allie, Lewis B. anil Martha C. (twins), Harry T. and Clara E. (twins), and G rover C. It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. Stone is Democratic in politics and named his youngest child after the present National Executive. He is a gentleman highly respected in his community; is -H K CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4- 329 * , Road Commissioner, and has held the office of School Director for many years. Religiously he inclines to the doctrines of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church. Our subject was born in Gibson County, Ind., Dec. 26, 1841. His father, Samuel Stone, was a native of Kentucky, whence his parents removed to Indiana while he was .yet an infant. They located on a farm in Gibson County, and there passed the remainder of their days. The mother of Mr. Stone, who was formerly Miss Lucy W. Mattox, was born in Indiana in about 1813, and the parental house- hold included sixteen children. Of these twelve are living; four died in infancy. Thomas M. Stone of our sketch remained on the homestead until twenty-one years old, and then coming to Illinois, located on a farm in Menard County, where he followed agricultural pursuits until October, 1807. He was then united in mar- riage with Miss Permelia Knowles, a nativp ft pf ; his own county in Indiana, and daughter of John^S/ml Eleanor (Montgomery) Knowles, natives of- the same county. He was at this time the owner of 1GO acres of land in Menard County, which he tilled until 1875, the year of his removal to this township. He has been fairly prosperous in his business and farming operations, and is considered a reliable farmer and business man. A lithographic view of Mr. Stone's handsome farm residence is shown in connection with this sketch. M. RTHUR RICE, proprietor of 4 ^0 acres of O! finely improved land on sections 33 and 34, n in Pesotum Township, has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1854. He comes of old Virginia blood and passed his early days in Wood County, that State, where he first opened his eyes to the light on the 9th of February, 1839. He was the fifth child of Shelton and Elizabeth (Brown) Rice, also natives of the old Dominion, the former born in about 1810, and the latter in 1815. Shelton Rice was an extensive farmer and pursued his calling until he rested from his earthly labors, his death taking place in about 1863. The mother had preceded her husband to the other world in 1853. The grandparents of our subject were of Euro- pean descent, and crossed the ocean at a period in the early history of this country. The family were noted for the energy and ambition with which they pursued their agricultural and business affairs, and were uniformly prosperous in their undertakings. Our subject came to this State during his youth, settling in what was then Coles, but is now Doug- las County, six miles south of his present residence. A year later he came to this county. In the meantime he was accompanied by his father, who purchased a farm of 150 acres of wild prairie, which Arthur assisted in cultivating and improving. He lived with his father until his marriage, which took plade on the 26th of February, 1862. The maiden who had been successful in gaining his re- gard was Miss Mary A. Lee, a native of Pulaski County, Ky., and daughter of Squire and Elizabeth (James) Lee. Her parents were also natives of Pulaski County, where the father engaged in farm- 'vtf pursuits until the removal to Illinois, at which time they settled near where the father of our sub- ject took up his abode. Mr. Lee soon afterward purchased a tract of land in this county, and con- tributed his full share in assisting to reclaim the face of the country from the wilderness. As one of the earliest pioneers he was held in great respect and lived to a ripe old age, his death occurring in 1885. The mother is still living and remains on the old homestead. She is in full possession of all her faculties, and her description of life in the early days forms an interesting tale to which the youth of her neighborhood delight to listen. Our subject after his marriage remained two years on his father's farm, and then purchased eighty acres on section 34, in Pesotum Township. His early experiences had been of great service to him, and after taking possession of his new farm he was uniformly successful in his operations, and in the cultivation of his land exhibited rare good judgment. He added to his first purchase as his means accumulated, and in due time had completed a fine set of farm buildings which are as ornamen- tal to the face of the country as they are useful and convenient to the proprietor. The farm is finely t 330 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. laid uut, the fields neatly fenced, and everything :il H nit the premises is kept up in lirst-class condi- tion. Our subject in looking after his farming in- terests has not had very much time to devote to political questions, but declines to be confined with- in the narrow system of party lines, reserving his right to cast his vote for the man whom he esteems best qualified for office. He is a strong temperance man and has of late years arrayed himself on the side of the Prohibition party. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Rice are Norah E., Martha A. and Fred L. The elder daughter is the wife of Archie Armstrong, her mar- riage taking place Sept. 2, 1886. She resides with her husband on a farm twelve miles distant from her father's homestead. Our subject and his wife be- came members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Nelson Chapel in 1881, with which they have since been connected, and to the support of which they have always contributed liberally and cheer- fully. OBERT G. RAYBURN, of Mahomet Town- ship, became a resident of this count}' when a boy eleven years old. He was born in Madison County, Ohio. Oct. 29, 1842, and was the sixth child of John R. and Mary (McCoy) Rayburn, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. They located in the latter State soon after marriage, and in 1853 came into Champaign County, settling in Mahomet Township, and re- mained there the balance of their lives. John R. Rayburn died Aug. 31, 1872, and the mother of our subject Jan. 22, 1868. Their ten children con- sisted of seven sons and three daughters, of whom six survive. Young Rayburn spent his youth and childhood on his father's farm, receiving a common-school education, and remained under the home roof un- til twenty-one years of age. During the progress of the late war and toward its close, in February, 1865, he enlisted in the 154th Illinois Infantry, and served until the close. He then returned to Ma- homet Township and resumed farming, in which he has since been engaged. His homestead includes 430 acres of choice land, all improved, and fur- nished with a handsome and substantial residence, a good barn and all necessary out-buildings. The fences, machinery and stock are well cared for, and the homestead comprises in all its appointments a first-class modern country estate. Mr. Rayburn was married in Mahomet Town- ship, June 4, 1862, to Miss Isabella A., daughter of William and Louisa Herriott. The parents of Mrs. R. were natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, from which latter State they came to this county in about 1851, and locating in Ma- homet Township, here passed the remainder of their lives. The mother died Nov. 15, 1875. and the father, March 25, 1883. Their fourteen chil- dren included seven sous and seven daughters, of whom the wife of our subject was the youngest. She was born in Scott County, Ky., Sept. 22, 1845. By her marriage with our subject she became the mother of thirteen children, of whom eleven are living; James F. and another child died in infancy. Those surviving are Ida M., Eda B., John R., Henry A., Effie G., William M., Robert J., Charles D., Mary L., Benjamin F. and Laura J. Ida is the wife of Phillip Mohr, and a resident of Mahomet Township ; Eda B. married Lewis Clapper, of Ma- homet Township. Our subject has been Commis- sioner of Highwa}'s and School Director, and with his wife is prominently connected with the Presby- terian Church. Politically he supports the princi- ples of the Republican party. J-~ AMES W. HERRIOTT. This gentleman is well and favorably known in Mahomet Township as being an honest man and a ' good citizen, and the proprietor of a well- cultivated farm on section 12. He is a gentleman of enterprise and industry, as his homestead indi- cates on every hand, and in his agricultural pur- suits has been fairly successful. He comes of a good family, being the son of William and Louisa Herriott, who were natives of Virginia. After their marriage they located in Bourbon County, Ky., whence they removed to Scott County, the same State, and from there in the fall of 1851 to Illinois. Coming into Champaign Count}', they located in 1 ' f t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 331 Mahomet Township, of which they were residents the remainder of their lives. The mother departed hence Nov. 24, 1875, and the father, March 24, 1883. Their family consisted of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters. James W. Herriott was the ninth in order of birth, and first opened his eyes to the light in Scott County, Ky., Aug. 26, 1830. He was fifteen years of age when his parents became residents of this county. With the exception of three years spent in the army he remained a member of the parental household until 1869. His education was conducted in the common schools, and he followed the occupation of his father before him, engaging in farming since his earliest recollection. His army experience dates from September, 1861, when he became a member of Co. I, 25th 111. Vol. Inf. He was present at the battle of Missionary Ridge, re- ceiving a wound in the right hip and the right arm by minie balls, and is now a pensioner of the Government. Many times he barely escaped with his life, and his health was seriously impaired by the hardships and privations which he endured in the service. At the battle of Stone River he was captured by the rebels, but soon afterward paroled. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge, was mustered out of service at Spring- field, 111., and re'turned to his home in Champaign County. Soon afterward he purchased a farm in Hensley Township, which he occupied ten years, then disposed of it and returned to Mahomet Township. Here he has 200 acres, forty of which are in timber. The soil is easily tilled and product- ive of the richest crops of the Prairie State. The marriage of Mr. Herriott took place in Con- dit Township, _Dec. 21, 1869, the maiden of his choice being Miss Susan A., daughter of John and Elizabeth A. (George) Washington, both natives of Virginia, and descendants of the Father of his Countj'. They first settled iu Virginia proper, where John Washington departed this life in Feb- ruary, _18G2. Mrs. W. still survives, and is a resi- dent of that State. Of their ten children the wife of o"ur subject was the sixth in order of birth. Her native place was Loudoun County, Va., and the date of her birth Feb. 9, 1848. She remained a member of the parental household until her mar- riage, receiving a fair education and being trained in all useful household duties. Mr. and Mrs. Herriott became the parents of nine children, namely, William W., Lulu K., Rosa G., Minnie S., Nettie, James T., George L., Lydia M. and Bertie. Lulu E. and Lydia M. .ire de- ceased. Mr. Herriott takes a genuine interest iu nil matters pertaining to the welfare of his county and community, and in politics supports the Demo- cratic party. Both he and his excellent wife are members of the Preslfyterian Church, and highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances. C. STEWART. On section 23, in the township of Philo, is located the com- fortable homestead of our subject, where he has carried on his farming operations since the spring of 1857. In addition to grain-raising he has also been a successful breeder of good grades of stock, and in all his transactions has exhibited that good judgment and forethought which have made him successful as a farmer and business man, and have secured for him the esteem and respect of his fellow-citizens. He is a native of Woodford County, Ky., born in 1818, and is the son of Ralph Stewart of Maryland, who with his parents removed to Virginia when a young boy. His childhood and youth were passed in the Old Dominion, and after arriving at manhood he was there married to Mrs. Agnes Hugh (Campbell) Kerkem, a native of that State. The young people soon after their marriage removed to Woodford County, Ky., but later to Henry County, where they lived until the death of their father, which took place about 1833. After- ward the mother came to Illinois, and resided with her son, our subject, until her death, which occurred Sept. 20, 1858. Our subject was the eldest child of his parents, and remained under the parental roof until his mar- riage, which took place in Henry County, 111. The maiden of his choice was Miss Elizabeth Bridges, who was born in Bourbon County, Ky., whence she removed with her parents when quite young to Henry County, the same State. Of this marriage there have been born seven children : Leslie mar- f 332 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ried Miss Sarah .). ISarr, and is a resident of Edgar County, 111., where he is successfully carrying on farming; S. Campbell is senior member of the firm of Hrown & Stewart, grain dealers of Philo; John is a resident of Colorado; Ralph. George and Ag- nes are at home; Lucy is a graduate of the State Normal University, and is teaching at Pekin, 111. The farm of our subject includes 280 acres, finely cultivated, and supplied with handsome and sub- stantial buildings. Mr. and Mrs. S. are Presby- terian in religious belief, and politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. STEIN. The fine farm of 240 acres lying on the southeast part of sections 22 and 28, in Pesotum Township, has often been the subject of comment by the passers-by. Its air of comfort and plenty strikes the beholder with a pleasing sensation. The land is neatly fenced, conveniently divided into grain and pas- ture fields, and the farm buildings, plain and sub- stantial, have about them evidences of the thrift and prosperity of the proprietor. Mr. Stein is a worthy representative of the nationalit}' which has contributed so materially to the building up of the West, the development of its resources and the reputation of its rich and productive soil. Our subject was born in Hesse-Cassel, Oct. 28, 1833, the same day on which his brother Nicholas first drew breath. At an early age he was placed in school, and continued his studies almost uninter- ruptedly until fourteen years old. Afterward he assisted his parents on the farm, and when sevenr teen years of age set out for the United States. He landed at Philadelphia in the spring of 1851, spend- ing his first years near the Quaker City on a farm. In the spring of 1852 he emigrated to Butler County, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming pursuits for a period of ten years. His next move was to this State, and he first settled in Peoria, where he was engaged in laboring on a farm by the month until 1872. In the meantime he had saved up quite a sum of money from his earnings, which invested in eighty acres of land included in his present farm. To this he afterward added 160 [ he i J pres *M? acres, anil has the whole well drained and its best qualities fully developed. While a resident of Peoria Mr. Stein was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Wittingfelt, who with her parents, William and Elizabeth Witting- felt, was a native of Germany. Mrs. Stein when a young woman eaine to this country by herself and earned her own living until she became the wife of our subject. Her parents remain in their na- tive country. Of this marriage there were born five children, of whom only three survive, namely, Charles, Carrie and Amelia. William N. and Emma died when one and one-half and ten years old re- spectively. On the 17th of February, 1887, the devoted wife and affectionate mother, Mrs. Louisa Stein, passed to her long home, leaving the husband and three children to mourn their loss. Mr. S. and his wife united with the Lutheran Church many years ago, and lived quiet and unostentatious lives, devoted to their children and to .each other. Our subject has frequently served as School Director, and in poli- tics is independent, supporting the candidate whom he esteems best fitted for the office. i) OSEPH JERVIS, one of the self-made men | and progressive farmers of Condit Township, owns and occupies a good farm, consisting of 400 acres of improved land lying on sec- tions 35 and 36. He has about seventy head of cattle and 200 head of sheep and lambs, and keeps about nine head of horses and colts. The residence and out-buildings are substantially built and kept in first-class order. Our subject came to this locality in the fall of 1861, and commenced his farming operations on rented land. He continued thus for three years, then purchased eighty acres of uncul- tivated prairie, where he put up a house and de- voted his time mainly to raising grain. This he has found to be profitable, and has given to this branch of agriculture his special attention, together with his stock operations. Mr. Jervis is a native of Staffordshire, England, where his birth occurred Aug. 30, 1835. His par- ents were Thomas and Hannah (Wiggan) Jervis, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 333 natives of the same shire, where they spent their entire lives. Only two of their children came to the United States Andrew, who settled in New- comb Township, and Joseph of our sketch. Both sons were reared to farming pursuits, and our sub- ject was thus employed until twenty-one years of age. He then engaged on the railroad which ran from Liverpool to London, and vvas thus occupied until I860, when he decided to seek his fortunes in America. He accordingly set sail from Liverpool, and after a voyage of a few weeks, landed in New- ark, N. J., where he arrived with a cash capital of $100. He remained in that State until the follow- ing fall, and then set his face for the further West, coming into this county, where he rented a tract of land and commenced farming, as we have already indicated. Seven years later, in February, 1868, Mr. Jervis was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Shear- gold, also a native of Staffordshire, and the daugh- ter of Edward and Hannah (Jevins) Sheargold. Mrs. J. came to America in 1865, when twenty-one years of age. Of her union with our subject there have been born nine children Annie, Thomas, Norma, Harry, Lewis, Dan, Arthur, Burt and Kate. Both our subject and his wife were reared in the Episcopal faith, to the doctrines of which they still adhere. eAPT. CALEB TAYLOR, who received his military title for services rendered in the Union Army during the late war, located in Raymond Township, this count3', in the spring of 1868. and since that time has ranked among its most valued citizens. He is the son of Jonathan and Mary (Phillips) Taylor, who were natives of Pennsylvania and lived in Fayette County at the time our subject was born, which event took place on the 8th of June, 1838. Three years later they removed to Pickaway County, Ohio, and located on a farm, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives. Their eight children all grew to mature years and are recorded as follows : Francis M. is a resident of Pickaway County, Ohio; Phillip, of Fayette County; Delilah is deceased; Jonathan lives in Pickaway County; Sarah married Thomas Graham, and they located in Seott County, Kan.; Caleb of our sketch was the sixth child ; Richard M. J. died in Ohio; Ann, the wife of Lewis Lon- gerjboon, is living in Jay Countj', Ind. Caleb Taylor was but three years old when his father removed to Ohio with his family. He was there reared to manhood on a farm, receiving a common-school education, and assisting in the la- bors around the homestead. In 1867 he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Davis, who was born and reared in Pickaway County, and is the daughter of Ebenezer and Mary (Crabb) Davis. The following year the young people decided to seek the prairies of Illinois, and coming into this county located on a tract of land which our sub- ject rented for one year. At the expiration of this time he purchased eighty acres, partially improved, which is included in his present farm. He was suc- cessful in his undertakings and added to his real estate as time passed on, so that he is now the owner of 203 acres all under a good state of culti- vation. This comprises one of the finest grain farms in Champaign County. He erected a hand- some farm residence in 1882, and adjacent to it stand all the necessary buildings required by the progressive agriculturist. The Captain is Repub- lican in politics and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas as Representative. He has held the of- fices of School Trustee, Director and Highway Commissioner, the duties of whicli he discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to all con- cerned. Shortly after the outbreak of the late Rebellion our subject enlisted, in September, 1861, in Co. A, 20th Ohio Vol. Inf., where he was soon made a non- commissioned officer. He marched with his regi- ment to the scene of conflict, and during the siege of Vicksbtirg was commissioned Second Lieutenant. In the spring of 1864 he became First Lieutenant, and soon afterward was presented with a Captain's commission. During his military career he partici- pated in the battles of Richmond, Champion Hills, Jackson, Miss., and went with Sherman on his fa- mous march from Atlanta to the sea, being also at the siege and capture of the latter city. His regi- ment participated in forty-five regular engagements, \ ' L 334 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 during which, although never seeking to escape the fire of the enemy, he was neither seriously wounded nor taken prisoner. After the surrender of the Confederate army he was mustered out at Poco- taligo, 8. C. He then returned to his farm in Ray- mond Township, and since then has been industri- ously engaged in cultivating and beautifying his homestead. The mother of Mrs. Taylor before her marriage was Miss Mary Crabb. Both parents were born in Ohio, where they passed their entire lives. The birth of Mrs. T. occurred on the 16th of July, 1848, in Pickaway County, where she was reared, educated, and became the wife of our subject. She has proved the suitable companion of her husband during the years of a worthy life, in which he has displayed the qualities of an excellent citi- zen and become a valued member of his community. OSEPH MAXWELL, a retired farmer of Mahomet Township, residing on section 17, is the son of Jonathan and Johanna (.Ster- ling) Maxwell. The parental household consisted of ten children, five now living, and of whom our subject was the sixth in order of birth. He was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., May 16, 1824, was reared on the farm, and in 1830 came with his parents to Illinois, settling in Mahomet Township, where the latter died. Mr. Maxwell is essentially a self-made man, who enjoyed but a limited education but has made the most of his time and opportunities. He has al- ways been observant of what was going on around him, and by the exercise of his natural talents has obtained a fine insight into business matters and become uniformly successful in his undertakings. With the exception of two years spent in Califor- nia and one year in Vermilion County, he has been a resident of Mahomet Township since coming here. While on the Pacific slope he was engaged in freighting. He is the owner of about 1,300 acres of land, 320 of which are in Piatt County. Mr. Maxwell was married in Mahomet Township, Sept. 8, 1852, to Miss Rosanna, daughter of Samuel and Olive (Franklin) Hyde. The parents of Mrs. M. were natives respectively of Vermont and New York, and removed from the latter State to Illinois, locating in Mahomet Township, this county, in 1 849. Both are now deceased. Of their thirteen children Mrs. M. was the fourth. She was born in Yigo County, Ind., April 22, 1832. Of her marriage with our subject there were born ten children, of whom the record is as follows: George F. married Miss Phebe Bird, and is farming in Mahomet Town- ship; Elizabeth died when eighteen months old; Charles H. married Miss Martha E. Robinson, and lives in Mahomet Township ; Jephtha, now of Piatt County, married Miss Hattie Johnson; Martha S., Mrs. Elias Barnhart, is also a resident of Piatt County; Mary S. married Thomas J. Paisley, of Mahomet Township; Willie died in infancy; Julia O. is the wife of Joel W. Pinkston ; Johanna and Joseph R. are residents of Mahomet Township. The mother of these children died at the home of her husband in Mahomet Township, Jan. 6, 1882. She was a lady highly respected in the community and a member in good standing of the Baptist Church, to which our subject also belongs. Politically Mr. Maxwell is a decided Republican, and has held various township offices. Socially he is a member of Mahomet Lodge No. 220, F. & A. M. He is esteemed as a good citizen and worth}' member of society, and has contributed his full share to the agricultural interests of this section. /,.., H. BALDWIN, engaged in general hus- bandry on section 18 in Pesotum Town- ship, is a native of the Empire State, born near Rochester, May 31, 1850. He is the fourth child of Samuel S. and Mary E. (Fail-child) Baldwin, who were married in that State, and lo- cated on a farm, where they remained until 1857. Mr. Baldwin then came to Illinois and purchased 320 acres of wild land in Pesotum Township. The task before him seemed an Herculean one, but he set himself industriously to work, fencing his pur- chase and breaking the sod, and in the course of a few years had transformed the prairie land into a good farm. He put up suitable buildings, and by CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. I purchase and oreeding finally had his farm well stocked with good grades of cattle and horses. Upon the homestead thus established the parents of our subject lived for many years and reaped the result of their labors in due time by finding them- selves surrounded with all the comforts of life. The father passed away on the 3d of October, 1874. Mrs. Baldwin survived her husband for two years, her death occurring Dec. 28, 1876, at the old home- stead. This is now occupied by their son, the sub- ject of this sketch, although there now remains but 130 acres of the original purchase. Whatever is lacking in quantity, however, is fully made up in quality, as our subject has worked upon the theory of Horace Greeley, namely, that a few acres well tilled were more valuable than a larger aren par- tially neglected. Our subject remained under the parental roof until several years after reaching his majority, and when twenty-seven years of age was married to Miss Melissa J., daughter of John and Mary (Stur- ges) Cook. The parents of Mrs. B. were residents of Montgomery County, 111., where the father owned and operated a good farm. Of the union of onr sub- ject and wife there have been born two children Theodore H., Oct. 15, 1880, and Herbert E., Feb. 1, 1884. Mr. Baldwin, although a continuous resident on his father's farm since his first recollection, is the owner of a large tract of land in Crawford Coun- ty, Kan., to which he has decided to remove and develop it. He has always given his strict attention to his own concerns, never meddling with politics or desiring office. His land has been chiefly deVoted to the raising of grain, in which he has been very successful, and which has yielded him the larger part of his income. RANG II. LANGE, an extensive fanner and stock-raiser of Hensley Township, is a fail- representative of the substantial German element which may be found in the best section of Illinois, and which has assisted so materially in its development and progress. Our subject was born in Hanover, July 9, 1833, and is the son of Phillip and Mary Ann Lange, natives of the same Prov- ince. He attended school in his native town mi- til about seventeen years of age, and then con- cluded to seek his fortune in America. Accord- ingly he set sail from Bremen in August, 1850, and after a voyage of eighteen weeks landed in New York City, a stranger in a strange land, without means, and nothing to recommend him but his good health and willing hands. He did not tarry long in the Empire City, but proceeded to Cleveland, Ohio, where he soon obtained a situation as clerk in a clothing store. He proved faithful and efficient, and held his position nine years. The two years following he was engaged as clerk in a wholesale grocery store. In 1860 he decided to turn his attention to agricultural pursuits in the West. He was yet a poor man and unable to buy a farm, so rented a tract of land in Hensley Township, which he cultivated four years, and at the expiration of that time was enabled to purchase eighty acres, which is now included in his present farm. Of this thirty-five acres had been broken and there was a small shanty. He had taken to himself a wife and helpmeet, and with a few repairs this structure was made inhabitable and they occupied it for a brief time. Our subject proceeded with the improve- ment and cultivation of his land and was greatly prospered in his undertakings. The unbroken prai- rie of his first purchase has now been transformed into a fine farm, with a good set of buildings, fruit and shade trees, and all the conveniences and decor- ations which indicate the intelligent and progres- sive farmer of cultivated tastes and ample means. Mr. L. has added to his first purchase until he is now the owner of 500 acres in one body, which constitutes one of the finest farms in this part of the county and invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler. His stock is of the best grades and well cared for, and the farm buildings and ma- chinery are kept in the best of repair. The first wife of our subject, to whom he was married May 5, 1860, was Miss Elizabeth Leiden- deker, sister of Henry J. Leidendeker, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work. This lady died at the home of her husband in Hensley Town- ship, Sept. 20, 1874. Of this marriage there were six children Henry, Albert, Amelia, Edward, Mary i > 33G CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. and Julia. On the 3d of January, 1879, Mr. L. was married to Miss Louisa Luclirinann, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., and is the daughter of John II. Luclirinann, a native of Westphalen, Prussia. Of this union there have been born three children George, Clarence and Oscar. The various mem- bers of the family are connected with the Lutheran Church. Our subject is Republican in politics, and widely and favorably known in this community as a man prompt to meet his obligations, and one whose word is as good as his bond. As will have been seen, his possessions are the result of his own industry, and the estimation in which he is held by his fellow-citizens is due to his innate honesty of character and conscientious course in life, by which he has always been enabled to look the whole world in the face. NTHONY REINHART, one of the mostv thorough farmers of Crittenden Township, commenced life in a modest manner with a team and a few hundred dollars in cash. He is now the owner of 380 acres of valuable land, a fine farm residence and suitable out-buildings, with a goodly amount of choice stock and modern farm machinery. In addition to this, and probably what he prizes most, he has a fine family of ten children, and many other desirable things in life which have constituted him a good citizen, duly thankful for the prosperity which has marked his footsteps and for the respect and esteem of his fel- low-men. His laud when he took possession of it was much less valuable than at present and he has expended for drainage alone the sum of $4,000. It is now mainly devoted to stock-raising, in which department of agriculture Mr. Reinhart has secured an enviable reputation for the intelligence and suc- cess with which he has managed and the prosperous condition to which he has attained. Mr. Reinhart came to this part of the county in the spring of 1873. He was born in the town of Bremmelbach, Province of Alsace, County Sultz, which then belonged to France, but was afterward ceded to Germany, on the 2 let of February, 1844. His parents were Nicholas and Catherine (Poudler) Reiuhart. Nicholas Reinhart was the son of a far- mer whose given name is not known. His mother \v:is Catherine (Oebelhaar) Reinhart. They were the parents of nine children, six boys and three girls. Catherine (Poudler) Reinhart is the mother of eleven children, seven living, as follows: Michael, Nicholas, Wendel, Martin, Joseph, Louis and An- thony, our subject, who was the youngest. Those deceased are John, George, Louis and Theresa. The grandparents of our subject on his mother's side were Michael and Magdelena (Bauer) Poudler, and they were the parents of twelve children, six of whom died in infancy. Magdelena, Catherine, Selma, Barbara, Theresa and Wendel grew to maturity, and of these the mother of our subject alone re- mains, and she at the age of eighty-eight years retains her mental vigor and strength and bids fair to survive many years. A large portion of this sketch was obtained from her. Three years after the birth of our subject his .. parents emigrated to the United States and pro- ceeding westward located in Peoria County, 111. Here Anthony Reinhart grew to manhood, attended ' v ' * the coiritfMu schools, and assisted in the tilling of the soil. He was married in Peoria County, Sept. 26, 18(35, to Miss Mary, daughter of A. and Mary Vogel. Mrs. R. was born in Butler County, Pa., June 12, 1845. After his marriage our sub- ject rented land in Peoria County until the spring of 1873. In the meantime he had visited this county and purchased 122 acres of land, to which he now removed his family, and which continued their home until the spring of 1884. He then sold out to excellent advantage and took possession of his present homestead. Here, with his characteristic enterprise and industry, he has brought about fine improvements, and, surrounded by his family and friends is, now in middle life, enjoj'ing the fruits of his early labors and the results of his wise and temperate judgment. The children of the house- hold are recorded as follows: Wendel J. was born Aug. C, 1866; Michael N., May 27, 1868; Rose B., Oct. 14, 1870; Anthony M., July 18, 1872; Louis, Oct. 13, 1874; Frank J., Feb. 15, 1877; Anna M., Aug. 14, 1879; Simon G., Oct. 22, 1881 ; Catherine E., March 16, 1884; Julia E., Dec. 26, 1886. Mr. Reinhart uniformly gives his support to CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 339 Democratic principles, and has held the office of Highway Commissioner. For several years he has served as Justice of the Peace, and is present in- cumbent, and in matters of religion is a devout Catholic. D jOBERT PENMAN. The subject of this biography, a native of the Prairie State, > 'w first opened his eyes to the light in Kendall ^) County, June 21, 1848. He is of excellent family, his father being of pure Scotch ancestry, born in Roxburyshire, Scotland, Oct. 12, 1812. When a young man about twenty-four years of age he emigrated to the United States, making his first location near Ft. Wayne, Ind. After a residence there of two years he came into DuPage County, this State, where he remained another two years, and then took up his abode in Kendall County, where he entered 100 acres of land. To this he afterward added a like amount, and is still living upon the farm thus established and where he has been prospered in his efforts to build up a home and secure a competency. The mother of our subject, who in her girlhood was Miss Jane Stephenson, was born in the North of Ireland, and came to the United States with her parents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Davis) Stephenson, in 1844 or 1845. They are both deceased. She married Mr. Penman in Kendall County, 111., and departed this life on the old homestead, in July, 1854, leaving three children. Of these two are yet living Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob McClosky, and Robert of our sketch. After the death of his first wife Thomas Penman was married to Miss Cor- delia Williams, and they became the parents of three children Mary Ann, Perry and Julia. After the death of his mother our subject re- mained an inmate of his father's house and received a common-school education. He resided in his na- tive county until twenty-five years old, and then, in 1873, came to this county and located on a tract of land consisting of 162 acres, which he had pur- chased in 1869. It was then an uncultivated prai- rie, but is now among the finest land in this town- ship, improved with a good set of farm buildings and devoted chiefly to the raising of stock and grain. Everything about the premises indicates the industry and enterprise of the proprietor. The marriage of Robert Penman and Miss Emma J. Waite took place on the 29th of January, 1880, at the home of the bride's parents in Kendall Coun- ty, this State. Mrs. P. is the daughter of Abraham and Caroline (Austin) Waite, who are still living and residents of Yorkville, 111. Mrs. P. was born near that town, Jan. 29, 1854, and was married be- neath the same roof where her birth took place. Our subject and his wife have one child only, a son, Thomas Abraham. They are sincere believers in the Christian religion, and Mrs. Penman is con- nected with the Baptist Church. Mr. Penman is Democratic in politics and is now serving his fourth term as Assessor; he is also Road Commissioner. He has been School Director for a period of seven years, and enjoys in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Among the galaxy of portraits of Champaign County none are more worthy of a place than that of Robert Penman, and we are pleased to present it in this connection, together with that of his estima- ble wife. RANK L. VAN VLECK, of the firm of Van Vleck & Bro., is an extensive dealer in grain and farm implements at Philo, and in 1887 became an active partner with his brother, C. H. Van Vleck, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this ALBUM. Since that time they have operated together successfully, shipping annually frc|ji 200,000 to 300,000 bushels of grain, and ex- tonatng their operations to all important points East and West. Mr. Van V., besides his profitable business in the village of Philo, owns a good farm, a part of which is in the limits. Our subject is a native of Brownsville, Monroe Co., J&j.Y., and was born June 15, 1835. He re- ceived a fair education in the public schools, and after reaching manhood was employed for some time in the American Hotel at Jersey City, as clerk, where he gained a good insight into business methods. He came West while unmarried, and located in Jolict, where he became connected with the Rock Island Railway Company as locomotive 340 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 fireman. From there he went to the Michigan Central and was employed as an engineer for live years. After the close of the late war he ran a train on the Memphis & Louisville Railroad for about six years. In 1870 he took up his residence at Philo, and in company with J. R. Moore, whom he succeeded in the hardware business, operated until 1872. He then sold out to Mr. Ennis, and re- turned to the Michigan Central Railroad, running a train from Joliet to Lake, Ind., for about five years, then, much to the regret of the company whose trusted employe he had been so long, he returned to Philo and engaged with his brother in their pres- ent business. Our subject was married, Jan. 29, 1869, at Bloom, Cook Co., 111., to Miss Sarah J. McCoy, who was born and reared in that county, and is the daughter of John and Sabra McCoy. The former died when Mrs. Van V. was about twelve years old, in 1854, having been a victim of cholera. Mrs. Mc- Coy survived her husband for a period of twenty- eight years, and departed this life in 1882, aged eighty-four. The parental family consisted of twelve children, of whom the wife of our subject was the eleventh. Of the seven sons and five daugh- ters, two of the former were killed in California, one by accident and one murdered for his money. Mrs. Van V. was reared and educated in Aurora, 111., and remained with her parents until her marriage. She became the mother of three children, one of whom, Charles M., is deceased. Belle and Bertie are at home with their parents. Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Philo, and politi- cally Mr. Van V. is an uncompromising Democrat. He has held the various offices of his township and village, and was a member of the Board of Super- visors in 187G. ENRY T. SADORUS. The 400-acre farm occupying the greater part of section 7, in Pesotum Township, has been built up |)j mainly by the_energy and industry of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, and who has arrived at the age of sixty-four years. His life has been one full of interesting ex- periences and his make-up that which has gathered knowledge from what he has observed in life and in- struction from its various phases. Our subject is a native of Rush County, Ind., where he was born in 1823, and was the seventh child of Henry and Mary (Titus) Sadorus, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1849, when twenty-six years of age, he started out from his home on a long journey to the Pacific Coast, going overland with mule-teams, one of his companions being Richard Oglesby, now Governor of Illinois, and about his own age. After arriving in the Golden State they entered the mines at Downieville, where Mr. Sado- rus was very profitably employed for twelve months, and accumulated a goodly package of the yellow ore. At the expiration of this time our subject re- turned to his old home in Illinois, where he re- mained just long enough to gather together a large herd of cattle, with which he started in the spring of 1854, and drove through to Butte County, Cal., the trip consuming a period of four months. He sold his animals at an immense profit, and then took up the business of butchering and stock dealing, which he followed for two or three years, and then, on account of the scarcity of cattle, proceeded to New Orleans and, accompanied by fifteen men, made a trip into Texas to replenish his herd. In the central part of the Lone Star State he purchased 649 head of cattle, which he started to drive through to California, as on the first trip. On his way up the Arkansas River the Indians stampeded the drove one night and succeeded in getting away with 249 head, involving a loss of more than $17,- 000 to Mr. Sadorus, the cattle being worth about $70 per head in California. The remainder of the herd was safely landed in Butte County, where our subject remained four years following, butchering as before, and gathering in a handsome little for- tune. From California Mr. Sadorus came eastward as far as Humboldt County, Nev., where he continued butchering and also engaged in mining until 1863. He then wandered through the mining districts generally from Idaho to Montana, spending two years in prospecting and digging. Then he and ~ CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 341 T four companions concluded to return to the States. They drifted down the Missouri River to St. Joseph, where they took passage for Illinois by rail. Mr. S. was already the owner of a quarter section of land in Saclorus Township, and upon this he now settled and began the more quiet pursuit of farm life in the Prairie State. He added to his first purchase and in due time built up the splendid homestead which is now the admiration of both the surround- ing community and the passer-by. The lady who for the last twenty years pre- sided over the household affairs of our subject, and who was the honored mother of his children, was formerly Miss Sarah Fields, a native of this State, but reared in Fountain County, Ind. Of this mar- riage there were born five children, of whom the eldest, a son, John, died in early childhood. The surviving are living at home, and bear the names respectively of Jessie M., Melissa, Aldula and Jor- dan. The faithful and affectionate wife and mother departed this life on the 18th of June, 1885, and the daughters have since been the household compan- ions of their father. Mr. Sadorus devotes much of his time to the breeding of fine cattle, his favorites being the Short- horns, and he feeds all the grain he raises. He has been too much absorbed in his farm interests and the welfare of his family to give much time to politics, but dutifully casts his vote with the Democrats. As may be supposed he entertains very little regard for the American Indian, and relates many instances illustrating the barbarity of the untrained sav- age. In 1856, during the trip down the Humboldt in company with James Bryden, of Monticello, they came to the home of the Holliday family, who had been engaged in farming and grazing. This family had been warned of the proximity of the enemy, but resolved to fight for their home and its surroundings. When Mr. Sadorus and his party ar- rived at the place they found a newly made grave to mark the place where the house had stood, and beneath the sod were laid the bodies of six of the family by a party of men who were then engaged in a running fight with the Indians, who had exhumed the bodies after their first burial to secure their clothing. Mrs. Holliday alone escaped the general massacre, but was left for dead, having been shot seven times and then scalped. She was picked up by the first party, who had buried the others, and taken to Dogtown,a small supply station, where she eventually recovered. The party which followed the Indians captured their entire camp and put the savages to death. Among the trophies secured was the scalp of Mrs. Holliday, which they returned to her in due time. This was but one of the many acts of cruelty by the Indians of which Mr. S. was a witness during his life in the West. ATRICK FLYNN, a fair representative of the farming community of Philo Town- ship, is the proprietor of 200 acres lying on sections 20 and 28, the residence being on the former. The farm is systematically ar- ranged, with all necessary conveniences for the raising of grain and stock, and with substantial and commodious buildings. It came into the pos- session of our subject by degrees, he having first purchased forty acres in 1862, to which he subse- quently added as his means accumulated. For a period of twenty-five years or over, he has been industriously engaged in its improvement and cul- tivation, and may look upon the result with par- donable pride. Most of it was uncultivated prairie at the beginning, which he has now converted into a farm which will bear comparison with any in the county. Mr. Ftynn was born in Ireland in 1834, and when about twenty years old set out alone for the United States, landing in New York City in April, 1854. Thence he soon afterward proceeded to Chicago, and then to La Salle and Springfield, en- gaging in the latter place with the Wabash Rail- road Company, whose road was then known as the Great Western. He remained with this company for many years, and enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his employers. He worked with them faithfully, the only time lost be- ing when he was laid up with a crippled foot, a part of which he lost by being run over on the 19th of September, 185G. Mr. Flynn was married, in Philo Township, July * 4 342 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 3, 1859, to Miss Mary Ryan, who, like her hus- band, was born in Tipperary County, Ireland, and when fourteen years of age, came, unaccompanied by any member of her family, to the United States. Her mother died in Ireland in about 1874; the fa- ther is yet living in his native Erin. Mr. and Mrs. Flynn became the parents of ten children, five now deceased. Those surviving are, Margaret; John, who married Miss Eliza Johnson; Mary J. ; Ho- nora, who married George O'Burn, and Thomas. Our subject and his wife are loyal adherents of the Catholic faith of their fathers, and politically Mr. Flynn is a stanch Democrat. IEORGE A. FISHER, a prominent young farmer of Condit Township, is pleasantly located on section 6, where he makes a specialty of the breeding of fine stock. He keeps about seventy-five' head of cattle, among them twelve thoroughbreds and the balance high grades. His homestead is neatly arranged, the buildings kept in good repair, and on every hand is indi- cated the industry and enterprise of the proprietor. Mr. Fisher is a native of this county, born in Ma- homet Township, Aug. 24, 1858. His father, Robert Fisher, was born in Madison County, Ohio, Aug. 22, 1829, and was the son of James W. Fisher, a native of Ohio, whence he removed to the Prairie State in the year 1 848, and located in this county in the days of its first settlement. (See sketch of William C. Fisher elsewhere in this work.) Robert Fisher, the father of our subject, remained a resident of his native county until 1848, and then came to Illinois with his parents. They at once located in Mahomet Township, where Rob- ert was married, and remained on the homestead until the death of his father, which took place one year afterward. In 1860 he removed to New- comb Township, and located on section 21. Be- fore the death of his father the two had purchased the whole of section 6, in Condit Township, with the exception of forty acres of timber, and had entered a ([iwrler section from the Government on section 1 of Mahomet Township; he also bought a quarter section of another party. There had been but few improvements made previous to his removal here in 1860. Rantoul, ten miles distant, was the nearest railroad station at the time Mr. Fisher was one of the prime movers in the build- ing of the Narrow Gauge Railroad from Le Roy, 111., to Lebanon, Ind., and had the station located on his land, on section 36 of Brown Township, the village being named in his honor. He continued on his homestead on section. 21, of Newcomb Township, until the spring of 1884, then removed to Hubbell, Thayer Co., Neb., where he and his sons together purchased large tracts of land, which they are now improving and also engaged in gen- eral merchandising. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Sarah A. Ham. She was born in Virginia, and was the daughter of Bartholomew Ham, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this ALBUM. By her marriage with Robert Fisher, she became the mother of seven children, whose home training she carefully looked after, and to whom she set an ex- ample of patience and goodness well worthy of their imitation. The subject of this history was the third child born to his parents, and spent his early years after the manner of most farmers' boys, assisting in the lighter labors of the farm, and attending the dis- trict school. After reaching manhood he was mar- ried, and settled in Fisher Village, having deter- mined to try some other occupation than farming for a time at least. He accordingly engaged in the mercantile business and manufacture of brick and tile, and after three years' experience was sat- isfied to return to the farm, where he has since re- mained. He has been successful in his agricultural operations, which have been chiefly devoted to stock-raising, and exhibits some of the finest speci- mens of thoroughbred animals to be found in this section. The wife of our subject, before her marriage, was Miss Ellie McClelland, a native of Franklin Township, Licking Co., Ohio, and the daughter of Joshua R. McClelland, of Pennsylvania, of whom a sketch will be found on another page in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have become the par- ents of two bright children, who are the light of T i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 343 , , the household, and whom they named Loren V. and Robert Forrest. Mr. Fisher takes an intelli- gent interest in current events and uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. ^ALTER REESE, of Hensley Township, is a native of Washington County, Ohio, and the son of George Reese, of Hazel Valley, Pa. His grandfather, Stephen Reese, a native of Wales, came to America with his parents when a small child. The family located in Pennsylvania, where the great-grandparents of our subject spent the last years of their life. Their son, Stephen, was reared, married and lived in his native State until about 1818, when he removed to Ohio and located in Washington County, where he died six years later during the cholera epidemic of 1822. George Reese, the father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native State, where he learned the trade of a carpenter but afterward followed his father to Ohio. His first work in Ohio was to assist in the building of a keel-boat. After this he removed to Washington County, and purchased a farm near Newport. This he cultivated with the aid of hired help while also carrying on his carpen- ter business, in which he became quite famous, and was finally engaged solely as a contractor. He died in Washington County, Ohio, in about 1876. The mother of our subject, who before her marriage was Miss Margaret Kerr, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Aug. 22, 1800, and lived there until eighteen years of age. She then went to Ohio with the family of her father, Charles Kerr. The latter was a native of Pennsylvania and of German parentage and descent. Mrs. Margaret Reese de- parted this life on the old homestead in Ohio in about 1885, after having been the faithful and affectionate companion of her husband for a period of over fifty years. The parental household included ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest. He was reared on his father's farm, and when seventeen years of age became employed in a nursery at Newport. After seven or eight years thus occupied he removed to Lawrence County, Ohio, where he rented a farm and lived until 1856. He then came to Illinois, worked out one season, and then took a piece of land for another party. In 1861 he lo- cated on the place which he now owns and occu- pies. It was wild land when he took possession, but he has brought it to a good state of cultivation, erected a shapely and convenient set of frame buildings, planted fruit and shade trees, and marked off the different fields with hedge fences. It now bears fair comparison with the thrifty homesteads for which this section is noted. The marriage of Walter Reese and Miss Julia Gorrell took place in July, 1847. Mrs. R. is a na- tive of Tyler County, W. Va., and the daughter of Levi and Charity (Shinn) Gorrell. Of this union there were born seven children; Joseph B. was the Assessor of Hensley Township four years ; Eliza be- came the wife of William Chambers, now deceased, and lives in Danville, Iowa; Dora, Conders C., Grant and Anna, are at home; Trella R. married James R. Shivvers, aud lives in Winfield, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Reese are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a straight Republican. Tw'ACOB H. JUDY, a prosperous farmer of Newcomb Township, first opened his eyes to the light in Greene County, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1821. He is the son of John and Christina (Hittle) Judy, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Ohio, and both of German ancestry. They located in Greene County, Ohio, soon after their marriage, whence they emigrated in the fall of 1825, to Sangamon County, 111., being among the pioneer settlers of that region. They made the journey in wagons, driving their cattle before them. After settling the family and gathering the provis- ions for the winter, the elder Judy, in company with George and Jonas Hittle, started North on an ex- ploring expedition, going first to Pekin, and then to Peoria. The former place at that time was a hamlet of three cabins, and Peoria, known as Ft. Clark, was then composed of twelve cabins. The N i 344 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. father of our subject had brought with him $200 in gold. The two men made a claim in Ilittle Township, and then returned to Saugamon County for their teams and provisions, leaving their families until the next trip. Returning to Hittle Township they put up three cabins, and in February, 1826, moved their families into their new quarters. Here Mr. Judy established a comfortable home, which he oc- cupied with his family until the death of himself and his excellent wife. The mother died in 1845, and the father in 1861. The household circle included eight children, four sons and four daugh- ters. The subject of this historj' was the eldest sou and second child of his parents, and was a little over four years of age when they brought him to Illi- nois. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-one years old, and then served an appren- ticeship at the carpenter's trade which, however, he practically abandoned to take up the more congenial occupation of farming. For the greater part of fifty-six years following he made his home in Tazewell County, this State, with the exception of four years spent in Atlanta, 111., on account of the illness of his wife, and during which time he fol- lowed his trade. He sold his farm in Tazewell County and came to Champaign County in the spring of 1881, locating in Newcomb Township, on section 11. Here he has one of the finest farms in the entire county. It comprises 240 acres of choice land, with a beautiful dwelling, a good barn and all other necessary farm buildings. He also owns eighty acres in Brown Township. The residence grounds are laid out with great taste, and much care has been exercised in the general appearance of the homestead, which evinces on all sides the cul- tivated tastes and prosperity of its proprietor. The marriage of Jacob H. Judy and Miss Lu- cinda Clarno was celebrated on the 10th of Maj% 1845, in Tazewell County. This lady was the daughter of William and Sarah (Whitman) Clarno, and was born in Ohio, whence she removed with her parents when a young child to Tazewell County, 111. Of her marriage with our subject there were born four children, of whom the record is as fol- lows: Thnddeus died when four years old ; John died in Tazewell County, of consumption, aged thirty-two years; George married Miss Edith Alls- brook, and is a merchant in Armington,Mll. ; Hester became the wife of John Steller, and resides in Tazewell County. Mrs. Lacinda Judy departed this life at Atlanta, 111., in about 1853. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Tazewell County, Nov. 11, 1856, was Miss Alice Blair, who was born near Detroit, Mich., of New England parentage. She is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Clark) Blair, and a cousin of ex-Senator Blair of Michigan. Of this marriage there have been born six children, who are recorded as follows : Lillie died when four years old ; Lot married Miss Addie Phillips, and is a dealer in horses at Dorchester, Neb.; Edward married Miss Libby Nesbit, and is a resident of Newcomb Township; Loren is a practicing physician; Emma is attending the State Normal University at Nor- mal, 111.; Olive died young. Mr. and Mrs. Judy are members of the Christian Church, and our sub- ject politically is a firm Republican. E F. GEIGER, a substantial represent- ative of the hardware trade of Mahomet, came to this locality in the spring of 1 870. During the early part of his life he was engaged in farming, from which he retired in 1882 to establish himself in his present business. He is a native of Germany, and was born April 23, 1834. His par- ents were George J. and Catherine Geiger, natives of the same country, where they passed their entire lives, and where their remains were laid to rest. Our subject was the second of a family of four children. He received a High School education in his native town, where he remained until he was twenty-two years of age. He then came by him- self to the United States, and after reaching the shores of the New World proceeded directly to Illi- nois, locating in Sangamon County, and engaging as a farm laborer. Three years later he rented a tract of land which he cultivated on his own account. He remained four years in Sangamon County, whence he removed to Logan County, and after CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 345 farming there two years on rented land, purchased eighty acres which he cultivated and occupied for four years. He then sold out, and in 1870 pur- chased a farm in Mahomet Township, this county, which he conducted for a period of twelve years. At the expiration of this time he placed it in the hands of a responsible tenant and established him- self in the hardware trade at Mahomet, of which he lias since been a resident. He is considered by all as a stanch and reliable citizen, and one contrib- uting his share toward the business interests of the community. Mr. Geiger was married in Marion County, 111., in December, 18f>9, to Miss Mary Simmons, who was born in Missouri in 1836. Of this union there are two children Katie M., the wife of Irving Ris- ing, of Mahomet, and Rosa A., at home with her parents. Mr. G. for six years was Supervisor of Mahomet Township and for several years served as Road Commissioner. Politically he is Republican, socially, an Odd Fellow, and religiously, a member of the Reform Church. His wife is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church. FRANCIS M. WATTS, who is pursuing the even tenor of his way as the leading mer- chant of the village of Ivesdale, in Sadorus Township, established in business there in the spring of 1881, and has built up a good trade in general merchandise, having among his patrons the best people of his community. He first appeared upon the stage of action in Perry County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1844, and was the second in a family of seven chil- dren born to Charles and Elizabeth (Tracy) Watts, the father a native of Ohio, and the mother of Maryland. They followed farming in a modest manner in the Buckeye State, and Francis M. re- mained a member of the parental household until the outbreak of the late Rebellion. When a little over nineteen years of age our sub- ject enlisted, Feb. 18, 1864, as a soldier of the Un- ion Army, becoming a member of Co. G, 76th Ohio Vol. Inf., which was assigned to the 1st brigade in the 1st division of the loth Army Corps, under command of Capt. Stewart, and proceeded to the South, where the troops entered upon the contin- uous struggle which succeeded from that time un- til the fall of Atlanta. Young Watts, with his com- rades, joined in the march with Sherman to Savan- nah, where he remained during the winter oh provost duty. In the spring his regiment moved out and followed the line of Sherman's march to Columbia, S. C., where our subject served in a sim- ilar capacity during the siege of that city. From there they proceeded to Bentonville and engaged in the last fight of the Union troops with Gen. Joe Johnson, during which he surrendered, and upon which closely followed the final capitulation of the rebels generally. Mr. Watts, with his command, proceeded to Washington and participated in the grand review, after which his regiment was trans- ferred by rail to Louisville, Ky., where they re- mained until the 12th of July, 1865, when they received their honorable discharge and were mus- tered out. Our subject during his seventeen months of army life came out without receiving a scratch, and returning to his home in the Buckeye State, re- mained there until the fall of 1868. He then came to this State, locating first in Piatt County, where he followed farming on rented land until 1874; afterward he purchased eighty acres, and soon by a series of circumstances was induced to change his location and occupation. Coming to Ivesdale, this county, he learned telegraphy, and was agent on the Wabash road for a period of eight years. From that position he drifted into mercantile business, which he followed in Ivesdale two years, and then selling out, went to Kansas, with the design of lo- cating there and following the same vocation. Failing to find anything desirable he returned as far east as Indiana, and engaged in the grocery trade at Kokomo. A year later he sold out there and returned to Ivesdale, where he has since re- mained, lie carries a stock of groceries and the lighter articles required about the farm and house- hold, and by his correct business methods has built up a flourishing trade. Most of his time has been spent strictly attending to his own affairs, as he finds this the easiest method of getting on. Although reasonably anxious that the Republican party should have the management of National affairs, I ll CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. and those of importance nearer home, he takes no further part in it^ deliberation than to cast his vote at the general election. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married Jan. 28, 1876, was formerly Miss Angeline B., eld- est child of Robert and Catherine Redmond, na- tives of Ohio. Mrs. Watts was born near Indian- apolis, Ind., in 1855, and there spent the greater part of her childhood and youth. Of her union with our subject there were born two sons Charles B. and Francis Joseph. The former died during their trip to the West. Mr. and Mrs. Watts are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and enjoy the association of a large circle of friends. B. FEEMAN. The snug homestead of this gentleman lies on section 21, in Brown Township, on the road leading to the city of Mahomet and to Center School-House. He has followed out the theory of Horace Greeley in possessing himself of a medium-sized farm' well cultivated. Each acre is made available either for grain or pasturage, and all are neatly enclosed with good fences. The farm buildings, unpre- tentious in style, perhaps, are suited to all the requirements of the small family of our subject, where they live peaceable and contented lives in the midst of comfort, and respected by their friends and neighbors. The parents of our subject, Benjamin L. and Frances (Leitnacker) Feernan, were natives of Fair- field County, Ohio, where they established a home after their marriage and where they still reside. They had a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom Henry B. of our sketch was the third child. He also was born in Fail-field County, Ohio, Aug. 8, 1845, and remained with his parents on the farm, receiving a common-school education and learning to plow and sow until the outbreak of the late Civil War. Then, although but sixteen years of age, he resolved to enter the Union ranks, and enlisted in Co. M, 12th Ohio Vol. Cav., serv- ing two years and three months. With his com- rades he encountered the enemy at Mt. Sterling, Ky., where he was captured by the rebels, but after a few hours made his escape by eluding the guards and taking "leg bail." He rejoined his regiment at Mt. Sterling, with which he remained until the expiration of his term of service. Returning to his old home in Fail-field, Ohio, our subject worked for his father two years, and in 1867 came to Shelby ville, this State, and for the year following engaged in farming on rented land. He then returned to Fail-field County, Ohio, and purchasing a threshing-machine occupied himself with this until in the spring of 1872, when he again came to Illinois and rented a farm in Champaign Township, this county, two years. At the expira- tion of this time he rented the Ball farm in Brown Township, which he operated for a year, and in the meantime purchased the land which he now owns and occupies. This he took possession of in the spring of 1874. He has expended about $600 in tile, and each year adds some new improvement enhancing the value of his property. The marriage of Mr. Feeman took place in his native county in the Buckeye State, Jan. 16, 1872, wheil^Iiss Maggie H., daughter of David and Pris- cilla (Wells) Ewing, became his wife. The parents of Mrs. F. were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively, and after their marriage located in Fairfield, Ohio, where they reared two children, the wife of our subject being the second. Mrs. Fee- man is a native of the same county as her husband, born June 13, 1848, and like him was reared in the Buckeye State. She was given the advantages of its free schools in early life, is a worthy and intelli- gent lady, and belongs to the Protestant Methodist Church. Their two children Harlan L. and Henry E. are still at home with their parents. Mr. Fee- nan votes with the Republican party, and socially belongs to Van Wert Post No. 300, G. A. R., in Fisher. JAMES H. LOTT, who is engaged in merchan. dising in Mahomet, has been a resident of the Prairie State since a child four years 1 of age. He is a native of Steuben County, N. Y. . and was born June 19, 1842. He received a limited education, and his mother died when he was twelve years old, and school privileges at that i LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 349 \ time were few and far between. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth (Arnwinc) Lott, the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of Pennsyl- vania. After living in Steuben County, N. Y., a few years they came to Illinois, locating in Kanka- kee County, where the mother died in 1854. Henry Lott afterward made his home with his children, his death occurring in 1885 at the residence of his son, in Mahomet. The ten children of the parental household con- sisted of seven sons and three daughters, of whom our subject was the eighth child. He commenced the duties of life at an early age, and engaged in farm work until after the outbreak of the late war. He then enlisted in Co. A, 28th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served three years and eight days, suffering bravely with his comrades the hardships and diffi- culties of camp life and the march until August, 18G5, after the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge and was mustered out at ISiivannah, Ga. He participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and was present at many hard fought battles, including those of Winchester and Cedar Creek, besides various minor engage- ments and skirmishes, from all of which he escaped injury. After his retirement from army life Mr. Lott until 1872 carried on farming in Newcomb Town- ship, whence he removed that year to Mahomet, and in January, 1873, established himself in the dry-goods trade, which he has conducted since that time. Two years later his stock and store were destroyed by fire, which involved nearly all his earthly possessions. In April of the following year, however, he started again upon a small capi- tal, and since that time has met with success, en- joying a good trade, and being able to put up a convenient and commodious store building. The marriage of James H. Lott and Miss Sarah J. Hinton took place in Newcomb Township on the 24th of June, 1869. Mrs. L. is the daughter of Pleamon and Nancy (Anderson) Hinton, residents of Newcomb Township, where the father died in about 1883. Mrs. H. is still living, and a resident of Newcomb Township. Mrs. Lott was born in Clinton County, Ind., May 25, 1851, and by her marriage with our subject became the mother of five children, only three of whom are living Min- nie O., Maud A., and Lillie L. Nancie and Lum A. are deceased. Mr. Lott is a gentleman highly esteemed in the community, being genial, courteous and hospitable, and giving evidence of his birth -and breeding as a gentleman in the highest sense of the word. He has served his township as .School Director and member of the Village Hoard. He is connected with the Blue Lodge, in Mahomet, and Champaign Chapter, Champaign. Politically he is independent, aiming to vote for the men best qualified for office. Mrs. Lott is connected with the Methodist Episco- pal Church. 'RANK OFFENSTEIN owns a good farm which is especially adapted to corn-raising, and which lies on section 2!t, in S.idorus Township. His buildings, although by no means pretentious, are comfortable, and answer fully the modest requirements of the proprietor, who knows how every penny of his property was accumulated, and who has learned to take good care of the results of his industry and perseverance. The early home of our subject was on the other side of the Atlantic, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was born Jan. 18, 1842, and spent twelve years of his earliest childhood in the valley of the Rhine. His parents were Philip and Margaret E. (Rodmaker) Offen- stein, also natives of the Fatherland. The former was a brickmaker by trade. In 1854 Philip Offenstein, not satisfied with his condition and prospects in his native country, re- solved to emigrate to the United States. Setting sail from Havre, France, after a tedious voyage of six weeks, they arrived on American shores in the month of November. The two eldest daughters, not wishing to come at that time, remained with their relatives on the other side, but afterward joined the family here. After following the river up to Illinois, the father of our subject engaged in brickmaking in St. Clair County, where the family took up their first residence, and where they re- mained until 1808. The father then, in company f f 350 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. with his son, our subject, came into Champaign County, where Frank Offenstcin purchased 160 acres of slight!}' improved land in Sadorus Township, on section 29. Soon afterward they were joined by the balance of the family, and here our subject has lived since that time, his father and mother remain- ing with him until they were called hence. In the spring of 1867, the marriage of Frank Offenstein and Miss Katrina Kuntz was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Belleville, 111. Mrs. O. is the daughter of Adarn and Katrina (Lam- bertas) Kuntz, who were natives of Germany, but their daughter was born in St. Clair County, 111. The result of this union is ten children, who were named respectively as follows: Rudolph, Millie M. and Philip (deceased), Frank William, John Fred- erick, Anna Catharine, Ida Mary, Eliza Margarette, Theodore Henry and Emma Fredericka. The sur- viving eight are all at home with their parents, the eldest being about nineteen years of age. Mr. Offenstein devotes the greater part of his time to the production of corn, for which his farm seems best fitted. Since becoming a naturalized citizen he has voted with the Republican party, but further than this takes no active part in politics. He has served his township as School Director, and with his estimable wife is a member in good stand- ing of the Lutheran Church. A lithographic view of Mr. Offenstein's residence is shown on another page of this work. I MOS BOURNE, of Tolono Township, has been a resident of this county since the spring of 1865. He first opened his eyes to the light in Franklin County, Ind., on the 9th of January, 1840. His father, Nathan Bourne, a native of Barnstable County, Mass., was born May 10, 1794, and during his early manhood followed the trade of a carpenter. After reaching his majority he started for the West. His route led him through the State of Pennsylvania, where he made the acquaintance of Miss Sarah Ross, which friendship ripened into a deeper feeling, and they were married there. After this event they located on a farm in Franklin County, Iml., where they passed the remainder of their lives. The death of Nathan Bourne occurred July 27, 1803. The mother was born May 29. 1806, and survived her husband twenty-two years, her death taking place on the 1'Jth of November, 1880. Their habits of frugality and industry had been amply rewarded, and at his death the father of our subject was the owner of 200 acres of valuable land, with good im- provements. The five children born to the parental household were: Kmeline, who married Henry Shultz, and lives in Missiouri; Lucy, the wife of George Shultz, a resident of Franklin County, Intl. ; Amos, of our sketch ; Nathan, of Franklin County, Ind., and Almira, the wife of Patrick Gill, also of Franklin County. Amos Bourne was reared on his father's farm and received a common-school education. After ar- riving at years of manhood he was married, Feb. 21, 1861, to Miss Maria Shultz, the daughter of John and Catherine Shultz. Mrs. B. was born in Franklin County, Ind., Sept. 9, 1841. Of this mar- riage there were born nine children. One little daughter at the age of two years was taken from the home circle by death on the 22d of February, 1872. Those living arc Lillian L., the wife of Will- iam Hayes, of Connorsville. Ind.; Ulysses James; Mary R., the wife of William Rose; George S., Flora C., Nathan L., Roena Violet and John II. The parents and two children are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. R., po- litically, is a straight Republican. He has always been interested in the moral and intellectual wel- fare of his community, and has officiated as a mem- ber of the School Board several terms. Our subject owned a farm of eighty-one acres in his native county, which he tilled until 1864, when he sold out, and the following year came to Illinois, becoming a resident of Tolono Township on the 3d of April, 1865. He had previously purchased eighty acres of land which constitutes a part of his present homestead, and to which he added until he now has a valuable farm of 280 acres under a state of good cultivation. In 1886 he erected a tine two- story dwelling, and has a good barn and all neces- sary buildings for the storing of grain and the shel- ter of stock. The homestead in all its appoint- t. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 351 I ments is one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of Tolono Township, and is highly cred- itable to the industry and forethought of its pro- prietor. A view of the place is shown in this con- nection. ATTHEW J. ROE, deceased, who was well and favorably known in Pesotum Town- ship, was born in Bath County, Ky., April 9, 1820. He was second of the five chil- dren of Stephen and Rebecca (Johnson) Roe, the former a carpenter by trade, but who spent much of his time in the more congenial occupation of fanning. He owned- a fine homestead in Bath County, including 200 acres of land with good im- provements, and remained a resident of his native State until his decease. Matthew Roe, in 1855, desiring to see something of the world outside of his native State, came north into Menard County, 111., where he purchased forty acres of land, and was engaged in its cultivation until the outbreak of the late war. Then, leaving his family in the care of David F. Hopkins on an adjoining farm, he entered the Union service, en- listing in Co. K, 106th 111. Vol. Inf. He partici- pated with his comrades in many important battles, including those of Vicksburg, Pine Bluff and Little Rock, besides various minor engagements. As a soldier he performed his duties faithfully, having had already some experience in the Mexican War. Although encountering many hairbreadth escapes he came out without i scratch, but suffered consid- erably in health, in fact this was the final cause of his death, which took place on the 5th of January, 1886. The marriage of Matthew J. Roe and Mrs. Lucy (Bailey) Hopkins was celebrated at the home of the bride in the fall of 1850. Mrs. Roe was the widow of J. M. Hopkins, a native of Bath County, Ky., and who only lived two years after his marriage. Of this union there was born one child, David Francis, who married Miss Emily J. Propst, and is a resident of Douglas County, 111. To Mr. and Mrs. Roe there were born two children, of whom one, Caleb C., died when eight years of age; the surviving son, William Walker, born in 1853, was married to Miss Rosalie Cooper, on the 10th of May, 1882. The first six months they lived with his parents, and then moved into Pesotum, where they continued three years, and until the fall before the death of Mr. Roe, William being engaged in the grain business. He is now the chief support and adviser of his widowed mother, and possesses in a marked degree the enterprise and good judg- ment of his father. The young people are the par- ents of two children Alba M. and Elwayne C. After retiring from the army Mr. Roe purchased eighty acres of land in Pesotum Township, this county, and was very successful, being prospered from the start. He made good improvements, and in due time added to his landed area until he be- came the owner of 300 acres. During the latter years of his life he gave his attention principally to stock-raising. Mr. Roe, early in life, before the or- ganization of the Republican party, was an old-line Whig. Later he endorsed Republican principles, and supported them by his voice and vote. He never connected himself with any church organiza- tion. Mrs. Roe, formerly a member of the Chris- tian Church, in 1858 withdrew and identified herself with the United Brethren. As the widow of a vet- eran she draws a pension from the Government. OHN J. ZERBE, of Brown Township, came to Champaign County in 1863, from Berks County, Pa., and settled in what is now East Bend Township, whence he removed to Brown Township in 1866, and has since resided there. lie has a good farm, embracing 160 acres of improved land on section 21, equipped with all neccessary out-buildings for comfortable living and for farm pin-poses. He is in all respects couduct- iug himself as an honest man and a good citizen, cultivating the soil, raising good crops which oc- cupy a creditable place on the market, and as he has opportunity, contributing his share toward the welfare of his community. The parents of our subject, John W. and Eliza- beth (Arnold) Zerbe, natives of Pennsylvania, after becoming husband and wife settled down to housekeeping and farming in Berks County, where t t 352 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. they lived until 1877. That year they joined their son in Illinois and took up their abode in Sidney Township, where the father died in 1879; the mother still survives, making her home in Berks County, Pa. Of the children born to this worthy couple John .T. was the sixth, his birth taking place Sept. 30, 1837, in Berks County, Pa. He remained a member of his father's household until twenty- six years of age, in the meantime being employed as clerk in a store and as a teacher in the district schools, following the latter for seventeen winters in succession. Aside from this the greater part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits. Mr. /erbe was married, in Newcomb Township, this count} 7 , on the 1st of December, 1870, the lady of his choice being Miss Maggie Mitchell, a native of Harrison County, Ohio. Mrs. /. is the daughter of John and Nancy (Edgar) Mitchell, and was born May 9, 1845. The six children of this household are named as follows: Minnie M., John F., Charles G., Lillian B., George W. and G rover C. The name of the last child satisfacto- rily t indicates the politics of Mr. Zerbe. He has been honored with the various offices of his town- ship, having served as Assessor, Clerk, Justice of the Peace and School Trustee. Both our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Protestant Methodist Church, and rank among the representative people of one of the most thrifty communities in the State. r/ILLIAM R. CLARK, a prominent and highly respected, citizen of Lndlow, has been successfully engaged as a grain dealer since the spring of 1881. He bears the reputation of a high-minded Christian gentleman, honorable and upright in his business transactions, and a val- ued member of the refined society of his commun- ity. Mr. C. comes of an excellent family, and was born in Harrison County, Ohio, March 9, 1822. :His father, John Clark, of Virginia, emigrated to the Buckeye State when a young man and was among the earliest pioneers of Harrison County. He purchased a tract of land, which he occupied and cultivated for a few years with success, and later removed to Coshocton County, afterward be- coming also a resident of Knox and Champaign Counties, in the latter of which he spent the last years of his life. William R. Clark was the youngest of his moth- er's children, and during his youth and boyhood pursued his early studies in the pioneer schools conducted in the primitive log cabin, mostly on the subscription plan. He remained a member of the parental household until twenty-two years old, then settled on a piece of land which his father had given him. Five yeai's later he rented his farm and removed to Miami County in the western part of the State where, with a partner, he engaged in mercantile business at Casstown. A year of this sufficed, and he returned to Urbana. where he lived seven years and engaged in merchandising. He then sold out and purchased a farm near Cable, in Cham- paign County. Ohio, where he operated as a grain dealer and followed farming. In September, 1868, he came to this county and purchased a tract of land on section 14, in Ludlow Township. Seven years later he removed to the village and com- menced dealing in coal and flour, to which he after- ward added lumber, and has continued thus em- ployed until the present time. His grain transac- tions began in 1880, and have been conducted suc- cessfully since that time. Mr. Clark, in 1844, was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Baldwin, at the home of the bride's parents, in Wayne Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, the wedding taking place on the llth of April. Mrs. Clark was born in Logan County, Ohio, in the same year as her husband, 1822, in the month of December. They have four children living and located as follows: Minnie became the wife of G. W. Payne, a resident of Sullivan, 111.; Ida and Alta are twins; the former married John Jackson, a resident of Ford County; Alta became Mrs. William Hamilton, and settled with her hus- band near Wellington, in this State; Nettie mar- ried E. A. Ekstrand, a prosperous merchant of Lud- low. Our subject and wife became members of the Methodist Episcopal Church early in life, of which he was Trustee in Ohio, and has filled the same po- I t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 353 sition here. Politically he supports the principles of the Republican party. He was one of the first subscribers for the Urbana Citizen and Gazette, which was established in 1843, and has taken the paper continuously since that time. He was School Treasurer for a number of years, and has been one of the foremost men both in social and business circles, always encouraging the march of progress and every enterprise tending to the welfare of his fellow-citizens. During the late war he, in 1864, enlisted in Co. F, 134th Ohio Militia, and was com- missioned Second Lieutenant, serving until Sep- tember. "ft? AMES ALEXANDER HOSSACK. This | representative of a prominent family of this county, is pleasantly located in Champaign Township, where he occupies a fine home- stead with his sisters, Mrs. S. H. McLcllan, Mar- garet M. and Jemima M. Hossack. The Hossack family was originally from Scandinavia, but after- ward removed to the north coast of Scotland, where several generations were born and passed away. The great-grandfather of our subject, Saunders Hossack, removed to Gourock on the Clyde, which, however, now knows the family no more, its various members since then having scat- tered over England, Scotland and America. The only Hossack of this branch of the family in the West, is James A., of Champaign, of whom we write. He is the only son and second child of the late Capt. Alexander and Susan (MacCunn) Hos- sack, of Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, in which city he was born in 1845. The other members of the family are Susan Campbell, Margaret Milne and Jemima MacCunn Hossack. Of these Susan Campbell was married to Hugh McLellan, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and of that union there is one surviving child, Mary Clutha. Alexander Hossack, the father of our subject, was the eldest son of James and Margaret (Milne) Hossack, of Gourock, who were the parents of four daughters and three sons, of whom Alexander was the fourth child. Of this large family but one re- mains, Rev. John Hossack, of Handsworth, Bir- mingham, England. He is an old man of about 4' seventy years, and has no family. Dr. James Hussack, the third son, was lost at sea on his way to China in about the j'ear 1 855 ; he was never married. The subject of this history is the only grandson who bears the paternal name. Capt. Alexander, the sailor, died in 1848. He had made many voyages to the East Indies and China, but in the latter years of his life most of his sea jour- neyings were to and from America. Upon two of these voyages his wife accompanied him, with their eldest child upon the first, and their two eldest children upon the second. The vessel, the " New York Packet," was owned principally by members of the family. This adventurous wife and mother was the daughter of John MacCunn, of Gourock, who with his brothers, James and William, were owners of stock in the first steamer that plied the waters of the Clyde. The " New York Packet " belonged principally to the late John MacCunn, of Greenock, son of the above and brother of Mrs. Hossack. His ships were to be seen on all waters, and when Tennyson became popular as a poet, were called after his heroes or heroines, namely, King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Guinevieve, etc. About a j'ear previous to the death of Capt. Hossack he retired from the sea, and went into business as a ship plumber, which promised to be profitable, ow- ing to his long connection with the ship-owners, and no doubt would have been but for his early death, which occurred in Greenock when he was in the thirty-second year of his age. Upon the death of her husband, the mother of our subject determined to devote her life to the care of her four children, the eldest of whom was then five years and a half old, while the youngest was but five months. How faithfully she fulfilled her trust only her family can testify. For "four years after her husband's death, Mrs. Hossack re- mained in Greenock, then, thinking that a change might be beneficial for her children, she, in 1852, removed to Dunoon, Argyleshire, where the fam- ily lived for several years. In 1857 she had the misfortune to lose a great part of her money, be- ing a stockholder in the Western Bank of Scotland, which became financially embarrassed, and on ac- count of this calamity she resolved to emigrate to America, having a favorite sister, Mrs. Robert 351 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Tliallon, in Brooklyn, N. V. She arrived there with her little family in November, 1858, this be- ing her third and final visit to this country, where she remained the balance of her life. Although of frail constitution, and a great sufferer physically, her self-sacrificing interest iu her children's behalf, enabled her to endure much, while her resolution of character was remarkably illustrated. She im- mediately placed her children in the public schools, where her son James remained until he was four- teen years of age. He was then taken into the office of his uncle,- the late Robert Thallon, who was one of the founders of the New York Produce Exchange, and one of its most honored members. The office was located iu Hanover Square, and here James Hossack remained for nearly three 3 T ears, gaining a good insight into general business methods. Then, by the advice of his uncle, he entered the packing-house of Rutherford & Adams, on Twenty-seventh street, in New York City, to learn their business. This not being to his taste, however, a few years later he returned to his former office, which was now in possession of Charles W. Lord, who had succeeded Mr. Thallon in the business, when the latter went to Europe. While in Mr. Lord's office, our subject met with a great allliction in the death of his tender and affectionate mother, who had lived just long enough to hear that peace was declared in the country whose interests had become hers, and whose destiny she had regarded with an affection no less than one of its own children. The last public meeting which she attended was upon the occasion of the eulogy delivered by Dr. Richard Storrs upon the martyred Lincoln. The death of this estimable lady oc- curred on the 9th of June, 1 865, when she was in the fifty-second year of h?r age, and her remains were laid to rest by her sorrowing family in Green- wood Cemetery. James A. Hossack then decided to seek his fortunes in the great West. He had inherited a strong love for the sea. and felt obliged to fly from the temptation that daily assailed him while he was in sight of it, in order to keep the promise whicli he had made his mother that he would never be a sailor. Accordingly in the fall of that year he came to Illinois, and in due time purchased 200 acres of wild prairie, upon whicli there was not a single tree and scarcely a stone. This land, re- deemed from its original condition, now consti- tutes the homestead of our subject, a beautiful farm, well drained, wooded and tilled. It is scarcely necessary to say that its present condition has been brought about by years of industry and excellent business management. Mr. Hossack also turned his attention to stock-raising, and in all re- spects has been uniformly successful. Politically he is a Republican, but at the last presidential elec- tion considered himself justified in casting his vote for Grover Cleveland. Mr. Hossack has never married, his domestic affairs being presided over by his sister, Miss Margaret Hossack. Religiously the family may be properly called Presbyterian. The grandfather, James Hossack, in his native Scotland walked every Sunday a dis- tance of three miles from Gourock to Greenock to attend the United Presbyterian Church in St. George's Square, and continued these journey ings until he was over eighty years of age. The Cham- paign County branch of the family worship with the Congregationalists at Champaign, presided over by the Rev. W. G. Pierce. "if? AMES LUMLEY, whose early home was in Yorkshire, England, where he was born in 1824, came to the United States in 184G, and to this State in 1857. He is now a resident of Sadorus, where he carries on a trade in agricult- ural implements and also conducts a butcher-shop, supplying the best grades of meat to the citizens of the village, and first-class farming implements to the agriculturists in the surrounding townships. His straightforward business methods and his relia- bility as a man and a citizen, have secured him the confidence of large numbers of friends and patrons. Our subject is the eldest child of a family of seven born to Charles and Catherine (Gates) Lum- ley, who were natives of England. When he was nine years of age, his parents changed their location, going from the northern to the western part of Yorkshire, where the boy engaged in a wool-comb- ing factory, and followed this occupation for a f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 355 period of twelve years, in the meantime also learn- ing the butcher's trade, at which he employed him- self when business was dull in the other. In 184G, when twenty-two years of age, he decided to make a change, and seeing no prospect of advancement in the land of his birth, resolved to emigrate to America, and try the experiment of living under another system of government. Accordingly he set sail from Liverpool on the 28th of February, and after a tedious voyage of forty-one days ar- rived in Boston, Mass. He had already been mar- ried, in August of the previous year, to Miss Har- riet, daughter of William Firth, and also a native of Yorkshire, England. Three months after his arrival in this country, Mr. L. sent for his wife. She joined him near Lowell, at a place called Ballard Vale, where they lived for about a year, and thence removed to West Chelmsford, in Middlesex County, where our sub- ject followed wool-combing for a .time and then worked in the regular factory, until his earnings enabled him to buy a small house and lot. Desir- ing, however, to go into business for himself, he soon afterward sold his little property, and invested in a butcher's outfit, setting up business and meet- ing with fair success. About this time his atten- tion was attracted by the glowing accounts of the West, in regard to the desirability of a homestead on the prairies of Illinois, and in 1857 he disposed of his interests in the Bay State and came to this county, purchasing a quarter section of railroad land in Sadorus Township. He afterward sold back eighty acres of this to the railroad and occupied his time in improving the balance, afterward add- ing to it forty acres, and now owns a fine farm of 120 acres, with good buildings, and all other mod- ern appliances. In 1852 Mr. Lumley met with a sad affliction in the death of his wife, Harriet, who left him with two children Mary and Joseph. They are still living, Mary being the wife of Samuel Goodnight, who is engaged in farming in the southern part of the State. Joseph is unmarried, and is a clerk in Kansas. In 1853 our subject was married to Miss Hannah O'Leary, a native of Ireland, who had emigrated to the United States about a year pre- vious to her marriage with Mr. Lumley. Of this union there have been born four children : The eldest son, James, married Miss Sarah Martin, of this county,' and carried on farming in Chautauqua County, Kan., but is at present living in Colorado. Alice, the wife of William Martin, lives with her husband on a farm near West Cliff, Col.; Ellen married Ander N. Tabler, and they occupy the farm of our subject in Sadorus Township; Annie is the wife of David M. Williams, a farmer of Col- fax Township. In the spring of 1869, Mr. Lumley having spent a good many years in persistent labor on the farm, established his present business in the village of Sadorus. For this purpose he had purchased prop- erty and put up buildings, while still retaining his residence in the country, until the spring of 1885. He then purchased a home in the vil'.age, to which he moved, and now gives his entire attention to his town trade, his farm in the meanwhile being- carried on by his son-in-law, Ander N. Tabler. After becoming a naturalized citizen, and ac- quainting himself with the different theories re- garding American government, Mr. Lumley de- cided that his tastes and sympathies inclined to Republican principles. He cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and since that time has been a stanch adherent of the Republican party. From the start he distinguished himself as a capa- ble business man and conscientious citizen, and was early selected for the minor offices of his township, serving as Road Commissioner and Justice of the Peace, and gaining the good-will of his fellow- townsmen by encouraging the various enterprises which were set on foot, and had for their object the general welfare of the community. ELLARS, Postmaster at Philo, became a resident of the town in 1874. He at once established himself in business as a general merchant, in which he has been fairly pros- perous, and has secured the confidence and patron- age of the best people of this localitj 7 . He located in Champaign County in 1 850, making his home for several years in Sadorus Township, where his fa- f t. 356 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 tlier, William Ellars, was one of the pioneer settlers and is yet living. Our subject was born in Madison County, Ohio, Aug. ~2'2. 1849, and was only one year old when his parents came to the West. They settled on a tract of land which had only been partially culti- vated, and our subject spent his childhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' boys, pur- suing his studies in the district schools and assist- ing in the labors around the homestead. When twenty-four years of age he was married at the home of the bride's parents in Sadorus Township, Sept. 10, 1873, to Miss Ella, the only daughter of G. W. Hesse, now deceased. Mr. H. was a native of Switzerland County, Ind., and located at an early day in Douglas County, this State, whence he after- ward removed to Sadorus Township, this county, in 1863. He followed farming, and was married to Miss E. J. Dodson, who was born in Indiana, and is now living with her children in Philo Vil- lage. Mrs. Ellars was born in Ohio County, Ind., July 23, 1858. She was but a year old wk'frn-her;par- ents removed to Douglas County, this State, and came with them later to this county, where she re- ceived her education and remained with her par- ents untjl her marriage. Of her union with our subject there have been born four children Maude, Leila, Cora and Ralph. Mr. Ellars received his commission as Postmaster in September, 1885. He is Democratic in politics, and a representative citizen of a thriving community. ffiOHN A. SIMPSON. The subject of this history, a resident of Hensley Township, is a native of Fayette County, Ind., becoming a resident of Champaign County, 111., when a lad twelve years old, and with the exception of the years which he gave in assisting to preserve the Union, he has been a resident here since that time. His birth took place on the 1st of August, 1846, and his parents were Henry II. and Melinda (Lemmon) Simpson, the former born in Ohio, in May, 1809, and the latter in Harrison County, Ky., March 16, 1813. The grandfather of our subject, Thomas Simpson, a native of New England, emi- grated to Ohio when a young man, after his mar- riage, where he lived until 1813, then, feeling per- haps, as did Daniel Boone, that there were too many people gathering around him he pushed further westward into Indiana while it was yet a Territory. He selected Fayette County as his location, and had for his neighbors mostly only Indians, who were jealous of the encroachments of the whites ! and became very hostile to the settlers. Thomas Simpson, in company with some of his brother pioneers, erected a blockhouse, in which they with their families took refuge. Mr. S. then cleared a farm from the wilderness, upon which he remained until the close of his life. There also he and his womanly and courageous helpmeet reared an interesting family of children, among whom was their son Henry, the father of our subject. He grew to manhood amid the primitive scenes of life in a new settlement infested by savages and wild animals, and was there married and continued to live until 1858. In the spring of that year he came to this county and purchased a tract of laud on sec- tion 31, in what is now Hensley Township. He rjived, however, but a few months afterward, his death occurring on the 25th of October following. His family remained on the land, improving and cultivating it for three years afterward, then sold out and purchased that which constitutes their present homestead on section 17. The mother is still living and in the enjoyment of good health. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Lemmon, followed farming all his life, mostly in Harrison County, Ky., where his death occurred in March, 1814. The mother of our subject was but a year old when her father died, and remained with her mother in Kentucky until 1828. The family then removed to Indiana, where the daughter was married to Henry Simpson. The parental house- hold included eight children, namely, Thomas, Sa- rah, James, Mary, Margaret, Robert, John and Ida. After the death of his father our subject re- mained with his mother until 1863. He was then seventeen years of age, and in May of that year, the late Civil War being in progress, he enlisted in Co. B, 135 thill. Vol. Inf., with the three-months' men. After serving seven months he was honored LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 359 with bis discharge, but in 1804 re-enlisted in Co. A, 154th 111. Vol. Inf., remaining in the service un- til the close of the war. He then returned to his mother in Hensley Township, where he remained until 1869. In the spring of that year he crossed the Mississippi, and going into Labette County, Kan., spent one year, after which he returned to Champaign County, and there lived until 1873. Going back to Kansas he remained there six years, after which he concluded there was no better local- ity in the West than Champaign County, and finally settled down contentedly here and resumed farm- ing on the old homestead, where he has since been successfully engaged. In September, 1886, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage with Miss Ida May Church, daughter of George and Elizabeth Church, and born in Ma- homet Township in 1869. Mr. S. uniformly votes the Republican ticket, and is fully entitled to be classed among the honest men and good citizens of his community. the ESSE MEHARRY, Supervisor of Philo Town- ship, and whose portrait is shown in this con- nection, is widely and favorably known throughout Champaign County as one of most extensive land-owners and successful farmers in Southern Illinois. His fine farm is beau- tifully located on section 20, near the W. & St. P. R. R., which passes south of his residence. His landed possessions in the township of Philo embrace in one body 1,040 acres, which have been brought to the highest state of cultivation and are supplied with commodious and substantial farm buildings. Besides this Mr. M. owns 427 acres in McLean County, 111., and 275 acres in Tolono Township, this county. The farm is finely laid out and well stocked with the best grades of cattle and horses. Of the former he makes a specialty, keeping a large number of cows and raising numbers of calves each year. The business of the farm is conducted in the most admirable manner, with method and system, and indicates on every hand the intelligence and enterprise of its proprietor. Mr. Meharry located in Philo Township in 1865, and since that time has made it his permanent home. He visited the State when a child with his father, who entered land in Crittenden Township, in 1855. Our subject was born in Coal Creek Township, Montgomery Co., Ind., Oct. 9, 1835. and is the son of Thomas and Unity (Patton) Me- harry, natives of Ohio, and the grandson of Alex- , ander and Jane (Francis) Meharry, who were of Scottish parentage but Irish birth, and emigrated from their native country to the United States in the Colonial days. The family was originally driven from Scotland to Ireland during the persecution of the Protest- ants in the reign of Queen Mary. The grandpar- ents of our subject were married in Ireland in the spring of 1794, and in May following embarked on a sailing-vessel for the United States. After a voyage of three weeks they landed in New York City, whence they proceeded to Philadelphia, and later to New London, Cheshire Co., Pa. The year following they removed to Connersville, Fayette Co., Pa., and afterward took up their residence in Adams Count} r , Ohio, where the grandfather was accidentally killed by a falling tree on the 21st of June, 1813. The bereaved widow was left with a family of seven sons and one daughter, who grew to maturity, and she lived to see them married and settled in life. Her death occurred in 1842, when she was well stricken in years. It may be properly stated that when her husband met his death he was riding home from camp-meeting in the middle of the day ; there was not a cloud in the sky, and the tree which killed him fell without warning, his death being instantaneous. He was a man of much energy and force of character, possessed of sound judgment, and was successful as a business man and farmer. He was honest and upright in his trans- actions, and was a leader among his brother pio- neers. He improved a good farm of 200 acres, from the proceeds of which each of his sons ob- tained a good start in life. The father of our subject was reared in Adams County, Ohio, but was afterward married in Brown County, in December, 1827. His wife, who was formerly Miss Unity Patton, was of English and Welsh descent, and was born in Brown County, Ohio, Aug. 16, 1802. Soon after marriage the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. young people removed to Indiana, locating first in Fountain County, and from there moved to Mont- gomery County, where he purchased a tract of land which remained his home until his death, which oc- curred Jan. 29, 1874. In 1853-55 he came to Illi- nois and entered a large tract of land in McLean, Shelby and Champaign Counties, which after a few years became very valuable. He had at one time been the owner of 4,000 acres, the larger part of which was divided up among his children before he passed away. The mother is yet living on the old homestead, with her son Isaac N., but spends a great part of her time visiting with her children. She is now eighty-five years old, and is still bright and in- telligent and can relate in an interesting manner many of the incidents of her early life. The subject of our sketch during his childhood and youth attended the schools of his native coun- ty, and completed his studies at the college in Greencastle, Ind. He came to Illinois with his father in 1855, but did not permanently locate here until 1865. He was united in marriage with Miss Addie A. Francis, Feb. 27, 1873. Mrs. M. is the daughter of Abraham and Mary A. (Davison) Fran- cis, natives respectively of Ireland and Brown County, Ohio. Her maternal grandparents were William and Jane (Love) Francis. They owned land in Ohio, but in their old age made their home with their daughter, Mrs. Hugh Meharry, in Mont- gomery County, Ind., where they passed their de- clining years and where their remains were laid to rest. The parents of Mrs. Meharry soon after their marriage located in Will County, 111., in the pioneer days, in 1835, and erected one of the first log cab- ins in that vicinity, but the Indians soon after- ward became so troublesome that they were com- pelled to return to Indiana temporarily. After a month's sojourn they again took possession of their land in Will County. This humble dwelling re- mained their home until it was replaced by a better one, and during the latter years of their life they inhabited a substantial modern frame house. Mrs. Meharry was the ninth child of a family of eleven, and was born in New Lennox Township, Will County, Sept. 12, 1851. She was there reared and educated, completing her studies at Joliet, and afterward returned home and assisted her mother in the household duties until her marriage. Our sub- ject and his wife are active members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, with which they have been connected for several years. Mr. Meharry is the financial center of the church in his township, as well as the various other enterprises which have tended to its development and progress. Mr. M. served as Supervisor of his township for five years consecutively from 1869 to 1874, and in the recent election was placed in the same office once more. His energy and ability have always dis- tinguished him as a citizen among his fellow-citizens, whose confidence and esteem he enjoys in a marked degree. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been a warm supporter of its princi- ples, casting his first presidential vote for Fremont, and being a loyal adherent of his part}' since. In his various undertakings financially and in his po- sition socially, Mrs. Meharry has been a cordial sympathizer and companion, and has proved herself well worthy to be the wife of a man possessing his substantial traits of character and the qualities which have made him an honest man and a good citizen. AVID RICE is proprietor of one of the best regulated stock farms in Sadorus Township. His estate includes 400 acres of land in the home farm and 160 a mile north, on section 14. The handsome and com- modious residence, and the fine barn and out-build- ings, together with the neat fences, well-fed ani- mals, and valuable farm machinery, stand as silent witnesses of the character of their owner. The fields and pens contain South Down sheep, with Shropshire and Short-horn cattle, while within the stable may be found some fine specimens of Nor- man horses, in the breeding of which our subject has been engaged for the last four years. When Mr. Rice came to this State with his par- ents in 1854, they located at first in Douglas County, whence they removed to this county in the fall foHo^ying. The father purchased 160 acres of land on section 26, in Sadorus Township, and David remained there until after his marriage, four years later. He then brought his bride to the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 361 homestead, where they lived two years, at the ex- piration of which time our subject took possession of a tract of land on section 1C, which he had pur- chased, and where stood a modest dwelling, which remained the shelter of himself and family for four years afterward. In the meantime, his parents had passed away, and he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old place, which he has occu- pied since that time, and enlarged by purchasing land adjoining. On this farm still stands the first frame barn built in the county, and which is re- garded by the people of that section and the passer- by as a monument of a generation past and gone. The parents of Mrs. Rice, who was formerly Miss Sarah Haynes, were Elijah C. and Matilda Haynes, natives respectively of Ohio and Arkansas. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rice, two daughters, Eleanor M. and Carrie M., are both living and married. The former is the wife of Frank T. Hutchinson, who owns eighty acres of land on sec- tion 14, in Sadorus Township; they have two chil- dren Nora M., and David. Carrie married Cas- sius M. Craig, a physician of Tolono. Mrs. Rice has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1870, and is a lady of rare good qualities and kindness of heart. Our subject, although a true blue Republican, has sturdily de- clined to become an office-holder, maintaining that he could serve his part}' fully as well in a more un- obtrusive manner. J R. MOORE. The subject of the following biography is the leading dry -goods and boot- and-shoe merchant of the town of Philo, where he has built up a good trade, and in connection with this operates a farm of eighty acres on section 27, in Philo Township. He established his present business in the village in 1870, first dealing in general merchandise, which later was merged into the specialties which he now carries. Mr. M. became a resident of this locality in the fall of 1869, and established the pioneer tinshop of Philo Township. Later, discovering that a differ- ent kind of business would pay better, he estab- lished a general store, and purchased his farm in 1878. He is a native of Muucie, Ind., and was born Nov. 1, 1839. When four years of age his parents removed to Warren County, that State, where he was reared and educated. His father, Levi Moore, a farmer by occupation, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, where he remained until seventeen years of age, then removed to Delaware County, Ind., where in due time he was mar- ried to Miss Louisa Wilson, a native of that State, and of Irish descent. The Moore family were originally from Scotland. After their marriage Levi Moore and his bride located on a farm in Delaware County, Ind., where their first child, our subject, was born. Afterward they removed into Warren Count}', Ind., where they still live, aged respectively seventy and sixty-six years. Young Moore remained under the parental roof until reaching manhood, in the meantime having learned the trade of a tinner. He then established himself in Williarnsport, Ind.. where he remained for a short time, then came to Illinois and located in Philo. He was married, May 10, 1865, in War- ren County, Ind., to Miss Amelia Minear, who was born in that county, Oct. 10, 1845, and was the daughter of George and Mary (Preble) Minear. Mr. M. was a farmer and stock-raiser, and at the time of his death occupied the office of Sheriff. He was Republican in politics and was prominent in the local affairs of that section. The mother died when the wife of our subject was only eight years of age. She remained with her father and received a common-school education. Of her marriage with Mr. Moore there have been born four children, two of whom, Daisy and an infant, are deceased. Cora married Fred C. Hess, who is a druggist and groceryman at Philo, and Mary is at home with her parents. Mrs. M. is connected with the Presby- terian Church. During the late war Mr. Moore, although not of age, proffered his services as a soldier, but was re- jected on account of his youth. Later he tried once more, and finally became a member of Co. E, 86th Ind. Vol. Inf., which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was in the fight at Stone River and in all the battles of that campaign down to Atlanta and Joncsboro. He received a flesh wound from a shell in the cheek, the marks of 362 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. which he will "carry as an honorable scar to his grave. After serving thirty-one months be was compelled to resign on account of ill-health. He entered as a private and was promoted at different times until he reached the rank of First' Lieutenant. After returning from the army Mr. M. resumed his farming and merchandising, and soon became one of the prominent citizens of Philo, enjoying the respect and confidence of his townsmen. He is Republican politically, and takes a genuine interest in the welfare and prosperity of his community. TEPHEN C. ABBOTT. Among the self- made men whose biography will form an interesting page in the history of Cham- paign County, and will be read with satis- faction by his descendants, is the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He began life a poor boy, and by the exercise of his native talents and resolution of character, has arisen to a prominent position in society, and also forms an important factor in the business and agricultural interests of this section. He at present occupies the office of Supervisor of Mahomet Township, to which he was elected in 1887. He became a resi- dent of this county in 1853, and there are few en- terprises tending to its development and prosperity which he has not encouraged and contributed to by his means and influence. Mr. Abbott was born in Rockaway, N. J.. May 25, 1825, and is the son of Abijah and Elizabeth (Conger) Abbott, the former a native of Connect- icut, and the latter of New Jersey. After mar- riage they settled in Rockaway, the latter State, where they spent the greater part of their lives, but finally removed westward to Illinois, and spent their last days in Mahomet, this county. The par- ental household- included eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth. He received a lim- ited education, and remained under the home roof until seventeen years of age, when he was appren- ticed to learn the blacksmith's trade in his native town. After serving four years he went to Boston, Mass., where he worked as a " jour " one year, and thence to Providence, R. I. From there, in the spring of 1848, he proceeded westward and fol- lowed his trade in different cities, among which was New Orleans, La., where we find him in 1849, and from which he journeyed in the latter part of that year to Independence, Mo. The California gold excitement at that period was attracting many young men toward the Pacific slope, and young Abbott also becoming infected with the fever, started across the plains with hun- dreds of others to seek his fortune among the mines. He spent three years in California engaged jointly in mining, trading and teaming, with fair success. At the expiration of this time, longing for a sight of the old homestead and the friends of his youth, he returned to New Jersey. His natural energy, however, allowed him to remain there but a short time, when he started for the West once more, and reached this county in the latter part of 1853. Here he invested his money in real estate, and since that time his interests have been closely connected with those of the people of this State and county. He was remarkably successful in his farming and business transactions, and opened up several fine farms in the vicinity of Mahomet. After a few years he removed into the. village, where he has since made his home, and where, for a period of several years, he was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. Soon after the outbreak of the late war, Mr. Ab- bott, laying aside his private and personal inter- ests, enlisted as a soldier in the Union army, be- coming a member of Co. H, 125th 111. Vol. Inf., in which he served until January, 1865. With his comrades, he endured bravely and faithfully all the vicissitudes of war, the wearisome marches, the hard fare, and the discomforts often of sleeping without shelter, and was present at many impor- tant battles. At Peach-Tree Creek, near Atlanta, he was wounded in the right hip by a minie ball, after which he was unable to do further service, and even after returning home was obliged to use crutches for several years. For this he now re- ceives a pension. After his return from the army Mr. Abbott re- sumed his farming and business pursuits in and around Mohamet, and in 1873 received the appoint- i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 363 ment of Postmaster, which he held until after the change of administration and until June, 1885. He is still busily employed keeping- watch over his various interests, although practically retired from active labor. The marriage of Stephen C. Abbott and Miss Mary E. Rea was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Mahomet Township, on the 21st of February, 1854. Mrs. Abbott is the daughter of John J. and Sarah T. (Henderson) Rea, who were both natives of Kentucky. She was born in Lewis County, that State, Feb. 20, 1838, and of her union with our subject there are three children : Byron D. married Miss Mattie Bolinger, and re- sides at Manomet; Laura is the wife of H. J. Moorehouse; Abijah married Pearl Cowen. Mr. Abbott has held the office of Notary Public sixteen years, School Treasurer eleven, and Village Treasurer seven years. Politically he uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. He be- came a member of the Presbyterian Church when seventeen years of age, with which denomination he has since been connected. Mrs. Abbott is a member of the Baptist Church. They occupy a comfortable and handsome home in Mahomet, and enjoy the association and friendship of the most cultured people of Mahomet Township. EWIS LAYMAN. On the northeast quarter of section 21, in Condit Township, lies one of the neatest farms in this county, which its present proprietor, the subject of our sketch, transformed from a tract of wild prairie into its present valuable condition and made it a pleasant spot which invariably attracts the eye of the passer- by. Mr. Layman located upon his land in 1870. at the time of starting out in life for himself, and just after he had been united with his chosen part- ner and helpmeet, who has remained his faithful and affectionate companion since that time. Since the establishment of this household the number of its members has been increased by the birth of five bright children, namely, George ; Rieffy was born Aug. 8, 1874, and died Sept. 18, 1885; Fred, Bertie and Frank. The elder of these have as- sisted their parents in building up the home and beautifying it and there is presented the picture of a happy family, enjoying the society of each other and the respect of their neighbors and many friends. Mr. L. has been fairly successful in his farming and business operations and has been enabled to sur- round himself and family with all the necessaries of life and many of its luxuries. His course as a citi- zen and business man has been worthy of imitation, as he has been straightforward in his dealings and accumulated his capital by the exercise of his own industry. The subject of this history was born in Mason County, this State, April 2, 1850. His father, Henry Layman, a native of Shenandoah County, Va., grew to manhood in his native State and learned the cabinet-marker's trade, at which he worked in Virginia, Ohio and Indiana. He removed from the latter State to Illinois in the spring of 1845, and purchasing a farm in Mason County turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. After a residence there of about twenty years he sold out his interests and, in 1865, purchased another farm in Logan County, above five miles from the town limits of Lincoln, where he spent the remainder of his days, his decease occurring in 1868. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Elizabeth Kretsinger, also a native of the Old Dominion. Of the nine children comprising the parental household our subject was next to the youngest, and was fifteen years old when his parents became residents of Logan County. He continued under the home roof until his marriage, in the meantime receiving excellent home training and a common- school education. He then marked out his plans for the future, which he has persistently followed with success. Mr. L. attached himself to the Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age and is a devoted Christian. Politically Mr. L. was a Republican, but is a stanch advocate of prohibition, and in the last presidential campaign gave his support to St. John. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married in September, 1870, was formerly Miss Sarah C. Penny, a native of Sangamon County, 111., and daughter of William Graham and Eleanor (Duff) T 364 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Penny. The parents of Mrs. L. were natives of Ohio and Kentucky, whence they afterward re- moved to Sangamon County, 111. Both are now dead. Mrs. L.'s father died in the service of his country at Little Rock, Ark. ^ENJAMIN F. THOMAS. The gentleman whose name heads this biography owns and occupies a comfortable farm on section 9, in Mahomet Township, of which he took pos- session in the .spring of 1884. He commenced life in a modest way and accumulated his first capital as a farm laborer in Condit Township. He is a na- tive of Chautauqua County, N. Y., born Feb. 8, 1834, and is the son of Leander and Paulina (Kil- bon) Thomas, both natives of Worcester County, Mass. They were married in their native county, where they settled for a time, afterward removing to the Empire State, and from there to Warren County, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father of our subject was a tanner by trade, which occupation he followed many years. The parental household included four sons and four daughters, of whom our subject was the third child and son. He was quite young when his parents removed to Ohio, and was reared as a far- mer. After coming to Illinois and during the progress of the late war, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. H, 71st 111. Vol. Inf., in which he served three months, but afterward returned to Champaign County. In 1865 he removed to Scott Township, where he engaged in fanning for a period of five and one-half years, then purchased a farm in Colfax Township, which he operated until 1882. During that year he went to California, and for two years afterward engaged in farming on the Pacific slope. At the expiration of this time he returned to this county and purchased 180 acres in Mahomet Township, where he has since resided. He has brought his land to a fine state of cultiva- tion, has erected a handsome modern dwelling, and is now the owner of 263 acres, most of which is under a good state of cultivation. The marriage of Benjamin Thomas and Miss .Mary Cresap, was celebrated in Champaign, 111., Aug. 14, 1866. Mrs. Thomas is the daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Humes) Cresap, and the sis- ter of Benjamin Franklin Cresap, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, May 27, 1833, was reared by her parents, and received a good education in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have three children Charles D., William A. and Benja- min F., Jr. Our subject has held most of the minor offices of his township and in politics is a straight Republican. Socially he is a member of Eph. Scott Post No. 464, G. A. R. Mrs. Thomas is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. UGH J. ROBINSON. The important events in the history of this gentleman, necessarily made brief in a work of this kind, are recorded as follows: He was first intro- duced to life and its responsibilities in the North of Ireland on the 28th of March, 1833, and was the seventh child of Robert and Maria (Jackson) Rob- inson, the former a first cousin of Gen. Andrew Jackson, who named his son, our subject, after the uncle of Andrew, namely Hugh Jackson. Mr. Robinson spent but four years in his native country, at the expiration of which time his father, in the hope of bettering his condition and giving to his children greater advantages in life, set sail for America and after landing, proceeded to Dutch- ess County, N. Y., of which they remained resi- dents for twelve years following. The mother died in Ireland when Hugh was about four years old. Young Hugh, with his brothers and sisters, was reared to farming pursuits and removed with the family into Fond du Lac County, Wis., in 1849. There the elder Robinson purchased 160 acres of wild land and proceeded, with his brother pioneers, who, by the way, were located at long distances from each other, to cultivate the soil and build up a comfortable homestead. The pious labors of the father were cut short by his death three years later, and the children, remaining on the new farm, worked as best they could in keeping to- gether, providing for their wants and learning to CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 365 \ till the soil and raise products necessary for their sustenance. .Seeing that lie could be reasonably well spared, our subject, in the October following his father's death, came to Illinois and located at Urbana, where he commenced working on the Illi- nois Central Railroad, which was then in process of construction. His duties consisted in getting out ties and in other ways preparing for the reception of the rolling stock. In the spring following, desiring to change his location, our subject went into the town of Bour- bon, Douglas County, where he assisted in building a mill and in filling a contract for 250,000 ties for the Illinois Central and Wahash Railroads. He then put 6,500 cords of wood on the track for the Illi- nois Central, and was thus engaged until 1858, in the meantime having been enabled to lay up a snug sum of money. He chose as the safest invest- ment for his surplus cash 160 acres of unimproved land lying on the north half of section 33, in Sado- rus Township, upon which he expended his en- ergies until the fall of 1860. He had now prepared it for the reception of his family, and with pardon- able pride introduced them to it and made them comfortable in the house which had been erected under his careful supervision. The home thus established he now occupies, having added to it enough to constitute a half section, every acre of which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. His possessions are the result of his own industry and the good judgment which has led to a wise in- vestment of funds. The first marriage of Mr. Robinson took place in October, 1856, his chosen wife being Miss Jane, daughter of Dr. Jacob Thrasher, of Geauga County, Ohio. The three children bom of this union are Robert. Cullen and Mattie, all living. Robert married Miss Lillie Kellar, a native of Ohio, and occupies a farm half a mile north of the home- stead ; Mattie, the wife of William R. Miller, lives on a farm with her husband about three miles south of Sadorus; Cullen is unmarried and remains under the parental roof, while at the same time, with an eye to business and perhaps domestic ties of his own in the future, he is carrying on a farm of his own, consisting of 100 acres in the southeast part of section 33. The wife and mother departed this life on the homestead in the summer of 1875. Our subject was next married to Miss Jennie Hutchison, who was born in Erie County, N. Y., and is the daughter of Capt. Scott Hutchison, of Calhoun County, Mich. The one child of this marriage was a son, John W., who died when four and one-half years old. Politically Mr. Robinson has been a lifelong Douglas Democrat. His ability as a business man, and reliable qualities as a citizen, long ago obtained the recognition of his townsmen, who have kept him in the position of Supervisor for a period of twelve years. He has made it his duty to observe what was going on around him, keeping full pace with important events, and seeing as much of the United States as his time and means would permit. He has traveled from East to West, from Niagara Falls to New Orleans, and through, Kansas, Ne- braska and Iowa. He viewed the strange sights at the Exposition in the Crescent City in 1 885, and his greatest pleasure has been in crossing rivers and territories, and becoming acquainted with the hab- its of different nationalities as represented in vari- ous cities of the United States. He possesses an intelligent mind, and reaps his highest satisfaction from the advantages of to-day as compared with those of forty years ago. M. COYNER. Among the extensive farmers and stock-raisers of Hensley Town- ship, the name of this gentleman is widely and favorably known as one of the most energetic and intelligent members of the agricultural element. He owns a valuable and extensive tract of land on section 16, upon which he settled in 1869, and which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation. The farm residence, grounds and out-buildings are all indicative of the cultivated tastes and ample means of the proprietor, and the homestead in all its appointments constitutes one of the pleasautest spots in the landscape of this county. The high- grade Short-horn cattle raised upon this farm will bear favorable comparison with any in the Missis- sippi Valley, and the Norman horses, principally 366 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. roadsters, are models of symmetry and beauty. Our subject has also made a specialty of Poland-China hogs, and has seventy-five registered Merino sheep. Mr. Coyner is a native of Ross County, Ohio, and was born in Concord Township, Aug. 12, 1844. His father, David Coyner, a native of Hardy Coun- ty, Va., was born in April. 1812. His grandfather, John Coyner, a native of Pennsylvania, removed to the Old Dominion in early manhood, and there married Miss Laswell, who was of Scottish paren- tage. After marriage they removed to Ohio and were among the earliest settlers of Ross County, locating there in 1814. John Coyner purchased a tract of timber land in Concord Township, where he improved a farm and spent the remainder of his days. His son David, the father of our subject, was but four years old when his parents removed from Virginia to Ohio. He grew to manhood in the Buckeye State, and married Miss Sarah Mallow, who was a native of Ross County, and the daugh- ter of Adam and Sarah Mallow. Adam Mallow was a Virginian by birth and removed to Ohio at an early day, where he was captured by the Indians and kept in captivity seven years. At the expira- tion of this time a treaty of peace was made and the prisoners were liberated. Adam Mallow was then permitted to return home, and spent the last years of his life iu Ross County, Ohio. In the mean- time he purchased a tract of land which was par- tially improved and upon which he worked for several years. He then sold out and returned to the old homestead in Ross County, Ohio, which his grandfather had improved. This farm now includes nearly COO acres of land, and is considered one of the most valuable in Ross County. The parental household of our subject included twelve children, of whom eight grew to mature years. He is the fourth in age of those living, and occupied himself in farming pursuits until the out- break of the late war. He then enlisted as a Union soldier in August, 1862, becoming a member of Co. K, 89th Ohio Vol. Inf.. in which he served un- til peace was declared. He was present at the bat- tles of Charleston, Murfreesboro, Chiekamauga and Mission Ridge, and joined Sherman's army in its march from Atlanta to the sea. He participated in all the battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta, includ- ing the siege and capture of the latter city. Return- ing from the sea coast he marched with his regi- ment up through the Carolinas to Richmond, and from there to Washington, where he participated in the final grand review, and received his honor- able discharge in June, 1865. He then returned to his father's house and remained with his parents un- til 1869. in which year he became a resident of Hensley Township. His father, in 1855, had pur- chased a quarter section of land, and upon a part of this our subject went to work to improve and cultivate it. He kept bachelor's hall for a few years, then returned to Ohio, remaining there four years. In 1875 he started again for the West, and located on the farm which he now owns and oc- cupies. Our subject was married, Sept. 22, 1874, to Miss Ollie R. Hanawalt, who was born in Ross County, Ohio. Aug. 19, 1854, and is the daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth (Speaks) Ilanawalt, na- tives respectively of Ohio and Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Coyner have four children Maude F., Grace E., Mary C. and David Floyd. Mr. C. is Repub- lican in politics and exercises a marked influence among his fellow-citizens. His fine tastes are evinced by the work of his own hands, as he pos- sesses more than ordinary ability as an artist, the walls of his house being decorated with fine draw- ings, of animals principally, executed by his own hand. AVID FRY, a highly respected farmer of Condit Township, was born near Hooks- town, Beaver Co., Pa.. Aug. 5, 1828. His father, William Fry, a native of Reading, Pa., was of German parentage, and followed the pursuit of agriculture during the latter years of his life. When a young man he was engaged on the river, flat-boating. After his marriage he set- tled with his young wife in Beaver County, Pa., and farmed on rented land. In 1840 he purchased a farm, which he occupied for a period of about thirty-two years, then sold out, and coming to this State settled in Peoria County, where he resided about twenty years. He then located in the city of t RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL GROVE , SEC. 10., PHILO TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCE OF THOMAS LYONS , SEC. II., TOLONO TOWNSHIP. Ejj^lfeflass^i^j$is;^yail RESIDENCE OFSTEPHEN DOTY, SEC. 8 , GRITTENDEN TOWNSHIP. *1T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 369 Champaign, where he spent the latter part of his life. The mother of our subject before her mar- riage was Miss Sarah McKinney, born near Pits- burg, Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. She de- parted this life in Peoria in about 1882. The parental family consisted of nine children, of whom David of our sketch was the eldest. He was reared on the farm and received such schooling as was afforded in those days. In De- cember, 1853, he started with his father's family for Illinois, the journey being made via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Peoria. He con- tinued a resident of that place until after his mar- riage, then purchased a farm in Logan Township, Peoria County, which he occupied a few years, then sold out and purchased land in Bloomfield, 111., which he occupied and cultivated one year. In the meantime he had purchased the tract of land in Condit Township, this county, which is now in- cluded in his present farm. Of this only a few acres were broken, and he took up his residence in Piatt County for a time before taking possession of this. He came into Condit Township for per- manent settlement in March, 1869, and after fif- teen years of industry, has transformed the wild prairie into a desirable homestead, erected a good set of buildings, and planted fruit, shade and or- namental trees. His land is well drained with tile, and is in all respects one of the model farms of that locality. The marriage of our subject took place on the 3d of June, 1854, the lady of his choice being Miss Ann Fleming, a native of County Kerry, Ireland, and the daughter of James and Mary (Straten) Fleming. Her father was a farmer by occupation, a native of the same county and descended from the Scots. He spent his entire life in his native Ireland. Mrs. Fry came to the United States when about twenty-five years of age. Of her marriage with our subject there were born four children, only one of whom is living, a daughter, Isabella, who came to their home on the 16th of December, 1857. She remained with her parents until her marriage on Christmas Day, 1883, to Ed win Hutch- ison. Mr. Hutchison was born in Sangamon County, 111., April 19, 1861, and is the son of John and Sarah Hutchison, natives of Pennsylvania. The other children of our subject ^were,*May, who was born June 15, 1856, and died Sept. 10, 1857; Henrietta, born Feb. 9, 1860, went out forever from the parental household on New Year's Day, 1865; Anna, born March 7, 1867, died Sept. 22, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Fry take pride in the fact that they' have two bright_ 'grandchildren David and Anna Myrtle. The family arc all members of the Presbyterian Church, and our subject, politi- cally, casts his vote in support of the Republican party. --* ^~ ANFORD W. MOORE, one of the public- spirited farmers of Champaign County, owns and occupies a fine farm located on section 30, in Crittenden Township, a view which is shown in this work. He took posses- '."'" ' sion of' this in 1868, and since that time has built up a reputation as an intelligent and skillful agri- culturist, andttne of the enterprising business men who have contributed their quota to the general welfare and prosperity of the community. His farm of 240 acres is all neatly enclosed witli good fences, and the family residence, together with the barn and other out-buildings, bears comparison with anything of the kind in this locality. Mr. Moore since becoming a resident here has identified himself with the interests of his township, serving as Road Commissioner, and in other re- spects taking a genuine interest in whatever is de- signed to add to its welfare and progress. Politi- cally he is Republican, and religiously is connected with the Society of Friends. His family consists of his excellent wife and nine children, the latter named as follows: Marion L. ; Ruth- R., the wife of Charles Green, of Harvey County, Kan.; Charles P., Walter E., Bertha E., Mattie May, Josie L., Lucy K. and George II. The mother of these children before her marriage, was Miss Louisa Thornhill, and she became the wife of our subject on the 25th of November, 1852. Mrs. Moore was born in Clinton County, Ohio, March 1, 1836, and is the daughter of Barnett and Ruth (Jones) Thorn- hill. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Moore lo- cated on a farm hi Ohio, and our subject afterward 370 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. became the owner of three farms in succession in Clinton County, Ohio. In 18G8 he made his first trip to the West, and selected his future location on section 30, in Crittendeii Township. Here he purchased 160 acres, and before the close of that year had removed his family and taken possession. Mr. Moore was born in Clinton County, Ohio, Nov. J, 1830, and is the son of Macagah and Re- becca (Magee) Moore, the former a native of Ken- tucky, and the latter of Ireland. The parents soon after their marriage located on a farm in Clinton County, Ohio, where they both died the same year, 1856, in middle life, the father aged fifty-four and the mother forty-eight. Of their thirteen children, three died in early childhood, ten attained their majority, and seven are now living. Our subject remained a resident of his native State during his childhood and youth, and was ed- ucated in the common schools. His present pos- sessions are mainly the result of his own industry, and both as a citizen and business man he is held in much esteem by his fellow-townsmen. OIIN T. MOORE. The subject of this his- tory represents the best element of his com- munity, being a gentleman possessed of more than ordinary ability and a manner kindly and reserved, one who invariably commands respect and is most highly esteemed by those who know him best. His life has been conducted upon the highest moral principles, and he is one of that limited number whose word is as good as their bond. Mr. Moore ojvns and occupies a good farm on section 19, in Philo Township, which is well stocked and under a fine state of cultivation. The farm buildings are constructed after the most approved manner and everything about the premises is well cared for, indicating at once the industry and en- terprise of the proprietor. The laud was practi- cally in its original condition when our subject took possession of it and the improvements which he has brought about are mostly the result of his own labor and forethought. In addition to other worldly surroundings, he enjoys the society of an accomplished wife and daughter, and the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and acquaintances. Mr. Moore is a native of Brown County, Ohio, born March 7, 1843, and the son of Henry W. Moore, who was born in the same county as his sou and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was mar- ried in his native county to Miss Maria Davidson, whose lineage was similar to his own, and they lo- cated on a farm in Brown County, Ohio, where they lived until 1849. Then, with their three children they emigrated to Montgomery County, Ind., and moved onto a farm belonging to his brother-in-law, Hugh Meharry, where they both died in 1852, the mother in April and the father in December. They were aged respectively thirty- eight and thirty-five years. Mr. H. W. Moore had eighty acres of unimproved laud in Madison County, Ind., but owing to poor health of himself and wife preferred to be among friends and therefore lived upon the farm of his brother-in-law. Our subject remembers his mother as a lady of great loveliness of character, and both parents pos- sessed those traits which caused them to be re- spected and beloved wherever known. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father, politically, was a supporter of the Whig party. Of their four children John T. was the eldest; Mary E. became the wife of Isaac Meharry, now of Montgomery County, Ind. ; Maggie, who mar- ried Isaac Armstrong, died when twenty-one years old, in 1868, in Tippecanoe County, Ind., leaving two children; her son, Allen W., lives with his uncle, our subject; the daughter, Emma, is with her aunt, Mrs. Emma Campbell, of Lafayette, Ind. The youngest brother of our subject, Frank An- drew, died when nearly twenty-one years old. He was a promising young man, possessing more than ordinary ability, and was mourned by a large circle of friends. After the death of his parents Mr. Moore took up his abode with Samuel Meharry, now a retired far- mer of Lafayette, Ind., and one of the prominent and successful men of Tippecanoe County. He was treated by Mr. Meharry as one of his own family and endeavored to repay the kindness of his bene- factor by cheerful and dutiful obedience to his T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 371 wishes. Mr. M. had no children of his own and our subject and his sister Maggie, with others, con- stituted his family. He remained with his foster parents until he reached his majority, and was then presented by Mr. Meharry with the farm which constitutes his present homestead. This consists of 160 acres, and Mr. Moore by his attention to and care of it, has shown his appreciation of the gener- ous gift. The marriage of John T. Moore and Miss Min- nie Myers took place in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Oct. 7, 1866. Mrs. Moore is the daughter of James and Marie (Romig) Myers, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania, in which lat- ter State the grandparents of both families origin- ally lived. Mr. and Mrs. Myers after their mar- riage located on a farm in Tuscarawas County, where they resided until their death. They raised a large family of children who became useful and respected citizens. Of these, which included five sons and seven daughters, Mrs. Moore was the youngest. She was carefully trained, received a common-school education, and remained with her parents until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there were born two children, of whom only one isjiving, Grace L., a bright and interest- ing girl of twelve years. Mr. Moore politically, is a warm supporter of Republican principles, and religiously, both he and Mrs. M. are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been Steward. BRAHAM C. BROWN. The name of this Ol highly respected citizen is familiarly known throughout East Bend Township, of which he has been a resident since 1869. He is a gentleman of more than ordinary ability, received a good education, and for several years followed the profession of a teacher in Woodford, McLean and Champaign Counties. He occupied himself teaching principally during the winter seasons, and being fond of agricultural pursuits engaged in farming during the summer. As a boy he was thoughtful beyond his years, and when fourteen years old became a member of the Church, in which he has labored faithfully since that time as Super- intendent and teacher in Sunday-schools and as a supply preacher. He was ordained as an Elder about 1 873, and for long years has exerted an in- fluence which will be felt after he has gone the way of all mankind. The subject of this history was born in what is now Kansas Township, Woodford Co., 111., Nov. 13, 1839. His father, Uriah Brown, was a native of Tennessee, whence his grandfather, William Brown, removed to Illinois in the pioneer days, and locating in McLean County in 1826, spent the remainder of his life there. He was a preacher of the Gospel in the Church of Christ. He died June 16, 1845. Fannie, his wife, had preceded him, having died Sept. 2, 1840. He reared a fine family, among the sons being Uriah, the father of our sub- ject, who was a young man when the removal was made from the South to Illinois. A few years later he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Carlock, a native of his own State, who emigrated to Illi- nois with her brother when a young girl. Her par- ents came from Germany. Her father attained to the age of ninety years. Her mother died in 1802. After their marriage the parents of our subject crossed the Mississippi and located in Barry Count3', Mo., on a tract of land along the White River. There Uriah Brown put up a log house and improved a few acres of land, when he was stricken down by the hand of the Destroyer. Of the four chil- dren thus made fatherless the eldest was a daughter in her teens. The mother remained in Missouri with her family two years, and was then taken into the home of her brother, Reuben Carlock, in Wood- ford County, 111. She supported her family by spinning and weaving, and kept her children to- gether until they were old enough to take care of themselves. She trained them to habits of industry, and principles of virtue and honor, and still lives, the object of their respect and affection, having ar- rived at the advanced age of eighty-five years. She united with the Christian Church in her youth, of which she has been a devoted member since that time, and after the death of her husband still kept up the family altar and exerted over her children the influence of a conscientious, pious mother. The eldest daughter, Minerva, became the wife of CHAMPAION COUNTY. i Joseph Moore, and lives in Montgomery Township, Woodford Co., 111.; Amie, who married John Cru- sinbury, a farmer, and Fannie. Mrs. David Hood, are residents of Buffalo County, Neb. Abraham C. Brown, of our sketch, was but two years old when his parents located in Missouri, and eight years old when his mother returned to Illinois. His earl}' education was conducted in the primitive log school-house. The family lived in a house ad- joining that of his uncle, and when not in school young Abraham assisted the latter on his farm. During the winter seasons he attended school, and chopped wood for his board nights and mornings. He remained with his uncle until fifteen years old, then went to live with his older sister, where he re- mained until his marriage. After this event our subject located upon a tract of land in Woodford County, which he rented two years, and finally, in 1868, came to this county and purchased eighty acres which are now included in his present homestead. The land was wholly un- improved. He took possession of it in 1869, and commenced the building of a house, into which he moved with his family as soon as enough of it was completed so that they could be comfortable. The means with which he purchased his land were ob- tained by teaching, and as time passed on and he was successful in his farming operations, he added to his real estate, so that he now has 160 acres, all under a good state of cultivation and supplied with excellent frame buildings, including a tasteful resi- dence, a good barn and sheds for the shelter of stock. He has also planted numbers of choice fruit and shade trees, and the premises have a home- like air which is pleasant to behold. Mr. Brown was married, Oct. _3, 1866, to Miss Mahala Phillips, who was born in Woodford County, 111., Oct. 3, 1841. Her father, James Phillips, was one of the pioneers of Woodford County, to which he removed from Tennessee, locating in Montgom- ery Township in 1832, where he improved a farm and passed the remainder of his life, dying on the 14th of June, 1881. The mother of Mrs. Brown was formerly Miss Jane Jones, also a native of Tennessee, who came to Illinois with her uncle and here met and married James Phillips. She survived him five years, dying in December, 1886. Mr. P. served as a soldier in the Black I lawk War. His father served in the War of 1812, during which time he died. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Brown are Byron A., Arabella May and Alia Dell. Our subject and his wife are connected with the Christian Church, and Mr. B., politically, casts his influence in support of Democratic principles. HOMAS BABB. While traveling through Champaign County the biographical writers of this ALBUM met with but few active business men who were natives of the county, State, or even of the United States. The vast majority of those who are to-day tilling the soil and raising stock or engaged in business or commercial enter- prises, or are members of any of the professions, were born, many without the borders of the State and many across the Atlantic. Of the latter class scores upon scores have furnished the sinew of trade and agriculture, and have become most im- portant factors in the prosperity of the rapidly growing West. Of this class the subject of this his- tory is no unimportant illustration. When a youth of nineteen years, which had been spent in the place of his birth, Staffordshire, En- gland, Thomas Babb, who possessed the spirit of enterprise and ambition in a remarkable degree, had already begun to revolve in his mind the pos- sibilities which might lie for him in a new country, where many of his countrymen had already gone and become prosperous. It did not take him long to decide to follow their example, nor to put his re- solve into execution. He set sail from Liverpool in May, 1860, and after a voyage of fourteen days set foot upon the shores of the New World. After a very brief time spent in New York City he pro- ceeded to Licking Count}', Ohio, and was there variously engaged until October of the following year. He then started for Illinois overland, with a team and cow, landing in this county, where he rented a farm. With his team he was enabled to earn the munificent income of ninety cents per day, out of which he boarded his horses and him- self. Mr. Babb prospered, however, by the very might I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 373 1 of his persistency, and the following spring practi- cally started in business for himself by renting a farm. He successfully operated this one year, and with the means which he had saved by the closest economy, purchased forty acres of prairie land fn Mahomet Township. Twenty acres were broken, this being the only effort at improvement; there was neither fence nor building on the place. He had now a young wife to care for, and his first bus- iness was to prepare' a habitation. He put up a small frame house, improved the balance of the land, and after two years sold out and bought fifty- seven acres in Hensley Township, which, at the time of purchase, was in much the same condition as was his late possession. There also lie built another house, but a year later removed again to take possession of eighty acres which he had pur- chased in Condit Township. This latter property he occupied two years, then disposed of it and pur- chased another eighty-acre tract of wild land in the same township, which he improved and occupied for a period of twelve years. During that time he transformed the land into a good farm, which he rented, and going into Rantoul Township, pur- chased eighty acres adjacent to the village of Thorn asboro. Mr. Babb, at the expiration of this time, had ob- tained quite an insight into the American method of doing business and had become thoroughly citi- zenized. In 1878 he commenced buying and ship- ping hogs, and two years later began the opera- tions in grain which have since been attended with success. Since commencing his transactions in this line. Thomasboro has become one of the best grain markets in this section, and Mr. Babb one of the most popular business men in Champaign County. He has continued his live stock operations in connec- tion with his grain business, and has confined him- self strictly to upright and honorable methods of dealing. He has from time to time added to his farm property, and is now the owner of 680 acres, comprising some of the finest land in Itantoul and Condit Townships. The birth of our subject occurred on the 15th of December, 1841, in the town of Greatwitch. Staf- fordshire, England. His parents, Jeffrey and Cath- erine (Deville) Babb, were natives of the same 4* country. The latter's forefathers trace their de- scendants back to the time of William the Con- queror, witli whom they crossed over from Nor- mandy to England. Jeffrey Babb spent his entire life in his native England, engaged in farming pur- suits, and died on the farm where he had lived many years, and where his father lived before him, and which had been the property of his family for many years. After the death of her husband the mother came to America, in December, 1882, and is now living at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. Deakin, in Thomasboro. The parental household included eleven children, all of whom lived to become men and women. They were John, Elizabeth, Margaret, Thomas of our sketch, Catherine, Jeffrey, Jane, Ann, William, Mary and Alice. Margaret is now the only one remaining in her native England. The homes of the others are variously located in this and adjoining States. Thomas lived with his parents until eighteen years old, then commenced handling freight at a railroad station, being thus engaged until starting for the United States. The marriage of Thomas Babb and Miss Eleanor Philbrook took place in Licking County, Ohio, in October, 1861. Mrs. Babb is a native of the Buck- eye State, born in Licking County, in 1837, and the daughter of Cyrus and Anna C. (Martin) Phil- brook, natives respectively of Maine and Ohio. Of this union there are four children Jeffrey E., Lena A., Cyrus E. and Bertha A. ' Mr. Babb was reared in the Episcopalian faith, and although not at pres- ent a member of any religious denomination, still cherishes a profound respect for the religion of his parents. OHN N. NORTON has been a resident of I this county since December, 1855, at which time, accompanied by his young wife, he came and rented land near the city of Cham- paign, which is now occupied by the grounds and buildings of the State University. He subsequently purchased sixty acres of raw prairie, which is now included in his present homestead and to which lie afterward added 180. His estate embraces 240 acres, under a high state of cultivation and supplied I 374 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. I with a line set of farm buildings. The land is well drained and entirely destitute of swamp ground. For the last fifteen years our subject has been mainly engaged in stock-raising. The farm lies on section 18 of Crittenden Township, and section 13 of Pesotum Township, and invariably attracts the attention of the passer-by on account of its general air of thrift and prosperity, the well-kept stock, the neat fences and buildings, and all the other evidences of enterprise and industry. A view of the residence and surroundings is shown in this work. Mr. Norton was born in Cortland County, N. Y., May 20, 1833, and is the son of Harvey Norton, a native of Connecticut. His mother, who was for- merly Miss Sallie Merry, was a native of the Empire State, and resided with her parents on a farm until her marriage. By her union with Harvey Norton she became the mother of five children, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are, Stephen ; Cyrena, now Mrs. Spencer; Catherine, Mrs. Merry; and John N. of our sketch. All reside in Cham- paign County. The mother of our subject departed this life at her home in Spafford, N. Y., in 1839. Harvey Norton was afterward married to Miss Bet- sey Haight, in Ohio, to which State he had removed after the death of his first wife. There he was a resident of Geauga County until about 1864, when he came to this county with his family. His sec- ond wife died soon after coining to Illinois, leaving one daughter, Laura, now the wife of Ed Payne, and a resident of Colorado. The father of our subject passed from the scenes of his earthly la- bors Feb. 14, 1886. He was a good man in the broadest sense of the term, a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one who ob- served the duties of his profession. Our subject was but six years of age when he was deprived of the affectionate care of his mother. The family were then separated, and for a period of twenty years the children never met all together at one time. This state of things afterward happily met with a change, as they now all live in one neighborhood. John N. of our sketch resided in the family of an uncle until the second marriage of his father, and then went to live with the latter in Ohio. Harvey Norton carried on a large dairy farm in the Buckeye State, in the labor of which our subject assisted until he was twenty-two years of age. In the latter part of that year, on the 16th of September, 1855, Mr. Norton was united in marriage with Miss Esther Percival, a native of Geauga County, Ohio, and the daughter of Olney and Lo- vina (Ford) Percival. She was born in Geauga County, Ohio, June 28, 1834. Her father was a native of Vermont, and her mother of Ohio, in which State both parents died. Mrs. Lovina Per- cival was the first child born in Troy Township, Ohio, and ate of the first apples that grew in that township. After marriage our subject and his wife, as we have said, became residents of Illinois and this county. Their union has been blest by the birth of three children, one of whom, named Harvey J., died at the age of eighteen years and six months, on the 17th of June, 1875. Those living are Stephen A. and Minnie M., both at home with their parents. Our subject is Democratic in politics and has served his township as Road Commissioner and School Trustee ; at present he is School Treasurer, which office he has held the past three years. So- cially he is a member in good standing of Tolono Lodge No. 391, A. F. & A. M. I OHN ROACH, who is numbered among the old and highly respected residents of Crit- tenden Township, came with his parents to Illinois in the spring of 1864, and since that time has been a resident of the Prairie State. He is the son of John and Ann (Grimes) Roach, and his birth took place in Greene County, Pa., on the 22d of March, 1817. His childhood and youth were passed upon his father's farm, but after reach- ing manhood he engaged in the manufacture of brick, and also learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for several years. His marriage took place before he had quite reached his majority, on the 27th of February, 1838. The maiden of his choice was Miss Rachel Pettit, who was a native of his own county, born Jan. 28, 1820, and the daughter of John and Mary (Warford) Pettit. Mr. R. and his bride first settled down in their CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. _t nr* 7o f native county, where they remained until 18G4, then came to the West, locating first in La Salle County, this State. After a residence there of four years, Mr. Roach purchased 100 acres of land in Crittenden Township, this county, which he culti- vated for several years, and with his wife in the meantime reared a family of ten children. The eldest daughter, Maria, is now the wife of Stephen Doty, a prosperous farmer of Crittenden Town- ship; Mary Ann married William Pershing, of Springfield, Ohio; the eldest son, George, died when twenty years old, and John died when twenty- one years of age. The loss of these promis- ing sons at the most interesting period of their lives was a great affliction to the parents. The next son, William, lives in La Salle County, 111., and David in Springfield, Ohio; Charity married Charles West; Jennie is the wife of John P. Navity; Lyrlia was married to Fred Buckingham ; Oscar, unmar- ried, lives in Springfield, Ohio, and Sallie, Mrs. George P. Bliss, in Sidney Township, this county. Mr. Boach is Democratic in politics, and with his excellent and worthy lady, a member of the Bap- tist Church, as are also several of their children. J"~j OSEPH KAMP, one of the pioneer farmers I of Tolono Township, owns 1 60 acres of land I on section 20, with a shapely and convenient ' residence and other good improvements. He became a resident of this county in the fall of 1870. settling upon his present farm, since which time he has given his entire attention to its im- provement and cultivation. He has been fairly prospered in his farming and business transactions and occupies a good position in the community as one of its worthy and reliable citizens. Our subject is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Butler County, June 16, 1837. His father, Christian Kamp, whose birth occurred in Alsace, Germany, 'in 1808, set sail from his native land for the United States when nineteen years of age. After reaching American shores he proceeded first to Pennsylvania and afterward to Ohio. In the latter State he met Miss Magdalena Somers, and she became his wife. They remained residents of Ohio for several years, and in 1848 started for the farther West. After reaching Illinois they lo- cated in Woodford County, where Mr. K. first rented a tract of land but subsequently purchased eighty acres which he cultivated until 1856. and then met with an accident, the breaking of his leg, which resulted in his death in about six weeks. Mrs. Kamp after ward married Mr. Christian Moscr, and is still a resident of Woodford County. The parental household included six sons and three daughters. Joseph of our sketch came witli the family to Illinois in 1848, and grew to man- hood in the counties of Woodford and McLean. He worked for several years as a farm laborer and was in the employ of one man for five years. He then commenced business on his own account by the cultivation of rented land in McLean County, where he remained until the fall of 1870. and then came to Champaign County. In 1859, our subject was married in McLean County, 111., to Miss Fannie Stalder, who was a na- tive of Germany. She only remained the companion of her husband one short year, dying the following summer. In 1861 Mr. Kamp was married to Miss Phebe Stalder, a sister of his former wife, and who died in 1862. The following year he was mar- ried to Miss Rosa Kohler. This lady is a native of Switzerland, and became the mother of eight chil- dren. Two little daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, died when about three years of age ; Christian died when nine years old. Those surviving are Susie, John, Peter, Lydia and Joseph. Mr. Kamp, politi- cally, is a decided Republican. Religiously he is a believer in the doctrines of the Omish Church. A lithographic view of Mr. Kamp's residence is shown on another page. K ARC HER. This gentleman, who is a worthy representative of the farming interests of Tolono Township, came in 1870, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 21. He cultivated this until 1880, and then removed to his present farm, on section 27. This includes 400 acres of choice land under a good state of cultiva- 376 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. tion, which is enclosed with well kept fences and supplied with handsome and substantial buildings. The residence is one of the finest in the county. The land is chiefly devoted to grain-raising. Be- sides this property Mr. K. is also proprietor of a valuable store building at Freeport, the rent from which yields him a handsome income. He is a man who has been uniformly successful in life, having accumulated a competency for his declining years, and by his upright business course, has gained the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens. He is still comparatively young in years, with the pros- pect of a bright and prosperous future. Our subject is a native of this State, and was born in Freeport on the llth of July, 1845. He is the son of" John and Solona Karcher, both natives of Alsace, France. John Karcher served five years in the French army, under Louis Phillip. The par- ents were married in 1841, and soon afterward emigrated to Canada, where thej- remained for a time visiting relatives, then came to this State and settled on a farm near Freeport, 111. The father of our subject was a fine representative of the indus- trious and enterprising French element, and at the time of his death in 1878, at the age of sixty-five years, left an estate valued at $100,000. This prop- ert}' included two farms and three store buildings. He belonged to the Evangelical Association, and as a member of business and social circles his word was considered as good as his bond. The mother is still living, and a resident of Freeport. Their family consisted of four sons and one daughter: John is farming near his native city, Freeport; George of our sketch was the second son; Louis is practicing law in Chicago, 111. ; Henry is engaged in real-estate business at Pierre, Dak.; Sarah is at home with her mother. Mr. Karcher was reared under the parental roof and made his home with his father's family until he attained his majority. He then removed to a farm in Logan County, which he operated for three years. In the meantime he had been married, March 11, 18G9, in Logan County, to Miss Jane Stewart, who is the daughter of Charles and Mary (Griffin) Stewart, and was born in Randon, Scot- land, Feb. 14, 1850. Of this union there are three children Salona, William H. and Jemima. Mr. K. uniformly casts his vote with the Re- publican party, but has never desired office, hav- ing as much as he could attend to in carrying on properly the affairs of his farm and other business. He is not a member of any church but was con- verted in 1884 by a spirit from on high. His wife experienced the same conversion, the same year. J"" ERRE GORMAN, who located on section 7, in Raymond Township, in the spring of 1877, is the proprietor of 320 acres of land, ' and since the time of his coming here has cultivated the soil and been fairly successful in his farming operations. His birth occurred in Queen's County, Ireland, in March, 1849, and his parents were John and Kate Gorman, the former of whom died at about middle age in his native Ireland. In 1865 the mother with her three children set sail for the New World. Soon after landing in New York City she proceeded directly westward to Illinois, first taking up her abode in Grundy County. There the two daughters were married and one still resides. The other removed to Iowa. In 1877 our subject with his mother came to Champaign County, and located upon the land which is now included in his present farm. He first purchased 160 acres, and afterward doubled that amount, the whole of which constitutes a good farm under a fair state of culti- vation. The aged mother makes her home with her son, being now nearly seventy years old. Our subject politicalh r is a stanch supporter of Demo- cratic principles, and in religious matters adheres to the Catholic faith in which he was reared. He has served as School Director in his district. Mr. Gorman was married, in August, 1880, to Miss Mary, daughter of James and Margaret Fitz- gerald, and a native of Champaign County. Of this union there are four children, all living at home, and named as follows: John, Margaret, Kate and Mary. Mrs. Gorman's father was born in County Lim- erick, Ireland, in about 1837. He came to the United States when fifteen years old, and after so- journing with friends for a brief time in New York CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 377 I City, proceeded to the home of his brother John, in New Hampshire. The following year he came to this county, and for several years afterward was in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Com- pany, and resided at Spring Creek, Mattoon, etc. Afterward he purchased 1 60 acres of land, which is well improved, and furnished with a good set of farm buildings. He was married in this county to Miss Margaret Coyne, also a native of Ireland, who came to America when a young girl. They raised a family of ten children, of whom nine survive, as follows: Thomas, John, Mary, Jerre, Patrick, Willie. Maggie, Elnora and James. Mr. F. is Democratic in politics and Roman Catholic in re- ligion. AVID MAXWELL. The subject of this history, one of the most substantial and reliable residents of Crittenden Township, comes from excellent Scottish ancestry, and was himself born in the Port of Glasgow on the 25th of January, 1845. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Russell) Maxwell, five years after the birth of their son emigrated from their native land to the United States, and soon after landing at New York Harbor proceeded to Boonton, N. J. The following year they decided to try their fortunes in the West, and coming to this State located on a farm in Peoria County, where they resided until 1869. Thence they came into this county and took up a tract of land on section 7, in Crittendeii Township. It was at that time unbroken prairie, but through the industry and enterprise of Joseph Maxwell in due time it was transformed into a good farm, enclosed with neat fences and supplied with a comfortable residence and all other neces- sary buildings. Upon the homestead thus established, and which is now in possession of our subject, Joseph Max- well lived until the 1st of November, 1885, then departed this life at the age of seventy-three years. His aged companion still survives, and resides with her son David, of our sketch. She was born in 1807, and is consequently now eighty years old. The family of these excellent people included four children, all born in Scotland. One son and a daughter died in Peoria County, 111., and the sur- viving brother of our subject, James Maxwell, is a resident of Marshall County, Kan. Mr. Maxwell was a little lad six years old when his father's family located in Illinois. He was reared to manhood on the farm in Peoria County, and educated in the common schools. After com- ing to this county he remained with his parents and assisted in the improvement and cultivation of the farm, and on the 23d of November, 1870, was mar- ried to Miss Asenath Merry. This lady was a na- tive of Montgomery County, N. Y., and the daughter of Benjamin and Sally Merry, also na- tives of the Empire State. She was born Sept. 22, 1844, and came to Illinois with her parents when a young girl. They located in Douglas County, where the3 T remained until 1868, when they located in this county. The father yet lives here; the mother died in New York State. Mrs. M. re- mained under the home roof until her marriage. She is now the mother of three children Mary, Frank and Ella. Our subject politically is a member of the Re- publican party ; he was reared in the doctrines of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, of which his hon- ored parents were active and devoted members. AMUEL GROVE. This gentleman is said to be the most energetic man in Champaign County, busy, ambitious, and always hav- ing some project in view, in the execution of which he usually succeeds. He is one of the largest land-owners of Philo Township, having a farm of 400 acres, all of which is finely cultivated and well adapted to stock-raising, of which he has made a specialty, and in this, as in most of his other undertakings, has been very successful. Mr. Grove is a native of Cumberland County, Pa., and was born Dec. 17, 1838. He was reared and educated in his native town and remained at home until after the outbreak of the late war, when he became a transportation master in the army, in which he was emploj'ed about seventeen months. At the expiration of this time, after a brief visit at his own home, he started for the West, and I t. 378 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. locating in Naperville, 111., engaged as clerk in a store. This he abandoned after one year's trial, and then began to farm on shares, operating in this manner for five years following. He then purchased land in Du Page County, which he cultivated until 1883, when he sold out and secured possession of his present home in this county. The marriage of Samuel Grove and Miss Amanda Erb took place in Chicago, 111., Dec. 21, 1865. Mrs. G. was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Aug. 10,1 847. She is the daughter of Joshua and Sarah (Yount) Erb, also natives of the Keystone State, but now residents of Naperville. Her father was a farmer of large means and a man of influence in his com- munity. Both the Grove and Erb families were of German descent, and possessed in a marked de- gree the reliable and substantial traits of their fore- fathers. Our subject and his wife became the par- ents of five children Hattie A., Harrison, Ely, Evan and Ervin S. The father of our subject, Jacob Grove, whose ancestors were from Holland, died in Naperville, 111., in 1861. The mother, who in her maidenhood was Miss Mary Seitoz, is now liv- ing with her second husband in Naperville. A lithographic view of Mr. Grove's residence, with its surroundings, is shown on another page of this volume. IRAM L. DURFEY became a resident of Champaign County in 1861, and spent his first year on a Tented farm near Parkville. The following year he was similarly occu- pied in Tolono Township, whence after a residence of four years, he came to Philo and purchased eighty acres of land on section 1 8, where he pro- ceeded to lay the foundations of a permanent home. This has remained his residence since that time, with the exception of live years which he spent on a farm with his sons in Tolono Township. His land, when he took possession of it, was not far removed from its original condition and he industriously set about its improvement and cultivation, meeting with abundant success. The farm is finely laid off and convenient!}' arranged for the raising of grain and stock. Nothing is wasted, every acre being made available, and everything about the premises is well cared for and kept in good order. Mr. Durfey is a native of Licking County, Ohio, born in Hartford Township, Aug. 15,1820. His father, Daniel I. Durfey, was a well-educated man, and for many years a teacher in the Buckeye State. He was a potter by trade, but at one time owned a small farm and operated a sawmill. He was born in Vermont, of New England parentage and En- glish and Scotch descent. When twenty-two years of age he removed to Licking County, Ohio, and there married Miss Alcy C. Rose, a native of Mas- sachusetts and of English descent. She became a resident of Licking County, Ohio, when a small girl. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. D. settled on a farm in Licking County, where the father passed the remainder of his life, d3^ng April 2 1 ?, 1872, at the age of seventy-nine years. The mother, who is . now eighty-seven years of age, is still living at Hartford, Ohio, and retains her mental faculties to a remarkable degree, as well as her health and strength. She is still an active member of the Congregational Church, which she attends regu- larly. Our subject was the eldest child and only son of three children born to his parents, one of whom, Lucy, formerly the wife of Henry Smith, is now deceased. His sister, Adeline, Mrs. Cornell, is a resident of Lock, Knox Co., Ohio. Mr. Durfey re- mained a member of the parental household until twenty-four years of age, and the three years after his majority worked with his father in the sawmill. He was married, Nov. 1, 1843, at the residence of the bride's parents in his native township, by the Rev. Mr. Brown, to Miss Lucina D. Smith. The parents of Mrs. D., Heman and Sarah (Winston) Smith, were natives of Connecticut and of New England parentage. Mr. Smith in early life was occupied as a clothier, but later engaged in milling, which he followed until his death, at the age of fifty years, in Delaware County, Ohio. His father, He- man Smith, Sr., was lost at sea. It is supposed that his vessel was taken by pirates, as it disappeared and was never afterward heard from. The mother of Mrs. Durfey departed this life when forty years of age. She was a lady highly esteemed and re- spected by all who knew her. and both parents CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 379 were must worthy members of society, training their children to principles of temperance and morality. Of the nine children included in the household circle, Mrs. Durfey was the third in or- der of birth. She received a common-school edu- cation and remained at home until her marriage. By her union with our subject Mrs. Durfey has become the mother of eight children, who are recorded as follows: Julius T. married Miss Nancy V. Hamilton, and is a resident of Downs, Osborne Co.. Kan.; Edgar W. lives at home, and assists in operating the farm ; Daniel I., Jr., married Miss Mary Van Meter, and is a farmer of Tolono Town- ship ; Eva, formerly a teacher, is rusticating in Kan- sas: Emma P. became the wife of L. H. Wright, a farmer and mechanic, and resides in White County, Ind. ; Alice, Alonzo and Clarence are deceased. "The parents and all the children are worthy mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Durfey is one of the most radical Republicans of the county. AMES STEVEN. One of the finest resi- dences in Sadorus Township is situated on the northwest corner of section 27, and is the property of the subject of this sketch. It is doubly valuable to Mr. S. as having been the house of his parents, which he removed from the home in 1 885, and fitted up with modern improve- ments. It makes a solid and substantial structure, the frames of the houses of thirty-two years ago having been built of much heavier timber than those of the present. The grassy yard, shaded by trees, and the neat buildings in the rear, with the fields on either side, present a pleasant picture for the eye to contemplate. The well-fed cattle and fine horses belonging to the estate form no unim- portant part of its embellishments. Mr. Steven, as a stock-raiser, ranks among the representative men of his township, and closely superintends the opera- tions of the farm, which Benjamin Franklin main- tained was the only method by which anything could be done properly. He often said in plain words, " If you wish anything done well, do it yourself." Mr. Steven, so far as lies in his power, has followed this maxim, being active and indus- trious, while at the same time devoted to his family and alive to the interests of his community. James Steven comes from excellent Scottish an- cestry, and was born in Forfarshire, a maritime county of Scotland, having east the North Sea and south the Firth of Tay. In this county were the celebrated Braes of Angus, a part of the Grampian Range, the Vale of Strathmore, and the Sidlaw Hills, and the rich plain along the Firth of Tay and the Sea. The parents of our subject, James and Chris- tina (Gray) Steven, were born among the Highlands in Scotland, where they were married and remained until 1854, when our subject was a young man of twenty-one years. They left one son, a sailor, in Scotland, but were accompanied by four other chil- dren. The elder Steven, after reaching American shores proceeded directly Westward to the rapidly growing State of Illinois, and entered eighty acres in Sadorus Township, this county, which, with the assistance of his son, was soon transformed into a fertile farm. Here both parents spent the balance of their lives, the death of the mother occurring about 1876, and that of her husband six years later. After the death of his parents James took posses- sion of the homestead which had been deeded to him by his father, and which he kept up in the same creditable manner as before. One of the most important events in the life of our subject took place in the spring of 1864, when he was united in marriage with Miss Laura, the eld- est child of Joseph and Earnestine (Kuhling) Goodman, who were natives of Germany. Our subject and his wife continued to occupy the home farm until 1885. He had been remarkably prosper- ous in the meantime, and had purchased 290 acres, being now the owner of 370 acres of some of the linest land in Champaign County. His property is located on sections 15, 16 and 22. One of the most attractive features connected with the home life of our subject is the presence of seven children, namely, Joseph W., Alexander, Walter, Robert, Anna, Maggie and Elsie. Will- iam, the first born, died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Steven may be pardoned for the feeling of pride and satisfaction with which they look upon their children. The latter have been carefully 1 N > 380 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. trained and well educated, and form no unimpor- tant part in the enjoyment and satisfaction of the parents' lives. The prospect is that in due time they will be numbered among the most valued members of society and bear the mantle of their honored parents in a manner creditable to them- selves and to those who have watched their lives from the dawning to the present time. ^ILLIAM L. BRADEN, who became a resi- dent of Ludlow Township in 1866, and has firmly established himself in the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, is a native of Decatur County, Ind., and was born March 1, 1844. He is the son of John H. Braden, whose parents emigrated from the North of Ireland in about 1790, soon after their marriage. Their (then) only child died while on the voyage, and its body was preserved to be buried on land. The last dollar which the parents possessed was re- quired to pay the funeral expenses, leaving them penniless in a strange country. They made their way to Greensburg, Pa., where the father suc- ceeded in obtaining employment and prospered, while a considerable family grew up around them. When Kentucky was being colonized they pushed on and settled among the pioneers in the new State. Observing the many evils attendant upon the system of slavery as practiced there, they resolved to leave that locality, and accordingly removed to Indiana in 1820, six months after the birth of their eleventh and youngest child, John H. They lo- cated in what is now Greensburg, and there John H. remained a member of the parental household until his marriage. This event took place Sept. 3, 1840, the lady of his choice being Miss Louisa Reeder, of Rush County, Ind. She was the youngest child of her parents, who were of Welsh and Ger- man descent. Her grandfather, who emigrated from Wales, was murdered by the Indians about the be- ginning of the present century, on what is now the site of Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly after their marriage Mr. Braden and his young wife set up housekeeping in a log cabin in the midst of a tract of timber land, eighty acres of which he had purchased, and upon which no im- provements whatever had been made. Their first dwelling was constructed by his own hands. Soon afterward he began to clear and cultivate his land, and in due time the country around him slowly settled up. When the government of the township came under discussion Mr. B. distinguished him- self as a stanch Whig and a radical temperance ad- vocate. Their oldest child, Margaret J., now re- sides near Gilman, 111., and is the wife of Simeon Collier, who served as a soldier in the Union army during the late war. Our subject was the eldest son of his parents, and in his boyhood and youth was made fully ac- quainted with the experiences of life in a new country. In 1852 his father traded the farm, which now consists of 209 acres of improved land, for a more valuable homestead in the same vicinity. In 1853 he exchanged this for a stock of general mer- chandise and a fine residence in the village of Mil- ford, Ind. Here his son enjoyed better facilities for schooling, and at thirteen years of age became serviceable in his father's store. In March, 1864, when twenty years of age, he was stricken down with spotted fever, which left him with a shattered, nervous system, from which misfortune he has never fully recovered. In the fall of that year his parents, with their family of six boys and two girls, removed to State Line City, between Indiana and Illinois, six miles east of Danville. They remained there, however, but a few months, coining thence to this county. Notwithstanding his constant ill-health, unwill- ing to be idle, our subject opened a general store in the village of what was then Pera, but is now Ludlow, in partnership with Daniel Allhand. The latter-named gentleman, after disposing of his interests to R. J. Braden, the brother of our sub- ject, died about 1872. Our subject, by his straightforward method of doing business and promptness in meeting his obligations, in time built up a good trade and made many friends. In 1867 he was elected Clerk and Collector of Ludlow Township, the duties of which he ful- filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He served as School Treasurer for a period of eleven 3'ears, holding it until his business I 1 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 381 affairs, in 1880, induced him to resign. He is at present engaged in the grain trade with William C. Holmes. The father of our subject now resides in Milford, 111., and in company with his two sons, Richard F. and John H., Jr., is conducting a large dry-goods store at Watseka, Iroquois County, where they enjoy an extensive patronage. William L. Braden, on account of his sad afflic- tion, has never full}' developed the social side of his nature, but so far as he is able is an earnest worker in the temperance and other good causes, and is the encourager of all enterprises tending to the moral and intellectual welfare of his community. He is a consistent member of the Christian Church, in which he has filled the office of Clerk for four- teen years. He supports the principles of the Re- publican part} 7 , but takes no active part in politics, preferring his business to any political emoluments. EW. EVANS, who became a resident of Philo Township in 1858, upon first coming into the county located in Urbana Town- ship, where he was part owner of eighty acres of land. This he sold in the year mentioned and purchased eighty acres of his present homestead, to which he afterward added forty acres, and has now a snug farm under a good state of cultivation, with con- venient and comfortable buildings and all the sur- roundings of a successful agriculturist. Mr. Evans is a native of Brown County, Ohio, and was born Nov. 4, 1821. His father, Edward Evans, died before our subject was born, and the latter, when a child of two or three years, went to live with his grandfather, also named Edward Ev- ans, who carried on farming in Brown County. There he made his home until he started out in life on his own account. After reaching manhood he was married in his native county. Jan. 16, 1844, to Miss Charlotte Morrow, a native of Brown County, and born Feb. 23, 1825. Her father, James Mor- row, owned and occupied a farm in Bird Township, where he died of cholera, in 1 832. The mother, who was formerly Miss Lavina Drake, lived to the age of seventy-four years, and died at the old home- stead in Brown County. Mrs. Evans remained under the parental roof until her marriage. By her union with our subject there have been born two children Cornelia, the wife of Frank Wells, a suc- cessful farmer of Philo Township, and Lavina F., who died in infancy. After their marriage Mr. Evans and his young wife located in Bracken County, Ky., where they lived three years, then returned to Brown County, Ohio, and thence, one year later, removed to Montgomery County, Ind. There our subject rented land about three years, at the expiration of which time they became residents of this county. Mr. Evans is a first-class Democrat of the old type, and has been Township Supervisor and Road Com- missioner a number of terms. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. 'RANK B. VENNUM, a native of the Prai- rie State, is one of the most enterprising- business men in the town of Fisher, being now the banker of the community, and identified with its most important interests. His birth took place in Iroquois County, Oct. 12, 1853, at Milford, and his parents were Christopher C. and Mahala (Horn) Veunum, both natives of Washington County, Pa., where they lived several years after their mar- riage, and whence they removed to this State about 1833. The father was a farmer by occupation, and pursued his calling until his decease, which occurred at Onarga, Iroquois County, in about 1868. The mother still survives, and is a resident of Fisher. Our subject was the third of three sons and two daughters comprising the parental household, and received a good education, first by attending the common schools and afterward at the Grand Prairie Seminary in Onarga, where he took a three years' course and graduated in the English branches. Afterward he learned telegraphy, and operated the wires at different points for two years following, then, desiring a more active life, engaged first as a grain dealer at Belleflower for about one year, then took up merchandising in connection with the grain trade, and selling out five years later came to Fisher, and after a brief time occupied in merchandising as before, in which he was quite successful, aban- t 382 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. doned this for banking. In seeking a safe deposit for his surplus cash he considered that nothing would be safer than land, and accordingly has in- vested considerably in real estate, including 400 acres in Champaign County and some of the most valuable property in the village. The marriage of Mr. Venn urn took place in Belletlower Township, McLean County, Nov. 25, 1877, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah A. Marsh, who was born in Fulton County, this State, and is the daughter of L. B. and Abbie (Sherman) Marsh, natives of New York State. Mr. Marsh spent his last days in Fisher, dying at the home of his son-in-law in 1886. The mother still survives, and is a resident of Fisher. The additions to the household of our subject are a son and daughter. Earnest M. and Vinnie V. Mr. Ven'num votes for the support of Republican principles, and with his wife belongs to the Christian Church. ENSON RICHMOND. This thrifty and prosperous farmer of Newcomb Township is pleasantly located on section 2, where he has a good 'farm of 240 acres, and in the prosecution of his chosen calling has been eminently successful. He is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, born May 27, 1824, and the son of Joseph and Nancy (Her) Richmond, natives respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The parents of our subject soon after their marriage located near Zanesville, in Muskingum County, Ohio, whence, in the fall of 1830, they came to this State, and were among the earliest settlers " Tazewell County. The spot which they selected as their location is now included in Hittle Township. The winter fol- lowing will be remembered as one of great severity and of the deep snow. About the middle of February, Joseph Rich- mond, in company with Samuel Judy, and shod with snow-shoes, started for Mackinaw Village, fifteen miles away. After a tedious journey they reached their destination in safety and loaded them- selves with provisions to take home to their own families and the few neighbors in their vicinity. When within two and one-half miles of home Mr. Richmond became exhausted with cold and fatigue, and told his companion that he could go no further, urging the latter, however, to proceed without him. Mr. Judy, taking off his own cloak, wrapped it around his companion, who had sat down in the snow, and proceeded on his way for assistance as rapidly as possible. He could n.ot return, however, until morning, and when his friends found him Mr. Richmond was frozen to death, sitting in the same position in which he had been left. Mrs. R. sur- vived her husband several years, dying in Tazewell County in the fall of 1833 or 1834. Their family consisted of four sous and three daughters, of whom Henson of our sketch was the fifth child. Our subject was but six years of age when his parents became residents of Illinois. He remained in Hittle Township until, on account of rheumatism, owing to the dampness of the soil, he was obliged to remove. Going to Mackinaw Village he en- gaged as a stock dealer, and continued there until the spring of 1878, and during fourteen years of that time was engaged in breaking prairie. In the spring of the year mentioned he came into New- comb Township, this county, and purchased a tract of land which is included in his present homestead. This now comprises 240 acres, finely cultivated, and Mr. R. also has 240 acres adjoining, which is operated by a tenant. The marriage of Henson Richmond and Miss Harriet Judy, was celebrated in Tazewell County, 111., May 23, 1850. Mrs. R. was born in Hittle Township, Tazewell County, and was a sister of Jacob Judy, whose biography appears in another part of this work. She became the mother of three children, and departed this life Jan. 6, 185(i. Two of her children died in infancy ; the one surviving, a son, Scott, married Miss Laura Fondersmith, and is a resident of Newcomb Township. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Aug. 2, 1858, in Clinton, 111., was Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James and Rebecca (Wal- ton) Franks, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. After living in Boone County, the lat- ter State, a number of years, they removed to Pekin, 111., in the fall of 1 836, and ten years later, to Mc- Lean County, where the father died Dec. 31, 1872, .t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 383 i . and the mother Dec. 25, 1882. The household in- cluded eleven children, eight daughters and three sons. Mrs. Richmond was the second child, and was born in Boone County, Ky., March 15, 1833. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. R. only two survive, Homer and Ella, both residing at home. The others died in infancy. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and politically Mr. R. affiliates with the Republican party. ffiOIIN ANDERSON. Many of the most thrifty and intelligent agriculturists of this section of Illinois were born and reared on the other side of the Atlantic, and to Scan- ^~~^ dinavia especially is Illinois largely indebted for some of her most enterprising and valued citizens. As a splendid example of what may be accom- plished by energy and determination, amid stran- gers in a strange land, and upon the soil of a new country, we point to Mr. Anderson, who is now a resident of Ludlow Township, and owns one of the finest farms in Champaign County. This is embellished with every comfort, and invariably at- tracts the eye of the passing traveler as a model country estate under the supervision of a proprie- tor more than ordinarily intelligent and progres- sive. Mr. Anderson has been uniformly prosperous in his business and farming operations, and is now in possession of a valuable landed estate, located on section 6, and embracing 360 acres of finely culti- vated land, which he improved from wild prairie, and which now yields in abundance the richest products of the Prairie State. The family resi- dence is an elegant and commodious structure, fin- ished and furnished in modern style. The other farm buildings correspond fully with the dwelling. Mr. Anderson came to this county in the pioneer days, and after having a desperate struggle with the ills of life. He possessed, however, that firm and undaunted spirit for which the pioneer ele- ment was so eminently distinguished, and which was so necessary to success, and settling down in the midst of others, who were striving, like himself, to establish a home upon an uncultivated soil, pro- ceeded with courage to redeem the land from its original condition. Time has proved that he was equal to the task. Considering what his course has been since a resident of this locality, and what he has been able to accomplish, the reader cannot help being desirous of becoming acquainted with his early history. Mr. Anderson first opened his eyes to the light in the Kingdom of Sweden, four miles from the city of Gothenberg, Oct. 14, 1816, on the farm owned and occupied by his father, and which con- tinued his home for the folio wing twenty-five years. Then, with his newly wedded wife, he departed from the home roof, and located on a farm belong- ing to her father. This contained but twenty-five acres, ten of which were tillable, and the remainder devoted to pasture. He kept one horse and five cows, remaining upon the place until 1854, and then, despairing of getting on in the world as he wished, set sail for this country, which promised to the hand of industry greater results than any he had realized in the country of his birth. The voy- age commenced on the 24th of June, and he landed in the city of Boston on the 10th of August. His destination from the first had been the West, and he proceeded directly to Chicago, going thence, a week later, to La Salle, in this State. Our subject had been obliged to borrow money to pay his passage to America, and on his arrival in La Salle was $139 in debt. For seven months afterward he worked on the farm for $18 per month and boarded himself. Later he removed to Prince- ton, and worked by the day or month as he could obtain employment, and for more than two years applied all his sp? % ;e earnings to the payment of his indebtedness. Afterward he commenced to save his money, with the intention of buying land. After a residence in Princeton of one and a half years, he purchased forty acres of stump land four miles south of the city. He cleared a part of this, and prepared it for cultivation, but sold out in 1804 and came into this county. By this time his fortunes had mended considerably, and in 1864 he purchased 1GO acres of wild prairie, at $9 per acre, which is now included in his present farm. This, at the time of purchase, was neither fenced nor sup- 384 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. plied with a building. He first erected a shanty 8x10 feet, into which the family moved and lived for a time until he was enabled to erect a more commodious structure. Prosperity now began to reward his efforts, and the seasons in their turn smiled upon his husbandry, and he realized from the products of the soil a handsome income. He then added to his real estate, and at one time was the possessor of 360 acres of land, all of which he improved from the wild prairie. In 1842 our subject was married, in his native country, to Miss Ann B. Anderson, who was born near the birthplace of her husband in Sweden, Dec. 5, 1811. They became the parents of six children before coming to the United States. The wife and mother departed this life Jan. 8, 1881, and her re- mains were laid to rest in the Swedish churchyard near Farmersville, Ford County, this State. The record of the children is as follows: Lottie died at Princeton when an interesting child of ten years old ; Anna, the wife of Henry Godey, lives in Chi- cago; August is farming in Ludlow Township; John B. remains on the homestead ; Hannah, Mrs. John W. Stillman, is a resident of Barton County, Mo. ; Andrew died at La Salle, this State, when eight months old. The family attend the Lutheran Church, and politically our subject is a stanch supporter of the Greenback party. His sons are wide-awake, ener- getic young men, who have inherited the reliable and substantial qualities of their father, and bid fair to occupy the same enviable position in the community, respected by their fellow-citizens, and performing their part as honest men and valued members of society. ^ILLIAM H. ROBERTS, one of the pioneer farmers of Tolono Township, came mto Champaign County in the fall of 1866. He is a native of tjhis State, born Dec. 1, 1819. His father, John Roberts, a native of Maryland, was reared to manhood in his native State, and married Miss Shears. This lady, after becoming the mother of several children, died in Virginia. John Rob- erts was afterward married to Miss Delilah Jones, who was born in Tennessee. They afterward re- moved to Kentucky, and in 1819 to this State, being among the pioneers of Central Illinois. They lo- j cated in Sangamon County, whence they afterward removed to Macoupin County, and there spent the remainder of their days. John Roberts was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War, and served four years, the first two under Gen. Marion and the last two under Gen. Washington. He departed this life in 1831, and his wife, the mother of our sub- ject, in August, 1866. John Roberts was greatly prospered in his western venture, became the owner of a good farm, and also operated a grist- mill which yielded him a good income. The fam- ily consisted of seven children, of whom our sub- ject is the only one now living, so far as known. William H. Roberts grew to manhood in Ma- coupin County, and after leaving home was- em- ployed in driving cattle for stockmen to the Alton and St. Louis markets. He also dealt in stock oc- casionally on his own account. He afterward pur- | chased a farm in his native county, which he oper- ated successfully until becoming a resident of Champaign County. His homestead in Tolono Township includes 160 acres of valuable land ad- joining Sadorus Village, which is under a good state of cultivation and supplied with excellent buildings. All of this world's goods which he pos- sesses have been accumulated by his own industry, and he has lost considerable money in the manner in which many men have been ruined, by going se- curity for friends and having to pay the amount. He and his family occupy a comfortable farm resi- dence and are surrounded by the good things of life. Mr. Roberts, politically, is a stanch Demo- crat, but has never connected himself with any re- ligious denomination or secret society. Our subject was married, near Scottsville, in his native county, on the 14th of March, 1844, to Miss Sarah Bristow, who was born in Tennessee but re- moved when a small child with her parents to Ma- coupin County, 111., and were among the early set- tlers of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts had a family of nine children. Of these John W. de- parted this life at Sadorus when twenty-two years of age; James T. died when eighteen years old, and Charles at thirteen; Mary married Charles Atte- RS" - c *^ $2 '.,' , ^S.^ : _.'^- WALNUT GROVE FARM, RESIDENCE OF W. A . CO NKE Y ,5EC.y, ( R-14-W) , HOMER TP. STOCK FARM OF J.K. THOMPSON , BREEDER OF SHORT HORN CATTLE ,5EC. 3, PHI LO TP. BE. RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH PIER CE , SEC . 17 , HARWOOD TP. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 387 berry, became the mother of four children, and died in Mead County, Kan., in December, 1885; Emeline married Fred Griswold, of Sadorus; Sena C. is the wife of Edmund Jones; Dora J., Mrs. I George Connet, is a resident of Kansas; William and Lucy Ella are at home. J/OI1N B. NEAL, an enterprising and success- ful young farmer of Philo Township, took possession of his present homestead of 160 acres on section 21, in the spring of 1883. He is the son of Richard Neal. of Pennsylvania, and was born Jan. 3, 1847. His father, a carpenter by trade, removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, when a young man, and was there married to Miss Eliza Bunton. Richard Neal departed this life when his son, our subject, was but four years old. The lat- ter afterward went to live with Mr. Job Mullin, of Warren County, that State, with whom he remained nine years. At the expiration of that time, the late Civil War being then in progress, although only fifteen years old, he enlisted as a Union sol- dier, becoming a member of the 87th Ohio In- fantry. He was present in the fight at Harper's Ferry, where he was taken prisoner but at once pa- rolled. He soon afterward enlisted in Co. H., 84th Ohio Vol. Inf., and was at the battles of Winches- ter, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and other engage- ments. He endured bravely with his comrades the vicissitudes of war, escaping without serious in- jury, having only received a slight wound at the battle of Winchester, and received an honorable discharge at the close in the summer of 1865. After his return from the army Mr. Neal lived in Ohio one year, then came to Philo Township, this county, and began working out by the month. In 1869 he visited the Territory of Montana, where he worked two years in the gold mines, for a part of which he received $5 per day. In 1871 he re- turned to Philo Township, and on Jan. 19,1875, was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Bennett. Mrs. Neal was born and reared in Clinton County, Ohio, her birth taking place June 8, 1850. She remained with her parents until 1869, then came to Illinois and lived with her sister, Mrs. Silver, of Sidney, until her marriage. She is the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Reck) Bennett, who arc still living, and residents of Clinton County, Ohio, where the father has followed his trade as a cabinet-maker successfully for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Neal have four children Florence, Herman, Estella and Norah. The farm of our subject produces in abundance all the crops of the prairie State, the land being finely drained with 1,200 rods of tile. Mr. Neal is a thorough business man and agriculturist, and the home of himself and family is a pleasant resort for the many friends whom they have gathered around them by their genial, hospitable manner and uniform kindness of heart. Mr. Neal is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens, has served as Road Commissioner two years, and politically is a stanch Republican, whose opinions are highly val- ued by the members of his party in this section. A lithographic view of Mr. Neal's handsome residence is presented in this bo^k. -> ^ J" 'OHN LOCKE first opened his eyes to the light in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Sept. 9, 1848. He is now a worthy and substantial resident of Philo Township, lo- cated on a fine farm on section 36. His father, William II. Locke, was born in Devonshire, En- gland, and bred to farming pursuits. After reach- ing manhood he was united in marriage with a lady of his own shire, Miss Hannah Joice. After the birth of several children they gathered together their household effects and their family and set sail for America. Going into the Province of Ontario, Canada, they located in Yarmouth County, where William Locke purchased several hundred acres of good land and resided several years. The mother died in the fall of 1874, while from home on a visit. The father and the remaining members of the family afterward came to Illinois, taking up their abode in this county, in March, 1861. William Locke pur- chased land in Philo Township on section 36, whose cultivation and improvement he carried on until he became unfitted for active labor. After arriving t. -f- 388 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. at the age of fourscore years he departed from the scenes of his earthly labors in June, 1875. John Locke, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest son in a family of nine children born to his parents. His education was conducted in the common schools, and he was never afterward sepa- rated from his father until the death of the latter. He was married, March 14, 1874, at the home of the bride's parents in Philo Township, to Miss Mary C., daughter of Cyrus Arnold, and a native of Ken- dall County, 111., born Jan. 5, 1858. Of this mar- riage there have been born seven children, two of whom, Carrie and Rhoda, are deceased. Those sur- viving and at home are Mabel, Julia, Edna, Claude A. and Clara Belle. Mr. and Mrs. Locke after their marriage settled upon the farm which constitutes their present homestead, and a view of which is shown on an- other page. It is well stocked with flue grades of Durham cattle, thoroughbred horses and Poland- China swine. The landed area of our subject em- braces 400 acres, all of which is highly improved and 3'ields in abundance the choicest products of the Prairie State. Mr. L. is yet a young man and has made good progress thus far, giving promise of becoming one of the most successful farmers of Champaign County. He is Republican in politics, and with his wife, a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. C. REED. The finely arranged farm of this successful agriculturist and stock-raiser is pleasantly located in Philo Township, on section 16. It came into his possession in the spring of 1880, and includes 480 acres, which have been brought to a fine state of cultivation, being drained with 30,000 rods of tiling. The farm buildings and stock are of first-class description, and the family residence, a view of which will be found on another page, will bear comparison with that of any in Champaign Count)'. Our subject came to this vicinity from Wheeling, W. Va., where he was born May 19, 1822. His father, John Reed, was a Virginian by birth, and the descendant of Irish an- cestors. He was married in his native State to Miss 4' Louisa (,'alducll, also a native of the old Dominion, the wedding taking place near Wheeling, where they afterward settled and lived until the '50's, when they came West with other members of the family and settled in the northwestern part of Peo- ria County. There the father died soon afterward, aged sixty-two years; the mother survived until about 1865. Both parents were active members of the Presbyterian Church, and highly esteemed wherever known. William Reed, the grandfather of our subject, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, emigrated from his native laud with his family and settled near Wheeling, W. Va. His son John, the father of our subject, was the youngest child and the only one born in West Virginia. The maiden name of the grandmother was Miss Jane Jackson. Both she and her husband died near Wheeling. The Reed family are connections of the Caldwells, McCulloughs and Bogges, and the Caldwells were connected with the Calhouns, both by blood and marriage. Lewis Wetzel, the noted Indian fighter, was also connected with these families, all of whom figured prominently in the early history of Virginia. Many of them were of Scottish ancestry. The subject of this history possesses the marked characteristics of a reliable and substantial race. He was the fourth of twelve children, and received his early education in the primitive log school- house of the early da.ys. He was a bright and am- bitious boy, and engaged in merchandising when sixteen years of age. He also for some time was employed in transportation on the Ohio and Mis- sissippi Rivers, and for a period of eight years was occupied as a drover, handling annually over 1,000 head of stock. He was at one time quite exten- sively engaged in the buying and shipping of horses, and was remarkably successful in his under- taking. His first experience as an agriculturist dates from his arrival in this county, when he bought a tract of land in Philo Township, lie was a man greatly attached to his family, and in his re- tirement from farm life had in view the improve- ment of his wife's health and the better training of his children. In 1877 Mr. Reed took a trip overland and into the region of the Rocky Mountains with his private f T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 380 teams, and accompanied by his wife and two chil- dren. This trip practically completed his tour of the Western Continent, and he possesses a valuable fund of information gathered from his observa- tions during his journey from Virginia to Illinois and thence to the farther West. He was joined by others in this latter trip, which made a party of twenty- one persons. They carried their provisions and were equipped with the modern conveniences of camp life, including a physician and a blacksmith. Mr. Reed, in fact, has employed much of his time about six years in traveling over the different States in the Union. Mr. Reed was married in his native county, on the 19th of May, 1868, to Miss Mary B. Bell, also a native of the Old Dominion. They have become the parents of five children Charles W., Henry K. L., Mary B., John C., Jr., and James B. Mrs. Reed is a lady of culture and education, and num- bers among her friends and acquaintances the best people of Philo Township. Both our subject and his wife are connected with the Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Reed is a firm supporter of Re- publican principles, although he has uniformly de- clined to become an oflice-holder. P^HOMAS E. CONDON represents the agri- cultural implement trade at Pesotum, in connection with the lumber business. He has been a resident of Champaign County since 1865, coming here soon after his retirement from the army at the close of the war. He ranks among the citizens of Central Illinois, who have shaped its prosperity and assisted in establishing its reputa- tntiou as a desirable place of residence for both the farmer and artisan. Our subject's early years were spent in Carroll County, Md., where his birth took place Nov. 15, 1 835. He was the ninth child of Thomas and Al- vira (Barnes) Condon, natives of the same State, where they spent their entire lives, both dying in middle life, when their son Thomas, of our sketch, was but six years old, The older children kept the family together for four years, and were then sepa- rated, Thomas going to the home of his grandpar- ents, with whom he remained until nineteen years old. He then started out in the world for himself, casting his lot in Clay Count}', Ind., where he en- gaged first on a farm witli an uncle, where he fol- lowed farming until he could secure means to ful- fill the cherished hope of pursuing a course of study in the university at Greencastle. This he accom- plished to his satisfaction, in the meantime fitting himself for a teacher, and thereafter taught and farmed alternately until 1857. In June of the latter year there occurred one of the most important events in the life of our sub- ject, namely, his marriage with Miss Sarah M., daughter of John and Rhoda (Holland) Dickerson. The parents of Mrs. C. were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and after their marriage located in Ohio before it had been ad- mitted into the Union as a State. There also Mr. Condon followed teaching and farming until after the outbreak of the late war. In 1862 .he enlisted in the 4th Indiana Cavalry, under command of Col. Gray, now the Governor of that State. The first winter was spent by his battalion in Kentucky in guarding the State, and in the spring they went to Murfreesboro, Tenn., by way of Nashville. There our subject, with his regiment, was placed under the command of Gen. Rosecrans, and not long after- ward participated in the memorable battle of Chick- amauga, after which they followed Wheeler, the raider, and for twenty-two days were seldom out of the saddle and never in camp. Upon this expe- dition they were upon half rations for five days, and realized in a forcible degree the hardships and privations of war. After chasing Wheeler from the State of Tennes- see, this regiment returned to Winchester, whence they were sent to Nashville and remounted soon afterward to relieve Burnside at Knoxvillc, where he v;as besieged b}' the rebel General, Longstreet. This portion of the Union army successfully raised the siege, but the entire winter was spent in contin- uous skirmishing with the enemy. In the mean- time their Colonel had been killed, and Gen. Gray resigning, was succeeded by Schuyler, and he in turn by Leslie. The following spring Longstreet was driven out of East Tennessee, and the 4th Indiana *. 390 CHAMPAIGN CrtUNTY. was sent to another part of the .State to form the left wing of Sherman's command, our subject being de- tailed to remain at Chattanooga as Sergeant, where he spent his time until Sherman started out on his march to the sea. The 4th was then dismounted, and sent by rail to Louisville, Ky., where they were again provided with steeds and sent on a raid through the Blue Grass regions, following the enemy and fighting as they went. They finally drove him out of Kentucky, and in the meantime Hood had been chased from Tennessee by Thomas. Their next destination was Mississippi, where they remained in East Port during the following winter. In the meantime the Tennessee River, overflowing its banks, had swept the entire valley and created a malaria from which Mr. Condon, in common with many others, suffered greatly. He was finally sent to the hospital, and in a few brief months the war had practically closed. Mr. Condon remained under treatment at Jeffer- sonville, Ind., until June 19, 1865, when he was mustered out of service and returned to his home. He remained in Indiana until August following, and then coming to this county located in Sidney, where he was occupied in such labor as his health would permit. After two years and a half he leased eighty acres of wild land, deciding to try' the ex- periment of farming for the restoration of his health. The result proved satisfactory, and two years later Mr. C. purchased eighty acres in Crit- tenden Township, where he built a house and which he occupied for thirteen years. In the meantime Mr. and Mrs. C. became the parents of four children, and in the fall of 1884, Mr. Condon, desirous of giving them better ad- vantages of education, removed to the city of Champaign, at the same time availing himself of a much needed rest from labor and business cares. Not long afterward, however, in company with A. M. Coffeen, he commenced dealing in coal, and the year following, in connection with W. F. Hardy, added the trade in agricultural implements. He and his partners operated together in Champaign until February, 1887, when Mr. C. disposed of his interests in- that city, and coming to Pesotum en- gaged in the agricultural implement and lumber business; which he still continues. The faithful wife and mother departed this life on the 23d of March, 1886. Since that time the daugh- ters have kept house for their father. Agnes is teaching school not far from the homestead ; Mary L. became the wife of Jonathan Dubre, and died three years later, leaving one child, Artie L., now with his father in Indiana; Agnes and Edna preside over the affairs of the household. Mr. Condon has never* been connected with any church organiza- tion. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R,.and politically is liberal, although lie usually votes with the Republican party. ;ILLIAM G. CARSON. The name of this gentleman is favorably known throughout Philo Township as a successful and pro- gressive farmer and stock-raiser. He is pleasantly located on section 33, where he owns 160 acres, and also has forty acres on section 34. His land is well drained, enclosed with neat fencing, and supplied with all needful farm buildings, including a fine residence, a good barn, and ample conven- iences for the shelter of stock and grain. Our sub- ject has been a resident of Champaign County since 1855, and purchased his land directly from the Government. As may be supposed it was totally uncultivated at the time he took possession of it, and the contrast between now and then is as great as it is satisfactory. He began tilling the soil after the manner of the other early settlers before the march of civilization and invention had given the labor- saving machinery which the agriculturist of the present day enjoys in such a large measure. A har- vester in the fifties was a curiosity which the farmer would go several miles to look upon. Mr. Carson was born in Vermillion County, Ind., June 29, 1829. His father, Isaac Carson, a native of South Carolina, was of Southern parentage and Irish extraction. The family remained in the South until the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, in which various members of the family partici- pated, together with the Andrews family, of whom the mother of our subject was a daughter. Her father, James Andrews, also served in the War of 1812. The grandparents of both the Carson and' f t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 391 Andrews families died in the South. Isaac Carson became a resident of Vermillion County, Ind., be- fore his marriage with Miss Maria Andrews. The father departed this life when his son, our subject, was but three months old. and the mother eight years and nine months later, so that our subject at nine years of age was left an orphan. He then went to live with his grandfather, James Andrews, with whom he remained until sixteen, and then set out in life on his own account. Young Carson from this time was variously em- ployed until 1851, when twenty years of age. Then, in company with one Amos Curtis, a young man about his own age, he started across the plains to California. They visited Salt Lake City on their journey, and there met a Mr. Holliday, who was largely engaged in the transportation of merchan- dise from St. Louis to the Mormon capital. After reaching San Francisco young Carson and his friend decided upon proceeding to Australia, but owing to a delay in the sailing of the vessel they changed their minds and started up into the Sacra- mento Valley, where they were employed on a ranch at the generous stipend of $100 per month. At the expiration of this engagement our subject went into the mountains and began mining upon what is known as Mormon Island, on the American River. He was fairly successful in this venture, and after eighteen months thus employed, becom- ing anxious for a sight of the old home and the faces of his friends, he returned to Indiana. In the latter-named State he was married, Feb. 23, 1854, to Miss Martha Bales. Mrs. C. was born and reared in Vermillion County, Ind. Her par- ents were from Virginia, of Irish and German de- scent. Her father, Caleb Bales, removed to Ver- million County at an early period in the history of that section, in 1816, and was there occupied in farming until his death. He married Miss Emma Spangler. The mother of Mrs. Carson is still liv- ing on the old homestead, two miles from Dana, with one of her sons. She is now seventy-seven years of age, and remembers distinctly many of the interesting incidents connected with pioneer life. Mrs. Carson was reared and educated in her native county, remaining witli her parents until her mar- riage. She has become the mother of ten children, of whom the record is as follows: Josephine be- came the wife of Eugene Ford, who resides in Garnett, Anderson Co., Kan., engaged in the prac- tice of law; Caleb married Miss Mattie Congleton, and lives in Ashland, Boyd Co., Kan., where he is Postmaster of Ashland and a successful real-estate dealer ; Ellen is in Kansas with her brother Caleb ; Marc is the wife of D. P. Sirams, a dentist of Schuyler, Neb. ; Villa and Frank are at home with their parents. Four died in infancy. Mr. Carson is a stanch Democrat, politically, and has held the minor offices of his township. He is duly respected as a citizen and business man, and is contributing his quota toward the welfare and advancement of his community. EDWARD DAVIS, a leading stock dealer of Philo, became a resident of Champaign County in 1858, purchasing a farm and lo- cating in Crittenden Township. He occupied this, in the meantime carrying on its improvement and cultivation, for ten years afterward, after which he went to Chicago and for a period of six years was connected with the stockyards there. In 1874 he returned to Philo, of which he has since been a resi- dent, owning valuable property in the village and land in the township. In the meantime he has also dealt quite extensively in cattle, buying and ship- ping, and realizing a handsome income from his transactions in this line. Mr. Davis comes of excellent and substantial an- cestry, and was born in Wales in 1832. His father, Edward Davis, Sr., carried on farming in his native country and spent his entire life in the land which gave him birth. The mother, who in her girlhood was Miss Anna Davis, also died in Wales in 1 855. Onr subject received a fair education in his native country, and early in life crossed the water to the United States. He remained in New York State three years and then came direct to this county. Soon afterward he was married to Miss Caroline Markle, Dec. 2. 1867. Mrs. Davis was born in Jack- son County, Mich., Oct. 13, 1841, and is the daugh- ter of J. J. and Doretha (Almendinger) Markle, who were natives of Germany, where they were CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. married and whence tliey came to the l'nitu(t States in about 1831, locating in Ann Arbor, Mich. From there they removed to Jackson County, where Mr. M. improved a farm. He afterward sold out and removed near Grass Lake, Washtenaw County, where both parents died, each being seventj'-five years old. Mrs. Davis was reared to womanhood under her father's roof and received a good educa- tion, attending school at Albion and Ann Arbor. After completing her studies she engaged in teach- ing, and was pursuing that occupation in Philo when she met our subject and afterward became his wife. Among her pupils were many of the now prominent young men of this county who remember her as a skillful instructor and a judicious counselor and friend. Mr and Mrs. Davis have become the parents of six children, of whom Gracie M. and an infant un- named are deceased. Lizzie is attending college at Jacksonville, 111., and is a bright and promising girl; George E., Charles M. and Mary B. are attending school at Philo. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Davis is Trustee. He also holds the same office in the school district, and politically votes the Republican ticket. AMES M. CAMPBELL, a gentleman who is esteemed among the pioneers of Hensley Jti I , I Township, is pleasantly located on section 34, ((jjjfj which was the home of his father before him. It comprises 200 acres of valuable land, with ex- cellent frame buildings and all other modern im- provements. Our subject has been a resident of Illinois since 1856, and during the last thirty years, has watched with interest and satisfaction the growth and development of the Prairie State. He has distinguished himself as an honest man and a good citizen, and has contributed his full quota to- ward bringing his township to its present condition, both morally and financially. Our subject was the second child of Washington and Eleanora (Lilley) Campbell, and was born in Bird Township, Brown Co., Ohio, Nov. 11, 1834. He was reared by his parents and pursued his pri- inaiy studies in the common schools. When not in school he assisted his father in the labors of the farm. He came with the family to Illinois and re- mained a member of the parental household until his marriage. He then purchased the old homestead, upon which he has since resided. The wife of our subject, formerly Miss Sarah O. Cook, to whom he was married in 18G3, was born in Urbana, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1844. After remaining his faithful and affectionate companion for a period of nearly forty years, she departed this life April 2, 1884. Their five children were Lizzie J., William, Minnie, Frank and Sarah. Mr. Campbell cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and has been a supporter of Re- publican principles since that time. As a farmer, business man and citizen, he is held in high esteem, and constitutes one of the valued factors of the social and business life in Hensley Township. 'HOMAS F. McCRACKEN, who came to Ludlow Township in 1874, taking possession of a good farm on section 22, is numbered among its most substantial and reliable citizens. The forefathers of our subject originated in the Land of the Thistle, probably as far back as the time when the Stewarts governed Scotland, and his paternal grandfather emigrated directly from that country, which in addition to its romantic history produced some of the sturdiest people in the world, distinguished for their scorn of a mean action. After reaching America McGuire McCracken located in Tennessee, whence he removed in about 1826 to Illinois, settling with his family in Washington County. The country around him was practically unsettled and the present site of Chicago tenanted by a few emigrants who dwelt in structures which would now scarcely be dignified by the name of houses. Mr. McM. was a hatter by trade, which oc- cupation he followed the greater part of his life. His son, Thomas McGuire McCracken, the father of our subject, was but a boy when the family made the journey overland from Tennessee. He was reared under the parental roof and assisted in the labors of the farm, receiving a limited education *=) : CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 393 in the subscription schools. After reaching man- hood he was married, in Washington County, 111., to Miss Sarah Goodner, a native of St. Clair Coun- ty, this State. Her father, Benjamin Goodner, emi- grated from his native State of South Carolina to St. Clair County, 111., in the pioneer daj's. The young people located upon a farm seven miles from Nashville, the county seat x>f Washington County, which they occupied until 1852. Mr. McC. was a man of more than ordinary ability and took a prominent part in the affairs of his county. He served as Clerk for a term of four years, and was re- elected in 1856 and 1860. He did not live to serve out the latter term, departing this life in February, 1861. The subject of this sketcli was born in Washing- ton County, 111., April 25, 184G. There were four children in the family, which two years later was deprived of the affectionate care of the mother, who was taken from their midst by the hand of the Destroyer in 1848. The children remained with their father until his death, our subject then being fourteen years of age. His brother, James W., lo- cated in Macon County, where he now lives. Will- iam L. and Henry are deceased. Mr. McCracken of this sketch received a good common-school education, and when twenty years of age engaged as salesman in a flouring-mill. Two years later he went to Pennsylvania for the pur- pose of selling patent rights, spending two years in that locality. Afterward he crossed the Mississippi and traveled over the State of Kansas a year, then returned to Nashville, Washington County, and engaged in the mill where he had been before employed. He was then occupied in farming un- til 1874. In the spring of that year he came to this county, first farming on rented land in this and Ford County, and' after ward worked by the day or month four years. He had now saved a little sum of money, and going southwest into the Indian Territory engaged in herding cattle one year. He then returned to Champaign County, and was em- ployed by B. J. Gifford as Superintendent of his farms, a position which he occupied for a period of seven years. In 1886, he found he had suffic- ient means to purchase a farm, and took possession of his present homestead. This now includes eighty acres of land under a good state of cultivation, with a good residence, barn, and all other buildings required for the carrying on of a farm after the most approved methods. While a resident of this county, Mr. McCracken was united in marriage with Miss Delia Wheatley, Jan. 5, 1882. Mrs. McC. is a native of Perry Coun- ty, this State, her birth taking place in 1861. The household has been brightened by ihe birth of two sons and a daughter Gracie E., Litle and Ray F. Our subject is Democratic in politics, but has little time to give to public affairs, his private business engrossing most of his attention. ANIEL CONCANNON, who first opened his eyes to the light in Erin's Green Isle, County Galway, on the 22d of March, 1833, is one of the substantial farmers of Tolono Township, this county, of which he Became a resident in 1 857. He is the proprietor of 240 acres of choice land, furnished with good buildings, and is industriously engaged in general farming. The parents of our subject were Frank and Cath- erine (Gilgan) Concannon, and the mother died in about 1837, leaving two children our subject, who was only about four years old, and a daugh- ter, Adelia, who is now deceased. Frank Concan- non died in Ireland in about 1863, having survived his wife for a period of twenty-six years. He was a farmer by occupation, and little Daniel, as soon as old enough, commenced to assist in tilling the soil, and remained with his father until nineteen years of age. He then set sail for the United States, and landed in New York Harbor in April, 1852. He first proceeded to Freehold, N. J., where he engaged as a farm laborer at $8 per month for two years. Our subject then decided to seek his fortune in the Great West. Coming to Chicago he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Com- pany as baggage-master, and was thus employed for two years. From there he went to Lodi, Iro- quois Co., 111., still in the employ of the company, by whom he was transferred in 1857, to Tolono. After that he served in the same capacity for the 1 ' 394 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. I. C. R. R. and the W.,St. L. came to Ludlow, and in company with his half-brother, James W., engaged in merchandising until 1883. He then sold out, and the firm of Jefferson the subject of the following sketch is enti- tled to more than a passing notice. He owns and occupies a finely improved farm of 160 acres, of which he took possession in 1870, and which he purchased of G. W. Riley, now deceased. Previous to this he had operated it for a period of thirteen years on shares. He became its proprietor in 1883, since which time he has been laboring industriously for its improvement and cultivation, and has spent much time and money in effecting its thorough drainage. Mr. Furst is a native of Cumberland County, Pa., and was born Aug. 1, 1841. He is the son of John Furst, who was born in Dolphin County, and was of German ancestry and parentage. He was reared in his native county, and is now living in Champaign. He was formerly a successful farmer and highly respected citizen. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Sabina Poor- man, who was the descendant of an excellent En- glish family and, like her husband, a native of Pennsylvania. They located in Cumberland Coun- ty, that State, where they resided until 1857, and then removed with their family to Clarke County, Ohio. From there, in the fall of 1865, they came to Champaign County, of which they are now resi- dents, both being well advanced in years. Levi Furst was the second child of his parents. By a former marriage Mrs. F. had become the mother of two children, the name of her first hus- band being Christian Liber. Levi remained under the parental roof until twenty years of age, and ~ RESIDENCE or E.W. PARKER..SEC.IO , PH i LO TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCEOFS. W.MOORE, SEC. 30 .CRITTENDEN TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCE OF W-. DAWLEY. SEC. 3 , SCOTT TOWNSHIP. LIBRARY ILLINOIS f* CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 427 i was married in Clarke County, Ohio, Oct. 27. 1861, to Miss Christina Smith. Mrs. F. was born in the latter-named county. May 22, 1 842, and was there reared and educated in the public schools. She is the daughter of Peter and .lane (Maxon) Smith, the former of whom died in Clarke County, Ohio, Nov. 23, 1885. The mother is yet living there in the town of New Carlisle, and is seventy-four years of age. Our subject and his wife became the par- ents of eleven children, of whom Florence and George are deceased. Sabina J. became the wife of Elisha M. Woolever, a farmer of Sidney Town- ship; Elzina, Christian, William, Lizzie, John, Pe- ter, Jessie and Charles are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Furst have been residents of Champaign County since 1865. They are consistent members of the Christian Church of this vicinity, of which Mr. P. has been Deacon since 1873. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. J. REED owns and occupies a good farm' of 160 acres in Philo Township, which is located on section 25, and of which he took possession on the 22d of October, 1868. It was then an unbroken stretch of prairie, but after years of industrious labor our subject has converted it into one of the most attractive farms in his locality. He has brought the land to a flue state of cultivation, and it is now provided with a sub- stantial and convenient residence, a good barn, and all other conveniences for the shelter of stock and the storing of grain. A lithographic view of the place is shown on another page. The land is drained by 900 rods of tile, and yields in abund- ance the rich products of the Prairie State. As a farmer and business man Mr. Reed occupies a po- sition in the front ranks among his fellow-citizens, and is esteemed not only for his straightforward business methods but for his excellent qualities as a neighbor, friend and citizen. Our subject was born in Chester County, Pa,, Aug. 4, 1824, and resided in his native county un- til twenty-eight years of age. He is the fourth son of Hugh and Catherine (Gordon) Reed, who were born, married and died in Chester County. The 1852 father was engaged the greater part of his life in farming pursuits and was uniformly successful as an agriculturist and a business man. He departed this life June 14, 1873, when seventy-five years of age. He possessed a fair education, took an active interest in general politics, and was an adherent of the Democratic party. The mother died April 19. 1841, aged forty-five years. Both parents wt re reared in the Quaker faith, to which they remained loyal during their lifetime. The maternal grand- father served creditably as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War. The grandmother of our Anna Reed, at the time of the Revjo^tfti was fifteen years old, and lived tiHwJter the Rebellion, dying at the advanced a hundred and five years, having retained her and physical vigor until the last.. After reaching manhood our subj ried, in his native county, Oct. 15, Mary A. Miller. Mrs. Reed is a native of the safwe county as her husband, born in Brandy wine Township, Feb. 27, 1829, and the daughter of Jacob W. and A^nn G. (Batton) Miller, both na- tives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a shoemaker by trade, and for a number of years carried on business for himself as a dealer in shoes. He de- parted this life May 22, 1862, when fifty-nine years of age, having been born Nov. 13, 1803. The mother was born Aug. 5, 1808. She removed to Illinois and died in La Salle County, Nov. 22, 1856. Of the five children which completed the household circle Mrs. Reed was the eldest. Three others are still living, and all married. Mr. and Mrs. Reed became the parents of nine children, two of whom were removed from the home circle to a brighter world, Anna in infancy and Charles at the age of twenty-four years; Fannie be- came the wife of H. F. Young, a master mechanic in the railroad shops at Cairo, 111. ; Laura M., the wife of William O'Neal, resides in Urbaiia with her husband, who is a fireman of the I., B. & W. R. R. ; G. F.. unmarried, is farming on his own account in Raymond Township; Harry T. is a resident of Colo- rado; Edwin A. remains at home and assists in con- ducting the farm; Ella and Asher are also at home. Our subject and his wife after their marriage, united their efforts in securing a permanent home. I 428 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. They first located on a farm in Kendall County, this State, when there were more -wolves, deer and other wild animals than people around them. Four years later they removed to La Salle Countj', again taking up a tract of unbroken prairie, which our subject improved and cultivated for a period of sixteen years. In 1868 he disposed of his interests there and located on his present homestead. While industriously engaged in tilling the soil he has also labored to make his home attractive by the erection of tasteful buildings and the planting of choice trees and shrubbery. At the same time he has es- tablished himself in the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens and has held the various town- ship offices, including those of Assessor and Col- lector. Politically Mr. Reed is a first-class Republican, and religiously, with his excellent wife, is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of this he is now Class-Leader, Steward and Trustee, and from the time of coming into the county, has been active in the establishment and maintenance of Sunday-schools, acting as Superintendent for many years, and in other respects giving much time and attention to the furtherance of the cause of religion. (gj, fOHN O. DARMER, who has been a resident of - Champaign County since 1869, is one of the self-made men who have distinguished themselves as good citizens and useful mem- bers of society, assisting materially in the building up of this section of country. Our subject was born in Shelby County, Ind., March 28, 1840. His father, Benedict M. Darmer, was H native of Mary- land, and his grandfather, John C., was born in Germany. The great-grandfather of our subject was a sailor, and took his son John C. with him when quite young, They were captured and sold to the Turks, and nothing was heard from the great-grandfather afterward. John C. Darmer escaped from bondage after he had grown to manhood, and coming to America, located in Maryland. He there married a lady of American birth but German ancestry, and remov- ing west to Indiana was among the earliest pio- neers of Shelby County, where he improved a farm and passed the remainder of his days. Among the members of his household was Benedict M., the fa- ther of our subject, who grew to manhood in his native State of Maryland, and accompanied his fa- ther to Indiana. Prior to this removal he had been married, and after locating in Indiana purchased a tract of land, upon which he made some improve- ments and then sold out. He repeated this several times, buying and selling land in Indiana until 1843. In that year he removed to Iowa and set- tled near Muscatine. After three j'ears-he returned to Shelby County, Ind., and lived there until 1853. Thence he removed to Illinois and located in Christian County, where he died the following year of cholera. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Harriet W. Cook, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and the daughter of Cor- nelius Cook, a pioneer of Hamilton County, of German ancestry, and a native of Virginia. The subject of this history was the second of nine children. He was but thirteen years of age when his parents removed to Christian County, 111., where he grew_to manhood on the farm, and ob- tained a limited education in the subscription schools. His father died when he was but fourteen, and at an early age he commenced working out by the month. When nineteen years old he assumed the management of the home farm, upon which he remained until 1869, the year of his ar- rival in this county. His first purchase here was forty acres in Sadorus Township, which he occu- pied two years, then sold out and purchased land in Colfax Township. This tract he also held only two years and removed thence to Crittenden Township, after which he rented land for one year following and then purchased and sold again. He then moved to Macou County and rented land one year. In 1876 he returned to Colfax Townsjiip and bought a farm, remaining there five years, when he sold and moved to Tolono Township, remain- ing one year. In 1882 he came to Champaign Township and purchased the place he now owns and occupies. His homestead consists of 180 acres of choice land, which he has brought to a good state of cultivation, and erected a large barn and corn- f t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 429 cribs, besides making a large addition to the dwell- ing. He has .'300 black walnut trees in bearing condition, which are quite a curiosity in this sec- tion of countiy. The marriage of Mr. Darnier and Miss Ann Rob- ertson took place in 18(>2. Mrs. D. was born in Tennessee, and is the daughter of Charles and Dolly II. Robertson, natives of Tennessee. Onr subject's family consists of five children William D., Charles O., George A., Minnie E. and John E. Mr. Darmer and his family are regular attendants of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected .many years. He is highly esteemed in his community as a citizen and business man, and has set an example of resolution and perseverance under difficulties which the young men of to-day would be wise in following. AMUEL FURNISH. This highly respected resident of Condit Township became a citizen of Illinois in 1863, locating first in Marshall County, whence he removed two years later to Peoria and resided there for a period of nine years, when he came to Champaign County. In 1872 he purchased the land which he now owns and occupies, and since that time has been indus- triously engaged in its improvement and cultiva- tion. He ranks among the intelligent and success- ful farmers of this section, and is in possession of a comfortable residence, with all needful substantial farm buildings around it. While engaged in the cultivation of the soil he has also kept pace with passing events, and possesses an excellent fund of general information obtained from extensive read- ing and an observant eye upon what has been going on around him. Our subject is a native of Carroll County, Ky., his birth taking place July 17, 1816. His father, John Furnish, was a native of Virginia. The pa- ternal grandparents of our subject were natives of Virginia, whence they emigrated to the Blue Grass region during the early settlement of the State, when Indians and wild animals roamed through the forests almost undisturbed by man. Amid these primitive scenes John Furnish was reared to man- hood and fitted for the stern duties of the life which lay before him in a new country. When (irst start- ing out for himself he purchased a tract of timber land seven miles from the embryo town of Carroll- ton, a portion of which he cleared and then sold. He repeated this experiment several times, buying wild land, then clearing a part and selling at an ad- vanced price. In this way he accumulated means to establish a comfortable home and secure a com- petency. The last years of his life were spent about seven miles from Carrollton, and he died in 1855. The mother of our subject before her mar- riage was Miss Lucretia Gofer, a native of Ken- tucky. The household circle was completed by the birth of twelve children, of whom eleven grew to ma- turity. Onr subject with the other sons assisted his father in clearing the farm and tilling the soil until twenty-five years of age, and then started out for himself. Proceeding northward into Indiana he purchased a tract of timber laud in Switzerland County, where he put up a log house and com- menced clearing the farm. Soon afterward he took unto himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Elizabeth Atkinson, a native of that county, who remained his companion for a period of about twenty-one years, and departed this life in Peoria County in 1868. Of this marriage there were born seven children, of whom only two are now living, viz., Sylvester and Mary. Our subject was married the second time in Oc- tober, 1869, to Mrs. Jane Collins, who was born in New York State, Oct. 20, 1835. Her parents were Henry and Sarah (Taylor) Martin, natives of Can- ada, where they were reared and married, and whence they removed to New York State. From there they came to Illinois in 1839, and settled among the early pioneers of Peoria County. Mr. Martin purchased a claim in what is now Benton Township, entering the land from the Government. Soon afterward he was seized with fatal illness and died before making any improvements. The mother, who was left with eight children, entered the land and reared her family there. She lived to see them comfortably settled in life, and departed from the scenes of her e.irthly labors in 1885, at the home of one of her children in Cambridge, Henry County, 430 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. this State. Her father was Daniel Taylor. The present wife of our subject was first married in Peoria County to John Collins, a native of Ohio. During the late war he enlisted in the Union army ami died in the service when thirty-four years of age. Of her union with Mr. Collins there were born four children, of whom three are living William, Taylor and Eliza. By her union with our subject there have been born two children Laura and Emma. Mr. Furnish is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in all respects is fulfilling the obligations of a good citizen. He takes a genuine interest in the welfare of his com- munity, both morally and intellectually, and is the encourager and supporter of whatever will be for its best interests. ellARLES M. GROVES. This gentleman, a resident of Ivesdale, and a native of the Buckeye State, came to Illinois when a young man, soon after his marriage, arriving here in the spring of 1860. He first located in Piatt County, where he purchased eighty acres, .began improving it, and soon afterward doubled the amount of his real estate by the purchase of an- other eighty acres in Champaign County adjoin- ing. He subsequently added forty acres more to this and occupied it until 1871. He then sold out and returned to Ohio on a visit, but with the in- tention of finally locating in the West, and engag- ing in some other business more suited to his cir- cumstances. His wife was then in poor health, which was augmented by her grief at the. loss of their two children, John H. F. and Cora, who died of diphtheria, within nine days of each other, the son being thirteen years of age and the daughter four. Since then two more children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Groves, both sons, named Frank and Harry, who are still at home with their parents. The birth of our subject took place in Hancock County, Ohio, Aug. 14, 1830, and he was the second child born to John and Elizabeth (Clark) Groves, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. John Groves was born April 11, 1800, and became a resident of Ohio twelve years later. He was reared on a farm, and followed agricultural pursuits until too old to labor. In 1 884 he came to Illinois to make his home with his son, our subject, with whom he now resides, a well pre- served old man, and able to read without spectacles. His recollections of the early days in Ohio are still quite clear and distinct, and he relates many an in- teresting incident, connected with the times, before the face of the country had been disturbed by canal or railroad. The early life of the subject of this sketch was passed on his father's farm in Ohio, and he re- mained under the parental roof until his marriage, in 1855, when he was twenty-five years of age. The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Lucinda Shively. She was born in Ohio in 1832, and was the fifth child of Henry and Margaret (McCarty) Shively, natives of Pennsylvania. The subsequent life of Mr. and Mrs. Groves we have already indi- cated up to 1872. Upon the return of Mr. Groves to Illinois, at the i date above mentioned, he engaged in the agricult- ural implement trade, at Cerro Gordo, in Piatt County, where he remained three years, and then, selling out, came to Ivesdale and established him- self in the same line of business, adding hardware and builders' supplies. His correct business meth- ods and square business dealings have secured him a first-class patronage, and he in all respects ranks among the representative men of Sadorus Town- ship. He has frequently served as Town Clerk, and affiliates with the Republican party. F. JORDAN, a prominent farmer and land-owner of Tolono Township, is the proprietor of 400 acres on section 16, of which he took possession in the spring of 1860. He is a skillful agriculturist and thorough business man, and is regarded as one of the important fac- tors of an intelligent and prosperous community. He is a native of the wealthy and populous State of Ohio, where his birth took place in Cnyahoga County, July 23, 1833. His father, William Jor- I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 431 I dan, was :i native of the Kinpire State, where he grew to manhood on a farm and was married to Miss 'Mary Usher, whose parents were natives of Connecticut, After their marriage William Jordan and his young wife emigrated to Ohio and settled upon a timber tract. The forest stood around them in its native wildness, but Mr. Jordan proceeded to clear the land, and in due time had established a com- fortable home for his family. They experienced all the hardships and difficulties of settlement in a new country, but possessed the true pioneer spirit which never gave way to discouragement, but pro- vided a way through every emergency. After building a record of most worthy lives, the parents passed to their final rest in about 1845. To this humble home thus established in the wildenness there came thirteen children, as follows: John W. ; Jane, now the wife of Sidney Lawrence; Hezekiah H. ; William; Myron, who died in 1879; Theron F.} of our sketch; Marj', who married Samuel Brown; Benson; Cynthia; Allen; Lucy; Newton, who died when four years old, and James. Mr. Jordan of our sketch resided with his father's family in Ohio until 1860. Then, accompanied by his brother Benson, he came to Illinois, and they joined their brother Myron, who was then a resi- dent of this county. Theron F. and Benson pur- chased 160 acres of land, which com prised the north- east quarter of section 16, of which they took pos- session in 1865. Since that time our subject has been a resident of this county, adding to his landed interests as time passed on and his means accumu- lated. He has been prospered in his farming oper- ations and secured a competency for his old age. The marriage of Theron F. Jordan and Miss El- len Barnum was celebrated at the home of the bride in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on the 12th of January, 1864. Mrs. J. is a native of that county, born Sept. 26, 1841, and the daughter of George T. and Phcbe (Brown) Barnum, who established a home in the Buckey* State in the pioneer days. George T. Barnum was born in Vergennes, Vt..and his wife, Phebe, in Rhode Island. Our subject and wife became the parents of seven children, who, with the exception of a son. Theron F., who died in infancy, are all living and named as follows: Illinois, Theodore N., Mary, Helen, George T. and Agnes. Politically Mr. Jor- dan is an uncompromising Republican, and has served as a member of the School Board in Tolono Township for a number of years. He has noted with satisfaction the progress and development of his adopted county, and has been an important fac- tor in bringing about its present prosperity. JAMES BEVER, when twenty-eight years of age, began the year 1875 by taking up his residence in Brown Township, where he has since remained. He is pleasantly located on section 35, where he has 160 acres of tillable land, with a good house and convenient farm buildings. Although not the hero of any thrilling adventures he has filled his niche in life worthily as a peacea- ble and law-abiding citizen, contributing his quota to the agricultural interests of his township, and encouraging the enterprises calculated to be of benefit to his community. Our subject is the son of Samuel and Eliza (Cur- tis) Bever, the 'former a native of Adams County, Ohio, and the latter of Fountain County, Ind. After marriage they located in the latter county, of which they remained residents for a period of twelve years, and thence they came to McLean County, this State, settling near Shirley. After- ward they removed to Tazewell County, where the death of the mother occurred in 1885. The father still survives. Their family of eleven children consisted of four boys and seven girls, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth. His native place was Fountain County, Ind., where his birth occurred Nov. 9, 1846. He was about three years of age when his parents came to Mc- Lean County. He remained with them during their residence in Tazewell County until twenty-three years of age, and after their removal from there continued in charge of the farm for five years fol- lowing, after which he took up his residence in this county. Mr. Bever was married in Tazewell County, Oct. 3, 186i), to Miss Julia A. Pearson, also a native of Fountain County, Ind., born April 22, 1850, and f f. 13-2 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. the daughter of Joseph and Ann K. (Livelihood) Pearson. Of this union there were born six chil- dren": Clarence M. died when about two years of age. Those surviving are Olive E., Florence A., Walter E., Iva E. and Eunice E. Mr. Bever casts his vote with the Democratic party, and has held the various minor offices of Brown Township. In all respects he is discharging his duties as an honest man and a good citizen. TEPHEN DOTY, of Crittenden Township, has been a resident of Champaign County since February, 1868, when he took posses- sion of a part of his present homestead. This lies on section 8, and now includes 180 acres of choice land, under a good state of cultivation and supplied with shapely and substantial build- ings. He first opened his eyes to "the light in Greene County, Pa., on the 7th of September, 1834. in the home of his parents, Lewis and Nancy (Sibert) Doty. The former was a native of New Jersey, and the latter was born in the same county as her son, our subject. The family resided on a farm in Greene County, Pa., the greater part of their lives, and still occupy their original homestead, the father being eighty-two years old and the mother seventy-seven. The household included ten chil- dren, all of whom attained to man and womanhood, and are recorded as follows: Rachel, the eldest daughter, is at home with her parents; Hannah be-- came the wife of John Kilgore; Stephen is our sub- ject; Peter and Thomas are deceased ; Wilson, Isaac, Francis and Jacob, live in Pennsylvania; Joseph lives in Tolono Township, this county. Stephen Doty started for the West in 1855, soon after becoming of age. After reaching this State he engaged as a laborer on a farm in La Salle County, where he remained until 1 858. He then returned to Pennsylvania, and was united in mar- riage with Miss Maria Roche, a native of his own county, and born Nov. 1, 1838. She was the daughter of John and Rachel Roche, natives of Greene County, Pa. After their marriage Mr. D. and his bride settled down in Greene County, where they lived two years, but our subject not being satisfied with his prospects in that locality once more started for the West, accompanied 1>3' his wife. He again sought his old haunts in La Salle County, where he had made many pleasant acquaint- ances, and renting a tract of land, followed farming until the fall of 1808. He then came to. this county and purchased eighty-one acres of unim- proved land, which is now included in his present homestead. He has been uniformly successful in his undertakings, and is valued as a skillful farmer and straightforward business man. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Doty, three were snatched from the home circle in their childhood by the - hand of the Destroyer. Eliza- beth remained with her parents until reaching womanhood, and was then married to Mr. T. C. Retherford, of Moultrie County, 111.; Charles T. and Daisy remain with their parents. Our subject and his wife are earnest Christian people, the for- mer being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. D. attending the Baptist Church, of which she became a member over thirty years ago. Politically Mr. Doty is an uncompromising Democrat, and has served fifteen years as School Director. A lithographic view of the residence and sur- roundings of Mr. Doty is shown on another page of this work. \w)OHN THRASH. Pleasantly located on sec- tion 28 in Philo Township, is a finely im- proved farm of 120 acres, which invariably attracts the attention of the passing traveler through that locality as the home of a prosperous and progressive farmer and intelligent citizen and business man. Thi- snug homestead is the prop- erty of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. It is finely laid out, and en- closed with well-kept fences, and the residence and other buildings arc tasteful and substantial in their character. Mr. Thrash took possession of the above de- scribed place in the spring of 1S7-1, coming to this county from Ohio. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Bloom Township, Fail-field CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 433 County, Jan. 22, 183!). His childhood and youth were passed under the home roof, and he remained '. a resident of his native county until coming to this vicinity. His father, Michael Thrash, who was born in Baltimore County, Md., was of German- Irisb parentage. The father of the latter was a stanch defender of American liberty and put his theories into practice by serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary War upon the side of the Colonists. In fact he practically gave up his life to this cause, as he contracted a disease in the army which was the cause of his death not long afterward. His son Michael, the father of our subject, was then a young boy of six or seven years. The mother followed her husband to the silent land a few years later, leaving the orphan boy without other means of support than that of his own hands. Michael Thrash learned the trade of a tanner, at which he worked, however, but a short time, when he left his native State, and going into Franklin County, Ohio, bought a farm, which he sold the fol- lowing year, and then moved into Fairfield County and purchased a tract of timber land in Bloom Township. He cleared the land and brought it to a tillable condition and established a comfortable home in the wilderness, where he spent the remain- der of his days. He departed this life in 1863, after having arrived at the advanced age of ninety years. He was first married in Franklin County, Ohio, to Miss Cramer, who became the mother of three children, all now deceased. Mrs. T. died in middle life in Fairfield County. Michael Thrash contracted a second marriage in that county, with Miss Rebecca Rush, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, whence she removed when a young woman to Ohio with her parents. The latter, Jacob and Elizabeth (Cramer) Rush, were natives of Berks County, Pa., of German descent, and died in Fair- field County, Ohio. The mother of our subject after arriving at the age of eighty years also died in the latter-named county, in 1880. Michael Thrash served through the War of 1812. John Thrash was the fourth of his parents' six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom only one daughter is now living, Mrs. Caroline Zahn, a resident of Lithopolis, Fairfield Co., Ohio. The surviving brother is Levi, a successful Buck- eye fanner. The childhood and youth of our sub- ject were passed on the family homestead until he was twenty-one years of age. He was married in his native township to Miss Matilda Knepper, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Aug. 9, 1839. Her parents were Joseph and Hannah (Knoyer) Knepper. who were born, reared and married in Ohio, and were of Dutch parentage. After their marriage they located in Pickaway County, Ohio, where the mother died in middle life. The father afterward removed to Jay County, Ind., where he died at the age of seventy years. Mrs. Thrash re- mained with her father until a short time before her marriage. Of her union with our subject there have been born seven children, five living; Emma, who married A. J. Pettigrew, a farmer of Wayne County, 111., and Perry, William, Lydia- and John H. at home. Two died in infancy. Our subject and his wife remained for a time after their marriage in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he cultivated a tract of land. In the fall of 1873 he came to this State, and purchased his pres- ent farm in Philo Township, upon which he located the following spring. Politically he is a reliable Democrat, and religiously is, with his highly re- spected lady, a prominent member of the United Brethren Church. fif OSEPH COVINGTON is pleasantly located on section 33, in East Bend Township, where he settled in 1875. He owns eighty acres of good land, which he has successfully culti- vated since taking possession of it. lie was born near Lincoln, in Logan County, this State, Jan. 18, 1 844, and is the son of James B. Covington, whose birth took place in Wales, June 20, 1790. The fa- ther of our subject emigrated to America when a young man and located near LaFayette, Ind., in the pioneer days. He was a weaver by trade and fol- lowed his occupation in Indiana until his removal to this State, in 1825. After crossing over the line he settled in Eminence Township, Logan County, while it was still a part of Fayette County, and was one of the early pioneers of that section before the land had been surveyed. He entered a timber , , 434 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. \ claim, and in common with other settlers, supposed that the prairie land was useless. He accordingly cleared the ground sufficiently for a dwelling and put in the crops for a fow years. His death oc- curred on the 23d of March, 1852. The first wife of James B. Covington was Miss Mary Murphy, who died in 1842. He was then married to Mrs. Mary Reese, who was of German parentage, and was brought from the old country when twelve years old to Pennsylvania, where she was married, and came to Illinois with her first hus- band during the early days, settling in Eminence Township, Logan County. Indians and wild beasts were plenty at that time, and like many of their neighbors, they settled amidst the timber in prefer- ence to the prairie, and cleared the forest in order to cultivate the land. The journey from Pennsyl- vania had been made with a team of horses. Soon after their arrival one of the horses got loose and o returned to Pennsylvania, leaving them with only one to asssist in the plowing of the ground and the cultivation of the crops. The plow way home-made, constructed from a hickory limb. The only build- ing where the great city of Chicago now stands was a fort in which the thinly scattered settlers fre- quently sought refuge from the Indians. St. Louis, across the Mississippi, was the nearest trading point. Of the second marriage of James B. Covington there were born two children, and the father de- parted this life in 1852, when his son Joseph, of our sketch, was a lad of eight years old. He remained with his mother until thirteen, then went to live with a Methodist preacher, with whom he remained five years and until the breaking out of the late war. Although then but a youth of eighteen he enlisted in the 106th Illinois Infantry and served until the close. He was in many of the important battles, but came out without a scratch. After being mustered out of service our subject returned to' Logan County. 111., and commenced the study of medicine with John M. Garner, in Lincoln, and two years later entered the Homeo- pathic College at Cleveland, Ohio, taking the full course. He commenced the practice of medicine in Lawndale, Logan County, which he followed, however, but six months, being obliged to abandon the profession on account of failing health. After- ward he taught school through the winters and worked on a farm during the summer for several years. His time, until 1875, was variously em- ployed. In the spring of that, year he came to this county and purchased a farm which he now owns and occupies. The marriage of Joseph Covington and Miss Henrietta Garner took place near Lincoln, Logan County, Sept. 26, 18G7. Mrs. E. was born in Richmond, Mo., Jan. 3, 1848, and is the daughter of Dr. John M. Garner, a native of Tennessee, who located in Richmond, Mo., after his marriage, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. He was a Union man during the war, and the first to enlist from Carroll County, Mo. He served three years, most of the time as a staff officer. In 1864 he came to this State and located in Lincoln, but afterward returned to Missouri, and is now a resident of Greene County. The mother of Mrs. C. before her marriage was Miss Eleanor Hayes, of Missouri. Our subject and his wife have six chil- dren May, Lena B., Eleanor, Edith, John and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and our subject, politi- cally, casts his vote with the Republican part}'. His experience in life has been one full of interest- ing and thrilling incidents, and as one .of the hon- ored pioneers he is accorded that respect which is due all those who assisted in the development and building up of one of the richest sections in the Prairie State. ON. EMERY C. BARTHOLOW, of Ma- homet Township, is the son of Rev. Benja- min and Mary (Heller) Bartholow, the for- mer a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. After marriage the parents of our subject located in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where they lived until 1854, then came to this State and lo- cated in the city of Bloomington. They remained there fora short period ; being a minister he had no established home until 1874, when he removed to Urbana, where the mother die/1 March 26. 1884; the father July 15, 1 ss5, in Pliilo. Rev. Bartholow CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 435 was a minister of the Methodist Church, in which he labored as preacher and pastor for a period of forty years. The parental household comprised three children Emery C., of our sketch; Dr. J. M., who is a resident 'of Philo, and John II., of Mansfield, 111. The subject of this sketch was born in Uhrichs- ville, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, Dec. 31, 1844. He came to Bloomington with his parents, and attended the common schools until fourteen years of age. His studies were continued in Marshall College in Clark County, 111., and completed in Wesleyan Uni- versity, Bloomington, where he prepared himself for teaching. After the breaking out of the war. however, he enlisted in Co. G, 94th 111. Vol. Inf., from which, after eighteen months, he was trans- ferred to the 37th Regiment, where he was promo- ted Sergeant, and served one year in that regiment. He was in the army two and one-half years and, with the exception of a serious sunstroke, escaped injury. After the expiration of his term of enlist- ment he went to Chicago, and continued his studies in Rush Medical College one year, after which he practiced in Mahomet for several years, then re- turi^ed to college and graduated in 1871. Mr. Bartholow became a resident of Mahomet in February, 1867, where he has lived, with the ex- ception of one year, since that date. In 1884 he purchased a stock of drugs and has carried on the store successfully since that time. He was married at Le Roy, 111., May 9, 1867, to Miss Mary O'. Moorehouse, who was a native of Batavia, N. Y., and born July 5, 1843. They became the parents of five children, of whom one is deceased. These surviving are Edgar L., Lena B., Nellie and Cyrus D. Frank died when five years old, on the 25th of March, 1881. The first wife of our subject died at Mahomet, Jan. 14, 1886, and he was again mar- ried, Dec. 15, 1886. at Le Roy, 111., to Mrs. Eliza (Smith) Gay, daughter of 11. S. Smith, and widow of Daniel Gay, who died in 1882. Mrs. Bartholow was born at Warsav^, N. Y., in 1852, and was the daughter of R. S. and Eliza A. Smith. Dr. Bartholow, in 1876, was elected to the Thir- tieth General Assembly of the State, where he served two terms. He has been President of the Village Board two terms, officiated as Magistrate and School Trustee, and is now a member of the Village Board. Socially he belongs to Eph. Scott Post No. 464, G. A. R. With his excellent and accomplished wife he is a member in good stand- ing of the Methodist Church. Politically he is a straight Republican. ?ILEY DAVIS. The subject of the fol- lowing history bears no unimportant part among the business and agricultural inter- ests of Champaign County. He owns and occupies a fine farm on section 22, in Mahomet Township, of which he took possession in 1849. Since that time he has been industriously employed in its improve- ment and cultivation, and has made of it one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of Cham- paign Country. The family residence is a handsome and substantial structure, finely located. The barns and other out-buildings are conveniently arranged for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain, and the farm machinery and other appliances are of first-class description. The homestead includes 740 acres, all improved, and under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Davis of late years has given much attention to the breeding of fine stock, and keeps about 150 head of cattle, a flock of sheep, and a number of fine horses. His grain and stock operations probably aggregate more than those of any other man fn this locality. Mr. Davis is a native of Ohio, born in Newark, Licking County, on the 5th of May, 1819. He is the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Roberts) Da- vis, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. Both became residents of the Buckeye State early in life, and were married in Newark, where they permanently located and where the mother died in 1846. After the death of his wife Zachariah Davis came to Illinois, and located in Champaign County at an early period in its history. After farming here a number of years he removed to Vermilion County, and died at Dan- ville about 1872. The parental household included eight children, six sons and two daughters, of whom four only survive James, Wiley, Eliza and Will- iam. Zachariah, the youngest, died in 1827; Mar- I t. . . 436 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. garct became the wife of William Robinson, and died at Danville in 1882. The subject of our sketch spent the first thirty years of his life in his native county in the Buckeye State, where after reaching years of manhood, he carried on farming and was quite extensively en- gaged in the shipping of stock. He was married at Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1847, to Miss Mary ,!., daughter of Elijah and Margaret (Koogler) Slider, both natives of Ohio. Mrs. Davis was born at Dayton, June 28, 1821. Our subject and his wife have no children. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, a member of Mahomet Lodge No. 220, F. & A. M., and with his wife is promi- nently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Davis has taken a genuine interest in the development and welfare of his adopted county, and has been connected with many of its most worthy enterprises. He is held in the highest re- spect, not only for his rare business talents, which have enabled him to accumulate a handsome prop- erty, but for his goodness of heart and genial dis- position, which have led him to perform a thousand acts of kindness unknown to the outside world, but held in grateful remembrance by the objects of his sympathy and generosity. rei : \Y pa Wfes THOMAS J. SCOTT, a retired farmer, and ex- Sheriff of Champaign County, is widely and favorably known throughout this section, as a man possessing strong and excellent points of character, which have constituted him a most re- liable, enterprising and valuable citizen. He comes from an excellent family, being the son of Hon. Fielding L. and Julia A. (Herriott) Scott, mention of whom is made in the sketch of Judge F. L. Scott, deceased, which will be found elsewhere in this ALIIUM. The marriage of the parents was blest by the birth of ten children, of whom our subject was the sixth. Thomas J. Scott was born on the old Scott home- stead in Mahomet Township, Nov. 20, 1838. He received careful home training from his worthy parents, and pursued his primary studies in the common schools. He remained under the home roof until twenty-three years of age, and then, as the Civil War was in progress, proffered his serv- ices as a I'nion soldier, and enlisted in Co. I, 2oth 111. Vol. Inf. He entered the army as a private, and was promoted First Sergeant. At the battle of Chickamauga he received thirteen bullet wounds in different parts of his body, and was conveyed to the hospital at Nashville. A week later his father, who had hurried 1 to the South with the expectation of carrying his body home to be buried, brought him home alive, and he recovered, contrary to the expectation of all his friends. He remained at home under a physician's care from the fall of 1863 to 1864, when he was ordered back to his regiment, though still on crutches. After reaching Nashville again he was attacke'd with varioloid, and confined in the pest-house five weeks. He applied for trans- portation to the North, but as his name could not be found in the list, he was sent to the front, and three days later gangrene set in his heel, and he then succeeded in getting a furlough. At the above-named battle, Mr. Scott was also captured by the rebels, but soon exchanged. He was mus- tered out of service at Springfield, 111., after serv- ing nearly three years. He considers that he is justly entitled to the pension which he now receives from the Government. In the fall of 1866 Mr. Scott was elected Sheriff of Champaign County, and at the expiration of his term of two years, returned to Mahomet, where he engaged in farming and has since lived, with the exception of two years spent in Colfax Township. In 1876 he removed into the village, where he has a good residence and pleasant home. Besides his village property he is the owner of 400 acres of land in Mahomet Township, half of which is in timber. Mr. Scott was married, in Mahomet Township, Jan. 24, 1864, to Miss Sarah Rea, a native of Ken- tucky, and the daughter of J. J. Rea. Of this union there were born twin girls Sarah 'and Kate. The former is the wife of S. J. Purnell. and resides in Champaign City. Kate married William Gancy, and lives on a farm' in Newcomb Township. .Mr-. Sarah Scott departed this life Feb. 18, 186.5, at her home in Mahomet Township. Our subject was CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 437 married the second time, in London, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1H(>(!, to Miss Mary E. Davidson. This lady is a native of Madison County, Ohio, born Oct. 12, 1842. Their five children are Daisy, Anna, Fred, Vera and Paul. Politically Mr. Scott is a stanch Prohibitionist. Socially he belongs to Eph. Scott Post No. 4G4, G. A. It., and religiously, is con- nected with the Missionary Baptist Church. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Methodist Church. ENZO DUN LAP, proprietor of the well- known Evergreen Home Farm in Cham- paign Township, is one of the early pio- neers of this and Cook County, and is pleasantly located on section 36, Champaign Town- ship, of which he took possession in 1855. At the time of its purchase by our subject the farm was wild land, whicli he has now brought to a fine state of cultivation, enclosed it with good fences, and erected upon it a substantial and convenient set of frame buildings. Mr. Dunlap is a native of Otsego County, N. Y., and was born Dec. 19, 1816. His father, William J. Dunlap, was a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., and the son of John Duulap, whose father, a native of Ireland and of Scotch ancestry, emi- grated to America when a young man. John Dun- lap was reared to farming pursuits and spent the greater part of his life in Cherry Valley, N. Y., of which State he was one of the earliest pioneers and served in the War of 1812. During that struggle his family, in common with man}' others in that section of country, suffered greatly from the dep- redations of Indians and for a long period lived in fear of their lives. Amid these thrilling scenes William J. Dunlap, the father of our subject, was reared to principles of honesty and the courage re- quired by the men of those times to successfully cope with the difficulties that surrounded them. Young Dunlap followed farming during the earlier years of his life, some of the time kept hotel and also operated a flouring-mill. In 1836 he emigrated to the Prairie State, and was one of the earliest pioneers of La Salle County. After a brief resi- dence there he removed to Cook County, of whicli he remained a resident until 1857. Thence he came to Champaign County, soon afterward retiring from the active labors of life, his decease occurring in Champaign Township. The mother of our subject, who before her mar- riage was Miss Margaret Lane, was a native of Cherry Valley, N. Y. Of her marriage with Will- iam J. Dunlap there were born ten children, all of whom lived to become men and women. Of these, Menzo was the fifth child. He was fifteen years old when his parents became residents of Lewis Count}-, N. Y., where they lived two years, and thence removed to Jefferson County, spending two years there also. In 1836 the parents with their eight children started with four horses and two wagons for Illinois, making the entire journey over- land, and being seven weeks on the road. The father purchased a farm in La Salle County, where they lived a brief time, then took up their abode on a tract of wild land in Cook County. Their loca- tion was fifteen miles from Chicago, then a humble hamlet. Here our subject in due time purchased forty acres of Government land, upon which he built a frame house, and placed the whole under a good state of cultivation. He occupied this until 1856, then selling out came to this county and pur- chased the tract of land which he now owns and which he has converted into a valuable farm. It was at that time a wild, uncultivated prairie, no part of which had been turned by the plowshare. Mr. Dunlap, after years of industry, has placed it under a good state of cultivation and erected all needful farm buildings. Upon a part of his original purchase now stands the flourishing town of Savoy. The marriage of our subject with Miss Isabella Pierce took place in Du Page County, this State, the day before Christmas, 1841. Mrs. D. was a na- tive of Oswego County, N. Y., and was born April 3, 1825. Her parents were Smith D. and Polly (Dunlap) Pierce, both natives of the Empire State. The father, now eighty years of age, makes his home in Belmont, Iowa. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap, nine in number, seven are now living: Isabelle became the wife of Jackson Burt, and is .a resident of Urbana, 111. ; Maggie married Willoughby Condit, and lives in Scott County. Kan.; Burleigh is practicing law in De I ' '438 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Smet, Dak.; J. Hammil married Miss Ella Coon, and lives at Savoy ; Mary, Mrs. J. C. Jordan, is a resident of Champaign Township; R. Livingston married Miss Lettie Jutkins and they live on the home farm ; Lillian, the wife of J. C. Cliue, lives in Monticello, Minn. The mother of these children departed this life at her home in Champaign Town- ship on the 13th of May, 1880. Mr. Dunlap, who was formerly Democratic in politics, has since the organization of the Repub- lican party identified himself with it, and uniformly casts his vote in support of its principles. He has been a stirring business man and a skillful farmer, keeping full pace with the march of progress in the great and rapidly developed West. In 1886 he added a new feature to his farming operations, in the shape of a steam engine and other necessary apparatus for the manufacture of apple jelly and pure cider vinegar. This he carries on in partner- ship with his son, R. Livingston. BRAM FRAZIER, a native of Knox County, Ohio, for the past fifteen years has been operating a good farm on section 20, in Condit Township. His birth took place on the 9th of June, 1841. His father, Jacob Frazier, of Virginia, was the son of John Frazier, who de- scended from Scottish ancestry. The first repre- sentatives of the family in this country located first in Virginia, and the grandfather served as a soldier in the War of 1812. At the close of the struggle and upon returning to civil life he visited the State of Ohio, and being greatly pleased with the outlook in that section concluded to settle there. It took him three years to wind up his affairs in Virginia so that he could effect his removal, and when this was done he selected Coshocton County as his place of abode. He was among the earliest pioneers there, and taking up a tract of Govern- ment land occupied it until 1841, when he removed to Knox County. He had been crippled by an ulcer for some time, and spent a large part of his property in seeking relief. After settling in Knox County he had a limb amputated and not being able to perform very active labor employed his time in the manufacture of shoes and shingles. His death took place in 1864. In early manhood he had married Miss Rachel Cosner, a native of Maryland, and the daughter of Philip Cosner. ' Of a family of twelve, Abram of our sketch is the only representative in this county. He spent his youth and childhood in attendance at the dis- trict schools and in assisting to perform the lighter labors of the farm. He came to this county when a young man twenty-five years of age, and two years afterward was united in marriage, Oct. 15, 1 868, with Miss Mary E. Crouch. Mrs. F. was born in Madison County, Ohio, and is the daughter of John and Lavena (McNett) Crouch, a sketch of whom appears on another page in this volume. Our subject, with his wife, in 1870 located on the old Crouch homestead, which they have since occu- pied. Their four children are Eleanor A., Delia P., Clinton G. and Kittie N. Mr. Frazier enlisted in the service on the 20th of April, 1861, at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in the 4th Infantry, and served till the 1st of September, the same year; he re-enlisted Sept. 20, 1861, in the 20th Ohio Infantry, serving until Jan. 1, 1864, and re-enlisted the same day in the same regiment, and served until the war closed in 1865. R. CALVIN E. PARKER. Among the successful young business men of Cham- paign County, there are none possessing greater enterprise and energy than the subject of this history, who is now engaged as a banker and dealer in real estate at Philo. He has been thus occupied since 1883, and his operations- extend over a wide stretch of territory, embracing lands in Kansas, and a large amount of real estate in Illinois. He was the pioneer banker of Philo, and since his establishment here in connection with this enterprise, has met with uniform success. Dr. Parker was born in Worcester, Mass., Sept. 7, 1850. The history of his parents will be found in the sketch of E. W. Parker, published elsewhere in this volume. He was but a boy when his fa- ther emigrated from the Bay State to Illinois and ' CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 439! located at Philo, where the son grew to manhood, in the meantime pursuing his primary studies in the public schools and graduating at Champaign University in the class of 1872. He was afterward engaged as a teacher in the public schools of this county, and at the same time employed his leisure hours in the study of medicine, under the instruc- tion of Dr. Howard, of Champaign. Afterward he went to St. Louis and took two courses of lectures at the Medical College there. In 1877, after grad- uating, he returned to Philo, and entered upon the practice of his profession. In connection with his practice he also conducted a drug-store, but after a time abandoned both, finding that he could reap more benefit in another branch of business. His banking operations have been conducted with good judgment, and his upright methods have secured for him the confidence of his fellow-citizens and patrons. The marriage of Dr. Calvin E. Parker and Miss Martha E. Baker was celebrated on the 3d of July, 1873, in Philo Township. Mrs. Parker was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1851, and is the daughter of Reuben and Susan (Kimbrough) Baker, who came to this county and located in Philo Township on a farm, where the father died in about 1874. The mother, now about fifty-six years of age, is a resident of Champaign. Mrs. Parker was educated in the public schools, and was sixteen years of age when she came with her parents to this county. Dr. Parker has been Township Su- pervisor for three years, and is also Treasurer. He was appointed Postmaster in 1879. Politically he endorses the principles of the Republican party. been remarkably successful. The property of his wife and himself includes 480 acres, which consti- tutes the home farm, and is all under a flue state of cultivation. To the household of our subject and his wife there came in due time a little family of six chil- dren. George, the first born, died when eighteen mouths old; those surviving William, Gertrude, Josephus, Clifton and Ralph are at home with their parents. In 1 8G9 the first residence was de- stroyed by fire. The following year another was erected, which the family occupied until 1886, when it was abandoned to other parties, the Doctor and his family leaving it to take up their residence at their present home. Dr. Chambers has been prominent in the affairs of his township, and is now serving his fourth term as Supervisor. He is Democratic in politics, and although not aspiring to office takes an intelligent interest in county affairs, and exerts his influence in electing the men best qualified to look after the interests of the people. He is not at present con- nected with any religious organization, but Mrs. Chambers is a member and regular attendant of the Baptist Church. Sociall}' the Doctor is a member of J. R. Gorm Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Sadorus, and Sadorus Post, G. A. R., at the same place. J^ARED D. BUSH, Postmaster at Rising Sta- | tion, is also extensively engaged as a mer- | chant and grain buyer in Hensley Town- ' ship, of which he has been a resident since 18G9. He is a native of Tippecauoe County, Ind., born Aug. 23, 1848, and the son of Jared and Charlotte Bush, natives respectively of New York and Kentucky. His grandfather, William Bush, was a native of Massachusetts and of Welsh ances- try, lie removed to Indiana while it was yet a Territory, and before the days of railroads, the en- tire journey being made overland, and on which he was accompanied by his family, lie purchased land from the Indians, and located near Dayton, seven miles from Lafayette, in the locality known as Wild Cat Prairie. There he improved a large tract of land, which he occupied until his death, and was In id to rest in a pleasant spot on the old homestead which he had established in Sheffield Township. His son, Jared, Sr., the father of our subject, was born near Utica, N. Y., in 1807. and was a young child when his parents removed to Indiana. He grew to manhood in Tippecanoe County, in the meantime learning the trade of a shoemaker, and when quite young had a shop of his own and carried on business in Dayton. He was of a spec- ulative turn of mind, and also engaged in the buy- ing and selling of land. During the last years of his life he devoted his time principally to farm- ing. His death occurred in 1848, seven months before the birth of our subject. He was cut down very suddenly, and while away from his family. He left home one Monday morning with a neigh- bor, bound for Peru, Ind., nearly 100 miles dis- tant. The journey was made on horseback, and Mr. Bush was taken ill the day of his arrival, and died eight days following. There being no rail- roads nor telegraphs it was several days before his family knew of his death. The eldest child of the bereaved mother was but fifteen years old when de- prived of the father's care. Mrs. Bush bravely managed and kept her children together until they grew to man and womanhood. They were William R., now a resident of Howard County, Ind. ; David F., who enlisted in the array when eighteen years of age, becoming a member of the 10th Indiana Battery, and died in the service; Alma, Mrs. Mc- Kee, of Hensley Township, this county, and Char- lotte, who lives in Howard County, Ind. Our subject assisted his elder brothers in clear- ing the farm, and when fifteen years old com- menced working out by the day 'or month. He made his home with his mother until his marriage, then rented a farm in Benton County, Ind., which, however, he only occupied a few months. In Feb- ruary, 1882, he opened a store at Rising Station in this county, where he has since been engaged in business. He succeeded in having the post-office re-established here, and was appointed Postm.-i.-U'r May 2, 1.S82. The year following he commenced f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 447 buying grain, and has been remarkably successful in this branch of trade. The marriage of Jared D. Bush and Miss Ellen A, Royal took place March 30, 1 882, at the home of the bride's parents in Dayton, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. Mrs. Bush was born in that count}', and is the daughter of William and Eunice Royal, both natives of Ohio, whence they removed to Tippe- canoe County in 1850. Of this union there have been born three children Mabel C., Alma K. and Julia F. Mr. and Mrs. Bush are prominently con- nected with the Methodist -Episcopal Church at Rising, and our subject, politically, is a firm sup- porter of the Republican party. The maternal grandmother of Mr. Bush was a native of Scotland, and when twelve years of age was enticed on board an ocean steamer by a law- yer and his wife who were bound for America. By threats she was induced to keep quiet during the voyage, but after their arrival in the United States she- ran away from them and for a time made her own living. She finally married and set- tled in the South. Her husband, Mr. Clarke, was of American birth and Scotch ancestry. 1 ** -*r bEWIS H. LORENX. This highly respected resident of East Bend Township is essen- tially a self-made man, one who began life with only his own resources, and attained to a good position as a business man and citizen. His birthplace was on the other side of the Atlantic in the Kingdom of Saxony, and his parents were Gott- lieb and Theodora Lorenz, a brief sketch of whom is given in the biography of Ernst Lorenz, else- where in this ALBUM. The parents emigrated to America when their son, our subject, was but two years old, locating first in Cincinnati, Ohio, whence they shortly afterward removed to Covington, Ky., where he grew to manhood. He attended school quite steadily until seventeen years old, but in the meantime had been trained to habits of industry and was accustomed to assist his father in the shop and market, which he continued until leaving the parental roof to seek his fortunes in the West. After coming into this county Mr. Lorenz rented land and engaged in farming with fair success, then purchased a tract on section 27, in East Bend Township, which he occupied until 1878. He then went to Elliott, Ford County, where he opened a stock of goods costing $17. He then decided to change his occupation and opened a meat-market which he conducted one year, when he sold out and removed to Paxton, where he carried on a hotel for eighteen months following. In February, 1881, he removed to Dewey, and in partnership with his brother conducted a mercantile business four months. He then put up a store building, and pre- pared to engage in general merchandising. He now carries a large and varied stock and has built up a good patronage. He has been honest and methodical in his transactions, prompt to meet his obligations, and in all respects has gained the con- fidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. Our subject has been particularly fortunate in the choice of a wife and helpmeet, Mrs. L. being of a business turn of mind and increasing the income by carrying on a millinery store. This lady, who was formerly Miss Matilda Heinemann, and who was married to our subject Aug. 5, 1872, was born in Aurora, Ind., Feb. 20, 1854. Her parents were John N. and Julia (Market) Heinemann. Mr. and Mrs. L. have two interesting children Lillian A. and Minnie M. They belong to the Lutheran Church, and our subject uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. APT. THOMAS JEFFERSON MATHENY, Postmaster of Thomasboro, came to this vicinity in the spring of 1869. For the fol- lowing three years he engaged in farming in this county, and in 1873, with limited means, com- menced in the grocery business at Thomasboro. His first move was to buy a lot, where he put up a small frame building, in the front part of which he opened a store, and the rear part consisted of a small room occupied by his famity. The contrast between then and now is indeed great. He still carries on the grocery business, but has now a large line store building, with a handsome dwelling ad- joining, and is enjoying the patronage of the best f. 448 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. people of liis township. He received the appoint- ment of Postmaster after President Cleveland be- came Chief Executive, the duties of which office lie has discharged in a creditable manner. Capt. Matheny is a descendant of a good family, originally from England, his great-grandfather hav- ing emigrated to America during the Revolutionary War. He located in Virginia, where he reared a family and spent the remainder of his days. His son, Michael, born in the Old Dominion, removed to Kentucky previous to 1800, being among the earliest settlers of Jessamine County. He carried on a farm and was the owner of slaves, but after- ward purchased a large plantation in Mercer County, where he remained until his death. In his family was Francis A., the father of our subject, who studied medicine and became eminent as a practitioner. He married in Kentucky, and in 1830 removed to Indiana, locating in Morgan County, from which, in about 1850, he removed to Brown Count}'. After this latter removal he abandoned his practice and engaged in merchan- dising, carrying on a general store at Nashville. Francis Matheny was a man of much force of character and succeeded well in business. In due time he purchased a farm a mile north of Nash- vilLe, to which he retired and spent his declining years, relieved from active labor and business cares. Politically he was a stanch Democrat, and was elec- ted to represent Mercer County in the State Legis- lature. Before leaving Kentucky he had been mar- ried in Mercer County, to Miss Eliza L. Ekles. who was a native of that county. She removed with her husband to Brown County, and died on the homestead in 1866. The parental family included thirteen children. Thomas Matheny of our sketch was born in Mor- gan County, Ind., Jan. 31. 1844. He received a common-school education, and after the outbreak of the war volunteered as a Union soldier in Co. II, 82d Ind. Vol. Inf. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, the cap- ture and siege of Atlanta, going with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and afterward being present at the grand review in Washington after the surrender of Lee, and when the troops were prepar- ing to be mustered out and return home. He en- listed as a private, was promoted First Lieutenant in 1864, and presented with a Captain's commission, and commanded the company until receiving his honorable discharge. His war record was eminently a creditable one. which he may justly look back upon with pride and satisfaction. After bidding adieu to his comrades of the tented field, Capt. Matheny returned home and visited for a short time among his old friends and acquaint- ances, then started out to view the country west of the Mississippi. After visiting the States of Iowa and Nebraska he returned to Illinois, and located upon a farm in Mason County, where he lived two years. In 1870 he came to this county, continued farming until 1873, and then removed to Thomas- boro, where he established himself in the grocery business. His subsequent history we have already detailed. Mr. Matheny was married, July 22, 1870, to Miss Susan C. Freisner, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born in 1849, and the daughter of Samuel and Mary Freisner. i|/ EONIDAS STEPHENSON, retired farmer, I (@ ' s now a resident of Thomasboro, where, LA. s surrounded by all the comforts of life, he is enjoying the fruits of the labor of earlier years, and the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends. He commenced life for himself in an ex- tremely modest manner, having only his own re- sources to depend upon, and is what may be termed a self-made man. He has battled bravely and suc- cessfully with the difficulties of life, built up a good home and a competency, and with his worthy and excellent wife reared a family of ten children, of whom any parents may be proud, for they, like their fathers, are industrious, honest, faithful to duty, and will hand down to future generations a name of which their descendants will be justly proud. The Stephenson family possesses a good record, having descended from Scottish ancestry, and pos- sessing in a remarkable degree the sterling integrity and uncompromising honesty of their race. The father of our subject, Henry Stephenson, was born in Glasgow, and when a youth sixteen years old CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 440 emigrated to America with his parents. They lo- cated upon the present site of Cincinnati, which was then occupied by a few straggling log houses. After residing there a few years they removed into Warren County, Ohio, where the father purchased land, and where the family remained until the death of the latter. The son Henry had learned the trade of a weaver in Scotland, at which he worked in Cincinnati, but after the removal to Warren County devoted his time to farming. After reaching manhood Henry Stephenson pur- chased land near Lebanon, was married, and lived there until about 1825, when, accompanied by his family, he started for the new State of Indiana, making the journey overland with teams. \They camped and cooked by the wayside and slept in their wagons at night. After reaching their desti- nation Mr. Stephenson entered a tract of Govern- ment land in Union Township, Boone County, in the wilderness, where he first built a log cabin for the shelter of his family, and in due time cleared a large farm and erected suitable frame buildings. After a life of industry, during which he built up a good record as a father and citizen, he departed this life in the summer of 1843. The maiden whom he had chosen to share his fortunes, Miss Phebe Foote, was born in West Virginia, and sur- vived her husband for a period of thirty -one years. Of the nine children in the parental family, Leonidas of our sketch was the second in order of birth. He first opened his eyes to the light in Warren County, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1822, and was but eleven years old when the family removed to Indi- ana. His early studies were conducted on the sub- scription plan, in a log cabin during the winter sea- sons, and when old enough he assisted his father on the farm. He remained with the family after the father's death until he assumed domestic ties of his own. After this event he rented first a farm near Lebanon, operating there for ten years, and then purchased a tract of timber land ten miles from the old homestead in Center Township. Here he pursued the same routine of his father before him, chopping down the forest trees and first building a cabin for the reception of his family. He cleared a part of the land and occupied it until 1865, then sold out, and coming to this State first purchased a farm in East Lincoln Township, Logan County, which he occupied until 1883. In the spring of that year he parted with his property and purchased land lying adjacent to the village of Thomasboro. At the same time he purchased a section of land in Somer and Rantoul Townships, which is now man- aged by his children. Since taking possession of his property near Thomasboro Mr. Stephenson has put up a set of fine frame buildings which are fur- nished with all the conveniences and comforts of modern life. Our subject was married, Nov. 2, 1843, to Miss . Nancy Stephenson, a native of his own county, and born May 28. 1824. Mrs. S. has been the j cheerful sharer of her husband's life in storm as 1 well as sunshine, and the tie between them was ; strengthened by the birth of ten children. Of these the record is as follows: Henry W. is married and farming in Hensley Township; Lydia, the wife of William N. Beck, is living with her husband on a farm in Scott Township; Laura died at the age of four years; Amazetta married G. B. Roberts, and resides in Chillicothe, Mo. ; Mary, the. wife of Charles Thompson, lives in Rantoul Township, this county ; Anna, Mrs. Wiley Buckles, is a resident of the city of Champaign; John W. is' fanning in Rantoul Township; Charles and Roy are twins, the former remains with his parents and the latter is located at Chillicothe, Mo.; Ora L. is still with his parents. Mr. Stephenson votes the Democratic ticket, and by a thorough course of reading and communica- tion with other intelligent men, keeps himself well posted upon current events. Mrs. Stephenson early became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. FREDERICK PELL, a representative farmer and citizen of Philo Township, is proprietor of a valuable country estate, consisting of 200 acres of good land, a fine residence, and ample and convenient barns and outhouses. A view of the premises will be found on another page of this work. The land has been brought to a high state of cultivation by the aid of 2,000 rods of tile, and in all other respects constitutes the model CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. t homestead, conducted by a first-class and progres- sive agriculturist. Besides the property where he resides, Mr. Pell owns eighty acres on section s, in Philo Township, and 120 acres on section 20, in Urbana, all of which is adapted to the produc- tion of the choicest crops of the Prairie State. Our subject became a resident of Champaign County in 1856. He was then a young man and emigrated alone from Lewis County, Ky., whel-e he was born on Quick's Run, Sept. 8, 1832. He is the son of Henry Pell, a native of Virginia, of English descent. The latter, when about sixteen years old, removed from his native State with his widowed mother to Lewis County, Ky., where they took up a homestead on Quick's Run, and there lived until the death of the mother, which took place at the age of eighty years. Henry Pell was married in early manhood to Miss Sarah Orms, who was born, reared, married and died in Lewis County, her de- cease occurring in March, 1885, when she was eighty-five years old. The father of our subject, who was born the same year as his wife, in 1800, is yet living on the old homestead in Kentucky, a hale and hearty old man, who still preserves his early habits of industry and is remarkably active for one of his years. He was for a long period a Deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the mother was also a worthy and consistent mem- ber. Henry Pell before the war affiliated with the Democratic party, but since that time has warmly supported Republican principles. Mr. Pell of this history was the fifth of ten children, four sons and six daughters. All of the former and four of the latter still survive. The en- tire family lived to maturity and located in homes of their own. The early life of our subject was passed in his native county, and he pursued his first studies in the subscription schools, remaining under the home roof until the spring of 1850, when he set out for the prairies of Illinois. He was equipped with two horses and a small amount of money, and after arriving in this county, rented a farm, upon which he remained until 1861. He then purchased a tract of land which he has now converted into a highly improved farm and comfortable homestead. Of late years he has given much attention to stock-rais- ing, feeding and selling annually numbers of cattle and hogs, and has also been engaged at times in the breeding of horses. His present possessions are the result of his own industry and economy, and he furnishes a forcible illustration of what may be ac- complished from a small beginning. Mr. Pell was married, Sept. 24, 1857, in Urbana Township, to Miss Martha Jones, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1830, and came to Illinois with a married sister in 1856. She died at her home in Urbana on the 20th of March, 1865, while Mr. Pell was serving in the army. By this union there were born four children: Ida died in infancy; Charles ,1. married Miss Delia Pratt, who died in 1885 ; he lives in Kansas, as also does James R., who is single; Martha died in infancy. Two years after the close of the war, on the 24th of September, 1867, Mr. Pell was married to Mrs. Mary A. (Kiler) Cover, daughter of John and Re- becca (Lowe) Kiler, who were both natives of Baltimore, Md. They emigrated to Ohio after their marriage and located on a farm in Greene County, where they died, the father when sixty and the mother when about fifty years of age. Mr. Kiler had been successful, financially, during his lifetime, and both parents were members of the Universalist Church. Mr. K. was elected Representative of Greene County in the State Legislature, serving three years. Politically he was a firm adherent of the Whig party. Mrs. Pell was the fourth child of the parental household, which included three sons and six daughters. Of these only three are now living. The wife of our subject was first married in Greene County, Ohio, April 16, 1850, to John P. Cover, also a native of Baltimore, Md., but reared in Greene County, Ohio, whence he removed to Illinois the same year of his marriage. He de- parted this life in Urbana Township in 1863. He served as a Union soldier during the late war, be- ing a member of Co. G, 76th 111. Vol. Inf. Eight- een months after enlisting he was taken ill at Nat- chez, Miss., and after being sent home, died a week later. He left four children, one of whom, Frank, is now deceased. John, a tile-maker, married M i>~ Eunice Barton, and resides near Camargo, Douglas Co., 111. ; Frances, Mrs. George Garrett, is a resident of Urbana Township; Sallie lives in Peoria. Of her marriage with Mr. Pell there have been born CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 451 five children, of whom three are deceased Fred, Blanche and Harry, all dying- 3-011115. Those sur- viving are Henry N. and Mary M., at home. On the 12th of February, 1862, during the prog- ress of the late war, Mr. Pell enlisted in Co. CJ, 76th 111. Vol. Inf., under command of Capt. Park, of the Army of the Tennessee, and participated in the battles of Vicksb.urg and Jackson, and was in many other engagements and skirmishes, escaping, how- ever, without a wound. He received his honorable discharge Aug. 5, 1865, and was mustered out at Chicago. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and has held the office of Commissioner of Highways. S. COLER, now living in quiet re- tirement in the village of Sad orus, spent his early life among the hills of Knox County. Ohio, where he was born on bis father's farm, Sept. 30, 1831. He was the third in the first family of children born to Isaac Coler. whose first wife was formerly Miss Amelia Nichols, a native of New Jersey. The father of our subject was a Vir- ginian by birth. Mrs. Amelia Coler passed from earth at the home of her husband in Knox County, Ohio, in 1837. Mr. C. was afterward married to Miss Mary Gathers, and in 1863 he removed from Ohio to Sadorus, where he spent the remainder of his life. The subject of this biography, when a youth of nineteen years, left home to care for himself, and coming West spent eight or nine months in this county. He then went back to Ohio, and four months later returned to Illinois with his brother- in-law, James Hoskinson, locating in Clark County, They remained there until 1853, then came to this county, where our subject purchased 240 acres of wild land and began to improve it. In this he was aided by Mr. H., with whom he made his home. Two years later the sister of our subject, who had come with her husband to the West, was called hence. Mr. H. then returned to Ohio, and Mr. Coler occupied the premises alone for two years follow- ing; he then sold out and purchased 480 acres on section 2, in Sadorus Township, which he took pos- session of and began to improve. On the 12th of July, 1857, there occurred a very important event in the life of Mr. Coler, namely, his marriage with Miss Rebecca Rock. This lady was the seventh child in a family of ten born to William and Nancy (Beavers) Rock, natives of Maryland, who came to Champaign County during the pioneer days. Her parents long since passed away, but their children are living in this county. and the important points in the history of their lives are recorded elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Coler, after their marriage, remained but a year on their farm, on account of the fail- ing health of our subject. They then moved into Urbana, where not long afterward Mr. Coler was stricken down with typhoid fever, from the effects of which he did not recover for two years. At the expiration of this time, his health being much im- proved, they returned to rural life. Mr. C. pur- chased his father's homestead of the heirs, in 1867. This was located on the line between Sadorus and Colfax Townships. They lived upon this about nine years, and in the meantime Mr. Coler had purchased a stock of drugs, which he placed in a store at Sadorus, and in which he carried on a lucrative trade, in connection with farming, with his brother-in-law, Dr. Chambers. His health again fail- ing, he was now obliged to retire entirely from busi- ness and farming pursuits. The following six years were spent in traveling west and south, in which journeying he was accompanied by his wife. At the expiration of this time, having somewhat recovered his vitality, he returned to Sadorus, and purchased the home where he and his wife now live. Mr. Coler devotes his attention to the simple duties connected with his family affairs. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Coler were born as follows: Ida N., June 3, 1858; Dora A., July 31, 1861 ; Fannie M., Sept. 2, 1876, and Annie C.. April 9, 1883. The latter was born in Kansas while the parents were traveling in that State. Ida N., in 1876, became the wife of W. F. Nelson, a real-estate dealer in Kansas City and Nebraska; they have one child. Benham C. Coler, born in 1877. Dora, in 1878, became the wife of W. C. Chapmnn, who owns and occupies a good farm in Pesotum Township. There were born to them four children, of whom one, Fannie L., is deceased. *H*=S 452 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Those surviving niv Wilfred C., IdaC. and Francis B. Fannie M. Color died in infancy; Annie C., the youngest, is a bright little girl of four years old, the joy and pride of her parents' hearts. Mr. Coler, although no politician, casts his vote with the Dem- ocratic party. Mrs. C. is a member of the Baptist Church. Their home is pleasantly located, and they are surrounded by a large circle of friends. UG UST SPERLING, a representative farm- er of East Bend Township, has established his permanent home a long way from the place of his birth, the latter being at the foot of the Hartz Mountains in the Province of Saxony, Prussia. The date thereof was June 14. 1834. His father, Freidrich, was born at the same place, where the grandfather of our subject, in early manhood, learned the 'trade of a.- jnillw.right, and operated a flouring and oil mill for. many years, and until he departed from ihe|scenes of hisearthlv labors. He had married,- and" rateed a fine family, among the sons being Freidrich, the father of our subject, who attended school during his boyhood and youth, and when- of." suitable years went into the mills with his father. After the death of the latter he inherited the mill property, of which he retained possession until 1850. ' During the latter-named year Mr. Sperling sold his interest in the paternal estate, and setting sail from Hamburg, after a safe voyage, landed in New York City with his wife and two children. They proceeded directly to Wisconsin, and the father, locating in Sheboygan, lived upon the interest of his money for two years following. He then pur- chased a farm four miles south of the city, to which he removed, and made every preparation to live happily and comfortably without excessive labor. He was a man of great generosity, and be- came security for friends, by which he lost all his property excepting the homestead of forty acres. Five years later he sold this and became a resident of East Bend Township, this county, making his home with his son, our subject. He has now ar- rived at the advanced age of eighty years. The mother, who was formerly Miss Christine Bailer, died on the .'id of July, liSiJO. One daughter, Dorothea, died in Prussia when about nine years old; the second child died in infancy; Frederick is fanning in East Bend Township, and August, of our sketch, was the fourth and youngest child. In accordance with the laws and customs of his native country, our subject was placed in school at an early age, which he attended quite steadily until the family came to this country, at which time he was eleven years old. After reaching Sheboygan, Wis., he resumed his studies in an English school for about two years, after which he was engaged on a farm with his father and in a flouring-mill in Sheboygan until 18(il. In the spring of that year he commenced operating a mill at Winona, Minn., which he afterward abandoned to engage in the grain trade. A brief experience in this depart- ment of business was satisfactoiy, and he resumed farming. In 18G5 he came to this count}' and lo- cated on a farm in East Bend Township, where he operated as a renter for six years. In the mean- time, in company with his brother, he purchased 240 acres, which they fenced and broke as oppor- tunity permitted, and in 1871 put up a dwelling and other necessary buildings and took possession. The brothers afterward divided the property, our subject coming into possession of the north half of the tract purchased. Upon this he has planted a large variety of fruit and shade trees, and erected a fine set of frame buildings, which are second to none in the township. He has also operated quite extensively as a beekeeper; he has about thirty-five stands, and in this department of agriculture has been very successful, and is enlarging his facilities as an apiarist each year. In the breeding of fine stock also he has been very successful. The marriage of our subject took place on the 22d of April, 1861, the maiden of his choice being Miss Anna J. Burkhardt. Mrs. Sperling was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Oct. 30, 1841, and. is the daughter of Conrad and Maria Burk- hardt. Her father died in the old country in about 1850, and afterward the mother, with six of her children, in 1852, emigrated to the United States, where two of her brothers had preceded her. She located first in Buffalo, N. Y., and later removed to Kiel, Wis., where her death took place about R CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 455 1884. The children of Mr.^and Mr>. Sperling are, Emma, Frederick, Anna, Alwin, Godfrey arid Han- nah. Mr. Sperling votes the Republican ticket, and is regarded as one of the most valued members of his community. His farm is one of the best con- ducted in East Bend Township, and invariably at- tracts the eye of the passing traveler on account of its shapely and substantial buildings and the general air of thrift and prosperity that surrounds it. RS. ANN M. YEAZEL, widow of the late Abraham Yeazel, who was a prosperous and highly respected farmer of Homer Township, was the daughter of John and Mary (Spangler) Umbenhower, natives of Penn- sylvania, where they were reared and married. Her father was born in 1785, and died in Champaign County, 111., in 1830. He was a worthy citizen, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, Mary, was born in 1787, survived her husband twenty-seven years, and departed this life in Sidney Township in 1857. The thirteen children of this household were James, Anthony, Ann M., John, Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, William, Isaiah, Jacob, George, Thomas and Nellie. Their daughter, Ann M. of our sketch, was born Oct. 12, 1813, and was but two years of age when her parents removed to Berkeley County, W. Va., where she received her education. When a young -lady of nineteen years old Miss Umbenhower went to Ohio, and there became ac- quainted with her future husband, Abraham Yea- zel. This friendship ripened into a mutual af- fection, and they united their lives and fortunes on the 30th of October, 1834, with the assistance of Rev. Hinkle, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the wedding taking place near Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Yeazel was a native of Clarke County, Ohio, born six miles east of Springfield, May 15, 1813. He commenced the struggle of life without means, but was possessed of much natural ability, being enterprising and industrious, and in due time after coming to Illinois had accumulated a sum sufficient to purchase eighty acres of land. When this was paid for he had fifty cents left. The land was only partially improved, and the task before him would have discouraged a man with less resolution and energy. He kept steadily onward, however, living economically and disbursing his funds in the wisest manner, and at the time of his death, besides giv- ing to each of his adopted children a small farm, had 200 acres reserved for his own use. Mr. and Mrs. Yeazel became the parents of one child only, William J., who only lived a few weeks. He was born Aug. 13, 1835, and died on the 4th of October following. Early in life they united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in 1876 be- came members of the Christian Church, with which Mr. Y. was connected at the time of his death. This sad event occurred on the 4th of March, 1887, upon the homestead which he had labored so many years to build up and in which efforts he succeeded so admirably. Mr. Yeazel is remembered by all as an honest man and a good citizen, and one who contributed his full share toward the building up of his town- ship, having come here in the early days (May, 1835,) while a large portion of the prairie was wait- ing to be cultivated by the enterprising emigrant. He represented Homer Township on the Board of Supervisors for several years and was otherwise connected with local affairs. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Yeazel has managed the farm with rare good judgment and ability, her aim and object being to sustain the reputation which it gained by the efforts of her deceased husband. Mr. and Mrs. Yeazel lived together, sharing each other's joys and sorrows, for over half a century, laboring with one object in view, the establishment of a home, but at the same time helping others. Their portraits, which are placed on a contiguous page, will be recognized arid appreciated by all who enjoyed their friendship or acquaintance. DOLPHUS W. HYDE, one of the most ex- tensive and successful farmers of East Bend Township, owns a tract of valuable land on section 25, which he has brought to a good state of cultivation and upon it erected a handsome and substantial set of frame buildings. O 456 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. I He came on horseback to this State from Indiana, in 1850. After his marriage he located first in Switzerland County, Ind., whence he removed two years later to this county, making the journey with a pair of horses and wagon. He and his young wife the first year lived three miles east of Mahomet, and in the spring of 1 853 came to the present site of Cham- paign, where our subject rented land, which is now included in the city limits and covered with dwellings. He remained in that vicinity until 1869, in the meantime having purchased a part of his present farm. It now contains 320 acres, most of which was uncultivated at the time of purchase. The fields are now mostly enclosed with beautiful hedges, and Mr. A. has embellished the ground around the residence by the planting of shade trees and choice shrubs. The barn and other out- buildings are of first-class description, and the stock and machinery well sheltered and cared for. Mr. Hyde is a native of Allensville, Switzerland Co., Ind., his birth taking place Feb. 16, 1825. His father, Amasa Hyde, a native of Vermont, was born near Rutland in 1796. He was the son of Walter Hyde, a native of the same State. His father, it is sup- posed, was of English birth and parentage, and was one of the pioneer settlers of the Green Mount- ain State, where he spent the last years of his life. Walter Hyde removed from Vermont to New York when a young man, and thence to Indiana in 1835, where his death occurred about 1844, at the home of his son, in Switzerland County. He married, in Ontario County, N. Y., Miss Paulina Bennett, a native of that county, born March 10, 1797. In 1818 they removed to Indiana, making the journey via the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers on a raft. He leased a tract of land in Switzerland County for a period of seven years, then purchased seventy acres in Cotton Township, of which fifty acres were cleared, and which he soon afterward sold at a good profit, and bought 160 acres of heavy timber, where he first put up a log cabin and proceeded to chop down the forest trees. The logs were rolled together and burned, the stumps dug out of the ground and also burned, and after being raked off the land was ready for the plow. Amasa Hyde in the above manner prepared about 120 acres for cultivation, and in due time put up a good set of farm buildings. He \var- :i. man of influence and standing in his community, and after building up a good record as a citizen, neighbor, friend and father, departed this life on the 10th of February, 1864. The mother survived for a period of twenty-one years, and died at the home of her son, two miles distant from the old home- stead, in November, 1885. The parental family in- cluded eleven children, of whom four died young and seven lived to mature years. William B. is a resident of Polk County, Mo.; Samuel died in Switzerland County, Ind., in about 1885; Rosina married William McFadden, and lives in Switzer- land County, Ind. ; Adolphus W. of our sketch was the fourth child; Olive became the wife of William Peabody, and died in East Bend Township in 1872; Wesley is a resident of Maples, Allen Co., Ind.; Albert occupies the old homestead. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and educated in the pioneer schools. His first studies were conducted in a log cabin, and he attended school principally in the winter season, the remainder of the year assisting to clear the land and till the soil. He remained under the parental roof until attaining his majority, and then, in partnership with his brother, engaged in farming on a portion of the land be- longing to his father. They operated together for three years, when our subject assumed the manage- ment of the homestead. Two years later he de- cided to locate in the Prairie State. After having laid his plans for the establishment of a future home, Mr. Hyde, on the 6th of Novem- ber, 1850, was united in marriage with Miss Sophia H. Choat. Mrs. H. was born in Posey Township, Switzerland Co., Ind., Jan. 25, 1 828, on the farm of her father, Cautious J. Choat, and was reared to womanhood by her parents, with whom she re- mained until her marriage. Mr. Choat, a native of Vermont, was the son of Seth S. Choat, of Mas- sachusetts. The latter located in Vermont at an early period in its history, whence he emigrated later to Indiana, and in 1850 to Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life. His death occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Moss, in 1864. His son, Cautious J., the father of Mrs. Hj'de, was about sixteen years old when his parents removed from Vermont to Indiana. He remained with them CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 457 until reaching manhood, and was married in Switz- erland County to Miss Elizabeth Cunningham. She also was a native of the Green Mountain State. After marriage the young people remained in Switzerland County, Ind., until 1845, when they came to Illinois, and Mr. C. purchased a tract of land five miles south of the city of Feoria, upon which he located and remained until his death. The mother had died in Switzerland County, Ind., in 1835. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Hyde are lo- cated as follows: Elizabeth C., the wife of George Durbin, lives in Wolcott, Ind. ; Peoria A. is the wife of Joseph Neal, a prosperous fanner of East Bend Township, this county; Albert A. is a resident of Hoopeston, Vermilion Co., 111. ; Callie A. became the wife of James H. Abbott, and lives in Logan County, this State; Bruce A. and Lewis "A. are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. H. became members of the Prot- estant Methodist Church in 1873, and have con- tributed liberally and cheerfully to the support of the society in their community since that time. Mr. Hyde was an adherent of the Whig party early in life r but on its abandonment by the organization of the Republican, cheerfully endorsed the principles of the latter, with which he haslcast his vote con- tinuously [si nee that time. ELIAS L. HARLESS. The subject of this sketch, a resident of Condit Township, was born among the hills of the Buckeye State, and with its free air imbibed that self-dependent spirit which has distinguished him as a worthy rep- resentative of the industrious element which has brought this country to its present proud position. He began the serious business of life with limited means, but took good care of his funds as they ac- cumulated, and in due time was rewarded by the consciousness that he was " getting on " in the world, and the prospect of becoming of some im- portance in both business and social circles. There is no doubt that this is a most comfortable state of mind and spurs a man on to still greater exertions. He was a wise man who some time since made the statement that "nothing succeeds like success." Mr. Harless is a descendant of excellent German ancestry, being the son of Elias Harless, Sr., and the grandson of Julias Harless, whose parents came di- j rect from the Fatherland. They located in the Keystone State when it was scarcely removed from its condition as a Territory, where they remained a number pf years, and then, with a family of chil- dren, removed to Virginia, where the latter were reared to the estate of men and women. Among them was Elias, the father of our subject, who was born in the Old Dominion and there reared and married. Afterward he removed to Ohio, locating first in Miami County, whence he removed two years later to Darke County, and was among the earliest settlers of Washington Township. He pur- chased a tract of timber land and erected a cabin in the wilderness when game of all kinds was plenty and he could stand in his doorway and shoot deer as they passed by. Elias Harness, Sr., lived to see the country well developed, and cleared a farm, establishing a com- fortable home, where he spent the remainder of his days. His death occurred in May, 1881, when he was about eighty-four years of age. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Naomi Layfon. She was born in Virginia in 1796, and departed this life at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Skidmore. in Darke County, Ohio, on the Gth of March, 1886, in the ninetieth year of her age. She was a lady remarkable for her sprightli- ness and intelligence, and was in perfectly good health, her death being the result of an accident, she having fallen and broken her hip, which proved fatal ten days later. She was the mother of four- teen children, all of whom, with one exception, grew to mature years. The subject of this history was the eleventh child of the parental household, and passed his boyhood and youth in the manner common to the sons of pioneers, receiving his early education in a log cabin. He pursued his studies at the Seminary in Randolph County and fitted himself for a teacher. He came to Illinois in 1855, and opened his first school in Logan County, where he taught nine years in succession. At the expiration of that time he concluded to turn his attention to fanning, and operated on rented land until 1868, then came into 458 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Champaign County and took possession of the farm which he now owns and occupies. It was a wild tract of open prairie at the time of purchase, as was also the greater part of the land adjacent. He at once commenced its improvement and cultiva- tion, erected a good set of frame buildings, has all the land enclosed, and produces some of the finest crops in the Prairie State. The residence is a taste- ful and substantial structure and the barn and other out-buildings are those of the modern and progres- sive farmer. Mr. Harless was married in Logan County, to Miss Martha E. Myers, a native of Springfield, 111., and the daughter of Elijah Myers, of Pennsylvania, and one of the early pioneers of Sangamon County. Mr. M. was a skillful farmer and mechanic, and re- moved from Springfield to Logan County, where he purchased a farm and still lives. Of this mar- riage there have been born three children : Joseph- ine, Mrs. White, is a resident of East Bend Town- ship; Zeni was born in 1'872, and Alvah in 1883. These two latter reside at home with their parents. Our subject and wife are consistent members of the Christian Church, and Mr. H., politically, is a de- cided Republican. r=^3 MANUEL RADEBAUGH, who has been a resident of this county since the spring of 1 872, is the possessor of a comfortable home- stead on section 16, Champaign Township, which comprises 100 acres of finely improved land and a good set of farm buildings. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Pleasant Township, Fair- field County, Nov. 11, 1841. His father, Peter, and his grandfather. John Radebangh, were natives of Bedford County, Pa., to which the grandfather, Nicholas It., removed from the eastern part of the Keystone State in the pioneer days. The latter cleared a large farm in Bedford County, of which he remained a resident until 1802. He then sold out his interests in Pennsylvania, and, accompanied by his wife, children and grandchildren, turned his steps westward, and settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, at an early period in the history of that region. The Indians still roamed the wilderness, the present site of Lancaster, the county seat, being one of their camping grounds. Nicholas Radebangh at this time, although be- yond his prime, still possessed the energy which characterized his youth, and immediately com- menced the improvement of a farm. He added to his first claim as time passed on, and at one time owned upward of 5,000 acres of land. He lived and labored until 1850, his death then occurring after he had arrived at the unusual age of one hun- dred and three years. His son John, the grandfather of our subject, who was at the time of the removal to Ohio a married man with a family, also cleared a farm from the wilderness and established a com- fortable homestead, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in about 1849, a short time before the death of his venerable father. Peter Radebaugh, the father of our subject, was in his second year when his parents located in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. In the meantime he assisted his father in clearing the farm, received a limited education in the pioneer schools, and remained under the parental roof until his marriage. After this event he settled upon a tract of land in Pleasant Town- ship. Fairfield County, which had been given him by his grandfather, and where he lived until his death in 1864. His wife, formerly Miss Sarah Simon, was born in Bedford County, Pa., and lives on the old homestead in Ohio. Of the eight children born to the parents of our subject, Emanuel was the third. He was reared, like his forefathers, to farming pursuits, attended school during his childhood and youth, and re- mained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he married, and rented land near the old home. This he operated for three years, and in 1865 purchased a small farm of sixty-two acres, which he occupied seven years. Then, not being quite satisfied with his condition or prospects in his native State, he set out for the prairies of Illinois, and locating in this county, rented land, first in Champaign Township for three years, then in Ur- bana Township for two years, and afterward in Tolono Township, until 1881. That year he pur- chased the farm which he now owns and occupies. Here with his family he is enjoying all the com- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 459 I forts of life and the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and friends. The marriage of our subject took place in No- vember, 18G2, the lad}- of his choice being Miss Sarah Banner. She also is a native of Ohio, born in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, Jan. 9, 1842. Her father, John Banner, a native of Ger- many, emigrated to America when a young man and located in Ohio. He was there married to Miss Caroline Shaffer, a native of his own country, ;iii(l they located on a farm, where the father still resides. The mother departed this life in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Radebaugh are the parents of nine children, namely, Clara Alice, S. P. Willis, Susie H., John W., Cyrus Emanuel, C. Estella, Harry E., Roy and Russell. The eldest daughter is the wife of Alfred Reed, and resides in San Biego, Cal. Mr. Radebaugh takes an active interest in the wel- fare of his township and county, and uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. J~~ OHN B. SELTZER, a substantial and pros- perous farmer of Raymond Township, comes I of excellent Pennsylvania stock, and was ' born in Schuylkill County, that State, April 6, 1843. His parents, Michael and Mary (Fryer) Seltzer, were natives of the same county as their son, 'the former born in 1810 and the latter in 1808. Their parents were also natives of Pennsylvania, born in the same neighborhood where the first rep- resentatives of the Seltzer family in this country located during the first settlement of tlie State. The parents of our subject were married in 1833, and while residing on a farm also kept hotel for a time. The father was a stanch Bemocrat, and at one time served as Beputy Sheriff in Schuyl- kill County. They reared a family of four sons and three daughters, all of whom reached their ma- jority. The eldest, Francis B., was married, be- came the father of three children, and died in Pennsylvania; Abraham, during the late war, was a private in Co. A, 48th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served until the close; he then returned to his home, and from there went to New York City, whence he wrote back to his parents that he was .about to sail on an ocean vessel for a voyage, and was never af- terward heard from. Charles is a resident of Par- sons, Kan. ; John B. of our sketch, was the fourth son ; Rebecca became the wife of John Meddler, and is a resident of Pennsylvania; Amanda mar- ried Jacob Kimmel, and Elizabeth became Mrs. Joseph Bordy ; both reside in Schuylkill County, Pa. The parents remained in their native county until 1878, and then going to one of their grandchildren in Kansas, lived there one year, then returning East as far as Illinois, took up their abode with their son, our subject. The mother departed this life March 11, 1882. The father is still living, and in the enjoyment of good health. Both were mem- bers of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Seltzer of our sketch, in common with his brothers and sisters, received his primary educa- tion in the common schools. He subsequently en- tered Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., whence he graduated in 1863. His father had pui-chased a piece of land in Dn Page County, 111., and . as the sister did not wish to go West, his father told him that if he desired to go, he should have a claim upon the land. There having been paid $500, our subject was quick to accept the proposition. The land included 1 90 acres, and had been partially improved. He remained upon it two seasons and then sold out. His father in the meantime had sent him $1 ,000 in money, and from the sale of the land he realized a small profit, so that he now considered himself in a fair way to be able to provide for the needs of a family. Accord- ingly on the 15th of February, 1866, he was mar- ried to Mrs. Sarah E. (Erb) Bavis. Mrs. Seltzer is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., born in 1838. After our subject disposed of his farm in Cook County, he located in Naperville, and during the county seat contest, he was appointed as one of the policemen to guard the County Records, and subsequently served as a Street Commissioner. In 1871 he removed to Champaign County, and on the 26th of July following, purchased 160 acres of raw prairie, which is now included in his present homestead. His wife remained in Bu Page County until the following fall, by which time Mr. Seltzer had put up a suitable dwelling, He was very sue- m t. 160 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. cessful in this venture and added to his real estate from time to time until he is now the owner of 440 acres, all improved and supplied with two sets of farm buildings. His residence and its surround- ings, a view of which is shown in this AI.UUM, is one of the finest in this section of the country, and of late years he has been principally engaged in the raising of grain and stock. Our subject and his wife have become the par- ents of five children, namely, Ella, Amanda, Lydia, John and Susie. Mrs. Seltzer had one child by her former marriage, a son, Charles Davis. All the brothers of Mr. Seltzer served as soldiers of the Union army during the late war. John D. desired also to join them, but his father persuaded him to attend school instead. Mr. Seltzer takes an active interest in all public enterprises, and although not a member of any church, has assisted in putting up the buildings of the religious denominations in his neighborhood. He affiliates with the Democratic party, and has served as Justice of the Peace and Highway Commissioner, besides being Township Treasurer for several years. EDWIN M. ALLISON, a native of the Buck- eye State, wherein he was reared until he reached his majority, in starting out for himself in life journeyed into Illinois, of which he became a resident in November. 1868. He was bred to farming pursuits, which he has followed thus far in life, and is now located in Brown Township, on section 35. Here he has 100 acres- conveniently laid off in pasture and grain fields, with a comforta- ble dwelling, good barn, and all the other buildings necessary for the carrying on of agriculture after the most approved methods. The birth of our subject occurred in Champaign County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1846. His parents, Wilfred aud Susan (Littleton) Allison, were natives of Vir- ginia, where they were reared and manied. They removed from the Old Dominion to Champaign County. Ohio, in 1830, and built up a home in a new country, where they passed the remainder of their days. The mother passed to her final rest on the 5th of August, 1855. The death of Wilfn-d Allison occurred Nov. 5, 1867. The household in- cluded ten children, of whom Edwin M. of our sketch was the youngest. In common with his brothers and sisters he attended school during his boyhood, and as soon as his services could be made available assisted his father on the farm. Three years after locating in this county, and feeling that his financial prospects would justify him in taking the step, Mr. Allison began the estab- lishment of a home by taking unto himself a wife, Miss Nancj' Sinners, to whom he was married April 14, 1871. Mrs. A. was born in De Witt County, 111., Sept. 2, 1849, and is the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Swermgen) Sinners, natives respectively of Indiana and Illinois. The parents of Mrs. A. after marriage took up their abode in Wapella Township, De Witt County, where they still reside, and where their family of eleven children one by one gathered around the hearthstone. Before her marriage Mrs. A., who had received a good education, taught school in De Witt, McLean and Champaign Coun- ties. After her marriage the eight children who claimed her attention, as mother and tutor were Frank, Lulu B., Edna M., Nola E., Kate G., Byron W., Oris W. and Irene G. Of these, three daugh- ters Lulu, Edna and Kate lie in the quiet conn- try burying-ground, and their names are held in tender remembrance by those who are left behind. Mr. Allison has held the various offices of his township, is Republican in politics, and socially is a member of Lodge No. 704, I. O. O. F., at Fisher. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church at Fisher, and still hold their membership in a worthy and consistent manner. AVID L. YANCEY, the proprietor of 433 acres on section 34, of Newcomb Town- ship, has been a resident of this county since 1860. Three years later he located in the above-named township, of which he re- mained a resident for seventeen years, and then i;e- moved to Mahomet, where for six months he was ~ CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 461 engaged in tlie grocery trade. In 1885 he returned to Newcomb Township, thence in 1887 to Ma- in unet, which will probably become his permanent home. He has one of the finest farms in this sec- tion of country, with a handsome and substantial residence and all modern improvements. He has also by his straightforward business methods and excellent qualities as a citizen, established himself in the esteem and confidence of the residents of the township and enjoys the association of its best people. The parents of our subject, William and Katurah (Arnold) Yancey, were both natives of Kentucky, where the father learned the trade of a blacksmith but gave his principal attention to farming. They spent their entire lives in their native State and in the county which gave them birth. The parental household included two children only, David L. of our sketch and his brother, John. Our subject was born in Lewis County, Ky., March 13, 1827. When but an infant his parents removed to Fleming Coun- ty, that State, where he lived until twenty-five years of age. He then took up his abode in Mason County, where he lived until 1860, the year of his removal to this county. His subsequent career we have briefly indicated. Included in his homestead are 124 acres of valuable timber. The land has been well tilled and produces the finest crops of the Prairie State. The marriage of our subject took place in New- comb Township, Aug. 26, 1858, the maiden of his choice being Miss Margaret A., daughter of Joseph T. and Jemima M. (Piper) Everett, also natives of Lewis County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. E. became resi- dents of Champaign County in 1841, locating in Newcomb Township, where the mother died nine years later. Mr. Everett had been here in 1837, when he entered land in Newcomb and Mahomet Town- ships. Mr. E. was married a second time and took up his abode in Champaign City, where his decease took place June 11, 1878. Their three children were Margaret A., wife of our subject; Martha, and Louisa L. Mrs. Yancey was born in Newcomb Township, Dec. 14, 1841, and became the mother of three children, of whom one died in infancy un- named ; Josephine died when eight months old; William married Miss Kate Scott, and is farming in Newcomb Township. Mr. Yancey is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, and, with his wife, is connected with the Baptist Church. Politically he is a firm supporter of Democratic principles. J" O1IN M. SMITHSON,of Pesotum Township, was born in Highland County, Ohio, June 13, 1823. His father, a native of Virginia, was born about the year 1780. He located in Highland County, Ohio, after his marriage. The bride, formerly Miss Millie Murrell, lived near Lynchburg. In 1836 they removed from the Buckeye State to Indiana, but four years afterward returned to Ohio, settling in Clinton County, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occur- ring in 1879, when he had arrived at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. The subject of our sketch was the fifth child of a family of twelve, and was born and reared on a farm. When called upon to choose his vocation he at once determined to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfathers, and unhesitatingly made his arrangements to continue rural life. Com- ing to Illinois he located in this county and first purchased forty acres of land, which amount he soon afterward doubled. In 1845 Mr. Smithson was married to Miss Mary Moon, eldest child of Solomon and Hannah (Mc- Lin) Moon. Her parents, both born in 1803 and natives of Tennessee, removed to Ohio in 1809, be- ing among its earliest pioneers. They were strong advocates of temperance, and practiced its principles through life. Religiously they were connected with the Society of Friends. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. S. were natives of Georgia, while her moth- er's family were from Tennessee, and were also Quakers in religious faith, being among its teachers and preachers. Mr. and Mrs. Smithson became the parents of seven children, five of whom are living Mahala E., Lydia M., Florence, Frank and Louis Carter. Hannah died in infancy ; Helena married Isaac M. Bundy, a Methodist minister of this county, and on Jan, 25, 1884, passed away, leaving three children ; CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Mabala married Matthew B. McFadden, a Method- ist minister of Adams County; L/3 T dia married James R. Pucket, and resides on the home farm which he lately purchased, adjoining that of our subject; Florence married Elijah M. Jeffers, a Methodist minister of Piatt County, this State; Frank and Louis remain single, and are at home with their parents. Mr. Smithson was formerly a member of the Methodist Church, but is now, with his wife, associated with the Friends. lie has served as School Director for many years, and politically is a Republican of the first water. WILLIAM WILSON, deceased, who estab- lished a permanent homestead in Raymond Township in the spring of 1866, and be- came one of its most highly respected 'citizens, was a native of County Armagh, Ireland, where lie was reared to manhood and engaged in teaching until his marriage with Miss Martha Fulton, a na- tive of County Tyrone. After becoming the par- ents of three children they set sail for the New World in the hope of bettering their condition and giving to their offspring those advantages which were denied them in their native country. They arrived in the city of New York in the fall of 1846, and after a residence there of eight months, came to this State. They remained here, however, only until 1849, when they returned eastward as far as Ohio, and took up their abode in Cincinnati. From there they removed to Springfield, and thence to nearUrbana, Ohio. In 1856 they returned to Illinois and once more became residents of Ver- milion County, where they remained until 1864, and in that year came into Champaign County. William Wilson was a man of excellent educa- tion and had followed the profession of a teacher in his native Ireland before coining to the United States. He resumed his chosen calling in this country until about four years before locating upon his farm in Raymond Township. This in- cluded 240 acres of choice land, which he cultivated and supplied with good buildings, and where he .spent the remainder of his days, his decease occur- ring in October, 1874, at the age of fiftj'-five years, ten months and twenty days. The faithful com- panion of his joys and sorrows still survives and is now seventy years old. She makes her home on the old home place. William Wilson and his wife became the parents of nine children, of whom two daughters died in childhood and Martha J., when thirty years of age, March 25, 1883. There are yet living six sons, namely, George, William, Thomas, John, Henry and James. These, with the exception of John, who is living near Savoy, are farming in Ray- mond Township. Mr. Wilson proved himself a worthy and valued citizen and was held in high re- spect by all who knew him. Religiously he held to the belief of Episcopalian doctrines, and politi- cally he was a stanch Democrat. AVID NAYLOR. This highly esteemed citizen of Newcomb Township owns and occupies a good farm of 160 acres on sec- tion 3. He was at one time the owner of 400 in Newcomb and Brown Townships, a part of which he divided among his children. The home- stead is supplied with a good residence, barn and out-buildings, which are kept in first-class order, and the entire premises give evidence of the indus- try and good taste of their proprietor. When Mr. Naylor came to this section there were no houses to rent and he with his family occupied a school- house, 12x14 feet, until he could put up a dwell- ing. He has been eminently successful as a farmer and business man. and besides his land' in this township, owns 440 acres in Iowa. The subject of this history was born in Adams County, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1819, and is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Tucker) Naylor, natives re- spectively of Kentucky and Virginia. Samuel Nay- lor was of English descent, and after his marriage located in Adams County, Ohio, where with his ex- cellent wife he spent the remainder of his days. The mother died in 1851, and the father a few years later. The twelve children born to them con- sisted of seven sons and five daughters. David Naylor was reared on his father's farm LIBRARY ILUHOIS r CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 465 and remained with his parents _until twenty-five years old. He then married and engaged in busi- ness for himself. He continued in Adams County the following year and thence removed to Brown County, where he engaged in mercantile business eighteen months. He then returned to his native county and engaged in merchandising and the sale of cord wood from 1845 to 1854, when his father died. He then settled up the estate, purchased the interest of the heirs in the homestead, and continued a resident of Adams County' until 1865. That year he came to Illinois, and located in Newcomb Township, this county, of which he has since been a resident. The marriage of David Naylor and Miss Mahala Wade took place in Adams County, Ohio, May 15, 1845. Mrs. N. is the daughter of Zephaniah and Mary (Washburne) Wade, who were of German ancestry .and became residents of Adams County, Ohio, soon after their marriage, where they spent the remainder of their days. They became the par- ents of fifteen children, eight boys and seven girls, all of whom lived to mature years. Mrs. Naylor was a twin. She was born in Adams County, Ohio, Oct. 17, 1816. Of her union with our subject there have been born eleven children, of whom only four survive, namely, Edmund, Sarah A., James B. and Ida M. Five of their children died in in- fancy. Edmund married Miss Fannie M. Mider, and resides in Brown Township, this county ; Sarah is the wife of Alfred Loveless, a farmer of New- comb Township; James married Miss Sarah Fair- field, and is farming in Condit Township; Mary, who married Rev. Joel Corley, of the United Breth- ren Church, died in Say brook, McLean Co., 111., March 19, 1872, leaving one child, David B., who was only eight days old. Before her death she gave the boy to her parents to bring up, by whom he was tenderly cared for, but the cords of love which had been broken by the death of their daugh- ter, were only destined to be more rudely shocked by the sudden death of their dearly loved grand- son, when he was about fifteen years of age. On the 18th of June, _ 1887, while at the village of Fisher, he was jerked from his feet by his frightened horse, and instantly killed, his neck being dislocated. Zipporah Naylor died in Newcomb Township in November, 1871, of diphtheria. Ida M. is resid- ing with her parents. Politically Mr. Naylor is a stanch Republican. He has been a very abstemious man, never tasting liquor, and never using tobacco in any form. It is hardly necessary to say that he is warmly in- terested in the success of the Prohibition move- ment. Both our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the United Brethren Church, in which Mr. N. holds a license to preach and has been Class-Leader and Trustee. A lithographic view of the handsome residence and home place of Mr. Naylor is shown elsewhere in this work. ETER THOMPSON, a retired farmer, who has spent the last few years in comfortable retirement in the village of Fisher, has with the exception of the time spent in the army, been a resident of the Prairie State for sev- eral years, mostly _engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a descendant of an excellent Scottish family, the first representatives of whom in America, Peter and Mary Thompson, the parents of our subject, located first in Adams County, Ohio, in 1818. They were born in Scotland and spent their last days in the Buckeye State. The parental household, of whom Peter Thomp- son was the seventh child, included seven sons and three daughters, a part of whom were born in Scot- land. The subject of our sketch is a native of Adams County, Ohio, and was first introduced to the busy world on the 23d of March, 1832. He was reared on his father's farm, and during the win- ter seasons employed his time in study at the dis- trict schools, continuing an inmate of his father's house until twenty-one years of age. He was more than ordinarily intelligent and had made good use of his opportunities, and was now well fitted for the duties of a teacher of those days. He followed teaching in his native State for twelve years suc- cessively, and afterward a short time in Illinois. He first visited this State in March, 1854, sojourning in DeWitt County three years, after which he re- turned to Ohio and remained a resident of his na- tive county until 1874. t 400 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. In the meantime, after the breaking out of the war, Mr. Thompson enlisted in -Inly, 1861, soon after the first call for troops, in Co. I, 39th Ohio Vol. Inf., serving until the close. He entered upon his duties as a private, was first commissioned Second Lieutenant, and in the spring of 1805 pro- moted First Lieutenant. He participated in the battle of Corinth, was in Sherman's Georgia Cam- paign and the march to Atlanta and the sea, also through the Carolinas back to Washington, where he participated in the grand review. He came out of the- service unharmed and returned to his na- tive county in Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1 874. Our subject then determined to try his fortunes in the West, and coming to this county purchased 480 acres of land in Newcomb Township, which he afterward sold, and bought various tracts of land on other sections. He is now the owner of 700 acres, all improved and with suitable buildings. Since 1880 he has been a resident of Fisher. He cnsts his vote with the Republican party, and socially is a member of Van \Vert Post No. 300. Although perhaps not the hero of any thrilling incidents in life hs has filled his niche worthily as a reliable citizen, prompt to meet his obligations, and present- ing the example of a man whose word is as good as his bond. J "JONATHAN H. LINEBARGER, a tile manu- facturer and dealer in grain and coal, hav- ing his headquarters in the village of Fisher, 1 Brown Township, is one of the important factors of the business community of this section, possessing all the enterprise and energy requisite for the successful prosecution of his chosen calling. We give the main points of his history as follows: His parents, Henry and Nancy (Hougham) Line- barger, were natives respectively of North Caro- lina and Ohio, the former a descendant of excel- lent German ancestry, and the latter of English and Welsh. After marriage they located in Parke County, Ind., whence they removed, in 1832, to Will County, this State, locating about seven miles from the present site of Joliet, then a mere hamlet, where they engaged in farming, and spent the last years of their lives. The parental household included three daughters and four sons, our subject being the fourth child. He was born on the farm in Jackson, Feb. 1, 1836, and lived with his mother until attaining his ma- jority, his father having died when he was but six years of age. Henry Linebarger, by industry and forethought had laid the basis of a home and a compe- tency for his family, and with the money inherited from his mother's estate our subject, upon coining of age, purchased a tract of land near the old home- stead in Will County, which he improved and cul- tivated until 1868. Then, deciding upon a change of location and occupation, he sold his farm and repairing to Elwood, in that same county, en- gaged in merchandising, his stock in trade compris- ing dry-goods, grain and lumber. Two years later, abandoning this project, Mr. Linebarger removed to Stanford, McLean County, and in company with his two brothers, Lewis and Henry, built an elevator, and besides large transac- tion in grain dealt also in lumber. They erected an elevator at Varney, in Marshall County, in the fall of 1871, made memorable by the Chicago fire> and two years later put up another elevator at La Rose. In about 1876, extending their operations, they built an elevator at Minier, Tazewell County- This, however, after two years they sold, and pur- chased the elevator at Washburn, in Woodford County. In 1874 they provided Foosland, in Brown Township, with a structure of the same de- scription, and that same year Mr. Lineberger re- moved there with his family. This last elevator the partner disposed of in 1879, and the following year our subject became a resident of Fisher. In 1877 Linebarger Bros, purchased the elevator at Oxford, Johnson Co., Iowa, which they operated with the same success that had distinguished their other ventures. The brothers continued together until 1884, dur- ing which time they had erected a building for the reception of grain at Dickerson, 111. Since the date above mentioned our subject has conducted busi- ness alone, erecting in 1886 a building for the manufacture of tile. Soon after this industry had been fairly started the boiler burst, incurring seri- t. It i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 107 I ons damages, but without the loss of life. In the tile factory Mr. L. gives employment to from eight to ten men, and the proceeds yield him annually a handsome income. Besides his property in Fisher he has a fine farm of 152 acres in Brown Township, and a valuable tract of ninety-two in East Bend Township. He erected a tile factory at Savoy in this county in 1887, which is now being carried on "by Samuel J. Felton. The lady who became Mrs. Linebarger on the 26th of February, 1857, formerly Miss Sarah Davis, was born in Will County, July 2, 1838. Her par- ents were Jacob and Elizabeth Davis. Jacob was born in Centerville, Wayne Co., Ind., and Eliza- beth Parsons in Kentucky, whence she moved to Indiana when fourteen years of age. They were married in 1835, and moved to Illinois the same year. Mrs. L. remained under the parental roof during her childhood and youth, receiving a com- mon-school education, and was married at her home in Will County. Of the seven children born to our subject and his wife only three survive, namely, John H., Mary E. and George E. All are at home with their parents. Those deceased are Levi H., Clara I.. Frank and Willie. Clara died when an interesting girl of fourteen years, and the others in infancy. Mr. L. casts his vote with the Democratic party. He is a strong temperance man, anxious for the success of the prohibition movement. He and his wife became members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1859 and 1857 respectively. iHOMAS GORDY, a retired farmer of Philo Township, is now living within the vil- lage limits where, after a busy and active life, he took up his residence in 1 885 to pass the re- mainder of his days in the comfort and qniet justly earned after a career of active industry. He be- came a resident of Champaign County in 1876, lo- cating on section 1 5, in Philo Township. He first purchased a farm of eighty acres and then another tract of land elsewhere in the township. In due time he sold the homestead to his eldest son, W. N. by whom it is now occupied. Besides five acres within the village, Mr. G. owns eighty just south of the limits and 240 acres in Crittenden Township, which is finely located and improved, and forms one of the choicest bodies of land in that section. Mr. Gordy is a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, born in August, 1821, and is the son of John Gordy, who died when our subject was a small child. Although having been a soldier in the Rev- olutionary War he was but seventy-three years of age at the time of his death. He enlisted as a drummer boy when eighteen years old. Our sub- ject is sixty-six years old, and this is probably the only instance on record of a man of his age having a father who assisted in bringing about the inde- pendence of the Colonies. John Gordy after his retirement from the army resumed his trade as a cooper, and it is supposed was married in Dela- ware, whence he removed to Ohio. His wife, the mother of our subject, was formerly Miss Sarah Handy, a native of Delaware ; she was the second wife of John Gordy. She accompanied her hus- band to Ohio, and after his death came to Illinois and located in Douglas County, where she died in about 1862 or 1863. Thomas Gordy was the youngest but two of his mother's children, and passed his childhood and youth in Pickaway County, Ohio. He remained the supporter of his widowed mother until twenty- seven years of age. He was married, Feb. 22, 1 850, to Miss Millie A. Maddox, a native of that county, and who removed with her parents to Illinois when a young lady. She was born in 1822, and died in Christian County, 111., in 1869, leaving seven chil- dren William W., Benjamin, Nancy M., Francis V., all married ; Margaret, Sarah E., married, and Mary A. The second marriage of Mr. Gordj' took place in Coles County, III., Sept. 5, 1870, with Mrs. Marga- ret L. (Maddox)Redden, who was a sister of his first wife. She was born in Monroe Township, Pick- away Co., Ohio, Dec. 15, 1830, and was the daugh- ter of Benjamin and Nancy (O'Neil) Maddox, na- tives of Kentucky, where they were reared and married. After the birth of one child, they moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, where they lived for some years on a farm, and in 1848 came to Illinois, set- f 468 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. tling in Douglas County among the other pioneers of that section. There the father died in 1802, when sixty-three years of age. The mother is yet living on the old homestead in Sargent Township, Douglas County, and is now arrived at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven y,ears. Onr subject and his wife have lived in Christian, Macun and Champaign Counties, in each of which Mr. G. has dealt considerably in real estate. They have one son, Arthur-C. Mrs. G. by her first mar- riage became the mother of seven children : Mary A. is deceased; George W., Amanda E., Sarah F., James W., and Dora B. are married; Eliza J. is at home. The parents and most of the children are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which our subject is a Trustee and a prominent member in its counsels. Politically he upholds the principles of the Democratic party. , RNST LORENZ, the pioneer merchant of Dewey, is one of the independent spirits who was not afraid to risk his fortunes in a new and untried country, having full faith in the abundance of its resources and development. He is a gentleman still in the prime of life, and has watched with unabated interest the growth and prosperity of his adopted State, to which he came with his parents when but a lad. His birthplace was Saxe-Weimer, Germany, and the date thereof, March 7, 1843. Gotlieb Lorenz, the father of our subject, and a native of the same Province, was born Oct. 18, 1813. He attended school in his youth, and served an apprenticeship to the tailor's trade, after which he engaged in business on his own account in his native county, until 1841). Then, with his wife and family, he set sail from Bremen, and after a voyage of five weeks, landed in New York City safely with his four children and their mother. They located first in Cincinnati, whence after a 3'ear they re- moved to Covington, Ky., of which they remained residents until 1866. Mr. Lorenz then decided to seek his fortune in the western country, and also to change his occupation. After reaching Illinois he came to this county, and purchased a tract of wild land on section 22, in East Bend Township. He at once put up a dwelling, into which he removed his family and proceeded with his farming opera- tions. The death of the wife and mother, Mrs. Dorothea (Beisch) Lorenz, occurred in 1874. Four of their five children are now living: Edward, in Covington, Ky. ; Ernst, of our sketch; Anna, the wife of Philip Hummel, Jr., and Louis II. Our subject was the second child of the parental household, and after coming to this country con- tinued his studies in the public schools at Coving- ton. As soon as old enough, in common with his brothers and sister, he assisted his father, remaining a member of the family until 1861. By this time he had become a genuine American, and after the first call for troops to defend the Union, was will- ing to lay aside his personal and private interests to join the Union army. He enlisted in the 6th Ohio Infantry, and served three years and three months, receiving his first discharge at the expira- tion of his term of service. He then veteranized in Co. G, llth Ky. Cav., with which regiment he remained until the close of the war, making more than four years spent in the service of his adopted country. He was one of the first to enlist and one of the last to be mustered out. He was present at many of the important battles of the war, includ- ing Shiloh, Stone River, Chattanooga and Mission- ary Ridge, besides innumerable engagements. After retiring from military service Mr. Lorenz came West and located in East Bend Township, this count}', where he rented land the first year, then purchased forty acres on section 4, put up a house, commenced improving his purchase, and oc- cupied it two years. He then removed to section 31, and leased a farm, upon which he operated four years, and thence removed to Houstonville, in this county, where he established a store of general merchandise, was appointed Postmaster, and re- mained in business there until 1876. In July of that j'ear he came to the present site of Dewey, and in the middle of an oat field erected the first building of the kind which was utilized as a store, dwelling and post-office. Mr. L. was the first in- cumbent of the office, which he held until the change of administration in 1885. The wife of our subject was formerly Miss t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Catherine Bowman, a native of Darke County, Ohio, and daughter of John and Mitchel (Blizzard) Bowman, natives respective!}' of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and of German descent. Their wedding took place in the summer of 1866, and their eight children are, Ida. Dora, Emma, Edward, Carrie, Minnie, Ernst and Annie. Mr. Lorenz is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He has served as Assessor in East Bend Township for twelve years, Justice of the Peace fifteen, and School Director for an almost equal length of time. Social!}' he belongs to the Masonic fraternit}', being a member of Fisher Lodge No. 704, and since the organiza- tion of Dewey Post No. 282, G. A. R., has been its Commander. I AMUEL McKEE. For the last thirty-five years this worthy citizen of Homer Town- ship, has walked in and out among its peo- ple and watched with in.terest the growth and prosperity of the county to which he came in its primitive days. His early education was con- ducted in the pioneer log school-house, with its greased paper for window-panes and rude slabs for benches and writing-desks. The dwellings around it usually corresponded with the temple of learn- ing, and the people of those days, with their simple tastes and habits, probably had less of bitterness and discontentment in their lives than those sur- rounded by the luxuries of a later civilization. Our subject has been fairly successful in his hon- est efforts to obtain a livelihood, being in the en- joyment of a comfortable homestead in Homer Township on section 16, where he is carrying on farming and stock breeding with the intelligence which years of experience and observation have brought him. He was born among the hills of Muskingum County, Ohio, on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1819, and is the son of Joseph and Annie (Ross) McKee, the, former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ireland. Joseph McKee followed farming all his life and was gathered to his fathers many years ago. Early in life he was a sturdy Jackson Democrat, but later changed his views and cast his lot with the Republican party. Both par- ents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The wife and mother preceded her hus- band a few years, departing this life in about 18,37, in Muskingum County, Ohio. The nine children of the household we're Thomas Jackson, John, Elizabeth, Robert and Margaret (twins), Rebecca, Samuel, Joseph and William, the two latter deceased. The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed after the manner of most farmers' sons, en- gaged in the lighter labors around the homestead and attending the pioneer school during the winter season. After reaching his majority he remained in Ohio a few years, but in 1851 decided to try his fortunes in the farther West. He accordingly emi- grated to Vermilion County, 111., where he re- mained one 3'ear, and then, coming to Champaign County, purchased the quarter section of land of which he now owns 120 acres. Upon this he has made great improvements, redeeming the soil from its wild condition so that now he has a series of fertile fields, rich in grain and pasturage, neatly fenced, and upon the pleasantest part of the farm, a substantial residence 'with all necessary out-build- ings. His industry and straightforward method of doing business, have gained him the esteem and con- fidence of his fellow-townsmen, who have entrusted him with the minor offices, including those of Treas- urer and School Director. Politically he is decid- edly Republican, ever ready to fight valiantly in defense of his principles. Mr. McKee, when about twenty-eight years of age, finding life very unsatisfactory without a per- manent home and a cheerful companion at the hearthstone, invited a greatly respected lady to be- come the sharer of his fortune, namely, Miss Jane Neblock, who became his wife on the 19th of March, 1 849, and has since most worthily filled the posi- tion as head of his domestic affairs and the mother of his children. Mrs. McKee, like her husband, is also a native of the Buckeye State, born in Guern- sey County, June 30, 1822. She is the daughter of David and Ann (Matthews) Neblock, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father followed farming all his life and rested from his labors in about 1850. The mother died on the 8th of December, 18G7, at the old homestead in Ohio. The nine children of the parental household are as follows : Maria, the eld- 470 CHAMPAIGN CO UK TV. est daughter, is deceased ; Adaline became the wife of John Hayes, now deceased. She lives in Ver- milion County, III. Carl died in early childhood, also William ; Richard M. died when an infant of five months; James M. married Miss Nancy Hen- line, and lives in Homer; John J. married a Miss Davis, who is deceased ; David Y. married Miss Mary A. Pelt/ ; Solomon N. married Miss Edith Jett. The home of Mr. and Mrs. McKee gradually be- came tenanted with little people until their offspring numbered twelve children, of whom the record is as follows : Adaline died when eighteen years of age, on the 3d of April, 1863, leaving a sad va- cancy in the household of which she was the eldest child; John married Miss Celia Roach, of Ohio; Charlotte A. is living at home; Vincent II. married Miss Ellen East, who died within a few years, and he has been since married to Miss Sadie Hub bard. This son is a carpenter by trade and lives in Dan- ville, 111. Robert L. is single and at home ; Eliza- beth C. became the wife of Van C. Thompson; Maria I. died when three years of age, Oct. 1, 1869, and Mary Jane when fifteen months old, Aug. 15, 1856; Thomas married Miss Belle Hill; James C. died of consumption on the loth of June, 1886, aged twenty-three years and six months. He was a promising young man, an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a teacher in the Sabbath-school, presenting in his daily walk a bright example of early piety, and whom to know was but to love and respect. His death was a sad blow to. the stricken parents, and he passed away lamented by a large circle of friends. Clara E. was the eleventh child; Cora A'., the youngest, is a bright and interesting girl of seventeen years. V RS. ANNA SAXON, daughter of John and Sarah (Vanzalas) Shultz, and widow of James R. Saxon, came with her husband to this county in 1870, and took possession of the fine farm which she now occupies, and which is located on section 21, Ludlow Township. The homestead embraces 320 acres of fertile land, under a good state of cultivation and supplied with ex- cellent frame buildings. Mrs. Saxon was born four miles from Lebanon in Warren County, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1822. Her father was a native of New Jersey and of German an- cestry. The first representatives of the family in this country were four brothers who emigrated prior to the Revolutionary War. They married and raised families and were a people universally respected wherever known. They mostly engaged in agricultural pursuits. The father of Mrs. Saxon was reared on a farm, but when young went to Philadelphia and learned the hatter's trade. This, however, was unsuited to his tastes, and he con- cluded to return to the farm. In about 1815, he emigrated to Ohio and bought land near Lebanon in Warren County, where he became extensively engaged in raising grain and stock, and also put up a distillery which he operated for many years. His produce was transported on flatboats down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. He was a man of great energy and industry, be- came widely and favorably known throughout War- ren County, and remained a resident there until his death, in about 1833. The mother of Mrs. Saxon, also a native of New Jersey, passed to the land of the hereafter previous to the death of her husband, in about 1827. The household was composed of seven children, of whom Milton, the eldest, died in Brown County, Ohio; Watson is a resident of Ran- toul, this county; John is farming in Tazewell County; Delia, Mrs. Randolph, died in Tippecanoe County, Ind.; Eliza J., Mrs. Hufford, is a resident of Warren County, Ohio; Rachel, Mrs. Verbright, died in Tazewell Count}', 111.; Huston and Robert were children of the second marriage. Mrs. Saxon was the fifth child of the household and was but five years old when deprived of a mother's care. Six years later her father also (lied, so that she was left an orphan when a young girl of eleven years. She was cared for by her brother Milton, with whom she made her home until her marriage, which event took place June 20, 1843. Her husband, James R. Saxon, -was born in White County. Ind. After marriage they located in War- ren County, Ohio, where he worked at his trade as a carpenter two years, then removed to Brown Count}' and purchased a farm which lie operated fourteen years. Subsequently he came with his ' CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 471 1 family to this State. They first located in this county, but afterward removed to a farm which he had purchased in Carroll County, Ind., three miles from the city of Delphi. He sold that property in 1870, and returned to this county, locating in Lnd- low Township, which has remained his permanent home. Mr. and Mrs. Saxon became the parents of the following children, viz., Robert; Kate, the wife of Harry Carson, of St. Louis: Emma, now Mrs. Jo- seph Amberg, of Minneapolis; Sarah, wife of Thomas Wright, a farmer of East Bend Township, this county; James M. and William, at home with their mother. Mrs. Saxon became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in early youth. Mr. S. was a believer in the Universalist doctrines. jipp>REDERICK SPERLING owns one of the r@> most finely cultivated farms in East Bend Township, lying on section 32, and which comprises 114 acres. Mr. S. is ranked among the enterprising German citizens of this county, and has inherited in a marked degree the substantial traits of an excellent ancestry, which have made of him an honest man and a good citizen. His birth took place at the foot of the Hartz Mountains, in the Province of' Saxony, Prussia, on the 1st of September, 1836, and he is the eldest son of God- fried and Christine (Bailer) Sperling, of whom men- tion is made in the sketch of August Sperling on another page in this volume. Our subject commenced attending school when six years old, pursuing his studies in Germany un- til coming to the United States with his parents. After reaching the shores of the New World they located in Sheboygan, Wis., where yo'ing Frederick continued his studies in the schools and assisted his father on the farm. After the breaking out of the late Rebellion he proffered his services as a soldier of the Union army, and became a member of Co. A, 9th Wis. Vol. Inf., giving his time to his adopted country from August, 1861, until Decem- ber, 1864, when its union and safety had become assured. lie endured with his comrades bravely- all the vicissitudes of a soldier's life, participating in a number of regular battles _and minor engage- ments, and during that time traveled through the States of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Indian Territory. At the expiration of his term of service Mr. Sperling received his honorable discharge and re- turned to his home in Wisconsin, where he re- mained until the following year. He then came to this State, and locating in Bloomington was em- ployed first in a nursery and afterward in a lumber- yard, and finally rented a farm which he occupied six years. In the meantime he had purchased a tract of wild land in East Bend Township, this county, and in 1869 commenced in earnest its im- provement and cultivation. He was successful in his operations and in due time added to his acreage and erected a good set of frame buildings. The homestead now embraces 114 acres under a fine state of cultivation and producing in abundance the choice crops of the Prairie State. As a business man and a member of the community he is held in the highest esteem for his personal qualities and his systematic and praiseworthy method of transacting business. The marriage of Frederick Sperling and Miss Ann M. Miller took place in Sheboygan County, Wis., in the summer of 1860. Mrs. S. is a na- tive of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of seven children, viz., Dorothea, J. C. Rudolph, Laura, Edwin S., Minerva, Frederick W. and Annie Maria C. The wife and mother is a lady greatly respected in the community and beloved by her family. Of late years she has been in delicate health, but is remarkably patient under her afflic- tion. Mr. Sperling since becoming a voter has uniformly supported the principles of the Repub- lican party. EV. JOHN H. PAYTON, deceased. The record of this gentleman, who filled worthily an important position in life, is, in its main I features, as follows: He was born in But- ler County, Ohio, June 1, 1814, and was the second child of Jacob and Lois (Hutchings) Payton, also natives of the Buckeye State. While he was yet a - > 472 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. child liis parents removed to Delaware County, Ind., where his youth and early manhood were spent on his father's farm. On the 29th of June, 1829, at the early age of fifteen, he was converted to the Christian religion, and united with the church that same year. He was soon given a license to exhort, and at once entered upon the active du- ties of his chosen life work. His first license was conferred by the Baptist Conference, but failing to find the full measure of satisfaction with this de- nomination, he afterward withdrew and united with the Methodists. Mr. Payton was united in marriage, March 23, 1 837, with Miss Temperance Dragoo, who was a native of Preston County, W. Va., born Sept. 22, 1819, and the fourth child of William and Eliza- beth (Prunty) Dragoo, natives of the Old Domin- ion. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Payton, David and Anna Prunty, were also natives of Vir- ginia, and among the pioneer settlers of the north- western part of that State. Their residence for many years was in Taylor County, where David Prunty founded the village of what is now Prunty - town, a thriving town, and the best monument which could have been reared to his memory. He was active and enterprising in its building up, and viewed with satisfaction the progress and prosperity of its people. He walked in and out among them during the later years of a long life, and his re- mains were laid to rest near by. After receiving his license to preach, by the Methodist denomination, Mr. Payton became a member of the Northern Indiana Conference, in 1849, at its Logansport session. He had been or- dained as Local Deacon by Bishop Janes two years previously, and in 1853 was ordained Elder, by Bishop Ames, at Richmond. His first charge was at Bluffton, in 1849, where he remained one year, and was then assigned to Monmouth. Adams Co., Ind. In 1851 he was placed in charge of a congregation at Auburn, De Kalb Co., Ind., and the following year stationed in Allen County, that State, where he remained until the close of 1852. In 1853-54 he labored in behalf of the Gospel at Leesburg, Ind., and the following year found him at Manchester, Ind., whence he was removed n short time afterward to Columbia City, that State. Iii 1857 he was invited to return to his old friends at Bluffton. his first charge, where he remained one year and was afterward called to Winchester. There he passed the year 1859, and spent 1860 at Albany. His next station was at Farmland, from which he was transferred at the end of the year to Munsey Circuit, where he remained during 1863. In 1864 he served at Camden. Mr. Payton now felt that his usually robust con- stitution was weakening under the strain of the various duties assigned him, and resolved to change his manner of life. Going to Henry County he lo- cated upon a farm of 160 acres, which he had pre- viously purchased, and life in the rural regions soon had the desired effect. In 1866 he returned to his ministerial labors, being assigned first to Ed- ward's Mission for six months, after which he en- tered the Central Illinois Conference, and in this was first assigned to Millersburg. Believing then that his health would permit, he requested to be re- turned to the work permanently, and in 1868 was reinstated in the regular ministry, his first appoint- ment being on the Warren Circuit. His hopes, however, were destined to disappointment. In less than a year he was obliged to abandon his labors as a minister of the Gospel, and was again super- annuated. He was not content, however, to give up the work entirely, but continued to preach when- ever opportunity afforded, serving the Master to the best of his ability in his weakened state. In 1867 Mr. Payton exchanged his farm in Henry County, and purchased 220 acres on section 20, in Harvvood Township. He occupied several years in the improvement and thorough cultivation of this farm, and in the meantime not neglecting his Church duties. In 1869 he organized the Pera Circuit, in Central Illinois, which has since been changed to Ludlow Circuit, and was serving as a supply for this at the time of his death, which took place Dec. 14, 1883. He preached his last sermon in Ludlow Church, the Sunday before his death, also administering the Lord's Supper on that day, which was the last time on earth that he broke bread with his congregation. Mr. Payton was a man of marked ability .and keen perceptive faculties. His fertile brain was al- ways devising some method by which the progress CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 473 and improvement of the people around him might be effected. His exertions were not confined solely to religious matters, for he believed in a healthy attention to the practical concerns of life, the best and most convenient methods of labor, and advo- cated the use of machinery as involving more time for rest on the part of the laboring classes. He in- vented and constructed an improved plow, which he designed to manufacture, but his inexperience in the use of machinery made it impossible for him to succeed, and after seven abortive efforts he gave it up, and much against his inclination turned his sole attention to the farm. During his entire pil- grimage through life he constantly labored to build up society, and further the cause of Christianity in his immediate community. He had been ill but a short time before his death, which was very sudden and entirely unexpected. After laboring thirty- four years in the ministry, during which he had built up a good record, he was stricken down with apoplexy, and his life went out like the departing sunshine at eventide. Upon this ever-to-be-remem- bered morning he arose and attended to the first duties around the homestead, appearing to be in his usual health, and conducted the services at the family altar with his wonted zeal and earnestness. As a husband, father and friend, Mr. Payton pos- sessed all the manly virtues, being indulgent to his family almost to a fault, and earnestly devoted to the cause of humanity. . He never failed in meet- ing an appointment, never neglected his duty or grew weary in well doing. His pious and exem- plary life was cut off in the midst of its usefulness, before those who were nearest to him on earth had had warning of the approaching Destroyer. Of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Payton seven had preceded their father to the other shore. Thes.e were named respectively Charles Crawl, Elmer Ellsworth, Jacob, Griffy Thomas, Cora Ellen, Mary Alice and John Lemon. Those surviving are William Wesley. Melissa Jane, Loia Amanda, Rebecca Emeline, Sarah Ann and Lizzie Belle. Wesley Payton, who was born Sept. 16, 1840, was married in 1862, to Miss Adeline, daugh- ter of William and Rebecca Bowen, of Indiana. After spending three years in the army he returned home and is now merchandising in Dunkirk, Ind.; his good wife departed this life Dec. 1G, 1880. Me- lissa Payton became the wife of Joshua Kenagy, of Ohio, a miller by trade, and now dealing in agri- cultural implements at Bluffton, Ind.; the eight children belonging to this household are John W., Mary A., Samuel A.. William Carlen, Gertie Belle, Susie Harris, Carrie Dragoo and Harry Earl. Emma Payton married Courtland Brown, and is living on the farm with her husband a few rods from her mother's home (see sketch.) Sarah Payton mar- ried Porter Lennox, a farmer of Harwood Town- ship, but now deceased ; they had four children Flora Belle, Nettie Maude, Clara May and Claude Porter. Belle Payton, the youngest daughter, is the wife of James Rollin, who is carrying on a farm near the Payton homestead. Mrs. Payton and her daughter, Loia Amanda, still occupy the farm, and carry forward the work it involves to the best of their ability and with a reasonable degree of success. Mrs. P. is a lady highly respected for her many estimable qualities, and her children in a large degree emulate the vir- tues of their honored and lamented father. LBERT L. KUDER, a sketch of whose par- ents appears on another page in this volume, lives on a part of his father's farm, on sec- tion 28, in Kerr Township, although he is himself owner of 150 acres in Kerr Township, located in the very northeast corner of Champaign County. He prefers to rent his own property while he fol- lows stock-raising on his father's land. He has a fine herd of fifty cattle, his favorite breed being the Short-horn, and he also gives considerable attention to Chester White hogs, while his stables contain some fine specimens of Norman horses. His agri- cultural operations are carried on mostly in part- nership with his father, the former having the muscle and endurance and the latter the matured judgment essential to success. Our subject was born in Kerr Township, on the 6th of June, 1858, and was the sixth child in a family of nine, the offspring of Lewis and Susanna (Wood) Kuder. He received his education in the common schools near his home and continued with 'i 474 CHAMPAIGN COTTNTY. 4- his parents until his marriage. The young people then established themselves in a dwelling adjoining his father. His wife was formerly Miss Ella Wat- kins, a native of Vermilion County, this State, born Jan. 20, 18G2, and the daughter of Isaiah and Mary E. (Layton) Watkins. also natives of Illinois and still residents of Vermilion County, where the father owns a good farm property. Isaiah Watkins during the late war served three years as a Union soldier and was in many of the hard-fought battles of that desperate struggle, re- ceiving, however, but one wound. In 1876 he took up his residence in Champaign County, but re- moved to Ford County three years later. It was during the residence of the family in this county that our subject became acquainted with his future wife. They were married Dec. 19, 1882, and have one child, a daughter, Gracie, born July 21, 188,5. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Watkins, six in num- ber, namely, Ella, Elon, Charles, Katie, Benni and Maggie, are all living, and with the exception of Mrs. Kuder, are at home with their parents. ASSIUS M. CRAIG, M. D., one of the pop- ular young physicians of Tolono, is the only son of Walter Craig, and was born in Ripley County, Ind., Sept. 26, 1857. His father, who was a native of Ohio, married Miss Elizabeth Watts, of Indiana. Both parents are living, and reside on a farm in Ripley County, Ind. Cassius M. was the eldest of three children, and was reared on his fa- ther's farm. He pursued his early studies in the district schools, and when nineteen years of age at- tended the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, one year. He afterward entered Moore's Hill College, in Indiana, and after a course of two years com- menced the study of medicine, under the instruction of Dr. James Lamb, of Aurora, Ind. Subsequently he attended the Ohio Medical College, from which he graduated in 1882. He entered upon the prac- tice of his profession at Mt. Auburn, Ind., where he remained two years, and thence removed to Ives- dale, Champaign Co., 111. He remained there until August, 1886, then formed a partnership with Dr. L. K. Lamb, and took up his abode in Tolono. Since that time he has been successfully engaged as a physician, and enjoys in a marked degree the con- fidence of his patrons and the citizens at large. Dr. Craig was married on the 28th of Septem- ber, 1886, to Miss Carrie M. Rice, a native of this county, and the daughter of David and Sarah (Haines) Rice, who located here in the pioneer days. Mrs. C. is a lady highly respected, and our subject, socially, belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Mr. and Mrs. Craig are the parents of one child, a daughter, as yet unnamed. >HOMAS M-. O'CONOR, Supervisor of Col- fax Township and a resident of this county since the spring of '1877, owns eighty acres of valuable land on section 33. This was raw prairie when he took possession of it, and by years of industry he has transformed it into a beautiful farm. He is a native of this State and was born in La Salle, Sept. 3, 1851. His father, John O'Conor, was born and grew to manhood in Ireland and there mar- ried Miss Catherine Gearty. They emigrated to the United States in 1847, locating at once in the vil- lage of La Salle while it was still in its infancy. The elder O'Conor became a contractor on the Illi- nois Central Railroad and also on the canal. He only lived, however, eleven years after coming to this country, his death taking place in 1858. The mother of our subject still survives and is a resi- dent of La Salle. Their family consisted of five sons and two daughters, of whom only three sons and one daughter are living : Joseph is a resident of Baxter Springs, Kan. ; Thomas, of our sketch, is the next eldest; Luke and Catherine still live at La Salle. John died in La Salle July 30, 1881. Thomas O'Conor grew to manhood in his native town and was educated in the school of the Chris- tian Brothers there. As soon as old enough he com- menced working in the coal mines of that vicinity, filling nearly all the positions incident to the busi- ness, from driving a mule to that of pit boss. In 1871 he crossed the Mississippi, and for three years dealt in grain at Plattsmouth, Neb. He then re- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 475 turned to his native town and accepted a position as foreman in the Gas Works, attending to the eon- tracts and doing general plumbing, etc. In 1877, desirous of changing his occupation and making a permanent settlement, he came to this county and purchased a tract of land which he has since occu- pied. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 1876, was formerly Miss Bridget, daughter of James and Wiunifred Kane, of Col fax Township. Of this union there have been born four children < John, Winnifred, Luke arid James. Mr. O'Conor politically aftiliates with the Democratic party, and is serving his third term as Supervisor. In 1886 he was the candidate of his party for the office of Sheriff, but was defeated with the balance of his ticket. He is an intelligent and useful citizen and has served as School Director for a .period of nine years. Religiously he adheres loyally to the faith of his forefathers, being a firm adherent of the Catholic Church. ENRY WILSON, a native of Springfield, Ohio, whose birth occurred on the 28th of June, 1850, became a resident of this coun- ty in the spring of 1864. He is now pleas- antly located on section 9 in Raymond Township, where he owns forty acres of land and also has an interest in his father's farm, a fine estate consisting of 240 acres. Our subject is the son of William and Martha (Fulton) Wilson, who were born in the North of Ireland, the fomcr in County Armagh, and the lat- ter in County Tyrone. They were married in Ire- land and their three oldest children were born there. In 1846 they emigrated from their native land, taking passage on a sailing-vessel for the New World, and after a tedious voyage of thirty days landed in New York Harbor. They remained in the Empire City for a period of eight months, and then coining to Illinois, via Chicago, located at Pilot Grove in Vermilion County, about the 1st of July, 1847. They resided in that county until early in 1849, whence they removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there, in the fall of that year, to Springfield, in the same State. Afterward they became residents near Urbana in Champaign Coun- ty, Ohio, and from there in 1856, again turned their steps westward, returning to Vermilion Coun- ty, this State, and removing from there in 1864, to Champaign County. The father of our subject was a well educated man and taught school in his native Ireland, resuming the same occupation after coming to the United States. Upon becoming a resident of this State he located on a farm in Ver- milion -County and carried on agriculture success- fully. In 1864 he first settled in this county, and later removed to a farm on section 9, in Raymond Township, which he had purchased and which in- cluded 240 acres. This he continued to cultivate and improve until the illness which terminated in his death in October, 1874, at the age of fifty-five years, ten months and twenty days. The wife and mother is still living, having reached threescore years and ten. Of the nine children included in the parental household two daughters died young, and Martha J. departed this life when thirty years of age, March 25, 1883. Six sons are living, namely, George, William, Thomas, John, Henry, of our sketch, and James. All of these with the ex- ception of John, who is a farmer near Savoy, are farming in Raymond Township. Our subject was but seven years of age when the family made their final removal to Illinois. He was educated under the thorough instruction of his fa- ther and remained a member of the parental house- hold until in 1886. On the 17th of February, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Fulton, who was born and reared in Hamblen County, Tenn. Mr. Wilson made her acquaintance while sojourning in the South for the benefit of his health. Of this marriage there has been born one child, a daughter, Mary Bessie. ARIS ROBINSON, the leading hardware merchant and tinner of Philo Village, es- tablished his business there in August, 1877, which he has followed continuously since that time, and has built up a thriving and profitable trade. He carries a full line of every- thing necessary in an agricultural community and ' 476 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. a country town, and is prominently identified with the business interests of this section. In former years he was engaged as a farmer in Sidell Town- ship, Vermilion County, this State, and still owns a good farm there of 1(50 acres, finely improved, with first-class drainage, being well tiled. His life has been one of industry and energy, and he is a fair representative of the prosperous element of Champaign County. Our subject is a native of Jeffersonville, Fayette Co., Ohio, and was born Nov. 27, 1843. He is the son of Singleton Robinson, a native and farmer of the Buckeye State, who was reared in Fayette County and there married Miss Ann Janes, of Vir- ginia. The mother of our subject removed with her parents from the Old Dominion when a young child, and located with them in Fayette County, Ohio, where they followed farming until the father retired from active labor. He is still living, hav- ing arrived at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. The mother died in 1857. The household included four sons and three daughters, of whom one of the latter died in infancy. . Mr. Robinson was the third son and fourth child of his parents, and received his education in the public schools of his native county, remaining un- der the parental roof until the second call for troops to put down the Rebellion. He was greatly opposed to slavery, and with the hope of being able to assist in its abolition, cheerfully took upon himself the duties of a soldier, with its attendant hardships and dangers, becoming a member of Co. C, 90th Ohio Vol 4 Inf., commanded by Capt. Black, of the Army of the Cumberland. He was in the battle of Stone River, and at the first attack was wounded in the breast by a piece of shell, in con- sequence of which he was confined in the hospital a brief time. After his recovery he was appointed Orderly by Col. Sweet, and retained this rank until his honorable discharge in July, 1865. After the close of the war Mr. Robinson returned to Ohio, whence he came to Vermilion County, this State, in] 1868. Four years later he was mar- ried to Miss Carrie Mandeville, their wedding oc- curring at the residence of Henry Michener, Nov. 19, 1872. Mrs. R. was born in Seneca County, N. Y., April 19, 1850, and was the daughter of Elijah and Ilulda (Benton) Mandeville, who re- moved to the West when she was fourteen years of age. They located in this county, and the mother died in Champaign, 111. Mr. M. survived his wife a number of years, and died at the home of his son, in about 1886. Mrs. R. received a good education and became a teacher in the public schools of this county. Of her marriage with our subject there were born four children, one of whom died when an infant. Those surviving are Glenn, Jessie and Willis. Our subject is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and Mrs. Robinson is a consist- ent member of the Presbyterian Church. W. WILSON, of Raymond Town- ship, is the eldest son of William and Mar- tha (Fulton) Wilson, and was born at the early home of his parents in County Tyrone, Ire- land, on the 20th of October, 1841. Five years later the family emigrated to the United States, and voung George received his principal educa- tion under the tuition of his father, who had fol- lowed the profession of a teacher in his native Ire- land, and resumed it after becoming a citizen of the United States. Our subject remained a mem- ber of the parental household until the 1st of De- cember, 1870, in the meantime assisting in the labors of the farm, and following the fortunes of his parents until their final removal to and loca- tion in, this count3 r . Our subject was married, Dec. 1, 1870, to Miss Malinda, daughter of Robert and Hannah Porter- field, and who was a native of Armstrong County, Pa. After becoming the mother of two children, she departed this life at her home in Raymond Township, on the 1st of August, 1876. One of these children died in infancy ; the surviving daugh- ter, Anna J., resides with her grandmother. Af- ter his marriage, Mr. Wilson engaged in farming on his own account. He was fairly properous and is now the owner of 160 acres of good land, which he has cultivated and improved with excellent results. Upon this are two dwellings and all other neces- sary buildings for the carrying on of genenil farm- ing. Mr. Wilson was the first Constable of Ray- ' i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 477 ( k ] m ond Township, which office he held for a period of four years. Although Democratic in politics, he has never been a partisan, but aims to support the man best qualified for the office sought. Relig- iously, he is connected with the Methodist Episco- pal Church. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married March 15, 1881, was Miss Jane Carleton, a native of County Derry, in the North of Ireland. Of this union there have been born three children, namely, William George, Mary and Ida. I J~ OHN W. GIDDINGS, a highly respected farm resident of Ludlow Township, came to Champaign County in 1878, and located first on a tract of rented land, two years later purchasing eighty acres, which after a year he sold and became possessor of the farm which he now owns and occupies. This embraces 160 acres, and was only partially improved when he took pos- session of it. He has labored industriously, keep- ing steadily in view the purpose to build up a per- manent and comfortable home, and to secure for himself a good position in the community. This he has fairly accomplished. The farm is now un- der a good state of cultivation, and supplied with suitable and necessary buildings. Mr. Giddings is still a gentleman in the prime of life, surrounded by its comforts and enjoying the esteem of his neighbors and friends. Although', perhaps, he has been the witness of no very thrilling events,' or the central figure of any important occurrence, he has faithfully attended to the duties before him, and made a good record as an honest man and a worthy member of the community. Our subject is a native of Erie County, Pa., and was born June 25, 1841, being the seventh child of Moses and Sophronia (Stafford) Giddings, whose parental history will be found in the sketch of Thomas W. Giddings, elsewhere in this volume. During his boyhood and youth our subject passed his time after the manner common to farmers' boys, taking advantage of the limited opportunities for education, and assisting in tilling the soil. He was sixteen years old when his parents emigrated from the Keystone State to Illinois. They lo- cated in Warren County, and he remained un- der the home roof until 1864. The Civil War be- ing then in progress, and the time of peace unde- cided, he enlisted in Co. C, 138th 111. Vol. Inf., which was assigned to the department of Missouri. His duties were mostly in the Southwest, and he saw very little active service. Before the surren- der of Gen. Lee he was mustered out with his com- rades in October preceding, and returned home. Soon afterward he commenced business on his own account, and with two partners engaged in the feeding and shipping of stock. He commenced farming in the spring of 1865, on land which he rented from his father, and continued agricultural pursuits in Warren County until he decided to lo- cate in Champaign County. His subsequent course we have already indicated. The marriage of John W. Giddings and Miss Rachel Chaffee took place in Warren County, 111., Nov. 29, 1866. Mrs. Giddings was born in Mc- Henry County, this State, Aug. 21, 1847. and is the daughter of James C. and Lucy A. Chaffee, na- tives respectively of New York and Massachusetts. They became residents of McHenry County, 111., in about 1847, and resided there a short tune, sub- sequently moving to Warren County ; they are now deceased. The three living children of Mr. and Mrs. Giddings are, Allie, Harry and Bertie. Ar- thur died when seven years of age ; Henry, twin brother to Harry, died when nearly seven years old. Our subject and his wife united with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Berwick, Warren Coun- ty, in 1865, of which they have since been devoted members, and contributed liberally and cheerfully to its support. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican. J" OSEPH LETTERMAN, a successful general farmer and stock-raiser of Philo Township, owns 170 acres of land located on section 30. He is a native of Baltimore, Md., was born April 2, 1839, and is the son of Joseph, Sr., and Catherine Letterman, natives of Germany. His father was a carpenter by occupation, and is yet living, being a resident of Peoria County, this, I f 478 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. State. The mother died in that county of cholera soon after their location there, in about 1852. Our subject was but three years old when his parents became residents of Illinois, and after the death of his mother he lived with his father until the outbreak of the late war. He then enlisted in Co. E, 77th III. Vol. Inf., Aug. 1,5, 1862, at the time the company was organized. lie marched to the front with his comrades, and participated with them in the various engagements with the enemy, being at the battles of Magnolia Hill, Champion Hills, Black River, the siege and capture of Mobile, Ala., and Vicksburg. Miss. In the fight at Vicks- burg he was one of the front pickets when the rebels surrendered, and within a few feet of the fort. He was also engaged in various skirmishes, but escaped being wounded. He lay in the hos- pital, however, from a severe attack of the measles. After the close of the war he received an honorable discharge at Mobile, Ala., July 10, 1865. After his retirement to civil life Mr. Letterman returned to Peoria County, this State, and one year later became a resident of Champaign, this county. He was married, in August, 1867. to Miss Mary Delana, who was born in Ireland, and came to the United States alone, after the death of her parents, in about 1865. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Letterman located in Crittenden Township, this county, where our subject purchased eighty acres of land and began to farm on his own account. lie occupied this until 1877, and then took posses- sion of his present homestead. Of four children who came to bless the home circle, two, John and Johnson, are deceased; Joseph H. and Mary are at home with their parents. Our subject and his wife are faithful adherents of the Catholic Church, and politically Mr. Letterman casts his vote with the Democratic party. LMER F. POWERS, of the firm of Smyser, Powers & Fielding, publishers of the Cliam- paign Times, is a native of the Buckeye State, born in 1848, and is the son of Oliver P. and Kclipoca (Kliver) Powers, natives of Virginia and Ohio. The subject of our sketch attended school during his childhood and youth, and when twenty- one years old commenced to learn the printer's trade, in Dresden, Ohio. lie afterward came to Illi- nois and worked at his trade in Cairo, for eighteen months. Thence he went to Memphis, working there and at other places in the South until 1874, when he entered the office of Messrs. Smyser y trade, at which he worked in the sum- mer and taught school in the winter. He removed from his native State to Ohio in 1829, settling in Darke County, where he died. The mother died in Maryland in about 1830. The parental family included three children ; only one, Eli, of our sketch, is now living; Eliza, Mrs. Plain, of Frederick County, Md.. died in April, 1887. The parents be- longed to the German Reform Church. Peter Hal- berstadt served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and the paternal grandparents of our subject were both soldiers in the Revolutionary War. The first representatives of the family on the mother's side came from Hanover, Germany, and on the father's side from Prussia, at an early day. The paternal grandfather of our subject's mother emigrated in his boyhood and after his arrival here was sold for his passage. He afterward paid the price, and upon arriving at a suitable age was married and raised a family, of whom his eldest son served in the Fed- eral army during the Revolution. The maternal grandfather of our subject, during his early man- hood, farmed extensively in the State of Maryland but spent his declining years in Pennsylvania, where his remains are buried. Eli Halberstadt was a lad of but ten years when he was deprived of the affectionate care of his mother. After her death he was taken into the home of his uncle, Jacob Grove, with whom he lived two years, and then went to live with another uncle, Jacob Maus, on a farm, where he remained until seventeen years old. He then served an ap- prenticeship of three years at the tailor's trade, and afterward worked as a journeyman for three years in Carroll and Washington Counties, Md. At that time, on account of poor health, he determined to abandon his former occupation, and opened a store in the same place, which he operated two years. He then sold out and removed to Miami County, Ohio, where he resumed the tailoring business two years, and thence came to Urbana, this county. In the spring of 1856, in company with two others, he opened a store which they operated one year, when Mr. H. bought out his partners and continued business alone until 1865. That year he put up his gristmill on Ray street, and subsequently changed it to a rolling-mill. The capacity of this at the present is seventy -five barrels per day. Dur-j ing the period of his extensive business operations in this county, Mr. Halberstadt has firmly estab- lished himself in the confidence of his friends and patrons, and for years has been one of the leading business men, esteemed alike for his integrity and ability. He was elected. Mayor of Ui'bana in 1868 I 500 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. in which ollice he served four terms, and while the custodian of the interests of the city exercised the same conscientious care and forethought which he has always shown in the transaction of his own pri- vate business. He is Democratic in politics and with his excellent wife is a member in good stand- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been Steward and Trustee, and to the sup- port of which he has always contributed liberally and cheerfully. He is also an honored member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. Our subject was married in .September, 1842, to Miss Rebecca Legore, a native of Maryland, and the daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Hull) Legore, of the same State, where Mr. L. in early life worked as a stonemason and bricklayer. Of this union there were born five children: Frances A., Mrs. Shilling, of Urbana; David B., of Washington, D. C.; George H., of Urbana; Susan C., Mrs. Day, of Washington, D. C., and Douglas E., of Chicago. The family residence is a handsome structure finely located, and our_subject and his wife enjoy the so- ciety of hosts of friends. ILLIAM j. AND. JOSEPH ALEXANDER, farmers and goodly land-owners of Ayers Township, of excellent Scottish parentage, are natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. They came to this country in 1858 or 1859, and after leaving New York City, proceeded directly westward to this State, locating near the town of Brimfield, twenty-five miles west of Peoria. Three months later they repaired to Jacksonville, where they en- gaged as farm laborers two years, and then em- barked in agriculture on their own hook. Unlike many of their brethren they were provided with some means, and now purchased 480 acres of land and tried the experiment of stock-growing, which they continued with fair success until 1870. They then disposed of their interest in that section and purchased two farms in Logan County, which they disposed of in 1872. Their next venture was in Ayers Township, where they purchased 1,000 acres of land, which is esteemed as of the choicest quality lie found in this region. The Alexander brothers possessed remarkable en- ergy, and in a comparatively short time had erected a fine set of buildings, including a hand- some two-story dwelling and a barn, which for beauty of architecture and quality of material will compare favorably with anything of the kind in this part of Champaign County. The buildings occupy a slight elevation, and command a fine view of the surrounding country. They also attract the attention of the passing traveler, and the ad- miration of all who behold them. Alexander brothers are now tacitly acknowledged to be the largest individual farmers in A3'ers Township. They feed and ship annually about 800 head of .cattle, chartering each year a number of trains to transport their animals to the markets of Chicago and other points East. In addition to their real estate in Ayers Township they own a large tract of land in Washington and Nuckolls Counties, Neb., and also land in Colorado. Upon starting out in life William and Joseph Alexander had nothing to depend upon but their own resources and a small cash capital of perhaps $100. They are probably now the largest tax pay- ers in Ayers Township. For the last four years Joseph has made his home principally in Nebraska, but in 1887 returned to Illinois, and will probably now be content to settle down permanently in the Prairie State. Notwithstanding the rich laud west of the Father of Waters he admits that there are advantages to be enjoyed in this State not pos- sessed by the territory west. The parents of the Alexander brothers were James and Letitia (Marshall) Alexander, both born in Scotland. The father was a farmer and wheelwright, and removed to Ireland early in life. He was successful financially, and left a fine farm to his widow. She was married again, to Mr. H. Steen, a Scotchman by birth. Of her first marriage there were born five children : Mary became the wife of Michael Clarnen, and lives in Ireland; Sarah married J. M. Catchart, a Scotchman, and lives in Ayers Township; John married Miss Erk- hart, a lady of Scottish birth; the brothers. Will- iam and Joseph, complete the children of James Alexander. Of the second marriage of the mother there were born Henry, Thomas. James and Elixa. ' RESIDENCE or JOHN LOCKE, SEC. 36 PHILO TOWNSHIP. pn RESIDENCE OF DAVID COOTER , SEC. 13 , BROWN TOWNSHIP, RESIDENCE OF FRED PELL, SEC. 7 , PHILO TOWNSHIP. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 503 William .1. Alexander was born Feb. 13, 1847. Since coining to this country he has fulfilled cred- itably all the duties of a citizen, with one exception, and that is that he remains a bachelor, when he might become the head of a family and increase even his present high standing in social and finan- cial circles. Joseph Alexander was born May 12, 1849. On the 15th of November, 1883, he married a most worthy and highly respected lady, Miss Emma B. Six. She was born in 1802, and only remained the companion of her husband a few short months, her death taking place in August, 1884. She was a lady possessed of a fine education, and had taught school for some time before her marriage. She was greatly missed in social circles, and in the Presby- terian Church, of which she had been a devoted and consistent member for several yeaVs. OSES C. THOMAS. The pioneer flonring- inill in the southeastern part of Champaign County, in Homer Township, was erected in about 1832 by the grandfather of the subject of this biography, which property de- scended to Mr. Thomas, and which he has operated since his business life began. This is located on the south fork of the Vermilion River, and is one of the old landmarks, so many of which are fast passing away and being lost, on account of the set- tling up of the land, and the prairie giving place to modern farms. Moses C. Thomas was born in Old Homer, Oct. 21, 1846, and still resides near the place of his birth. His parents, John B. and Elizabeth (Lan- der) Thomas, were natives of Kentucky, the former born in Mason and the latter in Bourbon County. They left the Blue Grass regions in their youth, coming to Illinois before their marriage. John Thomas in 1829, and Elizabeth Lander the year following. The acquaintance soon afterward be- gun ripened into a mutual attachment, and they were married in 1833. The father of our subject w;is born in 1809. and departed this life at his home in Homer Township in 1801. The mother was born in 1811, and survived her husband nine years, dying in 1870. Of their children, seven passed away in infancy; Celia died when seven years of age, and James when a youth of nineteen years. The others were Moses C. of our sketch, Joseph, Willis, Albert, Alice and Charles. Besides his mill property Mr. Thomas has sixty- five acres of valuable land, with a fine brick resi- dence located in the midst of well-kept grounds. and good out-buildings in the rear, including car- riage-barn and stables. He has been successful in his milling operations and owns three business houses in the village. His life has been a quiet and unostentatious one, which he has pursued worthily, enjoying the respect of his neighbors and the companionship of his family. His wife was formerly Miss Jane Insley, and their marriage took place at the home of the bride's parents in Homer, March 29, 1870. Mrs. Thomas was born in Indi- ana in 1848, and is the daughter of John and Mar- garet (Stewart) Insley, natives of the same State. They afterward became residents of Homer. Mrs. Insley is still living here; John Insley is deceased. The parental household, to which there were born seven children, was bereft of two, there being now only five living, namely, Aaron, Marion, Henry, Jane and Ellen. Of the four little ones who came to the home of our subject and his wife, three only are living, namely, Frank II., Moses E. and Jennie. Carrie E. is deceased. Our subject and wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and the politics of Mr. Thomas are decidedly Republican. He also has a half interest in 100 acres of land on section 31, Homer Township, besides thirty-five acres located on another section. W. MYERS, who has been a resident of the Prairie State since a lad nine years of age, after the labors of a long and busy life is now living in ease and retirement in the city of Champaign, in a comfortable and handsome home, surrounded by the friends whom he has made during an honorable and upright career. lie was born in Franklin County, Pa., Nov. 30, 1838, and is the son of Henry and Maria (Eshle- t if 504 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 111:111) Myrrs. natives of the Keystone State, where Henry Myers was engaged for many years in farm- ing pursuits. He disposed of his interests there in 1848, and coming to this State located in Fulton County, where he engaged extensively in fanning and stock-raising, and where both parents still live. The household included ten children, of whom eight are now living, as follows : John W. is a resident of Champaign City; Joseph C., of Fulton County; David N., of McDonough County; Martha, Mrs. Brown, of Henry County; Adeline, Mrs. Norton, and William, of Fulton County ; Susan, Mrs. Mull, of McDonough County', and Daniel of Fulton County. Henry Myers is Republican in politics, and both parents are members of the Dunkard Church. The subject of this biography was reared on a farm and remained with his parents until twenty- three years of age. He then purchased 100 acres of land in Farmington Township, Fulton County, which he operated from 1860 to 1876, then sold out and purchased a farm in Newcomb Township, this county. This consisted of 320 acres, where he engaged extensively in stock-raising, and to which in 1 883 he added 208 acres, which consti- j tuted a magnificent bod}' of land aggregating 528 acres. Upon this farm he erected si commodious modern dwelling with good barns and all necessary buildings for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock'. This beautiful country estate is one of the finest in Champaign County, and displays on every hand the cultivated tastes and ample means of its proprietor. The marriage of J. W. Myers and Miss Helen E. Vittum took place Dec. 29, 1864, at the residence of the bride's parents in Norris. Mrs. M. was born Sept. 24, 1843, and is the daughter of Sargent and Mary A. (Weed) Vittum, who were natives of New Hampshire, and engaged in farming pursuits. They removed from the Old Granite State to Illinois in 1857, locating in Fulton County, where Mr. Yittum carried on farming for a number of years, and then with his family removed to the city of Canton, where he is now living in retirement upon a com- petency. Of the nine children included in the household circle, seven arc now living, as follows: Harrison H. is living in retirement at Farmer City, 111.; Homer, also retired from active labor, is a resident of Canton; Helen, Mrs. Myers, resides with her husband in Champaign; Susan E., Mrs. Mc- Cutchen, and Edith E., Mrs. Dr. Wright, are living in Canton, 111.; Elden S. and Alwyn are residents of Norris, Fulton County. Mr. Vittum retired from his farm of over 500 acres in 1882. and it is now operated by tenants. It is underlaid with rich coal mines, and upon it are about forty dwellings for the miners. This, as may be supposed, yields our subject a fine' income. He is one of the prominent men of Fulton County, highly esteemed as a business man and a citizen, and politically affiliates with the Democratic party. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Myers there have been born six children : Wildie H. married Miss Lou E. Bryan, and is living on the farm; F. Leonard is on the farm with his brother, Wildie; Maude O., L. May, Winnie M. and Wissie E. are at home with their parents. Leonard is a graduate of the Business College at Champaign, and the younger children are attending High School. Mr. Myers has held the offices of School Trustee and Director, and in other respects has been prominently identified with the educational and business interests of the city. ><><- EZEKIEL COOK, who has been a resident of Tolono since 1875, is successfully carrying on a trade in hardware, and has built up a profitable patronage. He comes of substantial an- cestry, and is a native of Bedford Count}', Pa., born July 6, 1834. His parents were Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Leader) Cook, who had a family of eleven children, of whom our subject is the young- est. He was reared on his father's farm in the Keystone State, educated in the district schools, and was employed part of the time in the black- smith-shop of his father, where he gained a good insight into that trade. He is a natural mechanic, and with little practice can manipulate almost any tool that is manufactured. He possessed more than ordinary ability, was bright and observant of what was going on around him, and when not in school, still pursued his studies in his leisure hours, and at an early age engaged in teaching. During the progress of the late war Mr. Cook, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 505 in ISC I, became a member of Co. K, 208th Pa. Vol. Inf., serving until the surrender of the Con- federate army. After the war he returned to his native county, where he owned 120 acres of land which he cultivated until 1875. In the fall of that year he came to Illinois, and locating at Tolono es- tablished his present business, lie still owns his farm in Pennsylvania, besides eighty acres of land in Tolono Township, and property in the town. Our subject was married, in the spring of 1860, to Miss Matilda Young, a native of his own coun- ty, and they became the parents of eight children. The first-born died in childhood. Seven are now living, namely, Laura B. ; Addie. Mrs. George W. Manly, of Deeatur; John and Klla, twins; Mary J., Harvey K. and George H. Upon arriving at his majority, our subject commenced voting with the Republican party, whose principles he has since supported. He has held the local offices of his township, is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially, belongs to the G. A. R. and the K. of II. BILLIARD L. SAMSON, editor and proprie- tor of the Homer Enterprise, is a native of the Prairie State, and was born in Vermil- ion County, June 30, 1861. His parents, George and America (Ocheltree) Samson, were natives re- spectively of Canada and Ohio. The former, who was born in 1826, died in Vermilion County, 111., in 1865. He occupied his time principally as a far- mer and stock-raiser, in which he was very success- ful and accumulated considerable property. He supported the principles of the Republican party, and was a man useful in the community and of good standing in business circles. Religiously he was connected with the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The mother of our subject, a native of Fayette County, Ohio, was born June 14, 1S27, and is now a resident of Kansas. Her second husband was G. W. Brown, who died in 1884. Mrs. B. is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The five children of her first marriage are recorded as follows: John and Albert, the two eldest sons, died in childhood; Georgia became the wife of P>;isil Brown, and died near St. John's. Kan., Nov. 9, 1886; Eleanor, now Mrs. Philip McWilliams, is a resident of Stafford County, Kan.; and Williard L., our subject. Mr. Samson remained with his parents during his boyhood days, studying his first lessons in the dis- trict school. Upon starting out for himself in life he learned telegraphy, and in 1882 took a trip to Texas, where he remained a year thus engaged. The year following he again crossed the Mississippi, remained a short time in Arkansas, and then re- turned to the farm, where he resided until 1886, engaged in farming. In the spring of that year he purchased the Homer Enterprise. This paper was established in^ 1877, and now has a circulation of about 600, and under the judicious management of Mr. Samson bids fair to become indispensable to the people of Homer and vicinity. It is distinguished for its straight Republicanism, taking its complex- ion from the politics of its proprietor. Mr. Samson is connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is a valued member of Homer Lodge No. 252, I. O. O. F. On the 8th of January, 1885, Mr. Samson was united in marriage with Miss Kate L. Strahorn. Mrs. S. is a native of Illinois and was born Sept. 9, 1863. Her parents, Thomas and Sarah (Orr) Strahorn, were natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois respectively, and had a family of ten children, live of whom died in infancy. Those, surviving are, Mrs. Samson; Mrs. Carrie McWhorter, of Homer; Mrs. Flora Hecox, of Deeatur; Oliver, also of Homer, and Sarah, who resides in Wyoming Terri- tory with her adopted parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Hopkins. Mrs. Strahorn died in 1877. fclLLIAM D. CLARK is an extensive far- mer, owning 255 acres of valuable land, lo- cated on section 8, Sidney Towi.ship. His farm is highly cultivated, and all of its appoint- ments are remarkable for order and elegance. His residence is spacious and tasteful, and the barns and out-buildings are commodious and well stocked with all the modern appliances for scientific farm- ing. He was bom in Fayette County, Pa., Dec. t - > 506 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. '2\, \X-\2, nw\ is the sun of Thomas and Hannah (Moore) Clark. Thomas Clark was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. JO, 17'jM, and died in Ohio in 1854. His wife, also a native of Pennsylvania, was born Nov. 4, 1 802. Left a widow with nine children, by the death of her husband, she came to Champaign Conntj', 111., feeling that the West vvitli its broad prairies and the spirit of enterprise that pervaded its atmosphere, offered more favorable inducements for the advancement of her young family. She purchased land, and with the intelligent and en- ergetic assistance of her sons, successfully conducted the farm for many years. The following are the names of her children: Margaret, the wife of Robert Melick, living in Perry County, Ohio; John, who has twice been married to cousins by the name of Plank, also liv- ing in Perry County, Ohio; Mary A., formerly the wife of Isaac Francis; William D., the subject of this sketch; James P., married to a Miss Humphrey, living in or near Lincoln, Neb.; Sarah, the wife of I). A. Spraker, living in Montana; Thomas J., who married Miss Augusta Groff, is living in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Orpha J., the wife of J. D. Thomas, living in Shenandoah, Iowa, and Hannah, deceased, formerly the wife of William Freeman. Her two sons, Thomas and James, served honor- ably in the War of the Rebellion. She is now in her eighty-fifth year, and after passing through many trials, the inevitable accompaniments of pio- neer life, is peacefully spending the evening of her life in the home of her son, William D. Clark. On the 21st of October, 1873, William D. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Huff. She is a native of Ohio, and was born Oct. 22, 1840, in Coshocton County, and is the daughter of Manquila and Elizabeth (McMorris) Huff. Her mother, who is still living, was born in Ohio, May 8, 1818. Her father was a native of Virginia, born Nov. 18, 1810, and died March 10. 1887. The fol- lowing are the names of their children : Martha A., wife of Thomas Marquand, living in Kansas; Lu- cinda, the wife of John Marquand, also living in Kansas; George W., married to Elizabeth Stafford, living in Ohio; Sarah W., the wife of David 1>. Howard, living in Lincoln, Neb.; Catherine M., the wife of P. 1>. Potts: Celia /., the wife of Henry Peck; Benjamin F. married Miss Anna Homer of Iowa; James W. married Cora Pitts; Emma E., the wife of Charles Warfield, and Spencer E.. married to Louie Drum. The six latter all reside in Illi- nois. William D. Clark and wife have reared an inter- esting family of four children; their names are: Lena M., born Aug. 24, 1874; Emma A., born Jan. 27, 1876; Thomas A., born Nov. 22, 187'J, and William A., born Jan. 8, 1882. Mr. Clark, who is possessed of great executive ability, and in- tegritv of character, has satisfactorily filled several official positions in the township. He has been Collector for three terms, and has also been Asses- sor. Both himself and his wife are highly esteemed members of the Methodist Church. He is a most honorable and worthy citizen and in politics is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. lERNARD GORDON, one of the large land- owners of Champaign County, and a resident of Kerr Township, is a native of Ireland, born in We'xford County, Aug. 1, 1848. He is the son of John and Mary (Whelan) Gordon, and was the second child in a family of ten. His father had been a cattle dealer in Ireland, but in 1857 came to America with the expectation of im- proving his circumstancesi He had some capital, with which he purchased a farm and settled at Lyons, near Riverside, on the Des Plaines River, near Chicago, where he engaged to work as a quarry- man. From there he went to Aurora. 111., where he procured employment on the railroad. He re- mained there ten years, and then removed to Shab- bona Grove, De Kalb Co., 111., where he went to farming on rented land and remained there three years. From there he came to this county, where he purchased 200 acres of wild land, and to which he has since added, until he now owns 800 acres of finely improved land, having his residence iii Com- petine Township. Bernard Gordon left home at twenty-two years of age, after having received a good common- school education, and also having been trained CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 507 to write and speak the German language fluently. During the first three years he engaged in farming on rented land, which resulted successfully. He was then, Sept. 15, 1874, married to Miss Mary C. llen- nessy, the second child of John and Mary (Holland) Hennessy, natives of County Limerick, Ireland. Her birthplace was Grundy Count}', 111. They began together to build up their fortune in life, and purchased 160 acres on section 25, Kerr Township, which they commenced at once to im- prove and cultivate, and have never changed their residence. Dec. 9, 1886, his beloved wife was stricken down with heart disease without any warning of her ap- proaching end, and died in a few moments. She was an earnest, devoted Christian lad} 7 , an affec- tionate wife and faithful mother. Her sudden death was greatly deplored by the entire community, where she was widely known and highly respected. She left a family of six children Mary Ann, Mar- garet, Catherine Agnes, John Charles, Constantia and Johanna. The family are members of the Ro- man Catholic Church. Mr. Gordon with his family of motherless children continues to live on the home farm. He is extensively engaged in stock- raising, giving his special attention to cattle of the Durham breed. eALEB B. YOUNG, of Rantoul, represents the grocery, queensware and hardware trade, and has been a valued resident of the town since 1881. He is a New Englander by birth, hav- ing first opened his eyes in Graf ton County, N. H., near the town of Lisbon, Nov. 13, 1836. His grandfather, David Young, was one of the first set- tlers in that locality, to which he removed from his native State of Massachusetts; He was of excel- lent Irish ancestry, and possessed in a remarkable degree the moral traits of character and fine busi- ness qualities for which his descendants have been noted. The father of our subject, Charles P. Young, was a native of Grafton County, N. II., and bred to farming pursuits, which he followed the greater part of his life. He married in early manhood Miss Sybil, daughter of Pliineas Gordon, Esq., of Scotch origin, and settled near his birthplace, where he remained until 1856. Then, deciding to seek a home in the West, he came to La Salle County, this State, and took possession of a farm in Deer Park Township, where he successfully followed agricult- ure, and where he made his home until resting from his labors on the 4th of January, 1864. The mother afterward removed to Kansas and made her home with one of her children, where her death took place in November, 1872. Of the parental household, including five children, our subject was the second son and child. He received the advant- ages of the common school and remained with his parents, removing with them to the West and as- sisting on the farm until setting out to do for him- self. His first move upon leaving the home roof was to purchase a farm of 160 acres in Livingston j County, 111., upon which he labored for a period of four years, and then selling out purchased 160 acres in Compromise Township, this county. Later he engaged as a grain buyer at Gifford,and in 1881 abandoned labor upon the farm, and moving into Rantoiil opened an extensive meat market. Six months later he disposed of this and embarked in his present business. He has a choice and well- selected stock of groceries, and has built up a good patronage among the best people of this locality. Our subject was married, in November, 18(>2, to Mrs. lantha I., daughter of Luther Grant, of Graf- ton County, N. H., and widow of C. H. Young. Three of the four children born of this marriage are still living, namely, Susanna K., Charles E. and Walter E. One died in infancy unnamed. Mr. Young has occupied the various offices of his town- chip, serving as Road Commissioner nine years and School Trustee in Compromise Township about nine years. He is a member of the City Council of Rantoul, and there are few public enterprises in this vicinity in which he has not been interested. As a man of judgment and discretion his views are frequently solicited upon matters of impor- tance, and both as a business man and a citizen he is filling his niche in life creditably and with dig- nity. Mr. and Mrs. Young have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, the former serving as Steward and Trustee, and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Ho is held in high regard by the people who have known him so long and well, and forms one of the landmarks whose place can scarcely be supplied when he shall have gone the way of all the earth. AMES L. FREEMAN. One of the most act- I ive and enterprising farmers of the com- munity, a gentleman in the prime of life, and in the enjoyment of health, friends, and a fair share of this world's goods, is comfortably located on section 17, in Ogden Township, and is successfully cultivating 120 acres of fine land. He has an excellent wife and a family of blooming chil- dren, and enjoys in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his neighbors. He has been a resi- dent of this county over forty-six years, hav- ing been born in Homer Township, Aug. 15. 1841, and is the son of James and Rebecca (Ogden) Freeman, natives of Virginia. The former, in early life, was a shoemaker by trade, but in later years abandoned the shop for the more congenial em- ployment of farm life. He was a gentleman occu- pying a good position in his community. Repub- lican in politics and a Christian in theology. He had represented his township in the Board of Su- pervisors for two years, and was a man whose opin- ions were generally respected, being formed with deliberation and adhered to with decision. The circumstances of his death were peculiarly sad, he having been instantly killed by a runaway team in 18C8, while going from the timber to his home. The family were scattered, and there are now liv- ing four in this county, one in Kansas and two ii Iowa. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Rebecca Freeman, was born Feb. 14, 1804, in Virginia, and her death occurred Oct. 5, 1854. The youth and boyhood of James L. Freeman were spent under the parental roof, and he assisted his parents in the shop and on the farm until twenty years of age. Soon after the rebels fired upon Ft. Sumter he resolved to join his comrades who had enlisted in the service of the Union, and became a member of the 26th Illinois Infantry, which was assigned to the army of the Missouri. He was mustered in at Springfield, III., after which the boys proceeded to the southwest across the Mississippi and wintered in camp near Hannibal, Mo. His first encounter with the enemy was at New Madrid the following spring, and he afterward engaged in many of the important battles of the war, being present at the siege and capture of Cor- inth, Atlanta and Vicksburg, besides intermediate engagements, in all numbering fifty -seven. He ex- perienced many hairbreadth escapes, marched many thousands of miles with his knapsack on his back, and endured with his comrades bravely and patiently the vicissitudes of a soldier's life during one of the most memorable periods in the history of this country, and in which he, with thousands of others, experienced sufferings and hardships which can better be imagined than described. The ex- periences of those terrible years have been cele- brated in song and story, but no human tongue can give an adequate idea of the life of a Northern sol- dier, transplanted to a Southern soil. In 1864 they joined the army of Gen. Sherman and partici- pated in the never-to-be-forgotten march to the sea. This helped to swell the distance to nearly 7,000 miles which was traveled by our subject and his comrades, often without sufficient food or drink. Notwithstanding all he had endured, the patriotic flame still burned in his breast, and at the expira- tion of his first term of enlistment young Freeman was willing to again brave the hardships which he had already passed through for the sake of victory, and re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864. Soon afterward, however, peace dawned upon the nation, and his regiment was mustered out at Scottsboro, Ala. On the 26th of October, 1865, our subject cele- brated his return to civil life by his marriage with Miss Mary F. Stearns, the wedding taking place in Homer, 111. Mrs. Freeman was born in Vermilion Count}', this State, Sept. 4," 1 846, and is the daughter of Chancy C. and Mary (Lee) Stearns, natives respectively of Ohio and Illinois, the mother now deceased. The father resides at Ho- mer. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. F. first located on the old home place, whence they re- moved to their present farm. To the household thus established there were added in due time nine bright children, who wore named respectively ' CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 509 I Nora, Martha, Anzonettia, Lyclia, Minnie, Ezra C., Iva, Gracie and Lewis S. Gracie, when nine months old, was stricken with fatal illness, and yielded up her life on the 18th of June, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman became members of the Chris- tian Church in 1858 and 1864 respectively, and our subject politically, as soon as becoming a voter, identified himself with the Republican party. AMES EXTON. There was quite an influx of population into this county and especially into Ogden Township during the years 1864 to 1870. The emigrants were for the most part, enterprising men, some perhaps possessed of little means, but what they lacked in hard cash they made up in , natural energy and industry. Among the most noted of these was the gentleman whose name is associated with this personal sketch. He became a resident of the State in 1864, and made his advent into this county five years later, having then by several years' labor on rented land in Vermilion County accumulated sufficient means to invest in real estate for himself; and it may here be allowable to note a fact as singularas it must be gratifying to the people of Champaign County, that the large majority of those who at that time carne into this locality, when finding themselves possessed of sufficient capital, which perhaps they had accumulated elsewhere, preferred to invest it in this county. Mr. Exton, with scores of others, discovered here the richest soil and the most desirable place for a homestead. He selected a quarter section of land in Ogden Township on section 6, which at that time was unimproved, but which under judi- cious cultivation soon began to respond to the hand of husbandry. As soon as convenient he had the land generously underlaid with tile, and by means of proper drainage and skillful tillage his farm has become one of the most fertile and desirable in the township. He wisely gave his first attention to his land, and afterward erected handsome and substan- tial frame buildings which he may be pardoned for viewing with pride and satisfaction. His live-stock and farm machinery will compare favorably with that of his neighbors, and to him the township is indebted for a pleasing array of grain-fields and pasture lands which favorably commend it to the notice of the traveler and historian. The birth of our subject took place on the other side of the Atlantic in Lincolnshire, England, Feb. 27, 1825, his parents being James and Ann (Bur- rage) Exton, natives of the same country. His mother died when he was a lad of six years old, and afterward the household was presided over by his stepmother. His brothers and sisters were named respectively, Elizabeth, John, Rebecca, Will- iam, Thomas and Mary, there being four sons and three daughters in the parental family. James re- mained in England until twenty-four years of age, but saw little prospect of advancement either so- cially or financially. Many of his countrymen were crossing the Atlantic and sent home cheerful re- ports of their improved condition in the New World, and he resolved to follow their example. Bidding adieu to old friends and associations, he boarded a sailing-vessel at Liverpool, and in a few hours the shores of his native England had disappeared from sight. After a tedious voyage of sixty days our subject landed at Baltimore, whence he proceeded directly I to the State'of Delaware, where he secured employ- ment, and remained a resident there for twelve years. Some of this time he was employed as a laborer at seventy-five cents per day. He gave the East a fair trial, and then resolved to seek his fort- une in the West. As we have seen, his condition began to mend soon after he came into the Prairie State, which has rewarded so many pioneers with generous homes and a competency in return for their honest toil. Mr. Exton celebrated the Christmas Day follow- ing his arrival in this country, by his marriage with M1ss Eliza, daughter of James and Martha (Titsey) Burton, which toqk place at the home of the bride's parents in New Castle, Del. Mrs. E. was born in Liverpool, England, in 1833, and was the eldest of eight children born to the parents; the others living are George, Mary A. and Eliza. The offspring of Mr. and Mrs. Exton were thirteen in number, most of them born in Delaware. Those livin are : I f. 510 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. James B., who married Miss Enslcy, and is living in Ogden Township; John R.. who married Miss Clumibley; George W., who married Miss Gault: Thomas J., William T., Mary A., Ellen, Minnie and Lucy A. The younger members of the family are at home with their parents. They have been fairly educated and are favorites among their neigh- bors and society in general. Mr. and Mrs. Exton are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and all the family, both old and young, take an active interest in the Sabbath- school, officiating as teachers, and working for the success of the cause. After becoming a naturalized citizen, Mr. Exton, by all fair means labored to swell the Republican majorities at the elections, and in other respects gave his support to the principles of the party which more nearly represented his views upon social" and political questions. As a man of intelligence and one whose opinions are generally respected, he has had no small influence in shaping the politics of the voters in his locality, and has always gathered in a recruit whenever it was possible fur him to do so. J^~ OHN L. PETERSON, a resident of Ken- Township, is the son of Cornelius and Sa- linda (Lane) Peterson, and was bom May 18, 1828, in Deer Creek Prairie, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. He was the third in order of a family of eleven children. His father was a native of Maine, and his mother of Pennsylvania. His pa- ternal grandparents, Abraham and Susanna Peter- son, were of Swedish descent, and were both na- tives of Maine. His maternal grandparents, Allen and Hannah Lane, were of German and Irish ex- traction, and were natives of Pennsylvania. His father was one of the earliest settlers of Ohio, and resided in Athens County. Thence he moved to Indiana, where his son John, the subject of this sketch, was born. He afterward returned to Ohio, remained there a short time, and then, in 1 8.">!, came to Illinois, and located eleven miles north- west of Danville. He invested in eighty acres of wild land, which he cultivated and improved for "twenty years, when, a good opportunity offering, he sold out and moved a short distance northwest in the same county, where he remained until his death. At the age of eighteen, John L. Peterson left his father's home to seek his own fortune, and first engaged in farming on rented land, which he con- tinued until twenty-five 3'ears of age. Having ac- quired some property he then invested in a small farm, and July 20. 1854, married Miss Martha S. Pliipps, the daughter of Aaron and Patsy (l)odson) Phipps. Her parents were natives of Virginia, but were reared in Kentucky. After marriage. Mr. Peterson and his wife first settled on eighty acres of land, which he bought in Rossville Township, Vermilion County. After re- maining there two years he sold out and removed to Dent County, Mo., where he had purchased 120 acres of land. Not being satisfied with this invest- ment, he moved about seventy-five miles north- west, and bought eighty acres in Dallas County, upon which he remained one year, or until the breaking out of the Civil War. So much strife and bloodshed and border warfare existed there at that time, that he returned to Illinois to escape danger. After remaining in Vermilion County a short time, he came to Champaign, where he bought a small farm in Kerr Township, and has since bought fort}' acres more in Compromise Township, directly opposite his residence. Since then he has bought 120 acres more adjoining, and has 200 acres in his home farm, where he carries on stock-raising. Mr. Peterson and his wife have had a family of seven children, four of whom are living Cornelius A., Aaron B., John H. and Martha Emeline. Eliz- abeth E., Mary Jane and William, are deceased. Cornelius married Eliza J. Albert, the daughter of William A. and Albina (Plowman) Albert. The others are living at home with their parents. Mr. Peterson has been elected to the offices of School Trustee and Road Commissioner for several terms. His sympathies are with the Greenback party. He was formerly a member of the United Brethren Church, but although he has token a letter from CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 513 that denomination, he has not yet identified him- self officially with nny church. His wife is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. OHN W. MEIKLE. The late J. W. Meikle, whose death occurred in Pesotum Township, Sept. 29, 1884, was a native of Limefield, Scotland, where he was born Sept. 21, 1831. He emigrated to this country in 1 856, and proceed- ing westward to Chicago was employed for some time as a clerk in a store. He became a resident of this county in 1857, and purchased 160 acres of land in Crittenden Township, and bought the same amount on section 1 5, in Pesotum. To the latter he removed his family and established a general coun- try store, which he conducted for over twenty-five years, being one of the earliest merchants of this sec- tion of the county. His store will be remembered by the early pioneers as long as they are permitted to think of the days passed here amid the trials and viscissitudes necessary to the opening up of a new country. It was a great convenience to have a store so conveniently located and conducted by a man in whom they reposed the greatest respect. The marriage of Mr. Meikle took place on the 23d of October, 1866, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Nelson, a native of Madison Coun- ty, Ind. Mrs. Meikle is the daughter of William and Sarah (Wigner) Nelson, natives of Ohio. They came into this county in the spring of 1857, being among the first of the pioneers. Her father pur- chased a quarter section of land in this township, which he improved and upon which he liVed until 1884. In the spring of that year he purchased a farm near Camargo, where he now resides. Our subject and his wife became the parents of one child only, Eddie S., now a promising young man of marked ability, who manages the affairs of his widowed mother and is her chief support and comfort. Mr. Meikle was a man of known ability, and soon after coming to this township was en- trusted with its various offices and served as ColFec- tor and School Treasurer for several years, besides being appointed Postmaster at Pesotum, which position he held for fifteen years. He resigned this office in about 1882, some time before his death. Politically he was a stanch Democrat, decided in his opinions but never offensive in the expression of them. His departure from the scenes where he had labored so many years and worthily filled the various positions to which he was called, was a mat- ter of universal regret. Mrs. Meikle was eminently fitted to be the companion and helpmeet of such a gentleman as her husband was, being a lady of ex- cellent judgment and noblest principles. She be- came a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858, and has been an earnest - worker in the cause of religion since that time. In presenting the portrait of Mr. Meikle, which we give on an adjoining page, we will gratify his many friends by placing his features so indelibly upon the pages of the personal history of the county he did so much for. 516 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. successfully for the last twenty years, building up a good homestead with excellent farm buildings, and everything required for the creditable prose- cution of agriculture. E. W. Swisher is a native of Monongalia County, Va., and was born March 8, 1 834. He passed his early days with his parents on the farm in his na- tive county, in the meantime receiving a common- school education. Just before reaching his major- ity, he was married to Miss Mary J. Graham, the wedding taking place Oct. 15, 1854. His wife was the daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Graham ; the father was born March 3, 1800, and died Aug. 18, 1853. He was a farmer by occupation, and spent his entire life in his native county. The par- ents of our subject after their marriage remained in Virginia until 1861, removing thence to Henry County, Ind., and from there, in 1864, to this county. Here the father first purchased eighty acres of land in Stanton Township, which amount he afterward doubled, and which now constitutes the home of our subject, which he purchased of his father in 1883. Mr. Swisher was a prominent man in the county after coming here, serving as Justice of the Peace for a period of over twenty years, and occupying other prominent positions. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age, and is also a member of the A. F. & A. M. Politically he affiliates with the Demo- cratic party. After the labors of a long and busy life, he is now practically retired, and makes his home with his son, our subject. The parental family included three children, two of whom are living: G. M. of our sketch was the eldest; Oliver R. was born in 1857, and died Dec. 27, 1865; Juliet V. was born Jan. 16, 1862; she became the wife of Thomas S. Nichols, of Sullivan, 111., who departed this life in the fall of 1885. The mother of these children, formerly Miss Mary J. Graham, was born in Marion County, Va., Jan. 5, 1828. In the fall of 1882 she was stricken with paralysis, from which she never recovered, although it did not prove fatal at that time. On the even- ing of May 12, 1885, she had a second stroke. and expired in a few minutes. She was a devout Christian lady, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she became con- nected when thirteen years of age. Her remains were laid to rest in the Friends' burying-ground in the southeastern part of Stanton Township. The maternal great-grand pa rents of our subject, Enoch and Mary Thomas, were born respectively Aug. 4, 1774, and June 22, 1760. Their family of eleven children included five sons and six daugh- ters. They were born, reared and died in the Old Dominion. The great-great-grandfather of our subject on his father's side was David Graham, who was born Sept. 15, 1-774, and was the son of John Graham, born Dec. 28, 1751. The father of the latter, David Graham, was the son of William Gra- ham, born in 1713, in Ireland, where he spent his entire life. The subject of this sketch passed his early days with his parents, assisting in the labors of the farm as soon as old enough, and attending the common schools, and made good progress in his studies. He has held the office of Collector in his township, and is one of those upon whom the man- tle of the pioneer has fallen, and who will do honor to his early training and the example of his father before him. His farm is well stocked with good grades of cattle, and his stables contain some good horses. Since exercising the right of suffrage, he has voted the Democratic ticket. About the time of taking possession of the homestead as his own, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida F. Swisher, of Schuyler County, 111. The little household con- tains two bright children Iva Belle and Freddie Cleveland. ENJAMIN FRANKLIN YATES located in Rantoul Township twenty years ago, and is a fine illustration of the self-made man who has accumulated a competency by the exer- cise of his own enterprise, and secured an enviable position among his fellow-citizens by his personal worth. He is the owner of a good farm on section 8, including 240 acres, with a convenient and sub- stantial residence standing in the midst of hand- some shade, with a background of choice fruit trees. He has been in all respects a liberal-minded citizen, contributing cheerfully to every enterprise CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 517 , , calculated for the advancement of morality and education, assisting in the building of school-houses and church edifices, and encouraging every enter- prise set on foot for the benefit of his fellow-citi- zens and his community. Mr. Yates was born in Newport, Campbell Co., Ky., March 18, 1841. His father, Elijah Yates, of Virginia, was formerly a slave-holder. The early education of the latter had been quite limited, and after reaching manhood he entered upon a course of study and fitted himself for a teacher. Three or four years after his marriage he started for the West in company with several others. Some of the party settled in Ohio, but Mr. Yates crossed the river and located in Newport, Ky., where he was employed by a large land-holder to look after his estate. Several years later he purchased a timber tract in Kenton County, eight miles from Newport, and while superintending the improvement of his land still followed the profession of a teacher. In due time he was elected County Surveyor, serving a period of eight years in this capacity and after- ward was employed by private parties in surveying. In 18G2 he removed to Covington, which remained his home until his decease in 1881. After reaching his majority he was married to Miss Ann D. Yates, also a native of Virginia, and who departed this life in Covington ten years before the death of her husband. Our subject was five years old when his parents became residents of Kenton County, Ky. He at- tended school during his boyhood and youth, and when large enough assisted in the duties on the farm. When twenty years of age he commenced teaching, and was thus employed the greater part of his time for seven years following. He thus earned money enough to make his first purchase of land, and selected Champaign County, 111., for his location. He bought 120 acres of raw prairie in Rantoul Township, which is now included in his present farm. It has taken the labor of years, with economy and wise judgment, to bring the land to its present condition, enclosed as it is with neat and substantial fences, and producing generously the richest crops of the Prairie State. Mr. Yates, after having his plans perfected for the establishment of a comfortable home, found that a wife and companion was indispensable, and having already become greatly attracted by the womanly and lovable qualities of Mrs. Jane (Fletch- er) Beal, of this township, invited her to share his home and fortunes. They were united in marriage on the 22d of October, 1879, and commenced house- keeping in a small frame dwelling on the new farm. Mrs. Yates was born in Normanby, Yorkshire, En- gland, Jan. 8, 1842, and is the daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Taylor) Fletcher. (See sketch of Will- iam Fletcher.) Her father was also a native of Yorkshire, where he was reared, married, and learned the carpenter's trade, in which he engaged and also followed farming until 1 855. In the spring of that year he emigrated with his family to the United States, and entered a tract of Government land in Mason County, 111. He was occupied in the im- provement and cultivation of this until 1873, then came to this county and located in Rantoul Town- ship, where he spent the last years of his life. The mother, also a native of Normanby, is still living, making her home with her son in Rantoul Town- ship, and having reached the age of fourscore years and four. The wife of our subject remained with her par- ents until her first marriage, March 25, 18C6, to Henry Beal. Mr. B. was a native of Pennsylvania, and the son of Edmund and Lydia (Featherman) Beal, natives respectively of England and Pennsyl- vania. His father followed teaching and farming alternately. When Henry was about ten years old the family removed to Illinois, and located in Ma- son County, where he lived until the outbreak of the war. He then enlisted in Co. K, 85th 111. Vol. Inf., and served until the preservation of the Union had become an established fact. He participated in many of the important battles, and marched with his regiment under the command of General Sher- man from Chattanooga to the sea. At the end of this campaign the regiment went up through the Carolinas to Washington, D. C., and participated in the grand review, after which the soldiers were mustered out and returned to their homes. Mr. Beal then purchased the old homestead in Mason County, which he sold in 1872, and coming to this county bought a tract of wild land in Rantoul Township, where he improved a good farm, upon -I 518 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. which his death occurred April 13, 1874. Of this marriage there were born three children Edmund, Willie and Jessie. Mr. and Mrs. Yates have one child, a son, Frank. The wife of our subject is a lady greatly respected in the community, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Yates cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and the second for Grant. Since that time he has voted independently, aiming to support the men whom he believes best qualified for the responsibili- ties of office. ' BRAM B. TITUS has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1 850. He is now located on section 21, in Rantoul Town- ship, being the proprietor of a good farm comprising 160 acres and equipped with modern buildings. He is a native of New York State, born in Camillas, Onondaga County, Nov. 8, 1828. His father, Leonard Titus, was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., where his paternal grandfather lo- cated early in life, reared his family and died. Leonard Titus in his youth learned the trade of a blacksmith, and after leaving Dutchess located in Onondaga County, where he followed his trade until 1834. Thence he removed with his family to Gallia County, Ohio, the journey being made by canal to Buffalo, thence by the Lakes to Toledo, from there down the Muskingum River to Marietta, and thence by the Ohio to a point near Gallipolis. There he purchased a tract of partly improved land, where he spent the remainder of his life, en- gaged in farming and blacksmithing. He rested from his earthly labors in 1848. The mother of our subject, who in her maidenhood was Miss Maria Becker, was also a native of the Empire State. She removed with her husband to Ohio and is now living in Gallia County, having arrived at the ad- vanced age of eighty-two years. The parental household included five children, of whom our sub- ject was the eldest. Mr. Titus, of our sketch, was in the sixth year of his age when his parents removed from his na- f tive State to Ohio. There he grew to manhood, attending the common schools and assisting his father in the work on the farm. He remained on the homestead until after the death of the latter, and two years later came to Illinois, engaging for the first three years as a farm laborer. He had lived economically, saving what he could of his earnings, and in 1853 rented a tract of land in Rich- land County which, however, he only operated upon one year. He then purchased thirty acres in that county in the midst of a timber tract, and hav- ing already selected a companion to share his for- tunes, put up a log cabin, where they commenced housekeeping in true primitive style. Ma-. Titus cleared fifteen acres and occupied this property with his family until 1863. In the meantime there had been added to the household seven children, and Mr. Titus felt the necessity of making some change which would bring about a better condition finan- cially, and secure an additional income to meet the necessities of the growing family. He accordingly disposed of the embryo farm in Richland County, and resolved to try his fortunes in the better de- veloped and more thickly populated district within the boundaries of Champaign County. He selected forty acres on section 9, in Somer Township, which, however, he sold. after a period of six years. At the expiration of that time he purchased the land upon which he now resides. Soon after coming to this section Mr. Titus be- gan to realize the just reward of his labors, and found himself on a firm footing. He now has a good home, a sensible and worthy wife, and a fine family of children." These, seven in number, are Leonard, Helen, Edgar, Rosecrans, Charles, Martha and Jesse. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Richland County, April 7, 1853, was Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of Isaac and Cyn- thia (Moorehouse) Chancy. Mrs. T. was born in Richland County, this State, in 1830. Her parents were natives of Tennessee and New York respect- ively, and removed to Illinois soon after their mar- riage, locating in Richland County during its early settlement. The father is deceased; the mother still survives, and lives in Richlaud County. Mr. Titus has been the subject perhaps of no very thrilling experiences but has simply lived the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 519 life of a goud citizen, and performed with fidelity the duties devolving upon him as a worth} 7 member of society and the father of a family. In politics he is independent. J -"JOSEPH DECKER. The gentleman whose I name stands at the head of this sketch has i seen much of life in a new country, having ' during his young days roamed over the States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, while they were untenauted save by wild animals and Indians. In the country across the Mississippi he has seen herds of deer and buffalo in their native haunts, before the firearms of the hun- ter had caused them to fear what seemed to be their natural enemy, man. He also remembers sleeping on the ground at night, covered with leaves, when wolves and other wild beasts were prowling near. Fear was a thing almost unknown among the brave spirits of the pioneer days, and amid those wild scenes our subject received his first lessons in self- dependence and imbibed that sturdy courage which has served him well during the difficulties he has encountered in his struggle with the world. Mr. Decker was born in Clay County, Ind., April 29, 1843. His father, Abner Decker, of Ten- nessee, emigrated to Illinois when a young man, and located in Woodford County during its early settlement and while the Indians still lingered there. He soon afterward went down into Ken- tucky, where he was married, then returned to Illi- nois with his bride, and after a short time spent in Woodford County, removed to Indiana. He was of a restless disposition, fond of change, and de- lighted to wander over long and uninhabited stretches of country, hunting and fishing, and wher- ever he went always carried with him his cooking utensils, so that he could camp out wherever night overtook him. After sojourning a time in Indiana with his young wife, they returned to Woodford County, 111., where he purchased a tract of land, and commenced its improvement. In 1852 Mr. Decker crossed the Mississippi into Webster County, Iowa, being probably one of the first white men to venture into that wild region, when it was inhabited solely by the Indians, wolves, buffalo and deer. The elder Decker remained there for a period of nine years, after which he returned to Illinois, whence in about 1868 he removed to Missouri, and lived in different parts of that State for a few years following. From there he went into Nebraska, remaining there a few years. These various removals were made overland with teams, usually accompanied with his family, ancj often- times they traveled days and nights without seeing the face of a white man and camped in the wilder- ness, which echoed with the howling of wolves, the screaming of owls and other sounds, which to denizens of the cities of to-day would be appalling. The last stopping-place of Abner Decker was in Missouri, where he yet lives. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Miss Betsy Hickman, who was born in Ken- tuckv. Of her marriage with Abner Decker there were born seven children. Our subject was nine years old when the family went into Iowa, which was then a State of six years old. Nine years later they returned to Illinois. Joseph was then eighteen years of age, and contracted to purchase his time of his father, working out by the month to earn the money for this purpose. In due time he had the desired sum, $159, which he paid over to his par- ent. After this he saved his earnings until he had the snug sum of $500, which he loaned and lost. Amid these discouragements, however, our sub- ject still preserved the courageous and energetic dis- position that had been born within him, and worked steadily on, doing the best he could to recover his loss. He also determined to see the country west of the Mississippi, and visited parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, returning to Wood- ford County, 111., in 1867. Two years later he came to East Bend Township, and having again saved some money, purchased forty acres of land for $7.25 per acre, which is included in his present homestead. During the same year he purchased forty acres adjoining, on time, and prepared to permanently locate. He still worked by the month for three years following, in the meantime leasing his land, and in this manner paid for the balance. Mr. Decker was married rather late in life, Dec. 18, 1880, to Miss Jennie Osborn, a native of Fouu- I 520 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. tain County, Ind., whose birth took place Aui>. 2, 1849. Her father, Richard Osborn, was also born in Fountain County, to which his parents had moved from Kentucky, in the pioneer days. Mr. Osbovn, in 1853, became a resident of Vermilion County, 111., where his death took place three 3'ears later. The mother then returned to Indiana, and died Feb. 20, 1876. Mrs. Decker came to Illinois in 1877, and has been a resident of the State since that time. She was first married in Indiana, in 1876, to Henry Howard, by whom she became the mother of one child, Henry C. Of her union with Mr. Decker there are three children Herschel A., Ethel and Mertlc. A lithographic view of Mr. Decker's residence is presented on another page. OLOMON PLAUT, President of the First National Bank of Homer, has been a resi- dent of this locality for twenty years, and during that time has fully established him- self in the confidence and esteem of the people. He traces his ancestry back a hundred years or more, and finds the record to have been eminently worthy and of importance in social and financial circles. He is descended from an old Prussian family, and was himself born in the Province of Hesse-Cassel, in that Kingdom, on the 28th of March, 1838. He is the son of Anselm and Carrie (Haas) Plaut, na- tives of the same Province, where they spent their entire lives, and where the father died in 1873, when about eighty-two years of age, having been born in 1791. The wife and mother lived to be sixty -five years old, her death occurring in 1865. The children of the household, eight in number, were Simon, Adeline, Emannel, Amelia, Jeanette, ' Betty, Moses and Solomon. The subject of this history was placed in school at an early age, where he obtained a good educa- tion in his native language, and when sixteen years old, in laying his plans for the future, decided to emigrate to the New World. He started on the voyage across the Atlantic alone, and six weeks later landed in New York City, the trip being made on a sailing-vessel. Two sisters had already pre- ceded him to this country, and located at Ft. Wayne, Ind. He joined them soon afterward, and employed himself at whatever he could find to do for the five years following, in the meantime hav- ing saved of his modest earnings whatever he could. With a cash capital of about $500 he then proceeded to Oxford, Ind., where he purchased a stock of general merchandise, and remained in trade two and one-half years. Thence he removed to Milford, 111., and carried on the same business for three and one-half years, when he sold out and made his first trip to this county, establishing him- self in the business which had formerly engaged his attention, and being thus occupied eight and one- half years. In the meantime he had built up a good trade, and by his straight business methods numbered among his patrons the best people of this vicinity. From the proceeds of his well-conducted business, and the co-operation of other responsible parties, he established a private bank, in 1875, which eight years later was incorporated as a Na- tional Bank. Of this our subject is President, and there are four Directors. After Mr. Plant had formed the basis of a future home and competency, and felt that he could provide suitably for the needs of a family, he selected for the sharer of his life and fortunes Miss Sarah Solo- mon, with whom he was united in marriage on tho 18th of May, 1862. Mrs. Plaut is a native of Montreal, Canada, born Jan. 10, 1842, and the daughter of Philip and Betty (Brown) Solomon, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of what is now the Province of Alsace-Lorraine. Her father was born in 1798. After emigrating to this country he located at Lafayette, Ind., where he en- gaged in the grocery trade, and departed this life in 1865. The wife and mother, born in 1817, is still living in Indiana. The children of the house- hold were: Sarah, the wife of Mr. Plaut; Samuel, who married Miss Clara Slossman, of Remington, Ind.; Barbara, who died in Colorado. Feb. 3, 1886, and Moses, who married Miss Jessie Shaw, of Rem- ington,. Ind. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Plant are Michael, Carrie, Adolph, Samuel, Mamie, Ade- line, Emma and Esther. The latter died when nearly four years old, Nov. 7, 1884. After being invested with the rights of an Amer- ican citizen, Mr. Plaut identified himself with the RESIOENCEOF W? H. WILLIAMS^ SEC.IG .STANTON TOWNSHIP RESIDENCE OF I. W. HUMRICHHOUSE, SEC. 29., HOMER TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCE OFTHOS.W. GIDDINGS.SEC. 10., LUDUOW TOWNSHIP. LIBRARY CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 523 Republican party, the principles of which he has always heartily supported. In religious matters he adheres to the faith of his forefathers. Socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Milford Lodge No. IG'J. and having occupied all of the Chairs therein He is also a member of the Chapter and Council of the same order. He identified himself with the I. O. O. F., and is now a member of Oxford Lodge, in Indiana. In addition to his real-estate interests in Homer Village, Mr. Plant is proprietor of 400 acres of line farming land; including 1(!0 acres in Vermillion County, Ind., and two farms in Champaign Coun- ty, this State. He also has city property in Dan- ville, 111. His fine residence in Homer forms one of the attractions of the village, and is finished and furnished in accordance with the cultivated tastes and abundant means of its proprietor. He has proved himself no unimportant factor in assisting to build up the town, his own industry and enter- prise furnishing an example which others have fol- lowed with good results. He occupies a place among its leading men, to whose energy and ability the community is indebted for its present status among the prosperous towns of the county. ILLIAM ELLIOTT, a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Homer Village, and who the greater part of his life has been engaged in farming pursuits, is now practi- cally retired from active labor and is spending his declining years in the ease and comfort which he has justly earned by a life of industry, and a course marked by uprightness and the highest moral principles. Mr. Elliott may properly be ranked among the pioneer settlers of the Prairie State, as he came to Vermilion County with his parents when a child six years of age, in 1822. The journey was made overland with teams, and they boarded and lodged after the manner of the travelers of those days, carrying their provisions with them, cook- ing by the wayside, and sleeping in their wagons at night. Our subject remembers, even to this day, many interesting incidents of that time, and the contrast between the face of the country sixty years ago and its appearance at the present. The un- broken prairie, with its waving grass, and the in- termediate forests through which deer and other wild animals roamed with freedom, have now given place to cultivated fields and beautiful homesteads, and had he not seen the gradual march of progress and civilization, thus becoming accustomed to the change, the transformation would se'em like a dream. In common with other honored pioneers of that period, he has watched the progress of his adopted State with the deepest interest and rejoiced at every evidence of her prosperity. William Elliott was born in Cumberland County, Ky., July 23, 181G. His parents, Asa and Elizabeth (Simpson) Elliott, were natives of West Virginia, and of Scottish ancestry. Asa Elliott was born Feb. 27, 17'J1|; and lived to be seventy-two years of age, departing this Wfe on the old homestead, probably tn'l : 8i33. The mother wis born in 17%, and passed away the year previous to the death of her husband. Both were devout members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and held in much esteem wherever known. The father of our subject was Republican in politics and was among the first to identity him- self with the Masonic fraternity, of whose principles he remained a lifelong admirer. The children of the family were named respectively, William, John, Mary, Andrew, Amanda, Elizabeth, Nancy, Joseph and Asa. Of these five are living, the youngest son being a practicing physician in Ozark County, Mo. William Elliott accompanied his parents from his native State to Indiana in 1817, when but an infant. They located in Union County, where they lived five years, removing thence in April, 1 822, to Ver- milion County, this State. The father purchased Government land near Butler's Point, upon which he operated until about 1844, then removed with his family to Missouri, where the parents spent the last years of their lives. Their children were scat- tered in various parts of the West. William, of our sketch, crossed eastward over the Father of Waters in 1 827, and located in Homer Township, of which he has since remained a resident. He was first married to Miss Margaret Lander, of Old Homer, in 1840. This lady died eight years later. The second wife of Mr. Elliott was formerly Miss Risinger, a native of Pennsylvania, and de- t 524 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. parted this life in 18(>3, leaving three children, all now living: Asa O. married Miss Myra Whitlock; William .1. married Miss Dollie Coffeen, and Agnes B. became the wife of O. A. Tate, of Kankakee, 111. The third and last marriage of Mr. Elliott took place in 1870, Mrs. Susan (Daughcrty) Leonard be- coming his wife. Mrs. Elliott departed this life at the home of her husband in August, 1876. William .1. Elliott, the youngest son of our sub- ject, married Miss Helen D. Coffeen, Oct. 4, 1883. This lady was born Dec. 7, 1859, in Homer, 111., and is the daughter of Michael and Helen (Lyons) Coffeen, natives of New England and pioneers of Champaign County. Both are now deceased. They were members of the Presbyterian Church and es- tablished a good homestead in Homer Township, which became the resort of the best people of the county. Mr. and Mrs. William ,1. Elliott have no children. Mr. E. is a man of fine business abilities, being connected with the Coffeen Mill and Elevator Company at Homer. He is still a young man, hav- ing been born May 27, 1857, and bids fair to be- come one of the prominent factors of the business and industrial community. William Elliott, following in the footsteps of his honored father, is also connected with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Lodge No. 199, in Homer. He uniformly casts his vote with the Re- publican party. JOSEPH RULON WALKER. The early home of this gentleman was near Wilming- ton, the county seat of Clinton County, Ohio, where he was born on his father's farm, March 13, 1830. He comes of substantial Penn- S3'lvania stock, his grandfather, Robert Walker, having been a native of the Keystone State, where he married Miss Nancy Hultz, and reared a family of four sons and four daughters. Ttye Hultz fam- ily was of German origin, and constituted one of the reliable branches of the ancestry in that section. Among their sons was Robert, Jr., who was born in Kentucky, to which State his parents had removed before the Indians had vacated the Blue Grass re- gions. There he lived until sixteen years of age, and then removed with his parents to Clinton County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and mar- ried Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Ruth (VanMeter) Rulon. The Rulons were of Scotch and German ancestry, and were among the earliest settlers of Kentucky. After his marriage Robert Walker settled with his bride upon a small farm in Clinton County, Ohio' where they lived in a modest way until the spring of 1853. They then removed to Wells County i Ind., locating again upon a farm, where the mother died in 1859, and the father twenty years later, in 1879. Of their twelve children, ten lived to be- come men and women grown, and all but two were married. One son served as a soldier in the Union army, and was killed in battle. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm in Clinton County, Ohio, and received a com- mon-school education. When twenty-four years- of age he was married, Sept. 3, 1854, to Miss Cath- erine, daughter of John and Hannah Young, and a native of Clinton County. Her father was born in Delaware, in 1809, and departed this life in Clinton County, Ohio, in 18C3. The mother was formerly Miss Hannah Newcomb, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Walker is the second of a family of twelve chil- dren, and remained with her parents until her mar- riage, becoming thoroughly acquainted with house- hold duties, and assisting in the care of the large family. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. W. located on a farm in Wells County, Ind., where they con- tinued until the fall of 1872, and then came to this county. Our subject rented a farm for one year, and then purchased his present homestead, which lies on section 1, St. Joseph Township, and contains 120 acres of good land. He has always followed farming, and has no desire for any other than a country life. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Walker include four sons and two daughters, named respectively Robert Y., John F., Ezra C., Nathan L., Hannah E., who married Robert Peters, of Vermilion County, and Mary C., the wife of Norman Hoyt, of St. Jo- seph Township. After becoming a resident of In- diana Mr. Walker was appointed Postmaster at Lib- erty Center, and also ofliciated as School Director and Pathmaster. Both he and his wife are mem- r CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 525 bers of the Christian Church at St. Joseph. Mr. Walker cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, and is a true-blue Republican in every sense of the word. >;ILLIAM II. MORGAN, one of the pioneer grain dealers of Tolono, established him- self in business there twenty years ago. He is a gentleman of remarkable energy and in- dustry, and has been an important factor in the business interests of this town since coming here. He emigrated from his native State of Kentucky in 1857, when a young man twenty-one years of age, having been born in Fleming County, Dec. 28, 1835. To his grain transactions he has also added live stock and coal, in each department of which he has been uniformly successful. To such men as Mr. Morgan is Champaign County indebted for its re- markable development and progress, and for the position which it holds in the great West, and the valley watered by the Mississippi. Our subject is the son of Woodson and Elizabeth (Bruce) Morgan, also natives of Kentucky, who descended from excellent Scottish ancestry. The wife and mother died in her native State in 1851, leaving seven children, of whom William H. was the eldest. John, and Ellen, the wife of John F. Fleming, still remain in Kentucky; George B. when a young man located in Bradford, Pa., where he now resides; Madison died when twenty-three years of age; Anna, Mrs. A. H. Deman, is a resident of Leadville, Col., and Monroe, of Greenwood Coun- ty, Kan. The father subsequently married Mrs. Amanda Dunlap. They came to Illinois in 1857, and located on a farm in Crittenden Township, this count}', where they remained until the fall of 1884, in which year they took up their abode in Tolono, where they now reside, the father having arrived at the advanced age of eighty-three years. There were no children of the second marriage. Our subject was reared to fanning pursuits and received a common-school education. He came with his father to Illinois and remained with the family until reaching manhood. In 1869 he re- turned to his old home in Fleming County, Ky., and was there married to Miss Lucia P. Lowry, a native of that county, and born in 1842. Mrs. M. is the daughter of Dr. George Grant Lowry, who was a prominent physician of Fleming County. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have one child only, a daugh- ter, Florence. They occupy a pleasant and com- fortable home in Tolono. and Mr. Morgan still re- tains possession of his farm in Tolono Township, which includes 200 acres, and is supplied with all needful buildings. He has had charge of the ele- vator at Tolono for many years and has transacted a large amount of business for outside parties. This elevator was constructed by Adams Brothers of Providence, R. I., and is owned by William Red- bed, of Tolono. Mr. M's. live-stock and coal trade is a private enterprise in which he alone is in- terested. Mr. Morgan has always voted the Democratic ticket, and has occupied the various offices of his township and village. He has at all times taken a warm interest in the welfare of his community, and is a man whose opinions are sought and whose judgment can be relied upon. V 548 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. I ' t bery. One died in infancy unnamed. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Porter are Mary E., Edwin P., Robert L., Bertha E., Cora L., Luther A., Ar- thur C., Annie L. and Fred G. Mr. Porter came to this State with his parents in 1859, and in 1865 located near where he now lives. He took possession of his present home in 1872. During a period of nearly thirty years our subject has watched with interest the rapid growth of the Prairie State, and although not the hero perhaps of any remarkable events, has pursued the even tenor of his way as an honest man and a good citizen, performing as he had opportunity those duties tend- ing to the encouragement of morality and religion. Both our subject and his wife are connected with the Baptist Church, and Mr. P. has served as School Director and Postmaster, casting his political in- fluence with the Republican party. THOMAS HARMESON. The subject of this biography, a representative farmer of Ogden Township, has a fine estate of SCO acres of land, with a handsome residence and other suita- ble buildings on section 21, besides seventeen acres of timber. The balance is laid out in pasture and grain fields which, under the careful supervision of the proprietor, who superintends their care and cul- tivation, present a beautiful picture during the summer season of peaceful country life, where plenty reigns and where thrift and intelligence are the distinctive features. Mr. Ilarmeson became a resident of the Prairie State in 1852, locating at once upon the land in- cluded in his present homestead. He is a native of Marion County, Ohio, born April 10, 1829, and the son of William and Elizabeth (Farnsworth) Harme- son, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. William Harmeson was born in 1802, and followed farming as an occupation, and during the latter years of his life made his home in Homer Township, this county, where he rested from his earthly labors in 1870. He was Democratic in politics, and religiously a hard-shell Baptist. The mother was born in 1811, and died twenty years before the death of her husband, in 1856. She was a member of the German-Baptist Church, and a lady of strong character, who impressed upon her children the strictest moral principles, and a rigid honesty and integrity, which formed the basis of their character in after life. The household was completed by the birth of twelve children, all, with one exception, living to mature years. They were named respectively, Isaiah, John, Thomas, Robert, William, Nancy, Elizabeth, Sarah ,T., Esther A., Al- vira, Washington M., and one who died in infancy. The life of young Harmesou began on the farm, and he has continued in the midst of rural scenes since his first introduction to the busy world. He remained under the home roof until after reaching his majority, occupied with his father and brothers in sowing and reaping, and the varied employments incident to life upon the farm. On the 10th of April, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Perkins, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents, in Madison County, Ind., where Mrs. H. was born Oct. 21, 1832. She was the daughter of George and Agnes (Allen) Per- kins, who spent the greater part of their lives in Indiana. The mother died in 1885, in Clark Coun- ty, 111., where the father is still living, being sev- enty-nine years of age, and making his home with his son Henry. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Harmeson, twelve in number, were Melissa, Ma- tilda, Sarah Ann, Jane, John, Burke, Henry, Frank, Lucinda, Lydia, Susan and Adam. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ilarmeson went to housekeeping on a farm in Indiana, where our sub- ject attended to the outdoor work, and the wife faithfully performed her share inside. In due time there came a third member into the family, who was followed by twelve more, and to whom were given the names of William P., Albert F., George W., John A., Agnes S., Charles C., Robert L., Cynthia A., Celia A., Mary E., Fannie, Noah and Lydia. Agnes S., Charles C. and Mary E. are deceased. The eldest son, William, is married and has three children; his wife was formerly Miss Mary Shreeves; Albert married Miss Mary E. Gordon, and they became the parents of one child, who died young; George W. married Miss Eflie 11. Biggs. In addition to the ordinary employments of mixed husbandry Mr. Harmeson has of late years LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSiTY OF ILLINOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 551 given considerable attention to the raising of fine stock. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and in his religious tendencies adheres to the German-Baptist doctrines. Mrs. Harmeson died of quick consumption on the 30th of August, 1886. She was a lady of much personal worth, and had been connected with the German-Baptist Church for a period of sixteen years. . ATIIEAV E. STAMEY. In Hensley Town- ship, located on section 36, the farm ol our subject invariably attracts the atten- tion of the passer-by as the home of peace and plenty, whose foundations were laid in the pio- neer days, and whose inmates are now surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of modern life. The subject of this history learned in early years those habits of industry and economy which have proved the success of his later life. He commenced in a modest way to do for himself, and after years of persevering labor, now finds himself the owner of 825 acres of valuable land, furnished with a handsome and substantial set of farm buildings, and all the appliances required by the intelligent and progressive modern agricultur- ist. This, of course, has involved an outlay of thousands of dollars, but the result has fully justi- fied the expenditure. The farm of Mr. Stamey is acknowledged by all to be one of the most attract- ive spots in this section, and its proprietor is held in the highest respect for his excellent qualities as a citizen and a business man. To such men as he is this county indebted for the position which she now holds in one of the wealthiest States in the Union. He has, by his own enterprise and energ}', encouraged those elements in others, and the whole working together, have brought about the result which we see all over this beautiful stretch of country. Mr. Stamey was born in what is now Somer Township, this county, Nov. 16, 1835. His father, Elias Stamey, a native of North Carolina, was of German and Irish ancestry. The latter grew to manhood in his native State, of which he remained a resident until 1832. In that year, while still a single man, he started for the West overland on horseback, and landed in this county. Liking the outlook, which gave evidence of good things for the future if the soil were properly cultivated and the country settled up by a good class of people, he concluded to tarry. Not long afterward he was united in marriage with Miss Drusilla, daugh- ter of Mathew E. Busey, also one of the pioneers of the county. The young couple lived for a time in Somer Township, whence they removed to Ur- bana Township, settling upon a tract of land which the father of Mrs. Stamey had given them, and where the death of Elias Stamey occurred, in 1845. His family included four children, namely, Mathew E. of our sketch; Daniel W., who is now a resident of Rantonl Township; James W., on the old home- stead, and John C. in Rantoul. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Stamey kept her family to- gether until they were old enough to provide for themselves. She still resides at the old homestead, respected by all who know her. The subject of our sketch was three years old when his parents became residents of Urbana Town- ship. His early education was conducted in the pioneer log school-house, with its puncheon floor and slabs for seats and writing-desks, with its huge fireplace, mud and stick chimney, and the excuse for a window, which was formed by cutting out one log. This building stood on the land of Grand- father Busey, and the system of education was con- ducted by a teacher who corresponded with all the other appliances, in point of erudition at least. Afterward our subject attended school a part of the time at Urbana, and being ambitious to learn, secured a very good education for those days. He made his home with his mother until his marriage. After reaching his majority, she presented him with a tract of land in Hensley Township, which he cultivated and improved, and which constitutes a part of his present homestead. After his mar- riage he located on this place, which he has now brought to a fine state of cultivation, and raises the best crops in this section. His stock is all of good breeds, and the farm machinery is of the most modern and improved style. The marriage of Mr. Stanley took place in the spring of 1865, the lady of his choice being Miss I 552 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. i- Ida O. Gray, who was born in Pennsylvania. Of this union there was one child, a son, named Will- iam. Mrs. Ida O. Stamey departed this life at the home of her husband in January, 1872. Mr. Stamey was the second time married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary, the daughter of Levi and Jane Broshair, born in Indiana Qct. 26, 1851. Of this union there have been born three children Frank, Belle and Daisy. Formerly Mr. Stamey voted with the Demo- cratic party, but considers that he has had reason to change his views, and is now a stanch adherent of Republicanism. Mrs. Stamey is a lady who is greatly respected in her community, and a worthy member of the Congregational Church. In addi- tion to his property interests in this State, Mr. Stamey owns 4,500 acres of land in Louisiana and 280 acres in Florida. The portrait of Mr. Stamey, given on a contig- uous page, occupies its rightful place among the pictured lineaments of the honored men by whose labors the wilderness has been made to blossom as the rose, and under whose management a once wild stretch of prairie has been transformed into the " Garden State." WILLIAM M. WAY, retired capitalist, has been a resident of this county since 1861, and has assisted materially in building up its agricultural and industrial interests. His life has been one of great activity, and as the result of many years energetically engaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits, he has become the pos- sessor of a handsome competency. At the same time, by his conscientious and upright methods, he has won for himself the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Way is a native of South Carolina, and was born in Marlboro County, Jan. 18, 1810. He is the son of Paul W. and Achsah (Moorman) Way, who were natives of that State. In 1815 Paul Way secured a tract of land on White River, Ind., which lay in what was called the Twelve-Mile Purchase, where he erected a log cabin, and in 1816 removed there with his family. The trip was made overland, and occupied three months. Their outfit consisted of a large Virginia wagon and three span of horses. They saw plenty of Indians along the route, a part of which lay through the towns scattered along the White River. Mr. Way was a man of great energy and business ability, and his talents were at once recognized by the pioneer set- tlers. He had been fairly educated, and was often employed as a surveyor in the new country, among his labors being the survey of the first State road which ran from Greenfield, Ohio, to Indianapolis, Ind., and which was the second laid off by the State. His land, which was 320 acres in extent, was mostly heavy timber. Of this he cleared eighty acres, and lived there until his removal to Winchester, Ind., where he spent the remaining years of his life. In this latter place he was em- ployed a? one of the County Agents for surveying, laying out lots and making deeds. He also held the offices of Postmaster, and Justice of the Peace for many years. The parental household included four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. Young Way began life for himself, first as clerk in a store at Winchester, and remained a resident of that vicinity until the spring of 1861. He in- herited, in a marked degree, the business talents of his father, and through his own exertions had ob- tained a useful fund of information in regard to general business matters. He began the accumula- tion of land, and as years passed on, dealt largely in live-stock. In 1847 he was appointed by the State Legislature, Director, Solicitor and Collector of the building of the Indianapolis Railroad, which ran from that city to Bellefontaine, Ohio. Prior to becoming a resident of this county he had pur- chased 268 acres of land in Homer Township. This he afterward traded for a farm of 217 acres in Vermilion County. He also bought other lands, and in 1853 was the owner of 2,000 acres near Des Moines, Iowa. He also interested himself in city property, and many of the buildings of Champaign, with other improvements which he brought about, stand as silent witnesses of his enterprise and gen- erosity. He was one of the original stockholders and organizers of the First National Bank of Cham- RESIDENCE OF A .W, 5TR N G , SEC . 17. 5T , JOSEPH TP RESrDETNCE OF E . 5 . Fl5 H ER , 5 EC . 17, (T-19 - N-) , OBDEN T P. RESIDENCE OF J.J.MUMM,5 EC. 20, SIDNEY TP. I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 553 I paign, and there are few worth}' enterprises which he has not encouraged by his means and influence. The marriage of William M. Way and Miss Phebe Wright was celebrated in Winchester, Ind., in 1830. Mrs. W. was the daughter of Hon, J. B. and Elizabeth (Stephens) Wright, natives respect- ively of Virginia and Pennsylvania. In 1816 they removed to Indiana and purchased a tract of land, a part of which is now occupied by the little city of Winchester. Of this Mr. Wright contributed fifty acres for the purpose of securing Winchester as the county seat of Randolph County. He also opened up a fine farm, and became a citizen of note in that locality. He was the first Representative of Ran- dolph County to the State Legislature, in which he served three terms, and was afterward elected County Treasurer. He removed from Indiana to Illinois in 1830, first locating in Vermilion County, whence he afterward came to this county, and died in 1869. Of their nine children four are now living, namely, Mrs. William Way, Hon. James S., Re- becca, Mrs. Butler, and Mrs. Swearingen. Mr. Way uniformly casts his vote in support of Republican principles. The residence of our sub- ject and his amiable wife is pleasantly located on East Clark street, Champaign, and they enjoy the society of the best people of the city. A fine lithographic portrait of Mr. Way is pre- sented as a proper accompaniment of this brief outline of his life. Vw7 AMES KARR, JR., is prosperously engaged with his partner, Robert Johnston, in the grain and stock business at Seymour, which they established in 1882. He has been a resident of Champaign County since two years of age, where he pursued his primary studies, which were completed in the University at Valparaiso, Ind. He was attentive to his books, and after com- pleting his university course employed his even- ings in study, and afterward taught school seven . years in Ford and Champaign Counties. Our subject is the son of James and Esther Karr. His mother was formerly the widow of George Johnston, and both parents were born in Ireland, where their marriage also took place. They soon afterward emigrated to America, and the mother died near Mahomet, this county, in about 1863. James Karr, Sr., is still living, and a resi- dent of Colfax Township. James Karr, Jr., was married at Bondville, 111., July 22, 1885, to Miss Laura Cade, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of .Simon and Sarah A. (Ashcroft) Cade, the former a native of England, and the latter of America. Their family consisted of seven children Ezra, Albert, Ella, Laura, Frank, Charles and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. Karr have but one child, Ella. Our subject affiliates with the Repub- lican party, and socially is a member of Lodge No. 597, I. O. O. F. ILES SUNDERL AND. The subject of the following biography is one of the finest representatives of a class of foreign-born citizens, who, in years gone by, brought the thrift and energy, which was their only heri- tage in their native land, to this country with its great possibilities, and have accomplished the best results in their application under the influence of American institutions. Mr. Sunderland is a native of Wexford County, Ireland, born in 1837, and spent his early j'ears in the land which gave him birth. His father died when he was a lad six years old, and with the exception of the limited time spent in school, he was principally engaged in as- sisting his widowed mother on their farm. There were six children in the parental family, namely, John, Margaret, Ann, Miles, Thomas and James. When our subject became of age, being deeply desirous of bettering his condition, and as a possible result, being of some service to his mother's family, he left them in charge of an elder brother, and setting sail at Liverpool started for the land which promised so much to the enterprising emi- grant. The voyage was made in a sailing-vessel, and after nine weeks spent on the ocean, he landed in New York City on the 4th of April, 185G. From there he proceeded directly westward to Aurora, 111., and after arriving found he had a cash capital of $5 with which to commence life in the I - . k 554 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 New World. His frank, open countenance, and his evident energy and. industry soon procured him a situation, and he engaged with the C., B. r. Henry and Eliza Conkling, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Ohio. Mrs. C. be- fore her marriage to the father of our subject was the widow of L. A. Sampson. The parental family included five children Henry O., Ed- gar G. of our sketch, Frank W., William A. and Belinda C. The subject of this history spent his childhood and youth in his native village, pursuing his stud- ies in the common schools, and afterward attended Wesleyan University at Blooraington. When his school days were over he learned to operate the telegraph and obtained a position with the I. B. & W. R. R. Co., at Hallsville, in De Witt County, where he was employed several months. He came to Seymour in June, 1876, and entered the employ of the I. B. & W. R. R. Co., as operator and agent, in which position he continued for four or five years, when he embarked in mercantile business which he has since followed. He carries a complete stock of general merchandise and has built up a good patronage. He was appointed Postmaster during the administration of President Arthur and has held the office since that time. Mr. Conkling was married in Scott Township, this county, Oct. 17, 1878, to Miss O. J. Koogler, who is a native of this township, born Oct. 30, 1859. Her parents were Samuel and Lucy A. Koogler, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. C. have two children Frank and Helen. Our subject is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, and politically casts his vote with the Republican party. jJLLIS STONE, residing on his fine farm in- side the village limits of Tolono, and a na- tive of Gibson County, Ind., was born on the 9th of March, 1831. His father, Samuel M. Stone, whose birth took place in 1810, in Lincoln County, Ky., was but a year old when his father's family removed to Gibson County, Ind., where he was reared to manhood. The grandparents of our subject were Thomas and Dorcas Stone. The father of our subject departed this life upon the home- stead which he had established in Gibson County, at the age of seventy-two years. The mother is I .568 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 still living, and is now seventy-four years old. After arriving at years of manhood Samuel M. Stone was married to Miss Lucy W. Maddox, and they became the parents of twelve children, all liv- ing in Gibson County, with the exception of New- ton, Willis, of our sketch, and Thomas. The latter is a resident of this county. Sept. 26, 1882, the parents with their twelve children were photo- graphed in one group, and make a picture which will be preserved by their descendants probably for generations to come. Of this family, Willis, of our sketch, is the oldest. The others are Mary J., the wife of James Crow; Margaret, who married Rev. William Clark; Henry; Nancy, Mrs. James Spore; Thomas; Ellen, Mrs. James Burke; Eliza- beth, the wife of James Pruitt; Newton; Martha, Mrs. William Gordon; Dorcas, Mrs. Thomas Spore, and George C. Newton resides in Southern Illi- nois, and Henry in Posey County. Ind. Willis Stone spent his childhood and youth on his father's farm and pursued his studies in the common schools. After reaching manhood, in 1852, he came to Illinois and purchased a tract of land in Menard County, which he cultivated until 1865. During that year he became a resident of Cham- paign County, and purchased eighty-one acres of land which now lies within the village limits of Tolono. He has proved himself a valuable addi- tion to his community and enjoys the confidence of his fellow-citi-zens. He has been entrusted with various offices in the township, serving as Assessor one term and Town Trustee for a period of nine years. He has always been greatly interested in the establishment and maintenance of schools and taken pleasure in noting the advancement morally and intellectually of his county and township. Al- though a supporter of Democratic principles, in casting his vote he does not confine himself to part3 - candidates but aims to assist in placing in office the men best qualified to serve the interests of the community. The temperance movement has in him a firm advocate and friend, and in religious matters he leans to the doctrines of the Baptist de- nomination. During his residence in Menard County Mr. Stone became acquainted with his future wife, Miss Margaret Baker, a native of Scott County, Ind., to whom he was married in 1854, at the residence of her parents in Menard Count3 r . Mrs. Stone is the daughter of John and Martha (Estill) Baker, and was born Sept. 30, 1831. Her parents were natives of Kentucky and removed from the Blue Grass regions to Menard County, III., in the pioneer days. There they spent the remainder of their lives and closed their eyes finally upon the scenes of earth. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stone resulted in the birth of five children John B. ; Eva, the wife of Charles D. [Merry ; Mary ; Lucy, Mrs. John Pettit ; Anna and Edith. Thefamil}' residence is pleasantly located in the village of Tolono, and its inmates enjoy the society of the best people in that locality. ILLIAM R. HA YARD, a worthy represent- ative of the farming interests of Homer Township, cultivates 170 acres of land on section 32, which is finely stocked with graded Short-horn cattle, Norman and Clyde horses, and large numbers of Poland-China hogs. He has a fine farm residence which, with the substantial barn and adjacent ont-buildings. is located on a gentle rise of ground, and forms a handsome picture with its background of grain fields and pasture lands. The birth of our subject took place on the other side of the Atlantic, in the southern part of Wales, March 25, 1829. At an early age he left his fa- ther's farm, and for three years was employed in a coal office not far away. He subsequently, how- ever, returned to the homestead, and in 1 856 set sail for America. In the meantime he had been married, and was accompanied to the New World by his wife. Upon landing in New York he had but $100 in cash, and proceeding directly west- ward located on a tract of land in Vermilion Coun- ty, 111. His industry soon gained him the respect of his neighbors, and in due time he found himself on the road to prosperity, arid was enabled to be- come the possessor of real estate, his first purchase consisting of eighty acres on section 32, Homer Township. He has steadily advanced financially and in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, becoming prominently identified witli local affairs. He held the office of Township Commissioner for six y ears, "as ' .' ."., '__' ... - - . .-.-...-"- .'. 1 -. -- . -'--._" ^ - vr'_ ^' '-"-'.- '-."' '^-" .' -''-^ _ . -- - "--'..'-- -_"." ---.-'i!--' - ".--.- ",.'- .. /" '. ' ' RE5IDENCEOF A . G . P O RT E R F I E L D , 5 EC . 9 , RAYM ON D TP. RESIDENCE OF W*. WH IT E , 5E C . 31 , ST. JOSE P H TOWNSHIP '- - - -' ' RESIDENCE OF AQUILLA PA LM E R , 5EC5 . 18 &19,(-R-I4-W^, HOMER T P . UBRMff OF THE UK; ;;/ (,? ILLINOIS . CHAMPAION COUNTY. 571 anil has been School Director several terms. Both he and Mrs. H. are members of the Christian Church, with which they became connected in 1863. After becoming a naturalized citizen Mr. Ha- vard identified himself with the Republican party, of which he has remained a loyal adherent since that time. Mrs. Havard, formerly Miss Rachel Jones, was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, July 27, 1828. She is the daughter of Seth Jones, who spent his entire life in his native Wales. The mother died of heart disease many years ago, leav- ing five children, viz., Mary, John, Rachel, Sarah and Seth. Enos died in Vermilion County many years ago. Miss Jones became the wife of our subject April 27, 1856, their marriage taking place in Monmouthshire, Wales. The union of Mr and Mrs. Havard resulted in the birth of eight children, namely, John, who died at Pike's Peak in 1881 : Sarah A., the wife of M. F. Colwell; Seth, deceased; Mary, Elon, Albert, Jennie and Oliver. L. KUDER was born Feb. 3, 1861, in Kerr Township, this county, in the house where his father still resides. He was the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children. (See sketch of Lewis Kuder.) Our subject remained at home acquiring all the experience and advantages for education which the country schools afforded, until the age of twenty-two. March 8, 1883, Mr. Kuder married Miss Julia J. Hagerman, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah S. (Maloney) Hagerman. She was the fourth in a family of eight children. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and the son of Samuel Hagerman, Sr. Her mother was a native of Ohio, the daughter of Whiting and Sarah Maloney. Mrs. Kuder was born Feb. 22, 1861, in Logan County, 111. Her father had removed to Illinois at a very early day and settled in Tazewell County, where he lived un- til his marriage, when he removed to Logan Coun- ty. He now resides in St. John, Stafford Co., Kan. Mr. Kuder is the owner of 120 acres of im- proved land on section 32, Kerr Township, where he is extensively engaged in farming and stock- raising. He gives special attention to graded cat- tle and Chester- White hogs. Mr. Kuder and wife are the parents of two children Maude R. and Lulu Pearl. He is a Republican, and has been Town Clerk for three years, but his own business affairs occupy his attention so exclusively that he has not taken an active interest in politics. W. MATHEWS. The journalistic pro- fession is of such a peculiar nature, so complicated in its literary and business channels, and withal one of the most diffi- cult in which to acquire success, that but few attain any eminence in it. Our State has developed some, however, who have acquired distinction in this line, and prominent among the number is M. W. Mathews, editor and proprietor of the Cham- paign County Herald. He came to Urbana in 1867 and for years took a prominent position in the legal, political and business circles of the county. In 1879 he purchased the Herald, which had only been called into existence two years previously. He had won distinction at the bar and on the stump and consequently much was expected of him in his new role as a journalist. His career has justified the expectations of his friends, for it has been a distinguished one, proving him to be a forcible and able writer and a business manager of rare ability. Mr. Mathews was born in Clark County, 111., March 1, 1846, and is the son of John R. and Mary (McNeil) Mathews, natives of Coshocton County, Ohio. John R. Mathews was born in 1820, and was the son of Alexander and Prudence (Laughlin) Mathews, who were descended from excellent Irish ancestry. He was reared to farming pursuits and served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in this State until 1852. He then took a trip across the plains to California, and re- mained two years employed in mining and black- smithing. In the meantime, on the 12th of August, 1854, the wife and mother died. Five years later the father of our subject removed to Wayne Coun- ty, Ind.-, where he followed blacksmithing until 1861. In August of that year, the Rebellion hav- fi 572 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ing assumed alarming proportions, he responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted as a private in Co. F, 36th Ind. Vol. Inf. He was only permitted to serve one year, however, being discharged on account of disability. Upon returning home he received a commission from Gov. Morton as re- cruiting officer, but we soon find him again going to the front. This time he enlisted in an Indiana battery with which he went to Harper's Ferry. Here he was discharged a second time on account of ill- health. He returned to Indiana, remaining a resi- dent there until 1864, when he came to this county and located upon a farm, engaging in agricultural pursuits, which he prosecuted until his death, which occurred Oct. 13,1884. The parental family in- cluded four children, one of whom is now de- ceased. Samuel A., the eldest, remained upon the farm until 1861. and at the age of seventeen years enlisted as a soldier in the 36th Indiana Infantry. He was promoted for bravery at the battle of Stone River. He died July 9, 1863, in the Field Hospital, in Tennessee, of disease contracted during his serv- ice. M. W. of our sketch was the second son ; Will- iam E., a stationary engineer, is a resident of Kut-. tawa, Ky. ; Louise H., Mrs. J. S. Little, is in Hills- boro County, Fla. The subject of this biography remained on the until 1860, and during the years following, when the country was in the throes of Civil War, he worked on a farm and attended school alter- nately. He completed his studies under the tutor- ship of Prof. John Cooper at the Dublin Academy. In this institution he afterward became assistant teacher. The day following the assassination of President Lincoln young Mathews started for Illi- nois, and taking up his abode in Philo, this county, . commenced teaching near what was known as Yan- j kee Ridge. While teaching he had improved his I leisure moments in the study of law, and two years i later, when he came to Urbana, he gave to it his more serious attention under the instruction of G. W. Gere, and was admitted to practice in August, 1867. Shortly afterward he became the partner of Mr. Gere, and they operated together for two years, after which Mr. Mathews continued alone. In 1873 he was appointed Master in Chancery, which position he held for nine years, when he re- I signed. lie was elected States Attorney in 1876, and served with ability for eight years. Since be- coming a resident of this county he has been closely identified with its business interests. He is a stockholder and Director in the First National Bank of Urbana, and owns the Herald Block, i'n which the bank and post-office are located. The es- tablishment of the Loan and Building Association was largely due to his enterprise and encouragement, and he is now its President. Politically Mr. Mathews affiliates with the Republican party, the principles of which he most sincerely and honestly upholds. Socially he is a member of the I. 0. O. F. and of the Independent Order of Mutual Aid, of Illinois. The marriage of M. W. Mathews and Miss Julia Foote took place in 1869 at the residence of the bride's parents in Urbana. Mrs. M. is a native of Ohio, and the daughter of William J. and Lucy M. (Alcott) Foote. Of this union there have been born two children Mae and Clyde. The residence of our subject is pleasantly located on Kim street, and Mr. Mathews and his family enjoy the friend- ship and confidence of the best people of this lo- cality. We take pleasure in presenting the portrait of Milton W. Mathews in this volume, as not only one of the representative citizens of the county, but as that of a leading and prominent journalist of the State. OBERT JOHNSTON, of the firm of Johnston K 9. Mr. J. is the son of George and Esther (Ervin) Johnston, natives of Ireland, where the father died. The mother afterward emigrated to America with her family, and departed this life four miles north of Seymour, this county, in about the year 1863. Our subject, during his earlier years worked on a farm in this county, and in about 1871 settled in what is now the village of Seymour, where he CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 573 has since lived. Later he engaged in the grain and stock business, and in July, 1882, formed a partnership with James Karr, with whom he has since conducted business profitably, and with a steadily increasing trade. They handle most of the grain which is brought to the market in Sey- mour. Mr. J. owns eighty acres of improved land, besides his village property. Mr. Johnston was married, in Mahomet, 111., to Miss Rachel A. Hume, who was born in Shelby Coun- ty, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1858. She is the daughter of John and Martha (Reed) Hume, the former of whom died in Juniata, Neb., while there on business. The mother still survives, and is a resident of Mahomet. There were seven children in the household, Mrs. J. being the fourth in order of birth. Her parents removed to Mahomet when she was quite young, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. J. have five children Nina, Maude, Jessie, Win- nie and Robert H. Our subject was Postmaster at Seymour for several years. Politically he is a Re- publican, and religiously a member in good stand- ing of the Methodist Church. FRANCIS M. YOUNG, of Scott Township, owns and occupies a good homestead on section 28. This comprises 240 acres of improved land, with a substantial set of frame buildings. Our subject came to this vicinity in the winter of 1867, and soon afterward located in Scott Township, of which he has been a resident for nearly twenty years. He is a native of Davis County, Ind., born Jan. 28, 1840, and the eighth child of Larkin and Elizabeth (Haun) Young. Larkin Young was born in Tennessee, and his wife, Elizabeth, in Kentucky. After their marriage they located on Kane Creek, at the head of the Blue Grass region, where they remained several years, then removed to Davis County, and after- ward to Greene County, Ind., where the father died. Mrs. Young departed this life in Henderson County, 111. The family circle included eleven children, six sons and five daughters. The subject of our sketch remained on the farm with his parents until twenty years of age. He then took a trip to the Northwestern Territory, Wash- ington, Idaho and Oregon, and in the latter State was engaged in mining, farming and freighting. He staid in that region six years, and then returning to Illinois located in Henderson County, whence he removed soon afterward to this county, where he has since lived. The marriage of Francis M. Young and Miss Sarah A. Perkins, of Indiana, took place in Davis County, that State, on the 3d of November, 1870. Of this union there were born seven children Eugene, Theortore,' Norah E., Etta, Jesse R., Delia A. and Grover C. Mr. Young is independent in politics, and has served in his township as School Director and Road Commissioner. where, with his wife and seven children, he lives in the enjoyment of a home of more than or- dinary comfort and surrounded by the good things of life. He has been a resident of this vicinity since 1849, in which year his parents removed by wagon from Terr Haute, Ind., to Sonier Township, this county. Our subject was born in the first mentioned place March 16, 1845, and is the son of Charles and Margaret Peck. The mother only lived nine years after the removal, and the father with his family afterward moved into Warren County, 111., occupying a farm there four years. In 1863 they came back to this county and located in Homer, where the}' remained until the spring of 1866. The father then took up his abode in Vermilion County, where his death occurred six months later. He was a native of New York State and all his life engaged in farming pursuits. The children of the parental family are recorded as follows: Marie, the eldest daughter, became the wife of James Julick, and is a resident of Urbana; Elizabeth, the wife of Peter Richter, lives in Urbana; William married Miss Mary Weaver, and they became the parents of two children, and they and their chil- dren have all passed to their long home; John mar- ried Miss Ann Kirby. and is a resident of Adair County, Iowa ; Ann, the wife of William Richter, is now deceased ; Sarah married Daniel Aholtz ; both are deceased, but their one child is living; Charles W., of our sketch, is the youngest of the family. When our subject first ventured out from under the home roof he did so for the purpose of enlist- ing as a soldier in the Union army. He was then but seventeen years and six mouths old, but was filled with patriotism, and nothing could prevent his entering the ranks. He enlisted in Co. G, 84th 111. Vol. Inf., was enrolled on the 16th of July. 1862, and after a creditable record received his honorable discharge on the 8th of June, 1865, when the war was practically ended. He had been promoted Corporal and was in a large number of the important battles of the war, including that of Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, the siege of Atlanta, and in various other minor engagements, of which he has preserved a long list and the dates thereof. He was remarkably fortunate, and al- though experiencing many hairbreadth escapes, was never wounded and never in the hospital. His regiment belonged to the 4th Corps of the 3d Brigade, and his company went out of service with only thirty of the original number enrolled. After retiring from the army Mr. Peck returned to Homer, 111., and on the 25th of December fol- lowing, fulfilled the pledges which he had made Miss Elizabeth E. Noyes, of Indiana, by making her his wedded wife. In less than two short years she passed from the scenes of earth, her death tak- ing place Dec. 4, 1867. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Nov. 8, 1870, was formerly Mrs. Mary A. McKinney, daughter of Simon and Sarah Helton, formerly of Bath County, Ky., and widow of M. W. McKinuey. This marriage took place in Cham- paign County, where they located and have since lived. The farm includes 120 acres of land and is i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. supplied with good buildings and everything neces- sary for conducting its operations in the most ap- proved manner. The father of Mrs. Peck departed this life Dec. 23, 1872, when fifty-seven years of age, and the mother four yeai-s later, on the I Oth of July, 1876, aged fifty-four. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and politically our subject is identified with the Republican party. The seven children of the household, four sons and three daughters, are all living and named as follows: Lizzie, Willie, Frank, Lillie, Albert and Charlie (twins) and Ivy. yiLLIAM WOOD, a successful young fanner of Philo Township, owns and operates a fine country estate of eighty acres with an abundance of choice fruits and the various other luxuries and improvements of a first-class modern farm. He comes from an excellent family, being the son of Oliver and Mary ( Winn) Wood, and was born in Edgar County, this State, May 25, 1857. His parents became residents of Edgar County, in the pioneer days, and until our subject was eight- een years of age, the time of his father was about equally divided between Edgar and Champaign Counties. Oliver Wood was trained to habits of industry by his excellent parents, and being naturally bright and ambitious, attained to more than the average in mental capacity and business ability. His first visit to this county occurred while the now nourish- ing cities of Champaign and Urbaua were mere hamlets. Before he was twenty years old he was attacked by the California gold fever, and in com- pany with a boy friend, Mr. Abe Ordell, of whom a sketch appears in another part of this work, joined a party en route for the Pacific slope. Upon reach- ing St. Joseph, Mo., they became involved in a dis- pute with one of the leaders of the company and they both returned to Champaign County. Oliver Wood for some time afterward was employed in a brickyard but never abandoned his idea of visiting California. In about 1852, he set out a second time and succeeded in reaching his destination. He en- tered the mines as a laborer, and soon afterward met with a terrible allliction by the premature ex- plosion of a blast, which destroyed his eyes. Of the man who operated this there was not even found a bone. Mr. Wood at this time had accumulated about $800 worth of gold dust which lie intrusted with a friend during his confinement of six weeks in the hospital. As soon as able he set out on his return home alone, with his gold and other baggage, via the water route. They had not proceeded far on the voyage when the ship was disabled and pronounced in sinking condition. Mr. Wood lashed himself to his trunk, and with his gold firmly secured around his body, leaped into the water and swam around until the vessel had been righted and was deemed safe enough to proceed with. Some of the crew then picked Mr. Wood out of the water, together with his effects, when he was entirely exhausted and nearly ready to sink. He returned to Edgar County, 111., where he engaged in merchandising, and a little later was married to the noble-hearted woman who was willing to take him with his afflic- tion. This lady, Mrs. Mary (Wiun) Hubbell, was born, reared and first married in Greenville, Ind. Mr. Hubbell died in Edgar County of cholera, to- gether with four of their six children. After the marriage of Mr. Wood with Mrs. Hubbell they united their efforts in the establishment of a home, in which they met with success and remained residents of Edgar County until 1867. In that year, with their new-born son, our subject, and the two chil- dren of Mrs. Wood by her former husband, they came to Philo Village, where Mr. Wood engaged in merchandising as before, and with the assistance of his family built up a good trade, although never re- covering the loss of his sight. In due time he pur- chased a tract of land on section 27, in Philo Town- ship, which became his permanent home, and upon which he brought about many improvements, in- cluding a comfortable dwelling and all necessary out-buildings. Here his death occurred April 18, 1 884, when he was fifty-two years old. Notwith- standing his affliction he was quite skillful in the use of tools, possessing more than ordinary mechani- cal genius. His kindness of heart secured for him a large circle of friends and acquaintances, by whom he was universally regretted when called from earth. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 581 He accepted cheerfully the final summons in the hope of a better life beyond the tomb. He died a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal I Church, with which lie had united in about 1 884. Mrs. Wood survived her husband only about one year, dying of consumption May 12,1885. She performed her duties nobly as a wife and mother, and her name is held in affectionate remembrance by all who knew her. William, the only son of Oliver and Mary W. Wood, and the subject of this history, was born in Edgar County, this State, May 25, 1857, and was ten years old when his parents became residents of Philo Township. He received his education in the common schools and never left his blind father while the latter was living. Like him he is pos- sessed of that social and genial temperament which renders him a favorite among his friends and ac- quaintances, and in his business dealings he is the soul of honor. Besides property in Urbana he owns the homestead, which at one time included the larg- est apple orchard in this county. Mr. Wood was married at his home in Philo Township to Miss Isabelle Roe, June 13, 1880, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Mr. Orr, of Philo. Mrs. Wood is a native of Missouri, and was born Feb. 3, 1859. She came when a chil'd with her parents to Illinois. They located in Douglas County, where her father, Hugh D. Roe, died in 1871. He was born and reared in Bath County, Ky., and there met and married Miss Ann E. Hop- kins, a native of his own county. They removed to Missouri soon afterward, whence they emigrated to Douglas County, 111., and where the mother is still living, having married again. Mrs. Wood after the death of her father, who was a farmer by occupation, earned her own living and was a young lady greatly respected wherever known. By her marriage with our subject she became the mother of three children Mary E., Ethel, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Wood, like his father before him, is a firm adherent of the Democratic party. Mrs. W. is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A view of the old Wood home- stead is quite essential in completing the review of the pioneers of Philo Township, and it will ac- cordingly be found on another page. Its honored founder has passed to his reward, but his son Will- iam will not suffer it to lose any of its intrinsic value, either for its connection with the past, or as the abiding-place of a modern and progressive citizen. ENES M. McKEE, a prominent and highly respected resident of Brown Township, be- came a resident of this county in 1868. He had, however, in 1855, purchased a tract of land in Newcomb Township, and began its improve- ment in 1861. He occupied this until 1869, then sold out and removed to Champaign, of which he was a resident a year and a half. At the expira- tion of this time he purchased a part of his present homestead on section 33, where, about four years ago, he put up a fine- residence which is said to be the best irf'the township, and of whose merits our readers can partially judge from the fine litho- graphic view presented on another page in connec- tion with this sketch, and is now the owner of 460 acres of laud. This is thoroughly drained with upward of 3,000 rods of tile, is all enclosed, and under a good state of cultivation. The farm in all its appointments presents a picture of the model country estate, superintended by a man of more than ordinary ability and of ample means. Our subject was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1830. He is the son of Ely C. and Nancy H. (Grifiin) McKee, the former a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and the latter of Rush County, Ind. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Samuel McKee, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served for a time under the command of Gen. Anthony Wayne. He was Scotch-Irish by birth, and came to America with his brother prior to the Revolutionary War. At its close he settled on a farm within six miles of Cincinnati, and which he owned and occupied until his death. The parents of our subject located in Indiana after their mar- riage, and thence returned southeastward to Cin- cinnati, Ohio. Ely McKee was a blacksmith by trade, which he pursued in the Queeu City for a number of years, and then removing to Tippecanoe County, Ind., with his wife, there spent the re- I t. 582 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. mainder of his days. The household circle in- cluded ten children, live buys and five girls. Our subject, in common with his brothers and sisters, was educated in the public schools and reared to farming pursuits. After reaching man- hood, he engaged as a stock-dealer, buying and shipping with considerable success. He was mar- ried, in Tippecanoe County, Ind., Feb. "22, 1868, to Miss Sarah M. lliatt, who was born in Vigo County, Ind., March 27, 1839, and is the daughter of Josiah and Mary J. (Shaffer) lliatt. Josiah Hiatt was a native of North Carolina, of Welsh an- cestry, and the mother, who was bom in Ohio, was of German and French descent. They lived in different States, finally settling in Tippecanoe County, Ind., where Mr. Hiatt died in 1843. The mother, who was born May 18, 1815, still survives, and is now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. McKee. Their family consisted of three girls and one boy, of whom Mrs. McKee of our sketch was the eldest. She was first married in Greene County, Ind., to Paul Harney, a native of Indiana and of German descent. Of that marriage there was born one child, a daughter. Maude, who is now the wife of George W. Halleck, of Brown Town- ship, this county. Mr. Harney died in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. McKee became the parents of five children, of whom only two are now living Thomas C. and Grace P. Those deceased are, Min- nie W., Nancy II. and Gertrude B. Mr. McKee has been Commissioner of Highways, and has held various other offices in this township. He is Re- publican in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. His worthy wife is connected with the Christian Church. f,.,t BEL S. SCOTT, who is comfortably located Ol on section 8, Scott Township, has been a resident there since the spring of 1867. He is the ownar of 500 acres of choice land, all improved and under a good state of cultivation. He has erected good buildings on his farm, has choice grades of stock, valuable farm machinery, and in all respects is fully equipped as a first-class progressive agriculturist. Our subject was born in Hardy County, W. Ya., Aug. 31, 183i). and is the son of Alexander and Mary (Seymour) Scott, natives of the same State and county, where they were married and spent their entire lives. Their family consisted of three children, one son and two daughters. Abel S. re- mained at home until the beginning of the war, receiving a common-school education and attend- ing the Military Institute in Lexington, for a period of four years. Here he was under the tutor- ship of Stonewall Jackson, and graduated in 1860. He then enlisted in the 13th Virginia Infantry, C. S. A., in which he served until the close of the war. During the latter year of the conflict he was taken prisoner but held, however, only a short time. After his return to civil life he proceeded to Ross Count}', Ohio, on a visit, and from there went to Louisiana, where he engaged one year in raising cotton. In 1867 he came to this county, which has since been his home. Mr. Scott was married in this county, April 30, 1872, to Miss Sallie J., daughter of Abel li. and Jane (Dill) Seymour, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Scott was born in Ross County, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1846, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of four children Anna, Robert S., William R. and a babe unnamed. Mr. Scott, politically, affiliates with the Democratic party. He has held the offices of School Director and Road Commissioner, and so- cially is a worthy member of the Masonic fra- ternity. \\] W. AM) R. A. PARRETT, familiarly known as Parrett Bros., and prominently identified with the agricultural interests . of Ogden Township, are located on section 30, where they have charge of 285 acres of their father's land and are principally engaged in stock-raising. These gentlemen are the sons of John and Sophia (Cochran) Parrett, natives of Ohio. Their father was born in 1827, and the mother in 1831. John Parrett is also engaged in farming, occupying with his excellent and worthy wife, a good homestead in Ross County, Ohio. They are people highly re- spected wherever known, and members in good * CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 583 standing of the Presbyterian Church. The father of John Parrett, Frederick A. by name, who was born in Ohio, came to Illinois in the pioneer days, and took up the land now owned by his descend- ants, and where his death occurred in 1805. . His wife had died many years before. The children of John and Sophia Parrett were named respectively, Wallace, Florence, William A., Robert A., Eliza- beth, Mary B., Arthur, M. C. and Kstella M. The marriage of J. W. Parrett and Miss Susan Peters took place on the 30th of December, 1885. Mrs. Parrett was born July 18, 1862, and is the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Swearinger) Peters, the father a native of Illinois, and the mother of Ohio. Both are living and residing in St. Joseph Township. Mr. Parrett came to Illinois in 1880, and in com- pany with his brother, who came in 1 882, has fol- lowed farming since that time. They are enter- prising and energetic young men, and valued fac- tors in the farming interests of this section. Their stock consists principally of fine hogs and cows. Mr. Parrett takes a genuine interest in local affairs, and votes the Republican ticket. He is still a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church in Ohio, and so- cially belongs to Lodge No. 252, I. O. O. F., at Homer, with which he became connected four years ago. Mrs. Parrett belongs to the Christian Church. They have one child, a daughter, Florence, born Nov. 22, 1886. j?ILLIAM H. OWENS, of Urbana, is senior member of the firm of Owens & Shriver, which is engaged in the agricultural imple- ment trade on Market street. He has been a resi- dent of Urbana since the spring of 1856, commenc- ing his mercantile experience as a clerk for Mr. Halberstadt. After an experience of fifteen years he set up in business for himself, in which he con- tinued until March, 1887, then sold out and became a member of the present firm. He possesses excel- lent business capacity, and has been uniformly suc- cessful in his efforts to obtain a good position among his fellow-citizens, both socialhy and finan- cially. Mr. Owens was born in Baltimore County, Md., Dec. 22, 1833, ftnd is the son of Samuel and Eliza (Brooks) Owens, both natives of Maryland. His father was engaged as a merchant in his native State the greater part of his life, and died there Jan. 21, 1849. After his .decease his widow continued the business until her death, which took place on the 12th of December, 1.S72. The parental house- hold included four children: Joshua, of Baltimore, Md.; William II., of our sketch; Sarah A., Mrs. Hoover, of Baltimore, Md., and Samuel W., of Ca- tonsville, Md. Our subject was reared to mercantile business, receiving a practical education, and remained at home until twenty-two years of age. He then emi- grated to Ohio, and locating in Miami County, was engaged in railroading and butchering. His subse- quent course, until 1873, we have already detailed. That year he purchased 120 acres of land in Ma- homet Township, which is now operated by a ten- ant. Upon his farm he has a fine assortment of live-stock, and in the city of Urbana he has a stable of Norman, Morgan and Sprague horses. His Nor- man stallion is an imported animal, valued at $2,500, and the Morgan is valued at * 1,000. Mr. Owens carries on the operations of his farm with the same good judgment which he exercises in his mercantile business, and has upon it the various improvements indispensable to the modern coun- try estate. Mr. Owens was married in 1858, to Miss Sarah A. Wolfe, who is a native of Knox County, Ohio, and daughter of Rev. Joseph and Harriet (Doan) Wolfe. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and the father a minister of the Methodist Church. Of this union there have been born five children: Joseph D. is Agent for the United States and Pacific Express Company at Urbana; Bessie W., in 1885, graduated from the Illinois State University ; Lucy D., Katie and Daisy are at home with their parents. The handsome and substantial family residence is pleasantly located, and its inmates enjoy the so- ciety and esteem of the best people of the city. Mr. Owens has always been greatly interested in the establishment and maintenance of educational and religious institutions, and with his wife and children, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In this he has served as Class-Leader for 584 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. a period of thirty-one years, and is' a regular at- tendant of the Sabbath-school. He assisted in the first organization of the society, and in the erection of the church building, and has contributed regu- larly and cheerfully of his means to the support of every measure calculated to increase the welfare of his township and county. ELISHA CORRAY, favorably known as a worthy resident of Somer Township, is a na- tive of Pike County, Ohio, born Feb. 27, 1822. His father, Isaiah Corray, a native of Bed- ford, Pa., was born in about 1785, and removed when a young man to Pike County, Ohio, in 1810. He was there married to Miss Elizabeth Leeth, and they became the parents of twelve children, nine of whom survived to become men and women. These were John, Rachel, Elizabeth, Elisha, Mary, Eliza, Jane, Nancy and Isaiah. Of those now liv- ing Jane is a resident of Iowa; Mary, of St. Joseph Township, this county, and Elisha, of Somer Town- ship. Our subject remained under the home roof until he had arrived at years of manhood, and was then united in marriage with Miss Susannah Clements, their wedding taking place July 1, 1847. Of this union there were born 'twelve children, of whom nine are still living. One died in infancy; Eliza- beth, who became the wife of Richard Dilman, died Feb. 0, 1877; Lucinrla, who married James M. Johnston, died June 6, 1883. Those surviving are Melinda, the wife of William Stephens; George; Rachel, Mrs. William Florence: James A., a resi- dent of Zodiac Springs, Mo. ; Etta D. and Hettie B. (twins) ; Luetta, the wife of James Berry, who resides on the old homestead, and Carrie, the young- est. Howard Dilman, the grandson of our subject, was taken into the family after the death of his father, and is as near to his grandparents as one of their own children. Mr. Corray came to the West a poor man, but is now in possession of a fine homestead of 240 acres finely located on section 25. He has managed his business and farming operations with rare judg- ment and forethought, and at an early day was < recognized by his fellow-townsmen as a man of more than ordinary ability and one eminently able to become a leader in his community. He is a firm adherent of the Democratic party, has been School Director and Trustee in his township, and was As- sessor for a number of years. During the war his sympathies were entirely with the Union, and al- though not engaging in active service, he was in- strumental in raising recruits, and encouraged by his voice and means the success of the Union army. He has been engaged of late years in the raising of fine stock, including cattle, horses and swine. He is now sixty-five j'ears old, but hale and heart}', and bids fair to continue the industrious citizen which he has been, for many years to come. VILLIAM SKINNER. The subject of the following biography, who is a native of the Buckeye State, owns and occupies a good farm of 130 acres on section 35, Tolono Township. His residence, however, is within the town limits. He is a native of Warren County, Ohio, born March 3, 1842, and the son of Thomas and Lu- cinda (Miller) Skinner. The former was a native of Warren County, Ohio, and the latter of Hamil- ton County, that State. After their marriage the parents located upon a farm. The father, who in early life had learned the trades of a shoemaker and carpenter, worked at these, in connection with his farming, as oppor- tunity afforded, and the parents occupied the home- stead on which they first settled until their decease, in 1863, the father dying February 10, and the mother two days afterward. Their family consisted of six children, one of whom died in infancy and one at the age of sixteen years. The latter's death occurred three days after the mother, Feb. 15, 1863. Four lived to attain their majority. Daniel is a plasterer by trade and resides in his native county, in Ohio; Abraham D. is farming in Tolono Town- ship; William is the subject of this sketch; Thomas N., the youngest, is unmarried and a resident of Kansas. William Skinner was reared to farming pursuits CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 585 and received his education in the common schools ; of the Buckeye .State. He remained with his par- ' ents as long as they lived, and in 18GS was united in marriage with Miss Martha Rich, who was j born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Aug. 30, 1847, and is the daughter of John and Mary Rich. The following spring he came with his bride to Illinois, and in company with his brother, Abraham, pur- chased 160 acres of land in Tolono Township, which they cultivated together for five years fol- lowing. Our subject then disposed of his interest in the property and purchased of a younger brother eighty acres in the same township, which he culti- vated also five years. He then sold out and re- moved into town. He always believed, however, that real estate was a good investment, and soon afterward purchased 210 acres lying on section 35, in Tolono Township. In June, 1884, he traded eighty acres of said land for his present commo- dious and conveniently arranged residence in the village. He still owns 1 30 acres, the cultivation of which he superintends and which embraces a fine fertile tract of land, prolific of the various choice crops indigenous to the soil of Illinois. Our subject and his wife became the parents of three children, of whom one died in infancy. Those surviving are Cortland and Pearl. Mr. S. is Re- publican in politics, a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F., and with his family, is a regular at- tendant of the Presbyterian Church. AVID MICHENER. That which forms the chief object of attraction in passing through the Prairie State is the evident wealth and prosperity of a large proportion of the farming community. There is no fairer picture in the world during the summer season than the broad stretches of cultivated prairie which beautify the landscape of Central Illinois, and which is divided between grain fields and pasture lands, the yellow corn embellishing the one and the fine cattle roam- ing in contentment over the other. Looking upon what has been accomplished dur- ing the last twenty-five years the mind naturally reverts to those who have been instrumental in redeeming the soil from its original condition. The courage and perseverance with which they labored can scarcely be realized except by themselves, and no more enduring monument can be reared to their worth as citizens and as agriculturists than the written biography which may be perused by their descendants and others who shall come after them. Among those who have been esteemed worthy of especial notice in the AutrM, whose facts and figures have been gathed after great labor and forethought, David Michener, of Homer Township, should oc- cupy no unimportant place. He comes of good parentage, but when starting out for himself in life, possessed no means, except his two hands and in- domitable courage. The parents of our subject, Benjamin and Abigail (Staton) Michener, at the time of his birth were living on a farm in Jefferson County, Ohio, David being added to the household on the 15th day of March, 1818. His father was a native of Pennsyl- vania and his mother of North Carolina. The former, who was born in 1781, spent the early years of his life in Philadelphia, where, after becoming of suitable age he learned the trade of a hatter, which, however, he finally abandoned for the more congenial pursuits of farm life. He selected for the scene of his future operations a tract of land in Jefferson County, Ohio, where he removed in 1804, and four years later was married to the mother of our subject. This excellent lady was born in 1787, of parents who descended from the English, and after performing well her part in life as wife, mother, sister and friend, rested from her earthly labors'in 1840, aged fifty-three years. Her husband survived her until in March, 1854, and then he, too, closed his eyes upon the scenes of earth. They were members of the Society of Friends, in which denomination the father of our subject was one of the select ministers and Elders for many years, and the mother was especially active in advocating the doctrines of her faith and using her influence in gathering the young into the fold. The ten chil- dren of this congenial union were named respect- ively Levi, Susanna. John, Lydia, Henry, David, Isaac, Edwin, Martha and Elma. Our subject during, his boyhood and youth, I 586 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. which was interspersed with attendance at the com- mon schools in the winter seasons, labored con- tentedly with his father and brothers on their farm in the Buckeye State until after reaching his ma- jority. When laying his plans for the future he in- cluded in them the establishment of a home and the maintenance of a family, and on the 2d of October, 1842, was united in marriage with Miss Lisetta Smith, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents in Zanesfield, Ohio. Mrs. M. is a native of Lognn County, Ohio, and the daughter of Benjamin and Cynthia Netta (Garwood) Smith. Her birth took place in 1824. Her father was a native of Ohio, and a tanner and currier by trade, to which he also added the business of a merchant, and was in fact interested in various projects, being wide-awake, enterprising and prosperous. The par- ents are now deceased. The children of the par- ental household were named respectively Lisetta, Eliza, Amanda, Sarah A., Samuel B., Mary, John C., Cynthia Netta, Franklin and Eudora; a daughter died in infancy unnamed. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Michener remained in Ohio until 1864, where their eight children were born. Of these the record is as fol- lows: Edwin R. married Miss Catherine Johnson, of Homer Township, Feb. 4, 1886; Abigail became the wife of Nathan W. Cockayne; Minnie married Nathan Smoot, of Vermilion County; Earl S. mar- ried Miss Caroline Beals, who only lived a short time; his second wife was Miss Am}' Griffith. William II. is deceased; Ava is at home with her parents; Benjamin Dell married Miss Margaret Eglestein; Lulu is Mrs. Frank Toney. Upon coming to this State our subject at once located in Homer Township, Champaign County, purchasing 242 acres of land, upon which he has since labored, improving and beautifying the farm and making it one of the most valuable in this locality. The fine residence, erected in 1884, is the admiration of the passer-by, and all its surround- ings indicate plenty, with a near approach to luxury. Mr. Michener is highly esteemed as a citizen, and each year at the general elections drives to town and deposits his ballot in support of Republican candidates willing to serve as ollice holders and otherwise in conducting the affairs of government. His family is one eminently to be proud of, the sons being industrious and enterprising, and en- gaged, like their father, in farming pursuits. Ed- win R., the eldest, owns 160 acres, and Earl S. owns 140 acres, both farms lying in Vermilion County. >ILLIAM S. VANCE, a worthy member of the farming community of Brown Town- ship, occupies 374 acres on sections 3, 10 and 1 1 , and is pursuing his chosen calling in an in- telligent and effective manner. He is also engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Vance is a native of Pendle- ton County, W. Va., born Oct. 12, 1844, and the son of Wilson and Mary (Parker) Vance, natives of the Old Dominion, where they were reared, mar- ried and settled. In about 1850 they came to Illi- nois, locating in Empire Township, McLean Coun- ty, where they still reside. Of their children, nine in number, seven still survive. William S., of our sketch, was the eldest of the family, and was about twelve years old when they came to the Prairie State. He received a fair edu- cation in the common schools, and remained under the home roof until twenty-five years of age. After leaving home he lived one year in De Witt County, and in the spring of 1869 took up his abode in Brown Township, this county, where he has since remained, engaged in farming pursuits. His broad acres are all finely adapted to the raising of grain and other products of the Mississippi Val- ley, while his residence and farm buildings compare favorably with any in this part of the count}', and are among the best in the township, as will be seen by examining the view of them which is to be seen in this work. While a resident of De Witt County our subject was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Helmick, their wedding taking place on the 16th of Septem-. ber, 1867. Mrs. Vance was the daughter of Elisha and Mary Helmick, and was born Oct. 19, 1848, in I)c Witt County, where her parents now reside. Of this union there were born four children Willis F., Fannie E., Clara O. and Walter E. The wife and mother departed this life at the home of her hus- band in Brown Township, Sept. 28, 1884. She was f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 587 a worthy Christian lady, a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, and greatly respected by her friends and acquaintances. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in this county, June 22, 1886, was formerly Miss Alice Bland, a native of Ohio, born Nov. 23, 1860, and the daughter of Amos and Mary (Heavner) Bland. Both our subject and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and when called upon to cast his ballot Mr. V. gives his support to Demo- cratic candidates. The products of his farm add ma- terially to the annual report of the grain producing section of the State, and as a member of the busi- ness community no man stands higher. He started in life with nothing but a determined will and strong arms, and while reviewing the result of his labors may justly feel pride in his possessions and the means by which he has obtained them. ELI BARRETT, an intelligent and well-edu- cated citizen of Brown Township, owns a good farm of 160 acres on section 22, a view of which is presented in this work. The land is highly cultivated, and the buildings valuable and attractive, including a handsome residence, which our subject occupies with bis wife and six children, and in the adornment of which he has taken great pleasure and pride. Mr. Barrett began the struggle of life without means or influential friends, and his present unincumbered property is the result of his own industry and perseverance. His high moral principles, together with his uniform kindness of heart, have won for him the profound respect and esteem of all who know him. Our subject is the son of Edward and Eliza (En- sor) Barrett, natives of Maryland, and the parents of four children. Eli being the third. lie also is a native of the same State, born in Baltimore County, March 7, 1826. When nine years of age, after the deatli of his father, he went to live with an uncle in Fail-field County, Ohio, with whom he remained until reaching his majority in the spring of 1847. He then returned to his old home in Maryland, where he remained until the fall of 1860, when, ac- companied by his wife and four children, he emi- grated to Logan County, 111., and engaged in farm- ing for a period of twelve years. From there he removed, in 1872, to this county, locating in Brown Township upon the land which constitutes his present farm. This he has vastly improved since taking possession of it, it having then received but little attention at the hands of the agriculturist. He is also engaged in the breeding of high-grade Short-horns. The marriage of Mr. Barrett took place in Fair- field County, Ohio, Oct. 7, 1852, the lady of his choice being Miss Amanda Miller, a native of West Virginia. " She was the daughter of William and Lncinda (Woods) Miller, natives of Virginia. After their marriage they moved to Ohio, Mrs. Barrett being then about three years of age. The children of our subject and wife are: Marion W., who lives in Nuckolls County, Neb. ; Emma L. ; Frank M. mar- ried Louisa Schenck, and they live in Audubon County, Iowa; Addie E. is the wife of Samuel II. Taylor, and they live in Brown Township; Amanda E. and Myrtie. Mr. Barrett lias been prominent in the affairs of his township since becoming a resident of it, holding the offices of Assessor, Collector and School Direc- tor, and otherwise being called to officiate in mat- ters of importance. Politically he is an uncompro- mising Democrat. -* EDMUND FREEMAN, a highly respected farmer, and one of the pioneers of Ogden Township, where he now lives, "came to Illi- nois in 1830. His birth took place in Helmont County, Ohio, on the 3d of May, 1 828, and his parents were James and Rebecca (Ogden) Freeman, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. James Freeman was born Jan. 24, 1801, followed farming the greater part of his life and was es- sentially a self-made man, who from an humble posi- tion in life, made his way upward, secured by his own efforts a good education and had the honor of conducting the first school taught in Champaign County, for the purpose of which he devoted a cor- ner of his own dwelling. He himself had been edu- cated principally by his father, Thomas Freeman, f , > 588 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. who also was a self-made mini and who accumulated a fine property, which he left to his family at his death. lie was Constable four years in Ogden Township, and with his wife, Rebecca, .1 member of the Christian Church. James Freeman departed this life in Ogden Township in 1 867. The mother of our subject, who was born in 1804, had passed away previous to the death of her husband, her decease occurring in 1854. The household included ten children, who were named as follows: Thomas and Mary (twins), Edmund, Lydia A., Eleazer, An- drew J., Rebecca, who died in infancy, Angeline, Martha, who died in infancy, and James L. The boyhood days of Mr. Freeman were passed on the farm in Ohio, whence he removed with his parents to Illinois. Soon after reaching his major- ity he was married in Vermilion County, to Miss Jemima Rush, their wedding taking place in the spring of 1853. Mrs. F. was born April 20, 1834, and after remaining the companion of her husband for a period of thirty-three years, departed this life at the homestead in Ogden Township in Janu- ary, 1886. She was the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Wright) Rush, who were excellent peo- ple and members in good standing of the Baptist Church. They are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman became the parents of eleven children ; Elizabeth was born July 31, 1854; Thomas M.. Dec. 23, 1855; Elias, who was born June 22, 1857, mar- ried Miss Nancy J. Fisher; Reuben was born Feb. 16, 1859; Levi, born Sept. 27, 1860, married Miss Susan E. Harmison; Nancy E., born July 5, 1862, died July 12,1863; James was born April 27, 1864; Jessie, born Oct. 1, 1866, died when seven years of age, in 1873; John M. was born March 12, 1868; George W., born July 4, 1875, died the following day; Cora May was born July 31, 1879. Mr. Freeman made his first purchase of land in about 1850, entering it from the Government. This was unimproved, and the few years afterward were employed in the careful cultivation of the soil and planting the crops it was the most likely to pro- duce. He gained a little better foothold each year, and as his means accumulated added to his real estate so that he is now the posssessor of 438 broad acres, part of it devoted to pasturage and the balance producing the richest crops of the Prairie State. In 1877 Mr. Freeman erected the fine frame dwell- ing now occupied by the family, which is Hanked by substantial barns and other necessary farm build- ings and is kept in good repair, while the implements of husbandry and the entire machinery of the farm, of first-class description and kept in fine order, give evidence of the enterprising character of the proprietor. He labored with willing hands and cheerful heart during his early manhood and is now reaping the rightful reward of his industry. He delights in noting the march of progress and pros- perity in his township, and has been no unimpor- tant factor in establishing its present position among the surrounding communities. Since ex- ercising the rights of an American born citizen he has cast his influence in support of Republican principles. llAMES W. CHAMP, of Condit Township, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, on the 22d of February, 1822, and is the son of John William and Mary (Shanton) Champ, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, William Champ, removed from the Old Do- minion to Ohio at an early day, settling first in Pickaway County, whence he removed to Ross County, and there spent the remainder of his life. His son John, the father of our subject, removed with the family to Ohio, where he married, be- came the father of nine children, and in the midst of an interesting family was cut down in the prime of life, dying in Pickaway County in 1832. The mother was thus left a widow with young children and a farm of 125 acres somewhat encumbered. With heroic resolution she kept her family together until they were old enough to provide for them- selves, they in the meanwhile assisting her in the improvement and cultivation of the homestead. This she occupied until the close of her life in 1867. Mr. Champ was the sixth child of his parents and lived with his mother until nineteen years old. He then went out to work by the day or month as he could secure employment, and was thus occu- pied five years following. At the expiration this time, with the small sum he had saved expiration of I saved by the 1 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 589, closest economy, he took unto himself a companion and helpmeet, and renting a farm in Ross County, Ohio, resided there until 1855. In the spring of that year he came to Illinois, locating first in Logan County, where he operated on rented land until 1870. He was successful in his labors, and then coming into this county purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies. It was a wild, uncul- tivated tract of prairie, and its present finely im- proved condition is the result of his uninterrupted labor since that time. It is now enclosed, all un- der the plow, and supplied with handsome and sub- stantial frame buildings, as will be seen by a glance at the view presented on another page. The marriage of Mr. Champ and Miss Sarah A. Ilobbs took place on the 23d of May, 1847. Mrs. Champ is a native of Ross County, Ohio, born Oct. 28, 1 826, and the daughter of Ephraim and Sarah (Chasteen) Hobbs. Her parents were born in A'ir- ginia, whence they removed to Ross County, Ohio, at an early period in the settlement of that State. The seven children born of this marriage are re- corded as follows : Zachariah T. and Francis Ma- rion are residents of Gage County, Neb.; Mary, the wife of H. H. Woods, lives on the home farm ; Abraham, in Elk County, Kan.; Sarah Ann, Mrs. A. C. Hatch, in Gage County, Neb. ; Maria, Mrs. John Parnell, in Newton Township, this county, and John A. on the homestead. Our subject is Republican in politics, and with his excellent wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the long period in which they have moved in and out among the peo- ple of Condit Township, few have " named them but to praise." AN1EL NISEWANDER, one of the hon- ored pioneers of Illinois, came to Cham- paign County in 1850, and was among the earliest settlers of Mahomet Township, whence he afterward removed to Hensley, where he has since resided. He owns and occupies a fine estate consisting of 401 acres of land, a handsome and substantial set of frame buildings, and all the appliances of a first-class agriculturist. He has witnessed with satisfaction the growth and develop- ment of his adopted State, and has contributed in no small degree to the present prosperity of Cham- paign County. He has for many years been closely identified with its agricultural and business inter- ests, and has contributed liberally and cheerfully of his time and means for the encouragement of every worthy project. Our subject was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 18. 1819. His father, Joseph Nisewander, was a native of Washington County, Md., and his grand- father was born in Switzerland. The latter emi- grated to the United States when a young man, settling in Washington County, Md., where he spent the remainder of his life. There his son Joseph, the father of our subject, grew to man- hood and was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Avey. She was born in Maryland, of Ger- man parentage. After their marriage the young people removed to Ohio, and settled on a part of the present site of the Queen City. It was at that time but a small village. Joseph Nisewander bought eighty acres of land which now lies in the heart of the city. Disposing of this in 1821 he re- moved to Montgomery County, of which he re- mained a resident seven years, then, emigrating to Indiana located in Tippecanoe County, and was among the earliest settlers of that section. He pur- chased a tract of timber land, a portion of which he cleared and to which he added later a small area of prairie. He remained a native of that county un- til his death in 1859. The wife and mother sur- vived but a few years, then joined her husband on the other shore, her death also taking place on the homestead which they had unitedly established. Of the nine children comprising the parental family Daniel was the fourth. He was but two years old when his parents removed to Cincinnati, and nine years old when they left the Buckeye State for Indiana. He remained under the par- ental roof until 1850, then came to this county dur- ing the early settlement of Mahomet Township. The greater part of the prairie around was unten- anted save by wild animals, and deer roamed at will over the long grass. The nearest markets were the towns on the Illinois and Wabash Rivers. Our subject was variously engaged for nine 590 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. f t years following his arrival in Mahomet Township, during which time lie had saved what he could of his limited earnings, and in 1859 purchased a part of the land which constitutes his present homestead. It is hardly necessary to say that the years since that time have been industriously employed in the cultivation and improvement of the homestead, which now in all respects indicates the supervision of the progressive and intelligent farmer and busi- ness man. The course of Mr. Nisewander has been uniformly upright and praiseworthy, and he enjoys in a marked degree the confidence and respect of his fellow-townsmen. The marriage of our subject and Miss Sarah Breace took place in Lafayette, Ind., in 1849. Mrs. N. was born in Ohio, and departed this life at the home of her husband in Hensley Township, Feb. 12, 1873. The children of this union were : Sarah, now the wife of George Lutz, of Champaign ; William, who lives in Hensley Township, and one deceased. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married June 12, 1875, was formerly Miss Alice Morris, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1859. Of this marriage there have been born Edgar, Jennie, Merritt and Ira. Our subject is Democratic in politics, a man of decided views and opinions and fearless ;in the expression of his sentiments. The home of Mr. Nisewander makes a pleasant picture in the landscape of Hensley Township, and the view is reproduced on another page of this work. E. HANDY, Agent of the Western Union Telegraph Company, at Tolono. He lo- cated in this place on the 10th of May, 1870. He is an expert operator, and commenced to learn the business in 1878, at Perry Springs, Pike County, this State. He is a native of Cam- eron, Mo., and was born Sept. 2, 1860. He is the son of John W. a'hd Hepsy R. (High) Handy, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. The parents soon after marriage located in Cam- eron, Mo., where the father died in 1861. The year following the mother with her only son removed to Illinois and located at Chambersburg, in Pike County, where she still resides. She was married the second time, in September, 1880, to Mr. J. W. Smith, a prominent and successful fruit-grower of that section. Our subject began his education in the common schools of his native county and completed it in Wesleyan University at Bloomington. He com- menced to learn the art of telegraphy in 1878, as we have stated, and has operated successfully since that time. He was married in January, 1880, to Jennie M., daughter of O. E. and Jane B. Culbert- son, of Tolono. Mrs. Handy was born in Tolono in 1861, and by her marriage with our subject has become the mother of two children Charles E. and Alice. Mr. H., politically, affiliates with the Democratic party, and has been quite prominent in local poli- tics, serving as Chairman of the Township Central Committee. He has also been Village Clerk. So- cially he is a member of Tolono Lodge No. 391, A. F. ] together with his barn and other necessary out- buildings, forms a comfortable homestead. Mr. Brodrick was married in Tippecanoe Coun- ty, hid., April 13, 1839, to Miss Phebe Keeler, a native of Indiana. The record of the children of this union, seven in number, is as follows: Hester A. became the wife of Hiram Peabody, and. met her death by being poisoned, in 1885; William B., Jr., during the late war was a member of Co. A, 20th 111. Vol. Inf., and was killed by a shell at the battle of Champion Hills, Miss.; John F. at the same time was a member of Co. B, 51st 111. Vol. Inf., and died in the hospital at Jackson, Tenn. ; Charles W. is married, and a resident of Nebraska; Allen W. is an artist; Amanda M. became the wife of James M. Mitchell, a resident of Gibson, 111., and died while on a visit to her parents in Newcomb Township, this county ; Phebe K., Mrs. D. H. Lester, resides with her husband on a farm in Newcomb Town- ship. The wife of our subject, who was a consist- ent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a lady highly esteemed in the community, de- parted this life at her home in Newcomb Township, Jan. 15, 1855. Mr. Brodrick is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically is a stanch Democrat and Prohibitionist. <\w) OIINSON OBRYANT, deceased. The quar- I ter section of land which in 1851 became the property of the subject of this sketch, forms a part of section 27, in Sadorus Town- ship, where he labored for a period of fourteen years, and built up a good homestead for his fam- ily. The people of that community among whom he went in and out, honestly and conscientiously, bear testimony to the excellence of his character and the correctness of his quiet and unassuming life. Although, perhaps, not the hero of many great events, he discharged his duty to the best of his ability, and was accounted a good and useful member of the community. The birth of Mr. Obryant took plaoe in Pike County, Ohio, Nov. 10, 1812. He was the second child of James and Sarah (Povvleson) Obryant, I also natives of the Buckeye State, where the father's death took place. In 1846 the mother came to Illinois, and spent the remainder of her days on a farm with her son James, in Douglas County. Johnson Obryant, when fourteen years of age, left home and went into Bainbridge, Ross County, to learn the tanner's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of nearly six years. A. little before his twentieth year he was married, Oct. 22, 1840, to Miss Jane McUnn, daughter of William and Nancy McUnn. The young people at once pro- ceeded westward, and crossing the Mississippi, set- tled near St. Joseph, Mo., where our subject was employed at his trade, and where for a brief time they enjoyed the comforts of a modest home. A year later his young wife died, leaving him with one child, a boy, Austin M., who was afterward cared for by his grandmother. He spent his boy- hood and youth in this county, and although not strong physically was bright and intelligent, and when grown to manhood became Collector for Sa- dorus Township. While holding this office he mys- teriously disappeared, and no trace was afterward found of him. It & generally believed that he was murdered for his money, as he was a young man of sterling integrity and excellent habits, and his hon- esty was never questioned. Mr. Obryant followed farming in Missouri a lit- tle more than two years, and after tiie death of his wife came to Illinois, to the home of his mother and brother in Douglas County. He rented land near the farm of the latter, and remained there five years. In January, 1847, he was married to Miss Catharine, the second child of William and Nancy (Beavers) Rouck. Mr. Obryant remained in Douglas County four years after this event, and then came to Champaign County, where he spent the remainder of his days, departing this life Feb. 28, 1868. Mrs. Obryant, after the death of her husband remained on the farm with her children until the spring of 1887, when she moved north and settled on section 14, taking possession of 200 acres, which came to her from her father's estate, and where she now lives near a married daughter. Of her union with our subject there were born six children Re- becca II., Mary P. and Lemuel R., born in Doug- I ] f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. las County, and Isabell, Josephine and Emma, na- tives of Champaign. The eldest daughter, Rebecca, became the wife of John Fulkerson, a farmer of Pesotum Township, and died Oct. 27, 18G8, leav- ing one child, a daughter, Minnie B., who followed her mother on the 18th of November, not quite a month later; Mary P. married Robert C. Beuton. a farmer of Sadorus Township, and departed this life Feb. 13, 1879, leaving one child, a son, Hugh J., who is now with his father in Missouri; Lemuel R., unmarried, is at home with his mother; Isabell be- came the second wife of her brother-in-law, R. C. Benton, and died Feb. 16, 1882, leaving a child, Harry, who joined the mother in the other life, on the 13th of October following; Josephine is the wife of James Chapman, a harness-maker of Whiting, Jackson Co., Kan., where he conducts a harness- shop, and owns a farm near by, which is operated by a tenant; this daughter became the mother of four children John Lemuel (deceased), Ralph B., Emma W. and Iva G. The youngest daughter is married to William Price, who is carrying on their forty-acre farm, and at the same time is also man- aging the farm property belonging _to her mother. He is an active and enterprising young farmer, fully deserving of the confidence reposed in him. Mr. and Mrs. Price have two children Catharien A. and Parker J. Mr. Obryant was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a quarter of a century, and Mrs. Obryant is a member of the same denomination. ENRY KURTZ, well and favorably known throughout Brown Township, is a native of Stark County, Ohio, his birth taking place Jan. 18, 1844. He is the son of Henry and Anna (Eschliman) Kurtz, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both were reared in the Buckeye State, where they married, and located in Stark County, and there the father died in the fall of 1843. Mrs. Kurtz survived her husband over forty years, her death taking place in 1885, in Piatt County, this State. Their family consisted of three children, two sons and a daugh- ter, of whom our subject was the youngest. Henry Kurt/, was reared on his father's farm, and during the winter season attended the district school, remaining a resident of his native county until 1872, when he was twenty-eight years of age. lie then decided to seek a locality farther west. For two years before leaving Stark County, he had been engaged in the lumber business and obtained some knowledge of the methods of dealing in stock and grain. His tastes inclining to this latter branch of business, after locating in Piatt Count} 7 , this State, he engaged in buying and shipping stock for six years, and for two years afterward followed milling. Mr. Kurtz came to Brown Township in the spring of 1881, and is now the owner of 360 acres of im- proved land, which he largely devotes to stock- growing, keeping about thirty head of cattle and 150 hogs, and has fed large numbers of sheep. He takes pride in having all his operations carried on systematically and in good order, and is always full of business, possessing the energy required for the proper supervision of his extensive interests. The residence is a tasteful and convenient struct- ure, and the barn excels anything of the kind in that section. The homestead in all its appoint- ments forms a model country estate, which its pro- prietor may be pardoned for viewing with pride and satisfaction. The marriage of Mr. Kurtz took place in Wayne County, Ohio, Feb. 7, 1867, his chosen bride be- ing Miss Barbara A. Nisewanger, who was the youngest daughter of Emanuel and Barbara Nise- wanger, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania. To the parents of Mrs. Kurtz there were born thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters. Her father is deceased, but her mother is still living. The wife of our subject was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Sept. 23, 1848, and remained with her parents until her marriage, receiving careful home training and instruction in all housewifely duties. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz, ten in number, were named respectively, Leo G., Sam- uel E., Orlando N., Willis L., Henry H., Jessie M., Sylvia A., Ralph E., Barbara M. and Raymond W. ( )ur subject has been Supervisor of Brown Town- ship, besides holding some of the minor offices. , CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 595 Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz are connected with the Ger- man Baptist Church, and politically Mr. Kurtz votes with the Republican part}'. The homestead of Mr. Kurt/ invariably attracts the attention and admiration of the passing traveler, and we have selected it to assist in embellishing this work, as will be seen by referring to another page. fa RS. ELIZABETH O. MYERS, who occu- pies a worthy position in the society of Homer Village, is the widow of John L. Myers, and daughter of John and Eleanor (Wilson) Ochiltree. She was born in Greenbrier County, W. Va., July 6, 1810, and remained a resi- dent of the Old Dominion until 1817. Her father. John Ochiltree, was born in 1777, and died in Fay- ette County, Ohio, in 1833, he having become a resident of the latter State in the spring of 1817. The mother, also a native of Virginia, was born in 1787, and after the death of her husband moved further westward, to Illinois, locating near the home of Mrs. Myers in this county, and departed this life in 1857. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and during the years of their active life engaged in farming pursuits. Their nine children were named respectively, Martha, Elizabeth, Mary, Eleanor, John R.. Jane, Amanda, Malinda and America. With the exception of our subject, John R. and America, all these children have departed to the silent land. Mrs. Myers remained under the home roof re- ceiving careful training from her excellent parents, being instructed in all womanly and housewifely duties, and obtaining a fair education. When twenty-three years of age she was married, first, Sept. 12, 1833, to Jacob M. Custer. Mr. C., also a native of the Old Dominion, was born in 1806, followed farming the greater part of his life and rested from his earthly labors on the 17th of Sep- tember, 1865. Fifteen years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Custer came to Illinois, locating on a farm three miles from the present village of Homer. In 1854 Mr. C. built the Homer House in the vil- lage, which he occupied about four years, acting in the meantime as " mine host," and afterward took a smaller residence half a mile east, where he re- sided with his family until his death. Mr. Custer was a good man in the broadest mean- ing of the word, fulfilling creditably all his duties toward his family and his neighbors, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for over twenty years. He was an earnest advocate of the temperance movement and greatly missed by the society with which he had labored for a number of years in building up the sentiment against the use of intoxicating drinks. He was noted for his honesty and uprightness, and during the later years of his life was quite extensively engaged as a stock dealer. The children of this marriage, nine in number, are recorded as follows : Margaret died in infancy ; Martha E. became the wife of Aaron Dolby ; Mary E. married James Hays; William married Miss Marie Noble; John married Miss Dove Noble; James enlisted in the Union army during the late war and died in the service in 1862; George died in infancy ; Jacob A. married Mrs. Jennie Haysley, and Benjamin married Miss Carrie Radabaugh. After the death of Mr. Custer his wife remained at Homer and was married to John L. M3'ers, in June, 1874. Mr. M., a native of Ohio, was born in 1803, where he remained during the early years of his manhood. He was a gentleman of fine abili- ties and good education, and in 1874 was elected to represent his native county in the General As- sembly. He was frequently called to other respon- sible positions and possessed the clear head and temperate judgment which could be relied upon at all times. His mind inclined, however, to farming pursuits, and for many years he was engaged as a dealer in cattle and hogs, of which he made a suc- cess. He was greatly interested in current events and as a politician exercised much influence in the movements of the Republican party of his district. He removed to this State in 1875, but died in Ohio' while on a visit among his old friends and ac- quaintances, in 1883. Religiously he had been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. .Mrs. Myers has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She came to Illinois in 1848, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 596 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Church for over forty .years. During the late war her two sons, William C. and John M. Custer, served three years in the Union army. Besides the hand- some village property Mrs. Myers has ninety acres of choice land which is managed by her son. Although nearly seventy-seven years of age she retains her bright mental faculties to a remarkable degree, and is the favorite companion of both young and old, who delight in hearing her relate incidents of the early days and the manner of living before the thousand modern conveniences of the present time had found their way across the borders of what was then considered the wild West, and which included the Prairie State. After a worthy and conscientious life she is nearing the sunset slope, surrounded by the comforts which rightfully belong to her as one having performed faithfully the duties of daughter, wife, mother and friend. J~ AMES W. HENDERSON. The record of this sterling and energetic citizen of Sadorus Township is as follows: He was born in Bourbon County, Ky., May 8, 1837. and was the first child of Samuel G. and Eliza A. (Hender- son) Henderson, natives of the same State, who followed farming and remained there all their lives. Our subject, in 1862, when a young man of twenty-five years, believing that he could better his condition in one of the Western States, pro- ceeded northward, and coining into this county pur- chased eighty acres of land in Sadorus Township, and prepared to establish a permanent home. He has adhered closely to his first resolution, having now his first purchase and fifty -four acres which he subsequently added. This lies on section 2, and in point of cultivation and improvement bears fail- comparison with the farms around it. Mr. Hender- son labored industriously On his homestead until the outbreak of the late war, and then, laying aside his personal interests, joined a Kentucky regiment, the loth Infantry, commanded by Gen. Pope. He was rejected however, at the medical examination, and compelled to resume the peaceful vocation of a farmer. In October, 1863, desiring a companion who should direct the affairs of his household and sympathize with him in his struggles for a com- petency, he became the husband of Miss Sophia W. Jones, a native of Jefferson County, Ky., born in 1844. Mrs. H. is the daughter of Carter T. and Eliza A. (Roberts) Jones, natives of Kentucky. The young people at first boarded with Mr. Swope, and the second year Mr. Henderson put up a plain but modest dwelling for his family. This still re- mains their residence, although having been ren- ovated, improved, and fitted with the more modern appliances. Mr. Henderson devotes the larger part of his time to grain-raising and keeps a herd of good cattle which consume most of this product. He takes pride in his animals and has attained quite a reputation as a stock-raiser. While en- gaged in his farming pursuits he has not lost sight of the welfare of his township, and as opportunity permitted, has given his time and influence to the establishment and maintenance of schools and other worthy enterprises. He uniformly votes the Demo- cratic ticket and has been Tax Collector for three years. Both he and his wife are active members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Henderson frequently recalls many interesting incidents of his boyhood and recollects hearing his parents relate how the manufacture of the genuine and far-famed Old Bourbon whisky was carried on in his native county. This industry was long since abolished there, Bourbon County now priding itself on the fact that not even a saloon exists within its borders. Those who examine the accompanying view of the homestead of Mr. Henderson will acknowledge that it is a fine subject for the pencil of the artist, as it is also the admiration of the traveler passing through that section of county. OWARJ) I. CLEVENGER, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Hensle3 r Town- ship, is finely situated on section 33, his farm being formerly the homestead of his father. It is a beautiful and well-conducted coun- try estate, supplied with modern improvements in the way of farm buildings and machinery, and as a home and farm combined, is scarcely excelled in this county, as may be supposed by those who will T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 599 notice the carefully executed lithographic view on an adjacent page. Our subject is a native of Up- per Freehold Township. JMonmouth Co., N. J., and was born Sept. 1 8, 1 839. He is the son of Joshua and Edith (Lai-risen) Clevenger, both natives of the same State and county as their son. They be- came the parents of eleven children and were in quite limited circumstances. The father of -our subject when fifteen years of age was bound out, but his master dying three years later, he purchased his time of the widow, paying her $50 in money, which he afterward earned, working at &(! per month. So he started out when eighteen years of age $50 in debt. He had, however, inherited the patient perseverance of his parents, and at once proceeded to pay it off. In due time this was accomplished, and he then considered himself his own man. When twenty- one years of age he was married, and commenced his career as a farmer like his father before him. He first operated on rented land, and after a few years was enabled to purchase ICO acres in his na- tive township. After a further residence of eight- een years, he 'sold out and purchased a farm in . Burlington County, the same State, which he occu- pied until 1869. In the meantime he had visited Illinois and Champaign Count}', and purchased 390 acres of land on sections 33 and 34 of Hensley Township. He then rented his farm in New Jer- sey, and in the year named returned to this county and commenced the cultivation of his new pur- chase, which was already improved. He put up a good set of frame buildings, and lived here with his family until 1882. He then removed to Ever- est, Brown Co., Kan., where he bought village property, and engaged in basking, which he still continues. The subject of this history was the second child of the family. He was reared in his native county, educated in the public schools, and when twenty- two years old commenced teaching. H made his home with his parents until 1867, and then began farming on his own account. He was still unmar- ried, and employed his sister to keep house for him. He came to Champaign with his father in 1869. remaining under the home roof until his marriage, which took place March 28, 1871, the maiden of his choice being Miss Laura A. Frazier. Mrs. Clevenger is a native of Miami County, Ohio, and the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Ilaney) Frazier, natives respectively of New Jersey and Ohio. After marriage the young people settled upon a tract of land in Scott Township, where they resided, with the exception of one year, until 1883. Mr. Clevenger then removed his family to Cham- paign where they lived two years, and thence to the old homestead which he now owns and occu- pies. Their four children are, Lizzie, George G., Melissa May and Ethel. Our subject is Demo- cratic in politics, and is highly esteemed both as a business man and a citizen. His straightforward methods of dealing with his fellow-men, and his skill in all the departments of agriculture, have placed him in the front ranks among those to whom Central Illinois is indebted for its rapid growth and development. B. CHAPIN, publisher and pro- prietor of the Tolono Herald, is a native of Clyde, N. Y., and came with his parents to this State in 1858, when a child two years of age. His birth occurred on the 7th of May, 1856, and he is the son of Edward J. Chapin, a native of Chickopee Falls, Mass., who followed the trade of a watchmaker for many years in his native State. He is now a resident of Indianapolis, Ind., engaged in manufacturing blacksmiths' and gasfitters' tools. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Rosetta (Smith) Chapin, was born at Patchogue, L. I., and is still living. The eight children of the household con- sisted of four sons and four daughters. Edward B. Chapin was the third son in the family and completed his education in the High Schools at Ottawa and Ashley, this State. Upon becoming of suitable age he commenced to learn watch-making under the instruction of his father. This, however, was not entirely congenial to his tastes, and in 1872 he entered upon his career as a journalist, by be- coming a correspondent for various papers through- out the State. Mr. Chapin is the founder of the Tolono fferalrl, which he established in 1875, and has conducted since that time. It is a six-column .t. fiOO CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. quarto sheet, issued weekly, MII<| Republican in poli- tics. It is :ililv edited, and its business depart- ment managed skillfully and successfully. Its cir- culation is steadily increasing, and as a newspaper it is becoming indispensable to the people of this section. The marriage of Edward B. Chapin and Miss Lucy Pierce was celebrated in Tolono on the 7th of October, 1 877. Mrs. C. is the daughter of James and Louise (Smith) Pierce, who became residents of Champaign County during its early settlement. Mrs. Chapin was born in Brown County, Ohio, but was only an infant when her parents came to Illi- nois. The household includes five children Ed- ward P., Arlo, George, Lucy and May. Mr. Chapin was appointed Postmaster at Tolono in December, 1880. and held the office until Sep- tember, 1885. Both he and his amiable and ac- complished wife are members of the Presbyterian Church and enjoy the society of the cultured peo- ple of Tolouo. Socially both are members of the K. and L. of II., Mr. C. being at the head of the order in this place for several years after its organi- zation. He was also one of the organizers and is a life member of the Grand Lodge of said order, and belongs to the Modern Woodmen. \fJSAAC FIELDING, of the firm of Smyser, Pow- ers & Fielding, is, with his partners, successfully engaged in the publication of the Champaign Times, the only Democratic paper in this county. He is a native of Westport, Conn., born Feb. 16, 1857, and the son of William and Esther (Nuttell) Fielding, natives of England. They emigrated to America earl}' in life, and settled in Westport, Conn., where William Fielding engaged in the manufucture of cotton goods. He was thus oc- cupied until after the close of the war, and then coming to Illinois, located in Shelby County and engaged in farming. After three years he sold out and removed to Sullivan, Moultrie County, where his death took place in 1883. The parental household included six children, of whom only four are now living, namely, Elizabeth A., Mrs. William Shaffer; Mary E., Mrs. Danheiser; 1 Isaac and Alice. The stibject of this biography served an apprenticeship in a woolen factory in the West, at which lie worked until 1869, and then took up the printer's trade in Sullivan, where he con- tinued for ten years following. At the expiration of that time lie became associated with Messrs. Smyser & Powers, and they have operated together successfully since. Mr. Fielding was married in Champaign, in 1884, to Miss Alice B. Yates, who is a native of Cham- paign County, and the daughter of A. ,1. Yates. It is hardly necessary to say that Mr. Fielding Is Democratic in politics. He and his accomplished wife are both members of the Episcopal Church. They number among their friends and associates the best citizens of Champaign. SJOSHUA R. MCCLELLAND. The I stead of this esteemed gentleman, a litho. graphic view of which appears on another page. lies on the road leading west to the village of Foosland, and is one of the finest country estates in Brown Township. It consists of 480 broad acres, with a fine residence in the midst of hand- some grounds, shapely and substantial barns and stables, and all the appurtenances of a modern country home. Of this property the subject of our sketch took possession in 1874, and since that time has devoted his energies to the cultivation of the fields and the beautifying of the immediate sur- roundings of the family. One of 'the attractive features of the farm is the fine stock, including Norman horses, Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. Mr. McClelland has been eminently success- ful in tilling the soil, judicious in his disbursement of funds, and is ranked among the representative farmers and business men of Champaign County. Mr. McClelland comes of substantial Pennsyl- vania stock, his parents, James and Nancy (Flanni- gan) McClelland, having been natives of the Key. stone State, the former a native of Allegheny County, and the latter of Washington County. After uniting their fortunes they located first in the former county, but in 1839 removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where they carried on farming un- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 601 til the death of the father, a period of nearly thirty years. His decease occurred Nov. 6, 1 868. The mother, after the death of her husband, continued on the homestead in Guernsey County, but her death occurred in Muskingum County Feb. 28, 1887, while on a visit to her son residing there. She was a true pioneer wife and mother, looking well to the ways of her household and the training of her family, and lived to an advanced age, re- spected by all who knew her. Twelve children gathered around the home hearth, ten living to be- come men and women. The subject of this history, the fifth child of his parents, was born in Allegheny County, Pa., Nov. 15, 1830. He was nine years of age when his par- ents removed to the Buckeye State, and he remained with them until reaching his majority, attending school in winter and being employed on the farm the balance of the year. After reaching his ma- jority he engaged in farming on his own account in Guernsey and Muskingum Counties until the spring of 1854. That year he removed to Licking County, near the city of Newark, continuing there until August, 1866. In the meantime he had come into possession of a wife and family, and soon after the date mentioned, accompanied by them, started for the Prairie State. First taking up his abode in Shir- ley, McLean County, he engaged in milling there until the winter of 1874, becoming then a. resident of Brown Township, where he has since remained. The marriage of Joshua R. McClelland and Miss Eliza J. Foster was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Guernsey County, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1854. Mrs. McC. is the daughter of John and Celia A. (Ballou) Foster, the latter a relative of the late President Garfield. Her father was born in New Hampshire, and the mother in Ohio. They, too, emigrated from Guernsey County, Ohio, to Mc- Lean County, 111., settling in Shirley in 1865, where they still live. When a lad nine years of age Mr. Foster walked barefooted from Massachusetts to Indiana, and this circumstance, perhaps, indicates sufficiently the character of this gentleman. The Foster family included five children, three of whom lived to adult years, Mrs. McC. being next to the eldest. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Feb. 4, 1836. She was trained to habits of industry by her excellent mother and became mistress of the housewifely arts necessary to a well regulated home. Four children now call her mother, namely, Ella O.. Aurelia F., Alice G. and Carroll L. The eldest, a daughter, Ella, became the wife of George A. Fisher, in May, 1882, and is now the mother of two children Lorin V. and Robert F. ; they live near the town of Fisher. The fellow-townsmen of Mr. McClelland in look- ing about for a worthy representative of their in- terests elected him Commissioner of Highways in 1882, and have always assigned to him a promi- nent place in matters relating to the general welfare of the community. Both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. McC. especially taking a warm interest in leading the young into the fold. He has been President of the Brown Township Sunday-School Association since its organization. Socially he be- longs to the A. F. & A. M., Gibson Lodge No. 783, at Gibson, and Evergreen Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Bloomington. In politics Mr. McClelland is a stanch Republican. GEORGE w. M. PARKER, instructor in Wood Work, and Foreman in this depart- ment in the University of Illinois, is a na- tive of Worcester, Mass. He was born Aug. 19, 1841, and is the son of Charles A. and Sylvia A. (Moore) Parker, who were natives of the Bay State. The father of our subject was employed as a furniture manufacturer, and departed this life in 1854. His grandfather, Ebenezer W., also a na- tive of Massachusetts, was of English ancestry. The parents of our subject had a family of seven children, five now living -Lucy, Mrs. Howe; Sa- rah A., Mrs. Howe; Emma F., William D., and George W. M. of our sketch, The subject of this Jiistory was reared in the town of Princeton, Mass., and when quite young commenced to work in his father's furniture house, remaining at home until fifteen years old. He then went to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served four years in Sterling, Mass. At the out- 602 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. break of the Civil War, he enlisted in Co. K, .">;>il Mass. Vol. Inf., fur a term of nine months. At the expiration of this time he went to Chicago, where he remained one year, and then, on account of ill-health, took a trip to New- Orleans, and for three years afterward was a resident of the Cres- cent City, and Alexandria. La., engaged in con- tracting for the United States and State Govern- ment. In 18G8 Mr. Parker came to this county, and engaged as foreman in the planmg-mill of Messrs. Cliaddon & Hesse, which position he occupied for six years. He then leased the works and employed his former employers for three years following, when the mill was destroyed by tire. For a short time after svard he was engaged as contractor and builder. In 1882 he was appointed to take charge of the University Carpenter Shops, where he has since remained. Prof. Parker was married, Dec. Ifi, 18GG, to Miss Laura 1). Hamilton, a native of Louisiana. Of this union there have been born six children Henry K., Nettie F., Carrie E., George A.. Gallon W. and Walter (i. The family reside in Cham- paign. Politically our subject is a warm advocate of Republican principles. AMES M. MOORE. The gentleman whose name heads this biography was born and reared among the hills of Harrison County, Ohio, where he remained until nineteen years of age. He then started for the farther West, first crossing the Mississippi into Iowa, and thence returning to this State, located in Champaign County in 1875. Not long afterward he purchased eighty acres of land, to the improvement of which he has since devoted the greater portion of his time. He is now in possession of a good home- stead in Brown Township, with excellent frame buildings and pleasant surroundings, and is enjoy- ing all the comforts of life. This, by all who know him, is acknowledged to be the just reward of his industry and perseverance; to these alone is he in- debted for his present condition, both socially and financially. The parents of our subject, James M., Sr., and Ellen (Black) Moore, were natives respectively of Harrison Count}', Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pa. After marriage, they located in the Smoky City, where the elder Moore followed his trade as a tailor and clothier, and where he remained until having accu- mulated sufficient capital to establish in business for himself. He then removed with his family to Har- rison County, Ohio, locating in Hopedale, where he established a good trade, and with the mother of his children spent the remainder of his life. Their family consisted of two sons and two daugh- ters, of whom our subject was the second child. His birth took place in Harrison County, Ohio, June 1C, 1837. His early studies were conducted in the common schools, and later he attended Hope- dale Normal School, after which he worked as a tailor in the shop of his father. His mind, how- ever, always inclined to agricultural pursuits, and, as we have stated, when nineteen years of age he started out on the search for a suitable location and his future farm. In the meantime, however, he was induced by Moses Hanley, of Ohio, to join him in the livery business, and when starting for the West, they took with them ten buggies and six horses. After reaching Des Moines, they sold out their stock and abandoned their project. , Mr. Moore remained there two years afterward, dealing in horses, then recrossing the Father of Waters, came into McLean County, this State, and for two years following dealt in horses at Le Roy. . Afterward he rented a farm in that locality, upon which he operated until 1875, then coming to this county took possession of the land which constitutes his present farm. After having been a resident of McLean County for thirteen years, Mr. Moore met and married Mrs. Frankie Blakeman, of Le Roy, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents, Sept. 9, 1866. Mrs. Moore is the daughter of James and Esther (Fain) Taylor, and was first mar- ried to Gabriel Blakeman, who died in Kentucky. Jan. 28, 1862. The only child born of that mar- riage was a sou who died in infancy. Mrs. Moore is a native of Jessamine County, Ky., born May 6, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 603 1844. Of the three children resulting from her union with our subject, one only is living, a son, William M. Rebecca A. died when about five years of age, and John died in infancy. Mr. Moore and his wife are members and regular attendants of the United Brethren Church at Fisher, and our subject, politically, affiliates with the Democratic party. He has officiated as Road Commissioner for several years, and was Collector in Brown Town- ship in 1882. The lithographic view of the handsome residence and surroundings are sufficient indication of the cultivated tastes and the enterprise of Mr. Moore, whose home forms one of the pleasantest spots in this section of country. I BURNS, of the firm of Lamb & Burns, druggists and grocers at Tolono, came to this county in the spring of 1872. He first established a jewelry store which he conducted for seventeen years, and at the end of this time became the partner of Dr. L. K. Lamb, and in connection with the jewelry business added a stock of drugs and groceries. Both partners are possessed of good business capacities and are build- ing up a fine patronage. Mr. Burns was born in Rushville, Ind., Feb. 65 1854. He is the son of Calvin C. and Eliza E. (Piunphrey) Burns, the former a native of New York and the latter of Indiana. The family re- sided in Johnson County, the latter State, from 1854 to 1869, then removed to this State and lo- cated in Homer, where the father established a jew- elry business, which he conducted for a period of eight years. Thence they removed to Macon and later to -Pana, where they now reside. The household included eight children, five now living. Byron, of our sketch, was the eldest of the family, and was but an infant when his parents removed from the Empire State to Johnson County, Ind. He was reared under the parental roof and received a good education in the common schools, afterward learning the trade of a jeweler under the instruc- tion of his father, and which he followed for sev- eral years afterward. lie came with the family to Illinois, and afterward was employed at his trade in various towns in this State and Indiana. In 1877 he located in Sidney, this county, whence in the spring of 1880 he removed to Tolono. Here he followed his trade one year, then purchased a stock of jewelry and conducted business until July, 1886, when he became the partner of Mr. Lamb. Mr. Burns was married on the 22d of February, 1881, to Miss Lulu, daughter of George W. and Ella Hartman. Mrs. B. was born in Sidney, 111., where she resided until after her marriage. They have one daughter, Mabel E., born March 8, 1884. Mrs. Burns is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a lady greatly respected for her kindness of heart and social qualities. Our subject politically is a stanch Republican, and has frequently been sent as a delegate to the county and district con- ventions. Socially he is a Knight Templar and a member of both Subordinate and Encampment Lodges of the I. O. O. F. in Tolono. He has made a good beginning, both as a citizen and business man, and enjoys in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. GEORGE G. WEBBER, a well-known and highly respected farmer of Urbana Town- ship, first opened his eyes to the light of day in Shelby County, Ky., on the 3d of Septem- ber, 1830. He is the son of William T. and Nancy (Baskets) Webber, natives of Virginia, born east of the Blue Ridge. His grandfather, Rev. Philip Webber, was also a native of the Old Dominion, and a clergyman of the Baptist Church. He re- moved to Kentucky with his family at an early day, where he continued his labors as pastor and preacher until the close of his life. His family consisted of six children, of whom William T. was the fourth. His birth took place Aug. 11, 1785, and he was married to Miss Nancy Baskett, Oct. 30, 1806. He was reared on the farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1833. He became the father of thirteen children, all born in Ken- tucky, and all living when the family left that State, in 1833. During that year William T. Webber came into Champaign County and purchased 640 <>04 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. acres of land, sume of it school laud, and the bal- ance he purchased direct from the Government, laying $1.25 per acre. His land was located in I'rbana Township, and he had but just commenced its improvement when he was stricken down by the hand of death, on the 9th of September, 1838. The mother survived her husband over twenty years, departing this life Sept. 14, 18110. The only children now living are John W., William H., George G. of our sketch, Sarah, Mrs. Romine, and Nancy, Mrs. Muuhall. William T. Webber was prominent in the affairs of I'rbana Township after locating here, and served as Justice of the Peace for several years. During the War of 1812 he fur- nished a substitute. The subject of this biography was reared on the farm, and remained a member of the household until twenty years of age. He then crossed the Mississippi into Des Moines County, Iowa, and the year following engaged in teaching school. Sub- sequently he returned to this county, and not long afterward purchased the farm which he now owns and which consists of 160 acres adjoining the city of I'rbana. He has brought his land to a flue state of cultivation, and it is well supplied with good grades of the domestic animals, the latest improved machinery, and all necessary buildings. Of late years he has given considerable attention to the breeding of fine stock. Besides his farm property, he owns several houses and lots in Urbaiia, from which he derives a handsome income. He has been prominently connected with local affairs, hold- ing the office of Assessor and serving as a member of the School Board. The marriage of George G. Webber and Miss Martha McFarland, was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents, June 4, 1852. Mrs. Webber is a native of Providence, R. I., and the daughter of Thomas and Martha (Corey) McFarland, natives respective^ of Scotland and Newport, R. I. Mr. McFarland came to Illinois about 1838, settling upon a farm in McLean County, and following ag- ricultural pursuits until within a few years of his death. lie finally retired to Atlanta, Logan Coun- ty, where he died in 1808. The family of himself and his excellent wife included eight children, of whom six are now living Daniel, Thomas, Robert; t Martha, Mrs. Webber; Sarah, Mrs. Crihfield, and Cyrus, living in Essex, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Webber have six children: Flora M. is the eldest; Fannie, Mrs. Thorpe, lives with her husband in Urbana, and has one son, Charles; Laura B. is at home; Frank B., a resident of l T r- bana, married Miss Maggie McConuell, and they have two children Benjamin and Annie; Harry E., who resides in Lima, Ohio, married Miss Nellie Boysel, and they have one child, Fay; Frederick is the youngest and is at home. Our subject is Democratic in politics, a member in good standing of the A. F. ILLIAM DAILEY, a farmer of Kerr Town- ship, and a gentleman who has followed that vocation since large enough to hold the handles of a plow, is the son of James and Mary (Moxan) Dailey, natives of Ireland, and was born June 20, 1856, in Morris, Grundy Co., 111. His grandfathers were Joseph Moxan and William 622 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Dailey, both natives of Ireland, neither of whom ever came to this country. Our subject's father carnc to the United States in 1850, bringing with him his wife and two children. They settled in Grundy County, where he died in 1861, and two years later his mother also died, leaving the family to the care of relatives. William Dailey, the subject of our sketch, was brought up. in the family of his uncle, John Moxan, in Morris, where he had the advantages of an ex- cellent common school. At the age of fifteen he left home to do for himself, and during three years worked at different places in the surrounding coun- try. He then moved to Champaign County, 111., where he engaged in farming on rented land. Feb. 9, 1880, he was married to Miss Anna Hannigan, the fourth child, and one of twins, born to Felix and Helen (McCormick) Hannigan, the former of whom was one of the early settlers and an exten- sive land-owner in Grundy County. The town of Felix in that county was built on his property, and named in his honor. His daughters were all edu- cated for teachers and are well known in the pro- fession in this county. Mrs. Dailey was a highly accomplished lady, receiving her education at the State Normal School, Bloomington. Her reputation as a teacher was well known in this part of the State, where she was con- sidered one of the best educators in the ungraded schools of the county. But death loves a shining mark, and this accomplished wife and well-beloved mother was stricken down with disease and died Aug. 17, 188C, leaving four children James, John, William and Margaret, all of whom are living. Mrs. Dailey was a consistent and devoted member of the Catholic Church, in which society she was prominent in good works. She was a lady of much refinement and strength of character, and her influ- ence was felt throughout the entire community in which she lived. Her death occurred while living on their own farm in Compromise Township, the home which her husband had purchased after their marriage. Mr. Dailey is the owner of ninety acres of laud on section 30, Kerr Township; both of his farms are now rented, and with his children he resides on section 30, but is not engaged in carrying on the farm himself. He is at present Assessor of the township, to which office he was elected on the People's ticket. He is a Republican, but takes no active interest in politics; religiously he is a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic Church. His brother, Mr. John J. Dailey, resides in Utah, near Park City, and is the owner of the celebrated Dailey mines, valued at $2,000,000. He superintends the mines himself, and single-handed and alone, has worked his way to the uppermost round of the ladder of fortune, and to-day the name of John J. Dailey is considered good for a round million of dollars. EORGE A. WALKER, a successful and en- terprising farmer of Urbana Township, is of Scotch extraction, and was born in the State of New Hampshire, Dec. 17, 1832. His great-grandfather, Andrew Walker, was a native of Ireland, but his grandfather, Robert Walker, was born in New Hampshire, as likewise was the father of pur subject, who was also named Robert. The father's business was that of a machinist, at which employment he was very skillful. He married Miss Nancy Gordon, the daughter of Nathaniel Gordon. The Gordon family were of Scotch and Irish ex- traction. They had settled in the northern part of Ireland during the dissensions that disturbed the reigns of William of Orange and Charles II. In 1836 Robert Walker removed with his fam- ily from New Hampshire to Tazewell County, 111., and located near Pekin, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. His death occurred in March, 1839. His widow and four children were left to struggle alone in the wilderness on the Illinois frontier, in Tazewell County, until 1870, when they removed to Champaign. George A. Walker became the protector of his mother, with whom she lived until her death, which occurred Feb. 24, 1887. in her eighty-eighth year. She was born in 1799. On the 1st of January, 1868, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Perie Drake, the daughter of Ran- dolph Drake. She was born in New Jersey, and after marriage settled with her husband in Taze- well County, whence they removed to this county. She died July 19, 1884, leaving no children. f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Mr. Walker's present farm, containing 100 acres of valuable land, is located on section 29, l.'rbana Township. Mr. Walker began his career in life ham- pered by many disadvantages, and with but little capital save his good common sense and energy. He has by his excellent business qualifications ac- quired a fine landed property, all of which is well cultivated and improved. He is to some extent interested in stock-raising. Mr. Walker possesses sterling qualities of mind and heart. In all social questions he is found on the side of law and order. He has served as School Trustee, ' and is now Supervisor of Urbana Town- ship. He is one of the Deacons of the Baptist Church, and is a consistent Christian in all the re- lations of life. In politics he is a strong Repub- lican, and is also a strict temperance man. ROF. STEPHEN A. FORBES, Ph. D., i State Entomologist and Director of the State Laboratory of Natural History, is connected with the Department of Natural History of the University of Illinois, at Urbana, which embraces courses in Botany, Vegetable Phys- iology, Microscopy, Anatomy, Zoology, Geology, etc. The course in Botany is illustrated by a col- lection of over 1,000 indigenous Illinois plants, and the department constitutes a museum well worth the examination of the student and visitor. Prof. Forbes is eminently qualified for the posi- tion which he holds in this department, both by nature and education. He is a native of Stephenson County, this State, born near Freeport, 111., May 29, 1844. His parents, Isaac S. and Agnes (Van- Hosen) Forbes, were natives respectively of Ver- mont and New York. The father followed the occupation of a farmer. They emigrated to the Prairie State in 183G, and took up a claim of Gov- ernment land four miles from what is now the thriv- ing city of Freeport. This was before the organi- zation of Stephenson County, in which work Isaac Forbes was prominent, and became Postmaster at Silver Creek, occupying the position for a number of years. He belonged to the old Whig party. The parental family included seven children, of whom only four are now living: Mrs. F. A. Bliss; Col. H. C. Forbes; Prof. Stephen A. and Mrs. N. F. Snyder. Isaac Forbes, after building for himself a good record as a business man and citizen, departed this life at his home in Stephenson County, in 1854. The mother survived her hus- band for a period of eighteen years, and closed her eyes to the scenes of earth in 1872. The subject of this biography remained at home on the farm and attended school until fourteen years old. He then went to Beloit, Wis., and entered the academy there, which he attended for one year. Returning home he pursued his studies under the instruction of an older brother, until 1861, at which time there was a call for soldiers to assist in the preservation of the Union. Young Forbes enlisted in Co. B, 7th 111. Vol. Cav., and served four and one-half years, participating in many of the important battles of the war. He was captured at the evacuation of Corinth in 1862, and confined for a period of five months in the prisons of Mobile, Macon and Richmond. He entered the service as private and was mustered out as Captain. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned home and began the study of medicine, also taking a course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chi- cago. Afterward he took up the study of botany and zoology. In 1868 Prof. Forbes commenced teaching in the public schools of Franklin and Jefferson Counties, being thus occupied for three years following, and in the meantime devoting his leisure hours to the study of botany. He taught school during the win- ter season and spent his summers in the fields of Southern Illinois, among the curious plants and shrubs indigenous to that part of the State. In 1872 he was appointed Curator of the State Museum at the Normal University in McLean County, and soon after made Professor, where he remained until 1884. In the meantime he had been appointed State Entomologist by Gov. Cullom, in 1882. In 1884 he was called to his present position by the Trustees of the University, and the duties of which he has fulfilled in a manner satisfactory to all con- cerned. Prof. Forbes was married in 1872, to Miss Clara > fi-24 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. S. (iaston. Mrs. F. is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the daughter of John R. and Frances (Shaw) Gaston, of Normal, 111. Of this union there have been born five children Bertha, Ernest B., Wini- fred, Ethel C. and Richard E. The family occupy a pleasant residence near the University, and num- ber among their friends and associates the refined and cultured people of Urbana. The Professor is ! Republican in politics, and takes a genuine interest in all matters pertaining to the advancement of moral it}' and education. ARK JEAKIN8, deceased, who was of English birth and parentage, emigrated to this country in the spring of 1851, and a few years later became a resident of the Prairie State. He first located in Peoria County, afterward sojourned for a time in Vermilion Coun- ty, and in 1867 settled in the southeastern part of Compromise Township, this county, on section 33. He purchased eighty acres of land, but slightly improved, and at once set himself to work to estab- lish a home and secure a competency. How well he succeeded in this determination is indicated by the fine estate which he left at his death. This in- cludes 200 acres of land, with a fine set of farm buildings and other improvements necessary for the completion of a modern farm homestead. In his course as a husband, father and citizen Mr. Jeakins set an example that is worthy of imita- tion. He was honorable and upright in his trans- actions, prompt to meet his obligations, and left the heritage of a worthy name to his descendants. The boyhood and youth of Mr. Jeakins were spent in Lincolnshire, England, where he was born Sept. 2, 1828. His parents, John and Elizabeth Jeakins, had a family of nine children, of whom six, James, John, Mathew, Charles, Sarah and Mark, accompanied their parents to the United States. Emma, William and Ann are in England. John Jeakins departed this life in Delaware in about 1858. The mother died in Ohio. Our subject re- mained in his native country until attaining his 1 majority, being bred to farm life. In 1851, ac- com panted by his brother James, he emigrated from his native land, arriving in the city of Phila- delphia in May of that year. He took up his abode in the Quaker City, whence two years later he re- moved to Ohio, and from there came to the Prai- rie State. His death occurred Aug. 24, 1885, on the homestead which he had labored so many years to build up and beautify. Mr. Jeakins was twice married, first in Philadel- phia, Pa., in September, 1 851 , and his wife died while on the journey from Philadelphia to Ohio. After coming to this State Mr. Jeakins, on the 1st of January, 1867, was married to Mrs. Phebe Ann (Barton) Gear. Mrs. J. was born in Parke County, Ind., March 28, 1835, and is the daughter of John and Martha Barton, natives of Kentucky. She was reared in Indiana, and was first married Oct. 16, 1864, to Rev. Alexander Gear, a native of Ohio, and a minister of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Gear was always interested in agri- cultural pursuits and followed farming in connec- tion with his ministerial duties. They resided in Indiana a 3 f ear after their marriage, then removed to Vermilion County, this State, where Mr. Gear departed this life Dec. 25, 1865. Of this marriage there were no children. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Jeakins there were born three children John S., Harvey J. and Lillie M. Religiously Mr. J. belonged to the United Brethren Church, of which Mrs. J. is still a member. The latter since the death of her hus- band has. with the assistance of her children, man- aged the farm in a creditable and judicious man- ner, and is a lady greatly respected by all who know her. fENDEL REINHART has been identified with the farming interests and the local af- fairs of Pesotum Township since the spring of 1867, when he came to this county and purchased eighty acres of land lying near the line between Crittendeu and Pesotum Townships. Since that time he has added gradually to his possessions until he now has a fine farm of 320 acres lying partly in each of the townships named. As one of the most t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. prosperous and enterprising of Champaign County's foreign-born citizens, who have contributed so greatly to the development of the Prairie State, we present iu connection with this brief outline of his life the likeness of a face familiar in the useful walks of life and of one who has built up a record enduring and valuable, and which will be looked upon by his descendants years hence with pride and satisfaction. Soon after coming to this section the intelligence of Mr. Rinehart and his value as a man and citizen made itself apparent to his fellow-townsmen, who entrusted him with the various offices within their gift, and the duties of which he discharged in a manner highly satisfactory to them and creditable to himself. Being loyal to the customs of his na- tive country, Germany, he is a believer in compul- sory education, and has always been interested in the establishment and maintenance of schools, doing everything in his power to encourage and promote the cause of education in this section. He served six years as School Director, has been Commissioner of Highways nine years, and Justice of the Peace six years. There have been but few enterprises having for their object the public good, which he has not encouraged and supported, holding very properly to the theory that whatever benefits one citizen is of benefit to all. The subject of this history spent his childhood in the Province of Alsace-Lorraine, now in Ger- many, where he was born on the 5th of February, 1832. When a youth of fifteen years he emigrated to the United States with his parents, Nicholas and Catherine (Pan tier) Reinhart, who, in 1847, came to this State and located in Peoria County, of which their son was a resident for twenty years thereafter. There, as here, he became prominent among the men of his township, which he represented in the Board of Supervisors, and was otherwise connected with its local affairs. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, Jan. 8, 1860, to Mary, daughter of Valentine and Mary (Eberle) Schlink, of Peoria, 111. Of this union there were born three children, two only now living Mary and George. Peter died when five months old ; Mary is the wife of George Gillis, who is proprietor of a farm of eighty acres in Crittenden Township; George married Miss Mary Summers, and also follows farming* tenden Township. The mother of these children departed this life at the home of her husband in Peoria County, on the '28th of March, 1864. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- ried Jan. 16, 1866, was Miss Eva Meister, of Wood- ford County, this State. Of the nine children born of this marriage, two sons, Louis and Frank, died when five years old. The children surviving are Theresa, John W., Joseph, Lizzie, Henry, Charles and Peter E., all at home with their parents. The boys assist their father in the cultivation of the farm, which of late years has been devoted chiefly to the breeding of cattle and horses. Mrs. Mary Reinhart was a devoted member of the German Catholic Church, with which also our subject and his present wife have been connected many years. i-ILLIAM COLLEY is of English descent, and owns eighty acres of well-improved land on section 33, Ayers Township. He was born in Yorkshire, England, Oct. 10, 1846, and is the son of Robert and Ann (Wardell) Colley. When at the tender age of two years he had the misfortune to lose his mother by death. He was then taken to the home of his maternal grandfather, where he grew to boyhood. He attended school in his native land, and at the age of seventeen years was bound out to learn the carpenter's trade, serv- ing as an apprentice for four years. He applied himself with diligence and energy to his work and became very skillful, and was employed in the con- struction of several large and costly edifices. He spent six years working at his trade, and then be- coming interested in the advantages offered the emi- grant by this country, he j'ielded to the desire dear to the heart of every Englishman, of becoming a land-owner, and in 1870 sought the shores of the New World with this end in view. After landing at New York he came at once to Morgan County, 111., where he remained through the winter. After- ward for two years he was employed to work by the month. In 1872 Mr. Colley was married to Miss Ellen 628 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 Swan, who was also of English descent. She \va* born in Illinois, (Jet. IN, 1847.'_.Thcy have two in- teresting children living, and two are dect'a.-cd. The names of the children arc as follows: Thomas W. ; John H., deceased; Eddie S., and another, who died in infancy. The household includes a cousin, Clara Swain, who has made her home at Mr. Col- ley's since her father's death. The energy of Mr. Colley displayed in his pro- fession has been amply rewarded. His land is under good cultivation and he has a tasteful farm e residence and the grounds are well cared for. He owns some fine Hereford stock, good farm machin- ery, and all the appointments of his ( place are well suited to the home of an English country gentle- man. Mr. Colley established his home in this county in 1877, and although comparatively a recent resi- dent, has become largely identified with the inter- ests of the community. He is a member and one of the Trustees of the Methodist Church, and also Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has never taken out his naturalization papers, but re- gards himself as a citizen of the United States, and in politics his sympathies are with the Republican party. The lithographic portrait of Mr. Colley, as shown on another page, will be recognized as that of one of the most useful members of the farming com- munity of this locality, and one who has con- tributed his full quota in enhancing the beauty of the landscape and the value of the soil in Ayers Township. ^ILLIAM BROWN, a well-known resident of the city of Champaign, and formerly one of tne most prosperous farmers of this county, is now living in ease and retirement at his fine residence, No. 502 University avenue. He has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1869, when he came to this county and purchased 140 acres of land in Somer Township, which he im- proved and cultivated until the fall of 1885. He then purchased the handsome property which he now owns in this city, and where, surrounded by the friends who have known him for so many years, he is passing down the sunset hill of life in the midst of comfort and luxury, the reward of an act- ive and energetic business life. Mr. Brown is a native of Virginia, born in Pres- ton County, Oct. 25, 1815. His parents were AVin- dell and Amelia (Moore) Brown, natives of Penn- sylvania, whence they removed after their mar- riage to Virginia, and were engaged there in farm- ing pursuits. In the year 1837 they removed to Union County, Ohio, where Mr. Brown purchased a heavily timbered tract of 400 acres, and where he established a comfortable homestead upon which he passed the remainder of his life, his decease oc- curring in 1851. The mother died two years later, in 1853. Of their nine children three only are now living Aaron, William and Amelia. The subject of this history was reared to farm- ing pursuits, and remained under the home roof until his parents closed their eyes upon the scenes of earth. He afterward occupied the old home- stead until 1869, when he sold out and came to this State. He is what may be properly called a self-made man. He was reared to habits of indus- try and economy, and in his younger days learned to live within his income. He began early in life to accumulate money, and many a day engaged in mowing bay at twenty -five cents per acre, often cutting the grass from four acres in one day. He was also an expert at splitting rails, and would often turn out 200 of these in half a day, after they had been cut from the timber. He was strong, physically, and no one in his county' could lay him on the ground. His early education was conducted in the pioneer log school-house. Those early ex- periences contributed to his independence of char- acter, and laid the foundations for his future suc- cess in life. Since coming to this locality Mr. Brown has been prominentl} 7 connected with the affairs of the county, and has contributed in no small degree in bringing it to its present position as one of the most prosperous sections of the State. He is Dem- ocratic in politics, and has held the offices of School Director and Path Master, besides filling other im- portant positions, and taking a prominent part in the counsels of his fellow-townsmen. Both he and his excellent wife early in life became connected ' 1 4=5 t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 629 j with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are still worthy and consistent members. Mr. Brown has always been interested in the success of the temperance movement, lending his influence and lifting his voice as -opportunity occurred, against the crying evil. The marriage of William Brown and Miss Ke- ziah C. Ford, was celebrated in Union County, Ohio, in 1853. Mrs. Brown is a native of Clarke County, and the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Hanua) Ford, natives respectively of New Jersey and- Ohio. Our subject and wife have become the parents of five children, only three of whom are living: Clark married Miss Sarah Fuller, and they have two children Charlie A. and Helen E. ; they live in Phelps County, Neb. Ray and William A. are living on the home farm. Mr. Ford, the father of Mrs. Brown, during his earlier years engaged in farming in the Buckeye State, but about 1871 removed to this State, where he is still living. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Brown, died in Union County, Ohio, in 1854. Eight of the nine children born to them are now living and. named as follows: Nancy V.. William J., David J., Keziah, John W., Mattie, Ruey and Isabella. Mr. Ford was Justice of the Peace some years in the Buckeye State, and Chaplain of the temperance society there. J" AMES W. STAMEY, an active and prosper- ous farmer of Urbana Township, was born Feb. I, 1842, on the homestead where he ' now resides. His father, Elias Stamey, was the son of Daniel Stamey and came to Champaign County with his mother's uncle, Charles Busey, where he married Miss Nancy D. Busey, and after- ward settled on the farm now occupied by his son, the subject of this sketch. The estate of our subject includes 150 acres, located on section 6. During a very unhealthy season about ten years after his marriage, Elias Stamey died, after which his wife very successfully conducted the farm, in the meantime educating her four sons Matthew E., Daniel W., James W. and John C. James W. remained on the farm with his mother until he was twenty-one years of age, and completed his education at the public school in Urbana. When the estate was divided, the home- stead became his portion, and his mother has since resided with him. She is now in her seventy- second year. James Stamey in 1868 was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Somers, the daughter of James L. Somers, who came from North Carolina and was among the earliest settlers of the county. Mrs. Stamey died Oct. 28, 1886. Mr. Stamey has been engaged principally in gen- eral farming, and raises cattle and hogs, which he sells on the farm and ships to market. His land is well tiled and enclosed with wire fencing. He has a Qne residence and good farm buildings. To Mr. and Mrs. Stamey there were born three children John, Jennie and Frank. Mr. Stamey is an energetic, active man, interested in public affairs, and has filled some of the official positions of the township. ENRY McBRIDE, formerly one of the most prosperous farmers of Scott Township, in 1886 retired to the village of Bondville, where he is enjoying the rest and comfort to which the industry and economy of former years have fully entitled him. He became a resi- dent of Illinois in the spring of 1867, locating first in Fulton County, where he farmed on rented land, and whence he afterward removed to Piatt County of which he was a resident for twelve years. He removed to Bondville in the spring of 1886, where he has become one of its most highly respected citizens. He is a native of Frederick County, Md., born Sept. 6, 1832, and the son of George and So- phia McBride. They also were born in Maryland, where they were reared and married, and where the mother died in about 1836. In the fall of 1853 George McBride removed to Ohio, where he resided one year, and then came to Fulton County, this State. From there he removed to Piatt County, where his death took place Sept. 6, 1884. The three children of the parental household all grew to mature years. When Henry McBride was sixteen years of age, 630 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. he became a resident of the Buckeye State, and there lived until the spring of 18(17. He was brod to farming pursuits, which he followed in Ohio and after coming to this State. Before leaving Ohi, our subject was married, in Preble County, Oct. 25, 1855, to Miss Rebecca M., daughter of William and Mary A. (Martin) Kelley. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley were natives of Virginia, whence they removed to Ohio in about 1814. The wife of our subject was born Jan. 14, 1831, and their marriage resulted in the birth of eight children, of whom Viola C. died when two years old; Luella S., the wife of Thomas Stephenson, is a resident of Piatt County, this State ; Mary A. is at home with her parents; Jacob E. married Miss Clara Connor, and is a resident of Piatt County ; Laura A., Mrs. Charles Ruhl, resides in this county ; William H., Cora O. and Arthur K. remain on the homestead. Mr. and Mrs. McBride are members in good stand- ing of the Methodist Church, and our subject, politically, casts his vote in support of Republican principles. ILO THAYER. The subject of this sketch came to Champaign County in 1871, and purchased eighty acres of wild prairie land on section G, in Rantoul Township. Of this thirty acres had been broken, and upon it there stood a small house in whose erection neither taste, solidity, nor skill had been employed. With some repairs, however, it served as a temporary home for Mr. T. and his family until he was enabled to put up a better one. Since coming here his time has been fully employed in the improvement and cul- tivation of his land, which has now become valuable property, and in the erection of the buildings, in which he may justly feel a large degree of satisfac- tion. The grounds around the residence have been embellished with fruit trees of the finer order and handsome shade trees. The home of Mr. Thayer compares well with that of the prosperous neigh- bors around him, by whom he is respected as a skillful and intelligent farmer and a valued mem- ber of the community. Our subject, in establishing his home in the Prairie State, traveled many miles from the place of his birth, which took place in Vermont, Feb. 28, 1831. He is the son of Gardener Thayer, also a native of the Green Mountain State, who during the year following the birth of his son Milo, removed with his family to New York State, set- tling in Allegany County. The journey was made via Lake Champlain and Champlain to Troy, thence by the Erie Canal to Rochester, and from there to Allegany County. He secured a tract of timber land from the Holland Purchase, and clearing a farm from the wilderness, lived there the balance of his days. He had been married in his native State to Miss Saloma Smith, who journeyed with her husband from Vermont to Allegany County, N. Y., carrying her little son, our subject, much of the way in her arms. She became the mother of ten children, of whom five died when young, and five grew to become men and women : Alonzo is still a resident of Allegany County, N. Y. ; Saloma, who married Charles Carpenter, died there ; Carlton, when a young man removed to Dakota and is still living there in Day County ; Milo of our sketch was the fourth child. . The subject of this biography, when of suitable years, commenced assisting his father in clearing the farm in Allegany County, N. Y., and pursued his early studies in the pioneer schools. When twenty-one years of age, desirous of seeing some- thing of the world, he started for the Pacific slope. The first part of the journey was made via the rail- road, lakes and rivers to Independence, Mo., where he joined a company equipped with ox-teams, and set out to complete the journey to California. After traveling 117 days they reached Hangtown, or Placerville, where our subject entered the gold mines and remained the greater part of the time for four years. In 1856 he returned via the Isthmus and New York to the old homestead in Allegany County. Three years later he took up his location in Canada Township, Allegany County, where he resided until 1871, on a farm which he had pur- chased. In the spring of that year he sold out and made his way to this county, of which he has since been a resident. Two years after returning from California, Mr. Thayer was married in Allegany County, N. Y., I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Doe. 27, 1858, to Miss Mary Wright. Mrs. Thayer was born in Hume, N. Y., March 4, 1838, and is the daughter of Miles and Matilda (Odle) Wright, natives respectively of Vermont and Utica. N. Y. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wright located first in Allegany County, whence they removed to the village of Hume, where they remained the rest of their lives, the father dying in 18(57, and the mother in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Thayer became the parents of eight children, of whom the record is as follows: Sina, who became the wife of Robert Dickey, died in Kantoul in 1883, aged twenty-four years; Julia, Mrs. Reynolds, lives in Rantoul ; Grace, Mrs. George Fletcher, in Condit Township; Matie, Elizabeth, Alonzo, Charlie and Edith are at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Thayer is a Republican. OHN McMULLEN, a highly respected far- mer, and the efficient Supervisor of Scott Township, is pleasantly located on section 10, where he has a good homestead with all modern improvements. He became a resident of the Prairie State in the spring of 1868, and for a period of twelve years lived in Seymour, this countj'. Since coming to the State he has been continuously engaged in farming pursuits. His homestead includes eighty acres, which produces in abundance the choicest crops, and upon which he has a good set of farm buildings, conveniently arranged for the requirements of a modern agri- culturist. Our subject, who was born in Indiana County, Pa., Feb. 2, 1822, is the son of Alexander and Catherine (McKinney) McMullen, natives of Frank- lin County, Pa. After marriage they settled in Indiana County, where Alexander McMullen fol- lowed farming the balance of his life. In the meantime he served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a strong Abolitionist, despising and con- demning the system of slavery. The seven children of the parental household included three boys and, four girls, of whom four survive. John was the third child, lie received a common-school educa- tion and remained at home until twenty years of age. He then served an apprenticeship of two and one-half years at the carpenter's trade, which he followed in his native county until 1868, when he came to this State. John McMullen was married in his native coimty, Nov. 14, 1850, to Miss Eliza- beth Dickie, also a native of Indiana County, Pa., and born June 23, 1830. Her parents were William H. and Jane (Allison) Dickie, natives of the Key- stone State, born in Westmoreland and Indiana Counties respectively. Mr. D. carried on farming in Indiana County, where he and his wife settled soon after marriage and became the parents of five sons and seven daughters. To our subject and his wife there have been born six children, three only of whom survive William II., George D. and Frank H. Those deceased are Thomas B., Catherine J., and an infant unnamed. William married Miss Carrie A. Collins, and resides on a farm in Kansas; George is teach- ing in Colorado; Frank is at home with his parents. Mr. McMullen was elected Supervisor of Scott Township in the spring of 1887. He has held the minor offices of his township, is Republican in politics, and religiously, with his amiable and excel- lent partner, is connected with the Presbyterian Church. J '"JAMES PARSLEY, deceased, was formerly I one of the most enterprising and highly I esteemed citizens of Urbana Township. He ' was a native of Russell County, Va., and was born Jan. 1, 1817. His death occurred July 1, 1880. His father, James Parsley, was of German descent, and was also a native of Virginia, and his mother, Rhoda Crabtree, was a native of the same State. When about fourteen years of age, James Pars- ley moved with his parents to Greene County, Ind., where they settled and the father engaged in farm- ing. A few years later they again changed their home, moving to Marion County, the same State, where they passed the remainder of their days. James grew to manhood in that county and was much attached to the old homestead, continuing to reside upon it until his removal to Champaign 632 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. County, in August, 1863. He first purchased forty acres of land which was partly improved. To this he subsequently added until the present farm con- tains 150 acres. It is located on section 25, Urbana Township, and the residence, barns, and most of the improvements were put upon the place by himself. His laud was brought to a high state of cultivation and he was regarded as one of the most successful stock-raisers in the county. In December, 1856, Mr. Parsley was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Arlington, daughter of Samuel and Matilda (McUuffle) Arlington. The Me Duffles were of Scotch and Irish origin, and natives of the State of North Carolina. When Mrs. Parsley was eighteen months old her parents re- moved to Indiana, where she grew to womanhood. They subsequently moved to Champaign County, where both are now living, in St. Joseph Township. Mr. and Mrs. Parsley became the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, all of whom are living at home. Their names are Edward S., Daniel L., Lee W. and Minnie. During Mr. Parsley's early life in Indiana he was a member of the Lutheran Church, but on settling here, there being no organization of that denomi- nation in the vicinity, he became a member of the Methodist Church, and was one of its Trustees. Mrs. Parsley is a- member of the same church. She occupies the old homestead, and with the assistance of her sons manages the farm very successfully. ,OBERT LESLIE, Agent of the Wabash Railroad and also of the Pacific Express Company, has been a resident of Tolono ) since the fall of 1875. He is a native of the Shetland Islands (belonging to Scotland), and was born June 10, 1850. He is the son of Robert and Ann Leslie, the former of whom came to his death by drowning, in about 1858. The mother afterward emigrated to the United States, and died at the home of her son at Tolono about three months after her arrival. The parental family in- cluded nine children, four now deceased. Ann is a resident of Tolono; John of Savoy; Robert is the third eldest; Christina is a resident of Tolono, and Margaret, the wife of John Eunson, resides on her native island, Shetland. The early years of our subject were spent with his parents on a small farm, where he followed fish- ing as an occupation, and received but a limited education. After attaining his majority, however, he felt the necessity of more book learning and through his own efforts mastered the common branches. In 1873 he set sail for the United States, lauding in New York City in the month of April. From there he proceeded westward, arriving in Chicago on the 1 2th of that month. The follow- ing week he obtained a situation as watchman on one of the Hyde Park trains of the Illinois Central Railroad, which he abandoned, however, on the 10th of June, to work in the car shops of the same company, where he remained one year. He was then detailed to watch and keep in repair the cars received by the Wabash Railroad Company at Tolono. In the fall of 1876 Mr. Leslie took advantage of the reduced rates offered on account of the Cen- tennial Exposition, and started for his native island. Upon the route he visited Niagara Falls and the Centennial Exposition, and then set sail for Liver- pool. He remained in the Queen's dominions un- til the following March, then returned to the United States, and reached Tolono on the 14th of April, 1877. He had left his position with leave of absence, and in the meantime the station had been abandoned, so that upon his return he found himself without a job. He then engaged to work for a farmer at a salary of $14 for two months, but later received $16 per month. During that year he returned to Chicago and entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad as car repairer. After six weeks he was sent by the company to Madison, 111., but in the spring of 1878 returned to the Wa- bash at Tolono, in whose employ he remained as repairer and inspector until this station was con- solidated with the Illinois Central. He was then tendered the position of Baggagemaster, and was thus occupied until Sept. 1, 1881, when he was promoted to Assistant Station Agent of the W., St. L. & P. R. R. In February, 1883, he was ten- dered his present position. His successive promo- ** CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 633 tions have been ample evidence of his fidelitj' in the discharge of his duties, while as a citizen he is highly esteemed by the people of Tolono. He casts his vote with the Republican party, and relig- iously is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church. Mr. Leslie was married in 1879 to Miss Mary, daughter of Archibald B. and Christiana (Stewart) Campbell. She is a native of Scotland and born in 1861. They became the parents of three chil- dren, of whom one daughter died at the age of five years. Those surviving are Anna J. and William R. ABAN C. BURR represents the furniture and undertaking business at Tolono. He is a native of the Prairie State, and was born in Charleston, Coles County, Oct. 1, 1831. His father, Samuel P. Burr, a native of New Hamp- shire, was born Sept. 8, 1809, and was the son of Laban and Prudence (Gushing) Burr, the latter a descendant of Caleb Gushing, the eminent jurist. The Burr family are of English extraction and can be traced back to Rev. Jonathan Burr, who was born in 1604 in Redgrove, Suffolk, England, and came to the United States in 1639, settling in Dor- chester, N. H. He had four children. His sons were Jonathan, John and Simon. From John, Aaron Burr descended; from Simon, our subject descended. John, the son of Simon, married Mary AVarren ; Jonathan, the son of John, married Mary Lincoln ; John, his son, married a Miss Gushing, of Hingham, a descendant of Matthew Gushing, one of the first settlers of New England, and this brings us to the great-grandfather of our subject. His sons were Samuel, Gushing, Levi, Perey, Theophilus, Robert and Laban. He had one daughter, Emma. In 1820 Laban Burr emigrated with his family to Illinois, settling near Paris, Edgar County, among the pioneers. There the father of our subject grew to manhood, and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he continued during the remainder of his life. He was a man singularly retiring in disposition, never seeking to promote himself, and at one time declined a desira- ble charge in Chicago to accept one in the little town of Wilmington, 111. He married Miss Mar- gery A. Modrell, who was born in Kentucky, and came with her parents to Illinois when a young child. She departed this life in about 1834, leav- ing three children George W. and Laban C. (twins), and a daughter, Julia A., now deceased. In due time the father was married the second time, Miss Almira J. Evans becoming his wife. Of this union there were five children Louisa, Mary, Charles, Jessie and Maude. The subject of our sketch was but three years old when his mother died and his father entered the ministry. Until the second marriage the chil- dren were boarded among the membership of the church. Laban C. received a common-school edu- cation, and when fifteen years of age became an apprentice to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker in Wilmington, 111. Subsequently he attended two years at the Paris Academy. In the spring of 1853 he started overland for California, and remained on the Pacific slope until the fall of 1856. After being successfully engaged in mining and at his trade, he returned via the Isthmus of Panama and New York. He had quite a little capital upon returning to Illinois, a part of which, however, he expended in payment of money which he had bor- rowed to cross the plains. He loaned the balance of the money which he had saved, and engaged as clerk in a store. In the spring of 1858 Mr. Burr married Miss Rebecca Thrasher, and purchased 120 acres of prairie land in Charleston, Coles County, besides twenty-six acres of timber. He followed farming about five years and then, on account of the dis- turbances arising from the Rebellion, which was then in progress, he sold out and removed to To- lono, of which he has since been a resident. After coining here he engaged as a contractor and builder for three years, and then resumed cabinet-making. In due time he purchased a stock of furniture, and established one of the pioneer stores of the kind in Champaign County. Upon reaching his majority Mr. Burr became a member of the old Whig party, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. AVinfield Scott. In the summer of 1856 he was selected as a delegate to the first Republican State Convention of California, at t 634 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ** the time when the old party was about to be aban- doned in consequence of the organization of the Republican. Upon his return from the Pacific slope and at the next presidential election, our sub- ject voted for John C. Fremont, and has since been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. lie always took a lively interest in State and National affairs, and while a resident of Coles County was frequently sent as a delegate to political conven- tions. Since coming to Champaign County he has held nearly all the local offices and served for six years as Supervisor of Tolono Township. Relig- iously he has been an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church since early manhood, occu- pying important offices therein and serving as Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, besides work- ing in other directions for the success of the Gos- pel generally. He has also been a delegate to the Conference, and at Danville was elected Presiding Officer of the lay delegates. Mrs. Burr was born in Coles County, this State, and was the daughter of Robert and Margaret (Sousley) Thrasher, natives of Kentucky. Of her union with our subject there were born four chil- dren: Luella, the wife of Charles Trimble; Laban A., a practicing physician of White Oak, 111. ; Kent, who died in infancy, and dishing L., who is now a student in the Wesleyan University at Blooming- ton. Mr. Burr was a second time married, May 2i, 1874, to Miss Hannah Smith, of Tolono. By this union there is no issue. Mr. Burr has been uni- formly successful in his business operations since becoming a resident of Tolono Township, and be- sides his ample stock of goods, owns the store, his pleasant and commodious residence and other vil- lage property. He also has an interest in Nebraska lands. BERNARD YOUNGMAN, one of the first projectors of the manufacture of tile in this State, is still a young man, but possesses the energy and good judgment of one having acquaintance with a greater number of years. Since 1884 he has been a resident of Pesotum, where he lias successfully carried on the tile factory which lie purchased, and which he has equipped with new machinery and enlarged its capacity so that he can fill a large order expeditiously and with the best goods. This important industry has been no small factor in the business interests of Pesotum, and is fully appreciated by the surrounding farmers, many of whom possess a large area which would be practically worthless were it not for thorough drainage. The subject of this history drew his first breath on the other side of the Atlantic, in the little King- dom of Bavaria, on the 9th of November, 1848. His parents, Michael and Margaret (Peisch) Young- man, were natives of the same country, and the former served as a soldier in the standing army of the Empire of Germany, for a period of sixteen years. Afterward he engaged in agrcultural pur- suits until 1853, when he sold out his interest in the land of his nativity and set sail for America. After landing in New Orleans he followed the river up to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he met friends who accompanied him with his family into the country. He chose for his location a tract of eighty acres in Ripley County, Ind.j where he es- tablished a comfortable home for his family, and carried on the improvement and cultivation of this until the death of the wife and mother, in 1865. Afterward he left his farm in charge of his son Jacob, and has since spent his time among his chil- dren. Bernard Youngman remained under the parental roof until the death of his mother, when he began the battle of life alone and among strangers in another locality. He operated a farm one season, and then going into Decatur County, Ind., engaged in a tile factory near^ the town of Greensburg, and which was the second institution of the kind in the State. Tile drainage was then in its infancy, and the machinery used in its manufacture was consid- erably behind that of the present time. His brother, Fred Youngmau, turned out the first tile made in the State of Indiana. Our subject re- mained an employe at this place for a period of six years, during which time he gave the manufacture of tile his strict attention, and became a thorough master of the art. Removing to Indianapolis he followed his trade in that city until about 1873, when he came to Peoria County, this State, where L ^ ..- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 637 he opened up a tile factory for II. G. McCullougli, who was the first manufacturer of the kind in that county. After getting this fully under way, and in the meantime having established his reputation as a competent workman and superintendent, he was called to Warren County, and at Monmouth estab- lished a tile factory for the firm of Patten Bros., this being the first of its kind also in Warren Coun- ty. Thence he went to Fulton County, opening the first factory there for Furry & Ellis. He re- mained with these gentlemen for a period of four years, and from there came to this county and, in company with Martin Heckard, established a tile factory at Tolono, which they operated under the firm name of Youngman & Heckard for two years. Our subject then sold out his interest to his part- ner, and returning to Indiana located on a farm of ninety acres, in Howard County, where he intended establishing his permanent home. Eighteen months later he was induced to sell this at a price much greater than what he paid. Soon afterward he re- turned to Tolono, where his old partner was still en- gaged in the tile business. Mr. Youngman purchased his former interest in the factory, and the firm took in a third partner and commenced enlarging the facilities for manufacturing, adding steam power and putting in modern machinery. After operating successfully for the two years following Mr. Young- man once more disposed of his interests at Tolono,, and purchased the valuable plant owned and opera- ted by Davis & Crawford in Pesotum. For this he paid the sum of $5,300, and also equipped it with new machinery, so that it is not now excelled by anything of the kind in Central Illinois. While having extensive business interests to en- gage his attention Mr. Youngman yet felt that his life was incomplete, and that his partners in business did not fully supply what was requisite for his en- tire comfort. It is probable that this matter had already been under consideration between himself and the lady whom he had selected as the nearer companion of his life. In 1885 he went to Cleve- land, Ohio, and brought back with him Miss Lena M. Henry, to whom he was married in Indianapo- lis, on the 15th of November. They at once set up housekeeping in Pesotum, where Mr. Youngman, with commendable forethought, had purchased the property of William Hoc, and caused to be erected thereon a snug cottage, which has remained the residence of himself and wife since that time. The house is tastefully finished and furnished, and there is in the village of Pesotum no pleasanter resort for refined and cultivated people. The wife of our sub- ject was the sixth child of Joseph and Mary (Youngman) Henry, who were natives of the Franco-German Provinces of Alsace and Bavaria respectively. They came to the United States with their parents in their youth, and were reared in Indiana. The father is deceased, and the mother is living on the old home place. The residence of Mr. Youngman and the tile fac- tory are objects of great interest to the people of Pesotum, as evincing the energy and industry of one of its most important citizens, and we have taken pleasure in reproducing the picture they form as a fitting tribute to manly enterprise, and as serving to assist in illustrating the attractive feat- ures of Pesotum and vicinity. AMUEL VAN BRUNT. This honored citizen of Philo Township owns and oc- cupies a fine homestead, including 280 acres of land on section 12, and which from its character and surroundings has been deemed as especially desirable for illustration by the artist's pencil, as will be seen by examination of another page. Mr. Van Brunt, besides the home farm, also has eighty acres on section 1, and has been a resi- dent of this locality since 1869. He came to this county in 1855, and for a number of years carried on farming in Sidney Township. He was accom- panied to this locality by his father, who purchased 160 acres in Sidney Township, where he carried on farming for a period of five years. This gentleman, Samuel Van Brunt, Sr., was of German ancestry, but born in New Jersey. His father, Hendrick Van Brunt, was from Holland, whence he emigrated to the United States when a young man, settling in New Jersey, and afterward becoming a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He remained with the army until the independence of the Colonies was estab- lished and afterward engaged in farming, which he f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. followed as long as able to labor, and died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He had, in the meantime, removed from New Jersey to Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1839, where his death occurred in 1854. The grandmother of our subject was a New En- gland lady of Scottish and French ancestry. She lived to remove with her husband to Indiana, and died upon the homestead there four days after his decease. They were people highly esteemed wherever known, and possessed those traits of character which constituted them valued members of the community. The grandfather during his early life was employed as a ship carpenter. Their son Samuel, the father of our subject, grew to man- ho'od in New Jersey, and afterward went to Ohio, where he located on a farm in Darke County. There his father joined him a few years later. He also in that county met and married the mother of our subject, who in her girlhood was Miss Melvina Brown. It is supposed that she was born in Darke County, Ohio, where she was reared and married. The parents of our subject afterward removed to Clinton County, Ind., and later to Tippecanoe County, where the mother died in 1850, and was buried in the old battle-field graveyard at Tippe- canoe, as were also her father and mother-in-law. After the death of his wife Samuel Van Brunt, Sr., in 1855 came to this county and located in Sid- ney Township, where he lived five years. He then sold out and removed to Warren County, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1860, when he was fifty-nine years old. He was a man of strong views and much force of character, and after the time that he first exercised the right of suffrage, voted the straight Democratic ticket. He was a member of the Christian Church for many years. The mother died in the faith of the United Brethren. The subject of our sketch was born in Darke County, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1841. He was the fifth child of the household circle, of whom there were four sons and four daughters. Two of the sons and three of the daughters are yet living. Maj. Mend rick Van Brunt served as a soldier in the late war, and at the battle of Lookout Mountain was wounded and captured, and after experiencing all the horrors of Libby Prison, yielded up his life within its confines. He enlisted as a private in the 10th Iowa Infantry, and endured with his comrades, bravely and faithfully, all the vicissitudes of war, leaving behind him a good record as a faithful observer of his duties both as a man and a soldier. Samuel Van Brunt of our sketch spent his child- hood and youth in Darke County, Ohio, and came to Illinois with his parents. Upon the first call for 500,000 men he enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. I, 10th 111. Vol. Cav., under Capt. Butterfield and Col. D. Wickersham, his regiment being assigned to the Army of the Southwest. He participated with his comrades in the battles of Prairie Grove, Ark., Little Rock, Bull's Bayou, and various minor engagements and skirmishes. He was detailed as commander of a foraging squad many times during the service. In 18G3, at Brownsville, Ark., he was promoted Quartermaster Sergeant, and remained with his regiment until the close of the war, re- ceiving his final discharge at San Antonio, Tex. After his retirement from the army he returned to his home in Sidney Township, this county, and be- gan farming on his own account. Three years later he removed to his present farm in Philo Township, and since that time has been actively engaged in its cultivation and improvement. He has a fine selection of Short-horn cattle, and has been very successful in the breeding of Poland-China swine. The residence and out-buildings are shapely and substantial structures, the farm machinery of first- class description, and everything about the premises indicates the industry and enterprise of its pro- prietor. The marriage of Samuel Van Brunt and Miss Rachael B. Samson was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Sidney Township, this county. March 19, 1866. Mrs. Van B. was born in Mar- shall, near Plymouth, Ind., Feb. 14, 1847. She is the daughter of Willard and Margaret (Grande!) Samson, the former a native of New York State, and the latter of Canada. They were married in the Dominion and later came to the United States, locating first in Indiana, and thence removed to Sidney Township, this county, where the father died in 1876. The mother is yet living and sixty- seven years of age. The wife of our subject was reared by her parents and remained a member of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 639 t ] the household circle until her marriage. Of their union there were eight children, of whom one, Mar- cus C., met his death by accident at Lexington, Mo., on the 18th of April, 1887. While in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, as brakeman, and passing under an elevated wagon bridge, he was struck jn the back of the head and instantly killed. He was a young man of great promise and excellent character, and greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances. He was buried with railroad honors, and the rich floral offerings, together with the large at- tendance, attested the affection and respect in which he was held by his friends and by his employers. The surviving children of our subject and his wife arc, Raymond B., Gertrude II., Earl E., Eddie, Murton S., Chester S. and Clyde. Mr. and Mrs. Van II. are active members of the Christian Church, and our subject politically is a warm supporter of the Republican party. He has held the offices of Road Commissioner and School Director, and in all re- spects is worthy to be classed as a valued and use- ful member of the community. Mrs. Van B. also, is a highly esteemed lady. C. HOWARD, M. D., one of the oldest phy- sicians of Champaign County, and who has been remarkably skillful and successful in his calling, came to this vicinity in the spring of 1854, and for a period of over thirty years has been an admired and respected citizen who, by his uprightness of character and enterpris- ing business talent, has fully identified himself with the interests of the county. Dr. Howard was born in the Empire State, on the 12th of July, 1829, while his parents were residents of Monroe County. He is the son of Eleazer and Matilda (Wood) How- ard, who were born in Tolland County, Conn., the former in Union and the latter in Ashland Town- ship. Eleazer Howard at an early day removed from his native State, and located on a farm near the city of Rochester, N. Y., where he lived sixteen years. Subsequently he became a resident of the town of Yates. where he engaged in farming and hotel- keeping for another sixteen years, and from there removed to Franklin County, Ohio, where for ten years he was occupied in farming and milling. In 1851 he resolved to push on further westward, and came to Illinois, locating in McLean County, where he made his home until his death, which occurred after he had arrived at the advanced age of eighty- two years. The parental household included six children, one of whom died in infancy. Four are now living, namely, George M., Dan O., John W. and our subject. Dr. Howard was reared on the farm, and remained with his parents until seventeen years of age, in the meantime receiving a practical education. He then went to Columbus, Ohio, and entered upon the study of medicine under the instruction of Profs. Hamilton & Butterfield, and was admitted to prac- tice in 1851, commencing in a New York hospital, which was the refuge for emigrants and those un- fortunates who were partly the objects of charity. He remained there two } T ears, then came to McLean County, this State, and located in Le Roy for one year, whence he removed to this county and has since remained. He was admitted to the State Medical Society of Ohio in 1851, and is a member of the State, District and County Societies. He is Republican in politics, and socially belongs to the I. O. O. F. and A. F. & A. M. Aside from his practice Dr. Howard has been engaged in developing mines in Colorado for the last six years, and patented several claims the past year. He has also been occupied in buying and selling Florida orange lands, having a town laid out on his own estate there, which is called Au ben- dale. He donated eighty acres of land to secure the South Florida Railroad through that town. He has heretofore been quite prominently identified with railroad interests, having been President of the Gainesville, Ocala & Charlotte Harbor Rail- road in Florida. It will thus be seen that his life has been full of activity, and it is certain that he enjoj's himself in no other way so well. His busy brain is ever devising some new plan for the devel- opment of some new section of country or some new and worthy enterprise. Were it not for such men America might have remained in its original condition, without railroads or manufactories, and 4 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. the thousand other things which now make life a pleasure and satisfaction. Dr. Howard was married, in 1857, to Miss Mi- randa Monroe, who was a native of Rochester, N. Y., and the daughter of John and Catherine (Ayers) Monroe, natives of New York and New Jersey respectively. Of this union there were born live children: Edwin M. married Miss Belle Brooks, of Florida, where he is now engaged in the loan, land and fruit business; Mary M. ; John H. was killed in a railroad collision in Colorado; Charles P., and Harta C., Jr., are living with their parents in Champaign. The family residence is located upon the corner of Church and Randolph streets, and the Doctor's office is at the corner of Main and Neal streets. TEPHEN G. WILLIAMS is a successful farmer residing in Urbana Township on section 11. He is a native of the State of Indiana, and was born in Madison County, 16, 1836. The great-great-grandfather of our subject was Richard Williams, and the family came to America about the time of William Penn. They were of Welsh extraction. His great-grand- father was Silas Williams, the grandfather was Will- iam Williams, ~and our subject's father was Caleb Williams. The paternal grandfather of Stephen G. Williams was born in Grayson County, Va., Oct. 4, 1805. In 1811 he came North, and first located in Ohio; afterward, when his son Caleb was about sixteen years of age, he changed his residence to Indiana, becoming one of the first settlers in Madison County. Here also he established the first nursery in the State. Caleb remained with his father until he reached years of maturity, when he married Miss Hannah Gregg. Her family were originally Virginians, but she was born in Ohio. Caleb Will- iams settled in Madison County, Ind., and remained there until the spring of 1865, when he removed with his family to this county, locating on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Stephen (J. He was a surveyor in Indiana, as was his grandfather in Virginia. Nov. Of the family of William Williams, Caleb and one sister are the only members now living. The sister is a resident of Madison County, Ind. The children of Caleb Williams, five in number, in- cluded three boys and two girls, all of whom are now living and have families, and whose homes are scattered throughout the different States. The record is as follows: Milton resides in Thomas County, Kan.; Stephen G. is the subject of this sketch; Silas resides in Madison County, Ind.; Lydia is married to James Kinworthy, of Washing- ton Territory; Elizabeth is the wife of James Smith. The mother of these children died June 6, ' 1855. Caleb Williams is still living, a hale and hearty man, although he is now eighty-two years of age. He is actively interested in politics, and always votes the Republican ticket. He is a mem- ber of the Friends' Church. Stephen G. Williams was reared on his father's farm in Madison County, Ind., and learned to read his primer in the log school-house in the neighbor- hood. Possessing a naturally quick, intelligent mind, he acquired a good knowledge of the com- mon branches of study. He resided with his par- ents until reaching manhood, and in March, 1862, was married to Miss Massey W., daughter of John G. and Anna (Warner) Oldham. Mr. and Mrs. Williams became the parents of five children, three of whom are living Miriam, Jason and Olive. After his marriage he continued to reside at the home farm until the spring of 1865, when he moved with his family to this county, and commenced farming on a 100-acre tract of land. To this he has since added until he now has 200 acres, com- prising some of the finest land in the county. The soil is excellent, and well adapted to the produc- tion of all kinds of grain. The property is well fenced and tiled, and Mr. Williams carries on general farming. He raises the choice breeds of hogs and cattle, and has now about thirty-two head of fine steers. From a sixty -acre field he has harvested 1,600 bushels of the choicest quality of wheat. Mr. Williams is considerably interested in the public affairs of the county, and has served three years as Road Commissioner, and for seven- years filled the position of Supervisor. While holding CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 641 the latter office, he was Chairman of the committee on public grounds and buildings, and also served on the committee on poor-house and farm, and likewise on the committee on fees and salaries for one year. Religiously himself and wife are mem- bers of the Society of Friends. W. M. CONANT, junior member of the firm of Fleming & Conant, hardware mer- chants of Champaign, is, with his partner, carrying on a profitable trade at No. 69 Neal street, which was established in 1884. Our subject is a native of Shelbyville, this State, and was born March 12, 1856. His parents were Sam- uel D. and Mary E. (Stratton) Conant, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. Samuel Conant, who was engaged as a boot and shoe merchant in his native State, emigrated to Illinois in 1850, while still a young man, settling first in Springfield. After a year's residence in the capital city he removed to Winchester, Scott County, where he established in his former busi- ness, which he carried on three years. Thence he removed to Shelbyville, and from there in 1857 re- turned to the Bay State, where he spent two years. At the expiration of this time he .came back to Shelbyville, which renmined his residence until after the close of the war. After a residence in Winchester of nine months he removed to Urbana, where he remained until 1868, then came to Champaign, which remained his home until his death, in 1885. The mother is still living, making her home with her son, our subject. Of the three children com- prising the parental family only two are now liv- ing Josie E., Mrs. House of Chicago, and S. W. M., of our sketch. Samuel Conant was a stanch adherent of the Republican party, also a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and was a member in good standing of the Baptist Church for about eighteen years. The mother still belongs to that church. Young Conant attended school during his child- hood, and in 1868 commenced working on a farm. Three years later he began serving an apprentice- ship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed un- til 1883. Toward the latter part of that year, in company with his present partner, he purchased the hardware styck of 15. F. Harrison, and has been connected with it since that time. In addition to the store, which contains a well-selected assortment of articles pertaining to this branch of trade, they carry on a tinshop and usually give employment to three men. Mr. C. is a wide-awake young busi- ness man, having decided ideas upon matters of general interest, and politically casts his vote with the Republican party. He was united in marriage with Miss Julia B. Jenkins, July 13, 1887, at Am- boy, 111. 0- ASPER C. BENJAMIN. The name of this gentleman is well known throughout Com- promise Township. He is a genuine repre- sentative of the thrift and enterprise which have been the means of developing the resources of Champaign County, and which have assisted in giv- ing to it the best class of people. Mr. Benjamin spent the first four years of his life near the town of Fredouia, Licking Co.. Ohio, where he was born March 3, 1850, and whence his parents removed in 1854 to this State. They located first in Randolph, McLean County, where they staid the following twenty-one years, and where our subject was reared to manhood, and married. He was but twenty years of age at the time of this interesting event, and soon afterward established his bride in a modest home on a tract of land which he had rented and where he carried on farming two years. Afterward he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land, which he sold a year later and then practically be- came a real-estate dealer, buying and selling with fair results until the spring of 1875. In the year last mentioned Mr. Benjamin came into this county, and in company with his father purchased 400 acres of improved land. The panic of 1876 disorganized the plans of many men, and our subject suffered in common with the others, although perhaps in a different manner. On account of illness in his family, he was finally compelled to sell his interests in the property aforesaid to his father, and was variously occupied until the spring of 1878. He then purchased 120 acres, mostly wild land, at $16.50 per acre. From this he slowly but I , , 642 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. surely built up a homestead, laid off the fields and fenced them, drained the land with tile, and sold it at an advance of $21 per acre. In 1885 he purchased another tract of eighty acres in Harwood Township, where he proceeded the same as before. In the meantime, in connection with his farming Mr. Benjamin had established a furniture and un- dertaking business at Gifford, which he conducted successfully for three years. He then sold out, and in company with Edward West purchased a few choice imported Norman horses, in which they operated successfully for a number of years. After closing out this business Mr. Benjamin invested in a stock of general merchandise in which he built up a good trade, and sold out profitably in the spring of 1 887. Since that time he has been dealing in buggies, carriages and wagons. Besides his farm property Mr. Benjamin now has a fine residence in the village of Gifford and is ranked among its most valued citizens. In a pleasant home, surrounded by his family and friends, he is largely enjoying the good things of this life and it has never been said that he secured his property otherwise than by fair and honest dealing. The marriage of Mr. Benjamin took place on the 20th of March, 1870, he choosing from among the maidens of McLean County Miss Mary L., daughter of Philander and Samantha Pierce, and who was born Sept. 18, 1852, at Athens, Menard County, this State. The parents of Mrs. Benjamin are natives of New York, whence they removed to McLean County, 111., in 1869. They located upon a farm and are still living, being prominent people in that section and universally esteemed. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin are: Alcie, Lillie, Lon P., Floyd, Carrol, Fern and Fannie. Carrol and Floyd died young. Mrs. Benjamin presides over the home of her husband with dignity and grace and is a member in good standing of the Christian Church. Our subject is Republican in politics, and besides being prominent generally in the affairs of his township, represented it in the Board of Super- visors two years. The father of our subject, William J. Benjamin, a native of Ohio, was born July 8, 1826. He was distinguished as a thorough business man and -a good financier. He commenced life on his own account at an early age, becoming a stock dealer when eighteen years old, buying and shipping to Wheeling and other Eastern markets. When twenty- two years of age he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Myers, of Licking County, Ohio, the wedding- taking place Feb. 2, 1848. Of this union there were born seven children, five sons and two daughters. The subject of this sketch and his brother George W. were born in Ohio, and the others in McLean County, 111. A few years after his marriage William J. Benjamin, accompanied by his wife and family and a colony of neighbors, started overland for McLean County, 111. He possessed a sum of money, and after arriving at his destination selected the land upon which he wished to locate and went to Danville to enter and pay for the same. Upon arriving there he found that his money was "wild-cat" and was not receivable for land. He turned homeward, much disappointed of course, but succeeded in exchanging his "paper" for a pair of small ponies. A year later he had obtained sufficient "legal tender" to purchase eighty acres of land near Bloom ington, which he disposed of afterward at a good profit, and has been dealing in real estate considerably since that time. A few years ago he began the importation and breeding of Norman horses. In 1883 he removed from Champaign to Iroquois County, where he now resides and is the proprietor of a'fine stock farm. The grandfather of our subject, Christopher Ben- jamin, was a native of Virginia, born in 1803. He emigrated to Ohio at an early period in the history of that State and located in Licking County, where he lived until 1852, and then came to Peoria County, 111., making the trip overland by team. Here he purchased a tract of land and spent his time in farming pursuits until retiring from active labor. His death took place in 1880. He was seventy-seven years of age. His wife, formerly Miss Mary Ingraham, was a native of Ohio, and they had a family of eight children, namely, Will- iam J., Joab, Elizabeth A., Marion, Wilson S., Abraham, Marion and Melvina. The two latter died when about twenty and twenty -five years of age respectively. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Rev. John Myers, a native of Pennsylvania, who was CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 643 born in 1800, and died in Illinois in 186'J. His wife, formerly Miss Jane Gosnell, was also a native of the Keystone State, and their marriage took place in 1822. Grandmother Myers survived her hus- band until the following year, and the remains of both were laid to rest in Bloomington Cemetery. They also were settlers of Licking County, Ohio, whence they emigrated to McLean County, this State, in 1854. I W. WILSON, a successful farmer and stock-grower, is located on section 30, Sidney Township. He was born in the North of Ireland, County Tyrone, Feb. 14, 1834, and is the son of Andrew and Jane (Ray) Wilson. His father, being dissatisfied with the unfavorable conditions existing in his native country for secur- ing a competency, emigrated to America in 1848. After remaining a few months in New York City he came~directly to Champaign County, 111., locat- ing in Old Homer, where he lived until his death, which occurred Feb. 27, 1871. With the courage and enterprise which characterize the Irish race he struggled successfully with the difficulties of pio- neer life, preparing the way for the future prosper- ity of his children. His wife is still living, and re- sides in the village of Philo. There were nine chil- dren in their family, viz., George, the subject of this sketch: James, Margaret, Andrew, Thomas, Caroline E., Thomas, Jane and John. Of these the last three are deceased. On the 27th of November, 1862, Mr. George Wilson was married to Miss Amanda Leasure, daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Wood) Leasure. She was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Nov. 23, 1 841 , and had but one brother, James P. Leasure. Her parents came from Ohio to Champaign County in 1851. Her mother died Nov. 1, 1867, and her father Oct. 19, 1880. Mr. Wilson and his wife became the parents of fifteen children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: James A., born Nov. 1, 1863, died Jan. 4, 1864; Henry L., born Sept. 29, 1864, died Sept. 4, 1865; Freddie C., born Dec. 14, 1865, died the same day; Charles M. was born Jan. 2'J. 1867; Re- becca J., Aug. 21, 1868; Thomas, born March 3, 1870, died the same day; Martin G. was born Jan. 17, 1871; Celia A., Nov. 21, 1872; William and Mary (twins), bom Aug. 6, 1874, died August 18, of the same year ; Maggie 13. was born Aug. 24, 1 875 ; Royal P., March 15, 1879; Oral B., Feb. 18, 1880: Charlotte, born July 5, 1881, died Nov. 4, 1882, and Elma I. was born May 28, 1882. Mr. Wilson is a man whose uprightness of char- acter and business energy have won the regard of all who know him. He owns 120 acres of well im- proved land, and takes a deep interest in public affairs. With his wife and four of his children he is an influential member of the Methodist Church. In politics he belongs to the Democratic party. HOMAS WRIGHT, proprietor of the Enter- prise Foundry and Machine Shops at Urbana, is a native of Staffordshire, England, and was born Aug. 8, 1828. He is the son of William and Mary (Pool) Wright, natives of the same country, where the former was engaged in the boot and shoe business until his death. He carried on quite an extensive manufactory and gave emploj'- ment to a number of men. The mother died in England in 1850. Her father, Thomas Pool, also a native of England, was of Welsh ancestry and engaged in the iron works in Dudley Port, Staf- fordshire. Of the thirteen children of William and Mary Wright, Thomas, of our sketch, was the eldest but one. He attended school during his childhood days and at an early period in his life commenced working in a foundry and became* very skillful. He is also a man of more than ordinary intelligence and although leaving school at an early age, has gained by his own efforts a large amount of useful knowledge and ranks among the well-informed citi- zens of his community. He left his native coun- try April 24, 1854, and started for America, taking passage on the steamer Black Hawk, which was wrecked in mid-ocean, the cargo and passengers being picked up by the ship Dirigo, a Scotch mer- chantman. During this time our subject assisted at i f - , 644 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. tin 1 pumps and for four days had not a dry thread of clothing on him. He survived, however, with- out serious injury, and after lauding on American shores engaged first in a foundry in New York and Brooklyn. He then went south to Charleston, S. C., on the steamship James Adjer, afterward to Atlanta, Ga., and during the winter following worked at his trade. He then returned North, and going into New Albany, Ind., was similarly occupied for two years, after which he returned to Atlanta, where he remained during the war, having charge of Win- ship's Foundry, which he operated for the Govern- ment. During the bombardment of the city shells came through the walls above him and he assisted in putting out the fires. Becoming tired of shot and shell and the general confusion of war, our subject was taken back to Indianapolis by the Government, and until 1865 was engaged there in the foundry and machine shops. In the meantime, as he had property in Atlanta, he returned to the South at the expense of Uncle Sam, only to find, however, that his residence had been destroyed by the rebels. He remained South until a position was offered him by A. Snede- ker, of Urbana, and he then returned North and to this conn ty, taking charge of the foundry and machine shops of this establishment until 1871, being foreman four years. Afterward, in connec- tion with the University Machine Shops, he estab- lished a foundry which he operated eight years, He then built the Champaign Foundry, where he remained three years, afterward purchasing the machine shops and foundry of Mr. Suedeker, in Urbana, of which he has since been the proprietor, and operated it in connection with his sons. Our subject was married in 1850, to Miss Harriet While, a native of England, and daughter of Will- iam and Mary A. While. Of this union there have been born ten children, eight of whom are living: Anna, Mrs. George Bryant, is the mother of four children, and a resident of Atlanta, Ga., as also is Annie G., Mrs. Saddler, and Emma, Mrs. Tarflinger; Henry F. married Miss Jolly, of Champaign ; Charles married Miss Sophia Smith. Those at home are John P., Joseph E. and Arthur D. Mr. Wright is independent in politics, and socially a member of the I. O. O. F. Both he and his ex- cellent wife are connected with the Protestant Episcopal Church. Mr. W. as a business man and citizen takes an active interest in the welfare of his county and community, and is contributing his quota toward building up their industries. fOHN COOK, who represents the agricultural implement trade at Tolono, is a native of Bedford County, PA,., and was born March 8, 1826. He is the son of Ezekiel Cook, a native of Maryland and of Scotch descent. The mother, formerly Miss Elizabeth Leader, was a native of Bedford County, Pa., and the daughter of a German farmer, who carried on his occupation in the Keystone State for many years. Ezekiel Cook died in Bedford County, aged eighty-four years and eleven months. The mother of our sub- ject also lived to an advanced age, being eighty-four years old at the time of her death. The children of Ezekiel and Elizabeth Cook, eleven in number, were all born in Pennsylvania. Of these, three died in childhood. The balance lived to become men and women and were as follows: Sarah, Mrs. Ritchey; Catherine, Mrs. W. F. Woy; Eliza and Henry, deceased; Lucinda, Mrs. Ritchey; Rebecca, Mrs. Samuel Maxwell; Ezekiel, and John, of our sketch. Our subject remained with his parents on the farm, receiving a limited education, his longest term in one year being forty-eight days. He did not attend school until thirteen years of age, at which time free schools were first established in that section, but had received the rudiments of his education at home. His father in addition to the labors of the farm, carried on a blacksmith-shop, and our subject, as soon as large enough, commenced to operate the bellows, and gradually gained a good knowledge of the trade. He was a bright boy, and after learning to read, pursued his studies as op- portunity afforded and became master, not only of the common branches, but the higher mathematics. When twenty-one years of age he was well fitted for teaching, at which he employed himself during the four winters following, working on the farm and in the shop during the summer seasons. In 1851 the marriage of John Cook and Miss -CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 645 . . Barbara Lee took place in Bedford County. The father of our subject presented him with a farm of 125 acres, which he cultivated, and also worked at his trade. After the breaking out of the Civil War he, in 18G4, enlisted in the 99th Pennsylvania Infantry and served until the close, being present at the surrender of Lee's army. After he had received his honorable discharge he returned to his farm in Bedford County, Pa., and soon afterward, in the fall of 1865, visited the Prairie State and Missouri. The year following lie removed his family to this State and locating in Tolono, engaged first in the lumber trade. A few years later he added agricultural implements and now successfully carries on the two branches, and has become one of the solid men in the community. He sold his land in Pennsylvania after coming to this State, and invested in good property in Tolono. Mr. and Mrs. Cook became the parents of six children, of whom the record is as follows : Mary became the wife of Benson Jordan, who is engaged in farming in Tolouo Township; Ann, the wife of Z. T. Young, is a resident of Carroll County, Iowa; Francis resides in Woonsocket, Dak. ; William F., who engaged as a merchant in Champaign City, died in 1885, aged twenty-five years; Emma Jane is the wife of H. M. Gilmore, of Delavan, 111. ; Andrew Curtin lives in Champaign City. Our sub- ject politically usually supports the candidates of the Republican party. Religiously he is a believer in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, and socially belongs to the G. A. R. .., LLEN W. COTTON, of Homer Township, Oil first opened his eyes to the light west of the Mississippi, in Platte County, Mo., on the llth of August, 1840. His parents, Isaac N. and Jane (King) Cotton, were natives of Ken- tucky. The former was born June 15, 1805, and when a young man emigrated overland to the Pacific coast during the early settlement of Cali- fornia, and was killed there by Spaniards four years later, in 1852. He had followed farming the greater part of his life and was one of the first to become a member of the Masonic fraternity in his native State. He was esteemed by all who knew him as a good man in every sense of the word, being a de- vout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was Class-Leader for many years, and adorning his profession by a goodly life. He left a large property in California, but owing to various complications his family were not permitted to enjoy it, the estate having never been settled. The parents of our subject were married in In- diana, whence they removed to Missouri, remain- ing for a period of several years. The birth of the mother took place Oct. 10, 1805. She united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age and is now eighty-two years old. She makes her home among her children. These, eight in number, are recorded as follows: Rebecca A. was born Sept. 30, 1830; Elisha, Sept. 1, 1832; Robert, May 20, 1834; Louisa J., May 1, 1836; Sanford, now deceased, March 13, 1838; Isaac N.,born Nov. 5, 1843, died in 1874; Elisha died Dec. 25, 1835; William R., born April' 10, 1842, died Aug. 30, 1843; Allen W. is bur subject. Mr. Cotton, of our sketch, was but a child when his father left Missouri for California. He after- ward remained with his mother at the homestead in Indiana until twenty-two years of age, and in 1862, became a resident of this State. The Civil War being then in progress he soon afterward enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. 1), 125th 111. Vol. Inf., under the command of Col. Harmon, of Danville. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cum- berland, and he participated with his comrades in all the engagements of that division, including the fight at Peach-tree Creek, where his gun was shot out of his hands, and at Jouesboro, where he was wounded 'in the head and his name placed in the list as " killed." The life, however, had not left him and he was picked up and conveyed to the hospital where, after suffering three months, he at last recovered sufficiently to return to his regiment. The boys were then stationed at Savannah, Ga., and he remained with them until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in the sum- mer of 1865. He now draws from the Government a pension of 14 per month. After retiring from the army Mr. Cotton re- turned to this State, and in 1872 purchased a part I 046 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. of his present farm on section 8. He now has 188 acres of finely cultivated and fertile land, where lie has carried on funning successfully for fifteen years, and of late has been giving much attention to the breeding of fine stock, including horses, cattle and hogs. The family residence, a handsome frame structure, commodious and convenient, is finely lo- cated, with trees and shrubbery surrounding, and the barn and out-buildings in all respects are am- ply fitted for the requirements of the first-class agriculturist. Here Mr. Cotton, with his wife and a fine family of children, is enjoying all the com- forts of life and many of its luxuries. The eldest daughter, Ida A., born Jan. 12, 1867, became the wife of Lincoln White, and is a resident of Sidney Township; Otie C. was born Oct. 6, 1868; Israel A., Oct. 17, 1871; John F.. Sept. 17, 1874, and Estella M., Aug. 4, 1878. These are at home with their parents. Mr. Cotton endorses the principles of the Republican party, but gives no further attention to politics, other than to exercise the right of an American citizen in casting his ballot at the time of important elections. G. MILLER, dealer in harness, saddlery, buggies, trunks, valises and other leather goods, in Champaign, is located at No. 31 Main street, where he is carding on a profitable and steadily increasing trade. Our sub- ject is one of the substantial and reliable German citizens of this section, and was born in the Father- land, Aug. 15, 1841. His parents were George and Margaret (Coeller) Miller, also natives of Germany, where the mother died in 1847. George Miller three 3'ears later left his native land, and with his family of six children sailed for the United States. Of these, five are now living: Margaret, Mrs. Hauser; George; Emma, Mrs. Gores; J. G., our subject, and Mary, Mrs. Coch. After reaching American shores the father of our subject proceeded to Fremont, Ohio, where he engaged as a cabinet manufacturer, and where he spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring in 1884. He was a warm supporter of Republican principles, and both narents belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. After coining to this country young Miller was placed on a farm, where he remained until sixteen years of age. He then went to Fremont, and served three years and three months at the saddlery trade, and after that continued as a journeyman j until the breaking out of the late war. He then I enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. G, 8th Ohio Inf., in which he was promoted Sergeant, and thereafter engaged in sixty battles and skirmishes. He was in the fight at Romney, Va., Winchester, Chick- amauga, Antietam, Leesburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, besides many other important battles of the war. At Gettysburg he was shot in the neck, and at Antietam received a slight wound in the head. He captured two rebel flags, that of the 34th North Carolina and the 38th Virginia, during the battle of Gettysburg, and for these acts and other services rendered, received a gold medal from Congress. After receiving his honorable discharge from the army, Mr. Miller re- tired to Tennessee, and was in the employment of the Government for six months. At the expiration of that time he returned to his old home in Ohio, and resumed his former occupation as a saddler until 1867. In the year last named Mr. Miller started for the West, and selecting Champaign City for his place of abode, worked as a "jour" saddler until 1871, when he opened up* business for himself on Walnut street, from which he removed to his present loca- tion in 1885. He has conducted his business care- fully and economically, meeting with success from the start. He now gives employment to six men in the city, and has other traveling salesmen out- side. He is the patentee of three separate attach- ments for harness, and besides his saddlery trade is doing an extensive business in buggies and car- riages, perhaps the largest of any man in the county. Mr. Miller was married, in Fremont, Ohio, in 1865, to Miss Mary Walter, of that city, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Frank Walter, who was born in France, emigrated to this country early in life, and engaged as a manufacturer of carriages. Mr. and Mrs Miller have nine children Mary, John F., Charles E., Clara I., Rudolph, Laura, George, William and Maude. The pleasant family residence CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 647 is located on North Neal street. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Catholic Church. Our subject is Republican in politics, and a member in good standing of the G. A. R. ENRY HAWBAKER, pleasantly located on section 31, in Newcomb Township, became a resident of this count}' in 1871. He is the owner of 200 acres in this county, 160 in Piatt County and 320 in Nebraska. The extent of his possessions indicates his qualities as a business man, and as an agriculturist the fine homestead which he occupies is a silent but forcible witness of his thrift and skill. A view of the residence and farm buildings appears in connection with this sketch. Our subject is a native of Franklin County, Pa., and was born Aug. 4, 1845. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Eyler) Hawbaker, the father a na- tive of Pennsylvania and the mother of Maryland. After marriage they located in Franklin County, Pa., where they became the parents of ten children, and spent the remainder of their lives. Our subject was the ninth child, and remained under the par- ental roof during his childhood and youth, receiv- ing careful home training and a common-school education. He was married in his native connt3 7 , Oct. 19, 1875, to Miss Catherine Jacobs, who was born in that county Nov. 25, 1847. She was the daughter of Daniel and Susan (Shank) Jacobs, also natives of the Keystone State, and became the mother of four children Eliphalet H., Elam J., Julia and Anna M. After coming into Illinois our subject first located in Fulton County, where he worked out by the month for six years. It will thus be seen that he commenced life in a modest manner, and saved what he could of his earn- ings. His present position financially, and his standing in the community, are due solely to the exercise of his industry and good judgment. He has served as School Director and Road Commis- sioner in Newcomb Township, and is a member in good standing of Mansfield Lodge No. 773, A. F. & A. M., and Mansfield Brothers' Lodge No. 589, I. O. O. F. Of the latter he is Past Grand. Politi- cally he is a warm supporter of Republican princi- ples. During the progress of the late war Mr. Hawbaker, in 1862, enlisted in the 158th Pennsylvania In- fantry, where he served nine months, and being detailed as a scout about the time of the battle of Gettysburg, was thrown from a horse and severely injured. He narrowly escaped capture by the rebels at the same time. The first three months of his farm labor in Illi- nois our subject received $15 per month, and for five years thereafter he was employed by one man. For the first year he received $350, which was reduced the last year to $300. His first purchase in Blue Ridge Township, Piatt County, was eighty acres at $15 per acre, and for the next eighty acres he paid $32 per acre. He gave ground for the build- ing of the Dunkard Church, and also assisted in the purchase of land for a cemetery, the land being a part of ope of his farms. He also donated $40 toward the purchase of the cemetery by reducing the price that much. ffi C. KIRKPATRICK, retired farmer, is a highly respected resident of Champaign City, his home being at the intersection of East White and Third streets. Mr. Kirk- patrick has been a resident of this county for a period of over thirty-five years, and is a represent- ative of its solid and substantial element. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1825, and is the son of James and Jane (Porter) Kirk- patrick, who were natives of the same State, where the father engaged extensively as a farmer, stock- broker and drover. The family removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1843, where James Kirkpatrick purchased a tract of land and continued the business in which he had been formerly engaged. He departed this life in St. Joseph, Champaign County, in January, 1 872. The mother had died in 1 848. The grand- father of our subject, Benjamin Kirkpatrick, was a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the early pio- neers of Ohio, to which State he removed, and lo- cating upon a tract of timber land, established a 648 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. home in the wilderness, and reared a family of six children, among whom was James, the father of our subject. The children of the latter, ten in number, were Samuel, Margaret A., John C., James W., Maria J., Austin W., and four others deceased. James Kirkpatrick, politically, was a Henry Clay Whig, and a Major in the State Militia. Both par- ents were members of the Methodist Church. The subject of this biography was reared on a farm, and his primary studies conducted in the pio- neer schools, the nearest of which was two miles from his father's farm, and located in the timber. Our subject remained at home until twenty-four years old. He took up his abode in Urbana Town- ship, where he engaged in breaking prairie and farming, and in 1 850 purchased a tract of land two miles north of the city of Champaign. This con- sisted of 200 acres, of which he took possession in 1855, but which he only occupied for two years. He then took up his residence in Champaign City, in the meantime, however, adding to his landed possessions. He soon afterward purchased 320 acres in St. Joseph Township, and is now the owner of 1,000 acres, which includes 270 acres in Stanton Township. He finally removed to his farm in St. Joseph Township, which he occupied for a period of twenty years. All his farms are well stocked with fine cattle and horses, and supplied with good buildings. He has been remarkably successful in his farming operations, and has been an important factor in building up the agricultural interests of this section of the country. Mr. Kirkpatrick was married, in 1849, to Miss Mary C. Busey, whose father, Col. M. \V. Busey, is widely and favorably known as one of the pio- neer settlers of Champaign County. Of this union there were born nine children, eight now living: Marion F. married Cenia Somers, and they have two children Gertrude and Charles A. ; he is Postmaster'and Station Agent at Mayview. Al- bert J., of Stanton Township, married Miss Alice Barricklow, and they have two children Mertie and Earl; Elizabeth, Mrs. Billing, is a resident of St. Joseph Township; Hattie, Mrs. Barricklow, of Urbana, has two children Clinton and Ross; Sam- uel married Miss Ella Day, and they have one child Glenn; Charles, a physician of Peufield, married Miss Gertrude Wilson, and they have two children John and Ruby; Jessie and Fannie are at home. Mrs. Kirkpatrick has been greatly interested in temperance work, and was President of the W. C. T. U. in 1875 and 1876, which position she re- signed upon moving to Champaign. She is still, however, Vice President of the society, and an effi- cient worker in the church, having charge of the fund which keeps the parsonage in repair, and pro- vides other necessaries important to the success and maintenance of the society and its buildings. Mr. Kirkpatrick, with his wife -and eight chil- dren, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is decidedly Republican in his views, and in all respects is one of the reliable and representative citizens, who have assisted in building up the county and gaining for it its pres- ent position as one of the wealthiest sections of the Prairie State. ;ILLIAM H. JAQUES, the pioneer hardware merchant of Champaign County, estab- lished his business at Tolono in 1866. He is essentially a self-made man, who commenced life in a modest manner, having nothing to depend upon but his own resources. His natural habits of in- dustry and energy contributed to insure his success, and after obtaining his first start in life by the work of his own hands, he steadily advanced until he now holds an enviable position as a business man and a citizen, and enjoys the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He has contributed his full quota to the business and in- dustrial interests of this section, and has watched with pleasure the growth of his adopted township and county. Mr. Jaques was born in Munson, Geauga Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1820. He is the sou of Henry Jaq- ues, who was of French parentage and born in the city of New York. The grandfather of our sub- ject emigrated from France in his youth and located in Connecticut, where he served, an apprenticeship of seven years at the shoemaker's trade. He was married in the city of Hartford to Miss Elizabeth Porter, the daughter of Nathan and Tabitha Por- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 649 4 ter, and they became the parents of three sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to a good old age. Soon after marriage the father of our subject removed to New York and located in the central part of the State, where he occupied himself at his trade until 1819. Then, removing with his family to the wilds of Geauga County, Ohio, he erected a log cabin and was one of the earliest settlers of that part of the Buckeye State. There he cleared a farm from the dense forests, through which the wild turkey, elk and deer roamed in large numbers and were often killed a few feet from the doorsteps, lie lived to establish a comfortable home in that county, and there died in the winter of 1829. The wife and mother survived him over fifty years and departed this life at the advanced age of eighty- five. Their youngest son was accidentally killed when eleven years of age. Another, Robert J., be- came a sailor on Lake Erie and lost his life by the wrecking of his vessel. Francis E. learned the printer's trade and was for some time in the employ of Horace Greeley on the New York Tribune. He afterward became editor of a paper in Connecticut, whence he removed to Ohio, and died in 1852. The four living are, Mary A., Mrs. Reefer of Bea- ver Dam, Wis. ; Ebenezer P., of Geauga County, Ohio; William H. of our sketch, and George W., a resident of Burton, Ohio. Our subject was but nine years of age when his father died. The family was large and possessed but limited means, and he went to live with an uncle in Ashtnbula County, with whom he remained until sixteen years of age. He was then appeu- ticed to learn the tinner's trade at Painesville, Ohio, and served until reaching his majority. Afterward he worked as a journeyman at various points in the Buckeye State, and in 1845 removed from that locality to Buffalo, N. Y., where he engaged to go to Joliet, 111., and followed his occupation there un- til 1850. In the spring of that year he started to cross the plains, and after arriving in California, followed his trade in connection with mining. Two years later he returned to his native State, via the Isthmus and New York City. From there became to Illinois, and locating in Urbana, engaged in the manufacture of tinware and purchased a stock of stores, which were shipped to- him from Albany, via the Erie Canal and Lake Erie and the Wabash Canal to Covington, Ind., whence they were con- veyed by teams to their destination. He was the first man to manufacture tinware or sell stoves in Champaign County and exhibited the product of his manufacture' at the first fair held within its limits. Mr. Jaques continued business at Urbana about five years, then sold out and finally returned to Ohio. In the meantime the outbreak of the Re- bellion had called for volunteers to assist in preserv- ing the Union, and in 1862 he enlisted in Co. K, 103d Ohio Vol. Inf.,' in which he served until the close of the war. With the exception of a month confined in a hospital with typhoid fever, be never missed the roll call, and participated with his com- rades in the battle at Buzzard's Roost, the sieges of Knoxville and Atlanta, and various minor engage- ments and skirmishes. At the close of the war he returned to Ohio, and after regaining his health and strength started for the West. In November, 1866, he established his present business at Tolono, opening up the first house of the kind in the town. From a modest beginning he has built up an ex- tensive patronage, and carries a well-selected stock of goods which will bear comparison with anything of the kind in Champaign County. In 1870 he took his son John H. into partnership, and they now operate under the firm style of Jaques & Son. Mr. Jaques was first married at Joliet, III., in the spring of 1846, to Miss Eliza P. Dunham, a native of New York State. She only remained the com- panion of her husband for six short years, depart- ing this life in May, 1852, and leaving one son, John II., already spoken of. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married at Water- town, N. Y., in 1854, was Miss Sarah A. Whipple, who died three years later, on the 1st of May, 1857. Of this union there was born one son, Willie W., who died when six years of age. Qur subject, politically, is a stanch Republican, "dyed in the wool," and became a member of the party upon its organization, in 1856; formerly he had been a Whig. Socially, he belongs to Lodge No. 391, A. F. ame University. Of this union there has been born one child, Ethel. The Professor and his wife are both members in good standing of the Congrega- tional Church. Politically he is a Republican, and socially a member of the Masonic fraternity. UGUSTUS G. RUHL, a retired farmer of Scott Township, is now a resident of Bond- ville, where he is passing his later days in the enjoyment of the competency which he secured by years of industrious and honest toil. He is of German birth and parentage, and the son of John and Elizabeth (Cook) Ruhl, also natives of the Fatherland, who emigrated to America in about 1833. They first settled in Maryland, and afterward removed to Union County, Ohio, where John Ruhl departed this life, at peace with all men, in the year 1880. The parental household included nine children, of whom Augustus G. was next to the eldest. His birth took place on the 3d of September, 1830, and he was only about three years old when his parents set sail for the United States. His early education was quite limited, but he possessed much natural intelligence, and made the most of his opportuni- ties. He gained a good insight into business mat- ters while still a youth, and possessed those qualities which made him many friends. When twenty-one years of age he left the parental roof and engaged in farming and teaming alternately until 1853. He was then married and located on a farm in Union County, Ohio, which he occupied three years, and then removed to Winnebago County, this State. In the fall of 1856 he came into this county and took up his abode in Hensley Township, where he lived four years. In 1860 he became a resident of Scott Township, where he has since remained. Be- sides his improved farm of 160 acres, he owns property in the village of Bondville, to which he retired from the farm in 188;"). Mr. Ruhl was married, in Union County, Ohio, March 15, 1853, to Miss Barbara Vanderau, a na- tive of his own country, and born Dec. 4, 1828. They became the parents of eleven children, as fol- lows: William A., Mary C., Sarah E., Emily F. (deceased), Carrie F., Charles 8., John H., Mattie A., Lulu A., Lizzie C. (now deceased) and Maude F. The eldest son, William, married Miss Mary Carpenter, of Cloverdale, Kan., and resides in that State; Mary C. met with a great affliction when about eleven years of age by the loss of her sight, which was the result of spinal meningitis; Sarah, Mrs. David Coffman, resides on a farm in Condit Township; Carrie is the wife of A. N. Taylor, of Bondville; Charles married Miss Laura McBride, and is farming in Scott Township; John married Miss Lizzie Miller, and resides in Mahomet Town- ship; Mattie is the wife of Charles W. Pfiester, of Mahomet Township. Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch, to the support of which they contribute liberally and cheerfully. Mr. Ruhl casts his influence in support of the Republican party. ty. AMES WATSON. The subject of this sketch owns and occupies 440 acres of land in Lnd- low Township, which constitutes one of the finest farms in this part of Champaign Coun- His career has been one eminently worthy of record as illustrating in a forcible manner the results of steady perseverance and unremitting industry. He commenced life in a modest manner with only such means as he had himself accumu- lated, and upon first coming to Ludlow Township, purchased eighty acres of unimproved land. It is probable that he himself did not anticipate the en- tire results of his native energy of character, or that he would become one of the most extensive farmers in a community occupying one of the rich- est sections of the Prairie State. He is now the proprietor of 440 acres, all improved and enclosed with neat and substantial fencing, a good set of farm buildings, and a fine grove which forms a most attractive feature of the property. He has planted mile upon mile of hedge and his broad pasture r 656 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. \ r hoids :uid cornfields are :i constant delight to the eye from spring until late in the autumn. Mr. Watson is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born near the city of Chillicothe, Sept. 1 0, 1837. His native town, as may be supposed, was then little more than a hamlet. His father, Will- iam N. Watson, a native of Connty Tyrone, Ire- land, grew to manhood and was married in his native county, and in 1832 emigrated to America, settling near Pittsburgh, Pa. Shortly afterward, however, he removed to Gallia County, Ohio, and thence to Chillicothe. He purchased land four miles from the city, settling upon it in 1 838, and clearing the timber, made it his home for twelve years. He subsequently disposed of this property and two miles further from the city purchased a farm which he still occupies, and although arrived at the advanced age of eighty-seven 3'ears, is in the enjoyment of good health and preserves his old habits of industry. He married Miss Ellen Patrick, a native of his own county in Ireland, who accom- panied him to the United States and remained his faithful companion until the close of her life, in 1885. Their nine children grew to become men and women, and were named, Sainuel, William, Joseph, John, Nelson, James, Jane, Robert and Ellen. The first school which Mr. Watson attended was conducted in a log house, wherein the benches were made of slabs set upon wooden legs and placed around the sides of the building for writing-desks. Light was admitted after the primitive fashion of those days, through a square place cut in the logs. When not in school James assisted his father in clearing the farm and tilling the soil, and remained a member of the parental household until twenty - two years old. In 1861 he came to this county, in what is now Harwood Township, and farmed on rented land until 1868. During that year he pur- chased his present homestead. It had been partially improved, and its present condition has been brought about through his own enterprise and good judgment. Our subject was married in 1865, to Miss Mary E. Huffman, a native of Harrison County, Ky., and the daughter of William II. and Rachel Minerva (King) Huffman, of Harrison County, Ky. Of this union there have been born two sons, William A. and John C., botli residing at home with their parents. Mr. Watson is Democratic in politics, and keeps himself well posted upon all matters of gen- eral interest. Mrs. W. is a member of the Chris- tian Church. ICHAEL RASSLER. a highly respected and thrifty farmer of Harwood Township, spent his youth and early manhood among the mountainous districts of the little King- dom of Saxony, forming a part of the Northern portion of the German Empire. There he first drew breath on the 18th of September, 1836, and was the youngest of a family of ten children be- longing to Michael and Eva (Gabler) Rassler, na- tives of the same section of country. The mother of our subject died when he was but eighteen months old, and he was reared by his stepmother, Anna (Galcrt) Rassler, who performed toward him the part of a kind and careful guardian. He re- mained a member of the household until about twenty-six years of age, and after serving a thor- ough apprenticeship as a brick and stone mason, worked as a journeyman three years, and then began preparations for establishing a home of his own. Mr. Rassler completed said arrangement by his marriage with Miss Henrietta, youngest child of Jacob and Elizabeth Staude, whose family included eight children. Her parents spent their entire lives in their native Germany, her father dying before Mrs. Rassler and her husband came to the United States. The death of the mother occurred some years afterward, under the following circumstances: While walking along the road to visit a daughter not far from her home, she was stricken with paraly- sis and sank down to rise no more, her breath having departed when she was found. Our subject after his marriage continued work- ing seven years at his trade, but seeing little pros- pect of improving his condition financially, re- solved to emigrate to a land which promised advancement to all those inclined to energy and industry. Accordingly, getting together his family CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ^Tf 657 j, and household goods, he set sail from the port of Bremen, Oct. 23, 1869, on the ' Donan." After a pleasant voyage of thirteen days they landed at Castle Garden, in New York, and two days later started for the Prairie State. They passed the first four years in Marshall County, and thence removed into Peoria County. Mr. Kassler after coming West abandoned his trade and took up farming, in which he became moderately successful. After three years spent in Peoria County he found himself possessed of sufficient means to purchase eighty acres of unimproved land in Harwood Township, this county, where he at once put up a small house into which he removed his family, and then turned his attention to the cultivation of the soil. In the spring of 1879 a great cloud came over their happiness in the death of the affectionate wife and mother, who passed from earth on the 23d of April. Mrs. Rass- ler was a lady of high moral character, greatly beloved by her family and friends, who cherish her name in tender remembrance as one who left behind her a record of kindly deeds and womanly virtues. She had for many years been an active and con- sistent member of the Lutheran Church, and seemed ever looking about her for the performance of a kindly act to some creature. She had been a great sufferer for many years from a tumor, but bore her affliction with patient resignation, and presented a sweetness of character and amiability which en- deared her to all around her. The place made va- cant by her death could never be filled, and the father and children have since remained devoted to each other. They were named Herman, Henrietta Alvina, and Franz, who died in infancy. The young- est died with his mother who passed away soon after his birth. Mr. Rassler is also connected with the Lutheran Church, and bears the reputation of a high-minded Christian gentleman, living his life worthily and unobtrusively, preferring to give his strict attention to his farming affairs, and abstain- ing from politics with the exception of casting his vote in support of ~ Republicanism at the time of general elections. He has some fine stock on his farm, including several head of horses from the noted draft animal " Romeo," which was burned to death in the fire in Gilford last fall. His cattle are of the Durham blood, and his hogs are the Poland- China. lie displays excellent judgment in the management of his farm affairs, and no man is more highly respected in the community than Michael Rassler. -*- J~ AMES S. KILBURY, a prominent and wealthy farmer of Somer Township, is one of the most wide-awake and enterprising men of that section, possessing more than ordinary ability, the evidences of which may be seen on all sides around the homestead which he has built and beautified, and is adding each season to its attractions and its value. His land is finely located on section 7, and embraces 130 acres under a high state of cultivation. In Ogden Township he has 260 acres, which, together with the hand- some and substantial farm buildings, forms one of the prettiest spots in the landscape of the township. Mr. Kilbury possesses uncommon natural ingenuity, having become a self-trained carpenter and joiner, which is as much a source of pleasure as profit to him, and by which he adds much to the beauty and convenience of his premises, and saves annu- ally probably hundreds of dollars. Even if not wishing to perform the labor himself with the saw and plane, he is entirely capable of superintending the work of another, and whatever he undertakes in this line either himself or " by proxy," is sure to be turned off in the best style of the art. Mr. Kilbury is a native of Madison County, Ohio, born May 7, 1839, and is the son of Asa and Ruth (Clark) Kilbury, natives of the Green Mount- ain State and Ohio respectively. Asa Kilbury was born June 24, 1806, and departed this life in Union County, Ohio, Jan. 5, 1884. He was the greater part of his life engaged in farming and stock-raising, a man highly respected wherever known, and prominently connected with the New- Light Church. The mother of our subject was born Feb. 27, 1815, and died in 1885. The fun- eral sermons of both parents were preached by the same minister. The children of the parental household are recorded as follows: Rachel, the eldest daughter, died in isrio; Emily and Amanda died in childhood, the latter when about three 658 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. years old; Robert is now a resilient of Plain City, Madison Go., Ohio; Ernstus is deceased ; Mortimer is residing in St. Joseph, this county; Dunbar C. lives in Delaware County, Ohio; Solomon H. oc- cupies the old homestead in t'nion County, that State. The living- members of the parental family are all connected with 'the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Kilbury spent his youth and the early years of his manhood in his native State, and was there united in marriage with Miss Hannah E. Beard, a native of Union County-, Ohio, anfl born in 1842. The young people, deciding to make their home in the West, came to this State soon afterward, locat- ing in Ogden Township, this county. His lands are now supplied with all necessary farm buildings, good fences, machinery and stock. He has been very successful in the breeding of Poland-China swine, raising and selling large numbers each year, and obtaining more than the average market price. Notwithstanding the many and urgent cares de- volving upon him in looking after his property, and doing the work which no one can do so well as himself, he has still found time to interest him- self in local affairs, officiating as Justice of the Peace, School Treasurer, and occupying other town- ship offices. His political sympathies are decidedly with the Republican party, and he exerts much in- fluence in his county, being sent in 1866, as a dele- gate to the County Convention, and to the State Convention at Springfield. In a word, he may be considered as one of the -' wheel horses " of the party in Somer Township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kilbury have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church since uniting their hands and fortunes, and our subject has held the office of Steward, besides being otherwise prominent in church affairs. The only child living of Mr. and Mrs. Kilbury is a daughter, Harriet R., born Jan. 5, 1878, and now an interesting girl of about ten years. The first born died in 1873. The parents of Mrs. Kilbury were William and Harriet Beard. The father died July 16, 1850, and his wife Harriet, July 27, 1887, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Kilbury. Her paternal great- grandfather. Col. James Curry, was a Revolution- ary soldier of prominence, and a Colonel in the War of 1812; he died Jan. 10, 1.S26. Many trib- utes of respect were paid the illustrious dead at the time. Mrs. Kilbtiry's brothers and sisters arc recorded as follows: Nancy, born Feb. 14, 1839, is now living in Ogden Township; Forester, born in March, 1844, lives in Union County, Ohio; Gil- bert, born Dec. 18, 1846, lives in Ogden Township, and Margaret J., born Feb. 2, 1848, lives in Union County, Ohio. J~~j OHN T. MALLORY. The subject of this I biography owns and occupies a fine farm of | 300 acres on section 7, in Scott Township. 1 Forty acres of this is in timber and the bal- ance under a good state of cultivation. He has a tasteful and substantial set of farm buildings, and the place in all respects corresponds with the property of the enterprising and prosperous men about him on all sides; men who have assisted in the development and building up of this section and who made it one of the most desirable in the Prairie State. Our subject came to this county in 1847, and since that time has been one of the most valued residents. He was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., Sept. 16, 1811, and is the son of George and Eliza- beth (Hendricks) Mallory, also natives of the Old Dominion. The parents first settled at Harper's Ferry and thence removed to Pickaway County, Ohio, whence, in 1837, they emigrated to this State, and located in what was then Macon, but is now Piatt County, and where the father died, about 1845. The mother afterward removed to Ne- braska, where her death took place about 1863. The household circle included eleven children, three boys and eight girls. Our subject remained a resident of his native county until 1839, when he visited this county and located a tract of 300 acres, after which he returned to Harper's Ferry and remained until 1848. He was there employed in the armory, which he had en- tered when a boy ten years of age. John T. Mallory was married in 1834, in Vir- ginia, and in the fall of 1847 started with his wife and three children overland for this State. Their CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. C59 outfit consisted of a wagon and two horses, and after a journey of thirty-one days they reached Piatt County, where they located and lived for the following eight and one-half years. Mr. Mallory then removed to Scott Township, of which he has been a resident since that time. The marriage of our subject took place at Charleston, Va., the maiden of his choice being Miss Mary, daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Spielman) Taylor, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor located at Harper's Ferry after their marriage, and there Mr. T. held the position of Inspector of the Armory. His family consisted of two sons and four daughters, and both heads of the family died at Harper's Ferry, the former about 1817, and the latter about 1820. Mrs. Mallory was the fourth child of her parents, and was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., May 12, 1810. The offspring of her union with our subject is re- corded as follows: Emma F. became the wife of David Slider, and died at her father's house in Scott Township, in February, 1877; George married Miss Mary Candy,, and is farming in Scott Township, and Anna M. died when about eleven years old. Mr. Mallory officiated as Postmaster at North Bend, Piatt County, for about two years. He has held the office of Supervisor two terms, and been otherwise identified with the local affairs of this section. Politically he is a member of the Repub- lican party. He is probably the oldest Odd Fellow in the county, and in early manhood became a member of the first lodge established in his native State. RS. MARY J. NICEWANDER. One of the most attractive homesteads in Rantoul |1S Township is located on section 30, and oc- cupied by the lady whose name stands at the "head of this sketch. JShe possesses great energy of character, and fine business capacity,- and the present condition of the homestead is due in a large measure to her good judgment and forethought. Since becoming a widow she has managed the farm in an admirable manner, served, as administrator of her husband's estate, and purchased the interest of the elder children in the property. She has had the land thoroughly drained, erected a windmill, caused the thorough renovation and repair of the farm buildings, had them all tastefully painted, and may be pardoned if she views with just pride the result of her labors. Mrs. N. was born six miles east of Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio, Jan. 22, 1842. Her father, John Kerr, was born and reared on a farm in Penn- sylvania, and removed from his native State to Ohio when a young man. He located in Franklin County, where he married, and purchased a farm upon which was a saw and grist mill. He carried on farming and operated the mills until 1850; he then sold out and, accompanied by his wife and seven children, started overland to Illinois. Their outfit consisted of eight horses aiid two large covered wagons, and they fared after the manner of the emigrants of those days, cooking and camping by the wayside, and sleeping in their wagons at night. Mr. Kerr first rented a farm in De Witt County, together with a saw and grist mill, each of which he carried on two years, and then pur- chased a tract of timber land five miles from Clin- ton. He cleared a farm and in the meantime fur- nished timber for the first railroad ever built in De Witt County. A few years later he sold this property also, lived afterward for a time in the city of De Witt, and then purchased a farm east of the town, where he resided until 1865. Then, crossing the Father of Waters, he took up his abode in Jasper County, Mo., this being his last removal until he was conveyed to his final resting-place. His wife was formerly Miss Susan Sims, a lady of Scot- tish birth and parentage, who died in De Witt County, 111., May 12, 1851. Mrs. Nicewander was but eight years old when she came to Illinois witli her parents, and only nine when her mother died. Soon afterward she became .a member of the family of Mr. Williams in De Witt County, where she lived two and one-half years, and then returning to her father kept house for him until he was married again. She then learned millinery and dressmaking at Clinton, at which she was occupied until seventeen years of age. After- ward she came to Champaign County, and in 18G2 was married to Jacob Nicewander. Mr. N. was born in Tippecanoe County. Ind., June 8, 1843, I t 660 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. and was the son of David and Millie (Stringley) Nicewander. He was reared by his paternal grand- parents (see sketch of D. Nicewander). After marriage Mr. and Mrs. N. lived west of Champaign two and one-half years, and subsequently rented land two years in Kantoul Township. They after- ward purchased forty acres upon which Mr. N. labored until his death, which occurred May 7, 1882. He had in the meantime purchased eighty acres additional, so that the farm now embraces x 120 acres, free of incumbrance, finely improved and provided with comfortable buildings. The four children of this family are Henry W. ; Alice B., the wife of Samuel Watson, who is farming in Ludlow Township; Oscar and Nannie D. The two latter are at home with their mother. WILLIAM H. TOWNSEND is one of the most highly respected residents of Ran- toul Township. His vocation is that of a farmer, and his homestead is pleasantly located on section 18. For a period of sixteen years Mr. Townsend has walked in and out among the peo- ple, who have learned to look upon him as a man fully worthy of their confidence, and one who has contributed materially to the business and agricult- ural interests of his section. William H. Townsend was born in Putnam County, N. Y., March 28, 1822, and is the son of James and Polly (Baldwin) Townsend, also natives of the Empire State. Charles Townsend, our sub- ject's grandfather, served as a soldier in the Rev- olutionary War, and was with Gen. Washington at Valley Forge. For his bravery and fidelity he was tendered a Captain's commission and placed in command of a company. After the independence of the Colonies had been established he located in Putnam County, N. Y., and spent the last years of his life engaged in the peaceful occupation of a farmer. On account of his military services his widow drew a pension during the last years of her life. Their children were reared on a farm, and the son James, father of Mr. Townsend of this no- tice, after reaching manhood became a resident of Warren County, this State, spending his last days in the little town of Cold Brook, and his wife also died in Warren County. Of his parents' nine children William H., of our sketch, was the fourth child and second son. He spent his boyhood and youth in the manner com- mon to most farmers' boys, attending school during the winter seasons and working on the farm sum- mers. After reaching his majority he learned the trade of a stonemason, and for a period of twelve years afterward was occupied chiefly in building stone fences. Later he resumed farming, renting land in Warren County until 1869. In the spring of that year he came to this county and purchased the place which he now owns and occupies. A few acres of the sod were broken, and upon the place was a building sixteen feet square, which he at first utilized as a dwelling for himself and family. Afterward he erected a good set of frame build- ings, planted fruit and shade trees, and otherwise embellished the home, which he has now occupied for over eighteen years. The home place com- prises 120 acres, and our subject is devoting a goodly part of his time to the breeding of Short- horns, in addition to the cultivation of his land. Mr. Townsend was married in his native county in the Empire State, Dec. 22, 1848, to Miss Mary S. Warren, also a native of that county, and born Oct. 22, 1828. She is the daughter of John N. and Rachel (Davenport) Warren, natives of New York State. Her grandfather, John Warren, Sr., was of English birth and parentage, and emigrated to this country during the progress of the Revolu- tionary War, and when a young man seventeen years of age. He was a blacksmith by trade and settled in Putnam County, N. Y., and was among the earliest pioneers of that section. He followed his trade until after his marriage, but subsequently engaged in farming. His son, John N. Warren, also learned the blacksmith's trade, which he also followed until his death in Putnam County 'in 1840. His wife subsequently came to this State, and departed this life at her home in Earlville, La Salle County, in April, 1869, aged seventy-four years. Our subject and his wife have three children : Warren ; Melissa, the wife of Alexander Penn, a farmer of Rantoul Township, and Cora, at home CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. G61 I with her parents. Mr. Townsend is independent in politics and liberal in matters of religion. He is rated as a reliable citizen in all respects and keeps well posted upon the events of the day, viewing with pleasure and satisfaction the march of prog- ress, and especially the building up of his own county and community. LVAREZE B. COGGSHALL. Among the attractive features on the farm of this gen- ii tleman are the fine draft horses with which his stables are tenanted and in the breed- ing of which he has secured an enviable reputation in Stanton Township and vicinity. He is in posses- sion of eighty acres of choice land on section 28, to which he removed in 1882, from Indiana, where he was born Jan. 13, 1848. He is the son of Joab and Judiah (Merine) Coggshall, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of South Carolina. Joab Coggshall died at the advanced age of eighty- eight years. He was a miller by occupation, a worthy and industrious man, enjoying the confi- dence and esteem of all who knew him. The mother is still living in Indiana, making her home with her children. By a previous marriage Joab Coggshall became the father of three children, viz: Louis, now living in Ft. Scott, Kan.; Edward, and Rebecca, the wife of Jesse Kate, of Wayne County, Ind. Of the second marriage there were born four sons and seven daughters. Mahala lives with her mother in Indiana; Irene C. became the wife of Paul Frazer, now deceased ; Sarah AnnC. married Milton Craner; Abel B. married Olive Mendenhall, and lives in Vermilion County, this State; Martha J. is the wife of George Bunisworth, of Whitney County, Ind. ; Catherine is the wife of Franklin Williams, of Portland, Ind. ; Lafayette married Miss Mary Ann Ballinger, of Wayne County, Ind.; Melvin married Miss Sallie Jessop, and they live in Wayne County; Eveline became the wife of Edwin Conkle, of Den- ver, Col.; Adaline, Mrs. Nathan Baldwin, lives with her husband in Wayne County, Ind. Our subject remained with his parents until six- teen years of age and then ran away from home to enlist in the army, joining Co. D, 57th Ind. Vol. Inf., in which he served twenty-two months, his regiment becoming a part of the 4th Army Corps, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumber- land. He participated in the encounter with the enemy at Buzzard's Roost, Ga., and afterward joined the command of Gen. Sherman, meeting the enemv at Resaca, Ga., at Kennesaw Mountain, and at the siege of Atlanta. During the latter he was taken ill and sent to the hospital at Chattanooga. After five weeks he ran away and, joining his regi- ment, had the satisfaction of assisting in the final capture of Atlanta. He marched out of that place with the troops of Gen. Thomas, and afterward going into Tennessee, was in the engagements at Franklin and Nashville, and from there followed the rebel General, Hood, into Alabama. After a short sojourn in East Tennessee, during which time had occurred the surrender of the Confederate army, they repaired to Nashville and were paid off. Young Coggshall now proceeded across the Mis- sissippi into Texas, and after wandering around along the Gulf of Mexico, was finally mustered out, and in due time returned home to be received witli open arms, notwithstanding his disobedience in en- tering the army against the wishes of the family. In the meantime he had been promoted Corporal and made a good record generally as a soldier. Mr. Coggshall after his return from the army spent one month in his native county with his old friends and associates, and then coining into Ver- milion County, this State, was employed on a farm until 1870. Some of the time he rented land and cultivated the soil on his own account. In 182G he was appointed Superintendent of the Poor Farm at Danville, where he remained a year, and in the meantime was married to Miss Mary Humrich- house, the wedding taking place Aug. 24, 1870. Mrs. C. is the daughter of George and Lydia (Grace) Humrichhouse, the forme"r a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Indiana. After marriage they located in Vermilion County, where most of their eight children were born. These consisted of four boys and four girls: John W. married Miss Rachel Brokaw, and James W. mar- ried Miss Priscilla Grace; both are farming in this county ; Mary, the wife of our subject, was the third child and eldest daughter; Amanda is the wife i GC-2 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. of Charles Hopkins, of Edgar County; George R. married Miss Edna Arnold; Sarah is living with her parents; Margaret A. is the wife of Samuel Acklin ; Jasper, the youngest, is at home. Mr. Hum- richhouse was a blacksmith by trade, and both par- ents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject and his wife, after leaving Danville, came to Stanton Township and located on a rented farm, where they remained two years, when the father of Mr. C. sent for him to come home and take charge of the old place in Wayne County, Ind. While there he secured his present farm of eighty acres, of which he took possession in 1882. His household now includes three boys and one girl, namely, James M., Edwin D., McPherson and Zuella. Grace died when thirteen months old. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Friends' Church. The former belongs to St. Joseph Post No. 220, G. A. R., and is also a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity. He has been Road Commissioner three years and is now serving his fourth. In casting his vote he aims to uphold the principles of the Democratic party. R. JOSEPH T. MILLER, who is widely and favorably known as a skillful physician and surgeon, has been a resident of Ur- bana since April 15, 1853. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Butler County, in 1832, and the son of Israel and Mary A. (Mahan) Miller. Israel was a native of Fayette County, Pa., his wife of Warren County, Ohio, whence they removed to where they were married. Israel Mil- ler left his native State with his parents in 1815. He was the son of Nicholas and Margaret (Hos- tetler) Miller, who were natives of Switzerland and emigrated to America iu 1790, settling in Fayette County, Pa., where the father engaged in farming, which occupation he followed all his life. After the removal to Ohio he operated in connection with his sons, and lived, honored and respected by all, to the advanced age of eighty-four years. The mother died when seventy-six years old. Of their nine children only one is now living, a daughter. Eliza, Mrs. GrilHs, who is seventy-eight years old, and is still living in Butler County, Ohio. Israel Miller was reared on a farm and lived at home until twenty-seven years old. His birth took place in 1804, and he was married in 1831. After this latter event he located upon a tract of land comprising 320 acres, which he occupied for seven years, then sold out and purchased 640 acres in Fountain Countj-, Ind. There he became widely known as one of the most extensive and successful farmers of that region, where he remained until his death, in 1880, when seventy-six years old. The mother, who was born in 1810, still resides in Indi- ana on the old homestead. Their eight children are all living. Dr. Joseph, of our sketch, is the eldest; Margaret, Mrs. Haas, is a resident of Fountain County, Ind. ; Philoma, Mrs. Beadle, of Montgom- ery, Ind. ; Eliza, Mrs. Tanner, of Vermilion County, 111.; Lewis, William H. and James P., of Fountain County, Ind., and Emeline, Mrs. McClure, lives in Clinton County, Ind. The subject of our sketch remained on his father's farm until eighteen years old, in the meantime pur- suing his studies in the common schools. He then took a course at Wabash College and afterward ^commenced teaching, which he pursued most of the time for three years following. In the meantime he occupied his leisure moments in reading medi- cine, and in the winter of 1852-53 entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he took a thorough course, and after graduating commenced practice at Urbana, where he has since resided and fully established himself as one of the skillful practition- ers of this county. He was Mayor of Urbana for two years and Postmaster during the Grant admin- istration, seven years. He has been warmly inter- ested in the growth and progress of this section of country, and has been identified with many of its leading enterprises. Dr. Miller was married, April 2, 18G2, to Miss Lotta V. Radebaugh, of Bedford County, Pa., and daughter of Peter and Eliza (Walters) Radebaugh, also natives of the Keystone State. They came to Illinois in 1861 and settled at Urbana. Mr. R. was formerly in the mercantile business. Of this mar- riage there have been born two children: William H., who is now in the jewelry business at E ^a^:^%tv5ife-^ife RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL MS KEE , 5EC.32.HEN5LEY TP. -< ' --'...." ' avjt-j'^'Vv-F'-.-.- ': ->". RESIDENCE OF ALBERT R. PRATT, SEC. 9, CHAMPAIGN TP. RESIDENCE OF JAMES M . MOORE ,5E C . 22 , B ROWN T P. LIBRARY CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. G63 and Horace W., a student in the Medical Univer- sity of Pennsylvania. Dr. Miller is a man of large liberality, and the oldest practitioner in the county. In social life he is courteous and entertaining, and is the friend of all the young, with whose pleasures he sympathizes always, and the old, who have learned to respect him for his excellent traits of character. Politi- cally he is a non-partisan, casting his vote for the men whom he considers the best qualified for office. During the war he received a commission from Gov. Yates as Surgeon for the 60th Illinois Infant- ry, and was with his regiment for nine months and until overwork and exposure began to undermine his health. After returning from the army he was appointed by the President, Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment, Seventh District of Illinois, which position he held until the close of the war. Dur- ing that period he traveled quite extensively through the States of Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. He has also been and now is Examining Physician and Surgeon for several State insurance companies. 'I 1 * ^t^^"^ 2 ^^- t %ff*^ *J* RS. VALERIA LILLY, of Champaign, and widow of the Rev. R. H. Lilly, is the daughter'of John and Susan (McCulloch) Gordon, who were natives of Vermont. Her father was a farmer by occupation, and after his marriage located on a tract of land in Genesee County, N. Y., whence he removed to Illinois in 1849. He first located in Coles County, where he remained until 1870, then removed to Missouri and was a resident of Phelps County, where he carried on farming until his death, which took place Oct. 6, 1873. His wife afterward returned to Illinois and lived with her daughter Valeria in Champaign until her decease, which occurred Feb. 23, 1883. Of the parental household, which included seven children, four only are now living: Mrs. T. R. Leal, of Ur- bana; Mrs. Lilly, of this history; Mrs. Sue Barnett, of Aspen, Col., and John, of Lutesville, Mo. Mrs. Lilly was born in the city of Oswego, N. Y., April 29, 1834. She received careful home training and a good education and before her marriage en- gaged in teaching in Charleston, this State. Her union with Rev. R. H. Lilly took place on the 10th of August, 1857. Mr. L. was the son of Amiger and Catherine (McCutchen) Lilly, natives of Vir- ginia, the father born in 1763, and the mother in 1775. Rev. R. H. Lilly was the third child of his parents and his birth took place in Bourbon County, Ky., May 11, 1804. Mr. Lilly was educated at Paris in his native county and pin-sued his theological stud- ies at Princeton College, N. J. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister at an early age, his first charge being in Livingston and Caldwell Counties Ky". He was strongly opposed to the institution of slavery and upon that account left his native State in 1844, and coming to Illinois, located in Urbana, where he officiated as a missionary of the Palestine Presbytery until June, 1851. In Decem- ber of that year he was appointed the supply of Urbana and also Monticello Church in Piatt County. He came to Champaign in 1857, which remained his home until his death, on the 14th of January, 1874. Rev. Lilly was a gentleman of fine capacities, both in a business sense and intellectually. He became a large land-owner in this State and disbursed with a generous hand of his means to benevolent and Christian purposes. This, united with his uniform kindness of heart and courteous treatment of all with whom he was connected, served to make him universally beloved and respected wherever known. The good influence -which he exerted over all with whom he came in contact will live long after the friends whom he knew in his lifetime have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Lilly became the parents of eight children, three now deceased : Charles H. married Miss Julia Putnam, and is now a merchant of Thomasboro, 111.; they have one child, a son, Henry W. ; James E., Fanny, Susie R. and John C. are living at Champaign with their mother; Mary C., who became the wife of Wiley Buckles, of this county, died when twenty years of age, in 1878, leaving one child, a daughter, Lillie; Clara died when eleven years old, and William G. at the age of two and one-half years. Mrs. Lilly occupies a beautiful home in Champaign and is surrounded by scores of affectionate friends, who, during her long residence here, have learned to value her at her true -s 664 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. worth. She is a lady of rare intelligence, an orna- ment to society, and numbers her friends and asso- ciates among the best people of the city. INUS G. HUBBAUD is a farmer and grower of small fruits, residing in Urbana Town- ship. Mr. Hubbard is a native of Vermont, and was born Jan. 24, 1844, near the village of Wilmington, Windham County. Chester Hubbard, his great-grandfather, was born in 1770 in the same State, and our subject's father, whose name was George Crocker Hubbard, was also born in Ver- mont, in 1815. The family had been Green Mount- ain farmers for many years, and George Hubbard owned a fine farm of 400 acres in that State. He married Miss Salome Green, the daughter of Clark and Submit (Hastings) Green, who was born in Amherst, Mass., in 1 81 5. and there reared to woman- hood. After his marriage George C. Hubbard set- tled on the farm where he still lives, near Wilming- ton, Vt. There they reared a fine family of six children, four of whom were boys and two girls. Their names were as follows: Lizzie J., Linus G., Clara Bird, Porter G., Fred B. and Chester C. Linus G. Hubbard, the eldest son, but second in order of birth, passed his youth among the Green Mountains of his native State, acquiring such edu- tion as he could from the limited advantages of the district school. He was a patriotic, high-spirited boy. and at the age of eighteen, in the year 1862, enlisted in Co. F, 16th Vt. Vol. Inf., as private, and served his country gallantly until Aug. 13, 1863. He was detailed on garrison duty at Wash- ington, and participated in the battle of Gettys- burg. After being mustered out of the service at Brattleboro, Vt., and honorably discharged, he re- turned to his home and engaged in farming. At about the age of twenty-three, Linus Hub- bard came west to Wisconsin, spending eighteen months in that State. In 1869 he came to Cham- paign County and purchased eighty acres of land in Tolono Township. He remained there three years, cultivating and improving his land, and in the meantime was united in marriage with Miss Helen Stanard. She was the daughter of David and Hannah (Haskins) Stanard, and was born in Bureau County, 111. Her father was a na- tive of the State of New York and her mother of Vermont. After our subject's marriage they lived on the farm in Tolono Township for two years, and then moved to their present home in Urbana Township. Their farm contains eighty acres of valuable, well-improved land, located on section 29. For the last eight years Mr. Hubbard has been very successful in raising small fruits, and runs a truck wagon to Urbana where he disposes of his products. There were no improvements on his land when he purchased it; now he has a pleasant resi- dence with good farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have a family of six chil- dren : George D., Charles L., Clara May, Fred C., Nellie M. and Minnie S. Mr. Hubbard is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. Himself and wife, with four of their children, are members of the Baptist Church, in which the}* take an active interest. eHRISTOPHER BURNETT, a well-known farmer and resident of Urbana Township, is a native of Yorkshire, England, where he was born June 17, 1840. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Kirby) Burnett, came to America when Christopher was but thirteen years of age. Arriv- ing at the city of Philadelphia, they first proceeded to Belmont County, Ohio, where they remained for about four months. Thinking to improve their circumstances by pushing further westward, they next came to Illinois, and settled in Vermilion County, where the father engaged in farming. In 1855 they changed their residence to Champaign County and settled in the village of Urbana, which at that time was little more than a hamlet. Mr. B. followed his trade, that of a brick and stone mason, in the little village as long as his health would per- mit, but soon succumbed to the disease from which he had for some time suffered, and died in 1864. His wife, who survived him until 1877, was the mother of eleven children, all of whom lived to maturity, and eight yet survive. Christopher Burnett received a good education in the common schools in England, and resided with T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 665 his parents until their death. He then began his career as a farmer, having had some experience therein when a boy, and operated on rented land, until he had saved sufficient capital to purchase a farm. After buying and selling twice, he, in com- pany with his brother William, purchased a quarter of section 21, in Urbana Township, to which after a time they added eighty acres more. He now has a shapely and substantial residence, with good barns and other out-buildings, and has been very success- ful in raising the cereals. On the 25th of Decem- ber, 1879, Mr. Burnett was married to Miss Mary H. Jordan, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Albright) Jordan. Her parents were formerly from Ohio, but are now residents of Farmer City, De Witt County, 111. Of this union there were born two children, a son and daughter William and Mary E. Mr. Burnett is one of the School Directors of District No. 1 1 , and is interested in the general wel- fare of his county, as becomes a worthy and useful citizen. Politically he is a stanch Republican. Mrs. Burnett is a lovely Christian lady and a member of the Methodist Church. C. BEACH, Mayor of Champaign, has been a resident of the Prairie State for the past twenty-five years. He was born in Tomp- kins County, N. Y., Nov. 22, 1835, and is the son of Rev. Edwards A. and Rhoda (Churchill) Beach, natives respectively of Vermont and New York. The grandfather of our subject, David Beach, was a millwright and mill builder by trade. He removed from the Bay State to Guernsey Coun- ty, Ohio, about 1813, and thence went to Licking County, where he died in March, 1851. The par- ental household included four sons and three daugh- ters, all of whom, with the exception of one daughter, Mrs. Spooner, of Cumberland, Guernsey Co., Ohio, are deceased. The father of our subject was reared to manhood on his uncle's farm, near New Lebanon, N. Y. He was of a thoughtful and studious disposition, and determined to secure a better education than had as yet been afforded him. In this he succeeded after persistent effort. He entered Amherst College, Mass., from which he was graduated in 1826, and also took a course at Willliams College, Mass. Afterward he attended Auburn Theological Sem- inary, and made such proficiency that he was graduated, in 1829, in less than a year after becom- ing a student there. He paid the expenses of his education by teaching and giving lessons in vocal music. Soon after completing his studies he entered upon his ministerial labors in the Presbyterian Church at Stephentown, N. Y., and continued in the Empire State until 1840. After removing to Ohio he was in ill-health for three years following and had no regular charge. In 1843 he removed with his family from Guernsey to Licking County, where he entered the ministry again and continued uninterruptedly for a period of seventeen years. In 1878 he removed to Illinois and settled in this county, which remained his home until his death, in May, 1881, after he had arrived at the advanced age of eighty-five years. The mother died Aug. 11, 1887, aged eighty-one years. Six of the seven children who comprised the parental household still survive : David E. is Professor in Marietta Col- lege, Ohio; Beman C. ; Chandler B., connected with a book publishing house in Chicago, and Marianne. This sister went as a missionary to Turkey, in about 1865, remaining there five years, then, on account of failing health returned to the United States, and is now a resident of Chicago; Dwight P., a resident of New York City, is manager of the N. D. Thomp- son Book Publishing Company, of St. Louis; Alice, Mrs. Bourquin, js a resident of New Albany, Ind. The subject of this history remained at home until twenty years of age. Then, his time being given him, and wishing to still further perfect him- self in his studies, he attended Central College and Denison University two years. Afterward he took a trip into Iowa, where he spent one year engaged in teaching, then returned to Ohio and followed the same occupation for several years. In 1859 he again turned his steps westward, and came to this county. He had been married that same year to Miss Hettie Condit, who was a native of Licking County, Ohio, and after coining into this county he engaged in farming pursuits for six years follow- ing. In February, 1866, Mr. Beach abandoned farm CC6 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. occupations, and removing with his family to the city of Champaign, began dealing in grain, coal and machinery, which he has followed successfully since that time. He has been prominent in local affairs since coming here, and served as Alderman of the Fifth Ward for six years. In 1$80 he was elected Mayor, served one term and was re-elected in 1885. He is a Republican in politics, and with his estimable wife a member in good standing of the Congregational Church, of which he was Superin- tendent in the Sunday-school for about twelve years. The family of our subject and wife included eight children, namely, Bayard E., a resident of Dakota; Clara, Mrs. Magoon, of Champaign; James C., Chandler C., Jessie L., Mabel H., Josephine II. and Paul M. Mr. and Mrs. B., with their children at home, occupy a handsome residence on West Church street, and are surrounded by hosts of friends. As a citizen and business man, our sub- ject represents the best element of his community, and in his official capacity displays the wisdom and forethought essential to a man intrusted with large interests, and the welfare of a rapidly growing city. /,.., P. CUNNINGHAM, dealer in drugs, books Ol and stationery, is located at No. 25 Main street, Champaign, where he is carrying on a profitable business and maintains a good position in social and financial circles. He is a native of Lancaster, Erie Co., N. Y., born Aug. 11, 1833, and the son of Hiram W. and Eunice (Brown) Cunningham, natives respectively of Unadilla, Ot- sego Co., N. Y., and Bennington, Vt. The family came to Huron County, Ohio, in 1833. Hiram Cunningham was a carpenter by trade, but after moving to Ohio, engaged in farming. The family included ten children, of whom five are now living, namely, J. C. Sheldon, a half brother; J. O., ex- Judge of Champaign County; Albert P. of our sketch; Olive, Mrs. Fisher, of Emporia, Kan., and Edwin W., a resident of the same place. The par- ents were devoted members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which the father was a Class- Leader for a period of forty years. He departed this life at his home in Clarksfield, Ohio, July 11, 1866. The mother, surviving less than three years, died March 9, 1869. Mr. C. was Postmaster at East Clarksfield, Huron Co., Ohio, for many years. The subject of this biography remained on his father's farm until twenty years of age, in the meantime receiving a common-school education and completing his studies in Oberlin College. He possessed considerable literary talent and was a frequent contributor to various daily and weekly papers as well as being the author of interesting articles in the druggists' magazines. He was the first editor of the Champaiyn, County Herald, and from the first has been acknowledged as an inter- esting writer upon various subjects. He came West in 1853, and for three months occupied himself as clerk in a dry-goods store. That same year he came to Urbana, and not long afterward was given the position of Assistant Cashier in the Grand Prairie Bank, which position he occupied until 1862. The late war being then in progress, he enlisted in Co. G, 76th 111. Vol. Inf., as a private, being afterward promoted Second Lieutenant. After two years of service he was obliged to resign on account of ill-health. He was present at some of the most important engagements of the war, among them the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and partic- ipated in various skirmishes, besides enduring the hardships and severity of long and forced marches. After receiving his honorable discharge, he re- turned to Urbana, engaging in the drug trade, and followed the same until 1880. He then sold out and embarked in the same business in Champaign. He now gives employment to four clerks and an assistant, and may be properly considered one of the prosperous business men of a thriving city. The marriage of our subject with Miss Ophelia J. Seger, of Clarksfield, Ohio, took place in 1855. Mrs. C. is the daughter of A. W. Seger, a native of Connecticut, and engaged in the stove and foundry business. Their family included six children, of whom the wife of our subject was the eldest. Of this union there have been born four children Elmer and George, now employed in their father's store, Clara and Ralph at home. George is a stu- dent in the Illinois University. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 667 Mr. Cunningham is a warm supporter of the Re- publican party. He served three years as Mayor of Urbana, represented his Ward as Alderman for several years and was also upon the School Hoard, lie became a member of the Illinois Pharmaceutical Association in 1881, was Treasurer one year and elected President in 1885. Both he and his amiable wife are members in good standing of the Presby- terian Church. Socially our subject belongs to the Masonic fraternity, is a Knight Templar, and a member of the G. A. R. The family residence is pleasantly located on Church and State streets, and is surrounded by the evidences of cultivated tastes and ample means. AMUEL KOOGLER, one of the large land- owners of Scott Township, and a successful agriculturist, vas reared to the vocation which he has followed thus far in life. His fine farm in Scott Township comprises 900 acres of improved laud, located on sections 7, 8, 17 and 18. He keeps about 150 head of cattle on his place, and his crops consist largely of hay and grain. He has erected a fine residence, and made o.ther valuable improvements since taking possession of his land, so that it is now one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of Champaign County. His possessions are mainly the result of his own indus- try, and he has contributed in no small degree to the development and prosperity of this section of the country. Our subject is the youngest of six children born to Jacob and Catherine (Bates) Koogler, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. After mar- riage the parents settled in Greene County, Ohio, where they carried on farming and remained the balance of their lives. Samuel Koogler was born Feb. 14, 1825. His parents died in 1832, when he was but seven years of age, and he was brought up by the husband of an elder sister. He remained a resident of his native county until nineteen years of age, and then going to the town of Greenville. Ohio, engaged there in the grocery and drug business for about eight years. He then sold out, and in September, 1852, came to this State and located first in Le Roy, McLean County. He spent one winter there, and the following spring rented a farm in Scott Township, this county, which he occupied four years, paying a cash rent of $600 per year. He was prospered in his farming and business opera- tions, and in the meantime purchased a quarter section of railroad land, upon which he settled in 1856, and which constitutes a part of his present homestead. To this he added as time passed on and his -means permitted, until now he has one of the finest farms in this locality, embracing a large body of tillable land. Mr. Koogler was first married, at Greenville, Ohio, to Miss Lucy Vantilburg, a native of that State. Of their four children the record is as fol- lows: Helen B. became the wife of Edgar Phun- mer. and resides in Hey worth, McLean County; Lizzie married Frank Jones, and resides in London, Ohio; Ellen, the wife of Edward Conkling, is a resident of Seymour, in this count}'; William died in infancy. Mrs. Lucy Koogler departed this life at the home of her husband in Scott Township, in 1865. In 1866 Mr. Koogler formed a second mat- rimonial alliance, in this county, Miss Sallie An- dams, a native of Ohio, born about 1834, being the other contracting party. They became the par- ents of one child Lucy, who died when about four years old and the mother departed this life in Scott Township, about 1867. Mr. K. was again married, in McLean County, to Miss Jennie Plum- mer, of Ohio, and they have one child, a son, Frank S. Mr. K. is a member of the Methodist Church, and in politics a decided Republican. He has been Road Commissioner, Supervisor of Scott Township, and otherwise identified with local affairs. Socially he belongs to the Masonic frater- nity. ;ILLIAM G. CLARK came to Illinois in 1840, when a young man, hying his first plans for the establishment of a future home. He had no possessions but his strong hands and willing heart, and at that time the face of the country in this section was widely different from the appearance which it presents to-day. Acres r 668 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. upon acres of what have since proved the best farm- ing lands of the Prairie State, were then practi- cally unopened to the settler. Young Clark en- gaged first at whatever his hands could find to do, working by the day or month, and a year later re- turned to his native State of Ohio, where there was a maiden waiting to join her fortunes with his. Soon after the wedding ceremony he started west- ward with his bride, and it is probable that had he known all which was to follow, stout as his heart was, it would have shrunk from the under- taking. He maintains now that he has seen the " white elephant" in all its phases. Upon the re- turn trip to the Prairie State, having lost one horse, he was compelled to assist the other animal himself, which he did by carrying one end of the neck yoke, and in this way traveled over a distance of a great many miles, his wife sometimes by his side, sometimes in the wagon. After arriving at their journey's end, they located upon a small tract of land in Homer Township, and set up housekeeping in the most primitive style. Not living in a fash- ionable community their necessities were compara- tively few, and perhaps they did not so much real- ize the discomfort then, while passing through it, as they have since, when comparing it with their later life, and its attendant comforts. Mr. Clark, a native of Ohio, was born among the hills of Clarke Count} 1 , on the 12th of August, 1819. His parents, William and Catherine (Zeig- ler) Clark, natives of Pennsylvania, removed to the Buckeye State soon after their marriage, dur- ing its early settlement. The father of our subject was born Aug. 25, 1771, worked as a farmer, brick- mason and shoemaker, and rounded up a busy life at the age of nearly seventy-nine years, in the county where he had first located, his death occur- ring in 1850. He was one of the first to identify himself with the Masonic fraternity, of whose prin- ciples he was a great admirer, and in politics was a Whig. The wife and mother was born Sept. 4, 1785, and departed this life on the old homestead in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1871, when about eighty-six years old. She was a worthy and ex- cellent lady, and a devoted member of the Baptist Church. The marriage of ,he parents took place on the 28th of December, 1807. Their nine chil- dren were born as follows: Samuel, Oct. 2, 1808; Elizabeth, Sept. 3, 1810; George Z., Sept. 2, 1812; Lydia, Nov. 19, 1814; Michael, April 30, 1817; Mary, Dec. 10, 1821; John F., May 4, 1825; Ju- lia A., July 19, 1828; the birth of our subject has already been noted. The boyhood days of William G. Clark were spent under the parental roof, where he was vari- ously employed, assisting in cultivating the soil and working at intervals with his father at his two trades. He received but a limited education, and early in life began to lay his plans for the future. The lady whom he married after his first visit to Illinois, was Miss Julia A. Robinson, who was born iu Virginia on the 4th of November, 1822. She became the wife of our subject in Clarke County, Ohio, July 8, 1841. The family removed from the Old Dominion to the Buckeye State when she was a young girl nine years of age. Her parents, Leon- ard and Mary A. (Foley) Robinson, were also na- tives of Virginia, and the father was engaged in farming pursuits all his life. The parental family included four children, namely, Sarah A., John F., James H. and Thomas J. Mrs. Mary A. Robinson departed this life in 1830, and Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Mahala Burkly, of which union there was born one child, a daughter, Rovilla. After the decease of this lady, he was married to Miss Eliza Athey, who became the mother of a son, Charles D., and also yielded up her life a short time afterward. The fourth wife of Mr. Robinson was Miss Mahala Jones, who became the mother of three children Mary, Elizabeth and Eliza. A fine family grew up in the household of our subject and his wife, the record of his eleven chil- dren being as follows: Frances, the eldest child and daughter, after reaching years of womanhood, became the wife of John M. Swearingen, her wed- ding occurring on the 27th of March, 1 862 ; after becoming the mother of five children, she departed this life at her home in St. Joseph Township, May 13, 1875. Walter married Miss Mary Price, and is residing in Kansas; Fulton died when one year old, and Helen L. when twenty-three years of age, on the 10th of April, 1872; Fidelia only lived to be a few months old ; Cornelia became the wife of Joseph Sanders, and lives in Ogden Township; I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 669 Harvey married Miss Eliza Price, and is. farming ill Kansas; Thornton married Miss Mary Correy, and they are residents of Piatt County, III. ; Louisa, the wife of C. Coble, resides with her husband in Kansas; Isabelle married John Gibson, of Ogden Township; George married Miss Louie Whetstone, and is farming in Ogden Township. It is hardly necessary to say, considering his present position, socially and financially, that the life of Mr. Clark discloses an exceptionally worthy and busy career. He labored industriously to re- deem his laud from its primitive condition, and the results have exceeded even his expectations. Besides having a fine property remaining, he has given each of his children $1,600 worth of land. His farm has proved exceedingly fertile, and some years he has gathered thousands of bushels of corn. He has always taken an active interest in local mat- ters, contributing his means and influence to the support of worthy enterprises, always voted the straight Republican ticket, and religiously conforms to the doctrines of the Christian Church. His son, Thornton, is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a young man of great promise. Wal- ter has started out similarly, being a supply of the same church, in which he has officiated at intervals for fifteen years. Both sons possess considerable musical talents, being fine performers on the violin. Rev. Thornton Clark was bbrn April 12, 1856, and from his earliest childhood evinced more than ordinary aptitude, taking up his studies readily and completing them when eighteen years old. He then crossed the Mississippi into Kansas, and for several years, in partnership with his brother Har- vey, engaged in the stock business and dealt in lands. He was married. Jan. 6, 1876, to Miss Mol- lie Correy, in Mayview, this county, and they be- came the parents of two sons Vincent A. and Clinton. The first born died June 14, 1879. Mr. Clark returned to Champaign County the 1st of October, 1880, and began farming one and one-half miles east of St. Joseph, where he remained two years, and thence removed to Mayview. He continued farming there for about three years, and under the ministrations of Rev. Allen McLeary, of Urbana. was awakened and converted, and soon afterward united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He became an earnest Sunday-school worker, deeply interested in the cause of religion, and was licensed to preach June 6, 1885. He be- came one of the most valued laborers in the vine- yard of the Master in that section, and for a year filled the pulpit at intervals. In September, 1886, he joined the Illinois -Conference at Urbana. Dur- ing his first appointment, at Mansfield, he con- ducted a sweeping revival, and his subsequent course has been one of gradual advancement, until he is now numbered among the most valued mem- bers of the ministry in Central Illinois, although not yet thirty-two years of age. HARMISON. The subject of the following sketch has been a resident of the Prairie State for over thirty-five years. Ar- riving in this State from Ohio, the place of his nativity, he settled first in Dan vers, McLean County, where he built a hotel and officiated as "mine host" for one year. He next bought a farm near Bloomington, which he sold, and then purchased a half section of land near Saybrook,'and made that his home until coming to this county. Mr. Harmi- son became a resident of this county in 1873, locat- ing in Urbana. There he purchased ten lots, upon which he put up seven houses, and from the income thus received has lived comfortably since that time. His present residence is on the corner of Lincoln and Clark streets. Our subject is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, born in 1818, and the son of Matthew and Fannie (Whitelock) Harmison, both natives of Vir- ginia. They went into Ohio in 1827, and located upon a tract of land in Muskingum County, which they occupied however but a short time, and be- coming homesick returned to their native State, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Of their seven children, James of our sketch is the only one living. He remained at home in Ohio until nine years old, at which time the death of his mother occurred. Young Harmison was then bound out to a farmer, Mr. H. Harris, with whom he lived un- til twenty-one, receiving only his board and cloth- ing, and worked so hard for his master in a coal 070 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. bank that he became a cripple. After a day's work in the mine he was obliged to walk half a mile and feed twenty-five to thirty head of cattle, fifty sheep, and six to eight head of horses. He would often return to the honse with his shoes and stockings frozen on his feet, and his other clothing consisted only of a pair of linsey pants, a vest and a shirt. After serving out his time he engaged in peddling for a year and then hired out on a farm one year for $15 per month and board. Mr. Harmison was married hi 1841, to Miss So- phia Will, of Licking County, Ohio, and the daugh- ter of Samuel and Margaret (Gable) Will, natives of Pennsylvania. They removed from their native State at an early day, and locating upon a farm within four miles of Zanesville, there spent the re- mainder of their lives. They had a family of eight children, seven now living, namely, Lewis, Samuel, George, Alfred, Abraham, William, and Sophia, Mrs. Harmison. Our subject and his wife have three children : Samuel married Miss Rebecca Krist, and they have ten children Nettie, Hattie, William, Eugene, James, May, Frank, John, Elmer and Grace; they are living in Kansas. George married Miss Ellen Dunlap, and they have five children Parkhurst. Charles, Lincoln, May, and an infant unnamed; they are living in Dakota. Rosetta became the wife of Alfred Coverdale, and they have three children Allie B., Grace and James and live in Mt. Car- mel, 111. Our subject has always voted the Republican ticket, and with his wife has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1843. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and held the office of Supervisor while a resident of McLean County. ENRY PIPER. The State of Illinois has been for more than two decades the cyno- sure of many eyes as one of the most desirable localities in the West for the es- tablishment of a permanent home; and its fame is not confined to American shores, as the tide of im- migration from the Old World has fully indicated during the period spoken of. These ideas in- fluenced the father of our subject when, in 1842, he set sail with his family from his native land. They first located in Canada, where the father died a few years later, and his son Henry then commenced the stern struggle of life. The birth of Henry Piper took place near Win- chester, England, on the 6th of February, 1836. He is the son of James and Keziah (Crops) Piper, and his two grandmothers were both named Mary. By some unexplained circumstance the names of the grandfathers were omitted from the record our subject possesses. It is unquestioned, however, that they were natives of England and performed their mission in life worthily in the modest station to which Providence had assigned them. When Henry Piper was eleven years of age he was deprived by death of a father's care and turned out into the world to do for himself, his mother possessing limited means and not being able to pro- vide for him. He engaged to learn the tailor's trade, but his constitution rebelled against the con- finement of the shop, and after three years he abandoned it for good. He then engaged to work on a farm for his board, and after two years re- joiced in the possession of restored health, with a clear mind and good muscles. His next employ- ment was in a sawmill, where he remained until twenty years of age. and then resolved to make a decided change. Coming West his first halt was in Pesotum Township, this county, where he en- gaged as a farm laborer, and made it his residence for two years. Afterward he went over into Doug- las Count}', where he commenced farming on shares, and was so successful that two years after- ward he was enabled to become the proud possessor of eighty acres of improved land. The war was then in progress, but not having become a natural- ized citizen he took no part in the great conflict, but remained continuously on his farm until the spring of 1881. Then, being seized with a desire to cross the Mississippi, he rented his farm, and with his family journeyed into Washington Terri- tory, locating near Walla Walla, with the intention of remaining there. The attractions there, how- ever, were not such as he expected, so a year later he retraced his steps, and regaining possession of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. G73 his farm settled himself contentedly with his fam- ily, and since that time has been engaged in general agriculture and stock-raising, making a specialty of Poland-China hogs, and of late effect- ing arrangements for the breeding of Norman horses. The lady who shared the vicissitudes of twenty- four years with our subject was formerly Miss Re- becca, fifth child of James and Rachel Young. Her father was a Kentuckian by birth and a farmer by occupation, and the mother a native of Indiana. Mr. Young in earlier days was quite prominent as a county official, being a well-read man, and pos- sessed of a clear and accurate judgment. The par- ents of Mrs. Piper are now deceased. Our subject and his wife began the journey of life together on their Douglas County farm, where they remained for three years. Mr. Piper then sold out, and coming into llarwood Township, this county, purchased 200 acres on section 34. It was not inhabitable at the time, but the following spring Mr. Piper put up a house, into which as soon possible he removed his family, and began to till the soil around it. In looking upon his present condition and surroundings it is hardly necessary to say that he has been prospered in a marked de- gree. His tastes have been in accordance with his means, and although the homestead is, perhaps, not as pretentious as that of some of his neighbors, yet the air of comfort which surrounds it is pleasant to contemplate. The farm stock is well fed and sheltered, and the family of our subject arc sur- rounded by everything necessary for their comfort and happiness. The four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Piper are all living. The eldest son, John C., in Febru- ary, 1887, was married to Miss Emma Steward, of llarwood Township, and is farming on a section adjoining the property of his father; the other chil- dren William H., Jennie and Carrie Elizabeth are at home with their father. The affection- ate wife and mother, on the 19th of February, 1886 passed away forever from earthly care and suffer- ing, having been a victim of that dread disease, con- sumption. The two daughters now preside over the household. Mrs. Piper was a lady greatly be- loved by her family and friends, distinguished for excellent judgment and kindness of heart, and in early life became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Later she connected herself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she was a valued member at the time of her death. Mr. Piper politically is an active supporter of the Republican party. He has no desire for of- fice but contents himself by casting his vote and exerting his influence in support of the principles which he believes a safe guide to the prosperity and happiness of the people. ORTIMER KILBURY, a well-known and highly esteemed resident of St. Joseph Township, traces his earliest recollections back to the Buckeye State, where he first opened his eyes near Pleasant Valley, in Madison County, on the 1st of June, 1852. He is the son of Asa and Ruth II. (Clark) Kilbury, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio. Asa Kilbury removed from the Green Mountain to the Buckeye State with his parents when a boy, first locating at Cleveland. Later he learned the black- smith trade but afterward engaged in farming and stock-raising, which he carried on in Madison County for a number of years, operating exten- sively, becoming very successful and accumulating a fine property, including a farm of GOO acres near Pleasant Valley in Madison and Union Counties. Finally, however, de'termined to see something of the more western 'country, he came to this county and purchased 1,100 acres lying partly in Ogden and partly in Somer Township. Here he established the business afterward carried on by his sous, J. S. and Mortimer, who came here in 1873. The subject of this sketch passed his early years in Union and Madison Counties, Ohio, after the manner of most farmers' sons, attending first the district schools of his native township, and later, the High School in Pleasant Valley. After coming to this county he began farming on his own account, making his home with his brother until his mar- riage, which took place Sept. 22, 1877. The lady chosen to be the sharer of his home and fortunes was Miss Mary L., second daughter of R. A. and Per- f * 674 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. melia (Auhands) Friedrich, of Vermilion County, 111. After their union the young people located on the land in Ogden Township, where the}' lived until 1884, and then our subject, retiring from active labor, took up his abode in St. Joseph. He, how- ever, was not content to be idle, but invested a portion of his capital in lumber and farm imple- ments, in the trade of which he continued two years, then becoming homesick for country life again, took up his abode on some land belonging to him just outside the city limits, which will probably be his permanent home. Here he carries on, in an easy manner, general farming and stock-raising, in the latter branch of which he is making prepara- tions to engage quite extensively, and which will include the breeding of horses. Here he has 100 acres on section 11, in St. Joseph Township, besides the 'farm in Ogdeu Township, which contains 258 acres. The Somer Township farm embraces 130 acres, and the whole lauded property of our sub- ject includes about 500 in all. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer Kilbury consisted of two sons only Asa and Frederick, bright and promising boys who are developing into a manhood of which the parents will doubtless have reason to be proud. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at St. Joseph, Mr. K. being a Trustee and a man whose counsels are often sought both by his fellow-members in the church and by his townsmen generally. He. is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and a mail in whom his friends have placed a confidence which has never been betrayed. Asa Kilbury, the father of our subject, departed this life at the homestead in Union County, Ohio, on the 5th of January. 1884, and the mother fol- lowed Sept. 20, 1885. The parental household included nine children, of whom five are living, two in Champaign Count}' and the balance in Madi- son, Delaware and Union Counties, Ohio. Mrs. Mary L. Kilbury was born in Oakwood Township, Vermilion Co., 111., Feb. 11, 1857. Her father, R. A. Friedrich, a native of Prussia, was born in the little village of Dankerode, on the Hart/. Mountains, Aug. 15, 1830, and was the son of Lophus Friedrich. The latter was born in the town of Stolberg, Prussia, March 0, 1790, and emi- grated to the United States, dying in Prince Will- iam County, Va., March 30,1851. His wife was the daughter of a dry-goods merchant by the name of Lippert, who carried on business in the city of Leipsic. She was born April 8, 1800, and died in Dankerode, Nov. 2, 1848. Mrs. Permelia (Au- hands) Friedrich was born in Montgomery County, Ind., Nov. 0, 1835, and removed with her father, Andrew Auhands, to Vermilion County, 111., when about six years of age, her mother, Mrs. Margaret Auhands, having died about two years before. Mr- Freidrich emigrated to America in the fall of 1848 and is still living, a gentleman of kindly Christian character, and enjoying the respect of many friends and acquaintances. KWTS L. HICKS, an extensive and promi- nent farmer and stock-raiser of Rantoul Township, is the owner of 1,900 acres of land in this county, and represents the bulk of the grain interests of this section, being a member of the firm of Tomlinson & Hicks, operating a grain elevator in the northeast part of town, connected with the milling interests of Rantoul, and handling probably 400,000 bushels of grain annually. In view of these facts it is hardly necessary to state that the name of this gentleman is familiar to many of the business men of Champaign County, and that he has contributed his full quota toward the advancement of its agricultural interests. He pos- sesses excellent judgment, more than ordinary ex- ecutive ability, and is of the persistent quality of character which seldom gives up a project when he has once determined upon its accomplishment. Mr. Hicks is a native of Indiana, born near Perryville, Vermillion County, Oct. 29, 1825. His father, George Hicks, a native of Massachusetts, engaged in agriculture the greater part of his life and trained his son carefully to habits of industry, noting witli pleasure the evidences of the inherit- ance of his own rare business qualities and assist- ing to develop these by every means in his power. George Hicks left his native State earl}' in life, and taking up his abode in Eastern New York engaged t, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 675 there in fanning until his marriage. Soon afterward, with his young wife, he journeyed to Indiana, which at that time was a vast wilderness, with In- dians much more plentiful than white men. They located in the midst of the timber tract, from which the father of our subject opened up" a good farm and where lie passed the remainder of his days. His family included four sous and four daughters, of whom six are yet living. The subject of this history, in common with his brothers and sisters, passed his early years on the farm in Indiana, and was carefully instructed dur- ing his childhood by a private teacher. Later he entered Asbury University at Greencastle, Ind., and after completing his studies, entered a store in Perryville, where he held the position of an efficient clerk for several years, and enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his employers. In 1853 Mr. Hicks, desiring to see something of the country further west, came to this county and prepared to establish himself as a permanent resi- dent. He purchased a tract of land north of the present site of Rantoul. where he opened up a farm, brought it to a good state of cultivation, and traded some in live-stock. His first purchase consisted of 020 acres which he secured direct from the Govern- ment. This he occupied until after the close of the war, and in 1866 took up his residence in Rantoul, where he became engaged extensively in dealing in lumber, coal and grain, subsequently adding agri- cultural implements. In the latter department he was the pioneer in this county and is still connected with the business. His first partner was Peter Myers, with whom he operated two years; the latter then withdrawing, his place was supplied by the admittance of Sheldon Tomlinson to the firm. With this latter gentleman Mr. II. has operated for the past eighteen years, and in point of business ability, integrity and good judgment the partners are well matched. Mr. Hicks, besides his interest in the elevator, grain and coal business, superintends the operation of six farms comprising his own land, which, through the good judgment exercised in till- ing the soil, have become among the most valuable of any in the county. They are well stocked with line grades of cattle and horses, and the people who cultivate them form a colony by themselves. In addition to his fine cattle and horses Mr. Hicks has made a specialty of Poland-China hogs, fattening large numbers annually and shipping by the carload to Eastern markets. The elevator operated by the firm is the largest in the town of Rantoul, substan- tially constructed with a first-class engine and dump, and furnished with all modern improvements for handling grain. The marriage of our subject and Miss Emily Burton took place in Rantoul, 111., in 1870. The two living children are daughters Estella and Bertha A. Their only son, Louis L., died in Feb- ruary, 1887, when seventeen years of age. This bereavement was a sad blow to Mr. Hicks, in which he had the sympathies of all who knew them. Mrs. Hicks dieil in 1878, since which time Mr. H.'s daughters have been presiding over the household. NO man in Rantoul Township has done more to advance its farming interests than Mr. Hicks, and the history of his life, his industry, his perseverance and his successes should be handed down to future generations as a career which they should emulate, and for the encouragement of those who are am- bitious to be something and to accomplish some- thing in the world. The fact that he began with a small amount of capital is by no means to his dis- credit, for those who make a good use of capital, and like the character in the Scriptures, increase it tenfold, are comparatively rare. The contrary is usually the rule, and vast fortunes have been sunk through incompetence and prodigality. Due credit should therefore be given to the man whose judg- ment and manner of living have enabled him to make a success of his life whether it began with little or large means. In politics Mr. Hicks is a Republican. H. LLOYDE, of the firm of D. H. Lloyde & Son, dealers in school books, music, wall paper, stationery, pianos, organs, sewing- machines, etc., is located at No. 9 Main street; where he established business in 1874. He is a clear-headed and thorough-going citizen, and by his energy and industry has contributed his full share in building up the business interests of the city. Our subject is a native of Springfield, Mass, and t 676 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. was born June 11, 183f>. He is the sou of Copt. David and Eliza (Seavcr) Lloyde, natives respect- ively of Springfield and Somerset, Mass. David Lloyde, Jr., when a young man engaged in farming . pursuits, but later developed as a contractor and builder. He removed to Illinois with his family in 1838, settling in Clarion Township, Bureau Coun- ty, and continuing there until after the outbreak of the Rebellion. He then organized Co. K, 93d 111. Vol. Inf., of which he was commissioned Captain and became an efficient officer, always being found at his post. During the battle at Yicksburg, on the 16th of May, 1862, he was shot through the heart, dying instantly on the battle-field. He left a wife and five children to mourn an irreparable loss. The children were: D. II., of our sketch; Jennie, Mrs. Lee, of Attica, Kan. ; James, a mer- chant and station agent at Milo, on the Missouri & Pacific Railroad ; Lucy, Mrs. Herrick, of Princeton, 111., and George O., a builder and contractor of Bloomington. The father of our subject was a prominent man in bis community, occupying the offices of Super- visor and Justice of the Peace for a number of years. He was well educated, and taught school in the village of Lamoille, after coining into this State, and took great interest in the establishment of schools, of which he located several in Bureau County. He kept the first hotel at Lamoille, at which the stages of those days put up, and he assisted in building the court house, jail, and other prominent structures in and around Princeton. He gave employment to a large force of mechanics, and as a builder and contractor was not excelled by any man in that section. The aged mother still survives, being seventy-seven years old, and re- mains on the old homestead in Clarion Township. The subject of this biography was three years old when his father came to Illinois, and early in life learned the use of tools, having inherited in a marked degree the genius of his father in this respect. He commenced his education in the dis- trict schools, and afterward attended Judson College in La Salle County, and Berean College of Jack- sonville. He remained an inmate of the household circle until twenty-one years of age, and then engaged as a builder and contractor. In the meantime he, like his father, had also been greatly interested in the establishment and maintenance of Sunday-schools, and has traveled from place to place, holding musical and Sunday-school conven- tions in different States. While in Bureau County he officiated as School Director, and was Commis- sioner of Highways. After coming to Champaign he was employed as a teacher of vocal music in the University, and in 1875 established his present business, which he has conducted since that time. He is a Republican in politics, a strong temperance advocate, and with his wife belongs to the Baptist Church, of which he was Chorister, Deacon and Trustee for a period of nine years. The marriage of D. H. Lloyde and Miss Ellen P. Angier was celebrated in Lamoille, Feb. 25, 1857. Mrs. L. is a native of Vermont, and the daughter of Rev. Aaron and Eliza (Luther) Angier, the former a minister of the Baptist Church. They came to Illinois in about 1855, settling in Lamoille, Bureau County, where the father died that same year. Mrs. Angier survived her husband eight years, dying in 1863. Mr. and Mrs. L. have a family of three sons: Frank II., a graduate of the University, in the class of 1878, was married in 1879, 'to Miss Fanny Core, and is the partner of his father in business; Clarence is a graduate of engineering in the Mechanical De- partment of Illinois University, with the degree of B. S., and is now engaged with the United States Electric Lighting Company of Chicago; Clifford L. is pursuing his studies in the High School on the West Side. The family residence, a handsome and substantial structure, is located on West Clark street. ENRY J. LEIDENDEKER. The subject of the following history, who is widely and favorably known in Hensley Township, as one of its representative men and valued citizens is a fine specimen of the substantial German element which has assisted so materially in developing the resources of the great West, and bringing it to its present proud position in the Union. Our subject was born near Hereford in the Province of Westphalia, Prussia, Dec, 27, 1840. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 677 His father, Albert Leidundeker, a native of the same Province, was there reared to farming pur- suits, and upon arriving at years of manhood was married to Miss Gretchen Snueke, a native of his own town. While a single man he served in the army under Napoleon and later under King Will- iam. He was with the former during the disastrous campaign of Moscow and suffered all the hard- ships of the retreating army. During the forced march, becoming exhausted he lay down in the snow, caring little whether he recovered or not, lie was soon discovered by some of his comrades, and they compelled him to proceed, thus saving his life. After his marriage he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and also as an auctioneer and collector. In 1856 Albert Leidendeker partially effected his arrangements for emigrating to America, but was taken ill and died in the fall of that year. His wife, the mother of our subject, remained in her native country and died there in 1883. -The six children of the household were: Mary, Eliza; Henry J., of our sketch; Louisa, Katie and Ame. Eliza came to America, married F. A. Lange, and died in Hensley Township, this county, in 1876. This sis- ter and our subject were the only members of the family who came to the United States. Henry Leidendeker received a good education in his native land, and when not in school assisted his father on the farm. He was not, however, sat- isfied with his condition or his prospects in the Fatherland, and on the llth of April, 1857, set sail from Bremen for America, landing in New York City on the 16th of June. He left the Empire State in a short time, however, and proceeding to Ohio engaged there on a farm until the spring of 1858. In March of that year he started for the farther West, and coming into this county com- menced, although but a boy of seventeen, to lay his plans for the future. He was a stranger in a strange land, but there is almost 'always work for willing hands to do, and he soon found employ- ment at |14 per month. This he considered a great improvement upon Ohio prices, as labor in the Buckeye State at that time only commanded about half the price. Henry saved his earnings and the following year found himself with means to pur- chase an outfit and engage in farming on his own account. He rented land for four years following, and then purchased eighty acres on section 22, in Hensley Township. Upon this, however, there were no buildings, so he continued to cultivate rented land, and in 1865 sold out and purchased the homestead he now occupies. But a few acres of this were broken and there were no buildings. Un- der his care and industry, however, the originally wild land has been transformed into a fine mod- ern homestead, where our subject and his family enjoy all the comforts of life. Here he lias erected a fine set of frame buildings, and planted fruit and shade trees, besides making other valuable improve- ments. To his first purchase he also added until he has now 320 acres in one body, and ICO acres in Sargent Township, Mower Co., Minn. Mr. Leidendeker was married on the 9th of Sep- tember, 1872, to Miss Rebecca Epperson, a native of Crawfordsville, Ind., and the daughter of Rich- ard and Ellen Epperson, natives of Virginia. This lady died on the 6th of February, 1881, after having become the mother of two children Albert R. and Mary G. The second marriage of our sub- ject occurred Feb. 10, 1886, Miss Amelia Harris, who was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, and the daughter of Lazerus and Julia Harris, also natives of that State, becoming his wife. Of this marriage there has been born one child, Frank E. Mr. L. is Republican in politics, and with his wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-townsmen in a marked degree, and has held various offices of trust in his township. He served as a member of the Board of Supervisors four terms, and in all respects is a man whose opin- ion is consulted upon important matters, and whose judgment it is safe to follow. ERLEY A. RUSK is the son of one of the earliest pioneers of Morgan County, Ohio, who afterward became a resident of this State. He is pleasantly located on section 12, Rantoul Township, where he lias eighty acres of improved land and a good set of farm buildings. Mr. Rusk was born on the 1 1th of March, 1837, at 678 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 1 the parental homestead in Ohio, and came to this State in 1868. Humphrey Rusk, father of our subject, was a na- tive of Virginia. He grew to manhood in the Old Dominion, and soon after his marriage started over- land with teams for the Buckeye State. A part of his road lay through the wilderness and often he was obliged to cut his way through with his ax. After reaching Morgan County he purchased a tract of timber land and erected a log house, in which the family took up their abode as soon as it was covered by a roof. He cleared the greater part of his pur- chase, then sold out and bought land in another township of that county. After a few years he sold this also but remained a resident of the county as long as lie lived. While on a visit to his son in this county he was seized with fatal illness, and died here in the fall of 1860. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Margaret McDonald, was born in Virginia, and followed the varied fortunes of her husband until his death. She afterward came to this county and made her home with our subject. While on a visit to Indiana, in May, 1882, her life suddenly terminated at the home of her daughter, Eliza Jane Baldridge. Perley A. Rusk was next to the youngest of ten children comprising the parental household. He pursued his early studies in the district schools with commendable interest, and when eighteen years of age entered the Ohio University at Athens and applied himself to study for two years after- ward. He then engaged as a teacher during the winter seasons and in the summer was employed in farm pursuits. He remained a resident of his na- tive State until 1859. In March of that year he came to this State, locating in De Witt County, and farmed and taught school alternately for ten years following and until becoming a resident of Cham- paign County. In the fall of 1868 he visited the county and bought ICO acres of unimproved land in Compromise Township, of which he took possession the following year. He worked diligently for nine years following, cultivating the soil and erecting an inexpensive residence and barn, and in the meantime he also taught school eight or nine terms. In 1878 he rented a tract of land, upon which he operated two years with fair success, and then pur- chased the place where he now resides. This em- braces eighty acres well, drained and fenced, and productive of the rich crops of the Prairie Stale. The wife of our subject, formerly Miss Martha Buchanan, to whom he was married Sept. 10, 1857, in Morgan County, Ohio, was born in Harrison County, that State, and is the daughter of William Buchanan. Her parents are now deceased. The children of our subject and his wife, ten in num- ber, are William II., Carrie, David, Volney, Frank, Albert, John, Mattie, Minnie and Ella. Mr. and Mrs. R. were Presbyterians, joining in 1852, but united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1 886, by letter. Our subject politically is a Prohibitionist. J^AMES N. SMITH, a prominent farmer of Urbana Township, is the oldest son of Jacob and Margaret Smith, and was born in Cham- paign County, Nov. 20, 136. He received a common-school education, and at the same time a thorough and practical training in all the details of farming. His father was one of the pioneers of Champaign County, and at that time farm hands were scarce and very difficult to obtain, conse- quently the boys were required to work early and late. In those days school facilities were of sec- ondary importance and the advantages for book- learning were at best very limited. But the disci- pline of hard work and systematic application to business is an excellent educator, and made of our subject a self-reliant man. James N. Smith remained with his parents on the farm until the age of manhood, when he married Miss Lizzie, daughter of Caleb Williams, and be- gan fanning for himself until the war broke out. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. B, 76th 111. Vol. Inf., and took part in the seige of Vicksburg, the battles of Jackson, Miss., Ft. Blakely and many other engage- ments. On one occasion he received a severe shock from the explosion of a shell, which rendered him unconscious for several hours. In July, 1865, he was honorably discharged from the service. On his return from the army he settled on his present farm, which is one of the finest in the township. It CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 679 contains 240 acres with a fine, handsome residence and substantial farm buildings. Mr. Smith is an enterprising, energetic man, and is quite extensively engaged in stock-raising, giving his attention spec- ially to the best breeds of cattle and hogs. The four children of the household are Ellis, Eva, Bertie and Mervin. Jacob Smith, the father of our subject, was born in Shelby County, Ky., in March, 1805, and was the eldest of ten children, the off- spring of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Potter) Smith, natives of Germany. He was married in 1833 to Miss Margaret J., daughter of James and Hester (Fulton) Beattie. Her paternal grandfather was a native of Scotland and emigrated to America be- fore the Revolutionary War. The parents of Mrs. Smith died in Boone County, Mo. Of their family of ten children, but four lived to maturity. After Jacob Smith came to Champaign County, he set- tled on the land which is now included in the homestead, and where his widow resides. His death occurred in 1854. The Fulton branch of Mrs. Smith's family was of English origin and settled in Washington County, Va., where she was born in 1814. She is now in the seventy-third year of her age, is quite active in mind and body, and is held in high esteem by all who know her. ILLIAM T. MILLER, the proprietor of a good farm on section 9, Scott Township, and a gentleman who thorough]}' under- stands the vocation in which he is engaged, came to this county in the spring of 1866. His real estate consisted of 293 acres of valuable land, fur- nished with a good set of farm buildings, and stocked with graded animals. Everything about the premises is kept in good order, and the home- stead on every hand gives evidence of the super- vision of an intelligent and progressive farmer. Our subject is a native of Ross County, Ohio, and was born near Chillicothe, Dec. 25, 1844. He is the son of William R. and Elizabeth (Streevy) Miller, the former a native of Virginia, and the lat- ter of Ohio. After marriage the parents located in the latter State, in the vicinity of Chillicothe, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The family consisted of two children, of whom our sub- ject was the youngest. Young Miller attended the district schools in his childhood and remained under the home roof until fifteen years old. He then went to work on a farm and remained a resident of his native county until coming to Illinois. During the progress of the late war, he became a member of the 18th Ohio In- fantry, serving from Feb. 22, 1864, until the suc- cess of the Union army was assured. After receiv- ing his honorable discharge, he returned to Ross County, Ohio, and from there, in the spring of 1866, proceeded to the Prairie State, and this coun- ty, of which he has since been a resident. Mr. Miller was married in Piatt County, 111., Sept. 27, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas A. and Elizabeth (Robinson) Branch. The father of Mrs. Miller was born in Virginia, and her mother in Tennessee. After marriage, Thomas Branch and family located in Virginia, where they lived about two years, and then removed to Sanga- mon County, 111., subsequently to Piatt County, and later to Champaign County. Their last days were spent at Seymour, and their remains are buried at Monticello, Piatt County, 111. Of their twelve children, Mrs. Miller was next to the youngest. She was born in Piatt County, this State, April 28, 1 848. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Miller, five in num- ber, were Minnie F., Frank W., Fannie, Chester B. and Goldie M. Frank W. died when three and one-half years old. Mr. Miller is a stanch sup- porter of Republican principles, has served as School Trustee, and has been otherwise identified with local affairs. Mrs. Miller, a lady highly re- spected in her community, is a member in good standing of the Christian Church. LEXANDER WHITE McCULLOUGH, 'f/_l\\ of Urbana Township, is a pioneer of this county, and one of her most respected and honored citizens. He was born on the 19th of February, 1810, in Franklin County, Pa. The family are of Scotch and Irish extraction, and Mr. McC'ullough's grandfather, John McCullough, was born in New Castle County, Del. When a child f fi80 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. eight years of age, John McCullough was captured 1>3 T the Delaware Indians. His parents were at that time living near Upton, in Franklin County, Pa., and young McCullough was held a prisoner by the Indians for eight years and four months in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. He was a brave, high- spirited boy, and was treated so kindly by his dusky captors, that after his return home he ran away and rejoined them. Our subject's father, James McCullough. married Miss Margaret White, the daughter of Alexander White, and about the year 1 822 they removed to Delaware County, Ohio. Their family consisted of six children, only two of whom are living at the present time. Alexander W. McCullough was married in 1842, to Miss Elizabeth Syler, the daughter of Frederick and Sarah (Robinson) Syler. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born July 9, 1824. After his marriage Mr. McCullough and his wife con- tinued to live in Franklin County until 1854, when the}' removed to this county and located in Urbana Township, where they have since perman- ently resided. He first invested in timbered land, which he cleared and cultivated, and in the meantime brought up and educated a family of eight children, whose names are as follows: James; Adeline, the wife of Nelson Raney, residing in Sumner County, Kan.; Anna E., the wife of John Bond, residing near Tolono; Frederick, a resident of California; Margaret, the wife of Samuel Bur- wash, residing in Philo Township; Benjamin, a resident of California; Albert, a resident of this county, and John, who lives on the homestead. Mr. McCullough is highly esteemed by his com- munity, and formerly served as School Director for about ten years. His family are all members of the Methodist Church, in which they take an active interest. In his early life he was a Jacksonian Democrat, later he became an old-line Whig and has since become a stanch Republican. His son James served in the Civil War, and was so severely wounded at the storming of Ft. Blakely that he was obliged to lose his left arm. Mr. McCullough is now seventy-eight years of age, and his wife is sixty -three. They have passed nearly half a cen- tury of happy married life, during which time they have encountered and overcome many diffi- culties, and their declining days are crowned with repose and comfort. JSAIAH ESTEP, a reliable business man of Ran- toul, has there built up a successful trade in agricultural implements, in which he has dealt since 1870. He began life in the town of- Wells- ville, Columbians Co., Ohio, on the 24th of August, 1810, and is the son of Henry and Abigail (Ander- son) Estep, the former a native of Maryland, and who, after locating in Wellsville, changed his occu- pation from that of a ship carpenter to a farmer. Afterward he removed to Kirkersville, where he engaged in mercantile business, and later went to Delphi, Ind., and occupied himself in a drug-store until his death, in 18G8. The mother of our sub- ject was the daughter of Benjamin Anderson, and was of Scotch-Irish origin. He was prominent as a seceder and a man of much force of character, having a good head for business affairs and obtain- ing much influence in his locality. The marriage of Henry and Abigail Estep was productive of twelve children, of whom six are still living. The mother died at Danville, 111., and was buried in Delphi. The paternal grandfather of our subject, James Estep, served seven years in the Revolutionary War, and at the close of that struggle took up his abode in the then young State of t)hio, locating in the forest, on the banks of Mahoning Creek. He there lived after the pioneer fashion, reared his family, and pursued the life of a peaceable citizen, respected by his neighbors and beloved by his family. Late in life he left Columbiana for Stark County, where he spent his last days. One daugh- ter of this family is still living, being now an aged lac'y of eighty years and making her home in Leavittsburg, Ohio. The Estep family is of En- glish origin, possessing all the substantial traits of their ancestors, persistent in their business, faithful in their friendship, and difficult to be moved aside from their opinions and the line of strict morality. Isaiah Estep, the eldest of his father's family, passed his boyhood in his native county, and was RESIDENCE OF CYRUS A RN OLD, 5 EC 35 , PH1LO TP . RESIDENCE OF W S . VANCE , 5EC. 3 , BROWN TP. RESIDENCE OF A.J. REED, SEC. 25., PHILO TP. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 681 fifteen years of age when the family removed to Stark County. There he grew to manhood and selected for his wife Miss Savilla Smith. Her par- ents were formerly from Bedford County, Pa., and became residents of Stark County. Ohio, when Mrs. Estep was sixteen years of age. After marriage the young people located near the town of Canton, where Mr. E. engaged in wagon-making and gen- eral blacksmithing, and it is maintained that he manufactured some of the best road vehicles in that part of the State. His first removal was to this county, in the spring of 1857, when he settled on a farm in Ludlow Township, where he engaged in agriculture until the spring of 1870. He then established a shop in Rantoul, where he carried on general blacksmithing and in due time began to handle farm implements. Later he abandoned black- smithing and gave his entire attention to building up his trade. He was one of the first to engage in this business here and controls a patronage extend- ing over a large territory. His stock includes all kinds of farm machinery and his establishment is the leading one of the kind in this section. His methods of doing business have established him in the confidence of the people of Rantoul and vicinity, and he is ranked among its representative citizens and business men. Of the ten children who came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Estep, nine are still living. The record is as follows : Edwin W., soon after the out- break of the Rebellion, and under the first call for 75,000 troops, enlisted in the 4th Ohio Infantry, and was wounded at the first battle of Chancellors- ville, but recovered and lived to come home with his comrades; he is now engaged with a firm at Akron, Ohio. Ephrairn J. is farming near Puget Sound, Wash. Ter. ; William H. served as cavalry soldier in the late war; Arthur, also in the Union army, died at Helena, Ark., in 1862; Charles is engaged in blacksmithing at Rosedale, Kan. ; Ezra, a car- penter and pattern-maker, resides at Piano, 111. ; Harry C. is acting as civil engineer, having gradu- ated at the State University; May, who became the wife of Daniel Tuite, is now a widow and resides with her parents; Jessie is also at home; Ida M. died Jan. 25, 1 887. Mr. Estep was School Trustee in Ludlow Township for ten years, and was other- wise connected with its various interests, moral, educational and industrial. Formerly he was an old-line Whig, but on the abandonment of that party gave his support to Republican principles, with which party he claims a charter membership. j^ATRICK GREEN, a worthy member of the farming community of Colfax Township, is. pleasantly located on section 20, where lie took possession of 160 acres of land in 1869. His present fine farm was then an unim- proved tract of prairie, which he has transformed into a fertile and valuable estate. It is all neatly enclosed with good fences, thoroughly drained with tile, and embellished with one of the finest sets of buildings in Champaign County. The possessions of our subject have been obtained by the toil of his own honest hands, and now that he has secured valuable possessions he knows full well how to take care of them. Mr. Green is a native of County Roscommon, Ireland, born Nov. 7, 1842, and is the son of James and Marcella (Green) Green, natives of the same country. When our subject was a little lad of three years old, the parents with their two children, set sail for America. Only a part of the little family, however, was permitted to reach the land of promise. The father and one child were taken violently ill, and died on the ship in mid-ocean. The bereaved mother and her son, our subject, landed at Montreal, Canada, where they remained for two years following. They then came to the States and sought the prairies of Illinois, settling in the city of La Salle, where the mother is still living and has attained the age of seventy-two years. She . was married the second time, to William Maloney. Our subject resided with his mother until reach- ing manhood, employing his time in honest labor at whatever he could find to do. In due time he had accumulated sufficient of his earnings to purchase a team, and followed teaming at La Salle successfully for a number of years, earning in the meantime the money with which he purchased his present home. Mr. Green was married on the 9th of January, 1871, to Miss Maria Hopkins, a native of his own CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 county. Their wedding took place in the city of La Snlle, 111. Mrs. G. is the daughter of John and Bridget (Feeuey) Hopkins, natives of Ireland, and now residents of Syracuse, N. Y. Our subject and his wife have become the parents of six children James. Frank, May, Marcella, George and Bessie. The parents and their children are regular attend- ants of the Roman Catholic Church, and the family enjoys the entire respect of the community and the society of many friends. Mr. Green is an advocate of the principles of the Democratic party. AMUEL FOX, of St. Joseph, is well and favorably known in his community as a straightforward and thorough-going busi- ness gentleman, and one whose word is a sufficient guarantee for the fulfillment of his prom- ises. The early home of Mr. Fox was near Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio, where his birth took place Oct. 21, 1841. His parents, John and Nancy (Bender) Fox, were natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. The grandfather of our sub- ject, Christopher Fox, was a soldier in the War of 1812, in which he yielded up his life in battle. He had married and become the father of a family, his wife being formerly Miss Bicker. Among their sons was John, the father of our subject, who was also born in the Keystone State, alid emigrated to Ohio when a single man. He was there married and located with his bride in Columbiana County, where he lived for many years, and thence re- moved to Stark County, locating on a farm, where his death took place in the spring 'of 1866. The wife and mother survived her husband several years, dying in Stark County, Ohio, in 1876. The parental family consisted of four sons and seven daughters, all of whom lived to mature years, and with one exception are now living. The subject of this history was the sixth child of his parents, and grew to manhood in Stark County, Ohio, receiving a fair education in the district school. In laying his plans for the future he resolved to learn the blacksmith's trade, and go.ng to Canton, commenced at this and followed it until ' the outbreak of the late war. Then, being twenty years of age, he enlisted as a Union soldier and served three years, being connected mostly with the United States Signal Service. During that time his duties called him into fourteen different States, and gave him a fine opportunity of viewing the coun- try located mostly south of Mason and Dixon's line. After the surrender of the confederate army he, with his comrades, received his honorable dis- charge and was mustered out in June, 1865. Mr. Fox upon retiring from the army, after a brief visit to the home of his youth, proceeded to La Fayette, Ind., where he engaged with a company who were carrying on the manufacture of Buckeye Mowers, and continued with them until taking up his residence in this county. He first worked in Champaign two years, becoming a partner of J. W. Spalding, a wagon manufacturer. Upon coming to St. Joseph, in 1874, he opened up a blacksmith- shop, and subsequently formed a partnership with S. Irons, in the sale of agricultural implements. They continued together two years, and Mr. Fox then disposed of a half interest in the black- smith and repair shop to Mr. E. A. Birdzell. The marriage of Samuel C. Fox and Miss Maria Bowshier, of La Fayette, Ind., took place at the home of the bride's parents, in the spring of 1868, Eight years later this lady died, leaving one son, named Guy. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 1880, was Mrs. Maria Platt, of La Fayette, Ind., daughter of Alexander Julien, and widow of Benjamin C. Platt. Since coming to this county Mr. Fox has been identified considerably in township affairs, serving as President and member of the School Board, and socially is Commander of Post No. 220, G. A. R. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. J"~ OHN CONNOR, retired from the active labors of life, and enjoying the comforts of a home and competency earned by honest toil, is one of the most highly esteemed resi- dents of Rnntoul. He started out for himself when a youth eighteen years of age, determining to seek his fortunes in the Prairie State. His parents occu- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 683 pied a medium position in life, lived comfortably, but were not able to provide their son with other resources than a fair education and the upright and straightforward principles which had in them the basis of their own course of action. The3 r had trained him to habits of industry, and he was will- ing to earn an honest living at whatever he could find to do. He first engaged as a laborer on the C., B. & Q. R. R. during its grading and laying of ties, and after the rolling stock was set in motion he was promoted brakeman. He was an apt scholar and watched with an attentive eye the workings of the locomotive machinery, and soon announced his belief in his ability to manage the engine. Time proved that he had not overrated his capacities, and in his subsequent position as engineer he ac- quitted himself creditably and with satisfaction to all concerned. In 1857, desiring to see his parents and the faces of his old friends, he returned to his native State of New York, and remained until 1859. In the spring of that year he started for the AVest again, and coming into this county, purchased a tract of wild land in Rantoul Township, on sec- tion 14. Farming in the West proved far more satisfactory than the same occupation in the East, and he accordingly settled down contentedly upon his purchase, improving his land, setting out trees and erecting buildings, and established a good homestead, where he remained for a period of nearly twenty years. In 1886, having accumulated a handsome prop- erty and a competency, Mr. Connor decided to retire from active labor, and accordingly purchas- ing the property which he now occupies in Rantoul, removed to the city, where he proposes spending the remaining years of his life. This latter prop- erty occupies four lots, with a spacious lawn and yard, ornamented with choice shrubs and shade trees. The dwelling is a handsome and commodious structure with a carriage barn and other necessary buildings in the rear, and everything arranged for the comfort and pleasure of the family. The birth of Mr. Connor took place in Troy, Reusselaer Co., N. Y., April 9, 1837. His father, Martin Connor, a native of County Limerick, Ire- land, grew to manhood on his native Isle and was there married. Soon afterward he emigrated to the United States, settling first in Troy, N. Y., whence he removed within a year to Stephenson and after- ward to New Lebanon Springs. Near this latter place he purchased a farm which Jie operated for a number of years, and then leaving it in the hands of a tenant, purchased a home in New Lebanon Springs, to which he repaired, and spent the remain- der of his life retired from active labor. His decease occurred in June, 1880. The mother, formerly Miss Bridget Costello, was a native of the same county as her husband, and by her marriage with Martin Connor became the mother of six chil- dren, namely, Mary, John, Michael, Thomas, James and Martin. She departed this life at the home farm at New Lebanon Springs in about 1851. While a resident of his native county, John Con- nor, in his boyhood, made the acquaintance of Miss Mary Murphy, which, as years passed on, ripened into a mutual affection which was not forgotten after he left his old home for the West, conse- quently, in 1858, he returned to his native county and there married the maiden of his choice. Mrs. C. is the daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Lynch) Murphy, natives of County Limerick, Ireland. They emigrated to the United States about 1837 or 1838, and reared a fine family of sons and daughters in Rensselaer County, N. Y., where the wife of our subject was born. The seven children of Mr. and Mrs. John Connor are Charles; Carrie, the wife of Morgan O'Brien of Tolono; Willie, Hattie, Frank, Walter and Earle at home. The family are all members of the Catholic Church, and in politics Mr. Connor is a Democrat. AMES BARTLEY, who bears the honor and distinction of being one of the oldest settlers of St. Joseph Township now living, is a native of the Buckeye State, his birth taking place in Pickaway County, on the 2d of June, 1817. His ancestors originated in Germany, where his maternal grandfather, George AVest, was born, and married a lady of his own country. The father of our subject, Jacob Hartley, was born in A r irginia, where his parents had settled after their marriage, locating near Fredericksburg, in Albe- f t 684 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. niarlc County. The father was a shoemaker by trade, which occupation he followed during life. He went to Ohio while a young man unmarried, and there formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah West, who became his wife in about 1816. The young people located in Pickaway County, occu- pying a farm until the fall of 1830, thence remov- ing to Vermilion County, this State. They stopped there, however, only about eighteen months, then came to Champaign County about the time of its annexation to Vermilion, and wheji Danville, the new trad ing- post, was first established. Upon coming to this county Jacob Bartley en- tered 160 acres of timber land on section 23, St. Joseph Township, and afterward entered eighty acres of prairie land. His first business was to put up a small log cabin, into which they moved be- fore it had a chimney, a fireplace or a floor. The family thus passed one summer very comfortably, but before winter approached were obliged to make different arrangements. Jacob Hartley en- tered upon the improvement and cultivation of his land, and employed his spare time at shoemaking. He was thus employed until resting from his earthly labors in the spring of 1 836. There were left with- out support the mother and ten children, the record of the latter being as follows: George, the eldest, is deceased ; Mary became the wife of Michael Lep- ner, and is deceased; Joseph died in California, where he had gone during the gold excitement of 1849; John is living near Lafayette, Ind.; Eliza- beth married William Stewart, of this county; James, of our sketch, was the next in order of birth; Jacob died near Urbana; William removed to Kansas, where his death took pladfe about 1875; Sarah is the wife of D. B. Slayton, of St. Joseph Township, and Henry, the youngest, died on the old homestead. The boyhood and youth of James Bartley were spent on his father's farm, where he remained after the death of the latter until he reached his majority, He then commenced life on his own account, and for four years following worked by the month as a farm laborer. The young men of those days usually early in life established themselves in a lit- tle place which they could call their own home, and our subject being no exception, was married in 1841, and then felt that he had commenced life in earnest. The sharer of his home and fortunes was formerly Mrs. Mary M. (Swearingen) Given, and soon afterward they settled on the old farm, which had been opened up from the uncultivated prairie by the father of our subject, and which his son leased until the estate was finally settled. When the apportionment was effected James bought out the interest of the other heirs, and has contin- ued to reside there until the present. It now em- braces 145 acres under a good state of cultivation, and Mr. B. has of late years turned his attention principally to the raising of stock. In due time there came into the household of our subject and his wife six children, the family finally including three sons and three daughters. Of these William II. died when an interesting youth of eighteen years ; Mary became the wife of George W. Doyle, a practicing physician of Pike County ; John married Miss Amanda Hanlej' ; Sa- rah is the wife of O. A. Seaton. of Jewel City, Kan. ; James M., a machinist, is a resident of Indi- anapolis, Ind.; Amanda is the wife of S. H. Thompson, of Kansas. Mr. Bartley cast his first presidential vote for President Harrison, and since the abandonment of the Whig party has cordially endorsed the princi- ples of the Republicans. He is passing down the hill of life surrounded by the friends whom he has known for so many years, and whose respect and esteem he has enjoyed to a marked degree, for he has lived honestly and uprightly, and in all re- spects fulfilled the obligations a of good citizen. FOWLER. Among the attractive prairie homes of Compromise Township, none is more pleasant to look upon than that of our subject, which is finely located on section 17, and presents a series of cultivated fields and pasture lands, not excelled by any in this part of Champaign County. In the midst of these, and on a gentle rise of ground, stands the substantial family residence with its shapely and well-kept out-buildings, with here and there gn nips of shade trees and other adornments, which consti- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 085 tute altogether the home of refinement and pros- perity. Mr. Fowler, a native of the wealthy and populous State of Ohio, was born Sept. 6, 1831, on his father's farm among the hills of Marion County. His parents, Willy and Cynthia (Perkins) Fow- ler, began life together as husband and wife in Muskingum County, Ohio, a few years after its first settlement began. The father of our subject, a native of Lincoln- shire, England, was born in 1798, remaining in his native shire until reaching manhood. Then, ac- companied by two brothers, Robert and Richard, he crossed the Atlantic, and soon after landing, located in Muskingum County, Ohio. After his marriage he continued to reside in that county a few years, then removed to Sandusky and engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was thus occupied dur- ing the remainder of his life, resting from his earthly labors in 1855. The mother is still living, and is now in the eighty-sixth year of her age, hav- ing been born in 1801. Of their thirteen children, seven lived to attain their majority. These were, Alvira, now the wife of Ira Faurot; Willy;. Rich- ard, now deceased; John; Asenath, the wife of Italian! tShutts; Princess, Mrs. Franklin Ellis, and Cynthia, the wife of Charles Dam'ide. The subject of our sketch was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools. He was married in Hardin County, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1853, to Miss Amelia Cross. She was born in Parkmau, Ohio, Oct. 27, 1835, and is the daughter of Abram and Priscilla (VanScoy) Cross, now deceased. After his marriage, Mr. Fowler purchased a tract of land in Marion County, consisting of 220 acres, and which he occupied and cultivated until Febru- ary, 1865. Selling out, he came to this State, and located in Vermilion County, near the line of Champaign. Some years later he removed to a farm near Homer, known as the Ray farm, com- prising 640 acres of laud, and which he rented until his removal to near Danville. From there he came to this county, and locating near Penfield, for three years operated 3,000 acres known as the Corbley land. In 1881 Mr. Fowler took possession of his pres- ent property. This comprises 240 acres which would sell readily at foO per acre, and is chielly devoted to the raising of grain and stock. Mr. Fowler is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and although not repairing to the field dur- ing the late Rebellion, aided by his means and in- fluence in upholding the Union sentiments. He has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to his private interests, although while in his native State he served as Assessor. Mrs. Fowler is a lady highly respected in the community, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The record of the nine children who were given to this household is as follows : Ella, Mrs. Craig, is a resident of Ver- milion County, 111.; Arthur, when twenty-four years of age, was accidentally drowned while bath- ing in the river near Red Oak, Iowa; Finley is Superintendent of the large farm of " Long " John Wentworth, near Summit, in Cook County; Clara Belle died at the age of seventeen months ; Vannella, John W., Grace, Bertha and Daisy are at home with their parents. OIIN SNIDER, a highly respected farmer of Scott Township, and a gentleman perfectly , familiar with the vocation in which he is en- (KgJJ/J gaged, owns 160 acres on section 24. All his land is in a tillable condition, and a dwelling with other necessary farm buildings has been con- structed with an eye to comfort and convenience. Our subject is the son of Jacob and Jane (Bodiue) Snider, natives respectively of Orange and Ulster Counties, N. Y. Prior to their marriage, they re- moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, where they be- came man and wife, and spent the remainder of their lives. The father died in December, 1872, and the mother in December, 1876. The parental house- hold included seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to become men and o women. The subject of this biography, who was the fifth child of his parente, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, March 20, 1834. He received a common- school education, and remained under the home roof until twenty-four years of age. He was then i i I 686 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. married, and continued a resident of Hamilton County a year afterward. In 1859 he came to this .State, and purchasing eighty acres of land in La Salle County, made that his home until 1872. He then sold out, and purchased 160 acres in Scott Township, this county, where he has since resided. He has been uniformly successful in his farming operations, and is counted among the thrifty and enterprising citizens of this section. The marriage of Mr. Snider took place in Ham- ilton County, Ohio, on the 25th of March, 1868. The lady of his choice was Miss Catherine L. Sut- ton, the eldest child of Reader E. and Mary (Thompson) Sutton. They were natives respect- ively of Hamilton and Warren Counties, Ohio, and after their marriage remained residents of the lat- ter county for some time, removing afterward to Hamilton County, where the mother died May 9, 1883. Mr. Sutton is a carpenter by trade, but has also been engaged considerably in farming. They were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Mrs. Snider was born in Deerfield, Warren Co., Ohio, March 5, 1837. Our subject and his wife became the parents of five children Daniel, Olive, Arthur L., Lellus, who died in Scott Township, Jan. 22, 1883, and Eveline. Mr. Snider politically, affiliates with the Democratic party, and has held the office of School Director in his township for twelve consecutive years. W. IIARWOOD, insurance . and loan agent, at Champaign, a gentleman in the prime of life and possessed of flue busi- ness capacities, has been a resident of this State since 1866, when he purchased a tract of land in Newcomb Township. After farming for a period of five years, he removed to the city and, in part- nership with Mr. J. A. Shafer, engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, under the firm name of Shafer & Harwood. This partnership continued until August, 1873, when our subject sold out his interest in the business and for three years after- ward was employed as clerk for George F. Beards- ley. At the expiration of this time he joined Mr. B. in the real-estate and loan business, which they operated jointly for seven years, then divided up the profits, our subject taking the insurance and part of the loans, and Mr. B. part of the loans and the real-estate department. Although their business is separate, they still occupy the same office in the Metropolitan Block, and keep up their friendly rela- tions as of old. The subject of our sketch was born in North Brookfield, Worcester Co., Mass., Sept. 18, 1841, and is the son of George and Angeline (Allen) Harwood, natives of the same county as their son. The father of our subject engaged in agricultural pursuits upon the farm where his father. George W., and his grandfather, Peter Harwood, had lived. The latter was a Major in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather of our subject, George W., mar- ried, and reared a family of nine children, all excepting two living to mature years. Of these the father of our subject was the fourth child. He was reared on his father's farm, and during his early life engaged in stock-raising. About that time Ue was appointed by Gov. Andrews, Justice of the Peace, which office he has since held. He has also been Assessor of his native town two terms and is one of the Directors of the Savings Bank there. Politically he is a warm supporter of the Republican party. His family included four chil- dren, the mother of whom died in 1867. The eld- est was Anna M., Mrs. F. R. Doane, of Nortli Brookfield, who died in 1867, and left a family of three children George R., Eden F. and Albion H. ; George W. of our sketch was the second child ; Ethan A. is farming on the old homestead, is mar- ried and has one child, Anna M. ; Frances A. mar- ried H. E. Cummings, a merchant of Nortli Brook- field. The subject of this notice was reared on his father's farm and pursued his primary studies in the district schools, traveling a distance of one and one-half miles daily for the purpose, until he was fourteen years old. After this he became a student in the High School of the village, where he re- mained two years, and for a like period following was employed in a boot and shoe factory. There- after he worked on a farm until in August, 1862. The Civil War being then in progress, he enlisted CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 687 in Co. E, 3Gth Mass. Vol. Inf., and remained in the service until peace was declared. He entered as a pri- vate, was first promoted Second Sergeant, and after- ward First Lieutenant. He was present at the battles of Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Miss., and Knox- villc, Tenn., and in the engagements at Spottsyl- vania Court House, Campbell Station, Cold Har- bor, Jackson, Miss., and Pegrein Farm, taking part in seventeen regular battles besides many skirmishes. He received a flesh wound in the right leg at Jack- son, Miss., and was wounded in the neck at Camp- bell Station, Tenn. His regiment was present at many of the important battles of the war, where our subject stood bravely by his comrades, sharing their duties and privations. After retiring from the army, Mr. Harwood resumed his employment one year in the boot and shoe factory. In 1866 he came to Illinois and after his location at Newcomb, and while carrying on farming, served as Town Clerk and Supervisor, and was interested generally in public affairs. His subse- quent course we have already indicated. Mr. Harwood was married, Nov. 27, 1866, to Miss Mary N., daughter of Abel and Mary L). Har- wood, of North Brookfteld, Mass. Mrs. H. was born in Kentucky, and removed with her parents to this State when a young girl. Our subject and his wife occupy a pleasant residence at the corner of Linn street and University avenue, where they are surrounded by all the evidences of refinement and cultivated tastes. Mr. H. is Republican in politics and belongs to the G. A. B. He also, with his excellent lady, is prominently connected with the Presbyterian Church, of which lie has been an Elder several years. He is a wide-awake, _ clear- headed business man, and is rated accordingly among the friends and associates of over twenty years. \f OHN H. WYNE, who resides on section 20, Harwood Township, is the eldest child of William and Margaret (Kutledge) Wyne, and was born in Jefferson County, Ind., Feb. 24, 1842. His father is a native of Virginia, and the son of Edward Wy ne, and the family are proba- bly of German extraction. Our subject's mother was a native of North Carolina, and the daughter of Henry and Betsy Rutledge, natives of North Carolina. William Wyne followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life. In his child- hood he was taken from Virginia to Kentucky, and when> grown to manhood moved to Indiana, and be- came one of the pioneer settlers of that State. He is of a reserved and retiring disposition, taking no active part in politics, and giving his attention more exclusively to his own family affairs. John H. Wyne, our subject, remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, acquiring such education as could be obtained at the district school. He then removed to the village of Volga, Ind., where he successfully engaged in the business of harness-making, and continued at his trade as a journeyman for nine years. On the 2d of Febru- ary, 1871, Mr. Wyne was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Thompson, the youngest child of Price and Hannah (Johnston) Thompson. Her father was born in Ohio, but his parents were natives of the State of New Jersey, the father being a far- mer. Price Thompson died Feb. 5, 1855, and his widow was again married, to George W. Bowman, of Ohio. In October, 1873, Mr. Bowman died. She then came to live with her daughter, Mrs. Wyne, where she spent the last fourteen years ol her life. She~ was a consistent Christian lady, a member of the Baptist Church, much beloved by her family, and held in very high esteem through the entire community. In the March following their marriage, John H. Wyne and wife left Indiana for this county, where he first rented land, and for five years successfully conducted a farm. When, by economy and indus- tiy, he had acquired sufficient capital, he purchased forty acres of partly improved land located on section 20, Harwood Township, where he now re- sides. He gives his attention especially to raising grain. While the Civil War was in progress in 1863 Mr. Wyue enlisted in the 82d Indiana Infantry, but 011 account of ill-health remained only three months in the service. Shortly after his discharge and return he was drafted for the service, but again rejected on account of disability. In polities Mr. I W. is not restricted by party spirit, but always casts i - I f i , 688 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. bis vote for the men whom he considers best fitted for the position. While he has inherited something of his father's reserved disposition he is to some extent interested in public affairs, and has frequently been elected Road Commissioner in the district. Himself and his wife are both members of the Baptist Church. They have but one child Miles Earl. HEOPHILUS P. BARNES, one of the self- made men of Champaign County, who came to the West in his young manhood, and as- sisted in the development of Central Illinois, is now in the enjoyment of a fine homestead and a competency, and for the last twenty-two years has been located on section 10, Compromise Township. His possessions are the result of his own persever- ing industry, as he laid the first foundations and has been the main builder. His boyhood days were passed a thousand miles eastward, near Phil- lipsburg, Warren Co., N. J., where he was born Aug. 7, 1816. His parents were Gresham and Mary (Miller) Barnes, who taught him his first les- sons of industry, while at the same time he studied his books in the subscription schools during the winter season, and assisted his mother around the homestead in the summer. His father, being a carpenter, was mostly absent from home, and the family possessed modest means, having little be- yond what they labored for. When fourteen years of age our subject went out to work on a farm, and was thus occupied during the summer season until eighteen years of age, in the meantime pursuing his studies in the winter. He had inherited much of the mechanical skill of his father, and at the age mentioned began work as a carpenter, for which, although never having served a regular apprenticeship, he received wages at first. Following the fashion of most of the young men of those days, he married young, before he was twenty years old, but continued with his par- ents until the fall of 1837. Then, accompanied by his young wife and child, he left his native State, and started by teams for Marion County, Ohio, which was the home of his father-in-law, Paul Cy- phers. The journey occupied over three weeks, and they traveled after the manner of those days, carrying their provisions with them, cooking by the wayside and sleeping in their wagons at night. Soon afterward he rented a house, and worked at his trade one year, then rented a tract of land and followed farming in the Buckeye State until the fall of 1853. During the latter year, our subject, hearing of the glowing reports which came from the rapidly growing State of Illinois, was induced to set out once more on a long and tedious journey, and with his family he traveled all the way by team from Ohio to Spring Grove Township, Warren County, this State. He rented land there which he operated upon for a year, and then purchased 160 acres of uncultivated prairie, improved eighty acres, built a house, and remained there eleven years. In the spring of 1805 he sold out at a good price, and purchased 240 acres in Compromise Township, this count}', where he was joined by his family the fol- lowing 3 r ear, and which has been his home since that time. He has proved himself entirely worthy of a prominent place among the intelligent and en- terprising farmers of this section. His land is in a good state of cultivation, and prolific of the choicest crops of the Prairie State. The farm buildings are convenient and well constructed, and the whole presents a picture which is delightful to the eye of the passer-by. She who began with him in his first effort for the establishment of a home, passed from the scenes of earth on the 16th of March, 1883, after having been his faithful and sympathizing companion for over a quarter of a century. The wife of our subject in her girlhood was Miss Nancy Cyphers, and their marriage took place in the spring of 1835, in Warren County, N. J. Mrs. Barnes was the daughter of Paul and Hannah (Campbell) Cyphers, and was born in Warren County, N. J., in 1813. Of her union with our subject there were born eleven children: Christian P., the eldest, is living on a part of the homestead; Paul C. when twenty-two years of age, enlisted in the 1st Illinois Infantry, and served six mouth's, after which he returned home and died at his father's house in 1867; Gresham served sixteen months in the 13th Illinois Cavalry; John M. ifk.v "--.. ,^^^'>."'-">"'i^/,-'^.jiv,>^"--i<^>.:j;i, i .->-A"f-,.',*t;-^ Vi -^^i.,, :i _,-. RESIDENCE OF JOHN LEONARD , SEC. 23., CONDIT TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCE or J. R. M . CLELLAND , occ.16., BROWN TOWNSHIP RESIDENCE OF HENRY HAW BAKER, SEC.3I..N EWCOMB TOWNSHIP. LIBRARY OF THE X '."/ w~ ILLINOIS t. t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 691 served one year; S. C. and William IX, with Han- nah A., live on the homestead with their father; Reuben died when young; Mary is the wife of Hiram Lennox, of Harwood Township: Frank P. died when twenty -one years of age, and James, the youngest, is also on the homestead. Gresham Barnes, the father of our subject, was born at Phillipsburg, Warren Co., N. J. His father died when he was seven years old, and he then went to live with his grandfather, remaining until the death of the latter. Afterward he was taken to the home of his uncle, and engaged in farming pursuits until nineteen years old. Subsequently lit took up the carpenter's trade, and after serving a thorough apprenticeship, was married to Miss Mary Miller, and continued to reside in his native county, working at his trade, until the fall of 1838. He then started overland for Marion County, Ohio, accompanied by his family, including his invalid wife who had not walked for a period of thirteen years. After reaching Ohio, he purchased forty acres of land, and followed agriculture in that State until 1853, when he repeated his former experi- ment and started overland for the western part of this State. After arriving in Warren County, he worked at his trade four years, and then removed by team to Kansas. Four months of life in that State satisfied him, and he then retraced his steps, and located once more in Warren County, 111., where his death took place in October, 1857. The mother of our subject had passed from earth^Rnd the scenes of her sufferings while the family was in Ohio, her death taking place in July, 1839. Her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Mt. Gilead, and her children will reverence her mem- ory as long as life endures. The parental family included four children : Sallie A. is now living with her brother, the subject of this sketch; the latter was the second child ; Elizabeth died in Ohio in 1840, and Reuben served as a Union soldier during the late war. The patern&l grandparents of our subject, Gresham and Margaret (Phillips) Barnes, were both natives of Warren County, N. J., where they were reared, married, and spent their entire lives. Their five children were Elizabeth, Gresham, Stephen, Mary and Elsie. The great-grandparents of our subject on his father's side were Gresham and Elsie (Mackey) Barnes, natives of Virginia and New Jersey respectively. The former was a weaver by occupation, and left the Old Dominion at an early day, settling at Phillipsburg, NI J.,, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. The family was widely and favorably known throughout that section, assisting greatly in shap- ing its society and its politics, and furnishing by their thrift and integrity, an admirable example of true worth. In politics, our subject has always been a stanch Democrat. ARTIN BROWNFIELD, who is pleasantly located on a good farm in Somer Township, is a native of this county, and born Dec. 21, 1849. His father, Robert Brownfldd. was a native of Harrison County, Ky., born April 29, 1818. The latter removed with his father's family from his native State to Illinois in 1832, making the journey overland in wagons, cooking and camping by the wayside. He was then a lad about fifteen years old. He grew to manhood in Champaign County and here married Miss Nancy Clements. They became the parents of nine chil- dren, six of whom are now living, five daughters and one son: Mary Ann became the wife of J. D. Corray, and is a resident of Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa ; Eliza first married Isam Biggs who, during the late war, enlisted in the 76th Illinois Infantry and was discharged in July, 1864, on account of sickness. He died about two months before his regiment was mustered out, and was buried by his comrades with military honors in Somer Cemetery. Mrs. Biggs was then married to Richard McCormick, and they reside on a farm in Stanton Township, this county. Mr. McCormick also served as a soldier in the Union army. He enlisted in the 25th Illinois Infantry as a private, and was promoted First Lieutenant for bravery on the field of battle. At the expiration of his three years' service, he veter- anized and remained in the ranks until the close of the war. Aruiilda first became the wife of James McGill, and after his death married Amos Dale; she is now living on section 26, Somer Township. t. ' , , 692 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Lucretia Jane became the wife of Marion Taylor, and is living with her husband on the old home- stead; Viola, Mrs. Epperson, is a resident of Ur- hana Township; Martin is our subject. The mother of these children was a native of Kentucky, born Sept. 22, 1821. Her parents emi- grated to Indiana at an early day and from there to Somer Township, this county, where she was married and still'resides with her daughter. Lucre- tia, on the old homestead. She is now sixty-six years of age and a lady highly respected by all who know her. Robert Brownfield departed this life July 15, 1878. He had received but limited edu- cational ail vantages in his youth, but was a man of sound judgment, more tha.i ordinary intelligence, and was popular in his community. He was ap- pointed administrator of several estates and the guardian of minor heirs. He was the owner of a fine farm of 250 acres, which he left to. his widow during her lifetime, and which is afterward to be divided up in equal shares among his children. He also was a member of Mt. Zion Christian Church, to the support of which he contributed liberally and cheerfully, and was noted for his hospitality and as being the friend of the needy and distressed. No one went away hungry from his door, and many a stranger remembers the kindly words with which he greeted them while passing through the prairie country. Martin Brownfleld was born and grew to man- hood on the land which his grandfather entered when first arriving in this State. This was located ou sections 34 and 35, in Somer Township, and had never been turned by the plowshare when James Brownfield took possession of it. The family lived in their wagon during the erection of their log cabin, which was roofed with shaved clapboards and floored with puncheon. The window panes were brought from Kentucky. The first crop was raised on land cleared from the wilderness. Upon the homestead thus established the grandfather spent the remainder of his life, dying in about 1835. Martin Brownfield remained under the home roof until he reached years of manhood, and was then united in marriage with Miss Nancy Jane Taylor, Aug. U', 1871. The young people lived on the old homestead the first year, and then removed to I section 25, which was entered by Robert Brown- field, the father of our subject, and which has con- tinued the residence of Martin Brownfield to this date. Mr. and Mrs. B. became the parents of nine children, namely, Nancy Rozella; Mar}' Cornelia, who died in her fifth year; Robert William, Charles Edward; Viola Cordelia, who died when fourteen days old; Sarah Rebecca, Orelia Lucretia, Marion Martin and Paul Riley. The homestead of our subject consists of eighty acres of good land, upon which is a substantial and convenient set of frame buildings, and ample con- veniences for' the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. Mr. B. is greatly respected in his community, j is a Democrat in politics, and Deacon of Mt. Zion Christian Church. He officiates as minister of this church, receiving his license from the Central Illi- nois Christian Conference. He has been School Director in this township two y ears. His eady education was conducted in the common schools and he afterward attended the Seminary at Urbana for a brief season, being obliged to abandon his studies on account of ill-health. AHLON GLASCOCK. The farm of '500 acres which occupies the greater part of section 24, ill St. Joseph Township, in- variably attracts the attention of the pass- ing traveler on account of the evident skill and good judgment with which it has been managed, its general appearance of thrift and prosperity, and the industry without which it never could have been brought to its present beautiful and desirable condition. The history of the proprietor, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, is substan- tially as follows. Mr. Glascock was born in Virginia, near the line of Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, on the 28th of December, 1815. He remembers his grandfather as George Glascock, who by his first wife became the father of one child, who lived to manhood. His second wife was Miss Hannah Rector, who became the mother of five sons and three daughters. The Glascock family was originally from Scotland, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 693 Among the sons of George Glascock was Moses, who became the father of our subject. He was born in Virginia in 1770, and early in life married Miss Rebecca Bishop. They removed from the Old Dominion to Ohio in 1828, settling in Ross County, where he remained as a moderate farmer until his death, in 1829. The mother survived her husband for more than forty years, her death taking place in Ross County, Ohio, in 1870, when about eighty- five years of age, she having been born in 1785. The parental family consisted of ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom eight are still living, namely, Solomon, Betsy, Ann; Catherine, the wife (if William Van Bleck; Mahlon, of our sketch, John R., Hamilton J. and James II. The subject of this history was reared to man- hood in Ohio, and there, in the spring of 1845, was united in marriage with Miss Hester A., daughter of Alex and Sarah (Pointer) Jester, of Delaware. He located with his bride on a farm in Ross County, where he remained until the fall of 1854. Then, desiring to locate in the further West he came to this county and took possession of a part of the land which constitutes his present farm. It is hardly necessary to say that during a period of thirty years he has brouglif about a great improve- ment, taking advantage of all the modern imple- ments, machinery, and information of which he could avail himself, and with a result in which he may be pardoned for feeling great pride and satis- faction. He has given much attention to stock- raising, making a specialty of Poland-China hogs, and in this department taking the lead in St. Jo- seph Township. He eliminated his fine farm from the raw prairie, and has fully experienced the diffi- culties and hardships of life in a new country. Our subject was one of the early residents of this county, and as a man of more than ordinary ability, was soon called upon to assist in its govern- ment. He helped to organize the county into townships, and was Supervisor of St. Joseph dur- ing the war. He was always liberal-minded and large-hearted, willing to contribute of his time and means toward the advancement of the community and of those about him. He met with a severe af- fliction in the loss of his wife, Mrs. Hester Glascock, who departed this life in 1858. In the spring of 1865 our subject was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Rankin, daughter of Am- brose and Mary (Springer) Strong, and widow of Samuel S. Rankin, of St. Joseph Township, this coun- ty. The children born of both unions of our subject are recorded as follows: Alex B., Aquilla, Frank, Jesse, Lyda B. and Addie A. are still living, most of them at home with their parents. Albert Will- iam and Hanson are deceased. Mr. G. became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at St. Joseph, in 1854, while his estimable wife is a mem- ber and regular attendant of the New-Light Church. Our subject early in life belonged to the old W r hig party, but upon its abandonment cordially en- dorsed the principles of the Republicans, with whom he has since voted. He assisted in making William II. Harrison President of the United States, and has due affection for the old times and cus- toms. AMES J. BOIS, the oldest Station Agent on the Illinois Central Railroad, which is a far better recommendation than all the encomi- ums a biographical writer can offer, was placed in his present position in the spring of 1857, and has since that time continued in the faithful discharge of his duties. He is a native of New York, born near Buffalo, Erie County, Sept. 22, 1824, and is the son of Warren and Mary (Patterson) Bois, natives of Berkshire County, Mass. Warren Bois followed farming all his life; locating after his marriage in his native county, and going from there to Erie County, N. Y., he pursued the quiet and unostentatious life of an honest citizen, and rested from his labors in 1837. The mother of our sub- ject was the daughter of Ebenezer and Betsey (Gibbs) Patterson. The children of Warren and Mary (Patterson) Bois, seven in number, included three sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to mature years, but only four are now living, thfe three sisters and our subject. Our subject's paternal grand father, Joel Bois, was a native of the Bay State, born in Worcester. He married Miss Betsey Blair of the same State, and the3' reared a family of seven sons and two daugh- ters, who, with one exception, lived to mature years. I t 694 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Joel Hois served in the Revolutionary W:ir, and conducted himself with notable bravery. James J. Hois, who was the youngest son of his parents' children, spent his childhood and youth in his native county, being fairly educated in the pub- lic schools and assisting in the labors of the farm. His father died when he was but thirteen years old and the mother nineteen years later. James began life on his own account as operator of a threshing- machine, and later peddled maps, books and pict- ures during the summers. In the spring of 1857 he drifted westward and coming to this county was at once placed in charge of the Illinois Central station at Kantoul, where, for a period of thirty years he has distinguished himself as a trusted agent and employe, in the meantime securing the confidence and esteem of the people around him. While a resident of Aurora, N. Y., Mr. Hois took to his heart and home Miss Lucy Stockwell, who was a native of Highgate, Vt., and the daughter of Benjah and Lucy (Joslin) Stockwell. Of this mar- riage there were born two daughters : Mary is the wife of F. E. Pinkertou, of Kantoul, and Lucy S. is at home with her parents. Mrs. Bois is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially Mr. Bois was one of the earliest Masons of Ludlow ; he is also connected with the I. O. O. F. ENRY C. BEAR, of the well-known and responsible firm of Bear ite Obenchain, grain dealers at Penfield, is a native of Cumber- land County, Pa., born in the town of Mount Rock, Dec. 7, 1838. His father, David Bear, was a native of the same town, born in Feb- ruary, 1809,on his father's farm, where he remained until twenty-eight years of age. He was then united in marriage with Miss Maria Yoter, a native of Maryland, born in 1811. The young people set- tled down and remained residents of their native county until 1853, when they set their faces toward the West. Coming into this State, David Bear purchased about thirty acres of land near Oak- ley, in Macon County, where he engaged in the manufacturer of brick until retiring from active business pursuits, in 1857. His death occurred nine years later, in 1806. The wife and mother had preceded him to the other life in 1803. Of their nine children, our subject, Henry C., was the oldest born ; Benjamin F. died when eighteen years old ; William W., during the late war, en- listed in Co. A, 116th 111. Vol. Inf., and now fills a soldier's'grave at Young's Point, iji Louisiana, where his death occurred in 1803; Mary became the wife of W.. McArty, who is occupied in farming near Cisco, 111.; Anna E. married Joseph Miller, and is now deceased. The other children died in child- Lood. The education of Henry Bear was conducted in the common schools, and he was fifteen years of age when the family came to this State. He re- mained under the parental roof and followed farm- ing until August, 1862. During the progress of the late war, he enlisted in Co. A, 116th 111. Vol. Inf.. and was mustered into service at Camp Macon. Thence he went with his regiment to Memphis, Tenn., and first met the enemy at Chickasaw Bayou, and was in all the engagements which followed until the siege of Vicksburg. His company at the outset of that encounter lost half its members, and during which our subject received a gunshot wound in the chest and still carries the ball. This disabled him from further service. He was con- fined in the hospital until the 1st of June, 1863, and then received his honorable discharge at Keo- kuk, Iowa. As soon as able he resumed fanning in Macon County, 111., which he followed until 1865, and then purchased eighty acres of unim- proved land in Compromise Township, where he operated until the fall of 1885. He had been fairly successful, and desirous of changing his occupation removed to the village of Penfield and engaged in the grain trade, in which he has met with moderate success. Mr. Bear, before the outbreak of the war, was married, Nov. 17, 1858, to Miss Lucetta J. Likins. of Bucyrus, Ohio, where she was born Dec. 31,- 1842. Mrs. B. is the daughter of John S. and Sarah A. (Cole) Likins. The father is deceased, and the mother is a resident of Macon County, 111. Of the union of our subject and wife there have been born four children; Minerva May, who died when eleven months old, in 1801; Eugenia, the wife of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. I). P. Cox, of Compromise Township; Mary M., at home with her parents, and Dora, who died when four years of age. Mr. Bear from the time he became a voter until 1878, was identified with the Republican party. Afterward his sympathies were extended to the Greenbackers, and he is now a stanch Prohibition- ist, greatly interested in the success of the tem- perance movement. He is a man of broad anfl liberal views, is no intermeddler with the private affairs of his neighbors, and believes in extracting from life all the enjoyment consistent with honest}' and honor. He represented Compromise Township on the Hoard of Supervisors for a period of five years, and is now Justice of the Peace. THO E. CULBERTSON. One of the most genial and kindly matured men it has been the fortune of the biographer to meet, is a resident of Tolono, and State Agent and Adjuster for the TKtna Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, with which he has been connected for a period of over twenty years. He is a native of Flemings- burg, Ky., and was born Nov. 18, 1816. His father, James Culbertson, was born in Dublin, [reland, and emigrated to the United States when a young man, settling in Mason County, Ky. He departed this life in Rush County, Ind., in 1836, aged about sixty years. He was married early in life to Miss Sarah Weaver, a native of Kentucky, and they became the parents of three children, who are all living, namely, William G., a farmer of Edgar County, this State; Otho E., of our sketch, and Amanda N., the- wife of John U. Grace, of Ver- milion County. After the death of her first hus- band Mrs. Culbertson was married to William Kaney, with whom she located in Edgar County, 111., and became the mother of three children, only one of whom is now living, Sarah, the wife of Theodore Matkin, a resident of Vermilion County, where the mother died in 1852. She was a lady greatly beloved and respected, and left behind her a record of womanly virtues and kindly deeds. Our subject, when a small boy, went to Rose- ville, Parke Co., Ind., where he became employed as clerk in a store and remained until 1843. In that year he came over into Illinois, and thereafter lived in various places in the State for a couple of years. In 1846, the Mexican War being in prog- ress, he enlisted as a soldier in the 4th Illinois Infantry, under Col. Baker, Brig. Gen. Shields and Maj. Gen. Taylor. Not long afterward he was dis- charged for disability. In 1847. setting out on horseback, he traveled over the States of Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. Mr. Culbertson now began to feel that he had wandered over the country long enough, and deter- mined to establish home and domestic ties. He had formed the acquaintance of a most lovable young- lady, Miss Jane Cox, and made her his wife on the 28th of March, 1848. He located with his bride in Georgetown, this State, and became interested in the plow and wagon manufactory at that point. Subsequently he began dealing in hardware in Indianola, whence, in 1858, he removed to Tolono. Here for a few months he was engaged as a con- tractor and builder, and secured the contract for furnishing the Illinois Central Railroad with timber, ties, etc. He also supplied other roads in Illinois and Missouri with building material. In consequence of the labor involved in looking after his various interests, his health began to fail, and he was obliged to suspend operations for a brief time. In 18(56 our subject entered the employ of the TEtna Insurance Company as special agent, and developed from the first rare qualifications for this department of business. He rose rapidly in the esteem and confidence of the company, who, ap- preciating his intelligence and fidelity, soon en- trusted him with more important interests, and he in due time became Adjuster of Claims in the Northwest, having under his supervision especially their transaction in Illinois. During the long period with which he lias been connected with the old TEtna, he has not taken a vacation and has not lost a day's salary. A singular feature about the con- tract was, that the question of salary was never mentioned, Mr. C. trusting to the company to be- stow upon him full value for his services, and the latter proved worthy of the trust, and have bestowed upon him liberal wages from the first. During the 696 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. first day in which lie entered their employ he n:i- erippled by a railroad train, and laid up for some time, but as soon as able got about on crutches and attended to business as well as he could. His salary in the meantime went on, and the company, in addition, paid his expenses. With this record little further need be said in regard to his standing with one of the oldest and most popular insurance com- panies of the United States. The household circle of our subject and his wife was completed by the birth of four children : Sarah N. became the wife of F. E. C. Hartman, and they reside at Peoria; Candace A. is at home with her parents; Jennie married Mr. W. E. Hamty, of Tolono; J. W., the youngest, is attending school in Valparaiso, Ind. The family residence is pleasantly located, and its inmates are surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. They are highly respected in the community, and num- ber among their friends and associates the most cultured people of Tolono. Mr. Culbertson, al- though over seventy years old, does not look over fifty or fifty -five. He has an open countenance, a bright, intelligent eye, and is a man with whom it is a pleasure to^ converse. He is well informed upon matters in general, and takes an intelligent interest in the progress of the world, both morally and intellectually. B. RADEBAUGH, Postmaster of Urbana, has been a resident of the city since 1861. He is a native of Pennsylvania, bora in Bedford County, Jan. 11, 1838, and is the son of Peter and Eliza (Waters) Radebaugh, natives of the same State and county as their son. His father, who followed mercantile pursuits for a period of thirty-five years, in the town of Bedford, removed from that town to Fayette County in 18.")(i. There he prosecuted his former business until 1861, and then with his family and household goods came to the Prairie State, settling at Urbana. Here he also established a dry-goods trade, which he conducted for two years, and then selling out purchased 136 acres of land in Homer Township, to which he removed and spent the remainder of his days, his decease occurring in 1882. The mother is still living at Urbana. Of the thirteen children who comprised the parental household, ten are now living, and the record is as follows: Mary A., Mrs. Reimund, is a resident of Nebraska; Lottie became the wife of Dr. Miller, of Urbana; William lives in Maryland; S. B., our subject, is the next in order of birth : Eliza, Mrs. Manspeaker, lives in Nebraska; Reuben W., in Iowa; Nora, Mrs. Whitney, in Troy, 111.; Harry C., in Mason City; Carrie, Mrs. Custer, in Homer, 111., and Millard F., in Mansfield. Both parents early in life became members of the Lutheran Church. The father of our subject was Republican in politics, a strong Union man, and during the late war recruited and nearly raised the entire 51st Illinois Regiment. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and took an active interest in public matters, being especially interested in the establishment of church and schools. The subject of this sketch during his early life received a good education, and spent much of his time in his father's store, gaining an insight into business matters in general. When twenty-four years of age he began reading law with Judge Som- ers, of Urbana, in whose office he remained from 1862 until the latter part of 1865. In the fall of that year he was admitted to practice, and has fol- lowed his profession since that time. He was ap- pointed Postmaster by President Cleveland, in August, 1885, and is conducting the affairs of the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. Mr. Radebaugh has taken a prominent part in the councils of his townsmen for many years, and served as City Attorney four terms. He is wide-awake, energetic -and industrious, clear- headed, and possessed of remarkably good judg- ment. Mr. S. B. Radebaugh and Miss Olive L. Gere were married in Urbana, in 1868. Mrs. R. was born in the latter-named place, and is the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Biddelcome) Gere, na- tives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. Of this marriage there have been born seven chil- drenOtis B., Grace E., Olive I., Clarence G., Earl (deceased), Addie M. and Fred M. Our sub- f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 097 ject is Democratic in politics, aurl socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity. The pleasant and attractive family residence is situated at the corner of Broad and High streets, and bears within and without all the evidences of cultivated tastes and ample means. ELISHA J. HILL. This gentleman, whose early ancestors originated from among the Highlands of Scotland, and whose maternal grandparents, Nathaniel and Flora (Bloss) Taylor, were born there, first opened his eyes to light in Susquehanna County, Pa., May 16, 1827. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Naoma (Bingham) Hill, the former an English- man by birth and the eldest of a family of six sons. Naoma's twin sister, Ruth, married Joseph Lummis, a prominent officer in the War of 1812, and who commanded a vessel on Lake Ontario, which vessel was called the "Growler," and was captured with its crew after a fearful struggle, and Mr. Lummis was taken prisoner, but not until after losing a foot and having three bullets put into his body. He was taken to Montreal and held as one of seven officers who were to be executed. Admiral Perry, learning the designs of the British, sent them woi'd that he would retaliate by executing two Brit- ish officers for every American they put to death. This had the desired effect, and they were paroled and subsequently exchanged. The parents of onr subject were David and Sarah (Taylor) Hill, the former of whom when three years of age became a resident of Goshen, Vt., where he carried on farming for a few years and thence removed to Pennsylvania, remaining there until 1856. In that year he came to the VVest\and took up his abode with his son, our subject, who had located here the year previously. Elisha J. Hill upon coming to Illinois took up a tract of 160 acres of wild land in Douglas County, which he occupied for ten years, and then sold out and purchased eighty acres on section 30, in Har- wood Township. This was partially improved when he took possession of it, and he has since been indus- triously engaged in adding to its beauty and value. The family residence is a tasteful structure, sit- uated in the midst of well-kept grounds, and the adjacent buildings are in keeping with the good taste of the proprietor. In addition to the careful cultivation of the soil he raises Poland-China hogs, Short-horn cattle and fine horses, mostly roadsters. His land is chiefly devoted to grain and pasturage. Our subject before starting for the West celebrated his marriage with Miss Hettie Wiser, the ceremony occurring on the 24th of July, 1855. Mrs. Hill is the seventh child of Henry and Elizabeth (Rinchart) Wiser, who were among the most respected residents of the agricultural districts of Western Penn- sylvania. Of- this union were four children, of whom one son, David Henry, is now deceased ; Charles W. married Miss Julia Griswold, and is engaged as a butcher at Rantoul; they have one daughter Fay ; Lois E. is the wife of Charles Bear, who is running a large cattle ranch near Delta, Col. ; Jen- nie E. remains at home with her parents. Although having no political aspirations, Mr. Hill has fre- quently served his township -in various capaci- ties, being alwa3 r s willing to contribute his time and influence to the best good of the people around him. In casting his vote he usually supports the Democratic candidate. .., DONIJAH J. BOWERS. The subject of LJI the following history is in many respects a remarkable man, more than ordinarily in- telligent, liberal-minded, public-spirited, and in fact, a model member of society and of his farming community, with which latter pursuit he has been in harmony since old enough to have a mind of his own. He owns a fine estate in St. Joseph Township, in the cultivation and embellish- ment of which he has been engaged since the spring of 1873, and has built up a homestead which in all respects comprises one of the most attractive features in the landscape of this county. His biography, necessarily brief in a work of this kind, is substantially as follows: Mr. Bowers was born on the farm of his grand- t \ r>98 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. father, near Clark's Hill, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Feb. it, 1837. He traces his ancestry back to good old Virginia stock, his grandfather, Abraham Bow- ers, having been born in that State near Peters- burg, Hardy County, about the year 1790, and to which section of country his father had removed while the Indian War was in progress, and while the settlers were experiencing all the hardships and privations of life in a new country and surrounded by an implacable foe. One of the uncles of Abraham Bowers was captured by the Indians, carried to Ohio and held five years, when he made his escape, crossed the Ohio River by swimming, and suddenly appeared one day before his friends at his childhood's home, very much to their astonishment and greatly to their delight. Abraham Bowers after reaching manhood married Miss Elizabeth Bryant, a native of his own State. They crossed the Alleghany Mountains and after passing the line into the Buckeye State, the young pioneer and his wife located in Ross County, and in due time became the parents of ten children. Thence, in 1829, they removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where they spent the remainder of their lives. Among their sons was Abner, the father of our subject, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, in June, 1812, and removed with his parents to Indiana, assisting in the labors on the farm, and remaining under the home roof until his marriage. The lady destined to become the sharer of his home and fortunes was Miss Char- lotta Hoffman. She was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind.. and was the daughter of Jonas and Sophia Hoffman, her mother being of French, extraction and her father a native of Virginia. After the marriage of Abner Bowers he became a resident of Tippecanoe County, Ind., and subse- quently Montgomery County, that State. His good wife died in 1842, leaving four children, two sons and two daughters, namely, Christena, Esther, Abraham, and A. J. of our sketch. After the death . of the mother the father was again married, to a lady of Tippecanoe County, Miss Elizabeth Baer. Of this union there were born five children, named respectively William N.. Jesse, Silas, Austin and Charlotte. The subject of this history spent his boyhood and youth in Montgomery County, Ind., receiving a fair education in the common schools. He com- pleted his studies in the High School in Boone,and afterward employed himself several winters as a teacher. He was married when twenty-two years of age, to Miss Ruth Raper, a native of Montgomery County, and daughter of Henry and Elina (Bufkin) Raper. The wedding took place in the winter of 1859, and the young people remained residents of Montgomery County until' 1873. The first labors of Mr. B. upon starting out in life for himself con- sisted in battling with the heavy timber of a tract of land which he had leased, where he slowly and laboriously succeeded in laying the foundations for his future prosperity. Then, thinking that he would like to locate in Central Illinois, he pur- chased his present farm on section 2, St. Joseph Township, the homestead being familiarly known as the Benjamin Argo place, upon which that pioneer settled in 1835. It comprises 200 acres of some of the finest farming land in this section, and through the manipulation of its present proprietor has pro- duced wonders in the quality and quantity of its crops. The residence is a neat and substantial building, put up in 1881, and occupies a rise of ground commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. In the rear is a good orchard and out- buildings, and all other appliances of a first-class country estate. The farm operations have been conducted with ability and good judgment, and the soil has yielded to the hand of the proprietor an- nually a handsome income. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Bowers, of whom one is deceased, are recorded as follows: Ella G. became the wife of Frank Yomans, and lives in St. Joseph Township; Charlotta is the wife of Fran- cis M. Hoss; Prince A. is deceased; Frank C., Abraham, Martha, Mary, Adonijah R.. Abner, Lucretia and Garfield are at home. Mr. Bowers lias always exerted himself to promote the welfare of the people around him, serving as School Trustee, and being generally interested in the enterprises set on foot for the benefit of the people. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the German Baptist Church, in which Mr. B. has officiated as a minister since 1882. He is Republican in polities, and is in all respects a fine illustration of the self- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. -ir 699 4 ' made man. who began in life at the foot of the ladder, and through his own unaided efforts has attained to a good position socially and financially. GUIS VAUTRIN. The biography of this representative citizen of Harwood Town- ship is in the main as follows : He was born in the old French Province of Lorraine previous to the Franco-Prussian War, on the 25th. of October, 1841, and was the youngest in a family of four children, the offspring of Francis and Elizabeth (Pombrie) Vautrin, natives of the same Province. The former was one of the soldiers of the first Napoleon, engaging with the great commander in his last disastrous campaign. The father of our subject occupied the post of Sergeant Major in the Imperial Guard, being chief of the band of musicians, and followed the fortunes of Bonaparte for a period of sixteen years. He was in many of the hardest fought battles, namely, that of Pesth and on the bloody field of Toulon, where Bonaparte gave the first decided proofs of his military genius. This city was also made further memorable as the port from which Napoleon embarked previous to his memorable campaign in Egypt. Francis Vautrin left the service only when his leader was taken prisoner at the battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon was completely over- thrown. He then, with the balance of his com- rade.!, returned home. He was at this time thirty years of age, having entered the service when four- teen years old. After the surrender of Napoleon the Prussians and Russians invaded the Province of Lorraine many times, destroying everything that lay before them and desolating the country. With others the father of our subject was obliged to sub- mit to the grossest outrages, but such was his affec- tion for the region of his birth that he remained there through it all until his death, which took place in 1875. The subject of this sketch, in 1857, bidding adieu to the friends and associations of his childhood, embarked on a sailing-vessel at Havre bound for America, and after a voyage of forty-two days, landed in New York City. A few days later he set out for the West. After a brief time spent in Chicago he went to Peoria, and from there to a point near Fremont, in Tazewell County, where he rented a tract of land and commenced farming. He met with fair success in his struggle with an alien soil, and continued thus employed until the out- break of the late Civil War. He had sufficiently acquainted himself with American institutions to determine at once upon which side his sympathies lay, and accordingly, after the call for three- months' men, enlisted in the ranks. His services, however, were not required in the field, and after his honorable discharge he returned to his farm. The conflict, however, did not end here, and the following year our subject re-enlisted in Co. A, 108th 111. Vol. Inf., under command of Col. John Warren. The latter was succeeded by Col. Turner, of Pekin, and under command of the latter our subject, with his comrades, in October left Peoria for Covington, Ky., where they were re-organized and equipped for duty. From Covington the 108th proceeded down the river to Memphis, where they joined the army of Gen. Sherman, took part in the first battle of Vicks- burg, and were among the last to leave the field, having guarded the rear of the retreating army. Thence they drifted down the Yazoo River to its confluence with the Mississippi, and proceeding northward stormed and captured Arkansas Post. Here Mr. Vautrin witnessed the killing and wound- ing of many of his comrades but himself escaped, although by a hairsbreadth. Afterward the regi- ment withdrew to Young's Point, La., opposite Vicksburg, where they went into winter quarters and employed themselves working on the canal which was to be used to convey the fleet down the river. In the spring of 1863 the regiment was detailed to the command of Gen. Grant, and par- ticipated with him through his campaign against Vicksburg, remaining with him until after the bat- tle of Ft. Gibson. Our subject and a number of his comrades were then sent to Memphis with a lot of prisoners secured there, after which they were returned to Young's Point and detailed to guard that vicinity, which was one of the strongholds of the enemy. During this campaign sixteen of the gunboats ran the blockade at Vicksburg. During N 700 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. the run, which the rebels had anticipated, the bank of the river for miles was a line of living flame, proceeding from barrels of lighted tar and oil, and the cannonading shook the ground for miles on every side. With one exception all the vessels passed through in safety. This was disabled and sunk, though nearly all the crew were saved. After the surrender of Vicksburg the 108th Illi- nois, or what was left of it, was again sent up to Memphis. Mr. Vautrin at that point was seized with typhoid fever, from which he did not recover until after his regiment had left. Upon becoming convalescent he was sent up to St. Louis, placed in the Veteran Reserve Corps, and did detective duty in the North from that time until his discharge. He was occupied a large portion of the time in hunt- ing "bounty-jumpers" in Michigan and Canada. They captured 400 of these, whom they delivered in Washington City to be disposed of by the gen- eral Government. Upon one trip the train was wrecked, and the car containing the "jumpers" thrown over an embankment and lodged on a rail fence. The hot stove set the car on fire, and its inmates barely escaped by dashing through the windows and crawling out from underneath. They were picked up, placed in another coach and taken to their destination. This is but one of the many thrilling scenes through which our subject passed while making war upon the enemies of his country, but with the exception of impaired health he es- caped unharmed and was permitted to return to the scenes of a more peaceful time. After receiving his honorable discharge from the military service Mr. Vautrin traced his steps to the city of Detroit, where he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Louisa Condo, in the fall of 1865. The young people located first on a farm in Taze- well County, this State, which Mr. V. had purchased, and which embraced forty acres of land. After a residence there of six years he sold out and pur- chased eighty acres of wild land within seven miles of Paxton, which he occupied seven years, then sold this also and purchased eight}' acres in Har- wood Township, this county, where he now resides. Upon this he has effected great improvements, bring- ing the land to a good state of cultivation, putting up substantial buildings, and enhancing its beauty and value as time and opportunity afforded. He has been closely occupied with his own concerns and in the fulfilling of his obligations as a trusted citizen. He meddles with politfcs no further than to cast his vote in support of Republican principles. He has been a School Director in his district for the past six years, and, with his estimable wife, is a mem- ber in good standing of the Christian Church, with which they became connected over twenty years ago. The seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Vautrin were named respective!}'. Eunice, Elizabeth, Flor- ence, Frank, Rosa, Louie and Myrtle. Of these the eldest and youngest, Eunice and Myrtle, are the only ones living, and are residing at home. They have been well educated and carefully trained, and form the comfort and support of their parents. SHOMAS W. A. WILSON, proprietor of one of the finest farms in Central Illinois, is located in Somer Township, on section 12, and has been in possession of his present homestead since 1865. Our. subject comes from excellent and substantial stock, and was born in Richland Town- ship, Fairfield Co., Ohio, Dec. 16,'l821. His father, Isaac Wilson, a native of Bedford County, Pa., was born in December, 1791, and his grandfather, Will- iam Wilson, supposed to have been a native of the same State, farmed there until 1798. Thence he emigrated with his family to that part of the North- west Territory now included in the State of Ohio. This was befor.e even the day of wagon roads, and the removal was made with pack horses. From Wheel- ing, W. Va., to what is now Fairfield County, Ohio, they followed a trail marked by blazed trees. The land then was not even surveyed, and William Wil- son made a " squatter's " claim and built a log cabin, into which he removed with his family. A few years later, when the land was put upon the market he entered 1 60 acres, cleared a farm from the wilderness, and remained there until his death. His son Isaac, the father of our subject, was a lad of six years old when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio. After they had selected their location the}' found themselves sixty miles CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 701 from the nearest mill on the Kinnikinnick. During the first winter they lived mostly on wild game and corn bread. The father manufactured a rude well- sweep, and the mortar in which they converted their corn into meal consisted of a log hollowed out for the purpose. An iron wedge was inserted in the end of a pole, and the latter attached to the end of the sweep, which in turn was worked from the ground by means of a rope. This constituted a primitive labor-saving machine, and was effectual in reducing the corn to meal and hominy. It was also considered a great improvement upon travel- ing through the wilderness sixty miles to mill, with the danger of being scalped by the Indians or devoured by wild beasts. Amid these wild scenes the father of our subject grew to manhood, receiving, as it may be supposed, extremely limited educational opportunities. He was nearly grown to manhood before there were people enough to establish a school. He was pos- sessed, however, of natural abilities above the com- mon order, and became successful as a farmer and business man. After his marriage his father pre- sented him with 110 acres of timber land, which he cleared and sold at a good profit, bought again, and became quite an extensive dealer in real estate, owning at the time of his death 1)00 acres in Fair- field County. He departed this lif Dec. 2, 1864. His wife, the mother of our subject, was formerly Miss Jane Pateu. She was born in York County, Pa., in 1794, and died in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1867. The parental household included seven children, four of whom grew to mature years, namely: Thomas W. A., of our sketch; Harvey, who died in Missouri ; John, who occupies the old homestead in Fairfield County, Ohio, and Priscilla, who be- came the wife of A. B. Gillett, and died in Fairfield Courty in about 1862. The mother was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. She looked well to the ways of her household, and was beloved and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The subject of our sketch during his childhood and youth attended both the public and subscription schools during the winter, and assisted in the im- provement and cultivation of the farm during the summer season, remaining at home until after his marriage. This event occurred June 9, 1845, the maiden of his choice being Miss Rachel Wimp, a native of his own county, and the daughter of James and Caroline Wimp, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Ohio. Of this union there were born eight children, of whom the record is as follows : Flora became the wife of John Don- ovan, and lives in Aurora, this State ; Henry C. is a resident of Stanton Township, this county; Marian C. married David Friesner, of Chicago; Thomas lives in Elgin, 111., and Isaac in Stanton Township, this county; Kate, who married L. Os- good, died at the home of her parents, Oct. 30, 1877, aged nineteen years; Ella, the wife of Charles Nelson, lives on the homestead with her father; Frank is a resident of Aurora. The wife and mother departed this life on the 8th of May, 1885, deeply lamented by her family and a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The homestead of Mr. Wilson in all its appoint- ments indicates the supervision of the intelligent and progressive modern farmer. It is provided with a substantial set of farm buildings, including- a fine residence and good barns, and the stock and machinery are of first-class description and well cared for. The hand of industry and taste is apparent on every side, and the attention of the passing traveler is invariably attracted to this as one of the finest country estates ever built upon the uncultivated prairie. eHARLES H. CONNOR, of the firm of Con- nor, Patton 702 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. the establishment is about 1,000,000 per year. Transportation is effected by means of the Illinois Central Railroad, and the company receive orders from all parts of this, and adjacent States. Mr. Connor was born in Columbia County, N. Y., Feb. 10, 1859. His father, John Connor, a na- tive of the same -State, followed farming the greater part of his life, first in New York, and then in this State. He first purchased a farm in Knox County, 111., after coming to the West, whence he removed to this county and established himself on a farm two and one-half miles east of Rantoul. The mother of our subject, who before her marriage was Miss Mary Murphy, was a native of the same State as her husband and son. The family came to Illi- nois in 1867. Mr. Connor early in life formed an intimate ac- quaintance with the labors of the farm, and com- pleted his education in the schools of Rantoul Township. He remained under the home roof until reaching his majority, and then starting out for him- self secured a part ownership in a steam thresher, of which he made a fine success. After operating this four years he sold his machine to good advan- tage and embarked in his present business, of which, with the aid of his efficient partners, he has made a fine success, and by his sterling integrity and courteous treatment of those with whom he deals, has laid the foundation of a handsome in- come and a later competency. HOMAS FREEMAN, residing on section 19, Ogden Township, became a resident of this locality during the pioneer days. His residence is a fine brick structure, built in 1877, at a cost of $2,600. Our subject is a native of Ohio, and was born in Belmont County, April 11, 1826. His father, James Freeman, a native of Pennsyl- vania, was born in 1801, and departed this life Nov. 4, 1867. The mother of our subject, who in her girlhood was Miss Rebecca Ogden, was born on St. Valentine's Day, 1804. The marriage of the parents took place on the 5th of May, 1825, and of this union there were ' ' born ten children, eight of whom lived to maturity. The mother departed this life Oct. 5, 1854. Both parents were exemplary in their lives, and worthy members of the Christian Church. The family re- moved from Ohio to Illinois in the spring of 1830, locating first in Vermilion County. Two years later they changed their place of atode to a point on the Salt Fork of the Vermilion River, in this county, where the father of our subject purchased 1.100 acres of land, upon which he continued to live the remainder of his life. James Freeman commenced life without a cent in his pocket, and at its close had accumulated a large competency. He was a man of much force of character, and one whose judgment was held in high regard. He occupied the minor offices of his township, and was Captain in a company of the State Militia for several years. The first children of the household were Thomas, of our sketch, and Mary (twins). The latter became the wife of David Mead, and died Oct. 25, 1876. The remain- ing children were Edmund, Lydia A., Angeline, Yates, Eleazer, Andrew, Rebecca who died when three months old, and Martha when four years old. Thomas Freeman, on the 16th of August, 1849, was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Redman, who was born in Monroe County, Ohio, in the same year as himself, and on the 16th of the month follow- ing that of his own birth. Her parents were John and Elizabeth (Wright) Redman, natives of Virginia, the former born in 1792, and the latter Dec. 18, 1799. The}' passed to their long home years ago. The children of the parents of Mrs. Freeman were born as follows: Reuben, Feb. 10, 1820; Mary, Sept. 11, 1821 ; Sarah, Nov. 15, 1822; Hettie, Dec. 28, 1824; Nancy, March 16, 1826; Rachel and Ruth (twins), Nov. 27, 1828; John, Feb. 10, 1831; Martha, March 4, 1833; Elias, April 21, 1835; Isaac, now deceased, July 22, 1837; Rebecca. July 4, 1840, and Clarinda, Jan. 4, 1844. The children of Thomas Freeman and his wife are recorded as follows: Mary M. was born July 16, 1850; Edmund R., March 15, 1852; John T., July 25, 1854; James J., May 27, 1858; William H., May 22, 1861, Martha, Aug. 25, 1862. Mr. F. has held the office of .School Director, and is at present Township Trustee. In politics he is a Re- publican. He and his excellent wife are members T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 703 of the Christian Church. Their children have been carefully trained and well educated, and are follow- ing in the footsteps of their honored parents, be- ing useful in the community, and filling their various stations in life with credit and honor. Their names will be found elsewhere in this work. EVERARD FOULKK, the descendant of a long line of honorable ancestry, is a retired farmer, residing on section 34, Sidney Township. He is the son of Edward and Ann D. (Haven) Foulke, and was born in Pennsylvania, July 21, 1800. The family is of Welsh extraction, though all of its members since 1698 have been born in America. His father, the youngest of nine chil- dren, was born on the 8th of September, 1755, and died on the 5th of the same month in the year 1827. The following are the names of his brothers and sisters: Abigail, born May 18, 1799, and died Jan. 1, 1852; Elenor, born July 18, 1781, died on the 28th of April, 1815; Caleb, born on the 29th of August. 1783, died on the 22d of February, 1852; Samuel, born on the 28th of March, 1786, died on the 2d of February, 1872; Thomas D., born on the 13th of April, 1789, died on the 17th of Novem- ber, 1831 ; Susanna, born on the 18th of September, 1791, died on the 17th of April, 1883; Ann, born on the 13th of May, 1794, died on the 16th of September, 1820, and Margaret, born on the 25th of December, 1796, died on the 25th of March, 1 878. His mother, Ann D. (Haven) Foulke, was born on the 17th of June, 1757, and died on the 13th of March, 1827. Our subject's grandparents were Thomas and Jane (Roberts) Foulke, the former born on the 1st of March, 1724, and the latter on the 3d of No- vember, 1732. Their children were Everard, born on the 8th of September, 1755; Edward, born on the 17th of December, 1756: Samuel, born on the 3d of January, 1761; Abigail, born on the 6th of December, 1763; Susanna, born on the 5th of No- vember, 1766, and Samuel, born on the 19th of November, 1769. There were two children called Samuel, the elder one bearing the name having died, His great-grandfather, Hugh Foulke, was born on the 6th of July, 1685, and died on the 21st of May, 1760. His wife, Ann Williams, was born on the 8th of November, 1693, and died on the 10th of September, 1773. The following are the names and dates of birth of their children : Mary, born Sept. 25, 1714; Martha, Sept. 24, 1716; Sam- uel, Dec. 5, 1718; Ellen, Jan. 19. 1720; John, Dec. 21, 1722; Thomas, Jan. 15, 1724; Theophilus, Dec. 21, 1726; William, Dec. 10, 1728; Edward, Oct. 19, '1730; Ann, Jan. 1, 1732, and Jane, Jan. 3, 1734. We will now return to the subject of our sketch, Mr. Everard Foulke, whose lineage has been traced through several generations. Mr. Foulke was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Watson, on the llth of May, 1825. She was the daughter of John and Euphemia (Ingham) Watson. Her father was born on the 25th of August, 1774, and her mother in 1773. Their marriage took place on the 20th of June, 1795. The names of their chil- dren and the dates of their birth are as follows: Fannie, born May 24, 1796; Jonathan 1., Nov. 10, 1797; Joseph, Dec. 17, 1799 ; Isaiah, Aug. 29.1801; Hannah, April 26, 1 803; John H., Dec. 30, 1804; Euphemia, Sept. 28, 1806 ; Anthony H., April 28, 1808, and Samuel I., April 22, 1816. The mother of these children died on the 6th of May, 1816. On the 31st of December, 1817, Mr. Watson formed a second matrimonial alliance, with Martha Duncan. By this marriage he had two children; Richard, born Feb. 3, 1823, and Martha I., born Feb. 15, 1825. The mother of these children is dead. Our subject and wife have become the par- ents of six children: Watson, born Sept. 10, 1826, is living in Kansas; W. D., born June 5, 1828, is living in Rossville, Vermilion Co., 111. ; Jonathan I., born March 20, 1830, died Oct. 9, 1858; Thomas D., born July 27, 1833, is an invalid; Euphemia A.., born Sept. 11, 1834, died July 7, 1835; Lester E., born Oct. 16, 1837, is living on his father's farm. His two sons, Watson and Thomas, did honorable service in the War of the Rebellion. Although Mr. Foulke's early educational advant- ages were limited he nevertheless succeeded in ac- quiring a good English education. From boyhood, both from inclination and circumstances, his life has been associated with farming. He resided in l r 704 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Pennsylvania until the spring of 1845, when he re- moved to Clarke County, Ohio, and remained there until 1857, with his wife and two children. He then came to Sidney Township, where he has since continued to reside. He is the owner of 160 acres of well-improved land, known as the Arthur Springs farm. Although he is in his eighty-sev- enth year, he possesses all the faculties, both men- tal and physical, of a man of sixty. He has in his possession some interesting family relics; among them is a brass clock which belonged to his father, and has been iu the family for more than 100 year; it is in running order and keeps good time; aii old docket of his father's, when Justice of the Peace, dated 17!)5, and an ancient chair, made by Hugh Foulke, his great-grandfather. He is a Qua- ker in religious belief, and his political sympathies are with the Republican party. BARTLET L. ELLROD. deceased, was one of the pioneers of Champaign County, and fJD) ||j a resident of Urbana Township. His par- ents, John and Sarah (Collyer) Ellrod, were among the early settlers of Ohio, and natives of Pennsylvania. Bartlet Ellrod was a native of the State of Ohio, and came to Illinois when a young man, settling on the Sangamon River. After hav- ing purchased and improved a farm, he married Miss Elizabeth Busey, who died two years after their marriage. Dissatisfied with his now desolate home, he sold his farm and removed to Urbana Township, where he married Miss Matilda Brook- shier, the daughter of Joel and Sarah Brookshier. Her family were of English descent, and were na- tives of Randolph County, N. C., and when she was about two years of age they moved from North Carolina to Montgomery County, Ind. They had a family of eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity, and all married with the exception of one, who died at the age of twenty-three. After his second marriage, Mr. Ellrod purchased and made his home on the farm where his widow now resides. It is located on section 1, Urbana Township, and contains 200 acres of choice, well- improved land. Bartlet Ellrod was an enterpris- ing farmer, and at the same time was very success- ful in stock-raising. While not actively interested in public affairs, he was a man of good business qualifications, and in every respect was highly es- teemed in the community. He died at his home, March 18, 1856, leaving his widow and two chil- dren, a son and daughter, to mourn their loss. The children are Isaac and Elizabeth, and the latter is the wife of Thomas Kerr, a resident of this county. Mrs. Ellrod and her son conduct the farm. They are now engaged in raising horses, fine cattle and a high grade of hogs. eHARLES S. HUNT, a young and enterpris- ing farmer of Harwood Township, was born in Union County, Ind., May 9, 1854, and was the youngest child of Aaron and Jane (Brown) Hunt. His father was a native of Ohio, born near Cincinnati, and was the son of Charles and Mary Hunt. Aaron Hunt was one of the early settlers of Montgomery County, Ind. His wife was a native of Union County, Ind., and was the daughter of William and Mary Brown, who were also among the earliest pioneers of that State. In 1860 Aaron Hunt came to Illinois, locating in Cham- paign County, where he remained for about twenty years. Having suffered an irreparable loss iu the death of his beloved wife, and feeling unsettled in his home, he changed his residence to Dakota. He now makes his home in the family of his married daughter. Charles S. Hunt left home to seek his own fort- une in the world at the age of sixteen, with only the meager educational advantages of the district school to aid his clear head, brave heart and strong hands in fighting the battle of life. He first worked on a farm for two years, gaining something in ex- perience, if but little in capital. His next venture was to engage in farming for himself on rented land, which he continued to do for about five years. His prospects having materially improved, his next venture was matrimonial. Feb. 5, 1877, he married Miss Annie Stewart, the second child CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 705 of Charles and Mary (Shank) Stewart, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. Mr. Hunt first settled near the home of his wife's mother, where he engaged in fanning for one sea- son. He then conducted a farm eighteen months, for Mr. Breiner, and when his engagement with that gentleman terminated, he moved to section 30, Harwood Township, where he has remained for the past seven years. He is an active, energetic man, and is quite extensively engaged in raising the finest breeds of stock Short-horn cattle, Nor- man horses, Poland-China hogs and Southdown sheep, lie always votes with the Republican party, and has been elected Collector two years succes- sively on that ticket. B. MORRIS is an extensive grain- dealer at Myra Station, and one of the young and rising men of the State. He is second son of James H. and Mary A. Morris, and was born near Rushville, the county seat of Rush County, Ind., Nov. 2, 1859. Robert Morris received a good practical educa- tion in the public schools, and afterward attended Bryant i^*^^^K& RESIDENCE OF Wl* 5 W A YZ I E , 5 EC . 8 , E AST BEND TP. RESIDENCE OF J . M . CRAl G , 5 EC . 23 , CHA IY| PA I6N TP. RESIDENCE OF J.H.HEDRICK,5EC.l, NEWCOMB TP. LIBRARY OF THE TY OF ILLINOIS t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 709 the home of her son William. There were but three children in the parental family : William P. ; Sarah, the wife of W. L. Smith, living in Sidney Township, and Nancy J.. the wife of Granville Thompson, living in the southwestern part of the State of Kansas. The boyhood of William P. Fancher was passed on a farm and he acquired such education as he could gather from the meager advantages afforded him during the early days in the old log school-house in the neighborhood, in the intervals of leisure afforded him by his duties. He was a faithful and affectionate son, assisting his parents in bearing the burdens and overcoming the difficulties of pioneer life, until about thirty-three years of age. when he left home, and went to Kansas, where for about eight years and six months he was successfully engaged in farming and raising cattle. His wife is the daughter of John and Celia (Gibson) Cash, and her parents are living in Sidney Township. Mr. Fancher is the owner of eight}' acres of valu- able land, which, through his careful supervision and cultivation has reached a high degree of im- provement. His residence is comfortable and com- modious, and all the farm buildings are in excellent order. He is a Republican in politics. R. JAMES CORE, a pioneer physician of Homer, prominent in his profession as a reliable practitioner, and one of the repre- sentative men of Champaign County, was born in Ross County, Ohio, Dec. 19, 1820. He is the son of Henry and Effie (McDonald) Core, na- tives respectively of Maryland and Ross County, Ohio. Henry Core was born June 20, 1792, and died at Homer, 111., in April, 1862. The mother of our subject was born Jan. 15, 1801, and became the wife of Henry Core Nov. 11, 1817. She pre- ceded him to the silent land, passing away on the 30th of August, 1859. She came from an excel- lent Scotch family, her father having been John McDonald, who was born Jan. 28, 1775, and died in Ohio in 1841. The maternal great-grandparents of Dr. Core came directly from the Highlands of Scotland, and settled in RooS'County, Ohio, where the death of the great-grandfather occurred in 1823, when he was seventy-eight years of age. The father of the latter, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, also died in Ross County, Ohio, in the one-hundredth year of his age, having been born in 1723, and passing away in 1822. His wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth Douglas, of the house of the Campbells of Scotland. The parents of our subject reared a family of three sons and three daughters, namely, James. John, Catherine, Elizabeth, Ann M. and Charles L. Charles L. died in 18(!4, and Catherine in 1855. James, of our sketch, the eldest son and child, re- ceived his early education in the common schools of his native county, and when twenty-two years of age commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. E. Martin, a prominent phy- sician 'of the Buckeye State. Entering the Medi- cal College at Cincinnati, he graduated and con- tinued the practice 'of his profession in Homer, until lie decided to seek a permanent location in the West. In 1853 he came to this county, and in this and Vermilion Counties built up an extensive and lucrative practice. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs, both social and polit- ical, and in the fall of 1878 was elected to repre- sent his county in the General Assembly of the State. He served two years in the Legislature, and since then has occupied many of the local offices with ability and success. He has also ex- tended his field of labor, and officiated as a minis- ter of the Methodist Episcopal Church at intervals during the last eighteen years. Added to this, his operations as an agriculturist have been quite ex- tensive, and it would seem that the measure of a busy life had been thoroughly filled. Besides val- - liable, town property he has 300 acres of choice farming land, the cultivation of which he superin- tends, and from which he realizes annually a com- fortable income. Dr. Core assisted in the organization of the Re- publican party in this county, being a delegate from his township to the first convention of the kind held in this section. In the various positions to which he has been called, his talents have re- ceived a ready recognition, and notwithstanding i 710 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. he has lived more than threescore years, he pos- sesses more energy than many men one-half his age. In early manhood Dr. Core was united in mar- riage with Miss Isabelle Gosslee, their union taking place in Madison County, Ohio, Oct. 31, 1854. This lady was born Jan. 25, 1825, and became the mother of four children. After a brief illness she died at the home of her husband in Homer, 111., Dec. 19, 1863, deeply lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. She had been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty- four years, and adorned her Christian profession in her daily life. Her sou, Charles F., was born in 1856, and is living in Homer, 111.; Effle O. was born March 1, 1862, and became the wife of C. H. Wallace, of Homer, and two children died in in- fancy. The second wife of Dr. Core was formerly Miss Matilda Riley, a native of Hartford County, Conn., born Oct. 16, 1836. She is the daughter of Jona- than and Pamelia (Weldon) Riley. Her father was born in March, 1795, and died Sept. 26, 1856. Her mother, who was of English ancestry, was born Sept. 9, 1803, and passed away 01. the 9th of July, 1850. Their children were named, Ruel, Ralph, Pamelia, Abbie, Laura, Matilda, Royal, Elvira, Roland and Eleanor M. Those deceased are Ruel, Abbie, Eleanor and Ralph. Of the second mar- riage of our subject there was born one child, a son, James R., who died May 21, 1872, when less than one year old. SAAC M. WALLACE, a prominent farmer and 1 stock-grower of Urbana Township, was born in the town of Greenwich, Conn., Oct. 24, 1843. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Funston) Wal- lace, were natives of England, both of whom came to this country at an early age. His father was a stone and brick mason by trade, but had also some experience in farming. Their means were limited, and they were obliged to encounter many struggles with adverse circumstances in bringing up their family of six children. The father died at the age of seventy; the mother is still living. Isaac M. Wallace was educated in Greenwich, Conn. After attaining to the age of manhood, he engaged in the railroad business on the Hartford & New Haven Railroad, where he was first engaged as brakeman, then became baggage master, and was afterward made conductor. He occupied this po- sition for eight years, and then came West, as con- tractor for the I., D. & S. R. R., and afterward was employed on the I., B. & W. as conductor. He held this position until 1885, when, desiring a more quiet life, he retired from the railroad business and bought the property where he now resides, located on section 19. His farm contains 160 acres of valuable land, and is in an excellent state of culti- vation. On the 19th of February, 1887, Mr. Wallace was united in marriage with Miss Mary E., who is the daughter of Frank and Sarah (Baldwin) Baird. Her family were formerly residents of Ohio, but have for some time made their home in Champaign County. Mr. Wallace has erected a fine residence, large and commodious barns, and other farm build- ings on his premises. There were none of any kind on the place when he purchased it. He has attained his present prosperity by his native energy, good judgment and executive ability. LPT. B. F. CRESAP, of -Scott Township, was born and reared on a farm in Pickaway County, Ohio, where he first opened his eyes to the light Nov. 17, 1830. His parents were Daniel and Margaret (Hume) Cresap, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Virginia. The Cresap family was of English origin, and the Humes came originally from Ireland. After their marriage Daniel Cresap and his wife located in Pickaway County, Ohio, where they carried on farming until 1855. He then came to this State, locating first in Piatt County, where he remained two years, and then removing to Champaign County took possession of a farm in Scott Town- ship, where the parents remained until they ceased from their earthly labors. Their five children were, Hamilton, Benjamin F. of our sketch, Mary, Daniel and John \V . Our subject removed from bjs native State to i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 711 J^jAMES 8. FREEMAN, a hero of two wars, [ is one of the well-known and respected citi- J zens of Sidney, where he is living in retire- ' ment from the active labors of- a farm life. He is the son of William and Eliza (Holier) Free- man, and was born in Allegheny County, Pa., Illinois with his father's family, and has been a resident of Scott Township, this county, since' 1857. Like his father before him he took up the business of farming, which he has followed with marked success. He is now the owner of nearly 900 acres of land, most of which is in a tillable condition. His residence is a fine modern structure, and the out-buildings are conveniently arranged for the use of the modern nd progressive agriculturist. He fattens annually about 100 head of cattle, the proceeds of which yield him a fine income. Every- thing about the premises is kept in first-class order, and indicates the intelligence and enterprise of the proprietor. Capt. Cresap was married, at Hyde Park, 111., June 16, 1868, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of E. G. and Catherine M. (Jones) Vincent, who were na- tives of Delaware. The parental family included seven children, three only of whom lived to mature years, namely, Sarah A.,Oleviaand Mary F. Mrs. Cresap was born in Delaware, July 30, 1847. The household of our subject includes five children Nellie, Clara, Josephine, William H. and Benj. F. During the progress of the late war our subject entered the army, in August, 1862, being commis- sioned First Lieutenant of Co. C, 107th 111. Vol. Inf. At the battle of Knoxville, Tenn., he was j promoted Captain, with which rank he served until the close of the war. At the battle of liesaca, Ga., one of his men was killed by his side, and a portior of the unfortunate man's skull penetrated the body of Capt. Cresap, causing a painful wound. He went through the Atlanta campaign with Gen. Sherman, and after the war was over returned to Scott Township, and resumed the peaceful vocation of a farmer. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and religiously is connected with the Methodist Church. March 4, 1824. His father was a native of Mary- land, and his mother of Pennsylvania. In 1828 the parents moved from Pennsylvania to Pickaway County, Ohio, where the father was engaged in farming until 1842. That year he removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and there lived until the death of Mrs. Freeman, which occurred in 1850. He then moved to Jasper County, Ind., where he died in 1872. In 1849 our subject was united in marriage with Miss A. E. Frankinberger, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Phillips) Frankinberger. The union of our subject with Miss Frankinberger has been blest by the birth of seven children Sarah. William. Charles J., Ida M., and three who died in infancy. Charles J. resides in Sidney ; Ida M. married Andrew Dempsey, and lives in Terre Haute, Ind. In 1846 Mr. Freeman enlisted in the first regi- ment of Mounted Riflemen, the U. S. A., and served honorably in the Mexican War until Jan. 13, 1848. On the 13th of September, 1847. he was wounded at the battle of Chapultepec, and at the close of the war received an honorable dis- charge at the city of Mexico. In recognition of his services during that campaign, he now draws a pension of $12 per month. After the close of the Mexican War he returned home, and engaged in the peaceful occupation of farming until Sept. 23, 1861. The echoes of the rebel guns had scarcely died away at the dastardly assault made on Maj. Anderson and his little band of heroes at Ft. Sumter, when Mr. Freeman received the com- mission of First Lieutenant, in the 10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry. He served eleven months and then being disabled for active service, was obliged to resign at Springfield, Mb., in June, 1863. Once again he returned from military pursuits to his home in this county, where he has since resided, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his retire- ment. He owns fourteen valuable town lots in Sidney, and his own elegant residence is supplied with all the modern improvements. He was the first Supervisor-elect and held that position for nine successive years. Since his residence here he has filled at different times most of the minor official positions of the town. He is a member of the G. A. R., and was the first commander of Post 317. * i 712 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. His political sympathies were formerly with the Republicans, but he is at present a member of the Greenback party. Although threescore years and more of his life have passed, Mr. Freeman can look back over a spotless record and one sparkling with deeds of heroism for his beloved country. i>ILLIAM A. VADEN, an attorney, engaged in the practice of law in Sidney, was born in South Carolina, Sept. 26, 1837. He is the son of John W. and Rebecca (Richison) Vaden, who were both natives of South Carolina. He had the misfortune to lose his mother by death when but eight years of age. His father was a civil engineer, and also a slave-owner, holding twenty- two slaves as his property when the war broke out. In 1866 his son, William A. Vaden, went to Ohio, where lie lived four years. He then moved again, going to Kansas, but not being pleased with the country, remained there only a few weeks, when he returned to Sidney, where he has since resided. Our subject enlisted in the 1st Regiment, C. S. A., Jan. 5, 1861, and ^remained with that command until the battle of Antietam, Sept. 16, 1862, when he was taken prisoner by the Union forces and conveyed to Harrisburg, and thence to Ft. Dela- ware. After having been held a prisoner for two weeks, he was exchanged and then joined the 23d Virginia Cavalry, with which regiment he remained until the fall of 1864. He was then at Cumber- land, where he crossed the lines, took the oath of allegiance, and went from there to Pittsburgh, where he enlisted in the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He remained with that command until July 15, 1865, when he was discharged, having been wounded at the second battle of Bull Run. After the close of the war Mr. Vaden was mar- ried to Miss Sarah E. Hughes, Aug. 6, 1865. in Rushville, Ya. She is the daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Holmes) Hughes, and was born in Rockingham County, Va., Dec. 23, 1843. Her father's business was farming. Both her parents were natives of Virginia. The}' are now deceased. Our subject and wife have reared a family of three interesting children: Laura, born May 2, 1K66, was educated for a teacher in the public schools; Mary, born July 12, 1868, is also engaged in the vocation of teaching; the youngest, Bertha, was born April 10, 1880. Mr. Vaden has honorably held several official positions in Sidney. He was elected Justice of the Peace for three terms, Police Magistrate, and Super- visor of the town for one term each. He has twice been elected on the Town Board and served one term as its President. His political inclinations are strongly Republican. AMES WILSON, a brave Union soldier in the Civil War, and at present a respected and honored citizen of Sidney Township, located on section 30, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in January. 1837. For a biographi- cal notice of Mr. Wilson's parents the reader is referred to the sketch of George W. Wilson, else- where in this work. James Wilson left his native country in 1850, and after landing at New York came directly to Cham- paign County, 111. His time, thus far in life, has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with that success which is the reward of energetic effort. By his gallant service in the Civil War he proved himself an honorable and patriotic citizen of his adopted country. In the softened light of retrospect few perhaps can truly imagine or appreciate the sufferings and trials of war; the weary marches and counter marches; the dangers and treacheries encountered on the field, in the camp and the prison; the tears and anguish and blood that mark its way. In 1861 Mr. Wilson enlisted in Co. F, 26th 111. Vol. Inf., serving under Col. Looinis, Capt. John H. Folke. He fought bravely at the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, the memorable siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Shiloh, Mission Ridge, and faced fearlessly the frowning guns and leaden hail at the siege of Atlanta. He was with Sherman on his triumphant inarch to the sea, and thence to Richmond and Washington, where he witnessed the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 713 grand review of the armies of Grant and Sherman. In 1864 he was mustered out at Springfield, 111., and wearied with strife and carnage, his sword o " changed to the implements of husbandry, he re- turned to his home and engaged in the peaceful occupation of farming. Our subject, Mr. Wilson, was married to Miss Henrietta Brown, who was born in Vermilion Coun- ty, State of Illinois, and is the daughter of Isaac and Amanda Brown. Mr. Wilson and his wife have a family of four children : Bertha, born March 24, 1874, died Nov. 18, 1874; George P., born Jan. 31, 1875; Blanche C., born March 13, 1877, and Henry, who died in infancy. Himself and wife are members of high standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. W. is a Democrat, but his career in the Civil War indicates that his principles are allied to those exist- ing in the brave days of old, " when none were for party but all for the State." 'ILLIAM HARVEY, one of the earliest set- tlers of Champaign County, is widely and favorably known as one of the most valua- ble residents of this section, to whose development and growth he has materially contributed during the period of forty-eight years in which he has lived here. He first settled in the embryo village of Urbana, where he engaged as a contractor and builder. Afterward he purchased a farm of 250 acres, part of which, in 1870, he laid off as an addi- tion to Urbana, the lots being readily taken up by those desirous of establishing a permanent home in that locality. This was called the Harvey addi- tion, and now forms an important part of the city. Mr. Harvey was born in Berks County, Pa., Aug. 23, 1814. His parents were Job and Mary (Fix) Harvey, who were also natives of the Keystone State, descending on the father's side from English ancestry, and on the mother's from the German. Job Harvey, in 1818, when our subject was a small boy four years of age, emigrated to Stark County, Ohio, and engaged in farming. Thence in 1839 he came to Illinois, settling near the Sangamon River on the western line of Champaign County. There the mother died in IS(!2 and the father fol- lowed four years later. During the period of his residence in Pennsylvania Job Harvey served as a soldier for a short time in the War of 1812. The par- ental household included eleven children, of whom five are now living, namely, Mary, William, Sam- uel, Moses and John S. William Harvey was reared on the farm with his brothers and sisters, and received a limited educa- tion in the pioneer school. He remained a mem- ber of the, family household until twenty-one years of age, and afterward served an apprenticeship of three years at the cabinet-maker's trade. In the meantime he pursued his studies as opportunity permitted, and taught school two winters after learn- ing his trade. The present possessions of our sub- ject are the result of his own industry, economy and good judgment. He had no resources to be- gin with aside from his resolute will and industri- ous hands, but he seldom speaks of the difficulties which he encountered while forming a substantial basis for the property he now possesses and enjoys. In 1869 he erected the substantial brick dwelling on his farm in Urbana Township, and the following year built the house which he occupies in the village. Both his farms and village property are well cared for, the buildings kept in good repair, and every- thing about them denoting the wisdom and fore- thought of their proprietor. Mr. Harvey has served as Justice of the Peace, Street Commis- sioner, City Marshal of Urbana and Deputy .Sheriff of the county. He has represented his ward in the City Council for a period of six years. He was at one time owner of the carding-mill at Urbana, and has been interested in many of the enterprises lead- ing to the advancement of its industrial interests. o He is a stanch Democrat politically, and upholds the principles of his party by his vote and influence as opportunity affords. The marriage of William Harvey and Miss Har- riett Hntchinson took place in Stark County, Ohio, in 1837. Mrs. H. is the daughter of Alexander and Martha (Curry) Hntchinson, natives of Ire- laud. Her father came to America early in life, and located in Lancaster County, Pa. Of the chil- dren of the parental household, eleven in number, only Mrs. Harvey survives. By her union with CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. our subject slie has become the mother of the fol- lowing three children : Athalia became the wife of H. II. Harris, and has three children William R., John II. and Charles H. Emily, Mrs. Johnson, of Urbana, has two children William and Teddie; Jane, Mrs. Hoffman, has three children Robert. Myrta and Frank. 1857. ANIEL E. BIRDZELL, a native of this county, is comfortably located on section 19, in St. Joseph Township, of which he has been a resident since the spring of Here he has 128 acres of well-cultivated land, supplied with good buildings, and has em- ployed his time in the peaceful pursuits of farm life, contented with his lot and enjoying the esteem of his fellow-citizens. Our subject was born on his father's farm in St. Joseph Township, Aug. 21, 1857. His parents, John P. and Catherine L. (Hudson) Birdzell, were natives of Indiana. The former was born April 18, 1820, and departed this life at his home in St. Joseph Township, March 15, 1880. His wife, Cath- erine, was the daughter of John H. and Lydia Hudson, and still survives, making her home in St. Joseph. The parents after their marriage located near Terre Haute, Ind., where John Birdzell en- gaged in various occupations and continued to reside until 1855. He then removed with his family to this count}', and located upon the farm now occupied by his son, Daniel E., of our sketch. It originally contained 320 acres, which the father of our subject brought to a good state of cultivation and which presented under his excellent manage- ment one of the neatest and most desirable home- steads in St. Joseph Township. The parental family included the following children, viz., Joshua S., deceased; Allen; Daniel E., of our sketch; David E. ; Laura A., the wife of Joseph H. Stayton; Lydia A., Mrs. David B. Stayton, Jr., and Walter W., now deceased. The mother is still living, mak- ing her home among her children. Mr. Birdzell attended the district school during his boyhood and youth, and when twenty-three years of age was married, in April, 1880, to Miss Addie M., daughter of William H. and Tryphena Albaugh. Mrs. B. is a native of this county, born in 1860. Her parents were natives of Maryland and West Virginia, respectively ; the mother resides in Mober- ly, Mo., and the father is deceased. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Birdzell took a trip to Portland, Ore., and upon their return located on the old homestead, where they still remain. In addition to the ordinary labors of the farm Mr. Birdzell has of late years been engaged quite extensively as a dealer in fine horses and cattle, in which he has dis- played excellent judgment with good results. The household includes three children : Lucretia P., Paul F. and Cecil Blanche. Our subject is Democratic in politics, and his estimable lady has been a mem- ber of the New-Light Church at Prairie Hope since 1876. jjL_AMILTON JEFFERSON, who has been a Fjj) resident of the Prairie State for thirty-five uyZ? years, is now living in retirement in (^) Champaign, and with his family occupies j one of the most handsome and substantial resi- dences. His has been a busy life, in which for years he was actively engaged Lu farming, but afterward went into the livery business, and fol- i lowed it successfully in Champaign from 1860 until 1880. Since becoming a resident of this county he has taken a genuine interest in its welfare and prog- . ress and has contributed his full share toward bringing it to its present condition. He has now arrived at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, during which time he has built up for himself a record as an honest man and a good citizen, and has fully established himself in the esteem and confi- dence of all who know him. Mr. Jefferson was born in Frederick County, Aid., Jan. 23, 1808, and is the son of Leonard and Bar- bara (Nichols) Jefferson, natives of the same State as their son, and descended from excellent English and German ancestry. The father of our subject, who was a tanner by trade, removed from Maryland with his wife and son Hamilton, to Ohio, in 1812. They located in Chillicothe, Ross County, but soon afterward rented a hotel and farm about four miles i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. \ from the city, where they remained eight years. Mr. Jefferson then purchaser! 300 acres of land in Fayette Count}', which was unimproved and con- sisted mostly of timber. This he improved and lived upon the remainder of his days, his death oc- curring in 1852. The mother had died some years before. Of the six children comprising the par- ental household, three are now living: Hamilton of our sketch; Elizabeth, Mrs. Fisher, of London, Madison Co., Ohio, and John, who is engaged in fanning in Fayette County. The primary studies of Hamilton Jefferson were conducted in the pioneer log school-house among the Buckeye hills. This was furnished with the puncheon floor of those days, and light was admitted through greased paper in place of window-panes. The teacher used a birch gad freely, and in other respects the system of education was widely dif- ferent from that of the present day. Young Jef- ferson remained at home until reaching his majority, then farmed on rented land in his own county for five years. During this time he had saved suffi- cient means to purchase 150 acres of land in Madi- son County, upon which he took up his abode until 1851, in the meantime having added 200 acres to his first possession. He was now desirous of seeing something of the great West, and coming to Illinois purchased 1,050 acres of land in Vermilion County where he farmed extensively for three years. At the expiration of this time he purchased five acres in the city of Champaign, upon which he removed and which he has since occupied. After abandoning the farm Mr. Jefferson engaged in mercantile pursuits for two years, then returned to his former occupation, to which he added the buying and selling of land, and also engaged in the livery business. He has assisted materially in the building up of Champaign, which at the time of his locating there consisted of only two stores and about a dozen houses. He assisted in the organiza- tion of the First National Bank of the city, being one of the first stockholders, and there are few en- terprises to which he has not contributed by his means and influence. The marriage of Mr. Jefferson took place in Fay- ette County, Ohio, in 1829, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Allen, a native of that county. Of this union there were born six children, three now living. Their eldest son, James Willis, mar- ried Miss Armilda Landers, and they have four chil- dren Sophia, James. Thomas and George. Eliza- beth J., who became the wife of Jackson Thomp- son, is a resident of Champaign, and has three children Martha, Ellen and Clara. William I. mar- ried Miss Lydia Patten, and they have three chil- dren William, Mabel and Earnest. Mrs. Mary Jefferson departed this life in Denver, Col., in 1880. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 1882, was Miss Susan Staley, who was born in Virginia and was the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Hizy) Staley, natives of West Vir- ginia, where Mr. S. was engaged in farming, and whence he removed, in 1854, to Illinois, and located in this county, on land between the cities of Champaign and Urbana. " Mr. Staley was born in 1802, and departed this'life_May 20.M8C.3. His wife is still living and a resident of Champaign. Their family of eight children were, Susan, Mrs. Jefferson; Mary, Mrs. Nelson; Louisa, Mrs. Gouch; Henrietta, Mrs. Gay ; George A., Calvin C., Ella, Mrs. Keither, and Peter B. Mr. Jefferson is Re- publican in politics and has always fearlessly advo- cated the principles of_his party. As a citizen and business man he has been an important factor in the interests of his section and is valued accordingly. REDBRICK DEMLO. Among the self- made men of this county who were bom on foreign soil and commenced life humbly and with little means, the subject of this history deserves more than a passing notice. He was born in the town of Bowersdorf, Province of Pomera- nia, Prussia, Oct. 2, 1834. His parents were Jacob and Fredricka Demlo, natives of the same country. In 1863 they emigrated with their family to the United States, and at once sought the prairies of Illinois. Mr. D. located in Champaign County and made it his home until his death, which oc- curred in 187.6. The mother is still living in Cham- paign, and is now seventy-nine years old. Their seven children were Christ, John, Frederick, Fred- ricka, Sophia, Dora and Mary, all of whom came I . 716, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. i i ' 1 with their parents to Champaign. All are now married and reside in this county. The subject of this sketch was the third child of the family, and in accordance with the laws and customs of his native country, was placed in school at an early age and continued his studies until fourteen years old. At that age also he was con- firmed in the Lutheran Church. He soon after- ward left home and commenced working on a farm, receiving for his services about $20 per year, and a certain amount of linen and woolen cloth, which his mother manufactured into wearing apparel. After arriving at years of manhood our subject was married in his native town to Miss Fredricka Ohemky, who was also born there and baptized in the same church as her husband. Two years later they set sail from Hamburg for the New World, embarking on the 1st of June and landing in New York City in July, after a voyage of six weeks. From there they proceeded directly Westward, lo- cating at once in Champaign County. They were comparatively among strangers, and Mr. D. was in debt. He did not lose any time, however, deplor- ing his difficulties, but immediately began to search for employment, in which he was successful. He engaged at farm work for four years following, by the day or month, saving in the meantime as much of his earnings as possible. At the expiration of this time he purchased a team and engaged to work on the Wsibash Railroad, which was then be- ing built from Decatur to Champaign. After sev- eral months' labor without recompense, the con- tractors ran away and cheated him out of his hard earnings. During the time, however, in which Mr. Demlo had been a resident of this locality he had by hon- esty and industry secured for himself substantial friends who were ready to do for him all that he was disposed to ask of them. He located upon a tract of rented land, whicli he cultivated one year successfully, and then purchased sixty-eight acres in Tolono Township. This he occupied four years, then sold out and purchased eighty acres in Scott Township, where he lived until 1881. In that year he sold this also, and secured possession of the farm which he now owns and occupies. Upon this he has brought about great improvements and has more than doubled its value. He has a shapely and substantial set of frame buildings, and his stock, machinery and other farm appurtenances are well cared for and kept in first-class condition. The premises in all respects indicate the industry and energy of the proprietor. Mr. and Mrs. Demlo became the parents of six children, as follows: John, who lives at home; An- nie, the wife of John Grierr, of Champaign; So- phia, William, Phenie and Charles, at home. Our subject is Republican in politics, and both he and his wife soon after corning to this county became members of the Presbyterian Church, to the sup- port of which they have contributed liberally and cheerfully, and by the various members of which they are held in high esteem. Our subject on starting out in life was particularly fortunate in his choice of a companion, Mrs. D. having been the true helpmeet of her husband in all his undertak- ings, and materially assisted him in the establish- ment of the homestead and obtaining the compe- tency which they now enjoy. AMUEL D. JONES has during the last ten years held the position of Superintendent of the Champaign County Poor House, and has proved himself exceedingly efficient as a county officer. Mr. Jones is a native of England, and was born in the city of Liverpool, July 10, 1816. His parents were David and Elizabeth Jones, natives of Wales. David Jones was a prominent physician in Liver- pool. He was educated in Manchester, England, and continued the practice of medicine until his death, which occurred in Wales, where he had re- tired on a small farm. His wife died in 1848; she was the mother of three sons: John, who emigrated to America and settled in Campbell, Me. ; David T., who now occupies the old homestead in Wales, and is the youngest of the family, and an emi- nent physician, and Samuel D. The subject of this sketch was reared and edu- cated in Wales, remaining with his parents until he had attained the age of manhood. Feb. 22, 1847, he married Miss Catherine Morris, daughter of t LIBRARY OF THE '7y t? IU.1NOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 719 i John M. and Alice Morris. In the month of April, 1850, he started for America with his family, and after landing at the city of New York, May 16, first proceeded to Vermont, where he was em- ployed as quarryman in the State slate works, which position he retained four years. He then came AVest to Chicago, but finding no opening there for business, he only remained four months, and then went to Kane County, 111. He remained therefor four j-ears, and in the fall of 1859 came to Champaign County, where he bought a tract of 160 acres of land in East Bend Township, to which he soon after removed his family. After cultivating and improving his farm for eight years he sold it, and purchased another in the vicinity, containing eighty acres. Upon his appointment as Superin- tendent of the County Poor House in 1877, he rented this farm. He has since bought another small farm in East Bend Township, containing forty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had two children Car- rie, who is the wife of W. Howard, residing in East Bend Township, and Lizzie, who died at the age of seven, in Vermont. Mr. Jones furnishes all the teams required for the business of the county farm, and also four cows. He receives a salary of $600 per annum. He is faithful in the discharge of the public duties of his position, and is a highly esteemed member of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are both members of the Baptist Church in Urbana. AVID WOLF. The birthplace of this gentleman, who is well known as one of the most worthy citizens of Hensley Town- ship, and whose portrait is presented in connection with this sketch, was Fayette County, Ohio, and the date thereof Dec. 2, 1822. He is the son of Charles Wolf, who, with his father, David AVolf, was a native of Virginia. The great-grand- father was born in France, whence he emigrated when a young man, and settling in the Old Do- minion, there married and reared a family. David Wolf, one of the sons, spent his childhood and youth in Virginia, whence he afterward emigrated to Ohio and was one of the earliest settlers of Fayette County. He took up a tract of Government land at a time when Indians and wild animals were plenty and very troublesome. The former finally became so hostile that the grandfather of our sub- ject was obliged to leave that section. He went over into Kentucky and spent two years, then returned to the land which he had located, which, however, he was only permitted to occupy but a few years, as he was cut down in the prime of life and ceased from his earthly labors. He had in the meantime been married in Virginia, and among his children was Charles, the father of our subject, who was a small boy when the family moved to Ohio. Charles Wolf grew to manhood in the Buckeye State, remaining a resident there until 1829. That year he came West to Indiana, and settled in Tippe- canoe County at an early period in its history. He first rented a farm two miles from the embryo city of Lafayette, and afterward purchased land in Perry Township, Clinton County. Indians at that time roamed unrestrained over the country, one of their chief towns being located six miles distant. His land consisted mostly of timber and in the midst of it he built a log cabin. Shortly afterward he purchased a tract of prairie in the same township which he improved, put up more modern build- ings, and occupied until his death. In early man- hood he had married Miss Sarah Emrich, who was born in Virginia, of German parentage. She died in Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1820. David Wolf was a lad of seven years when his parents removed from Ohio to Indiana, and one year later his mother died. There were no free schools in those days, and his father was unable to give him any opportunities for education. Two years after the death of his mother, his father was married to Miss Phebe Leach, who proved a kind stepmother to the lonely boy. He remained under the home roof and assisted in clearing the farm, being put to work as soon as large enough to lift an ax. When twenty-two years of age he started out for himself, receiving for his first labors but $8 per month. Soon afterward he was employed to take a drove of cattle to Detroit, the round trip occupying six weeks. After returning home he resumed his labors by the month, and in due time, by the closest economy, saved money enough to 720 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. -1- buy a horse. He secured a mate to this, on time, and then rented a tract of land which he cultivated until 1S.VI. He was, however, dissatisfied with his prospects and the result of his labors, and in the fall of that year started on horseback for Illinois. Coming to this county he bargained for ninety acres of land which is now included in his present farm. He had but $100 in cash, and with this made a first payment yn his land and went in debt for the rest. In the meantime our subject had been married, and the following year brought his family. There was no house on his little farm and he had no money with which to build, but he managed to put up a small structure of one room, and then commenced in earnest the cultivation of his land and the im- provement of a homestead. In 1857 he met with a sore affliction in the death of his wife, and feeling lonely and discouraged returned to the home of his father in Indiana. After two years spent there he returned to his farm with the resolution to clear himself from debt. His efforts were soon crowned with success. He relieved himself from embarass- rnent, proceeded with the cultivation of his land, and after the lapse of a few years put up a good set of farm buildings, including a shapely and con- venient dwelling, and commodious frame barns for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain. He also added to his first purchase, and is now the owner of 237 acres of as good land as the sun shines upon, besides a fine assortment of high-grade stock, in- cluding cattle, horses and hogs. The first wife of our subject was formerly Miss Sarah J. Trotter, who was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., and was the daughter of Matthew Trotter. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 1858, was Mrs. Emeline Trotter, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Ezekiel Mc- Farland, and widow of Matthew Trotter. This lady departed this life in 1 867 at the home of her hus- band in Champaign Township. The maiden name of his present wife was Miss Maria Holloway, and they were married in 1867. Mrs. Wolf was born in Montgomery County, Ind., and is the daughter of Isaiah Holloway, who is now a resident of Farmer City, 111. Of the first marriage of our subject there were born two children Jasper N. and Thomas N. ; of the second there was one child Charles G. The children of his present marriage are, Frank, Louie, Anna and .1. Alpheus. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and our subject, politi- cally, is an uncompromising Democrat. ICHARD TOWNER. Emerson says all history is only biography. So we find this strikingly exemplified in the community with which the gentleman of whom we now write is identified. Its history is only the biog- raphy of the lives of a few men, chiefly among whom is himself. He is a farmer and stock-grower living on section 23, Sidney Township. He was born in Vigo County, Ind., Oct. 31, 1822, and is the son of Elijah and Pha-be (Hicks) Towner. His father was a native of New York, and his mother of Pennsylvania. In about the year 1819 the parents removed from New York to Indiana, where he engaged in farming. They passed the remainder of their lives in that State. The father's death occurred about the year 1 830, and the moth- er's about 1835. Richard Towner began to earn his own living at nine years of age, and during his life has passed through many vicissitudes. He started out by do- ing general farm work while a boy, which he con- tinued until about eighteen years of age. In 1837 he was employed in Danville, 111., and in 1838 in Champaign County, which has been his home with the exception of four years spent in McLean Coun- ty. At the age of eighteen he obtained a situation as driver on a stage line between Danville and Peoria, belonging to J. E. McClun, since Judge McClun, of Bloomington, 111. During the last year of his experience in stage-driving, lie was married, March 27, 1845, to Miss Joanna Blunt, the daughter of Elenry and Sarah Blunt, of this State. She became the mother of nine children Helen A., Sarah F., Madora F., Earnest M., Izoria P., Claudius M., Fannie. Dolly and Dulcena J. In April, 1866, Mr. Towner had the misfortune to lose his wife by death. In November, 1867, he contracted another marriage, with Mrs. Sarah Tay- "ffl RESIDENCE OF DANIEL NI5EWANDER, EEC'S .28&.3S, HEN5LEY TP. RESIDENCE OF J.W. C H A M P , HE C, 15 , CON D IT TP. RESIDENCE OF JOHN CLAR K , SEC. 6 ,( R.H-.W.). COMPROMISE TP. LIBRARY OF THE --Y o? ILUNOK CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. * 721 r lor, the widow of Isaac Taylor. She was born in Vigo County. Ind., in the year 1841, and was the daughter of James and Matilda Siner. By her first husband, Mr. Taylor, she had two children Matilda E. and James F. Of her union with our subject she became the mother of four children Lilliace A., Ida A. and Ada O., twins, and Mary B. During the four years that Mr. Towner spent in McLean County, 111., he acquired enough capital, by industry and economy, to purchase eighty acres of prairie on section 23, adjoining the place where he now resides, and ten acres of timbered land on section 21, Sidney Township. He also owned a phaeton and farm wagon worth about $150. In 1852 he packed his wagon with such household goods as he could conveniently carry, and with $250 in ready money, invested in an old log cabin belonging to John Patterson, of Hickory Grove, St. Joseph Township. His neighbors kindly vol- unteered their assistance in hauling it out and set- ting it up. As soon as he became settled in this primitive abode, he commenced to break and im- prove his land. Mr. Towner was the first settler south of Salt Fork, on the prairie in Vermilion County, and spent five years in cultivating his land in that place, then, in partnership with his brother, B. H. Towner, he bought out the stock of goods belonging to D. J. and A. Rankin, and engaged in the business of general merchandising in Old Homer, now Homer Township. Ey trading in Iowa lands they cleared over $1,960. They continued in business until the year 1863, when our subject enlisted, December 29, in Co. B, 10th 111. Vol. Cav. He served val- iantly until Aug. 9, 1865, when on account of dis- ability contracted while in the service, he was mustered out at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. At that time the credit S3 r stem flourished, and through the depression caused by the war, he was unable to meet his liabilities, and lost $20,000, which left him in an embarrassed condition financially, but he has since been able to recuperate and make up his losses. Mr. Towner owns eighty acres of excellent land in a tine state of cultivation, which he obtained of the Government when it was bare, unimproved prairie, in the year 1862. He is now in comfort- able circumstances, and the enjoyment of a pleasant home in which to pass his declining years. Him- self and wife are both members of the United Brethren Church. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. In politics he is a Republican. The portrait of Mr. Towner, on an accompany- ing page, forms a fitting adjunct to this sketch of his worthy and useful life. II J^UDGE J. O. CUNNINGHAM, who presided I over the County Court for several years, is one of the best-known residents of Urbana ' and vicinity, of which he has been a resi- dent since the pioneer days. His birth took place in Erie County, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1830. His parents, Hiram W. and Eunice (Brown) Cunningham, were natives respectively of New York and Vermont, and after their marriage, which took place in 1830, in Erie County, N. Y., removed in 1833, to Huron County, Ohio. Hiram W. Cunningham was a car- penter by trade, and while in Ohio carried on farm- ing. The parental family included ten children, of whom but four are now living besides our subject. The eldest, a half-brother, J. C. Sheldon, is a resi- dent of Urbana; Albert P. is a druggist in Cham- paign; Olive, Mrs. Fisher, resides at Emporia, Kan., which place is also the residence of Edwin W. The Cunningham family is of lowland Scottish descent, and the first representatives who carne to this country settled in New England and engaged in agricultural pursuits. The grandfather of our subject, Layton Cunningham, was a native of Con- necticut, where he married. Soon after he became a pioneer in Western New York, and there raised a family and spent hisJast days. The father of our subject, with his estimable wife, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he offici- ated as Class-Leader for a period of forty years. He was noted for his active interest in educational and temperance matters, and frequently held official positions in the county. His death took place in Clarksfield, Ohio, July 11, 1866. The mother sur- vived her husband nearly three years, dying March 9, 1869, at the same place. The subject of this sketch was trained to farm t 722 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. pursuits, and commenced his education in a log school-house, where lie attended during the winter season until eighteen years of age. He afterward took a course in Baldwin Institute and Oberlin College, and occupied his vacations as a teacher. After leaving Ohio he resided and taught in Ver- million County, Ind., one year, and took up his abode in Urbana, this county, in June, 1853. Soon afterward he purchased the Urbana Union, which he continued to publish until 1858, and which was made notable by its active support of Gen. Fremont for the Presidency. At the close of this campaign Mr. Cunningham sold out his paper and resolved to take up the study of law. He returned East to Cleveland, Ohio, and after attending the law school there and supplementing his studies by private reading, was admitted to practice before the close of that year. -He opened his first law office in Urbana May 1, 1859, and soon afterward became the partner of Judge Sim, with whom he continued six years. From 1865 to 1869 he practiced alone, and in the year last named associated himself with William B. Webber, with whom he remained in partnership for seven years following. Since 1876 he has continued alone. Our subject was elected County Judge in 1861, and served four years. He has been an active businessman and fairly successful in the accumula- tion of property. He is a stockholder in the Illi- nois Printing Company, of Danville, 111., and in company with William C. Jones compiled a work entitled "A Practical Treatise upon the Jurisdiction of, and Practice in the County Courts of Illinois," in 1883. He was editor of the Union and Gazette at Urbana two years, and assisted in the organiza- tion of the I., B. & W. R. R. Co., in which he was a Director several years, and was one of the Trustees of the State University from 1867 to 1873. Judge Cunningham was married in 1853 to Miss Mary, daughter of Col. P. D. McConoughey, of Bainbridge. Ohio. They have a beautiful home near the city limits of Urbana, comprising a farm of eighty acres, with a handsome dwelling and suit- able out-buildings. Mr. and Mrs. C. are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Judge has long been a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been Master of his lodge for six years, and has filled high positions in the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He is also a Knight Templar. J'" 1 OSEPH PIERCE, a native of Bullitt County, Ky., is now a highly respected resident of Harwood Township, in possession of a good farm embracing 120 acres of land in a thorough state of cultivation. He was in early life trained to habits of industry, and his property has been accumulated solely through his own exertions. Our subject was born Jan. 1, 1821, and was the third child of John and Matilda (Weeks) Pierce, natives of the Old Dominion. His father followed farming all his life and spent his days in the State which gave him birth. Joseph remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, and then going into Washington County, Ky., engaged as a farm laborer for a year. He then took a contract to make 16,000 rails at thirty-seven and one-half cents per hundred. After the completion of this, he fol- lowed teaming one winter and in the spring began laying his plans for the establishment of a home and domestic ties. On the 14th of December, J 842, he was married to Miss Margaret M. Lanham, who was a native of his own State, and the second child of John and Ellen Lanham, also natives of the Blue Grass State. - Our subject and his wife soon after their mar- riage, located on a farm in Marion County, Ky., which they occupied for five years following. Mr. Pierce then determined upon a removal to the West, and coming into Greene County, 111., pur- chased a farm of 150 acres east of Kane. He occu- pied this for a period of fifteen years, in the mean- time redeeming the land from its original condition and building up a good homestead. In 1864, how- ever, receiving a good offer to sell, he disposed of his property and returned to his native State, where he purchased 113 acres of improved land in Wash- ington County. He remained there five years, but there was a charm about the prairies of Illinois which led him westward once more. Coming to this county he purchased eighty acres on section 16, in Harwood Township, to which he soon afterward CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 723 added forty acres, making 120, which constitutes his present homestead. He also owns 100 acres on section 20. Mr. Pierce has been fairly prospered in his labors, but himself and his wife have met with severe affliction in the loss of seven of the ten children who came to brighten their home and which they had hoped would all remain with them until their labors on earth had ceased. Those whom they laid away in sorrow and with tears were, Margaret M., John Henry, Cedonia. William Edward, Matilda Jane, Harriett Ann and Franklin. Of those living Angeline became the wife of William Deshazier, a prosperous farmer of Harwood Township, owning a homestead near his father-in-law, and they have one child, Jessie ; Elvina is the wife of Charles An- derson, who occupies a portion of the home farm ; they have three children Ellen G., Margaret M. and Josephine. Joseph is the youngest son and is at home with his parents. Mr. Pierce devotes his entire attention to the raising of grain. He is Democratic in politics but takes no active part otherwise than depositing his vote as a dutiful citizen on election day. He has frequently served his township as Road Commis- sioner and his district as School Director, but has never aspired to political offices. He has in all respects built up a record as an honest man and a good citizen, and in return is rewarded with the sincere respect and esteem of his neighbors. Mrs. Pierce is a member of the Catholic Church at Ran- toul. A lithographic view of the pleasant home of Mr. Pierce is shown elsewhere in this work. 1USTAV STUMPF. This worthy farmer, a resident of Rantoul Township, owns and occupies 170 acres of laud on section 6, free from incumbrance and equipped with tasteful new buildings, including a good residence. Here, with a genial, intelligent and industrious wife, and bright and promising children who j'et remain in the home, he is in the enjoyment of a large share of the pleasant things of life to which he is justly entitled and has fairly earned by his industry and economy. His possessions are the result of his own labor, and he may be pardoned for a feeling of pride and satisfaction in viewing his surroundings, and the methods by which he became proprietor. Mr. Stumpf has been a resident of this county for a period of seventeen years. He was born and reared on the other side of the Atlantic, first open- ing his eyes to light in the Grand Duchy of Baden, six miles from the River Rhine, on the 5th of De- cember, 1830. In accordance with the laws and customs of his native country, he commenced at- tending school when six years of age, and pursued his studies until fourteen. He then commenced to assist his father on the farm, continuing there until seventeen years old, when he entered the army. After a service of five months he returned to his father's house, but being of an ambitious turn of mind and seeing little prospect of advancement or a competence in his own country he decided to seek his fortunes in the New World. He accordingly set sail from Bremen in the month of March, 1852, and after a voyage of thirty-five days set foot upon American soil. He landed in New York City with about $10 in his pocket, and made it his first busi- ness to secure employment. The Erie Railroad being in process of construc- tion at the time of Mr. Stumpf's coming to this country, he engaged in assisting to grade and lay track for two months, and thence going to Penn- sylvania, worked on a plank road for a month. Afterward he was variously employed, on a railroad, in a sawmill, digging ore and butchering until 1868. In the spring of that year he started for the West, locating first in Livingston County, 111., where he purchased a tract of wild prairie land at $12.50 an acre. He remained in possession of this property, improving it and increasing its value, until 1870, when he traded it for his present farm. This, how- ever, would scarcely be called a farm at the time of his purchase, being simply a tract of uncultivated land. Having given much of his life to the tilling of the soil, he realized the possibilities lying under- neath the sod in this section, and set to work with courage and hope to build up a permanent home- stead. The result of his labors we have already noted. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 29, 1855, was formerly Miss i i 724 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 Ucgina Schmidt, a native of Bavaria, and born Dec. 13, 1830. Mrs. S. has proved the true help- meet of her husband, who cheerfully acknowledges that to her assistance and wise counsel he has been largely indebted for the success of his later years. Of their children, who were six in number, Louisa became the wife of Tilman Goodfelt, arid lives with her husband in Franklin County, Neb. ; John is at home with his parents: Mary became the wife of David Engleman, and died in 1886, when twenty- four years of age, leaving four children ; Rosa, Gustav and Annie are at home with their parents. Since becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Stumpf has taken a genuine interest in its political affairs, and upon first becoming a voter identified himself with the Republican party, of which he has since been a sincere and hearty sup- porter. He has contributed no little to the status of his township, in building up a good home and carrying on his farming operations in a most praise- worthy manner. Mr. and Mrs. Stumpf are mem- bers of the Catholic Church. A lithographic view of the handsome residence, outbuildings, etc., on the farm of Mr. Stumpf, is shown elsewhere in this work. ETHAN ALLEN BIRDZELL is a native of this county, born in the city of Urbana, Feb. 22,1855. Great changes have taken place in his native town since his boyhood, and since his father, John Birdzell, migrated from Indiana to this locality. The latter was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1828, although his parents' permanent residence was in Indiana at the tiuie. Our sub- ject's mother, who in her girlhood was Miss Cath- erine L. Hudson, was a native of the same State as her husband, and came with him to this county in 1854, stopping first in the vicinity of Urbana for about three years, and thence removing to a farm on section 19, in St. Joseph Township, which finally included 320 acres of some of the choicest laud in that locality. John Bird/ell was a man of great industry and energy, and the property which he accumulated was the result of his own perseverance. After a worthy career, during which he established himself i full}' in the confidence and esteem of his fellow- citizens, he departed this life March 10, 1880, on the homestead which he had eliminated from the uncultivated prairie. With the exception of two years spent in California, most of his life was passed in St. Joseph Township. The parental fam- ily includes three sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest; Daniel C. and David C. are residents of Champaign County; Laura A. is the wife of Joseph H. Stayton, a farmer of St. Joseph Township; Lydia A. married David B. Stayton, Jr. The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed after the manner of most farmers' sons, at- tending the district school, and assisting his parents as his services could be made available around the homestead. He remained under the home roof until his marriage, in 1875, his chosen bride being Miss Mahala O., daughter of Reuben C. and Amanda Koch, who came to this county in the spring of 1860. The parents of Mrs. Birdzell had a family of four sons and five daughters, who are recorded as follows: Sarah C. became the wife of Abram Hoy; Mahala is the wife of our subject; Augusta married Charles P. Drullinyer; Frank M. is unmarried, and a resident of St. Joseph; Mary R. died when an interesting young girl of thirteen years; John Otis died when eighteen months old, and Levi L. when an infant of a^ month, also Charles W; Cora S. lived to be only nine years of age. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Birdzell re- mained on the farm two years, and then took pos- session of the farm belonging to Mrs. B. in St. Joseph Township. Mr. Birdzell afterward desir- ing to change his occupation, moved with his fam- ily into the town of St. Joseph, in the fall of 1882, and engaged first in the drug trade which he after- ward abandoned to become a partner of John W. Somers in the grain business. In 1 884 he sold out, and wishing to recuperate his health, visited Hot Springs, Ark., where he remained two months with excellent results. Upon returning to St. Joseph he became the partner of Messrs. Irons & Fox. The fine residence of Mr. Birdzell is built of brick, and pleasantly located, constituting one of the attractions of the town. Four bright children f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 725 complete the happiness of the home circle, named respectively, Charles Allen, Walter M., Luther Earl and Lorin G. One brother of Mr. Birdzell, Joshua S., died when a promising young man twen- ty-four years of age, on the farm near May view. Another, Waiter Wesley, died at the same place when a boy of nine years. ffiOHN H. LOVINGFOSS, although not a per- I sonal owner of real estate, has for four years I successfully conducted what is known as the yjjjjj) Lynn Grove Farm, which is one of the finest in Sidney Township, and is located on section 31. He was born in Pennsylvania, July 9, 1825, and is the son of Henry and Mary (McKown) Lovingfoss, the former a native of Belgium and the latter of Ireland. The parents removed from Pennsylva- nia to Ohio, where they both died, the father June 9, 1853, and the mother May 2, 1865. In 1873 John II. Lovingfoss removed from Ohio to Champaign County, 111., where he has since resided. His educational advantages were limited to such as could be casually gleaned in the old log school-house of the pioneer days of Pennsylvania, but by making intelligent use of such means as were within his grasp he acquired a good common-school education. From boyhood to the present time he has been engaged in the pursuit of farming. On Jan. 15, 1852, Mr. Loviugfoss was married to Miss Mary J. McCafferty, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Hunter) McCafferty, who both died in Ohio. Mrs. Lovingfoss became the mother of four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Ellen J., born April 23, 1854; Albert N., Oct. 1, 1856; James H., Dec. 7, 1858, and Charles H., Aug. 23, 1860. Of these but one has survived, James H. The mother of these children was removed by death, and our subject subse- quently contracted a second marriage, with Miss Jane Woodruff. She was born in 1842, and died March 23, 1868. They had three children: George E., born Sept. 4, 1863; William II., Aug. 19, 1865, and Mary E., Aug. 15,. 1867. The youngest is deceased. Air. Lovingfoss, on Jan. 7, 1869, was married for \ i _ A . the third time, Mrs. Minerva Black being the other contracting party. She was the widow of John Black, by whom she had three children: James M., born Jan, 16, 1863; Anna C., Oct. 1, 1864, and Louisa C., June 3, 1867; The father of these chil- dren died in April, 1867. Mrs. Black is the daugh- ter of Absalom Roush, of Adams County, Ohio. By her marriage with our subject three children have been born, viz.: John Edgar, Jan. 16, 1870, Elva E., Oct. 12, 1871, and Gertie E., May 20, 1877. Five of our subject's children are living at home. He also has a granddaughter, Ettie E. Ken- ned}-, born Oct. 25, 1872, who has made her home with him since eleven mouths old. Mr. and Mrs. L. are both highly respected members of the Pres- byterian Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. N. WYNINGER, editor and pro- prietor of the St. Joseph Eagle, publishes a bi-weekly paper, which he established in Au- gust, 1886, and which, in connection with its well- appointed job office, has become one of the indis- pensable features of the town. The paper is a four- column folio, devoted to the interests of the people in that section, reporting the principal events that occur from time to time, and giving a faithful exposition of matters likely to be of interest to the residents of the township. The job department is equipped with a fine assortment of everything essential to the "art preservative," and the pro- prietor by his wise and discreet management has fairly ingratiated himself into the good-will of the people. The boyhood days of Mr. Wyninger were spent in Boone County, Ind., where his birth took place on the 3d of February, 1859. His parents, William and Martha J. (Howard) Wyninger, were natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. Our subject received the advantages of the common schools and his time when not in school was em- ployed upon his father's farm. He remained in Boone until thirteen years of age and then going into Car- roll County. Ind., engaged in various occupations four years. Then, desirous of seeing something of the Southwest he crossed the Mississippi into Ar- f 726 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. kansasand Missouri, and upon returning to this side of the Father of Waters took up his abode in St. Joseph and here concluded to remain. His taste had always inclined to the newspaper business, and in 1884 he purchased the job office of V. J. Gallion, which he conducted two years, and then established the Eayle, which he has since continued in a man- ner satisfactory to all concerned. The paper is Republican in politics, and a downright spicy little sheet, which contributes its full quota toward keep- ing the town lively and prosperous. Mr. W. has been quite prominent in local affairs since coming here, and in 1885 was elected both Town and Village Clerk. Those who know him wish him and the Eayle abundant success, as he is an enterprising citizen and should be encouraged. A. GRAY, an ambitious and enter- prising young farmer of Rantoul Township. manages his father's old homestead of 485 acres, and also 280 acres belonging to himself. He possesses more than ordinary ability as a business man, and having had a lifelong experience in agricultural pursuits is eminently fitted for the task which at present devolves upon him. The home- stead on section 19, a view of which is presented in this work, was established by his honored father in 1861, and is equipped with the finest description of farm buildings and machinery. In addition to the ordinary pursuits of husbandry Mr. Gray is operating a dairy, the proceeds of which yield annually a handsome income. The subject of this history is a scion of an old and excellent family, the later descendants of whom became well known in Pennsylvania, where he him- self 'was born in Wayne, Erie County, Aug. 13, 1857. His father, William A. Gray, was a native of the same town, his birth taking place Dec. 15, 1821. His grandfather, Mathew A. Gray, was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania or New Jersey, and became one of the earliest settlers of Erie County. He secured possession of a tract of timber land in Wayne Township, cut down the trees and prepared the soil for cultivation, and for many vcnrs industriously occupied himself ill its improve- ment, establishing a comfortable home, where he remained until his death. His settlement was made before the days of railroads or canals, and for a number of years Pittsburgh was the only depot for supplies. Mathew Gray became a man of promi- nence in that section of country, being rarely intel- ligent and possessed of decided views concerning State, national and local affairs. He was for a long ! time Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, after the establishment of a society there, and his opinions were held in much respect, both religiously and politically. The grandmother before her marriage was Miss Esther Smith, a lady of Scotch-Irish descent. By her marriage with Mathew Gray she became the mother of eleven children. Two of these died in infancy, two died in youth, and seven lived to mature years, were married and reared families. Among the sous who inherited in a marked de- gree the excellent qualities of both parents was William A., the father of our subject. He received careful home training, and was educated in the pio- neer schools, which were conducted in a log cabin. When not in school, his education being principally carried on in the winter season, he assisted his father in clearing the land and tilling the soil. He remained a member of the household until estab- lishing domestic ties of his own. At his marriage his father gave him 100 acres of land, which he operated intelligently and successfully, and in time added to his real estate by the purchase of 160 acres more. He prepared the greater part for cul- tivation by clearing it of the forest trees, and erected a good set of frame buildings. This farm he occupied with his family until 1859, then selling out, purchased a one-half interest in a flouriug- mill and woolen factory at Cynthiana, Ky. Two years later he traded that property for eighty acres of land in Kansas and a half section in Rantoul Township, this county. His family removed to this locality in February, 1862. The purchase in Rantoul Township consisted of wild prairie, and before the arrival of his family Mr. Gray put up a house and made things as com- fortable as possible for their reception. After taking possession he occupied this homestead until 1874, then leaving it in the hands of a tenant, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 729 returned East and spent :i year in Kocliester, N. Y. Afterward he went to Pennsylvania, and becoming a resident of Corry, Erie County, lived there until 187'J. In the spring of that year he returned to the West, and locating upon the farm in Rantoul Township remained there until his death, which took place Aug. 30, 1880. The mother of our sub- ject, who became the wife of William A. Gray July 3, 1845, was formerly Miss Sarah Mead, and was born in Youngsville, Warren Co., Pa., Sept. 4, 1821. She was the daughter of John Mead, a na- tive of Meadville, Pa L , whose father, John Mead, Sr., of Crawford County, that State, was a promi- nent man in that section of Pennsylvania, and in honor of whom (in connection with a brother) the city of Meadville was named. The family at first were driven from that section by the Indians, and took refuge in the fort at Franklin, fifty miles distant. In this flight they were assisted by a friendly tribe. In due time after their enemies had been removed from that locality they returned, and the grandfather spent the last years of his life at Meadville. There also the ma- ternal grandfather of our subject grew to manhood, and upon setting out for himself in life removed to Youngsville. He was first employed in a sawmill, and worked industriously at whatever his hands could find to do. He was of an enterprising and thrifty disposition, and in a few years, by wise economy had saved enough to purchase the saw and grist mills which he had first entered as a laborer. After operating these successfully for a number of years, his accumulations still steadily increasing, he began to purchase land, and finally became the proprietor of a valuable tract of 400 acres, to which he gave his chief attention, and established a good home, where hp spent the re- mainder of his days. When a young man he mar- ried Miss Sallie Huffman, of Susquehanna, Pa., who cheerfully shared in his labors and rejoiced in his successes. She died at the homestead in Youngs- ville, having become the mother of two children, a son and daughter. The latter. Ida, who was born March 8, 1847, became the wife of M. E. Stamey, and dietl of consumption Jan. 16, 1873, while on a visit to her father. After the death of her husband the mother of our subject was married the second time, Dec. 23, 1885, to Mr. E. M. Bartlett. Mr. B. was born in Newry, Oxford Co., Me., July 18, 1830, and is the son of Jonathan and Nancy (Barker) Bartlett, na- tives of the same town as their son. The grand- parents of Mr. Bartlett were of English birth and ancestry, who, crossing the ocean early in life, located in Oxford County during its first settle- ment. Nelson A. Gray, of this sketch, was in the second year of his age when his parents removed from' his native State to Kentucky, and was five years old when they became residents of this county. His early studies were conducted in the district schools of Rantoul Township, and his education completed in the University of Illinois, where, after a four years' course he graduated, in June, 1883. After -. leaving school he returned to the farm, the duties of which have always been very attractive to him, and in addition to the raising of corn and wheat has of late been giving much attention to the breed- ing of fine stock. Mr. Gray's life career commenced amid unusu- ally happy surroundings, and after providing a good home for the reception of his bride, he was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Collins, at the home of her parents in Rantoul Township, Feb. 11, 1885. Mrs. Gray is the daughter of Charles and Mary (Cerrie) Collins, natives respectively of Ohio and Illinois. Her birth took place in Schuyler County, this State, Oct. 11, 1864. Her maternal grandfather, who was a descendant of excellent Scottish ancestry, and himself born in the Land of the Thistle, emigrated to the United States at an early day, and coining to the West located among the first settlers of Schuyler County. There he still resides, having now reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. He possesses in an eminent degree the sturdy and reliable characteristics of his race, and as a man and citizen has exercised a de- cided influence in shaping the affairs of the vicinity where he has lived so long and is so highly re- spected. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two bright children Sarah E., born Nov. 22, 1885, and George A., March 15, 1887. Mr. G. is favored with a good constitution, and combines t 730 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 strictness of moral principle with energy and decis- ion of character. Fie is orthodox in religious views, being with his amiable wife, a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Gray's School-house. Politically he is a true Republican, and upholds the principles of his party with an earnestness and fearlessness which at once indicate his sincere belief in the principles which he advocates. GEORGE A. SMITH. The homestead of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch is pleasantly located on sec- tion 11, Scott Township, and embraces 240 acres of land, with a handsome and substantial set of frame buildings, a view of which appears on an- other page, and forms a most valuable adjunct to the pictorial department of this ALBUM. He came to this county in the spring of 1874, soon afterward becoming a resident of Scott Township, and by the exercise of energy and industry has im- proved one of the finest farms in this section of the county. His land has been made tillable by the aid of seven miles of tile, and being a natural me-" chanio he only paid out liiOO to hired help in the erection of his buildings, which, being mostly done by his own hands, are of first-class workmanship. His stock and farm machinery are of the best de- scription, and everything about the premises indi- cates thrift and prosperity. Mr. Smith is a native of Lake County, this State, born Jan. 6, 1848, and is the second child of George S. and Beatrice (Yule) Smith, who were natives of Aberdeen, Scotland. They emigrated to the United States before their marriage, and coming to the West located on a farm in Lake County, 111., where they still reside. The parental household included eight children, three sons and five daughters. George A. lived at home until he was eighteen years old, pursuing his studies in the common schools and assisting in the labors of the farm. At the age mentioned he went to the home of his uncle in Kcnosha County, Wis., where lie worked one year, and afterward took up the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in his native county. He then returned home and remained in his native county until the fall of 1872. Thence he pro- ceeded to Ft. Scott, Kan., and from there to Mis- souri, where he farmed one year on rented land. IJis next journey was into this county. Mr. Smith was married in his native county, Jan. 1 1, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Goodnow, who was born in Du Page County, 111., Jan. 26, 1842. This lady was the daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Puffer) Goodnow, the former a native of Boyl- ston, Mass., and the latter of Millbury, in the same State. After marriage they came to this State and located at Downer's Grove, \)u Page County, whence they afterward removed to Lake County, where Mr. G. died Nov. 10, 1869. Mrs. G. still survives, and resides with her son-in-law in Scott Township. Mr. and Mrs. Goodnow were the par- ents of three children, one son and two daughters, all of whom are now deceased. The wife of our subject died at the home of her husband in Scott Township, Feb. 16, 1887. She was a lady highly respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and a consistent mem- ber of the Baptist Church. They had no children, but adopted two, named Joseph and Mary. The lat- ter .became the wife of James Coon, a farmer of Scott Township, and is the mother of one child, a son, Elmer. Mr. Smith is Republican in politics, a Baptist in religion, and has been intrusted with the minor offices of his township. As a farmer and citizen he is held in high respect by the commu- nity of which he has been a member for over thir- teen years. E W. COUDEN is the only surviving [It (=-, representative of one of the pioneer families '^^U of Champaign County, and is the owner of a fine estate, located on section 27, St. Joseph Township, where he was born June 18, 1855. UN father, a native of Ohio, was born Oct. 13, 1800. He emigrated from his native State to Champaign County about forty years ago, and soon after his marriage to Miss Jtilianno Dv.'ellinger, which event occurred Sept. 18, 1845. On his arrival in this f. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 731 county lie settled on a farm about five miles south- west of the town of St. Joseph. He cultivated and improved his land, carrying on a successful fann- ing business, and passed the remainder of his life there. He did not long survive the death of his second wife, which occurred March 19, 185'J, his demise taking place Aug. 12, 1859. Seven chil- dren were born of his second marriage, namely, Philip H., William. Taylor, Harrison; Henrietta, the wife of Addisou L. Wood; George W., and Martha M., the wife of Lee Marshall. The subject of this notice passed his boyhood upon his father's farm, attending school during the winters, and in the summer time assisting in the farm labor. In his twenty-second year he was united in marriage with Miss Alfaretta Paxton, the daughter of D. P. Paxton, formerly a resident of Indiana. After his marriage, Mr. Couden set- tled on his present place, and has become one of the most substantial and successful farmers in the vicinity, while his kind disposition, courtesy and hospitality have won the regard of all who know him. In conducting his farm he has made a spec- ialty of breeding Norman draft horses, of which he has some fine specimens in his well-built and con- venient stables. Mr. and Mrs. Couden have four interesting chil- dren Otis, Carrie, Roscoe F. and Freddie. Mr. Couden has served as School Director for several years, and himself and wife are both highly es- teemed members of the Christian Church at Pleas- ant Grove. ZEPHANIAII M. DUNN. One of the finest farms in St. Joseph Township is located on section 12, and invariably attracts the eye of the traveler on account of its finely laid out fields, its neat and substantial fences, and the commodious farm buildings which at once indicate the taste and means of its proprietor. Mr. Dunn obtained pos- session of his present property mostly by the exer- cise of his own industry and enterprise, and ranks among the progressive men of this section who have been the chief instruments in developing ito resources. Our subject is a native of Kentucky, born near Harrison, in Cynthiana County, April 18, is:il. His grandfather, Benjamin Dunn, a native of the Old Dominion, removed from there to the Blue Grass regions in early manhood, and it is supposed was of English parentage. He became a successful and extensive planter in the cotton districts, and spent his last days in Kentucky. His wife was formerly Miss Massa Mills, and they reared a family of six sons and four daughters, of whom Zophaniah, Sr., the father of our subject, was the eldest. He also was born in Harrison County, where he received a common-school education, and upon reaching manhood was married to Miss Lavina Brownfield, a native of the same county. The mother of our subject was the daughter of John and Anna (Clemens) Brownfield. After marriage our subject's parents continued to reside in their native county until the fall of 1834, then came north to Central Illinois, and located in what is now Soiner Township, this county. Here the elder Dunn purchased a half section of land, and in due time became one of the most extensive stock-raisers in this locality. He labored until the fall of 1877, and then started across the Mississippi to Missouri on business, and while in Atchison County, the latter State, he was taken with fatal illness and died. The wife and mother preceded him to the home beyond, depart- ing this life Feb. 22, 1877. The thirteen children of the parental household lived to maturity, married, and reared families of their own. The subject of this history, who was the fourth child of his parents, was but three years of age when they became residents of this county. His education was obtained mainly in the subscription schools, and during the latter days of attendance at one of these institutions he was obliged to walk two and one-half miles each way, and worked for his board by feeding cattle for Mr. A. Busey. He was married, when twenty-two years of age, to Miss Elizabeth, second daughter of Samuel and Sarah Mapes, who were among the pioneer settlers of Champaign County. After marriage Mr. Dunn purchased fifty-six acres of land in Ogden Town- ship, this county, where he began the career of an independent farmer, and upon which he remained until the outbreak of the late war. Thence he re- 732 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. moved to the farm of his father, which he occupied two years, and then disposing of his own land in Ugden Township, purchased the land which consti- tutes his present homestead. The improvements which we see on his farm to-day have been brought about by his own perseverance and industry, and indicate in a marked degree the character of the proprietor. In addition to mixed husbandry he has given much attention to the raising and breed- ing of graded stock, and has realized a handsome income annually. The grain which he raise? is mostly consumed by his horses and cattle, and he ships numbers of the latter every year to the Eastern markets. A view of his residence, together with its surroundings, is shown elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Zephaniah Dunn, Jr., became the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters, and have been called to mourn the loss of all but two. John S. died when a promising young man twenty-two years of age ; J. F. married Miss Jessie Holloway, and lives in St. Joseph Town- ship ; Matthew F. remains at home with his parents- Mr. Dunn served three years in his township as Road Overseer, and has been a member of the School Board from the second year of his residence here. The wife of his youth and the mother of his chil- dren passed from earth at the homestead on the 3d of July, 1883. In February, 1884, he was married to Mrs. Phcwbe Mapes, daughter of Charles Holloway, Esq., of Vermont, and widow of Samuel Mapes. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and our subject politically clings to the doctrines of the Jacksoniau Democ- racy, with which he became imbued when a young man, and which he considers the true basis of Gov- ernment. Mr. Dunn was appointed executor of his father's estate prior to his death, and acted in that capacity with entire satisfaction to all concerned. J TAMES W. VANSCHOYCK, a representative of irresistible energy and a good example of | a progressive farmer, living in Ludlow Town- ' ship, is a na'.ive of Brown Township, Frank- lin Co., Ohio, and was born Aug. 7, 1838. He is the son of David and Esther (Bailey) Van- schoyck, the former a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The grand- father of our subject, John Yanschoyck, descended from German ancestry, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Franklin County, Ohio, to which he removed from Pennsylvania when a young man. He located upon a tract of timber land, from which he cleared a farm and lived there until about 1857. He then came to this State and spent the last years of his life with his son near Leroy. David Vanschoyck spent his entire life in his native county. When reaching manhood he bought a tract of timber land in Brown Township, where he built the house in which his son r James W. of our sketch, was born. His life was passed after the manner of the early settlers of that day and he lived contentedly, tilling the soil and enjoying the friendship and respect of all who knew him. He rested from his earthly labors in 1854. He had married in early life Miss Esther Bailey, and they became the parents of ten children, seven of whom lived to mature years. The mother is still living with her children in Brown Township, Franklin Co., Ohio. The subject of this history was the second child of his father's household and was sixteen years old when the latter died. He took charge of the farm, which he managed until 1861, and at the outbreak of the late Civil War enlisted in Co. C, 20th Ohio Vol. Inf., and served three years and four months. He participated with his comrades in the battle of Bull Run, with true soldierly courage enduring all the privations and hardships of a soldier's life until the expiration of his first term of enlistment. He then returned home and rested a month, after- ward becoming a member of the 1 8th Ohio Infantry, and participated in the battles of Perry ville, Ky., Shiloh and Chickamauga, when his regiment joined the command of Gen. Sherman, and he was in all the battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta, including the siege and capture of that city. He received his final discharge Aug. 14, 1864, and returning to the old homestead in Franklin County, Ohio, resumed farming until 1867. In the spring of that year he came West and purchased ICO acres of land on section 10, Ludlow Township. Eighty acres of this T t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 733 were under cultivation and a small frame house stood upon it. Mr. Vanschoyck planted trees and hedges, broke the remainder of the land and lived upon it until 1871, when he sold out and purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies. This com- prises the northwest quarter of section 15. The land is all improved, furnished with a good set of frame buildings, and forms one of the most desir- able farms in the township. A lithographic view of his residence and its surroundings is shown else- where in this work. Our subject was married in his native State, April 12, 1865, to Miss Annie, daughter of Charles and Mary J. (Ferris) Holmes. Mrs. Vanschoyck was. born in Franklin County, Ohio, July 14, 1844. Her father, a native of New York, removed to Ohio when a young man and located in Franklin County, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying Oct. 5, 1874. The mother was reared in Franklin County, Ohio, and is still living there, among her children. The household of our subject and his wife includes seven children Arthur, Charles, Wilbur. Nora, Orville, .Dora and Belva. The parents are consistent members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and socially Mr. V. belongs to Ord Post No. 372, G. A. R. AMES H. DUNLAP, Postmaster at Savoy, Station Agent of the Illinois Central Rail- road, and Agent of the American Express Company, is known by most of the citizens of Champaign Township, by whom he is highly re- spected as a gentleman of intelligence and ability, and one who discharges the duties of his several offices with promptness and satisfaction. He was appointed Postmaster in 1875, and the following year was instrumental in having the express office established here, and has continually held the agency. He has been Station Agent since 1874, and has also been telegraph operater since 1880, at which time the office was established. Mr. Dunlap has been a resident of Champaign County since a child two years of age, and nearly all his life has been spent in the neighborhood where he still resides. His birth took place in West Chi- cago, Cook County, this State, on the 2d of No- vember, 1854. His parents were Menzo and Ara- bella (Pierce) Dunlap, by whom he was reared to manhood, educated in the common schools, and trained to habits of industry and those principles f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. which are the foundation of a successful and honor- able course through life. His early years were ein- plo3'ed in farming pursuits until December, 1874, when at the age of twenty years, he was appointed Agent of Savoy for the Illinois Central Railroad. Six months later he received his commission as Postmaster. He is Republican in politics, Presi- dent of the Board of Trustees of the Savoy Method- ist Episcopal Church, and has always taken an active interest in the advancement and welfare of his county and community. Socially he belongs to Western Star Lodge No. 240, A. F. & A. M., and is a member in good standing of Knights of Honor Lodge No. 841, both of Champaign. The wife of Mr. Dunlap. to whom he was mar- ried in Farmer City, De Witt Co., 111., on the 22d of April, 1877, was formerly Miss Henrietta, daughter of J. N. and Eliza (Baltzell) Coon. Mrs. D. was born in Shelby County, Ohio, April 6, 1856, and at the date of her marriage resided at Farmer City, 111. Of this union there were born five chil- dren: Burleigh H., Feb. 10, 1875; Rosa E., May 20, 1879; Louie N., Oct. 10, 1880; Albert M. and Isabell J., the latter twins, Jan. 15, 1884. Our subject and his wife are connected with the Method- ist Episcopal Church, to the support of which they have contributed liberally and cheerfully, and dur- ing their long residence here have become the center of a large circle of friends. The portrait of Mr. Dunlap is given on a pre- ceding page. His inflexibility and uprightness in the different positions he so efficiently fills, together with his general worth and nobility of character, will secure for the picture a hearty welcome from the entire patronage of this ALBUM, which it mater- ially assists in embellishing. 4 SSAAC HIXENBAUGH. The farm of this gen- tleman, with its fine residence and handsome out-buildings, lies like a picture in the land- scape of Ogden Township, and is located on the southwest quarter of section 30. It embraces 129 acres of choice laud, which has been managed in the wisest manner and which has responded liberally in rich products to the hand of one of the most skill- fill agriculturists in this part of Champaign County. To aid him in the successful tilling of the soil Mr. Hixenbaugh has availed himself of the experience of older men, and of the skill of the inventor, adapting his fields to that in which they are likely to be the most prolific, and cultivating the soil and gathering in the grain with the best modern farm machinery manufactured. The farm stock is of the best description, his stables containing espec- ially fine animals, among which is a thoroughbred Lawrence colt, Bonny Scotland by name, but registered St. Joseph, who, if he lives and no ac- cident happens to him, will be heard from hereafter throughout this part of the State. Mr. Hixenbaugh came to Illinois in 1868, with a cash capital of 1200. By a series of wise invest- ments, and the outlay of judicious labor he is now in possession of a good many thousands worth of property, with the prospect of being able to pass his declining years in the enjoyment of the luxuries of life which he has so justly earned. His early years were passed in Marion County, W. Va., with his parents, Isaac and Martha (Ogden) Hixenbaugh. He was born May 4. 1846, and as soon as old enough, commenced attending school in the winter season while in summer his youthful services were made available on his father's farm. The latter was a native of Pennsylvania, born of excellent parents on the 24th of July, 1802. Besides himself, his brother Jacob became a member of the family at the same time, and lived to years of manhood. The father of our subject removed from Penn- sylvania to Illinois in 1868, his death taking place in this county in August, 1874. His wife, Martha, was born in 1806, and departed this life Sept. 20, 1868, while the family were living in Ogden Town- ship. She fulfilled worthily the duties of wife and mother, and was a consistent member of the Chris- tian Church. The eight children of the parental household were : Sarah, who became the wife of George Underwood; John, who enlisted in the 25th Illinois Infantry, and died at St. Louis, Mo., while in service ; Mary, the wife of Thomas Freeman ; Morgan, who married Sarah A. Whittzel; Adam, who married Margaret White ; Martha, who died in girlhood ; Isaac, of our sketch, and Henry B. The boyhood and youth of our subject were CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 741 passed with his parents on a farm, and lie removed with them to Illinois in 1868. He was reared to hab- its of industry, and those principles which consti- tute the true man and citizen, and the year after his arrival in this State, and after laying his plans for the establishment of a home, feeling that life was incomplete without a wife and companion to en- courage him in times of difficulty, and rejoice with him in seasons of success, he proffered his hand and fortune to Miss Mary M. Freeman, who accepted, and they were made husband and wife on the 19th of August, 1870. The birth of Mrs. Hixenbangh took place in Ogden Township July 16, 1849, her parents being Thomas and Nancy (Redman) Free- man, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Illinois. The twin sister of Mr. Freeman was named Mary ; she became the wife of David Meade and is now deceased. The parents of Mrs. H. are living in Ogden Township. The children born of her union with our subject are: Louis M., Jan. 22, 1871 ; Clarence N., Oct. 20, 1872; Thomas F., Dec. 5, 1875; Clara B., Oct. 10, 1877, and Electa G., Dec. 22, 1879. Two of these, Electa G. and Thomas F., rest in the quiet churchyard at Homer. A litho- graphic view of Mr. Hixenbaugh's residence is shown on another page. eHARLES A. BENGTSON, of Harwood Township, came to this country from his native land, Sweden, in 1868, and at once began to make himself familiar with its customs and institutions. He was possessed naturally of a receptive mind and the ambition necessary to suc- cess. He began life at the foot of the ladder, but has made his way steadily upward until he is now a prominent property owner of Harwood Township, and ranks among its most highly respected citizens. His comfortable homestead on section 7 comprises eighty acres of land, every foot of which he has made available for some purpose, and upon which the work has been well done. He makes a specialty of breeding Morgan horses and Holsteiu cattle, and exhibits some of the finest animals in Central Illi- nois. Mr. Bengtson is only one among scores of his countrymen who are numbered among the most valued citizens of the Prairie State. Our subject spent his early years in the town of Linkoping, Sweden, which is situated about 108 miles southwest of Stockholm. It has a cathedral and other churches, a town hall, a library, a House of Assembly, an old castle and a gymnasium. It is the See of a Lutheran Bishop, and the population of the city is over 8,000. Amid these surroundings our subject was born, on the 28th of May, 1847, but with all its advantages he was induced to believe that there were still greater in the New World, and determined to try them. His parents were John and Johanna C. (Peterson) Bengtson, and he was their third child. The father emigrated to America in 1852, and sixteen years later his family came. Our subject came with the various members of the family and located near La Fayette, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. Charles A. was employed as a farm laborer near the city for four or five years, and then changed his location to Benton County, although pursuing the same line of work. Our subject removed from Indiana to Iroquois County, this State, in 1881, and thence to Ford County. In the meantime he had saved what he could of his earnings, and was now enabled to pur- chase 120 acres of improved land. He was married on the llth of December, 1872, and soon after his purchase took possession of his home with his fam- ily. Two years later he sold the farm in Ford County and purchased eighty acres in Champaign, upon which he has remained since that time. He has been keenly observant of what was going on around him, and there are few native born Ameri- cans who have exhibited a greater degree of intel- ligence and enterprise, although not having to contend, as he did, with the difficulties of a strange land, new customs and different people. The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Clara J. Errickson. She is a native of the same country as her husband, was born Jan. 24, 1851, and came alone to America when a young lady, in 1872, casting her lot among strangers and caring for her- self until her marriage with Mr. Bengtson. She is the daughter of Swanson and Christina Margueritta Errickson, also natives of Sweden, where they were married and spent their entire lives. The 4* ' 742 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. mother passed to her long home in 1872, and the father in 1875. Of the seven children born to our subject and his wife the record is as follows : Alfred W. was born Sept. 25, 1873; Amanda M.,Sept. 22, 1875; Adalina A. and Anton W. (twins), Aug. 13, 1877; George Conrad, Feb. 28, 1880; Brewer I., May 18, 1882, and Tillie J., July 22, 1885. Amanda died Sept. 2, 1876; Adalina, Nov. 4, 1880, and Anton, Sept. 26, 1880. Those living are at home with their parents. Mr. Bengtson is independent in politics, aiming to give his support to the candidate whom he believes best qualified for office. His influence has always been strongly in favor of the establishment and maintenance of schools and churches, and whatever besides is calculated for the welfare of his commu- nity. He is a man of decided views, although quiet and unobtrusive in his manner. His opinions are held in due respect by his fellow-townsmen as those of a man temperate in his impulses, clear-headed and cool, and one whose judgment is usually safe to follow. WILLIAM LEHMAN. Among the respected citizens of Sidney is the subject of this sketch, a carpenter and builder by trade, and one of the leading real-estate owners of the place. He was born in Lebanon County, Pa., Dec. 20, 1820, and his parents, Michael and Christiana (Spangler) Lehman, were both natives of the same place. Neither of them are now living, although they attained to an advanced age. William Lehman is the third in order of birth of a family of nine children. The names of his brothers and sisters are Henry, Michael, John, Isaac, Catherine, Mary, Elizabeth and Susan. After at- taining his majority our subject was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Haak, also a native of Lebanon. Her parental family included ten chil- dren, and the names of her brothers and sisters were Isaac, Henry, John, Benjamin, George, Cath- erine, Mary, Sally and Elizabeth. The marriage of our subject with Miss Haak was blest by the birth of eight children : F. W., Henry L., Daniel M., Cyrus P., Samuel G., David S., Elizabeth, who died in infancy, and Amanda, the wife of Dr. Hess, of Sidney. Henry was killed at the battle of Chan- cellorsville, while gallantly defending the "Stars and Stripes;" F. W. was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, and Daniel M. also served in the late war. The wife of our subject passed from her earthly career to the enjoyment of an everlasting peace beyond, and Mr. Lehman formed a second matri- monial alliance, with Miss Zerby Sibley, the daugh- ter of John and Catherine Sibley. Six children were born to them, namely: Hiram and John, de- ceased; Edward, in Kansas; Emma, the wife of Charles Hay, who is in the railroad business in Kansas; Lizzie, the wife of Charles Vernon, of Sid- ney, and Minnie, who is single. In 1 865 Mr. Lehman removed with his family from his native State to Cass County, Ind., where, in addition to following his trade, he also engaged in sawing and cutting lumber. In 1867 he re- moved with his second wife and ten children to Urbana, and since that time has made his home in this county. For a number of years he has been a resident of Sidney, and has been for a long time one of the Trustees of the village. He owns several lots with excellent dwellings upon them. In poli- tics he is an uncompromising Republican, and in religion, himself and wife are members of high standing in the Lutheran Church. S FULL, who for several years I has been active and prominent in the rural community of St. Joseph Township, was born and reared in the Old Dominion, first opening his eyes to the light in Franklin, Pendleton County, April 1, 1831. He comes of excellent German an- cestry, his grandfather, George Full, having been born in the Fatherland, whence he emigrated with his wife, Catherine, soon after his marriage, and was among the early pioneers of Virginia. They reared a family of two sons and three daughters, among whom was George, Jr., the father of our subject, who was born on the old farm in Pendleton County in the early part of the year 1800. Like his father before him he followed agriculture. He, too, received a limited education, remaining under - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 743 , J i ' t the home roof until his marriage. His wife was formerly Miss Margaret, daughter of Martin Judy, of German parentage, and after marriage they set- tled down in Pendleton County, where they reared a family and spent their entire lives. Of the children born to George and Margaret Full, but three are living. Nicodemus, of our sketch, was the second son and sixth child, and re- mained under his father's roof until twenty-two years of age. He then started out in life on his own account as a farm laborer, working at $10 per month. In 1853 he left the Old Dominion, and coming to this county resolved to establish a home for himself within its borders. He was willing to work and wait, and continued employed as before until he had accumulated sufficient means to buy the necessary things with which to commence rent- ing a farm. He operated as a tenant for three years, upon land belonging to D. B. Stayton, and then purchased his present farm of 160 acres on section 9, in St. Joseph Township. The land upon which our subject located first could scarcely be dignified by the name of a farm, because it was simply raw prairie, uncultivated and unfenced. One of his first duties was to put up a tenement, which was built of plank, and was 16x26 feet in area. The floor was not even nailed flown, and the walls were destitute of plaster. He occu- pied this for about' seven years and until able to erect a frame dwelling, and thereafter gradually added other handsome and substantial buildings, which are now among the chief attractions of the estate. Of late years Mr. Full has given much time to the raising of fine stock, in which business he has made the larger part of his money. His stables contain some noble specimens of Belgium and Norman horses, his cattle and hogs are of ex- cellent grade, and he has obtained quite an enviable reputation as a breeder in this locality. The lady, who for a period of over twenty years, has presided over the domestic affairs of our sub- ject's home, and been his earnest sympathizer and counselor in his undertakings, was in her girlhood Miss Nancy J. Breese, a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind., who came to this county in the year 1852. Her parents died many years ago. The father died while on his way to Chicago, and the mother in Champaign County, 111., in 18(52. Of her marriage with our subject there were born two children only, a son and daughter, George C. and Vida May. When Mr. Full first began voting the old Whig party was in existence, and he identi- fied himself with its followers. Later, feeling that he could not endorse Republican .principles, he went over to the Democracy, with which he has since affiliated. He has meddled but little in poli- tics, however, his official experience including the duties of a Constable only, which he discharged two years. EORGE CONDIT, dealer in hardware at Rantoul, established his business here in. 1877. He is a native of Licking County, Ohio, and was born May 22, 1839. His parents, James B. and Amanda (Sampson) Condit. are na- tives of New Jersey. Soon after their marriage the parents removed to Ohio, and located in the town of Jersey, where, and in Johnstown, the father of our subject engaged in mercantile business. He con- tinued there until 1867, and on coming to' Cham- paign County engaged in the grain trade, and as a banker, carrying on the latter business with Mr. Burnham, under the firm name of Condit & Co. They continued together several years, when Mr. C. disposed of his interests to his partner, and re- moving to Pontiac embarked in the hardware trade. Our subject grew to manhood in his native county, receiving a fair education in the common schools, and came to this locality in 1857, before his marriage. He engaged in farming for about fifteen years, abandoning this, however, in 1872, to establish his present business. He carries a good line of everything needed in his department, in- cluding farm implements. In 1873 he associated himself in partnership with Mr. A. Fromlet. The latter gentleman retired in 1876, and his place was taken by C. McFarland. Business was transacted for several years under the firm name of Condit & McFarland, when the latter retired, and our subject has since conducted the business alone. He is a thorough business man, and lias built up an exten- hi 744 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 sive and lucrative patronage. He is well known throughout this section, and is regarded as an up- right, honorable man. During his residence on the farm, in 1864, the marriage of Mr. Condit and Miss Mary Carr, of Champaign, was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents. Mrs..C. was born in Indiana, and is the daughter of Adam Carr, who removed from there to this county in about 1850. The children of this union are James A., Stella and Charles. The wife and mother departed this life in the spring of 1885. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 1886, was Miss Lizzie Piffer, of Ran- toul. They have a pleasant and attractive home, and enjoy the society of many friends. Both are members of the Congregational Church, in which Mr. Condit has officiated as Deacon for several years, and also as a teacher in the Sunday-school. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. \fl OHN W. RICHMOND is widely and favora- bly known as an importer of French draft, Percherou, English draft, also Cleveland Bay and English coach horses, his head- quarters being in Fisher Village. He is a gentle- man of great energy of character, always busy and revolving some new project in his mind, always pleased, of course, when these prove of benefit to himself, and almost as well pleased when they prove to be of use and convenience to his fellow-citizens. Our subject is the son of Wilson and Mary (Judy) Richmond, natives of Ohio, the latter being a sister of J. H. Judy, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this work, together with that of the parents. -The parents of Mr. Richmond soon after their mar- riage emigrated from the Buckeye State to Illinois, where Mr. Richmond engaged in farming and stock- raising and where he still lives. The mother died in Hittle Grove Township, Tazewell County, in 1854. Wilson Richmond came to Tazewell County in 1830, and his wife in 1826. They, together with others, experienced the hardships of the winter of the deep snow, when the grandfather of our subject, Joseph Richmond, was frozen to death in crossing the prairie from Mackinaw to Hittle's Grove. In company with Samuel Judy he had gone from the Grove to Mackinaw for provisions. On the return trip Joseph Richmond, when within a short distance of home, exhausted by cold and fatigue, dropped down unable to proceed further. His companion was obliged to leave him and lie died in the snow, being found by the settlers the following morning, sitting upright as when Mr. Judy had left him. It required about thirty-six hours before they were able to get his body in a position so that it could be coffined. Of the nine children born to Wilson and Mary (Judy) Richmond, four died in infancy and five lived to adult years. Since that time Jane, who became the wife of Thomas H. Bell, departed this life in Newcomb Township, Jan. 11, 1887. (A sketch of Mr. Bell will be found elsewhere in this work.) Frank married, and is farming in Brown Township, this county ; Nancy became the wife of Joseph Headrick, a prosperous farmer of Newcomb Township; Mary, Mrs. John L. Knott, resides with her husband on a farm in Missouri. John W. Richmond was born in Hittle's Grove Township, Tazewell County, this State, July 26, 1846. His boyhood and youth were passed on his father's farm, and during the winter seasons he availed himself of the instruction afforded in the common schools. He remained a member of the parental household until thirty-five years of age, having at the early age of fifteen years assumed the management of the farm. The responsibility thus placed upon him by wise and judicious parents admirably developed his natural business talent and fitted him for the further duties of life, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. He became a resident of this county in 1881, in the meantime having purchased a large tract of land in Newcomb Township. The residence of himself and his family, however, is in the village of Fisher, where he has a handsome dwelling in the midst of finely laid out grounds, and everything calculated for the comfort and pleasure of its inmates. Mr. Richmond was married, Sept. 20, 1884, in the city of New York, to Miss Nora Havenhill, who was born in Kendall Count}', this State, April I L. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 745 16, 1862. Mrs. 11. is the daughter of Hiram and Surah (Richmond) Havenhill, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. Her father's family included nine children. Mr. Havenhill is still living and is a resident of Kendall County. The mother died there Jan. 1 1 , 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond are the parents of one child, a son, Wilson R. In the sketch of Henson Richmond, published on another page in this work, will be found some interesting facts connected with the history of the Richmond family, our subject being a nephew of Mr. R. Politically Mr. Richmond affiliates with the Republican party, and socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Blue Lodge No. 622, of Hopedale, 111. ; Royal Arch Chapter No. 155, of Delavan, and Constan- tine Commaudery No. 51, of Lincoln, 111. In the prosecution of his business Mr. Richmond has made seven trips to the Old World, visiting England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Italy. His real estate embraces 1,400 acres of im- proved land lying mostly in Brown, Newcomb and East Bend Townships. For the draining of this he has expended about $12,000 in tile alone. He keeps from eight to twelve head of imported horses, sometimes more, and has proved himself admira- bly adapted to his chosen calling, having built up an enviable reputation in the West as a good judge of horses, in the breeding of which he takes great pride and aims to excel. HARLES E. WRIGHT. This gentleman is located on section 21, Newcomb Township, of which he has been a resident since a young man of twenty-one years of age. He is the owner of 165 acres of good land, upon which he has erected all needful farm buildings, and the whole of which constitutes a comfortable and sub- stantial homestead. His residence is one of the best in the township, and is surrounded by a hand- some grove, a view of which is to be seen on an- other page. Mr. Wright is a native of Licking County, Ohio, whene he was born Sept. 30, 1840. and the son of Hiram and Eliza (Blood) Wright, natives re- spectively of Vermont and Massachusetts. After leaving New England they located in the Buckeye State, whence they removed in about 1872 to Illi- nois, settling in Newcomb Township, where they still reside. The parental family included eight children, five boys and three girls. Our subject remained under the home roof and received a fail- ed ucation in the common schools. He was bred to farm pursuits, which he has followed all his life. Mr. Wright was married in Newcomb Township, Sept. 10, 1863, to Miss Nancy H., daughter of J. S. Hannah, of whom a sketch and portrait appear in another part of this volume. Mrs. Wright is also a native of Ohio, and was born Dec. 10, 1846. Of their thirteen children six only are now living: Lewis L., William W., Hiram S., Charles A., Clara and Sadie. Lyman F. died when he was two and one-half years of age. The others died in infancy. Our subject and his wife are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episicopal Church, and po- litically Mr. Wright is a stanch Republican. Dur- ing the first year of the Civil War he enlisted in the 76th Ohio Infantry, which was known as the "Squirrel Hunters," but only served a short time, the regiment belonging to the State Militia. Mr. Wright is an intelligent farmer, thoroughly consci- entious, a man of the strictest integrity, and enjoys the confidence of his fellow-citizens. ffiOHN A. OSBORNE. A prominent writer has said that "all history is only biography." We find this especially exempified in the community of which our subject is a mem- ber. Its history is principally the biography of the lives of those men who have mostly lived worthily and left a good impress upon the places which in time will know them no more. Mr. Os- bonie has fulfilled his duties as a good citizen and member of society, and has built up one of the best homesteads in Rantoul Township. Although perhaps not at first attracting the eye to any spec- ial points it presents a picture of peaceful country life under the proprietorship of an industrious and intelligent man. John A. Osborne is a native of this State, born H T 746 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. near Griggsville. Pike County, Nov. 3, 1847. His father, Thomas Osborne, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, where he grew to manhood on a farm, and after the death of his father emigrated to America, accompanied by his mother and five broth- ers. The latter were George, James, Samuel, John and Charles. Three of these brothers located in this .State, one in Kansas and one in Indiana. Thomas settled in Ohio, where he worked on a farm for a few years, and was married. In 1844 he came to this State with his wife, making the journey via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. He first rented a tract of land in Pike County, which he operated successfully, and a few years later pur- chased a farm in Brown County, which he has since occupied. His wife, the mother of our subject, in her girlhood was Miss Matilda Coulter. She was a native of the same county as her husband, and after becoming the mother of six children passed to the other life at her home in Brown County, in the summer of 1855. Our subject was the only son of his father's fam- ily, and was five years old when they located in Brown County. His first studies were carried on in a log school-house with puncheon floor, slabs for benches and writing-desks, and in all respects finished and furnished after the fashion of those days. The system of teaching was widely differ- ent from that of the present time, but the boys of those days grew up industrious and self-reliant, and have since, in many cases, made their mark in the world. Young Osborne lived with his parents un- til twenty-three years of age, then married and lo- cated with his bride on a tract of land in Logan County, this State, which he rented for three years. At the end of this time he had accumulated a small amount of money, and in 1874 became possessor of his present homestead. Upon this he has brought about great improvements. It includes 157 acres, all improved and in a fine condition for the rais- ing of grain and stock, to which he is now devot- ing most of his time and attention. In 1879 he became interested in the bee industry and pro- vided himself with all the appliances necessary for the successful carrying on of an apiary. He had sit one time eighty-nine stands, and has become j quite mi expert in the management of the industri- J ous little workers, whose example may well be the subject of attention by humanity. In addition to his farming operations Mr. Osborne is engaged in breeding thoroughbred Poland-China hogs, which have been carefully selected from the best families of that noted breed. He also owns a very fine thoroughbred Holstein bull registered "The Ra- jah," No. 2269, and has several other high-grade thoroughbred animals. He is also breeding Per- cheron horses, and has at the head of his stables for breeding purposes a very fine horse. The lady who, in 1870, consented to become a sharer in the fortunes of our subject was Miss Margaret A. Rutledge, a native of Decatur, Macon Co., 111., and the daughter of Charles and Eliza- beth (Reed) Rutledge, the former of Irish ances- try. The four children who have added to the pleasures and responsibilities of the household are Lilly M., John W., Cyrus E. and Elizabeth E. Our subject is Republican in politics, and with his wife a consistent and valued member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He is in all respects a worthy representative of the pioneer element, his father having been among the first who located in Brown County, endured the hardships and priva- tions of life in a new settlement, and received due honor as one of the brave spirits who did not shrink at the thought of toil and fatigue, but was willing to give the strength of his manhood for the sake of those who should come after him. A view of the fine thoroughbred stock and home place of Mr. Osborue is shown elsewhere in this work. K. THOMPSON. Some of the most enter- prising men of the county reside in Philo Township. The gentleman whose name heads this brief biography is prominent among this number. He is the proprietor of a well- conducted farm of 125 acres on section 3, Philo Township, where he located in 1881. His land is finely improved and stocked with the best grades of domestic animals, including thoroughbred Short- horn cattle and line horses; His present possessions are the result of his own industry. Since a boy of t RESIDENCE or ELI BARRETT.SEC. 22 ..BROWN TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCE^. Busi N ESS HOUSE OF W. J. LATEER .FISHER, ILL. WMMHHBdHy^&flHBUM FARM RESIDENCE OF GEORGEEDWARDS, SEC. 18 ,PHILO TOWNSHIP. IICRARY OF THE Ty CF M.LINOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 749 twelve years he lias been familial- with the care of horses, to the habits of which animal he has given much attention, and has obtained quite a reputa- tion as a breeder of the noblest and most useful of all animals. Mr. Thompson was born in Cumberland County, Pa., June 29, 1813. His father, John Thompson, a native of Adams County, Pa., was reared on a farm which occupied a part of the ground where was fought the battle of Gettysburg. The Thomp- sons were of Scottish origin, the grandfather of our subject coming to this country before his marriage and Settling in Adams County, Pa., where he reared a family, and spent the remainder of his days. John Thompson was reared on the farm in Pennsylvania, and upon reaching manhood was married to Miss Elizabeth King, who was a lady of Irish parentage. Their wedding took place in Cumberland Count}', where they located upon a farm and whence they removed to Ohio in 1820. The father, however, having received a good edu- cation spent the earlier part of his life as a teacher in the public schools. After his marriage he set- tled with his bride near Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio. This remained the home of the parents of J. K. until their death, that of the mother occur- ring when she was seventy-two years old, and the father's in 1880, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. Of their four sons and four daughters one died before the parents. Six are now living. Mr. Thompson was the eldest son and third child of the family. He remained a member of the par- ental household until thirty-one years of age. He was united in marriage, in Champaign County, Ohio, in the year 1844, to Miss Margaret A. Van Meter, whose parents, Col. Henry and Margaret (Renick) Van Meter, were natives of Virginia, and of German descent. The father of Mrs. Thompson was a man of great energy and indus- try, and served as a commissioned officer in the War of 1812. After retiring from the army he engaged as a farmer and stock-dealer, and accumu- lated considerable property. He was Sheriff of his county for several terms, and was universally re- spected as a citizen and business man. Both par- ents died in Champaign County, Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Thompson located on a farm near Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio, whence he removed in 1876 to Philo Township, this coun- ty. Here he has been successfully engaged in ag- riculture, and has displayed excellent judgment in the management of his farm and business matters generally. He was formerly a Whig, politically, but since the organization of the Republican party has been a firm supporter of its principles. Both our subject and his wife are connected with the Presbyterian Church. A lithographic view of Mr. Thompson's residence is shown on another page. f OHN M. COLLISON, a retired merchant and farmer of Rantoul, is a native of the Prairie State, and was born near Pilot Grove, Ver- milion County, on the 24th of May, 1844. ^^^s- His parents, Absalom and Mary V. (Chenowith) Collison, were natives of Ohio. The former died when our subject was but eight years of age. His early education commenced in the district schools, and he was afterward sent to a High School near the State line of Indiana. He pursued his studies here for several months, then returned home to his mother, and the following year embarked in farm- ing. In 1867 he took up his residence in Rantoul, where he embarked in general merchandising. Mr. Collison continued in mercantile business until 1887, then purchased his present farm, which consists of sixty-eight acres just outside of the corporate limits of Rantoul. During his .successful experience as a merchant he invested largely in farm land, having 200 acres in Rantoul and 160 acres in Compromise Township, 320 in Vermilion County, and eighty acres in Ludlow Township, this county, all fertile land and under a good state of cultivation. His home is presided over by a lady who in her girlhood was Miss Lucy Waldon, of Saybrook, McLean Co., 111., to whom he was mar- ried Sept. 1 , 1886. By a former marriage with Miss Sarah A. West, of this county, there were born two children Edna, who died when four years of age, and Mabel. The mother departed this life at her home Feb. 21, 1884. Mr. Collison has been prominent in the local af- fairs of his township, serving as Trustee and School 750 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 Director, and is uniformly called upon to aid his fellow-townsmen in their deliberations upon mat- ters of general interest. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Rantoul Lodge No. 470. He is also a K. of P. Both Mr. and Mrs. C. are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Trustee, and to the support of which he has contributed generously and otherwise advanced its interests whenever the opportunity was presented. The father of our subject upon locating in Ver- milion County entered a tract of Government land embracing 800 acres. He labored with the true pioneer spirit, tilling the soil, building fences and putting up the structures necessary for the use of the family and the shelter of grain and stock. After a goodly record he departed this life in 1855, dying upon the homestead where he had labored with so much patience and courage, and done so much to- ward the development and progress of that section. \1 S. WOLFE, attorney at law in Champaign, is a native of this State and was born in Morgan County, Sept. 21, 1833. His par- ents were George and Mary (Simms) Wolfe, natives respectively of Greenbrier ^County, Va., and Spartanburg, S. C. George Wolfe, in 1812, removed with his parents to Ross County, Ohio, the family locating near Chillicothe, where the father, Henry, engaged in farming until his death, in 1825. He was a man of deep piety and marked ability. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and late in life united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he remained a consist- ent member for many years. The children of the household were Elizabeth, Jacob, Henry, Catherine, Daniel, John, Mary, George and Joseph, all now deceased. George Wolfe, the father of our subject, was reared to farming pursuits, which he followed in ; Ohio until 1826, in which year the entire family came to this State and were among the early pio- neers of Morgan County. The father located upon a tract of Government land where he remained until 1839, when he sold out and moved into i Macoupin County, where he still pursued his for- mer occupation until his death, which occurred in 1874. The mother also died that same year. Of their seven sons, two died in infancj 7 . The others are as follows: James is a resident of Macoupin County, 111.; J. S., of our sketch, was the second; Thomas lives in Barton County, Mo. ; George is a resident of Gerard, this State; Peyton lives in Bar- ton County, Mo. George Wolfe politically was a stanch Republican, a strong Prohibitionist, and especially interested in the establishment and main- tenance of schools. The subject of this biography remained on the farm until twenty-two years old, and pursued his early studies in the pioneer log school-house, which, however, was different from some others of that early period, having a long window on each side. They, however, used slabs for writing-desks and the system of teaching as well as the structure itself in which it was carried on, were widely different from those of the present day. Mr. Wolfe early in life began to lay his plans for the future. After leaving home he purchased five yoke of oxen and commenced breaking the prairie, and was occupied at this laborious work for two years, in the mean- time keeping in view the intention which he had formed of commencing the study of law as soon as possible or practicable. In 1857, he went to Carlin- ville, entered a law office, and became a thorough student of Blackstone, and was admitted to the bar two years later. Mr. W. commenced the practice of his profession at Carlinville, but the following year removed to Champaign, of which city he was then a resident for four years. In 1864 he took up his abode in Chicago, where he remained until 1867, and then, on account of the death of his father-in-law, Will- iam Young, returned to Champaign, where he has since lived. He has been Attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad Company, a number of years, and socially belongs to Western Star Lodge No. 240, A. F. & A. M., and Urbana Commandery No. 16, K. T. Mr. J. S. Wolfe was married, May 15, 1862, to Miss Celestia A. Young, of Lorain County, Ohio. Their residence, to which a host of warm friends and acquaintances often resort, is pleasantly located CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 751 on Church street, and the office of Mr. Wolfe is located in the Burnham Block. Our subject is independent in politics. Mr and Mrs. W. are mem- bers in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the former is Class-Leader and a member of the Official Board. He is a careful, painstaking lawyer, a man of the strictest integrity, and enjoys the confidence of his fellow-citizens. JACOB S. COONS is a prosperous farmer and stock-grower, residing in St. Joseph Town- ship. He is the son of William and Chris- tina (Smith) Coons, and was born Oct. 5, 183C. in Tompkins County, N. Y., near Italy. The Coons branch of the family are of German ancestry, and were early settlers of America in the old Colo- nial times, wherein they took an active part in the various Indian disturbances, with which New York was for a long period troubled. His paternal grandparents, Jacob and Ellen (Hawthorne) Coons, were natives of that State, where his father, Will- iam Coons, was born in 1807, in Schoharie County. William Coons' boyhood and youth were passed in his native State, and he was there taught the cooper's trade. His marriage to Miss Christina Smith, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Young) Smith, likewise occurred there. The Smith family were natives of Virginia, but were subsequently among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. After his marriage William Coons removed to Marion County, Ohio, and subsequently to Wyandot Coun- ty. He passed the remainder of his life in that State, his death occurring in 1852; he left his widow with a family of six children, five sons and one daughter. Jacob S. Coons passed his early life in Ohio, where he received f,he advantages of the common schools, and subsequently attended an excellent select school. He remained with his mother until twenty-one years of age, and then went to visit the old homestead in New York, and the relatives from whom his family had been so long separated. He spent four years there, engaged in various business enterprises, and then returned to Ohio. In the autumn of 1858 became to Champaign County, and was engaged for a time in farming by the month. He next rented a farm and soon acquired sufficient capital to purchase eighty acres of land. He has cultivated and improved this, and from time to time increased its limits until he now owns a fine estate containing 1 70 acres. He has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation. It is well' fenced and tiled, and supplied with a pleasant resi- dence and excellent farm buildings. In conduct- ing his farm, Mr. Coons has been especially success- ful in raising cattle and hogs. Mr. Coons has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Susan Cox ;- she became the mother of two children Ada, the wife of George Neldon, and Arthur M. On the 7th of October, 1886, Mr. Coons was married to his present wife, Mrs. Cowell, of Vermilion County, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Coons are both highly esteemed members of the Methodist Church, of which the former is one of the Trustees. Mr. Coons is a stanch Republican, and holds the belief that in all the affairs of life, political and social, law and order should be the regulatois of the commonwealth. THEODORE F. CRANE, during the years of his early manhood and middle age, was em- ployed mostly in agricultural pursuits, but is now retired from active labor and spending his days in the comfort and quiet which he has so justly earned. He is one of the most valued residents of Rantoul, and a man for whom its people have the warmest and most sincere regard. Mr. Crane was born in Peoria County, near Farmington, 111., Dec. 9, 1836. He is the son of John M. and Louisa (Randolph) Crane, natives of New Jersey. The grandfather of our subject, Harry Crane, was of Scotch ancestry, and located in New Jersey in the Colonial days. There he married, and reared a fine family of sons and daughters who, with one exception, scattered through different parts of the East, John M. having moved to Ohio. He lived in and around the city of Cincinnati several years, where he secured quite a large amount of real estate but lost heavily on account of its subsequent depreciation. He left that locality CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 in 1830, and coining to Peoria, secured possession of a farm where he cultivated the soil, and in con- nection with it operated a sawmill for a number of years. Afterward he sold the farm and purchased another, but subsequently abandoned agriculture and removing to the town of Kenney, retired from active business and made his home with his chil- dren. His death took place in this county in 1881. Mrs. Louisa Crane survived her husband for a period of nearly six years, and died in Fulton County in January, 1887. The parental household included three daughters and nine sons, with three pairs of twins, five of them boys. Seven of the children have passed to their long home. The subject of this history, who was the young- est son of the family, grew to manhood in Peoria County, receiving a common-school education, and remained with his parents until he was nineteen years of age. He then started out on his own ac- count, engaging as a farmer, stock-trader and dealer in real estate. Early in life he had evinced unusual business talents, which developed as years passed by and he soon found himself on the road to a competency. When twenty years of age he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Marchaut, of Fulton County. This lady is the daughter of . Jonah and Sarah J. Marchant. After their marriage the young people went to housekeeping in Peoria County, where our subject continued nearly a year and then, removing to Abingdon, Kriox County, engaged in hotel-keeping. Thence he removed to Fulton County two years later and engaged in farming, but afterward returned to Peoria County, where he remained three years. His next removals were to Stark and Marshall Counties. In the for- mer he engaged for nine years in farming. Mr. Crane became a resident of this county in 1876, locating one and one-half miles southeast of Rantoul on section 1, where he had purchased 320 acres of the finest land in that locality. For ten years thereafter he followed fanning and stock- raising, and the various pursuits incident to rural life, realizing each year a handsome income, and retired in the spring of 188C, upon a competency. Besides his farm property in Rantoul Township, he has 160 acres in the northern part of the county. His farm is now operated by a tenant. The in- dustrious habits of Mr. Crane will by no means per- mit him to be idle, and he is now dealing somewhat in real estate. Of the seven children-, four sons and three daugh- ters, born to our subject and his wife, two died in infancy. Those surviving are, Anna L., Eva A., Estella M., Cassius M. and Austin T. It is hardly necessary to state that considering the more than ordinary business capacities of Mr. Crane he has been often called into the councils of his fellow- townsmen when deliberating upon questions relat- ing to the various enterprises inaugurated for the welfare of the people. He has taken great satisfac- tion in the establishment and maintenance of schools, serving as Trustee and encouraging by every means in his power, the moral and intellectual advancement of his community. Mr. and Mrs. Crane became connected with the Christian Church in 1876, of which they have since remained consist- ent members, and our subject is a Trustee. He votes with the Republican party, and is an ardent Pro- hibitionist. BRAHAM D. CROSS, Postmaster at Ran- toul, is tW stanch representative of an excellent Pennsylvania family, of English descent, and was himself born near Dan- ville, in Lycoming County, in November, 1830. His parents were Joseph and Mary A. (Davis) Cross; the former was born in England, and the latter in Wales. They emigrated to this country in their youth and after their marriage settled on a farm in Lycoming County, Pa. The quiet of their rural life was interrupted, however, by the wars with Texas and Mexico, in which Joseph Cross served as a Federal soldier, and as he never returned from the battle-field was supposed to have been killed. His widow was left with four children, two sons and two daughters, of whom our subject was the eldest. She afterward married again and the children were subsequently scattered. Upon leaving his mother's home our subject drifted to the city of Philadelphia, where he lea rued the carpenter's trade and from which place, in 18,56, he came to the West. Soon after reaching the borders of Illinois, he concluded to take up his I ' t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. abode in Rantoul and commenced operating as a builder and contractor. He was afterward made conductor of a train, and subsequently, in connec- tion with Harvey E. Bullock, distinguished himself as one of the publishers of the Rantoul Neu-s, with which he remained connected from 1874 to 1877. He again returned to the road and was conductor on the Nickel Plate Road, running from Ft. Wayne, Ind., to Belleview, and on the Cleveland and Marietta from Cleveland to Valley Junction. He was appointed Postmaster in June, 1885, the duties of which office he has since performed with credit to himself and satisfaction to those who recommended him. He gives his whole time and attention to the duties of the office and has effected some admirable charges in the management. He has been a lifelong Democrat, always in good standing with his party, and is an attendant of the Episcopal Church, to which the various members of his family belong. Over thirty -five years ago, in November, 1851, Mr. Cross was married to Miss Martha Jacoby, the ceremony being performed in the Episcopal Church in the town of Andalusia, Pa. The wife of our subject is the daughter of ..John and Elizabeth Jacoby, of Bloomsburg, Pa., and of this congenial union there have been born eight children. Of these but four are now living: George S. ; Lillian E., now the wife Of 0. -J. Downey, editor of the Potomac (Vermilion County) News; Frank Raymond, Assist- ant Postmaster, and Ruth D. ^ILLIAM F. HOWARD, of Hensley Town- ship, occupies a snug farm on section 24, where he settled in 1865. The homestead was originally established by his father, from whom it was purchased by our subject, who has carried out in a praiseworthy manner the improvement which he instituted. When our subject first took possession of the place there was upon it a com- fortable set of frame buildings. In 1885 the house was destroyed by fire, together with most of its contents. Mr. H. with commendable enterprise im- mediately set about rebuilding, and now has one of the pleasantcst homes in this part of the county. 753 The subject of our sketch was born in Union Township, Brown Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1838. His pa- ternal grandfather was a native of Virginia, whence he removed to Ohio, settling in Brown County when that section of the country was a wilderness. He put up the first mill in the county, which was fur- nished with three run of buhrs, one for corn, and two for wheat, and was operated by horse power. This mill was a great convenience to the settlers, and patrons came from thirty miles away. Mr. Howard became the proprietor of an extensive tract of land and cleared a farm upon which he . resided until his death. Among the members of the family reared there was Campbell, the father | of our subject, who was born May 7, 1811. He spent his entire life on the homestead and his death occurred there in 1886. When a young man he purchased a tract of timber land adjoining the old homestead, and at the time of his death was the possessor of 200 acres, besides other land in that vicinity. Campbell Howard was married to Miss Angeline Forsyth, and they became the parents of seven children, all of whom save one grew to ma- ture years. The subject of this history was reared on the i farm and when old- enough began to assist in its labors, and during the winter seasons attended the i district school. He remained under the home roof until his marriage, and then assumed the manage- ment of a portion of the farm. From this he re- moved in 1863 to the farm of his uncle, which he operated until 1865. A portion of the year 1864 Mr. H. spent in the army, serving in the 172d Ohio Infantry. In 1865 he came to this county and set- tled on his present homestead. His wife was for- merly Miss Mary Baker, a native of Mason County, Ky. Their marriage took place Sept. 22, 1859. Mrs. H. is the daughter of Hiram W. and Margaret (Van Buskirk) Baker, the former a native of Mason County, Ky., where he followed fanning and spent the greater part of his life. His death occurred in 1849. Mrs. Margaret V. Baker was born in Vir- ginia, spent the last years of her life with her chil- dren, and died in Hensley Township, this county, July 6, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have seven children: Eleanora, Mrs. Pitman, who lives in Urbana; Ida . . 754 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. M., Minnie B., Laura, John A., Charles T. and Lawrence. Our subject and his wife are promi- nently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. That they enjoy the highest regard of their numerous friends is not at all strange. They are high-minded, honorable people, honest and up- right, and generous whenever and wherever their charity is invoked. Politically Mr. II. supports the principles of the Republican party. RANK WILCOX, real-estate and mortgage broker, also Abstractor of Titles of Cham- paign, has been a resident of this section since 1865, and is close!}' identified with the busi- ness interests of the city in which he resides. He is a native of New Jersey, and was born between the towns of Elizabeth and Newark, March 13, 1834. He is the son of Levi, Jr., and Hulda (Crane) Wilcox, also natives of New Jersey, who followed farming for some years in their native State, and then removed to Ohio. There the father of our subject located in Warren County, and engaged as a contractor on the old Erie Canal until 1842. That year he removed to Indiana, becoming a resi- dent of Fountain County, where he farmed and kept a hotel for a few years, finally removing to Warren County, the same State, where he continued farming and died^ in 1853. The mother had de- parted this life ten years before. Their nine chil- dren were David B., Anner, Elias C., Orpha, Albert, Frank, Mulford, John and Mary. Of these four are living, namely, Elias, Anner, John and Frank. The great-great-grandfather of our subject, who was Peter Wilcox, a native of England, emigrated to America in January, 1736 or 1737, settling on Blue Brook, in New Jersey, which was known as the Peter Hill Farm, and which consists of 424 acres. This tract of land lay between Blue and Green Brooks, and Peter Wilcox occupied it the remainder of his life. He married and raised a family of five children, of whom William, the second son, was the great-grandfather of our subject. William became the father of eleven children, his second son being Levi, the grand- father of our subject. Levi. Sr., became the father of four children, of whom Levi, Jr., was the father of our subject. The parents of Frank Wilcox had a family of nine children, of whom Frank was the sixth in order of birth. The family patronimic in early days was spelled Willcockse and was changed to Willcox by the grandfather, Levi, Sr. ; one "1" was dropped by the father of our subject. Peter Willcockse was an officer in the English army, a man of great force of character. He finally resigned his position, and was subsequently engaged in a duel on the ocean with a Frenchman. Mr. Wilcox of our sketch was reared on the Wabash River, in Indiana, and attended school during the winter season until fourteen years of age. In the summer he assisted his father in the labors of the farm. At the age named he engaged as clerk in a dry-goods store at Covington, where he remained four years, and then started across the plains to California, seeking for an improvement in health. After five years spent on the Pacific Slope, he returned by water, and in the fall of 1856 engaged in business at Coviugton. This he sold out in 1859, spent the following winter in Nebraska City, and in the spring of 1860 started to Pike's Peak. There he engaged in mining and located a cattle ranch half way between Breckenridge and what is now Leadville. The following year he returned to Covington, Ind., and in 1862, the late war being in progress, entered the army as Captain of Co. E, 63d Ind. Vol. Inf., and was placed on duty at Indianapolis as Provost Marshal of the dis- trict composed of Indiana and Michigan. In the fall of 1863 Capt. Wilcox and his com- pany were sent to the field and engaged in active service during the Atlanta campaign. After the battle of Resaca our subject was commissioned Major of the 63d Indiana Infantry, and the follow- ing year was promoted Colonel of the 154th Indi- ana Infantry, which rank he held until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Columbia, S. C., Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., and fought the rebel Gen. Johnson, from Kennesaw Mountain to At- lanta. He received his honorable discharge in 1 H New York after a tedious voyage of eight weeks, and soon afterward proceeded westward to Toledo, Ohio. He there engaged with the Wabash Railway Company, but a month later secured work on a farm at $1G per month. After remaining in that vicinity one sum- mer he pushed on into Indiana, remaining there until his marriage, on the 21st of February, 1855. His bride was Miss Sarah Leaver, and the wedding took place at Attica. Mrs. Cherry is a native of Buckinghamshire, England, born Jan. 3, 1833, and is the daughter of John and Anna (Lovesey) Leaver, who spent their entire lives in their native England, and are now deceased. The father died in 1880, aged ninety-two years. He had followed I r. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 763 funning all his life, and was a greatly respected citi/.en. The mother preceded her husband to the other life, dying in 18(iO, aged sixty-seven years. The children of the parental family, nine in number, were named respectively Ann, Elizabeth, William, Mary, Ellen. John, Sarah, Emma and Eliza. The latter was burned to death, her clothes having caught fire from an open fireplace. Some time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cherry came to Illinois, and Mr. C. was employed at whatever his hands could find to do, in the meantime saving what he could from his earnings. His steady persistence and industry have been gen- erously rewarded, as his present surroundings fully indicate. In the absence of children of their own Mr. and Mrs. C. have performed the part of parents to three others, whom they took in their infancy. The eldest, whom they named James II. Cherry, received a good education at the hands of his benefactors, with whom he remained until reach- ing manhood, and in 1883 was married to Miss Emma Smith, and has a comfortable home in Ogden Township. The second one, Emma McClarron, died when about thirty-one years of age. Minnie, who was born in 1871, still remains with her foster- parents. AVID B. STAYTON, SB., a prominent and influential farmer of St. Joseph Township, is of Scotch ancestry, and spent his earliest years in the Blue Grass regions, where the first representatives of the family settled upon their arrival in this country. His father, Joseph Stay ton, also a native of Kentucky, was there reared and married, and eight years after the birth of his son, our subject, departed from the scenes of his youth and early manhood to seek his fortune in the Prairie State. He came to this county in the fall of 1830, accompanied by his family, and purchased forty acres of laud on the east fork of Salt Creek in St. Joseph Township. Here he lived and labored, the soil yielding him a rich return for his industjy, and here he spent the remainder of his life. He wisely invested his surplus capital in ad- ditional land, and. at the time of his death was the possessor of 300 acres, all improved with the ex- ception of a valuable limber tract of eighty acres. The father of our subject was twice married, and became the parent of eighteen children. Of these there are living but three of the first marriage, and but two of the second. David B., of our sketch, was the third child and second son, and first opened his eyes to the light on the old farm in Mason County. Ky.,June 23. 1820. Although but a boy when the removal was made to Illinois, he remembers many of the incidents connected therewith, and the coun- try as it appeared at the time. There were then only two families in St. Joseph- Township, and no school was established until four years later, con- sequently the educational advantages of young Stayton were extremely limited. In the winter of 1834, one William Peters donated the use of his kitchen to the juvenile pioneers, their studies being conducted by John Lard, who., when not occupied in school, engaged in whipsawing and farming in the neighborhood. Our subject availed himself of school privileges for a few weeks during the winter seasons, but his services were for the most part urgently required upon the farm, where he remained with his parents until reaching manhood. The young men of those days, usually before they were out of their teens, began to make their cal- culations for the future, which almost without ex- ception included domestic ties and a home of their own. There then appeared no more worthy ambi- tion than to "build up a good homestead and leave an honorable name to posterity. It would be well if the principles inculcated by the pioneer fathers -and mothers had prevailed until this day, for it was. these sentiments, in connection with others fully as worthy, which resulted in such a perfect building up of the great West, and in giving to the historian the line material which he now has to work upon. David Stayton in taking the first steps to- ward the consummation we have alluded toj began as a farm laborer in the neighborhood of his father for the munificent wages of $12 per month. There were few luxuries with which to coax his money from him, so he lived economically and carefully, saved what he could, and the following year proudly took possession of his father's farm as a tenant and also at the same time took unto himself a wife. Miss Sarah, the daughter of Jacob and Sarah Bart- 1 < , 764 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ley, of Pickaway, Ohio. Later the young people re- moved to section 1C, in St. Joseph Township, which is included in his present homestead. His first pur- chase consisted of 160 acres, to which he added from time to time until he had a clear title to an entire section. After his children were grown and began to establish homes for themselves he divided the land among them, reserving but 220 acres for himself and wife. Of the offspring of Mr. and Mrs. S., seven in number, only four survive, namely, Elizabeth, the wife of John S. McEl wee; Joseph H. ; David B., Jr., and William J. They are all located in the neighborhood of their father's farm, and are highly respected citizens, having done ample honor to the early training of their wise and excellent parents. Mr. Stay ton, as one of -the pioneers of Champaign County, was early in life .called upon to assist in the adjustment of its local and business affairs, al- though he had no ambition whatever for office. The first position which he was called upon to fill was that of Justice of the Peace, but he refused to qualify and they were obliged to seek a more willing candidate. Afterward he was prevailed upon to serve as Constable three and one-half years and subsequently was elected Collector of St. Joseph. He was Supervisor one year, and after- ward held the offices of Assessor and Collector for a period of twenty-five years in St. Joseph, the duties of which he discharged with conscientious fidelity. Mr. Stayton was a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic party until near the close of Buchanan's ad- ministration, when he began to feel that there was reason for a change in his sentiments, and believing that the Union should be preserved at all hazards, he therefore cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln at the next Presidential election, and since that time has affiliated with, the Republican party. Mr. Stayton is of an affable and genial disposition, which at once secures him the respect and friend- ship of stranger and citizen alike. He possesses more than ordinary intelligence and is most enter- taining to converse with, being able to place before the mind's eye of his hearers a vivid picture of the early days when he joined in the chase after deer and wolves, and when the cry of the hounds was music to his ears. He was of stout and mus- cular frame, very active on his feet, and possessed the hardy spirit and the nerve which made him a general favorite and the admiration of the pioneers for miles around; He is wisely spending his de- clining years in the ease and comfort which he has so justly earned by a life of industry and economy and, surrounded by hosts of friends, is passing down the sunset hill of life with a clear conscience, and as one who will leave a good record when he passes from the scene of action. The mother of our subject in her girlhood was Miss Anna Beard, a native of the same county in Kentucky as David Beard, who was born in the Blue Grass regions and traced his lineage back to a good old family of German descent. Mrs. Stayton was a true pioneer wife and mother, looking well to the ways of her household, carefully training her chil- dren, and possessed of all womanly virtues. Her death took place on the old homestead in St. Joseph Township. eHARLES K1RKPATRICK, M. IX, a rising young physician of Penfield, completed his medical studies in the College of Indiana at Indianapolis, from which he graduated in February, 1885, and commenced the practice of his profession at Ladoga, Montgomery Co., Ind. From there, a year later, he came to Penfield, and although his residence here has been comparatively brief he has already built up a lucrative practice. He has been a close student and extensive reader, and as a con- scientious practitioner is rapidly establishing himself in the confidence of this community. Dr. Kirkpatrick was born in Urbana, this county, June 15, 1864, and is the son of John C. and IMary (Bnsey) Kirkpatrick, prominent among the resi- dents of that city as -valued members of an intelli- gent and well-educated community. He remained a resident of his native town until sixteen years of age, pursuing his early studies in the public schools and completing his classical course in the State University. Before attaining his majority he was united in marriage with Miss Ccrtrude, daughter of John 1>. Wilson, of Ladoga, Ind., in which city I RESIDENCE OF ROBERT HEWER DINE , SEC. 18.,(R.9. E,) RANTOUL.TOWNSHIP. RESIDENCE OF HENRY KURTZ . SEC. 32. BROWN TOWNSHIP RESIDENCE OF J. R. Gu LICK, SEC. 8., NEW COMB TOWN SHIP. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4- 707 - . she was born and roared. The two children of Dr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick are John and Ruby. They are pleasantly located on Main street, and enjoy the society of the best residents of the city. Dr. K., politically, is a stanch supporter of Re- publican principles, and socially belongs to Gene- vieve Lodge No. 100, K. of P., being Chancellor Commander, and the youngest man in the world occupying this position, us he was chosen when but twenty-two years old. He is well fitted both by early training and natural talents to occupy a high position in the medical profession of this county. EPHRA1M DRESBACH, an enterprising far- mer and stock-grower of St. Joseph Town- ship, is possessor of an estate containing 1 20 acres of valuable land located on section 20. He was born in Fair-field County, Ohio, near Lithopolis, Nov. 12, 1834, and is descended from German and Irish ancestry, being the son of John and Anna (Hoy) Dresbach, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. John Dresbach was born in 1804. His wife, Anna, was the daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Irely) Hoy. The Irely family were natives of Pennsyl- vania, but of Irish origin, and the family of Philip Hoy descended from German ancestry. After his marriage John Dresbach lived for a time in Fairfield County, Ohio, and then removed with his family to Hancock County, settling near Findlay. Not satisfied with the locality, he changed his residence to Fairfield, and afterward to Picka- way County, making in the latter place a perma- nent settlement, and building up a homestead, where he died in the winter of 1880. He was twice married. The death of his first wife occurred in Fairfield County, in 1844. Of this union six chil- dren were born, and of the second marriage there were three. Ephraim Dresbach passed his boyhood in Fair- field and Pickaway Counties, where he received such education as could be obtained at the country schools. After the death of his mother he made his home with relatives and began the struggle of life at a very early age. Possessing an obliging disposition he made friends, and employed himself in various branches of farm labor until he had reached his twenty-fourth year. He then united in marriage with Miss Clarissa E. Croninger, a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, and the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hines) Croninger. After his marriage Mr. Dresbach settled on a farm in Picka- way County, and remained there until the autumn of 1807, when he removed with his family to Cham- paign County, 111. The first year he rented a farm in St. Joseph Township, and subsequently purchased his present place. Only a part of the land was broken, but he has since brought it to a fine state of cultivation. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, giving special attention to the raising of hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Dresbach had a family of ten chil- dren, eight of whom are living, and recorded as follows: Elnora S. is the wife of Theodore F. Swearingen; Joseph F. is residing at home; Chris- sie B. is the wife of O. Hootz; Clara L., Alma May, Arthur C., Minnie O. and Ora A. are with their parents.- In politics Mr. Dresbach reserves the right of voting for the best man, regardless of party. He is interested in public affairs, and has served as School Director, giving satisfaction in the discharge of his duties. RS - LUCY J. VARNEY, widow of Samuel B. Varney, and daughter of Robert and Sarah (Frye) White, natives of New Hampshire, was born in the Old Granite State in 1816. Her father was a blacksmith by trade, and her maternal grandfather, Ebenezer Frye, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War with the rank of Major. He also was a native of New Hampshire, and when not in the army en- gaged in farming pursuits. Late in life he became a resident of Northport, Me., where he spent the remainder of his days, beloved and honored by all who knew him. Robert White, the father of Mis. Varney, re- moved from his native State first to Peacham, Yt., where he engaged in blacksmithing, and subse- f f 768 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. t quently, in 1818, went to Maine. In the latter State he became quite prominent in public affairs, served as Justice of the Peace, and was expert in the settlement of estates. In the meantime he also carried on his trade, having a number of men under him. He remained a resident of Maine the balance of his life, dying at the ripe old age of eighty- seven years. The mother died when seventy-one years old. Of their eleven children, four only are now living, and three Mrs. Mary A. Turner, Robert F. and George N. are residents of Odin, Marion County. Mrs. Varney, the fourth child of her parents, re- ceived careful home training and a fair education in the common schools. She remained under the home roof until her marriage with Samuel B. Var- ney, which took place in Montville. Me., in Jan- uary, 1845. Mr. V. was a native of Maine, born in 1814, and the son of Silas Varney, who was a farmer by occupation. Samuel B. was a bright and ambitions boy, and through his own efforts obtained a practical business education. His childhood and youth were spent upon his father's farm, and after starting out in life for himself he engaged in hotel- keeping and farming combined in Levant, Penob- scot Co., Me. In 1859 he resolved to emigrate to the great West, and after reaching the Prairie State purchased a tract of land seven miles from the city of Champaign, this county. This he culti- vated and improved, in the meantime visiting Missouri and purchasing land there also. In con- nection with his farming he also engaged in the grocery business for a short time. He erected a handsome residence on Church street, Champaign, which, a few months later was destroyed by fire. lie soon afterward rebuilt upon the same site. ~Mr. Varney was Democratic in politics, and with his wife, became connected with the Presbyterian Church, in which he was a Deacon for many years. lie was a man of excellent business capacity, ex- treme kindness of heart, and was imbued with those principles which constituted him an honest man and a good citizen, respected and beloved by all who knew him. Mr. and Mrs. V. became the parents of three children, of whom two died when quite young, and the remaining daughter when twelve years of age. Mrs. Varney afterward adopted two little girls: Mattie became one of the family when seven years old; she is now married to Dr. M. C. Wilson, is living in Downs, McLean County, and has two children Mabel C. and Warren. The other child. Mary, was eight months old when taken by Mrs. Varney, who has performed toward her the part of a kind and affectionate mother; she is now fourteen years old, and is pursuing her studies in the High School of Champaign. OLOMON V. STAFFORD occupies a quar- ter of section 36, St. Joseph Township, which is an excellent body of land, well cultivated and supplied with convenient and substantial farm buildings. He took possession of this place in the fall of 1803, and since that time has been industriously engaged as a general farmer and stock-raiser, making a specialty of Poland- China hogs and draft horses. Our subject, who is a native of the Buckeye State, was born near Wash- ington, the county seat of Fayette County, on the 8th of May, 1814. His grandfather, Z. B. Stafford, was a native of Tennessee, and became the father of four children. His sou Charles, the father of our subject, .was born in Tennessee, and went with his brother-in-law to Ohio. In that State he re- ceived his education and developed into manhood, and selected from among the daughters of Fayette County, Miss Nancy Leverton, who became his wife in the fall of 1809. This lady was a native of North Carolina, and the daughter of Foster Lever- ton, who removed to Ohio after the close of the Revolutionary War, in which he had participated as a Colonial soldier. Charles Stafford served in the War of 1812, and after his marriage continued to reside in Fayette County, where he became exten- sively engaged in farming and accumulated a fine property. The parental family included ten chil- dren, all of whom lived to mature years and with one exception were all married. The parents of our subject were of Irish and Knglitih origin respectively, and Solomon Y. wa> their secor. d son and fourth child. He was reared on the farm in Ohio, and received a limited edu- cation in the district schools of his native town- f If CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4- 769 i ship. He was carefully trained, however, by his excellent parents, and imbibed those principles of honesty and honor which served him so well in later life. He remained with them until after reach- ing his majority, and when in his twenty-fourth year was united in marriage with Mrs. Nancy (Wil- kinson) Hoppis, and they located on a small farm of which our subject became the owner, and where they lived until the fall of 1863. Mr.' S. then resolved to seek his fortunes in the Prairie State, and coining to this county, located upon the land which constitutes his present homestead. The only child of the household was a daughter, Jane F., who became the wife of John Brown, and died at her home in February, 1882. The mother had pre- ceded her child to the silent land, passing away in the spring of 1874. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 1875, was Mrs. Mary J., widow of Jacob Rice, and by her first marriage had become the mother of one child, a daughter, who died in infancy. . Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which our subject officiated as Trustee and Steward for several years. He is a stanch Democrat, politically, and is a citizen of due importance in his township, being acknowl- edged by all as having materially assisted in its development. THOMAS W. GIDDINGS. This enterpris- ing and well-to-do resident of Ludlow Township is successfully engaged as a far- mer and stock-raiser on section 10. He comes of an excellent English family, the first representative in this country being his grandfather, who crossed the ocean and located first in Connecticut, whence he removed later to Pennsylvania, where he fol- lowed the pursuit of agriculture, reared a fine family of sons and daughters, and having built up a good record as a citizen, passed to his final rest in the Keystone State in about 1816. His son, Moses C., who was born in Lancaster, Conn., was the father of our subject. The grandfather, Silas Gid- dings, at his death left his widow with nine children, six sons and three daughters. Moses C. Giddings, being the eldest son, was largely depended jipon to assist his widowed mother in the care of the family and the management of the homestead, in which he nobly exerted himself until each member could take care of himself. The estate comprised a body of land 400 acres in extent, situ- ated eight miles from what afterward became the flourishing city of Erie, Pa. When the father of our subject took possession of it it was heavily timbered. He was a very industrious and energetic man and cleared the land, disposing of the timber by means of two sawmills which he erected on the place, and which for a period of several years were kept steadily at work. Moses Giddings remained in Pennsylvania until 1857, then disposed of his interests there, and com- ing to Warren County, this State, purchased a farm in Floyd Township, which he cultivated and oc- cupied the balance of his life. After reaching the age of fourscore years, he passed to his final rest on the 12th of May, 1880, regretted by all who knew him as being a citizen of more than ordinary worth arid ability. He was a strict temperance man. and had been reared in the Presbyterian Church. After his marriage, however, he became a Methodist. In common with his cousin, Joshua R. Giddings, who became famous as an Abolitionist before the war, Moses C. was also bitterly opposed to slavery, and upon every occasion gave expression to his views upon this subject. It is scarcely neces- sary to say that during the later years of his life he was an ardent Republican, the principles of which party he cheerfully endorsed after the aban- donment of the old Whig doctrines. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Sophronia Stafford, a native of New York, and daughter of Jesse Stafford, of that State. She accompanied her husband to Illinois. They became the parents of thirteen children, whom they trained to habits of industry and those principles which made of them reliable citizens and useful members of society. After building up a good record as wife, mother and friend, Mrs. Sophronia Giddings departed from the scenes of earth at her home in Floyd Township, on the 1 2th of May, 1 875. Eleven of her children lived to become men and Women, and ten are still surviving. Jesse died in Henry County, Iowa; Hannah, Mrs. Martin, is a resident CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. of Colorado; Sebastian, of Moiimouth, III.; Sa- inantha, Mrs. Styles, of Colorado; Edwin W., of Campbell, Minn.; Silas, of Polk Grove, Iowa; Marion is deceased; John W. lives in Liidlow Township, this county, and Henry C. on the home- stead in Warren County; George W. and Harriet A., Mrs. Ogden, live in Ft. Collins, Col. Thomas W. Uiddings, the ninth child of his par- ents, attended school with his brothers and sisters, and with them assisted in the labors on the farm. He was fourteen years old when his parents came to Illinois, and remained a member of the family until the outbreak of the late war. He then en- listed in Co. C, 138th 111. Vol. Inf., entering the service in 18G5, and was detailed for duty chiefly in Kansas and Missouri. After being mustered out he returned to his home in Warren County, and in the spring of 18(>0, in partnership with a neighbor, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. This partnership was dissolved two years later, and after assuming the management of tile home farm one year our subject crossed the Mississippi into Mis- souri, and engaged in the herding of cattle. In the fall he shipped 150 animals to Buffalo, and as many more to Warren County, the latter of which he fed until the following spring, when he sold them and resumed farming with his brother. A year later he purchased a tract of land in Flo}'d Township, and engaged in farming and stock rais- ing until 1875. In the spring of that year he came to this county and purchased the southeast quarter of section 10, in Ludlow Township, where he in- dustriously employed his time until 1883, and was remarkably successful in his farming operations. That year he added to his landed estate, and in company with his brother bought the northeast quarter of section 10. Two years later he pur- chased the interest of his brother, and is now the possessor of a half section under a fine state of cul- tivation and supplied with excellent farm buildings. Nothing has been left undone to preserve its repu- tation as one of the finest homesteads in this part of Champaign County. On the 15th of November, 1868, after Mr. Gid- dings had begun to lay the foundation for a home, he selected as his future wife and helpmeet Miss Laura A. Wiggins, to whom he was married in Floyd Township. Mrs. G. was born in the latter named township, July 2, 1849, and is the daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary Jeanette Wiggins. The forme-!-, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., removed to the West in the pioneer days, and located in Warren County, 111., where he improved a farm and reared a family. He was married in early manhood to Miss Jeanette Mattson, also a native of the Em- pire State. The mother of Mrs. G. departed this life at her home in Warren County. Mr. Wiggins afterward became an inmate of the home of our subject, and died in 1883. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Giddin's are o Warren L., Archie, Cornelia, Nellie (who died when two years old), Orlo and Irena. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ludlow, of which the parents have been members several years. Mr. Giddings, politically, is a stanch Re- publican, and fearlessly upholds the principles of his party. A view of the residence of Mr. G. is shown on another page of this work. EW E. STEVENSON, Postmaster at St. Jo- seph, and also a leading druggist and jeweler of the place, was born among the hills of Southern Ohio, near Hillsboro, the county seat of Highland County, on the 21st of April, 1850. His parents, Elisha and Nancy A. (Keelor) Stevenson, were natives of the same State. The father of our subject followed farming in Ohio until 1854, when svith his family he came west to Champaign Count3', 111., locating at Urbana, where he engaged in farm- ing, and where he still resides, having, however, retired from active labor some years ago. The children of Elisha and Nancy Stevenson, thirteen in number, consisted of seven sons and six daughters, twelve of whom lived to mature years and with the exception of three were all married. Three of these came West with their parents, and the remaining ten were born in Champaign County, where they still reside. Arthur A. is deceased ; Lew E., of our sketch, was the second born; Cin- derella became the wife of C. A. Lawhead ; he is now deceased. Sarah J. is a resident of Urbana; Elisha is passenger conductor of the I., 1!. A- \V. T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 771 R. R., and makes his home in Indianapolis, Ind. ; Susan is the wife of Edward Stephens, of St. Louis, Mo.; Josephine married Edward Swan, a well-to-do fanner living south of Orbana, 111.; Charles II. is a conductor on the Santa Fe Railroad, with head- quarters at Las Vegas, N. M. ; William F. is Assistant Postmaster and a pharmacist, and resides in St. Joseph; Benjamin F. lives in Oakland, 111.; Eliza- beth is the wife of Edward (}. Hammer, of Urbaua; Uriah S., the j'oungest, remains with his parents. Alferretta died in infancy. Mr. Stevenson was a lad four years of age when his parents came to this county, and his education was begun and completed in the public schools of Urbaua. He remained at home working on a farm until he attained the age of twenty-three years, and then entered the drug-store of William Sim, of Urbana. in the capacity of a clerk, and remained four years, acquiring in that time a thorough knowl- edge of the drug business in all its branches. In January, 1877, he came to St. Joseph and purchased the drug stock of -W. B. Sim, and since that time has continued in the trade here, adding an excel- lent stock of drugs and medicines, wall- paper, paints, oils and jewelry. He was appointed Post- master in 1885, having been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party since exercising the right of suffrage. He was a strong Union man during the war, and illustrated his principles in the most forci- ble manner by proffering his services in aid of its preservation, becoming, in 1864, a member of Co. A, 135th 111. Vol. Inf., and fulfilling all the duties required of a faithful soldier until his honorable discharge at Mattoon, September 28 following. One of the most important events in the life of our subject was his marriage, which took place Dec. 28, 1877, his chosen bride being Miss Ada O. Coff- man.* Mrs. S. is a native of Urbana and the daughter of Noah B. and Margaret Coffman, at present residents of Ft. Scott, Kan. Of this union there is one child only, a daughter, Mae Agnes, now an interesting girl of eight years. The family resi- dence is pleasantly located. Mr. Stevenson has lor many years been a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, is a Knight Templar and also belongs to the I. O. O. F. and (i. A. R. Both he and his estimable lady are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. S. lias been a Trustee since the organiza- tion of the society at St. Joseph. He is actively interested in Sunday-school work, and has officiated as Superintendent, serving also as chorister and a teacher. He is one of those men necessary to the well-being of every community, who knows just what is to be done at all times and how to do it, and is willing to aid by his means and influence every enterprise calculated for the welfare of the people. F. WILSON, who is a dealer in horses and engaged in the livery business on Walnut street, is contributing his full share toward the business interests of the city of Cham- paign by carrying on his department in a methodi- cal and systematic manner, and in which he has been established since April, 1887. His large barn on Walnut street contains some of the best travel- ing stock and vehicles in the city, and his patrons comprise its best people. Mr. Wilson is a native of the Prairie State, and was torn in Piatt County, Sept. 18, 1852. He is the son of Henry L. and Margaret (Hubbard) Wil- son, both natives of Ohio. The former, who was also a dealer in fine horses, removed from the Buckeye State to Illinois, and located in Piatt County, where he remained until 1854. He then purchased a farm in Newcorab Township, Cham- paign County, which he occupied two years, and thence removed into the village of Mahomet, where he continued his business as a purchaser and shipper of fine horses until his death, which was brought about in the following sad manner: His office was located adjacent to Llewellyn's drug-store, and one night while sleeping there the store was set on fire, and Mr. Wilson, unable to escape, was burned to death. This melancholy event occurred on the 16th of May, 1876. Mr. Wilson during the late war enlisted in the 125th Illinois Infantry, serving nine months, and was finally discharged on account of physical disability, lie belonged to the Repub- lican party and was a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity. The mother of our subject is still living, making her home at Mahomet. Of f. 772 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. the parental household, including live children, two. only are now living, our subject, H. F., and his sis- ter, Mrs. Dorothy Pugh, of Mahomet. The subject of this biography received a practi- cal education, attending school until sixteen years old. He inherited the same love for that noblest of animals for which his father was noted, and at an early age engaged in buying and sellirg, while at the same time operating a livery stable in Mahomet. Desirous of a larger field for his operations, he re- moved to Champaign, and first leased a stable on - Neal street, which he occupied until burned out, in 1887. His loss at that time aggregated $2,500, partially covered by insurance. Three valuable horses were destroyed, besides office fixtures, har- ness, etc. On the 14th of April following Mr. Wilson purchased the large livery barn on Walnut street, where he is now permanently established and is building up a fine patronage. Politically he af- filiates witli the Democratic party. The marriage of H. F. Wilson and Miss Burzetta Petty was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Mahomet, in 1873. Mrs. Wilson is the daughter of Nimrod Fetty, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of three -chil- dren. The eldest, eleven years of age, named himself Harry F. The others, aged two and one- half years and three months respectively, are un- named. ETKR ROOS, Professor of Industrial Art and Design in the University of Illinois, and a native of Sweden, was born at Lyngbye, Kristianstad La>n, the 22d of February, 1850, where he received the fundamental part of his education. From childhood he showed a strong propensity for art, and soon after his confirmation entered that field under the instruction of a cele- brated artist in the city of Kristianstad, with whom he remained for nearly four years. In 1871 Prof. Roos emigrated to America and located in Boston, as a decorator and designer. In a little over a year he was elected teacher of draw- ing in the Boston city schools. lie also formed a partnership to establish the Boston Art Academy. From this school was sent quite an extensive ex- hibit of students' work to the Philadelphia Exposi- tion in 187C. This was awarded the medal of the Centennial Commission. At this time he was called to take charge of the Art Department of the Uni- versity of Illinois. Owing to urgent engagements in Boston he relinquished that position for two years. In 1880 he returned upon a renewed call to the Chair of Art and Design. AJ. ABSALOM B. VALLANDINGHAM, who is well and favorably known in Com- promise Township as a stirring, energetic citizen, is of excellent old Kentucky stock, being born near Lexington, in Fayette County, Sept. 1, 1817. His father, John Vallandingham, was born near Georgetown, where he grew to man- hood and married Miss Ann Bainbridge, who was born in Baltimore, Md., but reared in Kentucky. After marriage the young people took up their abode in Scott County, whence they removed to Owen County, where the father of our subject became owner of a plantation of nearly 1 ,000 acres, together with from ten to twenty slaves. The parents reared a family of ten children, and the father departed this life in about 1850, at the age of fifty-three years. The wife and mother survived until 1876. Maj. Vallandingham was the eldest child of the household, and under the encouragement of his father received a good education, as did his brothers and sisters. He grew to manhood in Owen County, and in 1839, when twenty-two years of age, was united in marriage with Miss Mary Vallandingham, a distant relative. He engaged alternately in farm- ing and teaching and in this way provided com- fortably for the needs of his growing family, which in the course of time included five children. Of these the record is as follows: Pickard is farming in Owen County, Ivy. ; Ann became the wife of John M. Richards, and died leaving a sou and daughter; Elizabeth, the wife of J. M. Arnette, resides in Frederickstown, Mo.; John, during the late war, was killed in the Confederate ranks, hav- ing been induced to enter the service by some of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 773 his cousins; Armilda, who married Willis Hall, is also dead; she left one son. Mrs. Vallandingham, after being the affectionate and faithful companion of her husband ten yearsi departed this life at her home in Owen County, Ky., in the summer of 1 849. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married in March, 1852, was Miss Malinda Johnson, who died the following year. On the 21st of October, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Elizabeth Coons, who was born in Fayette County, Ky., Oct. ' 28, 1832, and was the daughter of Henry C. and Margaret Coons. That same year Maj. Vallanding- ham opened a hotel at Warsaw, Ky., which he con- ducted until the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he acted as Provost Marshal of Warsaw, and had charge of a company of home guards until this department of the military was disbanded by gen- eral order and requested to enter the regular serv- ice. The Major assisted in recruiting the 18th Kentucky Infantry, and was afterward detailed for the Secret Service of the United States Army, to look after the guerrilla element of the Blue Grass State. In 1864 he recruited the 37th Kentucky Infantry, and was commissioned Major, serving the interests of the Union faithfully until the close of the war. In 1867 Maj. Vallandingham left the Blue Grass regions and came north into Illinois, locating first near Bloomington, McLean County. In common with many other Southerners he had lost all his property during the war, and upon coming to this State was compelled to begin life anew. He first rented a tract of land, where he followed farming, and also engaged as a law practitioner in McLean County. Three years later he came to this county, continuing as a farmer and counselor-at-law, and was instrumental in obtaining the right of way for and constructing the Havanna, Rantoul & Eastern Railroad. Upon the completion of this he located at Gifford, where he has since resided. In 1882 he abandoned his law practice, and now devotes his time to looking after his property and acting as 'mine host" of the Commercial Hotel. He owns twenty-two town lots in Gifford, besides three acres, two houses and his residence properly. Maj. .Vallandingham in early ^ife affiliated with the Whig party and after its disbandment sup- ported Republican principles until 1 875, since which time he has been identified with the Greenbackers. Although repeatedly solicited to fill responsible offices he has invariably declined, preferring to give his time and attention to his home and business affairs. He has always lived well and extracted as much enjoyment from life as possible, being possessed of that genial disposition which enables him usually to look only- upon the bright side. Social!}' he is a Royal Arch Mason. Mr. and Mrs. V. are members in good standing of the Christian Church, in which, as elsewhere, our subject has dis- tinguished himself as an active and valued member. 1 T. PEARMAN, M. D., who has been a resi- dent of the Prairie State for over thirty-five years, is one of the leading physicians of Champaign County, of the Regular School. He was born in Hard in County, Ky., Oct. 29, 1829, and is the son of John and Sarah (Lyons) Pear- man, natives respectively of Georgia and Virginia. John Pearman, Sr., served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was present at the battle of New Or- leans. After retiring to civil life, he engaged in farming pursuits in Kentucky, to which State he had removed with his parents when a boy, and there became acquainted with his future wife, the mother of our subject. In 1851 he sold out his in- terests in Kentucky, and emigrating to Illinois, purchased a farm in Edgar County, which he culti- vated until 1860, and then, on account of old age, retired from active labor. He subsequently made his home with his sou, Samuel Pearman, near Paris, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The mother departed this life in 1881. They were the parents of eight children who lived to mature years, and three of whom still survive. These are, Martha, Mrs. Pinell, of Edgar County; Dr. J. T., our subject, and Mary, .Mrs. Sisk, of Ver- milion Township, Edgar County. The subject of this biography spent his early years upon his father's farm, and received a com- mon-school education. When twenty-one years of age he commenced teaching, spending one year H H* I 774 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. thus occupied in Kentucky. He pursued the same calling after coming into Kdgar County, and in 1852 commenced reading medicine with Dr. Thomas Smith, of Grand View, 111., graduating in 1858, at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He lo- cated in Edgar County, where he remained eight 3 r ears, in the meantime perfecting himself still fur- ther in his profession by attending a course of lec- tures in the winter of 18CO-01. There lie had a fine practice. He entered the army as Surgeon, and was assigned by Gen. Nelson as Surgeon for the 15th Indiana Regiment. From there he was transferred to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn. After two months he was token ill and sent home, whence, after one month, he returned to his duties, suffered a relapse, and was obliged to abandon his connection with the service. In 1863 Dr. Pearman, wishing to enlarge the field of his operations, removed to the city of Champaign, where he has since established a fine practice, mostly within the city. In 1878 he was appointed Surgeon of the Illinois Central Railroad, his jurisdiction extending from Kankakee on the north to Oilman on the south, a distance of 120 miles. He is a member of the State, County and National Medical Associations. Politically he affil- iates with the Republican party, and socially be- longs to the Masonic fraternity. He has always token an active interest in the progress and devel- opment of his adopted county, interested in its ed- ucational and moral welfare, and in 1881 was ap- pointed by Gov. Cullom, a Trustee of the Univer- sity of Illinois. Dr. Pearman was married, in 1858, to Miss Eliza- beth Elliott, who was born in Edgar County, 111., and was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ilan- na) Elliott, of Ohio. They removed to Illinois in the pioneer days and located in Edgar County. Of this union there were born five children, the record of whom is as follows : Ida became the wife of C. H. Stephens, of Loganspovt, 111., and they have one child, Sabra; J. Ora is a physician and surgeon, having a fine practice in Chicago; Ira E. is ft clerk in the Merchants' National Bank, of Chi- cago; Minnie and Myrtle are at home with their father. Mrs. Elizabeth Pearman departed this life in the latter part of August, 1881. The second wife of our subject, to whom lie was married in 1883, was Miss Mae Columbia, a native of Cham- paign County, and the daughter of Curtis and Nancy (Cox) Columbia, natives respectively of Kentucky and Illinois. Of this marriage there has been born one child Arthur C. The family resi- dence, which is located on South Neal street, would be at once singled out as the home of refinement and culture, and is the resort of the cultivated people of Champaign. .ENJAMIN CODDINGTON, deceased, was for many years a highly esteemed citizen of Sidney Township. He was born May 8, 1828, in Ohio, and was the son of John and Susanna (Roadamer) Coddington. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where his father was born April 4, 1774, and his mother, Mny 24, 1789. His family removed to Ohio and thence to Illinois, where they were among the pioneers of this State. Probably no portion of the fertile State of Illi- nois is better adapted to agriculture and stock- raising than that embraced within the limits of this county, and the early settlers patiently en- dured the many privations and hardships to which they were exposed, looking hopefully forward to the future with a faith and courage that were al- most sublime. Time has wrought marvelous changes, and the prairies, once desolate wastes covered with coarse, matted grass, now wave with harvests of golden grain and form rich pasture lands for vast herds of cattle and sheep, and to-day the children of the pioneers are reaping the harvest which their fathers planted at the costly price of suffering and privation. Mr. Coddington was active and enterprising in business, and in his early life cleared and impuoved a fine farm. His uprightness and integrity of character won a large circle of friends, and in his home he was a kind father and loving husband. His death occurred on the old homestead, April 13, 1865, and lie is buried in Bliss Cemetery near Sid- ney. Mr. Coddington was in every respect a most estimable man. and his death was not only a loss to -; 775 - > CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. i his family, but to tlic community, by which he was beloved and sincerely mourned. Mr. Coddington's marriage to Miss Delilah Thomas took place Dec. 10, 1841. Mrs. Codding- ton was born Jan. 13, 1825. Her father was twice married, and she had two own sisters older than herself, Mary and Margaret, and eight half broth- ers and sisters, whose names are: Harriet, Me- lissa, Rebecca, Jemima, Joseph, Henry, Jefferson, and one who died in infancy. All are now de- ceased with the exception of Harriet and Melissa. Mr. and Mrs. Coddington had a family of nine children born to them : Joseph, married to Miss Carrie McElroy, lives in Sidney Township; Cather- ine, the wife of Henry McElroy, is living in Mitch- ell County, Kan.; Mary S. is dead; Sarah J. is the wife of James McElroy; John, married to Miss Emma Woodcock, resides in Sidney Township; Elizabeth, the wife of Isaac George, likewise resides in that township; Clarissa is dead; Benjamin F. and Alice are single and live with their mother. Mrs. Coddington's estate contains 210 acres of valuable, well-improved land, with a pleasant resi- dence and excellent farm buildings. She conducts the business in her own name and is greatly assisted ])y her son Benjamin, who is general manager of the place. Mrs. Coddington is a highly esteemed member of the United Brethren Church, a sincere Christian, and a refined and courteous lady in every sense of the word, and possesses the affectionate regard of a large circle of friends. R. J. W. TRLSLER, one of the rising young- physicians of the city of Urbana, located here in 1886, and in the comparatively short time of his residence has already es- tablished himself in the esteem and confidence of the people. He is a native of Brown County, Ohio, and was born Nov. 8, 1858. His parents, Abra- ham and Christina (Davis) Trisler, formerly of Ilamcrsville, Ohio, engaged there in farming pur- suits for a number of years, but afterward removed to Ripley, Brown County, where the mother died in 1875, leaving a family of eight children. These were Randolph, now Superintendent of the public schools of Cincinnati;- Lafayette, a teacher in that city; Sarah, Amanda, Dr. J. W. : Charles, of Kan- sas, Clara and Maria. The father of our subject was a member of the Democratic party, and held the office of Justice of the Peace in Brown County for a number of years. Both parents belonged to the New-Light Church. Dr. Trisler remained with his parents on the farm until eighteen years of age, attending the schools of his native county. He afterward went to Mason County, Ky., and entered Dover Acad-. emy, where he studied for eighteen months, and soon afterward commenced reading medicine under the instruction of Dr. W. A. Dixon, of Ripley, Ohio, and then attended lectures at Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1884. He commenced the practice of his pro- fession at Decatur, Brown Co., Ohio, whence, after three and one-half 3'ears he removed to Wellington, Kan. Eighteen months later he came to Illinois and located at Urbana, where he has since followed his practice with success. He is a close student and an extensive reader, and bids fair to occupy an enviable position among his brethren of the pro- fession in this county. Dr. Trisler was married, in 1882, to Miss Emma West, of Decatur, Ohio, and they have become the parents of two children Bessie and Carl. T. AINSWORTH, who since 1879 has been farming extensively in Ludlow Town- ship, is the proprietor of a fine estate on sec- tion 28, where he "has a commodious resi- dence, and all other, buildings necessary for the carrying on of agriculture in a first-class manner. His farm estate comprises 400 acres, many of the fields enclosed with beautiful hedge fences, of which he planted five miles the second year after taking possession, and has planted more as time and opportunity afforded. He also has a pond em- bracing an area of about two acres, which is stocked with German carp. Mr. Ainsworth took possession of this property in 1809, when the laud was unim- proved, and since that time has given to it his en- T r 776 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. tire attention, and, as is evident, with the happiest, results. The subject of this history is a native of this State, born in Lynchburg Township, Mason County, Jan. 23, 1847. His father, William Ainsworth, was a native of the town of Blackburn, Lancashire, England, the son of Thomas Ainsworth, a weaver by trade. He emigrated to the United States in about 1842, and proceeding directly westward, lo- cated in Mason County, 111., where he established a .permanent home, and spent the last years of his life. William Ainsworth was quite young when apprenticed to a silversmith and watchmaker, serv- ing until eighteen years old. Then, in company with his elder brother, he set sail for the United States. Coming to Illinois, as we have said, he settled in Mason County, and was soon afterward attacked with fever and obliged to place himself under the care of a physician. He thus contracted a debt of $60, which he paid in work for the Doc- tor at $8 per month, as he had but threepence in his pocket when landing here, and no capital to go on. He finally borrowed money from an elder brother, and entering a tract of land, commenced farming on unimproved prairie. He still owns his first purchase, and has brought about a vast im- provement in its original condition. It includes a series of beautiful and productive farms, and fine farm buildings, including a residence, barn, and sheds for the shelter of stock. The wife of William Ainsworth, the mother of our subject, was formerly Miss Elizabeth Pendle- ton, who was born in Church Parish, Lancashire, England. They became the parents of ten chil- dren, and the mother departed this life at the home of her husband, in 1860. John T., of our sketch, was the eldest of the family; Sarah, the eldest daughter, resides witli her father, and Elizabeth A., the wife of J. J. Ainsworth, is also a resident of Mason County. These are the only survivors. Our subject received his early education in the district schools of Mason County, and afterward attended Virginia Academy in Cass County. When nineteen years old his father returned to 'England and left him in charge of the farm. Produce was high, and his management of the farm proved very successful. He continued there until 1869, then removed to this county and located upon the land which lie now occupies. He still has charge of the land belonging to his father, and his entire time and attention are given to agricultural pursuits. He has built up an enviable reputation as a farmer, stock-raiser and business man, and is one of the important factors of an enterprising and industri- ous community. The marriage of John T. Ainsworth and Miss Frances Penny, took place at the home of Lewis Layman, in Champaign County, 111., in the spring of 1873. Mrs. Ainsworth is the daughter of Will- iam G. and Ellen (Duff) Penny, and was born in Sangamon County, 111.,. May 20, 1846. Their three children are William P., Nellie E. and Fran- ces L. Our subject and his wife are devoted mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Ainsworth. politically, is independent. He has been connected with local affairs since coming to this section, being a man of excellent judgment, and possessing a good fund of general information. Since 1875 he has been one of the drainage com- missioners for Big Slough Special Drainage District, embracing an area of 12,000 acres, which originally was worthless land, and has now been brought to. a good state of cultivation. He served as Highway Commissioner through 1871-73, and is a man whose opinions are solicited upon all matters of interest concerning the welfare of his township and neigh- borhood. EORGE W. TREES, one of the substantial farmers and stock-growers of Illinois, re- sides on section 20, St. Joseph Township. He is one of the self-made men of the State, having acquired his fine property through the exercise of industry, energy and good management. He was born in Clermont County, Ohio, near Moscow, May 16, 1846, and is the son of William and Delila (Mc- Adams) Trees. His grandfather, John Trees, was a native of Pennsylvania, of German extraction, whose wife was a native of North Carolina. William Trees- was born in Clermont County, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1807. He was reared on his father's farm, and remained in his native county until his marriage with Miss Delila McAdams, who was like- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 777 wise a native of the same county. He then re- solved to go West, and removed to Indiana with his young wife, and after an experience of four years returned to his native county in Ohio, where he continued to reside until his removal.to Cham- paign County, 111., in 1868. Upon his arrival he located in Rantoul Township, where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. William Trees became the parents of fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls, all of whom with the exception of three lived to matur- ity; nine are still living. His wife, who was born in' Clermont County, Ohio, in 1808, died in Sep- tember, 1 88G, after a long life of usefulness and self-sacrifice. She was a noble woman who lived to promote the interests and happiness of her. family. She left eighty -four grandchildren. Her father was head of a family of twenty-four children, and his grandchildren were numbered by the hun- dreds. George W., who was the tenth in order of birth, passed his boyhood attending the common school and assisting his parents, until he reached the age of twenty-one, when he resolved to go West in search of a career in life for himself. He came to Champaign County, 111., where for a year he was engaged as a wage-worker by the month. By economy and industry he had then acquired enough money to purchase forty acres of land. This he im- proved and cultivated and subsequently sold at an advance which enabled him to make another pur- chase of 160 acres. He improved this tract also, and sold it, purchasing the place which he now owns and occupies, most of which is cultivated, well fenced and tiled. The marriage of Mr. Trees to Miss Jennie Ray occurred in October, 1873. She is the daughter of John and Amanda Ray, residents of Vermilion County, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Trees have an interest- ing family of four children, whose names are as fol- lows: Hattie D., Lillian P., Merrill J. and Mertie May. Mr. Trees is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, giving special attention to Short- horn cattle, the best breeds of hogs, and thoroughbred horses. He realized 12,260 as the proceeds of a stock sale on his farm Feb. 23, 1887. Mr. Trees is recognized in the community as a man of excellent business qualifications, and received the appoint- ment of Drainage Commissioner of the Miller District. Himself and wife have been for many years members of the Methodist Church, of which he is one of the Stewards. He takes a personal interest in the cause of religion, and has been a teacher in the Sabbath-school for ten years. Politi- cally Mr. Trees is not restricted by party spirit, but votes for the man whom he considers best qualified to fill the position. ft/ IRAM J. DUNLAP, editor and manager of the Champaign weekly and daily Gazette, is a native of the Prairie State, born in Ley- den, Cook County, Feb. 8, 1841. He is the son of Mathias L. and Emeline (Pierce) Dunlap, natives of New York State, the former of whom was born in Cherry Valley, Sept. 14, 1814, and spent his childhood and youth upon the farm of his father, William I. The latter subsequently removed to Pulaski, Oswego Co., N. Y., where he lived until emigrating to this State. Here he located at Troy Grove, La Salle County, whence he removed to Ley- den, Cook County, and afterward to Champaign County, where he died in 1858. Mathias L. Dunlap was a gentleman of good edu- cation, and was engaged in teaching School at Troy Grove. He afterward secured a clerkship at Chi- cago at the time it was a village of 5,000 inhabitants. He subsequently became book-keeper for a firm of contractors on the Illinois and Michigan Canal at Lemont, where he remained two years. After coin- ing into Cook County, he entered a piece of Gov- ernment land in Leyden, which was then twelve miles west of the city limits. There he followed farming and surveying, in the meantime holding the office of Township Supervisor, serving thus for several years. In 1854 he was elected to the State Legislature, when Cook County sent but four mem- bers to that body. He was Democratic in politics, and east his last Presidential vote for Frank Pierce. After leaving Cook County, Mathias L. Dunlap located upon 320 acres of land south of Champaign, which he had purchased in 1855, and which is now known as "Rural Home." lie removed his family CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. to that place in 1857, where he made his home un- til his death, which occurred Feb. 14, 1875. He was a man of rare intelligence, possessing a good fund of general information, and was the agricult- ural correspondent of the Dcnt'n-rtiffi- Press, before its consolidation with the Chicago Tribune, and then of the Tribune until the day of his death, a period of twenty-two years. He was also a contributor to various western journals almost from the first day of his arrival in Illinois. The parental family in- cluded eight sons and two daughters, of whom Hiram J. was the second child. The subject of this history after reaching years of manhood engaged as a farmer and fruit-grower until 1874. He had received a good common-school education, and after leaving the pioneer schools at- tended for a time Wheaton College, at Wheaton, 111. He became connected with the weekly Gazette of Champaign as local editor in 1874, which posi- tion he occupied five years and until the ap- pointment of the editor and proprietor, George Scroggs, as Consul to Hamburg, in 1879. Mr. Scroggs then selected Mr. Dunlap as editor-in- chief, and after the death of Mr. S., in 1880, Mr. Dunlap was appointed manager of the paper. He commenced the publication of the daily Gazette in 1883, and has conducted it successfully until the present time. It is the only daily paper in Cham- paign County, and the organ of the Republican party in this locality. Mr. Dunlap is a clear and forcible writer, and commenced his literary labors in his youth. For three years he was the agricultural correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, and has been connected with other papers in trie West in the same capacity. He possesses excellent business ability, being one of the Directors of the Building Association of Cham- paign, and for many years Secretary of the Agri- cultural Board, and interested in all enterprises tending to the welfare and progress of the county. He is Republican in principle, and uniformly casts his vote and exerts his influence in support of his party. Socially he is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, in which he was for nine years High 1'riest, and was Master of Blue Lodge in Champaign one year. He was Supervisor of Champaign Township for nine consecutive years, and has served as a delegate to the various county and State conventions. Iliram J. Dunlap was united in marriage with Miss Ellen L. Baker, of Cobden, Union Co., 111., Nov. 18, 1861. Mrs. D. is the daughter of Garret II. and Elinina (Clapp) Baker, who were natives of New York State. They are pleasantly located on West Clark street, and enjoy the 'society of the most cultured people of the vicinity. Aside from his city interests, Mr. D. is the owner of a fruit farm two miles south of Champaign. BEDEBICK B. BATTLES, who has distin- guished himself, as one of the intelligent and progressive fanners of Harwood Town- ship, is located on section 28, and has just inaug- urated the breeding of fine stock, starting out with a herd of imported Holstein cattle. Among these are Younger Hendrick and Vic Duvries, both im- ported, and also Bessie L'Oiel and Victor of Har- wood. With this handsome showing he expects to raise a herd which will compare favorably with anything of the kind in the county. Aside from this and the raising of grain and hay in large quantities, he also keeps a dairy of fifteen fine cows. The farm buildings are amply suited to the pur- poses for which they are intended, the house being shapely and commodious. The proprietor takes much pride in the result of his labors, and may be freely pardoned in supposing that there are few who will surpass him in good management, enter- prise and industry. Mr. Battles is a native of Dorchester, Mass., and was born Dec. 15, 1828. He is the fifth child in a family of ten born to his parents, Joseph and Judith (French) Battles, also natives of the Bay State. Joseph Battles served as a soldier in the War of 1812, in the place of his twin brother, Benjamin, who had been drafted and was a mar- ried man. The grandfather of our subject, Jona- than Battles, was a Captain in the Revolutionary War in command of a Massachusetts company. His grandmother was formerly a Miss Porter, a de- scendant of a prominent family in New England^ 1 t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 779 various members of which afterward scattered in different portions of the West. The father of our subject was one of the pioneer settlers of Lowell, and became largely interested in cotton manufactures. He was one of the first to establish a mill there, and his elder brother, Frank F., is now Superintendent in one of the Massa- chusetts cotton mills, having held the same posi- tion for a period of forty years; the mill em- ploys 2,000 hands. Another brother, Joseph P.. has just retired from a similar position in the At- lantic mills, at Lawrence, which he had held for forty years. Still another one, Charles, was Super- intendent and Paymaster in another establishment of the kind, where he was employed for thirty years. Onr subject passed his childhood and youth in his native city, and upon reaching manhood served an apprenticeship as a molder, being thus employed until 1851. In the spring of that year he started by vessel around Cape Horn, from Boston for Cal- ifornia, and upon arriving on the Pacific Slope selected his location in the Suisun Valley, where he engaged in farming. After a residence there of two and one-half years he returned East as far as lona, Mich., where he engaged in a sawmill for two years. While a resident of Michigan Mr. Battles, on the 1st of February. 1857, was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Wiser. Mrs. B. was born in Harris- burg, Pa., Dec. 18, 1834, and was the fifth child of Henry and Elizabeth (Reinhart) Wiser, natives of Pennsylvania, and among the most highly respected people of the farming districts. Henry Wiser, the grandfather of Mrs. Battles, and his father-in-law, John Reinhart, were' both soldiers of the Revolu- tion. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Battles came to Douglas County, 111., and shortly afterward to Champaign County, locating on the south half of section 28, which had been purchased by the brother of our subject. This has been the home of Mr. Battles since 1857. Upon his first arrival here his neighbors were few and far between, and the land wholly uncultivated. Nothing but a wagon tract marked the line of travel, and here, in common with their remote neighbors, they struggled with the difficulties of the wilderness until the soil yielded them a return for their labor, and the blooming aspect of the country induced a more generous colonization. The five sons and two daughters born to our subject and his wife are all living with one excep- tion. Benjamin, the youngest, passed away in early childhood. Those surviving are Frank W., Frederick, Mary A., Elizabeth B., John F. and Joseph. The latter and his deceased brother Ben- jamin were twins. The eldest daughter, Mary, is the wife of Albert Tompkins, who operates a rented farm about half a mile from the residence of his father-in-law. Our subject is a Republican in pol- itics, and his estimable wife is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A lithographic view of the thoroughbred herd of Holsteins and the handsome home of Mr. Battles is shown elsewhere in this work. GEORGE WEBSTER is numbered among the intelligent and prosperous farmers of Ran- toul Township, where he located on section 9, in 1872. At that date there was a small house and a few acres under cultivation. He now has a farm of 160 acres, finely laid out in grain fields and pasture lands, and equipped with good stock, creditable farm buildings, all necessary machinery, and the usual appliances required by the progressive, modern agriculturist. His course in life, although perhaps not distinguished by any remarkable event, has been that of a peaceable and law-abiding citi- zen, conducting his business and farming trans- actions in a praiseworthy manner, and enjoying the esteem and confidence of his fellow-men. The early home of Mr. Webster was located in New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., where he was born under his father's roof, on the 5th of January, 1845. His parents, Aurelius and Elsie (Brockway) Webster, were natives of Rensselaer County, that State, where they grew to years of maturity and be- came husband and wife. After his marriage Mr. W. purchased a sawmill in East Nassau, Rensselaer County, which he operated for a number of years, 780 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. and thence removed to Columbia Count} 7 , where he had previously bought a farm, upon which he lo- cated and lived until his decease, March 13, 1886. The grandfather of our subject, Constant Webster, occupied himself the greater part of his life in blacksmithing and farming, and possessed that res- olute and industrious spirit which resulted in his prosperity and secured for him a comfortable home. He also was a resident of Rensselaer County, where he looked his last upon the scenes of earth, and where his remains were laid to rest. The subject of this sketch was the fifth of ten children born to his parents. He passed his boy- hood and youth after the manner of most farmers' boys, and in common with his brothers and sisters assisted in the lighter labors around the homestead. His studies, begun in the common schools, were completed in the academy at Lebanon, and he re- mained under the home roof until his father's death, in 1866. In December of that year, having nearly reached his majority, he started for the West, and located in the borders of Indiana until - June of the following year. He then came to Del- avan in Tazewell County, this State, where he worked by the month two years, and afterward for a few months clerked in a store. His constitution, however, would not permit of indoor employment, and without much regret he returned to farming. He continued a resident of Tazewell County until 1872, when he made his advent into this county, and purchased a tract of land now included in his present farm. After occupying this for a period of about nine years he left it in charge of a tenant, and removing to Rantoul engaged in general mer- chandising, living in town two years. He then returned to his farm, where he has since resided and superintended its cultivation and improvement. He has never enjoyed robust health. The marriage of our subject and Miss Mary H. Slaughter took place at the home of the bride's parents in Delavan, 111., April 15, 1873. Mrs. Web- ster was born in Delavan Township, Aug. 20, 1853, and is the daughter of William and Sarah (Hudson) Slaughter, pioneer settlers of Tazewell County, to which they removed from Ohio in 1852. Of this marriage there have been born three children Frank, Nelson and Edith, all at home with their parents. Mr. Webster politically is a decided Re- publican, and keeps himself well posted upon the current events of the day. Mrs. Webster is :i mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. /ff^ W. TERRY, a retired farmer who is spcnd- (I| <- -, ing his life quietly in the city of Urbana, v \^5i was born in Darke County, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1817. His parents were Nathan and Delilah (West- fall) Terry, natives of Ohio and Kentucky. His grandfather, Enos Terry, was born in New Jersey, to which State his parents emigrated from Ireland and where they spent the last years of their life. Enos Terry served as a Colonel in the War of 1812, and the final treaty with the Indians was made at his house. He afterward removed to Ohio with his family, where he became an extensive farmer and land-owner, and was also identified with the politi- cal affairs of that section, being Associate Judge of Darke a number of years. He also married and reared a family, among whom was Nathan, the father of our subject. He was bred to farming pursuits, which he carried on near the old home his entire life. His family consisted of seven children, of whom only three are now living: Sarah, Mrs. Furnas, of Miami County, Ohio; George W., of our sketch; and Linus, a carriage manufacturer of Miami County. Both the families of Enos and Nathan belonged to the Christian Church. The subject of this history remained at home with his parents, attending school and assisting in the labors of the farm until fifteen years of age. He then went to Logansport, Ind., where he served an apprenticeship of five years' at saddlery and har- ness-making, and then worked two years as a jour- neyman. In 1845 he pushed further westward into Illinois, stopping the first two years in Tazewell County, whence he came, in 1847, to Champaign County. Here he purchased eighty acres of land in Somer Township, to which he afterward added sixty acres, which he improved and cultivated until 1869, with uniform success. At this time, wishing to aban- don farming pursuits, he erected a fine brick resi- dence at the intersection of Main and Coler streets, into which, when completed, he removed his family CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 781 and where he has since lived. He suld the farm in 1873. While a resident of Urbana Township he was intrusted with its various offices, the duties of which he fulfilled with credit to himself and satis- faction to his constituents. Mr. Terry was married in 1849, to Mrs. Eliza Ad kins, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of James and Asenath (Hall) Young. Her parents were natives of Ohio, and her father was one of the earliest settlers of the Buckeye State. Of the ten children comprising the parental household, five only are now living, namely : Mrs. Elizur Tenney; Mrs. Mary Somers, of Somer Township, this county ; Walter, who is farming near Normal; Mrs. Sarah Moore, of Ford County, 111., and Naomi, Mrs. Ditto, of St. Joseph Township, this county. James Young came to Illinois in 1842, and locating on a farm in Urbana Township cultivated the soil until he rested from his earthly labors. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. By her first marriage Mrs. Terry became the mother of two children William and Asenath. Mr. Terry is Republican in politics, and during the late war assisted in the preservation of the Union by enlisting in Co. B, 76th 111. Vol. Inf., and serving three years. He was promoted Sergeant, and was present at .the battles of Vicksburg, Jack, son, Blakesley, and many other engagements and skirmishes. He is a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R., and a fair repre- sentative of the substantial farmers and business men of Champaign County. J-~)AMES G. OLDHAM, of Urbana, has ob- I taincd a local reputation as a breeder of fine ! stock, in which he has had a valuable ex- ' perience and been remarkably successful. He is a native of Fayette County, Ohio, and was born Oct. 2, 1847. His parents, John G. and Anna (Warner) Oldham, were natives respective!}' of Virginia and Ohio. John Oldham was an extensive farmer and stock-dealer, and the owner of about 800 acres of land in Fayette County. In connec- tion with farming he also operated a blacksmith and cooper shop. His life was one of industry and en- ergy, and he remained in Ohio, to which State he had removed at an early day, until his death, in 1852. Mrs. O. survived her husband thirty-three years and died near Urbana in 1885. Both parents belonged to the Society of Friends, and politically the father of our subject was a stanch adherent of the old Whig party. The parental family included ten children, eight now living, namely: Jane, Mrs. Daniels; John E. ; Massey, Mrs. Williams; Simeon W. ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Lukens; Abner W. ; J. W., and James G., of our sketch. The grandfather of our subject, Edward Oldham, was a native of Virginia, and married Miss Jane Gardner, who was of English descent. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Levi Warner, a. native of the Keystone State, reared among the Quakers, and whose grandparents, also Quakers, emigrated from England at an early period in the history of this country and engaged exten- sively in farming. Mr. Oldham, of our sketch, was bred to farm life and at an early age learned to depend upon his own resources. When thirteen years old he com- menced working out at $7 per month, and made himself so useful that in the fall of that same year his wages were raised to $15 per month. The year following he received $17. In the meantime he prosecuted his education by attending school iu the winter, so that at seventeen years of age he en- gaged as a teacher at Madison, Ind., in the vicinity of which place his labors had been carried on since he was ten years of age. Our subject came to Illinois in 1864, and rented a farm three miles east of Urbana. He operated upon rented land until 1875, and then purchased a farm in Urbana Township, which he occupied until 1 882. In the meantime he had been engaged in buy- ing and shipping stock, of which he made a success, and which he has continued since 1871. He deals only in the best grades, and has in his stables a num- ber of blooded horses, usually keeping no less than twelve on hand. Mr. Oldham became a resident of Urbana in- 1883, at which time he began dealing in city property, and is at the present doing more to build up and improve the city than any other one man. In view of the career here detailed it is hardly jmm 782 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. necessary to say that Mr. Oldhain has arrived at his present position, financially, through his own ef- forts, and he possesses the respect and esteem which arc tacitly accorded all those who have been success- ful in surmounting difficulties, and have thus at- tained that independence of character which con- stitutes the substantial and reliable citizen. Mr. Oldham was married on the 9th of March, 1871, to Miss Bell L., daughter of John and Maria (Roe) McDonald, natives of Virginia and Ken- tucky respectively. Of this union there are two children Ora B. and Ada P. Dec. -*- AMUEL A. KIRKPATRICK, of St. Joseph Township, is the third son and fifth child of John C. and Mary C. (Busey) Kirkpat- rick, and was born on the old homestead 22, 1860. The Kirkpatricks are a family widely and favorably known in the Buckeye State, where James Kirkpatrick, the grandfather of our subject, was born, reared and married. He after- ward removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and reared a family of sons and daughters, among whom was John C., the father of our subject, who became a resident of Illinois in 1851. He possessed the excellent traits of his Irish and German ancestry, and by his energy and industry became a leading light in this locality, assisting with his brother pio- neers in developing the resources, of the country, and building up from the uncultivated prairie the fine and fertile stretch of land which is now con- sidered one of the most valuable in the Prairie State. His first purchase comprised a portion of the present site of Champaign. John C. Kirkpatrick followed farming for many years, and is still living, but retired from active labor. He became particularly successful in the raising of cattle for the markets, from the proceeds of which he realized quite a fortune, which he in- vested in real estate to the extent of 800 acres, which now comprises one of the finest farms in Champaign County. The beautiful residence is surrounded by choice shade trees, flanked by good barns and other out-buildings, and in fact is very nearly perfection in all that constitutes the modern country home. The parental family included the following children, all living, viz., Marion F., Al- bert J. ; Elizabeth, the wife of D. R. Dilling; llat- tic B., the wife of C. A. Barricklow; Samuel A., of our sketch; Charles S., Jesse C. and Fannie. Our subject remained a member of the house- hold until 1884, and on the 23d of April of that 3'ear. was married to Miss Ella Day, of Fountain County, Ind. Mrs. Kirkpatrick is a native of the county mentioned, and the daughter of Michael and Jane Day. After marriage, the young people made their preparations for a permanent residence on the old homestead, where they have still re- mained, and where our subject, like his father be- fore him, has successfully followed farming and stock-raising, and made a specialty of fine horses, breeding and importing direct from Scotland some of the best specimens of Clydesdales to be found in Illinois. He also has a small herd of thorough- bred Short-horn cattle, and has acquired quite an enviable reputation as a breeder of fine stock. In conjunction with this he has raised large quan- tities of corn annually, it being consumed mostly by the farm stock. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick, there has been born one child, a son, Glenn B. Mr. Kirkpatrick received a good education, completing his studies in the Normal School at Ladoga, and for two winters thereafter conducted a school in Champaign County. He finally concluded, how- ever, that farming was preferable to teaching, but by a judicious course of reading keeps himself well informed upon matters of general interest. OSEPH R. HUDSON, the fourth son of John and Lydia Hudson, of St. Joseph Township, was born near Rising Sun, now the county seat of Ohio County, Ind., March 18, 1846. He came to this county with his parents when a boy eight years of age, and completed his educa- tion by a limited attendance at the district school. He has been continuously a resident of the old homestead, and before reaching his majority was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Koep. a native of Ohio, but whose parents were from Pennsylva- T RESIDENCE OF V/M F, HO WARD , SEC , 24- , H EN5LE Y TP. RESIDENCE OF ROBERT DAVIS , 5 EC . 13 , M A HOM ET T P. "SYCAMORE HOME " = R.B . MORRIS ,5Ec.i5,uRBANA TP. HE. f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 785 nia. Of this union there was burn one daughter, Amelia M., now the wife of Joseph Rice, of St. Joseph Township. The mother departed this life when the child was but an infant. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in the spring of 1880, was formerly Miss Margaret McGraw, a native of New York State, who came to this county with her parents when a child. She is the daughter of Roger and Mary McGraw, the former of whom is deceased; the mother resides in Urbana. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hudson are members and regular attendants of the Catholic Church at Champaign. The homestead of our subject includes ICO acres of choice land, with a handsome and substantial residence, which was put up in the summer of 1886. The barn and out-buildings are commodi- ous and convenient, and the premises in all respects indicate the supervision of an enterprising and in- telligent proprietor. Mr. Hudson has given his at- tention principally to the raising of grain and stock, in which he has been eminently successful, and is reckoned among the well-to-do and inde- pendent farmers of St. Joseph Township. He is pre-eminently an expert in the cultivation of the soil, and his stock operations yield him annually a handsome income. IIRISTOPI1ER L. IIOWSER, one of the en- terprising young farmers of St. Joseph, of whom much is expected in the future, was born not far from his present residence on the 8th of November, 1864. He is the third son of Jona- than and Margaret J. (Dillman) Howser, who be- came residents of this county in 1854, settling upon a farm in St. Joseph Township, where they still reside. Our subject received the advantages of the com- mon schools, and remained with his parents until his marriage, which took place in the spring of 1884, when he was in the twentieth year of his age. The lady destined to become the sharer of his home and fortune was Miss Millie J. Ileeder, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born in 1864, and the daughter of Henry H. and Emma (Neil) Reeder, who became residents of this county in 1870, and are. now residing in Philo. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. llowser lo- cated upon their present homestead on section 31, which embraces eighty acres of improved land, with a handsome two-story residence, a good barn, and all necessary out-buildings. Mr. H., in addi- tion to general farming, has already distinguished himself as a successful stock-raiser, giving his at- tention mostly to hogs and cattle, numbers of which he fattens each year and ships to the Eastern mar- kets. To this little household, established early in life, thefe have been born two children, a son and daughter, Herman Blaine and Laurel Bertram. Mr. Howser since becoming a voter has uniformly ex- erted his influence in support of Republican princi- ples, and takes an intelligent interest in county and local affairs. with OHN II. HUDSON. The fine farm of 360 acres, which is located on section 30, in St. Joseph Township, and invariably attracts the eye of the traveler through that section its thrifty grain fields, and pasture lands neatly fenced, its handsome and imposing resi- dence in the midst of a beautiful grove, and the other shapely and convenient out-buildings, has been for years the property of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. Of this he took possession when it was but an open prairie, with neighbors few and far between, and since that time he has given to the place his undivided care and attention. On all sides are evinced the indus- try and enterprise of an intelligent and wide-awake man, and one who, without question, has been largely identified with the agricultural interests and the welfare of his township. Mr. Hudson was born in Ohio County, Ind., near the thriving town of Rising Sun, the county seat, March 22, 1814. His father, John Hudson, a na- tive of England, was born in 1803, and in 1820 emigrated to the United States and was married in Ohio to Miss Lydia McKinsy, a native of the Buck- eye State. After marriage the young people re- T 786 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. t 5 maiued fur :i time in Ohio, and thence removed to Indiana, of which they were residents until 1854. Then, with their family of nine children, they came to this county, locating two miles south of Urbana upon a farm which the father rented for one year. He then purchased the farm which lies on section 19, and is now occupied by his son Joseph R. He is in the enjoyment of good health and all his fac- ulties. The mother's death took place May 23, 1887. The parental family of our subject included ten children, of whom only seven are living. Of these John H. was the third son, and was fourteen years old when his parents came to this county. He com- pleted his education in the schools of Terre Haute, Ind., and remained with his parents until reaching his twentieth year, when he started out on his own account by renting a farm. At the expiration of a year he purchased eighty acres of land which is now included in his present homestead, and to which he has subsequently added until the farm embraces 300 acres. Upon laying his plans for the future, one of the most important steps toward the establishment of a home of his own was his mar- riage with Miss Eliza, the daughter of Jonathan and Martha J. l-Ionser. The young people after their marriage remained a year on the homestead of the elder Hudson, and then removed to their own farm on section 30. The lirst modest dwelling was replaced in 1870 by the present fine residence, and Mr. Hudson has- been continually adding improvements since taking possession. Most of his accumulations have been the result of his success as a grain-raiser, although he has dealt largely in cattle, keeping usually about seventy head which he fattens on grass. He is also engaged considerably in the breeding of draft horses, and exhibits some fine specimens. The home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Hudson was completed by the birth of eight children, six sons and two daughters, named respectively, Lettie L., Clifton A., Charles II., John M., Oscar, Perry, Frederick M. and Carrie. All are at home with their parents. The career of Mr. Hudson has been essentially that of a self-made man, who early in life became 1 Y dependent upon his own resources, and who has been prospered through his own perseverance and industry. Upon .first starting out for himself his outfit consisted of one horse which had been given him by his father. He labored industriously, lived economically and was remarkably fortunate in his investments. He is now ranked among the repre- sentative farmers of Central Illinois, and his estate adds greatly to the value of property in his com- munity, as well as forming one of the most attract- ive features of the landscape. GEORGE W. PUTNAM, who is well known as a member of the firm of Putnam Bros., the leading business house at Pen field, is with his brother conducting an extensive trade in agricultural implements, besides having a store of general merchandise and a grain elevator. Mr. Putnam was born on the 3d of May, 1852, when his parents were residents of the city of Rochester, N. Y., where he lived until two years old, and then moved with his parents to Worcester County, Mass., remaining there until twelve years of age, and then came with them to Illinois. His boyhood and youth were passed alternately in the district school and employed in the lighter labors of the farm until a youth of seventeen years. Our subject's father, a gentleman of much nat- ural ability, who valued the advantages of learning, being desirous that his son should receive a college education, placed him in the High School of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where he pursued his studies until the death of the former. He returned home after a time but subsequently resumed his studies until failing health obliged him to abandon them, and his school life was practically ended. Afterward he resumed work on the farm until February, 1883, his mother in the meantime having given him a portion of the land. At the date mentioned, ill company with his brother Edgar, he engaged in his present business, and they now pay over to the railroad company annually more than one-half of the freight charges at Peufield Station. On the 22d of April, 1878, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Florida Kirkpatrick, at the home of the bride's parents in Charity, Ver- t. t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 787 milion Co., 111. Mrs. P. is the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Kirkpatrick, and was born in Indiana; her father is proprietor of a fine farm in Vermilion County, thisj&ate, and is one of the leading agri- culturists of that section. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Putnam are, Nellie, Earl and Harry. Mr. P. is a strong temperance man. Democratic politically, and socially a member of the Knights of Pythias. R. COSBEY was 'born among the Ohio hills, in Hamilton County, Dec. 29, 1848. fie was the third child of Samuel M. and Elizabeth (Malsbury) Cosbey, the former a na- tive of Ohio and the latter of New Jersey. The father of our subject was the son of Samuel and Ellen (Lee) Cosbey, of Scotch descent, and his niother was the daughter of William and Eliza (Bowman) Malsbury, natives of New Jersey. The childhood and youth of our subject were spent on his father's farm and his education was con- ducted in the district schools of Sycamore Town- ship. When he was fourteen years of age the family were bereft of the kind care of the affec- tionate mother who passed from earth in. middle life, and Thomas R. was placed in the home of an uncle. He remained there a year, and afterward took up his abode with another uncle, remaining the same length of time. His father was then mar- ried and the family once more established under the same roof. The second wife of Samuel Cosbey was formerly Miss Ellen Steefel, a native of New Jersey, and with them our subject remained until he was twenty-four years of age. He then began farming on his own account and, believing that he would be enabled to maintain a family, on the 18th of June, 1874, was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Meier, who was the eldest of seven children born to John M. and Kuniguuda (Seitenfaden) Meier. Her parents were natives of Bavaria and came to America during the great foreign emi- gration of 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Cosbey soon after their marriage, established themselves on a farm in Hamilton County, Ohio, which they occupied until the spring T)f 1884. Then coming West they located on a farm of 240 acres in Ilarwood Township, which was owned by the father of our subject. Here Mr. Cosbe}' has since successfully followed farming and stock-raising and ha? become one of the important factors in the agricultural interests of this section. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cosbey, seven in number and all living, are recorded as follows: Linn Leonard was born in 1875; Carl Walter, in the year 1876; Myra Mabel, Oct. 22, 1877; Hal- ley. May 31, 1879; Miles Milo, May 5, 1881; lola Edith, Nov. 5, 1883; Lola May, Aug. 14, 1886. The home and its surroundings form a pleasant picture of country life in the midst of peace and plenty. Our subject has never been an office-seeker, although occasionally officiating as Township Clerk or Trustee. His political sympathies are with the Republican party, and religiously, with his estima- ble wife and her parents, he adheres to the doctrines of the Lutheran Church. J"~l T. FUGATE, M. D., a popular and promi- nent physician of Urbana, located in this city in November, 1868, whence he had re- ' moved from Pike County, 111. He was born hrWytheville, Wythe Co., Va., June 15, 1831, and is the son of Wilbourn and Enphemia (Thompson) Fugate, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina. Mr. Fugate was a Huguenot. His ances- tors fled to this country before persecution, locating in South Carolina. His father was prominent in the affairs of his native county in Virginia, occupying an official position the greater part of his life. He studied medicine in his younger days, but never practiced. He removed with his family to Pike County, Missouri, and there became a partner in the Bowling Green Republican, with which he was associated for three years. Then, in partner- ship with Mr. Block, he engaged in mercantile pur- suits, and in 1835 purchased a farm which he occupied until 1863. He then sold out and re- moved to Mt. Sterling, 111., near which town he purchased land and lived for some time. After disposing of his property there he became a resi- dent of Camp Point, where he died on the 2d-of December, 1866, at the advanced age of eighty-six 788> CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. years. During his early life Wilbourn Fugate was a Whig, politically, but later cast his lot with the Democratic party. Religiously he was an old- school Presbyterian. He possessed a remarkable memory, especially in regard to names and dates, and wherever he lived was readily recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability, well fitted to be a leader among his fellows. He was a great ad- mirer of Masonic principles, and connected himself with the fraternity when a young man, becoming prominent and establishing many lodges in differ- ent localities. The six children of the parental household are recorded as follows: J. T., of our sketch, was the eldest; Dr. Jerome W. is practicing in Lawrence, Kan. ; Elizabeth married Dr. A. L. Darrali, of Bloomington, 111.; Dr. Lycurgus W. has built up a fine practice in and around Colchester, McDonough County ; David W. and Miranda are residents of Camp Point, 111. The mother survives, and is living with her son, our subject, at Urbana, being now seventy-six years old. The Doctor spent his younger days in teaching school, and pursuing his studies under competent tutors at Barry, in Pike County, 111. When twenty- two years of age he determined to see something of the world, and proceeding to Virginia, traveled South and East and in various other sections for several years. Upon returning to this State he resumed his former occupation, and devoted his leisure hours to the study of medicine. After a thorough course in the Missouri Medical College- he was admitted to practice, in 185!(, entering upon his profession in the city of St. Louis, of which he was a resident until the breaking out of the Rebell- ion. He then returned to Pike County,. ill., where he followed his practice until 1868. In that year he turned it over to his brother, Lycurgus W., and removed to Urbana, where he has since been actively engaged. He is prominent and popular among his professional brethren in this city, and belongs to the State, County, and District Medical Societies. He. has been a close student, an exten- sive reader, and Ifas won his way fairly to the con- fidence and esteem of the people of Champaign County. Dr. Fugate was married in 1862, to Miss Dora Parkes, who was born in Adams County, 111., in 1838, and is the daughter of Orsamus and Jane (Burnham) Parkes. natives of Ohio. Of this union there are three children: Minnie, Mrs. Ray, of Ur- bana, who has two children Wayne and Carlos ; Wilbourn W. and Alice G. are at home with their parents. The family residence is pleasantly located at the intersection of High and Broad streets, where its inmates enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. The Doctor and Mrs F. are members in good standing of the Baptist Church, and number among their friends andasso- ciates the leading people of Urbana. MATHEWSON, who is worthily fulfilling his misson as a member of the farming community of Compromise Town- ship, for the last twenty-two years has been industriously cultivating 160 acres of land on sec- tion 4. Here he has a good set of farm buildings, witli all the machinery required by the modern ag- riculturist. Our subject is a native of Rhode Isl- and, and was born at Smithfield, Sept. 11, 1810. His early years were passed after the manner of most farmers' boys, and he started out quite young in life to do for himself. Going first to Oxford, Mass., when but fifteen years of age, he worked nine months in the year and spent the remaining three in school, in the meantime doing chores for his board. He was thus occupied for a period of two years, and then returning to his native State engaged in a livery stable at Providence, where he worked for a year, in the meantime revolving in his mind a plan by which he would be enabled to see something more of the world, and find if there were not something better for him in the future. At the expiration of this time Mr. M. proceeded first to Utica, then to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and from there walked about 200 miles through the country to Albany. He thence proceeded by boat to Schenectady, and from there to New York City, finally arriving in Hartford, Conn., where he en- gaged to work by the month, and was thus occu- pied two years. He now determined to seek the West in earnest. Proceeding first to Cincinnati and finding nothing to keep him there, he went into CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 789 Frankfurt, Ohio, and was afterward variously en- gaged, being in the lumber-yard and on the canal, driving a cooper's, wagon sometimes, and finally rented a piece of land and settled down for five years. After becoming his own man on the farm, and feeling the necessity of a companion and helpmeet to cheer his solitude, Mr. Mathewson was united in marriage with- Miss Marie Williams, of Butler County, Ohio, and they went to housekeeping in modest style upon the rented land. In due time the family was increased by the birth of four chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy, and the other three grew to maturity and married. Lewis W., the eldest son, chose for his wife Miss Mollie Can- non, of Cincinnati, and where he is now City En- gineer; James married Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, and is farming on section 2 in Compromise Township, this county ; Alice, the wife of C. W. Lambert, is living in Nebraska. Mr. Mathewson, in 1845, abandoned farming for the time, and moving into Cincinnati purchased a number of teams and commenced draying. This proved a very successful venture, and he contin- ued for seventeen years, during which time he pur- chased several lots, and in 1861 sold them all in order to come to Illinois. He reached this county in July, 1865, and purchased 160 acres of land in Compromise Township, where he built a small house, into which he removed his family the fol- lowing spring. Ten years later he met with an affliction in the death of his wife, who departed this life on the 7th of January, 1875, and was buried in the cemetery at Maplewood. The present wife of our subject, formerly Mrs. Harriett (Wells) Thrapp, and to whom he was mar- ried Jan. 7, 1882, is the daughter of Richard and Susannah (Sappington) Wells, and was born in Knox County, Ohio, Sept. 6. 1827. Her father was a native of Anne Arundel County, Md., was born Jan. 4, 1800, and in early life learned the carpen- ter's trade at Baltimore. He worked there several years, and when twenty-six years of age was mar- ried and removed to Ohio, .locating among the ear- liest settlers of Knox County. Thence he removed to Licking County, and engaged in farming there for a period of thirty-five years. Subsequently he removed into Delaware County for the purpose of educating his children, and died there May 27, 1871. His wife, formerly Miss Susannah Sapping- ton, was born Oct. It), 1808, in the eastern part of Maryland, near the shores of Chesapeake Bay. Her parents died when she was but four years of age, and she was reared by her uncle, Charles Wil- loughby. She departed this life Aug. 31, 1843, during the residence of the family in Licking Count}'. Her children, five in number, were John T., Harriett A., Rebecca J., Richard N., and a babe who died unnamed. These worthy people filled their niche in life, and were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Mathew- son, was a native of Rhode Island, where he spent his entire life engaged in farming pursuits, and passed from the scenes of his earthy labors on the 18th of November, 1812, at the age of sixty- three years, ten months and fourteen days. His wife, who in her girlhood was Miss Bettie Brown, was a native of the same State as her husband, and also died there Feb. 17, 1842. She survived her husband many years, having at the time of her death reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years, one month and seven days The great-grand- father of our subject, Othiniel Mathewson, a na- tive of the same State as his son, lived to be one hundred and one years, seven months and twenty- eight days old. His death took place on the 18th of October, 1800. ., SHBEL H. BAILEY, of Rantoul Township, LJ] came to this section of the country in the spring of 1861, and located on a farm four miles west of the village of Rantoul. After engaging in farming for a period of ten years he moved into town and took charge of a nursery, which he conducted until admonished by failing health that he must retire from active labor. Of his family, one son, Algernon S., after serving in the Union army as a member of Co. I, 12th 111. Vol. Cav., died of disease contracted in the service. Frederick S. resides here, and Edward D., in Clark, Dak. Laura E. married F. A. Brown, of Dakota, T . 790 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. and Charles W., the youngest, is a grain dealer and Postmaster at Tomlinson. The subject of this sketch was born in Lenox, Berkshire Co., Mass., Sept. 11, '181 9. His parents, Caleb and Betsey (Hills) Bailey, were natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts respectively, and the former of English and the latter of German ancestry. Caleb Bailey early in life learned the shoemaker's trade, afterward engaged as a merchant, and during the latter part of his life devoted him- self to farming. The eight children of the parental household comprised five sons and three daughters, six of whom survive. Ashbel II. was the eldest of the family, and spent his early life in his native town, receiving his education at the district school and Lenox Academy. Upon the removal of the parents to Ohio he accompanied them, and grew to manhood on the farm. He had a natural love of learning, and after becoming a resident of the Buckeye State entered Grand River Institute at Austinburg, Ohio, where he became fitted for a teacher at the age of sixteen years. He subsequently attended Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary two years. He commenced teaching in the district school, and advanced until he became Superintend- ent of Schools in Ashtabulfi County, Ohio, and was also connected with the Board of Examiners eight O years. While a resident of Ohio Mr. Bailey was united in marriage with Miss Laura M. Wright, of Ashta- bula County, and daughter of Col. David Wright. The young people located at Jefferson, Ashtabula County, where Mr. B. taught several years, and then at College Hill. He became agent for Terre Haute and Ohio Female Colleges, and was thus oc- cupied ten years, coming to this county soon aft- ward. Mrs. Laura M. Bailey departed this life in the summer of 1 868. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in 1870, was formerly Miss Sarah E. Smead, who, like her husband, was in earlier years a teacher, and at the time of her marriage was engaged in her profession in Madison, Ohio. She also is a native of Massachusetts, whence her parents removed to Ohio when she was a young lady sixteen years of age. Mr. Bailey has been prominent in the affairs of this locality since coming here, representing Ran- totil Township in the Board of Supervisors for a number of years, and in 1 880 was elected to the State Legislature on the Republican ticket, serving in the Thirty-second General Assembly. Much of his life has been devoted to reading and study, he being one of those men who wisely consider the time well spent which is given to the improvement of the mind. He keeps himself well posted upon current events, and although having little to do with general politics, casts his vote in support of Republican principles. Nothing pleases him better than to be able to encourage the various worthy enterprises calculated for the general welfare of his fellow-citizens, and his voice is always heard on the side of truth and justice. The' agitation of re- ligious and educational questions finds no more in- terested listener than himself, or one who more zealously encourages every measure for the intel- lectual and moral advancement of the people. His home in Rantoul is the resort of the intelligent and educated people of the place. He has been con- nected with the Congregational Church for a pe- riod of twenty years, and of which Mrs. Bailey is also a member, being the active sympathizer of her husband in his religious ideas and literary tastes. >HOMAS H. BELL, one of the self-made men of Newcomb Township, was born in Madison County, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1845, and is the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Smith) Bell, natives of the same county, where the father died in June, 1848. The parental household included six children, of whom Thomas H. was the fifth. He resided in his native county until seven- teen years of age, and until after the outbreak of the late war. He then enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. A, 113th Ohio Vol. Inf., and served three years. At the battle of Kennesaw Mountain he was badly wounded in the head, but finally recovered and resumed his place in his regiment. After the close of the war. in the spring of 1806, Mr. Bell came to Illinois, stopping in McLean County a short time, and thence went to Kansas. Afterward he returned to Ohio, and after a brief CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 791 stay in Madison County, finally settled in Tazewell County, 111., where he lived six years, and in the spring of 1875 came to Champaign County, locat- ing in Newcomb Township, where he purchased a tract of land and commenced its improvement and cultivation. He is now the possessor of 180 acres, with good buildings and valuable farm machin- ery, and in both his agricultural and business oper- ations has been eminently successful. He is re- garded as a good citizen and worthy member of the community, and is contributing his share to- ward the development and progress of this section. Mr. Bell was married in Tazewell County, 111., Dec. 31, 1868, to Miss Jane Richmond, a native of that county, who was born Oct. 26, 1849. Of this union there have been born six children Norah, Benjamin, Laura, Harvey, Bessie and James. Mrs. Bell departed this life in Newcomb Township, Jan. 11,1 887. Our subject is Republican in politics, and takes an interest in general and local affairs. <\w?OHN M. MINTURN, physician and sur- I geon at Rantoul, first drew breath in the village of Callensville, Pendleton Co., Ky., April 16, 1854. His ancestry is traced as follows : William W. Minturn, his paternal grand- father, was born in Virginia, Sept. 1, 1791, and mar- ried Miss Tirza Fellows, of Point Pleasant, May 26, 1816. She was born June 18, 1799, in Shelbourne, Mass., and became the mother df eleven children. The great-grandfather of our subject, Samuel P. Minturn, was of German descent and a native of Holland, whence he emigrated with his parents in the latter part of the sixteenth century. His father was Samuel P. Minturn, Sr. The family of the latter included eleven children, of whom the mother was formerly Miss Catherine Howel, of Warwick, Orange Co., N. Y. The father of our subject was born in Point Pleasant, Va., June 19, 1830, and during early manhood, in 1849, became a resident of Pendleton County, where lie married Miss Susan Ann Will- iams, of that county, Oct. 5, 1851. Of the four chil- dren born to them, namely, John M., William W., Mary T. and Anna B., only our subject and one brother survive. John M., being the eldest of the family, passed his boyhood in his native town, and after a brief course in the primary schools studied tinder a private tutor and obtained a good acquaint- ance with Latin, German and English. He after- ward made himself useful as clerk in a general mer- chandise store, and in 1876 began the study of medicine, while at the same time carrying on gen- eral merchandise. After he had . sufficient^' ad- vanced he entered the Medical Department of the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, and was graduated with honors in 1880. Soon after- ward he returned home and commenced the prac- tice of his profession. Four years later, desiring a broader field of operation, he came to the West and located in Rantoul, where he has since been a valuable addition to the profession. Dr. Minturn married while in his native State, his bride being Miss Sallie Kennedy, of Paris, Ky., their wedding occurring April 25, 1883. Of the three children born of this union, only one is living, a daughter, Winnie St. C. The others died in infancy. Dr. Minturn is Examining Surgeon for the United States Pension Department, to which office he was appointed July 15, 1885. He is con- nected with the Christian Church, and in all re- spects is an addition to the community. V AVID A. KING, formerly a highly re- spected farmer of Urbana Township,' is now living in ease and retirement in the city on East Main street. He became a resident of Illinois in 1855, locating first in Hens- ley Township, this count}', where he purchased 160 acres of land, which he occupied until 1882. He was successful in his farming operations, and now in his declining years is enjoying the fruits of his early industry. He is still in possession of his farm property, which is occupied by a tenant. Mr. King is a native of Bourbon County. Ky., and was born June 5, 1818. He is the son of Rob- ert S. and Rebecca (Ford) King, natives respect- ively of Virginia and Maryland. His father, who was a wheelwright by trade, became a resident of 792 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Kentucky in 171)0, to which State he removed with his fathsr, David King, Sr. The latter built the first brick house in Madison County, and was en- gaged in the saddlery and harness business. When a young man he served as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War. His son Robert S., the father of our subject, spent the remainder of his life in the Blue Grass region, where he married and became the father of thirteen children. Of these five are now livng, namely, John P., David A., Thomas F., Robert A., and Margaret, Mrs. King. Robert 8. King (luring the war was a stanch Union man, and with his excellent wife a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church during a period of sixty-three years. His home was the headquarters of the Meth- odist clergymen of that vicinity during their con- ventions and other important meetings. Although a Southerner he was never known to take a drop of ardent spirits or have liquor in the house but once, and that was ordered by the physician in a case of sickness. He was a Henry Clay Whig of the old type, and rounded up a worthy and useful life at the age of eighty-seven years. The mother was seventy years old at the time of her death. Our subject received his early education in the pioneer log school-house, with its puncheon floor and greased paper for window panes. He remained under the parental roof until twenty years of age, and then became overseer on a farm of slaves, which position he occupied for six years following. After- ward he engaged in the manufacture of furniture in Clark County, Ky., for a period of sixteen years, giving employment to several men and ap- prentices. In 1855 he sold out and made his first entry into the Prairie State. Mr. King of our sketch was married, in 1840, to Miss J. K. Mitchell, a native of Montgomery County, Ky., and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom nine are still living: John W. married Miss Kate Fry, and they have four children Blanche, Earle, Roscoe C. and Kate; Harriet, Mrs. Fisher, of Hensley Township, has six children Coyncr, Alice, Delia, Jennie, Eliza and Minnie; Margaret, Mrs. Ellen, of Hensley Township, has three children Frank, William and Nellie; Bessie, Mrs. Coffman, is a resident of Hensley Township, and Susan B., Mrs. Montgomery, of Condit Town- ship; Roxy, Mrs. Fry, of Urbana, has two children Bessie and Ethel; Isabella, Mrs. Stickrod, of Champaign, has two sons Willie and Harry; James II. married Miss Lotta Nicely, and they live at Girard, Kan.; David A., Jr., married Miss Bell Stickrod, and they have two children Flora and Cora; they live in Condit Township. Mrs. J. E. King died at the home of her husband in Hensley Township, Aug. 30, 1880. For his second wife Mr. David A. King married Mrs. Mary A. (Christie) Brewer, a native of New York City, and the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Day) Christie, of New Jersey. Her father was a contractor and builder, and the parental household consisted of three children, two now living Mrs. King and Abraham Christie, of Nebraska. The first husband of Mrs. King, Ashael Brewer, was one of the old settlers of Champaign County and a native of Maysville, Ky. He died in Urbana Township in 1881. Mr. King js one of the representative citizens of this county, and since his residence here has been closely identified with its business and agricultural interests. He is Democratic in politics, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of fifty-five years. During that time he served as Class-Leader and Steward, and has al- ways contributed liberally and cheerfully of his means for the support of the Gospel. >OHN M. HADDEN, M. D., a popular and successful physician of Seymour, 111., is the son of Gawin and Sarah (Martin) Hadden. natives of Indiana County, Pa. They lo- cated in their native county after their marriage, where they are now residing and engaged in farm- ing pursuits. Their eight children included four sons and four daughters, of whom our subject was the second. He was born in Indiana County, Pa., Aug. 7, 1842, and pursued his first studies in the common schools. He remained under the home roof until nineteen years of age, and in the fall of 18C1, after the first call for troops to defend the Union, enlisted in the G7th Pennsylvania Infantry, OF THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 795 serving till the close of the war. At the battle of Winchester he was captured by the rebels, and for a period of two months confined in Libby and Belle Isle prisons. He was finally paroled and in October, 1863, exchanged, and joined his regi- ment at Bull Run. He was particularly fortunate in his after career as a soldier, escaping wounds and imprisonment, and at the close of the struggle, received his honorable discharge and was mustered out at Harrisburg, Pa. Our subject then returned to his old home in Indiana County, and resumed his studies in Plum- ville Academy, where he attended six months and then entered Shelocta Academy, where he spent one year, and from there went to Greenville, Pa., where he attended a select school two years. ' In the mean- time he had been paying his own expenses by money earned during the hours when not in school, mostly as teacher. After completing his studies he entered the office of Dr. Thomas McMullen, of Greenville, with whom he read medicine three years, and completed his professional studies in the Medical Department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. After a thorough course of one year in this institution, he returned to Greenville and commenced the practice of his chosen profession in partnership with Dr. McMullin, with whom he operated two years. He then returned to the Uni- versity and remained one year, after which he received his diploma. He came to Champaign County in the spring of 1872, and located at Sey- mour, where he has built up an extensive and profitable patronage, and is highly esteemed as a physician and surgeon. The marriage of Dr. John M. Hadden and Miss Jennie E. Johnston was celebrated in Scott Town- ship on the 24th of October, 1878. Mrs. H. is the daughter of George and Esther (Irwin) Johnston, who were natives of Ireland, where the father died. The mother afterward emigrated to America, and died at her home four miles north of Seymour in 1863. The parental family consisted of five chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Hadden was the second. She was born in Ireland in about 1844. She is a lady highly respected in her community and a member in good standing of the Methodist Church. The Doctor politically is a Republican. eAPT. JOHN B. LESTER, whose name is familiar throughout this, county, and who gave some of the best years of his life to the service of his country when he earned the title which he now bears, is the sixth child of Benjamin and Deliverance R. (Baldwin) Lester, the former a native of New York and the latter of Wales. The mother of our subject emigrated with her parents to this country at an early age, and after her mar- riage with Mr. Lester they located first in Cincin- cinnati, Ohio, whence they afterward removed to Switzerland County, Ind., and later, in 1852, to Champaign County, 111. The father purchased a tract of land in Newcomb Township, where his death occurred in 1857. The mother is still living at an advanced age. Their family of twelve chil- dren, six sons and six daughters, were born mostly in Switzerland County, Ind. The birth of our subject took place in the latter named county, Feb. 2, 1836, and he lived there with his parents until sixteen years of age, thence removing with them to this county, of which he has since been a resident. He remained a member of the parental household until his marriage, which took place in Newcomb. Oct. 12, 1865, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of Hiram and Lydia (Allamang) Trotter (see sketch of Hiram Trotter). After his marriage he located upon a farm of his own, on section 23, in Newcomb Township. On the 7th of August, 1862, young Lester en- listed in Co. F, 125th 111. Vol. Inf., as a private, and on the 4th of November following received his commission from Gov. Yates as First Lieutenant. In March, 1863, he was promoted Captain of his company and served in that capacity until the close of the war, winning the admiration and esteem of his company to a man. He was engaged with his comrades in some of the most important battles of the war, and at Kennesaw Mountain his clothing was rent with seven bullets. In the engagement at Altoona he was surrounded, together with the left wing of his regiment, by the rebels, but succeeded in cutting his way through and personally captured and held the rebel officer in command. He still has in his possession the sword which he took from that commander. Capt. Lester went through the 1 t . 796 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Atlanta campaign under Gen. Sherman, after which the troops proceeded to Washington, passed in grand review before the Chief Executive, and were then mustered out and returned to their homes. Capt. Lester on returning to civil life again took up farming in Newcomb Township, where he has since occupied himself in the cultivation of the 352 acres of land which constitute his present home- stead. He is a decided Republican, politically, and occupies a good position socially and in the regard of the business community. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1855, and now belongs to Mahomet Lodge No. 220, at Mahomet. In the G. A. 11. he is a member in good standing of Ft. Worth Lodge No. 300, at Fisher. The wife of our subject was born in Frederick County, W. Va., June 26, 1 842. Of the eight chil- dren who came to bless their union five only are now living, viz., Marion, Rosa, Wiley, Lydia and Nellie. Those deceased are Sherman, Sanford and George. Mrs. Lester is a lady held in high respect and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Capt. Lester was a member of the Board of Supervisors for three years. He has not been an aspirant for political honors, but has preferred to attend to his business of farming. The accompany- ing portrait of Capt. Lester will be received with pleasure by all who know him, and recognized as that of a worthy and honored citizen. il >ILLIAM BREINER. Mr. Breiner took possession of his place in Harwood Town- ship in the spring of 1870, and has resided there, with the exception of a brief interval spent in merchandising at Ludlow, since that time. The improvements, which are noticeable on account of their superiority, are due to the ingenuity and industry of the owner who, as a man, citizen and far- mer, is regarded as one of the most valuable mem- bers of the community. Much of his land is devoted to grain-raising, the grain being chiefly util- ized on the farm in the feeding of stock, in which department of agriculture Mr. Breiner takes great delight. His stables contain some fine specimens of Norman horses. In cattle his favorites are the Short-horns and his swine are of the Poland-China breed. The farm buildings are finely adapted to all the requirements of the modern agriculturist, combining convenience with taste in their structure, and the fences and farm machinery are kept in first- class condition. Mr. Breiner is the representative of an excellent old family and spent his early life, until a boy of thirteen years, in the township of Bethlehem, Hun- terdon Co., N. J., where he was born on his father's farm, Sept. 6, 1839. The family included thirteen children, of whom our subject was the second born. His parents were Francis J. and Anna (Overpeck) Breiner, the father a native of Strasburg, Germany, and the mother of Pennsylvania. Margaret, the mother of Francis J. Breiner, was born in the same old German city as her son, Strasburg, the capital of Alsace-Lorraine, famous for its historic interest, and one of the points of attack by the German army in 1870, during which many of its most important buildings sustained great injury, but were afterward restored as far as possible to their original condi- tion. Among the other public institutions is the library, containing nearly 400,000 volumes, and the famous University which is the admiration and am- bition of the intellectual German youth. Its rail- ways and canals connect it with all the great rivers of France, and with the Danube, are important aids to its commerce. Its lofty houses, spacious squares and streets, intersected by branches of the 111, form a scene exceedingly picturesque and over which the American traveler lingers with deep admiration. The father of our subject, however, only retains faintly in his mind's eye the picture of his native city, as his parents emigrated to America when he was a child of six years. After the Breiner family had landed on Ameri- can shores they proceeded to a point near Philadel- phia, where they located and spent the remainder of their days, the father being occupied in weav- ing. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Shumaker) Overpeck, and was born in Pennsylvania, of which State her par- ents were also natives. The father died in middle life and the mother was afterward married to Ira T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 797 Cline. Of this latter union there were born seven children. After their marriage Francis and Anna Breiner, in 1852, came to Illinois and located in Fail-view, Fulton County, where Mr. B. followed his trade as a carpenter, and upon accumulating sufficient means purchased, first, 152 acres of unimproved land on the northwest quarter of section 5, in what is now Prairie City Township. He took possession of this in the spring of 1857. One of his first duties was to put up a house for the shelter of his family, which proved quite a pretentious structure for those times, being 1 Gx26 feet in area with two stories and a basement. It was very substantially built, and, with his estimable wife, he still occupies it. He subsequently added to his original purchase of land 135 acres, so that the farm now contains 287 acres and is one of the most fertile tracts in that section. Francis Breiner is now a hale and hearty old man, seventy-four years old, active and ener- getic as many men a quarter of a century younger. The mother has kept even pace with her husband and is in the enjoyment of good health. They have performed their part in life in a quiet and unobtru- sive manner and now, surrounded by many friends and all the comforts of life, are spending their de- clining years amidst the peace and plenty so justly earned. William Breiuer, of this sketch, spent his youth and early manhood with his parents, being trained to habits of industry, but receiving only a limited education. After reaching his majority he rented a tract of land adjoining his father's homestead, where he began farming for himself while he boarded at home and assisted his father when not busy with his own concerns. There was little com- fort in working for himself alone, and on the 22d of August, 1861, he secured a partner to share his fort- unes, being married to Miss Elizabeth Dunbar, whose acquaintance he had made years before. This lady was the second child of Warder and Eliza- beth (Logsdon) Dunbar, natives of Kentucky, who occupied a farm on the same section as our subject. Mr. Breiner, abandoning the land upon which he had been working, rented a tract near by, in War- ren Count}', where he remained eight years with satisfactory results He was then enabled to pur- chase forty acres of this, and continued his occu- pancy of the log cabin which he had previously built until he could put up a more pretentious dwelling. This latter structure was 16x24 feet in area, with one story and basement, to which he afterward added a kitchen 10x16 feet. This he oc- cupied with his family a little more than eigtot years, being prosperous, as usual, and then com- menced to look about him for something still better. There was a tract of 160 acres on section 22, in Harwood Township, which he very much desired and of which he soon managed to secure possession after selling his Warren County farm. Upon this was a house already begun, which he finished, and into which he removed his family in August of the same year (1870). He afterward added to his landed estate by the purchase of eighty acres' in Kansas. Mr. Breiner for several years afterward was con"- tinuously engaged in farming and stock-raising, but in the winter of 1876, imagined he would like to change his occupation, and engaged in merchandis- ing. This he tried to his satisfaction for one year and then returned to the farm, drawing a long breath of relief after he had been reinstated as a member of the rural community. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brei- ner, a little son, Willie T., died in infancy; Emma lola became the wife of John Darsham, of Rantoul, and they have one son, Earnest Esel. The young- est son of our subject, also Esel by name, remains on the homestead assisting his father, Mr. B. was married the second time, Nov. 13, 1881, to Mrs. M. M. Taylor; she is the daughter of Charles F. and Mary (Holtz) Ahlert, natives of Germany, who emi- grated to the United States when their daughter Mary was but six years of age. They located in New York where they remained several years and until after the first marriage of their daughter, who then took up her residence with her husband in New York City. After the death of the latter she went to Chicago with her sister, where she met her present husband. Mr. and Mrs. Breiner have continued on the farm since their marriage, enjoying the respect of the community around them, and filling their places worthily in life. Both are members of the Christian (4 798 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Church, with which our subject has been connected for a period of twenty-seven years. He cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has supported the Republican nominees for that office since that time. He served his township as School Trustee and Road Commissioner for three yaars, and was then elected School Treasurer, which position he holds at the present time. He has been an earnest worker in the Church and Sunday-school, being Superintendent of the latter in Harwood Township for five years, and at present occupies the same position in the Pleasant Vale Sunday- school. During the last fourteen years he has labored as a Christian teacher among the young, and nothing pleases him better than to see a houseful of bright young faces listening with interest to the precepts of the Master. Mr. Breiner, in 1886, was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he still holds, and the duties of which he is discharging in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. ' RMSTRONG A. GOINGS, one of the early 7U| pioneers of the Prairie State, is widely and favorably known throughout this county as a man eminently worthy the respect of its best citizens. His has been a life filled with in- dustry and usefulness, and after building up a record as an honest man and good citizen he is now prac- tically retired from its sterner duties and in a comfortable home in Rantoul Township is spend- ing his later days pleasantly. In locating a home in the West, he traveled over a long stretch of country, his native place being Fredericksburg, Md., where he was born Dec. 6, 1810; this he left with his parents in 1839, for the new and unde- veloped West. The father of our subject, Roswell Goings, was a native of Maryland, of German ancestry, his grand- father having emigrated to America during the early settlement of Maryland, where he located and spent the remainder of his life. Among the sons was Roswell, who was born in Maryland and who lived there until 1811. when he removed to Penn- sylvania and purchased a farm in Greene County, which he occupied until 1839. That year he came overland with his family to Illinois and settled in that part of Tazewell County now included in Woodford County, taking up a tract .of Govern- ment land, improving a farm and establishing a comfortable homestead, which he occupied until his death, which occurred in about 1860. In early manhood he was married to Miss Lett, also a na- tive of Maryland, and who departed this life at the home of her son in California in about 1867. Her father was a native of Germany, who emigrated to this country when .1 young man, and during the Revolutionary War assisted in establishing the independence of the Colonies. He was wounded at the battle of Brandywiiie, but lived to return to civil life, found a home, and rear a family. The subject of this sketch was the fourth child and second son of his parents, and but an infant when they removed from Maryland to Pennsyl- vania. He grew to manhood in Greene County, that State, and when twenty years of age accom- panied his parents, first to Mason County, Va., and then to the further West. This latter journey was made via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Peoria, which was then a village of a few strag- gling log cabins. Mr. Goings purchased a claim in Tazewell County, ten miles east of the hamlet, and as soon as the land came into market proceeded to Springfield on horseback and entered it. Among the persons interested at this sale was Stephen A. Douglns, who officiated as crier. The claim of Mr. Goings had been improved by the building of a log cabin, into which the family removed and lived for a time, and then he sold out and purchased land adjacent. He remained a resident of Tazewell County thirteen years, then removed to La Salle County and purchased land near the present site of Tonica. This he improved and transformed into a good farm, which he occupied until 1879. In the spring of that year he sold out and came to this county, and now lives with his son. Mr. Goings was married in November, 1835, to Miss Mary Green, a native of Virginia, who was born in June. 1811. She remained the faithful and affectionate companion of her husband for over thirty years, and then departed this life. at their home in La Salle County, Oct. 18, 1868. The nine CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 799 n children born of this congenial union are recorded as follows: Edward is a resident of St. Louis, Mo.; Susannah is the wife of William Buren, and they live on a farm in Livingston County, 111. ; Frank is in Beadle County, Dak.; Sarah E. is the wife of Ray- mond P. Francis, a farmer of Ludlow Township; Eliza married James Gregory, and they are residents of Livingston County; Mary, Mrs. Dudley Witty, lives in La Salle County, and Elisha is farming in Rantoul Township, this county. Two are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Goings became members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in early life, with which the mother remained connected during her lifetime, and in which Mr. G. still retains his mem- bership. He was the pioneer Methodist of this count} 1 , and while residing iiiTazewell and La Salle Counties his house was the home of the preachers, and the place at which the neighborhood meetings were frequently held. Elisha Goings, the son above mentioned, was born in La Salle County, 111., Nov. 29, 1853. He remained with his parents until after reaching his majority, and was married Nov. 8, 1870, to Miss Julia Foster. This lady is a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, where she was born Sept. 5, 1855; she is the daughter of A. T. and Catura Foster, natives respectively of Denmark and England. The family emigrated to America in 1866, and the parents are now residents of Ft. Scott, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Goings have five children, viz., Lilly, Fannie, Arthur, George and Chester. They are members and regular attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and valued factors of an intelligent com- munity. ^ILLIAM DAVIS, of Ilarwood Township, first opened his 63 r es to the light in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., on the 10th of No- vember, 1823, and was the third child of Evan and Lutitia (Conley) Davis, also natives of the Keystone State, and the father a stonemason by trade. In 1837, when our subject was a boy of fourteen years, his father gathered together his household goods, and with his family set out for the farther West, and coming into this State lo- cated near Fairview, in Fulton County, where he commenced farming after the methods adopted by the people of the Prairie State. He lived a quiet, uneventful life, and finally removed to Prairie City, McDonough County, where both parents closed their eyes upon the scenes of earth. Young Davis remained a member of the parental household until the day after he was twenty-three years of age, and on the evening of that day was one of the chief actors in an interesting ceremony, by which he became the husband of Miss Susan, third child of John and Susan (Martin) Wolgamot, who were born near Hagerstown, Md. The wife of our subject was a native of Maryland, born Dec. 12, 1823. The young people after their marriage located on a farm of eighty acres, near Fairview, which our subject had purchased a short time previously. Three years later he sold this and purchased a quarter section near Canton, which he retained until 1853. He then changed his property into a stock of merchandise at Prairie City, Mc- Donough County, and was in trade there for three years following. During the great depression in grain and pork, which will still be remembered by many of the settlers of that region, Mr. Davis was compelled to close out his business at a great sacri- fice. He then took up butchering, which he fol- lowed thirteen years in Prairie City, and in 1868 came to this county, resolving to resume farming. He managed to secure possession of a tract of land from the Illinois Central Railroad, in Harwood Township, which he has since retained his hold upon, and upon which he has effected a remarkable and admirable change. The soil had never been turned by the plowshare, and there was neither a building nor a fence upon it. He now has a farm of eighty acres, on section 16, smiling with grain and pasture fields, neatly fenced and with comfortable buildings. It presents the picture of a pretty rural home, which should satisfy the ambition of any ordinary person. The seven little children, who came one by one . to the household of our subject and his wife, were named respectively Sarah R., John E., William II., Samuel G., George H., Edward and Nettie. The third child, William, was taken from the home cir- cle when but twenty-two months old; Sarah is the wife of Samuel Barber, a carpenter b}' trade, i 800 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 and a resident of Rautoul; they have a family of seven children Minnie, Lutitia, Jennie, Nellie, Willie, Pearl and Maud; John married Miss Ida Hewitt, of Ludlow, and follows farming near the homestead of Mr. Davis; within the precincts of this little household are the children Effie, Lida and Elraa; Samuel married Miss Jennie Counteman, and is a resident of Chicago, being a conductor on the Illinois Central Railroad. Of the three children born to them, Stella and Claud are numbered with the dead ; Amanda, a bright girl of ten years, is with her parents. George married Miss Emma Smith, and lives in the northern part of this county, being a successful farmer; Edward mar- ried Miss Annie Doak, and lives on a farm a short distance north of his father ; Nettie is the baby. Mr. Davis, in 1869, was elected School Trustee, and served nine years in succession. He was Col- lector four or five years, and was elected Assessor eight years ago, which position he still holds. He was elected on the Republican ticket. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis are connected with the Baptist Church, and are the most highly valued by those who know them best. f~ ALENTINE J. GALLION, Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of St. Joseph Town- ship, first opened his eyes to the light near the Atlantic coast, adjacent to the city of Hagers- town, Washington Co., Md., on the 5th of March, 1 835. His father, James W. Gallion, departed this life while still a young man, and when our subject was but a boy, so that the latter has but little knowledge of -him. The mother in her girlhood was Miss Margaret S. Troutman, a native of Penn- sylvania. The parental family included four sons. Our subject passed his early life in his native county, and in common with his brothers enjoyed the advantages of the public school near Hagers- town, and the excellent training of a wise and judi- cious mother. He remained with the latter until twenty years of age, and then commenced to learn the trade of a ship carpenter, at which he worked four years. In the meantime, being fond of read- ing and study, he had not neglected his books and now began teaching, which occupation he followed with success until the outbreak of the late war. Then, laying aside his personal plans and interests, he responded to the first call for troops by enlist- ing in Co. F, 6th W. Va. Vol. Inf., in which he served four years, and was successively promoted Second and First Sergeant, and finally First Lieut- enant of Company K, with which rank he served until the close of the war, being mustered out in June, 18C5. In the month of July following his retirement from the army Mr. Gallion came West, locating first in Champaign, where he engaged in general merchandising. Two years later he resolved to follow agricultural pursuits, and secured possession of eighty acres of land at Burr Oak, where he fol- lowed farming two years, and then resumed his former occupation as a teacher in St. Joseph, where he continued until elected a Justice of the Peace, in 1874. Since that time he has given his attention to the duties of his ollice, which he has held con- tinuously for over thirteen years. He took his seat with the Board of Supervisors in the spring of 1880, and has since remained in that position. He is a gentleman well versed in the duties of his office and common law generally, and is frequently called upon to act as Administrator of estates, which he usually succeeds in adjusting with credit to him- self and satisfaction to all concerned. Our subject was married in the Old Dominion, in August, 1866, to Miss Julia W. Gallion, also of West Virginia. They have three children living, namely, Charles H., Marshall E. and Grace M. Florence N. is deceased. Mr. Gallion and his wife united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in youth, to the support of which they contribute lib- erally and cheerfully, and in which Mr. G. is a Trustee. Besides his farm property he owns sev- eral buildings in St. Joseph, from the rents of which he derives a snug little income in addition to that afforded from his office and general store, which is located in St Joseph. 1LLIAM S. FUNKHOUSER, who became a resident of Somer Township in 1864, owns and occupies a comfortable home- stead, where he is carrying on agriculture in an in- I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. -*- 801 telligcut and successful manner. His farm con- sists of 120 acres, a large portion of which is de- voted to the raising of corn and stock, the latter consisting principally of horses and hogs. Mr. Funkhouser was born on a farm near Law- renceville, Dearborn Co., Ind., Oct. 14, 1842. He is the son of Jacob Funkhouser, who was born in Beaver County, Pa., in 1818, whence he emigrated to Indiana with his father's family at a very early age, while the country was yet a wilderness, and Indians and wild animals roamed through the for- ests. The grandfather of our subject, Abraham Funkhouser, was also born and reared in Beaver County, Pa. He left Indiana in about 1852, and locating in Greene County, 111., died there at the age of seventy-nine years. The father of our sub- ject still lives in Hamilton County, this State. The parental family included seven children. Our subject remained under the home roof until his marriage, which took place Nov. 1, 1865. His wife was formerly Miss Sarah F. Kirby, who was born in this county and was the daughter of James Kirby. There were twelve children in our subject's family, seven of whom survive, namely, Jasper, Ida May, Edward J., George C., Guy, Ernest and Jessie Pearl. James Kirby was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1816. He married Miss Susan Trickle. March 17, 1836. The parents of Mrs. Kirby set- tled in Ohio at an early day, whence they removed to the present site of Danville, 111., in about 1825. There Mr. Trickle erected the first mill in Vermil- ion County. Subsequently they came to this county, where they passed the remainder of their days. The grandfather of Mrs. F., Elias Kirby, a native of Maryland, settled in Ohio when a young man, making his first location in Pickaway County, whence he afterward removed with his family to a point near Attica on the Big Shawnee. The grand- mother of Mrs. F. was formerly Miss Polly Johnson, whose father was a native of Virginia. The par- ental household consisted of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom came to Illinois together. Mr. and Mrs. Kirby became the parents of fourteen children, two of whom died in infancy, and two after reaching adult years. There are now remaining five sons and five daughters, all of whom are married and settled in Illinois, save one who is in Iowa. Politically our subject is a stanch supporter of the Independent party. He has been School Di- rector. He was formerly a member of the United Brethren Church, but is not now connected with any religious organization. His services as School Director extended over a period of fifteen years. V. ANTHONY JOSEPH WAGNER, Pas- tor of St. Patrick's Church, at Tolono, is a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and was born Feb. 8, 1849. His parents, John and Eliz- abeth Wagner, were natives of Alsace, France, and after marriage, in about 1840, emigrated to the United States and located in the Quaker City. John Wagner there engaged as a contractor and builder, continuing this business until his decease, in about 1850. The mother, who remained a widow, is still living at Philadelphia, having now arrived at the age of seventy-two years. The par- ental family included four sons : John, who is pas- tor of a Catholic congregation at Pottstown, Pa. ; James, in the War Department at Washington, D. D. ; Peter A., an importer of rattan, at Philadel- phia, and Rev. Anthony, of our sketch, who is the youngest of the family. Our subject's early education was conducted in the School of the Christian Brothers at Philadel- phia, and when thirteen years old he entered the Academy of the Christian Brothers in New York City. Later he took a classical and philosophical course in St. John's College, at Fordham, N. Y. He entered upon his theological studies in St. Charles' Seminary, at Overbrook, Pa., and after graduating, came West, and was ordained at Peoria, III, on the-J3th of December, 1878. He officiated as assistant Priest for some time at Champaign, in fact until appointed to his present charge at Tolono, on the 10th of August, 1879. The church edifice at Tolono was built by Rev. Patrick Toner, in 1871. He officiated until 1879, and then, on account of failing health, retired and returned to Ireland. Our subject then succeeded to his charge. The church building is 80x42 feet T 802 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 in area, and the parish contains about ninety fam- ilies. .Since the time when Father Wagner took charge, a residence and thirty acres of ground have been purchased, and the church property altogether is valued at $10,000. As pastor and preacher the present incumbent has fulfilled his duties ill a man- ner creditable to himself and highly satisfactory to his parishioners. J~'OHN CRAWFORD. One of the fine home- steads which lie on section 23, Scott Town- ship, is the property of the subject of this sketch, of which he came into possession in 1875. It embraces 240 acres of finely improved land, with a comfortable and convenient dwelling, good barns and outhouses, and all the appliances of a first-class country estate. Mr. Crawford is a native of Morgan County, Ohio, and was born April 30, 1840. His parents, Simeon and Elenor (Hainsworth) Crawford, were natives respectively of Ohio and Maryland. They settled in Morgan County, Ohio, after their marriage, whence they removed to Hocking County, and from there to Wisconsin. In about 1856 they came to Illinois and located in Logan County, but afterward re- turned to Ohio. Later they came back to Illinois and took up their abode in Boudville, this county, where they spent the remainder of their days. The family of the above-mentioned couple con- sisted of nine children, of whom - our subject was the fifth in order of birth. He was reared to farm- ing pursuits and remained in his native State until after the outbreak of the Rebellion. He then prof- fered his services to assist in the preservation of the Union, becoming a member of the 90th Ohio Infantry. At the battle of Chickamauga he was wounded in the breast and finger, and afterward, at the battle of Stone River, injured by a fall. He was mustered out of service at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in 1865. He then came to Logan County, 111., where he took up his residence for a brief period, then, returning to Ohio, he was married in Logan, Hocking County, on the 3d of December, 18C5, to Miss Julia A. Staker. Mrs. Crawford was born in Hocking County, Aug. 20, 1845, and is the daughter of George and Henrietta (Rohberg) Staker, both natives of Germany. Her parents emigrated to America in early life and settled in Muskingum County, Ohio, whence they removed to Hocking County, and passed the remainder of their days. They had a family of eight children, of whom Mrs. Crawford was the fifth in order of birth. After his marriage, Mr. Crawford at once re- turned to this State, and purchased a farm in Logan County which he occupied five years. He then sold out and removed back to Ohio, locating in Pickaway County, where he remained six years, and in 1875 returned to Illinois. He then settled in Scott Township, of which he has since been a resident, and besides being prospered in his farm- ing and business operations, has secured the confi- dence and esteem of all who know him. The eight children of our subject and his wife are, Curtis A., Anna Belle, Ross C., Minnie M., Olive G., Harry P., Nellie F. and Luveruia Henrietta. Mr. Craw- ford has taken a genuine interest in the prosperity of his adopted county, and in his township has served as School Director and Trustee. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. RS. CHARLOTTE VAN FLEET, daughter of Abram and Philomela Payne, and widow of Christopher B. Van Fleet, is a resident of Stantou Township, and owns a fine farm of 150 acres on section 36. She has lived in this county since 1873, when her husband purchased the present homestead, but only lived to enjoy it a lit- tle over three years, his death taking place on the 19th of August, 1876. Mrs. Van Fleet is a native of Washington Coun- ty, Ohio, and was born Oct. 9, 1828. Her parents were natives respectively of Connecticut and Mas- sachusetts, and her father, born in 1792, died in Marion County, Ohio, in 1870, when seventy-eight years of age, The mother died six days later, aged seventy-two, and their remains were laid to rest side by side in the burial ground at Pleasant Hill. RESIDENCE OF ISAAC HIXENBAUGH , SEC. 30, CT-I3- N-) 00DEN TP RE5IDENCE OF THOMAS LAVERICK , 5EC.3I. (R-14-W-) AYRE5 TP RE5IDEMCEOF Z. M.DUNN, 5 EC. 13, 5T. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP LIBRARY CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4- 805 Grandfather Payne, also born in Connecticut, re- moved to Ohio during the early settlement of the State, and with his wife, Hannah, lived there the remainder of his days. The Paynes were of En- glish origin, and a family who became prominent in the New England States for their uniform suc- cesses financially, and their excellent qualities as citizens. The parents of Mrs. Van F. had a family of thir- teen children, two of whom died young. Those who lived to maturity are recorded as follows: Benjamin L. remained single, and became a resi- dent of Kansas, where his death took place when he was sixty-three years old; Stephen and his sister Eliza Ann, now the wife of David J. Brady, are also residents of Kansas; Philomela died when two years of age ; Abrara married Miss Sarah J. Smith, and is a resident of Ogden Township, this county ; William, who married Miss Sarah J. Bartrom, served as a Union soldier during the late war, and died in the army at Memphis, Term., after having participated in many important battles; his widow is a resident of Marion County, Ohio; Charlotte, of our sketch, was the seventh child ; Angelina, now Mrs. Henry Kelly, is a resident of Dubuque, Iowa; David J. married Miss Marinda Wiseman; he was a soldier in Co. I, 174th Ohio Vol. Inf., and was killed during one of the battles in Tennessee, on the 7th of December, 1864; Charles F. is mar- ried, and living in Ohio; Philomela (2d) passed from earth when eighteen months old ; Emeline be- came the wife of Victor Taylor, and they are resi- dents. of Pilot Grove, 111.; Susan M., Mrs. Joseph Contu, is living in Marion County, Ohio. Mrs. Van F. spent her childhood with her brothers and sisters at home, and received the excellent ad- vantages afforded by the common schools of the Buckeye State. When eighteen years of age she was united in marriage, Aug. 1, 1846, with Chris- topher B. Van Fleet, who was a native of Marion County, that State, and born Dec. 24, 1824. He was deprived of a mother's care when two years old, and was reared by his grandparents, who lived upon a farm in Marion County. His childhood and youth were passed after the manner of most farm- ers' boys, attending school during the winter season and working on the farm in summer. He was twenty-two years of age when married, and engaged in farming in Ohio until the outbreak of the late war. He then enlisted in Co. I, 66th Ohio Vol. Inf., en- tering the ranks Nov. 19, 1861, and serving until April 5, 1863, when he was discharged for physical disability. He was unwilling, however, to give up the struggle, and believing that he was yet good for a fight with the rebels, re-enlisted on the 1st of September, 1864, to serve until the close of the war. This time he was assigned to the 174th Ohio Infantry and remained, as he had desired, with his comrades until the surrender of the Confederate army. He was promoted Corporal, and met the enemy in some of the most important battles of the war. After retiring from army life Mr. Van Fleet re- turned to his native county in Ohio, where he remained engaged in farming six years. In 1871 he emigrated to Vermilion County, this State, and thence after two years took up his abode in Cham- paign County. The sister of Mr. Van F., Mrs. Abi- gail Harraman, resides in Marion County, Ohio. The children of Mr. Van Fleet were as follows: Asa B. was born Feb. 28, 1848; he was studious and made good progress in school, and at nineteen years of age commenced teaching, which he contin- ued for seven successive winters. Afterward he engaged in merchandising in Marion County, Ohio, until 1870, in which year he sold out and came to Illinois. His time subsequently for a few years was employed in teaching and farming alternately. After the death of his father he was called to take charge of the homestead. The second son, Harvey, died wheii'two years of age; Marilla died when an interesting girl of nine years; Andrew E. married Miss Mary A. Johnston, and is a resident of Thayer County, Neb.; Princess L. became the wife of Pierce Dunn, and is living in Vermilion County, this State; Anna E. remains on the home- stead ; Almira died when two years of age ; Clara M., a teacher, makes her home with her mother; Samantha E. is also at home, assisting in the duties of the household. Christopher B. Van Fleet, although a resident of Stanton Township but a brief time, was recognized as a worthy citizen, and in his farming operations was eminently successful. He left a comfortable ' f- < , 806 CHAMPAION COUNTY. home and fine property to his widow, who since his death has sustained the reputation of the estate and kept it up after his own praiseworthy methods. He uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. OSEP1I CODDINGTON is a prominent fann- er and stock-grower, residing on section 12, Sidney Township. He is the son of Benja- min and Delilah (Thomas) Coddington, and was born in Sidney Township, Oct. 24, 1843. His parents were natives of Ohio, where his father was born in 1823, and his mother in 1824. (For his- tory of parents, see sketch of Benjamin Codding- ton). Joseph Coddington was the eldest of a family of nine children, comprising three sons and six daugh- ters. He passed his boyhood and youth on the parental homestead, assisting his father on the farm in the summer and attending school during the winter. The educational advantages of the west- ern frontier were beginning to improve at that time, and he made the best use of all the oppor- tunities afforded him, and during his life at home also acquired much useful experience in systematic farming. His marriage to Miss Clara 'McElroy took place Nov. 23, 1871. Mrs. Coddington is the daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Franklin) Mc- Elroy, and was born July 13, 1853, in or near Marietta, Ohio. She is the eldest of a family of six children-, three sons and three daughters. Her parents were natives of Ohio, but are now living in Sidney Township. Mr. and Mrs. Coddington had a family of three children born to them (irant, Essie May and Mary Delilah. The two el- der are deceased. May 14, 1864, Mr. Coddington enlisted in the service of his country for 100 days, and was kept on guard duty on the Government Island near Rock Island. He was a faithful and efficient sol- dier, and after serving more than his full time, was mustered out at Camp Butler, about the 16th of September, 1864. After his return, he remained at home until 1874, and then removed with his fam- ily to Mitchell County, Kan. Remaining there a few days, and encountering some of the cyclones incident to. that region, he decided to return to Illinois, where he has since resided. Mr. Coddington is the owner of a fine estate con- taining eighty acres of valuable laud, all of which is under cultivation, with the exception of five acres of timber. His residence and farm buildings are substantial and well appointed. He takes great interest in stock-raising, giving special attention to hogs of the Poland-China breed. The manage- ment of his farm is carried on with system, aided by the best modern improvements. He possesses a thorough knowledge of agriculture in all its de- partments, and by close and intelligent application to business has met with marked success. In busi- ness transactions he is always guided by honesty and integrity of character; in his home life he is affectionate and indulgent, and his genial disposi- tion has won a large circle of friends by whom he is held in the highest esteem. With his wife he is a member of the United Brethren Church, in which he is Class-Leader and also Assistant Superintend- ent of the Union Sunday-school. w AMKS R. MORE. Among the pioneers of Champaign County, the number of which is slowly but surely decreasing, this gentleman deserves more than a passing notice. He , has been one of the most reliable men in the busi- ness and agricultural community, being possessed of more than ordinary ability, great resolution and energy of character, and those qualities upon which the prosperity of a section and country depend. He is descended from an excellent family, who trace their ancestors back to Germany, and the first representative of whom, after reaching this country located in New York State. His grandfather, Henry More, of German parentage, was born in Columbia County, N. Y., where after reaching manhood he engaged in farming pursuits, being located for a number of years on a tract of land at Chatham Four Corners. Thence he went into Delaware County and purchased a large tract of timber land, from which he cleared a farm, and where he remained occupied in its improvement and cultivation until his death. Among the children of Henry More was Henry, f. ll CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 807 !' ' fa r Jr., who was born on the farm at Chatham Four Corners, and was but a boy at the time of the re- moval to Delaware County. There he grew to manhood, and was occupied after the manner of most farmers' sons until his marriage. The maiden whom he chose to share his fortunes was Miss Bet- sey Ann Farringtou, who was born in Delhi, Dela- ware Co., N. Y., and was the daughter of March Farrington, a native of Massachusetts, who re- moved to Delaware County, N. Y., during its early settlement. His daughter Paulina was the first white child born in Meredith Township, that county. This was during the time that the Colonies were struggling for their independence. Mr. Farring- ton cherished a hearty contempt for the Tories, and as soon as his services could be made available he shouldered his musket and started for the scene of conflict, and did not leave the field until peace - was established. Mr. F. then returned to his home, where he remained engaged with his private con- cerns until 1812, and then as soon as the guns be- gan firing again left at once for the field of battle, where he served until the end of the second con- flict. He was permitted to escape unharmed, and spent his declining years in Delhi with the mother of our subject. After their marriage Henry More, Jr., and his young wife settled down on the old homestead, in a section which had not even then been disturbed by the building of canals and railroads. In addi- tion to his farming he set aside a part of the house for the accommodation of travelers, the homestead being located on the main road leading from Delhi to the Hudson River. Thus employed, and pass- ing a comparatively uneventful life, he remained until his earthly labors were terminated on the 27th of October, 1841, being stricken down in his prime, when but thirty-nine years of age. He had previously visited Michigan and contemplated a removal there, but his untimely death essentially changed the whole future for his family. Our subject, who was born in Delhi, N. Y., May 17, 1829, was the only son in a family of five chil- dren born to his parents, and was but twelve years of age when his father died. The mother, with excellent management and forethought, kept her family together and gave the children a good edu- cation, fitting them for teaching. James R. gradu- ated from Delhi Academy when seventeen years old, and at once entered upon his profession as a teacher. He was thus employed for several win- ters, engaging in farming during the summer. He continued a resident of his native county until 1854, when he migrated to Michigan and pur- chased a tract of land in St. Joseph County, where he engaged in farming and teaching alternately until 1859. He then sold out and, accompanied by his little family, came to this county and rented land in Rantoul Township. This he occupied un- til 1860, and then purchased a portion of the land included in his present farm. His course from the beginning was marked by good judgment and de- liberation, and he was uniformly prosperous in his undertakings. He followed closely the principles which had been instilled in him by his excellent parents, lived honestly and uprightly, was prompt in meeting his obligations, and secured the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He added by degrees to his real estate, and is now possessed of 160 acres in the home farm near the city, eighty acres on section 10, and another eighty on section 12 in Rantoul Township. It is all improved and enclosed, and furnishes every facility for the suc- cessful raising of stock and grain. On the 6th of October, 1852, Mr. More took an- other important step in life, becoming united in marriage with Miss Louisa M. Lee. The wedding occurred in Delhi, N. Y. Mrs. More was born in Roxbury, Delaware Co., N. Y., March 8, 1829, and is the daughter of John and Mittie (Baker) Lee, natives of Delaware County, the latter born in Rox- bury, and the daughter of Joseph and Eunice Baker, natives of Connecticut and pioneers of Del- aware County. The parents of Mrs. More, to- gether with two brothers and one sister, died in Roxbury, all within three weeks, in 1850. Her paternal grandfather, Daniel Lee, was also a native of Connecticut, whence he emigrated to the vicin- ity of the future town of Roxbury, N. Y., during the early settlement of the Empire State. Later he removed to Westernville in Oneida County, where his decease occurred. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. James R. More comprise a family of which they ma}' well t. < , 808 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. I be proud. Ella, the eldest daughter and child, be- came the wife of J. A. Pillars, a resident of Cham- paign; Henry is farming in Rantoul Township; Ed- ward N. ; Anna married Samuel E. Tubbs, and re- sides in Auburn, N. Y. ; Fred and Nellie are at home with their parents when not engaged at their studies in school. Our subject and his wife are de- vout members of the Episcopal Church, and Mr. More, who in early days was a stanch adherent of the old Whig party, now cheerfully endorses.. Re- publican principles and gives his vote and influence in support of them. J~ OHN L. LESTER. The 400-acre farm lying one and one-half miles west of Gifford and six miles east of Rantoul, has been a subject of much comment by travelers passing through that section, embracing as it does one of the finest bodies of land in Compromise Township. This, like most of the homesteads adjacent, was built up gradually from a modest beginning, and is the property of the above-named gentleman. He commenced life in a modest manner, and the quar- ter century of steady labor which-he has given to the completion and beautifying of his home, has resulted in the draining and tilling of a large por- tion of the land and the erection of a beautiful dwelling, in addition to the other buildings re- quired by the modern agriculturist. The stables contain fine horses, and the sheds and pens display numbers of cattle, hogs and sheep, all in good con- dition and well cared for, and the whole presenting a rural scene which is a delight to look upon. Mr. Lester is a descendant of excellent English ancestry, and his father, Thomas, was born in En- gland. When a youth of fifteen years, in company with his father, he came to the United States on a pleasure trip, landing in New York City about one year previous to the beginning of the Revolution- ary War. They remained a few months visiting in the States, but the temperature being a little warm for English subjects they found it convenient to go over to Canada. Young Thomas was left there in charge of Gen. Drummond, while his father set out upon his return to England. This was the last time Thomas saw his father and he was never more heard from by his friends. Thomas subsequently enlisted in the Canadian army, but a year afterward deserted and went over into the ranks of the Colo- nists. He served in the army of Gen. Washington until their independence had been established and was honorably discharged. After retiring from the service Thomas Lester went into Oneida County, N. Y., and purchased 100 acres of heavily timbered land, which he cleared and transformed into a good farm, where he passed the remainder of his days. He reached the ad- vanced age of seventy-eight years, passing to the other life in 1858. The mother of our subject was formerly Miss Delight Vauderwalker, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., whose parents were born in Holland. The family consisted of ten children, namely, George W., Martin, Leonard, Mary Ann, Nancy: John L., of our sketch; Charles, Fannie, Elizabeth and Melissa. Those living are Mary Ann, Elizabeth and John L. Young Lester passed his early years under the parental roof, attending school during the winters and assisting on the farm in summers until seven- teen years of age. Then, in 1845, with a cash capi- tal of $0 in his pocket, he started in life for him- self. Upon arriving at his destination, which was Monroe, Mich., he had $1 left. His first business was to procure employment, which he obtained with the Michigan Southern Railroad Company, with whom he remained two years, working at seventy- five cents per day and boarding himself. At the expiration of this time he visited his father and mother in Oneida County, N. Y. After a time spent among old friends he engaged with the Albany & Boston Railroad Company, with whom he remained a year, and then went into the New York & Erie Railroad Company, with which he served accepta- bly for a period of nine years. In 1857 he made his first visit to the Prairie State, and locating in Springfield became an engineer on the Great West- ern Railroad. The following year, with the view of changing his occupation and making arrangements for a per- manent abiding-place, our subject purchased 164 acres of wild prairie land in Compromise Town- ship, this county, on section 3, for $6 per acre. There was no house within five miles. He had now a ' r t. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 809 family, and his first business was to provide for them a suitable dwelling, which he had ready in the spring of 18C1, and of which they took possession. In the meantime there arose a necessity for more hard cash than he could obtain by working on his land, so he resumed railroading as engineer with the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and was thus employed until March, 1864. He then aban- doned the road for good, and turned his undivided attention to farming. He met with uniform success fron the start, and added to his first purchase by degrees, allowing none to run to waste or be neg- lected, and draining the swamp sections with tile. It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. Lester has been prominent in township affairs, his fellow- citizens naturally looking to him to assist in filling its important offices. He served as Supervisor three years, and with the exception of one year has been School Director since 1856. He and his ex- cellent wife have for many years been connected with the Baptist Church, and since becoming a voter Mr. L., having imbibed the principles of freedom which were an essential element of his father's character, has uniformly encouraged Republican ideas. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married on the 16th of February, 1852, was formerly Miss Mary Jones, a native of Bradford County, Pa., born Jan. 12, 1828, and the daughter of Daniel and Jane Jones, natives of the same county. Of the three children born of this union one only is living, Charles H., who is married and a resident of Dakota; he has one child. Jane R. died in Susque- hanna, Pa., when about three years of age, in 1856. Daniel T., born July 22, 1863, died at the home of his father in Compromise Township, on the 6th of February, 1882, when a promising young man nineteen years of age. L. COLLINS. This highly re- spected resident of Scott Township may be properly classed as one of its self-made men, who from a modest beginning has arisen to a good position among his fellow-citizens, both socially and financially. He started in life when twenty-one years of age, with no capital but his strong hands and willing disposition, and for two years was em- ployed as a farm laborer in Piatt County, and afterward in Mason County for a period of three years. He then rented a farm in Shelby County where he remained two years, and from there re- moved to Bondville, where he was employed by S. M. Athens, of Cincinnati, Ohio, as a grain buyer. At the expiration of this contract he came into Scott Township and rented a farm. He afterward lived in Bondville and Colfax Township, and then returning to Scott Township purchased the farm which he now occupies. Upon taking possession of this Mr. Collins began the establishment of a permanent homestead in which he has admirably succeeded, and where he has ac- cumulated sufficient means to enable him to pass his declining years surrounded by the good things of earth. He has also secured for himself the con- fidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, by whom he is regarded as an important factor in the busi- ness and agricultural interests of this section. He is Democratic in polities, has served as School Director, and has taken a genuine interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his county and community. Mr. Collins was born in Vermillion County, Ind., April 15, 1846. He is the son of Aaron and Vir- ginia (Fultz) Collins, the former a native of the Old Dominion and the latter of Pennsylvania. They removed to Indiana soon after their marriage, locating in Vermilli'on County, "whence they re- moved in the spring of 1857, to Piatt County, this State. Five years later they took up their abode in Danville, 111., whence they removed to Grayville, where the father of our subject departed this life in February, 1884. The mother still survives and lives in Danville, 111. Of the twelve children which comprised the parental household, ten lived to become men and women. Our subject remained with his parents in Piatt County until he reached his majority. His subsequent course we have already indicated. Mr. Collins was married in Mahomet, 111., Nov. 18, 1875, to Miss Catherine, daughter of James and Anna (Kelly) Bowes. The parents of Mrs. C. were natives of Ireland, who emigrated to this country 810 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. while young. The father died in Scott Township, this county, in April, 1882. The mother is living with our subject. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowes, Mrs. C. was the eldest. Her birthplace was Cincinnati, Ohio, and the date thereof Jan. 23, 1854. Of her union with our sub- ject there have been born two children, both daughters, Blanche G. and Maude M. Mrs. Collins is an intelligent and worthy lady, and a devoted member of the Methodist Church. AMUEL D. MANDEVILLE is an extensive farmer and stock-grower, living on section 15, Sidney Township. He is the son of Elijah and Hulda (Uenton) Mandeville. They came of French and German extraction, and were married in their native place, Seneca County, N. Y. In 1859 they removed from New York and settled in Champaign, 111., where Mrs. Mandeville died in 18GO. After the death of his wife Mr. Mandeville returned to New York, but after re- maining there one year removed to St. Joseph Township, in this county, where he engaged in the business of farming and stock-raising until the last fifteen years of his life, when he made his home with his son, Dr. J. B. Mandeville, of Philo, with whom he remained until his death, which occurred Oct. 10, 1885. He was buried by the side of his wife in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Champaign, 111. Formerly he was a Presbyterian, but afterward became a member of the Congregational Church. Samuel D. Mandeville was born in Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y., July 2, 1839, and remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he removed to Champaign, 111. During his first year in this place he held a clerkship in the store of A. O. Wood- worth ; at the expiration of the year he was appointed manager of a general store at St. Joseph, by Mr. Woodworth, for whom he conducted the business for about six months. He then purchased the stock of Mr. Woodworth and entered into business for himself, which he .successfully carried on until 1865, when he sold out his stock to Kelly & Slnwe. During the next three years he was en- i gaged in stock-raising, dealing extensively in sheep and investing in wool. During the two following years he entered into partnership with William O. Shreve, in osagc plant raising. He was at this time a resident of Champaign, and while living there was married, Feb. 3, 1869, to Miss Mary A, ! Coffeen, of Homer, 111. She was the daughter of M. D. and Mary (Elliot) Coffeen, highly respected and well-known people of this county. She was born Sept. 3, 1846. Her death occurred May 10, 1884, and her remains were tenderly laid to rest in the cemetery at Sidney. Mr. Mandeville's family consisted of seven chil- dren: Ira F., who was born July 25, 1870; Ollie M., born April 27, 1872; Hulda, May 10, 1876; Ethel G., Sept. 1, 1878; Anna B., March 17, 1880; Paris and Carrie were twins, born March 14, 1884. Carrie died Sept. 9, 1 884, and was buried by the side of her mother. Mr. Mandeville is now holding the office of Su- pervisor, representing his township on the County Board. In 1876 he held the office of Assessor of Sidney Township, and was Postmaster at St. Joseph for a term of five years. He has charge of 1 47 acres of well-fenced land, and gives considerable attention to stock-raising. He is one of the Trustees and Stewards of the Methodist Church, of which his wife was also a highly esteemed member. His po- litical interests are identified with the Republican party, and in its success he always evinces the most earnest zeal. >ILLIAM M. JONES, a gentleman in the prime of life, and a farmer of St. Joseph Township who is entitled to much credit for his industry in building up one of its finest homesteads, is the second son of Lewis and Sarah (Street) Jones, who were residents of Sidney Town- ship at the time of his birth, which took place Dec. 8, 1848. The branch of the Jones family to which our subject belongs traces its origin in this country back to the Old Dominion, where the grandfather, Maj. Matthew Jones, was born, and from which he removed to Ohio at an early period in the history of that State. He there married Miss Elizabeth Allen, who was born in 1792, and they reared a CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. family of six children. The maternal grandfather of our subject, David Street, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was married to a Miss Dun- can, of Kentucky, who was of German descent. The Jones family first originated in Wales, from which the first representatives emigrated to this country dm-ing the Colonial days. Lewis Jones, the father of our subject, was born July 3, 1816, and married Feb. 23, 1843. His wife, Sarah, was born March 19, 1814. After uniting their fortunes they migrated to this State, locating first at Macoupin, whence they removed to this county in the spring of 1 843, where the elder Jones purchased a small tract of timber land, built a log cabin, and continued to live until April, 1849. He then sold out and purchased the farm now oc- cupied by his son, our subject. This he secured from the Government at $1.25 per acre. It is lo- cated on section 32, and is included in the present fine estate embracing 320 acres of valuable land, which, under the wise manipulation of its pro- prietor is numbered among the finest homesteads in this county. At the time Lewis Jones settled here the present flourishing city of Urbana was an unpretentious hamlet of one house. He lived to see the country developing around him, and the march of the iron horse over fields which, when he came here were traveled only by wild game and now and then a solitary traveler. He did not live to old age, how- ever, but passed from the scenes of earth in the forty-third year of his age, on Christmas Day, 1 858. He left a wife and four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second. William M. Jones passed his boyhood and youth on the old homestead, attending the district school and assisting his mother as best he could after the father had passed away. Upon reaching manhood he began farming on his own account, still remain- ing on the homestead, to which he brought a bride on the Oth of October, 188G. This lady was for- merly Miss Nora B. Cooper, a native of this county, and the daughter of David and Nancy (Wise) Cooper, who removed from Ohio to this State in about I860. Mr. Jones has continued on the old homestead up to this time, and -has added by degrees a large acreage of the fertile land adjoining. Aside from general farming and stock-raising he has given much attention to the breeding of Belgian horses, having about four head of as fine animals as are contained in any of the stables of this section. Mr. Jones also fattens numbers of cattle annually, which he ships to the Eastern markets and the pro- ceeds of which yield him a handsome income. The land is largely devoted to the raising of grain, being finely adapted to this purpose by its thorough drainage with tile, and its admirable location, which enables it to receive the sunshine and the atmos- phere best calculated for the growth of vegetation. SSAAC FRANCIS. Among the early settlers of St. Joseph Township the name of our subject is worthy of an honorable place. He was born Nov. 9, 1825, in Madison County, Ohio, near La Fayette. His grandfather, Reason Francis, was one of the pioneers of the latter-named State. He lived there in the early days, when wolves and bears were frequent visitors, and upon one occasion dis- patched an aggressive bear with a tomahawk. His wife's maiden name was Margaret Bair. Her father was likewise one of the early settlers of Ohio. He was a brickmason by trade, and the founder of London, the county seat of Madison County. Onr subject's father, John Francis, came to Ohio with his parents in the early days, where, after at- taining to manhood, he married Miss Nancy Vance. She was a native of Virginia, and the daughter of John Vance. In 1840 her father left his Eastern home with the intention of settling in Champaign County, 111., but earthly plans are in the hands of a Higher Power. On the journey his death oc- curred while seated at the breakfast table. The family of Mr. Vance is of Scotch extraction, and that of Mr. Francis of English lineage. After his marriage John Francis settled in Madison County, Ohio, and engaged in farming there, becoming one of the principal wheat-growers of the neighborhood. He passed the remainder of his life in Madison County, where his death took place in August, 1 t-i-'W. He had been twice married, and was the father of six children. T 812 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 1 Isaac Francis was the eldest child of his father's first marriage. His boyhood was passed at home among the green fields of his native county until the death of his mother, after which he made his home with strangers. He first engaged in farm labor as a wage-worker by the month, and when he had reached the age of twenty resolved to seek his fortune in the West. He came to Champaign County, 111., and first found employment in Homer by the month, and next, like Abraham Lincoln, took a job of rail-splitting, at which he worked faithfully summer and winter for two years, receiv- ing thirty-seven and a half cents per hundred. In 1849 our subject married Miss Eliza J. Gazle, but their married life was of short duration, her death occurring in the following August. In 1855 he was married the second time, to Miss Ella Van Brunt, the daughter of Samuel Van Brunt. After his marriage he rented a farm for five years, and in 1859 purchased his present place on section 33, containing 120 acres of choice land. The place had originally but few improvements, but his farm is now well tiled and fenced, and supplied with a good barn and pleasant farm residence. His former dwelling-house was destroyed by fire in 1882, but fortunately it was partially covered by an insurance of $450, which afforded some assistance in the building of another house. Mr. and Mrs. Francis have a family of three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter Edgar, Craton W. and Jennie. In politics he is a stanch Republican. Mr. Francis is just and kind in disposition, temper- ate in his habits, and possesses the esteem of all who know him. RS. ELIZABETH (EVANS) GABRIEL, who may be justly numbered with the early pioneers of Champaign County, lo- cated in Rantoul Township on a tract of wild land, in 1867. She became familiar with all the difficulties of settlement in a new country, and performed worthily the duties of a pioneer, bring among those noble women without whom the settlement of this county would have been much less advanced than it is at the present time. She evaded no duty, and labored cheerfully with her family during the days when such labor was nec- essary to their well-being and to the establish- ment of a home. Her first husband, Phineas Allen, was drowned in the Hocking River. He was cross- ing a trestle work during high water, and falling from the bridge was drowned. His body was found three months later. Mrs. Gabriel was born Feb. 11, 1822, in that part of Athens, Ohio, which is now included in Vinton County. Her father, David Evans, was a native of Virginia, and her grandfather, Caleb Evans, removed from the Old Dominion to Ohio in about 1840, and settled near Columbus, where he spent the balance of his days. His son, David, who was a young man when this removal was made, married in the Buckeye State and located on a timber tract in Athens Township, Vinton County. He first erected a log cabin, which, however, was soon replaced by a more modern structure, and cleared a part of the land, and remained there until his death, which occurred in 1854. The maiden whom he chose for his wife, Miss Sallie Roderick, was born on the Scioto River in Ohio, and died at her home in Vinton County, in 1844. The parental household included eleven children. Mrs. Gabriel remained with her mother until her marriage, assisting in the household duties, learning to spin, weave and knit, and to cut and make the clothing for the family. Her first marriage took place on the 12th of May, 1842, when she became the wife of Phineas Allen, the gentleman above mentioned, who was a native of Athens County, Ohio, and was the son of Phineas Allen, Sr., who emigrated from his native State of New Jersey to Ohio in the pioneer days, and locating in Athens County, there passed the remainder of his life. Phineas Allen, Jr., spent his entire life in his native county, and during his last years was -engaged in the management of his father's farm. Mrs. Allen was married to William Gabriel in 1861, who died in 1863. Mrs. Gabriel removed to Franklin County in 1865, renting a farm, which her sons worked until 1868, when they came to Champaign County, and bought forty acres in Condit Township, and later moved to Rantoul Township. Here she im- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 813 proved a farm and lived for several years, display- ing great -skill in the management of the place. In 1881 Mrs. Gabriel removed to the village of liantoiil. By her first marriage she became the mother of six children, two of whom are deceased. Those surviving are Harvey, who is a resident of Indiana; George, living in Arkansas; Sarah, who married Providence Mounts, and is a resident of Pawnee, Kan., and Tartns, who manages the farm. The second son, Sanford Allen, was born July 3, 1845, and during the war enlisted in the fall of 1861, in the 75th Ohio Infantry. At the bloody battle of Gettysburg he laid down his life, and his remains were laid to rest in a soldier's grave. He w.-is a bright and promising young man, and Ser- geant of his company. Of the second marriage of Mrs. Gabriel there were no children. ON. S. II. BUSEY. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is one of the oldest pioneers of Champaign County, having come here in 1836 with his parents, when a lad twelve years of age. Here he grew to man's estate, and finished the education which was begun in his native county. He was born Oct. 24, 1824, in Greencastle, Ind., his parents being Col. Mat- thew W. and Elizabeth (Bush) Busey, whose fam- ily consisted of eight children, of whom our sub- ject was the second in order of birth. AVhen Mr. Busey came to this county, the neigh- bors were few and far between, but possessed in an eminent degree the social spirit which prevailed in the pioneer days. The neighbors were all ac- quainted with each other for twenty miles around, and it was considered almost a duty to attend the dances, weddings and funerals which occurred in the county. The schooling of young Busey was mostly carried on in a log cabin with puncheon floor and greased paper for window-panes. He re- mained under the home roof, assisting his parents in the duties incident to the opening up of a new farm, and after arriving at years of manhood was married, in 1848, to Miss Artemesia Jones, of Greencastle, Ind., formerly of Kentucky, whence she removed with her parents, John \\ . and Alice (Scott) Jones, to Greencastle, Ind., when a child. Of the union of our subject and wife there were born eight children, of whom the record is as fol- lows: JohnW. married Miss Ada Tobias, and they have two children Frankie and Katie; this son is carrying on an extensive stock farm in Compro- mise Township, and breeding Short-horn cattle and Clydesdale horses. Augusta Busey is the wife of W. P. Morgan, an attorney of Minneapolis, Minn.; Frances, Mrs. II. Riley, lives in Champaign, where her husband is engaged in the jewelry busi- ness; Matthew W. married Miss Kate Richards, and they have two children Paul W. and Virginia; he is 'a partner in Bnsey's Bank. James B., who is farming in Newcomb Township, this county, mar- ried Miss Kate Kaucher, and they have two chil- dren Martin M. and Simeon H. ; Alice, Mrs. G. Freeman, of Urbana. has three children Simeon H., Jessie and George; George W., who is now in Arizona, has charge of the Colorado River In- dian Agency; William H. is conducting a stock ranch at Great Bend. Kan. In 1853 Mr. Busey began the improvement of what is now known as the University Farm, which he occupied until 1866. He then became a resi- dent of Urbana where he was for many years en- gaged in the drug and grocery business. At the same time he was first and foremost in the enter- prises which were calculated to develop and in- crease the prosperity of this county, among which was the First National Bank of Champaign, of which he was the originator, and one of its first Directors. He afterward sold out his interest in this institution, and established Busey Bros.' Bank, at Urbana, which he withdrew from in 1879, in or- der to give more of his attention to his extensive farming interests and bis lands which were scattered throughout this county, and of which he has quite an area in Kansas and Nebraska devoted to stock- raising. In the spring of 1877 Mr. B. was elected Supervisor of Urbana Township, and that same year was chosen to represent his county in the Legislature. He is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and has often been urged to allow his name to be placed before the people as their candidate for Congress. He has always taken an active interest in benevo- 814 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. lent enterprises, and has been generous in contrib- uting his time and money for the- building up of his township and county. The Busey family residence is a fine modern structure, pleasantly located, and its inmates are surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries of life. Mrs. Busey is connected with the Baptist Church, and is a lady highly esteemed for her ex- cellent qualities of character. GE W. GRISWOLD, Supervisor of Harwood Township, is a well-to-do farmer operating 160 acres of land on section 17. He may be pardoned for priding himself upon his "Yankee" blood, as it has been the means of mak- ing him one of the most prosperous, thorough and energetic tillers of the soil, who came to the West in their young manhood and resolved to make their mark. The early home of Mr. Griswold was in the thriv- ing little town of Sharon, Litchfield Co., Conn., where his birth took place on the 12th of August, 183G. He was the first child of Francis W. and Eunice (Surdam) Griswold, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. The year following the birth of our subject, his father, tak- ing his family and household goods with him, pro- ceeded to Sullivan County, N. Y., and located on a farm, where he engaged in agriculture until 1852. He was a man wide awake to what was going on around him, and when he heard of the tide of em- igration setting toward the central portion of this State, he determined to join the caravan, and see what there was for him in the larger fields of the less thoroughly cultivated West. He located first in Kendall County, this State, but five years later moved into Peoria County, taking possession of a farm in Elm wood Township, near the now flourish- ing city of Peoria. There our subject remained under the parental roof until the winter of 1859. Being then twenty-three years of age, he concluded that it was high time to begin the establishment of a home of his own. He took the first important step toward the accomplishment of this end on the 28th of December following, being united in mar- riage with Lucy, eldest child of Joseph and Ann (Enzer) Cox, natives of England, who emigrated to this country early in life, and located ' Peoria, III., during its early settlement. After their marriage, the young people took up their residence on a small farm in Brimfield Town- ship, where they remained three years, but not be- ing quite satisfied with the results, returned to a farm in Elm wood Township, which they occupied for twelve years thereafter. In the meantime Mr. Griswold had been prospered, and accumulated quite a little sum of 0101163- with a fine assortment of farm implements. Believfng, however, he could do still better by removal to this county, he dis- posed of his property in Peoria County, and em- barked in a like enterprise' in this county. Purchas- ing 160 acres of wild land in flarwood Township. he first provided a suitable shelter for his familj-, and soon afterward entered vigorously upon the tilling of the new soil. The results of his labor have been eminently satisfactory ^and the traveler passing through Harwood Township acknowledges there is scarcely a more desirable homestead there than that of George W. Griswold. A view of the place is to be seen on another page. The greater portion of the land has been devoted to the raising of grain, and of late years Mr. G. has given much attention to the breeding of Norman horses, of which he intends to make a specialty in the future. Mr. G. is strongly Republican in politics, and keeps himself well posted upon current events. Having abandoned the greater part of his farm labors with the exception of the department spoken of, he has abundant time, for reading and argument, and while never offensive in the expression of his views, takes genuine delight in bringing up strong reasons in support of them. He was elected Super- visor on the People's Ticket, and h 1885, when he was dropped to be again appointed in 188(i. He is now .Secretary of the Board. Dr. Kratz was married in 1884, to Mrs. Annie Beidler, of Champaign, and the daughter of Ben- jamin C. Bradley, of Versailles, Ky. Of their union there has been born one son, Alonxo P. Besides the pleasant residence on West Clark street. Dr. K. is the owner of valuable town lots, and lias dis- tinguished himself as much in a business capacity as in his profession. \OBKRT DAVIS became a resident of Ma- homet Township in the spring of 1871, set- tling upon section 13, where he has since ved. His homestead consists of 332 acres of fine farming land, all improved, and upon which he has erected a convenient and substantial dwelling and all other requisite farm buildings, a view of which is shown on another page. He has been prosperous in his agricultural operations and is con- sidered one of the representative men of the farm- ing and business community. Our subject is the son of James and Mary (Mc- Cullum) Davis (see sketch of James Davis). He was born in Iowa City, Iowa, Oct. 17, 1842, and after pursuing his primary studies in the common schools completed them in the High School at Dan- ville. Since fourteen years of age he has lived on a farm, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-two. He first started in business for him- self in Hensley Township, where he carried on farming four years, and then purchased a part of his present homestead. He was married in Ma- homet Township, Oct. 19, 1864, to Miss Elvira B. Scott, a native of this township, and the daughter of Judge F. L. Scott, who died in Mahomet Town- ship, Nov. 13, 1878. The mother of Mrs. Davis before her marriage was Miss Julia A. Herriott, and she departed this life at her home in Mahomet Township. Jan. 16, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Davis be- came the parents of five children, namely, Wiley, Thomas, Julia B., Mary M. and Charles. Wiley and Julia B. are the only surviving children. The others died in infancy. The wife and mother de- parted this life Jan. 18, lH7d. Mr. Davis was married to his present wife, who was formerly Miss Sarah G. Little, in Urbana, Sept. 14, 1876. This lady is the daughter of Leavitt C. and Lucy (Webster) Little, natives of New Hamp- shire. After marriage her parents located in Mc- Kean County, Pa., where they spent the remainder of their days. Mr. Little was engaged in farming and surveying. Mrs. Lucy J. Little was first mar- ried to Philip Webster, by whom she had two chil- dren Charles D. and Philip L. The four children of the parental household were Ellen, John S., Susan and Sarah G. Mrs. D. was born in McKean County, Pa., Sept. 22, 1843, and by her marriage with our subject became the mother of three chil- dren Fannie D., Earnest L. and Jay R. Mr. Davis, politically, is a reliable Republican, and a man greatly esteemed among his fellow- townsmen, who have intrusted him with the various minor offices of the township. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Mahomet Lodge No. 220, and with his wife is prominently connected with the Presbyterian Church. AMES K. ICE, druggist at Gifford, possesses the following interesting history: The first representative of the family in this country was the great-great-grandfather of our sub- ^ -' ject, Frederick Ice, who emigrated from Prussia, and settled in Eastern Virginia long before the Revolutionary War. He lived to the good old age of one hundred and twenty-four years, and died in Marion County, W. Va. Among his sons was Adam, the great-grandfather of our subject, who was born in Marion County, W. Va., spent his en- tire lil'c in his native State, and died in 1850, when ninety -eight years of age. He married Miss Bay- les, also a native of the Old Dominion, and the}' became the parents of five children, viz., Polly, Rolla, Elizabeth, Margaret and William B. The great-grandmother died in 1851, aged ninety-three. Their son Rollo, who was born in Marion County, W. Va., in 1796, was the grandfather of our sub- ject. He also spent his entire life in his native State, engaged in farming and stock-raising, and after a creditable record as a citizen and business f '818 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 man, rested from his labors in 1870. He married Miss Rachel Hayes, a native of his own county, who was born in 17H8 and died in 1878. Their family of seven children grew to man and woman- hood, and were named respectively Oliver P., Fielding R., Henry M., Elizabeth, Adam II., Rolla E. and Phebe. The latter two were twins. Of these children, the eldest, Oliver P., was the father of our subject. Oliver P. Ice was also born in Marion County, W. Va.. his birth taking place May 15, 1821. His younger days were passed under the home roof, and when nineteen years old he was married to Miss Sarah Dent, in January, 1840, and they set- tled on a farm of 500 acres given him by his father, and located in his native county. After occupying this several years they crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, but after a year returned to the Old Domin- ion and once more established themselves near the old homestead, where they remained twelve years. In the spring of 1 800 Oliver P. Ice came with his family to this county, and after spending one year at Urbaiia purchased eighty acres of land in Ur- bana Township, which he afterward doubled, and occupied until the spring of 1880. He then sold out and moved to Texas, where he lives at present and is extensively engaged in stock-raising. The mother of our subject was born Oct. 9, 1821, and departed this life at the home of her husband in Marion County, W. Va., Aug. 18, 1851. Her remains were laid to rest in the family burying- ground on the old homestead in that county. The parental family included six children, namely, Ze- rilda, George R., James, of our sketch, Bathsheba, Charlotte and Sarah E. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Dudley E. Dent, who was born near Morgantown, W. Va., and passed his days mostly in that neighborhood. He served as a sol- dier in the War of 1812, took part in the engage- ment at Hampton Roads, and was in the en- gagement with the British at North Point, near Baltimore. He met his death by drowning in the Kanawha River. AV. Va.,in 1844: The maiden name of his wife was Mahala Berkshire, who was born near Morgautown, Va.,and died in 1884. They were the parents of twelve children George AA r ., Maria, Alpheus E.. James A'., Sarah Ann, Cornelius B.,Ze- 1 rilda D.. Anara, Marmaduke, Margaret, Dudley E. and Richard M. Three of their boys, James, Alpheus and Richard, served in the Confederate army and were killed during the Rebellion. Marmaduke and Dudley E. fought in the Union army and both came home disabled for life. Our subject's great- grandfather Dent, a native of Eastou, Va., served all through the Revolutionary War as Captain. After the independence of the Colonists had been established he settled near Morgantown, together with quite a number of his old company, and died there in the midst of his friends. James K. Ice, like all of his family from his great-grandfather down, was born in West Virginia, his first introduction to life being on the 8th of April, 1 844. He was deprived of the affectionate care of his mother when a lad seven years of age, and was the third of six children born to his par- ents. Only two now remain of the family, himself and his sister Zerilda. In due time his father was married the second time, and James K. remained in his native State until sixteen years old, then, in company with his father and stepmother, came by steamboat to Cincinnati and thence by rail to Ur- bana, 111., lauding in this county in the spring of 1800. He continued under the parental roof four years thereafter, and when twenty years of age was united in marriage with Miss Nancy J. Butcher, Sept. 20, 1863. His wife is the daughter of AVill- iam J. and Marinda (Ullom) Butcher, who are now deceased. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ice located on a tract of land in Urbaua Township, and thence removed to a farm in Marshall County, which our subject operated some time for his uncle, Enoch Dent. Afterward he rented land in another part of Marshall County until the spring of 1865, when he went into Putnam County, 111., and pursued farming there, coming thence to Champaign in 1870. His first location here was in Compromise Township, where he operated on eighty acres for two years, and then purchased 160 acres on section 30. After residing there a few years he purchased the farm of his father in Compromise Township, which he occupied until the spring of 1882. This he afterward sold and purchased 104 acres of good land in Vermilion County, where he lived five CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 819 years. He then determined to change his location and occupation, and accordingly rented his farm, and purchasing the stock and fixtures of James M. Morse, at Gifford, removed hither and embarked in the drug trade. He has made a good beginning and his friends predict his entire success. He keeps a well-selected stock of goods, and his courteous manner to his customers is securing for him the patronage of the best people in the northeastern part of the county. Mr. Ice has always taken an intelligent interest in matters of local importance, and at the polls casts his vote and influence in favor of the Demo- cratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Ice have become the parents of ten children Hortense, David W., Will- iam II. Meldora, Eugenie (deceased), Marinda, Oliver S., Laura, Nellie and Constance. WEEKS DODGE, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Ran- toul, came to this vicinity in the spring of 1856, and purchased 1,000 acres of wild **^--* prairie land, which he began to improve, and upon which he spent some 15,000 in fitting the soil for the raising of winter wheat. This, however, proved an unfortunate investment, and together with his ill-health, induced him to abandon farming and take up his residence in liantoul, where he estab- lished a drug-store, which he carried on successfully for about eight or nine years. Subsequently he opened a land-office, and during a business of four years' standing had operated in 50,000 acres, the commissions from which yielded him quite a little fortune. In 1873 he retired from active business, and is now enjoying the fruits of his labors, sur- rounded by all the comforts and many of the" lux- uries of life. In addition to his town property he owns a good farm not far from the limits, embrac- ing 235 acres of valuable land, which he rents for a stated sum annually. Mr. Dodge for many years has been prominent in the affairs of Rantoul Township, representing it as Supervisor on the County Board, and for a period of seven years was Assessor, at the time when the one township comprised an area equal to four. Under his excellent manngement the expense of this amounted to but $13.50. Subsequently, after the organization of Rantoul Township proper, its other territory being laid off into Ludlow, Ilarwood and Rantoul, he assisted in its organ- ization, took an active part in the erection of the first and second school buildings, and was Director for many years. He served as Justice of the Peace seven years. He cast his first presidential vote for Jackson. The birth of our subject took place near Whites- town, Oneida Co., N. Y., on the 21st of November, 1808. His father, John Dodge, a native of New Hampshire, was born July 7, 1776, three days after the declaration of American independence, and died of old age at his home in Twinsburg, Ohio, in his seventy-ninth 3'ear. In early manhood he mar- ried Miss Hannah Weeks, a native of Com fret, Conn., their wedding taking place in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1800. The Weeks family was noted for its intellect and learning, the male mem- bers following professions generally. The family originated in England, and were among the earliest settlers of New England. The maternal grandpar- ents of our subject removed from Connecticut to New York while young people, and soon after .their marriage. Grandfather Dodge served in the Rev- olutionary War, and was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. He had been married but a short time before his enlistment, and his wife was married four times afterward, becoming the mother of sev- enteen children. The family of John Dodge, Sr., and his wife in- cluded ten children, of whom all lived to mature years, and five are still surviving. The youngest is seventy-two years old. The mother died when forty-two years of age. The subject of this biog- raphy removed with his parents from his native State to Portage County, Ohio-, when a boy of ten years, where he completed a good, common-school education, attending three months after he was twenty years old. Under the careful training of his father he also became a practical farmer. He remained under the home roof until twenty years old before he ventured to begin the establishment of a home for himself, but in the meantime had taken good care of his earnings, and was now ready to engage in farming for himself. Among his fern- T 820 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. inine acquaintances was Miss Susan Bissell, a lady of fine abilities and excellent education, who had for several years been engaged in teaching, and her he chose for his life companion, their wedding tak- ing place at the home of the bride's parents Aug. 21, 1834. They began life together on a farm, and fifteen years later Mr. Dodge had acquired sufficient means to engage in merchandising, which he believed would suit him better than the further pursuance of farm life. In passing it may be proper to note the fact that a large portion of his capital was accumulated by the labor of his hands, much of the time at fifty cents per day. Mr. Dodge opened his first store in the little town of Twinsburg on the Western Reserve in Ohio, which he operated successfully for a period of seven years, after which he decided to try his fortunes in the Prairie State. Of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Dodge three died in infancy ; Orris B. is engaged in the manu- facture of agricultural implements at Dixon, in which he has amassed a moderate fortune ; Susan J. is the wife of M. J. Beard, of Rantoul ; Mary M. is the wife of A. P. Neal, a druggist of the latter- named place. Mr. and Mrs. Dodge were connected with the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Dodge has filled the office of Deacon for several years. Mrs. Susan (Bissell) Dodge, after an illness of several years, closed her eyes upon the scenes of earth May f 1, 1873. She was a lady of most ad- mirable qualities, a devout member of the Congre- gational Church, and the center of a large circle of friends, whose sorrow at her death was evinced in many ways, and especially by the large attendance at her funeral. In her home life and with her family she was the same kind friend and counselor, setting an example worthy of imitation by her chil- dren, and uniformly proving the sympathizer of her husband in his difficulties and rejoicing in his prosperity. F. BEARDSLEY, who is well known in the business community of Cham- paign, deals in real estate, bonds and mort- gages, and is one of the important factors of the solid interests of this section. He is a native of the wealthy and populous State of Ohio, his birth having taken place in that State on the 26th of May, 1827. His parents were John and Mary (Fitch) Beardslcy, natives respectively of Stratford and New Haven, Conn. His father was born Sept. 26, 1792, and his grandfather, John Beardsley, Sr., a native of the same town as his son, was born Feb. 16, 1757. The first representative of the family in this country emigrated from England in 1C?5, fif- teen years after the landing of the Pilgrims. It is believed their native place was Stratford-on- Avon, near the home of Shakespeare. The grand- father of our subject served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War six years, and lost his hearing at the battle of Stony Point by the bursting of a cannon near him. He died at Stratford, April 2, 1802, having been the father of five children, nearly all of whom lived to an advanced age. John Beardsley, Jr., the father of our subject, during his early life learned the trade of cabinet- maker at which he served an apprenticeship of seven years, and which he pursued until his removal to Ohio. He emigrated from his native State to Ohio in the pioneer clays, settling in Knox County, Milford Township, of which he was one of the or- ganizers, where he outlived all of his brother set- tlers. His life was long and full of interesting in- cidents. After leaving his native State he first went to South Carolina, where he spent one winter and afterward made three trips to Ohio, making the first and second journeys on foot. He first entered 160 acres of Government land, which subsequently became the principal part of his farm, and upon which he resided for sixty-four years. He was married on the 9th of September, 1822, in New Haven, Conn., to Miss Mary Fitch. Upon the third trip to Ohio he was accompanied by his bride, and they made the journey with one horse, which hauled their entire outfit. Upon one occasion when on the edge of a precipice the animal suddenly took a notion to go backward. The occupants of the wagon had just time to spring to the ground when horse and vehicle rolled over to the bottom. Neither, however, were seriously damaged, and by the assistance of a company of mountaineers, who ; quickly gathered at the scene, they were soon hauled t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 821 up In the ro:i(l mid the journey resumed. John Beardsley became :i man of note in his adopted State and held several local offices of responsibility, | the duties of which he discharged with conscicn- j tious fidelity. Originally he was a Whig in politics, an ardent admirer of Henry Clay, and with other anti-slavery members of his party naturally gravi- tated into the Republican ranks when the old party j \v;is, abandoned. He became connected with the Congregational Church in his youth, and was often an interested listener to the remarkable discourses of Dr. Nathaniel W. Taylor, Lymau Beecher and Lorenzo Dow. Mr. Beardsley himself was a lay speaker of rare sweetness and power. After a long and worthy life, distinguished by temperance and kindliness of heart, he closed his eyes to earthly scenes after having made a good record, and with the personal respect and esteem of all who knew him. His death occurred Feb. 24, 1887. The record of the children of John and Mary (Fitch) Beardsley is as follows: Charles, a resident of Burlington, Iowa, is Fourth Auditor of the United States, having served eight j'ears, receiving ! his first appointment under the Hayes administra- I tion; Henry is practicing law at Clarks, Merrick Co., Neb.; Mary, Mrs. Craven, lives in Milverton, Ohio: two children of the family died some years ago Elizabeth, at the age of forty-eight, and Me- lissa, at thirty. George F. Beardsley was reared to farming pur- suits, received his education in the pioneer schools of the Buckeye State, and upon reaching manhood commenced farming on his own account, which he carried on in Ohio until 1867. He then removed to this State, and locating in the city of Champaign, established his present business. He enlisted, in 1 864, in the National Guards, doing military serv- ice around Petersburg and in the meantime engasj- o o o ing in several skirmishes with the enemy. After the close of the war he located in Champaign, and since that time has been successfully engaged in real estate and loans. Mr. Beardsley inherited in a large degree the resolution and energy of his honored father, and served as Justice of the Peace in Knox County, Ohio, for a number of years, in the meantime also serving as Postmaster under President Buchanan. Since coming to this locality he has identified him- self with all its interests, both business and educa- tional, serving as member of the City Council for eight years and being a member of the Board of Education since 1879. For the past eighteen years he has been a Deacon of the Congregational Church. He was first President of the Champaign Sugar and Glucose Company, is a Director and stockholder in the Champaign National Bank, President of the Champaign Tile Factory, has a half interest in the Laniard \ cr purchased an interest in his present business which was established by Hamlin & Patterson. It was operated under the firm name of Patterson & Glover for two years, when our subject purchased the interest of his partner, con- ducting the business some years, when he sold out and purchased the bakery of George R. Ruger, which he removed to his old stand, and in which he continued until 1881. Besides his thriving trade and stock in town, he owns a snug farm of forty acres just outside the city limits. Our subject was united in marriage with Miss Martha Marshall, a native of Ireland, Sept. 9, 1856- They have no children of their own, but have sup- plied the place of father and mother to an adopted son, Charles H. They are members in good stand- ing of the Congregational Church, and politically Mr. G. is an ardent Republican. He is a self-made man in evei'y respect, and his present possessions have been accumulated by his own industry and economy. His establishment gives employment to four men, and is conducted upon thorough busi- ness principles. MOORE, A. M., Superintendent of West Side public schools, at Champaign, 111., was born near Pittsburgh, Pa., May 27,1844. He prepared for college in the public and private schools of Pittsburgh, and entered Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, in 1859, graduating therefrom in 1863, receiving the degree of A. B. Afterward the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by his Alma Mater. Mr. Moore entered the Western Theological Seminary after graduating, and pursued a literary course for two years, at which time he married and began teaching in the graded schools. He has taught, continuously since at Uniontown, Pa., Dwight, Charleston, and Polo, 111., one year at the latter place, and has been at Champaign since 1880. He is a gentleman and a ripe scholar, and as an educator stands in the first rank. lie has been married twice. Mr. Moore's ancestors came to this country dur- ing the religious persecutions in England. His great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and has the characteristics of both races. He is in the prime of life, and his future career is very prom- ising. WILLIAM B. SIMS, of Urbana, is widely and favorably known throughout this county as one of the leading men of the medical profession. He began practice in this county in the early part of 1870, at St. Joseph, where he remained until 1883, and then took up his residence in Urbana, which has since been his home, and whose people have learned to respect him for his natural talents and the fidelity with which he has attended upon those requiring the exercise of his professional judgment and skill. Dr. Sims is a native of Blount County, E. Tenn., and was born April 14, 1836. His parents were William G. and Mary E. (Cusick) Sims, who were engaged in farming pursuits, and of whose marriage there were born twelve children. Of these only seven are now living Joseph, Martha J., Cather- ine, Elizabeth, William B., David M. and Mary E. In 1840 the parents of our subject removed with their family to Edgar County, 111., being among the earliest settlers of that region. The elder Sims purchased a tract of timber land in the Wabash Valley, and built a log cabin 18x20 feet, which consisted of one room only, with a fireplace running across one end, and with one window on each side of it. This log cabin remained the residence of the family for a number of years, and was then replaced by a more modern structure, built of hewed logs and weatherboarded. The father of our subject cleared the heavy timber from eighty acres, and passed the remainder of his life in the pioneer home which he had thus established. His death occurred in 1867, twenty-two years after that of his wife, who died in 1845. The first representatives of the Sims' family in -I 824 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. this country emigrated from Ireland at an early day, settling in East Tennessee. Among these was James, the grandfather of our subject, who served at* a solder in the Revolutionary War, and lived to the age of one hundred and ten years, his hair then being only slightly gray. That of his son, Will- iam G., the father of our subject, was nearly as dark at the time of his death as it was when he was in his prime. The life of the latter was particularly active, and he was distinguished as a man of more than ordinary ability and enterprise. For a period of twenty-four years, while living in Tennessee, he drove a six-horse team to and from Baltimore and New Orleans to Knoxville, Tenn., managing the six animals with one line, riding the left wheel horse. After coming to Illinois he kept a number of hogs and cattle, which ran in the woods, the former feeding on acorns and beech-nuts, by which they were sufficiently fattened for table use. In case hay gave out during the spring season, when the bass- wood trees began to bud, a tree was cut down for the cattle to brouse upon. Our subject passed his early childhood amid these primitive scenes, in the meantime attending the subscription schools from the time he was four years old. When thirteen years of age young Sims left the farm to learn the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed fifteen years. Upon the out- break of the late war he proffered his services as a Union soldier, enlisting in the 4th Illinois Cav- alry, and secured the commission as Corporal, serving until 18G4. lie took part in the battle of Ft. Donelson, and was afterward detailed for de- tached service in the Quartermaster's department until within the last nine months, when he held the position of Chief Saddler for his regiment. In 1804 he was transferred to the hospital service as Ward Master, having charge of three hospitals at Natchez, Miss., which responsible position he held until the expiration of his term of enlistment. Our subject commenced the study of medicine in McLean County, 111., in 1866, and in the winter of 1869-70 attended a course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He began the practice of his profession at St. Joseph, this county, in the early part of 1870, where he built up an extensive and lucrative business. Afterward he attended the Louisville Medical College, whence he graduated in 1878. Five years later he removed toUrbana, and since 1 883 has been a resident and practitioner of this city. In the meantime he was the pharmacist for E. M. & W. M. Nolton, of Urbana, until the 1st of January, 1877. He also carried on a drug-store at St. Joseph from 1875 to 1877, in which latter year he sold out. The marriage of Dr. Sims took place in 1855, the lad}" of his choice being Miss Sarah J.. daughter of Joseph Medley, of Vigo, Ind. Of this union there have been born eight children, of whom the record is as follows: Samuel N. is a practicing physician of St. Joseph, this county ; Joseph M., a resident of Veedcrsburg, Ind, is agent for the I., B. was chosen President of the Ladies' Aid Society at Washington Court Ho'use, in Ohio, and shortly after the battle of Pittsburg Lauding was sent to Camp Dennison in charge of supplies. She is a lady of great benevolence and kindness, and gave much of her time during the war in preparing nec- essaries for the wounded soldiers, large consign- ments of which were frequently sent from the North to the various hospitals where the soldiers were suffering from illness or wounds. McCABE, of Hanvood Township, \\.-is I born in County Monaghan, Ireland, June 24, 1828, and was the third child of James and Bridget (Trainor) McCabe, natives of the same county and who spent their entire lives there. Our subject spent his childhood and youth amid the rural scenes of his native county. By the time he was twenty- one years of age he had saved a little money which he intended to expend in seek- ing a country whose advantages were eminently greater than those of his own land. At the outset he met with a dire misfortune by falling into the hands of sharpers, who robbed him and left him stranded among strangers and without means in the city of Dumfries, Scotland. Being too proud to return home he joined the British Navy and fol- lowed the life of a sailor for over six years. Hali- fax and the West Indies were the principal rendez- vous, and his ship, belonging to the Admiralty, was privileged to cruise along .the North American coast, Young McCabe became intimately ac- quainted with the nature of the fishery troubles be- tween Great Britain and the United States, and distinctly remembers the incidents connected with the capture of the "Cardinal Knight" by the En- glish cruiser, and the division of the spoils, in which he received four shillings and sixpence for his share. Commodore Perry's fleet soon afterward put in an appearance which resulted in the adjustment of difficulties, after which hostilities ceased. Mr. McCabe relates many interesting incidents of his experience in the naval service. After a time spent in the waters of the West Indies they left, and touched land but little for several months thereafter, and in February, 1853, encountered one ' CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 837 : 4 of the severest gales ever known on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The life boats, which were lashed to the rigging forty feet above the deck, were car- ried away by the spray from the heavy sea which followed. After almost superhuman exertions by the soldiers and sailors the ship was finally brought into harbor safely, and continued operating along the coast of the Atlantic until the outbreak of the Crimean War. All the vessels of the English navy were then called into requisition to take sides against the Czar in his conflict with the Ottoman Empire. Here and on the way to the Baltic our subject en- countered many thrilling scenes. lie spent a sea- son there, doing much service, when he came to America. Mr. McCabe landed in New York City on the 22d of December, 1854, and soon afterward went over into Pennsylvania and be<;an work on a farm near the Delaware Breakwater. We soon find him running as a steamboatman on the Monongahela River. Afterward he turned his steps westward, but returned to Pittsburgh, where he worked in a brickyard first, and then started out on a peddling tour. Upon one of his excursions he visited Mas- sillon, Ohio, where his feet were so severely frozen that he suffered a loss of three of his toes. The following spring he returned to his old run on the Luzerne from Pittsburgh to Brownsville, and while on the river the engine of the boat exploded and he was naturally " laid off." In the fall of 1857 he started down the Ohio to Louisville, and from there to Memphis, after which he went up the White River to Napoleon, Ark., in the meantime buying and selling merchandise as before. At this last place while unloading an iron boiler he was severely injured in the back. Upon recovering from this he proceeded to St. Louis, and soon after- ward came to Illinois and engaged as a form laborer. He soon rented a tract of land and began farming for himself. On the 5th of August, 185U, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Ann Spencer, of Mt. Hope Township, McLean County. Mrs. McCabe was the sixth of a family of eight children born to Richard and Bridget (Cavanaugh) Spencer, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America at an early day, and coming to this State located first at Mc- Lean Station. Mr. and Mrs. McCabe went South, where he followed ditching until the breaking out of the war. This project, however, fell through, and Mr. McCabe finally decided to return to McLean County, and was only $5 richer than when he set out. The following year he and his wife engaged to work for a fanner, his salary to be $14 per month and hers to be $6. They were thus engaged eleven months, saving every penny they could, and at the expiration of this time rented a tract of land, and began fanning for themselves. They followed ag- riculture two years near McLean Station, and thence removed to a farm in Logan County which they occupied four years. While in the latter place two children were born James R. and John F. The first entrance of our subject into Champaign County took place in the spring of 18C9, when he purchased 160 acres of land in Harwood Township, where he soon erected a house. He increased his landed interests after the second year by the pur- chase of 120 acres. Mr. McCabe met with a severe accident in tlie spring of 1885, being kicked by a horse and one leg broken. He lay upon the ground helpless from nine o'clock in the morning until five in the evening before he was found and taken home, enduring suffering that can better be imagined than described. From the shock to his system he has not yet fully recovered, and it was only by the most judicious care that his life was saved. W. OBRYANT, a native of the southwest- ern part of this county, was born April 5, 1843, and is the son of John C. Obryant, of Virginia, who first drew breath in the rural districts of old Virginia in 1811. His grandfather, Holcomb Obryant, was of Irish descent, and the first rep- resentatives of the family in this country located in Virginia and became the progenitors of a nu- merous family. The mother of our subject was Eliza Drullinger. a native of Ohio. Of her marriage with John C. Obryant there were born two sons and eight daughters, seven of whom lived to mature years, married and settled in homes of t 838 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. their own. The mother is still surviving, making her home with her children, and enjoying remarkably good health for a lady seventy-two years of age. The subject of this history spent a part of his early life in Vermilion County, but attained his majority in this count}'. During the progress of the late war he enlisted in Co. K, 125th 111. Vol. Inf., and followed the fortunes of a soldier until the close, taking part in many of its important battles, name- Iv, Perryville, Ky., Chickamauga and Mission Ridge, besides meeting the enemy in various skir- mishes and experiencing many hairbreadth escapes. He wound up his military career by joining the army of Gen. Sherman in its march from Atlanta to the sea, going through the Carolinas and being at the battle of Bentonville, whence they moved on to Richmond and from there to Washington to the final grand review, after the surrender of Lee's army. Here Mr. Obryant, with those of his com- rades who remained alive after their terrible ex- periences, was honorably discharged and subse- quently paid off at Chicago. Our subject, after once more becoming a civilian, returned to Vermilion County, where he remained until the spring of 1866. He then made his way to St. Joseph Township, where he began farming, hav- ing in view the establishment of domestic ties and a home of his own. The lady destined to become the sharer of his fortunes was Miss Mary Ltidwick, to whom he was married Feb. 17, 1869, in St. Jo- seph Township. Mrs. Obryant is a native of Indi- ana, born near La Fayette, and the daughter of John and Eveline Ludwick, natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. After marriage the young people settled near what is now Mayview, where Mr. Obryant rented a tract of land for a term of five years. He continued there prosper- ously, and wh^n his lease had expired purchased ninety acres of land near the farm of Isaac Leas, which is now known as the Leas Farm. Our sub- ject occupied this ten years, then sold out and took possession of his homestead. Here he has operated after the theory of Horace Greeley, r that a small amount of land well cultivated is more profitable than a larger area partially neglected. He has but eighty acres, but has brought it to a fine and fertile condition, built a good residence and barn, and' has excellent grades of Short-horn cattle, together with hogs and horses of no mean degree. The household of Mr. and Mrs. Obryant now in- cludes three bright children Frank E., Anna May and W. Roy. The parents are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at St. Joseph, in which Mr. Obryant has officiated as Steward and Trustee for a number of years, and has been continuously identified with the Sunday- school, in which he has always maintained an active and kindly interest. EZRA DICKERSON, one of the most exten- sive farmers of Champaign County, occu- pies 640 acres in Compromise Township, on section 19, of which he took possession in 1867. He came here with a determination to establish a permanent home and become identified with the best citizens of this county. With comparatively little effort he has been assigned to his rightful po- sition as a representative business man and mem- ber of the community, enjoying in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow- citizens. As a farmer he has been unusually suc- cessful, and in the township has identified himself with its most important interests. He commenced life as a carpenter at $10 per month, and was after- ward variously employed until he had saved $300 in money, with which he purchased a sawmill and established himself in the lumber trade, from the proceeds of which business he purchased the farm that formed the basis of his fine property. Mr. Dickerson is a native of Franklin County, Ind., born July 13, 1834. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Carroll) Dickerson, natives of Ohio, after marriage removed to Indiana, and located among the early pioneers of Franklin County. The father of our subject was a cooper by trade, which business he followed until 1853, when he removed to Hendricks County, Ind., and engaged in farm- ing until retiring from the active labors of life. His death occurred in that county in 1872, when seventy-two years old. Mrs. Dickerson still sur- vives and is now a resident of Sheldon, III. The parental household included four children, who are I If < f. t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 841 located as follows: Clarinda, the wife of Daniel Chirk, resides in Hendricks Count}'. Ind. ; Jane married William Brundidge, a resident of Kansas; Elizabeth, Mrs. Frank Hereford, lives in Lincoln, 111. Our subject was the second child and the only son of his father's family. He learned the trade of a carpenter in his youth, which he followed in Frank- lin and Hendricks Counties, Ind., until he engaged in the lumber trade. After coming to this county he purchased 640 acres of unbroken prairie, includ- ing section 19, which he has transformed into a beautiful and desirable homestead. He was one of the seven men chiefly interested in building the Havana, Rautoul & Eastern Railroad, his associates in this enterprise being B. J. Gifford, G. D. Pen- field, John Penfield, Milo Dewey, Robert Fisher and H. E. Bullock. They afterward associated with them Lewis Stewart, of Piano, 111. Mr. Dick- erson superintended the laying of thirty-five miles of track, as well as the building of several bridges. After the completion of the road he officiated as conductor, having charge of a train four years. During the construction of the road he contracted for a large number of ties and much other material, and was one of the most important factors in the whole enterprise. Upon severing his connection with the railroad, and after an absence of six years, he returned to his farm and has since devoted his time and attention to its improvement. The land is drained with 1,300 rods of tile, and the residence, which was erected in 1 883-84, is a commodious structure, two stories in height, being finely finished, and altogether is one of the best farm dwellings in that part of the county. In 1884, for the purpose of draining his own land, he established a tile manufactory, and the business proving profit- able he has continued it, making extensive ship- ments to various parts of this and other counties. His fields, which are conveniently laid out and neatly (enced, are finely adapted both for pasturage and grain-raising, being chiefly devoted to the latter. The full page view of his farm, which we present in this connection, gives one an excellent idea of its extent and the splendid family residence, its surroundings, his factory and other buildings. The lady who has presided with great dignity and amiability over the household of our subject for a period of twenty-four years, was formerly Miss Elizabeth Wiley, a native of Hendricks Coun- ty, Ind., and the daughter of Alfred and -Susan Wiley, natives of Guilford County, N. C. They took up their abode in Hendricks Count}', Ind., in 1834, during the pioneer days. The children now living of Ezra and Mrs. Dickerson, are two daugh- ters, Florence and Effie. A little son, Charlie, died when two years of age. Florence, in August, 1881, became the wife of David Stephens; she is now the wife of Walter M. Dickey, a resident of Chicago, and dealer in fine trotting horses; she has a son by her first husband. Our subject politically affiliates with the Democratic party, and is regarded as one of the most substantial men of his township. B. SMITH, of the firm of J. B. Smith & Co., dealers in boots and shoes at No. 59 Neal street, Champaign, located here in the fall of 1854. He is possessessed of those principles and traits of character which have constituted him an honest man and a good citizen, the encourager of morality and education, and which have made him universally esteemed by all who know him. Our subject is a native of Kentucky, born Aug. 7, 1832, and is the son of Jacob and Eliza (Porter) Smith, natives of Philadelphia. Jacob Smith was an extensive furniture manufacturer in that city, and also in Kentucky, and left the latter State for Illi- nois in October, 1851. lie settled in McLean County and lived -a retired life in the city of Bloomington until his decease in 1875, at an ad- vanced age. The mother died the following year, aged eiglity-four, being one year younger than her husband. Both parents were members of the Pres- byterian Church. Of their seven children five are still living, namely, Thomas M., of Missouri; R. P.; Mrs. Cochran, of Bloomington, 111.; Mrs. Noel, of Missouri, and J. B., our subject. Jacob Smith, Sr., during the early part of his life v^as a stanch ad- herent of the old Whig party, and after its abandon- ment affiliated with the Republicans, casting one T t 842 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, who was a distant relative and who afterward visited him at his home in Bloomington. The subject of this biography attended school in his native State until fifteen years of age, complet- ing hi;; studies at Danville College. He then en- gaged as clerk in a store at Richmond, and was thus occupied until the family removed to Illinois. In the spring of 1854 he engaged in mercantile busi- ness at Urbana, remaining only a brief time, how- ever, as in the fall of that same year he put up a store on Main street in Champaign, in which he continued business in connection with that at Ur- bana. His partner, J. W. Hill, managed the Cham- paign branch. In 1859 Mr. .Smith sold out and returned to Bloomingtou, engaging in the same business until 1801, and until after the opening of the late war. He then started out as a sutler of the 8th Missouri Regiment, but his health failing in the course of a few months he returned once more to Bloomiugton. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Smith went to Chicago, and engaging in the fancy and dry-goods trade, remained there until the great fire in October, 1871. After this disaster he again returned to Blooming- ton, and in company with his brother, Robert T., opened a wholesale and retail boot and shoe busi- ness, which they conducted one year, and then our subject returned to Chicago and became connected with the firm of Eddy, Harvey & Co., wholesale dealers in boots and shoes and hats and caps. He remained with the firm until their failure in 1882. He afterward engaged again with his brother in the boot and shoe business in Bloomington, where they remained until February, 1887, when Mr. Smith removed to Champaign and established his present business. On i 1 subject was married, in 1855, to Miss Mary J. Howse, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of David Howse, who settled in Champaign County in 1854. The father of Mrs. S. was also engaged in the boot and shoe business while in Ohio, but after coining to Illinois followed farming and car- ried on a nursery. He departed this life in Cham- paign in 1882. The family of Mr. Ilowse included six children, namely, Mrs. Smith; Mrs. Mulligan, of Dakota; Mrs. Hill; David B., Bell and Kossuth. The latter four reside in Champaign County. Mrs. Howse died in Champaign in 185G. Air. Smith is independent in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his excellent wife is a member in good standing of the Presby- terian Church. LIAS RUSSELL first drew breath among the hills of Delaware County, Ohio, to which State his father had removed from his na- tive State of Virginia with his parents when a boy. The grandfather of our subject, John Russell by name, was born in the Old Dominion, being the off- spring of a family who traced their ancestry from England, and whose first representatives in 'this country located in Virginia in the Colonial days. They were agriculturists, and became noted for their thrift and prosperity. John Russell married early in life and became the father of a fine family of sons and daughters. Among these 'was Joseph A., who was born in Vir- ginia, and when a boy removed with his parents to Ohio, where he grew to manhood, married Miss Jemima C. Eckhart, and became the father of Elias, of our sketch. The Eckhart family was originally from Ger- many, and its later representatives became promi- nent in the early settlement of Ohio. Joseph Rus- sell after his marriage located with his young wife in Fairfield County, where he opened up a tarm and remained until his death, which occurred in the winter of 1881, after he had arrived at an ad- vanced age. The wife and mother still survives, making her home near Lithopolis. The parental household included two sons and four daughters, of whom the record is as follows: Daniel, the eldest, married and settled in Shelby County, 111.; Eliza- beth is the wife of Daniel Stnmpf, of the same county; Maria married William Stumpf; Elias, of our sketch, was the fourth child ; Mary became the wife of Wilkinson Clark, of Fairfield County, Ohio, and Sarah married Calvin Poor. Our subject spent his early years in Fairfield County, Ohio, passing his winters in attendance at the district schools, and assisting in the labors of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 843 the farm until his marriage. This event took place when he was in his twenty-third year, in September, I860, his chosen bride being' Miss Nancy M., daugh- ter of Thomas and Effie (Drake) Whitzel, of Fair- field County, Ohio. In the fall of 1861 Mr. nnd Mrs. Russell came into Shelby County, 111., where they took up their residence for a year. They were not qiiite satisfied with that locality and migrated into Champaign Count}', locating first in Stan ton Township, Here our subject engaged in farming and stock-raising and cultivated annually a large area of corn and wheat. Finally, in 1881, he se- cured possession of eighty acres of land on section 10, in St. Joseph Township, where lie permanently located and which has since been his home. He has been willing to labor for the good things of life, and his industry has been amply rewarded. Him- self and family are enjoying all the comforts which could be reasonably wished for, and possess in a marked degree the esteem and respect of their neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have become the parents of two children only Frank S., and an infant who died unnamed. Mr. R. since coming to this town- ship has served as School Trustee and Treasurer. Commissioner of Highways, and in other positions where he has been of decided assistance in local matters. He is esteemed as a man of excellent judgment, and his honesty has never been ques- tioned. Since becoming a voter he has upheld the principles of the Republican yjarty. t IDGAR W. PUTNAM, junior member of the well-known firm of Putnam Bros., carry- ing on an extensive trade in agricultural im- plements and general merchandise at Penfield, was born in East Douglas, Worcester Co., Mass., June 3, 1857, and was eight years of age when the fam- ily migrated to Illinois. His primary education was conducted in the common schools, afterward being continued in the High School at Champaign upon coming to this county. He has inherited the business talents of his father, and possesses the sound sense required by the practical financier. He remained a member of the parental household until 1882, then came to Penfield and associated him- self in partnership with Thomas J. Campbell, with whom he operated under the style of Campbell cfe Putnam until 1884. Then by the withdrawal of Mr. Campbell the firm became Putnam Bros. On the I Oth of October, 1875, Mr. Putnam was united in marriage with the lady of his choice, Miss Mary M. McLeod. who was born in Vermilion County, this State, in 1857. The father of Mrs. Putnam served as a Union soldier in the late war, and yielded up his life on the battle-field, in Mis- souri. The mother is yet living. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. P. is a son Lewis Watkins. Mr. Putnam, politically, supports the principles of the Democratic party; and officiates in Penfield as Notary Public. Socially he is a member of Gene- vieve Lodge No. ICO. K. of P. ~^- --**- - JONATHAN SMITH. The English born resi- dent of Ayers Township form no unimpor- tant class of its population. Numbers of them came here twenty years ago or more and by their sturdy industry and substantial char- acter have assisted in building up the community both in a moral and an agricultural point of view, and have been among the most reliable citizens and business men. Of this class Mr. Smith of our sketch is no unworthy representative. He took possession of his present farm on section 17 in 1883, since which time he has labored industriously to improve the quality of the soil, and while success- fully prosecuting his chosen calling as an agricult- urist, has by his honesty and frugality established himself in the respect of the entire community. The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in Yorkshire, England, where he first opened his eyes to the light on the 20th of November, 1847. His parents were Francis and Mary (Hugill) Smith. The mother died when he was but five years old. He lived at home until twenty-one years of age, and then sailed with his young wife from Liverpool to the United States. The father is still living in England. After landing in New York City Jonathan Smith at once proceeded westward to Morgan County. t 844 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. this State, where he worked by the week at his trade of blacksmithing, which he had learned of his father in the old country. He followed this for twelve years thereafter and obtained an enviable reputation as a skillful and reliable workman. The wife of our subject was, in her girlhood, Miss Anna M. Tunstill. She is a native of the same county in England as her husband, is the daughter of John and Sarah (Bond) Tunstill, and was born in January, 1845. Her parents arc still living, remaining in their native country. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were named re- spectively, Rose Ann, John F., Jonathan H., Will- iam H., Mary E. and David G. They form a bright and intelligent group of which the parents may well be proud. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Broadlands. Mr. S., after becoming an Ameri- can citizen, identified himself with the Republican party. Socially he is a member of Homer Lodge No. 252, I. O. O. F. /,.., J.BERT G. PORTERFIKLD is the yonng- LJI est son of Samuel and Nancy (Davis) Por- terficld, and a native of Armstrong Coiin- ty, Pa., where his birth took place on the 4th of September, 1 848. He was reared on a farm in the Keystone State, receiving a common-school education, and in 18G3 emigrated with his parents to Illinois, since which time he has been a resident of this county. In the spring of 18G7, although but eighteen years of age, he rented a tract of land in Raymond Township and engaged in farm- ing on his own account. Three years later he pur- chased forty acres of unimproved land on section 9, which is included in his present homestead. The whole now comprises 120 acres, which he has care- fully cultivated and improved, and where, in 1883, he erected a fine barn thirty-four feet square, and furnished with all the necessary conveniences re- quired by the modern and progressive farmer. He is now building a residence, which when completed will probably be one of the finest in this county. A lithographic view of it is presented on another page. The family of our subject consists of his wife and four sons William W., Samuel H., Marcus J. and Arthur T. His marriage took place on the ;!2d of February, 1872. Mrs. Porterfield, formerly Miss Eliza J. Tucker, was born in Clermont Coun- ty, Ohio, April 25, 184(5. Her parents were Nelson and Sarah (Gaskin) Tucker, both now deceased. She received a good education, and for some time before her marriage was a popular teacher in the schools of Champaign County. She is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a lady possessing many excellent qualities of mind and heart. Our subject, politically, affiliates with the Republican party, and has served one term as Township Assessor. JOSEPH T. KELLEY, who has distinguished himself as one of the most valuable residents of Harwood Township, was born in Rock- ingham County, Va., May 14, 1809. He was the youngest of fourteen children, the offspring of Abram and Sarah (Burgess) Kclley, the former of Irish birth and the latter supposed to have been born in Germany. On account of the Irish Re- bellion, Abram Kelley became an exile from his na- tive land before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Two of his brothers escaped witli him, and upon reaching this country, Abram enlisted upon the side of the Colonists, serving at first for one year and afterward becoming the substitute for his two brothers, both of whom had been drafted, and in this capacity serving two years. After the in- dependence of the Colonists, he located for a time in Virginia, and in 1810 removed to Ohio, his wife dying the same year. He served his adopted coun- try again during the War of 1812. During this time his family lived in Rockaway County, Ohio. At the age of fifteen years our subject for five years became a member of the family of Joseph Vance, who owned a farm in Champaign County, Ohio, and was a member of Congress. He had on- joyed the confidence of his employer and had also CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. =4* 845 t ] ingratiated himself into the affections of his em- ployer's ^niece, Miss Sarah, eldest daughter of John W. and Margaret (Lemon) Vance of Virginia. They were married Nov. *J, 1830, and at once set out to seek their fortunes in the farther West. They proceeded on horseback and reached Danville, this State, where were located the salt worksljelong- ing to the father of Mrs. Kellcy. His wife having died he was without a housekeeper, and arrange- ments were made for Mr. Kelley and his wife to be- come inmates of his home, when they arrived there March 20, 1831. Three years later Mr. Vance went West to fight the Indians, Mr. Kelle}' remain- ing at home, taking general supervision of the salt works. The war with Mexico, in 1846, again stirred his patriotism, but the ranks being full he could not enlist. Concluding he might as well use the plowshare as the sword, he purchased 300 acres of prairie land in Vance Township, Vermilion County. 111., and entered upon the work of improving it. About four years later he sold out, and removed to St. Joseph, this county, and rented a farm. Shortly afterward the owner of this died and Mr. Kelley purchased the land and occupied it until 1866. In January of that year his wife died, and for the time he gave up farming, rented his land, and in 1867 sold out to his son John W. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelley only four survive, namely, John W., James, Margaret and J. Duncan. The deceased are David V., Mary J., William, Martha and Sarah. John W., in 1875, sold the farm and removed to Denver, Col.,' where he is in the employ of the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad Company; he married Miss Caroline Lisha, of Homer, this State. James is en- gaged in the grocery trade and also a dealer in live stock at Boulder, Col. His first wife was Miss Carrie Knox, who died in 1876. He then married Alice, daughter of Judge Slaughter, of Colorado. Margaret is the wife of Joseph II. .Shreve, a grain dealer of Indianapolis, Ind. Duncan married Miss Jennie Carnp, of this county, and is employed as a book-keeper in the Assessor's office in Denver, Col. Mr. Kelley was again married, Dec. 24, 1868, to Mrs. Patience (Neal) Bullock, daughter of Edmund and Sarah (Davis) Neal, and widow of Morgan L. Bullock. Her parents were natives of Maine, hut soon after their marriage removed, to Greene Coun- ty, Ohio, and located on a farm. While living- there. Patience was born to them, Jan. 17, 1816. Mr. Bullock, her former husband, was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y. He was a well educated man and taught school considerably in his younger years. He was a practical carpenter and builder, but finally turned his attention to farming. After farming at different places, they moved upon the homestead of her parents to care for them in their declining years. Nine years later the mother died, and the father in 1867. They then came to Har- wood Township, and Mr. B. purchased eighty acres of land on section 33, and moved his family into a small house which stood upon it. Soon afterward on one long-to-be-remembered morning they were appalled by the discovery of flames in the prairie grass around them and were obliged to take the best means for escaping with their lives. The fire swept everything before it until reaching the hay field where Mr. Bullock and his sons and hired help were at work. They soon found their efforts fu- tile in endeavoring to save the hay and started to- ward the house, in the direction of which the wind was already blowing. By the time they reached it the fire had already communicated with the barn, and they barely saved the horses by leading them out with the harness on. This accomplished, the house was discovered to, be on fire, and the only thing which they could remove before it was con- sumed was a chest of tools and the money con- cealed in it. The men lost their hats and coats and the women all their wearing apparel except that they had on. They then attached the horses to the wagon which they had succeeded in saving, and took up their abode in a hotel until they could put up a small house. The fire occurred Oct. 10, 1860, and they took possession of the new house in De- cember following. In December, 1865, the husband and father was called from earth. His widow remained upon the farm until her marriage with our subject. During the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley at St. Joseph, Mr. Kelley kept hotel from 1849 to 1864, and often entertained Abraham Lincoln and David Da- vis, who. were holding District Court through this section of the State and when going that way al- T < , 846 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ways stopped fit the "Kelley House." JMr. Kelley still preserves the old arm chair in which Mr. Lin- coln used to sit and tell stories while Mr. Davis would lie on the floor and enjoy them. This chair is an old-fashioned one with wide rockers and a buffalo cushion, and was the especial favorite of the lamented President. Mr. Kelley was the first Postmaster at St. Joseph, which position he held for a period of ten years. In politics he is a Republican. He is a hale and hearty old man, well preserved and active as many men twenty years his junior. He is respected by the entire community, and is one of the most familiar figures to be seen about the house and garden, where he spends the greater part of the time, de- lighting in viewing the growth and maturing of vegetation. Mrs Kelley is a member of the Baptist Church. t ENRY REESE, .a highly respected member of the fanning community of St. Joseph Township, has successfully operated on a valuable body of land on section 10 since the spring of 1857. He is a fine illustration of the self- made man, who from a modest beginning has worked his own way up in the world to a good posi- tion socially and financially among his fellow-citi- zens, and by his straightforward and upright life has secured their kindly regard and confidence. The first recollections of our subject are of his father's farm in Washington County, Pa., where he played when a boy, and where he first opened his eyes to the light, July 10, 1829. He comes of ex- cellent Welsh ancestry, which was first represented in this country in the Colonial days, and whose de- scendants, settling in Pennsylvania, reared families of sons and daughters who formed a large propor- tion of the farming element of that region. Thomas Reese, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and mar- ried Miss Anna, daughter of William and Rebecca Sunderland, of English descent. After marriage they located permanently in Washington County, where they built up a good record as parents, friends and citizens. They reared their children to habits of industry, and passed to their final rest near the place where they first joined hands to- gether for the journey of life. They never became wealthy, but were able to provide comfortably for their ten children until they were old enough to go out into the world and take care of themselves. These all lived to mature years, were married, and nine of them still survive. The subject of this narration was the second son and child of his parents, and passed his boy- hood and youth on the homestead in the Keystone State after the manner of most farmers' sons of that period. As soon as old enough his services were utilized on the farm, while a brief period each win- ter was spent in the district schools. Later he be- gan earning a little extra money by working for the neighbors in his vicinity, and finally drifted into the Prairie State and Champaign County. He was first employed in herding sheep for Silas Clark, with whom he remained three years, after which he began renting land, which he continued until pur- chasing his present farm. This now includes 185 acres of finely improved land, lying near the town of St. Joseph, convenient for both market and trade. Mr. Reese spent several years in tilling the soil, building fences and adding other necessary improvements, and then turned his attention prin- cipally to the raising of high-grade cattle, in which he has been eminently successful, being able to ex- hibit some of the finest animals in Central Illinois. Mr. Reese married, in the spring of 1859, Miss Catherine, daughter of Moses Argo, Esq., who was one of the earliest pioneers of this county, and first established himself upon a tract of land in Cham- paign County, where among other children this daughter was born, reared and educated. Of this marriage there were born six children. The eldest, Samantha, became the wife of Alfred Cole ; the others are William F., Addie, Jennie, Lyman and Oran B. Mrs. Reese departed this life at the home of her husband, Feb. 15, 1880. Mr. Reese was a second time married, at Urbana, April 10, 1884, to .Miss Emma, -the daughter of Levi and Leanna (Hay- mons) Feaster. Of this union there were born tun children Pearl, and one who died in infancy un- named. Mr. and Mrs. Reese are members of the Christian CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 847 Church at St. Joseph, to the support of which they have always contributed liberally, and in which our subject has served as Trustee for several years. They enjoy the friendship and respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and their home forms a pleasant resort for the best people of St. Joseph Township, who have learned to esteem the worthy proprietor and his wife for their excellent qualities as neighbors, friends and citizens. OURTLAND BROWN, who was present at the organization of Harwood Township, was elected its first Clerk and served acceptably for four years from 1870. In the meantime, and for twelve years thereafter, he was employed as a teacher in this locality. After an interval of seven years he is now holding the office of Township Clerk again, and in other respects is prominent among the local affairs of his community. He is a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence, keeping himself well posted upon current events, is a stanch Republican politically, and an ardent ad- mirer of the late John A. Logan, in honor of whom his youngest son is named. He is thoroughly alive to all the political movements of the day, but takes greater pleasure in his favorite occupation, that of farming and stock-raising, in which he displays a good degree of skill. He has been well educated O O and at one time fitted himself for a telegraph oper- ator, but abandoned the idea on account of the confinement involved in following that calling. The real estate of Mr. Brown consists of a good farm of eighty acres on section 20, where he has put up good buildings and fences, and makes a spe- cialty of breeding Percheron horses and Poland- China hogs. While giving due attention to his personal concerns he has always been ready to con- tribute of his time and means for the upbuilding of worth}' enterprises and the establishment of schools and churches. He has been President of the Town- ship Sunday-School organization since its inception, and Superintendent nearly every year since he was married. Our subject is a native of Union County, Ind., where he was born Nov. 28, 1842, and is the eldest child of Isaac J. and Margaret E. (Coffin) Brown. His father was a native of Virginia, and the son of William and Sarah (Brown) Brown, also natives of the Old Dominion and engaged in farming pursuits. William Brown was an uncle of Gen. Burnside, whose mother was Mr. Brown's sister. Isaac Brown, in 1850, removed from Indiana to Ford County, this State, where he purchased land and followed farming ten years. Thence he came to this county and purchased eighty acres of land on section 29, Harwood Township. He was not con- tented with farm life alone but took up butchering, and was at various times enga.ged as a stock bu3'er, which latter occupation involved frequent removals from one place to another. At present he resides in Rantoul Township, where he follows farming alone. Courtland Brown remained a member of his father's household until reaching manhood, and Oct. 16. 1870, was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Payton. She is the daughter of John H. and Temperance Payton, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Their first home was located on section 29, in Harwood Township, where our subject owned sixty acres of land, which they occupied thirteen years, bringing it to a high state of cultivation. He then sold out and pur- chased eighty acres on section 20. where he has since remained. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brown were Cora May, who is now deceased ; Carl Franklin, also deceased; Charles Vernam and John William, his twin brother, are both deceased ; the youngest is Lloyd Logan. OHN S. McELWKE. The father of this gentleman, Carson J. McElwee by name, became a resident of this county in the spring of 1856, to which he had removed with his family from near Covington, the county seat of Fountain County, Ind. Among the mem- bers of the household was John S., of our sketch, who was born in the above mentioned locality Sept. 11, 1848. His mother was formerly- Miss Eliza J. Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, and removed with her husband to Indiana during the pioneer days. . . 848 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 She died in Champaign County. The father re- mained in this county until the spring of 1876 and then crossed the Mississippi and took up his resi- dence in Kansas, where he still lives. The chil- dren of the household included four sons and six daughters, of whom only three survive, one brother and two sisters, namely, John S., L. C. and Elmira A. The subject of this sketch was eight years of age when his parents became residents of this county. He attended school and grew to manhood in St. Joseph Township, choosing from among its maidens for his wife, Miss Sarah E. Stayton, to whom he was married in the spring of 1871. Mrs. McE. is the daughter of David B. and Sarah (Bartley) Stayton, and by her union with our subject became the mother of three children, one of whom died in in- fancy ; those living are Sarah.J. and David C. After marriage Mr. McElwee located upon a farm in St. Joseph Township, -where he has since remained en- gaged in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, and fulfilling all the obligations of an honest man and a good citizen. t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 859 ancestors of the family are of pure German blood. ( ; corgi; Ilmnrichhouse, after becoming an American citi/.en and obtaining the right of suft'rage, cast his lot politically with the Democratic party, and re- ligiousty became a member of the Presbyterian Church. The wife and mother, __ formerly Miss Lydia Grace, was born in 1822, in Indiana, and still remains the companion of her husband. Their family included eight children, recorded as follows: John W., who married Miss Rachel Brokaw; James W., of our sketch, is the second son and child ; Mary C. became the wife of A. B. Cogshall; Amanda is now Mrs. C. Hopkins; George R. mar- j ried Miss Edna Arnold; Sarah J. is unmarried; Margaret A. is the wife of Samuel Acklin ; Jasper G. was the youngest born. The brothers and sis- ters of Mr. George Humrichhouse were named re- spectively, John, Jacob, Mary, Elizabeth, Susan, Daniel, Eli, Charlotte and Caroline. The subject of this sketch came to Illinois in 1 864, during the progress of the late war. Directly afterward he enlisted in the 150th Illinois Infantry as a private, and was afterward promoted Corporal. He did not see very much active service but ful- filled all the duties required of him, and at the close of the war received his honorable discharge, being mustered out at Atlanta. Ga., in 1860. He then returned to his home in Illinois and a year later went to Kansas, and, after a few months, he returned to Illinois and located in Warren County, where he met the lady who was destined to become the sharer of his home and fortunes. This was Miss Priscilla Grace, a native of that county, where she was born March 2, 1843. Their marriage took place on the 28th of March, 1807. Mrs. H. is the daughter of James II. and Elizabeth (Lyons) Grace, who were both natives of Indiana. James Grace was born in 1817, and is now a wealthy and promi- nent farmer and stock-raiser of Warren County. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Indiana in 1821, and departed this life at her home in Warren County in 1840. Mr. Grace was afterward married to Miss Agatha Lyons, Who only lived a few years. He then married Miss Amanda Overman. Of the first marriage there were born three children Solo- mon, Priscilla and John W. The oldest son during the late war received the commission of Second Lieutenant in the 14th Illinois Infantry, and died after being in the service one year. John W. mar- ried Miss Lovina Lupher. Of the second marriage there were born six children, three of whom died in childhood Jessie, Mary and Elizabeth. The third wife became the mother of two children Olive B. and Erma. The children of Mr. and Mrs. llumrichhouse, four in number, were born as follows: George E., Sept. 7, 1868; William P., Sept. 5, 1870; Stella F., April 5, 1874; Dollie G., Feb. 4, 1878. Mr. II. is Democratic in politics and a worthy member of the G. A. R., Post No. 263. He is highly respected by his fellow-citizens, and is considered an important factor of the business and agricultural community of his section. A lithographic view of his residence is shown on another page in this AI.IUM. RANG IS M. HOSS, one of the sons of an honored pioneer of St. Joseph Township, first opened his eyes to the light in this county on the farm of his father, Feb. 1',), 1857. The latter, Christopher Hoss, a native of Brown County, Ohio, was born Sept. 19, 1822, and died in Champaign County, March 10, 1872. He became a resident of this county in 1836, and married Miss Serena Hayden, whose family had also removed from the Buckeye State at an early day. The grandfather of our subject, Daniel Hoss by name, was of German descent and parentage. The first representatives of the family in this country settled first in St. Joseph Township, and were numbered among the most important members of the agri- cultural community. Christopher and Serena Hoss had a family of eight children, of whom the record is as follows: John W. is a resident of Kansas; Amanda J. be- came the wife of L. S. Drullinger, and Mary E. married H. P. Drullinger, of Nebraska; Francis M., of our sketch, was the fourth child; Daniel T. is farming in St. Joseph Township; Eliza is the wife of George Knapp, of Aububon County, Iowa; Charles C. is a resident of St. Joseph; the youngest died in infancy. Our subject was reared on the homestead of his T t. 860 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. father and commenced his education in the district schools, afterward taking a course in the public schools at St. Joseph. He was orphaned by the death of his parents when about fifteen years of age. His father, however, had been prosperous, and left an estate including 440 acres of land, from which our subject received his portion upon attaining his majority. He was married, March 13, 1879, to Miss Charlotte, the second daughter of A. J. and Until Bowers, of St. Joseph Township. The young people located on their present homestead on sec- tion 11, where they have since resided, and where our subject has brought about admirable improve- ments. The farm embraces eighty acres, thor- oughly drained with tile, neatly fenced, and fur- nished with all other necessary improvements con- stituting the first-class modern homestead. With the exception of the house all the buildings were put up by our subject. His land has been chiefly devoted to general farming, although he has given considerable attenton to stock-raising. His house- hold includes four children Lorin, Delia, Walter and Ruthie M. Mr. Moss has maintained a proper interest in the welfare of his community, serving as School Di- rector and otherwise identifying himself with the interests of the people, lie and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church of St. Joseph, in which Mr. II. has been Deacon for some time, lie is a stanch Republican, politically, casting his first presidential vote for James A. Garfleld. -* 4*4* ^ R. McKINNEY, M. D., a medical practi- tioner of Gifford, has been a resident of this county since the spring of 1878, when he located in Ogden Township and con- tinued the practice of his profession which had been begun several years before. He has been an extensive reader and a close student, and is a credit to his profession in all respects. Dr. McKinney is a native of Shelby County, Ohio, his birth taking place April 15, 1837. His father died when he was about six months old, and the mother with her two children removed to Logan County, where she pur- chased a small tract of land and superintended the Operations of the farm. In 183'J she married Israel Downing. Our subject spent his younger days mostly on the farm and pursued his primary studies during the winter in the district schools. When fourteen years of age his mother and stepfather moved to Delaware County, Ind., and two years later young McKinney engaged in teaching, which he followed during the winter seasons while the farm received his attention in the summer. In the meantime he employed his leisure time in acquiring useful knowledge. In 1855 he entered the university at Ilartsville. Ind., with the intention of still further perfecting himself as a teacher. Just before be- coming of age, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah, the daughter of Jonathan and Ruth (Stone- cipher) Thornburg, their wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents on St. Valentine's Day, 1858. After this event our subject continued to employ his time as before, in the meantime taking up the study of medicine until 1863. The Civil War be- ing then in progress he enlisted in Co. G, 9th Ind. Vol. Cav., and served until the close, most of the time as Hospital Steward. After retiring from the army lie entered the Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent a year, and began the practice of his chosen profession. He afterward took up his residence at Barbara Mills, and in the fall of 1872 attended a course of lectures in Miami Medical College. His residence in this county dates from the spring of 1868, when he located in Ogden Township and continued his practice up to and during the winter of 1877. With the intention of keeping pace with the progress of his brethren in the profession, he again supplemented his knowl- edge by a course of lectures at Indianapolis, from which he graduated in the spring of 1878. Soon afterward he moved into the village of Gifford, with the interests of whose people he has since been identified. lie now enjoys an extensive practice, together with the confidence and esteem of his pat- rons. Dr. McKinney lias been connected with the Champaign County Medical Society since its organ- ization and was at one time President; he also be- longs to the Illinois Medical Society, and socially 1 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 861 is a member of the I. (). O. F. The- Doctor and .Mrs. McKinney united with the Methodist Episco- pal Chin-en 1 at Gifford in about 1880, and our sub- ject is numbered among the reliable voters of the Republican party. Of his marriage there were born four children, viz., Thomas, Dora, James and Ira. Thomas McKinney, the eldest son of our subject, was born in Delaware County, Ind., Nov. 29, 1859. He pursued his first studies in the district schools of Ogden Township and later entered the Urbana High School. He was a studious boy, ambitious to excel, and after graduating from High School was prepared for a course in the State University at Normal, 111. He afterward taught school and em- ployed his leisure time in the study of medicine under the instruction of his father. In 1880 he entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, and graduating in 1883, returned home and became the partner of his father. His marriage with Miss Lot- tie Hickey was celebrated on the 26th of Novem- ber, 1885, and they have one child, ,-i daughter, Lila. He is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Pera Lodge No. 574, and became a Knight of Pjthias in 1887. The father of our subject, Thomas McKinney, was boru in- Shelby County, Ohio, in 1812. He spent his entire life in his native county, being there reared and married, and there passed to his final rest, his death taking place while he was still a young man, in 1837. The mother, Elizabeth (Rec- tor) McKinney, also a native of Shelby County, Ohio, was the daughter of Daniel and Nancy Rec- tor. She died in 1871, and was buried at Pilot in Vermilion County, this State. The sons of her first marriage were D. -It., of our sketch, and James M. Of her second marriage, there were three children, namely, Daniel D., Samuel and Jonathan. The father of the latter, Israel Downing, died in Dela- ware Count}', Ind., in 1856. The grandfather of our subject, also Thomas McKinney, was a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States when a young man, and located in Shell)}' County, Ohio, where he reared a family, all of whom became well-to-do citizens and valued members of the com- munity. The father of Mrs. McKinney, Jonathan Thorn- burg, wlin was born in Tennessee, emigrated to Delaware County, Ind., during the early history of that section, and after bravely fulfilling his mission as a pioneer, closed his .eyes upon the scenes of earth on the homestead on which he had labored diligently many -years to establish and provide his family with the comforts of life. His wife, Ruth, was also a native of Tennessee. They were mar- ried there and made the journey from that State to Indiana overland with teams. She is still living and a resident of New Burlington, Ind., having ar- rived at the advanced age of ninety years. RS. ELIZABETH SWEARINGEN, widow of the late Thomas Swearingen, a well-re- membered citizen of this township, is now hostess of the Swearingen House of St. Joseph. This little hotel has been for several years successfully conducted by Mrs. Swearingen and her daughter Minnie, and under their excellent supervision has won an enviable reputation for the neatness and comfort of all its appointments, and the hospitality of its hostess. Mrs. Swearingen was born in Kentucky near Maysville, April 4, 1827, and when an infant re- moved with her parents to Champaign County. She is the daughter of Hiram ani Jane (Swearin- gen) Rankin. The Rankin family is well known among the pioneers of this county. They were the descendants of several old Kentucky families, who were among the early settlers of that State when it was a wilderness. Both of her parents died in St. Joseph Township. Mrs. Sweariugen had the advantage only of the common schools in which to receive her education, but she possesses much na- tive business capacity with a clear intellect and good judgment, all of which have been developed and brought into play by circumstances. In 1846 she was married to Thomas Swearingen, a resident of St. Joseph Township. He was like- wise a native of Kentucky, and was born in 1820. When a mere lad he removed with his mother from their native State to Champaign County, where she settled in what is now St. Joseph, and there reared her family. Thomas received a com- mon-school education, and after his marriage en- f ! , i 862 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. gaged in general fanning two miles sou tlieast of the town of .St. Joseph, lie was industrious and en- terprising, and carried on a successful business un- til his death, which occurred Aug. 31, 1872. His widow was left with four children, all of whom were girls, and quite young at the time of their father's death. Mrs. Swearingen bravely assumed the position of head of the family, educating her daughters and conducting the farm, where she re- mained until the marriage of all her daughters ex- cept the youngest. Her children are as follows: Jennie, the wife of James Duree; Melvina, the wife of Frank Robbing; Callie, the wife of William Mor- rison, a resident of Ogden Township, and Minnie E., an accomplished young lady, the companion and assistant of her mother. In the winter of 1880 Mrs. Swearingen left the farm and removed to St. Joseph, where she has since resided. In the following year she purchased what was then called the St. Joseph Hotel, and took possession in the autumn of 1883, thoroughly refitting the house and putting it in good order. She has been successful in her enterprise, clearing off the indebtedness in making the purchase, and also receives a good income from her farm, which she rents. PARK, of Urbana, who is widely and favorably known throughout Cham- paign County, has been a resident here for a period of over thirty-five years, and probably has done more than most men in building up and improving one of the finest sections in the Prairie State. In earlier days he was an extensive land- owner, and is now the proprietor of 400 acres under a fine state of cultivation. He is singularly modest and retiring in disposition, and although many a time proffered important offices in the county, has uniformly declined to be made conspicuous in this manner, although he has been one of the first in the establishment of schools and the encouragement of every enterprise calculated to advance its wel- fare both morally and financially. He has always lived with an aim and object in life, and that was to perform a good act as he had the opportunity, and to accomplish what he could in the compara- tively short space of time allotted to a human life. The subject of this history was born in York County, Pa., Dec. 19, 1812. He is the son of Elihu and Elspy (Lamon) Park, natives of the same count}' as their son. The grandfather, Will- iam Park, Sr., was a native of Lancaster County, Fa., where he became an extensive farmer and miller, erecting, in 177(5, a large building in which he carried on the milling business the greater part of his life. The great-great-great-grandmother of William Park, our subject, emigrated with her par- ents from England in company with William Penu, and settled with him in Philadelphia. The Parks are of Scotch ancestry, but the. other side of the family descended from the Welsh and Irish. 'Elihu, the father of our subject, was born Aug. 8, 1780. and, like his father before him, followed farming and milling all his life in the township where he was born. He lived to a good old age, being over seven- ty -five years, and died July 22, 1802. The parental household included fourteen children, of whom only two are now living. William Park, Jr., was the second child of his father's family and his brother, Joseph, now living at Urbana, the fourth. The parents were both members of the Presbyterian Church, in whose doctrines they faithfully reared their offspring, and the father of our subject, being a wealthy and in- fluentual citizen, held many positions of trust and responsibility. Our subject spent his younger days at school and recalls the fact that his education was conducted under the instruction of twenty-two teachers in succession, all being of Irish or Scotch nationality. His school days commenced when he was seven years old, the temple of learning being a log cabin, and his studies were carried on in seven of these successively. . He attended school winters until nineteen years old and the balance of the year assisted his father on the farm and in the mill, also learning the trades of carpenter and mill- wright. In 1832, after working on a farm live months, at $7 per month, he left his native State with the large sum of $47. 50 in his pocket. His first destination was Miami County. Ohio, where he commenced his labors as a millwright and after- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 863 - k] ward operated a sawmill. He finally routed a mill in Greene County, that State, the construction of which he had superintended, and operated this four years on shares, making $3,000 during that time. He afterward lost this and $5,000 besides within the space of three months, by buying wheat for which he paid $1.40 per bushel, grinding it into flour and hauling it to Dayton, where he was unable to get transportation at that season of the year. Being obliged to hold it the price went down and resulted in this heavy loss. That was in 1837. Mr. Park recovered from this calamity as best he could and wasted no time in bewailing his misfortune. A few months afterward he began the operation of a distillery which he ran for two years and then sold out. In 1840 he rented another mill, and put up a sawmill and distillery, operating the three jointly for a period of three years, and again lost heavily. Mr. Park after this disaster as before got up and went at it again. He formed a partnership with an old Quaker and they operated in company a grist and saw mill, making $900 in two years. Our sub- ject then resumed his former trade as a-millwright and carpenter, and employed from fifteen to twenty- one men, summer and winter, for three years follow- ing. At the expiration of this time he had all his debts paid and $1,300 besides. In 1848 he built a woolen factor}' in the same county, which gave em- ployment to fifteen hands. This he run on shares for eighteen months and sunk $6,300. He then concluded to leave the Buckeye State and came to Urbana, this county, with $207. After he had set- tled down and decided upon his future course he had $100 in his pocket. He first purchased a log house for which he paid $50 down, and began cast- ing about for the erection of a steam sawmill. He talked the matter over with the people of this vicinity, who admired his courage and resolution, and loaned him $800 for three years at six per cent. He obtained $1 ,800 worth of machinery from Pow- ell, of Cincinnati, on trust, putting in a twenty-two- horse power engine, and thus, in 1849, established the first steam power in Champaign County. This mill he operated for six years. He built his first gristmill at Urbana in 1852. to which he made an addition four years later. lie also put up a machine- shop and foundry for J. N. Wilson, who became engaged in the manufacture of reapers and mowers. This proved too large an elephant on Mr. Wilson's hands, and he solicited Mr. Park to take hold of it, from which the latter suffered a loss of $7,000 on account of the destruction of the mill by fire. In 1857 a company of gentlemen visited Urbana, having in view the erection of a woolen factory. Mr. Park furnished them the building and machin- ery, which afterward fell into his hands and he, in company with Messrs. Clappand Gear, operated the same successfully for three years. He then sold his interest in this and also his gristmill. In the mean- time, in 1854, Mr. Park had put up a sawmill on the Sangamon River which, in company with J. T. Phillips, he operated for two years. During that time also A. T. Marshall erected a sawmill at Park- ville. Our subject became his security for the ma- chinery and as a natural consequence was obliged to take the mill for pay. This he rented for four years and then put up a gristmill adjacent. Both mills were destroyed by fire in 1860. After this disaster, from which Mr. Park recov- ered as manfully as before, he went to Sidney, where he put up a grist and sawmill which together cost $2 1 ,000. These he operated for eighteen months and then they also were destroyed by fire. He erected a sawmill immediately upon the same ground and when completed, in the space of nine years fol- lowing, sawed the timber from 700 acres of land, Each eighty acres made 1,250,000 feet of lumber. Becoming encouraged by the.se results he put up a brick flouring-mill at Sidney at a cost of $25,000 and a warehouse for one-fifth of that sum. He retained possession of the warehouse five years and then sold it at its original cost. He still owns the flouring-mill. These experiences in the life of Mr. Park are given chiefly to encourage young men by" showing them that a man can rise from nothing, . as he has done four times, besides losing heavily by fire, and $35,000 of bad accounts, mostly security. In the meantime, amidst the press of business and the calamities and prosperity which succeeded each other, he found time for the formation of marital and domestic ties, and in the summer of 1836 was united in ma:riage with Miss Margaret Haynes, of Greene County, Ohio. Of the union there were born two children: Jennie, Mrs. Jaques, of Urbana, I 4 , 8(14 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. lias three children William, Minnie and Robert; David E. Park, who is fanning in Sidney Township, married Miss Mary Mansfield, and they have one child, William, named after his grandfather. ID 1863 Mr. Park purchased a one-half interest in the street railroad running from Urbana to Champaign, at which time he assumed its management and has since continued it. Politically he is a warm sup- porter of the Republican partly, and socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity. The beautiful and com- modious family residence is situated at the corner of Beach and Birch streets, Urbana, where our sub- ject find his wife extend a generous hospitality to the warm friends and acquaintances whom they have made during their long residence here. Mr. and Mrs. P. religiously are connected with the Universalist Church. OSEPH GORDON, who -spent his early years 'in a home beyond the sea" in County Wexford, Ireland, emigrated to the United States with his parents when ten years old. They first settled near Aurora, 111., and he removed with them to this county. He is now the owner of one of the finest farms in Compromise Township, which he opened up from the uncultivated prairie. His first purchase consisted of eighty acres, the money to buy which he earned with his own hands as a farm laborer. To this he subsequently added, and is now in possession of an unincumbered property of 400 acres. His farm is supplied with excellent buildings and all the machinery required by the modern agriculturist. The birth of our subject took place in County Wexford, Ireland, July 31, 1846. He is the son of John and Mary (Whelan) Gordon, natives of the same county, the former born in 1815. He pursued farming in his native isle until 1857; and on the 5th of February set sail from Liverpool for the United States, landing in New York City after a voyage of seven weeks and three days. He at once proceeded westward to Aurora, this State, where he commenced working on a farm by the month, and was thus employed for about eleven years. In 1868 he purchased '200 acres of wild prairie land in Compromise Township, and with his family took possession of it the following spring. He has been greatly prospered in his farming oper- ations and fortunate in his investments, and has now an area of 800 acres of fine farming land, with good buildings. The parents of our subject were married in their native county in 1845, and there were born ten children, viz., Joseph, Bernard, Nicholas, Charles, Thomas, Anastasia, Anna and Mary. Two infants died unnamed. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Gordon, wa> also of Irish birth and parentage, and spent his en- tire life in his native land. The subject of this history, the eldest of his father's family, was a boy of ten years when his parents crossed the Atlantic. He remained under the home roof, receiving a limited education and assisting his father until his marriage, which took place on the 3d of February, 1874, with Miss Ellen McQuade. Mrs. Gordon is the daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Mylon) McQuade, natives of Ire- land. The former was a native of Limerick Coun- ty, and emigrated to America in early life. The mother, who was formerty Miss Catherine Mylon, was born in King's County,. Ireland, and came with her parents to the United States when a young woman twenty years of age. Of her union with Thomas McQuade there were born two children only, Ellen, the wife of our subject, and a son, Thomas. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, eight in number, were as follows : Charles,'Thomas, Joseph, Catherine, Mary E., Anna E.. and two'in- fants who died unnamed. Our subject and his wife are members of the Penfield Catholic Church, and Mr. G. politically is a Democrat. ;ILLIAM HEWERDINE. The subject of this history ,"who is essentially a self-made man,"commenced his struggle with the world at the early age of ten years, when he set out to earn his own living. Thus thrown upon his own resources he soon acquired that habit "of self-de- pendence which has been the "jsecret of hisjsuccess in life. He soon learned that the surest prop to lean upon was his own strong hands and resolute CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. will, and those he put in force to the best of his ability until he began to realize the happy results of his exertions. Our subject's birthplace was across the sea in Lincolnshire, England, and the date thereof March 21, 1828. His parents, AVilliam and Ann (Garten) Hewerdine, were natives of the same shire, where they were reared, married and spent their entire lives. Six of their children emigrated to the united States. Thomas, the eldest, lives in East Bend Township, Champaign County; our subject was the second son ; Robert is a resident of Rantoul Town- ship; Joseph, of Condit Township; Charlotte mar- ried Fred Ackerman, who is farming in Rantoul Township; George resides in Condit Township. When William Hewerdine started out to do for himself, for the first six months he received noth- ing but his board. Afterward he was paid two sov- ereigns for one year's work. The second year, as his usefulness increased, his wages were raised, until upon arriving at the age of twenty-three years, he was paid 10 per year and his board. About this time he commenced working on the railroad in process of construction from London to York. The next year while still employed there a sand bank caved in, and he came veiy near being buried alive, but fortunately escaped with only a broken leg. After recovering the use of his limb he re- sumed work and continued until the road was com- pleted through Derbyshire. Our subject remained a resident of England until 185(!, and in the spring of that year set sail from Liverpool for the United States. After a tedious voyage' cf seven weeks he landed in New York, with just money enough to pay his fare to Toronto, Canada, where he desired to go. After arriving there he secured employment in a brickyard dur- ing the following summer, and in the fall (tame to the States and located in Tippccanoe County, Ind., where he worked on a farm for one year at $13 per month. This was increased the following year to $14, and the third year he received $15, be- ing employed by the same man three years. The year following he worked for the man's brother. In I860 he left Tippecanoe County, and coming to tin's State commenced work by the month in Condit Township, this county. One year later he rented land there which lie cultivated three years with success, and was then enabled to purchase a tract of eighty acres of wild land, which is now included in his present farm. He built a house as soon as practicable, and proceeded with the improvement of his land, adding to it as time passed and his means justified. He is now the owner of 240 acres, and has erected a substantial set of farm buildings. The land is all enclosed with neat fencing, and yields in abundance the best crops of the Prairie State. The marriage of our subject with Mrs. Nancy J. Hire, was celebrated on the 15th of June, 1805, at the home of the bride's parents in East Bend Township, Champaign County. Mrs. H. was born near Jeffersonville, Fayette Co., Ohio, Oct. 14, 1841, and is the daughter of William Jcft'reis, of that same county. Of this union there were three children, two girls and a boy. Her paternal grand- father, Isaac Jeffreis, was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to Ohio in the pioneer days, being among the earliest settlers of Fayette County; he then moved to Missouri, where he died. There his son William and the other children were reared to become worthy citizens. After reaching manhood William removed to Illinois, in I860, and located in East Bend Township, Champaign Coun- ty, .where his death took place in November, 1 803. In early manhood he had married Miss Ruth John- son, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and whose father, William Johnson, a native of Maryland, served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The father of the latter is supposed to have been born in En- gland; he spent his last days in Ohio. William Johnson finally came to the West. He received a pension during the last years of his life, and died in East Bend Township, this county, when one hun- dred and four years of age. His daughter, the mother of Mrs. H., is still living with the latter. Mrs. Hewerdine has been twice -married. Her first husband, Ama/iah Hire, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, and after the breaking out of the Rebellion became a soldier of the Union army, en- listing in the 90th Ohio Infantry, and died in the service near Mnrfreesboro, Tenn., in 1863. Of this union there was born one child, a son, William W., who is now married and fanning in Condit Town- *--- ' 866 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 ship. Our subject and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and held in high respect by all who know them. t UTLER E. HAMILTON, managerTof the lumber business at Penfleld, which is con- ducted by his brother, John M. Hamilton, is a native of Hampshire County, Mass., where his birth occurred April 22, 1830. His parents, David and Abigail (Meacham) Hamilton, were also natives of the Bay State. The father is now deceased ; the mother still survives, and is a resident of Rautoul. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and re- ceived a eommon-scool education, continuing a resi- dent of his native county until reaching his major- ity. He then became clerk in a store at Brooklyn, N. Y., where he acquired a good knowledge of the mercantile business. In 1856 he engaged as a traveling salesman for a wooden and willow ware house, being one of the first drummers in the United States, which class now numbers many thousands. He subsequently dealt in notions and later in druggists' sundries, remaining on the road almost continuously for a period of twenty years. His travels extended over the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and as far South as Charleston, S. C. In the meantime the residence of Mr. Hamilton was Brooklyn, and during the time he was in that city and the metropolis, New York, ground which had been laid off into lots advanced from &50 to 118,000. Mr. II., although distinguished from his early youth as a person of forethought, omitted to avail himself of the opportunity to thus make a fortune He remained a resident of the Empire State until 1870. then coming West located first in Rantoul among the pioneer settlers, whence he aft- erward removed to Penfield, where he has since re- sided. During his residence in New York State Mr. Hamilton met and married Miss Celia J. Higgins, their wedding taking place in June. 1858. Mrs. II. was born in Halifax, N. S., in 1838, and is the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Higgins, who re- moved from her native Province to Brooklyn when Celia was but two years old. Of this marriage there were born three children, two now living Franklin IX. of Rantoul, and Edward L., at home with his parents. Mr. Hamilton cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Winfield Scott, the Whig candidate, in 1852. Since the abandonment of the old party he has voted independently. He was reared in the Bap- tist Church, of which his parents were members in Brooklyn, and for twelve years was connected with Plymouth Church, presided over by the late Henry- Ward Beecher. In 1866 Mr. Hamilton became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Brooklyn, N. Y., and has since given his earnest support to that denomination. EFFERSON R. PLACE owns a fine farm of 120 acres on section 36, Sidney Township, nearly all of which is under good cultiva- tion. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Jan. 2, 1835, and is the son of 'Reuben and Jemima (Point) Place, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They after- ward removed to Greene County, Ind., where they purchased a farm and passed the remainder of their lives. Jefferson R. Place was reared on the farm, and his education was necessarily limited to such as he could acquire from practical life, and the ad- vantages of the old log cabin school-house of Ohio. In 1859 he was married, in Indiana, to Miss Polly J. Carney. Her parents, both of whom are now dead, were natives of North Carolina. Jan. 13, 1872, Mrs. Place died, leaving no children. Our subject was again united in marriage, the lady of his choice being Miss Henrietta Cash, the daughter of John and Celia (Gibson) Cash, residents of Sid- ney Township. Of this union there are three chil- dren William E., Mary E. and Chester. The. parents of Mr. Place reared the following family : Caroline, Philip, Vancla, Nancy, Alexan- der, Martin, Jefferson R.. Amy, John L., Emma and Emeline; the two latter were twins, one of whom died in infancy. The family of his present wife's parents comprised five children (see sketch of John Cash). In the family of his -first wife's --* .t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 867 parents there were nine children William, Sally, Sherwood, Eunice and Hannah (twins), Rochella, Polly A. (deceased). Absalom, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Place is a man of good business ability, and is actively engaged in the supervision of his farm, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. His home is pleasant and hospitable, and all the ap- pointments of his place are in excellent order. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church, in which she takes an active interest as far as her family du- ties will permit. In politics Mr. Place is a Repub- lican. R. L. K. LAMB, one of the popular young physicians of Tolono, has the largest and most lucrative practice in the southern part of this county. He is a native of Ohio County, Ind., born Oct. 15, 1849, and the son of Dr. James and Sarah Ann (Carnine) Lamb. The mother departed this life at Tolono, 111., in December, 1885. The father is still living, and a resident of Aurora, Ind., where he has practiced his profession since 1865. There were four chil- dren in the family, two still living, our subject, and his sister Caerella, the wife of Frederick Treon, M. D., who holds a Government position, located at Crow Creek Agency, Ind. Ter. The subject of this history grew to manhood in his native State, pursuing his primary studies in the common schools and afterward entering upon a lit- erary course in Hanover College. At an early age he commenced the study of inedicine with his father as preceptor, and in 1871-72 attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. At the expir- ation of this time, although but twenty-two years of age he commenced the practice of medicine in his native, town, where he continued successfully for a period of three years. Wishing to gain a still better knowledge of his profession he took another term in the Ohio Medical College, where he gradu- ated in 1876. He next located at Rising Sun, Ind., where he remained three years, and in the spring of 1879 came to Tolono, where he has since resided, lie became the partner of Byron Burns in 1886, and in connection with his practice conducted a trade in drugs, groceries and jewelry. His professional associate is Dr. C. M. Craig, and they operate to- gether under the firm style of Lamb and Craig. Dr. Lamb was married, Dec. 27, 1882, to Miss Catherine M. Graham, a native of Richland, Ind, and the daughter of Dr. A. E. Graham, of Rush County, Ind. Mrs. Lamb completed her education in the University at Bloomington, Ind., and per- fected herself in music at Xenia, Ohio. She is a lady of fine accomplishments, and a favorite in the social circles of Tolono. They have one son, James Graham, who was born Dec. 23, 1883. Dr. Lamb is a stanch supporter of Republican princi- ples, and takes an active interest in all matters per- taining to the intellectual and moral welfare of his community. He is the oldest physician in active practice at Tolono, and has built up a large patron- age in this section of the county. OBERT HEWERDINE, the proprietor of 200 acres of finely cultivated land on sec- tions 17 and 18, Rantoul Township, was n in Lincolnshire, England, in 1833. His father, William Hewerdine, was a native of the same shire, where he married, and reared a large familv, following the occupation of a farmer. He was possessed of limited means, and at an early age the children went from home to work. Our subject when six years old couwnenced thus to assist in the support of the family. He was too small to be of great service to anyone, and only earned three- pence per day. He made his home with his par- ents until twelve years of age, when he went to work for a butcher. The first year he received ten shillings and his board. The second year twenty shillings, and the third year thirty-five shillings and his board. Mr. Hewerdine continued to work by the year in England, the last two years being occupied as a railroad laborer, until starting for the United States in 1856. After a tedious sea voyage he landed in New York City, whence he proceeded to Toronto, Canada, and after three months spent there re- turned to the States, and proceeded westward until he reached Indiana. Going into Tippecanoe i ' 868 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. County he engaged to work for the Meharry family, various members of which are now located in different parts of Champaign County. He re- mained with them until 1860, then came to this county, and in due time rented a tract of land in company with two brothers, where they engaged in farming until after the outbreak of the late war. Our subject, naturally of an observant nature, had watched with interest the passing events in this country with the character and customs of its people. The longer he lived here the more he re- solved to identify himself with its institutions and interests. Accordingly, soon after the first call for troops to assist in the preservation of the Union he set aside his personal plans and interests, and became a member of Co. I,"2i>th 111. Vol. Inf., marching with his regiment to the scene of conflict. He entered with courage upon the life of a soldier, resolved to bear with fortitude whatever hardships were allotted him. His regiment was under the command of Col. O Coler, and he participated with his comrades in the battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, Perrysville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and all the en- gagements from Chattanooga to Atlanta, being present at the siege and capture of the latter city. He encountered many hairbreadth escapes, and at the battle of Mission Ridge was wounded and re- ported in the dispatches mortally hurt. He recov- ered, not long after, however, and at the expiration of his term of service received his honorable dis- charge and was mustered out with his comrades. Soon afterward our subject returned home and took up the broken thread of life which he had dropped to enter the army. His first work was a job of cutting corn, for which he received ninety- five cents per day, and after this was finished he worked by the month two years afterward. By close economy he now managed to save a sum of money sufficient to purchase eighty acres of land, about one-half of which had been broken, and upon which stood a small house. He at once energeti- cally engaged in its improvement, and in due time began to enjoy the rewards of industry. What was once a tract of land given to the growth of wild grass, and swept each year with destructive prairie fires, now yields in abundance the choicest products cul- tivated by the farmers of Illinois. Mr. Hewerdine has added to his original purchase, and has all but sixty acres of his large farm either in pasture or grain fields. The place is supplied with good build- ings, and well equipped with the most practical farm machinery. In politics Mr. II. is Republican. A lithographic view of the residence and sur- roundings of Mr. Hewerdine is shown elsewhere in this work. TEPHEN L. TOMPKINS is the owner of a quarter of section 17, Harwood Township, which comprises a body of choice land, and under a good state of cultivation. It was but partly improved when it came into his posses- sion, and he has fitted it up with fences and neat buildings, planted an appk' orchard, and also trees of finer fruits, and has in all respects one of the pleasantest homesteads in Harwood Township. He has a splendid assortment of stock and good ma- chinery, all well cared for, and everything about the premises is a credit to the proprietor. Mr. Tompkins was born in Clermont County, Ohio, April 5, 1845. He is the second child of Nicholas W. and Nackey (Stephenson) Tompkins, and his father, a native of Ohio, was the son of Jonathan and Rebecca Tompkins, who were natives of the same State and born there while it was a Territory. The mother of our subject, also a na- tive of Ohio, was the daughter of Lemuel and Florence (Abraham) Stephenson. The former was a native of Delaware and moved to Pennsylvania when a young man, and there married. His wife was a native of that State. After his marriage Nicholas Tompkins located in Clermont County, Ohio, where he had formerly engaged in farming, and took up mercantile pursuits at Point Isabelle, where he remained until the close of his life,. Dec. 10, 1867. His widow is still- living on the old homestead, at the latter-named place. The boyhood of our subject was spent in the rural districts and his education secured in the com- mon schools of that period. He had reached his majority at the time of his father's death and was appointed administrator of the estate. He con- tinued with his mother five or six years later, until their property affairs had been adjusted satisfactor- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 869 ily, and then started for the West to seek his fortune. Upon arriving in Central Illinois he purchased eighty aeres of parti}' improved land in Stanton Township, this county, of which he took possession and began its improvement. Two years later he sold out and secured possession of the land em- braced in his present homestead. Mr. Tompkins' marriage with Miss Mary E. Be- sore took place at her brother -George's residence, in Urbana, Sept. 16, 1875. His wife was the youngest child of John and Mary (Mouu) Besore, whose offspring were twelve in number. Her par- ents spent the earlier part of their lives in the ag- ricultural districts of Western Pennsylvania, where Mr Besore was recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability and of high Christian character. He and his estimable wife have both passed to their long home. The two eldest children of Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins are Minnie May and Edmund Karl. The baby, who has but just learned to know her name, is called Lutie Orvalean. In regard to political affairs Mr. Tompkins avails himself of the rights of the free American citizen and votes independently, aiming to give his support to the best man. He has steadily declined becom- ingan office-seeker, although upon various occasions having been elected to discharge the duties of Town Clerk or Treasurer, maintaining that he could serve his fellow-citizens fully as well by his vote and his influence as in the more conspicuous posi- tions in which they would have placed him. In State and National affairs his sympathies are de- cidedly with the Democratic party. Mrs. Tompkins, a lady of much worth and amiability, is a valued member of the Christian Church. ^f AMES II. HODAM, born- in Gallia County, Ohio, Aug. 15, 1841, was the eldest of five children born to Adam D. and Eliza Ellen (Grant) Hodam. The father was a native of Nicholas County, W. Va., and the son of John and Phebe (Mouse) Hodam, also of the Old Do- minion, and among the most worthy people of the agricultural districts. John Hodam served in the War of 1812, and his father in the Revolution; the latter was a German by birth. The mother be- fore marriage, was Miss Eliza Ellen Grant, of Ohio, and was the daughter of David and Mary (Boggs) Grant. David Grant was a native of Virginia, who descended from Scottish ancestry, and his wife, Mary, was the daughter of Samuel and Ellen Boggs, natives of Ireland. Adam Hodam, who was a. farmer, was 'also deeply religious, and occupied his leisure time as a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The family settled in what is now Roane County, W. Va., in 1843, and the father still resides there. The wife and mother departed this life Nov. 13, 1885. The subject of our sketch spent his younger years in assisting to clear his father's land, but when fourteen years of age was employed as mail carrier between Zachville and Spencer, a distance of twenty-eight miles, which he made on horseback. His salary was $75 per annum, but the money paid out for the same service now aggregates $3,000. He was thus employed until the commencement of the Civil War. His native State was largely Dem- ocratic, but the opposition was also very strong, especially in the western part of the State, Roane County having a small Whig majority. When the question of secession arose, in the spring of 1861, young Hodam went with his State, and joined the rebel army. He enlisted in Co. C, 17th Va. Vol. Cav., being mustered in Aug. 28, 1861, and was on duty in the mountain regions several months. A year later his regiment was attached to the brigade of Gen. Albert G. Jenkins, and took part in a raid through West Virginia and Ohio. They soon re- turned, however, and joined the Confederate forces under Gen; Loring in the Kenawha Valley. In May, 1863-, this brigade was transferred to the Shenandoah Valley, and participated in the capture of Winchester and the route of Gen. Tv- ler's force at Martinsburg. Company C was soon afterward ordered to report to Gen. John B. Gor- don, at Gettysburg, and acted as the advance in the march on the cities of York and Wrightsville. At the battle of Gettysburg his horse was shot and he was stunned by the concussion of a shell. After recovering, he participated in many cavalry skir- mishes on the retreat of Gen. Lee through Virginia. ' 1 870 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 H. After the defeat of the Confederate forces at Cloys' Farm in May, 1864, the brigade assisted in the pur- suit of Gen. Hunter and his command into West Virginia. Our subject was with Earley in the bat- tle of Monocacy Junction. Md., where every field officer of the regiment was killed or wounded. He assisted in the pursuit of Cook's command to the Potomac, in which fight many of the associates of his boyhood days, then engaged as Federal sol- diers, were captured. Mr. Hodam also saw the brave Gen. Mulligan, of Chicago, tenderly carried from the field to a house near by to die. A few days afterward he was sent by Gen. McCausland with a body of infantry, to take McCoy's Ford on the Potomac. They captured the Federal pickets at daybreak, but were attacked by the cavalry, which, however, they kept at bay until assistance arrived. They then pushed the enemy back toward Hagerstown, and circling around Hunter's army, entered Chainbersburg the next morning. After a few shots and a short parley, the town was fired by Harry Gilmore's Maryland batallion. Though the Southern people had suffered much from the out- rages of Northern soldiery, yet the victorious troops here were moved with pity for the defense- less women and children, and Mr. Hodam with some of his comrades, assisted many of these to places of safety, and saved for them what property they could from the devouring element. In the battle at New Creek. Va., Mr. Hodam was severely wounded in the thigh by a minie ball, and was sent to the hospital at Staunton. Here he received his only furlough during the war. Before really able he insisted upon returning to duty, and in the absence of officers who had been killed or disabled, assumed command of his company in which he had already been promoted First Sergeant. During the skirmish at Liberty Mills, Dec. '24, 1864, in a hand- to-hand encounter with a Federal trooper, Mr. Hodam received a severe sabre cut in the right side, but stuck to his saddle and captured his an- tagonist. The division to which the regiment of our sub- ject belonged took part in the battle of Five Forks. The sufferings and privations that man and beast endured in that retreat no tongue can tell. Mr. ' ' Hodain saw his brave comrades one by one drop- ping by the wayside, starved, sick or wounded, to die or be captured by the advancing hosts of Grant. The last fight of importance that he took part in was near Farmville. The day following, at 10 o'clock, Gen. Lee had crossed the Appomattox, the 17th Regiment bringing up the rear with orders to burn the bridge at Farmville. Sergt. Hodam had deployed his company as skirmishers near the bridge, and the enemy were pouring down the hill upon them on every hand. Feeling that they must escape, they started for the bridge, but when near, it burst out in flames. The Federals seeing the situation, set forward with exultant yells to capture the rebels, and Sergt. Hodam shouted to his comrades that they must either swim, drown or surrender. Mr. Hodain himself preferred the former, and the whole company plunged over the steep bank, and to their joy found the water only up to the horses' breasts, and they succeeded in get- ting safely across. The Federals were close enough to cut them off, but in their humanity let them go. Gen. Lee's surrender occurred soon afterward. Brigades had been reduced to regiments in num- bers, regiments to a mere handful, and companies blotted out entirely. Of the ninety-two men and officers forming Company C, not a private was left, the only men surviving being Sergt. Hodam and a Corporal. After an absence of nearly four years, Mr. Ho- dam returned to his home, arriving there May 17, 1865. He was without the means to buy himself a suit of clothes, but declares that among his warmest friends were the boys in blue, many of vyhom he had met in battle and on the skirmish line. Ow- ing to the reconstruction laws in the South, our subject determined on coming North, and when he came into this State possessed a cash capital of $2.25. By hard work and honest means, he has secured a good home of 160 acres, and is sur- rounded with all the comforts of life. Tholigh liv- ing in a strong Republican township, he has held his share of local offices. He feels proud that among his strongest friends and supporters arc tin- men who went to the front in defense of our coun- try's Hag, that Hag that now knows no North, no South, but for which the boys who wore the blue and gray will rally and guard from foeman's touch. ' CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 871 < . Mr. Hodain was married to Miss Sarah Htirsh- barger in the winter of 1868. She was the daugh- ter of Joseph and Anna (Weiiger) Harshbarger, natives of Augusta County, Va., and was born in 184 4. Our subject and wife reside on section 21, Harwood Township. They were the parents of seven children, but four of whom are now living, namely, Robert M., Joseph A., Anna E. and Cor- delia H. Mr. Hodam when fifteen years of age, be- came a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His estimable wife belongs to the Mennonite Church. jp77>REDERICK SCHOENBERGER. Thisgen- r-to'i tleman, as a partner of William Foos, of Springfield, Ohio, has charge of nearly 4,000 acres of land, embracing sections G, 7, 8. 18 and 19, Brown Township, and is conducting one of the largest stock farms along the Mississippi Valley. The ranch accommodates about 600 head of cattle, forty head of horses and mules; and the firm fat- tens about 500 head of hogs annually. Our sub- ject is well fitted for the important interests of which he now has charge, both by birth, training and education, being the son of a well-to-do Penn- sylvania farmer, Frederick Schoenberger, Sr., who was born in Lancaster County, married to Miss Lydia Whitman, of York County, Pa., and took up his abode in the latter county, where the subject of our sketch was born. The parents spent the greater part of their lives in York County, and there, when they had ceased from their earthly labors, their re- mains were laid to rest. The parental family consisted of six sons and seven daughters, Frederick of our sketch being the seventh child. He was born on the farm in York County, Jan. 22, 1827, and passed his boyhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons, at- tending school during the winter season and mak- ing himself as useful about the farm in summer as his age and size permitted. When eighteen years old he commenced serving an apprenticeship to the tanner's trade and afterward worked as a '-jour" at this in Pennsylvania and Ohio until after reach- ing his majority. He visited Clarke County, Ohio, first in the fall of 1848, and the following year en- tered into partnership with his uncle, Baltzer Schoenberger, who was engaged in the tanning business, and with whom he operated three years. Our subject then sold out his interest in the busi- ness, but soon afterward purchased it back entire, continuing it until about 1861. He then withdrew entirely, disposing of his property to other parties, and engaged in farming, also running a threshing- machine until 1864. Mr. S. now decided to change his location, and setting his face toward the Prairie State, came to this county, and finding in Brown Township a lo- cation which pleased him, proceeded at once to ar- range for settling permanently. That same year he formed a partnership with Mr. Foos, and soon made arrangements for their present extensive stock farming. The residence of our subject is lo- cated on section 8, where there is a fine house with beautiful surroundings, and a few representatives of the choice stock which range at will over the larger domain of the farm proper. In this retreat Mr. Schoenberger, with his family about him, gleans much enjoyment from life, and is rated as a fail- representative of the farming community. Our subject before leaving Ohio was married in Clarke County, March 2, 1856, to Miss Emily, daughter of Wailes and Nancy (Foos) Aldrich, who was born in Clarke County, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1831. Her father was a native of Vermont, and the mother of Ohio, to which latter State they emi- grated soon after their marriage, locating in Clarke County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The household circle included two children only, a son and a daughter. The brother of Mrs. S., William Aldrich, is still a resident of Ohio. Of the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Schoen- berger, by name. William J. and Ida A., the former, in May, 1881, married Miss Ida Foos, of Cham- paign, and is engaged in business at Springfield, 111. ; Ida A. became the wife of William C. Brickey, and died at the home of her husband in Clarke County, Ohio, Jan. 14, 1879. Her daughter, Ida S., resides with her grandparents, our subject and wife. Mr. Schoenberger. although full of business, never having time to be idle, has represented 872 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Brown Township in the Board of Supervisors and officiated as School Director. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and fearlessly upholds the princi- ples in which he sincerely believes. Mrs. S. is a consistent member of the Christian Church, and a lady highly esteemed by all who know her. i &HOMAS J. WOODIN, junior member of the firm of Ream & Woodin, manufacturers of drain-tile at St. .Joseph, represents with his partner one of the most important industries in that section, which was established by Mr. Ream in the spring of 1880. Our subject became connected with the enterprise in 1882. The equipments of the works are after the latest improved patterns, and the drying is carried on by the most popular meth- od, namely, that of air instead of heat. In addi- tion to this industry the firm is also engaged in the breeding of Norman and Belgian horses, and has now in its possession six fine stallions of late importation, which are destined to make their mark among the fine horses of Champaign County. Mr. Woodin is a native of Vermilion County, this State, born near what was formerly known as Butler's Point, but is now Catlin, Sept. l(j, 1841. His parents, Elmore and Rebecca Woodin, were natives respectively of Ne.v York and Ohio, and were among the earliest settlers of Vermilion County. They located on a tract of uncultivated land, from which the father built up a good home- stead, where he lived and labored until called to his eternal rest, in the spring of 1858. The mother survived him for a period of twenty-two years, her death taking place in 1880, at the home of her son in St. Joseph. Of the eightchildren born to the par- ents three only survive, two sons and one daugh- ter, residents of St. Joseph. Our subject passed his boyhood and youth in Vermilion County, where he began and completed his education.' He remained with his mother until after her second marriage, and when a youth of nineteen years enlisted as a soldier in the Union army, becoming a member of Co. E, 51st 111. Vol. Inf., his regiment being assigned to the Army of the Mississippi, and stationed first at Cairo, 111., then took part in the battle of New Madrid in Mis- souri, and thence proceeded to Memphis, Tenn., whence they were ordered back to Corinth, assist- ing in the capture of that city, and from there re- traced their steps again to Alabama, then to Mur- freesboro and Chattanooga, meeting the enemy at each point. 'During a charge at Mud Creek young Woodin was shot 'through the ankle by a minie ball, making a very painful wound, and by reason of which he was confined to the hospital eleven months. Upon his recovery the war was practically ended, and he received his honorable discharge in June, 1865, at Springfield, 111. After being transferred from a soldier to a civil- ian Mr. Woodin took up his abode in St. Joseph Township, where he has since resided. He first en- gaged in farming, and then became connected with his brother in the grain business until 1867, when he added the shipping of stock,, hogs and cattle, which he found quite profitable, and which he still pur- sues. In 1875 Mr. Woodin was united in marriage with Miss Carrie A., the daughter of Jonathan Hunt, one of the pioneers of Champaign County, the wedding ceremony taking place in Prairie Hope Church. The offspring of this union was three sous Walter L., Earl B. and Ernest C. Mr. W. was one of the members of the first Town Board of St. Joseph, and has served as Director of the Village School Board, while his clear head and good judgment are often called into requisition by his fellow-townsmen in discussing the measures which shall result in the most good to the greatest number. S. CORLIS is the owner of eighty acres of highly cultivated land located on sec- tion 25, Sidney Township. He was born in Upper Canada, Dec. 19, 1839, and is the son of Abraham W. and Elizabeth (Shaw) Corlis. His father was a native of New York State, but re-, moved with his parents to Canada when but ten years of age. About the year 1850 our subject's father removed with his family to Michigan. On the 28th of February, 1862, Mr. W. S. Corlis enlisted in Co. A, 3d Mich. Vol. Inf., and served i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 873 three years in the War of . the Rebellion. He was lirst a member* of the 3d Corps, but after Gen. tirant had been made Commander of the Army of the \Vest he was removed to the 2d Corps under (en. Hancock. He fought bravely in the battle of Seven Pines, ;ho second Bull Run engagement, the battles of Fredericksbtirg, Cliaucellorsville. Gettys- burg- and the Wilderness. At the close of the war he was mustered out of service at City Point, Va., and returned to Michigan, where he remained six months, and then removed to Champaign County, where he has remained until the present time. Mr. Carlis was married in Vermilion County, 111., Oct. 8, I860, to Miss M. J. Peters, the daugh- ter of Sylvanus and Catherine (Burton) Peters. Her parents were natives of Ohio. Her mother died in Indiana and her father in Urbaua, this county. Mr. Corlis and his wife have six children, viz., Don, born Aug. 25, 1869; Walter, March 1, 1871; Mary, Dec. 8, 1873; Alta, Dec. 5,1875; Fred, Oct. 4, 1877; Norah, June 1, 1884. His res- idence and farm 'buildings are both comfortable and elegant, as will be seen by examining the litho- graphic view which is shown on another page of this work. Mr. Corlis has become identified with the interests of the place ; has held the office of School Director, and in politics sympathizes with the Republican party. ALLEN SHAVER, a law-abiding- citizen, and a gentleman duly respected by his neighbors and acquaintances, located on section 1C, Rantoul Township, in 1880. He has been a resident, however, of the Prairie State since 1 805, coming here with his father from Indiana. His birthplace was Shelby County, Ohio, and the date thereof Aug. 3, 1844. He is the son of Philip Shaver, who was born in Warren County, Ohio, Sept. 5, 1814, and whose parents were of German birth and ancestry. The grandfather of our sub- ject emigrated to the United States when a young man, and settled in Ohio during its early coloniza- tion, lie there married and raised a family, among whom was Philip, the father of our subject, who passed his boyhood and youth in Warren County. After reaching manhood he was married to Miss Mary K. Bailey. Her father, William Bailey, a native of Virginia, was one of the early pioneers of the Buckeye State, and made his location in Clin- ton County. Philip Shaver, soon after removing from his native county, resided in Shelby and Lo- gan Counties until 1801, then crossed over the line into Indiana, and settled on a farm which he had purchased in Noble County. After a residence there of six years, he came to this State, purchased eighty acres of laud in Logan County, and im- proved a farm, building up a good homestead, where he died June 8, 1879. His wife, the mother of our subject, was born in Ohio, and departed this life at their home in Logan County, this State, Oct. 2, 1875. Edgar A. Shaver atttended the district schools in Shelby County, Ohio, and when old enough as- sisted his father on the farm. He removed with the family to Indiana in 1861, and four years later commenced working at the carpenter's trade. He was a natural mechanic, and handled tools with so much ease and readiness that he received wages from the first. In company with his brother he afterward purchased eighty acres of wild land in Logan County, and while working at his trade also superintended the improvement of his land. He continued thus occupied in Logan County until becoming a resident of Champaign County in 1880. That same year he purchased the farm of which he is the proprietor, and which comprises 160 acres of land with a good residence, and all other needful buildings. He raises grain and stock principally, and the land also supplies all the produce required for the household. He has an excellent wife, and five bright children complete the happiness of the household. These are Elmer A., Thomas Albert, Charles Edgar, Elonzo Dow and Claudius. Mrs. Shaver, formerly Miss Melissa J. Dalbow, is a na- tive of this State, born in Pike County, March 21, 1856. Her father, Isaac Dalbow, a native of New Jersey, came to Illinois during the early settlement of Pike County, where he located and spent the re- mainder of his life. The maiden name of his wife was Eliza Mustard. She was born in Virginia, is still living, and a resident of Pike County. i 874 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Shaver presents the typical picture of a peaceful farm house, whose in- mates are surrounded by nil the comforts of life. They are training their children to habits of indus- try and those principles of virtue and honor which are the sure foundation of good citizenship, and which will secure for them the respect and esteem of their community, and a good financial standing in life. Our subject and his wife became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 188:., of which they remain consistent members. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Shaver, eight in number, are recorded as follows: John W. was born May 27, 1842; Frances B., Aug. 22, 1846; Elizabeth A., May 4, 1848; Thomas E., born Dec. 17, 1849, died Oct. 25, 1878; Philip W. was born Jan. 10, 1852; Nancy J., Sept. 12, 1854; Mary M., Dec. 14, 1856; Amy A., born Aug. 5, 1860, died Aug. 17, 1880; Nancy, who was born in 1854, died in 1886. S. WATERS. The career of this gentle- man possesses more than ordinary interest to the reflective mind, as it presents a forcible illustration of the result of enterprise and industry and a steady, undeviating course through rain and shine. Mr. Waters started out in life with no capital but his strong hands and determined will. He was willing to live within his income at the start and has adhered to this rule all his life. He commenced in an extremely modest manner, oc- cupying at first a small house with a few acres of land, but gradually made his way upward until now we see him in possession of an elegant residence occupying one of the most beautiful sites in Stan- ton Township. It is on a rise of ground which commands a view of the country for miles around. The dwelling and its adjacent buildings stand back from the public road and a beautiful driveway winds around, bordered on each side with handsome shade trees. The ground is otherwise embellished with shrubs and flowers, and the fields surrounding form a picture extremely beautiful to look upon. The land is finely improved and the live stock of the farm includes the better grades of horses, cattle and hogs. One important feature of the homestead is the fine fruit orchard which provides the family and many of their friends with good things to eat the year around. It has taken many years to per- fect the homestead as it at present appears, and the proprietor may be pardoned if he views with pride and satisfaction the result of his labors. The estate, a view of which we give in this connection, lies on the southwest quarter of section 7, and about five miles from the little village of Thomasboro, the chief shipping and trading point of that locality. The subject of this histoiy is a native of Berk- shire County, Mass., where he drew his first breath Feb. 11,1826. His early days were spent 011 the farm, where he gained a good acquaintance with the various departments of agriculture and received the advantages of the common schools. When six- teen years of age he left the parental roof to learn the blacksmith's trade at Otis, Mass. This occupied his time for six years and he then set up in business for himself. After conducting his shop at Otis nineteen years, he determined to change his location and occupation, and selling out came to this State and for the following four years rented land and carried on farming. In 1870 he purchased 256 acres of wild prairie and at once set about its culti- vation and improvement. The first year he broke and fenced about forty acres and built a small house into which he moved his family. From that time his course has been one of prosperity, and while building up a permanent and beautiful home- stead he has at the same time secured the good- will and esteem of his neighbors and fellow-citi- zens. The work of such a man is not merely con- fined to his own estate or to his own interests, but has its effect throughout the whole township, con- tributing to build up and maintain its reputation as the abiding-place of an intelligent and enterprising community. By his successful management of his farm he has, as it were, painted a bright picture on the landscape which gives pleasure to all who look upon it and is a silent witness of what refined taste and ingenuity may accomplish. The lady who has presided with dignity and grace over the home of our subject for a period of T ^^mw^ t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4- 877 t OVIT thirty-five years, was in her girlhood Miss Elizabeth Hak'3', to whom he was married on the 1-2 th of October, 1H49, in Blandford, Mass. Mrs. Waters was born in Blandford, Ilampden Co., Mass., in 1825. and is the daughter of Tucker M. and Hannah (Watson) .Haley, natives of Rhode Island. The parental household included three children: Elizabeth, Mrs. W. ; Henry A., who married Annett Fenn, and is a practicing physician of this county, and Jennie A., the wife of Joseph Waters, of New York City. Henry and Jennie are twins. Tucker Haley departed this life at his home in Somer Township, this county, in September, 1870, and the wife and mother over a year later, Jan. 12, 1872. The grandparents of Mrs. Waters, Jeffrey and Han- nah (Babcock) Haley, were natives of Rhode Island, whence they removed to Massachusetts at an early day where they passed the remainder of their lives. The former died in 1828. The grandmother sur- vived her husband for about twenty-four years, her death taking place in August, 1852. The family is of English descent. The father of our subject, Levi Waters, who was born in Massachusetts, moved to New York, where lie lived for twenty years. He was married in early- life to Miss Lucmda Twining, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: Lyman T., who married Miss Jane Sheppard, and they are residents of Copenhagen, N. Y. ; W. S., of our sketch, was the second son; Joseph, who married Miss Jennie Haley, and is living in New York Cit} T ; Robert, who mar- ried early in life and his first wife died shortly afterward ; he was then married to Miss Mollie Leach,- and they are living in Fayette County, Ohio; Nelson, who first married Miss Emma McBurney, of Peterboro, Ontario. She died in 1882, and he was then married to Mrs. Bell, of Paxton, 111.; they are living in Marshall County, Kan. Henry died when five years of age % The Waters family is also of English ancestry. The paternal grandpar- ents of our subject were natives of Rhode Island, but after ward removed to Massachusetts, where they spent their last years. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Waters are re- corded as follows: Henry N., who was born Nov. 30, 1851, died Aug. 9, 1878; Howard W. was born Nov. 26, 1853; Myron L., March 13, 1856 ; Ella E., May 3, 1861 ; Jessie L., Jan. 6, 1872. The living children are all at home, the boys assisting their father in carrying on the farm. Mrs. Waters is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Wa- ters is a decided Republican in politics, as is the whole family. JOSEPH II. LOGAN, now a farmer and stock-grower, located on section 31, Sidney Township, was one of the gallant soldiers ready to respond to the call of his country ^^^-' to lay down his life if required in the defense of the "old flag." He was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Jan. 27, 1840, and is the son of J. M. and Elizabeth (Hixon) Logan. In the spring of 1867 Joseph's father, who had lived for some time in Indiana, moved to Kansas, where he remained until 1874, when, not feeling satisfied with his surroundings, he came to Cham- paign County, and remained through one winter with his son Joseph H. In the following spring he returned to Indiana and remained there one year, then moved to Wayne County, 111., where he is now living in comfort and ease as a retired farmer. Joseph H. Logan came to Illinois in 1866, when a young man, and purchased forty acres of railroad land, which he broke and cultivated until 1871. He then sold and purchased his present place, com- prising eighty acresof valuable land all under a high state of cultivation, and on which he has an elegant residence and excellent farm buildings, well sup- plied with all the modern appliances necessary for systematically conducting farm work. Among the representative farm views given in this ALIITM may be found that of Mr. Logan. In December, 1863, Mr. Logan enlisted in Co. B, 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served until Jan- uary, 1866. Among the many hard-fought battles in which he was engaged was the memorable siege of Mobile, which continued throughout nine weary days and nights. While in the service lie was never absent from his post except for a short time when he lay sick in the hospital at New Orleans. Unable to inarch with his battery to Ft. Morgan he, with a few others, was left in charge of the f '. . 878 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. camp equi[)agc until the return of the regiment. Mr. Logan, like many others, who escaped death on the battle-field, contracted disease from exposure and hardship while in the army, from which he has never fully recovered, having been to some extent an invalid since the close of the war. He does not, however, regret the sacrifice made in behalf of his country, and suffers with a patient resignation the afflictions which are the result of his army services. On the 6th of April. 1860, Mr. Logan was married to Miss Eliza Ring, the daughter of Walter and Mary (Hoffsinger) Ring. She was born Oct. 2, 1849. Her parents were of German extraction, and both of them are now living in Indiana. Mr. Lo- gan and his wife have a family of six interesting children, whose names are as follows: Cora A., born March 15, I860; Franklin, Jan. 11, 1 8.7 .">; Charles, Dec. 10, 1877; Effie A., April 4, 1882. A son and daughter died in infancy. In addition to the home place Mr. Logan owns eighty acres of highly improved land on section 29, and six acres of timbered land. He is a public- spirited man, interested in all the affairs of the county, and has held the offices of Road Commis- sioner and School Director. He is regarded as one of the best citizens of his community, and has made a good record both on the battle-field and in the pursuits of the peaceful calling which he now follows. In politics he is a Democrat. 1LTON H. SOPER, a gentleman of educa- tion and refined tastes who has made the most of his opportunities in life, is one of the most highly respected numbers of the farming community of Harwood Township, resid- ing on section 26. He is of New England birth, having been born in Franklin County, Vt., April 2, 1830. He is the youngest child of Remember E. and Permelia (McNall) Soper, also -natives of the Green Mountain State. His mother was of Irish descent. Her father, a Captain in the English army, while in the service was sent to Canada, and subse- quently removed to Vermont, where he engaged in fanning and remained until his death. The father of Milton H.. Remember E.. was a Captain in the United States Army, and participated in the War of 1812. At the battle of Plattsburg, being in one of the volunteer corps, he was the means of saving the regular troops from defeat. His coolness and bravery inspired his men with courage to rush upon the enemy and put them to flight. Subsequently he was engaged along the Canadian bonier until the close of the war, when he was honorably dis- charged. He received a pension for his services and also a bounty of 160 acres of land. Upon one occasion while in the service, and during the storm- ing of the fort at Plattsburg, the movements of the volunteer troops commanded by Capt. Soper, were so regular and precise that the British mistook them for reinforcements from the regular service, and withdrew from their position, abandoning the attack of the fort. The gallant Captain, although in many engagements and always at the front with his men, escaped without a wound. After retiring from the service he returned to his home in Ver- mont where he spout several years. The father of our subject came to Illinois in the fall of 1847, settling near what is now Waukegau. His family consisted of four daughters and two sons, viz., Adeline, Julia, Orange P., Eveline, Ra- chel, and Milton H. of our sketch. Young Soper continued under the parental roof until sixteen years old, spending much of his time in school. He then entered Waukegau Academy, and from there was sent to Lawrence University, at Appleton, Wis., where he pursued his studies for two years. He then entered the University of Michigan, where he completed his studies with much honor and returned home. He found his father in ill-health and at once cancelled an engage- ment which he had made to take charge of the public schools in Memphis, Tcnu. The late war being then in progress it was perhaps fortunate that he was not permitted to go South. He en- gaged in the real estate and loan business at Wau- kegan, and continued with his father for the follow- ing three years. He had greatly desired to acquire a thorough knowledge of medicine, but sacrificed his own wishes to those of his parents, and at their solicitation returned with them, in KX03, to his na- tive State. He purchased a farm of :3GO acres in t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 879 Franklin County, and in company with his father followed agriculture for a period of four years. His father and mother continued to reside in Ver- mont until their deaths, while Milton II. returned West. In company with his brother. O. P., he went into Southwest Missouri and took the first steps in the establishment of a sheep ranch. They looked over the country and found a suitable location, but also found that an ultra Yankee had very little to en- courage him in settling there. In view of this state O O of affairs they returned to Illinois and purchased about 560 acres of land from the Illinois Central Railroad Company, for the purpose of speculating. In due time they sold all but 120 acres and upon this, in 1868, our subject, who was then married, removed his family. There has been a great change since then. The uncultivated prairie has been trans- formed into a beautiful farm of 240 acres, with a handsome modern residence, a good barn and all other buildings necessary for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain. The Soper farm is ac- knowledged by all to be one of the finest in liar- wood Township, and its proprietor is one of the most popular men in that locality. His residence is finely finished and furnished, and one of the most interesting features is the fine library, to which the proprietor often has recourse in his leisure hours. In early youth his inclhiatious were for the army or navy, and at one time he made all preparations for a course at West Point. He gave up his cadet- ship, however, at the solicitation of his mother, who was apprensive of the result of such a life for her favorite son. She could not blame him, how- ever, for he came of ancestors remarkable for their military prowess. The lady whom our subject married was Miss Catherine A., daughter of Elijah and Mary (Nay) Soper, also of Vermont,- but supposed to have been no relative. Their marriage took place Jan. 18, 1862, in Waukegan, 111. The family of children, six in number, born to our subject and his wife, are as follows : The eldest daughter, Cora M., was born in Vermont. The others Adrian K., Arthur M., Stanley L., Morton N. and Laura Edith are natives of the Prairie State. Mr. and Mrs. S. are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and our subject has often discharged the duties of the various township offices. Politically he is a Repub- lican. 'ILLIAM LENEVK. The subject of this sketch, a native of this State, was born seven miles northeast of what is now the flourishing city of Danville, in September, 1832. He is the third child of John and Rebecca (Newell) Leneve, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Catherine (Arlington) Leneve, the former the son of John and Catharine Leneve, natives of France. John Leneve served as a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War under command of the gallant Lafayette, and was killed in the same battle in which his commander was wounded. The grandmother of our subject was the daughter of John Arlington, who was banished from Scotland on account of his religious belief. He fled to America and joined with the Colonists in the war against his persecutors, resolved to "give his life and seal it with his blood," if necessary for the- cause of independence. The later descendants of the family were highly educated, and strictly relig- ious, and several of its male members were states- men of marked ability, who wielded an important influence upon the social and moral questions of their day. The father of our subject with his" brother, Oba- diah, came to Illinois in 1824, and located first in Vermilion County during its earliest settlement, when the footprints of white men were seldom seen. The journey was made overland, and upon arriving at their destination they occupied their wagon as a shelter until they could put up a log hut. Both being single they were obliged to keep house for themselves, and the Indians were their only neigh- bors. They entered a large tract of land and made every preparation to establish for themselves a per- manent home. Two years later Obadiah, who was the first to inaugurate a change in their manner of living, brought a wife to the cabin door who took charge of their domestic affairs, and seeing how much better it was to have " women folk" around. John in due time followed his brother's example. f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. l i The cabin of one small room was not large enough for two families, so the brothers separated, and there- after each followed farming for himself. In due time each family was augmented by the birth of children, and these, like their fathers and mothers, were at an early age inducted into the experiences of pioneer life, together with its labors and duties. Our subject took kindly to the labor imposed upon him and remained a member of the parental household until he was twenty-six years old. He then concluded he was big enough to look out for himself and also for another. His marriage with Miss Emma Smith took place at the home of the bride's parents on the 4th of March, 1858. Mrs. L. was the daughter of Joseph and Juliet A. Smith, and by her union with our subject became the mother of two sons, Joseph Perry and Marshal Ney, both of whom are still living. The latter married Miss Mary, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Kims, and is engaged in farming near the home- stead of his father. The mother of these children passed from earth on the 1st of June, 1866. She was a lady greatly beloved by her husband and friends, by whom her memory is held as the cher- ished wife and mother who performed all her duties in life in a faithful manner and left behind her' a record of womanly virtues. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Aug. 22, 1867, was Margaret M. Hal vert, the eldest daughter of Davis S. and Rachel (Col- lins) Halvert, natives of Kentucky. Her father, although fifty years of age at the outbreak of the late Civil War, enlisted in the Union army and served gallantly for three years. The first husband of Mrs. L. was William Mills, of Vermilion County, 111., by whom she became the mother of one son, William II., who married Miss Ada, daughter of Elbridgeand Minerva Loring, of Vermilion County. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have one daughter, Edna V. Our subject continued in the stock business in connection with farming until 1875, the 3 T ear when so many men succumbed to the hard times and parted with the larger share of their possessions. Mr. L. was carried along in the general disaster, being obliged to give up all his property to his creditors, and retained for himself only a team of horses and one cow, though the law, which provides for those who have met with like misfortune, would have given him more. In due time he was enabled to recover his footing and eventually purchased back 240 acres of the land he was obliged to for- feit, and begins to feel that he is once more upon solid ground. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Leneve, one daughter,"Ernma S., passed from earth at the age of twelve years, leaving a sad vacancy in the household circle. Those surviving are John S.. San ford W.. Lillie J., Samuel F., Thomas. Laura May and Nellie Kay ; the two latter are twins. The}' are all at home with their parents, the older mem- bers having received a good education and the 3"ounger ones still pursuing their studies. Our sub- ject and his wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. L., although taking no active part in politics, endorses the principles of the Republican party. ON. JAMES S. WRIGHT. The subject of this history has been a resident of Cham- paign County for the long period of fifty- six years, and has won an enviable place in hearts of its people. After a busy and ener- getic life he is now retired from active labor, and in a beautiful home, surrounded by the comforts of life, and the friendship of his fellow-citizens, is en- joying the ease and quiet to which his early indus- try and honorable and upright course in life have fully entitled him. Mr. Wright was born in Highland County, Ohio, on the 4th of August, 181 6, and came to Illinois in 1 830, with his father's family, excepting the mother, who had died five years previous!}" in Indiana. They first settled near Homer, Champaign County. The father of our subject, John B. Wright, was born in Virginia in 1785, and in 1805 was married to Miss Elizabeth Stephens. They removed on a boat down the Ohio River to a point near Leesburg, where James S. was born. In the same year they emigrated to Indiana, locating where Winchi'Mci now stands. There the mother died, in 1825, and the father in ISO!). The latter was a man of great force of character, and possessed more than ordi- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 881 t nary ability, being prominent in the local affairs of his county, and served in the State Legislature at Corydon, the old capital, from 1818 to 1824. Here the boy James was raised after the manner of most farmers' sons and assisted his father in the black_- smith-sliop, the latter having served an apprentice- ship at this business in early manhood. Our sub- ject attended school three months each winter, where the old Scotch teacher would vary the after- noon exercises by taking a nap, a drink of liquor, and whipping two or three boys. The Wright family was of Scotch-Irish descent, and the family of John 1$. consisted of three sons David, James and John B., Jr. After going to Indiana the father of our subject, in addition to his blacksmithing and legislative duties, served as County Treasurer, and filled other responsible posi- tions with credit and fidelity. After coming to Illinois they located in what was then called Ver- milion but is now Homer Township, Champaign Count}'. Here the elder Wright purchased 160 acres of land, for which he paid $500, and where, after years of industrious labor, he established a comfortable homestead, which he occupied until a few years before his death, which occurred in 1869. His natural abilities were soon recognized by the people of this locality, and it was not long before he was tacitly acknowledged as a suitable leader in the community and a man whose opinions and word could be relied upon. Here he served as County Commissioner and was called to other posi- tions of note. He had been reared in the Society of Friends, and possessed in a marked degree the simplicity and the honor which go hand in hand with the l : ves of the Quakers. The parental family consisted of nine children, of whom four are now living, and all are residents of this county Phebe, Mrs. Way; Rebecca, Mrs. Butler; Sidna, Mrs. Swearingen, and James S. When nineteen years of age James S. Wright after much persuasion received the permission of his father to Mart out in the world on his own account. The family had experienced all the difficulties and pri- vations of pioneer life, and when our subject was offered the enormous salary of 4>1 per day by the Illi- nois A- Michigan Canal, he at once accepted, after having hired a farm hand at $10 per month to work for his father during his minority. He had received a practical education and had taught school one win- ter. After three days' work on the canal he "flew" his contract, as the bread-making, which was carried on by an Irishman with a pipe in his mouth, took avvay his appetite. He then secured employment in a hotel, where he became practically cashier and treasurer, and remained there until 1837. He then returned home, and purchased eighty acres of land, but until ready to take possession of this engaged as clerk in a store at Homer, with which, in con- nection with book-keeping, lie occupied himself for five years following. Subsequently he engaged in the pork trade, transporting his produce down the river to New Orleans. After abandoning this he engaged as a stock-dealer at Homer, buying cattle and hogs, and feeding and shipping, continuing at this for ten years. In 1855 Mr. Wright removed into the city of Champaign, and in addition to mercantile pursuits engaged quite extensively in real-estate transac- tions. He was cashier of the bank at Champaign for three years after its organization. He put up the first brick building in the city, in 1856, and was first and foremost in every enterprise calculated to advance its welfare. He donated the first $1,000 for the establishment of the Illinois Industrial University. During the erection of the building work was stopped one year on account of the high prices occasioned by the war, and Mr. Wright in his anxiety to see it completed then contributed $.500 more. As time passed on he became an extensive land-owner in this and adjoining counties. In 1846 Mr. Wright was elected to the Legisla- ture by fifty majority over the Democratic candi- date, Col. M. W. Busey. He met in this body such men as ex-Gov. Kej-nolds, U. F. Linder, Gov. Matteson, Judge Joseph Gillespie. and Stephen P. Logan, then leader of the House. Lincoln and David Davis were there, but not members. Stephen A. Douglas during that term was elected Senator. In the meantime Mr. Wright was also the incumbent of the office of County Surveyor. In 1880 he was elected to the State Senate for four years, and he often refers proudly to the brains and talent which he found in the General Assembly of Illinois thirty years ago, and which he believes superior to that 1 f f 882 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. of the present d:i v. IIo lias never belonged to any church or siny other organization except temperance societies, of which lie joined every one that came in his way, and by every means in his power opposed the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors. Mr. Wright, as may be supposed, is a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party, and has served two terms as Mayor of Champaign. lie was Postmaster of Homer and Justice of the Peace in that place and in Champaign. The marriage of James S. Wright and Miss Cath- erine Lander was celebrated in Homer Township, this county, at the residence of the bride's parents Nov. 19, 1840. Mrs. W. was the daughter of John and Sophia W. Lander, of Kentucky, who removed from Bourbon County in 1830, and coming to this State and county settled in what is now Homer Township, near the farm of John B. Wright. John Lander died seven years later, in 1837, and his wife in 1849. Mrs W. was born in Bourbon County, Ky.. March 26, 1823. Upon the same day of her mar- riage with our subject, her sister Margaret was married to William Elliott, Esq., of Homer, Rev. William Phillips performing the joint ceremony. After remaining the faithful and affectionate com- panion of her husband for a period of forty-six years, Mrs. Wright departed this life Nov. 9, 1886. She was a lady of great personal worth and highly respected by all who knew her. They became the parents of eight children, four now living James C., Jessie A., Minnie E. and Katie G. The family residence is located at No. 130 East University ave- nue, Where its inmates, surrounded by hosts of friends, are enjoying all the comforts of life. RS. NANCY REID, the daughter of James P. and Catherine (Pool) Leedy, and wife of C. Reid, and who is pleasantly situated in St. Joseph, was born in Vigo County, Ind., March 4, 1838, and came to Champaign County with her parents. Her father, a native of Indiana, was born Sept. 12, 1H12, and the mother, June 14. 1810. Their marriage took place in Portsmouth, Ohio, in IS.'il. They afterward removed to Indi- ana, and located on a farm in Vigo County, where the father died in 1817. The mother, who was a j Miss Argo, survived her husband for a period of nearly thirty years, in the meantime becoming a resident of Ogden Township in this county, where her death took place Dec. 22, 1875. Their family of five sons and four daughters is recorded as follows: Rebecca Jane became the wife of James Purcell, and died in Vigo Comity, Ind., in 1839, leaving two children; William H. was married, and at the breaking out of the late war enlisted in an Illinois regiment and died in the service at Nashville, Tenn., a year after his enlist- ment; Elizabeth died when a child of seven years; Nancy, of our sketch, was the fourth in order of birth; John T. married Miss Elizabeth Helton, who, after becoming the mother of eight children, de- parted this life in February, 1876; Francis J. mar- ried Miss Jessie Jarrette, and they are living in St. Joseph, this county; David, who enlisted in the 26th Illinois Infantry, was wounded, and died Aug. 1 4. 1 864 ; Augustus died in the service of his country in 1862; James A. married Miss Nellie Peters, and is a resident of St. Joseph. Tjhe mother of these children, after the death of her first husband, was married June 15, 1858. to Benjamin F., the son of Benjamin an.d Esther Argo, of Pickaway County, Ohio. The death of Mr. A. took place in St. Joseph, Dec. 17, 1880. Benjamin F. Argo, Sr., built the first "rail-pen house " in the northern part of St. Joseph Township, which he occupied with his family for several months. His first wife was Miss Nancy Lee, of Pickaway County, Ohio, to whom lie was married Feb. 11, 1827. Her death took place in St. Joseph Township on the 18th of June, 1857. Mrs. Nancy Reid spent her childhood and youth under the parental roof, receiving a common-school education and being trained in the duties which best fitted her for a housewife and a helpmeet to some good man. Her marriage with C. Reid took place in St. Joseph Township,^ this county, Aug. 7, 1859. Of this union there were born eight children, two sons and six daughters, of whom four are de- ceased : Mary C. is a resident of Finney County, Kan.: Eflie was married to C. W. McMains, Jan. 1, 1885, but is now a widow, and living with her par- ents, her husband having died Sept. 20, 1886; CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 883 William and Maggie A. are at home with their mother. Mr. Reid was born in Ireland, and when twenty years of age emigrated to the United States, land- ing first in New York City, where he worked one year at hlacksmithing. which trade he had learned in his native country. Thence he went to Chicago, spent a year or so in the Garden City, and from there came into this county, where he was married, and followed his trade at St. Joseph until the out- break of the Civil War. He then enlisted on the 2/Jth of August, 1861, giving his time to his adopted country for the space of three years, dur- ing which he endured cheerfully the hardships of a soldier's life and received his honorable discharge at the close of his term of enlistment, and was mus- tered out at Springfield, 111., in 1864, since which time he has been following his trade and has pro- vided a good home for his family in St. Joseph. In 18K5 Mr. Reid crossed the Mississippi, and going into Finney County, Kan., took np 160 acres of land which he is now improving, while at the samo time working at his trade in Montezuma. Mr. Reid is a worthy citizen in all respects, and pos- sessed of commendable enterprise and industry. He is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to St. Joseph Post No. 220, G. A. R. He is also connected with the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Reid is a consistent member of the Christian Church. Their home in St. Joseph is pleasantly located, and is provided with the con- veniences of modern life. ERMAN TAULMAN. The subject of the following biography presents the picture of a -well-preserved old gentleman, healthy, happy and active, possessed of a clear con- science, and who has marked over threescore years and ten on the dial of time. His birth took place near the city of New York, Oct. 3, 1816, and he is the youngest child of William and Anna (Hulse) Taulman, the former a native of New York and the latter of Germany. The father of our subject was a blacksmith by trade, and removed from his na- tive State in lcS18, settling near Cincinnati, Ohio. There his wife died about one year later, and his own death took place in about twelve months after his wife's decease at Flat Rock, Ind., to which he had removed. Thus their son Herman was left an orphan at the tender age of four years, and having no written record, has little knowledge of his ances- try. After the death of his father he was bound out to Solomon Ferris, a farmer of Hamilton Coiin* ty, Ohio, with whom he lived until reaching his majority. He early became acquainted with labor, and the only education he received was that ob- tained in the imperfect country schools. Our subject upon starting out in life for himself was fully prepared to depend upon his own re- sources, having no. capital and no friends to furnish him with such commodity. He continued at farm work until after his marriage, which occurred March 25, 1839, when he was a little over twenty-three years of age. His wife was Miss Alary, daughter of Louis and Mary (Clark) Pierson, who were na- tives of Ohio. -After his marriage he located with his young wife upon a tract of rented land in Hamilton County, and for four or five years after- ward followed farming. He then put up a sawmill in the timber regions of Hamilton County, and re- mained a resident there for a period of twenty years. In the spring of 1844 he suffered a great affliction in the death of his wife; she had become the mother of two sons, William and John. The former married Miss Hester Thornell, and still lives in Ohio, where he owns and operates the sawmill built by his father years ago. He has two chil- dren John Wesley and Hattie. John married Miss Lillie Dill, and they located on the farm of our subject in Harwood Township, where they re- mained until the death of the former, which occurred in 1886. He left a wife and one child. In 1846 our subject married Miss Annie Davis, eldest child of Abram and Elizabeth (Morris) Da- vis, natives of Ohio, and residents of Hamilton County. Of this latter marriage there were born five children, namely, Cavalier; Adam Lee, now de- ceased ; Oscar Marion, Mary and Luella. The latter married Calvin Crane, a prosperous farmer of Ran- toul Township. The other surviving children are at home with their parents. f - . 884 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. .Mr. T.-mlman, in March, IHG'J, disposed of his interests in the Buckeye State and came to Illinois with his family. He had been fairly prosperous in tilling the soil among the Ohio hills, and in seeking his new location, selected a tract of 320 acres on the south half of section 3;!, in Mar wood Township. The land was unimproved and without fences or buildings. His first business was to put up a tene- ment for his family and soon afterward he began to break the sod. He labored industriously for several years, taking advantage of modern methods of agriculture, and keeping his eyes open to what was going on around him in the world generally. After fencing his land and bringing it to a good state of cultivation he turned his attention to stock- raising. He makes a specialty of Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He has planted an apple orchard, set out choice trees of the finer fruits,- and as time and opportunity permitted has embellished his homestead in those ways best known to the en- ergetic and enterprising farmer. Mr. Taulinan has never been a politician although earnest in his advocacy of the principles in which he believes and which are most nearly represented by the Democratic party. He has served as Road Commissioner and School Director for many years. / U A N C I S M. LEIGH, a worthy representa- t ' ve * one ^ t ' l ' ( ' est families of St. Joseph Township, was born in this town- ship on the old homestead of his father and upon which he spent the greater part of his life, as he himself settled there after his marriage and will probably keep it in the possession of the family. That which gave the feudal estates of old their value aud importance was the residence upon them of one generation after another, by which method the family gained its power, influence and reputa- tion. Mr. Leigh was born Sept. 3, 1845, and is the son of Henry and Jemima (Fisher) Leigh, natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. His paternal grand- parents. Levi and Elizabeth (Seedeth) Leigh, were young people in the old revolutionary times, and the great-grandfather Seedeth participated as a sol- dier in the conflict which resulted in establishing the independence of the Colonies. Henry Leigh was born in Virginia, in which State his parents had settled after their marriage, and where their son was introduced to the responsibilities of life Sept. 4, 1807. Subsequently they removed to Ohio, set- tling in Pickaway County, where he grew to man- hood and married Miss Jemima, the youngest child of John and Elizabeth (Petty) Fisher. The Fisher family were of German and Welsh extraction, and the children of John and Elizabeth F., which in- cluded four sons and five daughters, all grew to mature years, married, and settled in comfortable homes of their own. Henry Leigh and his wife remained in Pickaway County until the spring of 1836, and then decided to seek their fortunes in the Prairie State. Load- ing their household goods upon a wagon they started overland by team, part of their journey lying through the Black Swamp of Indiana. They car- ried their provisions, camped and cooked by the wayside, and after a journey of four weeks ar- rived at their destination. .Mr. Leigh selected a tract of land on se.ction 2, St. Joseph Township, and proceeded with its improvement and cultiva- tion, although not being able to secure a title until some time later. The country at that time abounded in wolves, and their cries, together with those of the wild geese, often aroused the settlers to pursue them. Gradually as the country became settled up these creatures disappeared, and the settlers' guns hung idle for weeks upon the wooden peg in the cabin. The father of our subject labored indus- triously to build -up a comfortable homestead for his family and succeeded admirably, as the present farm gives ample indication. It now includes 120 acres of valuable land, thoroughly drained with tile, and fitted up with all modern improvements. The house and other farm buildings are substantial and comfortable, and finely adapted to all the pur- poses of country life. The subject of our sketch pursued his first studies in the pioneer log school-house in the winter season. and as soon as old enough his services were made available on the farm. The death of his father took place when Francis M. was a youth of four- T I- "Y < . : - / tF JLLINOIS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 889 toon years, in the spring of 1801. lie continued with his mother thereafter, proving her main sup- port and counselor, and after he assumed the man- agement of the farm the mother practically retired from active labor but is still living, making her home with our subject. Mr. Leigh was married, Nov. 14, 1867, to Miss Martha, second daughter of John L. and Catherine Ross, and a native of Indiana, to which State her parents had removed after their marriage. Mr. Leigh brought his bride to the old homestead which still continues their residence. Our subject is the only survivor of his father's family of eight children. Two died in infancy. The others lived to mature years, but have since passed away. They were, Elizabeth, Martha C., Charles S., John F. and Mary A. The mother's birth occurred May 27, 1813. Her residence on the present homestead of our subject comprises a period of fifty years, and the changes which she has witnessed during that time have been as re- markable as satisfactory to one who has watched them .with an observant eye and rejoiced at every evidence of the prosperity of Illinois. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Francis M. Leigh were nine in number, three of whom died in in- fancy. The others are John M., Marion E., Cath- erine A. v Ivah May, Lola Etta, William Everette. Mr. Leigh has been' prominent in the affairs of his township since reaching his majority, and is a gen- tleman in whom his neighbors have great confidence as they have watched his course from boyhood up and found there the elements of a reliable and sub- stantial manhood. He has officiated as School Director, and with his estimable wife is a member in good standing of Prairie Hope Church. J '"JAMES YEAZEL, a successful farmer and I stock-grower of Homer Township, is a na- I tive of the Buckeye State, and was born in ^ ) Clarke County, March 2, 1817. His par- ents, Abraham and Mary (Curl) Yeazel, were both natives of Virginia, the former of German and the latter of Scotch ancestry. Abraham Yeazel, who was born April 29, 1774, located in Ohio, in the pioneer days, and became a farmer and stock- grower of much importance in Clarke County and vicinity. He departed this life in 1831. when little past his prime, and in the midst of his usefulness, at the homestead which he had established by his enterprise and industry. Politically, he was a stanch Whig, and served for a number of years as Justice of, the Peace. The mother of our subject, who cheerfully shared the fortunes and rejoiced in the successes of her husband, was born Oct. 30,1776, and became the wife of Abraham Yeazel on the 7th of October, 1794. The marriage resulted in the birth of fourteen children, and presented the re- markable spectacle of an unbroken family circle until after reaching adult years, all living to be- come men and women, all married, and rearing families. They were named respectively, Mary A., Sarah, George, William, David, Jeremiah, Catherine, Jacob, Adam, Elizabeth, Abraham, Sid- ney, .James and Isaac. The younger years of James Yeazel's life were spent upoij the farm of his father in Ohio, and when twenty years of age, on Sept. 7, 1837, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary M. Spencer, a native of Ohio, whose parents were from the State of New York. The result of this union was twelve children, who were named respectively, Jacob, John, Hamilton, William, George, James, Alice, Abraham, Abigail, Matthew L., Charles and Mary I. Five of these are deceased Jacob, Hamilton, George, James and Charles. The mother died at the homestead, March 9, 1867. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in June, 1872, was formerly Mrs. Eliza- beth (Littler) Babb. Of this union there have been born four children Milton J., Maria E., a son who died in infancy unnamed, and Frank. The chil- dren of Mrs. Yeazel by her first husband, were Ed- * win P., Alice J., James E. and Charles D. Mr. Babb was a native of Hardy County. W. Va., where he was born Nov. 10, 1826. His death oc- curred Jan. 8, 1869, when in the forty-second year of his age, and while a resident of Homer Township. He was of a wealthy family and was himself a good financier. He was an extensive stock-grower and in all respects a representative business man and citizen. He became a member t. > 890 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 of the Methodist Episcopal Church when fifteen years of age, and carried out in his daily life the religion which he professed, being a kind husband, father and neighbor. His last illness was of brief du- ration, being taken with typhoid-pneumonia, which resulted fatally six days later. As one of the prominent men in the early history of this county we take pleasure in presenting his portrait in this ALBUM. Politically, Mr. Babb was an ardent supporter of Republican principles, but only participated in politics enough to cast his vote at the regular elec- tions. His estate embraced 1.100 acres of land lying in the northern part of Ogden Township. He came to Illinois in 1854, and was married to Miss Elizabeth Littler three years later. The only daughter born of this marriage, Mary Alice Jane, became the wife of George W. Helm and the moth- er of twin daughters. Mabel Jane and Mary Alice, who are at the present writing (1887) bright and interesting children six years of age. Mrs. Helm, who had evinced great ability as an artist, died at her home in Sidney, Feb. 12, 1881, having been married less than a year. Edwin and Charles Babb, who are promising young agriculturists, have charge of their father's farm and are principally engaged in the breeding of fine horses. Edwin, in 1884, married Miss Emma S. Conkey, and they have one child, Harry C. James E. Babb, a finely educated young man, graduated in law at Chicago and is now a partner of Judge Fry, a prominent member of the legal profession of that city. Mrs. Elizabeth B. Yeazel was born in Ohio, Jan. 14, 1838. Her parents, Edwin and Margaret (Sterrett) Littler, natives of Ohio, are both now deceased. The parental household numbered six children, namely, Rachel, ^Elisha, Elizabeth, Mary A., Martha and Edwin. Mr. Yeazel came to Illi- nois, in 1840 with less than $1,000 in cash. He has been quite prosperous, as evidenced by the statement that his real estate now includes 600 acres of some of the finest farming land in Central Illinois, provided with good improvements, including a fine brick residence, a substantial barn and all conveniences for general farming, tog-ether with the proper feeding and care of fine stock. lie is now engaged ' in breeding Norman and Clydesdale horses, and I lias a few sheep, with choice grades of cattle and hogs. Although our subject is not strong physi- cally, his natural energy will not permit him to be idle, and he is always busy looking after the stock and generally superintending the estate. Although not mixing much in politics or religious matters, he is the stanch supporter of Republican principles and a believer in the Christian religion. His por- trait may be found on page 830. Mrs. Yeazel when a young girl thirteen years of age, united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she has been a devout and consistent member since that time. The portrait of this estimable lady ac- companies this sketch. OHN J. MUMM, of Sidney Township, is the proprietor of a fine farm of 320 acres lying on sections 17, 18 and 20, the resi- dence, a view of which is to be seen in this work, being on the latter. The homestead in- cludes a shapely and substantial dwelling, a good barn and all necessary out-buildings, and is pleas- antly located and well drained. The first purchase of our subject in this townslrp consisted of forty acres of uncultivated prairie, to whose extent he added as time passed on and his means permitted. When it came into his possession the greater part of his land had never been tilled. By years of in- dustry he has brought the whole to a fine state of cultivation, and besides producing the ordinary farm crops in abundance, Mr. M. has also given much attention to high-grade Short-horn cattle, Norman horses, and Poland-China swine. Our subject has been uniformly successful in his funning and business operations, and is one of the important factors in the agricultural interests of this section. He commenced life at the foot of the ladder, and is a forcible illustration of what may be accomplished by resolution and persever- ance. He emigrated from Holstein, Germany, to this country in 1854, landing with a cash capital of $5. He at once made his way to the Prairie State, and for two years afterward was a resident of Cook County, where he engaged as a farm laborer. Af- terward he came into Champaign County, worked CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 891 on a farm for a time, and then rented a tract of land which ho cultivated on shares. He invested his savings in land, and in due time found himself on the road to prosperity. He is now an impor- tant property holder in one of the richest counties of the Prairie State. Every dollar of his posses- sions has been accumulated by his own industry and good judgment, and he may reasonably regard his career with pride and satisfaction. Mr. Mumm is a native of Sleswick-Holstein, Germany, and was born Feb. 1, 1832. He is the son of William Mumm, a native of the same Prov- ince, of pure German parentage and ancestry. The Mumm family is well and favorably known throughout a large portion of the Fatherland, its representatives having been distinguished for those substantial and reliable elements of character pecu- liar to the German nationality. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Ann Hinz. She also was of an excellent family, and was a na- tive of the same Province as her husband. They remained on their farm in Germany until 1866, then, accompanied by their eldest son, William, Jr., came to the United States, and located with him, first in Sidney Township, and then removed to Philo Township, where they were residents the re- mainder of their lives. The mother departed this life in 1870, aged eighty-two years, and the father in 1883, aged eighty-three. They were members in good standing of the Lutheran Church. The subject of this notice was the third son and child of the seven included in the parental house- hold. Of these three only are now living. John J. remained with his parents until starting for the United States, in 1854, unaccompanied by any friend or relative, and having, besides a small amount of money, only the clothes which he wore. He soon, however, procured employment, found friends, and in due time could see his way to the establishment of a home. Accordingly, on the 19th of December, 1857, he was united in marriage in Sidney Township to Miss Magdalena Witt, a native of the same Province as her husband, and the daughter of Dulf and Anna Magdalena (Young) Witt, natives of Germany. They emi- grated to the United States in 18G4, coining direct- ry to this State and locating in Sidney Township, of which their daughter had been a resident since early in 1857. Here the father died in about 1876; the mother died in 1869 at the home of her daugh- ter, Mrs. Mumm. Our subject and wife became the parents of seven children, of whom two, Rimer and Emma, are deceased ; Anna is the wife of Henry Witt, a far- mer of Sidney Township; John W. married Miss Minnie Malone. and they reside on the homestead ; Mary, Peter and Henry are at home. The family are members and regular attendants of the Luth- eran Church, of which our subject has held the various offices. Since becoming a citizen of this country he has voted the straight Republican ticket and has held the office of Road Commissioner in his township. ROF. GEORGE E. MORROW, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Professor of Agriculture in the University of Illinois, after occupying the position of Professor in this department in the Iowa Agricultural College, changed his location, in 1887, and accepted the cor- responding Chair in the University of Illinois. Prof. Morrow is a native of the Buckeye State, being born near Cincinnati, Oct. 19, 1840, and is the son of John and Nancy (Espy) Morrow. His paternal grandparents, Jeremiah and Mary (Park- hill) Morrow, were natives of Pennsylvania. His grandparents on his mother's side were of Scotch- Irish descent and also natives of the Keystone State. Hon. Jeremiah Morrow located in Warren County on the Little Miami River in 1798, purchasing 640 acres of land, where he built a flouring-mill and sawmill, and carried on farming and milling the remainder of his life. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and tacitly accorded the position of leader in his county and community, both so- cially and politically. He was a member of the First Constitutional Convention in Ohio, and the first and only Member of Congress for a number of years. AVhile in the Senate he was on most of the important committees, and was elected Gov- 892 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ernor in 1822. serving from that year until 1826. He was again elected to Congress in 1 840. He was the first President of the Little Miami Railroad Company, and took an active interest in everything pertaining to the development and progress of his adopted State. The canal system of Ohio was or- ganized while he was Governor, and received his hearty assistance and support. He encouraged the establishment and maintenance of schools and churches and religiously adhered to Presbyterian doctrines. Jeremiah Morrow had a family of eleven children, among whom was John, the father of our subject, who was reared and educated in the schools of Ohio, and who inherited in a marked de- gree the talent and energy of his father. The pursuit of agriculture, however, seemed most con- genial to his taste and he commenced putting his theories into practice on the home farm where he has always lived, being now eighty-seven years of age. The mother died in 1881, aged eighty-two. Both parents became members of the Presbyterian Church early in life. Of tlieir nine children, four only are now living, namely, Lizzie, Thomas E., Josiah, and George E. of our sketch. Prof. Morrow received an academic education and remained at home with his parents until August, 1861. The Civil War being then in progress he enlisted in Co. C, 2d Ohio Vol. Inf. He was wounded at the battle of Perry ville, Ky., in October, 1862, and afterward captured by the guerillas, being held a prisoner, however, but a few hours. On account of failing health he was obliged to abandon the service in July, 1863. After a few months spent in Minnesota, he entered the Law Depart- ment of Michigan University, from which he gradu- ated in 1866. He never practiced law, however, but became editor of the Western Mural, and sub- sequently of the Western Farmer until 1875. In 1876 he was elected Professor in the Iowa State Agricultural College, which chair he abandoned to accept his present position. Prof. Morrow takes a genuine interest in his work, and is prominently connected with the agri- cultural and live stock associations of the country, both State and National. He frequently delivers addresses on the subject, and has been a regular, and intelligent correspondent of agricultural journals. In 1879 he made a trip to Great Britain on pro- fessional business, and gained a good insight into the methods and theories adopted by the agriculturists of the Old World. The marriage of Prof. George E. Morrow and Miss M. Gifford, of Washington County, N. Y., took place in Detroit, Mich., in 1867. Of this union there were born four children, three of whom are living Minnie M., Clarence G. and Grace E. E OAKES, a prosperous member of the farming community of Ogden Town- ship, is of excellent Pennsylvania parentage, and was born in the Keystone State, Feb. 8, 1837. He is the son of Michael and Nancy (Farmer) Oakes, the former of whom was born in 1806, and died in Vermilion County, 111., in 1881. He was engaged in farming pursuits all his life, which calling he followed first in his native State, then in Ohio, coming first to Illinois in 1847. He then returned to the Buckeye State, where he remained four years, and in 1851 came back to Illinois, lo- cating in Clark County. After a residence there of fourteen years he changed his location to Ver- milion County, which remained his permanent home. Upon first exercising the right of suffrage he voted with the Democratic party but later sup- ported Republican principles. The family were of German ancestry, and the mother a member of the Albright Church. Her death took place in Indiana while on the journey to Pennsylvania in 1850. Of their five children the record is as follows: George, of our sketch, was the eldest; Nancy died in child- hood; John, during the late war enlisted in the 25th Illinois Infantry, serving from August, 1861, to January of the following year, when he died very suddenly of measles at Raleigh, Mo. ; Dan- iel married Miss .Melissa Morrison, and located in Vermilion County; Caroline, the wife of Fred- erick Wagner, lives in Ohio. Our subject remained with his parents attending school during the winter seasons and assisting on the farm the balance of the year until after reach - ing his majority. Afterward he was variously employed until the outbreak of the Rebellion, the 893 , , CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. family then living in Illinois. In February, 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 26th 111. Vol. Inf., and served eighteen months, mostly in the Army of the Ten- nessee. He afterward went with Sherman through the Atlanta campaign, being at the siege and capture of that city and in the fight at Savannah, (la. lie received his honorable discharge at the close of the war, turning his steps homeward in July, 18(55. The marriage of our subject took place on the 30th of August, I860, the maiden of his choice being Miss Lydia C. Golden, a native of this county, born in 1843. She was orphaned when but four years of age, and became an inmate of the family of Abraham Yeazel, with whom she remained until her marriage, which took place at his residence in Homer Township. Mr. and Mrs. Oakcs became the parents of four children : Ann M.,born April 0, 1862, is the wife of AubertPogue, and resides in this county; Caroline, born Nov. 13, 1803, married H. E. Huffman; Nancy, born May 25, I860, died three months later, on the 9th of August; Michael, born Aug. 15, 1871, is now a resident of this county. The farm of our subject consists of forty-five acres well cultivated and cared for, and the dwell- ing will compare favorably in point of appearance, comfort and convenience with those of the other prosperous and industrious residents of Ogden Township. R. WILLIAM M. RAWLINSON, a grad- uate of the Baltimore School of Dental Surgery, came to this State in the winter of 1877, becominga resident of Homer, HI., on the 1 4th of February. He at once opened an ofliee and began the practice of his profession, in which he has met with more than ordinary success, build- iug up a large patronage and securing the respect and esteem of all who know him. Our subject is a native of York County, S. C., his birth taking place Oct. 21, 1848. His father was Col. J. W. Rawlin- son, who was a native of the same State. He served twelve years in the Legislature of South Carolina, and for many years was prominently identified with public affairs in his native State. He was Democratic in politics and one of the pillars of the Presbyterian Church. In early life he identi- fied himself with the Masons, of vvhose principles he was a great admirer and in which fraternity he occupied an important position. He was married early in life to Miss Jane Moore, also a native of South Carolina. Dr. Rawliuson was reared on his father's farm in York County, S. C., and under the careful training of his excellent parents was instilled with those worthy principles which have formed the basis of his success in life. A little over a year after locat- ing in Homer, he was united in marriage with Miss Virginia West, their wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents on the 26th of Octo- ber, 1878. Mrs. RawUnsou was born in Wiscon- sin in 1852, and of her union with our subject there were born three children, two sons and a daughter. Dr. Rawlinsou commenced life without capital otherwise than his resolute will and persevering in- dustry. When landing in this village he had but $5 in his poeketjand was obliged to pay a week's board in advance, which left very little collateral. It is hardly necessary to state that for some time afterward and until he began to gain a foothold he was obliged to live most carefully and economi- cally. His present status financially and socially is a silent but forcible witness of what he has accom- plished. He has now a fine business and a comfort- able home where, with his family, he enjoys many of the luxuries of life, and no man is esteemed more highly in the -community. Political!}', Dr. Rawlinson is Democratic. He has occupied va- rious minor offices in the town and is one of the Directors in the Building and Loan Association established in 1886, and of which he was one of the prime movers, being represented by fifty shares, each share valued at $100. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1885, having passed the Chapter degrees. The brothers of Col. J. W. Rawlinson, the father of our subject, Benjamin F., James M. and Charles W., are all living in South Carolina, two engaged in farming and one in mercantile pursuits. The parental family of the mother of Dr. Rawlinson in- cluded five children, the eldest being the mother of our subject; William, a Captain in the Confederate 894 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. army, at the battle of Gettysburg was wounded by a rirte ball which he carried for live years afterward, when it was extracted : Frederick, who also received a Captain's commission, was killed at the battle of Gainesville; Baxter was a prominent lawyer at Charlotte, N. C., and Dorcas, who married a Mr, McDuncau, and lives in North Carolina. 'MBROSE W. STRONG located upon his present farm on section 17 in St. Joseph Township soon after his marriage, in 1853, when but nineteen years of age. He pos- sessed great energy of character, had been trained to habits of industry and economy by his excellent parents, and is now the owner of a fine property, which he has accumulated for the most part un- aided and by the exercise of his own labor and per- severance. Mr. Strong was born in Hancock County, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1834. His ancestors, upon first crossing the Atlantic, settled in New England, of which his grandfather, Cyrus Strong, was a native, and whence he emigrated to Ohio during its early set- tlement. He was one of the most worthy members of the farming community of Hancock County, where he married Miss Mary Moore, and became the father of three sons and three daughters. Sub- sequently, in 1833, he resolved to see something of the farther West, and coming to this county purchased a small tract of land in St. Joseph Town- ship, which he carefully cultivated until resting from his earthly labors, his death taking place in the spring of 1853. The wife and mother had de- parted this life three years previously. John Strong was married the second time, to Miss Mary Hayden, and selling the first farm removed to an- other in St. Joseph Township, where his earthly labors ended. The children of John and Mary (Moore) Strong were Ambrose W. of our sketch, Permelia, Casper L., Cyrus, Tabithu and Nancy E. Of these four are now surviving, and located in tliis county. Our subject remained under the parental roof until his early marriage, his chosen bride being Miss Martha A., daughter of William and Sarah Peters, who settled in this county in the pioneer days. Mr. Strong's first business was to put up a house for the shelter of himself and wife, and they then took possession of the land destined to remain their permanent home. It is hardly necessary to say that its present condition is in great contrast to its former state. The soil has been carefully culti- vated, the fields are neatly enclosed with substantial fences, and the farm buildings are creditable alike to the taste and good judgment of the proprietor. Mr. Strong wisely invested his surplus capital in addi- tional lands, and now has a fine farm of 200 acres, productive of the finest crops in the Prairie State. He has been largely engaged in grain-raising, and has made a specialty of Poland-China hogs and line horses. While a young man Mr. Strong frequently in- creased his purse by breaking prairie for his neighbors, and spent few idle hours, his natural inclinations making labor pleasurable as well as profitable. In 1874 the first humble dwelling was replaced by a handsome new residence, which is flanked by correspondingly good out-buildings. A lithographic view of the place is shown in this work. He has planted fruit trees and otherwise em- bellished the premises after the manner of the mod- ern and progressive farmer. Socially he is a favorite among his townsmen, and is liberal both in religion and politics, aiming to support the man best quali- fied for the office. JAMES DAVIS, an old and highly respected resident of Mahomet Township, who was formerly engaged in farming pursuits, is now living in retirement upon a competency in the village of Mahomet. He is a native of New- ark, Ohio, and was born Nov. 14, 1811. His par- ents, Zachariah and Elizabeth (Roberts) Davis, were natives respectively of Carlisle, Pa., and Mar- tinsburg, Va. They were married at Newark, Licking, Co., Ohio, the mother dying there Nov. 16, 1844. Mr. Davis afterward came to Illinois, and made his home alternately at Champaign and Danville. He died in the latter place on the 5th of t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 895 May, 18(15. Their family of six children included four sons and two daughters, of whom James of our sketch was the eldest. James Davis remained a resident of his native county until 1.S42, during which time for a period of thirteen years he was engaged principally as a butcher. In the year last mentioned he turned his face westward, and emigrating to Iowa engaged as a hotel-keeper in Iowa City. He met with -fair success, but after two years changed his location to Wabash, Ind., where he engaged as a carpenter and butcher, and also in merchandising. In December, 185G, he left Indiana and came to this county, where he spent the winter in Champaign, and the following spring removed to Newcomb Township, where he remained five years. During that time he had acquired a tract of land, and removed to Scott Township. Two years later he located in Mahomet, and engaged in butchering for twelve years follow- ing. Since 1866 he has been a resident of the vil- lage, most of the time engaged actively in business until about 1884, when he retired. The marriage of James Davis and Miss Elizabeth Roberts took place in Franklin County, Ohio, Oct. 2, 1832. Mrs. Davis was a native of the latter State, and by her union with our subject became the mother of one child, a daughter Lizzie, who is now the widow of John Leslie, and a resident of Danville. Mrs. Davis departed this life Oct. 31, 1838, at Newark, Ohio. Mr. Davis was the second time married, in the latter-named place, April 28, 1840, to Miss Mary McCollum, a native of Fair- field County, Ohio, and born Nov. 28, 1814. She is the daughter of Francis and Margaret (Bradley) McCollum, who were natives of Ireland, and emi- grated to America soon after their marriage. They became the parents of ten children, six girls and four boys. Of the marriage of our subject there were born seven children, namely, George, Robert, Elizabeth, Josephine, Lucinda A., Ida and James H. George died in Iowa when two years old; Robert is a resident of Mahomet Township, and his biography appears on another page in this work; Elizabeth, the wife of A. J. Ham, died in Scott Township, Jan. 21, 1860; Josephine married Will- iam F. Scott, who died in Hensley Township in February, 1879, and she afterward became the wife of J. R. Cissna; Lucinda died in Wabash, Ind., when nineteen months old; Ida died there also, aged five years; James II. married Miss Agnes Clark, and is a resident of Mahomet. In 1852 Mr. Davis visited California via the water route, and was nine months on the voyage. He had expected to work in the mines, but changed his plans and commenced dealing in stock. He spent about two years on the Pacific Slope, and re- turned both pleased and benefited by the expe- rience. As a useful and valued citizen he has held a prominent place in the affairs of his township, serving as Justice of the Peace, School Director, Clerk and Highway Commissioner. Socially he is a member of- the I. O. O. F., and with his family, enjoys the association and esteem of the best citi- zens in his community. JW. SHUCK, dealer in shelf-hardware, tin- ware, wheel-barrows, picture frames, brackets, sewing-machines, looking-glasses and furni- ' tnre, forms an important factor in the busi- ness interests of Urbana, where, since 1874, he has carried on a thriving and profitable trade. He is a native of Bedford County, Pa., born Jan. 24, 1839, and the son of Daniel J. and Ellen J. (Herriage) Shuck. His father was a native of Cumberland, Md., and the mother of Bedford County, Pa. The younger years of Daniel Shuck were employed in the manufacture of wagons and carriages, and later he became foreman of a tannery. He is now living at Bedford Springs, Pa., aged eighty years. The mother is seventy -six. The household circle included twelve children, six now living. Mary A. became the wife of John Mann, who is a contractor and builder at Lincoln, Neb. ; Margaret M., Mrs. W. T. Filler, is a resident of Pittsburgh, Pa., where her husband is occupied in carpentering; Asbury B. is a graduate of Clarke's School of Cincinnati, and is doing an extensive and prosperous business in Urbana; J. W., of our sketch, was the fourth child; Vinton W. is profitably en- gaged in the hardware ar.d store trade of Urbana; William B. is a resident of Bedford, Pa. James H. was the third child, and became a prominent citizen 89fi CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. of Urbana, where he resided from the time of his discharge from the army until near the date of his death. He was a soldier in the 94th Illinois Infan- try, a regiment made up at Bloomington. In Ur- bana he engaged in the grocery trade, and after- ward in the furniture business. He married- Miss Alice Justice, in Allegheny City, Pa. As a business man he was very [successful. Daniel Shuck is a stanch Republican in politics, and officiated in his younger days as an exhorter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was Tax Collector in 1 838, and greatly interested in the establishment of churches and schools. The subject of this biography spent his younger years in school, during the winter season, until fif- teen years of age. He then served an apprentice- ship of three years at the blacksmith's trade, but wishing to advance still further on the road to learning, for three summers following attended school and taught during the winter. Afterward he went to Pittsburgh, Pa., and entered Iron City Commercial College, where he was graduated. He came West in 1860, and established himself as a book-seller in Bloomington, where he carried on business six months, and thence removed to Urbana. In 1861 he was appointed Deputy County Clerk, in which office he continued until August, 1862. The Civil War being then in progress, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. B, 76th 111. Vol. Inf,, and was in the service nearly three years, participating in many of the important engagements of the war, and serving as Quartermaster Sergeant. He was in the battle at Holly Springs, the capture and siege of Vicksburg and Mobile, and traveled with his com- rades over a stretch of 10,000 miles. After his en- listment his regiment received 156 recruits. They were mustered out of service at Galveston, Tex., and paid off at Chicago on the 4th of August, 1865. Upon his return home Mr. Shuck was replaced in the office which he had abandoned to become a soldier, and remained Deputy County Clerk until 1869, when he was appointed Clerk, to fill the va- cancy caused by the death of Capt. Clarke, and at the expiration of the term was elected to the full term of four years. At the expiration of that time Mr. Shuck established himself in the furniture busi- ness at Urbana, which he conducted one year. lie then purchased the hardware store of Heisler Bros., which he has operated in connection with his other business until the present. Mr. Shuck was married, in 1865, to Miss Julia, the daughter of John W. Benner, of Urbana. They have two children Harry M. and Hattie M. Mr. S. is Republican in politics, and has served as Al- derman of the Third Ward and School Trustee. Besides his furniture business and his residence at the corner of Day and North streets, he has a fine farm of 320 acres near Urbana. and 640 acres of land in Reno County, Kan. The latter is devoted to stock-raising. With his excellent wife, he is prominently connected with the Methodist Episco- pal Church, of which he is Trustee and Treasurer. The Shuck family are of German descent, and our subject has inherited in a marked degree the sub- stantial qualities of his ancestors, which have con- stituted him a fine representative of the business and industrial interests of this section. curly advantages were extremely limited, and he learned to read the Bible from his wife after they were married. The paternal great-grandfather was an Englishman by birth, and a sailor by occu- pation. His home was on the New England coast, and while on board ship he was at one time capt- ured by the British and hot tar poured over him in order to make him swear allegiance to the king, but he would not comply with their wishes. Dur- ing his absence, and in the time of the Revolution- ary War, his wife protected her home from the ravnges of the British, and upon one occasion, when they were trying to steal her calves, bnckbd on her husband's sword, shouldered his gun and saved her property. BRAHAM THOMPSON, one of the 'most enterprising farmers of St. Joseph Town- ship, and a native of this State, came from St. Clair County in 1857, and took posses- sion of his present farm of 1 40 acres located on sec- tion 25. Here he has engaged largely in the rais- ing of grain and cattle, the latter being high grades, of which he has shipped annually large numbers, realizing a handsome income. The farm is well sup- plied with all the machinery required by the modern and progressive agriculturist, and its proprietor has long been recognized as one of the important fac- tors in a community possessing more than ordinary intelligence and enterprise. The birth of our subject took place near the town of Highland, 111., Dec. 10, 18.S4, on the farm of his father, Hezekiah Thompson, whose family in- cluded three children, two sons and a daughter, of whom Abraham was the eldest. The family, which was originally from Virginia, settled in Kentucky during the pioneer days, whence the grandfather, Abraham Thompson, Sr., removed to St. Clair County, 111., in 1816. Before the removal, how- ever, he had married in his native State, a Miss Brown, and they became the parents of nine chil- dren, four sons and five daughters. Grandfather Thompson died in St. Clair County in about 1819. His wife survived him several years, finally making, her home in Fayette County, this State, where her death took place. Hezekiah Thompson, the father of our subject, f 902 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4- was born in Kentucky in 1813, and was but a child of three years when his parents removed to South- ern Illinois. There he was reared to manhood and began the establishment of a home of his own by becoming the husband of Miss Mary Lcwallen, a native of Tennessee, from which State her parents had removed to Illinois when she was but a child. After his marriage Hezekiah Thompson and his bride remained in St. Clair County until 1835, and then took up their residence in Fayette Count}-. Their only daughter, Eli/.a A., became the wife of Harry Spalding, Superintendent and Master Me- chanic of bridges on the Yandalia, Torre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad. The younger son was named after the reigning President, William Henry Harri- son. Abraham Thompson passed Ins boyhood and youth in Fayette and Bond Counties, being nearly of age when the family removed to Fayette County. lie first received the advantages of the common schools, which was supplemented by attendance at a select school. He was a bright boy, fond of books, and when quite young engaged in teaching, which he followed for some time afterward. His first busi- ness venture was in the lumber trade in St. Joseph Township, where he took charge of a savmill and shipped large quantities of walnut lumber to dif- ferent points North and South. This was cut from trees which grew on land owned by him, and he followed this business successfully for eight years, and then turned his attention to farming. After- ward he invested his surplus capital in a stock of general merchandise, including drugs and groceries, and in the space of three years had built up a good trade. His early habits, however, still clung to him and he did not feel contented away from the farm. lie accordingly abandoned mercantile pursuits and purchased the land included in his present farm, which lie has now brought to a fine state of cultiva- tion, and which bears fair comparison with any- thing of the kind in that section. Here, amid the comforts of his home and family, he is enjoying the fruits of his labors and the respect and con- fidence of his fellovv-eitizens. The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- ried Feb. 24, 1858, was .formerly Miss Drusilla, daughter of William and Sarah (McNutt) Peters, who was born on her father's homestead in St. Jo- seph Township, Aug. 21, 1838. Of this union there are four children Eliza A.. Wallace Clark. Sarah I., the wife of N. J. Hradlcj', and Melinda, at honic with her parents. Mr. Thompson has served his township in many positions, covering a period of twenty years, as School Director, Assessor, Collector and Supervisor. He casts his vote with the Republican party, and both he and his estimable wife are members of .the German Baptist Church. EDWARD T. TELLING. The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch is a leading member of the farming community of Ayers Township. His estate em- braces 326 acres of the most highly cultivated laud on section 31, where of late years he has given his attention principally to the breeding of fine stock, mostly Short-horn cattle of the best grades. The entire farm is finely located, well watered and neatly fenced, and the buildings, tastefully and substantially constructed, are as convenient in their arrangement as they are ornamental in appearance, which will be seen by an examination of the litho- graphic view which appears in this connection. The entire premises indicates the supervision of a man more than ordinarily intelligent, who lays his plans with deliberation and executes them with decision. Mr. Telling is one of the finest representatives of an English farmer, a class of people to whom the West is largely indebted for its present status financially, and the law-abiding element which per- vades this section pf country. His early home was across the sea in Gloucestershire, England, where his birth took place April 17, 1842. There his parents, John and Hannah (Bouton) Telling, united their hands and fortunes, reared a fatuity, and spent the remainder of their lives. John Tell- ing was born in 1795, and after a life of success- ful industry departed from the scenes of his earthly labors after having arrived at the advanced age of seventy-seven years, in 1872. The mother, who was born in 1797, survived her husband thirteen years, her decease taking place in 18.-O at L - ~" I, OF THE ' / t r RESIDENCEOF E.T. TELLING, SEC. 31. ,(R.tt.w) AYRESTOWNSHIP. RESIDENCEOF D.R.WILSON,(PROPR. OF BLACK BELL HERD, OFPOLAND CHINA SwiNE).Scc.24, SIDNEY TOWNSHIP. 4*- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 905 . . 1 the age of eighty-eight years. The children who gathered around the family hearthstone were Isaac, Thomas, William, George, Eliza, a babe who died unnamed, IIcnTy, Mary A., John and Edward T. The subject of this sketch was the youngest of his father's family and remained under the parental roof variously engaged until reaching man- hood. His marriage took place on the 2d of April, 1868, after. he became a resident of Morgan County, 111. His wife, who was formerly Miss Sarah F. Taylor, was a native of said county, born May 5, 1844, and the daughter of George and Polly E. (Tucker) Taylor, natives of Kentucky. George Taylor was born in 1805, removed from his native State to Illinois in 1830, followed fanning all his life, and having made a good record as a man and citizen, departed this life Sept, 23, 1886. He was a stanch Union man during the war, Republican in politics, and a member of the Christian Church. The mother, who was born in 1807, is still living, and a resident of Morgan County, 111. . Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, eleven in number, the eldest born died in infancy; Maxi- milia, the second daughter, became the wife of John Swigert; Edward married Miss Susan Sooy; Benjamin married Miss Sarah Delany; William married Miss Mary McCane; Casablanca married Miss Mary Scott; Phebe became the wife of George Scott; Sarah, the next'in order of birth, is the wife of our subject; George married Miss Mattie Jefferson; John married Miss Sarah Spires; Shelby married Miss Belle Spires. The household of Mr. and Mrs. Telling comprises a fine family of children,, eight in number, and born as follows: Nellie T., Oct. 18, 1869; George W., July 6, 1871 ; John W., July 27, 1873; Annie F., March 21, 1876; Mary E., Jan. 14, 1880; Hannah B., Oct. 19, 1882; Edward R., Oct. 3, 1885; Albert B.,Sept. 31, 1886. After leaving the shores of his native country in 1860, Mr. Telling first landed in Canada, and eleven months later repaired to New York State. He came to the West iu the fall of 1864, locating in Morgan County, and seven years later went to Sangamon County, where he staid three years, thence went to Morgan County, and from there to this county, and purchased 160 acres of land in Ayers Township. He has been greatly prospered in his farming operations, and fortunate in his investments, and has now doubled the original purchase of land, which through his judicial man- agement has become one of the most fertile tracts in Central Illinois. He ha's taken a warm interest in the welfare of his adopted State, and few private citizens have had more influence in encouraging every enterprise calculated for its moral and finan- cial advancement. He is one of the most influen- tial members of the Republican party in this town- ship, and is serving as Commissioner. -^ -*-!* * UREEE R. WILSON is an extensive farm- er and stock-grower, living on section 24, Sidney Township. He leals largely in pure Poland-China hogs, and exhibits some of the handsomest varieties in this part of the State. The chief of the herd is registered in Ohio Herd- Book. Mr. Wilson's son, W. D. Wilson, is a partner in the stock business. He is dealing in Holstein cattle with fnll-blood and high grades. Our subject was born in Clinton County, N. Y., March 24, 1828, and is the son of Dnrfec and Fannie (Campbell) Wilson. His mother was a na- tive of Worcester County, Mass., and his father was born in Leicester, the same State, Jan. 23, 1788, and died at Colchester, Vt., Oct. 17, 1850. Their family consisted of nine children : Solomon M. died when tvvo years old ; Eliza A. became the wife of Guy Loomis, and both are now dead ; Harriet is the widow of Theron B. Chamberlain, and resides in New York; Nathaniel E. married Miss Mary Brownwell, and lives in Colchester, Vt. ; Henderson C. married Miss Mary A. Porter, and lives in North Troy, N. Y. ; he was formerly a member of the State Legislature of Vermont, having served one term in the Lower and several years in the Upper House; Durfee R. is the sub- ject of our sketch; Solon was killed by an acci- dent when seven years old, and Milon, married Maria Woolcott, and is living in Red Cloud, Neb.; Merritt married Charlotte Stemm, and they reside in Clinton County, N. Y. The mother of these children died July 24, 1838. On the 22d of July, 1841, her husband contracted a second marriage, 1 f t. I 006 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. with Lydia Safford. at Cambridge, Vt.. Mrs. Lydia Wilson is still living, and is ninety-six years of age. Durfee R., the subject of our sketch, was mar- ried on the 17th of March, 1852, to Miss Mary Ann Keeble, the daughter of William and Eliza- beth ( Bruce ) Keeble. Her parents were both born in England, and came from the State of Ver- mont to Illinois in 1864, where both died in Philo Township. Mrs. Mary A. Wilson became the mother of four children: William, born in Milton, Vt., Jan. 31, 1853, married Miss Emma M. Towner ; Elizabeth M. A., born at Colchester, Vt., July 1, 1857, be- came the wife of SamueljKesterson, and is now de- ceased; Georgie A. D., born in Champlain, N. Y., Oct. 29, 1859, is the wife of William Cash, living in this county. One child died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Wilson married again, taking for his wife Mrs. Mary (Moody) Towner, the daughter of Simon S. and Hannah (Colwell) Moody. She was born in Foun- tain Count}', Ind., April 3, 1832. Her mother was a native of New Jersey and her father of Canada. By her first husband, Mr. William Towner, she had seven children. George W., born Dec. 10, 1854, married Sarah Crosby; Benjamin F., twin brother to George, is blind, which affliction came upon him when he was nine months old; Al- bert E., born Nov. 18, 1857, married Miss Alice Conley, and they live at 540 Warren avenue, Chicago; Clinton S., born Aug. 11, 1861, married Latta King, and lives at 834 Madison street, Chi- cago; Nora H., born March 7, 1863, is single; Emma M., born Nov. 10, 1865, is the wife of Willard B. Wilson, and lives in this township; Walter G., born Aug. 8, 1868, is living in Chicago. Mr. Towner, the father of these children, was born Aug. 23, 1816, at Prairie Town, Ind., and married Miss Mary Moody, March 28, 1852, in Coving- ton, Fountain Co., Ind. In that same month he moved from Indiana to Champaign Count}', 111., where his death took place. Of Mr. Wilson's second marriage there is one child, Theron C., born May 16, 1875. In Janu- ary, 1862, Mr. Wilson, desirous of locating in the ' ' West, removed from Champaign Township, Clin- 1 ton Co., N. Y., to Philo Township, 111. lie re- mained there some four years, actively engaged in farming and buying and selling stock. He after- ward located in Crittenden Township, where he remained two years, and then changed his place of residence to Terre Haute, Ind., where he still en- gaged in buying and selling live-stock. He also employed part of his time at the carpenter's trade and in the sale of marble. In 1870 he left Indi- ana to locate in this county and settled on the farm where he now resides. Mr. Wilson is the owner of 160 acres of well- improved land, and twenty acres of timber on sec- tion 1, Sidney Township. His premises are all kept in excellent order and good repair. He has held several of the local township offices. Both himself and wife are highly esteemed members of the Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 473, at Sidney, 111., Homer Encampment, Homer, 111., and Canton No. 11, at Danville, 111. In local politics he is not influ- enced by party spirit, but endeavors to sustain in office those whom his judgment advises him are best fitted to fill the place, but in National politics he votes the Democratic ticket. A lithographic view of the handsome residence of Mr. Wilson, together with its surroundings, is shown on a preceding page. OLLIN H. MORSE, Business Manager of the Exchange Bank at Gifford, lives with his /li 'A\ mother on section 1 4, in Compromise Town- ^^)ship, where his parents located in 1869. He is a native of Kendall County, this State, born May 14, 1867, and was brought by his parents to this county when but a year old. His schooling was obtained at Rantoul and Paxton primarily, and in the fall of 1884 he entered the State Uni- versity at Champaign. After finishing the prepara- tory he entered the regular course, but ten weeks later was called home on account of the illness of his father, which terminated fatally May 6, 1887. Business matters then demanded his presence in connection with the estate, and taking charge of his father's bank he assumed its management and has CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 907 , .) carried it on with great credit to himself and satis- faction to all concerned. Although little over twenty years of age lie possesses the discretion of many a man older, and is also of the highest moral character, interested in religious matters, a member of the Baptist Church, and an earnest worker in the Sabbath-school. He furnishes an example which might be imitated with profit by many even older than himself, and by his upright and manly course is proving a source of comfort to his mother and pride to his friends. Our subject is the son of James M. and Eliza- beth J. (Hart) Morse. His father was for many years one of the most prominent and valued citi- zens of Compromise Township. His birth took place in Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., June 19, 1836, and he traced his ancestry back to the Puri- tans, whose descendants were among the pioneer settlers of New England. He spent his boyhood and 3'outh in Madison County, his education being completed at the Oneida Conference Seminary, a Methodist institution at Cazenovia, in which he pursued his studies for a period of six years. When twenty years of age he determined to seek his fortunes in the great West. He first went into Wisconsin, and for a j'ear was alternately engaged in farming and teaching, and the year following be- came a resident of Kendall County, this State, where he remained until 1868, pursuing the occupations of farming and teaching, and some years later came to this county and took up his abode near what is now the town of Gifford. In the meantime Mr. Morse had purchased 220 acres of land, and in the spring of 1869 turned his whole attention to its improvement and cultivation. In due time the soil responded to his labors 'and he found himself on the highway to prosperity. He put up a fine residence with a good barn and all other necessaiy out-buildings, and when the home- stead was complete as a countrj- residence turned his attention more to strictly business pursuits. Among these he purchased a stock of drugs and opened a store in Gifford, which he conducted until January, 1887, then sold out. He had in the meantime, in May, 1885, inaugurated an Exchange Bank at Gifford, the operations of which he superin- tended until obliged to abandon it on account of ill-health, when it practically passed into the hands of his son Kollin. The death of James M. Morse took place on the 6th of May, 1887. During the years of his health and strength he was active and industrious in his habits and regarded among the most useful citizens of Compromise Township. He was the author of many measures tending to its welfare, and con- tributed generously to the establishment and main- tenance of religious and educational institutions. He became a member of the Baptist Church when a youth sixteen years old, and was actively con- nected with it the balance of his life, being one of the organizers of that society at Gifford and doing all in his power to encourage and build up the so- ciety. His political influence was cast in support of Republican principles, and he was entrusted with the important local offices, in which he discharged his duty with fidelity and with satisfaction to his townsmen. He was Postmaster of Gifford for a period of six years and until the change of admin- istration. He was confined to his house the greater part of the time for a year and a half previous to his death, which was occasioned by partial paralysis of the brain. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends, and his remains were laid to rest in Welles Cemeteiy. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Dennis and Elvira (Dutton) Hart, and was born Jan. 9, 1838, in Chautauqua County, N. Y. She attended the common schools in early childhood and later the select schools, remaining a member of her father's family until her marriage. She became the wife of James M. Morse on the 10th of October, 1861, the marriage taking place at her home in Chautauqua. The young people soon afterward removed to Lisbon, Kendall Co., 111., and after four years removed to Sandwich, in DeKalb County, and from there two years later to Compromise Township. In the spring of 1869 they took pos- session of the present homestead of the family. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Morse has conducted the affairs of the farm intelligently and successfully, and is also proprietor of the Exchange Bank. Of her union with James Morse there were born four children, of whom the record is as fol- lows: Hattie M. was bom Aug. 22, 1862, and be- f - > 908 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 1 came the wife of William A. Wooldridge, Oct. 2, 1883; Rollin H., of our sketch, was the next; Adel- bert, born Sept. 17, 1869, died the 28th of the same month; Jeriedinli D. was born Oct. 13, 1874. Mrs. Morse is connected with the Baptist Church, and is a lady highly esteemed in the community for her rare business ability and the admirable manner in which she conducts her business affairs, and con- tributes in assisting to elevate 'the tone of society around her and the moral and religious element of the community. Dennis Hart, the father of Mrs. Morse, was a na- tive of Connecticut, born Sept. 2, 1798. He was reared to farming pursuits by his father, who tilled the soil before him and followed agriculture all his life. He was married, Feb. 1, 1825, to Miss Elvira Button, and soon afterward removed from his na- tive State to 'Chautnaqua County, N. Y., where he purchased 120 acres of timber land and proceeded to open up a farm in the wilderness. He cut down the forest trees, prepared the land for cultivation, .was uniformly successful in his operations as a far- mer and business man, and became prominent in the affairs of that locality. He put up a fine resi- dence which was the pride of that section for a quarter of a century, and rested from his earthly labors on the 8th of September, 1868. . The mother of Mrs. Morse, formerly Miss Elvira Button, was born Dec. 22, 1802, and was the youngest of a family of five children. She is still living, having reached the advanced age of eighty-four years, making her home with one of her children in the town of Sherman, N. Y. Her children were nnmed Cornelia E., Mary E., Joseph D., Henry M., Eliza- beth J., Harriett A., Rollin W. and Abbie M. ENRY M. MORRIS, proprietor of Rantoul Nursery, and also operating an extensive apiary, is pleasantly located on section 2, _ in Rantoul Township, and is meeting with success in the prosecution of his chosen calling. His natural tastes have seemingly well fitted him for these specialties. He has fifty stands of bees and his nursery includes several acres of land, with all the appliances necessary to the successful prose- cution of his labors. lie occupies with his family a tasteful and substantial residence, surrounded by choice shrubs and trees, and on .all sides indicating the cultivated tastes of its owner. Mr. Morris was born in Elgin, Kane County, this State, Oct. 14, 1846, and is the son of Edwin and Mary A. (Benson) Morris, the former a native of Connecticut, of Welsh ancestry, and the latter of Portage County, Ohio. The parental household included eight children, and the mother departed this life in 1856, when her son, Henry M., was a lad ten years of age. The father is now making his home with his son, our subject. The great-grandparents of Mr. Morris removed from Connecticut to Ohio, settling in Portage County in the pioneer days. The grandfather was a shoemaker by trade, but took up a tract of land which, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared and improved into a good farm, where he and his aged partner spent the last years of their lives in comfort and contentment. Their son, Edwin, was a youth of sixteen years when his parents made the journey overland to Ohio. He was married in Portage County and lived there until the spring of 1846, when he started with his family for the prairies of Illinois. Their outfit consisted of a team of horses and a wagon, and they carried their household goods and provisions, camping out at night and cooking by the wayside. They located first upon the present site of the city of Elgin, which was then a small village, and the father en- gaged in teaming, transporting wheat to St. Louis and bringing back merchandise. In the fall of 1846 Mr. Morris sent his family back to Ohio while he crossed the Mississippi for the purpose of looking over the country, in the meantime visiting Wisconsin, but finding nothing desirable returned to Ohio and purchased land in Break Neck Township, Portage County. From this the timber had not yet been cleared and be set about cutting down the trees, and in due time had several acres under a good state of cultivation. He bought a number of cows and engaged in dairy- farming until the spring of .1864, when he decided to once more try his fortune in the West. Coming to this county he engaged in the liver}- business at LIBRARY OF THE IT! -7.tF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Raiituul, and also carried on farming- on a tract of Jand outside the limits. He was thus engaged until 1 HS2, when he proceeded to Arkansas and bought railroad land, where he opened up a good farm and lived four years. He then returned, and is now in business with his son, the subject of our sketch. Henry M. was fairly educated in his youth, his studies not being completed at the time of the late war. In May, 1861, when but eighteen years old, he determined to go into the army, and accordingly enlisted in Co. D, 171st Ohio Vol. Inf., but was captured by Morgan, the raider, during the sum- mer, and being paroled returned home. He after- ward came to Illinois with his parents, and in February, 1865, re-enlisted in Co. G, 151st 111. Vol. Inf., serving until the close of the war. After his honorable discharge he returned to Rantouland was occupied as a carpenter until 1 870, when he engaged in the hardware trade, and a year later embarked in the lumber business. In 1872 he opened a grocery store which he carried on two years, then sold out and purchased the Rantoul Nursery which, in connection with bee-keeping, he has carried on successfully and which is a source of pleasure as well as profit. Mr. Morris was married, Oct. 7, 1868, to Miss Harriet N. Myers, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1847, and is the daughter of Peter and Theresa (Gardner) Myers. Of this union there are six children Charles M., Ethelroy B., Mabel L., Keith G., Helen F. and Thereua Rose. Our subject is Republican in politics, and with his wife, is a member in good standing of the Congregational Church. AVID PEABODY, an enterprising and prosperous farmer of St. Joseph Township, and whose portrait is presented on the op- posite page, is pleasantly located on sec- tion 13, where he has a good farm of 208 acres and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. His his- tory, briefly narrated, is substantially as follows: The Peabodys were originally from Scotland. Our subject was born in Switzerland County, Ind., Sept. 11, 1833, and traces his ancestry back to New England, of which his grandfather. Stephen Pea- body, was a native, having been born in Massachu- | setts. From there, when a young man, he removed to Scottsville, N. Y., thence to Pennsylvania, and from there to Switzerland County, Ind., where he permanently located, and spent the remainder of his days. He married a Miss Clark, and they reared a family of three daughters and four sons. Among the latter was Adolphus A., who was born in New York, accompanied his father to Indiana when a lad fourteen years old, there 'grew to man- hood, and married Miss Permelia Lester, who be- came the mother of our subject. Her parents were David and ' Sarah ( Applebee) Lester, of German descent. After their marriage the parents of our subject remained residents of Switzerland County, Ind., until the spring of 1834, then removed to La Gro, Wabash Co., Ind., where the death of the father took place in 1880, when he was seventy-eight years of age, his birth having occurred in 1802. The wife and mother is still living, making her home in La Gro, Ind. She was bom in 1811, and by her marriage with Adolphus Peabody became the mother of eight children, five sons and three daughters Of these, one died in infancy. Sarah, the wife of Joseph Pratt, is a resident of Wabash County, Ind. ; David, of our sketch, was the twin of his sister Sarah ; Hiram is now deceased ; Edward and Cyrus are living on a farm in Wabash County, Ind. ; Mary is the wife of Henry Stoops, of that county; William A., the youngest, is farming in La Gro Township, Ind. The boyhood and youth of David Peabody were spent after the manner of most farmers' sons, at- tending the district school in winter, and assisting his parents around the homestead the balance of the year. After the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Co. G, 72d 111. Vol. Inf., and followed the vicissitudes of army life for three years. He was present at some of the most important battles of the war, namely, Champion Hills, Black River, and the siege and capture of Vicksburg, where he was detailed as a sharpshooter. Afterward he went to Nashville and Franklin, Tenn., where the enemy was met and vanquished, and after various other engagements and skirmishes, in which he was fortu- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. in escaping without a wi.und or imprisonment, one day there came nous of the final surrender of Lee's army, and he and his comrades not long after- ward received their honorable discharge. After being mustered out of service Mr. Pea- body returned to this county and began making- preparations for the establishment of a future home. One of the first important steps was his marriage, in 1868, to Miss Anna Ilillegas, who was a native of Wabash County, Ind. T and the daughter of Jon- athan and Mary E. (Brosier) Ilillegas. The latter were of German descent," but natives of Pennsyl- vania. Our subject and his bride located not long afterward upon the farm which has since remained their permanent dwelling-place, and in the commu- nity with whose interests they have been identified for a period of nearly twenty years. Upon thjs Mr. P. has effected all the improvements which now attract the eye of the passer-by, and which consti- tutes one of the most desirable homesteads in St. Joseph Township. The household circle includes one daughter and two sous, namely, Eugene F., Charles A. and Mary Bertha. Our subject and wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at St. Joseph, and Mr. P. belongs to St. Joseph Post No. 220, G. A. R., in which he takes great interest. He is one of the valuable factors of the community which has known him long and well, and by whom he is held in the highest respect. In politics he is an uncompro- mising Republican. R. WILLIAM A. CONKEY, one of the honored pioneers of Illinois, came to the State with his parents in 1830, nearly fift}'- seven years ago. The face of the country at that time was vastly different from the picture which it now presents, and our subject, in common with other sons of pioneers, is in possession of a rich experienc'e dating over a long period, during which he has witnessed changes more strange than fiction. He commenced life in a modest manner, lias kept full pace with the march of progress and civilization, and is now numbered among the ex- tensive farmers and stock-growers of the Prairie State. His property embraces 400 acres of finely cultivated land on section 7, Homer Township, a part of which lie took possession of in 1852. He afterward added to his real estate as time passed on and his means accumulated, improving his land with shapely and substantial buildings, enclosing the fields with fences, and supplying all the requisites of a first-class country estate. Dr. Conkey is of New England birth and parent- age, having first opened his eyes to the light in Franklin County, Mass., Dec. 6, 1820, and being the son of Alexanderand Lucy(McCulloch) Con- key, who were also natives of the Bay State. The father of our subject, who was born Nov. 1, 1789, came to Illinois with his family in 1830, and lo- cated first in Edgar County. Although a stone cut- ter by trade he engaged in farming after coming to Illinois, and was thus occupied until his death, which occurred Nov. 9, 1859. He was a man of much force of character, decidedly orthodox in hi s views religiously, and a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he held the office of Deacon for many years. He was a great admirer of the prin- ciples of the Masonic fraternity, with which he united when a young man. The mother of our subject was born March 11, 1789, the same year as her husband, and passed away the same year in which he died, her decease occurring in July. She was a most worthy Christian lady, who sympathized with her husband in his views and beliefs. Of the union of Alexander and Lucy Conkey there were born four children, of whom the record is as follows: The eldest son, Otis' M., was first married to Miss Naomi Morton, who 'died three or four years afterward ; he next married Miss Sarah Taylor. Hyslop A. was married thrice; his first wife, Miss Zilpha Sweet, lived only a few years, and he was then married to Miss Jane Keyes; this lady also survived but a short time, and for his third wife he married Miss Esther Bales. Lusetta S. mar- ried Alanson Baldwin, and is now deceased ; William A. is our subject. William A. Conkey was a lad of ten years when his parents made the long journey from Massachu- setts to Illinois, but he still remembers many of the incidents connected therewith, especially the camping at night and cooking by the wa3 T side, and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 913. making their beds in the wagons. He remained a member of the parental household until twenty- three years of age. and then started out to make his own way in life with a small capital of 12.50, with which lie purchased .1 town lot in what is now the village of Homer. His boyhood and youth, aside from the ordinary farm labors, had been partially spent in attendance at the school carried on in a log cabin, and later, having a taste for the study of medicine, he repaired to Louisville, Ky., and after taking a course in the college there, was pronounced fitted for the duties of the profession. After inak- ing a trial of this for a period of nine years, during which time he could not really interest himself in the profession, he abandoned it and turned his at- tention to farming. In this latter he has been greatly prospered, as his fine farm of 400 acres, with its well-kept stock and ample buildings, gives evi- dence. A view of the place is shown in this work. He has among his herd of Short-horn cattle some of the finest animals in Central Illinois, and both as a farmer and stock-grower has attained an enviable reputation in this section of the State. Dr. Conkey has also been prominent in the affairs of his township, representing it on the Board of Supervisors ten 3 T ears in succession, serving as Jus- tice of the Peace and Commissioner of Highways, and being called upon to assist in many of its im- portant measures for the general good. Upon first exercising the right of suffrage he cast his vote with the old-line Whigs, but upon the abandonment of the old party cheerfully endorsed the principles of the one built upon its ruins, and has been a true- blue Republican since the organization of the party. Socially he is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, having attained to the 3d degree, and has also occupied various important offices among the brethren, being now connected with Homer Lodge No. 199. While a resident of Edgar County, 111., Mr. Con- key made the acquaintance of Mi.. The second wife of our sub- ject, to whom he was married May 31, 1849, was formerly Miss Sarah V. Saddler, a Virginia lady, born Nov. 20, 1827, and the daughter of William and Keziah (Brooks) Saddler, also natives of the Old Dominion. They removed from there to Illi- nois in 1840, locating in Vermilion County, where the death of the mother occurred some years later. Mr. Saddler afterward removed to Champaign County, where he died in about 1863. The chil- dren of this household were John C. H., William I., Jane E., Sarah V. and Lucy. Dr. Conkey came to Homer Township from Ed- gar County in 1843. The family of nine children born to himself and wife is recorded as follows: Aubert J.,the eldest, married Miss Susan E. Butler; Byron M. died when four years of age; Francis, born Dec. 3, 1854, died on the 23d of February following; Lucy was born Dec. 1. 1856; Bruce T., April 27, 1859; Carl, July 10, 18G1 ; Emma S., born Nov. 3, 1863, became the wife of E. P. Babb, on the 9th of October, 1884; Frank M. was born May 3, 1868, and Fred B., Oct. 24, 1870. These children constitute a fine family, having inherited the business ability of their father and the virtues of their mother. i NTHON Y COYLE, the descendant of an old family dating back to the Revolutionary War, is one ol the prominent-farmers and stock : growers of Kerr Township. He was born April 5, 1840, in Baltimore, Md., and is the son ot Martin and Mary (Goian) Coyle. Martin Coyle was born in Maryland, of which State his father. John Coyle, was also a native. His mother, Catherine, was the daughter of Thomas and Mar- garet Goian, of North Carolina. Both of Anthony Coyle's grandfathers served "in the Revolutionary War, and likewise in. the War of 1812. Martin Coyle, his father, was a wholesale merchant in Baltimore, and died when Anthony was but eight years of age. Deprived of his father's protection and care he left home at the age of twelve years to begin the battle of life for himself. He first visited some relatives in Wheeling, W. Va., t ' 914 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. t for whom he worked for a short time. Thence he went to Warwick, near Xanesville, Ohio, and there engaged in teaming. In the spring of 1854 he came to Chicago, and thence two months later, re- turned to Ohio, sojourning for a brief time in Barnesville, but finding no favorable opening for business there he returned the same autumn to Illinois, and located in Urbami, this county, where he engaged in farming for Charles McKinney. He worked in this manner for various parties ' until 1859, when he was engaged for two years as assist- ant in managing the farm of F. B. Battles, in Har- wood Township. In the fall of 1860 he went to New Orleans, and for a time engaged in teaming. While completing arrangements for buying horses in Illinois and shipping them South, Mr. Coyle's negotiations were cut short by the breaking out of the Civil War. He then returned to Illinois and resumed farming. But having descended from a military ancestry, his patriotism prevailed and he entered the service of his country, enlisting July 10, 1801, in Co. D, 2d 111. Vol. Cav., under Capt. Charles E. Verrick. He served until June 14, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disa- bility, having received a gunshot wound Dec. 20, 1862, at Holly Springs, Miss. He had been with the Army of the Tennessee during the entire time of his service, and was with Grant at Holly Springs, when his supplies were all destroyed by the rebel General, Van Doru. Mr. Coyle was united in marriage with Miss Georgiana Kuder, Nov. 1C, 1863. Mrs. C. was the youngest child of Solomon and Frances (Skinner) Kuder, natives of Ohio. For three years Mr. C. had the management of his father-in-law's .farm. On the 29th of October, 1864, his beloved wife was removed by death, leaving one child, George Solo- mon, who is now deceased. June 14, 1866, Mr. C. was married the second time, to Miss Amanda J. Kuder, the youngest daughter of John and Cornelia (Edson) Kuder, natives of North Carolina. In 1868 he made his first purchase of land, which con- sisted of forty acres of wild prairie iii Kerr Town- ship, located on section 32. He has remained here since the winter of 1809, cultivating and improving his farm, to which he has in the meantime added forty acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Coyle there were born four children, only two of whom are living, namely. Clara Permelia and John Franklin. The deceased are Mary Frances and Joseph Benjamin. Mr. Coyle is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, giving special attention to breeding Bertrand and Messenger horses, and Poland-China hogs. He is also interested in public affairs, having served four terms as Supervisor, six years as Road Commis- sioner, seven as School Trustee, and about six as Director. He belongs to the Democratic party and takes an active part in local politics. Himself and wife are both members of the Methodist Church. EORGE H. REED. The history of this gentleman, who is well known in the vicin- ity of Rantoul, as a skillful breeder of Per- cheron horses, first opened his eyes to the light near the town of Marcellus in Onondaga County, N. Y., March 15, 1833. He is of English ancestry, and his paternal great-grandfather became a resi- dent of Massachusetts during the early settlement of New England. He married and reared a fam- ily. and among his sons was Zebulon, who married Miss Elizabeth Tracy. They reared a family of two sons and five daughters, among them being Jonathan, the father of our subject. The latter was born in the town of Concord, Mass., in 1804, and became, with his parents, a resident of Marcel- lus, N. Y., four years later. He is still living, an energetic and active old gentleman, eighty-three years of age. Our subject grew to manhood in his native county, and when twenty-three years of age started out for himself, drifting westward, and finally en- gaged as traveling salesman for a commission house in Toledo, Ohio. In 1859 he returned to his na- tive town, having chosen one of its daughters for his future wife. This lady was Miss Martha, daughter of William and Sarah Sarr. They were married in 1859, and took up their residence in Cayuga County, where Mr. Reed engaged in farm- ing and remained there until 1868, when he came into this county and purchased a farm on section 17, in Ludlow Township, lie followed agricult- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 915 t ural pursuits until the fall of 1871, and then, de- siring to change his occupation, left the farm in charge of a tenant, and going into Rantoul, pur- chased vehicles and horses and engaged in the liv- ery business. lie was thus occupied for perhaps a vear, and then became interested in Percheron horses, to the breeding of which ho turned his at- tention, and to which he seems eminently fitted, judging from the success with which he has oper- ated. Among his favorites are Comet, a jet black; Charles, dark gray, and Oliver, still darker and dappled. These creatures are of magnificent pro- portions, and the owner may readily be pardoned for his pride in them. The business consumes the larger portion of his time. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Reed, four in num- ber Grace A., George II., Jr., Blanche M. and Kate S. are all living at home with their parents. and form a bright and interesting family. The parental family of our subject included six sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to mature years and nine still survive. They are located mostly in the East, and all have comfortable homes while living honest and worthy lives, in accordance with the early training received from their excel- lent parents. REDERICK A. BEISSER, a successful and skillful market gardener of Champaign Township, has been a resident of this section since the spring of 1855, and a year later located on the snug homestead which he now owns and oc- cupies. Here he has a good frame house, and for the prosecution of his calling, has nine greenhouses. He raises the first vegetables of each season, and finds a good market for his earliest produce at the city of Chicago. Later in the season he sells veg- etables at Champaign and Urbana. He has a good understanding of his business, seems naturally adapted to it. and takes pride iu producing the finest specimens of the garden and greenhouse. Mr. Beisser was born in the Province of Saxony, Prussia, Aug. 12, 1825, and five years later re- moved with his parents to Brandenburg, where he attended school until fourteen years old. The family then returned to Saxony, locating in the city of Magdeburg, where he lived until eighteen years old. His parents soon afterward began to make preparations to emigrate to the United States, and on the 10th of July following, set sail from Hamburg, arriving in New York on the 20th of September, after a very stormy passage. They proceeded to Buffalo, via the Hudson River and Erie Canal, and remained residents of that city for three years. From there they removed to Ma- lioning County, Ohio, whence, after four years they removed to Cleveland, and were residents of the Forest City for seven years following. In 1855 they came to this county. The mother died a short time afterward. The father then returned to Cleveland, where he spent the last years of his life. While in Mahoning County, Ohio, Mr. Beisser was employed in a coal mine, and after taking up his residence in Cleveland, engaged as clerk in a drug-store, remaining six years under one employer. In the meantime he gained a good understanding of the business, and then set up a store for himself. This was destroyed by fire eighteen months later, and having lost all his possessions, he concluded to emigrate to the farther West. Coming into Champaign County, he engaged as clerk in a gen- eral store, where he was employed for six months, and then became connected with the mechanical department of the Illinois Central Railroad, inost of his time being occupied in repairing. After two years he was placed in charge of a gang of men in Ettingham County. After a year thus em- ployed, he purchased a tract of unimproved prairie land on section 24, in Champaign Township, which, after another 3 r ear, he sold out, and in 1858 took possession of his present place. Upon this he has effected marked improvements, and is doing a prof- itable and steadily increasing business, enlarging each year his facilities for the raising of choice garden products. .He is^ universally respected by his fellow-townsmen, and in politics inclines to Democratic principles, making it a point, however, to cast his vote for the men whom he believes to be the best qualified for office. He commenced in life at the foot of the ladder, and has attained to a good position in the community, with an assured competency for his old age. Mr. Beisser was married in Buffalo, falo, N. V., in I ^IU I 916 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 184(5, to Miss Amelia Mcissner. Mrs. Beisser .was born in the Province of Silesia, Prussia. They have no children of their own, but are supplying the place of kind parents to an adopted son, Robert J. Fieg. pILLIAM J. PETERS, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Champaign County, was born on his father's home- stead in St. Joseph Township, Feb. 3, 1834. Here William Peters, Sr., first settled in 1827, making his first purchase of eighty acres with five yoke of oxen. He afterward added to his real estate, and in due time had a good farm of 120 acres, which to-day bears fair comparison with the homesteads adjacent. The family residence is a substantial and roomy structure, two stories in height, and with its adjoining out-buildings invaria'bly attracts the attention of the passer-by. The stock and farm machinery are of the best description, and the entire premises indicates the industry and taste of the proprietor. The parents of our subject, William and Sarah (McNutt) Peters, who were born in Kentucky, emigrated from the Blue Grass regions to Indiana, whence they moved to Champaign County, in 1827, locating three miles south of the present town site of St. Joseph, on section 19. Here Mr. Peters lived and toiled industriously until 1802, when he rested from his earthly labors. The wife and mother survived several years, her death finally taking place on the old homestead. Their thirteen children all lived to maturity and included seven sons and six daughters. Of these one died when about nineteen years old; eleven married, and have families of their own. _ William J. Peters, who was the seventh child of his parents, was reared on the homestead, educated in the district school, and remained with his par- rents until reaching his majority. lie then located upon the eighty acres which constitutes a part of his present homestead, where he commenced tilling the soil on his own account and was prospered. After he had laid the foundation for a future home, he was united in marriage with Miss Jemima Penny, in the spring of 1858, and they took uj> their residence on his first purchase. The wife of our subject was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1840, and is the daughter of Joseph and Rhoda A. (Johnson) Penny. The household of Mr. Peters and his wife was gradually enlarged until eleven little ones had been added to the family. Of these but eight are now living, namely, Henry C., who married Miss Susan M. Foreman, and is now a resident of Piatt County ; Joseph R., who married Miss Mary Stanner; Will- iam A., who married Mary L. Harvey; Sarah E., Eliza J., wife of William Ridinjer; Cyrus E., Elizabeth A. , Arlis O. John C., the eldest child, died in infancy ; Amanda C., when three years old, and Addie F., in infancy. Mr, Peters has been a useful member of his com- munity, serving as Commissioner of Highways, Road Overseer, School Director, and in other posi- tions where his clear head and cool judgment proved of great benefit to his fellow-citizens. He was reared in the Democratic faith, to which he still adheres, although meddling little with politics, except to exercise the rights and duties of a free- born American citizen at the polls. K. LARGENT is the owner of a 111 (=-, fine estate containing ICO acres, located on ^^j|)* section 23, Urbana Township. He is the descendant of an old Virginia f ami 13-, and was born Oct. 2, 1833, in Hampshire County, W. Va., twen- ty-six miles east of Romney. His parents were natives of Virginia, and never left that State. His father, Lewis Largent, was twice married. His sec- ond wife was the daughter of Abner Clark, and the mother of George K. The families of each mar- riage comprised sixteen children. George Lnrgent was brought up on his father's farm in Hampshire County, and remained at home until his twenty-second year, when his marriage with Aliss Naomi Harmon took place. Airs. Lar- gent is the daughter of Samuel Harmon, a resident of Pcndleton County', W. Va. During the progress of the Civil War. Mr. Largent lost all of his proper- ty; his horses and cattle were captured and his place i f. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 917 ; laid waste by the confederate troops. His business was fit broken up by this disaster that in August, 18(52, he left the South and removed to Peoria County. 111. After remaining there three years he changed his residence, in 1868, to Philo Township, Champaign County, where for six years lie con- ducted a rented farm. Having recovered from his financial etn harassment he then purchased his present homestead. His land is in a fine. state of cultiva- tion and well improved, and he is chiefly engaged in general farming. Our subject and wife have had a family of seven children. The first iorn, Jacob W., died in his twenty-first year; Elizabeth C. is the wife of Mr. lihinehard, a resident of this county; Samuel D. is Principal of the High School at Tolono; George G. is a prosperous farmer residing in Philo Township; John A. is a teacher of high standing in his profes- sion; Charles A. is an active, enterprising farmer, and Rosa M. resides at home with her parents. Mrs. Largent and two of her sons are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Almost at the beginning of his business career Mr. Largent was seriously crippled in resources by the devastations of war, which, wherever it sweeps through a country leaves misery and desolation in its track; anguish and sorrow are its heritage, and it will 3'et be many years before the country re- covers from the clash of arms which shook the Re- public from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Through trial and adversity, Mr. Largent has born himself with the courage of a brave man. and by energy and industry has to a great extent retrieved the losses of .the past. ETER MYERS, deceased. The subject of the following history located in Rantoul Township during the pioneer days and be- came closely identified with its develop- He was a man of more than ordinary abil- ity, and was at once recognized as eminently fitted to be a leader of the community. After occupying the minor ollices of the towiiship he was. in l.su.s, elected as Sheriff of Champaign County, the duties of which ofllcc he discharged in a creditable man- men. ner for a period of two years. lie was reared to farming pursuits which, however, he only followed about five years after his marriage, his mind in- clining more to trade than agriculture, and during the latter part of his life he was engaged mostly in the lumber business, his transactions extending over a large section of country. Mr. Myers was a native of Greenbush, Rens- selaer Co., N.. Y., born Nov. 19, 1809. His father, Peter Myers, Sr., was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and his grandfather, also named Peter, was of German parentage, the exact location of his birth not being known. He carried on a farm in Dutch- ess County for a number of years, and then retired to Greenbush, where he spent his last days. His sons followedjn his footsteps, also tilling the soil. The father of our subject carried on farming for a number of years in Rensselaer County, and then retiring to the village of Greenbush, spent his last years in peace and quiet. His children were eight in number, four of whom survive. Peter Myers, of this sketch, remained under the home roof until' reaching manhood, and upon start- ing out in life for himself made it his first business to secure a companion and helpmeet to share his fortunes. The maiden of his choice, Miss Theresa Gardner, became his wife Sept. 1, 1835, and the following year, with a team of horses and a wagon, they went overland into Genesee County, and located upon a farm which they occupied for five years. Mr: Myers then began dealing in lumber, his operations commencing at Portage, N. Y. In 1840 he removed to Dansville, Livingston Co., N. Y., where he resided until 1850, and thence re- moved to Caniiiteo, Steuben County, where he be- came the owner of a sawmill, which he conducted until 1 855. In the spring of that year he migrated to this State and county, purchasing a tract of wild land in Tolono Township, which he occupied two and one-half years, effecting what improvement he could in that short time. He then removed to the ci'.ty of Champaign, where his family resided two and one-half years, Mr. Myers in the meantime es- tablishing a lumber trade at Rantoul. In 1801 he took up his residence at Rantoul, where his death occured Jan. 31, 1880. Mr. Myers was a man of decided views upon all T 918 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. matters of general interest, and before the organi- zation of the Republicans was an old-line Whig. After the abandonment of that party he cast his lot with the Republicans, and was by them elected Sheriff in 1868, serving his full term. Both he and his wife were members in good standing of the Congregational Church at Rantoul. Mrs. Myers is a native of Stephentown, RensselaerCo.,N. Y., born July 22, 1815. Her father, Lodowick Gardner, was a native of Rhode Island, in which State his father located soon after his marriage. A few years afterward they went to Rensselaer County, and took up a tract of timber land, in the cultiva- tion and improvement of which Grandfather Gard- ner was engaged the remainder of his life. The father of Mrs. M. grew to manhood in Rensselaer County, was married and reared his family in Stephentown, where he died in about 1824. Her mother, who was formerly Miss Chloe Bull, was a native of Connecticut, and the daughter of Abner Bull, who removed from that State to Rensselaer County, N. Y., during its early .settlement, and there died at the age of ninety-one years. Two children were born to our subject and wife : Harriet N., the wife of H. M. Morris, of Rautoul, and Helen T., a teacher of music, who resides with her mother. They occupy a pleasant home within the village limits, and enjoy the society of a large circle of friends. 5>ILLIAM FLETCHER. In presenting this biographical notice of one of the leading farmers of Champaign County, and a gen- tleman who thoroughly represents its progressive element, it is well to advert to the life story of those from whom he drew his origin. Joseph Fletcher, the father of our subject, was born in Kirby Moorside, Yorkshire, England, Sept. 27, 1 781. His parents were William and Elizabeth Fletcher, also natives of Yorkshire, where they spent their entire lives, and were laid to rest in the church- yard at Kirby Moorside. They left as a legacy to their children a record of kindly and upright lives, which were spent in the peaceful pursuits of agri- culture. Joseph Fletcher, after liis marriage, located in the parish of Normanby, where he engaged in fann- ing until 1855. That year, on the 1st of April, accompanied by his wife and seven children, he set sail for the United States, and after a safe voyage landed in New York City on the 1st of May. He had a few hundred dollars in his possession, and coming directly to Illinois purchased 200 acres of land in Mason County, and entered eighty acres more from the Government. Of this, eighty acres were partially improved. The balance had never been turned by the plowshare. After providing a suitable dwelling for his family he at once pro- ceeded to the cultivation and improvement of his land, and during the time of his residence there brought 240 acres to a condition where it yields in abundance the choicest products of the Prairie State. Having now accumulated a competency for his declining years, he rented his farm and repaired to the home of his son, our subject, in this county, where with his faithful companion and the mother of his children, he resided until his death, which occurred June 22, 1882. He was a man greatly esteemed for his excellent personal traits of char- acter, his correct and temperate habits, and his un- compromising honesty. The mother, a lady of more than ordinary intelligence', is still living, and is now eighty-four years of age. Her faculties are preserved to a remarkable degree and she still pos- sesses the happy and active disposition of her youth. She recalls distinctly many incidents of the early days when they first settled in Illinois and remem- bers dates with wonderful correctness. Mrs. Fletcher was born in Normanby, Sept. 27, 1803. Her par- ents were John and Ann (Thompson) Taylor, both also natives of Yorkshire, England, where the3 r spent their entire lives and were buried in the old church- yard at Normanby. The parental fatuity included nine children, of whom the record is as follows: John still lives in Mason County, this State ; William, of our sketch, was the second child ; Joseph W. resides in the city of Champaign; Jane, when a child of four years, died in England on the 23d of March, 18;5;5; an infant died unnamed in 18:58; Thompson was born 1 LIBRARY CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4- 9-21 , , Feb. 22, 1837. find died in 1870, in Mason County; Miiry, the wife of Robert Pierson, lives in Harwood Township, this county; Jane is the wife of B. F. Vatcs, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this AUSIM; Bessie married Isaac Layman (see sketch), and departed this life at the home of her husband in 1872; John T. was born in England in 1853, and reared by his grandmother, with whom he lived until grown. Our subject remained with his parents and at- tended the common schools briefly during his boy- hood. He was not, however, fond of study but preferred to work, and when eleven years of age engaged as a groom. Two years later he occupied himself as a plowboy, .being employed thus four years, then engaging as a teamster followed this five years. The next eighteen months he held the position of foreman on a large farm. In 1855, accompanied by his parents, he set sail for Amer- ica, and has remained a resident of this State since his arrival here. He has in the meantime visited his native England and spent nine months among the friends of his boyhood and youth. In 1869 Mr. Fletcher purchased 329 acres of uncultivated prairie which is now included in his present farm in Rantoul Township. Four years afterward he took possession of this, his parents accompanying him. Since that time he has indus- triously labored, cultivating and improving his property, with most gratifying results, and now has the satisfaction of knowing that there is not an acre of waste land on the farm. That which is not devoted to pasture is utilized for the grow- ing of corn, oats, rye and wheat, and the vege- table products required by the household. He has a substantial dwelling, flanked by a good barn and out-buildings, while fruit and shade trees em- bellish the grounds about the residence. The friends who have known him best have the highest appreciation of the character of Mr. Fletcher both as a neighbor and friend. He has taken a genuine interest in the progress and prosperity of his adopted county, and is the encourager of every enterprise tending to its moral and intellectual ad- vancement. Politically Mr. F. votes the Democratic ticket, and is a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His extensive farming opera- tions have been uniformly successful, and the smil- ing fields of growing grain, the wide pastures ten- anted by well-cared-for stock, with the ample farm buildings and pleasant surroundings form one of the pleasantest pictures in the landscape of Cham- paign County. A view of the place is presented on another page of this work. ,Zz$^ LEMENT McMILLIAN. Among tlie prairie (if p homes of Illinois there are perhaps none ^^/ more attractive than that of the subject of our sketch, which is finely located in Hensley Township, on section 18. Its shapely and sub- stantial buildings, choice grades of stock, and excel- lent farm machinery all indicate the industry and intelligence of their proprietor. The farm, which consists of 240 acres, is under a fine state of culti- vation, and yields in abundance of the choice prod- ucts of the Prairie State. Our subject as a man is held in the highest respect by all who 'know him, and none have assisted toward the material growth and prosperity of his township and county more than he. Mr. McMillian was born in Greenbrier County, now West Virginia; Sept. 16,1829. His paternal grandfather removed from Culpeper to Greenbrier County during the early settlement of that section of country. He purchased a tract of timber land and improved a farm, where he spent the remainder of his life. There also his family was reared, among whom was Daniel, the father of our subject. He was born in Culpeper County, and was quite young when his parents became residents of Green- brier County. He grew to manhood on the farm and then settled upon a tract of la.id given him by his father, which he occupied until 1847. lie then removed to Cabell County, where he cultivated rented land a few years, and thence removed to Mason County, in the same State, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was married in early manhood to Miss Margaret Carroll, a native of Greenbrier County, Va. After the death of her husbatfd Mrs. McM. came to Illinois and spent the > 922 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. last years of her life with her son, our subject, in 1'iutt County, her death occurring- in 18<>9. The parental family of our subject consisted of six children, of whom Clement was the third in order of birth. He was reared to farming pursuits and made his home with his parents until his mar- riage. Afterward he rented land in his native State, then removed to Ohio, and for years followed farming on rented land in Fayette and Pickaway Counties. Not being quite satisfied with his con- dition or prospects in the Buckeye State, he con- cluded to seek the farther West. In October, 1855, he started for Illinois with a team of liorses and wagon, and accompanied by his wife and three children. The country at that time was destitute of hotels, and the travelers camped in the open air and cooked the provisions which they carried with them. After eighteen days' travel they arrived in Champaign County, this State, where they re- mained until 1868. They then gathered together their household goods once more and took up their line of march for Piatt County, where they re- mained until 1881, then returned to this county. Upon first coming to this county they located near Mahomet, whence they removed the following year to Condit Township, where Mr. McM. operated on rented land until 1868. He then returned to Piatt County and purchased a farm of eighty acres, where he lived with his family until 1881, as above men- tioned. He then sold out and purchased a part of the old Dickerson homestead, which he has occu- pied since fchat^ time. Mr. McMillian was married first in the Old Do- minion, in January, 1851, to Miss Sarah J. Mathews, who was born in Augusta County, that State, and was the daughter of James and Martha (Ham) Mathews. Of this union there were born three children: Martha R., the wife of J. T. Ruckman, a resident of Piatt County, III. ; Maggicj E., Mrs. M. Y. Skeels, of Summer County, Kan., and Frances >)., the wife of H. P. Bowman, of Piatt County. Mrs. Sarah J. McMillian departed this life at her home in Piatt, Sept. 19, 1878. Our subject was married again, in 1879, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Ilemy and Catherine (Beck) Dickerson. The present wife of our subject was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1841, and remained with her par- ents until her marriage. Both she and her husband are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The latter has been connected with this denomination since eighteen years of airr. He has contributed liberally and cheerfully to the support of the Master's cause in this place. As one of the representative homesteads of this county, we take pleasure in presenting a view of Mr. McMill- ian's place in this volume. eLAUS J. WITT, of Sidney Township, who for several years successfully conducted the farm belonging to -Mr. Coffeen on section 24, has recently purchased a Jine tract of seventy- nine acres on section 23, this township, in which venture all his neighbors wish him the success to which he is entitled by his energy, enterprise and perseverance. Mr. Witt, a native of Holstein, Germany, was bom Jan. 13, 1832, and is the son of Dulf and Magdalene (Young) Witt, also of German birth and parentage, and who emigrated from the Father- land to America in 1864. They immediately sought the West, and locating in this county, here spent the remainder of their days. Their family consisted of six children Dulf, Anna, Clans, Lena, William and Peter. Our subject came to the United States in 1854> ten years before his parents. After spending one year in the vicinity of Chicago, he made his way to this county, of which he has since been a resident. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Kuder, in 1862. Mrs. Witt is the daughter of George and Sarah (Morris) Kuder, - who were 'of German ex- traction, and reared a family of eight children Isiga, Elizabeth, George, Hannah, Emeline, Ben- jamin, Sarah and Catherine. Mr. Witt and his wife are the parents of six children William, Ed- ward, Emeline, John, Laura and George. Both our subject and wife are members in good standing of the United Brethren Church. The family ranks among the worthiest class of citizens, and Mr. Witt, as a thorough aud progressive farmer, deserves the highest praise. In politics Mr. Witt votes the Democratic ticket i t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 923 hut aside from casting his ballot at important elec- tions lie is content to allow more experienced heads to run the Government while he exercises the in- dustrious talents handed down to him from his resolute German ancestry, and employs himself in the no mean position of a skillful tiller of the soil. \V. PARKER. The great-grandfather of our subject, Thomas Parker by name, was the progenitor of the Parker family in this country and emigrated from England when a young man, locating at Lexington, Mass. It is be- lieved that it was he who led the men at Lexing- ton during the Revolutionary War. After the. in- dependence of the Colonies had been established he located on a tract of land in Middlesex County, Mass., where he followed agriculture the remainder of his life. lie married in that county and reared a family, among them being Ebenezer, the grand- father of our subject. The latter also enlisted as a soldier before he had attained his majority, and assisted the Colonists in their struggle for freedom, and like his father be-' fore him, spent the greater part of his life in the Bay State. His first wife was the grandmother of our subject, and among their children was Ebenezer, who was born in Worcester County, Mass., and when of suitable years engaged as a clothier. Later he abandoned this calling, .and locating upon a tract of land in Worcester Comity, followed farming the balance of his days. His death occurred after lie had reached the age of fourscore years. He was a man of strictly religious princi- ples, living and dying in the orthodox faith. Politically he adhered closely to the old Whig party. He married Miss Hannah Men-Jam, of his own county, who survived him several years, and lived to be ninety years old. AH the grandparents of our subject were strong, both mentally and physically, the result of temperate lives and high moral principles. The parental household of our subject included twelve children, eight sons and four daughters: Ebene/.er W. was born Oct. 2S, 1S1:!. ;ind was the fourth child of the family, of whom one daughter and four sons are yet living. Our subject is the only one in Illinois. The others are "residents of Massachusetts. The childhood and youth of Mr. Parker were spent under the home roof, assisting his father in cloth dressing and pursuing his studies at the public schools. After reaching manhood he was married, May 26, 1840, at the home of the bride's parents, to Miss Chloe A. Parmenter, a native of Worcester County, Mass., born Sept. 17, 1817. 'Mrs. P. is the daughter of Solomon and Mary T. (Allen) Parmenter, also natives of the Bay State and of New England parentage. The grandparents of Mrs. Parker were born in Massachusetts, where they spent their entire lives. Solomon Parmenter fought iu the Revolutionary War, and was own cousin to the Paulding who captured Maj. Andre. He lived to be seventy- live years old. The grandmother was formerly Miss Lydia Gleason, who was first married to a Mr. Cheney. She was a lady of more than ordinary ability, was reared, and educated at her home in Worcester County, and died while in the midst of her strength and usefulness. The Parmenters were liberal in their religious belief, and Mr. P. politi- cally was a stanch Whig. He was a man of influence in his community, and the sons and daughters in- herited in a large .degree the excellent traits of . their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Parker became the parents of four children; E. C., the third child, a banker and dealer in real estate, married Miss Mattie- Baker, and is doing business in Philo; Louisa is at home with her parents; Mary became the wife of Paschal Parkinan, and both she and her husband are de- . ceased; they left two sons and a daughter Charles C., William and Emma; the latter married Irvin Baker, who is engaged in the printing business iu Kansas; Annie E. Parker died when three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Parker after their marriage resided for a time in Massachusetts, whence they removed to the Prairie State in April, 1856. Coining into this county, Mr. Parker purchased 160 acres on section 10, in Philo Township. During the years which have elapsed since that time he has brought 1 the original wild land into a thorough state of i cultivation, well drained with tile and stocked with f 924 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 a choice assortment of domestic animals. A feature of the homestead is the number of beautiful trees which grew from seed which he planted when first taking possession of his land. Our subject and his wife were for many years members of the Presbyterian Church, but are now Spiritualists in belief. Mr. Parker is Republican in politics, and was one of the first to advocate the abolition of slavery, being one of the two men who voted the Abolition ticket in Massachusetts for Birney as President. He was most strongly opposed to human slavery, and did everything in his power in making it unpopular. A view of Mr. Parker's handsome residence is shown on another page. jjfclLLIAM MORTON, who is pursuing the even tenor of his way on a fine farm in St. Joseph Township, became a resident of this county soon after the war. He is the owner of nearly 300 acres of good land, the choicest be- ing in the home farm of eighty acres, which lies on section 25. Here, of late years, in addition to general farming he has given much attention to stock-raising, having a fine herd comprising seven- ty-five head of Short-horn cattle, a number of good horses, and is also engaged in breeding very fine Poland-China hogs. The subject of our sketch was born near Blairs- ville, Indiana Co., Pa., March 23, 1832. His grand- father, John Morton, also a native of the Keystone State, was born near Harrisburg and married Miss Mary Bell, a Pennsylvania lady. The Morton family is of Scotch ancestry, the first representa- tives coming to this country in the eighteenth cen- tury, and locating it is believed in Pennsylvania during its earliest settlement. The children of. John and Mary (Bell) Morton included a son, John, who afterward became the father of our subject. lie was born and reared in Indiana County, Pa., and married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Eliza Young, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of American birth. The father of our subject learned the trade of wagon - making early in life, but afterward engaged in farming and remained a resident of his native county his entire life. He was born in Januaiy, l.SOO, and died in June, 1878. His wife, Eliza- beth, was born in ISMS. ;uul preceded her husband to the silent land March 4, 1844. Their ten chil- dren included three sons and seven daughters, five of whom still survive. William Morton, who was the sixth child of his parents' family, spent his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead in Pennsylvania, receiving a common-school education and being trained to habits of industry and those principles which form the basis of an upright and honest character. In the spring of 1854, after becoming of age, wishing to see something of the world outside of his na- tive State, he proceeded to Indiana and engaged first as a boatman on the Wabash Canal. A ve.-ir later he repaired to Perryville, Ind., where lie re- mained two years, and then coming to Danville, this State, remained there also two years. In 18.j6 he was employed on a cattle ranch where he con- tinued for three years following, and until the outbreak of the late Civil Wai- Mr. Morton was one of the first to respond to the call for troops to aid in the preservation of the Union, and enlisted in the spring of 1861, in Co. E, 51st 111. Vol. Inf. His army life comprised a period of four years and twelve days, during a part of which his regiment belonged to the 20th Army Corps, which operated mostly in Missouri, Tennessee and Georgia. He took part in many of the important battjes of the war, including a num- ber of skirmishes with the enemy, being at New Madrid, Island No. 10, Farmington, Stone River, Chattanooga, Chickamanga and Mission Ridge. In the spring of 1864, his regiment was in the 3d Brig- ade, 2d Division, 4th Army Corps, detailed to go to the Southeast, where they participated at Resaca and all the engagements of the campaign. In the battle of Kennesaw Mountain our subject lost two fingers of his left baud by a gunshot from the enemy. He was confined in the kospital for sixty days, and in the meantime his bravery was rewarded by being commissioned Second Lieu- tenant. Afterward he was present at the battles of Spring Hill and Franklin, in the latter of which the commanding officer was wounded, and Lieut. Morton was placed in command of the company at 4*- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 925 the battle of Nashville. They followed Hood's army across the Tennessee, were soon afterward sent to Nashville, and went into winter quarters at Decatur, Ala. In the spring of 1865 they were ordered to Hull's (Jap, Tenn., where they were en- camped at the time of Lee's surrender. The reg- iment was mustered out near Camp Irwin in Sep- tember, 1865. After receiving his honorable discharge Lieut. Morton returned to Champaign County and pur- chased his present farm, He has been uniformly prosperous in his agricultural operations and has contributed his full quota toward the building up of his township and community. .OBERT PETERS. The fine farm of '240 acres, lying on section 14, in St. Joseph Township, was eliminated from the raw prairie by the subject of this sketch, who came to this county during the pioneer days and for a period of over fifty-seven years has walked in and out among its people, enjoying their confidence and esteem and interesting himself in their happi- ness and prosperity. He began with modest means, and by a life of industry and economy gradually accumulated his present property, which consists of one of the finest homesteads in the township. Mr. Peters is a native of Rush County, Ind., and was born near Rushville, Jan. 8, 1827. He comes of substantial German ancestry, his great-grand- father having crossed the 'ocean from the Father- land in about 1600. The son of the latter, David by name, was born in Pennsylvania, where he spent a part of his life in the farming districts, then re- moved to Kansas and from there to Rush County, Ind. He lived industriously and frugally and rounded up the ripe old age of ninety-six years. He and his wife, Permelia, became the parents of the following-named children: Aaron, John, Isaac, David, Samuel, William; Mary, who became the wife of J. T. Hayden; Elizabeth, who married B. Brown, and Sarah, the wife of Jesse Eaton. William Peters, the father of our subject, re- mained with his brothers and sisters under the parental roof, and early in life formed domestic ties, being united in marriage with Miss Sarah Mc- Nutt, a native of Kentucky. To the household thus established there were born twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom lived to maturity and formed a remarkably fine looking family group. With the exception of two, David and Joseph, all are married and settled in comforta- ble homes. Robert, of our sketch, was the third son ; Malinda is deceased; Isaac, William J. ; Martha A.; who married Ambrose Strong; Drusilla and Lu- cinda, twins, the latter deceased; Elizabeth J., who married Saint Rice ; Jonathan L. and John N., com- prise the remainder of the family. The subject of this sketch was the third son and child of his parents, who removed from Indiana to this county when he was little more than an infant. His father selected a tract of land in what is now St. Joseph Township, two and one-half miles south of the present site of the town, purchasing forty acres of Silas Yount, upon which he located and indus- triously began its improvement and cultivation. He was prospered in his undertakings and invested his surplus capital in more land until he became the owner of 440 acres. He took great pride in his farming operations, in the excellence of his crops, and the grade of his live-stock, and the farm is ac-. knovvledged by all to be one of the best arranged in that part of the county. William Peters lived temperately, enjoyed excel- lent health, arose early in the morning, and retired each night with the consciousness that there had been, " something attempted, something done." He possessed great force of character, more than or- dinary ability, and kept himself well posted upon matters of general interest. He was often called upon to serve as administrator, and seemed pecu- liarly adapted to the adjustment of estates, in which he gave full satisfaction to all concerned. After taking possession of his first purchase he put up a substantial hewed-log house of two rooms, and this structure, with comfortable additions remained his home during the balance of his natural life. His death took place in August, 1864, and besides his estate of 400 acres he left his family $10,000 in money, in addition to a large amount of personal property. This handsome little fortune he had amassed from almost nothing. The faithful wife and mother, who had assisted materially in the build- i ; 926 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 ing up of the homestead, survived until the spring of 187;i. The remains of both parents wore laid to rest in the burying-ground on the homestead. Our. subject remained under the parental roof until reaching manhood, during which time lie had obtained his education mostly at a private school. Before finally departing from the home roof he was married, Aug. 22, 1849, to Miss Mary E., eldest daughter of Henry and Dianna (Robertson). Swear- ingen, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents in St. Joseph Township. Mrs. Pe- ters was born in Adams County. Ohio, March 31, 1831. Her parents were natives respectively of Kentucky and Ohio, being married in the latter State, whence they emigrated to this county in 1839. They were among the most highly respected members of the farming community of St. Joseph Township, where they spent the last years of their lives. Soon after his marriage Mr. Peters located with his bride on the homestead which they still occupy and where occurred the birth of their sons and daughters, eleven in number, seven of whom are still living. Sarah C. is the wife of Benjamin Stiner, of St. Joseph; John II. is managing the homestead ; Isaac S. is farming in St. Joseph Town- ship; Susan J., the wife of William Parrett, lives in Homer Township; Eliza A. married V. K. Shobe; William A. and Mary E. are at home with their par- ents. Franklin died in August, 1882, aged twenty- three years. Mr. Peters became a member of the Christian Church in about 1864, with which his wife has been connected since seventeen years old. They have lived blameless and upright lives, filling worthily their position in the community, training their children to honorable lives, and, keeping in view the fact that the acts of individuals necessarily exert a great influence upon those around them, have shaped their lives accordingly. ENRY C. WHITE, one of the most promi- nent and prosperous members of the agri- cultural community of Homer Township, is \^Z)) a fine illustration of the self-made man, who commenced life at the foot of the ladder, and has dim bed steadily upward until he occupies 4>ne of the topmost rounds. He holds a high position, so- cially and financially, and is possessed of all the qualities which constitute a valuable and reliable citizen. His property, which is finely located on section 20, comprises 170 acres of fertile prairie land, upon which lie has erected a handsome and substantial set of buildings, admirably adapted to all the purposes of country life. Aside from his farming operations, which have been arduous and constant, he has generously interested himself in the welfare of the people about him, and been, as opportunity presented, a promoter of those meas- ures tending to the moral and educational welfare of the community. He has held the various offices within the gift of his townsmen, including those of Tax Collector, Commissioner of Highways and School Director. It will thus be seen that he has contributed all that could be reasonably expected toward building up the interests of his adopted county, of which he became a resident in the fall of 1851. Mr. White is a native of Clarke County, Ohio, his birth taking place at the homestead of his father in Harmony Township, April 26, 1831. He is the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Foreman) White, na- tives respectively of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, the former born Oct. 11, 1790, and the latter Aug. 30, 1796. Their marriage took place in Cham- paign County, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1817, and they spent the remainder of their days in Clarke County. Benjamin White departed from the scenes of his earthly labors March 1, 1846, in Harmony Town- ship, Clarke County, and the mother followed her husband to the silent land Aug. 23, .1878, dying in Homer Township, this county, having survived him a period of thirty-two years. The parents of our subject are affectionately remembered by him as having been persons of more than ordinary intelli- gence, and possessing those Christian virtues which are so essential to the proper training of a family for a worthy position in the community. Benja- min White was a leader of the. Baptist Church in Clarke County, Ohio. He was liberal-minded and generous with his friends, and this latter quality of his character effected his ruin, financial^-, as he stood security for debts which lie was obliged to CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. liquidate. Politically, he was an old-line Whig, and clung to his principles with that open-hearted tenacitj' which proved how conscientious he was in everything which he believed to be right. The mother of our subject when a young child, emigrated with her parents from Kentucky to Ohio, where she was reared and received a limited edu- cation. .She was the suitable companion of her husband in every respect, like him being high- minded and generous, and looked well to the ways of her household, training her children carefully as to morals and teaching them to become industri- ous and frugal. She was an expert at the spinning- wheel and loom,- and like the mothers of those days, kept her family comfortably clothed from the proceeds of her own industry. The Foreman fam- ily originally came from Ireland, and Sarah (Fore- man) White was one of its most worthy represent- atives. By her union with the father of our sub- ject, she became the mother of nine children, all of whom grew to become men and women. Joseph, now sixty-nine years of age, is a resident of Da- kota; Isaac is sixty-five years, and is farming in Coles County, 111. ; Mary, the widow of Joseph Say ton, is fifty-eight years of age; Eleanor, the widow of Alexander Boarland, is sixty-three years of age, and a resident of Homer Township, this county; Amos died unmarried when twenty-four years old ; Henry C., of our sketch, was the sixth in order of birth; Nanc}^ is the wife of James Poage, a prosperous farmer of Vermilion County; Martha J. died Aug. 9, 1859, when twenty-two years of age; Perry married Miss Elizabeth Um- benhower, and lives in Homer, 111. Mr. White spent his boyhood in his native State, coming to Illinois in 1851. He located in Homer Township, where he was first employed by the month, and afterward went to the city of New York with a four-year-old steer, which he led all the way by a rope from this township to the great metropolis. After he had determined to make this his future home he was united in marriage with Mi>> Emily Laybourn, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in St. Joseph Township, in September, 1859. Mrs. Emily White was born near LaFayette, Ind., Sept. 2, 1839, and after be- coming the mother of four children, cjeparted this life at her home in Sidney Township, Jaji. 8, 1867. She was a lady highly esteemed by a large circle of friends, and n, faithful member of the Baptist Church. The children of this marriage were named respectively, Abraham L., Alice J. (deceased), Charles F. and Emma B. The latter died in 1865, when twelve days old. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Sept. 27, 1868, was formerly Mrs. Elizabeth (Staten) Swearingen, who was 'born in St. Joseph Township, this county. Jan. 24, 1842, and is the daughter of Joseph Staten, of the latter-named township, who is now deceased. Of this union were born the following children : John C., David B., Saddle E., Francis B. and Elizabeth E. ; the latter died in infancy. Mr. White meddles little with political affairs, but uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, with which he became connected in 1873. He is at present a member of Homer Lodge No. 199, together with his two sons, Lincoln, and Charles. AMUEL J. REAM is senior member of the firm of Ream & Wood in, manufacturers of drain tile, near the city limits of St. Joseph, where they have a valuable plant, embrac- ing all the requisite machinery for carrying on this industry in a proper and profitable manner. Our subject is well fitted by natural talent and early training for the carrying on of an important busi- ness, and the firm has become one of the indispen- sable features of the manufacturing element of this section. The earliest recollections of Mr. Ream are of Central Ohio, where he was reared; in Union Coun- ty, and where his parents still reside. His birth, however, took place in the more southerly part of the State, near Greenfield, in Ross County, on the 10th of November, 1849. That same year his par- ents removed to Union County, where .their son, Samuel J., was reared and educated, with his six brothers and sisters, on the farm which constituted the parental homestead. The parents of our subject were Samuel and Elizabeth (Featherlin) Ream, natives of Peunsyl- f f. 928 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 1 vania, whence they both removed in early youth locating with their parents in Ross County, Ohio, where they became acquainted and were afterward married. Mr. Ream engaged moderately in farm- ing and stock-raising, and although not becoming wealthy, provided his family with all the comforts of life, and reared his children to habits of indus- try and economy, which have served them well in their battle with the world. The seven children of the parental household included four sons and three daughters, six still living, nnmety, George W., Matthias, Elizabeth; Samuel J., of our sketch; Adelia and Frank. Our subject, in endeavoring to secure an educa- tion, was frequently obliged to travel four miles in order to reach the temple of learning, which was a primitive structure of modest dimensions, and the system of learning conducted after the manner of those days, was widely different from that of the present. He remained a member of the parental household until reaching his majority, and after starting out for himself was variously engaged un- til 1879, when he came to. this county still a single man, and formed a partnership with Mr. Ira Cline- and established the business with which he is still connected. This was the first establishment of the kind in this county. Mr. Cline only remained a member of the firm for eight months, disposing of his interests in the business at the expiration of this time to Mr. John II. Swearingen. Mr. S. con- tinued twelve months, and then sold out to Taylor Moss. The latter disposed of his interest to Messrs. Wood in was married Feb. l!j, 1 (!(!, was formerly Miss Lucinda Irons, a native of Ohio, and horn in 1840. Of this union there are two sons and one daughter Lancelot T., Nathan and Cora E. The line family residence was erected in 1884, and is one of the handsomest structures in the neighborhood. It is situated on a gentle elevation commanding a fine view of the surrounding coun- try, and with its shade trees and adjoining build- ings, forms an attractive feature of the landscape. The farm is stocked with good grades of domestic animals, and eve'rythijig about the premises is kept in good style, reflecting great credit upon the taste and industry of its proprietor. Mr. Nichols has always taken an intelligent in- terest in the affairs of his township and been a man generally respected for his clear head and good judgment, lie has served as Commissioner, and with his excellent wife is a member in good stand- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has officiated as Steward and Trustee for a num- ber of years. He has built up the record of an honest man and a good citizen, and enjoys the friendship and esteem of his neighbors and ac- quaintances. R. SAMUEL N. SIMS, physician and sur- geon, of St. Joseph, occupies a worthy po- sition in his chosen profession, and enjoys the confidence of the people of his com- munity. He was born at the home of his parents near Terre Haute, Vigo Co., Ind., Dec. 3u. 1 855, and is the son of Dr. William B. and Sarah J. (Medley) Sims, who are residents of Urbana, 111.- II is father, who was born in Tennessee, Left his na- tive State when a boy of four years, and completed his education in the North. Afterward he entered the medical department of Rush College, Chicago, after which he availed himself of a higher course of instruction at Louisville, Ky. He entered upon the practice of his profession in 1869, and be- came eminently successful as a physician. The grandfather of our subject, William (J. Sims by name, was reared in East Tennessee, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and married, rearing a large family of sons and daughters, among whom the father of our subject was tenth in order of birth. The latter was married in Indiana, and remained there until coming to this State. The parental household included eight children, seven sons and one daughter, of whom Samuel of our sketch was the eldest. He received his primary education in his native township, and completed his studies in the High School at Le Roy, in. Mc- Lean County. He commenced reading medicine under the instruction of his father, and a year later entered Rush Medical College, of Chicago, where he spent six months, and afterward took his second course in the Medical College at Louisville, being graduated in 1877. He commenced the practice of his profession at St. Joseph in company with his father, who had successfully followed his profession there for a period of thirteen years. After the re- moval of the latter to Urbana the son succeeded to the business, and bids fair to become as skillful and successful as his father before him. The marriage of Dr. Sims to Miss Rosa Cusick, of Edgar County, 111., took place at the home of the bride's parents, in the spring of 1880. Mrs. Sims was born in Edgar County in 1860, and is the daughter of Abraham B. Cusick, Esq., of the latter county. Of her marriage with our subject there has been born one child, a son, Flemmer B. Of the Doctor's .brothers there are three married, the eldest of 'whom, Joseph M., residing at Veed- ersburg, Ind., is joint agent for the I., B. & W., the C. & I. C., and the T., C. & K. C. R. R. ; the sec- ond, William F., a blacksmith by trade, resides in Mayview, this county, and the third, David M., is engineer on the C. O. fl -A .j>3.-Jl A C^ TO D vOCv O U OT flflOHN TRICK, a native of Wurtemberg. many, having by courage and perseverance overcome the difficulties of pioneer life in a strange land, is now the owner of a fine farm on section 36, Sidney Township, of which he became a resident in 1856. The parents of our subject were George and Anna B. (Iliioff) Trick, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 947- The father is still living in his native country, where the mother died in 1870. John Trick, who was born Dee. 21, 1834, when twenty years of age, in 1854, started out alone to seek his fortune in a foreign land, and embarked on board the sailing-vessel William Tell, plying be- tween Havre and New York. After a stormy pas- sage of thirty-seven days, he reached his destina- tion and proceeded to Miamisburg, Ohio, where he remained employed some three months, and thence migrated to Springboro, Warren County, the same State. There he remained two years, working on a farm, and at the expiration of this time resolved to seek his fortune in the farther West. After com- ing to this county he spent several months wood- chopping, in Sidney Township, but not being satis- fied with the results of his labor there, removed to Urbana, and obtained employment in a sawmill, where he continued ten mouths. He then returned to Sidney and engaged in farming for Paul Lny- botirn, with whom he remained three and a half years. In August, 1861, Mr. Trick enlisted in Co. I, 2d 111. Vol. Cav., and served in the Civil War for four years and six months. At the end of his third year he re-enlisted as a veteran, remaining in the ranks until the close of the war. He was present at the battles of Champion Hills and Pittsburg Landing, and in all the campaigns in which his command took part. At Liberty, Miss., he received a severe wound in the right thigh from a musket ball, which, together with the rheumatism contracted while in the army, has to some extent made him a cripple. He was mustered out in Texas, and dis- charged at Springfield, 111., in January, 1866. After the close of the war Mr. Trick returned to the scenes of his former labors, and on the 29th of January, 1867, was married to Miss Jeanette, daughter of Abel and Emeline (Tanner) Laybourn. The parents of Mrs. Trick were both natives of New York State, but their decease occurred in Sid- ney Township, this county. The father rested from his labors on the 6th of January, 1874, and the mother Jan. 11, 1886. Our subject and his wife are the parents of four children, namely, George, born Dec. 27, 18G7; John and Nettie, twins, were born May 7, 1S74: John died February 10, and Nettie February 19, of the following year; Mary N., the youngest of the household, was born Nov. 28,1870. The property of our subject comprises 120 acres of finely improved land on the home farm, besides about eight acres of timber. He takes great satis- faction in noting the progress of the township, which he has assisted in building up, and has served in his school district as Director. He is a Republican politically, and with his estimable lady is \ a worthy member of the Methodist Church. J"~ OSEPH CODDINGTON, a successful farmer, residing on section 12, Sidney Township, is the son of Benjamin and Delilah (Thomas) Coddington, natives of Ohio. His father, who was also a farmer, was born in 1823, and died April 13, 1865, in Sidney Township. His mother was born in 1824, and is still living on the home farm. Joseph was the eldest of a family of nine children, comprising three boys and six girls. He was born in Sidney Township in 1843, and on the 23d of November, 1871, was married to Miss Clara McElroy. Mrs. C. is the eldest daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Franklin) McElroy, natives of Ohio, but living in Sidney Township, this county. Their family consisted of six children, three boys and three girls, and their daughter Clara was born in or near Marietta, Ohio, July 13, 1853. To Mr. and Mrs. Coddiugton three children were born Grant, Essie May and Mary Delilah. The two elder are now deceased. Our subject, during the late war, enlisted May 14, 1864, for 100 days, and was detailed to guard duty for the Government at Rock Island. After having served more than his full time, he was mustered out at Camp Butler, about Sept. 16, 1864, and returning to Sidney Township, remained there some ten years. In 1874 he removed his family to Mitchell County. Kan., intending to permanently locate there, but a few of the cyclones incident to that region induced him within a few days to re- turn to Illinois, where he has since remained. Mr. Coddington, socially, is an honored mem- ber of the G. A. R., and as a citizen, interested t. k 948 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 in the public welfare, he has successfully filled the offices, of Road Commissioner and School Director. lie. owns a finely cultivated farm of eighty acres, with five acres of timber land, and in addition to general farming, gives special attention to the rais- ing of Poland-China hogs. The management of hi.s farm is carried on systematically, and aided by the most approved machinery. Our subject and his estimable wife are members in high standing of the United Brethren Church, in which Mr. C. is Class-Leader and also Assistant Superintendent of the Union Sunday-school. He is a man of integrity and enjoys the respect and confidence of his community, to whose moral and educational welfare he has always contributed by all the means in his power. A. PORTERFIELD, a gentleman in the prime of life, and a prosperous farmer and stock-grower of Sidney Township, owns a quarter of section 9, which he has embellished with a home-like country residence, and good out-buildings. He occupies himself prof- itably in general farming and stock-raising, and is a fair example of the prosperous agriculturist of Central Illinois. Mr. Porterfield was born in Arm- strong County, Pa., Nov. 7, 1843, and is the son of R. G. and Hannah (Campbell) Porterfield (see sketch of L. C. Porterfield). Our subject was a youth of nineteen years at the outbreak of the Rebellion, and in 1864 enlisted in the 78th Pennsylvania Infantry. He gave one year to the service of his country, and then at the close of the war was mustered out at Harrisbur"-, o 1 Pa., and returning home, again took -up the imple- ments of husbandry, which he has since followed. He remained in his native State two years after- ward, and in 1867 migrated to the West, settling in this county, with whose interests he has since been identified. In 1871, when [twenty-nine years of age, Mr. Porterfield was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Williams. Her parents were natives of Ohio, and came to Illinois about 1865. Their family included six children Cyrus, Elizabeth, Clara, J. age. T., Mamie, and one who died in infancy. To .Mr. and Mrs. Porterfield were born four children Ed- ward, now deceased; Robert Z., Nellie B., and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Porterfield departed this life in 1880. Our subject has held the office of School Director, and is a citizen generally inter- ested in the welfare and prosperity of his adopted count}' and township. At home he is kind and hospitable, and in every relation in life performs his part in a praiseworthy manner. Religiously he is a member and one of the Trustees of the Methodist Church, and in politics is a straight Re- publican. AVID S. MOORE, who occupies the old homestead of his father, on section 36, Hensley Township, has been a resident of this county since a boy fifteen years of He was born in Goshen, Hampshire Co., Mass., Aug. 5, 1845. His father, Abner C. Moore, was born in the same town, Sept. 21, 1807. His grandfather. Shepard Moore, was a native of Brookfield, Worcester Co.. Mass., whence he re- moved to Hampshire County during its first settle- ment. He purchased logs and put up a house, commenced to clear away the timber, and in due time built up a comfortable home. The locality where he settled is now known as Moore's Hill. There he and his excellent wife spent the remainder of their lives. Of the five children in the parental family, Ab- ner C. was the youngest. He was reared on the farirf, remaining with his parents until after his marriage. The young town covered quite an area of ground, and Abner Moore purchased a tract of land within its limits. Upon what was once his property is now situated the reservoir fed from Mill River, which supplies water for the mills which manufacture various cotton and woolen goods. Here also stood, originally, a small saw- mill, which Mr. Moore put in good repair, and sub- sequently converted the structure into a broom- handle and button factory. The buttons were made of wood, and designed to be covered with cloth. Mr. Moore was a natural mechanic, and in- vented two valuable machines for the cutting of buttons. In 1851 he sold out his interest in that I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 949 vicinity, anil decided to try his fortunes in the West. Getting together his household goods, with his wife and seven children, he started for the Prairie State, and after arriving within its limits, purchased a farm in Benton Township, Lake Coun- ty. He lived there until 1857, when he sold out, and removing to Racine County, Wis., was a resi- dent of the Badger State three years. In 1860 he sold his property there, and coming to this county, located first on a farm near Linn Grove, which he rented .one year. The year following he removed to Rantoul, living there on a rented farm for one year, and then purchased the farm in Hens- ley Township upon which our subject now resides. The land at the time of its purchase by Mr. Moore was entirely uncultivated. The father, however, was cut down in his prime, dying on the 28th of -March, 1863. The mother of our subject, who before her mar- riage was Miss Luena P. Slack, was born in North- ampton, Mass., Jan. 18. 1803, and was united in marriage with Abner Moore in 1829. Her father, David Slack, was born in Killingly, Conn., Dec. 11, 1771, and was the son of Christopher Slack, a na- tive of the same State and one of. the first settlers of Northampton. He located in what is now the north part of the city, and died there at a ripe old age. David Slack removed to Southampton in 1807, and after a residence there of thirty years, sold out and returned to Northampton. He after- ward came West with his daughter, Mrs. Moore, and died at her home in Racine County, Wis., April 28, 1859. His wife, to whom he was married Jan. 11, 1799, was Anna Pomeroy. She was born May 17, 1774, and died in Northampton, Aug. 16, 1845. They had three children; the eldest died in infancy. Her father was Caleb Pomeroy. His fa- ther's family contained five sons and three daughters, all of whom, with the exception of one son, grew to maturity, married, and had large families of their own. The son mentioned. Caleb by name, was drowned when a young man. The surviving chil- dren settled around their father in South or East- hampton, and all engaged in farming pursuits. The Pomeroy s, like their ancestors, were very strict in the observance of the Sabbath and other religious matters. Sabbath commenced at sunset on Saturday, at which time all work was laid aside until sunset on Sunday, when work for the follow- ing week commenced. The people went a great many miles to "meeting" on horseback, the men riding on the saddle and the women on a pillion be- hind, in the days when Jonathan Edwards, who lived at Northampton, was the popular preacher of New England. Their text-books were the Bible, the Psalter, Watts' psalms and hymns, and the Catechism; Caleb Pomeroy, the great-grandfather of our subject, settled with his brother, Elijah, in the north- ern part of Northampton, Mass., in 1760, and there built up a home from the primitive soil, cultivat- ing the land and setting out fruit trees. Elijah be- came the father of a son, Samuel, the father of ex- Senator Pomeroy, of Kansas. The latter was a second cousin of Mr. Moore of our sketch. Sena- tor Pomeroy was the youngest in a family of seven children, all living but one ; he is seventy-one years of age and a resident of Washington City. This distinguished gentleman learned his letters and " spoke his first piece " at the school with 'Abner Moore, when both were boys together. The first representatives of the Pomeroy family in this country, settled first at Roxbury, Mass., whence, after a few years, they removed to Windsor, Conn. The mother of our subject was educated in the public schools of Southampton, and commenced teaching when nineteen years old. She first re- ceived seventy-five cents per week and "boarded around." While teaching at Goshen, this lady met her future husband, Abner C. Moore. She is still living and in full possession of her mental faculties. Both she and her husband were members of the Congregational Church. They became the parents of seven children, of whom the record is as follows: Fannie C. became the wife of E. O. Stephens, and lives in Champaign; Ann, Mrs. Jewett, is a resi- dent of Coffey County, Kan. ; Julia P., Mrs. Mow- rey, lives at Philo, 111. ; Chancey is deceased ; Edna E., Mrs. DeLong, and Sarah U., Mrs. Hazen, are residents of Sidney Township; David S., of our sketch, was the youngest of the family. The son, Chancey, was born July 1, 1837. During the prog- ress of the late war he enlisted as a Union soldier 950 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. i in 1863, becoming a member of Co. D., 1-2(1 III. Vol. Inf. He was fatally wounded at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and died soon afterward, be- ing buried in the National Cemetery at Chatta- nooga. Although our subject was but six years of age when his parents removed from his native State, he distinctly remembers his old home in the East and many incidents connected with the removal hither. He was never separated from his parents until the affliction .which deprived him of the society of his father, and has lived with his mother since that time. He assisted in the improvement of the homestead in Hensley Township, which they set- tled upon in 1861, and where he has continuously lived since that time. After reaching his twenty- first year he was united in marriage, Sept. 6, 1866, to Miss Nancy Alice Dunham, who was born in Cass County, Ind., Sept. 6, 1845, and is the daugh- ter of John and Matilda (Griffin) Dunham. The parents of Mrs. Moore were natives of Ohio, whence they removed and were among the earliest settlers of Cass County, lud. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore there have been born two children Grace I. and Grant E. Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Moore affiliates with the Republican party. ORT1MKR SMITH, farmer and tile manu- facturer at Homer, came to Danville, this State, in 1855, where he remained two years, then took up his abode in the com- munity which now claims him as one of its most valued factors. He is largely identified with its industrial interests, and is also of no small impor- tance as a farmer, being the possessor of 700 acres of land, with good buildings and farm implements. Upon corning here his first purchase consisted of 400 acres of land, upon which little improvement had been made. At that time the city of Joliet was the only point of competition in connection with the manufacture of tile. He established his factory in 1867, and has turned out from twenty to sixty miles of tiling each year, looking first to the improvement of his own property, which has been thoroughly drained, tile being laid four rods apart all over the farm. In this institution he placed the latest and most improved machinery, and having his work done thoroughly and well, stands second to none in this industry as carried on in the Prairie State. His farming operations also have been conducted upon an extensive scale, much of his attention being given to the breeding of fine cattle, mostly Jerseys. Of these he has fifty head, together with the same number of Poland- China hogs, besides a number of fine horses. The history of Mr. Smith furnishes an excellent example for young men just embarking in the field of active life, of what may be accomplished by a man beginning poor, but honest, prudent and in- dustrious. Mr. Smith came to Illinois with about $150 in cash, and the present value of his property is estimated at $50,000. He has made profitable in- vestments, become interested in remunerative enter- prises, and combines strictness of moral principle with energy and decision of character. He is fa- vored with a good physical constitution, mostly- due to his temperate habits of life and the con- sciousness of having gained what he possesses by fair means and in the ordinary course of a success- ful business life. In viewing the career of such a man we naturally look to the source from whence he drew his origin. The parents of our subject. William and Julia (Ransom) Smith, were both descendants of excel- lent families, the former a native of Lancashire, England, and the latter born in the Empire State. The birth of William Smith occurred in the early part of 1801, and that of the mother of our subject in 1806. The former spent the early part of his life in his native country, where he learned the trade of a machinist, afterward engaging in the manufacture of cotton, woolen and silk, and npon coming to this country established a silk factory at Salem, Ind. He died, however, before scarcely reaching his prime, on the 31st of July, 1849, while a resident of Hanover, Ind. The mother is still living, having arrived at the advanced age of nearly eighty-two years, and is in the enjoyment of good health. For many years she has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and as a wife, mother and f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 951 , . friend has fulfilled creditably the various duties of life. The children forming the parental household were named, Oliver, George W., Milton, Mary E., William II. 11., Francis and Louis. They, together with our subject, were provided with as good an ed- ucation as the schools of those days afforded, which was necessarily somewhat limited. Mr. Smith was united in m-irriage with Miss Jennie Trisler. Mrs. Smith was born in Danville, this State, and is the daughter of Samuel Trisler, who was formerly a resident of Kentucky, but is now deceased. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, who were named respectively, Julia, William, Mary, Charlie, Jennie, Nellie, Roy and Clara. The latter died in infancy. Notwithstanding his usually successful career, Mr. Smith, in 1879, met with a severe loss by fire, involving the destruction of a steam flouring-mill. which was valued at 6,000, with no insurance. With the persistency, however, which is one of the essential points in his character and has been the secret of his success, he lost no time bemoaning his misfortune, but proceeded with his other busi- ness, to which he gave his undivided attention, with the result already stated. Politically. Mr. Smith gives his support to the Republican party. He presents in all respects the character of a well- bred gentleman, enjoying the confidence of his friends and the esteem of his neighbors. He has performed the duty of a wise father to his chil- dren, providing them with all the advantages of education. \EV. F. A. LUEDECKER, pastor of the Ger- man Evangelical Church, the building of which is located on section 28, in Sidney )Townsliip, occupies a comfortable country home not far away, on section 33. He is of Ger- man birth and parentage, having been born in the^ city of Berlin, Feb. 7, 1850. His parents were Martin and Caroline (Wellgast) Lnedecker, the former of whom died in his native land in 1854, when our subject was a child four years of age. Fifteen years later the mother emigrated to the United States, and is still living in Kane County, 111. Martin Luedecker was a cooper by trade. Our subject received his early education in the common schools, and later attended Mapleville and the Northwestern Colleges, from which he was graduated and admirably fitted for the duties be- fore him. He married Miss Amelie Madenwold, who was born in this county Jan. 24, 1862, and is the daughter of Charles and Minnie (Lange) Madenwold, who were of German birth and parent- age and are still living, making their home with our subject. Of this marriage there were born four children Anna, Fedie, Herbert and Carl. The church over which our subject presides in- cludes thirty-eight families, making a congregation of about 200. They have a catechism class,, with a good attendance, and the day school three months in each year. This forms an excellent community of praiseworthy citizens, and the presiding minister is eminently fitted for his responsible position. HARLES W. GIBSON, a valued member of the farming community of Ogden Town- ship, is comfortably located on section 30, where he owns 120 acres of land and is largely en- gaged in the breeding of Poland-China hogs. He came to this State in 1863, and commenced life in a modest manner, and by the exercise of diligence and industry is now in possession of a good home- stead and surrounded by all the comforts of life. Mr. Gibson, a native of Bates County, Mo., was bom Nov. 10, 1854. His parents, John W. and Nancy J. (Hartman) Gibson, were natives respect- ively of Ohio and Illinois. John W. Gibson was born in 1829, and departed this life at his home in Champaign, in September, 1 875. He was a farmer by occupation and served as a Union soldier daring the late war, being a member of the 25th Ohio In- fantry, and giving three years and seven months to his country. He was mostly in the Army of the Cumberland, and suffered in common with his brother soldiers the privations of army life, by which he contracted a serious illness and was for three years an inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio. The mother of our subject was born L t 952 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. in 1836, married in 1855, and is still living. She has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. The parental household included four children John A., Ellen, Emily, and Charles W., of our sketch. Our subject, after arriving at years of manhood was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Cannon, Feb. 20, 1876. Mrs. G. is a native of this State and was born Dec. 12. 1856. Her parents were John and Keziah (Booue) Gannon, the former a native of Delaware and the latter of Illinois. Her father was born in 1831, has followed farming all his life, and is now a resident of Kansas. He is esteemed a worthy citi/.en, and is a consistent mem- ber of the Christian Church. The mother, who was born in 1839, passed away hi 1879. The three children of the parental household were named respectively, Mary, Jennie and Sarah L., and all are married. Mr. a'nd Mrs. Gibson have three children, namely, Minnie E. F., born in 1876; Frederick, in 1880, and Grace J., Jan. 17. 1883. The homestead of our subject includes a handsome dwelling, and good barn, and one of the attractive features of the place is a spring of living water with which the proprietor would not part for hundreds of dollars. His early advantages were extremely limited but he was possessed of much natural ability and has kept his eyes open to what is going on around him. He has now accumulated a good property and can afford to live in comparative ease. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and socially a member of Homer Lodge No. 252, I. O. O. F. ^EBASTIAN DILL. The subject of this sketch was born near Nurembnrg, Ger- many, of which, from the many interesting historical events connected with it. a brief reference may not be uninteresting. It was found- ed in the year 905, and thirty-two years later was the seat of the first German Diet, familiarly asso- ciated with the movements of the reformer Mar- tin Luther, whose doctrines its inhabitants em- braced at an early day. In 1805, during the wars of the great Napoleon, it became a Province ot Middle Franconia, an old Grand Duchy of Ba- varia. It was once the greatest and most wealthy of all the free imperial cities of Germany, standing on a well-cultivated plain and presenting a very striking appearance, its characteristic feature being the venerable air of antiquity which invests it. It is surrounded by walls and battlements, the chief edifices being the Reichsveste, an old imperial cas- tle often occupied by the German Emperors of the middle ages; the Church of St. Sebald, with fine paintings and, sculpture, and the churches of St. Laurent and St. Giles. There is also the German National Museum, including a vast number of vol- umes, with the original manuscript of famous au- thors, together with ancient coins and other antique objects of interest. The first gun carriages of Ger- many were constructed in Nuremburg, and the -first railway of the Empire was opened from there to Furth, in 1836. It is now the great center, of the manufacture of wooden clocks and toys, which are exported to all parts of the globe. It was also honored in being the birthplace of the celebrated painter, Albert Durer, whose personal character was as admirable as his genius. Our subject was born March 4, 1835, and lived amid the surroundings and scenes of this ancient city until a youth of nineteen years. He was the oldest son of Andrew and Mary (Durr) Dill, who lived in Nederrimbach, Wurtemberg, at the time of Sebastian's birth. His father was a native of Eckqarhofen, Bavaria, and became a soldier and a land policeman. The family consisted of five chil- dren. Sebastian remained under the parental roof variously employed until the age we have men- tioned, and then upon starting out to earn his own living, decided to seek his fortunes in the New World. He embarked from Havre, Easter Monday, in March, 1854, on a sailing-vessel, and landed in New York City five weeks later. Soon afterward he engaged as a farm laborer in the suburbs, but after eighteen months proceeded to the Province of Ontario, Canada, where he worked on a farm near St. Catherine's for over four years. There also his marriage took place Feb. 28, 1860. His wife was formerly Miss Rosa A. Strieker, a native of Grinschwinden, Germany, born Oct. 12, 1841. She emigrated to America with her parents when I CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 953 thirteen years of ago. She is the (laughter of John and Kosina (Kohler) Strieker, natives of Ger- many, who, after crossing the ocean, located in Ontario, and are now living in Duart, Upper Can- ada. Their sons and daughters were named respect- ively, Rosina, Mary, Margaret, Frederick, Freder- ica, Catherine, John (first and second) both de- ceased, George, Anna and Ragina. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dill settled on a farm in Ontario, where they remained five years, and then decided upon a removal to the States. They crossed the Canadian line on the night of April 15, 1865, and the first news that greeted them the following morning was the assassination of President Lincoln. Mr. Dill proceeded westward into this county, and purchased forty acres of wild land on the Illinols'Central Railroad, on section 4, in Compromise Township, where he first put up a small house, and as soon as possible began the im- provement and cultivation of his land. Not long afterward he increased the amount of his real es- tate by eighty acres, and occupied this farm five years. Thenoe he moved into Harwood Township, where he continued farming, and in about 1876, began to deal in grain and coal in the village. This was one of the stations on the Havana, Rantonl & Eastern Railroad, now a branch of the Illinois Cen- tral, and Mr. Dill, with commendable forethought, purchased quite a tract of land around, and erected first a store building, and soon afterward an eleva- tor. His merchandising and grain business opened up prosperously, and he soon secured a post-office, which at first was known as Harwood, but in Au- gust, 1881, was changed to Dillsburg in honor of our subject. Of this he was the first Postmaster, which office he has held since that time, and is also Station Agent, besides doing the business of the American Express Company. Mr. Dill added to his estate by subsequent pur- chase, forty acres adjoining the village, and on a part of which it stands, and has been busily en- gaged in building up the town and encouraging settlement since that time. It will thus be seen that he has been no unimportant factor among the business interests of Harwood Township, whose citizens hold him in the highest esteem. His polit- ical inclinations are with the Republican party, al- though in township and local affairs he supports the man whom he esteems the best qualified for office. His elections to the offices which he has held have been on the People's ticket. He and his family are regular attendants of the Lutheran Church, of which he has been a member since 1849, and there are few religious, educational or business enter- prises in which he has not taken a prominent part and been the leading spirit in their establishment and success. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dill, eleven in number, were born as follows: Lillie A., Jan. 15, 1861; John was born June 24, 1862, and died September 16 following; Lucy C. was born Aug. 16, 1863; Clara M., Dec. 19, 1864; Andrew, March 10, 1867; Nellie M. was born Jan. 12, 1869, and died Sept. 3, 1879; William H. was born April 28, 1870; Ralph A., Jan. 5, 1882; Rosa B. and Gracte B. (twins), Oct. 9, -1884; G. Clyde, Aug. 17, 1886. The eldest daughter, Lillie, became the wife of John Taulman, w\}O is now deceased ; she now makes her home in Kansas City, Mo.; her one child, William II., lives with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Dill. Two of the daughters, Lucy and Clara, attended the Academy of the Sisters of Providence near Terre Haute, lud., and afterward entered St. Mary's Institute there, where the}' took a full course of music, drawing, painting and em- broidery, acquitting themselves with great credit. Many specimens of their work now adorn the home of their parents and are the admiration of all their friends. The sons, Andrew and William, after their primary studies were over, entered the Busi- ness College at La Fayette, Ind., where they com- pleted the full commercial course, and have since learned telegraphy with the intention of following this as a business. The grandfather of Sebastian Dill was a mason by trade, and lived in Eckqarhofen, where his son, Andrew, the father of our subject, was born Oct. 21, 1799. The latter was a weaver -by trade, and was drafted into the Bavarian army Feb. 7, 1821. He served six years to a day, and on the 1st of April. 1827, enlisted in what is known as the Land- wher, and continued as a soldier until April 1, 1833, another period of six years, when he received his honorable discharge. The following year, f 4*- 954 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. March 6, 1834, he was married, and in due time became the father of five children: Sebastian, of our sketch, was the first born ; Margaret died when about five or six weeks old; Michael, who was born June 20, 1840, lives on the old homestead; John was born Aug. 6, 1843; Leonard was born Feb. 1 '2, 1849, and emigrated to America, reaching this country July 24, 1869. He made his home with his brother. Sebastian, until October, 1874; then went to California, and after traveling around considerably in different parts of the West, finally settled at Spokan Falls, Wash. Ty., where he owns a half section of land. ENRY P. CORNELIUS. During the early settlement of Central Illinois there came from Kentucky a hardy band of pioneers. That State not only took the lead as to the time of sending its sturdy sons and devoted daugh- ters to settle in the beautiful woodlands which skirted the broad prairies of this section, but in the number of its pioneers it excels all other States. It was the characteristic Kentucky hospitality that won for the pioneers such an enduring reputation in this respect, and made life on the frontier happy. We have as our subject one of these vet- eran Kentucky pioneers, who, although not an early settler of Champaign County, is a pioneer of this part of the State. He now lives in Brown Town- ship, where he is the proprietor of a good homestead on section 16, and employs the greater part of his time superintending the cultivation of 160 acres of improved land. He took up his abode here -in 1882, and although not classed among the pioneers of this township, has by his age, experience and most excellent personal qualities, secured the re- spect and esteem of all who know him. His head has been whitened by the frosts of eighty-one win- ters, yet he possesses in a marked degree the eii- ergy of character which distinguished him in his youth. Mr. Cornelius was born within seven miles of Ilopkinsville, Christian Co., Ky., March 16,1806, and is the son of John and Martha (Profitt) Cornelius, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Virginia. After marriage they commenced life together in Christian County, Ky., where they reared a family and spent the remain- der of their days. The children of the parental family who grew up on the farm in the abwve county were eight, four of whom are now living. The subject of our sketch removed to Tazewell County, 111., in 1836, and lived there over forty- five years. He first located in [little's Grove Township, where he lived until the spring of 1877 and from there removed to Minier, where he lived five years, and thence removed to Brown Town- ship, this county, locating upon his present farm. Mr. Cornelius was first married, in his native county in Kentucky, July 17, 1828, to Miss Mary Quissenberry. who was of Southern birth and par- entage, her father and mother being natives of Vir- ginia, of which she was also a native. Of this marriage there were born nine children, whom they named as follows: John H. ; Edward, deceased; Nancy A. ; Gustavus, deceased ; Agnes, deceased ; Lin; Jesse, deceased, Mary and Levi. The wife and mother, while the family were living in Hittle's Grove Township, folded her hands for her final rest in 1845. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married in McLean County, 111., in July, 1847, was Miss Catherine Quissenberry, also a native of Christian County, Ky., born July 20, 1826. Mrs. Catherine Cornelius became the mother of eight children, all of whom are living, namely, Ann, James, Charles, Millard, Laura, George M., Ida and Julia. Mr. Cornelius is greatly opposed to the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors, and in voting upholds the principles of the Repub- lican party. E FREY, favorably known in Somer Township as a praiseworthy and law-abid- ing citizen, is a native of the Grand Duchy of Baden, and was born six miles south of Stras- burg, Aug. 16, 1846. His father, John Frey, a na- tive of the same locality, emigrated to America when our subject was a lad, and located in I'rbana, this county, in September, 1857. He took up a mm f ~T CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 955 small tract of timber hind, and experienced the usual hardships of the pioneer settler. His indus- try and perseverance, however, were in due time rewarded, and he invested his surplus capital in additional land until he became the owner of 150 acres, from the greater part of which he was obliged to clear the timber, and brought the whole to an excellent state of cultivation. The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Ursula Frank. The parental household con- sisted of two sons and two daughters. John, Jr., during the late Rebellion enlisted in Co. B, 76th 111. Vol. Inf., and participated in many of the im- portant battles of the war. He was wounded at the siege of Vicksburg, and died on the boat which conveyed the disabled from the battle-field to the hospital at Memphis, Tenn. Sarah Frey became the wife of Fred Stotli, and they reside near the old homestead ; George, of our sketch, was the youngest of the family. Mr. Frey was united in marriage with Miss Au- gusta Schaplin, and of this union there have been born four children, three daughters and one son, all living and at home with their parents. They are named respectively, Etta Augusta, Harmon Al- bert, Elizabeth and Antonia. Mr. Frey keeps him- self well posted upon local affairs, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. He has served as School Director two terms, and adheres to the doc- trines of the Lutheran Church, in which he wa.s reared from childhood. He received a good edu- cation in his native tongue, but only attended an English school two weeks. He, however, kept his eyes open to what was going on around him, and ranks among the intelligent and progressive citizens of the county. OHN ROUGHTON, a pioneer settler of Lud- low Township, has built up one of the finest homesteads within the borders of the coun- ty, to which he came in 1854, settling first in Urbana. He is a native of Derbyshire, England, where his birth took place April 5. 1819. His par- ents, Gervase and Ann (Pimm) Roughton, were natives of the same shire as their son, and the father followed the trade of a millwright the greater part of his life. lie became an expert in this business, building mills and putting up ma- chinery in the best districts of Derbyshire and Cheshire. He met his death by accident, falling against the fly-wheel of an engine, in 1851, and his remains were laid to rest in his native shire, of which he had been a resident the greater part of his life. The wife and mother, shortly after the death of her husband, emigrated to the Tinted States, accompanied by six of her eight children. After arriving here she made her home with her son, our subject, for a number of. years, but died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lydia Gascoyne, in Ohio. The brothers and sisters of our subject are lo- cated as follows, himself being the eldest: Harriett Milner still resides in England ; Thomas, during the late Civil War enlisted in Co. G, 76th 111. Vol. Inf., and- died at Natchez, Miss., while in the service; Lydia married Abraham Gascoyne, and lives near Jackson, Ohio; Mary died in England, and Henry in Streator, 111.; William Served as a Union soldier in the 25th Illinois Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga; he recovered from this, and lived to be mustered out of the army, but after returing home, was killed by a kick from one of his own horsos; Charles is a resident of Camden Coun- ty, N. J. ; Samuel lives in Urbana, this State. John Roughton, when thirteen years of age, was apprenticed to a blacksmith, whom he served until reaching his majority. He was kept steadily at work from five or six o'clock in the morning till late in the evening, receiving but his board and lodging, while his father furnished his clothing, and his mother kept this clean and in repair. When twenty-one years old he commenced life for him- self, without a cent in his pocket. He secured em- * ployment at his trade, receiving at first but eight English shillings per week, and the highest wages he ever received in England was but one guinea, or about $5 per week, out of which he boarded himself. Not being satisfied with his condition or prospects, he determined to seek his fortune in the New World. Accordingly, in the month of April. 1 ,S;"iO, he set sail from Liverpool, and lauded in New York City after a voyage of thirty days. He pro- ceeded directly to Ohio, locating at Cuyahoga Falls. t. 956 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Summit County, his entire wealth consisting of three sovereigns, and he was comparatively alone and aiiioi]i>- strangers. His first business, of course. o o was to seek employment, which he obtained at $1 per day. Our subject's early experiences, although seeming hard to the people of this day and age, were a good school and established an independence of charac- ter and self-reliance which served him well in all his after life. His master had compelled him to do his work well, and he had learned the whole busi- ness thoroughly, being an expert horseshoer as well as a skilled machinist. He worked as journeyman one year in his new location, then purchased an in- terest in the shop of his employer and continued in business at "the Falls" until 1853. He then sold out, and engaged with a contractor at Piketon, Ohio, where he removed and remained some time, and then coming to Urbana, in this county, worked as a -'jour" seven weeks and repeated his experi- ment in Ohio by purchasing an interest in the shop of his employer. A year later he abandoned black- smithing to engage in the grocery trade, which he followed until 1855. During the year last mentioned, the land reserved by the Goverment for the Illinois Central Railroad to select their grant from, was thrown upon the market, and it was found that a great many claims had been made by men who purchased in order to become actual settlers. Speculative "land sharks," as they were usually called, were hired to enter these lands and dispossess the settlers. In this strait the Supreme Court of Illinois was appealed to, which decided in favor of the speculators. The pixs-emptors then met in Champaign County and organized a protective association. Mr. Rough- ton was one of thg three appointed to select a case to carry up to the United States Supreme Court, and a tax of twenty cents an acre was levied on the land of all the pre-emptors in order to raise a fund to meet the expense of the suit. Mr. Roughton was appointed to visit these parties and take their notes. The case was carried up and decided in favor of the pre-emptors. In the fall of 1855 Mr. Roughton pre-empted the l.'ind he now owns and occupies. It was then in- cluded in Pera Township. He took possession of this the following year, and about the same time the little settlement which had been named Ran- toul was incorporated a village. Mr. R. put up a small house on his land, but soon afterward was per- suaded to move to Rantoul and establish the pio- neer blacksmith -shop of that section, which he carried on until 1 800, when he sold out. After this he repaired to Big Grove and established a shop which he operated until 1802. After vainly wait- ing in hopes that the attack upon Ft. 'Sumter would soon be followed by the dawn of peace, he enlisted in Co. G, 76th 111. Vol. Inf., and gave his services to assist in the preservation of the Union. Much of the time he was on detached duty in the ordnance department, and to whatever post he was assigned acquitted himself in a faithful and credit- able manner. He participated in the siege and capture of Ft. Blakesley and was in many other im- portant battles and minor engagements. His serv- ices as a soldier terminated in August, 1865, when he was mustered out at Galveston, Tex. Immedi- ately .afterward he set out on his return to his old home in Champaign County, and locating at Big Grove as before, carried on blacksmithing there un- til removing to Urbana the following year, where, in company with his brother Henry, he purchased a machine-shop and foundry, selling out his interest two years later and removing to the farm, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Through his excellent judgment and wise superin- tendence, this has become a model country estate, improved with fine buildings, and on all sides giv- ing evidence of the good taste and prosperity of its proprietor. Mr. Roughton was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Gilbert at Thuiiaston, Leicestershire, En- gland, in August, 1842. Mrs. R. is a native of the same shire as her husband, and the daughter of John and Ann Gilbert, who were born, married and died in England. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Roughton only one survives, a son, Reu- ben, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and \v:is but two years of age when his parents emigrated to the United States. He was reared in Ohio and this county, and married Miss Ella, the eldest daughter of Elisha and Julia A. Geiiung. They have three children Ada M., Roy John and Hazel M. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4- 957 . John Roughton and his excellent and worthy wife became members of the Universalist Church at Urbana, and while living there Mr. R. was Superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. He has been a Re- publican since becoming a voter, casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as Justice of the Peace ten years, and been Commissioner of Highways six years. In 1880 he served as Census Enumerator for Ludlow Town- ship, and the Board of School Directors would scarcely know how to get on without him, as he has met with them in rain and shine for a number of years. Besides being Overseer of Highways for many terms he has supported and encouraged every enterprise calculated for the public good. During the Grange movement he was identified with it, and is now President of the Farmers' Alliance of Rau- toul, and also President of the Rantoul Permanent Road Improvement Society, besides acting as Su- perintendent and Secretary of the Rantoul Maple- wood Cemetery Association. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, as a member of Rantoul Lodge. In 1886 Mr. Roughton took a trip across the water to the home of his childhood, and spent several months visiting among old friends and rela- tives. This episode in his life he reverts to with pleasure, but claims that there is no country equal to the United States for the freedom of its people and the excellence of its institutions. <& jjfelLLIAM CALDWELL, one of the most \f\lll thrifty f armers f Philo Township, occu- ^7N^ pies a pleasant homestead on section 2 1 . His property includes 120 acres of land, thoroughly drained with tile and supplied with all needful and convenient farm buildings. He became a resident of this county in the spring of 1881, although he has lived in the Prairie State for nearly thirl}' years. He first located in Kendall County, to which he had removed in 1858, from Wheeling, W. Va., where he was born April 24, 1831. The father of oursubject, Alexander Cald well by name, is also a native of the Old Dominion and of substantial Scotch ancestry. He married Miss Amy Whetsell, of Frajiklin County. John Cald- well, the paternal grandfather of oursubject, during the early settlement of Virginia owned a large por- tion of the land upon which the city of Wheeling now stands, and upon which the old block-house was built. He lived to see the development of the country around him, followed farming successfully, and died at a ripe old age. He had married a West Virginia lady, who also died at the old home- stead, a part of which remains in possession of Ezekiel Caldwell, an uncle of our subject. Alexander Caldwell inherited the substantial trails of his father, and became a prominent citizen of Wheeling, near which city he is still living, and is now eighty-one years of age. The mother died Ihere in December, 1869. She was an own cousin of Ihe famous hunter, Lewis Whetsell, who revenged his father's death by hunting down the redskins at every opportunity and slaying them. His father had been shot while peacefully fishing on the river bank, and before he expired had asked his son to thus avenge his death. The consequence was that Lewis Whetsell became one of the mosl crafty and successful foes of the Indians, William Caldwell was the fifth of the children born to his parents, whose family included six sons and six daughters, who are all living and married. The early life of our subject was spent under the parental roof and in attendance at the public schools. After reaching manhood he was married, Oct. 14, 1857, in his native county, to Miss Mary Shepherd. This lady became the molher. of seven children, and died al her home in Lisbon Town- ship, Kendall County, in 1870. Their two eldest sons, John and William, still continue in Kendall County, and are engaged in farming. Amanda is the wife of James Cunningham, who is employed in the War Department at Washington, D. C. ; Ad- die married Wilbur Lovingfoss, and is residing in Philo Village; Minnie, Josie and Bertie are at home. The present wife of our subject was formerly Mrs. Katie (VauBuskirk) Scofield, who was born in New York State and removed with her parents to Kendall County, 111., when a child ten years of age. She was married there to Charles Scofield, who died and left her with one child, a son, Charles, Jr. Of her union with our subject there has also f t CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. lice.'!! horn one child, a daughter, Maude. Mr. Caldwell is an uncompromising Republican, politi- cally, and his estimable lady is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. land, W. LENEY, a fine representative of his substantial Scotch ancestry, is one of the most prominent residents of Ogden Town- ship, and owns 249 acres of finely cultivated with a handsome farm residence and all the out-buildings required for the prosecution of his chosen' calling. He, however, only superintends the operation of his farm, as he some time ago retired from active labor and invested a portion of his spare capital in a stock of agricultural implements and road vehicles. His career has been distin- guished as that of a wide-awake and thorough busi- ness man, and he has been no unimportant factor in developing the resources of this section. Mr. Leney was born on the other side of the At- lantic, on the Carlisle Road near the city of Glas- gow. Scotland, March 28, 1824. His parents, John and Mary (Wallace) Leney, were natives of Scot- land and born near Edinburgh. Our subject left home when a lad twelve years of age, and set out alone on the long voyage across the Atlantic. He landed in the city of Philadelphia, whence after a residence of three months he proceeded to-the banks of the Brandy wine, and for a time was employed in a cotton-mill, and afterward, during the con- struction of a railroad from Wilmington to Dover, drove a team and made himself otherwise useful. From there he migrated to Pottsville, where he re- ceived a position as foreman over a gang of hands in the construction of the Bear Gap Railroad, and in that region spent six years. Then, going to Wil- mington, he was variously employed until he started on his journey to Ohio. Wherever he went he found but little difficulty in securing employment, and in the Buckeye State was occupied in a similar manner as before, around freight-houses and loco- motives. He finally left the town and repaired to the country, where he was employed on a farm, and in September, 1853, started for the farther West. The day after reaching Urbana he was engaged by a farmer, with whom he remained about six months, and was then employed by M. D. Coffeen at Homer to feed cattle during the winter. Afterward Mr. Leney resumed farming, and find- ing that he could without trouble make a comforta- ble living, decided to take unto himself a wife and helpmeet. The lady of his choice was Miss Mary M., daughter of Allen Poagne, who became his wife on the 3d of June, 1 859. Mrs. Leney was born in 1844, and was but little over fourteen years of age at the time of her marriage. The young people began life together on a rented farm, and two years later our subject purchased a quarter section of land upon which the village of Ogdcn is now stand- ing. With an early eye to business he laid out a portion of his purchase in town lots from which he afterward realized a handsome profits. In August, 1862, after the outbreak of the Re- bellion, Mr. Leney enlisted in the 51st Illinois In- fantry, and gave to Ids adopted country his best service until the close of the struggle. He was promoted Sergeant, and in the second day's fight at Murfreesboro was captured by the rebels and held from the 1st of January until May. After being ex- changed he, with his comrades, was sent to Annapo- lis, Md., and from there to Beaton Barracks, Mo. He was now detailed to the invalid corps, which was subsequently ordered to Indianapolis and as- signed to the duty of guarding the rebel prisoners at Camp Morton, where he remained until the close of the war, and much of the time acted as Quarter- master and had charge of the entire camp. Upon returning from the army Mr. Leney embarked in the grain business at Ogden and erected an elevator and flouring-mill at great expense. He finally sold the elevator, and the mill was destroyed by fire. He then abandoned the grain trade and established himself in the business in which he is now interested, in Ogden. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Leney, Mary E. died in infancy; George T. is married; Dora A. was married, and is now deceased; Millie A., Olive M., Frank J. and Flora S. are at home witli their parents. There were also born twins who died unnamed. The parents and two daugh- ters are members in good standing of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, of Ogden, in which Mr. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 050 Leney holds the ollices of Steward. Class-Leader and Trustee. He has also officiated as Superin- tendent of the Sunday-school many years. Politi- cally he votes the straight Democratic ticket. So- cially he belongs to Lodge No. 754, A. F. oth had removed in their youth. Here the elder Moser spent the remainder of his days, his death taking place in 1861, when sixty-six years of age. He was a good man in the broadest sense of the term, upright and honorable in all his dealings, kind and indulgent in his family, and a member of the United Breth- ren Church. Upon the organization of the Repub- lican party he identified himself with it, and ever afterward gave to it his warmest support. The mother, after becoming a widow, went to live with her children in Monroe County. Iowa, and there died about 1875, after reaching the advanced age of seventy-one years. Our subject was the fifth child of his parents, whose household included seven sons and two daughters. He was reared principally in Pike County, Ohio, and received a fair education in the common schools. He remained under the home roof until reaching his majority, then learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and after serving his apprenticeship was united in marriage with Miss Rachel A. Brill, in April, 1857. Mrs. Moser was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1828, but like her husband, was reared principally in Pike County, where her parents, Henry and Catherine Brill, lived upon a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Moser became the parents of two children Lettie, who remains at home, and Jere- miah G., a teacher in the schools of Champaign County, and who, in this calling, has been more than ordinarily successful. Our subject, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket, and is a member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Moser be- longs to the United Presbyterian Church. PATTON, although of Southern Jj parentage, is a native of Vermilion Count}', this State, where his birth took place in Georgetown, Jan. 9, 1830. His parents, Israel and Hannah (Mills) Patton, were natives of Tennessee, where his grandfather, Israel Patton, 'first opened his eyes to the light, his birth taking place in 1800, in the eastern part of the State. His family were mainly engaged in farming pursuits, and Israel < Patton after his marriage spent a short time in his native State, where his two eldest children were born, then, in 1825, emigrated to Vermilion County, 111., of which he was among the earliest pioneers. The father of our subject, however, had learned the hatter's trade in his native State, which he fol- lowed for a time in Vermilion County, but later abandoned it and took up the pursuit of agriculture. He built up a good home in Elwood Township, carefully trained his children and gave them the best advantages for education which the period and the place afforded, and closed his eyes upon the scenes of earth in the month of March, 1864. The mother only survived until December, 1865. Their ten children all lived to mature years and six still survive. Nathan Patton was the fourth child of the pa- rental family, his birth taking place five years after the removal of his father from East Tennessee. He remained under the home roof until reaching his majority and subsequently served an apprentice- ship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed in his native county for a number of years. His childhood and youth were comparatively unevent- ful, and the most important step which he took after becoming of age was his marriage, when twenty-four years old, to Miss Mary E. Beverlin, which took place in his native county, Sept. 25, 1854. His bride, the daughter of William and Rebecca ( Commons ) Beverlin, was a native of Wayne County, Ind., born June 21, 1837. The young people after their marriage crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, locating in Hardin County. While in that State Mr. Patton enjoyed an elk hunt. There came about 100 elk from Minnesota into Iowa, and the few people living there joined the sport and followed the herd until all were captured, our subject carrying off five elk as trophies of the chase. Returning to Illinois, our subject engaged in farming in Vermilion County until after the outbreak of the late war. In the spring of 1862, feeling that he had a duty to perform in assisting to preserve the Union he enlisted in Co. A. 79th 111. Vol. Inf., and for three years afterward followed the fortunes of a soldier. He met the enemy in many of the important bat- tles of the war, including, the engagements at Per- t. Ji. 966 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. ryville, Stone River, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, and in June, 18Gf>, after the surrender of Lee's army, received his honorable discharge and returned to his home and family. He had been remarkably fortunate in his army experience, receiving no serious wound and never being cap- tured by the rebels. Mr. Patton continued in Vermilion County un- til 1870, and then removed to Stanton Township in this county, where he located on a tract of land and commenced building up from the uncultivated prairie the homestead which he now owns. He labored incessantly for five years thereafter, breaking the sod, putting up fences and build- ings, and in due time had provided comfor- tably for himself and family. After twelve years, thinking that a change of scene would be beneficial both physically and mentally, he sold off his stock, rented his farm, and took a trip to Cali- fornia. He remained on the Pacific Slope eight months, and returned greatty improved in health and spirits. He decided then to retire from active labor, and selecting a snug little home in St. Joseph, took up his abode there, where he has since lived, surrounded by all the comforts of life. Mr. and Mrs. Patton have no family, but have cared for and supplied the place of parents to seven orphan children. Our subject since coming to this vicinity has closely identified himself with its local interests, being first chosen one of the Drainage Commission- ers for Union District, which comprises an area, of about six miles square. He has served as Commis- sioner of Highways, School Trustee, and in vari- ous other offices where his cool head and ripe judgment were of excellent service ir> adjusting township affairs and shaping them for the best good of the people. He is an active member of the G. A. R., belonging to St Joseph Post No. 220, and with his estimable wife has been in com- munion with the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. They, in 187G, visited the Centen- nial Exposition at Philadelphia and later took another trip to California, riding over a large por- tion of the State by private conveyance, which en- abled them to visit and view many interesting places not easily accessible to travelers depending upon a railroad train. In this respect Mr. Patton has wisely disbursed several hundred dollars, af- foijding himself and wife a pleasurable and profit- able experience. AVID T. NICHOLS is familiarly known throughout Newcomb Township as one of its most thriving farmers, and has oper- ated in that section since the fall of 1875. His property includes 200 acres of highly cul- tivated land, with good buildings and all the appliances required by the modern agriculturist. ,0ur subject is the son of Obadiah and Lovica (Thomas) Nichols, natives respectively of New Jersey and Ohio. The parental household included three sons and four daughters, and David T. was the second in order of birth. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, March 24, 1836, and remained under the home roof during his boyhood and youth, receiv- ing a fair education in the common schools. He began teaching when nineteen years old, and two years later left his native State to investigate a portion of the farther West. The spring of 1857 found him across the Mississippi, and he afterward spent six months engaged in brick-making in Iowa. He went to Kansas in the spring of 1866, and pre- pared to permanently settle in Greenwood County, but about this time came on the troubles which made a residence in that State at least very unpleasant to those who were friendly to the Union, and our sub- ject, with others, after experiencing much annoyance and considerable danger from the hostile element, returned to the more peaceable boundaries of his native State. He purchased a farm in Licking County, where he remained two years, then sold out and migrated to Coles County, 111., where he engaged in merchandising two years, then disposed of his stock of goods, and finally invested his cap- ital in land in Newcomb Township, this county, where he has since remained. Mr. Nichols while a resident of Greenwood Coun- ty, Kan., was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Smythe, on the 8th of January, 1862. Mrs. N. was born in Missouri, and by her marriage with our i CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 967 subject became the mother of one child, a daughter, who died when four months old. The mother died the following year, in March, 1863. After rcturiir ing to Ohio Mr. Nichols was again married, in Licking County, April 24, 1867, to Miss Hattie W. Eager, a native of that State. Of this union there were born four children, namely, Maude, Frank, Anna and 'Bertha. Mrs. Hattie W. Nichols de- parted this life in Newcomb Township, this county, July 25, 188-2. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Condit Township, July -2, 1885, was formerly Miss Martha J. Lennington, a native of Ohio. Both are members in good standing of the M. E. Church, and our subject, politically, is a Prohibitionist of the first water. He has been quite prominent in local affairs, and represented New- comb Township on the Board of Supervisors during the year 1886. Socially he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. While a resident of Kansas Mr. Nichols joined the State Militia, and was commissioned First Lieutenant by (Jen. Lane. The unsettled state of the country, however, caused the regiment to be dis.banded, but he after- ward served as scout, and was subsequently ap- pointed Sheriff of Greenwood County, being the first official to serve there in that capacity. He was afterward re-elected twice and also served as Coun- ty Clerk, which office he abandoned to return to the Buckeye State. I;ILLIAM C. CUSTER, proprietor of a good IJI livery stable in the town of Homer, is car- rying on business successfully, keeping about twelve head of good roadsters, with a choice assortment of buggies and carriages. He is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in Fayette Coun- ty, Jan. 8, 1841. His parents, Jacob M. and Eliza- beth (Ocheltrce) Custer, were natives of Virginia, whence they removed to Ohio early in life and thence, in the fall of 1848, to Vermilion County, this State. They lived there until the spring of 1856, then came to Homer, this county, and the father erected the first hotel building in the town, which was known as the "Homer House." He officiated as "mine host" three years, and in 185 1 J purchased a farm near the town limits, to which he retired and spent the remainder of his life. Our subject was the fourth child of his parents, whose family circle included six sons and three daughters, named respectively, Margaret J., Martha E., Mary E., William C., John M., James F., George O., Jacob A. and Benjamin M. One daugh- ter and two sous are now deceased. Young Custer remained under the parental roof during his boy- hood and youth, and at the outbreak of the Rebel- lion had not quite reached his majority. On the 10th of August. 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 26th 111. Vol. Inf., and served as a private and non- commissioned officer until April, 1865, when he was made Second Lieutenant. At the expiration of his first term of enlistment he re-entered the ranks as a veteran and served until the close of the war. His first introduction to the rebels was at the battle of New Madrid', Mo., and he next en- gaged with them at Point Pleasant. From there the regiment proceeded by steamer to Pittsburg Landing, and Mr. Custer was afterward present at the siege of Corinth. The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Maria L. Noble. They occupy a snug dwelling, and en- jo}' the respect and confidence of many friends. d IjfclLLIAM McCLELLAND, who is a resi- \r\J// dent of Hensley Township, is pleasantly lo- VJy^B cated on section 11, where he has a good farm of eighty acres, which he purchased in 1876. Upon this he has made great improvements since lie took possession of it. having enlarged the dwell- ing and brought the land to a line state of cultiva- tion, so that it now yields in abundance the products for which the Prairie State is universally known. Our subject was born in Erie County, Pa., Dec. 10, 1852, of which county his grandfather, Robert McClelland, was one of the earliest pioneers. The latter was born in Cumberland County, Pa.. May 17. 1774, and when a young man went into Erie County and pre-empted a tract of Government land in the wilderness, from which he cleared a good farm, established a comfortable home, and , , 968 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. there spent the last years of his life. He died June 9, 1838. He had married and reared a family, among whom was Thomas, the father of our subject, who was born three miles from the city of Erie, in 1 802. He was reared on the farm and inherited 150 acres of land from his father's estate. He pos- sessed in a large degree the energy and enterprise for which Robert McClelland was noted, and carried on fanning operations successfully until about eighteen years ago, when he removed to the city of Erie, where he and his wife are passing the declin- ing years of their lives in the enjoyment of a com- petency. The mother of our subject before her marriage was Miss Mary Fisk, a native of Oneida County, N. Y. She is a lady of great personal worth and well fitted to be the companion of such a man as her husband. William McClelland spent his childhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' boys, at- tending the district schools in winter and assisting his father on the farm in the summer. He re- mained under the home roof until eighteen years of age, and then entered the employ, first of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Company, and later the Lake Shore. After three and one-half years occupied in railroading he came west to Illinois, and purchased the farm on which he now resides. Mr. McClelland was married first in 1873, to Miss Mary Brailey, who was born in Erie Comity Pa., and was the daughter of William and Louisa (Cogle) Brailey. This lady became the mother of three children Bert, Louisa and Gardie and de- parted this life Oct. 9, 1880. Our subject was the second time married, Feb. 22, 1882, to Miss Nettie, the daughter of William and Mary (Barney) Hensley. Mr. McC. is Republican in politics. TEr^""^ ^ ~ R. JOHN D. MANDEVILLE was the fourth and youngest son of Elijah and Huldah (Denton) Mandeville, there being ten chil- dren in the family, six girls and four boys. Seven are now living, one son having died in in- fancy, one, Clinton J., in the War of the Rebellion, and one daughter, Sarah, in middle life. Elijah Mandeville, tlie father of John D., was of German descent, and was born in Seneca County, Is'. Y., Dec. 9, 1802. In 1825 he was married to Huldah Den ton, of the same county, and they re- sided there until 1858, when they removed to Champaign County, 111., where they lived the rest of their days. She died Oct. 15, I860, aged about sixty, and he died Oct. 10, 1885, having nearly completed his eighty-third year. Religiously, they were Congregationalists, and were active, consistent members of that church for nearly sixty years, being close Bible students and firm believers in all the promises contained therein. Politically he -was a Whig and later a Republican; He was know far and near for his strong anti- slavery views, and he lived to see the shackels torn from 4,000,000 bondsmen, and his views endorsed by a large majority of the American people. He gave two of his sons, Clinton J. and John D., to the service of their country in the late War of the Rebellion, the former dying at Carrolton, La. His son, John D. Mandeville, the subject of this sketch, was born Dec. 18, 1844, in the town of Romulus, near Ovid Village, Seneca Co., N. Y. He resided there until he was fourteen years of age, when he removed with his parents to Champaign County, 111., where he has since resided, attending and teaching school, and pursuing the study of medicine under Dr. W. H. Hess, of Homer. He entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, in the fall of 1867. air! graduated from there in the spring of 1875. In the spring of 1882 he returned to the same college, and took a post-graduate degree. In the spring of 1887 he took a post-graduate course in New York City. He began the practice of his profession in the village -of Philo. 111., in March, 1868, and lias continued it till the present time. Dr. Mandeville enlisted twice as a soldier in the service of his country during the War of the Re- bellion, and offered his services the third time but was rejected. He first served in the 67th Illinois Infantry, and afterward in the 133d Illinois Infantry. Dr. Mandeville was married to Elizabeth W., daughter of Henry and Lydia Michener, of Homer, 111., May 7, 1868. She was an excellent and amia- ble woman, and beloved by all who knew her. Two daughters, Myrtle O. and Libbie E., were born to them, the mother departing this life Dec. 31, 1870. f CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 969 Oh June 12, 1878, he was again married, this time to Martha A.. daughtc>r of Ames and Relief Burr, of Worthington, Mass. Two daughters, Helen Ruth and Hazel Dentun, were born to them, and they continue to reside in their pleasant home in the village of Philo. Our subject's religious views are of the Presbyter- ian faith and order, and since his residence in Philo he has been connected with the Presbyterian Church there. Vw/OHN PENFIELD, of Rantoul, is held in the highest respect by his entire community as one of its most reliable citizens. His life allf l character have been such as to command the friendship and admiration of all who know him, being a kindly, genial gentleman, faithful to his friends, of strict integrity as a business man, and of the highest value as a citizen. O The earliest years of our subject were spent in Rutland County, Vt., where he was born, Sept. 23, 1824. His father, Horace Penfield, was a saddler by trade, and married Miss Caroline Chandler, a native of his own State. Some years later they re- moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., established a perma- nent home, and there his death occurred in 1864- The mother of our subject is still living, being an intelligent old lady of eighty-three years. Of the 'ten children of the family, only four are now living. Our subject completed his education at St. Al- ban's Academy, and at an early age engaged in teaching. He afterward took up the trade of his father and worked as a harness-maker for about ten years, mostly in Kalamazoo, Mich. He became a resident of this county in 1856, locating first upon land which was subsequently platted and became a part of the town of Rantoul. Upon coming here he purchased a considerable extent of land and carried on farming and stock-raising for a number of years. He afterward became largely interested in the Narrow-Gauge Railroad, which has proved a valuable investment. He was the first permanent settler of Rantoul. and seinns to be indispensable to its happiness and best interests. Mr. Peufield was married first at Kalamazoo, Mich., to Miss Lydia Hays, who was a native of that city, and who became the mother of one child, a daughter, Annie C., now the wife of Charles Kstep, of Rosedale, Kan. Mrs. Penfield departed this life in March, 1857, and our subject, in the fall of 1859, was married to Miss Lucy K. Wigh. of Whitehall, N. Y. The four children born of this marriage were Eugene W., John H., Lucy B. and Fred W. The home of our subject in Ran ton 1 is the resort of the cultivated people of the city, and its hos- pitable doors open to a wide circle of friends- and acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members in good standing of the Episcopal Church, in which the former has held the office of Senior Warden for many years. ffi UDGE J. W. SIM, of Urbana, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Nov. 1, 1831, and is the sou of Joseph W. and Catura (Mercer) Sim, natives of Maryland. The father was ^-^-^-- a harness- maker by trade, and in May, 1831, re- moved from his native State to Ohio. Finding but little call there for the products of his trade, he engaged in farming, and remained for over twenty years. In the spring of 1854 he sold out, and coming to this State purchased a farm near Ur- bana, which he occupied until 1863, then moving into the city remained there until his death, in 1864. The mother survived her husband ft ve years, dying in 1869. Joseph W. Sim was originally a Henry Clay Whig, but later a Republican. The parental fam- ily included eleven children, of whom only five are now living, namely, Mrs. Cassandra Marriott, of Somer Township; Mrs. Mary A. Reed, of Cham- paign Township; William S., a druggist at Urbana. Judge J W. of our sketch, and Mrs. Catura Heis- ler, of Blunt, Dak. Our subject remained on the farm with his par- ents until twenty-two years old, and supplemented his common-school studies by attendance at a sem- inary. When nineteen years of age he commenced teaching, and was thus employed two winters in Ohio. After coming to this State he hail charge ' I *--J 1 * 970 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. of the public schools in Urbana for six months, and the following spring commenced reading law with Col. W. N. Coler. He was admitted to practice in the spring of 1 856. and formed a partnership -with his preceptor, which continued two years. He re- mained alone for two years following, until 1800, and then associated himself with Judge Cunning- ham for a year, when he abandoned law and en- gaged in farming adjacent to the town limits until the fall of 1867. He was then elected Judge of the County Court for a term of four years, after which he resumed his law practice, in which he has continued since that time. He was elected Mayor of Urbana in 1864, which office tie held two terms, has been Alderman three terms, and is at present a member of the County Board of Supervisors. He has been prospered in his various undertakings, has a good farm in Urbana Township and property in the city. He affiliates with the Republican party, and socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F. Judge Sim was married, June 25, 1857, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of Col. W. M. and Elizabeth (Bush) Busey, who were natives of Kentucky. Of this union there have been born four children, all living, namely, Cora A., Mrs. McClurg, of Urbana, Catura K., Mary ft. and Annie M. The family residence is on Green street, where its hospitable doors are open to the best residents of the city. ENRY D. CORLIES, late an extensive far- mer of Ran ton 1, is now retired from active labor, and occupies a comfortable residence in the town, where he is enjoying the fruits of his early labors and the society of many friends. His earliest recollections are of a modest home in Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., N. J., where he began life on the 15th of June, 1841. His father, Henry D., Sr., was a native of New York City, and his grandfather, Benjamin F. Corlies, was born in New York State and was of English ancestry. lie carried on the business of a merchant many years in his native county, and finally removed to Shrews- bury, N. J., where he spent his last years in retire- ment. His death took place at the .home of his son in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He was distinguished by his kindly Christian character and his benevolence, which was illustrated in his assistance given to the poor and needy. He belonged to the Society of Friends, and possessed in a marked degree the peculiar characteristics of that sect. He was greatly prospered in his business affairs and retired upon a competency. Before his death he had distributed a large portion of his property among the poor. Henry 1). Corlies, Sr., the father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native city, and early in life evinced a love for the sea, which he followed in his earlier years as commander of a vessel. He died on shipboard in the Gulf of Mexico in 1841. He had married, in early manhood, Miss Abigail Hall, who was born in New York State, and now resides in _the city of Auburn. The four children of the parental family were : Benjamin F., now a resident of New York City; George, who lives in Ohio; Charles, a resident of Thackery,!!!., and our subject. The latter was but an infant when his father died, and was nine years of age when his mother removed from his native city to Cuyuga County, N. Y. He there grew to manhood, in the meantime attending the district school and also the Friends' Academy at Long Island. Our subject remained a member of his mother's household until twenty years of age, then repaired to Crawford County, Pa., where he engaged in farming three years. He then decided to seek his fortune in the farther West, and in 1865 came to this county and secured possession of 1,136 acres of land, located partly in Harwood Town- ship. It was wild, uncultivated prairie, but he immediately commenced its improvement and erected a good set of buildings on section 36. In time he had brought the entire tract to a good state of cultivation and planted eight miles of hedge. In addition to general farming he also en- gaged quite extensively in stock-raising. He lived upon this place, however, but eighteen months, then took up his residence in Rantoul, where he has since resided and has turned over the cultiva- tion of his land to other parties. Mr. Corlies was married, Oct. 8, 1862, to Miss Salina Smith, who is a native of Middlefield, Wor- cester Co., Mass., and was born May 9, 1841. Her t. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 971 father, Sylvester Smith, was ;i native of the same State and was a farmer by occupation. He removed from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania in 1842 and located on a farm in Crawford County, where he still resides and which he has now occupied for forty-live years. His wife in her girlhood was Miss Julia Stevens, also a native of the Bay State. Their six children were named respectively, Edson, Fi- delia, Julia, Amanda, Sylvester and George. Five of these died in infancy, Mrs. Corlies being the only one living. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Episcopal Church, and Mr. Corlies, politically, is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. E. LITTLER, one of the rising young men of Urbana, was born Nov. 22, 1863, in the county where he now resides. Horace (Ireeley once said, that to be born in New York State and afterward become a pioneer of Illi- nois made a man great. Had he lived to the pres- ent time he might have realized that to be born in Illinois conferred an equal honor. The subject of this sketch is the eldest son of Samuel and Sarah M. Littler. His father was born Nov. 8, 1811, near Circleville, Highland Co., Ohio. In 1852 he removed to Sacramento, Cal., but on his return eastward, in 1855, located in Urbana and engaged in the cabinet and furniture business. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah M. Busey, Dec. 2, 1858. Of this union there were born six children, namely, Florence G., Laura M., John E., Frank II., Charles R. and Willis B. Of these, two are deceased: Florence G., who died of typhoid fever, Sept. 1, 1867, at the age of eight years; and Charles R., who was drowned while bathing in a creek near home, July 12, 1885, aged fifteen years and ten months. He had been accustomed to the water, but the current at this time proved too strong and he was swept down the stream beyond the reach of help. Charlie was a member of the Baptist Sunday-school, and a bright and promising boy who was held in high esteem by both old and young. The father of our subject, in 1868, removed his family from Urbana to the farm situated one mile east of town, where he engaged in general agricult- ure and stock-raising until resting from the labors of life. His death occurred Dec. 23, 1880, from diphtheria. Mr. Littler was one of the early settlers of Urbana Township, and a man whose straightfor- ward and upright life won for him the regard of the entire community. He was a devoted husband, a kind father, and a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Sarah M. Littler, the mother of our subject, was born June 10, 1834, and was the daughter of Mathew Busey, who came to Illinois in 1830, from Shelbyville, Ky. He located two miles east of the present site of Urbaua, then known as the ' Big Grove," securing twenty-two eighty-acre lots. Mathew Busey was a native of North Carolina, but in early life removed to Kentucky, where he was married to Miss Sarah Fible, in 1814. Mrs. B. was born in Germany, April 28, 1791; her parents moved to Kentucky when she was two years of age. She died at the old home two miles east of Urbana, May 13, 1887, aged ninety -six years. She was the mother of eleven children, all of whom were pres- ent at the funeral, the youngest child fifty-one years old. Her descendants now include 137 grand and great-grandchildren. In contemplation of the mournful fact that the old pioneers are fast passing away, those who re- main to recall their lives and labors reap comfort in the belief that There is no death; what seems so is transition; This life of mortal breath -Is but a suburb of the life elysian, Whose portal we call death. After the death of Samuel Littler, his sons, John E. of our sketch, and Frank H., assumed the management of the farm, and although! but mere boys, kept up the homestead in an admirable man- ner and evinced rare judgment in their operations. 8IIOMAS J. DAVIS. The progenitors of a large portion of the residents of Champaign County originated in the Keystone State. Among these was Morris Davis, father of the sub- ject of this biography, who was born near Harris- burg, Dauphin Co., Pa., on the 7th of September, r 972 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4\ 1811. His parents died while he was a small child, and thus left an orphan, he was reared by Mr. Mor- ris Howe of that same county, and passed his time until eighteen after the manner of most fanners' o boys, attending school in the winter, and assisting in sowing and reaping the balance of the year. At the age mentioned he concluded to change his oc- cupation and went to Harrisburg to learn the trade of a hatter. From the latter place Mr. Davis was gone about a year through New Jersey and New York City, working journey work, and in the summer of 1830, left his native State and "footed" it to West Lib- erty, Ohio. He followed his trade there a few years with Mr. Andrew Wood, who afterward became his brother-in-law, as he was married to Miss Rachel Wood a few years later. After this event he went into partnership with Mr. Wood, and they operated a hat manufactory under the firm name of Davis 974 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 4 Savior, did not endure all the agonies of the cross for nothing; no. He died for poor, lost sinners such as I, and I know He will keep securely for me that which I have committed to His care.' "Mr. Harper married when young, in Kentucky; he had eleven children born to him, nine of whom are now living, five sons and four daughters. He lived to see them all become respected members of the Presbyterian Church. His own brothers and sisters, though several in number, are all gone to rest excepting two brothers and one sister: Maj. Robert Harper, of Ross City, Ohio; James Harper, near Logansport, Ind., and Mrs. Clark, of Ross Coun- ty, Ohio. As a husband and father he was kind and affectionate. It is the lot of few fathers to have and to enjoy the affection of their children to the same extent that he did. As a neighbor he was kind and obliging, ever ready to assist in time of need. He commanded their esteem to such an extent, that although the day of his burial was very in- clement, yet the concourse that followed him to his grave was very great." ASMl'S PETERSON, pleasantly located on section 30, in Rantoul Township, is a native of Norway, and was born April ( J, * 1843. His childhood and youth were spent in Scandinavia, where he attended school and assisted in farm labor. When a youth of eighteen he set sail, in May, 1801, for America, landing first at Quebec, whence he came directly to this State, stopping first in Grundy County. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Co. C, 53d 111. Vol. Inf., and afterward participated in many important battles, meeting the rebels at Pittsburg Landing and Cor- inth, where was some of the hardest lighting of that campaign. He only served, however, until 18(i3, and was discharged on account of disability. Mr. Peterson, after retiring from the army, resumed farming in Grundy County for a time, and came to Rantoul Township in 1870. He had in the meantime, by the exercise of industry and economy, saved a snug little sum of money, which he invested in a part of the land he now ouu>. lie lias a good set of farm buildings which are sur- rounded with choice fruit and shade trees and ;i quarter section of land under a good state of cul- tivation. Mr. Peterson was married in 1K6G, to Miss lihoda Johnson, a native of Grundy County and of Nor- wegian parentage. Of this union there were born seven children, namely, Peter, Delia, Lena, Ras- mus Rosa, Gilbert and Bertha. Our subject and his estimable lady arc members in good standing of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. P., since becom- ing a naturalized citizen, has uniformly voted with the Republican party. He is held in high respect by his neighbors, and is one of the self-made men of this county who have built up for themselves a most creditable record. I "iSAAC LAYMAN, of Condit Township, is a na- tive of Union County, Ohio, and was born Aug. \ 31.1840. He is the son of Henry and Eliza- beth (Kretsinger) Layman, who are mentioned in the sketch of Lewis Layman, elsewhere in this vol- ume, and was but an infant when his parents re- moved from his native State to Indiana. A few years later they came overland to Illinois, in which manner they had also traveled from Ohio to In- diana, and the father purchased forty acres of land in Logan County, in which he was one of the earliest settlers. Our subject remained under the parental roof until 186'2, then enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. D, 85th 111. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, participating in many of its impor- portant battles, and receiving a wound in the left arm and shoulder. He remained with his com- rades, however, and with them was mustered out at the close of the struggle, and returning to Illinois resumed farming in Logan County. Mr. Layman came to this county in 18U9, and purchased a quarter section of wild land, which is included in his present farm. It is now all enclosed with fences and other improvements, including a convenient and substantial dwelling, ample sheds for the shelter of stock and all other necessarv buildings. The soil, under his wise manipulation, has become exceedingly fertile, and yields in abundance the line crops of the Prairie State. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. -4 975 , > Our subject, in 1867, was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Fletcher, a native of England, and the daughter of Joseph and Naomi Fletcher. Of this union there were born three children, namely, Joseph, Charles and William. Mrs. Layman de- parted this life in 1873. Our subject- was married the second time, March 27, 1878, to Miss Martha J. Penney, a native of Sangamon County, and the daughter of William G. Penney, who was born in Virginia, and came to this State in the pioneer days. During the late war lie enlisted in the 100th Regi- ment, and died in the service at Little Rock. Ark., in May, 1864. Ilis wife, in her girlhood, was Miss Eleanor R. Duff, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (McClure) Duff, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Mrs. Duff died in Logan Comity, this State, in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Layman have five children, namely, Bruce, Pearl, Chester, Carrie and a babe unnamed. They are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Layman, politically, is a decided Republican. AMES S. SHAFFER is the owner of 160 acres of excellent, highly improved land* located on section 25, Sidney Township, where he carries on an extensive farming and stock-growing business. He was born in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 15, 1840, and is the son of Joseph and Mary (Roche) Shaffer. His parents were both born in France. At an early day, the date of 'vhich is unknown, they removed from France seeking a new home in America. They first settled in Pennsylvania where his father was a teacher in the public schools. From there they re- moved to LaFayette, Ind., where his father died in 1856. His mother having previously married the second time, to a man by the name of Alfonso Berlin- court, came to Illinois with her only child, James S. Shaffer. Her death occurred in 1882, at Burling- ton, Kan. James was left at an early age to make his own way in the world. The truism "some are born to greatness, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them," may also apply to prosperity. It was his destiny to achieve by his own intelligence, foresight and courage, and he has successfully contended against many diffi- culties and obstacles. In 1871, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Jones, the daughter of William and Mary J. (Brown) Jones. Her parents, who were natives of Kentucky, now reside in Danville, 111. Mr. James S. Shaffer and his wife have reared a family of eleven children; their names and dates of birth are as fol- lows: Ida B., March 6, 1872; Louis, Sept. 11. 1873; Ira, Sept. 13, 1874; William, Dec. 19, 1875; Mary, May 11, 1877; John, April 19, 1878; Joseph, Nov. 15, 1880; James. May 9, 1882; Oscar, Jan. 28, 1884, Alice, June 31, 1885; Charles, March 17, 1887. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife is a Methodist. In politics he is a Republican. ON. WILLIAM B. WEBBER is well known throughout this county as an attorney of more than ordinary ability, and prominent in the political affairs of the county and State. His acquaintance with legal matters began early in life, he having when a youth of seventeen, been appointed as Deputy Circuit Clerk of Cham- paign County under his father, who was the Clerk- in-Chief. Six years later he began the study of law under the instruction of Judge Somers and Capt. John C. Moses, and was admitted to practice in 1 863. For six years afterward he was a partner of Judge Somers, practiced two years alone, and then became associated with Judge Cunningham, they continuing together five years. In 1877 lie was a candidate for Count}' Judge, and ran 300 ahead of his ticket, being defeated only because the county was strongly Republican. His duties as a Legislator commenced in 1884, when he repre- sented the counties of Champaign, Piatt and De Witt in the State Legislature. During the term, which he served with acceptance to his constituents, he was at the head of various important committees and in all respects distinguished himself as a man of more than ordinary ability. The subject of our sketch was born in the city f -k CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. of Urbana, Oct. 31, 1837, and is the son of Thom- son R. and Martha (Thompson) Webber, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. His parents came to Illinois in the pioneer days, and Thomas Webber, identifying himself with the Democratic party, became prominent in the politi- cal affairs of the State. He served as Clerk of Champaign County twenty years, and was Circuit Clerk twenty-seven years, and Master in Chancery forty years. In the meantime he was also conserva- tor of other important interests. He was widely known as a kindly Christian gentleman, illustrating in both his public and private life the highest type of manhood. The son, William, has inherited in a marked degree the characteristics and talents of his honored father. He is recognized as an able attor- ney and safe counselor, and stands high among his professional brethren in this locality. He is Demo- cratic in politics, and socially belongs to the A. F. & A. M. The marriage of William 13. Webber and Miss Sarah Barnett, of Shelby County, Ky., took place Sept. 1, 1864. Mrs. W. is the daughter of Allen and Drusiila (Newton) Barnett, also natives of Kentucky. Our subject and his highly esteemed wife occupy an attractive home within the city limits and enjoy the friendship and association of the cultured people of Urbana. V JOHN GERE, JR., is believed to be the oldest ' merchant doing business in Champaign County, and one of the old landmarks of Urbana. In personal appearance he is of large stature and sinewy frame, and tradition says that in his younger days he was an athlete with whom no ordinary man would venture to compete. He possessed, both mentally and physically, the elements necessary to the settling of a new country. and he has grown with its growth, taking a per- sonal interest and pride in its development and progress. Mr. Gere was born in Seneca County, N. Y., Feb. 11. 1811, ami is the son of John and Polly (Clark) Gere, natives of Vermont. His grand- father, Asa Gere, served in the Revolutionary War and yielded up his life while a prisoner on the old ship "Jersey," the name of which is never recalled without a shudder, in view of the atrocities prac- ticed upon it. The family was of English ancestry, and some of its members fled from their native country in 1735, on account of religious persecu- tion. The father of our subject moved with his family, in 1836, from the Empire State to Indiana, and a year later to Vermilion County, this State, later removing to Clark County, where he died in 1844. The mother afterward came with her son, our subject, to Urbana, where her death took place in 1860. Our subject received a limited education and re- mained under the parental roof until twenty-two years old. Upon starting out for himself he en- gaged in the brick business at Alexandria, N. Y., which pursuit he followed until the fall of 1836, when the family came West. Here he first en- gaged in farming near Darwin, but some years later came to Urbana and commenced dealing in horses, purchasing in this county and shipping to points East and North. Afterward he and his brother, James S., established a dry-goods store, in which they continued together for several years. In the meantime they varied their occupation by con- tracting to furnish 15,000 cords of wood, and a large quantity of ties for the Central Illinois Railroad. The brothers finally dissolved partnership, and John pin-chased an interest in the Urbana Woolen Mills, with which he was connected three years. The brick store which the Gere brothers built was destroyed by fire Oct. 9, 1871, involving a loss of from $25,000 to 130,000. Mr. Gere rebuilt that same year, and has continued business uninter- ruptedly since that time. He gives employment to three clerks and has a generous patronage among his old friends, while new customers are never backward in making their purchases at the old stand. Mr. Gere has invested his surplus funds in real estate in the country. His present wife. Miss Harriett A. Cressey, is a native of his own State, and their only child is a son, George W., an at- torne}' at Champaign. The two sons of his second wife are Warren M., who is with his father in the | store, and Frank M., in the post-office at Urbana. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 977 ENRY TREVETT, of the firm of Trevett & Green, Champaign, is, with his partner, car- rying on a lucrative trade in hardware, agri- cultural implements and coal, and is located at the corner of Main and Walnut streets. He is numbered among the wide-awake and "enterprising men of the county, and has aided materially in building up the business interests of the city. Our subject was born in Cook County, this State, Feb. 3, 1844. and is the son of Oliver and Sarah (Hayvvard) Trevett, natives respectively of Albany, N. Y., and Clare County, England. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Thomas and Elizabeth (Rider) Hayward, who came to Cook County in 1837, and farmed there until 1860. They then retired to Chicago, where the death of the father occurred in 1874. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Dr. Oliver Trevett, was a native of Maine and a practicing physician of note who spent his entire life in his native State. His son, Oliver, Sr., learned the trade of a baker at Albany, N. Y., and subsequently engaged in farming near Leydeu, Cook County. He entered a tract of land from the Government in about 1837, and remained in that section until 1 850. He then went into the city and set up in the bakery business, which he continued there until 1856. The following year he came to this county, of which he was a resident at the time of his death, in 1864. The mother had died twenty years before, in Cook County. There were but two children Harriet E., and Henry, our subject. Young Trevett attended schodl until fourteen years old, then engaged as clerk in a hardware store ten years, after which he took up book-keeping and had charge of his employer's business. In 18C8, in company with Mr. Rupert, he set up in business for himself at the corner of Market and Walnut streets, where they were burned out sixty days later, and Mr. Trevett lost the savings of ten years. He went into business again and was again burnt out in [1871. The structure was re-built and the firm of Trevett & Green occupied it until 1877, then purchased the'briek building where they are now doing business, and have become the largest mer- chants in^he hardware~trade in the county. Mr. Trevett was married in 1869 to Miss Mary C., daughter of John Marcy. Circuit Judge, and a -* resident of Royalton, Yt. The five children born of this union are Katie, Harry M., Mar}' S., Edith and Sarah. Mr. Trevett is Democratic in politics and a member in good standing of the Masonic fra- ternity. He is President of the Kaskaskia Club, and holds the same position in the water-works and the manufacturing companies of Champaign. He was elected Mayor of the city in 1875, serving a term of four years and has also served as Alder- man. The family residence is pleasantly located at the corner of New and West Park streets, and its inmates are surrounded by all the comforts of life. D. SOMERS, a retired attorney, and one of the pioneers of the county, was born in North Carolina, Jan. 21,1812. His par- ents were Waterman and Winifred (Durham) Som- ers, who were residents of Rockford, Surry Co., N. C. In 1850 they came to Illinois and settled near Urbana, in Somer Township, which afterward re- ceived its name in his honor. His father died in 1855, and his mother in North Carolina in 1832. W. D. Somers was brought up on a farm, work- ing during the summer and attending school in the winter until he was fourteen. He was then em- ployed for four years as clerk in the County and Circuit Courts, after which he became Master in Chancery for one year. After this he began the study of medicine and commenced practice in 1836. He came to Illinois in 1840 and settled in Urbana, where he opened an office and continued practice three years. While practicing as a physi- cian he made the acquaintance of several distin- guished lawyers of the State, among whom were Judge David Davis, Abraham Lincoln, John H. Brow and Ashael Gridley. Owing to ill-health his friend, Judge Davis, advised him to change his profession and read law, which he did, and in 1846 was admitted to the bar. He was often afterward engaged with Lincoln in toying cases, sometimes as assistant counsel, and at others on the opposite side. He was local attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad for several years, and it was due to his influence that the Industrial University was located at Urbana. He was Supervisor of the township for i ^ 978 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. a number of years, nnd most of the time Chairman of the County Board. On .the occasion of Abra- ham Lincoln's first political address in Champaign County Mr. Seiners introduced him to the audi- ence. He was then a Whig, but at present is a member of the Democratic party. In 1842 Mr. Smners was married to Miss Cather- ine P. Carson, a native of Philadelphia. They had a family of five children, all of whom are now living. During his more active life Mr. Somers was the owner of 1,000 acres of land. He began his busi- ness career when a mere boy, and after a long and useful life is now spending its evening in compara- tive retirement at Urbana. ^JOSEPH C. PICKARD, M. A., I as a prominent educator, is Prol well known prominent educator, is Professor of En- glish Literature in the University of Illinois. Prof. Pickard is the son of Samuel and Sa- rah (Coffin) Pickard, and was born in 1826 in Rowley, Mass., of which place his father was a na- tive. His mother was a native of Newburyport, of the same State. His father spent the early part of his life in mercantile pursuits, but later engaged in manufacturing. Prof. Pickard received a careful education at home while a boy. and afterward attended Bow- doiu College in Maine, where lie graduated in 1841. After his graduation he taught two 3 - ears at the academy of Fryeburg, Me. From there he went to a theological seminary in Bangor, where he was most of the time engaged in teaching. He remained there four years and then, in 1852, en- tered the Illinois College at Jacksonville as tutor, which position he also occupied four years. He was then offered a professorship in the university at Madison, which position he retained four years, and afterward was engaged in teaching in the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee, lu 1873 lie accepted the professorship in the University of Illinois, which lie has since continued to hold. In 1853 Prof. Pickard was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Storer, a native of London, England. They have a family of five children Charles Iv, William S., Annie A., Edward W. and Ethel M. Prof. Pickard has the respect and confi- dence of the county and State, both as an edu- cator of unquestioned talent and ability, and as a man of broad culture and high moral worth. Al- though not actively interested in politics he always votes with the Republican party. EORGE W. IIARTSOCK. The following but a brief history of one of the most onored pioneers of Harwood Township, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, Nov. (5, 1 839. He was the son of David and Sarah Jane (Cornell) Hartsock. His parent!! removed from New Jersey to Ohio during the early settlement of the State, and remained there until their death. His father served as a soldier in the War of 1812; was an active, energetic man, and keenly alive to what was going on around him. Our subject came West in August, 1869, and coming into this county purchased eighty acres of land on section 26, Harwood Township. Becom- ing tired of keeping " bachelor's hall," and having formed the acquaintance of Miss Imogene .1. Soper, he, in the early part of 1871, celebrated his marriage with her. Mr. Hartsock and his wife, soon after this event, took up their abode on their own farm, which the}' have occupied since that time. Here, where their united labors commenced, they have become al- most an indispensable portion of the community, and here the six children who came into the house- hold were all born. Of these five are still living, and the record is as follows: Sylvanus L. was born Dec. 25, 1871; Olive May, April 30, 1873; Asa Newell, born Dec. 6, 1 874, died Aug. 8, 1876; David Orange, born Jan. 1, 1880; Sarah Ann, April 12, 1882; Caroline E., July 25, 1884. The homestead of our subject embraces 160 acres of highly cultivated land, neatly fenced and pro- vided with a handsome se.t of frame buildings. The farm has been principally devoted to the rais- ing of grain and stock, the favorite cattle of Mr. Hartsock being the Galloways, and the horses, Nor- man. He raises Poland-China hogs in large num- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. 970 hers, and his animals include some of the finest specimens of Central Illinois. Among his thor- oughbred swine are Lady Nash and Bravo, who have quite a reputation in this vicinity, and the head of his cattle herd is a magnificent thorough- bred named Rattler. As a farmer and member of the community, no man is held in greater esteem than Mr. Hartsock. M. PHENICIE, the descendant of an excellent Pennsylvania family, and born in the Keystone State.. Feb. 26, 1836 f took up his residence in Stanton Township in 1865. He purchased 1 20 acres of wild land with the deter- mination of making for himself a permanent home- stead, and he has not been disappointed. The ground is now enclosed with neat fences and graced with a fine residence, and the proprietor will be pardoned if he views the result of his labors with a feeling of pride and satisfaction. Of late years he has given much attention to stock raising and feeding, making a specialty of Norman horses and Short-horn cattle. His stables and yards contain some of the finest animals to be found in Central Illinois. The parents of our subject, Joseph and Susan (Conner) Phenicie, were natives of Franklin County, Pa., and are now deceased; the mother died in July, 1880, and her companion in 1886. They were held in universal respect and for many years connected with the Lutheran Church. They were the parents of seven children, named respectively, Stephen L., Elizabeth, Henry C., William M., Mary E., Susan, and one who died in infancy. Mr. P. spent his earlier years on the farm in Franklin County, Pa., and upon reaching manhood he was there married to Miss Margaret Besore, the wedding taking place in December', 1861. Mrs. P. is the daughter of John and Mary (Mown) Besore, who were also natives of Franklin County, where her birth took place. Of this marriage there have been born six children, viz., Stephen H., S. Delia, George B., Emma, Evra and William O. The grandparents of our subject had thirteen children, seven -sons and six daughters. The father of these, John Phenicie, was a native of England, and emigrated to the United States, locating in Franklin County, Pa., where he spent the remainder of his days. THOMAS STEPHENS, deceased, entered upon the stage of life in Greene County, Pa., June 11, 1807, and after having lived worthily and as became a man invested with grave responsi- bilities, passed from the scenes of earth at the age of nearly eighty years, March 6, 1887. He was the son of Edward and Hannah Stephens, natives of New Jersey, and spent his early years on his father's farm. His early education was quite lim- ited, but being a close observer became admirably fitted for the struggle of life in its various phases. He remained a member of the parental household until 1832, when he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Cotton. After some years his wife died, leaving two children. Mr. Stephens for years was actively and exten- sively engaged in the stock business-. The lady who became his second wife was formerly Miss Cather- ine Parcels, to whom he was married Aug. 11, 1841. She was the third child of Peter and Han- nah (Kerns) Parcels, natives of Pennsylvania, but the mother descended from Irish ancestors, who left an estate of many millions in their native country, which now lies to their credit, and forms an estate upon which settlement has never been made. Peter Parcels was the first publisher and editor of a paper in Chillieothe, Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Stephens located on a farm in Fairfield County, near Lancaster, and which comprised nearly a half section of land. Here he followed farming and stock-raising extensively, and one season contracted to furnish a Baltimore firm with 5,000 head of hogs, which, through the negligence of the railroad company, caused him a loss of $18,000. After this calamity Mr. Stephens scarcely knew which way to turn. He carefully canvassed the situation, when he received unex- pected relief in the form of a proffered loan of $5,000 from a banker at Lancaster. He could not give security, and declined the generous proposi- 980 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. tion. but twelve or fifteen of the most responsible men of the county came to his aid and became his security for the money. Then, taking with him his new capital, and in company with two nephews, Lindsey and Krlward Corbly, he set out for Mis- souri. In the latter State Mr. Stephens purchased 400 head of cattle, and leaving the young men in charge of them, returned to Ohio on horseback to settle up some business matters. Thence he came to Illinois, and it being in the fall of the year he purchased a large quantity of corn near Sadorus Grove, where he made ready to winter his stock. Writing to the young men to start the drove he pushed forward to the Mississippi River, and found his deputies swimming the animals across. The passage was made in safety and all returned to Sa- dorus Grove, where they remained with the stock until early in the winter, and then drove them through to Philadelphia, where they were sold. Our subject then began to buy land warrants, and eventually secured 1.500 acres in Saline County, Mo., and 5,000 in Illinois, at the head of the Sanga- mon River in Champaign and Ford Counties. His intention at first was to settle in Missouri, purchase slaves and go into hemp-raising. This State, how- ever, presented greater attractions, and he aban- doned his original plan to settle here. The out- break of the war proved the wisdom of his choice in abandoning the idea of slave labor. During this time the family of Mr. Stephens had been living in Ohio. After determining upon a settlement in this State he put up a hewed-log house and sent for his family, establishing them in their new home as comfortably as possible. Some years later, he having accumulated sufficient means, erected a splendid residence at a cost of $11,000, which was the admiration of all the country around. In the spring of 1867 Mr. Stephens had on hand 800 head of cattle, but being engrossed in home affairs, left the management of his stock principally to his son, who had been his partner. The latter entered into a contract with a commission merchant of Chicago for 1,000 head of Southern cattle, which proved to be an unsuccessful venture, owing to their falling below the stipulated average. Another speculation proved a failure on account of Texas fever breaking out in his herd ; however, he was not the man to be discouraged under difficulties, and consequently soon rallied and all went on well as before. The children of Mr. Stephens were at this time still at home, but soon afterward married and set- tled down in life. He then divided his property among them, stipulating that his son Thomas ,1. should take care of his parents during the remain- der of their lives. The children afterward, how- ever, purchased a snug piece of property in Gibson City, where they fitted up a neat and comfortable dwelling in which they placed their parents and looked after their welfare from that time on. Here occurred the death of our subject. His widow still resides there with her daughter Julia, the wife of Thomas Ross, a grain dealer of Gibson. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, all living, are Benjamin F., Peter, Thomas J., Hannah C., and Julia A. The family has always been remark- able for its mental vigor and physical strength, and until the decease of the father, no death had oc- curred among them for a period of forty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church early in life, and ever afterward continued worthy and consistent members. After the organization of the Repub- lican party Mr. S. became one of its warmest sup- porters, but later identified himself with the Green- backers. *f t 1 Abbott, Stephen C 362 Abrams, Isaac H 547 Adams, John 23 Adams, John Q 39 Ainsworth,J. 'I' 775 Alexander, W. J. & J 500 Allen, Joseph 323 Allison, E. M ,.460 Allison, W. H 439 Anderson, C. N.. 613 Anderson, John 383 Arnold, Cyru c 938 Arthur, Chester A 99 Axtell, J. N 400 B Babb, Charles 621 Babb, Thomas 372 Bailey, A. H 789 Baldwin, A. H 334 Bard well, J. K 230 Barnes, T. P 688 Barrett, Eli 587 Bartholow, E. C 434 Bartholow, Dr. J. M 321 Bartley, James 683 Battles, F. B 778 Beach, B. C 665 Bear, H. C 694 Beardsley, George K 820 Beatty, Calvin 489 Beecher, Henry 931 Beier, J. T 423 Heisser, F. A 915 Bell, T. H 79 Bellinger, J. A 831 Bengtson, Charles A 741 Benjamin, C. C 641 ISesore, Joseph M 619 Bever, James 43 1 Beveridge, JohnJL 171 Beverlin, T. I 620 Birdzell, D. E 714 Birdzell, E. A 724 Bissell, Wm. H 151 Bois, J. J 693 Bond, Shadrach m Bongard, J 326 Bourne, Amos 350 Bowers, A. J 697 Braden,\Vm. 1 604 Brciner, Wm 796 Brodrick.Wm. B 592 Brown, A. C 371 Brown, Courtland 847 Brown, D. F 254 Brown, Uaac 212 Brown, W. T 832 B row n , Wm 628 Brownfield, Martin 691 Brownlee, Prof. James H 960 Buchanan, James 75 Buddemeier, August S 937 Burlingame, Christopher 410 Burnett, Christopher 664 Burns, Byron 603 Burr, L. C 633 Burrill, Prof. T. J 651 Busey, J. S 3H Busey, Hon. S. H 813 Busey, Col. S.T 826 Bush, J. D 446 Caldwell, Wm 957 Campbell, James M 392 Campbell, J. G 284 Carley, Mark 189 Carlin, Thomas 135 Carper, Philip 546 Carson, W. G ;;go Cash , John 932 Cash, W. M 928 Chamberlin, T.W 196 Chambers, Jacob S 445 Champ, J. W 58? Chapin, P.. B 599 Cherry, William 762 Clark, John 736 Clark, John G Clark, J. H >;: Clark, John 1 960 Clark, W. D 505 Clark, Wm. G 667 Clark, Wm. R 352 rionnon, W. F 408 Cleveland, S. Grover I0 3 Clevenger, H. I 596 Coburn, Joseph 945 Cockayne, N. W 488 Coddington, Benjamin 774 Coddington, Joseph 806 ; Coffeen, B. E 855 ^/Coffecn, M. D 962 Coggshall, A. B 661 Cole, L. B 815 Coler, P. S 451 Coles, F.dward 115 Colley, W 627 Collins, G. L 809 Collison, J. M 749 Colwell, J. H Comer, John 614 Conant.S. W. M 641 Concannon, D 303 Condit, George 743 Condon, T . E .' 389 Congleton, C. W 403 Conkey, W. A 912 Conkling, E. G 567 Connor, Charles H 701 Connor, John 682 Cook, Ezekiel 504 Cook, John 644 Coons, J. S 75' Cooler, David 531 Core, Dr James 709 Corlies, H. D 970 Corlis, W. S 872 Cornelius, H. P 954 Corray, E 584 Cosbey, Thomas K 787 Cotton, A. W 645 Covert, Truman 558 Covington, Joseph 433 Couden, George W 730 Coyle, Anthony 913 Coyner,N. M 365 Craig, C. M 474 Craig, J. M 932 Crane, Theodore K 751 Cranston, J . 300 Craw,C. W 2 ,6 Craw, Samuel 310 Crawford, Rev. David 253 Crawford, John 802 Crawford, John 398 Crawford, Lemuel 233 Cresap, Capt. B. F 710 Crist, Abram 234 Cross, A. D 752 Crouch, John,Jr 400 Culbertson, Otho K 695 Cullom, Shelby M 175 Cunningham, A. F 666 Cunningham, J. O 7^1 Cushman, Daniel .... $27 Custer, W. C 967 D Dailey, Wm 621 Oarmer, John 428 Darrah, T. O 219 Davidson, Capt. Joseph 225 Davis, Edward 391 Davis, James 894 Davis, J. K 303 Davis, Jehu 260 Davis, Robert 817 Davis, T. J 971 Davis, W 435 Davis, Wm 799 Dawley, Wm 226 Dawley, Wm. K 650 Day, John W.'. 273 Deck, Oliver 399 Decker, Joseph s'9 Uernlo, Frederick 715 Devore, A J 305 INDEX. Dick, Jesse N 235 Dickerson, E 838 Dill, Sebastian 95 2 Dodge, J. VV 819 Doty, Stephen 43 2 Dresbach, Ephraim 767 Duncan, Joseph 13' Dunlap, Albert 757 Dunlap, E. 1 236 Dunlap, H. J 777 Dunlap, Henry M 222 Dunlap, James H 739 Dunlap, M 437 Dunn, Z. M 731 Durfey, H. 1 378 Dyer, C 4' E Karl, Win. D 705 Edwards, George 544 Edwards, Ninian 119 ElUrs, M 355 Ellars. Wm 286 Elliott, Wm . ... . 5>3 Freeman, J.S 711 Freeman, J. T 852 Freeman , Thomas 702 French, Augustus C 143 Frey, George 954 Fry, David 366 Fry, Edward 554 Fry, Theodore 295 Fugate, Dr. J. 'I' 787 Full. N 742 Ftinkhouser, Samuel 496 Funkhouser, Wm 800 Funston, J . H 440 Furnish, Samuel 429 Furst, Levi 424 (iabriel, Elizabeth 812 Gallion, V. J , Soo (iarfield, James A 95 Gates. V. J Ellr , ft. 1,. 74 .4 Ells, Charles 44 English, Stephen 402 K nn is, Thomas 24 Estep, Isaiati 680 Evans, E. W 381 Ewing, Wm. L. D 127 E xto n , J a mes 509 F Fancher, W. H 706 Faulkner, John 617 Feeman, H. B 346 Ferris. Mrs. A. L 412 Fielding, Isaac 600 Fillmore,MiUard 67 Fisher, Daniel A ....245 Fisher, David G . . .-. 407 Fisher, E. I 526 Fisher, Edward S 733 Fisher, George A --342 Fisher, Henry 272 Fisher, W. C 221 Flatt, James H 205 Fleming, Jesse 545 Fletcher, Wm 918 Flynn, Patrick 341 Fo bes, S. A 623 Ford, Capt- D. J 515 Ford. Thomas 139 Foulke, Everard 703 Fowler, J 684 Fox, S 682 Frame, M. J 383 Francis, Isanc 811 Frazier, A 438 Fryman, F.dmund 587 Freeman, Eleazer 530 Freeman, J I 508 397 ^.C.-'\e, F. Charles 537 Gennnt:, K . N 943 George, D . R 307 Gere, John .. 976 Gibson, Charles W t^^- Giddings, J . W 477 < Hddings, T . W 769 Gil more, George W 614 Glascock, Mahlon '.692 Glover, C 853 Goings, A. A 798 Gordon, Bernard 506 Gordon, Joseph 864 Gordy, Thomas 467 Gorham, Henry 489 Gorman, J 476 Gorman, Joseph I , 493 Goudte, James 299 Grabby, John C 961 Grant, Ulysses S 77 G ray. Nelson A 726 Green, Patrick 681 Grimes, J. T 293 Grift wold, George W.. . 814 Grove, Samuel 377 G roves, C- M Gulick, J. R.. 279 Gunder, J. N 532 H Madden, J. M 792 Halberstadt, Eli 499 Halberstadt, John 264 Haley, H A 606 Hamilton, C. F. 866 Hamilton, J ^87 Hamilton, John M 179 Handy, W. E 5go Hannah, J. S 319 Harless, F. 1 457 Harmeson, Thomas 548 Hnrmison, James 669 Harnit, J . M 292 Harrison, W. H 239 Harrison, Win. Henry 5: Hartsock,G. W 978 Harvey, William 713 Harwood, Hon. Abel 963 Harwood. George W 686 Havard, W. R 5 68 Haw baker, Henry 647 Hawker, Wm 573 Haworth, W 203 Hays, John C 479 Hayes, Rutherford B 91 Hazen, F, . K 302 Hazcn, Horace 283 Headrick, J. H 217 Henderson, J. W 596 Henderson, Wm 204 Hen ness, Z . . t 556 Hensley, Salem 418 H erriott , J ames W 330 Hewerdine, Robert 867 Hewerdine, Wm 864 Hicks, L. 1 674 Hilderbrant, John W 939 Hill, E. J 697 Hinton, D. F. D 54 i H ixenbaugh, 1 740 Hndam, J. H 869 Holaday, Mrs. N.... 591 Hos>, Francis M 859 Hossack, J a. TICS A : 353 Howard, H. C 639 Howard, James 423 Howard, W, F 7S3 Howser, C. L .785 Howser, J. N 85^ Howser, Leonidas H 214 Hubbard, L. G 664 Hudson, J. H 785 Hudson, Joseph R 782 Huffman, J. F 242 Hummel, Philip 289 Humrichouser, Isaiah 944 Humrichhouse, J. W 858 Hunsley, H. W 610 Hunt, Charles S 704 Hunt, J H 574 Hyde, A. W < 55 Hyde,S. A 22 o Ice, James K 817 Jackson, Andrew 43 James, Enos 608 J aq ues, John H 483 Jaques, W. H 648 Jeakins, Mark 634 Jefferson, H 714 Jefterson, Thomas 27 Jefferson, Thomas E 401 Jervis, Joseph 332 Jessee, J. T . . .*. 311 Johnson, Andrew 83 Johnson, W. H 231 John sto n , G eorge W 300 Johnston, Robert 572 Jones, M orris 607 Jones, Samuel U 716 Jones, W. M 810 Jordan, T . F 430 Judy, Jacob H 343 K Kamp, Joseph 375 K archer, George 375 Karr, James, Jr 553 Keller, John I 562 KeHey, Joseph T 844 Ketch urn, Sidney 418 Kilbury, J. S 657 Kilbury, Mortimer 673 King, D. A 791 Kirkpatrick, Dr. C 764 Kirkpatrick, J. C 647 Kirkparrick, S. A 782 Koch, M 557 Koogler, Samuel 667 Kratz, Or. Edwin A 816 Kuder,A. L 473 Kuder, C. L 571 Kuder, Lewis 208 Kurtz, H 594 LaKolfett, J . H 940 Lamb, L K , 867 Lange, F. H 335 Largent, G . K qi6 Lateer, W. J 525 Lav crick, Thomas 933 Lawrence, J W .562 Layman, Isaac --974 Layman, Lewis 363 Leas, A. F 854 Leas, Isaac 'J' 197 Ledderboge, F. G 487 Lee, Squire 941 Lehman, Wm 742 Leidendeker, H . J 676 Leigh, F. M .884 Leneve, Wm 879 Leney, John W 958 Lenox, Hiram 959 Leonard, John 605 -eslie, Robert 632 .ester, Capi. J. H 79S .ester, J oh n L 808 ^etterman, Joseph 477 ewis, I . M 483 illy,*'. H 405 .illy, Mrs. V 663 INDEX. Lincoln, Abraham 79 Lindsey, Thomas v 265 Linebarger, J . H 466 Littler, John E 971 Lloyde, D. H 675 Locke, John 387 Loeb, A 527 Logan, J. H 877 Lorenz, Ernst 468 Lorenz, L. H 447 Lott, J. H 346 Loveless, A . N 260 Lovingfoss, JohnH 725 Lowman, Allison 190 Luedecker. Rev. F. A 951 Lumley, James 354 Lyons, S. H 336 Lyons, Thomas 420 M Madison, James 31 Mallory, John T 658 Mandeville, John D 968 Mandeville, Samuel D 810 Manley, Ira A 195 Mapes, D 215 Marriott, Casandra 574 Marshall, Edward 262 Matheny, T. J 447 Mathews,M.W 57, Matteson, Joel A 147 Matthews, John M 411 Mathewson, Brown 788 Maxwell, David 377 Maxwell, Joseph 334 McBride, Henry 629 McCabe, John 8f6 McClelland, J. R 600 McClelland, Wm 967 McClintock, Thomas 270, McCloskey, Jacob 611 McCracken, Thomas F 392 McCullough, A. W 679 McF.lwee, J. S 847 McElwee, L 198 Mclntosh, D.. .. 196 McKee, E. M 581 McKee. Samuel 526 McKee, Samuel 469 McKinney, D. R 860 McLean, Lewis A 264 McLennan, Phillip 276 McMillen, Wm 285 McMillian, C 921 McMullen, John 631 Mead, D 576 Meharry, A. P 274 Meharry, Jesse. . . ., 359 Meharry, Wm 201 Meikle, John W 513 Merry, Benjamin F 320 Michener, L) 585 Miller, Dr. J. T 662 Miller, J. G 646 Miller, J. T 590 Miller, W. T Miner, Mrs. Eunice.... Minturn, John M Mitchell, J. P Monroe, James Moore, D. S Moore, James M Moore, J. R.... Moore, John T Moore, M Moore, S. W More, J. R Morgan, W. H... Morris, H. M Morris, J. H Morris, R. B Morrow, G. E Morse, Rollin H Morton, Wm Moser, David Mosier, Dr. P. C Mumm, John J Myers, Daniel Myers, Mrs. E. O Myers, J. W Myers, Peter .679 .250 .791 .280 35 .948 .t02 37 .823 .369 .806 525 .908 484 .705 .891 906 .924 .964 533 .890 .828 595 5<>3 .917 N Nash, H. J Naylor, David Naylor, Edmund Neal, John B Nelson, Lucy M Nelson, Henry ,.. Neu, Wm Nichols, David T.... Nichols, Frederick... Nicewander, Mary J. Nisewander, D Nofftz, Albert Norton, J . N Norton, Stephen .... Nox, Solomon 2 44 .462 935 387 275 .408 556 .966 943 ..659 .589 441 373 ..263 . .201 O Oakes, George Obenchain, E. S O'Brien, James Obryant, Johnson Obryant, Wm. W Ocheltree, J. M Ocheltrec, J. R O'Connor, Thomas M. Offenstein, Frank Oglesby, Richard J.... Oldham, James G Ordel, A Osborne, J. A Owens, W. H .892 821 44" 593 .837 .848 .216 474 349 .163 78, ..302 745 583 Palmer, Aquilla 900 Palmer, John M 167 Park, John W 211 Park, Wm 862 Parker, Charles 419 Parker, Dr. C. K 438 Parker, E. W 923 Parker, Prof. Geo. W. M... 601 Parr, W. G I9 4 Parrett, J. W. & R. A 582 Parry, J. C 243 Parsley, James 631 Patterson, Catherine 899 Patton, Nathan 965 Payton, Rev. J. H 471 Peabody, David 911 Peabody, S. H 7,5 Pearman, Dr. J. T 773 Peck, Charles W 577 Pell, Frederick 449 Penfield, John 969 Penman, Robert 339 Percival, C. F. 316 Percival, S. P 413 Perring, J . A 940 Peters, 1. S 650 Peters, R ...925 Peters, W. J 916 Peterson, John L 510 Peterson, Rasmus 974 Pettit, Silas 561 Phenicie, Wm. M 979 Phillippe, John K 249 Phillippe, M. A 312 Pickard, J. C 978 Pierce, Franklin 71 Pierce, Joseph 722 Pinkerton, F. E 834 Piper, Henry 670 Place, J.. R 866 Plaut, S 520 Polk, James K 59 Pollock, J. H 312 Porter, L. H 547 Porterfield, A. G 844 Porterfield, L. C 480 Porterfield, R. M 202 Porterfield, S. A 948 Powers, E. F 478 Pratt, Albert R 555 Price, Arthur 536 Pricket, A. J 833 Putnam, Edgar W 843 Putnam, George W 786 Putnam, Henry 322 Putnam, Wm. P 851 Q (juinlan, Wm R Radebaugh, E 458 Radebaugh, S- B 696 Rassler, Michael 656 Rawlinson, W. M- 893 Rayburn, R. G 330 Raymond, Isaac S 306 Read, Marvin 270 Reagan, C .529 Ream , S . J ..... 927 Reed, A. J 427 Reed, George H 914 Reed, J.. C 388 Reese, Henry 846 Reese, Walter 343 Reid, Nancy 882 Reinhart, Anthony 336 Reinhart, Louis 309 Reinhart, Wendel 634 Renner, H. \V 564 Reynolds, Hanford 856 Reynolds, Jeremiah N 824 Reynolds, John 123 Rice, Arthur 3^9 Rice, David 360 Richmond, H 382 Richmond, J. W 744 Ricker, N. C 652 Ricketts, A. D 269 Roach, John 374 Roberts, Wm. H 384 Robinson, H - J 364 Robinson, P 475 Rock, A. J 53 8 Rock, Wm 759 Roe, Matthew 35 i Roos, Prof. Peter 772 Rough ton, John 955 Ruckman, Thomas 261 Ruhl. A. G.. 655 Rusk, P. A 677 Russell, K 842 Sadorus, Allen M 857 Sadorus, Henry 226 Sadorus, H. T 3^0 Sadorus, Wm 291 Sale, E. C.. 563 Samson, W. L .... 505 Saxon, Mrs. Anna 470 Schoenberger, F 871 Scott, Abel S 582 Scott, Hon. K. L 290 Scott, T. J 436 Seltzer, J . D 459 SewelUJ. T 304 Seymour, A. R 835 Seymour, F. G 834 Shaffer, James S 975 Shaffer, Phillip 282 Sharpe, E. H 304 Shattuck, Prof. S. W 734 Shaver, E. A 873 Sha-whan, G. R ..191 Shreve, O 192 Shuck,J. W 895 Silver, David 618 Silver, Wallace 313 Simpson, John A 356 ** t fr INDEX. } Sim, J. W 969 Sims, Dr. S. N 944 Sims, Dr. W. B 823 Skinner, George & Henry -.537 Skinner, Wm 584 Smith, A. B 546 Smith, George A 730 Smith, George W 478 Smith, J. B 841 Smith, Jonathan 843 Smith, J. N 678 Smith , M 95 Smith, Mrs. M. H 964 Smith, Thomas W 494 Smith, W. L .. 6.0 Smithson , J . M 46 1 Snider, John 685 Snyder, Prof, Edward 215 Somers, John W 833 Somers.W. D 977 Soper, M. H 878 Spencer, John M 397 Sperling, A 4S 2 Sperling. Frederick 47' Stafford, S. Y 768 Stamey, J. W 629 Stamey. M. E 551 Stayton, D. B,, Sr 763 Stayton, D. B., Jr 193 Stayton, Joseph H 32 Stein, Frank 33* Stephens, Thomas 979 Stephenson, H. W 282 Stephenson, L 448 Steven, James 379 Stevenson, Lew E 770 Stewart, G. C 331 Stewart, H. C 934 Stockard, Wm. C 484 Stone, T. M 326 Stone, Willis 567 Stonestreet, J . W 218 Strong, A . W 894 Stuart, George 281 Stumpf, G 723 Styan, Edward 310 Summit, C. F 219 Sunderland, Miles 553 Swaim, G. H 825 Swayze, W. H 294 Swearingen, J. A 486 Swearingen, Mrs. Elizabeth .861 Swisher, G. M 515 T Tabler, B. 1 275 Taulman, H 883 Taylor, Capt. Caleb 333 Taylor, Gilbert L 566 Taylor, John 528 Taylor, Zachary 63 Telling, Edward T 902 Tennant, J H 756 Terry, G. W 780 Thayer, Edward F 896 Thayer, Milo 630 Thomas, B. F 364 Thomas, M. C 503 Thompson, Abraham 901 Thompson, Jesse K 761 Thompson, J. C 513 Thompson, J . K 746 Thompson, Peter 4^5 Thrash, John 432 Tindall, Jacob 213 Titus, A. B 518 Todd, S. A 442 Tompkins, S . L 868 Towner, Richard 7^0 Townsend, W. H ... 660 Trees, G. W 776 Trick, John 946 Trevett, Henry 977 Trisler, Dr. J. W 775 Trotter, Hiram 259 Trotter, Jefferson 256 1 ylcr, H. M 608 Tyler, John 5^ U Umbcnhower, James 545 Vaden , Win . A 712 Vail, R. B 315 Vallandingham, A. H 772 Vanaslen, W. II 75 8 V;in Brunt. Samuel 637 Van Buren, Martin 47 Vance, Wm. S 586 Van Fleet, Charlotte ...802 Vanschoyck, J . W 732 Van Vleck.C. H 224 Van VTeck, F. 1 339 Van Wegen, Lee 414 Varney, -Mrs. Lucy J 767 Vautrin, Louis 699 Vennum, F. B 381 Voss, John A 394 W Wagner, A. J 801 Walker, George A 622 Walker, J. R 524 Wallace, Isaac M 710 Warters, Wm 542 Washington, George 19 Waters, Wm. S 874 Watson, James 655 Watts, F. M 345 Waugh, Richard 432 Way, W. M 552 Webber, G. G 003 Webber, Hon. Wm . B 975 Webber, T. R 946 Webster, George 779 Weeks, J. B 706 Welles, J. H 4,7 West, H. C 251 West, W. M 755 Whallon^J C 490 White, H. C 926 White, John T 498 White, Wro 193 Whitmore, A. P 230 Wiggins, H. J Wilcox, Frank Williams, S. G Williams, Wm. H Williams, Z. B Wills, Samuel Wilson. D. R Wilson, George W Wilson, George W Wilson, H. F Wilson, Henry Wilson, James Wilson, James A Wilson, Thomas... - .... Wilson, Thomas W. A.... Wilson, Wm Witt, C. J Wolf, David Wolfe, J. S Wood, John Wood, Wm Wood, W. W Woodard, H Woodin, Thomas J Wright, C F, Wright, Francis M Wright, Hon. J. S Wright, R.C Wright, Thomas Wymann, C. R Wyninger, George N Wyne, J. H 534 75-t .640 .936 535 .272 .905 476 .643 77' 475 .712 757 934 .700 462 .082 .719 75 '55 578 3 2 5 543 .872 -745 .609 .880 .612 643 3=4 .725 .687 Yancey, D. L 460 Yates, B. F 516 Yates, Richard 159 Yeazel, Ann Margaret 455 Yeazel, James 889 Yexley, A 229 Young, Caleb B 507 Young, F. M 573 Young, Thomas 485 Young, Wm 760 Youngman, B 634 Zerbe, John .1 ' INDEX. Adams, John Adams, John Q Arthur, Chester A Babb, M Beecher, Henry Bellinger, J. A Beveridge, John L ... Bissell, Wm- H Bond, Shadrach Buchanan, James Carley, Mark Carlin, Thomas Cleveland, &". Grover. Coles, Edward Colley, Wm...., Culloni, Shelby M Duncan, Joseph Dunlap,J. H Rd wards, Ninian 38 . 98 .886 930 -830 .170 .150 '34 .102 .II 4 .626 -174 .130 738 Ewing, Wm L. 1) 126 FiMmore, Millard 66 Ford, Thomas 138 French, Augustus C 142 Garfield, James A 94 Gates, Perry J 396 Gorman, Joseph L 492 Goudie, James 298 Grant, U. S 86 Gulick, J- R 278 Hamilton, John M 170 Hannah, J. S 318 Harrison, Elizabeth. 238 Harrison, W. H 238 Harrison, \Vm. H 50 Hayes, R. B 90 Jackson, Andrew 42 Jefferson, Thomas j*6 Johnson, Andrew 82 Lester, J. B 794 Lincoln, Abraham 78 Madison, James 30 Mathews, M. W 570 Matteson, Joel A 146 Meharry, Jesse 358 Meharry, Wm 200 Meikle, J. W 512 Monroe, James 34 Oglesby, Richard J 162 Palmer, John M 166 Patterson, J- K 898 Peabody, D 910 Penman, Robert 338 Penman, Mrs. Robert ....338 Pierce, Kranklin 70 Polk, James K 58 Putnam, Wm. 850 Re in hart, Wendel 626 Barrett. Battles, F. B Bongard, Jose Bourne, Amos Brown, Isaac. . Champ, J. W. Clark, John. Clevenger, H. Coffeen,M. D. Comer, John Conkey, W. A. Cooler, David. Corlis, W. S. Covert, Tr Craig, J . i\ Craw, Samuel. Davis, Dawley, Wm Decker, Joseph . 'jickerson, Ezr Doty, Stephen . Dunn, Z. Edwards, Fisher, E. S. rus B 681 747 287 Fletcher, Wm. George, D. B ....919 - --443 . . . .615 1OS c W 3<8 481 Gray, N. A Griswold, G. W 727 .. ..227 367 Gulick, J R 765 H. 1 D 5*7 481 . 6ic Hawbaker, Henry Hcadrick, J. H Henderson, J . W ....689 ....70? . A .. ^8; ... 765 id Hinton D F D S . . 287 . 803 Howard, Wm. F --783 lei 707 aafi Howser, L. H ....227 783 765' 16? Lateer, W J A torge 803 747 Laverick, Thomas Leonard, John Locke. Tohn . . . ....8o 3 ....68g Logan, J. H 875 Lyons, Thomas 367 McClelland, J. R 689 McCIoskey, J acob 247 McKee, E. M 579 McKee, Samuel 663 McMillian, Clement 919 Moore, James M 663 Moore, S . W 425 Morris, R. H ...783 Mumm, J. J 553 Naylor, David 463 Naylor, Fdmund 463 Neal, John B 405 Nise wander, Daniel 721 Norton, J. N 405 Oflfenstein, Frank 348 Osborne, John A 267 Palmer, Aquilla 571 Parker, E. W 425 Pell, Fred 501 Petti t, Silas 559 Pierce, Joseph 385 Porterfield, A. G 571 Pratt, Albert R 663 Reynolds, John Smith, T. W Spencer, J . M Stamey, M. E Taylor, Zachary Thayer, Edward F Thompson, J. C Towner, Richard Trotter, Hiram Tyler, John Van Buren, Martin Washington, George Way, W. M Welles, Joseph H Wolf, David Wood, John Yates, Richard Yeazel, Abraham .... Yeazel, Ann M ....... Yeazel, Elizabeth Yeazel, James 122 492 396 550 62 898 .519 718 258 45 46 18 550 416 718 154 158 454 454 887 830 Putnam, Minerva Reed, A. J Rd, J. C Reinhart, Louis Rock, A. J ....... Seltzer, John D Smith, George A Stone, T . M Strong, A . W Stumpf, Gustave Swayze, Wm Telling, E . T Thompson, J . K VanBrunt, Samuel Vance, Wm. S Vanschoyck, James W Waters, Wm. S White, Wm Williams, W ra . H Wilson, D. R Wilson, Thomas Wood, Wm Wright, C. E Youngman, Bernard 287 681 443 308 539 443 727 327 . 553 227 707 904 . 385 635 681 267 875 57 i 521 904 481 579 267 635 *=* UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBAN* PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF CHAMP