^y€ ^ ; M • i II MCLEAN COUNTY (I \. It'* yiAP or COUNTY, tt- V T 2+ N. T 23 N. T. SI N. THE HISTORY McLean County, ILLINOIS, CONTAINING A History of the County— its Cities, Towns, &c. ; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General Statistics; Map of McLean County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illustrated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c, &c. ILLUSTEATED. CHICAGO: WM. LE BARON, Jr., & CO., 186 DEARBORN STREET. 1879. PREFACE TN presenting our History of McLean County, we deem a few prefatory words necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engagement with our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have acted upan the principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires that the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the county. We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors ; such a result could not be attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. The General History of the County was compiled by Prof. Merriman, of Bloomington, and the Township His- tories of Bloomington, Normal and White Oak, by Capt. J. H. Burnham, and the balance of the Townships by our historians, H. II. Hill and A. W. Kellogg. Some of the Town- ship Histories are indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, containing larger cities and towns, and have been the scenes of more important and interesting events. While fully recognizing this important difference, the historians have sought to write up each township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within their reach. We take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscriber^ for their patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this confident belief, we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has been prepared, believing that it will be received as a most valuable and complete work. THE PUBLISHERS. iv^d\_ CHICAGO: CULVER. PAGK, HOYXE A CO., PRINTERS, 118 »nd ISO Monro* Strctt. CONTENTS. Page. History Northwest Territory 19 Geographical 19 Early Exploration 20 Discovery of the Ohio 32 English Explorations and Settle- ments 34 American Settlements 59 Division of the Northwest Terri- tory ...1 65 Tecumseh and the war of 1812 79 HISTORICAL. Page, i Black Hawk and the Black Hawk War 73 Present Condition of the North- west 79 History of Illinois 88 Coal 108 Compact of 1787 95 History of Chicago 110 Early Discoveries 88 Early Settlements 94 Page. Education „107 First French Occupation 91 Genius of La Sal e 92 Material Resources lo2 Massacre ot Fort Dearborn 117 Physical Futures 99 Progress of Development 101 Religion and Morals 1ry Grove 716 Dale 747 Empire 299 Funk's Grove 735 Gridley 723 Hudson 739 Lawndale 536 Lexington 498 Martin 701 Page. Township 564 Page. Mount Hope Township -577 695 4.^5 628 648 : 459 5*9 680 CAfl 730 686 Money Creek 610 Normal Old Town T 515 618 Pil'l'M .-..-,< Randolph 599 Towanda 636 White Oak 4m West 753 Yates LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS. Page. Adams, W. H. H 547 Bishop, James 781 Barnura, S. F 87? Barnett, T. J 799 Benjamin, D. C 979 Carlyl, John 98 Cheney, W. H 691 Oarlock, A. W 1033 Dimmitt, Wm 205 Elder, W. A 511 Ewins, John A 835 Flagg, W. F 238 Funk, Isaac 637 Ferre, L 601 Franklin, Noah 745 Fisher, T. D 889 Freeman, G. W 50 Gridlev, A 277 Page. Gregory, John 457 Greeninan, E. E 763 Gildersleeve, James T _.961 Hayes, James W . r 67 Hewett, E. C 565 Harem H 997 Keenan, J 925 Lewis, Samuel H 943 Moore, A. H 619 Mahan, J. C 108 Mitchell, T. F „ 475 McCullough, William 295 Ogden, B 865 Orme, W. W 313 Parke, Charles R 493 Parke, George W 403 Parkhurst, H 853 Rogers, Elihu 66 M593774 Page. Rogers, Thomas P 439 Rit-bsame, C 1051 Smith, Giles A 331 Stetson, Albert 583 Schroeder, H 421 Soldiers' Monument 187 Stokes, George W 1018 Trimmer, Jesse 673 Tipton, Thomas F 385 Van Schoick, Wm 529 Van Dolah, D. H '. 727 Withers, Allen .349 Wakefi-ld, C 269 Whituier. P 241 West, Henry 817 Weednian, John 907 Wheeler, G. W 114 IV CONTENTS. BIOGRAPHICAL. SKETCHES. Page. I Page. Page. Arrow8mith 951 ! Danvers 10:55 I Mount Hope 934 Allin 1008 I Dry Grove ..' 1046 I Money Creok 1020 Anchor 1056 ! Dale 1027 Normal 831 Bloomington 761 Empire 869 O'd Town 995 Belleflower 1014 1 Funk's Grove 985 | Padua 914 Blue Mound 1023 | Gridley 906 Randolph 840 Cropsey 1059 i Hudson 94^ j Towanda 989 Cheney's Grove 897 ! Lawndale 1043 White Oak 1053 Chenoa 859 i Lexington 850 West 918 Downs 957 I Martin 1062 Yates 1060 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWJS. Page. Adoption of Children 132 Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes 123 County Courts 127 Conveyances 136 Church Organizations r ...157 Descent 123 Deeds and Mortgages 129 Drainage 135 Damages from Trespass 139 Definition of Commercial Terms 143 Exemptions from Forced Sale 128 Estrays 129 Fences 138 Forms : Articles of Agreement 145 Bills of Purchase 144 Bills of Sale 146 Bonds 146 Page. Forms : Chattel Mortgages.... 147 Codicil 157 Lease of Farm and Build- ings 149 Lease of House 150 Landlord's Agreement 150 Notes „ 144 Notice Tenant to Quit 151 Orders 144 Quit Claim Deed 153 Receipt 144 Real Estate Mortgaged to Secure Payment of Money 151 Release 154 Tenant's Agreement 150 Tenant's Notice of Leaving 151 Warranty Deed 152 Will 155 Page. Game 130 Interest 123 Jurisdiction of Courts 126 Limitation of Action 127 Landlord and Tenant 139 Liens 142 Married Women 127 Millers 131 Marks and Brands 131 Paupers 136 Roads and Bridges 133 Surveyors and Surveys 132 Suggestions to Persons Purchasing Books by Subscription 158 Taxes 126 Wills and Estates 124 Weights and Measures 130 Wolf Scalps 136 MISCELLANEOUS. Page. Map of McLean County Front Constitution of the U. S 160 Electors of President and Vice Pres- ident 172 Practical Rules for Every Day Use.173 U. S. Government Land Measure. ..176 Agricultural Productions of Illi- nois by Counties, 1870 186 Surveyors" Measure 177 How to Keep Accounts 177 Page. Interest Table 178 Miscellaneous Tables 178 Names of the Statos of the Union and their Signification 179 Population of the United States 180 Population of Fifty Principal Cities of the United States 180 Population and Area of the United States 181 Page. Population of the Principal Coun- tries in the World 181 Popu'ation of Illinois 182-183 State Laws Relating to Interest 184 State Laws Relating to Limitations of Actions 185 Population of McLean Co 1064 Business Directory 1065 Errata 831 The Northwest Territory. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the "New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old "Northwestern Territory. " In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of the entire population of the United States. Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent on the globe. For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United States. U9) 20 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. EARLY EXPLORATIONS. In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before an}' adventurer took advantage of these discoveries. In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which run"nto Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac. During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied — as all others did then — that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a THE NORTHWEST TERRITG*tY. 21 request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- dition, prepared for the undertaking. On the 13th of May, 1673,. the explorers, accompanied by five assist- ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here^lar- quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun- tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were now upon the bosom of tha Father of Waters. The mystery was about to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of 22 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand " reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab- itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas- tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors. SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 23 up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, " did we see such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and reported their discovery — one of the most important of the age, but of which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the mouth of a stream — going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan — he asked to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away while at prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been called Marquette. While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were pre- paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin. After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of those ages — a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol- lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to Frontenac, Governor General cf Canada, and laid before him the plan, dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that LaSalle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un- measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose adminis- tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized. LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also received from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev- 24 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded a fort, and passed on to Green Bay, the " Baie des Puans" of the French, where he found a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors, LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY. started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear- ing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all the men — thirty working men and three monks — and started again upon his great undertaking. By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf, because of the tribes of Indians called by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. The French pronounced it Kiakiki, which became corrupted to Kankakee. "Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the country," about the last of December they reached a village of the Illi- nois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 25 no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuffs, took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a suffi- ciency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored, the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening, on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake which must have been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi, that is, a place where there are many fat beasts. Here the natives were met with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel. He called this fort " Crevecceur" (broken-heart), a name expressive of the very natural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship, Griffin, and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered. While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to return to Canada, raise new means and new men, and embark anew in the enterprise. For this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his jour- ney. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and was successfully made, though over an almost u tknown route, and in a bad season of the year. He safely reached Cana ia, and set out again for the object of his search. Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecceur on the last of February, 1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he found the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the icy stream as best he could, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River by the 11th of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hen- nepin's comrades were Anthony Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voy- age they found several beautiful lakes, and " saw some charming prairies." Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas, a tribe of the Sioux nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when they reached some falls, which Hennepin christened Falls of St. Anthony 26 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. in honor of his patron saint. Here they took the land, and traveling nearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages. Here they were kept about three months, were treated kindly by their captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen, BUFFALO HUNT. headed by one Seur de Luth, who, in pursuit of trade and game, had pene- trated thus far by the route of Lake Superior ; and with these fellow- countrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after LaSalle had returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after went to France, where he published an account of his adventures. TEIE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 27 The Mississippi was first discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his vain endeavor to find gold and precious gems. In the following Spring, De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wander- ings, he fell a victim to disease, and on the 21st of May died. His followers, reduced by fatigue and disease to less than three hundred men, wandered about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor to rescue them- selves by land, and finally constructed seven small vessels, called brigan- tines, in which they embarked, and descending the river, supposing it would lead them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of Mexico), and by September reached the Island of Cuba. They were the first to see the great outlet of the Mississippi ; but, being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country, and hardly had an intelligent idea of what they had passed through. To La Salle, the intrepid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess this entire country for his king, and in January, 1682, he and his band of explorers left the shores of Lake Michigan on their third attempt, crossed the portage, passed down the Illinois River, and on the 6th of February, reached the banks of the Mississippi. On the 13th they commenced their downward course, which they pursued with but one interruption, until upon the 6th of March they dis- covered the three great passages by which the river discharges its waters into the gulf. La Salle thus narrates the event : " We landed on the bank of the most western channel, about three leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de LaSalle went to reconnoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti meanwhile examined the great middle channel. They found the main outlets beautiful, large and deep. On the 8th we reascended the river, a little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the reach of inundations. The elevation of the North Pole was here about twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription : Louis Le Grand, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne ; Le neuvieme Avril, 1682. The whole party, under arms, chanted the Te Deum, and then, after a salute and cries of " Vive le Roi," the column was erected by M. de La Salle, who, standing near it, proclaimed in a loud voice the authority of the King of France. LaSalle returned and laid the foundations of the Mis- sissippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where another expedition was fitted out, of which he was commander, and in two succeeding voyages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along the shore of the gulf. On his third voyage he was killed, through the 28 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. treachery of his followers, and the object of his expeditions was not accomplished until 1699, when D'Iberville, under the authority of the crown, discovered, on the second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth of the " Hidden River." This majestic stream was called by the natives " Malbouchia" and by the Spaniards, " la PaHssade^ from the great ^f&taSHrV TRAPPING. number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets, and satisfying himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western outlet, and returned to France. An avenue of trade was now opened out which was fully improved. In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some European colo- nists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by France under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased by THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 29 the United States for the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory of Louisiana and commerce of the Mississippi River came under the charge of the United States. Although LaSalle's labors ended in defeat and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He had thrown open to France and the world an immense and most valuable country ; had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, are to this day monu- ments of LaSalle's labors ; for, though he had founded neither of them (unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecceur,) it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of the Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and honored." The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois, and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary station, Avhere none but natives resided, it being one of three such vil- lages, the other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest, dated " Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit de lTmmaculate Conception de la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." Soon after the founding of Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Crevecceur. This must have been about the year 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river, (pronounced Wa-ba, meaning summer cloud moving swiftly} was estab- lished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether prob- able that on LaSalle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia and Cahokia. In July, 1701, the foundations of Fort Ponchartrain were laid by De la Motte Cadillac on the Detroit River. These sta- tions, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time efforts were being made to occupy the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settle- ment and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through the efforts of the famous Mississippi Company, established by the notorious John Law, who so quickly arose into prominence in France, and who with his scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away. From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the French nation were engrossed with the settlement of the lower Missis- sippi, and the war with the Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated •There is considerable dispute about this date, some asserting it was founded as late as 1742. Wh"n the new c:>urt house at Vincennes was erected, all authorities 0:1 the subject were carefully examined, and >IQZ fixed upon as the correct date. It was accordingly engraved ou the corner-stone of the court house. 30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary among the Illinois, writing from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There are five French villages, and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid (Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight hundred souls all told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated Novem- ber 7, 1750, this same priest says : " For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans, plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-five leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther up is the Natchez post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners through fear of the Chickasaws. Here and at Point Coupee, they raise excellent tobacco. Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas, where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of the river traders. * * * From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred leagues, there is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the English can reach the Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 31 work them as they deserve." Father Marest, writing from the post at Vincennes in 181 2, makes the same observation. Vivier also says : " Some individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Indians and Canada. Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large pieces are found in the streams." MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI. At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at the Mauinee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what may be termed the Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the Northwest they had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, at Fort Ponchartrain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillimacanac, Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country, 32 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. and hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for occupying it and for securing the great profits arising therefrom. The French, however, had another claim to this country, namely, the DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO. This " Beautiful" river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La- Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliet and Marquette. While LaSalle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident soon occurred which decided him to fit out an exploring expedition. While conversing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state- ment the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream. LaSalle believing, as most of the French at that period did, that the great rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to the commerce of China and Japan. He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Gov- ernor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant, Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no pro- vision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sul- pice decided to send out missionaries in connection with the expedition, and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money, the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and the necessary supplies for the outfit. On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons, embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence ; two additional canoes carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to procure guides to conduct them to the Ohio, but in this they were disappointed. The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise. LaSalle suspected that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After waiting a month in the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 33 from the Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them that they could there find guides, and offered to conduct them thence. On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they heard for the first time the distant thunder of the cataract. Arriving HIGH BRIDGE, LAKE BLUFF, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. among the Iroquois, they met with a friendly reception, and learned from a Shawanee prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks. Delighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume their journey ; but just as they were about to start they heard of the arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring village. One of them proved to be Louis Joliet, afterwards famous as an explorer in the West. Ka 34 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec. He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Indiana in that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers, Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field. These zealous disciples of Loyola informed them that they wanted no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron saint; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian. After parting with the priests, LaSalle went to the chief Iroquois village at Onondaga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by LaSalle, the persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669. The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anony- mous paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio Valley upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony of Virginia in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec replied : " We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of LaSalle, and will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley." ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri- ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 35 conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as 1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had commenced movements to secure the country west of the Alleghenies to the English crown. In Pennsylvania, Governor Keith and James Logan, secretary of the prov- ince, from 1719 to 1731, represented to the powers of England the neces- sity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, by that power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain to this unexplored wilderness. England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, on the ground that the discovery of the seacoast and its possession was a discovery and possession of the country, and, as is well known, her grants to the colonies extended " from sea to sea." This was not all her claim. She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This lat- ter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord Howard, Gov- ernor of Virginia, held a treaty with the six nations. These were the great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the Mohawks, Onei- das, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. Afterward the Tuscaroras were taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six Nations. They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in 1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity of this claim has often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the " Colony of Virginia," for which the Indians received <£200 in gold and a like sum in goods, with a promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid. The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel William Beverly. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the mountains with presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompa- nied him with the intention of sounding the Indians upon their feelings regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment, and plainly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In 1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a grant of land beyond the Alleghenies. This was granted, and the government of Virginia was ordered to grant to them a half million acres, two hun- dred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12th of June, 1749, 800,000 acres from the line of Canada north and west was made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29th of October, 1751, 100,000 acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time the French were not idle. They saw that, should the British gain a foothold in the West, especially upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the French .36 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaud- reuil, Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the consequences that must arise from allowing the English to build trading posts in the Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further secure the claim of the French to the West, he, in 1749, sent Louis Cel- eron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which were inscribed the claims of France. These were heard of in 1752, and within the memory of residents now living along the " Oyo," as the beautiful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the. American Antiquarian Society, among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not, however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and it was only a question of time when the storm would burst upon the frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees, on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He afterward spoke of it as very populous. From there he went down the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville, and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. Dur- ing the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were busy in preparing their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the Eng- lish post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. (They were probably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the terri- tory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones Pickaweke." • The following Is a translation of the Inscription on the plate: "In the year 1749. reign of Louis XV., King of France, we, Celeron, commandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Gallisonlere, com- mander-in-chief of New France, to establish tranquility In certain Indian villages of these cantons, have buried this plate at the confluence of the Toradakoin, this twenty-ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all its tributaries; inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained it by their arms and treaties; especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix La Chapelle." THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY 37 This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more inter- ested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English deter- mined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washing- ton at the commencement of the French War of 1775-1763), Lomax and Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold a conference with the natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lan- caster already noticed, and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June, these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pitts- burgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was aban- doned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour, the interpreter, who was a' son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their favor. This he did, and upon the 13th of June they all united in signing a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manceuvre each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their con- tracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammuni- tion. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758 : " The Indians on the Ohio left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when we wanted help, forsook us." At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The Eng- lish made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until the Summer could the Indians be gathered together to discuss the plans of the French. They had sent messages to the French, warning them away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts already begun, and would not abandon the field. Soon after this, no satisfaction being obtained from the Ohio regard- 38 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ing the positions and purposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he selected a young man, a surveyor, who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank of major, and who was thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at this time just twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 22d reached the Monon- gahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of the Six Nations. From them he learned the condition of the French, and also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the fol- lowing Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral. Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the 11th of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here he delivered Governor Dinwiddie's letter, received his answer, took his observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him, notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754. From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications, and gathered their forces to be in readiness. The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of great activities ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation — which promised two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 39 working away in hunger and want, to fortify that point at the fork of the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest. " The first birds of Spring filled the air with their song ; the swift river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of Spring and the April showers. The leaves were appearing ; a few Indian scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand ; and all was so quiet, that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder- ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrenchment rising at the fork, and swift feet had borne the news of it up the river ; and upon the morning of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink — sixty batteaux and three hundred canoes filled with men, and laden deep with cannon and stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, Contrecoeur, and the next day he was bowed off by the Frenchman, and with his men and tools, marched up the Monongahela." The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the French were determined to hold the country watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries ; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New- foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had resulted disastrously to them. The French and Indians immediately completed the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured, and when completed gave to the fort the name of DuQuesne. Washing- ton was at Will's Creek when the news of the capture of the fort arrived. He at once departed to recapture it. On his way he entrenched him- self at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of French and Indians marching against him, but was soon after attacked in his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the morning of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia. The English Government immediately planned four campaigns ; one against Fort DuQuesne ; one against Nova Scotia ; one against Fort Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These occurred during 1755-6, and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions. The expedition against Fort DuQuesne was led by the famous General Braddock, who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those 40 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is generally known as the battle of Monongahela, or " Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with various vicissitudes through the years 1756-7 ; when, at the commence- ment of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secre- tary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to carry on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year : one, under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie, against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against Fort DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne, of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession, rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the name to Fort Pitt. The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memor- able ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement Montcolm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor, marched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of defeating the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It resulted in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal. The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and under its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of the Iberville River, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the same time Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain. On the 13th of September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was sent from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post in the territory. He arrived there on the 19th of November, and sum- moned the place to surrender. At first the commander of the post, Beletre ; refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 41 French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom, no doubt, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much to insure the safety of Rogers and his party during their stay, and while on their journey home. Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on December 23, and was just one month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the com- mon trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is, crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to " Mohickon John's Town" on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one hundred and fifty warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork. The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule. New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe- trated, and the country would have been spared their recital. The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one of the leading spirits in these atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as far as Missillimacnac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French, but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He declared that no treaty had been made with them ; no presents sent them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation. He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was civil and military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies. The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina, were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly 42 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 4-J upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead. Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares and Mingoes, who had, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unite- in this enterprise. The blow came, as near as can now be ascertained, on May 7, 1762. Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, " scooped up in the hollow of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton. Pontiac's immediate field of action was the garrison at Detroit. Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing the plot the evening previous to his arrival. Everything was carried out, however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and disclosed the concealed musket. Pontiac, though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He saw his plan was known, and that the garrison were prepared. He endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions ; but the guilt was evident, and he and his followers were dismissed with a severe reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post. Pontiac at once laid siege to the fort, and until the treaty of peace between the British and the Western Indians, concluded in August, 1764, continued to harass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark, which, to his credit, it may be stated, were punctually redeemed. At the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went further south, living many years among the Illinois. He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a time he endeavored to unite the Illinois tribe and those about St. Louis in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon afterwards killed him. His death was, however, avenged by the northern Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois in the wars which followed. Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan for the extermination of the whites, a masterly one, would undoubtedly have been carried out. It was in the Spring of the year following Rogers' visit that Alex- ander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest feelings against the English, who had not carried out their promises, and were doing nothing to conciliate the natives. Here he met the chief, Pontiac, who, after conveying to him in a speech the idea that their French father would awake soon and utterly destroy his enemies, said : " Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not / 44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves ! These lakes, these woods, these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains." He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them, no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war. Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after the English took possession of their country. These feelings were no doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments. In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to pre- vent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon- tainbleau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question. Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to France, and by France sold to the United States. In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Crevecceur by LaSalle, in 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French set- tlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been noticed, being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia, Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St. Louis. By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England; but they do not appear to have bten taken possession of until 1765, when Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him- self at Fort Chartres bearing with him the proclamation of General Gage, dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Cath- olics who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen. It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that chieftain- By it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settle- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 45 ment in its infancy ceased to exist. This was not ended until the year 1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confed- eracy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pon- tiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among whom he afterward lost his life. As soon as these difficulties were definitely settled, settlers began rapidly to survey the country and prepare for occupation. During the year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the Mononga- hela and along the banks of the Ohio as far as the Little Kanawha. This was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washing- ton was a party. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Capt. Crawford and others, on the 20th of October, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts- burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; ascended that stream about fourteen miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buffalo, which were then abundant in the Ohio Valley, and returned to the fort. Pittsburgh was at this time a trading post, about which was clus- tered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by Indian traders. This same year, Capt. Pittman visited Kaskaskia and its neighboring villages. He found there about sixty-five resident families, and at Cahokia only forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and at Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year or two settlers continued to locate near some of these posts, generally Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main- tained some feelings of hatred to the English. The trade from the posts was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quantities of pork and flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of England forbade, by royal proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settlement beyond the sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the settlement without the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy reach of Great Britain. The commander-in-chief of the king's forces wrote in 1769 : " In the course of a few years necessity will compel the colonists, should they extend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother country ceases, an independency in their government will soon follow." In accordance with this policy, Gov. Gage issued a proclamation in 1772, commanding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their set- tlements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they 46 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to its change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extend- ing the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Govern- ment toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but the early alliance between France and America soon brought them -to the side of the war for independence. In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth. One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the Ohio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for settlements, and often came in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the famous battle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and driven across the Ohio. During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies and the perseverance of individuals, several settlements were firmly estab- lished between the Alleghanies and the Ohio River, and western land speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held in Kaskaskia on July 5, 1773, an association of English traders, calling themselves the " Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on the east side of the Mississippi River south of the Illinois. In 1775, a mer- chant from the Illinois Country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Company." On the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for 37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land com- panies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all were frustrated by the breaking out of the Revolution. On the 20th of April, 1780, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the " United Illinois and Wabash Land Company." They afterward made THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 47 strenuous efforts to have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all signally failed. When the War of the Revolution commenced, Kentucky was an unor- ganized country, though there were several settlements within her borders. In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time " Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black in- habitants — the whites being a little the more numerous. Cahokia con- tains 50 houses and 300 white inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 " — when these observa- tions were made — " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230 negroes." From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a report made by a committee to Congress in June, 1778. From it the following extract is made : "Near the mouth of the River Kaskaskia, there is a village which appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la Prairie du Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There are also four or five families at Fort Chartres and St. Philips, which is five miles further up the river." St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time con- tained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the country west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until ceded again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the country including New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the Northwest from 1766 to 1768, more than one hundred houses, and the river was settled for more than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated — the people being engaged in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here relate. It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an oblong square, of two acres in length, and an acre and a half in width. As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house (near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn, and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by oak and cedar pickets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had four gates — east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these 48 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six- pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river and in a parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten to fifteen feet in width. At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to the present northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two stories high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The citadel also contained a hospital and guard-house. The old town of Detroit, in 17T8, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance, called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning between nine and ten o'clock, Each furnished four sentinels, who were relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who per- formed strict duty. Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset ; even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys were delivered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was permitted to enter town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a stand- ing order that the Indians should deliver their arms and instruments of every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the Indians were required to leave town instantly. There was a council house near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians. The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present " new " town was laid out. On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of importance in f;he West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of Virginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their interests, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 49 and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Gallaway, burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of th6 British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. He. saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy access to the various Indian tribes in the Northwest, that the British intended to penetrate the country from the north and soutn, ana annihi- late the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the Indians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in the Cclonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them. Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions — one secret, the other open — the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country. With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Hoi- 50 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ston for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him with such recruits as had reached Kentucky by the southern route, and as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to the men their real destination. Having completed his arrangements, and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the 24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to march directly to the Mississippi River and cross it into the Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of infor- mation : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to believe by the British that the " Long Knives " or Virginians, were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from grati- tude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency. The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun, and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently working upon the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at per- fect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhab- itants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlooked for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accom- panied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus s^#/W$A^L£^^^ei^ RANDOLPH 77? THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 51 the* two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English into the possession of Virginia. In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession of tke Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boun- daries, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. St. Vincent, the next important post to Detroit, remained yet to be taken before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July, in company with a fellow-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of peace, and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence that the post on the " Oubache " had taken the oath of allegiance to the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his men, sent word to have a fort, which proved the germ of Louisville, erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched Mr. Rocheblave, who had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond. In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legislature of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor, and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of the Old Dominion through their Legislature. In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore alle- giance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton, having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down the Wabash to Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault, dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attend- ant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to command the fort. Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly surprised on his arrival to be confronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at the entrance of the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assail- ants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded possession of the fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the force in the garrison. Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with whom he was contending, gave up his intended campaign for the Winter, sent his four hundred Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, 52 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. and to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat quietly down to pass the Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he saw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that, unless he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi- ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend the Ohio and Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray. On the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring rains, on the 22d reached the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American back- woodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kind- ness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement. During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him, and had earned in consequence thereof the title " Hair-buyer General," by which he was ever afterward known. Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark con- cluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts. Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in uniting the western Indians for the next Spring's campaign, the West would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from the commencement, by the British. " But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed." At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Govern- ments that the Indians in the North and Northwest were inclining to the British, and under the instructions of Washington, now Commander-in- Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American inde- pendence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the Ohio frontier, Col. Bowman, acting under the same general's orders, marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These expeditions were in the main successful, and the Indians were compelled to sue for peace. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 53 During this same year (1779) the famous " Land Laws" of Virginia were passed. The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian, conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the public lands at forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These gentlemen opened their court on October 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided three thousand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the 10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the next year (1780) the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis- sippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in relation to its trade as to cause the overtures made to the United States to be rejected. The American Government considered they had a right to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settle- ments in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was dur- ing this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the West in this young and enterprising Commonwealth. The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence, and though for a while this friendship appeared in danger from the refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the satisfaction of both nations. The Winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the "Great Cold." Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few pioneers lost their lives. The following Summer a party of Canadians and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it in consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolting colonies. They met with such a determined resistance on the part of the inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were compelled to abandon the contest. They also made an attack on the settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable manner, they fled the country in great haste. About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress con- cerning the western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts 54 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this subject finally led New York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the dele- gates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for the benefit of the United States. This law was laid before Congress during the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep- tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States claiming western lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body. This basis formed the union, and was the first after all of those legislative measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In December of the same year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid been furnished him. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew that the safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the territory. Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into the Coun- ties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the act establishing the Town of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of American history as the year in which occurred Arnold's treason to the United States. Virginia, in accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d day of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the United States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was anything farther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements. Upon the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of American parentage occurred, being that of Mary Heckewelder, daughter of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Christian Indians suffered in after years a horrible massacre by the hands of the frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity, a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of shame upon their lives. For this and kindred outrages on the part of the whites, the Indians committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the years of 1771 and 1772 in the history of the Northwest. During the year 1782 a number of battles among the Indians and frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indians and the Wyan- dots. In these, horrible acts of cruelty were practised on the captives, many of such dark deeds' transpiring under the leadership of the notorious THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 55 frontier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers,, was a terror to women and children. These occurred chiefly in the Ohio valleys. Cotemporary with them were several engagements in Kentucky, in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, often by his skill and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved the outposts from cruel destruc- INDIANS ATTACKING FRONT1EKSMEN. tion. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of peace had been arranged between the Commissioners of England and her uncon- querable colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October preceding, and the liberty of America was assured. On the 19th oi April following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was 56 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 2d of the next September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of the Great La,kes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ; thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi River; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line east to the head of the Appalachicola River; down its center to its junc- tion with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by the proper treaty. To remedy this latter evil, Congress appointed commissioners to treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the set- tlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer- sonville, Indiana. While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do so, settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian council at Fort Mcintosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in appearance. He says : 11 Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 57 delphia and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and money. There are in. the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a priest of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel." Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A land office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take defensive precaution against the Indians who were yet, in some instances, incited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this year, 1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, although no entries were recorded until 1787. The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They held large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress adopted means for treaties with the original owners and provided for the surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the Ohio, now in its possession. On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made with the "Wabash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made in 1784. That at Fort Mcintosh in 1785, and through these much land was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel their adherence to its provisions, force was used. During the year 1786, the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused various discussions, which resulted in no definite action, only serving to excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its naviga- tion, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared its inability to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded between the two Governments. Before the close of the year 1786, how- ever, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September Con- necticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as the " Connecticut Reserve," and before the close of the following year a large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once took measures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a deduction of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received 750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without the reservations. In addition to this, Congress afterward granted 100,000 acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the resolutions of 1789 and 1790. 58 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing- its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance for the political and social organization of this Territory. When the cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected. A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina. By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states PRESENT SITE OF LAKE STREET BKIDGE, CHICAGO, IX 1833. by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten states, which were to have been named as follows — beginning at the northwest corner and going southwardly : Sylvania, Michigania, Cher- sonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Illenoia, Saratoga, Washington, Poly- potamia and Pelisipia. There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category of names, — the boundaries. The root of the difficulty was in the resolu- tion of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 59. square. These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir- ginia and Massachusetts, they desired a change, and in July, 1786, the subject was taken up in Congress, and changed to favor a division into not more than five states, and not less than three. This was approved by the State Legislature of Virginia. The subject of the Government was again taken up by Congress in 1786, and discussed throughout that year and until July, 1787, when the famous "Compact of 1787" was passed, and the foundation of the government of the Northwest laid. This com- pact is fully discussed and explained in the history of Illinois in this book, and to it the reader is referred. The passage of this act and the grant to the New England Company was soon followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of the land between the Miamis- This gentleman had visited these lands soon after the treaty of 1786, and, being greatly pleased with them, offered similar terms to those given to the New England Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury Board with power to act, and a contract was concluded the following year. During the Autumn the directors of the New England Company were preparing to occupy their grant the following Spring, and upon the 23d of November made arrangements for a party of forty-seven men, under the superintendency of Gen. Rufus Putnam, to set forward. Six boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of January the sur- veyors and their assistants, twenty-six in number, were to meet at Hart- ford and proceed on their journey westward ; the remainder to follow a& soon as possible. Congress, in the meantime, upon the 3d of October, had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western settlers, and to prevent unauthorized intrusions ; and two days later appointed Arthur St. Clair Governor of the Territory of the Northwest. AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was now com- plete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of Indian affairs, settlers from the East began to come into the country rapidly. The New England Company sent their men during the Winter of 1787-8 pressing on over the Alleghenies by the old Indian path which had been opened into Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national turnpike from Cumberland westward. Through the weary winter days they toiled on, and by April were all gathered on the Yohiogany, where boats had been built, and at once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived on the 7th of that month, and unless the Moravian missionaries be regarded as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly claim that honor. 60 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 'Gen. St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the Northwast, not having yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, written out, and published by being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed to administer them. Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in. the Northwest, said : " No colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskingum. Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I know many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calcu- lated to promote the welfare of such a community." «?viae& A PIONEER DWELLING. On the 2d of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held on the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpose of naming the new- born city and its squares." As yet the settlement was known as the "Muskingum," but that was now changed to the name Marietta, in honor of Marie Antoinette.. The square upon which the block -houses stood was called " Campus Martins ;" square number 19, " Capitolium ;" square number 61, " Cecilia; 1 ' and the great road through the covert way, " Sacra Via." Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Varnum, who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been appointed to the judicial bench of the territory on the 16th of October, 1787. On July 9, Gov. St. Clair arrived, and the colony began to assume form. The act of 1787 provided two district grades of government for the Northwest, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 61 under the first of which the whole power was invested in the hands of a governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon the Governor's arrival, and the first laws of the colony passed on the 25th of July. These provided for the organization of the militia, and on the next day appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River into the County of Washington. From that time forward, notwithstanding the doubts yet existing as to the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the 2d of September the first court of the territory was held with imposing ceremonies. The emigration westward at this time was very great. The com- mander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four thousand five hundred persons as having passed that post between Feb- ruary and June, 1788 — many of whom would have purchased of the "Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been ready to receive them. On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In January, 1788, Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest in Symmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sections upon which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one-third of this locality, he sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the three, about August, commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the mouih of which they proposed to have a road cut from Lexington. The naming of the town is thus narrated in the "Western Annals " : — " Mr. Filson, who had been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and, in respect to its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed race that were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Losantiville, which, being interpreted, means : ville, the town ; anti, against or opposite to ; os, the mouth ; L. of Licking." Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse teams under way for the West. These reached Limestone (now Mays- ville) in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, but the great "freshet of 1789 caused the " Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left the " Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of the whole plan, who, with a colony of Redstone people, had located at the mouth of the Miami, whither Symmes went with his Maysville colony. Here a clearing had 62 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. been made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr. Stiltes with his colony came to this place on the 18th of November, 1788,. with twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood of 1789. On the 4th of March, 1789, the Constitution of the United States went into operation, and on April 30, George Washington was inaug- urated President of the American people, and during the next Summer, an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The President at first used pacific means ; but these failing, he sent General Harmer against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several villages, but LAKE BLUFF. The frontage of Lake Bluff Grounds on Lake Michigan, with one hundred and seventy feet of gradual ascent. was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne, Indiana. From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events were the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796, General St. Clair was appointed in command, and marched against the Indians ; but while he was encamped on a stream, the St. Mary, a branch of the Maumee, he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men. General Wayne was now sent against the savages. In August, 1794, he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, compelled the Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the treaty of Greenville was signed by the principal chiefs, by which a large tract of country was ceded to the United States. Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. Nearly all of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 6-°> whole country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer structures, known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Pon- chartrain, mark the original sites of the now proud Cities of Chicago, Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east and west of the Mississippi. Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a number of strongly-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks were a story and a half high, while those composing the officers quarters were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnished. The whole were so placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about aD acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles. The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now Broadway, which was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundary of of the town as it was originally laid out. On the bank of the river, immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quarters of laborers. Within this enclosure there was a large two-story frame house, familiarly called the " Yellow House," built for the accommodation of the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was for some time the headquarters of both the civil and military governments of the Northwestern Territory. Following the consummation of the treaty various gigantic land spec- ulations were entered into by different persons, who hoped to obtain from the Indians in Michigan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outrageous schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war. On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States and Spain was signed, whereby the free navigation of the Mississippi was secured. No sooner had the treat}* of 1795 been ratified than settlements began to pour rapidly into the West. The great event of the year 1796 was the occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit and other frontier posts. When at last the British authorities were called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne, who had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferred his head- Q\. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. quarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a county named after him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan, and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middle- town to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper — the " Red- stone Paper Mill" — in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along the river, contiguous to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians, Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that part of the Northwest. The election of representatives for the territory had taken place, and on the 4th of February, 1799, they convened at Losantiville — now known as Cincinnati, having been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and considered the capital of the Territory — to nominate persons from whom the members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance with a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, the Assembly adjourned until the 16th of the following September. From those named the President selected as members of the council, Henry Vandenburg, of Vincennes, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th of September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 24th the two houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenburg being elected President of the Council. The message of Gov. St. Clair was addressed to the Legislature September 20th, and on October 13th that body elected as a delegate to Congress Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of Gen. St. Clair. The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by the Governor, were thirty -seven — eleven others were passed, but received his veto. The most important of those passed related to the militia, to the administration, and to taxation. On the 19th of December this pro- tracted session of the first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the 30th of December the President nominated Charles Willing Bryd to the office of Secretary of the Territory vice Wm. Henry Harrison, elected to Congress. The Senate confirmed his nomination the next day. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 65 DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. The increased emigration to the Northwest, the extent of the domain, and the inconvenient modes of travel, made it very difficult to conduct the ordinary operations of government, and rendered the efficient action of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution. This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that : " In the three western countries there has been but one court having cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which offenders experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned crim- inals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements in such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assist- ance is experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * To minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occurs to this committee that it is expedient that a division of said territory into two distinct and separate governments should be made ; and that such "division be made by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States and Canada.". The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its suggestions, that body passed an Act extinguishing the Northwest Terri- tory, which Act was approved May 7. Among its provisions were these : " That from and after July 4 next, all that part of the Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory." After providing for the exercise of the civil and criminal powers of the territories, and other provisions, the Act further provides : " That until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the seat of government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River ; and that St. Vincennes on the Wabash River shall be the seat of government for the Indiana Territory." Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the Indiana Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law ,QQ THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon thirty-five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the close of the year, the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the King of Spain, whereby the latter agreed to cede to France the province of Louisiana. In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory char- tered the college at Athens. From the earliest dawn of the western colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787, newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read throughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern territory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of the " compast of 1787" provided that whenever the number of inhabit- ants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to a separate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that number, and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits, and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio, so named from the beautiful river forming its southern boundary, came into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michigan were not then known, but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly within the territory of Indiana. Gen. Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next 3 ear is memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of Louisiana from France by the United States for $ 15,000,000. Thus by a peaceful mode, the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction of the Northwest government, and, as has been mentioned in the early part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest." The limits of this history will not allow a description of its territory. The same year large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the College Township in the district of Cincinnati. Before the close of the year, Gen. Harrison obtained additional grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at St. Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the : -+ : BLOOMINGTON THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 67 aborigines. Measures were also taken to learn the condition of affairs in and about Detroit. C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Terri- tory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post : " The Town of Detroit. — The charter, which is for fifteen miles square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV. of France, and is now, from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm. Macomb. * * * A stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The pickets, as well as the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant." During this year, Congress granted a township of land for the sup- port of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also, a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the domain of Gen. Harrison. On the 11th of January, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was formed, Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the change to take effect on June 30. On the 11th of that month, a fire occurred at Detroit, which destroyed almost every building in the place. When the officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it in ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuild- ing, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more houses than before the fire, and many of them much better built. While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade of government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large tracts of land from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian, Tecumthe or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause of his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the settlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the British, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at the battle of the Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest, we will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life, and his connection with this conflict. 68 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. TECUMSEH, THE SHAWANOE CHIEFTAIN. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 69 TECUMSEH, AND THE WAR OF 1812. This famous Indian chief was born about the year 1768, not far from the site of the present City of Piqua, Ohio. His father, Puckeshinwa, was a member of the Kisopok tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his mother, Methontaske, was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same people. They removed from Florida about the middle of the last century to the birthplace of Tecumseh. In 1774, his father, who had risen to be chief, was slain at the battle of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecum- seh, by his bravery, became the leader of his tribe. In 1795 he was declared chief, and then lived at Deer Creek, near the site of the present City of Urbana. He remained here about one year, when he returned to Piqua, and in 1798, he went to White River, Indiana. In 1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan (Open Door), who had announced himself as a prophet, went to a tract of land on the Wabash River, given them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. From this date the chief comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven years of age, was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built, and possessed of enormous powers of endurance. His countenance was naturally pleas- ing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confi- dential secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh entered upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants of land made by the Indians to the whites, and determined to unite all the Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of land could be made save by the consent of this confederation. He traveled constantly, going from north to south ; from the south to the north, everywhere urging the Indians to this step. He was a matchless orator, and his burning words had their effect. Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching the move- ments of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy was forming, and made preparations to defend the settlements. Tecumseh's plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and to the cunning artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity. During the } r ear 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were actively pre- paring for the work. In that year, Gen. Harrison entered into a treaty with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel River Indians and Weas, in which these tribes ceded to the whites certain lands upon the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh entered a bitter protest, averring 70 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians to give up any lands north and west of the Ohio River. Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict. Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chiefs headquarters at Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the prophet's town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile inten- tions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he was attacked by a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of Tippecanoe occurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken up. Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his brother, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating the war, and foiling his (Tecumseh's) plans. Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison that he was now returned from the South, and was ready to visit the President as had at one time previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison informed him he could not go as a chief, which method Tecumseh desired,, and the visit was never made. In June of the following year, he visited the Indian agent at Fort Wayne. Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against the United States, and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his people. The agent replied to this ; Tecumseh listened with a cold indif- ference, and after making a few general remarks, with a haughty air drew his blanket about him, left the council house, and departed for Fort Mai- den, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British standard. He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the Crown while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was, however, always humane in his treatment of the prisoners, never allow- ing his warriors to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wan- tonly murder the captive. In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victory on Lake Erie occurred, and shortly after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the 27th of September, the American army, under Gen. Harrison, set sail for the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins of Mai- den, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to Sand- wich, intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley of the Thames. On the 29th Gen. Harrison was at Sandwich, and Gen. Mc Arthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 71 On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor, whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed. Early in the engagement, Tecumseh who was at the head of the column of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chief- tain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the war in the Northwest. INDIANS ATTACKING A STOCKADS. Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ; but the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson, who fired at' him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal. In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession of a beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged by many with attempting to set up an independent government. His plans were frustrated by the general government, his property confiscated and he was compelled to flee the country for safety. -j 2 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts, however, all signally failed. 'In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory. This was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year, the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and then began the events already narrated. While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the " monster." It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the close of the first week of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being nearly overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its downward trip. The battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It effectually closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not fully restored until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Green- ville, under the direction of General Harrison, between the United States and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such, happily, was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty of Ghent was signed by the representatives of England and the United States. This treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various Indian tribes throughout the West and Northwest, and quiet was again restored in this part of the new world. On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city. It then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its manufacturing interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed to form a state government. At that time there were thirteen counties organized, containing about sixty-three thousand inhabitants. The first election of state officers was held in August, when Jonathan Jennings was chosen Governor. The officers were sworn in on November 7, and on December 11, the State was formally admitted into the Union. For some time the seat of government was at Corydon, but a more central location being desirable, the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana), was laid out January 1, 1825. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 73 On the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown, was chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches at different convenient points. Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the privileges of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the northern and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a more central location, and before the close of the year, the site of Col- umbus was selected and surveyed as the future capital of the State. Banking had begun in Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was chartered at Marietta, but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state the hoped-for assistance. It and other banks were subsequently unable to redeem their currency, and were obliged to suspend. In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territory north of her northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Mich- igan for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source of revenue to the dwellers in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships began to navigate the bosom of that inland sea. Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War, but few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were opened, canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were estab- lished, universities were founded, many of which, especially the Michigan University, have achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were becoming wealthy. The domains of the United States had been extended, and had the sons of the forest been treated with honesty and justice, the record of many years would have been that of peace and continuous pros- perity. BLACK HAWK AND THE BLACK HAWK WAR. This conflict, though confined to Illinois, is an important epoch in the Northwestern history, being the last war with the Indians in this part of the United States. Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah , or Black Hawk, was born in the principal Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the Mississippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa or Pahaes ; his grandfather's, Na-na-ma-kee, or the Thunderer. Black Hawk early distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted to paint and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783, he Went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. BLACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 75 of whom he killed and scalped, and for this deed of Indian bravery he was permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years after he, at the head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce battle ensued, in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them, near the present City of St. Louis, his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of the " Medicine Bag," at once announced himself chief of the Sac nation. He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about tbe year 1800, at the head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred Iowas, he waged war against the Osage nation and subdued it. For two years he battled successfully with other Indian tribes, all of whom he conquered. Black Hawk does not at any time seem to have been friendly to the Americans. When on a visit to St. Louis to see his " Spanish Father," he declined to see any of the Americans, alleging, as a reason, he did not want two fathers. The treaty at St. Louis was consummated in 1804. The next year the United States Government erected a fort near the head of the Des Moines Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of the Mississippi above the mouth of the Des Moines River. The fort was garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties with the British Government arose about this time, and the War of 1812 followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, by giving them arms and ammunition, induced them to remain hostile to the Americans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre V a a few days before occurred. Of his connection with the British o.c. eminent but little is known. In 1813 he with his little band descended the Mississippi, and attacking some United States troops at Fort Howard was defeated. In the early part of 1815, the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi were notified that peace had been declared between the United States and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black Hawk did not sign any treat}-, however, until May of the following year. He then recog- nized the validity of the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. From the time of signing this treaty in 1816, until the breaking out of the war in 1832, he and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life. Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox 76 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Indians were urged to join the Iowas on the west bank of the Father of Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal, and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white set- tlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would have been prevented. Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived many generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them, they remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their time in the enjoyment of Indian life. The fine situation of their village and the quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who from time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the crafty white men gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were finally induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate among the Iowas. Black Hawk was strenuously opposed to all this, but as the authorities of Illinois and the United States thought this the best move, he was forced to comply. Moreover other tribes joined the whites and urged the removal. Black Hawk would not agree to the terms of the treaty made with his nation for their lands, and as soon as the military, called to enforce his removal, had retired, he returned to the Illinois side of the river. A large force was at once raised and marched against him. On the evening of May 14, 1832, the first engagement occurred between a band from this army and Black Hawk's band, in which the former were defeated. This attack and its result aroused the whites. A large force of men was raised, and Gen. Scott hastened from the seaboard, by way of the lakes, with United States troops and artillery to aid in the subjugation of the Indians. On the 24th of June, Black Hawk, with 200 warriors, was repulsed by Major Demont between Rock River and Galena. The Ameri- can army continued to move up Rock River toward the main body of the Indians, and on the 21st of July came upon Black Hawk and his band, and defeated them near the Blue Mounds. Before this action, Gen. Henry, in command, sent word to the main army by whom he was immediately rejoined, and the whole crossed the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ' 77 Wisconsin in pursuit of Black Hawk and his band who were fleeing to the Mississippi. They were overtaken on the 2d of August, and in the battle which followed the power of the Indian chief was completely broken. He fled, but was seized by the Winnebagoes and delivered to the whites. On the 21st of September, 1832, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds con- cluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes by which they ceded to the United States a vast tract of country, and agreed to remain peaceable with the whites. For the faithful performance of the provi- sions of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet Wabokieshiek, and six other chiefs of the hostile bands should be retained as hostages during the pleasure of the President. They were confined at Fort Barracks and put in irons. The next Spring, by order of the Secretary of War, they were taken to Washington. From there they were removed to Fortress Monroe, "there to remain until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify their being set at liberty." They were retained here until the 4th of June, when the authorities directed them to be taken to the principal cities so that they might see the folly of contending against the white people. Everywhere they were observed by thousands, the name of the old chief being extensively known. By the middle of August they reached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, where Black Hawk was soon after released to go to his countrymen. As he passed the site of his birth- place, now the home of the white man, he was deeply moved. His village where he was born, where he had so happily lived, and where he had hoped to die, was now another's dwelling place, and he was a wanderer. On the next day after his release, he went at once to his tribe and his lodge. His wife was yet living, and with her he passed the remainder of his days. To his credit it may be said that Black Hawk always re- mained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among the Indians, living with her upward of forty years. Black Hawk now passed his time hunting and fishing. A deep mel- ancholy had settled over him from which he could not be freed. At all times when he visited the whites he was received with marked atten- tion. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee County, Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received many tokens of esteem. In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted in a fatal attack of bilious fever which terminated his life on October 3. His faithful wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply during his sickness. After his death he was dressed in the uniform pre- sented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. " The 78 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, the cane, given him by Henry Clay, was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. Many of the old warrior's trophies were placed in the grave, and some Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons." No sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers began rapidly to pour into the northern parts of Illinois, and into Wisconsin, now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, 'from a trading post, had grown to a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence. In 1835, the formation of a State Government in Michigan was discussed, but did not take active form until two years later, when the State became a part of the Federal Union. The main attraction to that portion of the Northwest lying west of Lake Michigan, now included in the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial wealth. Copper ore was found about Lake Superior. For some time this region was attached to Michigan for judiciary purposes, but in 1830 was made a territory, then including Minnesota and Iowa. The latter State was detached two years later. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as a State, Madison being made the capital. We have now traced the various divisions of the Northwest Territory (save a little in Minnesota) from the time it was a unit comprising this vast territory, until circumstances compelled its present division. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 79 PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTHWEST. Preceding chapters have brought us to the close of the Black Hawk war, and we now turn to the contemplation of the growth and prosperity of the Northwest under the smile of peace and the blessings of our civili- zation. The pioneers of this region date events back to the deep snow OLD FOET DEARBORN, 1830. of 1831, no one arriving here since that date taking first honors. The inciting cause of the immigration which overflowed the prairies early in the '30s was the reports of the marvelous beauty and fertility of the region distributed through the East by those who had participated in the Black Hawk campaign with Gen. Scott. Chicago and Milwaukee then had a few hundred inhabitants, and Gurdon S. Hubbard's trail from the former city to Kaskaskia led almost through a wilderness. Vegetables and clothing were largely distributed through the regions adjoining the 80 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. lakes by steamers from the Ohio towns. There are men now living in Illinois who came to the state when barely an acre was in cultivation, and a man now prominent in the business circles of Chicago looked over the swampy, cheerless site of that metropolis in 1818 and went south- ward into civilization. Emigrants from Pennsylvania in 1830 left behind LINCOLN MONUMENT, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. them but one small railway in the coal regions, thirty miles in length, and made their way to the Northwest mostly with ox teams, finding in Northern Illinois petty settlements scores of miles apart, although the southern portion of the state was fairly dotted with farms. The water courses of the Jakes and rivers furnished transportation to the second great army of immigrants, and about 1850 railroads were pushed to that extent that the crisis of 1837 was precipitated upon us, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 81 from the effects of which the Western country had not fully recovered at the outbreak of the war. Hostilities found the colonists of the prairies fully alive to the demands of the occasion, and the honor of recruiting the vast armies of the Union fell largely to Gov. Yates, of Illinois, and Gov. Morton, of Indiana. To recount the share of the glories of the campaign won by ccx Western troops is a needless task, except to mention the fact that Illinois gave to tne nation the President who save'] 82 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. it, and sent out at the head of one of its regiments tne general who led ts armies to the final victory at Appomattox. The struggle, on the 1 ;«!>., TO M whole, had a marked effect for the better on the new Northwest, g: ring it an impetus which twenty years of peace would not have produced. In a large degree this prosperity was an inflated one, and with the rest of the Union we have since been compelled to atone therefor by four THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 83 years of depression of values, of scarcity of employment, and loss of fortune. To a less degree, however, than the manufacturing or mining regions has the West suffered during the prolonged panic now so near its end. Agriculture, still the leading feature in our industries, has been quite prosperous through all these dark years, and the farmers have cleared away many incumbrances resting over them from the period of fictitious values. The population has steadily increased, the arts and sciences are gaining a stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is becoming daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked communities on the seaboard dependent wholly on foreign commerce or domestic manufacture. At the present period there are no great schemes broached for the Northwest, no propositions for government subsidies or national works of improvement, but the capital of the world is attracted hither for the purchase of our products or the expansion of our capacity for serving the nation at large. A new era is dawning as to transportation, and we bid fair to deal almost exclusively with the increasing and expanding lines of steel rail running through every few miles of territory on the prairies. The lake marine will no doubt continue to be useful in the warmer season, and to serve as a regulator of freight rates ; but experienced navigators forecast the decay of the system in moving to the seaboard the enormous crops of the West. Within the past five years it has become quite common to see direct shipments to Europe and the West Indies going through from the second-class towns along the Mississippi and Missouri. As to popular education, the standard has of late risen very greatly, and our schools would be creditable to any section of the Union. More and more as the events of the war pass into obscurity will the fate of the Northwest be linked with that of the Southwest, and the next Congressional apportionment will give the valley of the Mississippi absolute control of the legislation of the nation, and do much toward securing the removal of the Federal capitol to some more central location. Our public men continue to wield the full share of influence pertain- ing to their rank in the national autonomy, and seem not to forget that for the past sixteen years they and their constituents have dictated the principles which should govern the country. In a work like this, destined to lie on the shelves of the library for generations, and not doomed to daily destruction like a newspaper, one can not indulge in the same glowing predictions, the sanguine statements of actualities that fill the columns of ephemeral publications. Time may bring grief to the pet projects of a writer, and explode castles erected on a pedestal of facts. Yet there are unmistakable indications before us of 84 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. the same radical change in our great Northwest which characterizes its history for the past thirty years. Our domain has a sort of natural geographical border, save where it melts away to the southward in the cattle raising districts of the southwest. Our prime interest will for some years doubtless be the growth of the food of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all competitors, and our great rival in this duty will naturally be the fertile plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, to say nothing of the new empire so rapidly growing up in Texas. Over these regions there is a continued progress in agriculture and in railway building, and we must look to our laurels. Intelligent observers of events are fully aware of the strides made in the way of shipments of fresh meats to Europe, many of these ocean cargoes being actually slaughtered in the West and transported on ice to the wharves of the seaboard cities. That this new enterprise will continue there is no reason to doubt. There are in Chicago several factories for the canning of prepared meats for European consumption, and the orders for this class of goods are already immense. English capital is becoming daily more and more dissatisfied with railway loans and investments, and is gradually seeking mammoth outlays in lands and live stock. The stock yards in Chicago, Indianapolis and East St. Louis are yearly increasing their facilities, and their plant steadily grows more valuable. Importations of blooded animals from the pro- gressive countries of Europe are destined to greatly improve the quality of our beef and mutton. Nowhere is there to be seen a more enticing display in this line than at our state and county fairs, and the interest in the matter is on the increase. To attempt to give statistics of our grain production for 1877 would be useless, so far have we surpassed ourselves in the quantity and quality of our product. We are too liable to forget that we are giving the world its first article of necessity — its food supply. An opportunity to learn this fact so it never can be forgotten was afforded at Chicago at the outbreak of the great panic of 1873, when Canadian purchasers, fearing the prostration of business might bring about an anarchical condition of affairs, went to that city with coin in bulk and foreign drafts to secure their supplies in their own currency at first hands. It may be justly claimed by the agricultural community that their combined efforts gave the nation its first impetus toward a restoration of its crippled industries, and their labor brought the gold premium to a lower depth than the government was able to reach by its most intense efforts of legislation and compulsion. The hundreds of millions about to be disbursed for farm products have already, by the anticipation common to all commercial THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. nations, set the wheels in motion, and will relieve us from the perils so long shadowing our efforts to return to a healthy tone. Manufacturing has attained in the chief cities a foothold which bids fair to render the Northwest independent of the outside world. Nearly HUNTIXG PRATB1E WOLVES IN AX EARLY DAY. our whole region has a distribution of coal measures which will in time support the manufactures necessary to our comfort and prosperity. As to transportation, the chief factor in the production of all articles exceu "• food, no section is so magnificently endowed, and our facilities are yearly increasing beyond those of any other region. 86 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. The period from a central point of the war to the outbreak of the panic was marked by a tremendous growth in our railway lines, but the depression of the times caused almost a total suspension of operations. Now that prosperity is returning to our stricken country we witness its anticipation by the railroad interest in a series of projects, extensions, and leases which bid fair to largely increase our transportation facilities. The process of foreclosure and sale of incumbered lines is another matter to be considered. In the case of the Illinois Central road, which formerly transferred to other lines at Cairo the vast burden of freight destined for the Gulf region, we now see the incorporation of the tracks connecting through to New Orleans, every mile co-operating in turning toward the northwestern metropolis the weight of the inter-state commerce of a thousand miles or more of fertile plantations. Three competing routes to Texas have established in Chicago their general freight and passenger agencies. Four or five lines compete for all Pacific freights to a point as as far as the interior of Nebraska. Half a dozen or more splendid bridge structures have been thrown across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by the railways. The Chicago and Northwestern line has become an aggre- gation of over two thousand miles of rail, and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul is its close rival in extent and importance. The three lines running to Cairo via Vincennes form a through route for all traffic with the states to the southward. The chief projects now under discussion are the Chicago and Atlantic, which is to unite with lines now built to Charleston, and the Chicago and Canada Southern, which line will con- nect with all the various branches of that Canadian enterprise. Our latest new road is the Chicago and Lake Huron, formed of three lines, and entering the city from Valparaiso on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago track. The trunk lines being mainly in operation, the progress made in the way of shortening tracks, making air-line branches, and running extensions does not show to the advantage it deserves, as this process is constantly adding new facilities to the established order of things. The panic reduced the price of steel to a point where the railways could hardly afford to use iron rails, and all our northwestern lines report large relays of Bessemer track. The immense crops now being moved have given a great rise to the value of railway stocks, and their transportation must result in heavy pecuniary advantages. Few are aware of the importance of the wholesale and jobbing trade of Chicago. One leading firm has since the panic sold $24,000,000 of* dry goods in one year, and they now expect most confidently to add seventy per cent, to the figures of their last year's business. In boots and shoes and in clothing, twenty or more great firms from the east have placed here their distributing agents or their factories ; and in groceries THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 87 Chicago supplies the entire Northwest at rates presenting advantages over New York. Chicago has stepped in between New York and the rural banks as a financial center, and scarcely a banking institution in the grain or cattle regions but keeps its reserve funds in the vaults of our commercial insti- tutions. Accumulating here throughout the spring and summer months, they are summoned home at pleasure to move the products of the prairies. This process greatly strengthens the northwest in its financial operations, leaving home capital to supplement local operations on behalf of home interests. It is impossible to forecast the destiny of this grand and growing section of the Union. Figures and predictions made at this date might seem ten years hence so ludicrously small as to excite only derision. KTNZIE HOUS.E. Early History of Illinois. The name of this beautiful Prairie State is derived from Illim, a Delaware word signifying Superior Men. It has a French termination, and is a symbol of how the two races — the French and the Indians — were intermixed during the early history of the country. The appellation was no doubt well applied to the primitive inhabit- ants of the soil whose prowess in savage warfare long withstood the combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the one side, and the no less savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the other. The Illinois were once a powerful confederacy, occupying the most beautiful and fertile region in the great Valley of the Mississippi, which their enemies coveted and struggled long and hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of war they were diminished in numbers, and finally destroyed. " Starved Rock/ 1 on the Illinois River, according to tradition, commemorates their last tragedy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than sur- render. EARLY DISCOVERIES. The first European discoveries in Illinois date back over two hun- dred years. They are a part of that movement which, from the begin- ning to the middle of the seventeenth century, brought the French Canadian missionaries and fur traders into the Valley of the Mississippi, and which, at a later period, established the civil and ecclesiastical authority of France from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the foot-hills of the Alleghanies to the Rocky Mountains. The great river of the West had been discovered by DeSoto, the Spanish conqueror of Florida, three quarters of a century before the French founded Quebec in 1608, but the Spanish left the country a wil- derness, without further exploration or settlement within its borders, in which condition it remained until the Mississippi was discovered by the agents of the French Canadian government, Jolietand Marquette, in 1673. These renowned explorers were not the first white visitors to Illinois. In 1.671 — two years in advance of them — came Nicholas Perrot to Chicago He had been sent by Talon as an agent of the Canadian government tc HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 89 00 HISTORY OF THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. call a great peace convention of "Western Indians at Green Bay, prepara- tory to the movement for the discovery of the Mississippi. It was deemed a good stroke of policy to secure, as far as possible, the friend- ship and co-operation of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon an enterprise which their hostility might render disastrous, and which their friendship and assistance would do so much to make successful ; and to this end Perrot was sent to call together in council the tribes throughout the Northwest, and to promise them the commerce and pro- tection of the French government. He accordingly arrived at Green Bay in 1671, and procuring an escort of Pottawattamies, proceeded in a bark canoe upon a visit to the Miamis, at Chicago. Perrot was there- fore the first European to set foot upon the soil of Illinois. Still there were others before Marquette. In 1672, the Jesuit mis- sionaries, Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the standard of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through western Wisconsin and northern Illinois, visiting the Foxes on Fox River, and the Masquo- tines and Kickapoos at the mouth of the Milwaukee. These missionaries penetrated on the route afterwards followed by Marquette as far as the Kickapoo village at the head of Lake Winnebago, where Marquette, in his journey, secured guides across the portage to the Wisconsin. The oft-repeated story of Marquette and Joliet is well known. They were the agents employed by the Canadian government to discover the Mississippi. Marquette was a native of France, born in 1637, a Jesuit priest by education, and a man of simple faith and of great zeal and devotion in extending the Roman Catholic religion among the Indians. Arriving in Canada in 1666, he was sent as a missionary to the far Northwest, and, in 1668, founded a mission at Sault Ste. Marie. The following year he moved to La Pointe, in Lake Superior, where he instructed a branch of the Hurons till 1670, when he removed south, and founded the mission at St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mackinaw. Here he remained, devoting a portion of his time to the study of the Illinois language under a native teacher who had accompanied him to the mission from La Pointe, till he was joined by Joliet in the Spring of 1673. By the way of Green Bay and the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, they entered the Mississippi, which they explored to the mouth of the Arkansas, and returned by the way of the Illinois and Chicago Rivers to Lake Michigan. On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the great village of the Kaskaskias, near what is now Utica, in the county of LaSalle. The following year he returned and established among them the mission of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, which was the first Jesuit mission founded in Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley. The intervening winter he had spent in a hut which his companions erected on the Chicago River, a few leagues from its mouth. The founding of this mission was the last HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 91 act of Marquette's life. He died in Michigan, on his way back to Green Bay, May 18, 1675. FIRST FRENCH OCCUPATION. The first French occupation of the territory now embraced in Illi- nois was effected by LaSalle in 1680, seven years after the time of Mar- quette and Joliet. LaSalle, having constructed a vessel, the " Griffin," above the falls of Niagara, which he sailed to Green Bay, and having passed thence in canoes to the mouth of the St. Joseph River, by which and the Kankakee he reached the Illinois, in January, 1680, erected Fort Crevecceur, at the lower end of Peoria Lake, where the city of Peoria is now situated. The place where this ancient fort stood may still be seen just below the outlet of Peoria Lake. It was destined, however, to a temporary existence. From this point, LaSalle determined to descend the Mississippi to its mouth, but did not accomplish this purpose till two years later — in 1682. Returning to Fort Frontenac for the purpose of getting materials with which to rig his vessel, he left the fort in charge of Touti, his lieutenant, who during his absence was driven off by the Iro- quois Indians. These savages had made a raid upon the settlement of the Illinois, and had left nothing in their track but ruin and desolation. Mr. Davidson, in his History of Illinois, gives the following graphic account of the picture that met the eyes of LaSalle and his companions on their return : " At the great town of the Illinois they were appalled at the scene which opened to their view. No hunter appeared to break its death-like silence with a salutatory whoop ot welcome. The plain on which the town had stood was now strewn with charred fragments of lodges, which had so recently swarmed with savage life and hilarity. To render more hideous the picture of desolation, large numbers of skulls had been placed on the upper extremities of lodge-poles which had escaped the devouring flames. In the midst of these horrors was the rude fort of the spoilers, rendered frightful by the same ghastly relics. A near approach showed that the graves had been robbed of their bodies, and swarms of buzzards were discovered glutting: their loathsome stomachs on the reeking corruption. To complete the work of destruction, the growing corn of the village had been cut down and burned, while the pits containing the products of previous years, had been rifled and their contents scattered with wanton waste. It was evident the suspected blow of the Iroquois had fallen with relentless fury." Tonti had escaped LaSalle knew not whither. Passing down the lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discovered that the fort had been destroyed, but the vessel which he had partly constructed was still 92 • HISTORY OF THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. on the stocks, and but slightly injured. After further fruitless search, failing to find Tonti, he fastened to a tree a painting representing himself and party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of peace, and to the paint- ing attached a letter addressed to Tonti. Tonti had escaped, and, after untold privations, taken shelter among the Pottawattamies near Green Bay. These were friendly to the French. One of their old chiefs used to say, " There were but three great cap- tains in the world, himself, Tonti and LaSalle." GENIUS OF LaSALLE. We must now return to LaSalle, whose exploits stand out in such bold relief. He was born in Rouen, France, in 1643. His father was wealthy, but he renounced his patrimony on entering a college of the Jesuits, from which he separated and came to Canada a poor man in 1666. The priests of St. Sulpice, among whom he had a brother, were then the proprietors of Montreal, the nucleus of which was a seminary or con- vent founded by that order. The Superior granted to LaSalle a large tract of land at LaChine, where he established himself in the fur trade. He was a man of daring genius, and outstripped all his competitors in exploits of travel and commerce with the Indians. In 1669, he visited the headquarters of the great Iroquois Confederacy, at Onondaga, in the heart of New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio River to the falls at Louisville. - In order to understand the genius of LaSalle, it must be remembered that for many years prior to his time the missionaries and traders were obliged to make their way to the Northwest by the Ottawa River (of Canada) on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the lower lakes and Niagara River, which entirely closed this latter route to the Upper Lakes. They carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, pad- dling them through the Ottawa to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across the portage to French River, and descending that to Lake Huron. This being the route by which they reached the Northwest, accounts for the fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established in the neighbor- hood of the Upper Lakes. LaSalle conceived the grand idea of opening the route by Niagara River and the Lower Lakes to Canadian commerce by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the Mississippi, and thus opening a magnificent water communication from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. This truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to have animated him in all his wonderful achievements and the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted. As the first step in the accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 93 oity of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from the French crown and a body of troops by which he beat back the invading Iroquois and cleared the passage to Niagara Falls. Having by this mas- terly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his next step, as .we have seen, was to advance to the Falls with all his outfit for building a ship with which to sail, the lakes. He was success- ful in this undertaking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a strange combination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently hated LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them and co-operated with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of his superior success in opening new channels of commerce. At LaChine he had taken the trade of Lake Ontario, which but for his presence there would have gone to Quebec. While they were plodding with their barK canoes through the Ottawa he was constructing sailing vessels to com- mand the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These great plans excited the jealousy and envy of the small traders, introduced treason and revolt into the ranks of his own companions, and finally led to the foul assassination by which his great achievements were prematurely ended. In 1682, LaSalle, having completed his vessel at Peoria, descended the Mississippi to its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico. Erecting a standard on which he inscribed the arms of France, he took formal pos- session of the whole valley of the mighty river, in the name of Louis XIV., then reigning, in honor of whom he named the country Louisiana. LaSalle then went to France, was appointed Governor, and returned with a fleet and immigrants, for the purpose of planting a colony in Illi- nois. They arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to find the mouth of the Mississippi, up which LaSalle intended to sail, his supply ship, with the immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on Matagorda Bay. With the fragments of the vessel he constructed a stockade and rude huts on the shore for the protection of the immigrants, calling the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico, in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, returned to find his little colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved to travel on foot to Illinois, and, starting with his companions, had reached the valley of the Colorado, near the mouth of Trinity river, when he was shot by one of his men. This occurred on the 19th of March, 1687. Dr. J. W. Foster remarks of him : " Thus fell, not far from the banks of the Trinity, Robert Cavalier de la Salle, one of the grandest charac- ters that ever figured in American history — a man capable of originating the vastest schemes, and endowed with a will and a judgment capable of carrying them to successful results. Had ample facilities been placed by the King of France at his disposal, the result of the colonization of this continent might have been far different from what we now beholi" 94 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. A temporary settlement was made at Fort St. Louis, or the old Kas- kaskia village, on the Illinois River, in what is now LaSalle County, in 1682. In 1690, this was removed, with the mission connected with it, to Kaskaskia, on the river of that name, emptying into the lower Mississippi in St. Clair County. Cahokia was settled about the same time, or at least, both of these settlements began in the year 1690, though it is now pretty well settled that Cahokia is the older place, and ranks as the oldest permanent settlement in Illinois*, as well as in the Mississippi Valley. The reason for the removal of the aid Kaskaskia settlement and mission, was probably because the dangerous and difficult route by Lake Michigan and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and travelers and traders passed down and up the Mississippi by the Fox and Wisconsin River route. They removed to the vicinity of the Mississippi in order to be in the line of travel from Canada to Louisiana, that is, the lower part of it, for it was all Louisiana then south of the lakes. During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population prob- ably never exceeded ten thousand, including whites and blacks. Within that portion of it now included in Indiana, trading posts were established, at the principal Miami villages which stood on the head waters of the Maumee, the Wea villages situated at Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, and the Piankeshaw villages at Post Vincennes ; all of which were probably visited by French traders and missionaries before the close of the seven- teenth century. In the vast territory claimed by the French, many settlements of considerable importance had sprung up. Biloxi, on Mobile Bay, had been founded by D'Iberville, in 1699 ; Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac had founded Detroit in 1701 ; and New Orleans had been founded by Bien- ville, under the auspices of the Mississippi Company, in 1718. In Illi- nois also, considerable settlements had been made, so that in 1730 they embraced one hundred and forty French families, about six hundred " con^ verted Indians," and many traders and voyageurs. In that portion of the country, on the east side of the Mississippi, there were five distinct set- tlements, with their respective villages, viz. : Cahokia, near the mouth of Cahokia Creek and about five miles below the present city of St. Louis ; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia, and four miles above Fort Chartres ; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia ; Kaskaskia, situated on the Kaskaskia River, five miles above its conflu- ence with the Mississippi ; and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres. To these must be added St. Genevieve and St. Louis, on the west side of the Mississippi. These, with the exception of St. Louis, are among HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 95 the oldest French towns in the Mississippi Valley. Kaskaskia, in its best days, was a town of some two or three thousand inhabitants. After it passed from the crown of France its population for many years did not exceed fifteen hundred. Under British rule, in 1773, the population had decreased to four hundred and fifty. As early as 1721, the Jesuits had established a college and a monastery in Kaskaskia. Fort Chartres was first built under the direction of the Mississippi Company, in 1718, by M. de Boisbraint, a military officer, under command of Bienville. It stood on the east bank of the Mississippi, about eighteen miles below Kaskaskia, and was for some time the headquarters of the military commandants of the district of Illinois. In the Centennial Oration of Dr. Fowler, delivered at Philadelphia, by appointment of Gov. Beveridge, we find some interesting facts with regard to the State of Illinois, which we appropriate in this history : In 1682 Illinois became a possession of the French crown, a depend- ency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 1765 the English flag was run up on old Fort Chartres, and Illinois was counted among the treas- ures of Great Britain. In 1779 it was taken from the English by Col. George Rogers Clark. This man was resolute in nature, wise in council, prudent in policy, bold in action, and heroic in danger. Few men who have figured in the his- tory of America are more deserving than this colonel. Nothing short of first-class ability could have rescued Vincens and all Illinois from the English. And it is not possible to over-estimate the influence of this achievement upon the republic. In 1779 Illinois became a part of Vir- ginia. It was soon known as Illinois County. In 1784 Virginia ceded all this territory to the general government, to be cut into States, to be republican in form, with " the same right of sovereignty, freedom, and independence as the other States." In 1787 it was the object of the wisest and ablest legislation found in any merely human records. No man can study the secret history of THE "COMPACT OF 1787," and not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye these unborn States. The ordinance that on July 13, 1767, finally became the incor- porating act, has a most marvelous history. Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government for the northwestern territory. He was an emancipationist of that day, and favored the exclusion of slavery from the territory Virginia had ceded to the general government; but the South voted him down as often as it came up. In 1787, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the anti-slavery clause was pending. This concession to the South was expected to carry it. Congress was in 96 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. session in New York City. On July 5, Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the northwestern terri- tory. Everything seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. The state of the public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, the basis of his mission, his personal character, all combined to complete one of those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the breath of the Almighty. Cutler was a graduate of Yale — received his A.M. from Harvard, and his D.D. from Yale. He had studied and taken degrees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. He had thus America's best indorsement. He had published a scientific examination of the plants of New England. His name stood second only to that of Franklin as a scientist in America. He was a courtly gentle- man of the old style, a man of commanding presence, and of inviting face. The Southern members said they had never seen such a gentleman in the North. He came representing a company that desired to purchase a tract of land now included in Ohio, for the purpose of planting a colony. It was a speculation. Government money was worth eighteen cents on the dollar. This Massachusetts company had collected enough to pur- chase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in New York made Dr. Cutler their agent (lobbyist). On the 12th he represented a demand for 5,500,000 acres. This would reduce the national debt. Jefferson and Virginia were regarded as authority concerning the land" Virginia had just ceded. Jefferson's policy wanted to provide for the public credit, and this was a good opportunity to do something. Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the northwestern region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught the inspira- tion, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The English minister invited him to dine with some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the center of interest. The entire South rallied round him. Massachusetts could not vote against him, because many of the constituents of her members were interested personally in the western speculation. Thus Cutler, making friends with the South, and, doubtless, using all the arts of the lobby, was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convictions, he dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of wise states- manship that has ever adorned any human law book. He borrowed from Jefferson the term " Articles of Compact," which, preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most sacred character. He then followed very closely the constitution of Massachusetts, adopted three years before. Its most marked points were : 1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a seminary, HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 97 and every section numbered 16 in each township ; that is, one-thirty-sixth of all the land, for public schools. 3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or the enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that " Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always be encouraged." Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield. Giving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing — that unless they could make the land desirable they did not want it — he took his horse and buggy, and started for the constitutional convention in Phila- delphia. On July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unanimously adopted, every Southern member voting for it, and only one man, Mr. Yates, of New York, voting against it. But as the States voted as States, Yates lost his vote, and the compact was put beyond repeal. Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis- consin — a vast empire, the heart of the great valley — were consecrated to freedom, intelligence, and honesty. Thus the great heart of the nation was prepared for a year and a day and an hour. In the light of these eighty- nine years I affirm that this act was the salvation of the republic and the destruction of slavery. Soon the South saw their great blunder, and tried to repeal the compact. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance was a compact, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood a rock, in the way of the on-rushing sea of slavery. With all this timely aid it was, after all, a most desperate and pro- tracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It was the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the southern end of the State slavery preceded the compact. It existed among the old French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. The southern part of the State was settled from the slave States, and this population brought their laws, customs, and institutions with them. A stream of population from the North poured into the northern part of the State. These sections misunderstood and hated each other perfectly. The Southerners regarded the Yankees as a skinning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, filling the country with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The North- erner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt and ignorance. These causes aided in making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French settlers to retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States might bring their 98 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. slaves, if they would give them a chance to choose freedom or j^ears of service and bondage for their children till they should become thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they must leave the State in sixty days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for offenses for which white men are fined. Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from home without a pass was whipped. These famous laws were imported from the slave States just as they imported laws for the inspection of flax and wool when there was neither in the State. These Black Laws are now wiped out. A vigorous effort was made to protect slavery in the State Constitution of 1817. It barely failed. It was renewed in 1825, when a convention was asked to make a new -constitution. After a hard fight the convention was defeated. But slaves did not disappear from the census of the State until 1850. There were mobs and murders in the interest of slavery. Lovejoy was added to the list of martyrs — a sort of first-fruits of that long life of immortal heroes who saw freedom as the one supreme desire of their souls, and were so enamored of her that they preferred to die rather than survive her. - The population of 12,282 that occupied the territory in A.D. 1800, increased to 45,000 in A.D. 1818, when the State Constitution was adopted, and Illinois took her place in the Union, with a star on the flag and two votes in the Senate. Shadrach Bond was the first Governor, and in his first message he recommended the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The simple economy in those da}*s is seen in the fact that the entire bill for stationery for the first Legislature was only $13.50. Yet this simple body actually enacted a very superior code. There was no money in the territory before the war of 1812. Deer skins and coon skins were the circulating medium. In J821, the Legis- lature ordained a State Bank on the credit of the State. It issued notes in the likeness of bank bills. These notes were made a legal tender for every thing, and the bank was ordered to loan to the people $100 on per- sonal security, and more on mortgages. They actually passed a resolu- tion requesting the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to receive these notes for land. The old French Lieutenant Governor, Col. Menard, put the resolution as follows : " Gentlemen of the Senate : It is moved and seconded dat de notes of dis bank be made land-office money. All in favor of dat motion say aye ; all against it say no. It is decided in de affirmative. Now, gentlemen, I bet you one hundred dollar he never be land-office money ! " Hard sense, like hard money, is always above par. This old Frenchman presents a fine figure up against the dark back- ground of most of his nation. They made no progress. They clung to their earliest and simplest implements. They never wore hats or cap? BELLEFLDWER TP. be waived must state as follows : " Including the release and waiver of the right of homestead." Notaries Public can take acknowledgements any where in the state. Sheriffs, if authorized by the mortgagor of real or personal property in his mortgage, may sell the property mortgaged. In the case of the death of grantor or holder of the equity of redemp- tion of real estate mortgaged, or conveyed by deed of trust where equity of redemption is waived, and it contains power of sale, must be foreclosed in the same manner as a common mortgage in court. ESTRAYS. Morses, mules, asses, neat cattle, swine, sheep, or goats found straying at any time during the year, in counties where such animals are not allowed to run at large, or between the last day of October and the 15th day of April in other counties, the owner thereof being unknown, may be taken up as estrays. No person not a householder in the county where estray is found can lawfully take up an estray, and then only upon or about his farm or place of residence. Estrays should not be used before advertised, except animals giving milk, which may be milked for their benefit. 130 ABSTRACT OE ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Notices must be posted up within five (5) days in three (3) of the most public places in the town or precinct in which estray was found, giv- ing the residence of the taker up, and a particular description of the estray, its age, color, and marks natural and artificial, and stating before what justice of the peace in such town or precinct, and at what time, not less than ten (10) nor more than fifteen (15) days from the time of post- ing such notices, he will apply to have the estray appraised. A copy of such notice should be filed by the taker up with the town clerk, whose duty it is to enter the same at large, in a hook kept by him for that purpose. If the owner of estray shall not have appeared and proved ownership, and taken the same away, first paying the taker up his reasonable charges for taking up, keeping, and advertising the same, the taker up shall appear before the justice of the peace mentioned in above mentioned notice, and make an affidavit as required by law. As the affidavit has to be made before the justice, and all other steps as to appraisement, etc., are before him, who is familiar therewith, they are therefore omitted here. Any person taking up an estray at any other place than about or upon his farm or residence, or without complying with the law, shall forfeit and pay a fine of ten dollars with costs. Ordinary diligence is required in taking care of estrays, but in case they die or get away the taker is not liable for the same. GAME. It is unlawful for any person to kill, or attempt to kill or destroy, in any manner, any prairie hen or chicken or woodcock between the 15th day of January and the 1st day of September ; or any deer, fawn, wild-turkey, partridge or pheasant between the 1st day of February and the 1st day of October ; or any quail between the 1st day of February and 1st day of November ; or any wild goose, duck, snipe, brant or other water fowl between the 1st day of May and 15th day of August in each year. Penalty : Fine not less than $5 nor more than $25, for each bird or animal, and costs of suit, and stand committed to county jail until fine is paid, but not exceeding ten days. It is unlawful to hunt with gun, dog or net within the inclosed grounds or lands of another without permission. Penalty: Fine not less than $3 nor more than $100, to be paid into school fund. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for, or sold or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be made to the contrary, the weight per bushel shall be as follows, to-wit : ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 131 Pounds. Pounds. Stone Coal, - 80 Buckwheat, - - 52 Unslacked Lime, - 80 Coarse Salt, - 50 Corn in the ear, - 70 Barley, - - 48 Wheat, - - 60 Corn Meal, - 48 Irish Potatoes, - 60 Castor Beans, - 46 White Beans, - 60 Timothy Seed, - - 45 Clover Seed, - - 60 Hemp Seed, - - 44 Onions, - - 57 Malt, - - 38 Shelled Corn, - 56 Dried Peaches, - - - 33 Rye, - - - - - 56 Oats, - - 32 Flax Seed, - 56 Dried Apples, - 24 Sweet Potatoes, - - 55 Bran, - - 20 Turnips, - 55 Blue Grass Seed, - - 14 Fine Salt, - - 55 Hair (plastering), 8 Penalty for giving less than the above standard is double the amount of property wrongfully not given, and ten dollars addition thereto. MILLERS. The owner or occupant of every public grist mill in this state shall grind all grain brought to his mill in its turn. The toll for both steam and water mills, is, for grinding and bolting wheat, rye, or other grain, one eighth part; for grinding Indian corn, oats, barley and buckwheat not required to be bolted, one seventh part; for grinding malt, and chopping all kinds of grain, one eighth part. It is the duty of every miller when his mill is in repair, to aid and assist in loading and unloading all grain brought to him to be ground, and he is also required to keep an accurate half bushel measure, and an accurate set of toll dishes or scales for weighing the grain. The penalty for neglect or refusal to comply with the law is $5, to the use of any person to sue for the same, to be recovered before any justice of the peace of the county where penalty is incurred. Millers are accountable for the safe keeping of all grain left in his mill for the purpose of being ground, with bags or casks containing same (except it results from unavoidable accidents), provided that such bags or casks are distinctly marked with the initial letters of the owner's name. MARKS AND BRANDS. Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats may have one ear mark and one brand, but which shall be different from his neighbor's, and may be recorded by the county clerk of the county in which such property is kept. The fee for such record is fifteen cents. The record of such shall be open to examination free of charge. In cases of disputes as to marks or brands, such record is prima facie evidence. Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats that may have been branded by the former owner, 132 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. may be re-branded in presence of one or more of his neighbors, who shall certify" to the facts of the marking or branding being done, when done r and in what brand or mark they were re-branded or re-marked, which certificate may also be recorded as before stated. ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. Children may be adopted by any resident of this state, by filing a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which he resides, asking leave to do so, and if desired may ask that the name of the child be changed. Such petition, if made by a person having a husband or wife, will not be granted, unless the husband or wife joins therein, as the adoption must be by them jointly. The petition shall state name, sex, and age of the child, and the new name, if it is desired to change the name. Also the name and residence of the parents of the child, if known, and of the guardian, if any, and whether the parents or guardians consent to the adoption. The court must find, before granting decree, that the parents of the child, or the survivors of them, have deserted his or her family or such child for one year next preceding the application, or if neither are living,, the guardian ; if no guardian, the next of kin in this state capable of giving consent, has had notice of the presentation of the petition and consents- to such adoption. If the child is of the age of fourteen years or upwards,, the adoption can not be made without its consent. SURVEYORS AND SURVEYS. There is in every county elected a surveyor known as county sur- veyor, who has power to appoint deputies, for whose official acts he is responsible. It is the duty of the county surveyor, either by himself or his deputy, to make all surveys that he may be called upon to make within his county as soon as may be after application is made. The necessary chainmen and other assistance must be employed by the person requiring the same to be done, and to be by him paid, unless otherwise agreed ; but the chainmen must be disinterested persons and approved by the surveyor and sworn by him to measure justly and impartially. The County Board in each county is required by law to provide a copy of the United States field notes and plats of their surveys of the lands in the county to be kept in the recorder's office subject to examination by the public, and the county surveyor is required to make his surveys in conformity to said notes, plats and the laws of the United States gov- erning such matters. The surveyor is also required to keep a record of all surveys made by him, which shall be subject to inspection by any one interested, and shall be delivered up to his successor in office. A. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 133 certified copy of the said surveyor's record shall be prima facie evidence of its contents. The fees of county surveyors are six dollars per day. The county surveyor is also ex officio inspector of mines, and as such, assisted by some practical miner selected by him, shall once each year inspect all the mines in the county, for which they shall each receive such compensa- tion as may be fixed by the County Board, not exceeding 85 a day, to be paid out of the county treasury. ROADS AND BRIDGES. Where practicable from the nature of the ground, persons traveling in any kind of vehicle, must turn to the right of the center of the road, so as to permit each carriage to pass without interfering with each other. The penalty for a violation of this provision is $5 for every offense, to be recovered by the party injured; but to recover, there must have occurred some injury to person or property resulting from the violation. The owners of any carriage traveling upon any road in this State for the conveyance of passengers who shall employ or continue in his employment as driver any person who is addicted to drunkenness, or the excessive use of spiritous liquors, after he has had notice of the same, shall forfeit, at the rate of $5 per day, and if any driver while actually engaged in driving any such carriage, shall be guilty of intoxication to such a degree as to endanger the safety of passengers, it shall be the duty of the owner, on receiving written notice of the fact, signed by one of the passengers, and certified by him on oath, forthwith to discharge such driver. If such owner shall have such driver in his employ within three months after such notice, he is liable for $5 per day for the time he shall keep said driver in his employment after receiving such notice. Persons driving any carriage on any public highway are prohibited from running their horses upon any occasion under a penalty of a fine not exceeding $10, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty days, at the discre- tion of the court. Horses attached to any carriage used to convey passen- gers for hire must be properly hitched or the lines placed in the hands of some other person before the driver leaves them for any purpose. For violation of this provision each driver shall forfeit twenty dollars, to be recovered by action, to be commenced within six months. It is under- stood by the term carriage herein to mean any carriage or vehicle used for the transportation of passengers or goods or either of them. The commissioners of highways in the different towns have the care and superintendence of highways and bridges therein. They have all the powers necessary to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roads^ build and repair bridges. In addition to the above, it is their duty to eTect and keep in repair at the forks or crossing-place of the most 134 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. important roads post and guide boards with plain inscriptions, giving directions and distances to the most noted places to which such road may lead; also to make provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, and cockle burrs, mustard, yellow dock, Indian mallow and jimson weed from seeding, and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent all rank growth of vegetation on the public highways so far as the same may obstruct public travel, and it is in their discretion to erect watering places for public use for watering teams at such points as may be deemed advisable. The Commissioners, on or before the 1st day of May of each year, shall make out and deliver to their treasurer a list of all able-bodied men in their town, excepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, and such others as are exempt by law, and assess against each the sum of two dollars as a poll tax for highway purposes. Within thirty days after such list is delivered they shall cause a written or printed notice to be given to each person so assessed, notifying him of the time when and place where such tax must be paid, or its equivalent in labor performed ; they may contract with persons owing such poll tax to perform a certain amount of labor on any road or bridge in payment of the same, and if such tax is not paid nor labor performed by the first Monday of July of such year, or within ten days after notice is given after that time, they shall bring suit therefor against such person before' a justice of the peace, who shall hear and determine the case according to law for the offense complained of, and shall forthwith issue an execution, directed to any constable of the county where the delinquent shall reside, who shall forthwith collect the moneys therein mentioned. The Commissioners of Highways of each town shall annually ascer- tain, as near as practicable, how much money must be raised by tax on real and personal property for the making and repairing of roads, only, to any amount they may deem necessary, not exceeding forty cents on each one hundred dollars' worth, as valued on the assessment roll of the previous year. The tax so levied on property lying within an incorporated village, town or city, shall be paid over to the corporate authorities of such town, village or city. Commissioners shall receive $1.50 for each day neces- sarily employed in the discharge of their duty. Overseers. At the first meeting the Commissioners shall choose one of their number to act General Overseer of Highways in their township, whose duty it shall be to take charge of and safely keep all tools, imple- ments and machinery belonging to said town, and shall, by the direction of the Board, have general supervision of all roads and bridges in their town. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 135 As all township and county officers are familiar with their duties, it is only intended to give the points of the law that the public should be familiar with. The manner of laying out, altering or vacating roads, etc., will not be here stated, as it would require more space than is contem- plated in a work of this kind. It is sufficient to state that, the first step is by petition, addressed to the Commissioners, setting out what is prayed for, giving the names of the owners of lands if known, if not known so state, over which the road is to pass, giving the general course, its place of beginning, and where it terminates. It requires not less than twelve freeholders residing within three miles of the road who shall sign the petition. Public roads must not be less than fifty feet wide, nor more than sixty feet wide. Roads not exceeding two miles in length, if peti- tioned for, may be laid out, not less than forty feet. Private roads for private and public use, may be laid out of the width of three rods, on petition of the person directly interested ; the damage occasioned thereby shall be paid by the premises benefited thereby, and before the road is opened. If not opened in two years, the order shall be considered rescinded. Commissioners in their discretion may permit persons who live on or have private roads, to work out their road tax thereon. Public roads must be opened in five days from date of filing order of location, or be deemed vacated. DRAINAGE. Whenever one or more owners or occupants of land desire to construct i drain or ditch across the land of others for agricultural, sanitary or mining purposes, the proceedings are as follows : File a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which the proposed ditch or drain is to be constructed, setting forth the neces- sity for the same, with a description of its proposed starting point, route and terminus, and if it shall be necessary for the drainage of the land or coal mines or for sanitary purposes, that a drain, ditch, levee or similar work be constructed, a description of the same. It shall also set forth the names of all persons owning the land over which such drain or ditch shall be constructed, or if unknown stating that fact. No private property shall be taken or damaged for the purpose of constructing a ditch, drain or levee, without compensation, if claimed by the owner, the same to be ascertained by a jury ; but if the construction of such ditch, drain or levee shall be a benefit to the owner, the same shall be a set off against such compensation. If the proceedings seek to affect the property of a minor, lunatic or married woman, the guardian, conservator or husband of the same shall be made party defendant. The petition may be amended and parties made defendants at any time when it is necessary to a fair trial. 136 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. When the petition is presented to the judge, he shall note therein when he will hear the same, and order the issuance of summonses arid the publication of notice to each non-resident or unknown defendant. The petition may be heard by such judge in vacation as well as in term time. Upon the trial, the jury shall ascertain the just compensation to each owner of the property sought to be damaged by the construction of such ditch, drain or levee, and truly report the same. As it is only contemplated in a work of this kind to give an abstract of the laws, and as the parties who have in charge the execution of the further proceedings are likely to be familiar with the requirements of the statute, the necessary details are not here inserted. WOLF SCALPS. The County Board of any county in this State may hereafter alluw such bounty on wolf scalps as the board may deem reasonable. Any person claiming a bounty shall produce the scalp or scalps with the ears thereon, within sixty days after the wolf or wolves shall have been caught, to the Clerk of the County Board, who shall administer to said person the following oath or affirmation, to-wit: "You do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that the scalp or scalps here pro- duced by you was taken from a wolf or wolves killed and first captured by yourself within the limits of this county, and within the sixty days last past." CONVEYANCES. When the reversion expectant on a lease of any tenements or here- ditaments of any tenure shall be surrendered or merged, the estate which shall for the time being confer as against the tenant under the same lease the next vested right to the same tenements or hereditaments, shall, to the extent and for the purpose of preserving such incidents to and obli- gations on the same reversion, as but for the surrender or merger thereof, would have subsisted, be deemed the reversion expectant on the same lease. PAUPERS. Every poor person who shall be unable to earn a livelihood in conse- quence of any bodily infirmity, idiocy, lunacy or unavoidable cause, shall be supported by the father, grand-father, mother, grand-mother, children, grand-children, brothers or sisters of such poor person, if they or either of them be of sufficient ability ; but if any of such dependent class shall have become so from intemperance or other bad conduct, they shall not be entitled to support from any relation except parent or child. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 137 The children shall first be called on to support their parents, if they are able ; but if not, the parents of such poor person shall then be called on, if of sufficient ability ; and if there be no parents or children able T then the brothers and sisters of such dependent person shall be called upon ; and if there be no brothers or sisters of sufficient ability, the grand-children of such person shall next be called on ; and if they are not able, then the grand-parents. Married females, while their husbands live, shall not be liable to contribute for the support of their poor relations except out of their separate property. It is the duty of the state's (county) attorney, to make complaint to the County Court of his county against all the relatives of such paupers in this state liable to his support .and prosecute the same. In case the state's attorney neglects, or refuses, to complain in such cases, then it is the duty of the overseer of the poor to do so. The person called upon to contribute shall have at least ten days' notice of such application by summons. The court has the power to determine the kind of support, depending upon the circumstances of the parties, and may also order two or more of the different degrees to main- tain such poor person, and prescribe the proportion of each, according to their ability. The court may specify the time for which the relative shall •contribute — in fact has control over the entire subject matter, with power to enforce its orders. Every county (except those in which the poor are supported by the towns, and in such cases the towns are liable) is required to relieve and support all poor and indigent persons lawfully resident therein. Residence means the actual residence of the party, or the place where he was employed ; or in case he was in no employment, then it shall be the place where he made his home. When any person becomes chargeable as a pauper in any county or town who did not reside at the commencement of six months immediately preceding his becoming so, but did at that time reside in some other county or town in this state, then the county or town, as the case may be, becomes liable for the expense of taking care of such person until removed, and it is the duty of the overseer to notify the proper authorities of the fact. If any person shall bring and leave any pauper in any county in this state where such pauper had no legal residence, knowing him to be such, he is liable to a fine of $100. In counties under township organization, the supervisors in each town are ex-officio overseers of the poor. The overseers of the poor act under the directions of the County Board in taking care of the poor and granting of temporary relief; also, providing for non-resident persons not paupers who may be taken sick and not able to pay their way, and in case of death cause such person to be decently buried. The residence of the inmates of poorhouses and other charitable institutions for voting purposes is their former place of abode. 138 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. FENCES. In counties under township organization, the town assessor and com- missioner of highways are the fence-viewers in their respective towns. In other counties the County Board appoints three in each precinct annu- ally. A lawful fence is four and one-half feet high, in good repair, con- sisting of rails, timber, boards, stone, hedges, or whatever the fence- viewers of the town or precinct where the same shall lie, shall consider equivalent thereto, but in counties under township organization the annual town meeting may establish any other kind of fence as such, or the County Board in other counties may do the same. Division fences shall be made and maintained in just proportion by the adjoining owners, except when the owner shall choose to let his land lie open, but after a division fence is built by agreement or otherwise, neither party can remove his part of such fence so long as he may crop or use such land for farm purposes, or without giving the other party one year's notice in writing of his intention to remove his portion. When any person shall enclose his land upon the enclosure of another, he shall refund the owner of the adjoining lands a just pro- portion of the value at that time of such fence. The value of fence and the just proportion to be paid or built and maintained by each is to be ascertained by two fence-viewers in the town or precinct. Such fence- viewers have power to settle all disputes between different owners as to fences built or to be built, as well as to repairs to be made. Each party chooses one of the viewers, but if the other party neglects, after eight days' notice in writing, to make his choice, then the other party may select both. It is sufficient to notify the tenant or party in possession, when the owner is not a resident of the town or precinct. The two fence-viewers chosen, after viewing the premises, shall hear the state- ments of the parties , in case they can't agree, they shall select another fence-viewer to act with them, and the decision of any two of them is final. The decision must be reduced to writing, and should plainly set out description of fence and all matters settled by them, and must be filed in the office of the town clerk in counties under township organiza- tion, and in other counties with the county clerk. Where any person is liable to contribute to the erection or the repairing of a division fence, neglects or refuses so to do, the party injured, after giving sixty days notice in writing when a fence is to be erected, or ten days when it is only repairs, may proceed to have the work done at the expense of the party whose duty it is to do it, to be recovered from him with costs of suit, and the party so neglecting shall also be liable to the party injured for all damages accruing from such neglect or refusal, to be determined by any two fence-viewers selected as before provided, the appraisement to be reduced to writing and signed ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 139 Where a person shall conclude to remove his part of a division fence, and let his land lie open, and having given the year's notice required, the adjoining owner may cause the value of said fence to be ascertained by fence-viawers as before provided, and on payment or tender of the amount of such valuation to the owner, it shall prevent the removal. A party removing a division fence without notice is liable for the damages accruing thereby. Where a fence has been built on the land of another through mis- take, the owner may enter upon such premises and remove his fence and material within oix months after the division line has been ascertained. Where the material to build such a fence has been taken from the land on which it was built, then before it can be removed, the person claiming must first pay for such material to the owner of the land from which it was taken, nor shall such a fence be removed at a time when the removal will throw open or expose the crops of the other party ; a reasonable time must be given beyond the .six months to remove crops. The compensation of fence-viewers is one dollar and fifty cents a day each, to be paid in the first instance by the party calling them, but in the end all expenses, including amount charged by the fence-viewers, must be paid equally by the parties, except in cases where a party neglects or refuses to make or maintain a just proportion of a division fence, when the party in default shall pay them. DAMAGES FROM TRESPASS. Where stock of any kind breaks into any person's enclosure, the fence being good and sufficient the owner is liable for the damage done ; but where the damage is done by stock running at large, contrary to law, the owner is liable where there is not such a fence. Where stock is found trespassing on the enclosure of another as aforesaid, the owner 01 occupier of the premises may take possession of such stock and keep the same until damages, with reasonable charges for keeping and feeding and all costs of suit, are paid. Any person taking or rescuing such stock so held without his consent, shall be liable to a fine of not less than three nor more than five dollars for each animal rescued, to be recovered by suit before a justice of the peace for the use of the school fund. Within twenty-four hours after taking such animal into his possession, the per- son taking it up must give notice of the fact to the owner, if known, or if unknown, notices must be posted in some public place near the premises. LANDLORD AND TENANT. The owner of lands, or his legal representatives, can sue for and recover rent therefor, in any of the following cases : First. When rent is due and in arrears on a lease for life or lives. 140 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Second. When lands are held and occupied by any person without any special agreement for rent. Third. When possession is obtained under an agreement, written or verbal, for the purchase of the premises and before deed given, the right to possession is terminated by forfeiture on con-compliance with the agreement, and possession is wrongfully refused or neglected to be giver upon demand made in writing by the party entitled thereto. Provided that all payments made by the vendee or his representatives or assigns, may be set off against the rent. Fourth. When land has been sold upon a judgment or a decree of court, when the party to such judgment or decree, or person holding under him, wrongfully refuses, or neglects, to surrender possession of the same, after demand in writing by the person entitled to the possession. Fifth. When the lands have been sold upon a mortgage or trust deed, and the mortgagor or grantor or person holding under him, wrong- fully refuses or neglects to surrender possession of the same, after demand in writing by the person entitled to the possession. If any tenant, or any person who shall come into possession from or under or by collusion with such tenant, shall willfully hold over any lands, etc., after the expiration the term of their lease, and after demand made in writing for the possession thereof, is liable to pay double rent. A tenancy from year to year requires sixty days notice in writing, to termi- nate the same at the end of the year ; such notice can be given at any time within four months preceding the last sixty days of the year. A tenancy by the month, or less than a year, where the tenant holds over without any special agreement, the landlord may terminate the tenancy, by thirty days notice in writing. When rent is due, the landlord may serve a notice upon the tenant, stating that unless the rent is paid within not less than five days, his lease will be terminated ; if the rent is not paid, the landlord may consider the lease ended. When default is made in any of the terms of a lease, it shall not be necessary to give more than ten days notice to quit or of the termination of such tenancy ; and the same may be terminated on giving such notice to quit, at any time after such default in any of the terms of such lease ; which notice may be substantially in the following form, viz: To , You are hereby notified that, in consequence of your default in (^here insert the character of the default), of the premises now occupied by you, being etc. (here describe the premises), I have elected to deter- mine your lease, and you are hereby notified to quit and deliver up pos- session of the same to me within ten days of this date (dated, etc.) The above to be signed by the lessor or his agent, and no other notice or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is necessary. Demand may be made, or notice served, by delivering a written or ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 141 pnnted, or partly either, copy thereof to the tenant, or leaving the same with some person above the age of twelve years residing on or in posses- sion of the premises ; and in case no one is in the actual possession of the said premises, then by posting the same on the premises. When the tenancy is for a certain time, and the term expires by the terms of the lease, the tenant is then bound to surrender possession, and no notice to quit or demand of possession is necessar}'-. Distress for rent. — In all cases of distress for rent, the landlord, by himself, his agent or attorney, may seize for rent any personal property of his tenant that may be found in the county where the tenant resides ; the property of any other person, even if found on the premises, is not liable. An inventory of the property levied upon, with a statement of the amount of rent claimed, should be at once filed with some justice of the peace, if not over $200 ; and if above that sum, with the clerk of a court of record of competent jurisdiction. Property may be released, by the party executing a satisfactory bond for double the amount. The landlord may distrain for rent, any time within six months after the expiration of the term of the lease, or when terminated. In all cases where the premises rented shall be sub-let, or the lease assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce lien against such lessee or assignee, that he has against the tenant to whom the pre- mises were rented. When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises or any part thereof, the landlord, or his agent or attorney, may seize upon any grain or other crops grown or growing upon the premises, or part thereof so abandoned, whether the rent is due or not. If such grain, or other crops, or any part thereof, is not fully grown or matured, the landlord, or his agent or attorney, shall cause the same to be properly cultivated, harvested or gathered, and may sell the same, and from the proceeds pay all his labor, expenses and rent. The tenant may, before the sale of such pro- perty, redeem the same by tendering the rent and reasonable compensation for work done, or he may replevy the same. Exemption. — The same articles of personal property which are bylaw exempt from execution, except the crops as above stated, is also exempt from distress for rent. If any tenant is about to or shall permit or attempt to sell and remove from the premises, without the consent of his landlord, such portion of the crops raised thereon as will endanger the lien of the land- lord upon such crops, for the rent, it shall be lawful for the landlord to distress before rent is due. 142 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. LIENS. Any person who shall by contract, express or implied, or partly both t with the owner of any lot or tract of land, furnish labor or material, or services as an architect or superintendent, in building, altering, repairing or ornamenting any house or other building or appurtenance thereto on such lot, or upon any street or alley, and connected with such improve^ ments, shall have a lien upon the whole of such lot or tract of land, and upon such house or building and appurtenances, for the amount due to him for such labor, material or services. If the contract is expressed, and the time for the completion of the work is beyond three years from the com- mencement thereof; or, if the time of payment is beyond one year from the time stipulated for the completion of the work, then no lien exists. If the contract is implied, then no lien exists, unless the work be done or material is furnished within one year from the commencement of the work or delivery of the materials. As between different creditors having liens, no preference is given to the one whose contract was first made ; but each shares pro-rata. Incumbrances existing on the lot or tract of the land at the time the contract is made, do not operate on the improvements, and are only preferred to the extent of the value of the land at the time of making the contract. The above lien can not be enforced unless suit is commenced within six months after the last payment for labor or materials shall have become due and payable. Sub-contractors, mechanics, workmen and other persons furnishing any material, or performing any labor for a contractor as before specified, have a lien to the extent of the amount due the contractor at the time the following notice is served upon the owner of the land who made the contract: To , You are hereby notified, that I have been employed by- (here state whether to labor or furnish material, and substantially the nature of the demand) upon your (here state in general terms description and situation of building), and that I shall hold the (building, or as the case may be), and your interest in the ground, liable for the amount that may (is or may become) due me on account thereof. Signature, Date, If there is a contract in writing between contractor and sub-contractor, a copy of it should be served with above notice, and said notice must be served within forty days from the completion of such sub-contract, if there is one ; if not, then from the time payment should have been made to the person performing the labor or furnishing the material. If the owner is not a resident of the county, or can not be found therein, then the above notice must be filed with the clerk of the Circuit Court, with his fee, fifty cents, and a copy of said notice must be published in a newspaper pub- lished in the county, for four successive weeks. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 143 When the owner or agent is notified as above, he can retain any money due the contractor sufficient to pay such claim ; if more than one claim, and not enough to pay all, they are to be paid pro rata. The owner has the right to demand in writing, a statement of the contractor, of what he owes for labor, etc., from time to time as the work progresses, and on his failure to comply, forfeits to the owner $50 for every offense. The liens referred to cover any and all estates, whether in fee for life, for years, or any other interest which the owner may have. To enforce the lien of sub-contractors, suit must be commenced within three months from the time of the performance of the sub-contract, or during the work or furnishing materials. Hotel, inn and boarding-house keepers, have a lien upon the baggage and other valuables of their guests or boarders, brought into such hotel, inn or boarding-house, by their guests or boarders, for the proper charges due from such guests or boarders for their accommodation, board and lodgings, and such extras as are furnished at their request. Stable-keepers and other persons have a lien upon the horses, car- riages and harness kept by them, for the proper charges due for the keep- ing thereof and expenses bestowed thereon at the request of the owner or the person having the possession of the same. Agisters (persons who take care of cattle belonging to others), and persons keeping, yarding, feeding or pasturing domestic animals, shall have a lien upon the animals agistered, kept, yarded or fed, for the proper charges due for such service. All persons who may furnish any railroad corporation in this state with fuel, ties, material, supplies or any other article or thing necessary for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of its road by con- tract, or may perform work or labor on the same, is entitled to be paid as part of the current expenses of the road, and have a lien upon all its pro- perty. Sub-contractors or laborers have also a lien. The conditions and limitations both as to contractors and sub-contractors, are about the same as herein stated as to general liens. DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS. $ means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now, United States Currency. £ means pounds, English money. @ stands for at or to. lb for pound, and bbl. for barrel; $) for per or by the. Thus, Butter sells at 20@30c $ lb, and Flour at $8@12 f bbl. % for per cent and # for number. May 1. — Wheat sells at $1.20@1.25, "seller June." Seller June 144 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering it at any time during the month of June. Selling short, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or stock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling "short," to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts " are termed " bears." Buying long, is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, expecting to make a profit by the rise of prices. The "longs" are termed "bulls," as it is for their interest to "operate" so as to "toss" the prices upward as much as possible. NOTES. Form of note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that the amount and time of payment are mentioned. $100. Chicago, 111., Sept. 15, 1876. Sixty days from date I promise to pay to E. F. Brown* or order, One Hundred dollars, for value received. L. D. Lowky. A note to be payable in any thing else than money needs only the facts substituted for money in the above form. ORDERS. Orders should be worded simply, thus : Mr. F. H. Coats: Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. Please pay to H. Birdsall, Twenty-five dollars, and charge to F. D. Silva. RECEIPTS. Receipts should always state when received and what for, thus : $100. Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. Received of J. W. Davis, One Hundred dollars, for services rendered in grading his lot in Fort Madison, on account. Thomas Brady. If receipt is in full it should be so stated. BILLS OF PURCHASE. W. N. Mason, Salem, Illinois, Sept. 15, 1876. Bought of A. A. Graham. 4 Bushels of Seed .Wheat, at $1.50 - $6.00 2 Seamless Sacks " .30 - - .60 Received payment, $6.60 A. A. Graham. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 145 ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain thing in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always reduce an agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunder- standings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a reasonable consideration. GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement, made the Second day of October, 1876, between John Jones, of Aurora, County of Kane, State of Illinois, of the first part, and Thomas Whiteside, of the same place, of the second part — Witnesseth, that the said John Jones, in consideration of the agree- ment of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver, in good and marketable condition, at the Village of Batavia, 111., during the month of November, of this year, One Hundred Tons of Prairie Hay, in the following lots, and at the following specified times ; namely, twenty- five tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty-first, and the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of November. And the said Thomas Whiteside, in consideration of the prompt fulfillment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, contracts to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five dollars per ton, for each ton as soon as delivered. In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the other, One Hundred Dollars, as fixed and settled damages. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands the day and year first above written. John Jones, Thomas Whiteside. AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES. This Agreement, made the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, between Reuben Stone, of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of Englewood, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the second part — WITNESSETH, that said George Barclay agrees faithfully and dili- gently to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for and during the space of one year from the date hereof, should both live such length of time, without absenting himself from his occupation;. 14 (J ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. during which time he, the said Barclay, in the store of said Stone, of Chicago, will carefully and honestly attend, doing and performing all duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects as directed and desired by the said Stone. In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said Barclay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of one thousand dollars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each upon the last day of each month ; provided that all dues for days of absence from business by said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum otherwise by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said Barclay. Witness our hands. Reuben Stone. George Barclay. BILLS OF SALE. A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party, for a consider- ation to convey his right and interest in the personal property. The purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries have power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill of sale. COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE. Know all Men by this instrument, that I, Louis Clay, of Princeton, Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of Five Hundred and Ten dollars, to me paid by John Floyd, of the same place, of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, and by this instrument do convey unto the said Floyd, party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, my undivided half of ten acres of corn, now growing on the farm of Thomas Tyrrell, in the town above mentioned ; one pair of horses, sixteen sheep, and five cows, belonging to me, and in my possession at the farm aforesaid ; to have and to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his executors and assigns, forever. And I do, for myself and legal representatives, agree with the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, to warrant and defend the sale of the afore-mentioned property and chattels unto the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, against all and every person whatsoever. In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand, this tenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. Louis Clay. BONDS. A bond is a written admission on the part of the maker in which he pledges a certain sum to another, at a certain time. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 147 COMMON FORM OF BOND. Know all Men by this instrument, that I, George Edgerton, of Watseka, Iroquois Count} r , State of Illinois, am firmly bound unto Peter Kirchoff, of the place aforesaid, in the sum of five hundred dollars, to be paid to the said Peter Kirchoff, or his legal representatives ; to which payment, to be made, I bind myself, or my legal representatives, by this instrument. Sealed with my seal, and dated this second day of November, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. The condition of this bond is such that if I, George Edgerton, my heirs, administrators, or executors, shall promptly pay the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars in three equal annual payments from the date hereof, with annual interest, then the above obligation to be of no effect ; otherwise to be in full force and valid. Sealed and delivered in presence of George Edgerton. [l.s.] William Turner. CHATTEL MORTGAGES. A chattel mortgage is a mortgage on personal property for payment of a certain sum of money, to hold the property against debts of other creditors. The mortgage must describe the property, and must be acknowledged before a justice of the peace in the township or precinct where the mortgagee resides, and entered upon his docket, and must be recorded in the recorder's office of the county. GENERAL FORM OF CHATTEL MORTGAGE. This Indenture, made and entered into this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, between Theodore Lottinville, of the town of Geneseo in the County of Henry, and State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Paul Hen&haw, of the same town, county, and State, party of the second part. Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consider- ation of the sum of one thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant, sell, convey, and confirm unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all and singular the following described goods and chattels, to wit : Two three-year old roan-colored horses, one Burdett organ, No. 987, one Brussels carpet, 15x20 feet in size, one marble-top center table, one Home Comfort cooking stove, No. 8, one black walnut bureau with mirror attached, one set of parlor chairs (six in number), upholstered in green rep, with lounge corresponding with same in style and color of upholstery, now in possession of said Lottinville, at No. 4 Prairie Ave., Geneseo, 111.; 148 ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Together with all and singular, the appurtenances thereunto \>elong- ing, or in any wise appertaining ; to have and to hold the above described goods and chattels, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever. Provided, always, and these presents are upon this express condition, that if the said Theodore Lottinville, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, shall, on or before the first day of January, A.D., one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Paul Ranslow, or his lawful attorney or attorneys, heirs, executors, adminis- trators, or assigns, the sum of One Thousand dollars, together with the interest that may accrue thereon, at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, from the first day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, until paid, according to the tenor of one promissory note bearing even date herewith for the payment of said sum of money, that then and from thenceforth, these presents, and everything herein con- tained, shall cease, and be null and void, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided, also, that the said Theodore Lottinville may retain the possession of and have the use of said goods and chattels until the day of payment aforesaid ; and also, at his own expense, shall keep said goods- and chattels; and also at the expiration of said time of payment, if said sum of money, together with the interest as aforesaid, shall not be paid,, shall deliver up said goods and chattels, in good condition, to said Paul Ranslow, or his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns. And provided, also, that if default in payment as aforesaid, by said party of the first part, shall be made, or if said party of the second part shall at any time before said promissory note becomes due, feel himself unsafe or insecure, that then the said party of the second part, or his- attorney, agent, assigns, or heirs, executors, or administrators, shall have the right to take possession of said goods and chattels, wherever they may or can be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, to the highest bidder for cash in hand, after giving ten days' notice of the time and place of said sale, together with a description of the goods and chat- tels to be sold, by at least four advertisements, posted up in public places in the vicinity where said sale is to take place, and proceed to make the sum of money and interest promised as aforesaid, together with all reason- able costs, charges, and expenses in so doing ; and if there shall be any overplus, shall pay the same without delay to the said party of the first part, or his legal representatives. In testimony whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal, the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Theodore Lottinville. [l.s.] Samuel J. Tilden. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 149 LEASE OF FARM AND BUILDINGS THEREON. This Indenture, made this second day of June, 1875, between David Patton of the Town of Bisbee, State of Illinois, of the first part, and John Doyle of the same place, of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said David Patton, for and in consideration of the covenants hereinafter mentioned and reserved, on the part of the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to be paid, kept, and performed, hath let, and by these presents doth grant, demise, and let, unto the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, all that parcel of land situate in Bisbee aforesaid, bounded and described as follows, to wit : [Here describe the land.~\ Together with all the appurtenances appertaining thereto. To have and to hold the said premises, with appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the said Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, for the term of five years, from the first day of October next following, at a yearly rent of Six Hundred dollars, to be paid in equal payments, semi-annually, as long as said buildings are in good tenantable condition. And the said Doyle, by these presents, covenants and agrees to pay all taxes and assessments, and keep in repair all hedges, ditches, rail, and other fences ; (the said David Patton, his heirs, assigns and administra- tors, to furnish all timber, brick, tile, and other materials necessary for such repairs.) Said Doyle further covenants and agrees to apply to said land, in a farmer-like manner, all manure and compost accumulating upon said farm, and cultivate all the arable land in a husbandlike manner, accord- ing to the usual custom among farmers in the neighborhood ; he also agrees to trim the hedges at a seasonable time, preventing injury from cattle to such hedges, and to all fruit and other trees on the said premises. That he will seed down with clover and timothy seed twenty acres yearly of arable land, ploughing the same number of acres each Spring of land now in grass, and hitherto unbroken. It is further agreed, that if the said Doyle shall fail to perform the whole or any one of the above mentioned covenants, then "and in that case the said David Patton may declare this lease terminated, by giving three months' notice of the same, prior to the first of October of any year, and may distrain any part of the stock, goods, or chattels, or other property in possession of said Doyle, for sufficient to compensate for the non-performance of the above written covenants, the same to be deter- mined, and amounts so to be paid to be determined, by three arbitrators, chosen as follows: Each of the parties to this instrument to choose one, 150 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. and the two so chosen to select a third ; the decision of said arbitrators to be final. In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals. Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of David Patton. [l.s.] James Waldron. John Doyle. [l.s.] FORM OF LEASE OF A HOUSE. This Instrument, made the first day of October, 1875, witnesseth that Amos Griest of Yorkville, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, hath rented from Aaron Young of Logansport aforesaid, the dwelling and lot No. 13 Ohio Street, situated in said City of Yorkville, for five years from the above date, at the yearly rental of Three Hundred dollars, pay- able monthly, on the first day of each month, in advance, at the residence of said Aaron Young. At the expiration of said above mentioned term, the said Griest agrees to give the said Young peaceable possession of the said dwelling, in as good condition as when taken, ordinary wear and casualties excepted. In witness whereof, we place our hands and seals the day and year aforesaid. Signed, sealed and delivered Amos Griest. [l.s.] in presence of NlCKOLAS SCHUTZ, AARON YOUNG. [L.S.] Notary Public. LANDLORD'S AGREEMENT. This certifies that I have let and rented, this first day of January, 1876, unto Jacob Schmidt, my house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and its appurtenances ; he to have the free and uninterrupted occupation thereof for one year from this date, at the yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ; rent to cease if destroyed by fire, or otherwise made untenantable. Peter Funk. TENANT'S AGREEMENT. This certifies that I have hired and taken from Peter Funk, his house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illi- nois, with appurtenances thereto belonging, for one year, to commence this day, at a yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ; unless said house becomes untenantable from fire or other causes, in which case rent ceases ; and I further agree to give and yield said premises one year from this first day of January 1876, in as good condition as now, ordinary wear and damage by the elements excepted. Given under my hand this day. Jacob Schmidt. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 151 NOTICE TO QUIT. To F. W. Arlen, Sir : Please observe that the terra of one year, for which the house and land, situated at No. 6 Indiana Street, and now occupied by you, were rented to you, expired on the first day of October, 1875, and as I desire to repossess said premises, you are hereby requested and required to vacate the same. Respectfullv Yours, P. T. Barnum. Lincoln, Neb., October 4, 1875. TENANT'S NOTICE OF LEAVING. Dear Sir: The premises I now occupy as your tenant, at No. 6 Indiana Street, I shall vacate on the first day of November, 1875. You will please take notice accordingly. Dated this tenth day of October, 1875. F. W. Arlen. To P. T. Barnum, Esq. REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE TO SECURE PAYMENT OF MONEY. This Indenture, made this sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between William Stocker, of Peoria, County of Peoria, and State of Illinois, and Olla, his wife, party of the first part, and Edward Singer, party of the second part. Whereas, the said party of the first part is justly indebted to the said party of the second part, in the sum of Two Thousand dollars, secured to be paid by two certain promissory notes (bearing even date herewith) the one due and payable at the Second National Bank in Peoria, Illinois, with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three ; the other due and payable at the Second National Bank at Peoria, 111., with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. Now, therefore, this indenture witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for the better securing the payment of the money aforesaid, with interest thereon, according to the tenor and effect of the said two promissory notes above mentioned ; and, also in consideration of the fur- ther sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said party of the sec- ond part, at the delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, and convey, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all that certain parcel of land, situate, etc. [Describing the premises.] To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the Tenements, Hereditaments, Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto 152 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. belonging or in any wise appertaining. And also, all the estate, interest, and claim whatsoever, in law as well as in equity which the party of the first part have in and to the premises hereby conveyed unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, and to their only proper use, benefit and behoof. And the said William Stocker, and Olla, his wife, party of the first part, hereby expressly waive, relinquish, release, and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state per- taining to the exemption of homesteads. Provided always, and these presents are upon this express condition, that if the said party of the first part, their heirs, executors, or adminis- trators, shall well and truly pay, or cause to be paid, to the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the afore- said sums of money, with suoh interest thereon, at the time and in the manner specified in the above mentioned promissory notes, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, then in that case, these presents and every thing herein expressed, shall be absolutely null and void. In witness whereof, the said party of the first part hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of James Whitehead, William Stocker. [l.s.] Fred. Samuels. Olla Stocker. [l.s.] WARRANTY DEED WITH COVENANTS. This Indenture, made this sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between Henry Best of Lawrence, County of Lawrence, State of Illinois, and Belle, his wife, of the first part, and Charles Pearson of the same place, of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of Six Thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all the fol- lowing described lot, piece, or parcel of land, situated in the City of Law- rence, in the County of Lawrence, and State of Illinois, to wit : \B.ere describe the property.] Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof ; and all the estate, rignt, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever, of the said party of the nrst part, either in law or equity, of, in, and to th* ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 153 above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances. To have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described, with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, par- ties of the first part, hereby expressly waive, release, and relinquish unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state pertaining to the exemption of homesteads. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, party of the first part, for themselves and their heirs, executors, and administrators, do covenant, grant, bargain, and agree, to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and delivery of these presents they were well seized of the premises above conveyed, as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasible estate of inheritance in law, and in fee simple, and have good right, full power, and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, and convey the same, in manner and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear from all former and other grants, bargains, sales, liens, taxes, assessments, and encumbrances of what kind or nature soever ; and the above bargained premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, the said party of the first part shall and will warrant and forever defend. In testimony whereof, the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Henry Best, [l.s.] Jerry Linklater. Belle Best. [l.s.] QUIT-CLAIM DEED. This Indenture, made the eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, between David Tour, of Piano, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Larry O'Brien, of the same place, party of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in considera- tion of Nine Hundred dollars in hand paid by the said party of the sec- ond part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party of the second part forever released and discharged therefrom, has remised, released, sold, conveyed, and quit-claimed, and by these presents does remise, release, sell, convey, and quit-claim, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all the right, title, interest, 151 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. claim, and demand, which the said party of the first part has in and to the following described lot, piece, or parcel of land, to wit : \_ITere describe the land.~\ To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging, or in any wise there- unto appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, and claim whatever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the said party of the first part hereunto set his' hand and seal the day and year above written. •Signed, sealed and delivered David Tour. [l.s.J in "presence of Thomas Ashley. The above forms of Deeds and Mortgage are such as have heretofore been generally used, but the following are much shorter, and are made equally valid by the laws of this state. WARRANTY DEED. The grantor (here insert name or names and place of residence), for and in consideration of (here insert consideration) in hand paid, conveys and warrants to (here insert the grantee's name or names) the following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . QUIT CLAIM DEED. The grantor (here insert grantor's name or names and place of resi- dence), for the consideration of (here insert consideration) convey and quit-claim to (here insert grantee's name or names) all interest in the following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . MORTGAGE. The mortgagor (here insert name or names) mortgages and warrants to (here insert name or names of mortgagee or mortgagees), to secure the payment of (here recite the nature and amount of indebtedness, showing when due and the rate of interest, and whether secured by note or other- wise), the following described real estate (here insert description thereof), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . RELEASE. Know all Men by these presents, that I, Peter Ahlund, of Chicago, of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, for and in consideration of One dollar, to me in hand paid, and for other good and valuable considera- ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 155 tions, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed, do hereby grant, bargain, remise, convey, release, and quit-claim unto Joseph Carlin of Chicago, of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, all the right, title, interest, claim, or demand whatsoever, I may have acquired in, through, or by a certain Indenture or Mortgage Deed, bearing date the second day of Jan- uary, A. D. 1871, and recorded in the Recorder's office of said county, in book A of Deeds, page 46, to the premises therein described, and which said. Deed was made to secure one certain promissory note, bearing even date with said deed, for the sum of Three Hundred dollafs. Witness my hand and seal, this second day of November, A. D. 1874, Peter Ahlund. [l.s.] State of Illinois, ) Cook County. ) I, George Saxton, a Notary Public in and for said county, in the state aforesaid, do hereby certify that Peter Ahlund, personally known to me as the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Release, appeared before me this day in [ ^nSf^ ] person, and acknowledged that he signed, sealed, and delivered the said instrument of writing as his free a^d voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth. Giv^n under my hand and seal, this second day of November, A. D. 1874. George Saxton, N. P. GENERAL FOIrM OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. I, Charles Mansfield, of the Town of Salem, County of Jackson, Srate of Illinois, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament, in manner following, to wit: First. I give, devise and bequeath unto my oldest son, Sidney EL Mansfield, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, cf bank stock, now in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the farm owned by myself in the Town of Buskirk, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, with all the houses, tenements, and improvements thereunto belonging ; to have and to hold unto my said son, his heirs and assign^, forever. Second. I give, devise and bequeath to each of my daughters, Anna Louise Mansfield and Ida Clara Mansfield, each Two Thousand dollars in bank stock, in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and also each one quarter section of land, owned by myself, situated in the Town of Lake, Illinois, and recorded in my name in the Recorder's office in the county where such land is located. The north one hundred and sixty acres of said half section is devised to my eldest daughter, Anna Louise, 6 150 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Frank Alfred Mans- field, Five shares of Railroad stock in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and my one hundred and sixty acres of land and saw mill thereon, situ- ated in Manistee, Michigan, with all the improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said real estate is recorded in my name in the county where situated. Fourth. I give to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, all my household furniture, goods, chattels, and personal property, about, my home, not hitherto disposed of, including Eight Thousand dollars of bank stock in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, Fifteen shares in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the free and unrestricted use, pos- session, and benefit of the home farm, so long as she may live, in lieu of dower, to which she is entitled by law; said farm being my present place of residence. Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Elijah H. Mansfield, the income from rents of my store building at 145 Jackson Street, Chicago, Illinois, during the term of his natural life. Said building and land there- with to revert to my said sons and daughters in equal proportion, upon the demise of my said father. Sixth. It is also my will and desire that, at the death of my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, or at any time when she may arrange to relinquish her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same may revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each. And lastly. I nominate and appoint as executors of this my last will and testament, my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, and my eldest son, Sidney H. Mansfield. I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses shaJ be paid from moneys now on deposit in the Savings Bank of Salem, the residue of such moneys to revert to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, for her use forever. In witness whereof, I, Charles Mansfield, to this my last will and testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of April, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. Signed, sealed, and declared by .Charles Mansfield, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have sub- )> scribed our names hereunto as witnesses thereof. Peter A. Schenck, Sycamore, Ills. Frank E. Dent, Salem, Ills. Charles Mansfield, [l.s.] Charles Mansfield, [l.s.] ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 157 CODICIL. Whereas I, Charles Mansfield, did, on the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, make my last will and testa- ment, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said will, to be taken as a part thereof. Whereas, by the dispensation of Providence, my daughter, Anna Louise, has deceased November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and whereas, a son has been born to me, which son is now christened Richard Albert Mansfield, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, and all right, interest, and title in lands and bank stock and chattels bequeathed to my deceased daughter, Anna Louise, in the body of this will. In witness whereof, I hereunto place my hand and seal, this tenth •day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. Signed, sealed, published, and declared to^ us by the testator, Charles Mansfield, as and for a codicil to be annexed to his last will and testament. And we, at his request, and in his presence", and in the presence of each other, have sub- scribed our names as witnesses thereto, at the date hereof. Prank E. Dent, Salem, Ills. John C. Shay, Salem, Ills. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS May be legally made by electing or appointing, according to the usages •or customs of the body of which it is a part, at any meeting held for that purpose, two or more of its members as trustees, wardens or vestrymen, and may adopt a corporate name. The chairman or secretary of such meeting shall, as soon as possible, make and file in the office of the recorder of deeds of the county, an affidavit substantially in the following form : State of Illinois, > County. j SS> I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that at a meeting of the members of the (here insert the name of the church, society or congregation as known before organization), held at (here insert place of meeting), in the County of , and State of Illinois, on the day of , A.D. 18 — , for that purpose, the fol- lowing persons were elected (or appointed) [here insert their names] trustees, wardens, vestrymen, (or officers by whatever name they may choose to adopt, with powers similar to trustees) according to the rules and usages of such fchurch, society or congregation), and said 158 • ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. adopted as its corporate name (here insert name), and at said meeting" this affiant acted as (chairman or secretary, as the case may be). Subscribed and sworn to before me, this day of , A.D. 18—. Name of Affiant" which affidavit must be recorded by the recorder, and shall be, or a certi- fied copy made by the recorder, received as evidence of such an incorpo- ration. No certificate of election after the first need be filed for record. The term of office of the trustees and the general government of the society can be determined by the rules or by-laws adopted. Failure to elect trustees at the time provided does not work a dissolution, but the old trustees hold over. A trustee or trustees may be removed, in the same manner by the society as elections are held by a meeting called for that purpose. The property of the society vests in the corporation. The corporation may hold,' or acquire by purchase or otherwise, land not exceeding ten acres, for the purpose of the society. The trustees have the care, custody and control of the property of the corporation, and can, token directed by the society, erect houses or improvements, and repair and alter the same, and may also when so directed by the society, mortgage, encumber, sell and convey any real or personal estate belonging to the corporation, and make all proper contracts in the name of such corporation. But they are prohibited by law from encumbering or inter- fering with any property so as to destroy the effect of any gift, grant,, devise or bequest to the corporation ; but such gifts, grants, devises or bequests, must in all cases be used so as to carry out the object intended by the persons making the same. Existing societies may organize in the manner herein set forth, and have all the advantages thereof. SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. The business of publishing books by subscription having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher ; in order to prevent that as much as possi- ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- lowing statement is made : A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described ; the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the ivork is described in the prospectus and by the sample shown. These should be carefully examined before sub- scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 159 and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by prospectus and sample, in order to bind the principal, the subscriber should see that such conditions or changes are stated over or in connection ivith his signa- ture, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as to written contracts is, that they can not be varied, altered or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contem- plating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract. Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as canvassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They can not extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their buisness. It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- ment, would examine carefully what it is ; if they can not read themselves, should call on some one disinterested who can. 6 160 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ITS AMENDMENTS. We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union r establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Article I. Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and Mouse of Representatives. Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem- bers chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the sev- eral states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subse- quent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one Representative ; and until such enumeration shall be made the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylva- nia eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, and Georgia three. When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years ; and each Senator shall have one vote. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expira- AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 161 tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any state, the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside. And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law. Sec. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Sen- ators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legis- lature thereof ; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. Sec. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election,, returns, and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judgment, require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal. Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen- sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in ail cases, except treason r 102 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in either house they shall not be questioned in any other place. No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time ; and no person holding any office under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in office. Sec. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President . the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it ; but if not he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have origi- nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec- tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of the United States, and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and lim- itations prescribed in the case of a bill. Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power — To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts, and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United utates ; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States ; To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes ; To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the. United States ; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures ; To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States; To establish post offices and post roads ; AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 163 To promote the progress of sciences and useful arts, by securing, for ^mited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries ; To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ; To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations ; To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water ; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that •use shall be for a longer term than two years ; To provide and maintain a navy ; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces ; To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions; To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the disci- pline prescribed by Congress ; To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful buildings ; and To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any depart- ment or officer thereof. Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or rev- enue to the ports of one state over those of another; nor shall vessels bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law ; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expeditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. 164 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States : and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. Sec. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confeder- ation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and imposts laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of the United States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress. No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. Article II. Section 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same term, be elected as follows : Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress ; but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. [ * The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The Pres- ident of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed \ and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a ma- jority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the vote shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, • This clause between .brackets has been superseded and annulled by the Twelfth amendment. I AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 165 the person having the greatest number of votes of the Electors shall be the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-Presi- dent.] The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same throughout the United States. No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inabil- ity, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the dis- ability be removed, or a President shall be elected. The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com- pensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States or any of them. Before he enters on the execution of his office, he shall take the fol- lowing oath or affirmation : " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Sec. 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardon for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present con- cur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law ; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. Sec. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such mea- sures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may on extraordinary 1GG CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagree- ment between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States. Sec. 4. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and con- viction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Article III. Section I. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls ; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United States shall be a party ; to controversies between two or more states ; between a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens of differ- ent states ; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed ; but when not committed within an)' state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed. Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levy- ing war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the tes- timony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted. Article IV. Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 167 the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. Sec. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states. A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime. No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. Sec. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union ; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state ; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the Legislatures of the states concerned, as well as of the Congress. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state. Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execu- tive (when the Legislature can not be convened), against domestic vio- lence. Article V. The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap- plication of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when rati- fied by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by con- ventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi- cation may be proposed by the Congress. Provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article ; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. Article VI. All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adop- tion of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land ; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem- 168 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES bers of the several state Legislatures, and all executive and judicial offi- cers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution ; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. Article VII. The ratification of the Conventions of nine states shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same. Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names. GEO. WASHINGTON, President and Deputy from Virginia. New Hampshire. John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman. Massachusetts. Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King. Connecticut. Wm. Sam'l Johnson, Roger Sherman. Delaware. Geo. Read, John Dickinson, Jaco. Broom, Gunning Bedford, Jr., Richard Bassett. Maryland. James M' Henry, Danl. Carroll, Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer. New York. Alexander Hamilton. New Jersey. Wil. Livingston, Wm. Paterson, David Brearley, Jona. Dayton. Virginia. John Blair, James Madison, Jr. North Carolina. Wm. Blount, Hu. Williamson, Rich'd Dobbs Spaight. Pennsylvania. B. Franklin, Robt. Morris, Thos. Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Thos. Mifflin, Geo. Clymer, Jared Ingersoll, Gouv. Morris. South Carolina. j. rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney, Pierce Butler. Georgia. William Few, Abr. Baldwin. WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. AND ITS AMENDMENTS. IQQ Articles in Addition to and Amendatory of the Constitution of the United States of America. Proposed by Congress and ratified by the Legislatures of the several states, pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. Article I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Article II. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Article III. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be pre- scribed by law. Article IV. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio- lated ; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath pr affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. Article V. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Article VI. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained. by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him ; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor ; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Article VII. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact 170 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law. Article VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed* nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Article IX. The enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Article X. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. Article XI. The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or sub- jects of any foreign state. Article XII. The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their ballots the person to be voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice- President, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest number not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two- thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi- dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice- President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be the majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a major- AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 171 ity, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. Article XIII. Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris- diction. Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- priate legislation. Article XIV. Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Sec. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several states^ according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per- sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed ; but when the right to vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President and Vice- President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the execu- tive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the num- ber of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previ- ously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state Legislature, or as an execu- tive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress mav by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability. Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author- ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun- ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques- tioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall pay any debt or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts, obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void. 172 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this act. Article XV. Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- priate legislation. ELECTORS OF. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. November 7, 1876. COUNTIES. a m ■s fly 5*=« is* COUNTIES. &£! «32 ||| op's Adams Alexander... Bond Boone , Brown Bureau Calhoun Carroll Cass Champaign.. Christian .... Clark Clay Clinton Coles •Cook Crawford Cumberland . DeKalb DeWitt Douglas DuPage Edgar Edwards... . Effingham... Fayette Fora Frniklin Fulton ■Gallatin ■Greene Grundy Hamilton Hancock ... Hardin Henderson... Henry Iroquois Jackson Jasper Jefferson Jersey Jo Daviess... Johnson ... . Kane Kankakee . . . Kendall , Knox Lake La Salle , Lawrence..., Lee 4953 1219 1520 1965 944 3719 441 2231 1209 4530 2501 1814 1416 1329 2957 36548 1355 1145 3679 1928 1631 2129 2715 970 1145 1881 1601 966 4187 703 1695 1996 627 3496 330 1315 4177 3768 2040 1346 1345 2907 1367 5398 2627 1869 5235 2619 6277 1198 3087 6308 1280 1142 363 1495 2218 900 918 1618 3103 3287 2197 1541 1989 2822 39240 1643 1407 1413 1174 1357 1276 2883 466 2265 2421 742 1302 4669 1140 3160 1142 1433 4207 611 1015 1928 2578 2071 166 2166 2276 893 2850 1363 524 2632 1647 6001 1329 2080 41 17 17 43 183 145 111 74 604 207 236 112 132 102 277 38 129 65 746 94 25 161 61 43 57 204 391 89 282 1 108 770 134 1 340 249 106 647 140 61 172 26 309 141 55 514 27 100 Livingston... Logan Macon Macoupin.... Madison Marlon Marshall . Mason Massac McDonough. McHenry McLean Menard Mercer Monroe Montgomery Morgan Moultrie Ogle Peoria Fope Perry Piatt Pike Pulaski Putnam Randolph.... Richland Rock Island.. Saline Sangamon ... Schuyler Scott Shelby Stark St. Clair Stephenson.. Tazewell Union Vermilion... Wabash Warren Washington. Wayne White Whiteside.... Will Williamson.. Winnebago.. Woodford . . . Total 3550 2788 3120 3567 4554 2009 1553 1566 1231 2952 3465 6363 1115 2209 845 2486 ::nti!i 1245 3833 4665 1319 1541 1807 3055 1043 646 2357 1410 3912 980 4851 1522 910 2069 1140 4708 3198 2850 978 4372 650 2795 1911 1570 1297 3851 4770 1672 4505 1733 2134 2595 2782 4076 4730 2444 1430 1939 793 2811 1874 4410 1657 1428 1651 3013 3174 1672 1921 5443 800 1383 1316 4040 772 459 2589 1552 2838 1081 5847 1804 1269 3553 786 5891 2758 3171 2155 3031 936 1984 1671 1751 2066 2131 3999 1644 1568 2105 275958 257099 16951 130 157 1170 37 268 114 39 209 135 86 20 347 34 518 10 90 7 201 109 28 104 95 5 48 117 35 14 2 55 27 641 29 115 182 341 96 99 26 44 3 288 207 138 39 482 469 133 677 41 70 237 . Practical Rules for Every Day Use. How to find the gain or loss per cent, when the cost and selling price are given. Rule. — Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which will be the gain or loss. Annex two ciphers to the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost price ; the result will be the gain or loss per cent. How to change gold into currency. Rule. — Multiply the given sum of gold by the price of gold. How to change currency into gold. Divide the amount in currency by the price of gold. How to find each partner's share of the gain or loss in a copartnership business. Rule. — Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quo- tient will be the gain or loss per cent. Multiply each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be each one's share of the gain or loss. How to find gross and net weight and price of hogs. A short and simple method for finding the net weight, or price of hogs, when the gross weight or price is given, and vice versa. Note.— It is generally assumed that the gross weight of Hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 per cent of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased by X or 25 per cent, of itself equals the «ross weight. To find the net weight or gross price. Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.) To find the gross weight or net price. Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.) How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or wagon-bed. Rule. — Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 6308, and point off one decimal place — the result will be the correct answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel. For only an approximate answer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and point off one decimal place. How to find the contents of a corn-crib. Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short method, or (173) 174 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. by 4£ ordinary method, and point off one decimal place — the result will be the answer in bushels. Note.— In estimating corn in the ear, the quality and the time it has been cribbed must be taken into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the Winter and Spring. This rule generally holds good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided it is sound and clean. How to find the contents of a cistern or tank. Rule. — Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all m feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off one decimal place — the result will be the contents in barrels of 31£ gallons. How to find the contents of a barrel or cask. Rule. — Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length (all in inches) in reversed order, so that its UNITS will fall under the tens ; multiply by short method, and this product again by 430 ; point off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons. How to measure boards. Rule. — Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and divide the product by 12 — the result will be the contents in square feet. How to measure scantlings, joists, planks, sills, etc. Rule. — Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together (the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide the product by 12 — the result will be square feet. How to find the number of acres in a body of land. Rule. — Multiply the length by the width (in rods), and divide the product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths. When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width. How to find the number of square yards in a floor or wall. Rule. — Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards. How to find the number of bricks required in a building. Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22£. The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height and thickness (in feet) together. Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space. How to find the number of shingles required in a roof. Rule. — Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the shingles are exposed 4£ inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches. To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by twice the length of the rafters. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 175 To find the length of the rafters, at one-fourth pitch, multiply the width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at one-third pitch, by .6 (tenths) ; at two-fifths pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at one-half pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be taken into consideration. Note.— By J{ or X pitch is meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to be X or M the width of the building higher than the walls or base of the rafters. How to reckon the cost of hay. Rule. — Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, and remove the decimal point three places to the left. How to measure grain. Rule. — Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to the left. Note.— Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bushel. The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by multiplying the number of bushels by 8. If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of eai corn to make 1 of shelled corn. Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments. In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any given plot in square 3 r ards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the number of rods and acres. The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote ; and, in walk- ing, keep these objects constantly in line. Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con- trivance, may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard measure. Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. To find hoiv many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given. Rule. — Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer. 1T6 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods being given. Rule. — Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5 r and remove the decimal point two places to the left. The diameter being given, to find the circumference. Rule. — Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7. How to find the diameter, when the circumference is given. Rule. — Divide the circumference by 3 1-7. To find hoiv many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- ness throughout will contain when squared. Rule. — Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144. General rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet. Rule. — Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144. To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on. Rule. — Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by !*.44. Deduct 1-10 to 1-15 according to the thickness of the bark. Howard ' s new rule for computing interest. Rule. — The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left ; for ten times that time, remove the point one place to the left; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left. Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given. Note.— The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate ; thus 3 per cent, per month, in- verted, becomes % of a month, or 10 days. When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus: 3-1, three ones. Rule for converting English into American currency. Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90. U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE. A township — 36 sections each a mile square. A section — 640 acres. A quarter section, half a mile square — 160 acres. An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a mile wide — 80 acres. A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square — 40 acres. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 177 The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east corner. The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de- scription of a forty acre lot would read: The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be ; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes, overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain. The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile. SURVEYORS' MEASURE. 7 92-100 inches make 1 link. 25 links '* 1 rod. 4 rods .'... " 1 chain. 80 chains ( " 1 mile. Note. — A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet. Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley- corn ; three of which made an inch. Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of measure is four inches — called a hand. In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes used, which is a length of nine inches. The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. A pace is equal to a yard or 86 inches. A fathom is equal to 6 feet. A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league. In cloth measure an aune is equal to li yards, or 45 inches. An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches. A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic man- ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of ac- quiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 1875. A. H. JACKSON. Dr. O. Jan. 10 To u 17 By Feb. 4 To u 4 To March 8 By u 8 By u 13 By U 27 To April 9 To k< 9 By May 6 By M 24 To July 4 By 7 bushels Wheat at $1.25 shoeing span of Horses 14 bushels Oats at $ .45 5 lbs. Butter at .25 new Harrow sharpening 2 Plows . new Double-Tree Cow and Calf half ton of Hay Cash repairing Corn-Planter one Sow with Pigs ...... Cash, to balance account . . $8 75 $2 6 30 1 25 18 2 48 00 6 2o 25 4 17 50 35 $88 $88 05 50 00 40 25 00 75 15 05 1875. CASS A MASON. Dr. Cr. Marcl i 21 21 23 1 1 19 26 10 29 12 12 1 By 3 days' labor .... . . at $1.25 $6 8 10 2 2 20 18 00 10 00 75 70 00 20 $3 25 12 18 9 T r > u May u To 2 Shoats To 18 bushels Corn. By 1 month's Labor at 3.00 at .45 00 To Cash June By 8 days' Mowing at $1.50 00 u To 50 lbs. Flour July K Aug. u To 27 lbs. Meat By 9 days' Harvesting To Cash at $ .10 at 2.00 at 1.50 00 00 Sept. To Cash to balance account $67 75 $67 75 INTEREST TABLE. a slmplh rulk fos accurately computing interest at any given feu cknt. for any Length of Time. Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 (the number of days in the interest year) by the per cent, of interest, ami the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest. Solution. ILLUSTRATION. $462.50 .48 Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $4b2.50 multi- plied by .48 gives $222 0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent, of interest) gives 60, and $222.0000 divided by 60 will give vou the exact interest, whicl is $3.70. If the rate of 370000 interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the $222.0000 by 30 6)360 \ 185000 30); if 4 per cent., we would divide by 90; if 8 per ) sta Rica Hawaii. 446,500.000 226.817,108 81,925,400 38,925,600 36,469,800 35,904,400 34,785,300 31,817.100 29,906,092 27.439,921 16,642,000 10,000.000 16,463,000 9,173.000 5,921.500 5,000,000 5,021,300 4,861,400 3,995,200 3,688,300 3,000.000 2,000.000 2,669,100 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,812,000 1,818.500 1,784.700 1,500,000 1,461,400 1,457.900 1,180,000 1,300,000 1,000,000 823,138 718,000 600,000 572,000 350,000 300,000 350,000 136,000 165.000 62.950 1871 1871 1871 1870 1866 1869 1871 1871 1871 1871 1867 1869 1870 1870 1869 1871 1868 1870 1870 1869 1870 1871 '1869 1871 1870 '1871 1870 1871 '1871 1871 1871 1871 1871 1871 '1870 3,741,846 4,677,432 8.003,778 i, 603. 884 204,091 240.348 149,399 121,315 160,207 118,847 195,775 3,253.029 672,621 761,526 292,871 635,964 11,373 29,292 34,494 12,680 357,157 132,616 15,992 471.838 497,321 871,848 7,533 14,753 368,238 5,912 19,353 40,879 218,928 63,787 2,969 9,576 7,335 10,205 58.171 66,722 47.092 17,827 21,505 7.633 119.3 48-6 10.2 7.78 178.7 149.4 232.8 262.3 187. 230.9 85. 3.07 24.4 20. 7.8 441.5 165.9 115.8 290.9 8.4 15.1 166.9 5.3 4. 2.1 241.4 120.9 4.2 247. 75.3 28.9 5.9 15.6 277. 74.9 81.8 56. 6. 6.5 7.4 7.6 7.7 80. Pekin London St. Petersburg. Washington Paris Vienna , Yeddo London Berlin Rome Madrid Rio Janeiro Constantinople Mexico Stockholm Teheran Brussels Munich Lisbon Hague Bogota Santiago Berne Lima Chuquisaca Buenos Ayres.. Stuttgart Copenhagen.... Caraccas Carlsruhe Athens Guatemala Quito Asuncion Darmstadt Monrovia Sal Salvador . . . Port au Prince Managua Monte Video. . . Comayagua San Domingo... San Jose Honolulu 1,648,800 3,251,800 667,000 109,199 1,825,300 833,900 1,554,900 3,251,800 825,400 244,484 332,000 420,000 1,075,000 210.300 136,900 120,000 314,100 169,500 224,063 90,100 45,000 115,400 36,000 160,100 25.000 177.800 91,600 162,042 47,000 36,600 43,400 40,000 70.000 48,000 30.000 3,000 15,000 20,000 10,000 44.500 12,000 20,000 2.000 7,633 182 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION POPULATION OF ILLINOIS, By Counties. COUNTIES. Adams Alexander. . Bond Boone Brown Bureau Calhoun Carroll Cass Champaign. Christian .. Clark Clay Clinton Coles Cook Crawford Cumberland De Kalb... De Witt... Douglas Du Page Edgar Edwards Effingham. . Fayette Ford Franklin Fulton Gallatin Greene Grundy Hamilton . . Hancock Hardin Henderson . Henry Iroquois Jackson Jasper Jefferson... Jersey Jo Daviess. Johnson Kane Kankakee. Kendall ... Knox Lake La Salle ... Lawrence.. Lee Livingston Logan AGGREGATE. 1870. 1860. 1850. 1840. 1830. 1830 56362 10564 I3I52 12942 12205 32415 6562 16705 1 1 580 32737 20363 18719 15875 16285 25235 349966 13889 12223 23265 14768 13484 16685 21450 75"5 15053 19638 9103 12652 38291 i"34 20277 14938 13014 35935 5H3 12582 355o6 25782 19634 11234 17864 15054 27820 112 3909I 24352 I2399 39522 2IOI4 60792 12533 27I7I 3M7I 23053 41323 4707 9815 H678 9938 26426 5144 H733 II325 I4629 IO492 I4987 9336 I O94 1 I4203 144954 "551 83" 10820 7I40 I470I I6925 5454 7816 in 1979 9393 33338 8055 16093 10379 99'5 29061 3759 950i 20660 12325 9589 8364 12965 12051 27325 9342 30062 15412 13074 28663 18257 48332 9214 1 765 1 11637 14272 26508 2484 6144 7624 719S 8841 3231 4586 7253 2649 3203 9532 4289 5139 9335 43385 7135 3718 7540 5002 9290 10692 3524 3799 8075 5681 22508 5448 12429 3023 6362 14652 2887 4612 3807 4149 5862 3220 8109 7354 1S604 4114 16703 7730 13279 14226 17815 6121 5292 1553 5128 14476 3313 5060 1705 4183 3067 1741 1023 2981 1475 1878 7453 3228 37i8 9616 1 020 1 4422 1697 3247 3535 8225 3070 1675 6328 3682 13142 10760 II95I 3945 9946 1378 1260 1695 3566 1472 5762 4535 6180 3626 6501 7060 2634 9348 7092 2035 759 2333 21 I390 3124 IO9O 3940 755 2330 3"7 4071 1649 2704 4083 1841 7405 7674 2616 483 4i 1828 2555 2111 1596 274 '3668 626 2931 931 *23 2999 3444 1763 3155 1542 691 843 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 183 POPULATION OF ILLINOIS— Concluded. COUNTIES. Macon Macoupin.. Madison Marion Marshall Mason Massac McDonough. McHenry .... McLean Menard Mercer Monroe Montgomery Morgan Moultrie Ogle. Peoria Perry Piatt Pike Pope. Pulaski Putnam Randolph Richland Rock Island Saline Sangamon .. Schuyler Scott Shelby Stark*. St. Clair Stephenson.. Tazewell Union Vermilion . . Wabash Warren Washington. Wayne White Whitesides . . Will Williamson . . Winnebago . Woodford . . . Total. . . AGGREGATE. 1870. 1860. 1850. 1840. 1830. 1820 26481 32726 44I3I 20622 16950 16184 9581 26509 23762 53988 "735 18769 12982 253f4 2S463 10385 27492 47540 13723 10953 30768 1 1437 875-5 6280 20859 12803 29783 12714 46352 17419 10530 25476 10751 51068 30608 27903 16518 30388 8841 23174 17599 19758 16846 27503 43013 17329 29301 18956 2539891 13738 24602 31251 12739 13437 10931 6213 20069 22089 28772 9584 15042 12832 13979 22112 6385 22888 36601 9552 6127 27249 6742 3943 5587 17205 9711 21005 9331 32274 14684 9069 14613 9004 37694 25112 21470 11181 19800 7313 18336 I373I 12223 12403 18737 29321 12205 24491 13282 1711951 3988 12355 20441 6720 5180 592i 4092 7616 14978 10163 6349 5246 7679 6277 16064 3234 10020 17547 5278 1606 18819 3975 2265 3924 1 1079 4012 6937 5588 19228 10573 7914 7807 37io 20180 1 1666 12052 7615 1 1492 4690 8176 6953 6825 8925 536i 16703 7216 "773 4415 851470 3039 7926 14433 4742 1849 53o8 2578 6565 4431 2352 4481 4490 19547 3479 6i53 3222 11728 4094 2131 7944 2610 14716 6972 6215 6659 1573 1 363 1 2800 7221 5524 9303 4240 6739 4810 5133 7919 25M 10167 4457 4609 476183 1122 1990 6221 2125 (*) 26 2000 2953 12714 1215 2396 3316 ^■1310 4429 12960 £2959 2972 7078 4716 3239 5836 2710 308 1675 2553 6091 157445 13550 *2I I5l6 26lO 3492 *5 5248 2362 1517 1114 4828 *49 55i62 184 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. STATE LAWS Relating to Rates of Interest and Penalties for Usury. States and Territories. Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Dakota Delaware District of Columbia .. Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi .... Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico , New York North Carolina Ohio Ontario, Canada '.. Oregon Pennsylvania Quebec, Canada Rhode Island South Carolin i Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Territory West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Legal Rate al- Rate of lowed by Interest. Contract. per cent per cent. 8 8 IO Any rate. 6 IO IO Any rate. IO Any rate. 7 7 7 12 6 6 6 IO 8 Any rate. 7 12 IO 24 6 IO 6 IO 6 IO 8 12 6 8 5 8 6 Any rate. 6 6 6 Any rate. 7 IO 7 12 6 IO 6 IO IO Any rate IO 12 IO Any rate 6 6 7 7 6 Any rate 7 7 6 8 6 8 6 Any rate IO 12 6 Any rate 6 Any rate 6 Any rate. 7 Any rate 6 IO 8 12 IO Any rate 6 6 6 6* IO Any rate. 6 6* 7 IO 12 Any rate. Penalties for Usury. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of principal and interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of principal. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Fine and imprisonment. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 12 per cent. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 7 per cent. No Usury Law in this State. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of thrice the excess and costs. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of contract. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of excess above 6 per cent. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of excess of interest. Forfeiture of entire interest. Forfeiture of excess of interes' Forfeiture of entire interest. * Except in cases defined by statutes of the State. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. STATE LAWS Relating to Limitations of Actions : Showing Limit of Time in which Action may be Brought on the following : States and Tereitories. Alabama Arkansas California, Colorado Connecticut Dakota Delaware District of Columbia . Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri.... Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Ontario (U. Canada).. Oregon Pennsylvania Quebec (L. Canada).. Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Territory West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Sealed and Assault Open Notes. Judg- witnessed slander, Accts. ments. Instru- &c. ments. Years. Years. Years. Years. Years. I 3 6 20 IO I 3 5 IO IO I 2 4 5 5 I 6 6 3 3 3 6 6 20 17 2 6 6 20 20 I 3 6 20 20 I 3 3 12 12 2 4 5 20 20 I 4 6 7 20 2 2 4 5 5 I 5 IO 20 10 2 6 20 2o 20 2 S IO 20 10 I 3 5 5 15 I 2 IS IS 15 I 3 5 10 20 2 6 20 20 20 I 3 3 12 12 2 6 20 20 20 2 6 6 6 10 2 6 6 10 6 I 3 6 7 7 2 5 IO 20 10 2 5 IO 10 10 I 4 5 5 10 2 2 4 5 4 2 6 6 20 20 2 6 6 20 16 I 6 IO 10 10 2 6 6 20 20 3 3 3 10 10 I 6 15 15 IS 2 6 6 20 20 2 6 6 IO 20 I 6 6 20 20 I 5 5 30 30 I 6 6 20 20 2 6 6 20 20 I 6 6 IO 6 I 2 4 IO 5 I 2 4 5 7 2 6 4 8 8 I 5 s 10 20 2 3 6 6 6 I 5 10 10 10 2 6 6 20 20 I 6 15 15 15 PRODUCTIONS OF AGRICULTURE, STATE OF ILLINOIS, BY COUNTIES.— 1870. JOUNTIES. Total Adams Alexander Bond Boone Brown Bureau Calhoun Carroll Cass Champaign Christian Clark Clay Clinton ■ Coles Cook Crawford Cumberland DeKalb JDeWitt Douglas DuPage Edgar Edwards Effingham Eayette Ford Franklin Fulton ..... Gallatin Greene Grundy Hamilton Hancock Hardin Henderson Henry Iroquois Jackson Jasper Jefferson Jersey JoDaviess Johnson. Kane Kankakee Kendall Knox , 7-iake LaSalle Lawrence Lee Livingston Logan Macon Macoupin Madison Marion Marshall Mason Massac McDonough McHenry McLean Menard Mercer Monroe Montgomery Morgan Moultrie Ogle Peoria Perry Piatt Pike Pope Pulaski Putnam Randolph Richland Rock Island Saline Sangamon Schuyler Scoit Shelby Stark St. Clair Stephenson Tazewell Union Vermilion Wabash Warren Washington Wayne AVnite Whitosides Will Williamson Winnebago Woodford Improved Land. Number. 19.329.952 Woodl'nd 287.926 13,83b 145,045 137.307 57,062 398,611 37,684 186,864 92.902 419,368 241,472 118.594 146.922 150,177 208,337 348.824 105,505 75,342 334,502 168.539 147,b33 164,874 2)/ ////// -«7^- BLOOMINGTON HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 207 and Mr. Danley, at $25 per month. Rev. Mr. Young was appointed to visit the German population. The usual reports were not ready. At the twelfth annual meeting of the Society, January 5, 1865, at the Presby- terian Church, Mr. J. W. Maxwell was chosen Treasurer and Depositary of the Society ; the other officers were retained. The meeting was highly entertained by speeches from Revs. Dr. Porter, Bailey, Andrus and Price. The usual reports were not in readiness. At the thirteenth annual meeting of the Society, the old officers were retained, except that Mr. 0. Rugg was chosen President, December 17, 1865, at the Methodist Church. The meeting was entertained by speeches from Revs. Rutledge, Lowe, Ellis and Bailey. Mr. J. W. Maxwell, Treasurer, made his report, which was referred to Auditing Committee. Rev. Mr. Mayers, County Agent, made a partial report. The fourteenth annual meeting of the Society was held in Shroeder's Hall, Decem- ber 23, 1866. The old officers were retained. Mr. J. W. Maxwell, Treasurer, and Mr. Ira Bristol, County Agent, made their reports. The meeting was entertained by addresses from Revs. Hartshorn, State Agent, Rabe, Ellis and Jacques. The fifteenth aunual meeting of the Society was held in the Methodist Church, December 22, 1867. The old officers were retained. The Secretary's report covered those of the Treasurer and the Agent. Meeting addressed by Revs. McElroy, McDougal, -and the State Agent, Hartshorn. The sixteenth annual meeting of the Society was held in the Presbyterian Church March 14, 1879. The old officers were re-elected. The reports of Mr. J. W. Maxwell, Treasurer, and of Mr. C. K. Daniels, County Agent, were read and referred to com- mittee. Very interesting addresses were delivered by President Edwards, of the Nor- mal University, and Judge Culver, of Pontiac. The seventeenth anniversary of the Society was held in Schroeder's Opera-House, April 8, 1870. Mr. W. H. Winegardner was chosen President, and the other officers substantially retained. Mr. J. W. Maxwell, Treasurer, and Rev. Mr. Daniels, County Agent, presented their reports, which were read and approved. Rev. Dr. Reed de- livered a very fine address, which was well appreciated by the audience. The eighteenth anniversary of the Society was held in the Academy of Music, April 9, 1871. The old officers were rechosen. The audience was very large, and listened with much interest to the addressess delivered by Rev. Mr. Pilcher, R. R. Williams, Esq., and Mr. Jackman, Superintendent of machine shops, Chicago & Alton Railroad. From the report of the County Agent, Mr. C. K. Daniels, we select the follow- ing items. During the year, he had addressed 38 public meetings, obtained new subscriptions amounting to $819.82, collected on subscriptions and notes, $1,048.98, received from local agents and branch societies, $582.46, and from sale of books, $315.20, making the entire receipts $1,946.64. He had traveled 1,100 miles, visited, with assist- ance of local agents, 1,400 families. Number of books circulated, 1,400, to the value of about $900 ; number of branch societies, 27, having in their depositories books to the value of $716.81, and 8694.42 worth in the county depository, amounting to $1,411.23. There are 220 local agents, and 33 pastors co-operating in the county. The Treasurer's report shows receipts to be $1,946.64, and disbursements and $175.92 on hand, amounting to the same, $1,200 of which was sent to parent society, New York. Books left over and purchased during the year, $1,643.39 ; books on hand and distributed to the same amount. 208 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The nineteenth anniversary of the Society was a very interesting occasion. The former officers were retained. The meeting, April 21, 1872, in Schroeder's Opera- House, was very large, and most ably addressed by Dr. E. 0. Haven, President of the Northwestern University, at Evanston. The substance of the reports was : Books in the depository at the commencement of the current year, and purchases, $1,621.65 ; books delivered to branch societies, sold, and on hand, the same. Cash received from sales and branch societies, $2,089.51 ; disbursements and balance in Treasury, the same, of which $1,106 were sent to parent society, New York. The resources of the Society amount to $1,816.02. The County Agent, Mr. C. K. Daniels, had delivered 47 addresses ; obtained by subscriptions, $ 1 ,430 ; secured 4 life-members to par- ent society; made cash collections, $1,739.04; traveled 2,700 miles; visited 2,179 families; circulated 1,600 Bibles and Testaments ; found 48 families destitute of the Bible ; supplied 24, and did much other labor in the cause. The twentieth anniversary of the Society was held in the Opera-House, July 27, 1873. Rev. John Ansley was chosen President, and the other officers retained. The hall was packed, and many could not gain admittance. The meeting was eloquently ad- dressed by Bev. Mr. Barnes. Measures were taken to supply the cars of the Chicago & Alton Bailroadwith Bibles and Testaments. The Treasurer's report shows $2,514.60 in books held over, in receipts from branches through agent, and sales at depository. The disbursements were the same, except $365.30 in treasury. Sent to parent society, $1,444.24. Books in the county depository, and in those of the branch societies r $1,370.20. The County Agent had addressed 32 public meetings, and obtained $725 in subscriptions ; had traveled 2,000 miles ; 2,324 families were visited, 39 found without Bibles and supplied ; about 180 books were circulated, and much other labor done. The twenty-first anniversary of the Society was held at Durley Hall, June 7, 1874. The meeting was immense. The former officers were retained. The audience was ad- dressed by Mrs. Jennie Willing, Dr. Edwards, of Normal, and Rev. Dr. Fallows. The Treasurer's report shows that $797.33 were received for books sold, and $829.45 for col- lections and donations. To the parent society, $1,066.77 were sent, the expenses paid, and $352.54 in the treasury. Value of books received during the year, $1,293.32 ; value of books donated to supply Chicago & Alton Railroad cars, $207.47 ; value of books in the chief and branch depositories, $1,317.37. Protestant Churches co-operat- ing, 77 ; branch societies, 29; families visited, 1,696; destitute families supplied with Scriptures, 12. The twenty-second anniversary of the Society was held in Durley Hall, May 16, 1875. Mr. William Bone was chosen President, and Mr. J. A. Willson, Secretary. The immense audience was addressed by Dr. Edwards, of Normal. From the Treas- urer's report, we learn that the receipts from books sold were $674.55 ; from collections and donations, $775.60 ; paid to the parent society $1,222.16 ; and, after paying the expenses, $185.55 cash in the treasury. The value of books received during the year was $900.21 ; the value of books sold, $674.75 ; and the value of books remaining in the depositories, $1,441.14. The twenty-third anniversary of the Society was held Aug. 27, 1876, at the Meth- odist Church. The audience was large, and was addressed very satisfactorily by Rev. A. I. Hobbs. The old officers were continued. At a previous meeting of the Executive HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 209 Committee, the following persons were constituted life-members of the County Soci- ety : Miss May Bedell, of Lawndale ; Mr. William Morris, of West ; Mr. William Baldridge, of White Oak, and Mr. J. M. Mitchell, of Gridley. As reported by the Treasurer, there had been received from the County Agent $892.32, from the branch societies, $221.75, and from sale of books in county depository, $570.40. The expenses were paid, $663.92 sent to the parent society, and $719.36 remained in the treasury. Books delivered to branches, $330.19 ; remaining in depository, $602.15. County Agent had spoken publicly 42 times; 1,736 families were visited ; 70 destitute families supplied with Bibles; 1,280 miles traveled; 2,000 books circulated, and much other labor was performed for the Society. The twenty-fourth anniversary of the Society was held in the Presbyterian Church, September 16, 1877. The old officers were retained, and the meeting addressed by Dr. W. H. H. Adams. The Treasurer reported $1,933.72 receipts from all sources, with what was on hand at the previous report. Expenses were paid, $1,044.30 sent to parent society and $335.41 remained in treasury. Amount of books received from New York, $1,065.35 ; books sold at depository, $530.45 ; books on hand, $750.21. Rev. James Ferguson assisted the County Agent in canvassing. Families visited in the county, 4.000 ; number of destitute families and individuals supplied with Bibles, 183 ; miles traveled, 1,800 ; value of books donated, $164.07 ; value of books sold, $739.03 ; value of books on hand in the county, $1,600. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Society was held at the Methodist Church, June 9, 1878. The old officers were retained. Meeting addressed by Revs. A. I. Hobbs, J. A. Kumler and J. M. Baugh. The report of the Treasurer shows : Cash from all sources, $1,127.07 ; disbursements show expenses paid, sent to American Bible Society, $491.47, and remaining in treasury, $391.61. Books sold, $398.82 ; books purchased, $314.60; books on hand, $641.64 in the county depository, and $818.98 in those of the branch societies. Miles traveled by the County Agent, 1,150; addresses delivered, 25; families visited, 1,000; local agents, 150; branch societies 32; value of books circulated, sold and donated, $448.42. The Society has been in operation twenty-five years. It has sent to the American Bible Society from $12,000 to $15,000, in payment for books or as donations, $1,000 hav- ing been recently transmitted to it from the estate of the late Mr. T. C. Humphrey, of this county. Many thousands of Bibles and Testaments have been put into the hands of the people of this county through its agency, and incalculable good done by its many incidental influences. The Society is in a healthy condition, and in hopeful spirits in reference to its future successes, when the present financial embarrassments shall have subsided. PHYSICAL FEATURES. As will be seen in another place, while speaking of its origin, McLean County assumed its present form and dimensions in 1841, on the formation of Woodford County. The main body of it is forty-two miles east and west, and thirty-two north and south, the northeast and the northwest corners having been cut off. There is no stream of water of any considerable size within its limits. In the northeastern portion of the county there are several creeks, as Bray's Creek, Henline Creek, Turkey Creek, Patton Branch, Money Creek, Crooked Creek and Buck Creek ; and in the northwestern por- tion, Denman's Creek, Rock Creek, Six-Mile Creek and many smaller ones all running 210 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. northwest, and combining to form the Mackinaw, which runs west, leaving the county near the northwest corner of Township 25 north, Range 2 east, and passing into Taze- well County. In the northeast corner, Rock Creek and some other small creeks run north, into the Vermilion. In the western portion of the county are several branches of Sugar Creek, running southwest, and leaving the county on the west side of Townships 22 and 23 north, Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian. In the southwestern portion is Kick- poo Creek, with its many branches, running southwest and leaving the county in the northeastern part of Township 21 north, Range 1 east, and entering De Witt County. In the southeastern portion are the branches of Salt Creek, running south into De Witt County, in Township 21 north, Ranges 4 and 5 east ; and in the eastern part of the county are the incipient waters of the Sangamon River, running east and south, and leaving the county near the the southeastern corner of Township 23 north, Range 6 east. This all shows very clearly that the middle portion of McLean County is a gentle swell of country, higher than the surrounding counties ; it shows, also, how generally and impartially all parts are supplied with running water. Nor are the distribution and the size of its forest groves less admirable. In the northwest is White Oak Grove ; in the north, Mackinaw Timber ; in the west, Stout's Grove ; in the center, Blooming Grove and Old Town Timber ; in the south, Funk's Grove, Randolph Grove and Buckle's Grove, and in the east, Cheney's Grove. As a whole, this distribution ot streams and groves could scarcely be improved for agricult- ural pursuits and for stock-raising, as well as for convenience, health and beauty. In the southeastern portion of the county, more timber-land may seem desirable ; but there is compensation in the fact that West and Belleflower are two as fine townships of land as the sun shines upon in his daily course. EARLY TIMES. As will be seen elsewhere, the territory now comprising McLean County was, in 1821, embraced in two other counties, that portion of it lying west of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian being in Sangamon County, and the rest in Fayette, and the capital of the State was Vandalia, the county seat of the latter county. At that time, there were no white settlers within the present limits of the county. Although the Indians had, sometime previously, bargained away- this section of the West to the United States Government, they were still in full possession of the country and roamed over it at will, enjoying all its advantages, as formerly. The first surveying on the territory now composing this county was done in April, 1821, by Mr. John F. McCullum, who ran the Third Principal Meridian from the standard line, on the south side of Town 21, as far north as the north line of Town 25. The standard line on the south side was run also in April, 1821, by Mr. Joseph Borough ; and the line north of Town 25 was surveyed in March, 1822, by Mr. Enoch Stein. These lines were the bases of the survey of the county. Ranges 1 and 2 east were surveyed in October and November, 1823, by Messrs. A. M. and P. M. Ham- trameck. Range 3 east was surveyed in January and February, 1824, by Mr. Beal Greenup. Ranges 4 and 5 east were surveyed in April, 1824, by Mr. John Barcroft. Range 6 east was surveyed by Mr. B. Recton, probably in 1824; and Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, by Mr. P. M. January, in June, 1823. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 211 In their notes, these surveyors speak of there being a settlement of white people on Section 15, in Randolph Township, in 1823. There was a camp of Delaware Indi- ans on the northwest quarter of Section 36, in Lexington Township, near which was their corn-field, consisting of a few acres. There was also a town of the Kickapoo Indians near the present village of Pleasant Hill. Their corn-field, of about twenty acres, was on the line between Sections 17 and 20. Mr. Patrick Hopkins, still living in the vicinity, saw corn growing- in that field, on the 25th of May, 1830, which the Indians had planted, and which was at that time twenty inches high — the biggest corn ever seen in this section of country so early in the year. There was another noted Indian town at the head of Old Town Timber — hence the name — on the line between Sections 31 and 32, in Arrowsmith Township. At the time of the survey, this town was apparently abandoned. The outlines of their intrenchments were seen as late as in 1863. On breaking up the turf, in 1864, bullets, gun-barrels and many bones were thrown up; and numerous arrow-points are found, even unto the present day. The main trail of the Indians through this section of the State was southeast and northwest, from Post Vincennes, on the Wabash, to Fort Clarke (Peoria), up the Wabash and the Vermilion, in the direction of Danville ; thence across to the Sangamon, to the northwest part of Champaign County ; thence to the east end of Old Town Timber ; thence northwest, to Smith's Grove, in Towanda Township ; thence to the south end of Haven's Grove, and thence westward, crossing the Mackinaw at Farnisville. From this route, it will be seen that the Indians in those times, like the early settlers, were very friendly to the groves, and liked to be as near them as practicable. Traces of this trail can still be seen in the hills near the Mackinaw, cut by the feet of the Indian ponies, in their passing to and fro. This was the main trail through the county, and other lighter trails were seen in different directions. Indians were quite common in the vicinity of Indian Grove, in Livingston County, as late as in 1835. In those times, the Indians, and the early settlers after them, made considerable quantities of sugar from the maple-trees in these groves, especially in Blooming Grove, Randolph Grove, Dry Grove and Stout's Grove, and some is still made in favorable seasons. FIRST SETTLEMENTS. The first settlers in what is now McLean County were Mr. John W. Dawson and Mr. John Hendrix, who came with their families to Blooming Grove in the spring of 1822, and settled near its east end. They came from Sangamon County? which, at that time, included the portion of this county west of the Third Principal Meridian, and this portion of it, in which they settled, was in Fayette County. In the summer of the same year, Mr. John Dawson came to join his family in the new home. In the spring of 1823, the Orendorffs came to the Grove. In 1824, came the Rhodes family, and Mr. William H. Hodge, Mr. William R. Goodheart, Mr. William Evans and Mr. William Dimmitt in 1825. In 1826, came the Guthries, Mr. David Cox and Mr. William McCullough. In 1827, Dr. Isaac Baker, and, in 1829, the Allen family came to cast their lot with the pioneers. A fuller account of the early settlement of Blooming Grove will be found elsewhere in this work. It is said that Mr. Gardner Randolph came to Randolph Grove in 1822, and Mr. Alfred M. Stringfield in 1823. In fact, the surveyors of the county, in their notes 212 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. speak of there being a settlement in that Grove in 1823. In 1824, the Rutledges and Mr. Jesse Funk came there ; in 1830, the Passwaters family, Mr. Jacob Bishop and Mr. Coverdale ; in 1830, the Stewarts and the Nobles ; and, in 1834, the Rusts. In 1823, the Bensons came to White Oak Grove and made permanent settlements. In 1824, the Funks and the Stubblefields came to Funk's Grove and to Mount Hope and made settlements. In 1825, the Cheneys settled at Cheney's Grove, and the Dicker- sons at Le Roy, and Mr. E. B. Mitchell at Stout's Grove. In 1826, Mr. Jesse Trim- mer settled at Money Creek; and, in 1827, Mr. Matthew Robb and the McClures and the Hodges settled in Stout's Grove. The Spawrs settled in Lexington in 1826 and 1827. In 1828, Mr. Robert H. Johnson came to Dale Township, and the Beelers in 1830. In 1829, Mr. Lawson Downs settled in Downs Township; and, in 1826, came Mr. Henry Vansickle to Dry Grove, followed by Mr. Stephen Webb and Mr. George M. Hinshaw in 1827. In 1827, Mr. William M. McCord settled in Gridley Township, and Mr. John B. Messer in 1829, followed by Mr. John Sloan and the Coons, in after years. In 1829, Mr. Joseph Messer and the Havenses settled in Hudson, followed, the next year, by Mr. Benjamin Wheeler and Mr. John Smith — the veritable John Smith. In 1828, the Henlines settled in Lawndale Township. In 1825, Mr. William Evans, Jr., settled in Padua, followed by Mr. Daniel Jackson in 1830, and Mr. Jeremiah Greenman iu 1831. In 1828, Mr. Jesse Walden settled in Towanda Town- ship. Such were the chief initial settlements in this county in former times. In 1821, the country between Blooming Grove and Lake Michigan was one of the grandest specimens of the "unshorn fields of God" ever presented to the human eye. The foot-prints of no white man contaminated its soil and tainted the air with his vicious breath, fragrant of whisky and tobacco. The sole tenant of this vast region, big with all the elements of future greatness, was one Mr. Lo. Even he was rather an erratic body, with no fixed habitation, following after his equally erratic food — the champion tramp of his day. • In those early times, the style of living was quite primitive, and somewhat differ- ent from that of the present. Their dwellings were mostly of the composite style of architecture, being made up of such material as could be most easily obtained. They employed very little of the Corinthian style, but much of the Door-ic style. Their pillars were taken from "God's first temples — the forests." They constructed their buildings, so as to be adapted to a very economical system of self-ventilation and self- heating. Being rather a hearty sort of people, they could tolerate the prairie breezes and the sun's warm visitations. They were not of too delicate a mold to digest their own food, instead of employing the contents of a drug store to carry on that necessary process ; nor did they consider it disgraceful to gain their livelihood by personal industry and constant labor. Very little do the young people of the present day know about the privations and the hardships through which the first settlers in this county were obliged to pass. The first settlers were obliged, sometimes, to go to the Wabash, or to Fox River, to get their grinding done. It was not very uncommon to go a distance of fifty miles, on horse-back, to get their plow-irons sharpened. Sometimes they constructed sort of mills, with millstones, cut from the lost rocks found on the prairies. They contrived, by various means, to pound and crush the grain for their food. It is said that they also used wooden grindstones, with sand worked into the circumference, to sharpen their HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 213 knives and implements. It was not infrequently, though game was plenty, that they were out of meat when the preacher came to their houses, and a coon had to be caught. But it was not always gloomy and sad with them. There was much of good feeling and sociability among them. Their loves and their hates were demonstrative; and the sparseness of the population, and the consequent mutual dependence upon each other, as well in serious occupations as in their amusements, rendered them more helpful and more hearty in their reciprocal deeds of kindness, and in their social intercourse. There were not a few, even in this section of the country, whose hearts would respond to the following, rather boisterous, but cheerful and expressive language of the poet: " Oh ! to roam, like the rivers, through empires of woods, Where the king of the eagles in majesty broods ; Or, to ride the wild horse o'er the boundless domain, And to drag the wild buffalo down to the plain ; There to chase the fleet Ftag, and to track the huge bear, And to face the lithe panther at bay in his lair, Are a joy which, alone, cheers the pioneer's breast ; For the only true hunting-ground lies in the West. " Ho! brothers, come hither and list to my story — Merry and brief will the narrative be : Here, like a monarch, I reign in my glory — Master, am I, boys, of all that I see. Where once frowned a forest, a garden is smiling — The meadow and moorland are marshes no more ; And there curls the smoke of my cottage, beguiling The children, who cluster, like grapes, at the door. Then enter, boys ; cheerly, boys, enter and rest ; The land of the heart is the land of the West." It may be true that the feelings and sentiments expressed in the above lines are not the prevailing ones here at the present time ; that they are fast fading from the hearts of the new population, and that their proper meridian is still moving west — ever west. Yet there are some among us whose hearts still respond to the echoes of the earlier and more demonstrative times of the past. Many of the early settlers, now rapidly passing away, still linger among us ; and to them, and to those who have already passed over, the present generation owes an immense debt of gratitude ; for bravely have they met the difficulties incident to settling a new country ; and broadly and well have they laid the foundations of future prosperity in the county. MATERIAL DEVELOPMENTS. As will be seen elsewhere in this work, Tazewell County was created by the State Legislature at its session of 1826 and 1827. An election was held in that county in the following spring for county officers, McLean County being substantially embraced therein. At that election, Messrs. James Latta. George Hittle and Benjamin Briggs were elected County Commissioners ; Mr. James Benson, of Blooming Grove, was elected County Treasurer, and Mr. William Orondorff and Mr. Absalom Funk were securities ; Mr. William Orondorff was elected Justice of the Peace ; Mr. William H. Hodge, Sheriff, and Mr. Thomas Orondorff, Coroner. On the 10th of April, 1827, the County Commissioners held their first court at the house of Mr. William Orondorff. On April 25, of the same year, they held 214 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. their court at the house of Mr. Ephraim Stout, in Stout's Grove, and continued to hold them there until the public buildings were finished at Mackinawtown, which had been chosen for the county seat. At the court of the same Commissioners, held June 25, 1827, all that part of Tazewell County east of the Third Principal Meridian and all north of Town 22 was formed into Blooming Grove Precinct; and all south of Town 23 and east of Third Principal Meridian, including one range west of said meridian, in Town 22, formed Kickapoo Precinct. At the March term, 1829, a road was ordered to be laid out from Jonathan Cheney's, in Cheney's Grove to the mouth of the Little Vermilion, at the Illinois River, and the Road District Supervisor was ordered to make the road. The county revenue of Tazewell County, for 1829, was $1,061.89, and the expenses, $898.53. At the first session of the County Commissioners' Court, held at the house of Hon. James Allen, in Bloomington, for McLean County proper, May 16, 1831, the report of Messrs. Lemuel Lee and Isaac C. Pugh, Commissioners appointed by the Legisla- ture to locate the county seat, was received and ordered to be entered on record — said report locating the said county seat on the land of Mr. James Allen, on the north end of Blooming Grove. At the same session, Dr. Isaac Baker, Clerk of the Court, was instructed to give notice, by written advertisements, that a sale of town lots in the town of Bloomington, on the land donated by Mr. Allen for a county seat, would take place on the 4th of July, of the same year. At the June term of the Court, same year, the Commissioners thinking the tax on land insufficient to defray the expenses of the county, ordered that a tax of one-half per cent be levied on all property owned in the county. The Court then proceeded to lay off and designate the election precincts, as follows : All that territory included in Town- ships 21 and 22 in Range 1 west, 21 and 22 in Range 1 east and 21 in Range 2 east shall constitute Kickapoo Precinct, and the place of holding elections shall be at William Murphey's mill; and James H. Scott, Walter McPherson and Frederick Barnett were appointed Judges of Elections. Townships 21, 22, 23 and 24 in Ranges 4, 5 and 6 east shall constitute Salt Creek Precinct, and the place of holding elections shall be at the house of Nathan Britton, Esq., Jesse Frankerburger, Amos Conaway and Daniel Crumbaugh being appointed Judges of Elections. Townships 23 in Range 1 west, 23 and 24 in Range 1 east, 22, 23 and 24 in Ranges 2 and 3 east, and Sections from 12 to 36 in Town 25, Range 2 east, and Sections from 16 to 36 in Town 25, Range 3 east shall constitute Bloomington Pre- cinct, and the place of holding elections shall be in Bloomington; and the Court appointed Peter McCullough, David Wheeler and Seth Baker Judges of Elections. Townships 26, 27 and 28 in Ranges 2 and 3 east, Towns 25, 26, 27 and 28 in Ranges 4, 5 and 6 east, and Sections from 1 to 12 in Town 25, Range 2 east, and Sec- tions from 1 to 16 in Town 25, Range 3 east, constituted Mackinaw Precinct, and the place of holding elections was at John Patten's ; and John Haney, John Patten and Coonrod Flesher were appointed Judges of Elections. Townships 24 to 28 north in Range 1 west, and Townships from 25 to 28 in Range 1 east, shall constitute Painter Creek Precinct, and the place of holding elec- tions shall be at John Harbert's, and Mathew Robb, William Patrick and Mathew Bracken are appointed Judges of Elections. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 215 The Court then laid off the Road Districts as follows: Townships 21 and 22 in Range 1 west shall be called District Number One, and Allen McCay is appointed Supervisor. Townships 21 and 22 of Range 1 east shall compose Road District Number Two, and Jeremiah Greenman is appointed Supervisor. Townships 21 and 22, Range 2 east, shall compose Road District Number Three, and Gardner Randolph is appointed Supervisor. Township 21, Ranges 3 and 4, and west half of Range 5 east, the southwest quarter of Town 22, Range 5 east, and the south half of Town 22, Ranges 3 and 4 east, shall compose Road District Number Four, and James Merrifield is appointed Supervisor. The north half of Town 22, Ranges 3 and 4 east, and the northwest quarter of Town 22, Range 5 east, the west half of Range 5, Town 23 east, and Town 23 in Ranges 3 and 4 shall compose Road District Number Five, and James Vanscoyc is appointed Supervisor. The east half of Towns 21, 22 and 23 in Range 5 east, and Townships 21, 22 and 23 in Range 6 east shall compose Road District Number Six, and Robert Cun- ningham is appointed Supervisor. Townships 23, 24 and 25 in Range 1 west shall compose Road District Number Seven, and Robert McClure is appointed Supervisor. Townships 23, 24 and 25 in Range 1 east shall compose Road District Number Eight, and Samuel Barker is appointed Supervisor. Townships 23, 24 and 25 in Range 2 east, and Townships 24 and 25, Range 3 east, shall compose Road District Number Nine, and David Trimmer is appointed Super- visor. The townships beginning at the southwest corner of Town 24 in Range 4 east, and extending east to the county line, shall compose Road District Number Ten, and John Haner is appointed Supervisor. Beginning at the southeast corner of Township 26, Range 3 east, and extending north and west to the county line, shall compose Road District Number Eleven, and Young Billberry is appointed Supervisor. These divisions give a tolerable idea of the relative number of inhabitants in those early times in different portions of the county, and show who many of them were. At the same session, William Orondorff, Esq., paid into court a fine of $6, officially collected by him from Thomas Wilson and Francis Evans, for assault and battery — the first transaction of the kind on record in the county. At the same session, Mr. Henry Miller applied for license to keep a tavern in Bloomington — the first application. The amount paid was $2. At the July session, Messrs. Frederick and Samuel Troxell applied for license to vend goods, wares and merchandise in the county of McLean for one year. License granted for $5 — the first on record. At the December term, Mr. Robert H. Johnson made application to the Court for relief in behalf of Sarah Potter, an insane person In his care. Relief was granted — the first in the county. At the same term, a petition was presented signed by Jacob Spawr and others, dated July 27. 1831, praying for a road to be located from Frederick Rook's, on the Vermilion, thence to William Evans', on the Mackinaw, thence to Jacob Spawr's, on Money Creek, thence south, crossing Sugar Creek at a point north of Bloomington, and 216 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. below the fork, through Main street, Bloomington, south through Randolph Grove and Long Point, to the south line of the county. The petition was granted, and Isaac Baker, Elbert Dickason and Gardner Randolph appointed Viewers of the same. This was the first important move of the kind in McLean County proper. The Court appointed William H. Hodge, John Hendrix and William Orondorff Trustees of school lands in Town 23 north, Range 2 east ; Ephraim Stout, Robert Drain and Isaac Sample in Town 24 north, Range 1 west ; John Moore, Gardner Ran- dolph and Elijah Hedrick in Town 22 north, Range 2 east ; James Murphey, Andrew Biggs and Samuel Murphey in Town 22 north, Range 1 east ; Walter McPherson, Benjamin Day and John Glenn, Esq., in Town 21 north, Range 1 east ; and William Conaway, James Merrifield and Oflicer Rutledge in Town 22 north, Range 4 east. At the January term, 1832, a petition was presented to the Court signed by David Maxwell and others, praying for a road to be established, commencing at the west end of Front street , in the town of Bloomington, thence to James Toliver's, John Maxwell's, Samuel Rhodes', Timothy M. Gates', Nathan Low's, John Houghain's. and thence to Funk's Grove. The petition was granted, and Isaac Baker, James Allen and James Latta were appointed to view the same and report. At the March term, a petition was presented to the Court praying to have a road viewed and located leading from the east end of Front street, in the town of Blooming- ton, running in nearly a southeast course to Buckles' Grove, on Salt Creek, thence to the county line in a direction to intersect a road leading from Vermilion County to Osburn's Grove, on the Sangamon River. The petition was granted, and Isaac Baker, County Surveyor, Michael Dickerson and Reuben Clearwaters were appointed to view and locate the road and report. A petition was presented by Ephraim Stout, also, and others, praying for an altera- * tion of the county road from Decatur to Mackinawtown, commencing at Ephraim Stout's bridge, and to run north side of David Stout's, thence in a direction to intersect the old road opposite Jonathan Hodge's house. Petition granted, and Isaac Baker, Isaac Sample and Isaac Gaskill appointed to review the same and report. The Court appointed Road District Supervisors for the ensuing year, as follows : District No. 1, Benjamin Shipley; No. 2, Benjamin Day; No. 3, Elijah Hedrick; No. 4, Alvin Barnett; No. 5, John W. Dawson; No. 6, William M. Riggs ; No. 7, James Watson ; No. 8, Wolford Wyatt ; No. 9, Seth Baker ; No. 10, John B. Thomas ; No. 11, William C. Moore; No. 12, James Benson; No. 13, William Evans. A petition was presented, signed by Owen Cheney and others, praying for a road beginning at the county line opposite to a road leading through Vermilion County to Osburn's Grove, on the Sangamon River ; thence on the nearest and best route to the most suitable fording on Salt Creek, in the upper part of Buckles' Grove ; thence on the nearest and best route to intersect the road leading from the Vermilion Salt Works to Fort Clark, at William Maxwell's, on Kickapoo Creek ; thence with the said road to the town of Bloomington. Prayer granted, and Isaac Baker, John Dawson and Daniel Crumbaugh instructed to make report thereon ai the next term. The Court levied a tax of one-half per cent on the following-described property : All horses, mules (and their male parents), neat cattle three years old and over, town lots, sheep one year old, pleasure carriages, wagons, household property, watches, and all distilleries. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. " 217 At the June term, 1832, the Court established the previously -proposed road from the Vermilion through Bloomington, on Main street, to the south line of the county at fifty feet wide ; also the one from the east end of Front street, Bloomington, in a south- easterly course to Buckles' Grove, at the same width. The amount of the county revenue collected from taxes for the current year, as reported to the County Court at the June term, 1832, was $2,313; and the amount paid the County Assessor, Mr. Thomas Orondorff, was $40. At the December term, 1832, of the Court, Mr. John Scott, Mr. Ebenezer Barnes, and Mr. William McGhee came into Court and made application for the privilege of proving themselves to have been Revolutionary soldiers. After due investigation, the Court confirmed their declarations as true. The same was done in the case of Mr. Thomas Sloan, and his declaration in the matter taken to be correct. A petition was presented in Court, signed by John Benson and others, praying for a road to be located from Bloomington to Painter Creek Mill, and thence to Walnut Grove, near John Oatman's, in McLean County. Petition granted, and Isaac Baker, Robert McClure and Josiah Brown appointed as viewers of said road. A petition was presented, also, signed by Lemuel Evans, Jesse Sutton, and others, praying a road to be located, beginning at John Funk's farm, in Funk's Grove; thence to the south to the crossing on Kickapoo, near A. Larison's ; thence through the town plat of Waynesville, to the county line near Pilot Grove. Petition granted, and Isaac Baker, Samuel Murphy and Runion Hougham appointed Viewers. It will readily be inferred, from the districting of the county, the appointment of township officers, the location of so many roads, and the frequent mention of so many names in every direction, that the country, as well as Bloomington, was filling up rapidly with immigrants. Such was the case. In 1830 and 1831, the prairie turf had been broken in large quantities, and the decay of such masses of vegetable growth had filled the atmosphere with malaria, and the fever and ague were very common and severe. In the winter of 1831, occurred, also the great fall of snow, such as has never been wit- nessed since. It caused great loss of stock, covered under the snow, and from starvation. The inhabitants were themselves nearly buried in their dwellings, and intercourse between the distant neighbors was suspended for weeks. The abundant game in the country became worthless from starvation, and perished in great numbers from the severity of the weather. Yet such were the energy and the perseverance of the early settlers, and the goodly reports which they sent back to their friends of the fertility of the soil and the magnificent prospects for acquiring good homes and future independence, that immi- gration continued to pour in, and the material resources of the country were rapidly developed. For some years, the style of building was mostly one story high, and the walls were of hewed logs, very substantial and comfortable. Some of such buildings are still in use in the city and in the county, in very tolerable condition, some of them from forty to fifty years old. The roofs were covered with long split shingles, and the chimneys made up of stone, or sticks and clay. As the early settlers nearly all stuck closely around the groves, that manner of building was tolerably convenient, and the immediate forest- trees supplied an abundance of excellent fuel and of rail timber. One of the most serious discouragements to be met in those days, in settling up this State, was the sickness •caused by malaria. Yet it was not nearly-as severe in Illinois as in Indiana and Michigan. 218 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. This was undoubtedly owing to the scarcity of forests. On this account, and owing to its fortunate location in reference to rivers, and its elevation, McLean County was then, as it is now, an exceptionally healthy one. Later experiences show that the so-much-slighted open, wide prairies are more healthy than the immediate vicinity of the groves. But the abundance of fuel and the protection of the groves to man and beast decided the location of the early settlements. In those days, people ridiculed the idea that the broad prairie, would be settled up for generations. To obtain boards and piank, they were obliged to saw them by hand from forest logs, a slow and laborious process ; and when saw-mills were afterward erected, still the lumber was so expensive and heavy to handle that but little progress was made on the prairies, for several years. When Chicago began to assume the characteristics of a town, and became a lumber market, the process of transporting it on wagons a hundred and fifty miles, the teams hauling up grain and pork, and bringing back boards, was still too slow to encourage venturing out onto the grassy seas surrounding the groves. That movement waited the advent of the iron horse, breathing fire and steam. Much timber was destroyed by the storm that passed across this county on the 23d of June, 1827. Though it visited Blooming Grove very roughly, Old Town Tim- ber was the principal scene of destruction marking its pathway. The largest forest- trees of the most sturdy kinds, were but as playthings in its grasp, as it seized them in its might, hurling them headlong to the ground, and piling them in promiscuous heaps. This was far the fiercest storm that has visited this county within the knowledge of the white man. It is a subject of remark that this county has since been very fortunate in escaping similar visitations, though they have passed repeatedly over the country several times, quite near. At the December terra of the Commissioners' Court, Messrs. James Allen and M. L. Covell, Messrs. John and Samuel Durley and Mr. Benjamin Haines made application for license to sell goods, wares and merchandise in the town of Bloomington. The style of doing business in those days was quite different from the present one. Each store was stocked with a miscellaneous assemblage of multitudinous articles then known and recognized as necessary to meet the few wants and satisfy the simple tastes of earnest and sensible people in a new country. The merchants and shopkeepers could not then, as now, send an order on the swift-winged lightning, and receive a bill of goods on the next day's train. To replenish their miscellany of goods, wares and merchandise involved the neces- sity of shinning around among their customers for two or three weeks, to raise the necessary funds, sufficient at least to pay traveling expenses, and then a trip to Pekin, by horse-power, and thence by a tub of a steamer, when one was luckily encountered in its meanderings up and down the Illinois River, in search of sandbars, that were to be avoided. By this process a replenishment of goods and wares could be obtained from St. Louis in the short period of two or three weeks, involving, of course, the departure and return of the swift wagon-train of Mr. Benjamin Depew and his associates in that line. We say St. Louis, for Chicago, in those days, knew not itself. Or if any of the business men of the time were bold enough to undertake a pilgrimage to Philadelphia, for goods, their return was greeted with much welcome by those who still remembered them. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 219 As we have before said, the Commissioners' Court was held at the residence of Mr. James Allen ; but at the January term, 1832, the Court resolved to have a Court House ; it accordingly (instructed its Clerk to give public notice that the erection of a building, which was to be one story high, and 18x30 feet, comfortably finished off in the then prevailing style, would be sold at public vendue, on the 6th day of March succeeding. The erection of the building was bid off by A. Gridley, Esq., for $339.75. The build- ing was erected according to the contract, located on the west side of the public square, and accepted by the Court in December of the same year. The Jail was built about the same time, by Mr. William Dimmitt, at a cost of $321. So the Court House was not very much ahead; in fact, the Jail was the more substantial building of the two, as there seemed to be more anxiety about the stay of the prisoners than about that of the Court. At the December term, 1832, and at the February term, 1833, the County Com- missioners' Court granted deeds to the following-named gentlemen, who had bought town lots in Bloomington at the public sale of said lots on the 4th of July, 1831- The record of the sale appears not to be obtainable ; but the following are believed to be substantially the names of the purchasers: James Latta, Martin Scott, A. Gridley, Nathan Low, William 11. Roberson, John Maxwell, Ebenezer Rhodes, Cheney Thomas, Solomon Dodge, Caleb Kimler, Jesse Frankerberger, Jesse Havens, Frederick Trimmer, M. L. Covell, John W. Dawson, David Wheeler, Alvin Barnett, Jonathan Cheney, Joseph B. Harbert, Eli Frankerberger, Hezekiah A. Harbert, Richard Gross, William Harbert, Samuel Durley, Orman Roberson, Baily Kimler, Baily H. Coffey, Lewis Soward, John W. Harbert, Isaac Baker and Absalom Funk. The sale is said to have been quite lively and the bidding spirited — the lot on which the McLean County Bank now stands, bringing the highest price — $52. At the March term, 1833, a petition was presented signed by Samuel Hoblitt and others for a road commencing at the county line of Mason and McLean County, near Long Point, thence to Waynesville, to Napp's mill, thence over the line between Samuel Hoblitt's and Shipley's, thence to intersect the road to be laid out in Tazewell County by way of Orondorff's mill to Pekin. Petition granted, and Isaac Baker, Andrew Brock and Benjamin Shipley appointed Viewers thereof. So rapid had been the increase of population in the county that, at the same ses- sion, the Court redivided the county into road districts as follows, which will give a very good idea of the distribution of the population at that time, and also many of the names of the early settlers and their location : District No. 1, to commence at the line between the land of John Kimler and Benjamin Haines ; thence west to the west end of the causeway near J. Toliver's land ; also on the road from Bloomington south to the largest branch of Sugar Creek ; and also on the road from Bloomington north to the middle of Town 24, Range 2 east, and the streets and alleys in Bloomington. John Kimler was appointed Supervisor. District No. 2, commencing at the west end of the causeway east of J. Toliver's, on the county road leading to Funk's Grove, including the inhabitants near said road as far as the northwest corner of Isaac Hougham's fence, and those on the west side of Blooming Grove as far south as Mr. Hinshaw's. James Toliver, Supervisor. District No. 3, including all the inhabitants on the west side of Blooming Grove, from Mr. Hinshaw's to Kickapoo Creek, between Seth Baker's and Omen Olney's 220 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. to labor on the road from Sugar Creek, near the north end of Section 16, south to Town 22 north, Range 2 east. J. B. Harbert appointed Supervisor. District No. 4, to commence at Kickapoo Creek, between Seth Baker's and Omen Olney's, thence, including all the inhabitants to work on the roads on the east side of the grove in Town 23 north, as far as the north and west of Mr. Haines' land. William Orondorff appointed Supervisor. District No. 5, the inhabitants of Funk's Grove, John Murphy's Grove, and of William Johnson's Grove, to work that part of the road leading from Bloomington to John Funk's, commencing at the northwest corner of Isaac Hougham's farm, thence to Funk's Grove. John Funk appointed Supervisor. District No. 6, all the inhabitants of that part of the big grove lying west of the Third Principal Meridian, and thence west and south to the county line, to work on a road intended to be opened. Samuel Hoblitt, Supervisor. District No. 7, to be composed of all of that part of big grove lying east of the Third Principal Meridian, including Town 21 north, Range 1 east. George Isham appointed Supervisor. District No. 8, commencing at Isaac Harrold's, thence westwardly so as to include all the inhabitants living on the north side of the Vermilion, within the limits of the county as far west as the county line crosses the south fork of the river Vermilion ; thence up said stream, including all the inhabitants to the southeast end of the timber called Epperd's Point, the inhabitants as before mentioned to work on the road now located, running from Frederick Rook's to Bloomington as far as the ten-mile post on said road. Frederick Rook appointed Supervisor. District No. 9, commencing at the southeast end of Indian Grove, near Martin Darnell's, thence northeastwardly, following the said grove or creek, so as to include all the inhabitants east of where Isaac Jordan now lives, on the north side of the Vermilion River, and to include all the inhabitants living east of the two mentioned points. Martin Darnell appointed Supervisor. District No. 10, commencing at the west end of the claim or farm of Isaac Jordan, where he now lives, on the Vermilion River, so as to include all the inhabitants on both sides of the grove of timber on said river as far west as where Isaac Harrold now lives on the said river. Uriah Blue appointed Supervisor. District No. 11 shall comprehend all the road, and inhabitants to work the same, from the ten-mile post, north of William Evans', southerly to the prairie south of Mr. Young's, extending east to the center of Towns 24, 25 and 26 in Range 4, and east to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber. William Young, Supervisor. District No. 12, comprehending the inhabitants and roads commencing at the edge of the prairie a little south of Mr. Young's, in Mackinaw Timber, thence southerly through the Money Creek Timber to the center of Town 24 north, in Range 2 east, and extending east so as to include the grove of Mr. Smith, and west to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber, thence southerly to the center ot Town 24 north, in Range 1 east. Jacob Spawr appointed Supervisor. District No. 13, comprehending all the inhabitants in Painter Creek Timber and Walnut Grove within the county to work on the roads running through their settle- ments. William McCord, Supervisor. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 221 District No. 14, comprehending; all that territory in the county west of the follow- ing line, to wit : Beginning at the center of Town 24 north, in Range 1 east, northerly to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber. Isaac Allen appointed Super- visor. District No. 15, comprehending all the inhabitants in Stout's Grove within the county, to labor on the road from Mackinawtown to Bloomington, from the. west line of the county extending to Dry Grove. Robert McClure, Supervisor. District No. 16, comprehending all the inhabitants of Dry Grove, Harbert's Grove, Brown's Grove and Mosquito Grove, if in the county, to work the road from the Third Principal Meridian eastwardly through Dry Grove, and on toward Bloomington to the west bank of Sugar Creek. Elijah Dixon appointed Supervisor. District No. 17, shall comprehend all the inhabitants of Long Point and Short Point, to near Jesse Funk's, to labor on the roads leading south from the north part of Town 21, running southerly to the county line. John P. Glenn appointed Supervisor. District No. 18, comprehending Town 22 north, Range 2 east, including Jesse Funk, and to labor on roads from north part of Town 21, to the north of Town 22, in Range 2 east. David Noble appointed Supervisor. District No. 19, shall comprehend the Towns 22 and 23. Range 3 east. Henry Manning appointed Supervisor. District No. 20, comprehending all the inhabitants in Buckles' Grove on the north and south forks of Salt Creek, in the county, to work the road from Town 22 north, Range 3 east, to the county line near Osburn's Grove. Silas Waters appointed Super- visor. District No. 21, comprehending all the inhabitants in Old Town Timber, east of Range 3, except south side within a mile of road from Merrifield's to Dawson's, to work the road from Range 3 east, eastward to four miles east of John Dawson's. Jeremiah Greenman, Supervisor. District No. 22. All the inhabitants in Cheney's Grove to work the road from county line east of Jonathan Cheney's ; thence westerly to within four miles of John Dawson's. Benjamin Thomas, Supervisor. At the same session, on application, the Court granted license to Greenbury Larison to keep tavern in the town of Bloomington one year, for the sum of $5. The Court granted also the petition for a road round the southwest side of Bloomington ; a petition for a road through Big Grove ; and a petition for the alteration of a road southerly through Randolph Grove. A tax of one-half of one per cent was levied on stock, animals, personal property and distilleries. The Court, acting as overseers of the poor, bound Maryann King, a poor girl of eight years, to Gervis Gaylord, as apprentice in house- wifery until she should be eighteen years of age. This is the first instance of the kind in the county. License was granted to Benjamin Haines to vend goods, wares and mer- chandise. At the June term, on request of John Recob and others, the Court set off the fol- lowing territory into a separate election precinct, to be called Vermilion Precinct, to wit : Comprehending all the inhabitants and territory north of a line extending from the southeasterly part of Indian Grove, westerly to Epperd's Point on Rook's Creek ; thence northwestwardly, including all the inhabitants on said creek and timber to the county line, shall constitute said precinct ; and the place of holding elections shall be at Uriah 222 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Blue's, and Martin Darnell, William Popejoy and James C. M. Miller are appointed Judges of Elections. Edward F. Patrick and Charles Moore made application for the privilege of prov- ing themselves Revolutionary soldiers, in order to obtain pensions. Application granted, and their representations believed to be genuine. At the September term, the Court executed a deed for Lots 13 and 14, to David Trimmer, being town lots in the town of Bloomington. At the December term, William Vincent made application for the priv- ilege of proving himself a Revolutionary soldier. Application granted, and his repre- sentations believed to be genuine. At the March term, 1834. an application by Charles Maltby for license to keep a grocery in the town of Waynesville, McLean County, for one year, was granted. A petition was presented for the location of a road, beginning at the termination of a road leading from Shelbyville to the south boundary of this county, near Charles McCord's ; thence, by the nearest and best route to the head of Mackinaw Timber ; thence to the Vermilion Timber ; thence to the north boundary of the county, pursuing the nearest and best route from the head of Mackinaw Timber in the direction of Chicago. John W. Dawson, Daniel Crumbaugh and William McDowell, appointed Viewers. William Durley, Esq., presented his report of the sale of Section 16, in Town 24 north, Range 1 west, accompanied by his resignation as School Commissioner of the county; and and the Court thereupon appointed Jesse W. Fell, Esq., School Commissioner in his stead. A petition signed by M. L. Covell, Jonathan Hodge and others, for a road from Bloomington, on the State road, through Dry Grove ; thence past Ephraim Stout's mill, Jonathan Hodge's, to the county line, to intersect a road laid out in Tazewell County, to the county line near Isaac Williams'. Petition granted, and Viewers ordered to report. William Covell was granted license to keep a grocery in the town of Bloom- ington, one year ; charge for license, $5. John Toliday applied for the privilege of proving himself a Revolutionary soldier. Application granted, and his proofs admitted as good and true. A petition was received, signed by Moses Baldwin and others, for a road, beginning at a point in the prairie north of Randolph's Grove ; thence through said grove, by way of Gardner Randolph's, to Frederick Barnard's, in Short Point ; thence to Baker's mill, on Kickapoo ; thence to Waynesville ; thence to meet a county road that is laid out from Decatur, in Macon County, at the south line of McLean County. The Court granted the petition, and appointed Jesse Sutton, Gardner Randolph and F. Barnard to view and locate the road to Jesse Sutton's, where it may intersect a road to Waynes- ville, and southwesterly to the county line, and established the road at forty feet in width. Isaac Baker, Clerk of the Court, reports that the amount of sales of lots in the town of Bloomington was $963. 92£. A petition, signed by James Weed and others, for a road to be located from Bloomington to F. Trimmer's, Coonrod Flesher's, to Epperd's Point, to Uriah Blue's, on the Vermilion ; thence to the county line in the direction to Chicago. Petition granted, and Viewers appointed. A petition, signed by Mathew Robb and others, was presented for a view of a road from the ford on the Mackinaw where the old Fort Clark trail crosses, known by the name of Hugh's Ford ; thence to Samuel McClure's ; thence to intersect the State road leading from Dry Grove to Mackinawtown. Petition granted, and Samuel McClure, Samuel McDaniel and Levi Danley appointed Viewers. V *> » BLOOMINGTON HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 225 A petition signed by Alexander W. Breckenridge and others, praying for the alteration of a county road from William Young's, on the road from Rook's Creek, to Bloomington, by way of Benjamin Ogden's and Isaac Strowd's ; thence, along the main leading road until intersecting the State road near Sugar Creek. Petition granted, and George W. Wallis, Benjamin Ogden and Levi Strowd appointed Viewers, to make report next term. At the March term, 1835, Harrison Noble and others petition for an election precinct, composed of Towns 21 and 22 north, Range 2 ease. The Court grant the petition, organize the precinct under the name of Middle Precinct, order the elections to be held at the house of Hiram Buck, and appoint David Noble, John P. Glenn and •George Hand Judges of Elections. Amount of revenue for the year 1833, besides incidentals, reported to be $712.03. The Court granted to George W. Wallis permission to erect, under proper restrictions, a mill-dam and mills on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 11 , in Town 25 north, Range 3 east ; and to Tebulan G. Cantrill, and to Matthew McElhiney, each to build a dam and mill, at different points, on the waters of the Kickapoo. The Court authorize the Sheriff to rent the Court House, under specified restrictions, as a schooihouse, for $3 per mouth. The duplicate for tax of the county for 1835 is reported at SI, 241.42']. A novelty appears on the records of the Court at the October term, 1835, to the effect that the " Court directs that notice be given in the Illinois Republican that pro- posals will be received by said Court on the first Monday in December next for build- ing a Court House in Bloomington, McLean County, forty feet square, of brick, and two stories high ; and order the expense to be paid out of the County Treasury for said notice." This is the first official recognition of the press in McLean County as a medium of communication between the people and their public servants ; and it con- tains the very sensible provision for paying therefor. At the December term, 1835, the Court accepted the report of the Reviewers, and •established the road that lies between Little Kickapoo Creek and Blooming Grove, intersecting the road leading from Blooming Grove to Randolph Grove, near James B. Price's, at forty feet in width. On the same day, Messrs. James Allen and Timothy B. Hoblitt presented the plat of the town of New Castle, which was approved and certified by the County Com- missioners. Also, Messrs. A. Gridley and M. L. Covell presented a plat of the town of Le Roy, which the Commissioners approved and certified. The appearance of a public newspaper in Bloomington, and the enterprise of lay- ing out new towns in different portions of the county on the part of its citizens, mark a new era in the material development of the county, as well as of mental development. A great influx of immigrants, about those times, had an important influence in inspiring the former settlers with the idea that, to secure fortunes, all they had to do was to go in. At the same session, Mr. John W. Baddely applied for license to sell goods, wares and merchandise at the town of Le Roy (to be), and also to keep a tavern at the same place ; also, Mr. David Duncan and Mr. R. Post make application to vend goods, wares and merchandise in the town of Waynesville. Messrs. Allen Withers & Co., and Messrs. Asahel Gridley, Ortagal Covell and Calvin Carpenter make application for license to vend goods, wares and merchandise in the county of McLean. 226 HISTORY OP McLEAN COUNTY. All these indications of very rapid development, at that time, are unmistakable. There was no lack of enterprise among early settlers in this county, whatever one may be disposed to say of their discretion. At the same term, the Court appointed Thomas H. Haines their attorney, to effect a loan of $5,000, for a term of years, at a rate of interest not to exceed 8 per cent per annum. This was done preparatory to making arrangements to build a Court House. At a special term of the County Commissioners' Court, January 20, 1836, the Court proceeded to make arrangements for contracting with Leander Munsell, of Edgar County, in said State, for building a Court House for the county of McLean; when, after taking the subject into careful examination, and hearing the proposition of the said Leander Munsell, a written contract was agreed upon for a brick building, 40x45 feet square, two stories high, finished in five rooms, the court-room on the lower floor, with a gallery and all other conveniences, particularly specified in said agreement, for the sum of $6,375, with interest on $5,375, after the completion of said job, at 8 per cent, until paid, and to be paid on or before the expiration of twenty years ; and other particulars specified in said article of agreement, reference thereto being had. On the next day, the articles of agreement were signed by the contracting parties. At the March term, 1836, of the Commissioners' Court, there were numerous applications for license to carry on business by various parties, and petitions for new roads and amendments to old ones — all showing great activity. There were also several applications for writs of ad quod damnum, in reference to how much dam each applicant might employ in order sufficiently to raise the water to run a mill. Another unmistaka- ble evidence of rapid improvement. On settling with the County Treasurer, the amount coming into his hands during the previous current year was found to be $1,303.88. The Court levied the usual rate, one-half of one per cent tax on town lots, except in Bloomington, on cattle, carriages and other personal property. At the June session of the Court, a plat of the town of Versailles, in McLean County, was presented, approved and certified. A. and I. M. Richardson make appli- cation for license to keep a grocery in said town of Versailles, and Hopkins & Beatty apply for license to sell goods, wares and merchandise in the said town. James O. Barnard presented the plat of the town of Wilkesborough, as laid out by him, together with the certificate accompanying the same, which was approved and certified by the Court. The town of Lexington was laid off by Messrs. Gridley and Brown, and the town of Concord by Messrs. Isaac W. Hall and Mathew Robb. The town of Hudson was laid out the same year by a company in which Mr. John Magoun and Mr. S. P. Cox were interested. Mount Hope Colony, consisting of Rhode Island immigrants, entered lands and commenced, the following year, to make settlements. The Hudson company entered 12,600 acres, and the Mount Hope company 8,000 acres. Several additions were made to the town of Bloomington, and the immigration showed that the town and the surrounding country were appreciated. It is believed by those who have reflected upon the subject that the population of the county, in the spring of 1832, was fully two thousand. From the incidental men- tion of names in the districting of the county as just given, it will be seen that HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 227 settlements had been commenced in the near vicinity of most of the groves, and some of them were pretty well surrounded by farms. The county seemed now to be fairly set upon its feet, and to have nothing in its way to prevent its entering upon a course of prosperity. Though there was really no market for the agricultural productions of the farmers outside of the county, yet the people could raise plenty to eat, and their plain and simple manner of life did not subject them to much expense ; and the rapid ingress of immigrants consumed a portion of their surplus productions. When an excess of animal propensities, for the time being, ruled individuals or collections of persons, they had now places where they could get on a bender, plenty of room to fight, and no police to interfere ; but they had Justices to assess fines upon them, when they chose to indulge in such little pastimes, and Constables to collect them, and a Commissioners' Court, through which such fines, if they should happen to be paid, would reach the county treasury, where they would do the most good. But most persons were then too busy, and had too much good sense to indulge in such luxuries. In 1836, the population of Bloomington had increased from 150, in 1833, to 450 j and that of the county had increased, in the same time, from 2,000 to 5,000. The town of Lytleville came into existence, also, this year, and an addition was made to it the fol- lowing March, by Mr. John Baldwin. Like several of its kin, born in those days, it is still a littleville, though it has mills, churches, schools and worthy citizens. The people came into the country on steamboats, flatboats, on horse-back, on wagons drawn by horses, mules, oxen and even cows ; and not a few patronized the foot and walker line. In December, 1836, after a warm spell of weather, with occasional rain, turning the snow to slush, there came one evening the most sudden and severe change of weather ever known in this country. All at once, the icy breath of a northwestern storm, mov- ing with fearful rapidity, swept over the country and almost instantly turned to ice the falling, the running and the standing water exposed to its touch. Its force and severity were irresistible ; and tradition tells of great and intolerable suffering to man and beast from its fearful visitation. About these times, several men settled in Bloomington, some of them afterward removing into the country, who, with their hands as well as with their heads and their means, greatly helped to develop the capabilities of this county. Hon. John Moore, after- ward in the State Legislature, Lieutenant Governor and State Treasurer, was, in those early times, the " wagon-maker ; ' of Bloomington, and subsequently a successful farmer. Messrs. David Trimmer, Lewis Bunn, Joshua Fell and others plied the blacksmith art. Thomas Williams, Thomas Fell and William F. Flagg built generally, and Abraham Brokaw, then as now, incessantly built the plow. The Court agreed with Leander Munsell to amend a former contract for his build- ing a Court House, so that instead of a building 40x45 feet and 26 feet high, it shall be 42? feet square and 32 feet high, with other alterations; and for the said alterations, the Court promised to pay the said Leander Munsell the further sum of 81,680. Jesse W. Fell, Esq., resigned the School Commissionership of the county and the Court appointed Cheney Thomas, Esq., his successor. The Court appropriated $500 out of the county funds as part of the first payment to L. Munsell on Court House contract. 228 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. At the September term, 1836, the Court accepted t;he Court House as finished according to contract with Mr. Leander Munsell, and paid him the balance of 'the first payment, $1,000. The Court established the tariff for license to vend goods, wares and merchandise in Bloomington, the ensuing year, at $15; to keep tavern, the same, and to keep a grocery, $12. In Waynesville, for similar license, $12 and $10; in all other towns in the county, $9 and $8, and at other places in the county, $6, irrespectively. The closing terms of the Court for 1836, were marked by many applications for licenses to do business of various kinds, by petitions for new roads and alterations in formef ones, and for permission to construct dams and mills in all directions, in the county, all showing great activity and enterprise. At the first term of the Court, for 1837, a tax of one-half of one per cent was levied on town lots, excepting Bloomington, and on cattle and other stock, wagons, carriages and personal property. Mr. M. Scott, Sheriff and Collector, reported the available revenue of the county for 1836 to be $1,425.95. At the December term, the Court examined the condition of the County Jail, and finding it unfit for use or repair, ordered the Clerk to have notice given in the Blooming- ton Observer that proposals will be received at the March term, for the erection of a jail for the county. At the June term, 1838, the Court settled with the County Collector, M. Scott, for the revenue for 1837, amounting to $1,863.82. During this year, there continued to be many applications for licenses to do business, petitions for roads, and for permission to construct dams and erect mills. The amount of the tax, one-half per cent, for the year 1838, on lands and personal property, was $1,983.34. The tax levied by the Court in 1839 was one-fourth of one per cent. At the December term, 1839, the Jail which Dr. Isaac Baker had contracted to build for $290, to be completed by September, 1840, was so near completion, and such disposition shown to finish it up as soon as possible, that the Court accepted the same for immediate use. At the June term, 1840, the Court appointed Jacob Spawr Commissioner to take the enumeration of the inhabitants of McLean County, for 1840. The taxes for the year 1839. amounted to $2,442.75. The amount of the taxes for the year 1840, for the county, was $3,492.78. The amount of the taxes in the county for the year 1841 was $4,657.10. At the December term, 1842, the Court appointed Davis and Col ton to act as agents on behalf of the county of McLsan, to demand from and receive of the County Commissioners' Court of Woodford County the sum of $190, their portion of interest now due from said county of Woodford to the county of McLean on the debt of the McLean County Court House. It will be borne in mind that Woodford County was created in 1841, and took a portion of the territory formerly belonging to McLean County off the northwest corner thereof; hence, the ground for this demand. It may as well be mentioned here, perhaps, as in any other place, that the report formerly in circulation in reference to the peculiar form of the piece of territory in question, that it was so shaped for political purposes, is erroneous ; and the reason for the peculiarity HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 229 must be sought in the provision that, in forming new counties, no county line shall be within twelve miles of the Court House of any county seat. The development of the material resources of the county was, during these years, very slow ; in some respects it stood still, and even went backward. Violent changes in financial policy, with temporary and silly expedients, and general and rash speculative operations in real estate, had produced their inevitable results, and almost universal pros- tration was experienced in all parts of the country, beginning earlier in the East, and now falling upon the West with fearful effects. Credit was gone ; of money there was little or none. No market for agricultural productions, manufactures at ruinous prices, no adequate wages could be paid for labor, and continuous failures of business men, from the impossibility of collections, turned to folly the wisdom of the wise, greatly weakened the confidence of man in his fellow-men, and threatened the dissolution of the social relations of society. Compared with those times, the present gloomy times are as comparative prosperity. Although the state of affairs was improving in the East, and something like cheerfulness and moderate prosperity returning, so great were the diffi- culties and the expenses of getting the productions of the West into market, that there was very little or nothing left to the producer, and as immigration had come nearly to a stand-still, there was no home market. That the county revenue for 1842 amounted to only $1,029.01 is a most conclu- sive evidence of the fearful condition of the material interests of the people. City lots in Bloomington were scarcely quotable at $5, and many of them were abandoned by East- ern owners, rather than to pay the taxes on them. As the territory of the county had been much reduced by the creation of sur- rounding counties, the Court, at its March term (1543), reconstructed the county into the following precincts : Bloomington Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the fol- lowing limits, to wit : Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 24 north, Range 3 east, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 22, Township 24 north, Range 1 east; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 15, Town- ship 23 north, Range 1 east; thence east one mile; thence south to the town line dividing 22 and 23 north ; thence east to range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence north to town line dividing Towns 23 and 24 north ; thence east to range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence north to the place of beginning ; and that elections are to be held at the town of Bloomington. Middle Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 9, Township 21 north, Range 3 east; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 21, Township 22 north, Range 3 east ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence north to the town line dividing 22 and 23 north ; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 22 north, Range 1 east ; thence south to the county line ; thence east to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct be at the town of Lytleville, until otherwise altered by the Court. Mackinaw Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the fol- lowing limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Township 24 north, Range 4 east ; thence north to the north side of Money Creek ; thence down said Money Creek to Mackinaw Creek ; thence north to the middle of Township 26 north ; 230 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. thence west to the county line of Woodford County ; thence along the county line of Woodford County to the northwest corner of Livingston County ; thence east to the northeast corner of Township 26 north, Range 5 east ; thence south nine miles ; thence east six miles to the county line ; thence south three miles to the southeast corner of Township 25 north, 6 east ; thence west to the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 25 north, Range 4 east ; thence south to the town line dividing Towns 23 and 24 north ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence north to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be in the town of Lexington, until otherwise altered by the Court. St. Clairville Precinct to be composed of and include the territory • within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of the northeast quar- ter of Section 8, Township 22 north, Range 4 east ; thence east to the countv line ; thence north to the northeast corner of Township 24 north, Range 6 east ; thence west along the town line dividing Towns 24 and 25 north, to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 24 north, Range 4 east ; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections shall be in the town of St. Clairville for said precinct, until otherwise altered by the Court. Salt Creek Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the follow- ing limits, to wit : Commencing on the county line at the southwest corner of Section 10, Township 21 north, Range 3 east; thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of Section 12, Township 21 north, Range 6 east ; thence north to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 22 north, Range 6 east ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence south to the south- west corner of Section 18, Township 22 north, Range 4 east; thence west to the north- west corner of Section 22, Township 22 north, Range 3 east ; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Le Roy, until otherwise altered by the Court. Price's Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 22 north, Range 3 east ; thence east to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence north to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 22 north, Range 3 east ; thence east to the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 8, Township 22 north, Range 4 east ; thence north to the township line dividing 23 and 24 north ; thence west to the range lice dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Price's Schoolhouse until otherwise altered by the Court. Hudson Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit: Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 13, Township 24 north, Range 2 east ; thence north to Money Creek ; thence down said creek to Mackinaw Creek ; thence north to the middle of Town 26 north ; thence west to the county line of Woodford County ; thence in a southwesterly direction along the county line of Woodford County to the southwest corner of Section 20, Township 25 north, Range 1 east; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 21, Township 25 north, Range 1 east ; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 15, Township 23 north, Range 1 east ; thence east to the place of beginning ; and the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Hudson, until altered by the Court. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 231 Concord Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the follow- ing limits to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 18. Township 23 north, Range 1 west; thence north to county line of Woodford County ; thence east on the county line to the northwest corner of Section 29, Township 25 north, Range 1 east ; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 28, Township 25 north, Range 1 east; thence south to the southeast corner of Sectioa 16, Township 23 north, Range 1 east ; thence west to the place of beginning ; and the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be in Concord, until otherwise altered by the Court. Johnston's Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the follow- ing limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 7, Township 21 north, Range 1 west; thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of Section 10, Township 21 north, Range 1 east; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 22 north, Range 1 east ; thence west to the county line ; thence south to the place of begin- ning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at the house of Lee Daniel, Esq., until otherwise altered by the Court. The Court then appointed the following-named persons to serve as Judges of Elec- tions in the several precincts, as follows: In Bloomington Precinct, James B. Price, Benjamin Depew and James Miller ; in Johnston's Precinct, James Murphy, Daniel Proctor and William Hougham ; in Concord Precinct, William Grilson, Jeremiah S. Hall and Israel D. Janes; in Hudson Precinct, James T. Gildersleeve. Samuel P. Cox and Isaac Hinthorn ; in Mackinaw Precinct, James Vandolah, James R. Dawson and Will- iam Popejoy ; in St. Clairsville Precinct, Jeremiah Greeninan, Thomas D. Gilmore and Ezekiel Arrowsmith ; in LeRoy Precinct, William Conaway, Silas Waters and Malan Bishop ; in Price's Precinct, William Bishop, Elias H. Wall and Jesse Adams ; in Mid- dle Precinct, Samuel Turman, Thomas 0. Rutledge and Charles Leeper. At the June term, 1843, the Court paid on the interest due to the bondholders of the Court House indebtedness, through Messrs. Davis & Colton, Agents, $1,100. A portion of it was in State Bank of Illinois bills, at 40 per cent discount. The Court levied for the current year a tax for county purposes of one-fifth of one per cent on the taxable property of the county. The county revenue for 1843 was 82,440.95. At the March term of the County Commissioners' Court, 1844, a bounty ordered to be paid for each wolf killed in the county, known as the big wolf, was $2, and $1 for •each prairie wolf, of six months old. This was the first similar bounty offered in the county. At the June term, the Court ordered the County Treasurer to pay $401 » on the interest due on the Court House bonds. For the current year, the Court levied a tax of two-fifths of one per cent, for county purposes, on the taxable property in the ■county. The Court let out to the best bidders, the building of a bridge across Mackinaw Creek, near Lexington; one across Kickapoo Creek, on the road from Bloomington to Le Roy ; and one over Big Kickapoo Creek, in Randolph Grove, on the road from Bloomington to the south line of the county — the three bridges to cost $527. At the March term, 1846, the Court awarded $50 to be paid to any person who should pursue and apprehend any person guilty of stealing a horse within McLean County, if apprehended outside of the county, upon his conviction. The Court levied a tax of three-tenths per cent for county revenue ; also, that every able-bodied man from twenty-one to fifty years of age, should work two days on the public roads for the year 1846. The Court contracted with Mr. William F. Flagg, to build a bridge 282 HISTORY OF MoLEAN COUNTY. according to specifications, across Sugar Creek, on the road leading from Bloomington to Peoria, for the sum of $250, to be completed in June of the current year. The county revenue, for the year 1844, amounted to $4,966.60. At the June term, the Court ordered the Treasurer to pay the interest on the Court House bonds then due, to the amount of $1,641.34. At the special July term, the Court contracted with B. E. Dodson to build a bridge across Salt Creek, two miles east of Le Roy, on the road leading from Bloomington to Danville, for $240. The county revenue, for the year 1845, amounted to $3,766.56. At the March term, 1847, the Court levied a tax, for county revenue, of three- tenths per cent. The Court appropriated $50 for the building of a bridge on the road leading from Bloomington to John Bishop's old place. At a special term of the Commissioners' Court, April 29, 1848, the Court con- tracted with Mr. William F. Flagg to build, according to specifications, a County Jail in Bloomington, for $2,065, with a dwelling for Sheriff included, said building to be completed by the 1st of December of the current year. The county revenue for the year 1846, amounted to $3,897.96; and for the year 1847, the county revenue amounted to $4,077.12. At the March term, 1849, the Court made appropriations for building bridges in McLean County, as follows : $150 for the building of a bridge across the Mackinaw at John Thompson's; $125 for repairing the bridge near Lexington across the Mack- inaw ; $500 for building a bridge acrops the Mackinaw, on the road leading from Bloomington to Hennepin and Ottawa; $100 for a bridge across Money Creek, on the State road leading from Bloomington to Chicago; $150 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, on the road leading from Bloomington to Hennepin ; $150 for building a bridge across the Kickapoo, on the road leading from Bloomington to Cheney's Grove ;. $1 50 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, on the State road leading from Bloom- ington to Springfield ; $ 1 50 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, in Johnston's Precinct ; and $150 for building a bridge across Little Kickapoo, on the road leading from Bloomington to Le Boy. The Court ordered that every able-bodied man, from twenty-one to fifty years of age inclusive, shall work three days on the public roads in McLean County — the said men being residents thereof — for the year 1849; and appropriated $75 for the building of a bridge across the slough on the Waynesville road, near Martin L. Bishop's and Harri- son Noble's. The records show that the actual cost of building the bridges above men- tioned, owing to changes of conditions, plans, and other causes, to much more than the appropriations stated — from 25 to 100 per cent more. At the December term, 1849, the County Commissioners' Court was succeeded by the County Court, consisting of one Presiding Judge and two Associate Justices. At the same term, the new Jail was accepted as far as finished, and $1,000 ordered to be paid to Messrs. Flagg & Ewing on their contract to build the said Jail and dwelling. The county revenue for the year 1849 amounted to $4,613.95. The county revenue for the year 1850 and 1851 was $9,270.28. In 1852, the revenue was $5,993.07. In 184#, the California gold excitement was sufficiently strong to induce quite a number of the citizens of McLean County to seek the favors of fickle Fortune in that distant and wild country. The adventure was full of chances ; the journey was of HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 233 great length, beset with many difficulties, and not a few dangers ; and the prospect of suddenly acquiring large amounts of the precious metal was very uncertain. But the recent Mexican war, and the spirit of adventure natural in a new and vast country,, together with the recent several years of hard times, were sufficient to outweigh all doubts and difficulties. Among the large number who went from this county, we remember Messrs. G. B. Larison, Seth H. Adams, Maj. W. Packard, Daniel Robinson, Dr. William Elder, Lyman Ferre, John H. Wickizer, John M. Lov- ing and William H. Evans. Our recollection in the matter is, that our fellow-citizens brought back with them more experiences than they did gold ; and that none of them made fortunes. Be this as it may, the influence of the golden stream that soon began to flow East was sensibly felt, and helped to lift the gloom that pervaded the country. But the railroad enterprise that had begun to revive among the active and energetic public men of the times contributed very largely to restore confidence among the citi- zens of Illinois ; and in no county in the State more than in McLean. There was a tradition among us that the Central Railroad, which had already an existence on paper, if revived, would pass through this county ; so. that when the new charter was obtained in 1850, and a strong company took hold of it, the feeling of coming prosperity and a general appreciation of the great inducements to capital and emigrants to locate in Illinois were no where more active than in McLean County. Within three years, the cars were running through Bloomington on the Central and on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroads. Real estate rose rapidly, building went on actively, business revived, markets were brought within reach, lumber was plenty, immigration set in again, and farmers began to venture out upon the ocean of fertile lands that everywhere sur- rounded the island-like groves. Though the prices of agricultural products were not high, they would, at least, bring something, and that readily. When the farms on the prairies were comparatively new, and the soil light and fresh from the recently-decayed turf, fine crops of excellent wheat were raised, even white wheat of the best quality was quite common. In procuring the charter of the Central Railroad — the father of several other roads in the State — the people of Illinois are greatly and lastingly under obligations to the able efforts of Senator Stephen A. Douglas, as well as in assisting to set it on its feet and put it in motion. So, in reference to locating the route of the road so as to pass through Bloomington, our citizens owe much to the efforts of Judge Davis, Gen. Gridley and Jesse W. Fell, Esq. There was a disposition to run the road through this county some seven or eight miles east of Bloomington, and to build up a rival business point to com- pete with Bloomington, and possibly, in time, to change the location of the county seat. But the efforts of the above-named gentlemen, assisted by others, prevented it. In fact, it would have required a pretty strong leaning in that direction to have resisted the ability and influence of Judge Davis, the ready talents and quick perception of Gen. Gridley, and the shrewdness and indefatigable efforts of Jesse W. Fell, Esq., who seems to have a universal genius for aiding all commendable enterprises. This latter gentle- man took also a very active interest in the Chicago & Alton Railroad, which was not very far behind the Central in penetrating the territory of the county. Any county is fortunate in having among its citizens men of such abilities to labor in developing its natural capabilities and securing its rights. 234 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. A pretty good idea of the rapid improvement in the development of the material resources of McLean County may be formed from the great increase in the county revenue, and in the population. In 1852, the county revenue amounted to $5,993.07 ; but, in 1853, it amounted to $15,299.38. In 1840, the population of the county amounted to 6,565 ; in 1850, it was 10,163, an increase of something more than one- half, while the people were staggering under and recovering from the financial storm and crash of the time. In 1860, the population of the county was 28,772, an increase of something more than twice and two-thirds times that of 1850. This was the era of railroad construction and of immigration consequent thereupon. It may not be without interest to glance hastily at the different parts of the county in former times. In 1850, the population of Brooks' Grove was 135 ; of Blooming- ton, 2,560 ; of Buckles' Grove, 755 ; of Cheney's Grove, 251 ; of Harley's Grove, 42 ; of Twin Grove, 252 ; of Stout's Grove, 839 ; of Diamond Grove, 42 ; of Dry Grove, 294; of Le Roy, 210; of Funk's Grove, 210; of Hudson, 336; of Money Creek, 377; of Randolph Grove, 1,176; of White Oak Grove, 252. Several of these places, and others not then in existence, have now grown to considerable towns, with churches, schools, stores, offices and shops. The county revenue for 1854 amounted to $17,486.22. The county revenue for 1855 amounted to $24,221.65. NORMAL SCHOOL. At the March term of the County Court, 1857, the following statement was put upon the records : In the matter of Appropriation for Normal University : Whereas, By acts of Congress approved March the 2d, 1849, and September 28. 1850, and the various other acts amendatory thereto, the " Swamp and Overflowed Lands" belonging to the Government of the United States were granted to the several States in which they were respect ively situated, under certain restrictions therein imposed, or, in lieu thereof, the proceeds aris- ing from the sales of the same ; and Whereas, By a further act of Congress, approved March 3, 1857, said swamp and over- flowed lands selected under the acts aforesaid, so far as the same remain vacant and unappro- priated, are confirmed to the several States in which they are situated ; and Whereas, The Legislature of the State of Illinois has surrendered said lands or the pro- ceeds arising from their sale to the counties, respectively, in which the same are situated, to be applied, under the direction of the County Courts or Supervisors' Courts, to educational or such other objects as they may deem proper; and Whereas, also, In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of said State, a State Normal University, endowed by a grant of the interest arising from the College and Seminary funds, is about to be located at some suitable point that may offer inducements thereto : Therefore, Ordered, The County Court of McLean County, do hereby appropriate $50,000 of the first moneys received by this Court, under or by operation of the various acts above referred to, in aid of said University; said appropriation to be made upon the following restrictions only : First — That the whole of said fund thus appropriated by said Court be expended in erect- ing the necessary building or buildings for said " Normal University," and to be paid over only as needed for the object before specified, to the " Board of Education of the State of Illinois," by orders signed by A. J. Merriman, or such other person or persons as this Court may there- after designate. Second — That said "Normal University" be located within the limits of the county of McLean. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 235 At a special term of said Court, held May 1, 1857, this further action was taken : In the matter of an Appropriation for Normal University : Whereas, Many citizens of the county having made application to the Court for a further appropriation out of the "Swamp-Lands Fund," for the purpose of aiding in erecting suitable buildings for said " Normal University ; " Therefore, Ordered, That we, the County Court of McLean County, do hereby appropriate $20,000 out of the first moneys received by this county from said Swamp-Lands Fund, in aid of said University ; said appropriation to be made upon the following restrictions only : i First — That the whole of said fund thus appropriated by said county be expended in erect- ing the necessary building or buildings for said " Normal University," and to be paid over only as needed for the object before specified, to the " Board of Education of the State of Illinois," by orders signed by A. J. Merriman, or such other person or persons as this Court may hereafter designate. Second — That said Normal University be located within the limits of the county of McLean. The county revenue for the year 1856 amounted to $25,110.39. At the Decem- ber term of the County Court, the report to the Court of the result of the vote on township organization, at the previous November election, was, that the majority in favor of such organization was 1,323 votes. At the same term, Messrs. James Gil- more, Sr., Hadley J. Short and Silas Waters were appointed a committee to divide the county into townships, according to law. Exactly how McLean County came to get the " Normal University," at the last moment, was known, at the time, to very few persons, and it is probably not known at present to many. At the meeting held in Peoria in May, 1857, at which the bids were to be opened, and the University was to be located where the largest and best induce- ments were offered, Peoria was the most formidable rival of Bloomington. As may be seen above, McLean County had offered, in addition to individual subscriptions, $50,000 toward the erection of the buildings. It seems that Peoria had prepared about equal inducements ; and, by an ungentlemanly betrayal of confidence, the Peoria committee had found out the amount of inducements proposed by the Bloomington committee, and forthwith there was a stir among the Peoria men to raise additional amounts ; and they intended to do so at any rate, even by putting in supposititious subscriptions. One of the Bloomington men, learning the game, telegraphed the case to the writer of this reminiscence. The circumstances were immediately communicated to A. J. Merriman, Esq., County Judge, and, as the time would not admit of calling together the Asso- ciate Justices of the county to take action, Judge Merriman, at his own personal risk, had himself called to hold a special term of the County Court. He assembled himself together, accordingly, and subscribed the additional $20,000. Meantime, the Bloom- ington men managed to have the decision put off, at Peoria, until afternoon ; and, when the proposals were finally announced from the different localities, the solid $70,000 of McLean County came down upon the astonished conspirators and carried off the prize. Of course, the transaction would have involved Judge Merriman in severe financial embarrassment had his Associates repudiated his action ; but no such unpleasant con- sequences resulted. This will do for an illustration of the spirit of the citizens of McLean County, and of their confidence in each other ; and it will help to explain why McLean County has not allowed itself to be rivaled, in private and in public enterprises, •by its sister-counties. 236 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. DIVISION OF COUNTY. At the March term of the Court, the Committee on Division of the County into Townships reported, and their report, afterward slightly changed as to names, was sub- stantially abopted by the Supervisors' Court, and is as follows, to wit : Town No. 1. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Town- ship 22 north, of Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Mount Hope. Town No. 2. All of Township 23 north, of Range 1 west of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Allen. Town No. 3. All of Township 24, and the southwest half of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, together with all of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in Township 25 north, of Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Danvers. Town No. 4. Sections from 1 to 12, inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Town- ship 22 north, of Range 1 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Funk's Grove. Town No. 5. All of Township 23 north, of Range 1 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Dale. Town No. 6. All of Township 24 north, of Range 1 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Dry Grove. Town No. 7. All of Township 25 north, of Range 1 east of the Third Principal Meridian, which lies in the said county, and named White Oak. Town No. 8. Sections from 1 to 12, inclusive of Township 21 and all of Township 22 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Randolph. Town No. 9. All of Township 23 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Bloomington. Town No. 10 All of Township 24 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Normal. Town No. 1 1 . All of Township 25 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Hudson. Town No. 12. Sections from 1 to 12, inclusive of Township 21, and all of Town- ship 22 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Downs. Town No. 13. All of Township 23 north of Range 3 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Old Town. Town No. 14. All of Township 24 north, of Range 3 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Towanda. Town No. 15. All of Township 25 north, of Range 3 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Money Creek. Town No. 16. All of Township 26 north, of Range 3 east together with the east half of Township 26 north, of Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Gridley. Town No. 17. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Town- ship 22 north, of Range 4 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Empire. Town No. 18. All of Township 23 north, of Range 4 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Padua. Town No. 19. All of Township 24 north, of Range 4 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Blue Mound. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 237 Town No. 20. All of Township 25 north, of Range 4 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Lexington. Town No. 21. All of Township 26 north, of Range 4 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Chenoa. Town No. 22. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Township 22 north, of Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named West. Town No. 23. All of Township 23 north, of Range 5 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Arrowsrnith. Town No. 24. All of Township 24 north, of Range 5 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Martin. Town No. 25. All of Township 25 north, of Range 5 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Lawndale. Town No. 26. All of Township 26 north, of Range 5 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Yates. Town No. 27. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive of Township 21, together with all of Township 22 north, of Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Belleflower. Town No. 28. All of Township 23 north, of Range 6 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Cheney's Grove. Town No. 29. All of Township 24 north, of Range 6 east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Anchor. Town No. 30. All that portion of Township 25 north, of Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian, belonging to McLean County, and named Cropsey. supervisors' court. In accordance with an act of the Legislature of Illinois, of April 1, 1851, and with the vote of the citizens of the county, on the previous November, the Supervisors' Court of McLean County met at the Court House in Bloomington, on May 17, 1858, and, after organizing, assumed the transaction of the county business. On May 20, it was resolved by the Court that the surplus, if there should be any, arising out of the proceeds of the sales of the swamp-lands granted to the county, after the appropriation, previously made by the County Court, of $70,000 toward the build- of the State Normal University, should have been paid, together with all incidental expenses, be equally divided, geographically, among all the townships and fractional •townships, for the purpose of maintaining common schools, to be controlled in the same manner as moneys arising from the sixteenth section, appropriated to each township by the General Government. It may not be improper to remark that as the sales of the s>aid swamp-lands amounted to about $130,000, there was, eventually, quite a handsome sum distributed to the townships for said purposes. In the mean time, as may well be supposed, the county was gradually filling up with active and industrious immigrants. New farms were opened on all the prairies, and the face of the country was generally assuming a cheerful and cultivated appearance. People were no longer afraid to sail out into the grassy sea before them, and cast anchor on a forty, an eighty, or a quarter-section of the finest lands in any country. Occa- sionally, a town would be born at some railroad station, or be christened, at least ; and, 238 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. quite frequently, the christening occurred before the birth, and sometimes the birth never came. In 1854, 'the town of Towanda was laid out on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, about ten miles northeast of Bloomington ; and the hard times of 1857 laid it out again. It still lies out on the prairie, a town of vast possibilities. In 1855 r Heyworth took a name, and assumed to have a " local habitation" as well, on the line of the Central Railroad, not far from the southern line of the county, about thirteen miles from Bloomington. It has been a prosperous experiment from the start, growing in its growth and strengthening in its strength, gradually and securely, until it has become a nice town, with good prospects, as it has some excellent citizens and is sur- rounded by a magnificent country. In the same year, the town of McLean was laid out, on the line of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, where it still stood, at the latest reports, about twelve miles southwest of Bloomington, well toward the southwest corner of the county. It*has prospered mod- erately, and is quite a business place. The only insuperable difficulty in its way to becoming a large town is its proximity to Shirley, on the same road and in the same direction. Though the surrounding country is very fine, it is not of sufficient breadth to sustain two large towns so near each other. In 1856, the town of Saybrook, at Cheney's Grove, sprang into existence, and, by 1870, it had become so large a town that the La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad was constructed to connect New York and Bloomington with it. It is a good point, and has many very worthy citizens. Several other prospective towns are now in their cradles, on the routes of the different railroads in the county. Holder, Ellsworth and Arrowsmith, on the La Fayette & Bloomington Railroad, are good grain-stations, and Downs Station, on the Indian- apolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad, eight miles east of Bloomington, and Stanford, twelve miles west, on the Jacksonville Branch of the Chicago & Alton road, are doing well. Other towns will receive due attention in the appropriate places in this work. During these years, new roads were laid out, old ones changed and improved, and bridges and culverts of a permanent character, too numerous to notice individually, were constructed over the creeks and sloughs in all parts of the county. Settlements were made very rapidly in the eastern part of the county, where the splendid soil, the low prices and the constantly-increasing facilities afforded by incoming railroads held out special inducements. At the May term of the Supervisors' Court, the Committee on Public Buildings visited the new County Jail, and reported that they " found it to be one of the best and most substantial buildings of the kind they ever saw, and fully believed said Jail would answer the purposes for which it was designed." The Jail and dwelling for the Sheriff had been recently built, under contract with the County Court, at an expense of $12,000. They are still in use for the purposes of their construction. The county revenue for 1857 was $30,453.15. ' At the March term of the Court, A. J. Merriman, Agent of the County Court, reported that the sales of the swamp-lands, to date, amounted to $55,224.90. The amount of the bills presented to the Court for keeping the poor during the current year was, in round numbers, $1,100. At the September term, 1859, the Court, upon the report and recommendation of a Special Committee on Poor-farm, resolved to purchase the farm of John Gr. Myers, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 239 lying about four miles south of Bloomington, and consisting of 220 acres, at $25 per acre, amounting to $5,500; and appropriated $1,000 for the erection of additional buildings, appointing a committee to superintend the same. These arrangements have since been carried out, the whole purchase and buildings paid for, and the Poor-farm, one of the best of its kind in the country, has since been running harmoniously and efficiently accomplishing its intended purpose. The expense of keeping the poor for the current year, 1859, is reported at 84,784.45. At the February term, 1860, Mr. David Simmons filed with the Court an approved bond, and took charge of the County Poor-farm. VOLUNTEERS. At a called session of the Court on April 17, 1861, on the report and recommenda- tion of a special committee, the Court appropriated, for the benefit of volunteers who had already gone, or who might thereafter go, into the United States service, the sum of $10,000, and appointed Messrs. Isaac Funk, Allen Withers aud John E. McClun a committee to superintend the distribution of the same. On May 30, the above committee reported as follows : " They entered upon the discharge of the duties assigned them immediately on being notified of their appoint- ment, and found the whole county in a state of most intense excitement. The procla- mation of the President of the United States calling for volunteers had aroused our whole population. Party differences were forgotten, and one sentiment alone seemed to pervade the minds of the people ; and that was, that our G-overnment should be sus- tained, and that McLean County, if need be, would pour out her blood freely to attain that object." The subsequent action of the people of the county, on many trying- occasions, proved the above statement to be literally true. The committee reported that they had already expended for the specified object in their appointment $4,076.72. At the September term, same year, the Court adopted a resolution that, as Peter Folsome, Esq., acting for the county, procured from the General Government the amount of money to which the county is entitled on account of swamp-lands sold by the Gov- ernment, he be authorized to settle with the Government as may seem fit, so the amount paid to the School Treasurers of the different towns does not fall below the sum of $11,040. The arrangement was made and the money distributed. At the July term, 1862, the Court passed a resolution that, for the purpose of aid- ing in the enlistment of volunteers for the service of the United States in McLean County, there be assessed upon said county a tax of $22,500, and that the sum of $50 be paid out of said sum to each volunteer who may have enlisted in said service in said county, under the late call of the President of the United States, or who may enlist in the same prior to the first day of September next. On motion, Messrs. Reeder, Thomas and Funk were appointed a committee to negotiate the loan and disburse the fund pro- vided for in said report. At the next session, August 15, the Court passed another similar resolution, to raise $37,500 more, under like restrictions, and for the same purpose as the one above stated, to encourage volunteers to enlist in the service under another call by the Presi- dent, and its distribution was intrusted to the same committee, making $70,000 in the three appropriations of the Court for similar purposes. In the resolution was a pro- vision for raising the funds on better terms, by resolving that the $60,000 be charged 240 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. upon the tax-lists of said county for the years 1862, 1863 and 1864. At the succeed- ing September term, the committee on distribution reported that they had negotiated loans to the amount of $55,775, and had paid the said bounty of $50 each to 939 vol- unteers, amounting to $46,950, and, after paying some necessary expenses, there remained in their hands $8,756.40. At the February term, 1863, the committee to pay bounty to volunteers reported satisfactorily, giving the amount received from the special war tax as $11,348.41, and the amount by them paid on county bonds as $11,105.23. MORE BOUNTIES. At the December term of the Court, 1863, the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to take into consideration the propriety of paying a bounty to volunteers in the army, to meet the new call for 300,000 more men, Messrs. Stringfield, Funk, Thomas, Bishop, Kellogg, McMahan, Coman, Phillips and Johnston. On the next day, the 23d, the committee reported ; and their report, after being amended, was adopted by the Court, and reads as follows : Section 1. That we have examined said matter, and believe it expedient to pay such bounty, and, therefore, recommend the adoption of the following resolutions : Sec. 2. Resolved, That this county will pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer from this county who may regularly enlist ip the army of the United States for the term of three years, or during the war, up to the fifth day of January next, and the sum of fifty dollars to each volunteer from this county who has so enlisted in said army since the first day of September, A. D. 1862, up to this date. (Section 3 omitted.) Sec. 4. Resolved, That William Thomas, Isaac Fuuk and Samuel J. Reeder be and they are hereby appointed a War Fund Committee, to raise the sum of money required to pay such bounty, and that they be authorized and instructed to pay the same to all such persons as may be entitled to receive as above, as soon as they shall be satisfied that said volunteers have been regularly mustered into the service of the United States. That, in case any such volunteer has died since such enlistment, said bounty be paid to his widow or children, if any, and if not, then to his father or mother, if living ; and that said Committee be authorized to charge only for their necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Sec. 6. That said Committee, in order to raise money to pay said bounty to volunteers as aforesaid, be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to borrow such sum or sums of money, from time to time, as may be necessary to meet the object of this appropriation, and that the Clerk of the County Court of this county issue and deliver to said Committee county orders or warrants in such sums and at such times as said Committee may direct and require for said purpose, not to exceed in all the sum of forty-five thousand dollars, all payable out of the revenue of the year A. D. 1865, and each bearing ten per cent interest, payable annually, from its date. That said order be countersigned by said committee, and sealed with the seal of said County Court, and express on their face that they are payable out of the revenue of the year 1865. , (Section 6 omitted.) Sec 7. Resolved, That, in order to raise money to pay said orders or warrants, there shall be levied on the Collector's books or roll for the year 1865, on all the taxable property of this county, as a special war fund tax, a sufficient amount of tax to pay all the said orders or warrants issued in accordance with these resolutions, with the interest thereon. That said tax, when collected, be paid by the collectors thereof to the Committee named and appointed in this report, or their successors, and shall then be by said Committee paid on the said orders or war- rants as herein directed. f BLOOMINGTON HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 243 Mr. Thomas offered the following resolution : Resolved, That it is the intention of this Board, as an act of justice, to pay a bounty of fifty dollars to each person from this county who has enlisted in the United States service for the term of three years since the beginning of this war, and who has not heretofore received a bounty from this county, and that they intend to make payment as soon as, in their judgment, the pecuniary condition of the county will permit. Resolution adopted. Mr. Springer offered the following resolution : Resolved, That the War Fund Committee be and they are hereby authorized to pay the bounty offered by this Board to the wives or families of volunteers entitled to the same, in cases where such volunteers cannot now be paid in person by the Committee, upon receiving from said wives or families a receipt, order or power of attorney from said soldier authorizing said Committee to pay such bounty to said wife or family. At the March term, 1864, of the County Court, the Clerk reported that he had issued and delivered to the War Fund Committee orders or warrants to the amount of $203.70. At the June term, the Committee on Distribution of the Bounty Fund reported, with the names of the recipients thereof, that they had paid out in bounties, according to instructions, the sum of $31,273.07. At the September term of the Supervisors' Court, on the 13th, a resolution was adopted pledging the county to pay a bounty of $150 to each of the volunteers who had enlisted since the 8th inst., or might hereafter enlist, and $50 to each volunteer who had enlisted from the 9th day of March to the 8th day of September of the year 1864. The special war tax of McLean County for 1863 was $28,660.23. At the December term, 1864, the Commissioner for the sale of swamp-lands, A. J. Merriman reported the receipts to amount to $97,251.31, and that the subscription of $70,000 to the State Board of Education had been paid. At the January term, 1865, the Board of Supervisors passed another resolution, offering a bounty of $300 to each volunteer who should enlist under the last call of the President for 300,000 men in order to prevent the disgrace of a draft in the county. We speak of these resolutions of the Board of Supervisors to show the spirit of McLean County, and that its citizens are ever ready to meet any demand upon their patriotism, and to rise to the occasion, whatever it may be, on all subjects. On January 31, 1865, the Board of Supervisors passed most honorable resolutions in reference to the recent death of Hon. Isaac Funk, for years a very active and efficient member of the Board, and also resolutions of sympathy with the family on the death of Mrs. Funk, which occurred on the same day as that of her husband. At the September term, 1865, on the 11th thereof, the Court received communi-' ■cations from Col. Bloomfield and Col. McNulta to surrender to its care the colors of the Twenty-sixth and of the Ninety-fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, which they had respectively commanded. The communications were received and referred to special committee. At the same term, the war fund tax of the county amounted to $50,150.15 for the current year. Mr. William Thomas, agent of the war fund, reported that bonds to pay bounties to soldiers had been issued to the amount of $189,400. At the December term, the Clerk reported the amount of property taxed in the county to be $8,443,165, and the amount of tax levied for the current year was $370,- 767.87. 244 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The total war expenses of the county up to June 9, 1866, are reported to be $411,- 124.93. The amount of war fund taxes for 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865 was $240,275.93. The amount of bonds for bounties redeemed in cash by the county up to June 9, 1864, was $208,103.39. The amount of tax levieckin McLean County in 1866 was $395,953.54. The valuation of property for the year 1867 in McLean County amounted to $9,627,990, and the amount of tax levied thereon for the same year was $407,133.99. At the March term of the Board of Supervisors, 1868, the report of the cost of ten iron bridges recently erected in the county was $27,095.50. The contract for the erection of the soldiers' monument in Franklin Square was taken at $15,000. COURT HOUSE. At the term of the Supervisors' Court for McLean County, March 3, 1868, Mr. O. M. Colman, Chairman of the Special Committee on new Court House, submitted the following Report : To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of McLean County. Gentlemen : Your Committee appointed at the December term of your Court, to whom was referred the matter of building a Court House for the county, beg leave to submit the following report, to wit: Having considered the pressing need of a Court House for the better accommodation of the public offices of the county, and the greater security of the public records, and also the general public feeling in favor of the erection of such a building, connected with the encouraging finan- cial condition of our county, entirely out of debt, we would recommend the erection of a good, substantial fire-proof building, according to plans and specifications herewith submitted. We have visited and examined some of the best buildings in the State, and have also been in consultation with a number of the most eminent architects in the Northwest, for the purpose of ascertaining the style, size and expense of building best suited to the present and future wants of the people of the county. From among several beautiful designs that have been submitted for our adoption, we have selected that of Messrs. Cochran & Piquenard, of Chicago. Your Committee would recommend the public square, in the city of Bloomington, as the site of such building. For carrying into effect the foregoing provisions, your committee would recommend the appointment of a Board of Commissioners to be styled Court House Commissioners; said Board to consist of five persons, whose duties shall be the employment of an Architect and Superintend- ent; the advertising for all bids; the awarding of all contracts, and the general supervision of the erection of said Court House ; said Board to keep a complete and full account of all expend- itures on the same, and report them and the progress of the work at each meeting of the ' Board. The committee would also recommend the issuing of County Bonds for the above purpose in accordance with an act of the last Legislature providing therefor. All of which is respectfully submitted, O. M. COLMAN, Chairman. On motion of Mr. Sutherland, the Report was received, and made the special order for Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday, March 4. The Special Order: The Report of the Court House Committee was called up and the same was read by the Clerk. Mr Sutherland moved to strike out the word five, before the word Commissioners, and insert " three." HISTORY OF MoLEAN COUNTY. 245 Mr. Weedman moved to amend the amendment by inserting "seven." Pending the question, Judge Scott, on invitation, addressed the Board on the main question, and after remarks from Messrs. Sears, Bishop and others, the question was put on the amend- ment to the amendment, which was decided in the negative. The vote was then taken on the amendment, which was also decided in the negative. Mr. Mahan then presented the following resolution, and offered it as an amendment to the Report, viz.: Resolved, That the question of building a Court House and issuing bonds in accordance with the designs, specifications, and bids, as set forth in the report of the Court House Committee, be submitted to the legal voters of McLean County, at their annual town meeting to be held in April next. The Chair decided the resolution out of order, on the ground that there was no law for sub- mitting the building of a Court House to a vote of the people. Mr. Colman moved the previous question, which was sustained ; and the main question was put. Whereupon Mr. Mahan called for the ayes and nays, which resulted in the adoption of the report by 14 ayes and 13 nays. Those voting aye are as follows: Messrs. Bishop, Cuvelt, Colman, Elliott, Elijah Horr, Marquis, Newton, Rowell, George W. Stubblefield, Sears, Weaver, Weedman, Warford and Chair- man Ives — 14. Those voting nay are as follows: Messrs. Cox, Ewins, Josiah Horr, Karr, Langstaff, Mahan, John Stubblefield, Sutherland, Sailer, Jacob Smith, Shelton Smith, Vandolah and Wiley — 13. Absent — Messrs. Lewis, Mitchell and Terpenning. The Board selected the following Supervisors to act as Court House Commissioners : O. M. Colman, Elijah Horr, Richard Rowell, Nathan L. Sears and John Stubblefield. We have given the proceedings in full, by the Board, in passing the resolution upon the question of building a Court House, for several reasons. It was an important meas- ure, considering the great expense, and the very heavy burdens to which the people had recently been subjected. There had been much discussion, and considerable feeling on the subject among the people, and the policy of erecting so expensive a building was questioned by many. The vote of the Board, as has been seen, was very close. But the result shows how ably the matter had been managed by a few resolute spirits ; and the history of the enterprise has shown that the movement was all right. But the best of it is to come yet. Keeping in mind the divided state of feeling at the time, that a County Court House, with its surroundings, costing $420,000, should be completed according to contract, in a very unfavorable year for building, and entirely paid for, without a growl from any quarter, nor a single imputation of swindle by any- body, we believe to be an occurrence without a parallel in the history of similar trans- actions. Look at Chicago, for instance, a city claiming to have a population twenty times that of Bloomington, quarreling for two years or more over the building of a Court House, like dogs and cats. Scarcely a week passes but the papers of that city denounce their incomplete, would-be Court House as an abortion, and the builders of it as swindlers. Yet, according to the population of Cook County compared with that of McLean County, its Court Honse, at a cost of more than $4,000,000, should be com- plete, and the finest in the Union. We might refer to other counties; but such " com- parisons are odious." We are too happy in the fortunate results in our own county to make invidious comparisons with others. The whole subject may be justly regarded as a happy illustration of the spirit, the enterprise, and the magnanimity of the citizens of McLean County. They invite emulation, but they acknowledge no superiors in these respects. The resolution authorizing the erection of a new Court House passed the Board of Supervisors in March. In April, the old Court House was torn down, and as soon as 246 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. the almost incessant rains would permit, the erection of a new one was commenced, and the magnificent structure, without a flaw, was pushed to completion. The amount of county orders issued in McLean County from September, 1867, to September, 1868, was $137,679.90. The valuation of the property in McLean County, for county purposes, for the year 1868, was $10,235,918 ; and the amount of taxes levied for all purposes, the same year> was $441,876.93. For the year 1869, the valuation of property in McLean County, for the purpose of taxation, was $10,703,695 ; and the amount of taxes levied for the same year was $578,805.41. At the December term, the Board of Supervisors ordered the issue of County Bonds to the La Fayette. Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad Company, to pay a pre- vious subscription to the stock of that Company, amounting to $20,000. The valuation of property in McLean County as listed and assessed for 1873, amounted to $42,026,374 ; and the total amount of all taxes charged, $677,314.70. The total amount of taxation levied in McLean County for the year 1874 was $676,226.84. But it is not our purpose here to give anything like a financial history of McLean County. A few disconnected items only are given, to indicate, in some degree, the extent of the material developments that have taken place in the county. When we commenced this hasty sketch, the county was almost uninhabited, and for some years the county revenue was about $1,000, more or less. The contract price for erecting the first Court House was three hundred and some odd dollars, and town lots in Blooming- ton were, for some years, nominally worth $5 a piece. The county is now thickly settled in many parts, and land is worth from $25 to $50 per acre. In short, a county that has recently expended half a million of dollars in war expenses, and another half a million in the erection of public buildings, bridges, and other permanent improvements, besides heavy annual expenses paid, and yet is not in debt a single dollar ; whose valuation of property for taxation purposes g}es up into millions, and whose population can annually carry taxes amounting to more than half a million dollars, is an illustration of material development of which its citizens may well be proud. REVIEW. Thus have we taken a hasty glance at the material development of McLean County. In 1821, it was exclusively the home of the Indian, of the dwellers in prairie and grove, and* of the fowls of the air. No echo responded to the blows of the woodman's ax ; . no waving fields of ripening grain swayed in the morning breezes ; no glad shout of children just let loose from school ; no shout of harvest-home ; no grand and solemn organ's peal ; no sweet and joyous tones of prayer and song, were borne upon the wings of the wind to listening ears and responsive hearts. It was oppressive stillness all, save the howl of the wolf, the scream of the eagle, or the still fiercer war-whoop of the red savages. The changes in fifty-eight years are very striking. McLean County, now the largest in the State, with a population of seventy thousand civilized inhabitants, presents very different features from those which prevailed at the former period. The following list of nativities, from the Census of 1870, will give a tolerably correct idea of the rela- tive portions of the constituents in the composition of the present population : HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 247 Born in the State of Illinois, 22,964 ; in Ohio, 7,580 ; in New York, 2,598 ; in Pennsylvania, 2,713 ; in Indiana, 2,215 ; in Kentucky, 2,296 ; in British America, 420 ; in England and Wales, 952 ; in Ireland, 2,949 ; in Scotland, 230 ; in Germany, 2,839 ; in France, 207 ; in Sweden and Norway, 50 ; in Switzerland, 153 ; in Bohemia, 1 ; in Holland, 41 ; and in Denmark, 24. The surface of McLean County is now cut by nine distinct railroads. Across the extreme southeast corner, runs the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, with Osman Station on it within the county. Farther north, in the same corner of the county, runs the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield road, in a northeasterly direction, cutting West Town- ship in the southeast corner, and Belleflower Township centrally, having on its line Belle- flower Station. Still farther north, and running in the same direction, is a narrow-gauge road, now under construction from Le Roy to Saybrook, and cutting Empire, West and Cheney's Grove Townships, with prospective stations on it. In the extreme northern part of the county, running directly east and west, and cutting Gridley, Chenoa and Yates Townships, is the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw road, with Weston, Chenoa, Mead- ows and Gridley Stations on it. Running diagonally through the county from southwest to northeast, is the Chicago & Alton road, cutting Mount Hope, Funk's Grove, Dale, Bloomington, Normal, Towanda, Money Creek, Lexington and Chenoa Townships, and having on its Jine McLean, Funk's Grove, Shirley, Bloomington, Normal, Towanda, Lexington and Chenoa Stations. Running nearly north and south through the county, is the Central Railroad, cutting Hudson, Normal, Bloomington and Randolph Town- ships, and having on its line Hudson, Normal, Bloomington, Randolph and Heyworth Stations. Running east and west from Bloomington to the eastern line of the county, is the La Fayette, Bloomington, Toledo, Wabash & Western road, cutting Blooming- ton, Old Town, Padua, Arrowsmith and Cheney's Grove Townships, and having on its line Bloomington, Holder, Ellsworth, Arrowsmith and Saybrook Stations. Running diagonally across the county, northwest and southeast, cutting Empire, narrowly miss- ing West, then Downs, Old Town, Bloomington, Dale, Dry Grove and Danvers Town- ships, is the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western road, having on its line Le Roy, Downs, Bloomington, Twin Grove and Danvers Stations. Running west from Bloom- ington to the western line of the county, is the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton road, cutting Bloomington, Dale and Allen Townships, and having on its line Bloomington, Covell and Stanford Stations. An inspection of the county map will show that these railroads, with their twenty- five stations, are admirably located to accommodate all parts of the county. They leave only five townships without railroad stations. A road, of which there has been some talk, running southeast and northwest, between Lexington and Saybrook, if properly located, would accommodate four of those townships — Blue Mound, Lawndale, Martin and Cropsey — with stations, leaving only one small fractional township — White Oak — without a station, and there are already two stations, one on each side of it, only about three miles distant from its limits. Such a body of land, thus cut up by railroads, and dotted all over with stations, embracing a charming variety of prairie and grove, covered with cultivated farms, with comfortable homes, and thousands of domestic animals, is not to be surpassed in any country. In addition, it must be borne in mind that the county seat, Bloomington, has a population of over twenty thousand people, with one of the largest churches in the State and numerous 248 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. smaller ones ; with the shops and station-buildings of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, covering forty acres ; with the finest paid-for Court House in the State ; with the Wes- leyan University, accommodating several hundred students, and several very fine public schoolhouses within its limits, and the State Normal University, and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, both stately buildings, in its near vicinity, and surrounded by several large towns and numerous small ones, and a magnificent country, dotted all over with churches, schoolhouses and mills — when one takes all these things into consideration, the changes that have come over the face of McLean County within the memory of many of its citizens are indeed wonderful, and they may well be the source of honest pride and self-complacency to those who have had an active hand in bringing them about. Other changes, too numerous to be mentioned, only heighten the wonder, and induce a hearty thankfulness in the beholder. POLITICAL HISTORY. In early times in McLean County, there were only two distinctions in political sentiments — Jacksonism and Whiggism. Jacksonism, or Democracy, seemed to be the raw material of politics, and Whiggism the manufactured article ; and the raw material seems to have been more prevalent than the manufactured article. Many of the citizens then cared very little for education, and for current news and general information. They seemed to take their politics as they did their measles — in the natural way. Tradition was the chief source of their political preferences, and they were born into their political party as into their church. In 1832, there were seven Whig votes in Bloomington Precinct, and Gen. Gridley cast one of them. A family tradition says that when, in 1828, Mr. John Dawson, then living twelve miles east of Bloomington, was about to start to go and vote in the fall election at Mackinawtown, then the county seat, Mrs. Dawson, who was for Jackson, persuaded her husband that it was going to rain, and not to expose himself to a two or three days' ride over the rough roads for the sake of casting a single vote for men that did not know him, nor would ever thank him for it ; and that, in the evening, when it was too late for Mr. Dawson to make the trip, with a mischievous smile, the old lady said she had gained one vote for Jackson by preventing an Adams vote being cast. Gen. Gridley claims that the instrumentality of the Bloomington Observer turned a portion of the raw material of politics into the manufactured article, in its day, that being the first newspaper published in Bloomington, and that McLean remained a Whig county from that time. Be that as it may, it was a pretty close race in the county for quite a number of years — the result, either way, depending more, in many instances, upon personal influence than upon party majority. For many years, Gen. Meritt L. Covell, a very clever gentleman, by the way, seemed to be the leading spirit and the embodiment of Democracy in McLean County. He was an active and able manager, and kept the politics of the county a good deal mixed for years. In 1840, the political whirlwind that carried Gen. Harrison into the Presidency passed over the country, and the Whigs elected Gen. Gridley to the State Legislature. In 1834 and 1836, the Democrats elected Hon. William L. May to Congress in this, then, Third District ; and in 1838 and 1840, the Whigs elected Hon. John T. Stuart, carrying the district, in 1838, by a majority of seventeen votes. From that time on, the Whigs were able, generally, by good management, to carry this county HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 249 in general and in local elections, the majority being from fifty to a hundred votes. Some- times the majority was very small, and occasionally a Whig candidate was beaten. This state of things continued for several years, the Whig majorities gradually increas- ing as the feeling became more and more antagonistic among the people on the subject of slavery. In those days, Illinois was always Democratic, and continued to be so, though with decreasing majorities ; but McLean stood always true to the Whig party. In 1855, in the county election, there was no opposition to the Whig ticket. In 1852, the nomination of Gen. Scott by the Whigs, for the Presidency, was not popular in McLean County ; but the Whig vote was out at the polls, yet with the expectation of being beaten. In 1854, came the times to try men's political souls. The compromises between the two parties in Congress that year, in which it was agreed not to introduce any more discussion on the slavery question, and to ignore the subject, gave dissatisfaction to many people of both parties. Their attachment to party began to loosen, and there was uneasiness on all sides. The feeling that there was approaching a breaking of political ranks, and rallying on new issues and under new leaders, began to pervade the people of McLean County. Properly speaking, the people of this county have never been political Abolitionists. They were never in favor of disturbing the constitutional rights of the people of the South, nor of clandestinely assisting their slaves to escape. They were opposed to the violent and premature commotion that occasionally broke out on the subject, hoping that some peaceful and legal way out of the difficulty might be found. But when the direct question of introducing slavery into the more northern and free Territories, either by law, by indifference, or by violence, the people of this county protested against such introduction. In 1856, came the issue between allowing or preventing slavery in Nebraska, Kan- sas, and indefinitely west ; and through the dodge of so many behind what they were pleased to call Knownothingism, Americanism, or Fillmoreism, that political abortion, James Buchanan, was elected to the Presidency. His stolidity and cowardice, or some- thing worse than either, assisted greatly to bring on the crisis of 1860. But through all the changes and turmoil, the people of McLean County stood firmly by the Repub- lican party after it succeeded the Whig party, by larger and larger majorities. In proof of this statement, we need only to mention a few facts. The first Republican State Convention ever held, took place in Bloomington. The first paper to run up the name of Mr. Lincoln for President was the Bloomington Pan- tagraph. The citizens of McLean County did more to bring him before the people as a candidate, and to secure his nomination at Chicago, than those of any other county in the country. Conclusive evidence on these points is easily procurable. Messrs. Jesse W. and Kersey H. Fell were the prime movers in getting Mr. Lincoln into the field, and Judge David Davis did more to secure his nomination than any other living Tnan. In 1848, McLean County gave Gen. Taylor a moderate majority. In 1852, it gave Gen. Scott a respectable majority, though there was no enthusiasm on the subject. In 1856, it gave John C. Fremont a majority of 420. In 1860, it gave Abraham Lincoln a majority of 985. In 1864, it gave Mr. Lincoln a majority of 1,419. In 1868, it gave U. S. Grant a majority of 2,037. In 1872, it gave Grant a majority of 2,510. In 1876, it gave Rutherford B. Hayes a majority of 1,953. 250 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. For several years past, owing to difference in financial sentiments, and to per- sonal influences, and inevitable disaffection at censurable uses of power and opportuni- ties, the local issues have been somewhat mixed. But whenever there are straight issues and harmony in the party, McLean County is decidedly Republican. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. An Act to Incorporate the McLean County Agricultural Society : Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That John E. McClun, Edward H. Didlake, William H. Allen, Isaac Funk, Edwin Poston and Samuel Lander, and such persons as are or may hereafter become members of the McLean County Agricultural Society, -from and after the passage of this act, shall be and they are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic, by the name and style aforesaid, and by that name they and their successors shall have succession, and shall, in law, be capable of contract- ing and being contracted with, of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, prosecuting and defending, in all manner of actions in law or in equity, in all courts and places whatever where legal proceedings are had ; and by that name and style be capable, in law, of purchasing and receiving, by gift or otherwise, holding and conveying real estate, for the benefit of said corpo- ration : Provided, That said corporation shall not, at any one time, hold real estate more than the amount of 160 acres. Sec. 2. Said corporation shall have power to loan money belonging to the same, and take promissory notes or other evidences for the money so loaned, which may be collected in their corporate name aforesaid, in all courts and places whatever where judicial proceedings are had ; and, in their corporate name, shall have power to sue for and collect all gratuitous sub- scriptions that are or may hereafter be made to said corporation. Sec. 3. A meeting of the members of this corporation shall be held on the first Monday in March, 1853, and forever thereafter on said day annually, for the purpose of making such by-laws as may be necessary for the better government and regulation of the association, and also for the purpose of electing a President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary and Treasurer, who shall respectively hold their office for one year and until their successors are elected ; and the said officers so elected be a standing Board of Directors, with full power and authority to do all acts and deeds necessary to promote the interest of the association, and to carry into effect the provisions and objects of this act. Sec 4. The Treasurer shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, give bond to said corporation, to be kept by the Secretary of the same, with sufficient security for the faithful per- formance of his-duties. Sec 5. This act to take effect from and after its passage. Approved February 12, 1853. AN AMENDMENT TO FOREGOINO CHARTER. An Act to amend an Act entitled " An Act to Incorporate the McLean County Agricultural Society," approved February 12, 1853 : Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in General Assem- bly, That the third section of the act to which this is an amendment be so amended that a meet- ing of the members of said corporation, for the purpose therein mentioned, shall be annually held on the Fair Grounds of said Society, at 1 o'clock P. M., on the second day of the Annual Fair thereof. This act to take effect and be in force from and after the first day of September next. Approved February 13, 1861. GENERAL LAWS. An act passed February 15, 1857, appropriating $100 to each County Agricult- ural Society, for the years 1857 and 1858, payable June 1, by State Treasurer, to the Treasurer or fiscal agent of each County Agricultural Society. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 251 February 21, 1861, said law revived, to be continued in force until otherwise pro- vided by law. BY-LAWS of the McLean County Agricultural Society, revised and adopted March 5, 1866. CONSTITUTION. Section 1. The Acts of Incorporation of this Society shall be the Constitution of the same. OBJECT. Sec. 2. The object of this Society shall be the promotion of the improvement of science and art of agriculture, of stock, domestic manufactures, mechanic arts and horticulture. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Sec. 3. The President shall appoint an Advisory Committee of not less than four nor more than seven, who, together with the Board of Control, shall transact all business of the Society. ADDITIONAL MEETINGS. Sec. 4. There shall, in addition to the regular meetings of the Society, be one held of the Board and Advisory Committee on the first Monday of November, annually. DUTIES OF PRESIDENT. Sec. 5. The duty of the President shall be to preside at the meetings of the Board or of the stockholders, have power to call special meetings of either, and perform all duties pertain- ing or usual to like offices, and in his absence one of the Vice Presidents shall perform said duties. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. Sec 6. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep in a book provided for that purpose, a true account of the doings of the Board at their meetings or those of the stockholders, keep a correct list of stockholders ; draw all orders or drafts on the Treasurer and keep an account of the same ; advertise by public notice in the newspapers of the county, the time of holding *be meetings of the Society and such other duties usually devolving on such officer or directed by the Board. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER. Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys due or belonging to the Society, and disburse the same upon the order of the Secretary ; keep a correct account of all receipts and disbursements, and make report of the same at each annual meeting, or at such time as the Board may direct. DUTIES OF THE BOARD. Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Board, together with the Advisory Committee, to exercise a general supervision over all the interests of the Society; shall appoint all committees necessary for carrying out successfully, the objects of the Society ; they shall specify the arti- cles for which premiums shall be awarded ; determine kind and value of the same ; fix the time of holding the annual fair, and do such acts as they may believe for the best interests of the Society. QUORUM. Sec. 9. A quorum of the Board and Advisory Committee shall consist of five members,- and that of the stockholders, fifteen. TIME OF FAIR. Sec. 10. The annual fair shall be held between the 1st day of September and the 16th day of October, each year. APPOINTING COMMITTEES. Sec. 11. Appointing of Superintendents, Awarding Committees, and affixing premium- lists, shall be made at the regular meeting of the Board held on the first Monday of November of each year, or at an adjourned meeting for that purpose. 252 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. RULES AND REGULATIONS. Sec. 12. General rules and regulations shall be made at the regular meeting held in November, or at an adjourned meeting as above (Sec. 11), for the government of the following fair, which shall be published together with the premium-list. AWARDING COMMITTEE. Sec. 13. There shall be not less than three nor more than seven, of an Awarding Com- mittee for each lot of stock or articles, none of whom shall act as such in any lot or articles in which he is an exhibitor. In case of disagreement of the Awarding Committee or failure to serve, the Board or Superintendents of respective departments shall appoint others. in the ring. Sec. 14. At the time the Awarding Committee are examining the stock, or other articles, aio persons are permitted in the ring, except the Board, Superintendents and grooms. One of the Board, or Advisory Committee, or Superintendent of Department, shall accompany the Award- ing Committee on examination of each class, and see that there is no violation of the rules of the Society. PREMIUM BADGE. Sec. 15. A blue ribbon shall be attached to the stock or article which has been awarded the first premium, and red to that of the second premium. GROWING CROPS. Sec 16. Entries of growing crops to be made as follows : Wheat and oats must be entered •on or before the first day of July ; and corn on or before the last day of the fair in each year. Persons entering wheat or oats or corn for exhibition are required to have the ground surveyed and produce accurately measured by two disinterested persons and their certificates of the same handed in to the Secretary ; for wheat and oats by the November meeting, and corn by December 25th following. All entries or returns must be accompanied with statement of the mode and manner of culture. DISCRETIONARY PREMIUMS. Sec. 17. No discretionary premiums shall be awarded except by the Board, or on their order. SUPERINTENDENT OF GROUNDS. Sec. 18. The Board shall appoint a Superintendent of Grounds, whose duty it shall be to superintend the general arrangement, assign stalls and locate stock and other articles to be exhibited, and«xercise a general oversight over same, and see that the articles and stock are placed where designated for them. MARSHALS. Sec. 19 There may be also appointed one or more Marshals, whose duty it shall be to superintend the exhibition of stock, and such other duties as may be directed by the President, or officer presiding. MARCH MEETING. Sec 20. It is understood that on the first Monday of March shall be a regular meeting of the Society. REPEALING CLAUSE. Sec. 21. All by-laws contrary to the foregoing are hereby repealed. AMENDMENTS. Sec. 22. All propositions for amendments to these By-laws shall be made in writing at a regular meeting of the Board or Society, and lie over until next regular meeting, when they may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of those present ; or the propositions may be amended and be adopted in like manner. The foregoing By-laws were adopted unanimously by the regular meeting held at Engine- house No. 2 (agreeable to public notice), March 5, 1866. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 253 Sec. 23. That the premiums awarded at any annual fair/ if not called for before the 1st day of November following, shall be considered donated to the Society; discretionary and other premiums awarded at other times than at the time of the fair, within thirty days thereafter. Adopted November 5, 1866. J. A. WILLSON, Secretary. TRANSACTIONS OP THE SOCIETY. It will be seen by Section Third of the Act of Incorporation that the Society was necessarily organized in March, 1853. Tradition says that the beginnings of the Society were humble and quite limited in the number of its attendants, and in the magni- tude of its operations, all of which is quite credible, and almost necessarily true from the nature of the enterprise and its early date. Tradition saith furthermore that Time's busy fingers, and the licking tongues of a fire have rendered the records of the proceed- ings of the Society for several years intangible — non sunt. The new records of the Society commence with tbe annual meeting, March 5, 1866, held in Bloomington, William L. Bosworth in the chair and J. H. Loehr, Secretary. A committee consisting of Cyrus Jones and W. R. Duncan was appointed to audit the books of J. E. McClun, Treasurer. Books reported correct, and balance in Treas- urer's hands, $473.98. The President appointed a committee, consisting of A. J. Barnes and J. 0. Davis, to examine the condition of the fair grounds, who reported that they had been damaged to the amount of $50. 0. Barnard reported on one-fourth acre of potatoes, seventy-seven and a half bushels. Premium allowed — $4. The Board of the previous year having closed its business, R. H. Holder occupied the chair, and Jesse A. Willson acted as Secretary. The retiring Secretary, John H. Loehr, presented the minutes of the meeting, electing officers for the current year, as follows : At a meeting of the McLean County Agricultural Society, held at their fair grounds on the 13th day of September, 1865, the following-named persons were elected officers for the ensuing year : R. H. Holder, President ; George Funk, Vice Presi- dent ; James Kennedy, Vice President ; J. E. McClun, Treasurer ; Jesse A. Willson, Secretary. On motion, the thanks of the Society were tendered President Bosworth for his untiring efforts in behalf of the Society. The President then appointed the following Advisory Committee for the current year : William P. Withers, George Parke, H. Spencer, Cyrus Jones, J. F. Humphreys, W. R. Duncan and George W. Parke. On motion, the President was directed to appoint delegates to the State Agricult- ural Society. Thereupon the following-named gentlemen were appointed such dele- gates: James Kennedy, Jesse A. Willson and William L. Bosworth. On motion, it was agreed as the sense of the meeting, that the premiums for the next fair shall be paid in plate or money, at the option of the exhibitor. At a subsequent meeting of the Board and Advisory Committee, March 13, it was agreed to hold the next annual fair on September 4, 5, 6 and 7, with Monday, the 3d, as a preparation day. The day was principally spent in reviewing and arranging the premium-list for the next fair. 254 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. m'lean county agricultural society. Fair Grounds, September 5, 1866. — The Society met at the fair grounds on the second day of the annual fair, whereupon George Parke and James Allen, Jr., were appointed tellers, and the following officers were then duly elected to serve the ensuing year: R. H. Holder, President; William L. Bosworth, Vice President; James Ken- nedy, Vice President; Ralph E. Brown, Treasurer; John T. Didlake, Secretary. The Board borrowed from John Geltmacher $1,000 for one year, with which to pay for improvements on the fair grounds. Pursuant to adjournment, the Society met at the Court House in Bloomington. October 13, 1866. On motion, it was ordered that T. P. Bryan and J. P. Shough have duplicate stock issued to them for shares lost or destroyed. On motion, a committee, consisting of Samuel Lander, George Hinshaw, A. J. Barnes, R. H. Holder and Jesse A. Willson, were appointed a committee to draw up an amendment to the charter, especially in regard to Section Third. On motion, the President, R. H. Holder, was appointed to negotiate for additional grounds south of the present grounds, and report to the next meeting. Pursuant to adjournment, the Society met at the Court House, November 5, 1866. The President reported the proposal of Mr. J. Y. Calhoun to sell the Society the ground south of the fair grounds and north of Washington street, supposed to be from eight to ten acres, for the sum of $165 per acre. The proposal was accepted, and the Board directed to purchase the same, and contract to pay therefor in three equal annual payments. The Board then held a meeting, at which the Secretary reported having issued orders from March 5 to November 5, 1866, in detail, all amounting to $5,025.23. Of this sum, $1,720.45 were paid in premiums, and there remained uncalled for $148 of the premiums of the current year. On motion, it was directed that diplomas be awarded as discretionary premiums on articles where appropriate. The President reported the following Advisory Committee, Marshals and Super- intendent of Grounds: Advisory Committee — J. A. Willson, W. R. Duncan, A. J. Barnes, Cyrus Jones, W. W. Taylor, William H. Mann and George Parke. Marshals — Leonard Bosworth, Nelson Nichols", Harvey Karr. Superintendent of Grounds — John O. Davis. On motion, the Board rejected the proposition of J. Y. Calhoun to open a street along the east side of their grounds. Adjourned. John T. Didlake, Secretary. March 4, 1867. — Society met at Engine-house No. 2. On motion, the fair grounds were put under the care of the President, who appointed William B. Young as Assistant Marshal. At the meeting of the Board on the next day, it was agreed that the next fair should be held on the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th of September next, with Monday the 2d, for making general arrangements. On the next day, it was resolved by the Society that the fire company as a body should not be allowed on the grounds. June 22, 1867. — At a special meeting of the Society, it was resolved that the Society ratify the purchase of the land situated on the south side of the fair grounds, and known as the Catholic Grounds. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 255 On motion, it was resolved that the Society issue sufficient stock to pay for the recent purchase of land, and sell the same on the fair grounds at public sale, to the highest bidder for cash, on Monday, September 2, at 2 o'clock P. M. Fair Grounds, September 4, 1867. — The Society met this day, and Duncan Funk and James Allen, Jr., were appointed tellers, and the following-named officers were duly elected to serve the ensuing year : W. L. Bosworth, President ; A. J. Barnes, Vice President ; John 0. Davis, Vice President ; Ralph B. Brown, Treasurer ; John T. Didlake, Secretary. At a meeting of the Board, October 14, 1867, the Secretary was authorized to issue orders for discretionary premiums to the amount of $51. On motion, A. J. Barnes was appointed a committee to examine hedges entered for premiums, and report at the November meeting. On motion, the Treasurer was authorized to borrow $5,000 for one year, to pay premiums and claims against the Society. At the annual meeting of the Society, November 4, the Treasurer made his report showing an indebtedness of $3,500. On motion of W. R. Duncan, the thanks of the Society were tendered President Holder and his associates in office, for their untiring efforts in behalf of the Society. The President appointed the following persons as Advisory Committee : John E. McClun, E. Horr, Nelson Jones, W. H. Mann, James K. Orondorff and John Kelley. Adjourned. John T. Didlake, Secretary. At the meeting of the Society, January 20, 1868, it was resolved that the Treas- urer pay the Secretary $150 per annum as compensation for his services. At the meet- ing of the Board the next day. the 21st, it was resolved that the Society hold their next annual fair commencing on Tuesday, September 8, and continue four days, with Monday, the 7th, as preparation day. On the 22d, the Society elected W. L. Bosworth, Cyrus Jones and A. J. Barnes, delegates to the State fair. Fair Grounds, September 8, 1868. — On the 2d day of the annual fair, J. E. McClun and Samuel Lander were appointed tellers, and the following-named officers were elected to serve the ensuing year : W. S. Bosworth, President ; Elijah Horr, James K. Orondorff, Vice Presidents ; R. E. Brown, Treasurer ; John T. Didlake, Secretary. On motion, resolved that both political parties be allowed the use of the Grounds under control of the Society, during the present campaign. At a meeting of the Society, October 3, it was resolved " That the officers of this Society be authorized to borrow sufficient money to pay present indebtedness, and to make the necessary improvements for the next annual fair, and if necessary, to mortgage the grounds to secure payment." On motion, resolved that if the sum of $5,000 can be raised by private sub- scription, we make an effort to get the State fair for the next two years. For that purpose, J. E. McClun, C. Toms, J. W. Fell, Elijah Horr and John Kelley were appointed a commitiee to solicit subscriptions. At the annual meeting of the Board, November 2, the Secretary was directed to issue a duplicate certificate of stock, $200, to Isaac M. Pearson, the original having been lost. 256 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The President appointed the following Advisory Committee: George Hinshaw, John 0. Davis, R. E. Strimple, John Kelley, Nelson Jones, William M. Loehr and L. D. Haines. Adjourned. John T. Didlake, Secretary. January 11, 1869. — The Board resolved to send B. Horr and Cyrus Jones, as del- egates to represent this Society before the State Board, at Springfield. The Society resolved, at its meeting on the 13th, to hold the next annual fair on the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of September next. Resolved, that the Secretary shall receive $150 as compensation for the ensuing year. Fair Grounds, September 15, 1869. — The Society met on the second day of the annual fair, to elect officers. John Kelley was appointed teller, and the following- named officers were duly elected for the ensuing year : William L. Bosworth, Pres- ident ; Elijah Horr and James Boulware, Vice Presidents ; Ralph E. Brown, Treas- urer; Daniel Holder, Corresponding Secretary; John T. Didlake, Secretary. February 7, 1870. — Board met at call of the President, and, on motion, it was resolved that the next annual fair commence on Tuesday, September 13, and continue four days. The President appointed the following persons to serve the following year as Advisory Committee: George W. Funk, R. E. Strimple, Nelson Jones, John Kel- ley, James K. Orondorff, L. W. Betts and William M. Loehr. On motion, Messrs. Funk, Horr and Kelley were selected as delegates to the next State Fair at Decatur. At the annual meeting of the stockholders, March, 1870, the Treasurer made his annual report, showing a balance on hand of $1,372.25. Fair Grounds, September 14, 1870. — At the annual fair of the Society, on the second day, George Parke and G. W. Funk were appointed tellers, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: W. L. Bosworth, President; E. Horr and John Kelley, Vice Presidents ; W. M. Loehr, Treasurer ; John T. Didlake, Secretary. November 7, 1870. — Premium on corn — five acres — awarded to John English. November 26, 1870. — At the present meeting of the Board, the Treasurer made his annual report as follows: Total amount of money on hand and receipts of the year, $7,574.67, of which the sale of tickets amounted to $4,759. The amount of pre- miums paid, $2,356.50 ; and after paying the expenses, there remained on hand, $3,438.99. The President announced the following persons as the Advisory Committee for the ensuing year: Nelson Jones, Duncan Funk, George Parke, James Boulware, Ellis Dillon, O. M. Coleman and Isaac Lash. Adjourned. John T. Didlake, Secretary. Court House, February 7, 1871. — The Board fixed on September 12, to commence the next annual fair, to continue five days. February 14, 1871. — Board resolved to offer premiums for Alderney cattle, and make premiums same as crosses The Treasurer was authorized to issue original stock to L. W. Betts, and certificate to George P. Davis. Board met June 10, 1871, at fair grounds; and after looking around, resolved to have built, fifty additional pens for sheep and swine. Being convinced that the dining- hall was insufficient, the Chair appointed Messrs. Boulware, Funk, Kelley, Dillon, Parke, and Secretary Didlake to be a committee to present plans and estimates for building a new one near the same place, at the next meeting. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 257 At a meeting of the Board, June 17, on motion, the President and Secretary were appointed a committee to have dining-hall built and other improvements made. At the annual meeting of the Society, at the fair, September 13, 1871, J. E. McClun and George W. Funk were appointed tellers, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: John Kelley, President; James Kennedy and F. M. Funk, Vice Presidents ; W. C. Watkins, Treasurer ; Daniel Holder, Corresponding Secretary, and John T. Didlake, Secretary. Court House, November 6, 1871. — At the annual meeting of the Board, the Sec- retary reported having issued orders on the treasury to the amount of $6,070.18, the amount paid for premiums at the fair, for. the current year, being S3, 709. On motion, the premium of $20, for the best five acres of corn, and $10 for the best one-fourth acre of potatoes, were awarded to Jesse Brainard. Adjourned. John T. Didlake, Secretary. Court House, January 9, 1872. — On motion, the Board fixed on Tuesday, Sep- tember 10 next, to commence the next annual fair, and continue four days. Fair Grounds, September 11, 1872. — On the second day of the fair, the annual meeting of the stockholders was held on the grounds, and J. W. Funk and J. E. McClun being appointed tellers, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : W. L. Bosworth, President ; Isaac Vanordstrand and J. L. Leckley, Vice Presidents ; W. C. Watkins, Treasurer; John T. Didlake, Secretary. At the meeting of the Board, December 16, the Secretary reported having issued orders on the treasury to the amount of $5,319.27, of which $2,856 were paid for premiums awarded at the fair of 1872. Adjourned. John T. Didlake, Secretary. Court House, January 14, 1873. — Board met pursuant to call, and the following- named persons were appointed as Advisory Committee: Daniel Holder, J. K. Orondorff r J. L. Shorthose and Isaac Lash. The President and the Secretary were authorized to execute a note to D. M. Funk, for $2,190, and give security on real estate of the Society. On motion, the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of September were fixed upon as the time for holding the next annual fair. Fair Grounds, September 10, 1873. — At the annual meeting of the Board, on the second day of the fair, F. M. Funk and Dr. W. A. Elder being appointed tellers, the fol- lowing officers were elected for the ensuing year : W. L. Bosworth, President ; J. O. Davis, William Karr, Vice Presidents; E. B. Steere, Treasurer; John T. Didlake, Secretary. At the annual meeting of the Executive Board, the private premium offered by Messrs. E. W. and A. M. Bakewell, for the best five acres of corn was awarded to Abram Harrison. On motion, the President was allowed $150, and W. C. Watkins, Treasurer, $100, for services rendered to the Society. The Secretary then made his annual report, showing that he had issued orders on the treasury to the amount of $4,413.36, of which sum $2,513 had been paid in premiums at the fair. The President then appointed the following persons as Advisory Committee for the year : D. M. Funk, George P. Davis, Isaac Dillon. Daniel Holder, E. Horr, Isaac Lash and James K. Orondorff'. Adjourned. J. T. Didlake, Secretary. Court House, January 27, 1874. — Board met and adopted a resolution instructing the President to borrow $6,158.23, and to execute notes for the same, giving real estate security owned by the Society for the said amount, to pay off the indebtedness of the Society. 258 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. January 31, 1874. — On motion, the time for holding the next annual fair was fixed for September 8, 9, 10 and 11. At the meeting of the Board, February 14, the follow- ing premiums were agreed upon : Stallion trotting in harness, best two in three, first premium, $50 ; second premium, $25. Gelding or mare trotting in harness, best two in three, first premium, $30 ; second, $20. At the annual meeting of the stockholders, on the second day of the annual fair, September 9, 1874, Samuel Lander and D. M. Funk being appointed tellers, the fol- lowing persons were elected for the current year: W. L. Bosworth, President; G. A. Ross, J. A. Ewins,Vice Presidents ; Daniel Holder, Treasurer ; J. T. Didlake, Secretary. On motion, the premium on flaxseed, offered by Waddle & Moore, was awarded to Edward Wilson ; and premium on five acres best corn, $10, to Joshua Sells. The Secretary was instructed to issue checks, as follows : To Ira Merchant, for surveying, $14; to W. L. Bosworth, services as President, $150 ; to E. B. Steere, for official services, $50 ; to D. M. Funk, to apply on note, $1,000. The Treasurer made his annual report, showing orders issued on treasury to be $4,966.95, of which sum $2,619.65 were paid for premiums. The President appointed the following persons as Advisory Committee for the ensuing year: D. M. Funk, Daniel Holder. George P. Davis, W. M. Smith, F.. M. Jones, W. H. Oglevee and E. Horr. Adjourned. J. T. Didlake, Secretary. Board met at Court House January 12, 1875. Appointed J. Brewster, Treasurer, to fill vacancy, and John Peck, Superintendent of Grounds. January 19, Board fixed upon the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th of September as the time of holding the annual fair for 1875. Messrs. Funk and Davis appointed Committee on Finance. Trials of speed to take place every day except Thursday ; gate fees, 50 cents, single. Fair Grounds, September 8. — At the close of the polls, the Judges of the election for officers, Thomas F. Mitchell, D. M. Funk and George P. Davis, declared the following persons elected : W. L. Bosworth, President ; G. A. Ross, John A. Ewins, Vice Presi- dents ; J. Brewster, Treasurer ; John T. Didlake, Secretary. From the Treasurer's books we get the following item : Total amount of receipts for the current year, $7,139.63 ; amount paid in premiums, $3,682.63. Adjourned. J. T. Didlake, Secretary. Court House, January 15, 1876. — Board met pursuant to adjournment. John Peck was appointed Superintendent of Grounds. On motion of Mr. Funk, a class was introduced for thorough-bred draught-horses, with same premiums as other classes of horses. The time for holding the annual fair was agreed upon — September 5, 6, 7 and 8. Fair Grounds, September 6, 1876. — At the closing of the polls for the election of officers, the Judges, Messrs. D. M. Funk, George P. Davis and Nelson Jones, declared the following persons elected : T. D. Hartsen, President ; G. A. Ross, John A. Ewins, Vice Presidents ; J. Brewster, Treasurer ; J. T. Didlake, Secretary. At the annual meeting of the Board, November 6, the President and the Secre- tary were instructed to execute a note, payable to D: M. Funk, for $8,300, for five years, and to give security on the real estate of the Society, in order to borrow money sufficient to pay off" the entire indebtedness of the association. From the Treasurer's books we learn that the receipts for the current year, it being very rainy and disagreeable at the fair, were $3,369.39 ; the disbursements were V xJcJUuM^ HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 261 $5,609.76, and the amount paid in premiums was $2,999.31. Adjourned. J. T. Did- lake, Secretary. Court House, January 9, 1877. — Board met pursuant to notice. The President appointed as Advisory Committee W. M. Smith, F. M. Funk, E. Horr, John Stubble- field, James Boulware and Isaac Lash. The time for holding the fair was fixed on September 4, 5, 6 and 7. Messrs. Funk, Horr and Ross appointed Committee on Speed. John Peck was appointed Superintendent of Grounds, B. F. Funk, Chief Marshal, and the Treasurer, to solicit private premiums for ladies' equestrianship. Grate fees as last year. Fair Grounds, September 5, 1877. — After closing the polls, the Judges of the election of officers for the current year declared the following-named persons elected : President, T. D. Hartsen ; Vice Presidents, F. M. Funk, John 0. Davis ; Treasurer, Jabez Brewster ; Secretary, J. T. Didlake. At the annual meeting of tbe Executive Board, the Treasurer presented his report, showing the total receipts to have been $6,390.64, of which sum $5,038.24 was for tickets at the fair — the largest ever realized. The disbursements were $6,043.48, of which sum $3,168.19 was paid in premiums, leaving on hand $347.16. The President appointed as Advisory Committee, William Karr, Isaac Lash, O. Barnard ; I. G. Lane, Elias Brock, Ellis Dillon and Nelson Jones. At the meeting of the Board, December 11, the time of holding the next fair was fixed for September 3, 4, 5 and 6, 1878, J. L. Keckley was appointed Superintendent of Grounds, and B. F. Funk, Chief Marshal, and Mr. Dillon appointed as delegate to the State Agricultural Board at Springfield. Premium on speed and gate fees as usual. Dr. Freese and others, participated. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, whose duty it shall be — having previously associated with them one or more persons of practical skill in hydraulics and civil engineering — to institute an examination on the following propositions, to wit : 1st. The practicability of obtaining at Sugar Creek, or at any other point or points, in or near the city, an adequate sup- ply of pure water at all seasons of the year, and for all wants of the community. 2d. The best method of elevating the same (should a supply be deemed advisable) to a reservoir of sufficient capacity to be located on the public square, or at some other suitable point in the central part of the city, whence it may be drawn off to meet the wants of the community. 3d. The proba- ble expense attending the execution of such a system of hydraulics ; and lastly, the best mothod of defraying the expenses incident to such an undertaking ; and the probable length of time for its accomplishment. , Resolved, That in the execution of the duties intrusted to said committee, they be author- ised to make whatever surveys and examinations may be necessary ; and that the Mayor and City Council be respectfully requested 10 co-operate with them and provide the necessary means to defray the expense attending the same. Resolved, That said committee be requested to proceed with all practicable dispatch in the •execution of the aforesaid duties ; and that they report the result of their examinations to the L 388 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. City Council or to a public meeting hereafter to be called by them, or both, as they in their dis- cretion may deem most expedient. Resolved, That we recommend our City Council to build six or more cisterns at suitable points in Bloomington, to hold 200 or 250 barrels each: provided, the city does not adopt the hydraulic system of obtaining water. The Chair appointed the following persons as committee : Jesse W. Fell, J. W. Ewing, F. K. Phoenix, James Allin, Sr., and William Wallace. It will thus be seen that the question of proper water supply has long been before the public. Tn the twenty years intervening between this public meeting and the final solution of the problem, a great variety of projects have been discussed. It appears that in digging the coal-shaft which was first sunk, the one northwest of the city, a vein of water was encountered of great volume — so powerful that the first attempt was abandoned — and a success only made after moving a few rods and procuring very heavy pumping machinery. This discovery led the Chicago & Alton Railroad Com- pany, in 1869, to dig in the vicinity a well which struck the same vein, and proved suf- ficient to supply the immense amount of water needed for that large corporation. From this time the attention of our citizens generally was turned to that point, and public opinion finally settled on the advisability of attempting to obtain the city supply by digging a well, and experimenting still further with that wonderful underground reservoir. In the summer and fall of 1874, at the end of a series of four very dry seasons, the City Council made the attempt. It proved remarkably successful. The water, found at a depth of only forty feet, was sufficient to keep three powerful engines busy, whose united efforts threw a solid six-inch stream, which removed the water as fast as it flowed into the well. On Christmas Day, 1874, the whole population that wished, examined the fountain — the well having been finished the day before. As a sample of what had been discovered, the engines were kept at work, throwing the water in a stream which, as it flowed off, was equal to a good-sized brook. There was but one opinion, and that was that the fountain was large enough to justify the erection of a system of water works ; and in the summer of 1875, the stand-pipe was erected, 200 feet high, an engine and pump placed in position at the well, two miles and a half of pipe laid in the streets, and a full sytem of water works inaugurated, which has since been enlarged by additional pipes and more machinery. The total cost of the whole, up to April 30, 1878, has been $86,944.83. This includes about eight miles of water-mains, the engines and machinery, the stand-pipe, four drinking-fountains, seventy hydrants and everything connected with the Water Department. The water is of a medicinal nature, rather heavily charged with mineral deposits, but is very healthy and much liked by those who have been using it for any length of time. Its value to the city can only be reckoned by millions. The Water Board consists of Peter Rockwell, J. W. Trotter and John W. fivans. M. X. Chuse is Superintendent. ~t~n The present city well is on the same tract where the first coal-shaft was attempted, which enterprise in reality demonstrated the existence of our valuable supply of water. MANUFACTURES. In tracing the early history of manufacturing, we shall be quite brief. We will mention that the first machinery of which we read, appears to have been a " dog. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 389 power," used by Henry Miller, the first wheelwright, in the manufacture of spinning wheels. He was here in 1831, and probably used this machinery near that date. He owned the first turning-lathe in Bloomington, about the year 1835. Seth Baker owned the first saw-mill. His machinery was propelled by oxen in a tread-mill. This must have been about 1832 or 1833. Solomon Dodge ran the first corn-mill about this time, also impelled by the patient ox. Perhaps we should except the " corn-cracker," erected by Dr. Baker in the winter of 1830 and 1831, at the time of the Deep Snow. This mill was on his farm in Blooming Grove, and was in running order at a very late date. There were also other "hand" corn-mills, as well as horse-mills in Blooming Grove at a very early date, earlier than either of the above-mentioned. Rev. E. Rhodes is said to have had a " hand corn-mill " as early as 1824, and, by the winter of 1831 and 1832 — the year after the Deep Snow — there were several " horse-mills " at the Grove. It would be pleasant if we were able to follow the improvements that have taken place in the last fifty years, to return to the spinning-wheels of Blooming Grove and exhibit them with the finest machinery in our modern looms ; to compare the home- made hoe and wooden plow of the pioneer with the polished implements turned out to-day by Brokaw and Walton, or to bring the old ox-cart and rude wagon into com- parison with Ferre's phaetons and Matern's buggies. But we must pass to a hasty examination of what we find, leaving comparisons to the reader. The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company's shops are our most worthy manufactories, and shall be first examined. But for these, one-fifth of Bloomington's population would be out of business to-day. The company generally pays out each month the sum of $30,000 to about 700 men. No wonder that Springfield offered to exchange the State Capitol for this single manufactory ! The establishment is full and complete — will turn out everything needed, from a locomotive of the heaviest class to a finely- finished and elegantly-upholstered sleeping-car, while anything in use by the company, be it a pump, an engine, a car or a wind-mill, can be repaired by the ingenious workmen with the fine machinery of the different departments. When, in the autumn of 1853, the first train of cars on this road entered Bloomington from the South, the enterprise was in its infancy. There had been no less than four separate companies owning the line from Chicago to St. Louis, and there was little to indicate the future enormous proportions of the Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. The Illinois Central, which had been the topic of conversation in Illinois for more than fifteen years, was looked upon as the only railroad of importance. Bloomington had made an effort to secure what were regarded as the remarkably valuable machine and repair shops of that company, and had seen itself, in 1852, beaten by the insignificant town of Wapella. The atten- tention of men like James Allin, Jesse W. Fell, A. Gridley, W. H. Allin and David Davis — men of eagle eye and sound judgment — was at once turned to the little " Alton & Sangamon Company," as the new line was at first called, then the " Chicago & Mis- sissippi Railroad," and they determined to secure here the railroad-shops, hoping that in the future it might grow into a large establishment. They took steps to this end early in 1853, each of them making a donation to the company for this purpose, and they stimulated others to do the same. These efforts were successful and a tract of land of over six acres was donated to the railroad company for railroad purposes. This land was bounded on the east by the track, on the north by the township line, on the west by the section line, being triangular in shape. It is on this spot that the original shops 390 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. were built, but it bas been greatly enlarged. On tbe east side of tbe track, the piece of land bounded on the west by the track, on the east by Catharine street, and south by Chestnut street, the site of the old passenger depot, was also donated, the whole having been paid for by the gentlemen named above, with others, and deeded to the company by W. H. Allin with full warrantee deeds, for the sum of $3. In all there were over seven acres. During the years 1853 and 1854, the shops needed for the little railroad company were built, and a beginning made in the great enterprise of which we are now so proud. These were added to from time to time, so that, in the year 1858, nearly two hundred men were employed in the different departments. As the business of the road increased — the different pieces of the road being consolidated into one corporation — the shops were enlarged four times, until at the time of the fire, November 2, 1867, nearly as many men were employed as there are now. These buildings were not well arranged, however, and that event compelled the company to face the problem of permanent con- struction. Plans were prepared carefully during the winter following the fire, for the best system that could be devised, taking into account what was then needed, and con- sidering the probable increase of business of the present road and the possible growth from future consolidations with other railroads, and the result is seen in the splendid shops now finished. At the time of their construction, there were no railroad shops weit of Altoona, Penn., that surpassed these in Bloomington ; but in the last few years it is possible they may have been equaled. The ground upon which the old shops stood at the time of the fire was not large enough for the needs of the present establishment, and before the new works were commenced the company obtained quite an addition, and secured from the city the closing of streets and alleys that were in the way. The conditions of rebuilding here in Bloomington, in preference to removing the shops to Springfield, Joliet or Chicago, were, that the additional ground should be furnished and those streets and alleys vacated by the city. This was agreed to by the City Council ; but before the matter could be consummated legally, considerable time must elapse, and hence there was doubt whether the city might be able to accomplish all that was desired. In order to insure this, a guarantee was signed by nearly all the leading citizens of Blooming- ton, agreeing that all should be done as desired. The space occupied by the company for shops and tracks is equal to forty acres. Here we find more than a dozen very large buildings, in which are carried on the immense operations of the company. Among the principal shops we will mention : The Car-Shop 263 by 80 feet. Planing " 200 by 75 " Paint " 170 by 75 " Dry-House 63 by 19 " Foundry ; 180 by 60 •< " L 50 by 40 " Blacksmith-Shop 200 by 75 " Boiler-Shop 160 by 60 " Machine-Shop 260 by 100 " Machine-Shop Addition 50 by 45 " 80 by 45 " Old Machine-Shop 270 by 40 " Rolling-Mili (wood) 132 by 57 " Old Roundhouse 240 feet in diameter. New Roundhouse 240 '• " Storehouse 120 by 60 feet. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 391 All these buildings, except the rolling-mill and the old machine-shops, are built of Joliet stone, have iron-trussed roofs covered with slate, and several of the largest are two-stories high. Beside the above, there are several smaller buildings, the pattern-shop, brass-foundry and several others. Taken all in all, it is seldom we find such a magnifi- cent collection of manufacturing establishments as are here grouped together upon the forty acres and more of land belonging to the company. These shops are filled with the finest and most substantial machinery that can be found. One can form some idea of this from the simple statement that in the blacksmith-shop there are fifty forges, and eight steam trip-hammers, the latter weighing eight to fifteen hundred pounds. Several of the largest and most powerful steam-engines in the West are in constant use to pro- pel the ponderous machinery of the different departments. Even the pumping-engine, which forces water from the company's magnificent well, is a large engine. These dif- ferent structures were over two years in building, having been finished nearly as they now stand, about the beginning of the year 1870. When the machine-shop is rebuilt to correspond with those now in use, the appearance of the whole will be superior to anything of the kind in the State. Here the company are able to build locomotives and cars, or to repair the same — doing all portions of the complicated work, and they employ some of the most ingenious and skillful mechanics that can be found. The presence here, in Bloomington, of the large number of intelligent mechanics, foremen and superintendents required, has a very elevating and beneficial effect upon the city. Bloomington can boast of these shops and of their occupants, they being the most important and valuable of anything in the place. Their size and industry entitles the city to be classed as a manufacturing center. Here are employed from six hundred to nine hundred men, the number vary- ing with the condition of the company's business. Among the company's officers who have been prominently identified with the mate- rial development of Bloomington in the past, we may mention Hon. Hamilton Spencer, Lessee, 1860 ; Charles Roadnight, Treasurer in 1858 ; Mr. R. Parke, Agent in 1864 ; Asa H. Moore, Superintendent for several years ; J. A. Jackman, Superintendent of Machinery from 1864 to 1879 ; Rufus Reniff, Superintendent of Car-shops from 1861 to 1879 ; Matthew L. Steele, Train- Dispatcher ; William Hughes and A. Moulton, of the Iron Departments; 0. Vaughan, present Assistant Superintendent, and there are many others equally deserving of mention. It has always been the policy of the company to retain good men in any position they are fitted for, and there are a large number of the officers and employes who have been in service nearly twenty years. Taken as a class, the railroad employes are much superior to the average mechanics of the country, and their presence in Bloomington in such large numbers adds largely to the character of our population. The Railroad Company pays out monthly a very large sum of money, which enters at once into circulation, giving life and reliable activity to the retail trade of Blooming- ton and furnishing constant proof of the value of this immense establishment. The policy of the company toward our city is quite liberal, its managers realizing that their interests here are large enough to make the public good a matter of self-interest to the corporation. Several illustrations of this good-will have been given in the past, one of the most important being its liberality in assisting in macadamizing the street from the 392 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. freight depot to the Court House square, and also, in 1878, in assisting the city in the pavement of Washington street. The whole policy of the company, under the management of President Blackstone and Manager McMullin, has been liberal, one evidence of which is seen in the share the company is taking in the great work of underdraining the farms of Central Illinois. This tile-drainage improvement marks a new era in the development of this country almost equal to the invention of the harvester, and this railroad has been carrying tile for farmers' drains at the simple cost of carriage, or at less than cost, thus being willing to perform its share in one of the most important of our modern agricultural improve- ments. The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company ranks among the foremost corporations in the country in its care of its rolling-stock, and has been one of the readiest to adopt new improvements. Could the full history of these shops be written, as at some future time we hope it will be, we should all be astonished at the record of valuable inventions that would be presented. We might mention Reniff & Buttolph's Patent Ventilator, President Blackstone's Car-coupler, and many others, but must leave this subject with one more reference — that of the Pullman Palace-Car. In 1859, George M. Pullman arranged berths in two cars for the use of this company, and, in 1863, he manufactured here the first two palace cars ever made. They cost $18,000 each. It is said that the frame-work of the first sleeping-car Pullman ever made is now lying by the side of the railroad in Bloomington. We might add that the total cost of these magnificent shops is in the neighborhood of $1,000,000, and that they are owned by one of the wealthiest corporations in the Northwest. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad now owns or leases 876 miles of road, having built, in the year 1878, 162 miles, giving it a completed line from Chicago to Kansas City. The repairs of this immense road, with its several branches, being mostly concentrated at this one point, demand an amount of labor that will be more likely to increase than diminish. The agricultural development of this region has received great benefit from the railroad, the reaper and the plow — the last being an implement of more importance than the present generation can realize possible. The railroad and the reaper are understood by all, but the advantages of our modern self-polishing plows are imperfectly realized, except by our old settlers. The new-comers, down to about 1845, brought plows with them, and various styles were in use, but none of them would work well in our fine prairie soil, and the cultivation of the land was toilsome and imperfect. It was impos- sible to plow but a few rods without a stop for the purpose of clearing the implement from the accumulation of soil. Cast iron, wrought iron or wood were almost alike — worthless — and for many years our farmers despaired of ever seeing the right plow for this soil. Lewis Bunn was one of the first blacksmiths here, and made plows as early as the year 1833. He tried to make the best plow that could be devised. In the year 1838, he made a lot of the "Sprouse" pattern, which had a boiler-iron mold-board, placed at such an angle, that the heavy friction of the soil would "scour" them better than any previously in use. These plows had the handles and wood-work much like a "shovel" plow, and did not run steady — were "jerky" and severe on a team. The next year they were improved by a different attachment of the beam. Mr. Abraham Brokaw made the wood-work of these plows for several years. In 1840, Mr. Bunn HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 393 made the " Rathbone " plow — an improvement — the mold-board was still boiler-iron, but the implement was more steady. The mold-board was ground smooth, and in some soils these would scour well. Oliver Ellsworth was Mr. Bunn's partner at this time, and together they made 300 of these Rathbone plows — quite a manufacturing business for the times. In 1842, the firm made the " Tobey & Anderson," or "Peoria," plow, of which the mold-board was common steel, ground, but not polished. This gave great satis- faction — was further improved — and by the year 1844 and 1845 they were in great demand. Farmers came long distances for these celebrated plows, and at one time the firm rented a large pasture in which teams were kept while waiting their turns. At this time, it was fully demonstrated that plows could be made that would work freely in any soil, and the result was a very decided improvement in the cultivation of prairies. Bloomington's mechanics — Bunn, Ellsworth and Brokaw — contributed largely to the result. About the year 1859, these three men went into partnership together, and con- tinued several years. It was not till 1857 that these steel mold-boards were polished perfectly, and since that date the improvements in plows have been of comparatively little importance. About the year 1845, is the date when practicable plows first came into general use, so as to be found upon all our farms, as near as we have been able to ascertain. The plow-shops of Abraham Brokaw, at the corner of Main and Market, are among the oldest in Central Illinois. Mr. B. has been in the business nearly forty years, and has acquired a splendid reputation. He employs from twenty to forty men. John T. Walton, who started in business in 1857, employs over twenty men in the busy season, and makes a large variety of the different plows and cultivators required by the Western and Southern trade. His business is carried on in the fine block fronting on Washing- ton street, just west of the People's Bank. There are smaller plow-shops in the city, the several repair and general shops to be found in a town like Bloomington, with machinists, boiler-makers and other iron-work- ers, who employ a large number of men. There are several large wood-working establishments, of which some of the most important are those of J. W. Evans, and the wagon and carriage factories of L. Ferre, L. Matern, S. Hayes, and others. One of the most important manufactories in Bloomington is Dr. C. Wakefield & Co.'s medicine factory, as well as one of the most interesting. Dr. Wakefield spent two years in this place as early as 1837, having been a school-teacher in the Orendorff dis- trict. He then lived in De Witt County until 1850, when he made his home here. His brother, Dr. Zera Wakefield, who died in 1848, had remarkable success in treating the malarial diseases of this country, having been in demand over a large territory radi- ating from his home in De Witt County. His remedies were so good that before his death, in 1848, many packages were sold, and a demand grew up, to supply which, in 1850, Dr. C. Wakefield moved from De Witt County and started a factory in Bloom- ington. His business was pushed with great energy, and soon became well established and profitable. Dr. W. built the first three-story brick store in Bloomington, which, with his factory and drug store, was burned in the great fire of October 16, 1855. His large factory on East Washington street, built about the year 1856, has grown with his 391 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. business, until it is now a large and very convenient establishment. Here he manufact- ures a variety of medicines, mostly fever and ague specifics, balsams, cough-sirups, pills, etc., in all, about ten different remedies, and a number of essences and other prepara- tions. In their preparation, great care is taken to secure the purest and best ingredients, and the result is that his medicines rank with the best that are offered to the public. They are sold largely in the States of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, while there is a good demand in all the Western and Southwestern States. He has a team, with a fine wagon, in six of these States, and thus keeps a watch over the territory through salaried agents, while he has over six thousand local agents, mostly drug- gists and dealers, who sell his medicines on commission. He employs from twenty-five to fifty hands, according to the season. He has four printing-presses, run by steam- power, by which he prepares his advertising matter. In 1860, he got up 100,000 almanacs for his agents to circulate, and he now sends out 1,500,000 annually. He consumes nearly fifty tons of printing-paper each year. " Wakefield's Almanac " is thus one of the best known of any of Bloomington's pub- lications. At the present time, this carries the name and fame of Bloomington over a wider area than any other medium. It is printed in the English, German, Nor- wegian and Swedish languages. This business is conducted in a straightforward, honorable manner, and is one of the instrumentalities by which our city is always favorably spoken of abroad. Such men as Dr. Wakefield are the ones who have built up the reputation of Bloomington ; and we are glad to see they are honored at home. He has always been one of our most liberal citizens, being among the foremost in all public enterprises. The amount of capital employed in the business, including the building, presses, engine, the stock of medicines on hand here, and the very large amount in the stores of his 6,000 agents is over $150,000. There are several manufactures of light articles such as brushes and overalls, and there are the usual variety of miscellaneous artificers to be found in our best Western cities. It is probable that, in the line of these light manufactures, Bloomington will in time become quite an important point. In past times, our distilling interest was quite important, but the building, which stood on the bank of Sugar Creek, west of the fair ground, was destroyed by fire several years ago and has not been rebuilt. The Bloomington Pork-Packing Company, now consisting of Van Schoick, Win- slow & Tryner, have been established since 1872. During the past season, they have packed over 13,000 hogs, and given employment to over forty men. They have very materially advanced the interests of Bloomington. This establishment is one of the most important in Central Illinois. We should also mention our breweries, which employ a large number of men. The tile-factory of N. B. Heafer & Co., situated in Bloomington Township, a mile southeast of the city, is ooe of our most important manufactories, and is rapidly extend- ing its business. It is one of the very few in the West with first-class facilities for dry- ing tile in the winter. Besides the establishments enumerated above, there are a large number equally deserving of mention, but space forbids. There are also a very large number of small shops and establishments that employ in the aggregate many men, including the usual HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 395 variety of industries to be found in any city situated like this in a fine agricultural dis- trict. Taken altogether, we have quite large manufacturing interests in Bloomington, which seem likely to grow with the growth of the West. Our coal is as cheap as can. be found, water is easily obtained, and we possess an industrious and energetic people. Several of our manufacturing establishments are spoken of in our chapter entitled- — " Incorporated Companies." r r MILLS. The first mills in tbis locality were the old horse-mills, " corn-crackers " as they were called, followed or accompanied by the " nigger-head " horse-mills, for grinding wheat coarsely, which, when sifted, made a kind of flour, the ** best to be had," and accepted as cheerfully as possible. Good flour was made only at distant water-mills, and Mr. James Allin and his associates in the new town of Bloomington, as late as 1832 and 1833, longed for a good steam flour-mill. A wind-mill, owned by Gridley & Covel, located near the corner of Oak and Market, is mentioned as among the early institution 8 of Bloomington. Steam saw-mills were built here as early as 1835, several of which went the way of all saw-mills, upward in smoke. Steam grist-mills were not much more fortunate, several being burned from first to last. Among those burned, we will men- tion Myers' mill, on South Main street, and one owned by E. Rogers, which burned in 1864, situated just east of the Illinois Central Depot. Bloomington can now boast as fine mills as any in the West. The total capacity of all our flour-mills is about three hundred and fifty barrels per day. J r J FIRES. October 16, 1855, occurred a large fire, where Phoenix Block and other buildings now stand. It swept over nearly the whole square bounded by Front, Main, Wash- ington and Center streets. The loss was estimated at from $80,000 to $120,000. The McLean County Bank and the building adjoining, subsequently used by Dietrich & Bradner as a hardware store, both nearly new buildings at that time, were the only ones of importance that escaped. The four-story building now called Phoenix Block arose from the ashes very speedily. September 8, 1856, a fire occurred on Front street, which destroyed property to the value of $50,000. In September, 1871, a large fire consumed buildings on the east side of Main street, north of North street, destroying property to the value of $60,000. October 31, 1867, the Chicago & Alton Railroad Shops burned, a loss to the Company of at least $100,000. During the year 1877, the city's entire loss by fire was only $9,885 ; insured for $9,305. PUBLIC DEBT. The following is an approximate statement of the debt of Bloomington : City Schools, about $100,000 City, about 120,000 Township, I., B. & W. Bonds, about 100,000 Township, Lafayette, B. & M., about 94,000 Township, Jacksonville Branch, about 37,500 Total $451,500 From this there should be deducted a certain sum — whose value is unknown — being the amount of back taxes that will actually be paid, which will be large enough to justify the statement that the net debt of Bloomington, city, city school, and township, does not much exceed $400,000, a sum that is large enough to be somewhat burdensome, 396 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. but not so large as a " larger debt," to use Abraham Lincoln's homely illustration. May 1, 1867, the actual debt of Bloomington, exclusive of school debt, was only $6,497, but the votes for railroad aid taken in 1867, of themselves, added over $200,000 to the township and city debt in that year. SEWERS. When Bloomington was laid out, the low ground now known as the North Slough was properly named, it being wet and marshy, as was also the South Slough, now called Pone Hollow ; but these were at the time, so far from the village plat as to be thought valuable for drainage, and were considered a long distance out of town. But the city spread itself in all directions, soon overleaped these obstacles, and then went back and occupied the low land, now become dry ground, through which meandered a little stream, with a deep bed and high banks. These water-courses have cut so deep that they have been sufficient to carry off the water without overflow, ever since the wet seasqn of 1858. The land adjacent has been closely occupied by residences and manufactories for many years. The city has now commenced to build a sewer through each of these tracts. The northern one is now completed from Main street, nearly to its western outlet at the main branch, and the southern one has been commenced. When these are finished, our whole city will be of equal value for building purposes. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The Court House will be spoken of in the history of the county, and we will merely mention here thatjt is one of the best in the State, was commenced in 1868, and cost entire, furniture, sewer, heating apparatus, iron-fence, sidewalk and all, in the neighborhood of $400,000. Prices were then very high, and it is probable the same would now cost about $250,000. The Jail is at the corner of Market and Center streets, and was erected in 1857. It should at once be replaced by a more suitable structure. The city owns two steam fire-engine houses, which answer all purposes, but are not particularly ornamental. During the year 1878, the new City Hall was erected at the corner of North and East streets ; total cost, building and lot, was about $14,000. It is a fine-looking structure, considering its small cost, and will be used as a City Hall and City Prison. The public school-buildings will be described elsewhere. They are the most important of the public buildings owned by the city. The Wesleyan Univer- sity, which may be considered as a public building, is really the most beautiful structure in Bloomington. INCORPORATED COMPANIES. Bloomington has never organized as large a number of incorporated companies as many Western towns have done in the past. There have been several failures, and there are several companies now in existence ; but, as a rule, our citizens have not depended on " by-laws " and " charters " for aid. There was a Bloomington Fire Insurance Com- pany, which comprised our best citizens, and was honorably and fairly conducted ; but, after doing business from 1867 down to 1870, it honorably withdrew from the field. We ought to mention the Bloomington & Normal Railroad Company, which has been of great benefit to the two cities connected, but never a paying venture to the company. The line was built in 1867, and its total cost has been about $60,000. The Bloomington Manufacturing Company, which purchased Flagg's factory in 1865, after a successful general business, was succeeded in August, 1873, by the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 397 Bloomington Furniture Manufacturing Company. This company has about sixty-five men in its shops, and furnishes employment to over one hundred men, women and •children in this city who take materials to their homes ; while it sends abroad enough more to different reformatory institutions to keep busy about seventy-five persons. The work sent out of the factory is the caning of the seats and backs of chairs, of which this firm makes about fifty different patterns. It manufactures over thirty-five thousand chairs per annum, consuming about two hundred and fifty thousand feet of black wal- nut lumber, much of which comes from the groves of McLean County. Its capital is $60,000. This company is of great assistance to the laboring people of Bloomington, among whom it disburses about $100 per day. Though the wages paid for outside work seems small, it must be remembered that most of those employed have no other avenue of employment open, and would otherwise remain idle. The President of the company is Peter Whitmer ; Secretary and Manager, I. P. Fell, who has been in office ever since 1873. The Directors are P. Whitmer, K. H. Fell, E. B. Steere, B. F. Hoopes, P. Folsom, C. Wakefield and I. R. Krum. This company has been a success from the start, and appears to demonstrate Bloomington's ability to carry on manufact- uring at a profit. The People's Bank is another successful company, which has built one of the finest buildings in the city. It has stood all the financial storms of the past ten years, and is strong in the confidence of the community. Peter Whitmer is the President, and William Ollis, Cashier. The National Bank of Bloomington was organized soon after the passage of the national banking act, on the 23d of January, 1865, and has been in operation ever since. It is the successor of the Bank of Bloomington, which was organized in 1857, an institution with a proud record, having withstood the severe crash in 1861, and maintained its notes at par with gold. Its present President is D. M. Funk ; Cashier, E. Thorpe. Among the stockholders of this bank in the past we find the names of Isaac Funk, David Davis, J. H. Robinson, W. W. Orme and others well known in Bloomington history. Mr. Thorpe has been its Cashier ever since its organization as a national bank. Capital stock of the bank, $150,000 ; surplus and undivided profits, about $195,000, making the entire banking capital $345,000. The National State Bank was started in the summer of 1878. Capital, $50,000. President, Frank Hoblitt ; Vice President, Jacob Funk ; Cashier, A. B. Hoblitt. Thdse three banks are incorporated, while the McLean County Bank, and that of T. J. Bunn & Co., are private banks or partnerships. The entire banking capital of the city is estimated at nearly $1,000,000. We can add to these the Bloomington Stove Company, which was organized in 1870, and has been one of the most successful institutions of the place. Its President is Dwight Harwood ; Superintendent, W. P. Brophy. Its stoves are sold all over the West, being of the most approved patterns, of one hundred and fifteen different styles. The company has in its employ from thirty to sixty persons, according to the season. Its factory is located in the northwest part of the city, in the township of Normal. The Empire Machine Works are also within the limits of the town of Normal, though generally classed as belonging to Bloomington. The Bloomington Gas-light and Coke Company was incorporated in 1855 ; works were soon erected, and by the year 1857, a street was lighted extending all the way 398 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. from the Illinois Central to the Chicago & Alton Depot, the latter then being near the machine-shops, north of the crossing of Chestnut street. There were also a few lamps around the public square. In 1867, the gas works at the corner of Market and Oak streets were abandoned, and entirely new ones built at the present location. G-en. A. Gridley had then become sole owner. He constructed very permanent buildings, extended the gas mains in every direction, and used every honorable means to induce the City Council to establish lamps on all well-settled streets. There are now about twenty miles of streets upon which there are gas-mains, and the city possesses about four hundred street lamps. Bloomington is a remarkably well lighted city. CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS. Few of the rising generation have any idea of the excitement that ran through the country at the time of the "gold fever" of 1849 and 1850. For a long series of years — more than twelve — the nation had been passing through a period of the most terrible financial depression. Money had become almost an unknown quantity, and people had about settled into despondency, when suddenly the wonderful stories of the gold discoveries in California flashed through the land. As soon as the truth was ascer- tained, and it was known that immense quantities of gold had been found, and it was seen that a new empire was to be founded on the Pacific Coast, the rush of adventure- ous spirits was sudden and enormous. Bloomington — always ready to make a move as quick as any other part of the world — sent a large company in the summer of 1849, who, with teams and outfits mostly gathered here, went the whole distance overland — a toilsome, tedious journey of several months duration. Among those who went in 1849, we have the names of Col. J. H. Wickizer, Levi Hite, Asa Lillie, Solomon D. Baker, Joseph Duncan, Hiram Baker, Samuel Ashton, J. Jackson, John M. Loving, Daniel B. Robinson, John Greenman, S. A. Adams and John Walker. Out of this number there are now living here in Bloomington, Col. J. H. Wickizer, John M. Loving and John Walker. S. A. Adams lives in Missouri ; S. D. Baker in Virginia City, and Joseph Duncan in San Francisco ; John Greenman, Capt. D. B. Robinson, Hiram Baker and Levi Hite are dead. On the first of March, 1850, a very large company left Bloomington for Califor- nia, made up in part from the adjoining towns. At St. Joseph, Mo., they organized in military shape for protection against Indians ; there were about twenty-five wagons, and nearly one hundred men. Hugh Taylor was chosen Captain. The company had tolerably good luck until they nearly reached the gold-fields, when some of them were destitute, and their teams were badly worn down ; but on the whole it was a successful journey. From Bloomington there were John D. Clark, Green B. Larrison, Lyman Ferre, Carey Barney, M. W. Packard, Hugh Taylor, William Hodge, J. R. Murphy, E. Parke, Robert Barnett, Robert L. Baker, John Owen, Isaac Strain, Dr. G. Elkins, William Elkins, W. P. Withers, T. S. Howard, Jesse Isgrig, W. Isgrig, Elijah Ellis, Lee Allin, F. M. Rockhold, E. Henry. Of these, there are now living in Bloomington or vicinity, G. B. Larrison, Lyman Ferre, M. W. Packard, Isaac Strain, J. R. Murphy, Lee Allin and Robert Barnett. Capt. W. P. Withers lives in Missouri ; T. S. Howard in Iowa, and Carey Barney in California. It is a remarkable fact that but two or three of the whole number made even a moderate fortune in California ; but the most of those who HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 399 returned to Bloomington have been very successful. These veterans of the plains can tell of some remarkable adventures. REMARKABLE WEATHER. Those who find enough of interest in the state of the weather to furnish daily themes for conversation as they meet casual acquaintances, will do well to read this chapter, and forever after refrain from the common unmeaning remarks they so often drop in regard to the "remarkable weather we are now enjoying." The " Deep Snow," the ■"Sudden Freeze," and the "Great Hurricane" which the early settlers witnessed stand out in bold relief as the most wonderful phenomena of the times. The great hurricane came on the 27th day of June, 1827, or, as given by several authorities, on the 19 th of June. It struck Old Town Timber with fearful severity, and leveled large tracts of heavy timber. There were then no settlers on the prairie, no villages or cities to be leveled, no church-spires to be demolished, or the record of loss and damage would be larger. Some injury is recorded in Blooming Grove, where small tracts of timber were leveled. The fall of 1830 or 1831, was remarkably mild. Tobacco sprouts are said not to have been killed until December 2, which, if correct, indicates a wonderful state of affairs, as this plant is one of the most tender raised in this latitude. December 29, 1830, occurred the heaviest fall of snow ever known in the West The first snow was nearly three feet deep, and there were more than a dozen storms sub- sequently. The full depth appears to have been about forty inches on a level, and this when several snows had fallen and become so compacted that in many places the crust would bear a man. The deer broke through, and wolves chased and caught them frequently, a very unusual circumstance. It was impossible for the pioneers to travel, and families caught without provisions suffered severely. In some settlements the supply of corn and hay was so small that cattle starved, it being impossible to move food any distance. Much of the stock was kept alive by felling trees, and the stock subsisted on the branches. Most families lived on meal obtained by pounding corn by hand. There were a few of the settlers who were caught away from home, and who nearly lost their lives in the toilsome homeward journeys. The pioneers in Blooming Grove did not suffer much, but were compelled to keep indoors most of the time. Blooming Grove was then old enough to furnish plenty of provisions for such a siege, but those living in detached settlements, particularly new comers in small communities, suffered severely. When the snow went off, after about six weeks of intense cold, the streams were remarkably high, considerably higher, in all probability, than they have ever been since that event. It is probable that a similar winter now would cause immense suffering. Our prairie towns could not obtain coal, or even flour and groceries, as in such a case the railroads would be totally unable to keep open for business. A few extracts from experiences related in Prof. Duis' " Good Old Times in McLean County " will illustrate the hardships caused by the " Deep Snow." From Robert Guthrie's statement, page 192, we quote the following: The winter of 1830-31 is remembered as tbe winter of the deep snow. Three days before the snow began falling, Mr. Guthrie and Frederick Trimmer started for St. Louis with teams and wagons to haul goods for James Allin, who had opened a small store where Bloom- ington now is. 'Ihey intended to be gone only ten days or two weeks, but they did not see their 400 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. families again for five weeks. They were obliged to leave their goods, wagons and Mr. Guthrie's oxen about fifteen miles the other side of Springfield, and came through with Mr. Trimmer's horses to break the way. During this time, their families were in a state of anxious suspense, and were obliged to live on boiled corn ; indeed, during the whole winter, they had very little to eat except pounded meal. During that winter, Mr. Guthrie sent his children to school, though they had to work their way for a mile through snow that reached nearly to their necks ; but when it became packed, they walked over the crust. From the same work, page 219, we quote the words of one of our pioneers, who is now living in the city : Jonathan Maxson states that during the winter of the deep snow (1830), he and his brother went out where it did not drift nor blow away and took a careful measurement of the depth of the snow with a stick and found it four feet deep. During the early part of that terri- ble winter, deer were very numerous, but when the deep snow came they were starved and were hunted by famished wolves and by settlers with snow-shoes until they were almost exterminated. Shortly after the snow fell, Mr. Jesse Hiatt killed a very large deer, which he was unable to carry home. He buried it in the snow and covered it with his coat to keep the wolves away. But the snow afterward fell so deep that he was unable to visit the spot for two weeks. At last, he put a harness on one of his horses and went to drag it home. On his return with the deer, he killed three others and attached them also to his horse ; but the load was so hard to drag that he did not return until late at night, when he found the frightened neighbors collected at his house, about to start on a search for him. They had collected on horseback with trumpets and horns and various things with which to make unearthly noises, and were, no doubt, disappointed to find that there was no occasion for their fearful shrieks. The remainder of the night was spent in dressing the deer. Some of their neighbors caught deer alive by putting on snow-shoes and running them down ; but, toward the latter part of the winter, they were so poor and emaciated that they were hardly worth catching. The fall of meteors November 14, 1836, though not exactly coming under this head, will be mentioned here. It was a wonderful sight. The heavens were full of shooting stars and meteoric phenomena, which, when witnessed by people living in scattered settlements, may well have caused a feeling of awe, wonder and astonishment. December 14, 1836, occurred a very sudden change of weather. From a mild, thawy condition of the atmosphere, with the thermometer standing about forty degrees above, the change was almost instantaneous to twenty degrees below zero. The wind came from the northwest, with a howl and a roar, a perfect moving wall \j£ cold, with its edges apparently square and perpendicular. It traveled at the rate of about thirty miles per hour. People were caught on the prairies at various distances from shelter, and quite a number of persons perished, some of them but a short distance from home. Cattle, hogs, and even wild animals were frozen to death. It is evident, from the accounts we have of the effects of the cold, that the thermometer fell much more than twenty degrees below zero, but we have no records of the degree of cold experienced. In mod- ern times, we have read of changes almost as remarkable, in Iowa and Minnesota, but none that will compare with this for suddenness. The people living in those States call these storms "blizzards," a term not invented in 1836. Our sudden freeze must have thrown a chill over the frontier such as we can hardly imagine. June 23, 1837, a fall of snow surprised our pioneers. It was heavy enough to make the green-leaved trees look white, but no damage resulted. November 7, 1842, there was another remarkable, sudden freeze, but, while start- ling in itself, it was not to be compared with its predecessor in 1836. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 401 The year 1844 is known to Western history as the wet season. It rained nearly all summer, only ceasing late in August, and crops were very light indeed. Traveling was a constant succession of wading and swimming, as most of the streams were desti- tute of bridges. This was the year when the river was so high at St. Louis, and when the old town of Kaskaskia was nearly ruined by the overflow. Those of our pioneers who remained at home did not suffer particularly, except from the annoyances incident to constant mud and moisture. One day in 1848, the thermometer was twenty-six degrees below zero, and the day after, thirty below. The summer of 1854 will long be remembered as the " dry season," almost as long as that of 1844 will be spoken of for its opposite characteristic. Sugar Creek went entirely dry ; wells dried up all over the city ; water was purchased by many people, and at one time it began to be feared that Bloomington would not be able to obtain a supply. People traveling through the country often suffered with their teams before they could obtain water, and cattle ran wild with thirst, rushing to the Mackinaw and streams that were not exhausted, like droves of demons. Some of our citizens con- ceived the idea of artesian wells, and efforts were made in that direction, but none of them gave any encouragement. January 9, 1856, was remarkably cold, the thermometer being twenty-eight degrees below zero. There were several intensely cold days during the winter, some of them having followed soon after warm weather, and thus causing the death of apple and peach trees all through this region. All the peach-trees were killed down to their roots, and many whole orchards of apple-trees were entirely, others partially, ruined. The summer of 1858, was another wet season — nearly as bad as that of 1844. McLean County suffered very severely during that summer, as wheat and corn both were injured. Wheat was killed the winter previous, and as at this time, the whole county was raising winter wheat — induced by the high prices of the Crimea war — it happened that great financial distress was caused by the unfavorable yield of both wheat and corn. June 7, 1859, a severe cold spell formed ice in Bloomington one-eighth of an inch thick. The frost cut all the corn to the ground and killed the young leaves on hickory and other forest trees. The corn crop was supposed to be ruined, but, fortu- nately, the weather was so favorable that late-planted corn matured finely. The largest and earliest of the crop was the most injured, that which had just come out of the ground at the time of the frost or that which was only two inches high, came up from the roots again and went forward at once. Some of the early corn was six inches high and was, of course ruined. Most of the youngest corn that was left to nature came on better than that which was replanted, and there was a fair crop. The year 1863, is noted as the one in which there was frost every month in the summer. In August, a very heavy frost destroyed much of the corn, and in September, another ruined most of that which had escaped in August. Owing to this cause and the war demand, the price of corn ran up to $1.15 a bushel in Bloomington before the next crop was harvested. January 1, 1864, occurred a terrible snowstorm. The wind blew a perfect gale from the northwest, and at the same time a heavy fall of light snow filled the air and made travel almost impossible. The thermometer was twenty degrees below zero during the storm and it continued as cold for the next two days. Cattle and sheep gave- 402 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. nip to the fury of the storm, drifted away before the wind and large numbers of sheep lost their lives. The railroads were blockaded, the Chicago & Alton trains not being able to pass from Springfield to Bloomington for three days, nor from Bloomington to Joliet for eight or nine days. The great sleet of January 13, 1871, was an event that should be noted. The forest trees around Bloomington and the shrubbery in private yards were irreparably injured. The sleet was equivalent to more than an inch of rain. Telegraph poles were broken, and in many cases all the large limbs broke from trees. Nearly one-third of the foliage-bearing branches were thus crushed ; whole trees fell down and the dam- age to our fruit and shade trees is still plainly visible. In the winter of 1873, during an intensely cold spell, when the thermometer had fallen about twenty degrees below zero, the wind changed in the night to the south, and, for a few hours, there was most a remarkably low temperature, with a high south wind. At one time, the thermometer was from twenty-six to thirty-two degrees below zero, according to the instrument and its exposure. The winter of 1877 and 1878, will long be remembered on account of its extreme mildness. At no time was the ice in the vicinity of Bloomington over three inches in thickness. The entire winter was about as mild as average April weather. Rains were frequent, often very heavy, and, before the 1st of January, the roads were impassa- ble, and remained so from about January 1 to the middle of March. Business of all kinds was nearly suspended, and a general gloom pervaded the community. The following winter was just the reverse. Snow fell early in December, followed by fifteen inches of level snow on the 13th of December, which remained for nearly six weeks. The sleighing was the best ever known, and was enjoyed to the fullest extent. Washington street was, by general consent, given up to the fast-stepping horses for which Bloomington is so famous, and was crowded with gay and happy parties every afternoon — often as many as fifty-five teams being visible at one time. Near the close of the sleighing season, on the 11th of January, 1879, there was a grand sleighing carnival, or free ride, for all the children of the city, participated in by nearly three thousand. It was a sight long to be remembered. There were over two hundred -sleighs, of all sorts and sizes, many of them gayly decorated with flags and streamers. Thousands of spectators lined the streets, and the excitement and enthusiasm were both novel and pleasant. Our list will close with the mention of the five cold mornings in January, 1879. January 2, the thermometer was twenty degrees below zero; on the 3d, twenty-eight; on the 4th, seventeen ; on the 5th, twenty ; and on the 6th, ten degrees below — mak- ing, probably, five of the coldest days ever known in such close connection. EVENTS DURING THE WAR. Bloomington is entitled to rank with the most patriotic cities in the land. It can show a proud record from the time when its citizens volunteered to aid the settlers of the exposed northern frontiers of Illinois to the last day of the civil war. Its list of heroes must be included in the county's record, as there is no way of fairly separating the city from the county ; but it is proper that we mention some of the stirring events that took place in the city itself. When Fort Sumter was fired on, and the President's call for volunteers appeared, in April, 1861, our city was not behind the rest of the land in its readiness to respond, BLOOMINGTON HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 405 A public meeting was held at once, when speeches were made that gave evidence of the patriotic feelings of the people. The enthusiasm for the old flag was deep and earnest. ■Cheers, shouts and excitement abounded. Volunteers were called for, and in an incredibly short time, a company was raised for the three-months service called for, largely made up of energetic, enthusiastic young men from this city. In three or four days, the company left for Springfield, under Capt. Harvey, and it served its time at Cairo. As soon as this company was full, several other companies were at once organized, For a few days it seemed as if every able-bodied man would volunteer. Four or five companies were drilling daily, made up from all classes of citizens. Had the Govern- ment been able to take all the troops offered, there is no doubt that at least six hundred men would have enlisted at once, in the month of May, from Bloomington alone. The day that the first company, under Capt. Harvey, left town, and also the day of their return from Cairo, are memorable events. On both occasions, the streets were literally crowded with spectators. The first was a time of the deepest and most poignant afflic- tion ; the last was a season of joy and gratitude. These two events were repeated over and over again during the next few years ; but never were equaled in intensity of feel- ing, except on the days of the leaving and returning of the entire McLean County regiment — the Ninety- fourth Illinois Volunteers — which left August 25, 1862, and returned August; 9, 1865. August 26, 1861, about three hundred of the men of the Thirty-third Illinois Regiment left this city and county for Springfield, and again was there leave-taking and patriotic excitement in our streets. This regiment included one company (A) of students from Normal, and one company made up largely from Bloomington. The latter was Company C, of which E. R. Roe was Captain. Roe edited the Democratic Statesman at the time. He was soon promoted, and his place was filled by Capt. E. J. Lewis, who unlisted in the company as a private soldier. Lewis edited the Pantagraph at the time the war broke out, served with great credit until the close of the war, and again edited the same paper for five or six years after his return. It was noticed, as the war became an old story, that the departure of troops grew to be more and more an individual matter, left by the public mainly to those interested — the departing soldier and his intimate friends and relatives ; but at the close, every detachment that returned was welcomed most enthusiastically. The excitement caused by the destruction, in August, 1862, of the Bloomington Times, a sheet with Southern sympathies too strong for this latitude, was most intense. The soldiers of the Ninety-fourth Regiment performed this job, aided by uncontrollable spirits who were willing to assist when sure that the blame or praise would be awarded to the departing volunteers. On the 2d of September, 1862, a dispatch was received from Springfield at about midnight, calling for 200 men, instantly, to guard a large detachment of rebels stationed at Camp Butler. The fire-bells were rung; the public responded; the state of the case explained ; the required number was enlisted in a few hours, and a little after day- light made their appearance at Springfield, creating the utmost astonishment at the patriotic promptitude with which our citizens volunteered. Old men, boys and cripples went on this expedition as readily as the able-bodied. It appeared some one at Spring- field had an idea the rebel prisoners might make an attempt to escape, and relied on Bloomington's well-known habit of prompt and instantaneous action, to call together, M 406 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. suddenly, a force that should overawe the prisoners who had been carelessly left with too small a guard. During the early part of the year 1862, several soldiers' funerals took place at Bloomington, stirring the city to its very heart. Among the most noted, we may men- tion that of Lieut. Joseph G-. Howell, who had enlisted at the first call in 1861, resign- ing his place as Principal of the Model School at Normal. He was a noble young man, with troops of warm friends. He was killed at Fort Donelson. Capt. Harvey, killed a little later, at Pittsburg LandiDg, was honored with a public funeral, and the city was plunged in grief once more. We should also mention Col. Hogg's and Col. William McCullough's funerals, and others. Immense sums were given in aid of the families of soldiers in the early part of the war ; but later, the public sympathy was mainly directed through the Sanitary Com- mission, to the assistance of those in the field. In 1864, as much as $10,000 was sent in money in one donation, of which Isaac Funk gave $5,000. There was a constant stream of charity pouring in this direction, whose dimensions in the aggregate must have been magnificent. At the Presidential election, in 1864, there was tremendous excitement. Many of the soldiers were at home ; some discharged for disability, others by expiration of three years' enlistment, and many were at home on furlough. These were well aware that during the whole time of their absence there had been a "fire in the rear; " and from a variety of causes, great feeling was manifested. At that time, the whple township of Bloomington, polling 1,774 votes, had one voting place — the old jail-building, on the northwest corner of the Court House square. The election, after all, was one of the quietest on record, though probably one-third of the voters carried pistols, ready for any outbreak that might occur. The Judges of the election were A. B. Ives, John Dawson and J. H. Burnham. In spite of the rapidity with which they were obliged to decide all cases of challenged votes, their decisions were acquiesced in by the leading men of both parties most cheerfully, and their feat of taking votes at the rate of three per minute, at a time of such a hot contest, can scarcely be paralleled. Mr. Lincoln had a majority of about six hundred in the township of Bloomington. During the winter of 1864, Company K of the Twenty -sixth Illinois Regiment of which Gen. I. J. Bloomfield was the Captain, returned to this county on " veteran furlough," and were kindly welcomed by the citizens of Bloomington. On the 14th of March, 1864, the entire Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteers arrived at Bloomington on their "veteran furlough," on their way from Texas to their different homes in Illinois. There were over four hundred of these heroes, of whom quite a number were from Bloomington. The citizens gave them a warm-hearted reception at Royce Hall, which was unlooked for by the veterans, and was a fitting tribute to the brave men who so nobly continued in the service of the country. This class of soldiers, entitled to more praise than any other, have generally been treated like ordinary volunteers. Now the fact is, they really stand the highest in the list of the nation's defenders. Their vol- unteering in the face of danger, after three years' service, was convincing proof to the rebels that they never could succeed in their undertaking. The day before the Presidential election, in 1864, large bodies of suspicious look- ing men came from Southern Illinois to this city, and changed cars for Chicago. James HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 407 Allin, Jr., then Postmaster, telegraphed the circumstances to John Wentworth and others, and the result was, that the men were arrested before they reached the city. It afterward transpired that they were concerned in the famous plot to rescue the rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas, and the dispatch from Bloomington was one of the indica- tions that proved something unusual was being attempted. In the early part of the war, it seemed that the volunteers paid little attention to filling the muster-rolls correctly, and\jt often happened that nearly a whole company would be credited to Bloomington, when, in fact, it was raised in the county at large. Besides this, all who lived in three or four of the adjacent townships whose post-office addresses were at Bloomington, were generally credited as residents, and the result was that the city's quota was more than filled. When the first draft was threatened in McLean County, in 1864, it was discovered that Bloomington's quota was already made up, and a good deal of bad feeling resulted. By a liberal county bounty, and the gen- eral co-operation of the citizens of both city and county, the first draft was avoided. February or March, 1865, the last draft barely touched a few districts in McLean County. Most of the towns, as well as the wards in Bloomington raised liberal subscriptions, which, in addition to the county bounty, proved effectual. In Blooming- ton, out of a good many thousand dollars raised, quite a large proportion, in some of the wards, was returned to the subscribers. , The news of peace, or rather the surrender of Gen. Lee, the capture of Jeff Davis and the surrender of Gen. Joe Johnston — the whole equivalent to a declaration of peace — caused intense satisfaction and extravagant rejoicing in the same manner as Union victories had done previously. The usual way was for a few men to run around the public square, call for a collection, buy some powder, which Pres. Butler would burn in his cannon, while the boys would join in a general rejoicing. Sometimes we fired a little too soon, or the news would turn out to be unimportant, but we kept up the prac- tice till the news of the last surrender. In those days, the Associated Press dispatches usually arrived at the Pantagraph office a little before noon, and any very special news was printed speedily on slips of paper and sold by boys as '• extras." On the morning after the assassination of Presi- dent Lincoln, J. H. Burnham, editor of the Bloomington Pantagraph, was at Chicago. He saw the news in the morning paper there, and knew at once that the Pantagraph could not possibly have the dispatch. He went to the telegraph office before it opened, and sent the first dispatch of the morning, telling his paper, over his own signature, in about sixty words, the terrible news. This was known on the streets of Bloomington at about 9 o'clock, and it caused intense grief and astonishment. Mr. Lincoln was known and loved in Bloomington as well as anywhere else in the world, and for several hours, grief, anger and revenge swayed the public, crowds of people being in the streets, discussing the sad event. A man of the name of John Hinzey, boarding at the Ashley, was heard to rejoice over Mr. Lincoln's death, and thoughtlessly applauded, or was understood to applaud the assassin. When this was reported on the streets, the whole mass seemed carried away by frenzy, aad at once moved toward the Ashley House to take out the offender to be hanged. His life was in such danger that it was only saved by the stratagem of a few of the cooler heads, who organized a committee to give him a trial, to which the crowd consented, and while this was going on, Mr. Hinzey was hustled into a carriage, several blocks west of the hotel, having 408 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. been passed out in disguise at the rear, and he was driven rapidly toward Peoria. In a few hours after his escape, the crowd became glad it had not taken human life. FREEMASONS. As it takes many people to make a world, so various methods for doing good have been organized, and will be carried on till the end of time. One of the oldest, and, perhaps, one of the most permanent, of the different orders or societies that we can men- tion, is that of Freemasonry. This Order was established in Bloomington at an early day. In 1847, Peoria Lodge recommended the application for a new lodge in Bloom- ington. The first meeting of Bloomington Lodge, No. 43, was March 1, 1847. Its first Master was John Foster. The first member admitted was W. C. Hobbs, who became the second Master, and, afterward, was Master of the Grand Lodge, being the only member from Bloomington who has ever attained this distinction. Dr. Hobbs was one of the leading citizens of Bloomington from this time down to the time of his death, February 10, 1861. He was, perhaps, the most genial, the kindest-hearted, most generally useful man who has ever lived in Bloomington. The Masters of this Lodge who followed Dr. Hobbs were E. Thomas, M. C. Baker, John M. Scott, Good- man Ferre and others. The Masonic Order has always included a large proportion of leading citizens, making it one of our " institutions " of merit, and it has accomplished a vast amount of good. There are three lodges, all meeting on different nights in one hall, which, since 1877, has been in the upper part of the fine building at the corner of Center and Front streets, where may be found one of the most completely fitted lodge- rooms in the State. Besides the three lodges of inferior degrees, there are two or more of the higher, made up mostly of those who belong to the lower lodges, of which we will mention the Chapter of Ro\al Arch Masons and the Commandery of Knights Templar. Bloomington Chapter, No. 26, Royal Arch March Masons, was organized March 19, 1855. Its leading officers are : High Priest, J. Brewster; Treasurer, Good- man Ferre, and its Secretary is John D. Fowle. De Molay Commandery, No. 24, was constituted October 22, 1867. Its officers are Charles F. Webb, Eminent Commander; James Clark, Generalissimo; William M. Stevenson, Captain General; Jabez Brewster, Treasurer, and J. D. Fowle, Recorder. These Knights are well drilled, and make a fine appearance when seen in public. Bloomington Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, held its first meeting, as we have stated above, March 1, 1847. Its present officers are W. R. Bascom, Master; Thomas W. Stevenson, Senior Warden ; Michael Gee, Junior Warden ; N. N. Winslow, Treas- urer ; Charles Strehorn, Secretary. The Lodge has about two hundred members. Wade Barney Lodge was organized August 8, 1866, and now contains 123 mem- bers. Its Master is L. L. Burr ; Senior Warden, C. W. Kirk ; Junior Warden, A. M. Goodfellow ; Treasurer, J. E. Eastman ; Secretary, C. J. Northrop. Mozart Lodge, No. 656, is composed of Germans, and contains about forty mem- bers. It was organized in October, 1870. This Lodge transacts all busineis in the German language. Closely allied with Masonry is the Order of the Eastern Star, composed of Free- masons, their wives and daughters. Bloomington Chapter, No. 4, was organized Janu- ary 1, 1870. Worthy Patron, W. C. Stevenson ; Worthy Matron, Mrs. A. Kettle; Treasurer, Mrs. W. Stevenson; Secretary, Mrs. E. C. Roberts. There are 110 members. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 409 INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. There is perhaps no more systematic charity than is dispensed through the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. This society is peculiarly fortunate in Bloomington, having been established at an early day, and its first members being men of high moral aims ; their successors have followed in the way first marked out by the original members, have always kept the ancient landmarks well in sight, and have attained great proficiency in all the proper work of the Order. Remembrance Lodge, No. 77, was organized October 20, 1851. Among its charter members we find the names of H. S. Herr and William Nightwine. John M. Scott was initiated the same night the Lodge was instituted, and has with the above-named continued a member until the present time. Several of those most prominent in the Grand Lodge of this jurisdiction have been members of Remembrance Lodgs, among whom we will mention H. S. Herr and Thomas F. Mitchell, both of whom have been Grand Officers. Mr. Mitchell has been delegate to the National Grand Lodge, where he was one of the most active and efficient representa- tives. The present Noble Grand of Remembrance Lodge is C. S. Strayer ; Vice Grand, C. M. Ross ; Recording Secretary, Amos Kemp ; Permanent Secretary, L. B. Elledge ; Robert Thompson, is Treasurer, a position he has filled for twenty years. Evergreen City Lodge. No. 265, was instituted September 30, 1858. Its present number of mem- bers is 100. Its Noble Grand is George T. Heritage; Vice Grand, E. Huhn; Record- ing Secretary, F. B. Augustus ; Permanent Secretary, H. J. Higgins ; Treasurer, Peter Rockwell. Uhland Lodge, No. 805, was organized July 1, 1863. Its charter is in the Ger- man language, and its meetings are all conducted in German, and its membership made up of that nationality. A. Schlegel is Noble Grand ; Fred. Kersten, Vice Grand ; H. Moratz, Recording Secretary ; W. D. Penner, Financial Secretary and William A. Ger- ken, Treasurer ; Representative to Grand Lodge, Charles Lamp. McLean Encampment, No. 29, was organized April 11, 1855. It contains at present about seventy-five members. This Lodge is made up from members of the other lodges, being a higher degree of the same Order. William McComb is C. P.; George T. Heritage, H. P.; Charles Lamp, S. W.; A. C. Atkins, Scribe ; R. Thompson, Treas- urer. Remembrance Lodge owns a business house, next to the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets. It was purchased in 1878, at a cost of nearly $10,000. This purchase was made from the permanent funds of the Lodge, and shows a financial stand- ing that is to be commended. The amount of funds on hand in the different lodges of the Order amounts to about $14,000. This money is a revenue to be used in case the annual dues shall not be equal to the demands of its members who may happen to be sick or disabled, and indicates a flattering degree of prosperity. Many of the wives of Odd Fellows, with their husbands, are members of the Order of the Degree of Rebecca. Bethlehem Lodge, No. 32, was incorporated November 11, 1870, though a lodge was in existence previously. Its Noble Grand is Oliver Beebe ; Vice Grand, Mrs. Nelson Taylor ; Mrs. E. R. Hallett is Recording Secretary ; Mr. W. D. Hallett is the Permanent Secretary ; the Treasurer is Mrs. William J. Harrill. There are seventy-five members. 410 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Abraham Lincoln Lodge, No. 85, of the Degree of Rebecca, meets at the hall in Liberty Block. These Rebecca Lodges are mainly for social purposes, though there are some obligations and duties imposed upon the members. VARIOUS SECRET SOCIETIES. One of the most important of our secret organizations is the Knights of Pythias, which meets at 112 and 114 South Main street, in Liberty Block. It contains 109 members. Richard Osborne, P. C. ; M. B. Jeter, C. C ; J. E. Espey, V. C. ; C. D. Myers, Prelate ; William Van Schoich, M. of E., and Frank Johnson, Jr., M. of F. Its Trustees are J. W. Fifer, J. W. Trotter and Dr. 0. R. Karr. Whenever this society appears in public in uniform, it invariably attracts great attention, the appear- ance of its members being highly indicative of discipline and good fellowship. The " Universal Brotherhood " organized Lodge No. 4 in Bloomington, February 3, 1878, about which time representatives from all over the United States met here to perfect their organization. This institution is of a fraternal nature, and its main feat- ure is insurance, its policies being at the members' option, in sums varying from $500 to $5,000. The Order in this State has been incorporated as the "Grand Command- ery of the Universal Brotherhood of the World." The officers of No. 4, are R. F. McCabe, Illustrious Commander ; W. G. Nichols, Captain General ; A. O. Grigsby, Chief of Records ; W. H. Phillips, Registration Chief; H. N. Cutshaw, Chief of Exchequer ; J. A. Beason, Master of Ceremonies. The Knights of Honor organized in July, 1878, with fourteen charter members. It is mainly for mutual life insurance, though it has social features. The Grand Lodge of the State controls 110 subordinate lodges. Assessments are made so that upon the death of a brother, his heirs obtain $2,000. The Grand Lodge of Illinois, of which J. C. S. Miller, a Bloomingtonian, is Grand Dictator, meets here in June, 1879. The Bloomington organization is known as Independent Lodge K. of H., No. 706. Its officers are: Past Dictators, Frank White, I. N. Littel, E. D. Miller; Dictator, C. A. Brooks ; Vice Dictator, B. G. Cash ; Asst. Dictator, S. B. Cooper ; Treasurer, E. D. Miller ; Reporter, C. E. Baker ; Financial Reporter, C. L. Camp ; Medical Examiner, Dr. N. B. Cole; Chaplain, W. R. Bascom ; Guide, M. Plumley ; Guardian, George Harman ; Sentinel, Adam Hess. The Ancient Order of United Workmen is a secret benevolent society with an insurance feature that highly commends itself. Upon the death of any member any- where in the State, the assessments realize enough to pay $2,000 to the family of the deceased. The Bloomington Lodge was organized April 17, 1877. Its number is 63. Its officers for the past six months were J. D. Dodge, Past Master ; F. M. Fowler, Master Workman ; T. W. Pelton, General Foreman ; Julius Johnson, Overseer ; J. L. Beath, Receiver ; James Lonney, Financier ; F. W. Coe, Recorder ; D. Hemmele, Guide ; G. B. Bossie, Inside Watchman ; J. S. Izaat, Outside Watchman. There are about ninety members and the Order is in a flourishing condition. The Independent Order B'nai B'rith has one Lodge, Abraham Lincoln, No. 190. E. Ganz, is President; M. Lange, Vice President; W. Greisheim, Secretary; M. Heil- brun, Financial Secretary. This Order equals the Masons or Odd Fellows in the thoroughness and completeness of its organized charity. The Bloomington lodge was started October 27, 1872, with twenty-two members and now contains thrity-three. HISTORY OF McLEAN cojnty. 411 The Ancient, Free and Accepted York Masons have a lodge — Evening Star Lodge, No. 4 — organized September 12, 1864. J. A. Hill, Master; Z. T. Baker, Senior Warden ; J. Ward, Junior Warden ; R. Holley, Treasurer ; R. Allin, Sec- retary. BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. Bloomington boasts of better organized charitable associations than almost any other place in this State. Besides those which have secret organizations, we have a number that work publicly, though in an organized form. Of these we might mention the German Benevolent Association, which was formed May 1, 1857 ; has a present membership of seventy-four, and has become one of the oldest of its kind in the State. John Breckbeller is President ; C. Haker, Vice President, and William D. Penner» Treasurer. The Ancient Order of Hibernians of Bloomington was chartered April 20, 1874, and contains at this time about sixty members. Michael Martin is President : James Costello, Vice President ; William Nihin, Treasurer, and Daniel Haggarty, Secretary. The Hibernian Benevolent Society was incorporated March, 1869. It has seventy members. George Burns is President; John Sullivan, Sr., Treasurer, and Dennis Mahoney, Secretary. These beneficial organizations have been supplemented by the Father Mathew Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society, and the St. Patrick Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society. It is quite difficult, in a city like Bloomington, to learn of all the different societies and organizations. Our modern life seems to be adapted to all these various bodies ; they are readily formed, and often more easily dissolved. We know of the Conductors' and Engineers' Brotherhood, and of the Firemen's and Brakemen's Asso- ciations, as well as of several trades-unions and other societies, but our space will not allow us to publish all the particulars which we might easily obtain. There are other societies ; for instance, the German Free-School Society, with a good schoolhouse and lot at the corner of West and Front streets, well worthy of more particular mention ; but we have already exceeded the space allotted to these matters, and have, perhaps, even as it is, descended to more particulars than our readers will care to examine. IMPORTANT GERMAN ORGANIZATIONS. The first appearance of Germans in Bloomington in any considerable numbers, dates from 1854 to 1858, and we find that during these years some of our best German organizations had their origin. Among these, we will mention the Turners, who com- menced August 20, 1858. They have become one of the most powerful societies in Bloomington. They now occupy the building which was, previous to 1856, the Bap- tist Church ; but this is too small and inconvenient for the Turners, who are forming their plans for the erection, as soon as possible, of a building that will be a credit to the society and an ornament to the city. Their ability to carry out the project has been but very slightly impaired by the hard times through which we are passing, and when the Society moves we may expect to see something accomplished. The present officers of the Bloomington Turnverein are as follows : President, William Gerken ; Vice President, C. Brohm ; Recording Secretary, P. Horermann ; Corresponding Secretary, E. Riebsame ; Treasurer, C. Trimpter. 412 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTT. October 12, 1874, saw the first organization of the Bloomington Maennerchor, which now contains a membership of 120. This number includes several hon- orary members, the active, or singing members, being about one-half of the whole society. The success of the organization has been quite remarkable. It now contains some of the best voices in the West, well trained, and ready to take a high position in the musicaf world. This society contains a large proportion of the best educated of the Germans in Bloomington, and it represents the wealth, culture and refinement of the German nation as well as any single organization in Central Illinois. Its officers are : Peter Gratz, President ; Carl Wehrstedt, Vice President ; Henry Behr, Secre- tary ; George H. Mueller, Financial Secretary, and Jacob Jacoby, Treasurer ; H. P. Seibel is Musical Director, and Arnold Rigger is Librarian. Prof. H. Von Eisner, who died in July, 1878, was, for some time, musical director, and is spoken of by the mem- bers as having been a fine musician, to whom the society is under obligations for quite a large portion of its present efficiency. OUR HIGHEST OFFICIALS. Bloomington was not very ambitious for high political honors in its younger days. It never aspired to fill high offices in the State or nation ; was content to be well governed at home, and to take care of as many of the county and legislative offices as possibler ever ready to help elect good men from other portions of the State to its highest offices. Even when John Moore, of Randolph's Grove, was made Lieutenant Governor in 1840, it did not seem to rouse our other politicians to any degree of individual ambition. There was a spasm at the time Owen Lovejoy was nominated for Congress in 1856, McLean being then in the same district with Bureau County, but nothing came of it, and our voters swallowed their pride, and assisted Mr. Lovejoy to the position he desired. Up to 1870, no citizen of McLean County had ever been elected to Congress^ In 1856, James Miller, of Bloomington, was chosen State Treasurer, being the first Bloomingtonian to fill a high State office. Mr. Miller was one of our most respected citizens, and has left his mark upon our city, very particularly in the Methodist Church, of which he was a consistent, liberal and enthusiastic member. In 1874, Samuel M. EUer, who had for some time been City School Superintendent here, was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In 1872, Gen. John McNulta, whose brilliant record as Colonel of the Ninety- fourth Illinois Regiment is set forth in its proper place, was elected to Congress from the district composed of the counties of McLean, DeWitt, Logan, Tazewell and Mason, being the first of our citizens ever elected to Congress. He was followed in 1874 by A. E. Stevenson, who is our present member, having been again elected in November, 1878. Judge Thomas F. Tipton, another Bloomingtonian, was chosen to Congress in 1876. Our city is now rather noted for its willingness to furnish Congressmen, or, in fact, candidates for almost any position. We believe Bloomington has always had the Judge of this judicial district ever since it was first filled by David Davis in 1848. He was succeeded in 1862 by John M. Scott, who was promoted from the Circuit to the Supreme Bench in 1870. Thomas F. Tipton was our Judge from the latter date until he was sent to Washington, as noted before, and Owen T. Reeves was then chosen to fill the vacancy. Our judges have been distinguished for their ability and impartiality. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 413" i Hon. John M. Scott was elected to the Supreme Bench of Illinois in June, 1870. He had been Circuit Judge here from 1862. He had also filled several offices in this eity and county, having been, when a young man, City Clerk and City Attorney, and, previous to his election as Circuit Judge, he had, in 1852, filled the position of Judge of Probate, and had held other appointments. He never sought office, but has been one of those careful, competent, well-balanced men who are so rare that, when met with, the public insist upon elevating them to offices of honor and trust. Judge Scott is a native Illinoisan, having been born near Belleville, St. Clair County, in 1823. He has been honored with the above-mentioned offices, while at the same time he has conferred dig- nity upon every one he has filled, being a cultured gentleman whom people have always been proud to refer to as a model official. For two years of the nine during which he has been upon the Supreme Bench, he was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois. Judge David Davis, one of the oldest and foremost of Bloomington's pioneers, is a gentleman who has heeu highly promoted different at times, and we will refer to him by a quotation from the carefully-prepared article in " The Good Old Times in McLean County," by Prof. Duis, which does him justice in better terms than we can command. The greatest legal light of Bloomington is Judge David Davis. He was born in Cecil County, Md., on the 9th of March, 1815. He graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio, on the 4th of September, 1832, and commenced the study of law at Lenox, Mass., in October following, in the office of Judge Henry W. Bishop. After studying there for two years, he went to the New Haven Law School, where he remained until the fall of 1835, when he removed to Pekin, Taze- well Co., 111. After practicing law for one year in Pekin, he removed to Bloomington, which has ever since been his home. Here he succeeded to the law business of Mr. Jesse W. Fell, who became much interested in operations in real estate. He took possession of Mr. Fell's old office, which was one door east of what is now Espey's drug store. Mr. Davis succeeded in the law at the very outset. He was not a great orator, nor ever a very fluent talker, but he was a clear-minded man, and soon took a front rank in his chosen profession. On the 13th of October, 1838, Juilge Davis married Miss Sarah Walker, at Lenox, Mass. She is a daughter of Judge Walker, of that State. Judge Davis has two children living — a son and a daughter. The former is living with his family near Bloomington. In the year 1840, Mr. Davis was the candidate of the Whigs for the office of State Senator against Gov. Moore, but the latter was successful. The Senatorial District then embraced the counties of Moultrie, Macon, Piatt, De Witt, McLean and Livingston. In 1844, Mr. Davis was elected to the lower house of the Assembly, but declined to be a candidate for re-election. In 1847, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention; and, in 1848, was chosen by the people, without opposition, to be Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, embracing fourteen counties. This was a position for which Judge Davis was eminently fitted. It has been said of him, that his lead- ing characteristic is love of equity, and this, combined with a strong will, quick perceptions and the very clearest judgment, made his decisions universally respected. His decisions were seldom appealed from, and more seldom reversed. The Eighth Judicial Circuit, which embraced, at first, fourteen counties, contained an array of talent rarely equaled among the same number of lawyers. Judge Logan was the leader of the bar, but, following him closely, were Lincoln, Stuart, Baker, Linder, Gridley, Judge 0. L. Davis, Judge Thornton, Hon. 0. B. Ficklin, Judge Emerson, C. H. Moore, Judge Benedict, Judge Parks, Judge Edwards and others, some of whom have since become immortal in history. Lincoln was the constant companion of Judge Davis in their travels around the extensive circuit, and at the close of their journey each day, Lincoln related those humorous stories which have made him so famous. Mr. Davis traveled in a two-horse buggy, and Mr. Lincoln rode in his own conveyance, drawn by his celebrated horse '• Buck." the one which fol- lowed the great martyr in the funeral procession to his final resting-place. 414 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The year 1860 was one of memorable interest in Illinois. Some years before this, many prominent citizens of the State resolved to press Abraham Lincoln as a candidate for President of the United States, and during this year the excitement was so intense that nearly all law business was at a standstill, because the lawyers and judges devoted all of their time to the campaign. Judge Davis was, by far, the most active and influential of Mr. Lincoln's support- ers, and his labors were almost herculean. Perhaps some idea may be given of the labors of Judge Davis by giving an extract from a letter written by Mr. Jesse W. Fell to a late distin- guished Senator of the United States, in regard to a question by the latter as to the part taken by Mr. Fell in the campaign of 1860. The question was suggested by an autobiography of Abraham Lincoln, of which Mr. Fell was the proprietor, recently published by Osgood & Co., of Boston. The following is the extract : " Before responding to your inquiries, allow me to say, you give me much more credit than I am entitled to for the part I took in bringing before the American people the name of Abra- ham Lincoln as a candidate for the Presidency. Your original impressions were originally cor- rect. To Judge Davis more than to any other man, living or dead, the American people are indebted for that extraordinary piece of good-fortune — the nomination and consequent election of that man who combined in his person, in so high a degree, the elements necessary to a suc- cessful administration of the Government through the late most critical period in our national history. It is quite possible Mr. Lincoln's fitness, or, rather, availability, as a candidate for that position may have occurred to me before it did to the Judge ; but at an early date, as early, I think, as 1858, it bad his earnest approval ; and, I need not say, his vastly superior influence gave to his opinion on this subject a weight and character which my private and humble opin- ion could not command. It is well known that Judge Davis, though not a delegate, was one of the leading men at the Decatur State Convention, in May, 1860, which elected delegates to the Chicago National Convention ; that he was there selected as one of the Senatorial delegates to the latter body ; that, for more than a week prior to the nomination, he had, in connection with other friends of Mr. Lincoln, opened the ' Lincoln Headquarters,' at the Tremont House, Chi- cago, where, and throughout the city, wherever delegates were to be found, he labored day and night, almost sleeplessly, throughout that long and dramatically-interesting contest, working with a zeal, assiduity and skill never surpassed, if ever equaled ; and that when those herculean labors culminated in the choice of his trusted and most confidential friend, his feelings so over- powered him that, not only then but for hours after, in grasping the hands of congratulating friends, he wept like a child. Whilst it is undoubtedly true that without the hearty and vigor- ous co-operation of quite a number of equally eminent men, the prestige attached to the names of Seward and others could not have been broken and this nomination secured, no one as famil- iar as I was with what was then and there enacted, can doubt for a moment the pre-eminent part there played by the Judge. Among Lincoln hosts he was emphatically the great central figure ; the great motor of the hour. ' Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's.' " In 1861, Judge Davis, Judge Holt and Mr. Campbell were chosen by Lincoln to investigate the management of Quartermaster McKinstry, who held his office under Gen. Fremont. The investigation was thorough and laid bare the corruption and mismanagement of affairs in St. Louis. In 1862, Judge Davis was appointed by Abraham Lincoln one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. This appointment was not made by any personal solicitation of Judge Davis, but simply on account of Mr. Lincoln's knowledge of the man and by the effort of friends. At the time of his appointment, he was well known in Illinois as a man of great judicial learning and the best of judgment, but his reputation had not gone beyond his State, as he had never filled a position where his decisions would be published. But, when he came to the Supreme Bench of the United States, his reputation as a jurist went beyond the most sanguine expectations of his friends. A writer in the American Law Times, in discussing the character of Judge Davis, says, " Judge Davis is a natural lawyer, a character so truly great that to doubt him would be impossible. His mind is all equity and as vigorous as it is kind. He is progressive, and yet cautious ; a people's judge, and yet a lawyer." His opinion in the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 415 Milligan case has attracted more attention from the people at large than any decision since that of Judge Taney in the Dred Scott case. Judge Davis lays down some fundamental principles of constitutional law which will stand as landmarks for ages after he shall have been gathered to his fathers. Judge Davis has been remarkably successful as a dealer in real estate, and in all of his purchases and sales has shown the very best of judgment. His first purchase of real estate was made in Chicago ; but as he was associated with others and the disposition of the property was in a great measure beyond his control, the speculation was not fortunate. Never- theless, he had great faith in the future of Chicago, although it then numbered but a few hundred inhabitants, and he purchased an eighty -acre tract of land about three miles from the harbor. It now sells by the foot, so far as it is offered for sale. It is to this fortunate invest- ment that he is indebted in part for the ample fortune he possesses. His policy in dealing in real estate has been to purchase property in the suburbs of a growing town in order that it might become valuable with the increase of the place in size and prosperity. He was always careful to buy land intrinsically valuable, considering what it would produce, so that in any event his speculation would be a safe one. As is well known, Judge Davis is a man of great public spirit, but thinks public matters should be managed as other business matters are, on a good financial basis. He has been charged with being indifferent in the matter of subscribing to build railroads. His theory with regard to railroads is that they should be built where it will pay to build them as an investment, and that the idea of voting aid from towns, counties and States, or donating lands along the line of the proposed road is wrong in principle. He believes that capitalists are always sharp enough to see where it will pay to invest their money and are ready to build railroads which will return a fair profit to the investors. He thinks that the voting of aid by towns and counties and making land-grants result in many cases in building roads which will not pay running expenses, and in others of putting roads in the hands of unprincipled managers who care nothing whatever for the people who have helped them and the towns that have voted them aid. Under these circumstances, he has always been very conservative and cool about assisting railroads, and some fault has been found with him for so doing, but many of those who have blamed him in times past, are now very much of his way of thinking. Bloomington and Normal have been very much benefited by their State insti- tutions — the Normal School and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The location of these institu- tions here was due in a great measure to Judge Davis, who donated forty acres of land to the Normal School and sixty acres to the Orphans' Home. The former donation was worth at the time when given, $4,000 and the latter $12,000. It will be remembered that great exertions were made to have these institutions taken elsewhere, and Judge Davis' example and influence did very much to prevent their transfer. So far as matters of charity are concerned it is not usually safe to speak definitely of any one. People who have the greatest reputation for charity usually only deserve part of the credit they receive, as a suspicion is sometimes aroused that their charities are performed to be seen of men. Judge Davis does not indulge in ostentatious charity, but his friends assert that very few can be found anywhere so liberal, even when judged by the proper standard — ability to give. Judge Davis was, at one time, enabled to do some service to the city of Bloomington by saving to it the machine-shops of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. These shops secure a monthly disbursement of $50,000, and the matter is of the greatest importance to Bloomington. When they were burned down, Judge Davis was holding court in Chicago ; he there learned that it was the iutention of various parties to make an effort to transfer the machine-shops to another point. He immediately gave notice to the citizens of Bloomington, who took active measures to save them. There was more danger of the shops going to Chicago than the public in Bloom- ington generally imagined, but Judge Davis understood the real state of affairs better than any one else, and Bloomington is deeply indebted to him for his services on this occasion. 416 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. For the benefit of future historians, we will explain Judge Davis' connection with the famous Cincinnati Convention of May 2, 1872. There were in the Republican party a large number of men who were very much opposed to the renomination of President Grant. Some of these were disappointed office-seekers, but the majority of those who were in the foreground of the movement were men who were of the purest motives, looking for " civil-service reform." It was thought that if a Republican could be agreed upon at Cincinnati who was likely to carry a large number of votes from his own party, he would be nominated by the regular Democratic Convention and elected President ; while it was seen that the nomination of a regular Democrat, with no sup- porters except from his own party, would insure his defeat. From Judge Davis' inde- pendent position, he having been known for years as a Republican, having been one of Abraham Lincoln's warmest friends, being the executor of Mr. L.'s estate, being well known all over the country for his high standing as a Judge in the Supreme Court of the United States, there is little doubt that, had he been nominated at Cincinnati, he might have proved much stronger than Horace Greeley, who was the choice of that Convention, and was accepted by the Democrats at their National Convention soon after. When it was seen that a strong effort would be made at Cincinnati to secure the nomi- nation for Judge Davis, his personal friends in Bloomington rallied with wonderful enthusiasm. A special train of eight passenger- coaches left this city for Cincinnati carrying nearly three hundred Bloomingtonians, who were full of zeal for their candi- date. Probably Bloomington never experienced such a peculiar excitement as during the few days that preceded this excursion, and the time that elapsed till May 3, when the result at Cincinnati became known. Judge Davis' friends were fully persuaded that he would be nominated, and that, in that event, he would be the next President. His life-long friends were rejoiced at the prospect of such good-fortune, while the citi- zens generally, whether personally or politically friendly or not, were pleased at the prominence that would be given to Bloomington in case of his success. The Bloomingtonians at Cincinnati, strengthened by the other delegations from' Illinois, infused great enthusiasm into the movement, and, on the first ballot, Judge Davis carried a large vote in the Convention. He was not regarded as sufficiently known all over the Union, and Horace Greeley was the fortunate, or, as the event proved, unfortunate, nominee. But this event was not needed to prove the strong hold Judge Davis has upon the affections of his neighbors, who well know the many instances in which he has assisted the home of his adoption in nearly all plans that have been inaugurated for the publio good. During his whole career in this place, he has been one of the foremost in nearly every public enterprise, so that particular enumeration here is entirely unnecessary. In the winter of 1877 and 1878, at the Senatorial election, when the Legisla- ture was called upon to choose a successor to Gen. John A. Logan, there was a long contest before a choice was effected. The Republican party in the Legislature lacked several of a majority. The balance of power between the Democrats and Republicans was held by five or six Senators and Representatives who were called Independents, though sympathizing more with the Democrats than with the supporters of Gen. Logan, who had been voted for by the Republicans for several days in succession. The Repub- licans balloted for other persons — Judge C. B. Lawrence among others. Finally, the Independents proposed Judge David Davis, whose political sentiments were almost HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 417 unknown, though he was supposed to lean slightly to the Democratic side, and to be very much in sympathy with the Independents. After a few ballots, the whole strength of the Democratic party, with one or two exceptions, added to the votes of the Inde- pendents, elected David Davis to the United States Senate for the six years commen- cing with the 4th day of March, 1878. His high standing as a Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States taken in connection with his well-balanced judgment, which is seldom at fault on political questions, gave him an enviable position in the Senate, where he wields an influence of which his constituents may well be proud. He has continued impartially to fill the political position he was expected to occupy — that of an Independent, with a decided inclination to the side of the Democracy. Bloomington, as well as the whole State of Illinois, may well feel honored in being represented in the United States Senate by David Davis. POLITICAL HISTORY. Our city has always claimed that the great Republican party of the nation had its birth at Major's Hall in 1856. At the risk of being attacked for our audacity, we will undertake to declare this a spurious claim. In the fall of 1854, the opposition to the Nebraska bill all over the country fought its battles under different names, generally as Free-Soilers, Anti-Nebraska Democrats, the Whig or American party; though in Massa- chusetts the Free-Soilers and Anti-Nebraska Democrats had declared themselve3 to be Republicans. The election of Speaker in Congress in the winter of 1855 and 1856 resulted in the choice of N. P. Banks, who had been elected as a Republican and American, in 1854. It is, however, a fact that a convention called as the ; ' Anti- Nebraska State Convention " assembled in Major's Hall, in Bloomington, May 29, 1856, which nominated William H. Bissell for Governor, which was a most enthusiastic con- vention, was addressed by Abraham Lincoln, and was practically the first Republican State Convention ever held in the State of Illinois. Let us examine a letter signed "Anti-Nebraska," published August 9, 1854, in the Bloomington Pantagraph : " I am in favor of issuing a call for a Slate Conven- tion, signed by Whigs, Democrats, and persons of all other political faiths. Let all opposed to this Nebraska outrage come together upon equal footing, and when together, let them organize and devise plans by which to carry the State. As to the name under which we might organize and fight, I should care but little. The one adopted in Massachusetts, viz., ' Republicans,' is, perhaps, as unobjectionable as any other. " Anti-Nebraska." Here we have proof that as early as August, 1854, the name of the new party had been applied in Massachusetts. There was a meeting at Potter County, Penn., July 4, 1854, when the Hon- Joshua R. Giddings and others organized those present into the " Republican " party of that county. The proceedings of this meeting were recorded in the Potter County Journal, as we are informed by William Perry, Esq., of this city, who was present at the meeting, and well remembers that Mr. Giddings spoke of the organization of the Republican party as a " new movement " being inaugurated all over the country. These references to what was being done in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are sufficient proof that the Republican party did not " originate " solely in Bloomington ; and we might also mention that one of the first Republican meetings in this State was held in Aurora, Kane Co., in the month of August, 1854. 418 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. It is on record that during this month a County Convention in La Salle County, 111., adopted the same name. Furthermore, Hon. Washington Busbnell, of Ottawa, 111., sent to Mr. A. B. Ives, of this city, printed notices for calling a Republican County Convention here on the 9th of September, 1854. These notices were posted by Mr. Ives. The idea of such a convention was derided by our leading politicians, who regarded this movement as a sort of disguised abolitionism. This convention was held at our old Court House, its proceedings attracting very little attention. The Pantagraph, then a Whig paper, contained an able editorial arguing against the formation of a new party, which is almost the only evidence we find in its files that any movement was in contemplation. It did not even deign to give a regular editorial report of the County Convention, which is thus reported in the Weekly Pantagraph of September 13, 1854 : REPUBLICAN. At a meeting of the voters of McLean County, held pursuant to notice, at the Court House in Bloomington, on Saturday, the 9th day of September, for the purpose of appointing delegates to the District Convention to be held at Springfield, on motion, Dr. J. R. Freese was called to the chair, and A. B. Ives was appointed Secretary. On motion, the following delegates were chosen, to wit : Dr. R. 0. Warinner, Dr. J. R. Freese, Oliver Graves, A. B. Ives, Bloomington ; N. N. Jones, Hudson ; W. F. M. Amy, North Bloomington. On motion of Dr. J. R. Freese, it was Resolved, That our delegates be instructed to have added to the platform of the new party (if one is formed) the Anti-Liquor plank. Resolved, That the delegates have power to fill vacancies, and that the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Daily Pantagraph. J. R. FREESE, Chairman. A. B. IVES, Secretary. The State Convention to which these delegates were appointed, met at Springfield, October 5, 1854. It was attended by only twenty -six delegates, who were mostly Abolitionists, Owen Lovejoy, Ichabod Codding and Erastus Wright having been the moving spirits. On the 5th of October, it nominated John E. McClun, of McLean, as a candidate for State Treasurer. In a short time, the name of James Miller, of Bloom- ington, was substituted for that of Judge McClun, but the latter gentleman is entitled to the honor of having been the first Republican nominee in Illinois for a State office. This Convention is not generally considered as the first Republican State Convention, its numbers having been insignificant and its organization imperfect, but it is historically the earliest on record. This is the same State Convention recommended in the Pantagraph 's communica- tion of the date of August 9, 1854, and we have now plainly shown the chain of title from its beginning to its ending, proving that Bloomington assisted the general move- ment for a new party, but that our city originated very little that was new in this direction. Very few of the delegates appointed at the Republican meeting at the Court House September 9, 1854, attended the State Convention of which we have spoken, but they were present at the Congressional Convention held at Major's Hall September 12. This district, at that time, was made up of Bureau, La Salle, Will, Kendall, Kankakee, Iroquois, Putnam, Woodford, McLean, Livingston, Champaign and Vermilion Counties. Among the delegates were some of the class known as Republicans, or Abolitionists, while others were u Anti-Nebraska" Whigs and Democrats. The Convention was HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 419 1 regarded by the people of Bloomington as a sort of Abolition affair, as in this region the Whig party was supposed to be good enough for all purposes. In the organization of the Convention, the " Republican" element (then considered about the same as Abo- litionists) obtained the organization, and the Committee reported and the Convention adopted a full set of Republican resolutions, which were thought to be too strong to please the Whigs, and which were intended to be too radical for the support of Jesse 0. Norton, who was the Anti-Nebraska and also Old-Line Whig candidate for a renomi- nation. To the surprise of all, Mr. Norton planted himself squarely upon the Repub- lican platform. The supporters of the opposing candidate, Mr. C. Coffin, who was also a Whig r withdrew from Major's Hall and assembled at the Pike House. There was great excite- ment in Bloomington ; committees conferred between the two wings of the Convention, and, at 11 o'clock at night, the seceders returned from the Pike House, participated in the meeting, and the Hon. Jesse 0. Norton, of Joliet, was nominated as a Republican^ This Convention was large and enthusiastic, and was the real parent of the Republican party in McLean County, although many of the Whigs of that day would not acknowl- edge themselves as members of the new party. The platform of this Convention was strongly " Anti-Nebraska," of course, was quite satisfactory to the Abolitionists, and, though not as radical as was then demanded by the latter class, it was agreeable to the " Anti-Nebraska" Whigs and Democrats; and by a union of these three parties the Republican party was formed. In the plat- form, the " new party," referred* to in the Court House meeting of September 9, was named the Republican party. This was probably the first convention of any note of this new party held anywhere in the West, though, as we have mentioned above, N. P. Banks and others were chosen to Congress as Republicans from Massachusetts at Che same election. The fact seems to be that all over the country, wherever the radical u Anti-Nebraska" men were powerful, there attempts were made, during the fall of 1854, to organize a new party ; and the meeting held in Bloomington was not held in advance of others in different States. The resolutions of this Convention were not printed in the Weekly Pantagraph, then a Whig paper, which is the only file of newspapers of that date to which we have access. Its report of the Convention is as follows : REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. " The Convention in session in this place yesterday, after rather a stirring time, and passing through several phases indicative of the elements of which it was composed, closed its labors at a late hour last night by nominating Hon. Jesse 0. Norton. Of course, as sensible men, honest in their anti-Nebraska sentiments, they were obliged to nominate the man who could be elected. Mr. Norton is now what he has ever been — a Whig — and, as such, he may well expect to be re-elected by a large majority." The Whigs voted for Mr. Norton as a Whig. The Republicans, referring to their Major's Hall resolutions, which he had indorsed, voted for him as a Republican, and he was elected to Congress in November. At the same election, James H. Woodworth, of Chicago, was elected to Congress as a Republican, as we see by a dispatch from the Chicago Tribune, dated November 8, 1854, which gives the figures: "J. H. Woodworth, Republican, 2,143 ; Turner 420 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. (Nebraska Democrat), 695 ; Mayo (Anti-Nebraska Democrat), 70 ; Blackwell (Whig), 249." In the summary of Congressmen elected, we find Norton classed as a Whig, Wood worth as a Republican, while in one district an Anti-Nebraska Democrat was chosen. All this in 1854 proves that there was a Republican party at that time. The Republican party carried the State of Massachusetts at the election in 1855. When N. P. Banks readied Washington, in the fall of 1866, he and others were willing to be called Republicans, and when the long contest over his election as Speaker ended, in January, 1856, he was known all over the Union as a Republican. In the light of these facts, it is ridiculous for Bloomington to claim that the Republican party had its origin and birthplace here. If there is any historical honor connected with the mat- ter, it attaches itself to the meeting held in our Court House September 9, 1854, whose proceedings we have given above. However, the Republican State Convention held at Major's Hall, May 29, 1856, was of the greatest historical importance, as we shall see. This Convention was largely attended by delegates from all the principal counties, ai d was a most remarkable gathering. John M. Palmg j presided, and Abraham Lin- coln made his celebrated speech. The "Anti-Nebraska" Whigs and Democrats, with the Abolitionists, and those who, in 1854, were willing to be called Republicans, who in this State were not numerous, with a large number of the Americans, coalesced will- ingly into one party and took upon themselves boldly the name of " Republican," which had now since the election of Speaker Banks, became a name of national importance. The enthusiasm of the convention was most tremendous, and here was started the movement which resulted in the perfect organization of the Republican party of Illi- nois. The nominees of this Convention were elected. Hon. William H. Bissell was elected Governor, and James Miller, of Bloomington, State Treasurer, while thg^neqch of .Mr. Lincoln resulted in his election to the Presidency. Ward H. Lamon, a resident of Bloomington from 1857 to 1861 when he became Marshal of the District of Columbia, in his life of Abraham Lincoln, says: " Mr. Hern- don drew up a paper to be signed by men of his class in politics, calling a County Con- vention to elect delegates to the State Convention at Bloomington. ' Mr. Lincoln was then backward,' says Mr. Herndon, ' dodgey,' so and so. I was determined to make him take a stand, if he would not do it willingly, which he might have done, as he was naturally inclined Abolitionward. Lincoln was absent when the call was signed and circulated here. I signed Mr. Lincoln's name without authority — had it published in the Journal. John T. Stuart was keeping his eye on Lincoln, with the view of keeping him on his side, the totally dead conservative side. Mr. Stuart saw the pub- lished call, and grew mad ; rushed into my office, seemed mad, horrified, and said to me, ' Sir, did Mr. Lincoln sign that abolition call which is published this morning ? " I answered, ' Mr. Lincoln did not sign that call.' ' Did Lincoln authorize you to sign it ? ' said Mr. Stuart. ' No, he never authorized me to sign it.' ' Then do you know that you have ruined Mr. Lincoln ? ' 'I did not know that I had ruined Mr. Lincoln— did not intend to do so — thought he was a made man by it — that the time had come when conservatism was a crime and a blunder.' • You, then, take the responsibility of your acts, do you ? ' ' I do, most emphatically.' However, I instantly sat down and wrote to Mr. Lincoln, who was then in Pekin, or Tremont, possibly at court. He received my letter, and instantly replied, either by letter or telegraph, most likely by letter, that y^^z3^*0 BLOOMINGTON HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 423 he adopted in toto what I had done, and promised to meet the Radicals — Lovejoy and such-like men — at Bloomington." At Bloomington, Lincoln was the great figure. Beside him, all the rest, even the oldest in the faith and the strongest in the work, were small. Yet, he was universally regarded as a recent convert, although the most important one that could be made in the State of Illinois. " We met at Bloomington, and it was there," says Mr. Herndon in one of his lectures, " that Mr. Lincoln was baptized and joined our church. He made a speech to us. I have heard or read all Mr. Lincoln's great speeches, and give it as my opinion on my best judgment, that the Bloomington speech was the grand effort of his life. Heretofore, and up to this moment, he had simply argued the slavery question on grounds of policy, on what are called the statesman's grounds, never reaching the ques- tion of the radical and the eternal right. Now he was newly baptized and freshly born ; he had the fervor of a new convert; thesmothered flame broke out; enthusiasm unusual to him blazed up; his eyes were aglow with an inspiration ; he felt justice; his heart was alive to the right ; his sympathies, remarkably deep for him, burst forth, and he stood before the throne of the Eternal Right, in the presence of his God, and then and there unburdened his penitential and fired soul. This speech was fresh, new, genuine, odd, original, filled with fervor not unmixed with a divine enthusiasm ; his head breathing out through his tender heart its truths, its sense of right, and its feeling of the good and for the good. This speech was full of fire, and energy, and force ; it was logic, it was pathos, it was enthusiasm; it was justice, equity, truth, right and the good set ablaze by the divine fires of a soul maddened by the wrong ; it was hard, heavy, knotty, gnarled, edged and heated. I attempted for about fifteen minutes, as was usual with me then, to take notes, but at the end of that time I threw pen and paper to the dogs, and lived only in the inspiration of the hour. If Mr. Lincoln was six feet four inches high usu- ally, at Bloomington he was seven feet, and inspired at that. From that day to the day of his death he stood firm on the right. He felt his great cross, had his great idea, nursed it, kept it, taught it to others, and in his fidelity bore witness of it to his death, and finally sealed it with his precious blood." It is universally admitted that this great speech was the means of elevating Mr. Lincoln into the prominent position he soon occupied, and which resulted in his elev^ tion to the Presidency. This Convention thoroughly organized the Republican party of Illinois, and, from its results, has become a landmark in the history of Bloomington — almost as prominent as if it had been, as many seem to suppose, the first movement of the kind in the West. To recapitulate — we find that September 9, 1854, the first Republican County Convention of McLean County was held at the Court House ; on the 13th of Septem- ber, 1854, there was a remarkable convention of Republicans of this Congressional dis- trict at Major's Hall ; while on the 29th of May, 1856, the second Republican State Convention, but really the first in importance, was also held in Major's Hall, resulting in the perfect organization of the Republican party. The first nomination of Hon. Owen Lovejoy, to Congress, in 1856, and the " Bolt ing " Convention, held in Bloomington, deserve a place in this chapter. July 2, 1856, a delegate convention of the " Anti-Nebraska " party met at Ottawa to nominate a candidate to represent this district in Congress. This Convention was, in reality, a 424 HISTORY OF MnLEAN COUNTY. Republican gathering, though the name of the new party was at this time used rather sparingly. Its candidates were Owen Lovejoy, Leon ard Swett, of this city, and Hon. Jesse 0. Norton, then our Representative in Congress. Mr. Lovejoy was the nominee of the Convention. His nomination was exceedingly distasteful to the more conserva- tive old Whig element, especially in McLean and the southern part of the district. This element formed a considerable portion of the new party, then beginning to crys- tallize. " Abolitionist " was the most opprobrious of epithets known, and the Whigs had received too many hard blows from Mr. Lovejoy — long known as an Abolitionist — to accept him as their standard-bearer. Consequently, a large number of the delegates withdrew from the Convention, and signed a call for a'' bolting" convention^ to be held at Bloomington, July 16. This call was signed by Gen. Gridley, Isaac Funk, Dr. H. Noble, John J. Price and David Cheney, from this county, as well as by delegates from several other counties. On the 16th of July, the Convention met in the Court House at Bloomington, Isaac Funk being Chairman,, and nominated T. Lyle Dickey, now Judge of the Supreme Court, as candidate for Congress. In the evening, there was a mass-meeting at the west side of the Court House, in the public square. Churchill Coffin, Esq., of Peru, opened the meeting with a rather heavy speech. He was followed by Judge Dickey, in an argumentative speech, in which he wholly failed to arouse the meeting, although he roundly denounced the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Gen. Gridley was the next speaker, and he aroused the enthusiasm of his hearers, for he paid his respects to Mr. Lovejoy, the " Abolitionist," in his usual vigorous style, and caused several interruptions from some of the highly-excited auditors. At the conclu- sion of this speech, Mr. Lovejoy was called for, and, in response, took the stand. He had spent his life in the advocacy of an unpopular cause, many times speaking before unfriendly and hostile audiences. This gathering had been collected by his enemies, and to hear himself denounced. He had been declared an enemy to his country, and a man wholly unfit to be voted for by the members of the new party. He quickly proved himself an unrivaled public speaker, and, in a few minutes, he had the audi- ence completely with him. He showed his hearers that, even if he had been an Abolitionist, he was entirely in sympathy with the newly-awakened Northern conscience which had now organized the new Republican party. He stated his position upon the Fugitive Slave Law, and asserted that every man of his audience regarded the law in the same light. His speech was a masterly effort — the greatest of his life — and had an electric effect upon the immense assembly. Since then, Bloomington audiences have heard Lincoln, Douglas, Corwin and Blaine, but never as effective a speech as that of Mr. Lovejoy that night. It was full of wit, declamation and pathos, and was as eloquent a speech as ever was listened to by our citizens. It killed the " bolting " convention, which was never heard of afterward. Nearly all who participated in it became ardent supporters of Mr. Lovejoy, and developed at once into the best of Republicans, and many of them were ever afterward Mr. L.'s earnest personal friends. To his great success at this meeting, thereby placing the Republicans on an advanced ground, is largely due the Republican majority in McLean County in later years, although the magnetism and popularity of Mr. Lincoln no doubt contributed toward bringing about the same result. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 425 NORMAL TOWNSHIP. NORMAL UNIVERSITY. The location of the State Normal University at North Bloomington May 7, 1857, marks a period of history that is not only important to Normal Township, but also in an equal degree to the city of Bloomington and McLean County. At the time indi- cated, Normal was North Bloomington, or " The Junction," the six miles square, now called Normal, not having been named until after the location of the University, its first existence as a town dating from April 6, 1858. The early history of the Normal institution, its location, its first years of struggling effort, its vigorous childhood, belong \ NORMAL UNIVERSITY. to Bloomington, and this sketch is as well calculated to honor that city as it is fitted to reflect credit upon Normal. As we proceed with our account, we shall reach a period when the newly-built village became in reality Normal, with a definite future and pros- pects of its own, after which time, its acts and doings shall be credited to the proper source as zealously as its most earnest friends can desire. For the sake of greater clearness, we shall here omit any particular mention of the first settlers in Normal Township, and insert that information in another chapter by itself. We might state, that in 1857, the townsbip was generally occupied by farmers, the village of North Bloomington having been platted and a few houses built, but to all practical intents, the entire township was simply an agricultural district. The Illinois Central and Chicago & Alton Railroads were finished and in running order several years before the location of the University, an excursion train having been 426 HlriTORV OF McLEAN COUNTY. run on the 4th day of July, 1854, from Bloomington to Lexington. The cars of the Illinois Central passed this point without stopping, from May 23, 1853, to the time of the completion of the other line. It was thought in 1852 that there would be a rail- road crossing near this place, and alter the definite location of the Chicago & Alton line through the western part of Bloomington in 1853, the point for the junction was fixed. North Bloomington was projected and platted in the early part of 1854. There was a sale of lots on the 15th of June, 1854, at which about thirty lots sold at prices ranging between $30 and $50, and public attention was thus attracted to the new town of North Bloomiugton. The sale took place under the auspices of W. F. M. Amy & Co., but it was understood that Mr. Jesse W. Fell was the moviug spirit in the new enterprise. In 1855, a large addition was made to North Bloomington by a company composed of Jesse W. Fell, R. R. Landon, L. R. Case, C. \V\jlulder and L. C. Blakesly. The place had all the prospects common to a railroad "crossing" or "junction," which were never very brilliant, when it is considered that the important town of Bloomington, with two depots, was only two miles away. Here, at the point of greatest natural beauty, Mr. Jesse W. Fell commenced, in 1855, his family residence, and finished it the next year, when he made it his permanent home. In the enterprise of building a new town at the "Junction," he had taken into partnership, about this time, the several gentlemen whose names we have given; and in the course of a few years thereafter, acquired from them nearly the whole of their interests in the town site. Mr. Fell, from the first, had plans for bringing to North Bloomington something more than the ordinary business of a common railroad crossing. He intended to spare no effort to build here a town that should have for its characteristics, sobriety, morality, good society, and all the elements for an educational center. Previous to the passage of the act to establish a Normal University, which dates from February 18, 1857, Mr. Fell was laboring with some prospects of success, to establish at North Blooming- ton a college or seminary of learning, and was in correspondence with Hon. Horace Mann and others in regard to the matter. Had he succeeded, the institution was to have been located upon Seminary Block, shown on the plat of North Bloomington, as the block next east of Mr. Fell's residence. This particular piece of ground at that time, before the trees and shrubbery had made their appearance, commanded a fine view of all the land in the neighborhood, being a part of that beautifully-rounded elevated prairie upon which Mr. Fell built his family residence. In fact, the whole tract was one of striking beauty, long before North Bloomington was projected, in the days when, for more than a mile in either direction, not a house or improvement of any kind was visible. As long ago as in 1833, when on his way to what is now the township of Money Creek, in company with Mr. Kimler, one of the early settlers of Blooming Grove, Mr. Fell rode over the beautiful elevation which his residence now occupies. The public highway then passed in that vicinity. It was early in the morn- ing, and as they surveyed the beautiful prairie landscape, Mr. Fell remarked, what a fine location this would be, at some day, for a residence. His companion replied, that it was not probable any one would ever be fool enough to build at such a great distance from the timber, echoing thereby the common sentimeut of the early settlers. Over twenty years after, Mr. Fell built his family residence at that point, and com- menced to plant trees, which in a little more than another twenty years, have made HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 427 at that location the most beautiful grove or park that can be found in Central Illi- nois, and he has lived to see the prairie landscape converted into a beautiful village, shaded by many thousand trees tastefully adorning the whole. We question if the history of our rapidly growing State can furnish a parallel, a town built entirely on the prairie, and, in' so short a space of time, to be covered with more large trees than can be shown in most cities of older growth, though they were built on land originally occupied by those grand monarcbs of the forest, which the early settlers delighted in destroying as fast as possible. Mr. Fell took a remarkable step toward bringing to the new town a desirable class of residents, by providing in all deeds to purchasers of lots in North Bloomington, that intoxicating liquors should never be sold on the premises ; and this stringent prohibition was afterward re-enforced by a town charter, which was intended to be entirely prohibitory. This charter needed amendments, however, in 1867, to make it as fully operative as the inhabitants desired, and a petition was circulated asking the Legislature to make such changes as should perpetually restrain the town or city authorities from ever licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors. It is a remarkable fact that this petition was signed by every man and woman, and every child over seven years old, in a town which then con- tained 1,800 inhabitants. This incident, though rather out of the proper historical order, is valuable as we thus discover that the foundations for the gathering-together of a very superior class of citizens, were early laid broad and deep, and the subsequent character of Normal can be traced quite plainly to those early efforts. North Bloomington, in 1857, was barely started — scarcely known — called indiscriminately by its proper name, or the " Junction ; " a town site without a town, and with no special reason for its exist- ence. There was one inhabitant previous to 1855 ; this was Mr. McCambridge, whose residence was at the crossing of the railroads, where, as agent, he attended to all the interests of the railroad lines crossing at that point. Mr. Fell moved into his residence in 1856, and, during that year the new town was augmented by the arrival of L. R. Case and family, and a few others, but no great growth took place till after the events of the year 1857. For the information of some of our younger readers, we will state that from 1848 to 1856, the subject of free schools received a large share of attention in Illinois. Settlers from States where these schools were well established, were rapidly pouring in, and their influence, combined with the spirit of the times, resulted in a wonderful impulse being given to the cause of education. One direct result was the passage of the act of the Legislature for the establishment of a State Normal University, which passed February 18, 1857. The project had been warmly advocated for several years, by the teachers of the State and all friends of education. As originally passed, the act contemplated that an agricultural or industrial college should be attached, and we find that the friends of these particular specialties were among the most earnest laborers for the new institution. One of the reasons why it was called a university, was because the way was thus prepared for future enlargement. Among the most earnest and devoted workers in this, as in other directions, we might mention the noble-hearted Prof. J. B. Turner, of Jackson- ville, and Bronson Murray, then of Ottawa, 111., now of New York. Normal schools were new in the West at that time, Illinois being the pioneer in this grand enterprise. Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, and a few other States had inaugurated normal schools. None of them were equal to the demands of 428 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. the times. Still, their success had been such as to warrant the public in expecting that institutions for the education and training of teachers of our common schools would aid the cause of education to a desirable degree. Some of the ablest friends of this new project for the proper education of the teachers of the public schools lived in McLean County, among whom we might mention W. F. M. Amy, Jesse W. Fell, Prof. D. Wil- kins and J. H. Wickizer, the latter being member of the Legislature from this district. The public mind was ripe for the proper appreciation of the needs, designs and scope of such a school, although even its own advocates differed somewhat as to the course of study and plans for its development. The act of the Legislature provided for a university, although what was established is in fact a normal school. The intention was to gather around the new institution the different colleges — classical, agricultural, industrial, law, medical, and the other depart- ments of a university — until in the end the State should have here a grand university, equal to any in the land. The full design has not been carried out, but there are many who still have hopes that the future may yet see its realization. The law provided a Board of Education of the State of Illinois, with power to carry into effect its purposes. This Board consisted of N. W. Edwards, of Springfield ; W. H. Wells, of Chicago ; John R. Eden, Moultrie County ; A. R. Shannon, White County ; Simeon Wright, Lee County ; W. Sloan, Pope County ; George Bunsen, St. Clair County ; George P. Bex, Pike County ; Charles E. Hovey, Peoria ; Daniel Wil- kins, Bloomington ; C. B. Denio, Galena ; F. Mosely, Chicago ; S. W. Moulton, Shelby County, and J. Gillespie, Jasper County. This Board had full power, and it was made their duty, " to fix the permanent location of said Normal University at the place where the most favorable inducements are offered for that purpose, provided that such location shall not be difficult of access, or detrimental to the welfare and prosperity of said Nor- mal University." This body of gentlemen soon organized, and it appointed a committee to receive proposals for the location of the Normal University, which committee published notices in several newspapers, stating that the Board would, on a certain specified day, open at Peoria all bids that might be made. Several cities and towns entered into competition for what was understood to be a valuable prize. That the value of the new institution was thoroughly appreciated by the inhabitants of Bloomington is shown by the following extract from the Bloomington Pantagraph of April 8, 1857, then edited by E. J. Lewis: The advantages to be conferred by such an institution upon the place of its location are too obvious to need enlarging upon. Richly endowed from a Government fund, collecting within its walls every year the flower of the youth of every part of the State, and organized with a full corps of the ablest instructors, the Normal University will doubtless take rank among the noblest institutions of learning in the country, and give to the town which contains it a degree of prom- inence at home and abroad scarcely second to that enjoyed by the State capital itself. In the light of subsequent events, how prophetic is this statement ! Mr. Fell and his co-workers did not rely on appeals made through the public press. On the contrary, they were willing that the competing points should labor under the impression that Bloomington was not thoroughly aroused. These gentlemen labored incessantly with individuals ; argued, pictured, pleaded, taught, both by precept and HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 429 example. They set the fashion by giving liberal subscriptions, and so far succeeded that they brought the amount of donations in land and money up to $50,000 from pri- vate individuals. They had previously obtained a pledge from the members of the County Commissioners' Court, A. J. Merriman, of Bloomington, Milton Smith, of Pleasant Hill, and H. Buck, of Le Roy, who formed the County Court at that time, that they would appropriate from the proceeds of the swamp-lands funds an amount equal to that subscribed by individuals. This made the total offer $100,000, and it was thought amply sufficient to secure the location. In order to be fully aware of what Peoria — the principal competitor — was doing, one of the most active of our party went ro that city, quietly and rather in disguise, dropped into a back seat of a meeting of the County Board held in aid of the project, mixed with the crowd in the streets, and in various ways learned almost exactly what Peoria was preparing to offer. Its liberality alarmed him ; he returned to Bloomington and aroused his friends to still further efforts. Mr. Fell and other gentlemen increased their subscriptions until they reached $20,000, or $70,000 in all. The County Court was speedily called together again, the county's part increased by $20,000, and when the final effort was completed, at about the last day, in the afternoon, the total offer amounted to $141,000, made up of $70,000 from the first proceeds of the sales of McLean County's swamp-land, and $71,000 in money, lands and town lots from individuals. But the gross amount was kept a profound secret. Mr. Fell and a very few others were aware of the total, as it was highly important that competing points should remain in ignorance until too late for them to make additional subscriptions. On the 7th of May, 1857, the State Board of Education met at Peoria to open the bids and decide upon the location. The first offer was that of Batavia. This bid embraced $15,000 in money and the land and buildings of the Batavia Institute. There were between twenty and twenty-two acres of land, and a building seventy by fifty feet, three stories high, the whole estimated at $80,000, making Batavia's bid, in -effect, $45,000. The citizens pledged themselves to raise $25,000, in order to pay a debt of $10,000 now resting on the buildings, and to give the sum of $15,000 for the Normal University direct. There were several propositions from Bloomington, six sites being offered. The tract of 160 acres at the junction was the favorite, and the particu- lars of that proposition were as follows : General subscription $ 7,875. Local cash subscription for Junction site 25,850. Real estate: 160 acres land— 60 acres. at $300 per aere, $18,000; 100 acres at $200 per acre, $20,000 38,000. McLean County subscription 70,000. Total $141,725. There were offered also, by K. H-Fell, thirty acres west of Sugar Creek; by Judge Davis, ten acres, near his residence ; by William Flagg, ten acres, on the north hill above the city ; by Thomas, Young & Sears, forty acres northeast of town ; by K. H. Fell and John Nicolls, eighty acres, two and a half miles east of the city, each of these on condition the University be located upon them. By the citizens of Washington, Tazewell County and the Trustees of the Washington Academy were offered $12,000 in cash, and the lot 430 by 120 feet, with brick building 47 430 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. by 62 feet, and three stories high, of said Academy, in said town ; real estate at $20,000, making the bid $21,000. Peoria offered, in money : Individual subscription $25,032. City Corporation 10,000. County Board of Supervisors 15,000. There were several offers of land for sites. Phelps, Conklin & Brady offered 15 acres, of which appraisements were unsettled, the first rating it at $18,000, the second at $30,000 ; the twenty-acre site was valued at $20,000 ; 120 acres two miles from the Court House, at $18,000 ; 200 acres three and a half miles from the Court House, at $20,000, and there were two minor offers. Taking the highset valuation of the princi- pal site, the total bid of Peoria was $80,032. The bid of McLean County was so far ahead of Peoria, the next competitor, that the Board of Education located the Normal University in accordance with the condi- tions of the subscription, on the 160 acres of fine rolling land within three-quarters of a mile from the junction of the Illinois Central and Chicago & Alton Railroads. Great must have been the rejoicing at Bloomington on receipt of the glad news of success, after a contest of such intensity ; but we, who look back over twenty years, can scarcely imagine the interest of the occasion. The Board of Education made the location upon the condition that the full amount of the McLean County subscription of $70,000 should be legally guaranteed within sixty days, in default of which, the location was to be made at Peoria. They employed Abraham Lincoln to draw up a form of bond or guaranty to be signed by responsible citizens of Bloomington. This guaranty is a matter of such historical interest that we produce it entire, with the list of guarantors, prefacing this with the remark that this bond was thought to be necessary on account of the danger that a future County Court might reconsider the appropriation, and the further doubt whether the swamp-lands would be sold for cash spon enough to meet contracts for the building about to be erected. GUARANTY. Whereas, on the 15th day of May, 1857, the Executive Committee of the Board of Educa- tion of the State of Illinois passed a resolution in the words and figures following, to wit : "Resolved, That we require of the citizens of Bloomington a guaranty that the sum of $14,000 be paid on the 1st day of August next, and the further sum of $14,000 on the 1st day of November next, and the further sum of $14,000 on the 1st day of February next, and the further sum of $14,000 on the 1st day of May next, and the remaining sum of $14,000 on the 1st day of August, 1858, if called for by the Board, to enable them to erect the building of the Normal University, on the McLean County subscription." Now, therefore, we, the undersigned, in consideration that the said McLean County subscrip- tion be accepted by said Board of Education, and the said Normal University be located at the place and in accordance with the conditions indicated in and by said McLean County subscrip- tion, do hereby guarantee, each, to the extent of the sum set opposite his name, and no further; the payment to said Board of Education the several sums specified in said resolution, and to be made at the times therein required. And in case of any actual default, we are to share with each other, pro rata, according to the several sums set opposite our names. May 15, 1857. "-K. H Fell $5,000 - Jesse W. Fell 5,000 1. E. McClun 5,000 A. B. Shaffer 5,000 ^A. Gridley 5,000 George Bruener $1,000 R. R. Landon 5,000 R. Leach 500 W. McCullough ... 3,000 H. Rounds 5,000 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 431 George Park $5,000 J. H. Moore 3,000 'A. J. Merriman 1,000 /John Dawson 1,000 William R. Chew 500 A. W. Rogers 2,000 E. E. Roe 500 R. T.Stockton 500 J. C. Walker 2,000 >9. H. Robinson '. 1,000 -William F. Flagg 5,000 Overman & Mann 1,000 William E. Foote 1,000 ^D. D. Haggard 500 Denton Young 3,000 W. W. Lusk 3,000 C. Baker 3.000 Joseph Payne 5,000 -M. Pike 1,000 S. B. Hance 5,000 /-€. W. Holder 2,000 S. P. Morehouse 1,000 N. Dixon 1,000 Charles Roadnight 5,000 Franklin Price 3,000 —William W. Orme 5,000 W. W. Lusk & Company 5,000 -William T. Major 5,000 _J). L.Crist 2 000 Theron Pardee 5,000 George W. Stipp 5,000 W. H. Temple 3,000 James Niccolls 3,000 James Bronson 500 Edward D. Benjamin 1,000 E. W. Bakewell 5,000 -4)r. H. Schroeder 1,000 H. H. Painter 3,000 H. J. Eager $5,000 Z. Lawrence 2,000 John Magoun 5,000 Leonard Swett 3,000 James Grover 3,000 A. W. Moore 3,000 O. Ellsworth 1,000 L. Bunn 1,000 Z. S Hoover 3,000 S. E. Kenyon & Son 1,000 David Brier 5,000 A. Johnstone 500 R. Thompson & Co 1,000 S.G.Fleming 1,000 C. W. Lander 500 John Rouse 2,000 S. P. Adolph 1,000 J.O. Slening 1,000 E. H. Rood 1,000 John J. Price 5,000 Joseph Ludington 1,000 O. Rugg 1,000 N. B. Heafer 2,000 Keays & Brother 500 S. Galagher 1,000 Birch & Brothers 1,000 Elihu Rogers 2,000 E. M.Philips 1,000 J. F. Humphreys 1,000 C. Wakefield 1,000 W. Wyatt 5,000 A.J. Warner 5,000 J. N. Ward 5,000 E. Hartry 5,000 James L. Rice 1,000 W. P. Withers 1,000 Jesse Adams 1,000 Their guaranty was never enforced, as it was found that some of the lands were sold for cash, others on credit and the proceeds used in the building, and it also hap- pened there was no trouble about the county appropriation, as it was confirmed by the new court in the spring of 1 858. This new court consisted of a Board of Supervisors,, the county having adopted township organization at the fall election in 1857. This guaranty, however, was made in good faith, was of great value at the time, and is one of the important steps taken to secure the Normal University. It will also be interesting to read the list of subscribers, which we give. The following is a list of subscriptions that were nearly all given with the single condition that the institution should be located at some point within one mile of the corporate limits of Bloomington : Jesse W. Fell, $500, payable in six and twelve months after location is made ; also, ten acres for site, to be selected anywhere, valued at $2,000. C. W. Holder, $200, payable in six and twelve months. S. D. Rounds, $300, payable in six and twelve months. William W. Orme, $100, payable in six and twelve months. R. 0. Warriner, $100, payable in six and twelve months after the building commences. A. B. Shaffer, $600, payable in six and twelve months. Park & Brother, $100, payable in six and twelve months. Robert Leach, $100, payable in six and twelve months. R. R. Landon, $100, payable in six and twelve months. 432 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. George Dietrich, $50, payable in six and twelve months. Leonard Swett, $100, payable in six and twelve months. W. Thomas, $100, payable in six and twelve months. A. & 0. Barnard, $100, payable in six and twelve months. J. E. McClun, $500, in real estate at cash prices. Isaac Mitchell, $50, payable in six and twelve months. William E. Foote, $100, payable in six and twelve months. James P. Keen, $100, payable in six and twelve months. S. B. Hance, $100, payable in six and twelve months. Hance & Taylor, $100, payable in six and twelve months. Corydon Weed, $100, payable in six and twelve months. John R. Smith, $50, payable in six and twelve months. R. Y. Stockton, $50, payable in six and twelve months. O. Ellsworth, $100, payable in six and twelve months. Lewis Bunn, $100, payable in eight and twelve months. E. Thorp, Smith & Co., $100, payable in six and twelve months. John Magoun, $100, payable in six and twelve months. G. P. Merriman, $50, payable in six and twelve months. F. K. Phoenix, $100, payable in one and two years. F. Price, $100, payable in one and two years. E. Thomas, $200, payable in one and two years. Denton Young, $100, payable in one and two years. W. W. Taylor, $200, payable in one and two years. K. P. Taylor, $150, payable in one and two years K. H. Fell, $100, payable in good notes, to be made payable in one and two years from the 1st of June next, provided the said institution is located within two miles of the corporate limits of the city of Bloomington. Jesse W. Fell, $500, payable by the conveyance of 100 acres of land, of average value, in Range 4 west, of Jackson County, 111., on completion of building. The list which follows is made up principally of those who limited their subscrip- tion to a location within three-fourths of a mile of the junction of the Illinois Central and Chicago & Alton Railroads. These individuals owned land in North Bloom- ington, or adjoining, or near by, and hence had, most of them, a direct interest -in the location. Several of these made smaller unconditional subscriptions. C. W. Holder, for instance, would give $200, wherever the institution might be located, and $800 more provided North Bloomington were the fortunate point. The most of this, with that in the preceding list, was limited, practically, to the site which was chosen, it being within one mile of the corporate limits of Bloomington, and also within three-fourths of a mile of the crossing of the two railroads : Jesse W. Fell, $2,000 (including a subscription of $500 already made^, payable in one, two, three, four and five years : Provided, not less than $10,000 more can be added to this subscription, and not less than eighty acres of land ; the first $500 to be expended in making a good side or foot walk to the Junction from University. Swett & Orme, $1,500 (including a subscription of $200 already made), payable in one and two years : Provided, not less than $10,000 more can be had to this subscription, and not less than eighty acres of land. C. W. Holder, $1,000 (including a subscription of $200 already made), payable in one and two years : Provided, not less than $10,000 more can be had to this subscription, and not less than eighty acres of land. F. K. Phoenix, $1,500 (including a subscription of $100 already made), payable one-half in nursery stock or ornamental planting on said site, and the balance in one and two years. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 433 R. R. Landon, $1,000 (including a subscription of $100 already made), payable in one and two years. F. Price. $300 (including a subscription of $100 already made), payable in one and two years. Robert Ulrich, $300, payable in one and two years. William Dooley, $500, payable in one and two years. A. Gridley & Co., $1,150, dischargeable by a conveyance of eleven and one-half acres of land, situated in North Bloomington, and in tracts adjoining on the north. John Magoun, $700 (including a subscription of $100 already made), payable in one and two years. William Hill, $400, payable in one and two years. O. M. Colman, $1,000, payable in one and two years, or dischargeable by the conveyance, within one year, of ten acres of land in North Bloomington. Jsshua R. Fell, $500, payable in one or two years, or dischargeable by the conveyance, within one year, of five acres of land off the south end of my home farm, east of the railroad, at my option. 0. T. Reeves, Jr., $500, payable in one and two years. Elihu Rogers, $500, payable in one aud two years. William E. Foote, $200 (including $100 already subscribed), payable in one and two years. Robert A. Dalzell, $250, payable in one and two years. Thomas Junk, $500, payable in one and two years, or dischargeable by the convyeancc within one year, of five acres of land in the northwest corner of my farm, at my option. Norvel Dixon, $200, payable in one and two years : Provided, I succeed in getting a good title to the northeast quarter of Section 22, Township 24 north, Range 2 east. W. W. Taylor, $600, payable in one and two years, including a subscription already made of $200. K. P. Taylor, $500, payable in one and two years, including a subscription already made of $150. J. S. Walker, $200, payable in one and two years, if located on the Amy property. Overman & Mann, $1,200, payable in one, two and three years, one-half in nursery stock, hedging and ornamental planting, first and second years ; and balance cash, second and third years. L. R. Case, $200, payable in one and two years in cash, or dischargeable within one year by the conveyance of two acres of ground in North Bloomington, and adjoining on the north, at my option. K. H. Fell, $500, payable in notes to be due in three years from the 1st of June next. John Rouse, $200, payable in one and two years from the 1st of June next. W. H. Allin, $1,100, payable on the completion of the building, by the conveyance of the following lots : Lot 7, Block 1 ; Lot 5, Block 2 ; Lot 13, Block 13 ; Lots 14 and 15, Block 23 ; and Lot 9, Block 24 — all of Western Addition to Bloomington. William T. Major, $600, payable on the completion of the building, by a conveyance of Lot No. One (1), Section 16, Township 25, R. 2 east, containing forty acres. George P. Howell, $150, payable in one, two and three years, equal installments. Jesse W. Fell, $7,000, payable, on the completion of the University Building, by the con- veyance of 1,450 acres of my Jackson County lands, situated in Towns 8 and 9 south, Ranges 4 and 5 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and to be of average value with my other lands in said townships, to be selected by disinterested persons. The next list is mostly made of those who subscribed on condition that the institu- tion should be located at some point within three miles of the corporate limits of Bloom- ington. Dietrich & Bradner, $200, one-half payable in nine months and balance in eighteen. Poston & Didlake, $100, one-half payable in nine months and balance in eighteen. S. P. Morehouse, $100, one-half payable in six months and balance in twelve. 434 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. D. L. Crist, $100, within one mile of Bloomington, one-half in six months, balance in twelve months, and $100 more if located within one-half mile of Junction. A. C. Washburn, $50. Harwood & Rugg, $200, one-half payable in nine months and balance in fifteen, if located one-half mile from Junction. John Denman, $100, on condition that said school is located within one and one-half miles of Bloomington. E. K. Crothers, $50, one-half in nine months and balance in one year. R. E. Woodson, $50, one-half in six months and balance in one year. Thomas Carlile, $200, one-half in six months and balance in twelve months if located within one mile of the corporate limits. C. Weed, $500. Samuel Watson, $200, in one and two years. O' Donald & Warner, $300, in one and two years. C. W. Lander, $50. E. Barber & Co., $50. R. B. Harris, $25. A. Steel, $25. E. Martin, $100, in one and two years. T. J. Karr, $25. C. Wakefield, $50, in one and two years. Giles A. Smith & Graham, $50, in one and two years. Samuel Colvin, $25. John McMillan, $25, in one and two years. A. J. Nason, $25, in one and two years. J. Bronson, $25, in one and two years. A. Sutton, $25, in one and two years. J. W. Lichenthaler, $25, in one and two years. J. B. Crouch, $25, in one and two years. K. Thompson, $25, in one and two years. J. W. Moore, $50, in one and two years. Orin Small, $100, in one and two years. James Grover, $100, in four yearly payments. E. M. Phillips, $100, in four yearly payments. The subscriptions in this last list, as well as those in the first and second classes, were, by the terms of their subscription, included among the donations to the Normal University. In addition to the above, we find that Joseph Payne and Meshack Pike donated the site where the institution was located, consisting of about sixty acres, with enough more on the west to make their gift about eighty acres, the whole valued at about $22,000. Mr. E. W. Bakewell and Judge David Davis, each gave forty acres, valued, altogether, at $16,000. The whole of the last-mentioned eighty acres, and some of the other, is west of Main street, and is the land designed to be used by the agricultural department of the institution. The list we have given speaks for itself. It is a record of liberality, which, at the time it was made, was unparalleled, and caused great comment all over the country. We should not forget that the most valuable part of the subscription — that which really was of the most solid importance — was the county subscription. This was voted by the County Commissioners — Judge A. J. Merriman, of Bloomington, and his Associates, Hon. Milton Smith, of Pleasant Hill, and Hon. H. Buck, of Le Roy, in a quiet, almost private session, with no opportunity to consult their constituents. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 435 In the fall of 1857, these gentlemen were all re-elected to the same positions ; and when the Board of Supervisors, in the following year, ratified their proceedings, appoint- ing A. J. Merriman Swamp-Land Commissioner, it was seen that McLean County fully sustained the County Court in its disposition of so large a portion of the swamp-land funds. The Board of Education appointed an architect — George P. Randall, of Chicago — who prepared plans and specifications, upon which bids were called for in the papers of Alton, Galena, Springfield, Peoria, Chicago and Bloomington. Fifteen bids were made, ranging in price from $80,000 to $115,000. The contract was awarded to Mortimer & Loburg, and T. H. Soper, of Chicago, for the sum of $83,000, the work to be com- pleted September 1, 1858. The corner-stone was laid September 29, 1857. On this occasion there was quite an impressive ceremony. Rev. H. J. Eddy, of the Baptist Church of Bloomington, offered a prayer. Prof. D. Wilkins read a letter from Gov. Matteson, appropriate to the occasion. W. H. Powell, State School Superintendent, deposited in the corner-stone, a copy of the school laws and of the different educational journals of the day. Mr. Jesse W. Fell deposited a list of all the contributors to the location of the Normal, and hoped to see the institution develop into a complete State University, with a model farm and agricultural college. Dr. E. R. Roe, the editor of the Illinois Baptist, deposited all the Bloomington papers of the time, and made a very appropriate speech. Judge A. J. Merriman, of the County Court, placed the upper stone in position when the ceremony was completed. Before winter, quite a large amount of work had been done upon the stone foun- dation of the lower story, and about $30,000 was expended before the work was sus- pended for the winter season. The financial crisis of 1857, which commenced in the month of September, was the means of causing a discontinuance of the work on the building. The county lands could not be sold for cash ; many of the subscribers were crippled, and it was thought best by the State Board to wait a few years, till money matters might become easier, and hence the buildings were not fully completed until the early part of 1861. During 1859 and 1860, work was pushed with sufficient vigor to see the building inclosed in the winter of 1859, and far enough advanced so that the graduating exercises of the first class were held at the new building in June, 1860. Temporary rooms had been secured by the State Board at Major's Hall, in Bloom- ington, where, on the 5th day of October, 1857, Charles E. Hovey, Principal, and Ira Moore, Assistant, opened the Normal School with 29 pupils, whose numbers increased during the academic year to a total of 127. Major's Hall continued to be used until the fall term of 1860, when the Normal building was far enough finished to be occupied by the entire institution. Several of the rooms were not completed till late in the winter, at which time the State made an appropriation of $65,000 to pay debts which had accumulated against the Board of Education. The building cost more than the sum first agreed upon, owing, in part, to advanced cost of materials. Included in the appropriation is a large sum for heating and furnishing the building and for miscel- laneous matters. A portion of this money was lost by the failure of so many banks in the spring of 1861, and for other reasons it was found necessary for the next Legis- lature to appropriate $35,000 more before all bills were fully paid. The total cost of 436 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. the building, with all the incidental expenses, and the amount asked for books and furniture up to 1863, was about $200,000 ; but had the building been completed near the time it was started, the total cost would probably not have exceeded $100,000, reckoning simply the cost of the building. It should be stated that McLean County honorably met its subscription according to its' terms, and that nearly all the private individuals paid, though, as before stated, the State Board of Education did not enforce the subscriptions at the time most of them were payable. The Normal building is located about two miles north of the McLean County Court House, on an elevated plateau, commanding a splendid view of Bloomington and the surrounding country. At the time of its erection, the adjacent lands were princi- pally utilized for agricultural purposes ; but since that time, the beautiful suburban vil- lage of Normal, with its elegant villas, lovely parks, classic church-spires and wealth of flowers and shade-trees, has clustered around it, making as fine a combination of nat- ural and artificial landscapes as can be found in the entire West. The building is admirably arranged for collegiate use. Its dimensions are 160 feet in length ; the end wings are 100 feet in width, and the central portions, 80 feet. The distance from the basement to the extreme height of the tower is 140 feet. The base- ment is divided into apartments, used, respectively, as a chemical and zoological labora- tory, scientific lecture-room and dissecting-rooms. These are furnished with the neces- saries for thorough, practical tests and demonstrations in the various branches. The remain- der of the basement is occupied by the janitor's rooms and the heating apparatus, hot air and steam being both utilized. Here, also, may be found reels of hose, connected with the reservoir, located near the roof, which furnish sufficient water-pressure to extinguish any ordinary outbreak of fire. The first floor is exactly symmetrical in its divisions, the adjacent sides and oppo- site ends corresponding precisely with each other in the size of the apartments. The north side is divided into four recitation-rooms, occupied by the grammar and high schools. The corner rooms on the south side are large, convenient dressing-rooms. The primary department serves as a training-school for teachers. Here, the pupils of the normal department witness the theoretical, practical and disciplinary work of teach- ing, demonstrated by Prof. Metcalf and his assistants. Pupils are required to take charge of primary classes, affording them an excellent opportunity to put into practice the theories imbibed by observation. The reception-room, in the central front, is a neat apartment, carpeted with Brussels and furnished with upholstered chairs and sofas, the walls hung with portraits, and, on one side, adorned with an elegant gilt-framed mirror. Ascending to the second floor, we find the assembly-rooms occupying the entire width of the building, with seats and desks for 270 pupils. The remainder of this floor is divided into eight recitation -rooms, the library and reading-rooms. The library contains about one thousand two hundred volumes of choice, standard reference-books. The reading-room contains files of prominent literary and news. journals. The third floor contains five compartments — the museum, Normal Hall and the two society -rooms, the latter occupying the west end ; they are 30x50 feet each, and seat 250 persons. They are similarly furnished, each with a well-selected library, a piano and other appropriate articles, all of which are the property of the societies. The Pliadelphian and Wrightonians hold their regular literary exercises once a week. The Normal Hall is 80 feet square and 20 feet in width, with a seating capacity of about HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 437 800 persons. The museum occupies the east end, and contains a very valuable collec- tion, of great interest to the student as well as interesting to visitors, and is valued at nearly $100,000. Charles E. Hovey was the first President, from 1857 to 1861, followed by Perkins Bass, for the years 1861 and 1862. Richard Edwards became President in 1862, and filled the position with great ability until 1876, when Mr. E. C. Hewitt, who had been an assistant in the institution from 1858; was selected by the State Board of Educa- tion, and has been President to the present time. The following gentlemen and ladies constitute the present Normal Faculty : Edwin C. Hewett, LL. D., President, Professor of Mental Science and Didactics ; Thomas Metcalf^ A. M., Principal of the Training Department ; Albert -Stetson, A. M., Pro- fessor of Language and Reading ; John \\^£Jook, Professor of Mathematics ; Henry McC ormi ck, Professor of History and Geography ; Stephen^A. Forbes, Director of Sci- entific Laboratory ; Minor L. Seymour, Professor of Natural Science ; Lester A. Bur- rington, A. M., Professor of Latin and Greek and Principal of the High School ; Mrs. Martha D. L. Haynie, Professor of Modern Languages ; Miss Armada G. Paddock, First Assistant7~Training Department ; CharleaJQfiGarmo, Second Assistant, Training Department; Miss Rosalie Miller, Teacher of Drawing; Miss Bandusia Wakefield, First Assistant Normal School; Miss Flora Pennell, Second Assistant Normal School. During the year ending June, 1878, the number of students in the normal proper was 447 ; and in the high, grammar and primary schools connected with the institu- tion, there were 235. Since the Normal University first started, nearly four hundred pupils have taken the full three-years course and graduated, while nearly seven thousand different students have availed themselves of its advantages. The institution has done a greater work with those pupils who have attended a portion of the course than with the limited num- ber whose means enabled them to avail themselves of the entire curriculum. When the Normal Building was ready for occupancy, in the fall of 1860, the vil- lage of Normal comprised only about thirty houses, and a large number of the students resided in Bloomington during the first two years; but by the fall of 1862, there were enough tenements to accommodate all who desired board at Normal. From this time forward, the number of permanent residents in Normal rapidly increased, and probably the year 1863 maybe taken as the time when the village had become in reality, distinct and separate from Bloomington, with definite aims of its own. Houses went up on every side, retail stores, began to be started, and Normal was a town of 1,000 inhab- itants as early as 1865. The total expenses of the Normal Department from July 1, 1877, to February 1, 1879, were $42,092, the whole of which were paid by the State. The total receipts from the Model Department for the same time, $5,776 ; expenses, $5,635. The expenses of running this school are met by the tuition fees charged to the pupils, only about thirty of the smallest being admitted free. These last are needed in order that the pupils in the Normal Department may acquire experience in the training of children. The Normal University has taken a high rank among similar institutions, and has a firm hold upon the hearts of the leading educators of the State. Its graduates have acquitted them- selves with honor, some of them having been chosen to fill leading positions in normal schools in other States. Its influence is felt not only in every part of Illinois, but 438 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. throughout the entire West. It is au institution of which the State may well be proud, and is an honor to the community in which it is located. soldiers' orphans' home. While our civil war was raging, many plans were discussed for the future care of the disabled soldiers, and for the orphan children of those who might lose their lives in the country's service. As early as January 19, 1864, there was a meeting at the Court House in Bloomington, at which quite a number of citizens and several officers and sol- diers who happened to be at home on furlough, were present. A motion was offered by Col. McNulta, of the Ninety fourth Illinois, propo-ing a resolution to appoint a commit- tee to memorialize the Legislature in regard to preparing a home for soldiers' orphans. This motion was seconded by Lieut. Col. Roe, of the Thirty-third Illinois Regiment, and it was can ied unanimously. Other parties in different portions of the State, about the same time, re-echoed the sentiments of this meeting, and the movement here started re- sulted in the passage of an act of the Legislature, February 7, 1865, without a dissenting vote, which is " An act to establish a home for children of deceased soldiers." This law was not found quite operative, and, during the winter of 1867, it was further amended. The new law provided for a Commission to locate the home, and for trustees who should manage the same. It appropriated the sum of $70,000 toward erecting a suitable building. Gov. Oglesby added to this the sum of $30,000, which was in his care, known as the " Deserters' Fund." This money had been left in the hands of the Governor by men who had enlisted for bounties, and after enlistment had deserted or died, and left no heirs, and it seemed best to appropriate it to some worthy object. The citizens of Normal under the lead of Mr. Jesse W. Fell, organized a movement in April, to secure, if possible, the location of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The Commission for its location consisted of Dr. H. C. Johns, of Decatur, Col. W. Niles, of Belleville, Maj. John M. Beardsley, of Rock Island, Col. J. H. Mayborne, of Geneva, and Col. T. A. Marshall, of Charleston- Rock Island offered 100 acres of land, valued at $10,000 ; cash, $5,000 ; total, $15,000. Decatur offered 22 acres of land. Irvington, Washington County, offered 40 acres. Springfield's offer was 20 acres of land, valued at $20,000 ; cash, $40,000 ; total, $60,000. The location offered by Springfield was not desirable, and when it was ■compared with the offer of Normal, the Commission, on the 3d of May, 1867, unani- mously voted to locate the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Normal. As a matter of histor- ical reference, we give the list of donors : D. Davis, 80 acres, valued at |12,000 J. W. Fell, 2,000 acres, valued at 10,000 K. H. Fell, S. E. 21, 15, 1, valued at.... 2,000 W. H. Mann, land valued at 1,000 H. P. Taylor, 20 acres, valued at 2,400 W. A. Pennell 1,000 J. S. Walker, land valued at 375 N. Dixon, N. £ N. E. 12, 25, 4, valued 1,000 F. K. Phoenix, 20 acres, valued at 2,500 iO. M. Colman, payable in six and eighteen months 250 L. A. Hovey, payable in six and twelve months 500 L. Dillon, five acres, valued at 400 W. H. Allin 1,000 John Worden 200 Jackson Ilukill 200 €. G. McClure 1,600 I. R. Gaston 400 W. G. Parr $200 S. A. Overman 300 M. D. Seward 200 James Kelley 100 Thomas S. Underhill 150 B. Smith 120 C. D. James 300 Joshua Brown 150 Thomas Bates 100 G. Dietrich 1,000 Thomas Fell 100 W. W. Bright 125 S. J. Reeder 50 J. E. Mcllun 500 Chicago & Alton Railroad in freights at tariff rates 10,000 Total $50,220 / BLDOMfNGTON 'Jk HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 441 Mr. Jesse W. Fell's offer was finally made at $10,0u0, nearly all cash, the balance in materials, thus making it to him a very costly donation. Judge Davis' gift of land, afterward, at the request of the Board, modified to sixty-five acres, could, at the time, probably have been sold for the full amount at which it was valued in the list. As will be seen, nearly all of the donors were Normal citizens, and this liberality toward an institution, which does not, from its nature, call for the building of many residences or bring to the village much business, is truly most remarkable, and shows that the inhab- itants of the place appreciate the pecuniary value of educational institutions. The Board of Trustees, as soon as possible, let the contract for the Home building, and, on the 17th of June, 1869, it was dedicated to the use designed. The cost of the structure is placed in the books of the institution at 8125,000. It is 140 feet long, eighty feet wide, and four stories high. In the east end of the basement story are the girls' playrooms, bathroom and storeroom, and the place where the girls' clothing is manufactured. In the west end, we find the boys' playroom, bathroom and storeroom, while between the two departments is the large dining-hall. On the next floor is the reception parlor, with the officers' rooms in the front, while at the east end is the library and reading-room, which contains a fine library of 1,300 volumes. In this end, we find also the nursery for very small chil- dren. In the western portion of this floor are two large dormitories, which contain beds for about fifty children, and there are smaller dormitories and other rooms for various purposes. On the third floor, we find the large chapel in front, in which is a fine pipe organ. There are also dormitories on this floor. On the upper floor is one very large dormitory in front, others in the ends, with hospital accommodations, both for boys and girls. The whole building is warmed with steam, is lighted with gasoline gas made on the premises, is furnished with iron fire-escape ladders, and with ropes and all appliances for fire purposes. In the rear are the kitchen, laundry and boiler-house, erected in 1872, at a cost of $6,000. Here we find the most approved arrangements for cooking and heating, and for taking care of the children. The schoolhouse stands a few rods east of the main building, and was built in 1872 at a cost of $15,000. It has six schoolrooms, where 7 teachers take care of the 312 pupils now in the institution. The State may well be proud of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. It is under the care of a Board of three Trustees, who are Gen. John I. Rinaker, of Carlinville ; Gen. J. C. Black, of Danville, and Duncan M. Funk, of Bloomington. Dr. J. L. White is Phy- sician ; Clark N. Gill, Secretary, and Isaac N. Philips, Treasurer, all of Bloomington. Mrs. Virginia O. Ohr is Superintendent. She commenced her labors in this institution June 1, 1869, a short time previous to the dedication of the building. Before this, she had been at Springfield for eighteen months in charge of about ninety orphans, who were brought to Normal in June. There had been about ninety children in Blooming- ington for the same time at temporary homes — one on North Main street, west of the Wesleyan University, and the other at the corner of Prairie and North streets. The annual expenditures of the State in behalf of soldiers' orphans at this institution have been from $30,000 to $45,000 per annum. This noble charity is but a small por- tion of the country's debt to the brave men who risked their lives in the defense of the country. It is accomplishing a great work, and is one of the State institutions which seems to have little difficulty in securing appropriations. 442 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The township of Normal contains only one small tract of timber-land, the whole of the balance being among the richest and finest prairie to be found in the State. There are no swamps of any magnitude, and no large streams. Sugar Creek and its branches become noticeable in times of high-water, overflowing wide tracts along the banks, most of which, however, are seldom covered with water long enough to render it liable to be included in the category of waste land, as it produces abundant crops in spite of its occasional submersion. The timber-land referred to is at the extreme southern edge of the township of Normal. Here, of course, along the borders of Little Grove, now called Major's Grove, we shall find the early settlement of the town, though at first included in the precinct of Bloomington, and being at a later day, down to the present time, a part of the corporation of Bloomington, it will be really difficult to include its history with that of Normal. Still, as our work deals with these matters territorially, we will give a sketch of the early settlement of Major's Grove, as well as a slight mention of the more recent devel- opment of the prairie portion of the township. The first entry of Government land in the Grove was made by Robert H. Peebles August 11, 1830. Peebles seems to have been the first genuine land speculator of this region, as his name appears frequently in the earlier entries. He lived at Vandalia, 111., and loaned money to the pioneers. His entry was the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 32 — eighty acres. This tract includes the present Water Works and stove-foundry. Achilles Deatherage appears to have been the first settler in the Grove, about the year 1831. His residence was in the central or western portion, while, a little later in the same year, Robert Guthrie occupied a log cabin in the eastern part, and lived there for some time. Most of the Grove was purchased, in 1835, by Rev. W. T. Major, and it has since been called Major's Grove. Here he built a residence, and at a later date, in 1855 and 185G, he erected the fine educational building, since called Major's College. Its cost was over $1G,000, and its value, with the land, was $20,000. This was occupied as a young ladies' seminary for several years, though at first intended to be a female orphan school. At times, it was well filled with students from Bloomington and Central Illinois, having been occupied as late as 1867. Mr. Major was one of the leading members of the Christian denomination. He gave liberall v to schools and colleges of that Church, and finally decided to present it this fine building. A full Board of Trustees was appointed, and an effort made to operate the College as a denominational institution, but it was not very successful, owing, mainly, to the fact that »he Christian Church was interested in several other Western colleges. This magnificent gift from one of the noblest Christian gentlemen of the age, is almost without a parallel. The College building is still stand- ing, a monument to his memory. It seems that there is nothing of very special public interest connected with the early settlement of Normal Township. Down to the adoption of township organization in 1858, the residents of the townships were attached to the precinct of Bloomington, and its early history is almost inseparable from that of the latter town. The prairie- land was gradually purchased and occupied, until, by the year 1850, there were a good many farms under cultivation. There was, however, rather a rapid demand for the HISTORY OF McLEAN COJNTY. 443 lands during the speculative era of 1836. In that year, John Woods and N. E. Hall entered the whole of Section 4; P. S. Loughborough entered Section 9; John Grigg, the whole of Section 15 ; James Allin purchased Section 17; and A. Gridley bought Section 20. The year previous, 1835, saw the entry of Section 21, by James Allin, and Section 27 by Dr. John F. Henry. This rapid entry, did not, however, indicate immediate settlement, as most of these tracts were purchased on "speculation," and were not improved for many years. Some of these tracts were afterward sold for taxes. All that portion of Normal Township included within the limits of the city of Bloomington was settled and improved, of course, with the city, and its history is included in that of the city proper ; just outside of this territory we shall find its his- tory is also nearly identical. As we go further north, the land was early improved, the settlements extending northward quite gradually from the center to the northern edge, where in the northern half there was considerable Government land as late as in 1850, when the Illinois Central charter granted all such tracts to that corporation. Between 1850 and 185G, nearly all this northern portion was purchased by farmers, and improve- ments made thereon, though a few tracts were unbroken as late as 1862. Several thou- sand acres of Normal land were purchased at a very early day by Judge David Davis, and he still owns 2,000 acres in this township. Normal was quite well settled in 1858, nearly every section of land being under cultivation, unless we except the Judge Davis tract, near the center of. the town, and few other portions which were used as a com- mon herding-ground. As late as 1857, the Bloomington city cows made daily journeys to the free pasturage offered by these open ranges. Normal farming land is all good, and nearly every acre of it is held at high prices. One of the early settlers of Normal was Mr. Elihu Rogers, whose home was on North Main street, where his widow now resides. He was engaged in business many years in Bloomington, and was always liberal-hearted, a leader in all good enterprises. He was one of the principal organizers of the Second Presbyterian Church in Bloom- ington ; he contributed several thousand dollars toward the new church in 1856. Mrs. Rogers built the best business block in the village of Normal, in 1877. Charles E. Fell's nursery was started quite early — some time before 1859. It is one of the best collections of small fruit in Central Illinois. Cyrus R. Overman's nursery was noted all over the West, from 1857 to 1864. He was in company with Capt. W. H. Mann, and together they carried on a very large business northeast of the Normal University. Mr. Overman was well known as a writer on horticultural subjects, and was in every way worthy of the affection and esteem in which he was held by his friends all over the State. At his death a few years ago, the members of the State Horticultural Society erected a beautiful monu- ment to his memory in the Bloomington Cemetery. The world-renowned nurseries of Mr. F. K. Phoenix were also in Normal Town- ship. These are described elsewhere in this work. A.t one time the different nursery- men in Normal Township cultivated over one thousand acres of land in trees and small fruit. Even now, notwithstanding the falling-off in the trade, there is probably no town in this State that has as much ground devoted to nurseries as has Normal. Several of these are devoted almost wholly to raspberries, blackberries and small fruits. Among those who are interested both in trees and fruit, in addition to the ones mentioned, are H. K. Vickroy and others. 444 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. We have before mentioned that the township organization of McLean County •dates from the spring of 1858. Previous to that time, Normal was a portion of the precinct of Bloomington, and voted with it on all State, national and county matters. Thd city of Bloomington, even then, extended into the township of Normal, and all the inhabitants of the city voted then, as now, at ward elections, and on municipal questions. Upon the final adoption of township organization, the six miles square north of Bloom- ington was named, very appropriately, Normal. The first town-meeting was held April 6, 1858. William G-. Thompson was elected Supervisor, and John J. North, Town Clerk ; 0. M. Colman and W. F. Cooledge were chosen Justices of the Peace. The first Commissioners of Highways were John McLean, W. M. Hall and Robert Larrimore. William Hill was Assessor, and Peter Whitmer, Tax Collector. The lamented Cyrus R. Overman was Supervisor in 1859. Mr. 0. M. Colman was Supervisor in 1866 and 1867. In 1879, the Supervisor was R. B. Chaplin, with T. C. Funk as his Assist- ant. The Collector was Jerome Chipman, the Assessor, J. B. Sargent, and the Town Clerk, W. P. McMurray. The town vote is about 1,000, when all brought out. The usual number of voters is from 700 to 900. The total population of the township, meaning thereby all who live in the six miles square, must be nearly 6,000: No township census has been taken since 1870. The number of voters is large enough to indicate that 6,000 is not far from what the census of 1880 will exhibit. That portion of the township lying in the corporation of Normal contains a population of 2,720, and that lying in Bloomington is always counted with Bloomington in such a manner that it can with difficulty be separated. The United States census, which follows the township lines and includes all the agricultural people living in neither of the two municipal corporations, as well as those in the latter, will not be published until after 1880. The township of Normal, like nearly all our McLean County townships, moves along in a very quiet manner. It has incurred no debt ; it meddles not with the schools, with the State institutions, nor with Normal village. Its citizens meet and transact what little business there is, keep their taxes down as low as possible, elect their officials, and then go home and wait till it is time to repeat the same operation. In 1860, the population of Normal Township was 660. In 1870, the population of the same territory was 4,372. VILLAGE ORGANIZATION. To provide for the proper government of the rapidly-growing village, the inhabit- ants voted September 30, 1865, under the general law to incorporate as a town. The Trustees elected were L. A. Hovey, Wesley Pearce, D. P. Fyfie, John A. Rockwood and S. J. Reeder. October 2, the Trustees organized by choosing Wesley Pearce, President, and S. J. Reeder, Clerk. The first election under the charter of 1867 was held March 18 of that year, resulting in the choice as Trustees of W. A. Pennell, L. A. Hovey, S. J. Reeder, William Wilde and James Loer. On the 21st day of March the Trustees met, and they selected L. A. Hovey for President, and S. J. Reeder as Clerk. The "territory included in the town corporation HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 445 of Normal is two miles square, and the center is near the northwest corner of the Normal building. Normal "School District" comprises the same territory, and, in 1867, the members of its " Board of Education " were chosen by the Town Trustees. On the 21st day of March, 1867, the Trustees elected the first Board of Education, consisting of W. B. Smith, 0. M. Colman, T. S. Underhill and J. A. Sewall. Previous to this time, the children of the district had attended the Model School, which is attached to the Normal. All the property in Normal School District, except the University, or other property properly exempt, is taxable for school purposes ; while for corporation purposes, farming or horticultural lands, in ten-acre tracts or larger, are not taxed unless laid out in town lots, or used as residences. The present Board of Town Trustees is : B. F. Carpenter, President ; H. G. Fisher, H. K. Vickroy, R. B. Chaplin and J. Chipman. As before stated, this Board has no power to license the sale of intoxicating liquors, and as a result it has little need of police or police magistrates. There are now 2,720 people within the corporation by actual count ; and we question if there can be found in the State a village of equal size with so large a number of moral and religious and well-behaved persons. The village is just what it was hoped it would become, when, in 1857, the State Board of Education selected this as the site of the future training-place for the common-school teachers of Illinois. Away from the temptations of a populous city, in the midst of a population made up largely of people who have made Normal their homes for the sake of its educational and social advantages, the State Normal University is admitted by the general public to be most happily located, while the citizens of the village are justly proud of the institution, which has become a model to be patterned after by all those States which are seeking to elevate the standard of education within their borders. To illustrate the energy and theappreciation of educational institutions manifested by the citizens of Normal, we will mention the gallant fight it made in 1867 for the loca- tion of the State Industrial College. The citizens of Normal Township voted $100,000 of ten per cent bonds ; and besides were ready individually to pledge quite a large sum. The total offer for the location of the college was : McLean County 10-per-cent bonds $200,000 Bloomington City 10-per-cent bonds 100,000 Normal Township 10-per-cent bonds 100,000 Chicago & Alton Railroad Subscription (freight) 50 000 David Davis, cash 25,000 Jesse W. Fell, cash 15,000 Citizens of Normal and Bloomington, 140-acre tract for site 40,000 Total $530,000 The magnitude and liberality of this offer, viewed in the light of the present value of money, seems almost marvelous, and yet there is little doubt that had Normal been successful, the Industrial College, added to the Normal University, together with other institutions which would naturally have been attracted thither, the investment, large as it seems, would have been worth all it would have cost. This is also an illustration of the harmony of feeling existing between Normal, Bloomington and the people of the county at large, a proof that we are really one in interest and feeling. In fact, so thor- oughly are the inhabitants of Bloomington and Normal convinced that their welfare i almost identical, that quite a movement has been made for their formal union under one 446 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. government. There are many weighty reasons for such a union, and it is very prob- able that some future historian may tell the story of its accomplishment. At present, one of the chief objections on the part of Normal is the sale of liquor at retail — now utterly prohibited in their village — but which would probably be allowed if the two places were in one municipality. NORMAL. As a matter of course, we find the early settlement of the village of Normal cannot antedate the location of the town unless we include as residents those farmers whose land went to make up the two-miles square of the place itself. We have made no effort to trace the actual settlement of any of these farms, taking it for granted that several fam- ilies were living here previous to the location of the town site of " North Blooming- ton" in the early part of 1854. The cars ran on the Illinois Central Railroad through Normal in May, 1853, but, by the latter part of that year, the line of the present Chi- cago & Alton road was sufficiently well established to indicate where it would cross the Central, fixing thus the point where a town might be built, if suitable efforts should be made. We have elsewhere stated the facts in relation to the establishment here of the young village of North Bloomington in 1854, and of its change of name to Normal in 1858. When the Normal School was in Major's Hall, in Bloomington, from October, 1857, to June, 1860, the village of Normal was rather a dull place. As stated below, there were perhaps nearly twenty families living here during this time, but there was no visible reason for the existence of the town, which had the appearance of being on hand before it was needed. The present business portion, where the blocks of stores are now located, was in 1858 a beautiful grass plat, remarkably smooth, looking in some respects like a village green in an Eastern town. In the month of June, 1858, the Normal stu- dents had an excursion to view the site of the future seat of learning, and on their return the young men had a game of ball on the green grass where now we see the business part of the town, and the site was one of the best that could possibly be imag- ined for that purpose. The writer has a distinct and vivid remembrance of the scene, and to his mind the view was one of the most charming ever met. He watched the game as a spectator, and remembers wondering whether the town would ever grow enough to encroach upon what was then called by the students the " ball-ground." This spot was covered only with grass as late as 1 863. While the game was going on, the railroad cars rushed past, barely stopping at the crossing, having rarely any business at this point. In fact, so careful were the railroads not to make any foolish stops in those days, that even when the material began to arrive for the Normal building, in the fall of 1857, there were no conveniences here for receiving freight, and the State Board of Education actually passed a resolution requesting the companies to put in side-tracks here for their convenience, which was done, as requested, by the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad, in a very short time thereafter. The first family to settle here by virtue of the demands of the town, was that of Mr. William McCambridge. who came as agent of the railroads in 1854, to look after their interests at the crossing. His family lived for a time in the rude depot-building, which stood in the north angle of the railroad " junction," as a crossing was often called in those days. Sometimes the place was called by its proper name, oftener " Blooming- ton Junction." Mr. McCambridge's neighbors were the Junks, Bakewells, Colemans, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 447 Hills. Joshua Fell's family. W. F. M. Amy, the Taylors and a few others, who lived on farming-lands which were wholly or partly within the present village limits. Mr. Amy was living on a farm just west of the University building, west of Main street. He was a remarkable man. He was a minister, a lecturer, an educator, a politician, a news- paper writer, was in short, ready for almost anything that might turn up in a new country. Though living on a farm, tradition asserts that farming was almost the only business he did not understand. His name frequently occurs in the history of Bloom- ington and Normal until the year 1856, when he was made the Secretary of the Kansas Free State Emigrant Aid Society, and after that date his fame became national. His services there, as well as here, were of great assistance to the cause of humanity. Mr. Amy was one of Normal's projectors and early benefactors, and is always mentioned with respect. He became Governor of the Territory of New Mexico, and filled the position very creditably for several years. He has since been an Indian agent. Mr. Jesse W. Fell's residence was finished in 1856, when his family moved into the new house, finding in the vicinity only the family of Mr. McCambridge. During the next year, 1857, the Normal University was located, and from that time the settle- ment went forward rapidly. By the close of that season, we learn of the following families, in addition to those before mentioned as residents of North Bloomington: Loran R. Case, Addison Reeder, James Maley, Stephen Dike, John J. North, John R. Dodge, James Carleton, John Carleton, Mrs. Taylor, William Junk and Joseph Walker. The Landon House, now occupied by the family of Mr. C. R. Parke, was started in 1856. and finished in 1857. The University foundation was commenced in the fall of 1857, and over $30,000 expended thereon. A foundry was also commenced, owned principally by Mr. Fell, in company with Mr. Reeder, but the enterprise was a failure. Some of the castings used in the Normal building were made here, and also the iron work for Royce Block in Bloomington. The financial crisis of the fall of 1857 caused a discontinuance of work on the Nor- mal, and this of course acted as a damper upon the new town. During the year 1858, and also during 1859, but few residences were erected, among which we can mention that of Mrs. Robinson, in 1859. In the latter year, work on the Normal building was pushed with great vigor, and the town began to have good prospects again. During the following winter, plans were made for the erection of several residences, and they were completed in 1860. Among these we will mention those of President Hovey, Messrs. Hewett and Moore, who were of the Faculty, Albert North, Wesley Pearce, William Flynn and Mr. J. S. Stewart. By this time, the town made quite a pleasing appearance, several of the residences evidencing good taste. All of Normal was most distinctly visi- ble from almost any point, as the trees were then in their infancy. When the Normal institution was opened at the new building, in the fall of 1860, there were not enough rooms in the village for all the students who wished board, and during the fall term many boarded at Bloomington. A new sidewalk was constructed to meet the walks in Bloomington, and it extended nearly to the corner of Main and Chestnut streets. When this old foot walk was new, there was some good walking done by Normal students of both sexes. All the boarding-houses in Normal were full to overflowing. There were only two houses with many rooms ; these were kept by Mrs* J. H. Stewart and Mrs. Grinnell, the latter in what was called the Landon House. 448 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Normal built its first sidewalk in the fall of 1860, and it then began to take on the airs of a village, though it did not possess a post office, a telegraph office, or stores, for several years. The first post office was opened about the year 1862, on the corner of Linden street and the C. & A. Railroad, in a building where there was also a store. The first Post- master was Robert E. Bower, and the first store was kept by a Mr. Phillips. The two railroads did not at first make Normal a full office, tickets having first been sold from this- place on the Chicago & Alton road, April 4, 1864; William McCambridge, Jr., was the first agent who sold tickets and made all the regular official reports in 1864. Shortly after this time, he also became the first express agent ; he was also the first telegraph operator, in 1870. The Chicago & Alton Company built a depot in 1864, which was burned at the time of the Normal Hotel fire, February 14, 1872. Very soon after the present station- house was erected. The freight-house on this road was constructed in 1866 ; and in 1871, the freight-house of the Central was built, which has since been destroyed by fire and replaced by another building which is a duplicate of the first. In the chapters relating to the public schools, churches, and the State institutions, we have given the dates of the erection of the buildings used by each, and we will not here repeat those statements. We should also mention that the village of Normal grew with wonderful rapidity from about the year 1864 to 1870. Since the latter date, improvements have been made quite slowly ; and at present, Normal, like all the towns in this part of the State, appears to be almost at a stand. It is, however, a beautiful village, noted all over the West for its fine appearance ; for the intelligence and culture of its citizens ; and is very specially remarkable for the trees which are so strikingly beautiful. But as we have touched more fully upon each of these topics in other portions of this work, we will not here enlarge upon them. Quite a large number of the best families living in Normal have become citizens since 1864, having come here for the express purpose of rearing their children in the most moral and best behaved community they could find with first-class educational advantages. Many of these families had accumulated enough property at farming or other business for a comfortable support, and have here built or purchased homes where they can attend to the education of their children. This element of society is a very important one, and, added to others that are equal in all respects, gives the town a good name and a permanency that it is hoped will grow with time until Normal will become a place of national reputation. TREES. Normal has obtained an enviable reputation for its beautiful trees and shrubbery. At the time of the locaton of. the State Normal University, as we have stated, the town was a bare, wild-looking piece of prairie, enlivened occasionally by the smoke and noise of a few railroad trains, and then relapsing into desolate quiet. A beginning had been made, however, by Mr. Jesse W. Fell, in that great tree-planting enterprise in which he took such a loving interest. In the year 1856, he had planted a large number at North Bloomington, and at the very time of the visit of the State Board of Education to view the site for the Normal University, in 1857, his men were busy at tree-planting on the public highways. The fact of the start thus already made, together with the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 449 interest then awakened in the matter of ornamental shrubbery, by such men as Cyrus R. Overman, 0. M. Coleman, W. H. Mann and F. K. Phoenix, all living in the town- ship, and all enthusiastic tree-planters, went far to convince the members of that Board that the young institution would fall into good hands, and its future be watched by careful men, if it should be located at this point ; and the more than twenty thousand beautiful trees at Normal, with the successful twenty-two years' growth of the Normal University, bear united witness to the foresight of the men of 1857. The zeal and enthusiasm of Mr. Fell in the subject of trees on our public highways, found vent before he had fairly commenced his labors, by giving names of trees to the streets of North Bloomington, at the time of recording its plat in the Circuit Clerk's office. Proceeding from west to east, we find Maple, Walnut, Oak, Linden and Elm streets ; irom Sycamore, going south, we come successively to Poplar, Cypress, Willow, Locust, Cherry, Mulberry and Ash streets. Is not this an atmosphere of verdure ? How could the new town help growing as the trees grew, fresh, graceful, ever increasing with each annual effort ? The planting of shade-trees in double rows in such a manner that the sidewalks are overhung by the two rows, is a novel feature — one that is duplicated in but few places in the land. It is said that German town, Penn., has similarly shaded sidewalks. This is the distinguishing feature of Normal. The number of these trees planted adja- cent to sidewalks is in the neighborhood of six thousand. There are a little over nine miles of streets thus shaded. There have been planted, in the streets, within the lots, upon the grounds belonging to the State at the two institutions, and in private parks, the larger part of the whole under the direct care and supervision of Mr. Fell, over thirty-five thousand trees, including shade, shelter and fruit trees. These trees now range in height from twenty to fifty feet, and give the town in summer the appearance of being one vast, ornamented park, with a few houses in sight, the church-spires, even, being then visible only at a distance of a few blocks. Well may Normal be proud of these shade-trees, which are monuments to the memory of those who planned and exe- cuted the immense work of transplanting, guarding and training these beautiful objects. Our work is not complete without an appropriate tribute to Mr. Jesse W. Fell, to whom, more than to any other person, Normal is indebted for its existence, for its beautiful trees and for the most of real public worth and value that it contains. We are recording public events and speaking for a thankful, proud and generous public heart. We are well aware that Mr. Fell enjoins silence on the part of public chroniclers ; that he modestly prefers no panegyric to his name and fame, but we insist upon making, here in this, albeit, weak, formal manner, a general acknowledgment of the public appreciation of the life-long labors of Jesse W. Fell. We will accept his disclaimer of his selfish motives in bringing together at Normal as many good influences as possible, but we must insist that we are thankful to acknowledge he had the nobility of heart to conceive, and the manhood and ability to carry into effect, no plans except those which were good ones; no projects but those whose success should inure to the happiness and welfare of his fellow-men. Happy the man who had the head and heart to realize that his own self-interest would be best subserved by engaging himself and others in enterprises like those which have been consummated at Normal. Thankful we are also that Mr. Fell took delight in planting trees ; that in this occupation he was 450 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. happy and at home ; and that in other respects he planned and managed in the interests of public education, sobriety, morality and humanity. If we may be permitted, we wish to call attention to the magnificent park which surrounds Mr. Fell's residence. Here he gave scope to his passion for artistic shrub- bery, his love for elegant groups of beautiful trees, his fancy for such ornamentation as comes from the most skillful arrangement of all the different trees that will grow in this latitude. This park is a lasting monument to its originator, and is a possession shared by the public almost equally with its owner. CHURCHES. The residents of Normal Township attended the different churches in Blooming- ton until several years after the village had been started. The first religious services in the village were held in the University building in the winter of 1860-61. This was the first year of its occupancy, and during this winter there were Sabbath-afternoon union services, the different pastors of Bloomington being employed in regular rotation. This continued for some time and gave good satisfaction until the village had grown large enough to begin to have enough permanent inhabitants to form churches of the leading denominations, when the Congregationalists and Methodists took steps to organ- ize their respective churches, followed soon after by the Baptists, Presbyterians and Christians. There are a large number of families in Normal who are connected with churches in Bloomington, and who help swell the numbers included in the churches of that city. In this particular, as in several others, we find it very difficult to separate the interests of the two communities. The First Baptist Church of Normal was organized July 13, 1866, with thirty members. Bev. John H. Kent, from Holyoke, Mass., was the first Pastor. They built a small frame chapel, 26x40 feet, which they occupied for about three years, when this, from the rapid increase of membership, became too small for them. In 1871, they erected a fine brick house, 40x70 feet, costing $15,000, which they now occupy. The number of members that have united with them since their organization is 286. The present number is 158. The Church is now in a prosperous condition. They have a large Sabbath school, which is well sustained, besides a mission school at the West Side, which is on the increase. Their present Pastor is Bev. S. B. Gilbert. The Christian Church was organized in April, 1873. The first Pastor was Bev. S. M. Connor. There were only about twenty members at that date, while at present there are one hundred and forty. Its present Pastor is N. A. Walker. Its church-building Was erected in 1873, and is a very comfortable and creditable structure. Its Elders are H. G. Fisher, John Gregory and Isaiah Dillon. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized 'September, 1865. Bev. C. D. James was the first Pastor. The church-building was begun in 1866, and, in the fol- lowing winter, the basement was ready for occupancy. The church was dedicated Janu- ary 7, 1868. The membership at the time of organization was 32 ; present number, 175. The present Pastor is the Bev. George M. Irvin, who was appointed in 1878. The building is of brick, of fine design, with one tower 60 feet high, and another 119, and is one of the ornaments of Normal. Its cost was over $16,000. The Sabbath school is very flourishing, there being nearly two hundred in attendance. The Society was transferred to the Central Illinois Conference in 1872. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 451 The Presbyterian Church of Normal was organized by the Presbytery of Bloom- in"tcn July 3. 1868, with only ten members. The church is at the corner of Linden and Cherry streets. It was built in 1871 at a cost of about $2,500. It was dedicated February 17, 1872. At present it has about seventy members and maintains a good Sabbath school. Its first Pastor was the Rev. S. Hart, who remained until May, 1872, when his place was supplied by Rev. Dr. S. Wilson, who officiated three years. Rev. W. L. Boyd is the present Pastor. The first church-building erected by the Congregational Church was dedicated June 23, 1867. The Church had been organized several years previously — some time in the spring of 1 865 — having met for some time in the University building. Its first church was a very beautiful structure, having cost with the parsonage adjoining over $15,000. It was destroyed by fire May 30, 1873. The total loss on buildings and furniture was $18,000 ; insured for $7,700. This fire was a very severe blow to the Chuich, but, on the 12th of September, 1879, it dedicated a new structure. The Church contains at present about ninety members. Its Pastor is the Rev. Albert Etheridge. It is probable that no other church in Bloomington or Normal has ever survived as heavy a loss as this one has experienced. NORMAL PUBLIC SCHOOL. We have mentioned that the first school in Normal was probably the one taught in 1855, in a small building situated a little southeast of the residence of Mr. Jesse W- Fell, upon what is known on the plat of North Bloomington as Seminary Block. There were about fifteen children in this school. Its first teacher was Miss Brown, who is still living in Normal. She is a sister of Mrs. Walker. Mr. P. C. W. Lyman was the next teacher, followed by a very young man named William O. Davis, who is now proprietor of the Bloomington Pantagraph. When the Normal institution was opened at Nor- mal in the fall of 1860, the children of what was known as District No. 2, embracing a portion of what is now the corporation and school district of Normal were all admitted to the Model School of the Normal, an arrangement having been effected by which the public funds of the district were used to defray, in part, the expenses of the Model Department. We quote the following from President Edwards' decennial address, delivered at Normal June 27, 1872 : The Grammar School, as a separate department, was organized in September, 18(36. Pre- vious to that time, the Model School was entirely under the supervision of the Principal of the High School. All this time, too, the school had included all the children of school age, in Dis- trict No. 2 of the town of Normal. But as the village increased, and the number of children multiplied, the rooms at the University became too small for their accommodation. Accordingly, a schoolhouse was built by the district, and, in April, 1867, the grammar and intermediate grades of the Model School were removed to the new building. While these grades were yet in the University Building, Mr. E. P. Burlingham, then of Geneseo, was appointed to conduct the grammar grade. But the first Principal in the new building was Mr. John W. Cook. He con- tinued in the position for two years, and was succeeded in September, 1868, by Mr. Joseph Carter. Under these two gentlemen, the grammar school became a popular and efficient insti- tution — well graded, thoroughly organized and marked by a vigorous and positive power. At the beginning of Mr. Carter's principalship, the arrangement by which the children of school- age belonging to District No. 2 of the town of Normal had been taught in the Model School was annulled by a vote of the Board of Education of the State of Illinois, and the University ceased to exercise control over the new building erected by the district. For the last two years, the grammar grade has been conducted by Mr. B. W. Baker, a representative of Southern Illinois, and a graduate of the University in the year 1870. 452 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. This school has been held, since the date given, by Mr. Edwards, in the new brick school-building, which is such evidence of the good taste and refinement of the inhab- itants of Normal. Its cost was $16,000. The Normal public school, in 1879, num- bered 650 pupils. Nine teachers are employed in the different grades. Its Principal is A. C. Butler. I INCORPORATED COMPANIES. The Bloomington and Normal Street Railway Company, was organized in the spring of 1867. Before the selection of its route there was a good deal of excitements At one time, when the Legislature was voting upon the charter of the proposed line, there was a prospect that the State Industrial College would be located at Normal. Had the location been made, the College was to have been placed just north of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, on the west side of Main street. This would have fixed the street railroad upon Main street or some one not far off. When the time came for organiza- tion and location, there was quite a strife for the line a few blocks east of the street selected, as well as for the Main street route. The road was organized under a special charter. It was finished in the fall of 1867. At first ''dummy" engines were run between Normal and the city limits of Bloomington, but after about two years' trial these engines were sold and the more reliable mule was substituted. The road is still owned by a corporation, but as Mr. Asa H. Moore possesses nearly the whole of the stock, he can be reported as being practically the full Board of Officers. We under- stand there is no great profit in the property, but Mr. Moore keeps it in good shape for the public accommodation. . The Bloomington Stove Company's shops are in the limits of the town of Normal, and a large portion of the Chicago & Alton Company's repair-shops, as well as their rolling-mill, but these matters will properly be treated in the city of Bloomington. The Empire Machine-Shops in the south part of the township, were organized at first as a company, but have now become private property, and are managed by W. F. Flagg, whose money in the first place mostly built and operated the whole concern. RESURVEY OF NORMAL. From the earliest settlement of Normal Township, there were grave troubles aris- ing from the location of section and half-section corners. The lines of the different farins and the proper position of roads could scarcely be permanently placed, as each new surveyor would find errors in the previous survey. The trouble seemed to be that only the outside or township lines were ever properly fixed by the Government Sur- veyors. They perhaps drove stakes to indicate the section and half-section lines, but placed no stones at these corners. There being no trees and no permanent corners, in the course of a few years the fires had destroyed all boundaries. The first settlers did the best they could, and lines and corners were established in various ways, causing never-ending confusion. Some sections would over-run, others fall short of the propel" amount. Finally, in June, 1861, in locating the schoolhouse in the Overman district^ such grave errors in existing lines were demonstrated that, in the course of a few years the owners of property came to the conclusion that they would abide by a resurvey, to be made under provisions of an act of the Legislature. This act was obtained in the winter of 1864 and 1865. It provided a commission of three — A. T. Risley, of Macon County ; John McGrew, of De Witt, and Z. A. Enos, of Sangamon. This commission,. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 453 in the fall of 1865, assisted by George P. Ela, of Bloomington, proceeded to survey and re-establish the lines of the whole township, placing them as near where they had been before as was practicable, and the result has been tolerably satisfactory. Each owner was made a party to the case by advertisement, before the survey commenced, causing the publication of an immense list of names. The cost — about $3,000 — was paid by the owners of the land. Appeals might be taken from this commission to the courts. All such as were carried to the Supreme Court, were settled by a decision which sustained the law. INCIDENTS. When the Illinois Central Railroad was constructed, the bridge over the south branch of Sugar Creek, not far north of the Empire Machine Works, was built of brick, in the shape of an arch, on the top of which was a high embankment. The long con- tinued rains of the spring of 1858, softened this mass of earth, and it rested with a heavy pressure upon the brick arch underneath, which must have been of faulty construction, as it was designed to carry the load with safety. One night, in the month of May or June, the brick-work fell, allowing the embankment thereon to drop into the creek. This, of course, created a dam, and, as a large amount of water was flowing at the time, it soon rose nearly as high as the impediment, which was probably at least fifteen feet. This water backed up and overflowed the farms east, rising in some cases into houses, frightening the sleeping inmates nearly to death. As soon as the pressure became sufficient, the water broke through the embankment, carrying onward with resistless fury large masses of masonry and earth, in some cases, lumps that would weigh half a ton, being moved a quarter of a mile. No lives were lost. In 1867, the Normal Hotel, situated near the depot, was built by W. A. Pennell, Jesse W. Fell and others, and cost, furnished, about $25,000. It was well kept, was a great favorite, and in every respect a credit to Normal. It burned in the winter of 1872, and its loss has been severely felt by Normal. The insurance on the property was about $10,000, and much of it has been in litigation ever since the fire. The depot was destroyed at the same time, its burning being, in fact, the cause of the hotel fire. A foundry was built at Normal at the time'of the erection of the Normal School building, which furnished some of the iron-work for that institution, but the enterprise failed, and entailed a loss of about $4,000, the most of which Mr. Fell sustained. Another foundry, with a stove and furnace manufactory combined, built here in the spring of 1877, was only able to survive a few short weeks. Normal is abundantly supplied with good water, not yet utilized, but known to exist in large quantities under ground. The well at the Orphans' Home is one of the best in the State. It is 112 feet deep, and furnishes an abundant supply. The well is tubed with iron, and the tube is three feet in diameter. An engine lifts the water to the surface, where another forces it to the Home, and the engine there pumps so much as is needed to the tank in the upper part of the building, and also performs other work. Normal is well known all over the West as the home of the Dillons, who have imported so many valuable Norman horses fiom France. Their stables are well built, and are at any time worth a visit, often containing single horses that sell at from $1,000 to $4,000 Their stock is known in market as " Normans " or " Percheron Normans," from Percheron and Normandy, in France, where the Dillons make annual trips to select the best animals that can be purchased. 454 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. THE WAR FOR THE UNION. Normal labors under the great disadvantage of having lost a large portion of its mili" tary glory, from its proximity to Bloomington, which city has appropriated to itself with- out effort, by the natural force of circumstances, much of the military credit of Normal. Whenever regiments, companies or squads of soldiers were being made up in Bloomington, Normal and the adjoining towns helped swell the ranks, regardless of the little matter of credit. Many of the volunteers obtained their mail at Bloomington, there having been no post office at Normal until the war was well under way, and, from this fact, gave Bloomington as their home when the muster-rolls were being compiled, and hence the poor showing made at first by the new town of Normal. The fact remains, however, that its residents were fully as patriotic as those of Bloomington, and when the result of the loose method of crediting was discovered, in 1864 and 1865, and it was seen that the township would need to bestir itself to furnish its quota of volunteers, the most vigorous efforts were made, with great success. The township raised bv sub scription a large sum of money, and it was given to volunteers who would accept of the large county bounty, with an additional sum from Normal, often as much as $50, and, by earnest work, the town's quota was always raised, and no draft was ever necessary. Had the matter of credit been thought of in 1861, Normal could very readily have secured the large* number of its citizens who were credited to Bloomington, and would have shown a surplus over all calls. The history of the fiunous Normal, or Thirty-third Illinois, Regiment, should be touched upon in this article, as it is of interest to our narrative. In April, 1861, when the war commenced, Joseph G-. Howell, who was then Principal of the Model School at Normal, volunteered, with four or five of the students of the University. Howell was killed at Fort Donelson. On his departure from Normal, with several of the students mentioned, there was a probability that nearly all of the remainder would enlist before the end of the spring term. Had this happened, they would have been scattered through different commands, of little assistance to each other, and would have made no record for the institution of which they were members. Mr. Hovey, the President, in order to hold the school together awhile longer, pro- cured a drillmaster — Capt. White — and a military company was formed for daily prac- tice and drill. By the end of the term, July 4, 1861, this company had become well disciplined, and had formed plans for enlisting in a body as soon as an opportunity should be found. About the middle of July, Mr. Hovey went to Washington, and offered to raise a whole regiment of students, teachers and educational men. His offer received no attention for several days; but while he was waiting for an answer, Bull Run spoke in beseeching tones for volunteers, and the day after that disastrous battle, his regiment was gladly accepted by the Secretary of War. Mr. Hovey returned to Normal, now Colonel, and proceeded to organize the regiment. He called on the educational men of the State with such success that by the first of September his regiment was at Springfield with nearly its full comple- ment of men. Company A, its first company, was made up originally from those Nor- mal students who had been drilling for nearly three months previously, and contained most of the students who volunteered at that time, although several others took positions in this or in other regiments. Ira Moore, one of the teachers, raised a company HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 455 for the regiment, mainly of men from McLean County. Moses I. Morgan, Aarort Gove and C. J. Gill, students, together raised in Du Page, La Salle and Stark Counties a full company, of which they became the commissioned officers. The officers of the students' company (A) were : L. H. Potter — one of the teachers — Captain ; J. H. Burn- ham, who graduated July 4, 1861, First Lieutenant ; and G. Hyde Norton, of the next graduating class, Second Lieutenant ; about fifty enlisted from this institution in the year 1861. Charles E. Hovey, the first President of the Normal University, went into the army as Colonel of the Thirty-third Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, known in the history of this State as the " Normal Regiment.". He was one of the bravest and best of the noble officers of the volunteer service ; he was commended for his skill and good behavior in the battle of Frederick town, Mo., which took place October 21, 1861. In the battle of " Cache River," or " Cotton Plant," in Arkansas, July 7, 1862, Col. Hovey greatly distinguished himself by his courage in the face of defeat, when he rallied the retreating soldiers under a galling fire, though wounded in the breast himself, re-arranged the shattered lines and brought victory out of what came near being a disas- trous defeat. For this good conduct he was appointed Brigadier General by the Presi- dent, his commission dating from September 5, 1862. He was soon assigned to the command of Gen. Sherman, who placed him in charge of bis advance brigade, a posi- tion he filled until April, 1863. Gen. Sherman gave him the highest praise for his efficiency. When Congress assembled in the winter of 1862 and 1863, it was not pre- pared to confirm the appointment of all of President Lincoln's Brigadier Generals, and limited the number of confirmations to one hundred. The President had sent in two names from McLean County — those of Gen. Hovey and Gen. W. W. Orme, and when he was obliged to revise his list, bringing it from about one hundred and fifty to the proper number, he felt compelled, on account of the policy of equal territorial distribu- tion, to drop the name of Gen. Hovey, which he did very reluctantly. This threw that gentleman suddenly out of his position in April, 1863. and he left the army just as he was on the threshold of a remarkably brilliant career. In 1868, Congress granted him tardy justice by the compliment of a brevet Major Generalship. * Several of the residents of the village — students — enlisted and never returned, or came home to linger a few years and die. William A. Pearce and his cousin, Alvin T. Lewis, were both killed in battle, while Lieut. James B. Fyffe died in 1871. Edward J. Lewis, editor of the Bloomington Pantagraph in 1861, assisted in forming the Thirty-third Regiment, enlisted as a private soldier, and afterward became Captain in C Company. He is now Postmaster at Normal. Col. E. R. Roe, Gen. C. E. Lippin- cott and Col. I. S. Elliott were all members of this brave old regiment, which partici- pated in the battles before Vicksburg, Mobile, and other historical battles. Normal has always claimed an interest in the welfare of the Thirty-third Regiment which was known for years as the Normal Regiment ; and its Company A of students, though represent- ing thirty different counties in this State, contained so many Normal residents, and was so essentially a product of the institution, that its memory will ever be cherished here. In 1862, several of the Normal students enlisted in the Ninety-fourth Regiment, which was raised in McLean County. These were mostly in Capt. W. H. Mann's company. Mr. M. was a nurseryman, in company with the lamented Overman, and his command contained more Normal men than any other that enlisted. 456 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. MISCELLANEOUS. The Freemasons were organized February 20, 1871. The present number of members is twenty-six. The officers for 1879 are : J. S. Lackey, Master ; A. T. Dick- erson, Senior Warden ; J. M. James, Junior Warden ; A. C. Taylor, Treasurer ; S. K. Vickroy, Secretary ; F. K. Baker, Senior Deacon ; J. S. Garrett, Junior Deacon ; James Worden and George W. Davidson, Stewards ; A. S. Hursey, Tiler. There are quite a number of gentlemen in Normal who are members of some one or more of the different societies in the neighboring city of Bloomington. We find, that though Normal does not pretend to be a commercial or manufactur- ing point, it transacts considerable business. Its grain-dealers purchase considerable quantities of produce, and its retail stores include the several branches found in towns of its size, consisting of drug, hardware, dry goods and grocery stores; there are, besides, other retail dealers. For several years after the village was started, it was thought all the different branches of miscellaneous business would be patronized in Bloomington, leaving no opening for home talent ; but after a time, the greater conven- ience of Normal stores was so plainly demonstrated, that those dealers who first started business in the village found ready patronage, and their places of business were followed by the opening of others, all of which are now permanently established. In the manufacturing line, Normal's experience has been rather a severe one, as there can scarcely be said to be a successful manufactory in the village. There is a woolen-factory, capable of employing from ten to thirty operatives, but it has never been run to its full capacity. It is now operated on a small scale, making excellent goods and doing a fair business, but has not the trade that might be expected of a factory situated between two such towns as Normal and Bloomington. A large paper-mill was built about six years ago, which, for a time, turned out large quantities of a good qual- ity of printing paper. For some months the St. Louis Republican, the Bloomington Pantograph, and other journals used its paper, but the owners failed after about two years' trial, and the mill is now idle. The Normal stock yards are quite an institution. They are situated on the east side of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad. They can comfortably feed and water over a thousand cattle at once, and are a great convenience to such shippers as wish to rest their stock here before taking them to the Chicago market. We hope Normal will, in the future, retain its pre-eminence as an educational cen- ter, and that it will some day see the establishment of other colleges or seminaries. If it can secure these, and can retain its present intelligent population, there is little doubt that it will become known as one of the best towns in the West ; that its future may become all that its past has led us to look for, is the earnest wish of the citizens of McLean County. NORMAL TR HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 459 RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP. Randolph Township, named from Randolph's Grove, which occupies the central part, is, like all of the southern tier of this county, six miles by eight, and contains all of Township 22, Range 2 east, and twelve sections, or one-third of Township 21, Range 2. It is generally rolling, having very little flat land, and is beautifully timbered, or was originally, and very little of what was timber has been cleared off. About ten sec- tions, or nearly 20 per cent of its territory, were covered with a more or less sturdy growth of native timber, which made it a desirable location for those who sought this county for homes at an early day. The Kickapoo Creek passes entirely across from the northeast to the southwest corner, and its branches flow through nearly every section in the township, so that it is not strange that no other country township in the county drew so many early settlers to its borders as this. When Gardner Randolph and his kinsfolk, the Stringfields, first looked on its virgin beauty in May, 1823, it is not to be wondered at that, after years of moving and looking for homes, they should have stopped here and thought — '• Within this limit is relief enough — Sweet bottom-grass and high, delightful plain, Round, rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, To shelter them from tempest and from rain." There could not well be found in this part of the State more of those points deemed necessary by the " Twenty-niners " than were found here. The timber, high, rolling land, running water, and absence of all those things which were popularly supposed to produce the prevalent sickness in new settlements. Randolph, however, visited all the other groves in the county before he decided to remain here, and did not find any that suited him like this. He was, withal, a particular man, and what would have satisfied others would not him, for, having lived here until he had brought up a baker's dozen of children, he went to Kansas, and from thence to California. The story of the first settler is always an interesting one ; in this case, of more than ordinary interest. Gardner Randolph, a second consin of John Randolph of Roanoke, was born in North Carolina about the year 1793. When a small boy, his father moved to Tennes- see and died. Gardner and his sister made their home with an uncle, who, soon after, made his home near Huntsville, Ala. About the year 1818, he married a sister of A. M. Stringfield. A year later, he came north and located in White County, 111. The migrating party consisted of the elder Stringfield and his wife, two sons, Alfred and Severe, the two daughters and their husbands, Randolph and James Burleson, and a daughter, who afterward married Jesse Funk. After remaining in White County one year, they moved to Sangamon, where the father of the family died. Burleson returned to Alabama about 1835, where he entered military service (had served under Jackson before), after which he went to Texas and engaged in the Texan war for independence as Colonel of a regiment of Texan Rangers. In 1823, the remainder of the family, under the lead of Randolph, came to the present town of Randolph and made it their home. At that time, everything north of Vandalia, until you reached Fort Clarke (Peoria), was Fayette County. Hendrix and p 460 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. Dawson had small shanties at Blooming Grove, and, with this exception, the present county of McLean had not a resident. They made a camp near where the residence of Dr. Stuart now stands, and left A. M. Stringfield there with the women and children, while Randolph, Col. Burleson and Severe Stringfield prospected for a permanent home. They had leit Sangamon County because it was too wet, and, in passing through Funk's Grove, where no person then resided, they were pleased with it; but Randolph's clear good sense taught him that he could find something better. They visited Blooming Grove, but say nothing about finding any persons, though it is now understood that Hendrix and Dawson were living there. They also visited the Mackinaw timber and Old Town timber, but returned to where their family were, saying that this was the best place in the country, and, from that time, it has been known as Randolph's Grove. The reasons for their choice were that the land was more rolling than they had found it in Sangamon County, and hence would not be so troubled with standing water, and the stream was a favorite one. The timber was excellent, and they concluded they had found the best locality in the State. Randolph took up a claim and built his cabin where the Houser buildings now stand, on Section 15, and continued to live there until he removed from the State in 1854. He reared a family of twelve children, and, in 1850, four of them, James B., William, Samuel and Alfred, went to California. Find- ing that he needed more land for his large family, he sold the Fry Farm to Mr. Bell, and entered considerable land in Kansas. In 1854, he sold his farm to Houser and went to Kansas to live. He soon sold out and followed his children to California, and died in Sacramento County. One daughter, the wife of Albert Welch, lives in Bloom- ington. Three sons were killed by horses in California, one resides in Oregon and four children still live in California with their mother. Randolph was an energetic business man. In company with his brothers-in-law, he frequently went on those trading excur- sions to Chicago, Terre Haute, Peoria, Ottawa and the mining region, and the Rock River country. They drove hogs principally. They were not of the " improved breeds," now the favorites, but were the sandy, streaked and speckled " wind-splitters," so well known to the early settlers, and which could travel as far in a day as a man could walk before the days of pedestrian contests. It required about seventeen days to drive to Galena, and the hogs would pick up a living as they went along. They would drive from one grove to another, and feed the hogs on the nuts as they became hungry. Like most of the men who settled in this grove early, he belonged to the Methodist Church, and was an exemplary and honored citizen and neighbor. A. M. and Severe Stringfield, as appears above, came here at the same time with their mother and brothers-in-law, in May, 1823, and took up a claim for their widowed mother on the place which she afterward sold to Samuel Stewart. Alfred later took up a claim a little west of where he now lives, and, afterward, purchased some land east of this, not exactly adjoining it, but leaving a tract between his two parcels which he thought no one would want to buy, and, after he was able to, he bought himself. He was the first to break the land in this town, and, indeed, in this part of the county. After several years of vain attempt to make money enough here to pay for his land, he took his mother to Galena and went to work there teaming, chopping, or at any other . labor he could find to do. There was no money in the settlement at Randolph's Grove, but at Galena there was always demand for work and reasonably good pay for the times. He remained at Galena two years, and his mother died there ; he then returned, in HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 461 1830, to the Grove and bought the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 14, west of and near his present residence. This land he continues to own still. Subsequently, he bought the east half of the same quarter-section, and, later, other lands joining. Up to this time, the life of Capt. Stringfield had been a wandering one. For years working with and for his father to support the family, and, after that father's death, as the chief support of his widowed mother, his care and labor had been for her. The slow process of acquiring property on the frontier had been to the energetic and active young man slower than he had expected ; the uncertain calling of teaming in the lead-mines had hardly encouraged him. The recent passage of the pre-emption law gave him an opportunity, and, in 1832, he married a daughter of George C. Hand, who had for some years lived a neighbor in the little settlement. From this date his success was marked. Hard work and plenty of it he has always had, but now, at the age of seventy, he is as lithe and spry as a young man of twenty-five ; swings an ax as if it were mere sport, and one would hardly suppose that he had lived through sixty years of hard and exacting labor. For several years and up to. the railroad age, he continued to raise feed, and buy and drive stock to market ; the latter he abandoned when it became necessary to ship stock by rail. His papers bear the signature of Andrew Jackson, whom he knew when he lived in Alabama. His father and other members of the family had served under the old hero, and, on return from one of his Southern excursions, Jackson had taken dinner at his father's house. Whether these early incidents had their natural effect on the young man he himself probably hardly knows, but no secrecy is violated in saying that String- field has voted the Democratic ticket and very effectively supported the principles and views of that party pretty continuously since he arrived at voting age, a habit he is in no danger of abandoning while he remains here. He is a man of native eloquence and might have made in any calling which would have cultivated those powers a very fine record ; but he seems to have had no ambition in that way. Ten children have been born to him, eight of whom grew to maturity. He is a strong man, whose patriotism has never been questioned and whose love for his fellow-man has never ceased. George C. Hand, Mr. Stringfield's father-in-law, left Ohio for the great West in 1819, and, after spending four years in the Wabash Valley, near Shawneetown, and two years in Sangamon, came here to Randolph Grove in 1825. He took up land in Sections 24 and 25, the farm now owned and occupied by Clement Passwaters. To him were born ten daughters and four sons ; all of whom grew up to manhood and womanhood but one daughter. This would have been deemed at the present day a very interesting family, but it did not seem to surprise the Grove much. He was a devoted member of and a local preacher in the Methodist Church, and his house was one of the earlier preaching-places in this neighborhood. He went from here to Iowa and died in 1845. Mr. Severe Stringfield, who came here with his mother and brother, was a wheel- wright by trade, and commenced to build a mill on the Kickapoo, but sold it to Mr. Bishop. He afterward put up a mill farther up stream in Downs Township. In 1852 r he went to Santa Barbara County, Cal., where he still resides. These early settlers endured all the hardships customary to those in like situation. They went to Springfield to do their trading and not uncommonly (Squire Strinsfield vouches for this, and it will be remembered that he married into a family where there were ten daughters) the single room of a pioneer cabin served the joint and several purposes of parlor, kitchen, dining-room and bedroom, where the family and visitors 462 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. did their cooking, eating, sleeping and courting. The County Clerk's office was so far away that to accommodate custom to circumstances, the Clerk agreed to a trifling irregu- larity in the way of marriage licenses, in permitting the officiating clergymen to fill up the license, when he came around in his circuit to make return of the license to the Clerk. Many a youug couple were just as efficaciously united in this way. and felt satisfied with it. Thomas Toverca, who had served in the war of 1812, and was somewhat familiar with this part of the country (it is said, though the writer has not been able to verify this, that he passed through or near this grove in an expedition which was intended to intimidate the Indians in this State), came to the State from King's salt works in East Tennessee, about 1820. He lived for a time at the salt works in Gallatin County, from whence all this new country got their salt in the early times. There he became acquainted with Gardner Randolph, and after living a short time in Morgan County, came to Mr. Randolph's and made his home on a portion of the latter's claim, where Mrs. Lightner now lives. After living here a few years, he sold to Governor Moore and removed to Downs Township where H. A. Myers now live. In 1830, John Moore came here from Harrison, Ohio, where he had worked at his trade some years. He had married in Kentucky the widow of the man he had for- merly worked for, and then engaged in work at Harrison on his own behalf. A sketch of this remarkable man appears farther on. He sold this place to Mr. French, and bought farther east and built where Mr. Ryburn now lives. He was the first of the Ion" - line of names who have made McLean County famous for conspicuous official life, and his great success in that direction undoubtedly gave incitement to a desire for polit- ical preferment which so many of her citizens have indulged in. The same year (1830), Mr. Samuel Stewart came here from Hamilton County, Ohio, a county which furnished many early settlers to Randolph. He had formerly lived in Virginia. He purchased the claim of A. M. Stringfield, before mentioned, and in 1834 put up what is believed to be the first brick house in McLean County. The house still stands, and is occupied by his son, Hon. A. E. Stewart, as his family resi- dence. The house is a real curiosity. The lumber was most of it home made, " whip" sawing being then a favorite way to manufacture lumber. The fire-place is large enough for four, and the bricks in the chimney are sufficient to make at least a half-dozen as now made. The house has never undergone any modernizing, and is comfortable within. Dr. Stewart is the only one of Mr. Samuel Stewart's children now living on the land which he entered here. He studied medicine, and after graduating, married, but soon left a growing practice to accept the position of surgeon in the Ninety-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, serving three years and returned to his farm. In 1872, he was elected to the Legislature, and returned in 1874. He proved to be a careful, well- informed and industrious Representative. At present he is serving as Record Clerk in the office of the Circuit Clerk of McLean County, a position which his accurate meth- ods of business and prompt attention to whatever his duties are eminently fit him. He owns and works a fine farm of about three hundred acres, the residence occupying a beautiful spot adorned by nature for a home of elegance and delight. As before stated, it was the first spot selected in Randolph for a home, and with but one or two exceptions, the first in the county ; and well it justifies the judgment of that early selection. It is not strange that music finds its home in such a pleasant retreat. The children of this family have formed a band, and make music one of the pleasant accompaniments of home-life. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 463 In 1825, Tobias Downer moved herefrom Sangamon Connty, and made a home on Section 24, near the township line. He remained about ten years, and after a few years spent in the lead mines, moved to Salt Creek. The same year, John Mayberry took up a claim on Section 25, and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1869. One of his children lives Bloomington and one in Chicago. His two youngest live on the same land their father first entered. He was a quiet man and a good citizen. Near him was the farm of Col. J. Burleson, before spoken of, after whom the branch was named. It is a fine farm and now owned by H. M. Miller. Col. B. sold it to Mr. Merrideth who lived on it several years. Chambers Wright took up land in Section 36, and after going to the lead mines for awhile, some years after his return, sold to Morgan and Radcliff. Early in 1824, Thomas 0. Rutledge came to the farm he still lives on, about one mile east of Heyworth. Only the Stringfield family and those who came with them then lived in the present town of Randolph. Mr. Rutledge, then scarcely eighteen years old, had in a great measure the care of his mother, lately widowed, and her family. They came from Kentucky, and spent a year or two in White County, and in Sangamon. He made a wagon without any iron, to move with, and their entire household goods were readily transported on it, drawn by a pair of steers, which he had raised. This team was all he had for farming the first two years of his residence here. He was not able to work on the new farm all the time, for he was obliged to work out part of the time. He went to Waynesville and split rails, and brought home his pay in the shape of chairs and other needful furniture, on horse-back. This was at that time part of Fayette County. He was married in 1829, when this was Tazewell County, with its county seat at Mack- inawtown. He enlisted at the time of the Black Hawk war in Capt. Merrit Covel's company, and went to Pekin; from thence to Peoria, and was engaged in the fight, at " Stillman's Run," where it is his opinion " somebody blundered." After this fight his company went to Ottawa, Chicago and Milwaukee, thence back to Ottawa. He did not see any more fighting, and at the close of hostilities, returned to his farm. He still lives where he first entered land, and his younger sons remain to help carry on the farm. He was the father of twelve children. Owen C, his second son, is in business in Heyworth. The weight of more than seventy years rests on him, thoui^h he is still active, and capable of doing considerable work. Always careful and attentive to his business, never venturing into speculations, he has acquired a competency, and now, in his old age, with most of his children around him, there is no very good reason for Kis feeling otherwise than contented and happy. In 1826, Thomas Rutledge came to Randolph with his son Robert H., and took up a claim near his relative, Thomas 0. He died in 1830. Robert continued to reside on the land his father had taken, and, in 1831 , married a daughter of George Wadman, who had in the mean time settled near by. This was the first marriage license issued by the Clerk of McLean County, after its formation, and the wedded life thus inaugurated was a fruitful one, for twelve children were born to this first couple. They occupied a cabin which had neither floor nor door, and their bedstead was made by boring holes in the logs, and driving poles into them. His first journey to Chicago was made in company with Wright and Bishop, with ox-teams, and they sold 464 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. their coin for $1.25, and oats for $1.00 per bushel, which was considered in these times pretty fair prices. The trip occupied about six weeks, and on their homeward way they encountered high water on nearly all the streams. His brother-in-law, Jacob Bishop, took up land near here in the southwest quarter of Section 36, in 1830. He came from Ohio with his father-in-law, George Wadman, and their first winter's experience was a memorable one. The deep snow was severe enough on all, but to those who had only got half fixed for the winter, it was far more trying. There was little to buy, and less to buy with, and how they got through the winter alive they hardly know. Mr. Bishop has raised a family of thirteen children, all of whom married and live near him. John Weedman, who came at the same time, bought the Thomas Rutledge place, and lived there some years. He moved to Farmer City, and his children have there grown into some of the most successful business men in that county. The most successful in business enterprises and in acquiring property, of all the early settlers in this township, was Jesse Funk, who commenced here in 1825. Not so well known as his brother Isaac, and leaving an estate somewhat less than his, he had many of the strong points of character which were so well known in him. For a year before he married and settled here, he had lived with Isaac at Funk's Grove. He had grown up in Ohio, and came here with nothing but his energy, good sense, and a strong constitution, that could endure any amount of hardship. In 1825, he married a sister of Capt. Stringfield, and, in the spring of 1826, commenced housekeeping in a log cabin, 12x14 feet, with only a floor in half of it, and no door but a blanket ; two stools and a table furnished the " house." It was fortunate in his case that he did not wait till he " got ready to marry," or ready to "support a wife," as do so many of the present day, as he would never have done so, for he became so engrossed in business that he never would have found time. Like many others in this neighborhood, he looked to Galena, then the best market in the State, for business. He tried mining and teaming there one year, and then began the business of driving hogs there. He was on the way there with a drove of hogs, in company with Col. Burleson and Severe Stringfield, his brother-in-law, when the deep snow came on. It seems impossible that they could have got through, and most any other man would have given up. But this indomitable man never gave up ; he drove the hogs and drove the men, using pretty much the same arguments with both, and those which did not actually freeze to death he got through to Galena ; but they were the sorriest looking lot of pork that ever went into that or any other market. He pushed his trade into other markets, and for years drove large herds of battle and hogs to Chicago. Other men had the same opportunities, but other men had not generally the same untiring energy, powerful will and physical power. He bought everything he could buy, and kept " on the drive." He continued the same business even after railroads were built. As fast as he could spare money from his trade he put it into land. He lived on Section 2, Town 21, Range 2, and at the time DeWitt County was laid off, it was proposed to make the north line of the new county the north line of Town 21. Funk, who had so long lived in McLean County, said he would not stand it to be cut off, and got up a counter-petition to have the two northern tiers of sections HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 465 tions of all the townships in 21 retained in McLean County. He carried his point, and that is the real reason that DeWitt County did not get all instead of two-thirds of the tier of townships. At the time of his death, February, 1865, he owned over 7,000 acres of land in McLean and DeWitt Counties. Hon. John Cusey was his administrator. His per- sonal property sold for $37,000, and not a dollar of the sale notes was uncollected. He left seven children, one of whom, Wesley, lives upon the homestead. James F. Brown, a son-in-law, lives on a farm adjoining the old homestead. He came to DeWitt County in 18.50, from Kentucky, where he used to cut cord-wood for the Mis- sissippi boats. He has a fine farm and has been more than usually prosperous in busi- ness. He is a safe and successful man in all his business undertakings. Purnel Passwaters came, with his family, from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1830, and settled on Section 28. He brought a large family of children with him, five of whom are now living and have families in Randolph. Richard, who married the stop- daughter of Gov. Moore, lives and is engaged in business at Heyworth; Enoch and Purnel, living where their father first settled, and Clement, living east of the grove, on the Hand farm. The Passwaters family are among the very best people, and are much respected. Michael Dickerson came to Randolph Grove in 1825, and took up a claim on Sec- tion 28. He built a mill on the Little Kickapoo, above the junction of the two streams. There was water enough to run it about half the year. He sold to William Hampton, who was of the Wade Hampton connection, who, about twelve years later, sold to Bishop, and went to the Ozark Mountains, in Missouri. This was the first mill ever built in this township. There was no bolt in the mill ; people who patronized the mill had to " sarch " the flour as it was termed. In entering the land, this property came into the possession of Mr. Baldwin. James Hedrick came here about 1833, and purchased the place which had been improved by George C. Hand, and put up the first saw-mill on the Kickapoo in this township. Three years after, he sold it to John Baldwin and Siebern. Baldwin, from being a very wicked and boisterous man, had, after his conversion, become a preacher- and though lacking some of the refinement which a life of early piety and devotion usually engenders, was really a greatly altered man. He engaged in revival work with great spirit and zeal, and though considered a little crazy by many, is believed to have been faithful to his profession. Stories are told of his prophesying when under strong religious excitement ; but there is no record of any fulfillment. His brother James was the earliest doctor in this neck of woods, and lived on a farm east of the mill property. Baldwin, like some other Ohio men, had a " wicked partner," who persisted in run- ning the mill on Sunday. It was an old-fashioned gate-saw, which went so slow that there seemed to be a sort of excuse for putting in all the time when the water was up. Baldwin used to go to the mill Sunday and expostulate with his partner, and while arguing the matter, the mill running meantime, the sawyer would get him to help turn down the log and set the tail end for him. All these kind acts did not convert him from the error of his ways, and the partnership had to be dissolved. Baldwin laid out the town of Lytleville around his mill, and for a time it contested strongly with Waynesville and Bloomington for the chief place in the future greatness of this part of the country. A post office was established, stores and trade grew •up ; but the building of the Central Railroad blotted out the last hope, and Lytleville 466 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. is among the things that were. It was named by Mr. Baldwin after and in honor of his old friend, Hon. Robert T. Lytle, the first native of Ohio who was elected to Con- gress from that. State. Another sudden conversion upon the road — not to Damascus, but to church — is reported. Mr. Toverca, spoken of heretofore, was a local Methodist preacher, and had gone over to the United Brethren. While going on his faithful horse one day to meet an appointment in a portion of the country that contained some pretty rough characters, he heard shooting before him, and was somewhat alarmed, and doubted whether to go forward or not. Coming to a fork in the road, one road leading to the place of his appointment, and the other to a Methodist preaching-place not far distant, he decided to give his horse the rein, agreeing to accept the situation and go where the Lord or the horse led. The horse turned unhesitatingly on the road leading to the Methodist place, and he went and was received back into full communion. Matthew Covardale, when only nine years old, walked with his father from Maryland to Ohio, and, after his father's death, came on here with some of the Hamilton County folks. After working out and renting for several years, he accumulated enough to get a farm of his own. He now owns a considerable farm on Section 11, and is very much respected, his latter life a bright commentary on the rewards which honest labor, thrift and energy give in this present world. Dr. Thomas Karr, who has but recently died — September, 1878 — was well known to every resident of Randolph. His early life was spent in Hamilton County r Ohio, where he grew up a great admirer of his neighbor, Gen. Harrison. Though he was a Democrat, he voted for him when he was elected President in 1840. He received a good common-school education, and studied medicine and commenced the practice of it in Ohio. In 1835, he came to Randolph Grove to occupy the land which he had purchased in 1833. He arrived in October, and for two weeks, until he could get up his little cabin, he occupied one jointly with two other families. It had but one room r and, while he remained there, was the home of eighteen persons. Thus people began life in these new places. He built a cabin, first, on Section 22, near where Mr. Powell now lives, and remained there two and one-half years, after which, he put up a frame house on Section 10, where he continued to live until his death. He carried on his farm successfully, raising and feeding stock, which was the line of farming most gen- erally followed by these farmers. In general, he took an interest in political affairs, and in 1843, was County Assessor. Of his five children, only one survives — Mr. William Karr, who was born in Ohio, and came with his father to the present home when only twelve years old. He is a man of strong constitution, and is a good farmer, as his fine farm of 850 acres, with its good buildings, will sufficiently testify. Mr. Walter Karr, from the same neighborhood in Ohio, came here in the spring of 1834. He came by river all the way to Pekin, then the important river-landing for all this country, with a prospective future as bright as any young city in the State. He commenced on a farm near where Heyworth now stands. He was a strong man, a great reader, especially of history, and, with the methodical mind which he possessed, together with a strong love of truth for truth's sake, he took in and held the important events of historical interest in such a way as to be popularly supposed to be the best posted man in town. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 467 In the spring following his arrival here, his little three-years-old child was drowned in a well. Up to this time, all burials had been made in the cemetery north of the Grove, near the Stewart residence. It was decided that a place of burial must be had nearer by, and the beautiful location — beautiful in all but that the railroad now rumbles too near it — now so well filled up, was selected. Walter Karr's little one was the first who was laid here to sleep. At this present writing, he is himself the latest one ten- derly laid away in this sacred place more than forty years after the first burial here. James Martin, from Tennessee, was the second, and a little daughter of Esquire Buck the third, interment. Hiram Buck, with whom the whole history of McLean County is identified in its political, educational and agricultural interests, came here to live in 1833. He built the house, now modernized, 300 yards east of the present residence of Esquire Wakefield. The cabin stood out on the prairie, and he took it down, rebewed the logs, and set it up again near the timber. It is now occupied by Mr. Hill. The door was made out of black- walnut strips sawed out by hand, the sash rived out and dressed down, and " puncheon " floors. He remained on his little farm four years, and sold out to Gen. Gridley just before the latter's failure in the crash of 1837, which took with it nearly every man who had engaged largely in business in the State, and even the State itself, for, during nineteen years, this goodly State did not even pay the interest on its indebt- edness. Gridley immediately sold the property to Wakefield, who still owns it. Mr. Buck went to Le Roy, then recently laid out by Mr. Gridley, and commenced to build up that town. At the time of his residence here, he showed, probably in a less degree than latterly, those positive traits which have since made him recognized as one of the most useful and important men in the history of this county. The Nobles, David and William C., his son, and Joseph and his family, came here from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1831, and were followed by Dr. Harrison Noble in 1833. They came from the old home of Gen. Harrison, and had the strong admiration for that old hero which was bred by a long acquaintance with the stern soldier and were constantly dwelling on the stories of his dash and heroism. David Noble first occupied a cabin on the Passwaters place. The next spring he took up land near or southeast of Lytleville, where he lived until 1844, when he took up a prairie farm. His first intro- duction to the manly sports of this new land was before he reached the place where he spent his first winter. He saw a wolf and set his dog on it. The dog soon gave it up as a bad job, when Capt. Stringfield, the hero of more such adventures than he is will- ing to have recorded, came along and gave chase, captured it and took it home alive. The idea that he would find men here who could run down and capture wolves, had never entered old Dr. Noble's mind and his admiration for Capt. Stringfield's prowess knew no bounds. Dr. Noble was twice married and was the father of ten children, those by his first wife reside and in Bloomington, and by his second with their mother Champaign County. His son William C. Noble lives on a farm about one mile north of where he spent his first winter, the land first owned by Gardner Randolph and more recently by William Rust. William Birdsell came here in 1829, and located on Section 21. He built a small wagon-shop and after having learned his trade of Gov. Moore, who was recognized as the best wagon-maker in the country, worked at repairing wagons a portion of his time 468 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. in the interim of farming. He was a good citizen and an upright man. The farm had, really before it became a farm and before any title came from the Government, passed through several hands. The claim was first taken by Mr. Gaines, who was a nephew of Gen. Gaines, once famous as a soldier, and since his death made still more widely known by the long contest carried on by his widow for her rights in New Orleans. He -was a brother-in-law of Rev. Peter Cartwright, and soon took up his home with him at Pleasant Plains. The claim passed to Kinsey, who commenced to improve, but soon sold to Brook and he to Birdsell. It was not very uncommon for these frequent changes to occur in the early times. The men (and perhaps, their wives, too) who migrate to new countries, are proverbially restless, and slight things will serve to change their minds and location. Owen Evans came from Pennsylvania with or soon after his son-in-law Thomas Fell, who lived part of the time in Bloomington and part of the time in Randolph, near Mr. Evans. He had a farm on Section 16, where, after several years, he died and the farm came into possession of his son-in-law, J. H. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was the eldest son of Samuel Stewart, and came with his father to Ran- dolph, where he worked the farm until his marriage to Miss Evans in 1839, when his father gave him a little piece of land upon which the new couple went to work to make a living and do their full share to perpetuate the clan Stewart and its goodly name. They succeeded reasonably well in both, for he increased his farm, and, in 1857, sold to William Rust, and moved to Normal to give his children an opportunity of a higher edu- cation. Thomas Fell, after living here some years, tried California luck with very little success. He went there twice overland and the second time passed through California Gulch, now one of the most famous places in the world. He did not find the fortunes there which, it is said, are being taken out now. Joseph Noble, who came here in 1831 with his family of children, and purchased what was called an improved place, that is, some one had lived a year or two on it, and got up a small log cabin. His children speak of attending school where the future Lieut. Gov. Moore taught. In his school, he was in the habit of teaching half a day only, as his time was required in the shop a portion of the time. Dr. Harrison Noble came, in 1833, from the same county which had already sent to Randolph so many Noble men and children, and took up a farm in Section 28. He had received only a fair common-school education in Ohio, but was well qualified to teach school, and had qualified himself for surveying ; could work at his trade, or at farming, " and even the story ran that he could gauge," though whisky-gauging was not at that time in as much demand as now. It seems that his personal appearance was prepossessing, and the development of acquaintance showed a mind of real mental vigor, and qualities of very decided note. He was above all things averse to boasting of his own deeds or qualifications, so that men who knew him intimately did not even know that he was qualified for County Surveyor, when he appeared as an independent candidate for the position. That he was thoroughly qualified might have been known from his offering himself as a candidate, for he was the last man to assume to do what he could not perform. After serving three terms as Surveyor, he studied medicine at home and with Dr. Luce in Bloomington ; went to Cincinnati to attend lectures, where he graduated and received his diploma. His practice was very general, and carried with it the same trait which showed so strongly in his character. He was several years President of the County Medical Society, and twice of the State Society. In politics, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 469 Dr. Noble was a Whig, with strong Antislavery leanings. It was not until hydra- headed Treason rose in rebellion against the Government, that the people of McLean began to know and realize the stuff that the quiet, homespun Doctor was made of. Like all men of his type, he grew with the occasion. He took very active steps in arousing the people to arms, and was untiring in his zeal to help on enlistment. Par- ticularly was this so in regard to the Ninety-fourth, a regiment officered, manned and filled up by his friends in McLean County. The regiment, while in Texas, had so many proofs of his remembrance and friendship that they purchased a cane and sent it to him. In 1862, he was elected to the Legislature. But what could a man of his peculiar qualities do on the minority side in a House which was kept at fever heat dur- ing its entire session by the continued recurrence of questions of a most exciting nature growing out of the war? His was a mind which was most active in committee-room. Committee-rooms were practically abolished during that Legislature. Lovejoy would have stirred all by the zeal and fury of his speech ; a Charley Steele might have turned the tide by the eloquent periods of his perfect oratory ; Dr. Noble did what neither orator could have done. It is well remembered by all except the very youngest who will read these pages, that Gov. Yates took advantage of the failure of the two Houses of the General Assembly to agree upon a time of adjournment, to prorogue the Assembly. Soon after this was done, in the fervor of political excitement, citizens of Jacksonville (the Governor's home), who were in political sympathy with the Governor, gave him a banquet. During his speech upon that occasion, he publicly acknowledged the great service which Dr. Noble had done him during the exciting scenes through which he had just passed. The parties themselves are both dead, and there is no known way to verify the statement; but what seems very good authority, states that it was Dr. Noble who carried to the Executive chamber, immediately on its occurrence, the news of the vote of the House disagreeing to the adjournment resolution of the Senate, and with it the suggestion that there was now, if promptly applied, a remedy for the longer sit- tings of the Assembly. The proroguing message was immediately sent to the two Houses, and the Legislature stood adjourned, and, from all accounts, somewhat sur- prised. Dr. Noble was never known to allude to this ; still it was in full unison with his character and habits that he did not. He never boasted. He was re-elected to the House in 1864, and served with great distinction. He was presented to the State Convention in 1868, by McLean County, for the position of Lieutenant Governor, but the nomination of a candidate for Governor from the same Congressional district required that the candidate for the next office should be elected from another part of the State. He was pre-eminently a man of the people, uniformly temperate in his manners, destitute of vanity, kind, considerate and safe. He died in 1870, where he had so long lived, beloved by those among whom he had grown in private and public consideration. Campbell Wakefield came from Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1835, and took up land on Section 3, Town 21, Range 2. He built a snug log cabin and returned to Ohio to bring out his wife and child. He has continually been engaged in farming, and has been more than ordinarily successful in what he has undertaken. He is a man of fine form, commanding presence and positive convictions — one of the latter of which is that his success in life is largely due to his most excellent wife. It would hardly be possible to get up an argument with him on that point, for his opinion on it may well be accepted. She seems a most excellent and estimable lady. 470 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Commencing in a small way, Esquire Wakefield has added to his farm until now he and his son own about one thousand five hundred acres of as fine land as the town of Randolph affords. They have, lying in a body, all of Section 3, west half of 10, 120 acres in 27, Town 22, and 400 acres in 34. He has but one child, living near by him, and whose children and grandchildren are growing up around him in goodly numbers. They have given a good deal of atten- tion to cattle raising and feeding, but no phantom of great wealth has ever lured them into dangerous speculation. Mr. Wakefield was proprietor of the town of Heyworth, and gave an undivided half of the town, reserving the cemetery, church and school lots, etc., from the transfer. He was early and throughout a friend and one of the strongest promoters of the Presbyterian Church. The first preaching services of that denomination were held in his house. Politically, Mr. Wakefield is a Democrat of the strictest sect. He never has been in public life much. He was several time selected a Justice of the Peace in the early days ; but his services in that line were confined mostly to taking acknowledgment of deeds and marrying off the young people who had come to the conclusion that it was not good for man to be alone in this world of temptations. In his hale old age, though his step is slightly unsteady, he can look back over a busy life with probably as few regrets as- any of us. John and Reuben Draper took up land farther west, and made farms. They were from Tennessee, and both died here with families around them. The same year, the brothers William, Robert and Samuel Leeper came. The former bought a farm on Section 24, and Samuel in Section 4, south of Heyworth. H. M. Miller settled on Section 36, where he remained a few years. In 1835, Capt. George Martin came from Ohio with Mr. Wakefield, and still resided here at the time this sketch was written, but died about the middle of April. He was a worthy and upright man, much respected by all. In 1834, William Rust came to Randolph from Hamilton County, 111., where he had moved, a few years before, from Tennessee. He brought with him a large family, and commenced by renting some of the Stewart land. Two years later, he bought a piece of land now owned by W. C. Noble, and went onto it. In 1847, he bought the mill at Lytleville, and ran it in connection with Wooster and Hougham. Finding the water insufficient, he put in steam, and it was quite prosperous. He sold out in 1867, and died in 1873. Mr. Rust's sons went to work with energy to help their father get a farm. They worked out for Mr. Kunk and others, and, as the result of their hard work in those days, have made farms and are in comfortable circumstances. They were engaged driving cattle and hogs for Mr. Funk at those times when it was about as much as the hogs were worth to get through to market and get back home. Such experiences, though grievous to bear, have an influence in making strong and useful men. John, William and Harvey are honored and respected citizens. Samuel Turman, in 1836, bought the saw and grist mill at Lytleville, and carried it on ior some time. He was an energetic business man, and undertook to supply Bloomington with flour. A. R. Nickerson, who now resides at Heyworth, came from Maryland to Bloom- ington in 1 834. Ten years later, he bought a farm on the north line of the township, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 471 near Dr. Karr's. He has several sons, and bought a section of land in Martin Township in 1865. He came to Heyworth in 1871, where he has been engaged in business. Mr. Johnson took up a claim about 1832, and sold it to Squire Wakefield. Further west Mr. Richards had a claim, but he soon moved over onto Salt Creek. Near Short Point, Mr. Kennedy and Fred Bernard settled. The latter had one of the finest farms in the county. His widow now resides with her son-in-law, in Bloom- ington. Nathan Low, father of the present, active business man of that name at Heyworth, purchased land of Weedman in 1829, intending to make it his home, but he decided to settle in Bloomington, and never built here. The manner of living was of course primitive, and many privations were under- gone. Sickness, that bane of a new country, was not wanting. The cold, the deep snow, the wilderness and the savage foe were the final assurances of success. The res- idences were small and uncomfortable ; mail facilities were scanty. Mills were rare, persons having to go to Peoria, to the Mackinaw and other distant points for their grinding. When corn was only 10 cents a bushel, grinding cost 12£ cents, so that a load of corn would not pay for its grinding. The settlers kept good horses, but no car- riages. For the men, the only sport was hunting deer and wolves; and for the women — well, if they had any sport, it is not on record. The children had short schooling, and were early pressed into such work as they could perform. The large families which were so common — now so rare — were looked upon as blessings rather than burdens, and were made useful rather than ornamental. The settlers of Randolph Grove were almost without exception religious people, civil in their behavior, and even before total abstinence came to be demanded as a Chris- tian virtue, drinking was rare, loafers, cowards and criminals were unknown, and not- withstanding the warmth of political controversy, quarrels and litigations were kept in abeyance by a spirit of Christian forbearance. McLean Couuty cannot show a more civil and pleasant neighborhood. Religious services were early instituted in the little cabins, and Ingersoll, himself, would have found very little to cavil at in Randolph Grove. The first to preach the Gospel here was Ebenezer Rhodes, in 1823. Jesse Walker, the missionary, also preached here that year. In 1825, Rev. William See was sent here by Conference. He owned the Maberry property, and had a blacksmith-shop there. He rode the Kickapoo circuit two years. The circuit required six weeks to go around. He preached in Blooming Grove, Peoria, Lewiston, Beardstown, Waynesville, Salt Creek and Randolph Grove. He went from this to Chicago, and James Kinzie married his second daughter. Mr. See, A. M. Stringfield and Mr. Barnett were the first ones to go from here to Chicago. When it began to be known. Smith L. Robinson followed as circuit preacher for one year, and Rev. James Atty and Jesse Walker, the missionary, were next. Mr. Walker was an old man, and so few of the settlers had tea and coffee, that he was in the habit of tak- ing those useful commodities with him in his pocket, so that he should not be without them. Rev. William Crissey preached on this circuit in 1831, and Rev. Stephen R. Beggs after him. The Cumberland Presbyterians held services here early. The Johnsons — Archie and Neal — were" the first of that denomination to preach here. 472 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Rev. Robert Patten, of that church, came to Lytleville at an early day from Ten- nessee, and soon went back there. Mr. Baldwin, of Lytleville, a Baptist preacher, was for several years in the habit of holding religious meetings in various places, and Elder Elijah Veatch also frequently filled appointments here at an early day. Rev. W. J. Newman, Methodist, and several others of that denomination labored here. Robert H. Rutledge and Charity Weedman were the first couple who got a license to marry from the County Clerk of McLean County, and Nathan Low the first to get a deed recorded. "Uncle Billy " was, if not the first, among the first to haul wheat to Atlanta and bring it back again. The Downs Mutual Insurance Company, organized in 1875, has its Secretary's office in this township. Under its original charter, the territory which it was author- ized to operate in only included the townships of Bloomington, Randolph, and the four lying east of this latter. In 1878, its charter was so amended, as to extend its oper- ations over the county. It has over $115,000 of policies in effect, and has met with but a single loss of $400 in nearly four years. Sylvester Reasley, of Downs, is President; J. C. Elder, of Bandolph, Secretary, and William Karr, Treasurer. The large amount of black-walnut timber which was originally growing here has been very generally cut off. Latterly, a great many logs have been sent by rail to Indianapolis, where they are sawed and shipped east as Indianapolis lumber. Not a very bad cheat, either, as it is in all respects just as good as the best Indiana walnut. The following is a record of those who have been elected to township offices : Date. Votes Cast. Supervisor. Clerk. Assessor. Collector. 1858... 174 206 254 266 268 307 362 377 341 362 312 315 324 338 335 345 373 325 A. M. Stringfield, , A. M. Stringfield A. Welch Albert Welch S. J.Reeder A. M. Stringfield Albert Welch S. J. Reeder T. S. Groff Walter Karr. 1859... W. >'. Noble George, A. Ross, George A. Ross. 1860. S. J. Reeder W. C. Noble W. C. Noble 1861... J. C. McFarland J. C. McFarland J. H. Tilghanan T. ('. Stringfield ,,, J. C. McFarland, ... A. W. Elder 1862... 1863... 0. C. Rutledge Elias Brock T. C. Stringfield. 1864... W C. Noble 1865... 1866... George Crookshank.. George Crookshank.. S. McTeer 0. B. Myers. William Bishop. 1867 A. S. Vanordstrand.. 1868 W. W Elder W. W. Elder A.W.Elder R. Nelson 1869 A.W.Elder W. C. Noble J H. C Dill 1870... 1871... A. M. Slringfield A. M. Stringfield I. Vanordstrand I Vanordstrand George W. Freeman.. George W. Freeman.. George W. Freeman.. O. C. Rutledge O. C. Rutledge O. C. Rutledge S. T. Thery Abram Fry J. E. Hill. 1872... Abram Fry J. N. Ball. 1873. Abram Fry 1874 Joseph Noble. 1875... 1876... 1877... 1878 S. T. Thery C. N. Vandervoort... C. N. Vandervoort... James Blake Nathan Low M. McCorkle. John Shannon Elias Brock M. Crews. 1879... J. J. Hancock J. P. Passwaters. Those who have been elected Justices of the Peace since township organization has gone into effect are George Crookshank, Samuel McGowen, John Kelly, J. R. Stewart, A. Kelly, C. N. Vandervoort, Z. A. Newton, William Thompson, F. S. Wat- kins, W. W. Elder, Harrison Howser. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 473 Commissioners of Highways : A. R. Nickerson, Richard Passwaters, Jesse Funk, I. Vanordstrand, Harvey Seldon, James Funk, Thomas Karr, Thomas Hair, David Campbell, William Benjamin, W. H. Ijams, John F. Rust, F. S. Watkins, E. J. Moore, William Karr, Z. A. Newton, G. A. Marker, J. 0. Davis, J. Dorland, George Clark, W. F. Ijams. HEYWORTH. When the Illinois Central Railroad was built and the cars commenced running, in 1855, it was known that there would be a station somewhere in Randolph's Grove, but it was not so easy to find out just where it would be located. There was an interest at Bishop's, two miles north of where Heyworth now stands, which, it was thought, could not well be defeated. John Nichols, of Bloomington, who was understood to rely on the influence of Gen. Gridley, who had again become an important factor in all the affairs of the county, and who, in the Legislature, had secured the building of the railroad through Bloomington, had purchased a piece of land of Enoch Passwaters and laid out a town on it. A side-track had been put into a gravel-bank near by, and every thing looked as though the station would be there. The contest grew lively between Wakefield, Funk and Vanordstrand on the one side, and Nichols and his party on the other. So far as pluck, energy and push were concerned, the parties were pretty nearly equal. Gridley has a habit of speaking out in meeting or in any other place he happens to be, and indulged in some pointed remarks in regard to the officials of the road, which had the effect to displease them, and the salve offered just at this time by Wakefield, of an undivided half of the entire forty acres which he proposed to lay out, carried the point, and Wakefield laid off forty acres in the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 34, and immediately transferred an undivided half to the corporation, after making the reservations spoken of before. Frisbee soon after laid out an addition west of, and Wakefield has since laid out and platted his first, sec- ond and third additions on the south and east sides of the original town. The next most important thing after a child is born is deciding upon a name. Those interested here had decided on calling it Elmwood ; but finding that the name had been appropriated by Mr. Phelps in Peoria County long before, the President of the railroad, proposed to call the new station Heyworth, the name of one of the English directors of the road. This was in 1856, and everybody around the south end of the grove felt happy. Mr. Wakefield fulfilled every obligation which he made in regard to the new town> and, true to his well-fixed principles, inserted in every deed he made an inhibition against the sale of spirituous liquors on the premises conveyed. Whether this or the well-established sentiments of the citizens is the cause, it is a fact that no license for the sale of liquor has ever been granted in Heyworth. 0. C. Rutledge, who is still in business at Heyworth, purchased and shipped the first grain that was ever sent from this point. This was in 1855, before the station was established. The wheat was weighed in bags, on a small platform scale, and carried out to the car on the track. It was extremely difficult to get cars, and he often had to load in the night, the train waiting for the men to load, if they did it briskly. As soon as the station was established here in 1856, J. C. Frisbee moved an old station-house here, and commenced buying and shipping wheat. Elder & Rutledge and J. S. & G. T. Barber also engaged in the same line of business. Isaac Vanord- strand commenced, together with Mr. Ludington, a business which he has very successfully 474 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. carried on, with one or another, to this time. He is a man of great business capacity and energy, and has, besides his large mercantile business, been foremost in everything which has been for the interest of his place. He has been largely engaged in the purchase and sale of land, and has always taken a lively interest in educational matters, and in the politics of the town and county. Always a Democrat politically, he has been in political unison with the majority in Randolph, and has frequently served his town in official position with the same energy and business-like attention which he gives to his own large business. According to general belief at Hey worth, he has acquired a very fair competency. Mr. 0. C. Rutledge, who is now and has long been his partner, is a man of good business habits and excellent judgment. He is now the oldest native-born citizen of Randolph residing in the town. Two daughters of Jesse Funk were born here before him, and probably one or two children to Gardner Randolph ; but none of them reside now in the township. The extensive business of this firm embraces grain, lumber and and all the line of articles usually going with it — exchange, banking, real estate, loan and conveyancing, commission, live stock, etc., and almost anything else that the public wish them to undertake. In the early days of the grain trade of Heyworth, very little but wheat was pur- chased ; but this came from many miles roundabout, especially to the east. Trade was drawn to it from the farmers off as far as Le Roy and Farmers' City, there being no railroad in that direction nearer than the Chicago Branch of the Illinois Central. William H. Wilson & Co. were the first to commence mercantile business here in 1856. The firm name was soon changed to Coursin & Wilson, and continued the busi- ness for some time and sold to McFarland & Co. J. C. McFarland, who has, during the entire life of Heyworth, been one of the leading men in business, in religious and other public interests, came here in 1857. For twenty-one, years he has continued one of her most enterprising citizens. For three years, he served his country in the Ninety- fourth Regiment as Major, returning to continue his mercantile and other interests. In 1877, he was elected Circuit Clerk and County Recorder, which makes his home temporarily in Bloomington. No man is more thoroughly respected, or more worthy of such respect. His first business was a general store, conducted in a building which stood on Block 17, just east of the railroad and south of Main street. In this building he con- ducted the post office, also ; it burned in 1860, consuming everything, including the mails ; he saved only a pitchfork and six candles from the building. He then built the store owned by him across Main street from the former store, and continued in trade for a year, when 0. C. Rutledge went into the firm and contin- ued in business until Maj. McFarland returned from the army, when he sold out his interest to McFarland, and he soon sold to Short & Bayless. In 1864, S. Hill & Son came from Ohio and engaged in trade. In 1866, McFar- land went into the firm, which did business as McFarland, Hill & Co. until 1869 when they sold to Brittenham, who moved the goods to Monticello. Hill & Son brought on a new stock of goods in 1870, which they soon sold to Wise & Co. Short & Bayless, about this time, sold their business to Jefferson Moore. Wamsley & Co. opened a store here in 1867 and continued in business ten years, when they sold to Short & Dillon, and they to Samuel R. Nickerson. Plummer & Trowbridge com- menced in 1874, and after a year, Trowbridge sold out. BLOOMINGTON ztO HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 477 E. Witter had the first shoe shop, and carried it on for several years. G. M. Delano, the present Postmaster, commenced harness-making in 1857. In 1861, President Lincoln appointed him Postmaster, and he has never resigned it. John Morsman commenced blacksmithing in 1356, but remained only eighteen months. After him came Jacob Hagel, who is here yet with John Peters. George Uhrich came here from Ohio in 1858, and continues business. A. Millmine opened a boot and shoe stock in 1864 ; two years later, N. Low bought him out and continues in trade. Dr. A. F. Rogers, from Le Roy, put in a stock of drugs and medicines in 1865. In 1869, he sold to A. Wise, who soon after moved the stock away. D. A. Abbott ran a drug store here a few years, and, in 1871, took it to Missouri. Soon after which, McFarland & Co. opened a drug store and sold out in 1877, when McF. went into the Circuit Clerk's office. In 1874, Mr. Wallace opened a drug business, and died two years later. W. D. Gilman, who bought the McFarland stock, still owns it. He is engaged in trade at Bloomington. J. P. Kenton, from Ohio, commenced a grocery trade here in 1860, and his son- in-law, J. B. Robertshaw, about the same time, commenced working at his trade as carpenter and builder. Both are still here, the latter engaged in the furniture trade and undertaking. John Kelley built the present hotel in 1856, and, a few years after, sold to David Campbell. Hey worth was incorporated in 1869 by a special act. The charter gives the corporation, which is in the hands of five Trustees elected annually, one of whom shall be elected President — all the authority needed to run a city of the first-class, even to borrowing money on the credit of the town and lighting the city with gas, except that they can only grant license to sell intoxicating drink upon a vote of the legal voters at the annual term election. The question of license must be submitted each year, and has never yet been voted in the affirmative. The present Town Board is A. R. Nick- erson, J. J. Hancock, J. B. Rutledge, William Marker and C. Perkins. The present business men are : General merchants, E. D. Plummer, S. Nickerson ; grocers, W. W. Elder & Co., Rutledge & Battersell, J. R. Kenton & Son, A. F. Rogers -& Co.; drugs, Will D. Gilman, F. H. Hill; hardware and implements, Capt. J. H. C. Dill, S. Mann ; grain, lumber, etc., Isaac Vanordstrand & Co. ; furniture, J. B. Rob- ertshaw ; hotel, D. Campbell ; butchers, Rutledge & Cunningham ; millinery, etc., Miss Martin, Mrs. Shannon, Miss Buck ; harness, S. R. Shannon; boots and shoes, Nathan Low; blacksmiths and wagon-makers, Hull & Uhrich, Stagel & Peters, A. Kelley; tailor, D. D. Dunseth. In 1857, Coursin & Wilson built a large mill west of the railroad, south of Main street, opposite the Vanordstrand warehouse. This mill was burned in 1860, together with the building opposite. Mr. Alexander Wilson had been educated to business and and had for many years carried on a wholesale grocer's business in Pittsburgh, Penn. He closed in 1837, and went across the river and engaged in trade for some years. He came to Hey worth in 1857, and went into this miil operation, by the loss of which he suffered heavily. He built the first good dwelling-house in Hey worth, that on the block next east of the railroad, at the cost of about $3,000. He was a man of superior 478 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. business qualifications, a leading man in church and public enterprises. While living in Pittsburgh, he was Superintendent of the large Sabbath school of the First Presby- terian Church and of a large mission school, such a man as would be greatly useful in any community. He died in 1862, and his widow resides in Allegheny City. Maj. McFarland has quite recently purchased the Wilson residence and expects to repair it for his residence. Upon this same block, for a long time stood the pioneer residence of Capt. George Martin, whose recent death removes from the town the earliest resident within its borders. The cabin was removed by McFarland after he purchased the lot upon which it stood for thirty years. Capt. Martin was so long the " oldest inhabitant " that he was almost considered a fixture. In 1868, Dice, Hall & Co. built the present mill, a two-story, three-run mill, at a cost of about $1,800. It stands just east of the railroad, two blocks north of the hotel. In 1869, McFarland bought out Hall's interest, and it was sold, a few years afterward, to Ellsworth & Mayers. It has done a large and good business a portion of the time, but is not now running. The engine exploded some years since and killed the engineer, Cooley. The good supply of timber induces many of the inhabitants to burn wood for fuel. The coal supply comes from Du Quoin. No attempt has ever been made to find coal here, though there can be no doubt of its existence at a reasonable depth. CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, SOCIETIES, ETC. The Randolph Grove Presbyterian Church was organized in 1844, by Rev. Josiah Porter, of Waynesville, of the Presbytery of Illinois, N. S., with twelve members, all of whom were received by letter from churches in the western part of Hamilton County, Ohio. Previous to, the organization, Rev. Mr. Watson had preached occasion- ally and there had been occasional preaching by others, but seldom by the regular Presbyterians. The original members were Mr. C. Wakefield and Margaret, his wife, J. M. Wakefield and Nancy, his wife, Homer Buck and Mary, his wife, Robert Spence and Anna, his wife, John Finnie and Elizabetb, his wife, Mrs. Margaret Karr and Mrs. Hannah Elder. For a year or two, Mr. Porter continued to serve the little Church, preaching in the east room of Mr. Wakefield's house, where the organization had been effected. The Church at once connected itself with the Presbytery of Sangamon, 0. S., all of its members being attached to that branch of the Church. A Sabbath school had been established by the Wakefields and Mrs. Elder as early as 1838, in their house, and has been pretty regularly kept up from that time. In 1848, Rev. D. I. Perry, father-in-law of Judge Scott, of Bloomington, was engaged to preach once a month, which engagement continued two years. After him, Rev. A. II. Rogers, of Waynesville, was employed for two years one-fourth of his time. In 1853, the first church-edifice was erected at a cost of $900. It is now used as a school-room for the primary school. After this, the successive pastors were Revs. J. II. Moore, S. H. Stevenson, John Wilson and A. L. Knox. During the ministra- tions of Mr. Knox, which continued to 1870, the Church increased to 121 members and the new church-building, was erected. It is 38x70, two stories, with the belfry and spire foundation projecting out from the front center a few feet. It cost, including the bell, $9,000, and is really a fine structure. Rev. W. R. Glenn served the Church HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 479 one year, and was followed by Rev. H. R. Peairs, the present Pastor. The present membership is about 140 and of the Sabbath school, 90. A parsonage was built in 1864 at a cost of about $1,800. Though only one Methodist Episcopal is in Heyworth, there are three others in Randolph Township, and their history is so united that it will be given under this head. The writer finds it far more difficult to get the exact data of this, the pioneer denomina- tion all over the country, than of the one given above, and is, as a matter of necessity, obliged to depend largely on the memory, seldom very accurate, of the leading members. The earliest labors of the Methodists in this Grove are given in the proper place, the Township History. After those, the regular appointments of the Randolph Grove Circuit were usually at the schoolhouses near by, where the present churches, the Hey- worth, Shiloh, Sparta and Wesley Chapel, now stand. In 1853, Mr. Carlos was preach- ing at these several appointments; the next year, Rev. Mr. O'Neil, and after him the Rev. Mr. Barthlow; others followed whose names could not be learned. In 1864, Rev. Mr. Hendallwas sent to this circuit, and was instrumental in building the " Shiloh" Church, which stands on John Maberry's land, on Section 25, near the eastern bound- ary of the township. The following year, Rev. Thomas E. Wamsley was on the circuit, and started the matter of building churches at the other appointments. The previous year, he had been engaged in completing the church at Wapella, and thought all things were possible. Several attempts to build the church at Heyworth had been made, and ended in talk. Father Wamsley got a subscription paper, and went through the usual form of getting signatures. He then hired a man to lay the foundation, and engaged mate- rial for building, and then there was no alternative but to collect what had been sub- scribed. The people took hold very liberally, and a good, substantial building, 34x50, with belfry, spire and bell, was erected at a cost of about $3,000. The same year, under Father Wamsley's ministration and energetic spirit, Wesley Chapel No. 2, was built on the land of Jonathan Houser, on southeast corner of Section 16, which is about the same size, plain, at a cost of about $2,800. Mr. Houser, John Rust and George Crookshank are remembered as very efficient workers in this enterprise; of course, among many others. The following year, Rev. C. D. James had charge of the circuit, and Mr. Wams- ley was his assistant. This year, the " Sparta " Church on Capt. Stringfield's land, southeast of Section 11, was built of uniform size with the others. A. M. Stringfield, Albert Welch, E. J. Moore and Mr. Ijams were largely instrumental in carrying on this work. The circuit preachers since then have been Cornelius Bradshaw, S. Martin, Arthur Bradshaw, Thomas Simmons, Messrs. Lattimer, Sail, Joseph Long, McCoy and John Enerly. The circuit belongs to the Bloomington District, Illinois Conference. The churches are all in a prosperous condition, and well attended, and flourishing; Sab- bath schools maintained. During the war, there were few •preachers here ; many of them were away with the army, andjbr a time Mr. Wamsley was about the only ordained minister in the neighborhood, and as such was called on very frequently to perform services at weddings and funerals for many miles around. For this, among other reasons, he is very widely known. He is not now a member of the church which he so long and faithfully served. Owing to some unpleasantness, he withdrew, and connected himself with the Christian Union Society. ^ 480 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY, Questions and animosities growing out of the war, and the position taken by the M. E. Church in regard to the subject of slavery, caused a division in that body, and the Episcopal Methodist Church was formed. These same questions divided the church of Hey worth, and a church of that denomination was formed here, which, about the year 1864, erected a house of worship, 32x46, at a cost of about $2,500. It belongs to the Pana District. The Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Smithson, who preached for it awhile. The house was built under the ministration of Rev. Mr. Laurence. Afterward, Rev. William Howard was Presiding Elder, and officiated. Rev. A. Hocker and Rev. M. Crews have also preached. Elder S. Stagner, who has performed efficient labors for the Christian Church in this part of the county, held meetings at Heyworth, and baptized about thirty mem- bers into that Church. In 1871, a church was formed, and a neat building was erected, about 34x50, with belfry, at a cost of about $2,000. Elder Harry Vandervoort preached about one year. J. C. Campbell, S. Low and Jefferson Hodson have also labored here. A Sabbath school has been maintained irregularly. There is no pastor of this Church at present. The Heyworth School District is under a special act, incorporated in 1867, with seven directors, one of whom goes, out each year. The present Directors are J. F. Brown, H. A. Karr, Erastus Miller, William H. Wakefield, J. M. Funk, Samuel Hill and J. E. Wakefield. The district embraces about six or eight square miles of territory. School is maintained four months in the winter term, and two months in the summer. Average attendance, 185 in the former, and 132 in the latter term. The school is in four grades ; grammar, first and second intermediate, and primary. The building, erected in 1865, is 36x65, two stories, with a separate building for the primary department, and cost about $5,000. The successive Principals have been W. L. Glover, C. A. Laus, Rev. I. H. Ste- phenson. A. G. Scott (now a Judge in Nebraska), D. C. Clark, J. R. McGregor, J. E. Jewett, L.'B. Wadsworth, A. M. Scott and T. H. Zimmer. The higher branches taught are algebra, natural sciences and rhetoric. The present teachers are : Principal, T. H. Zimmer; first intermediate, F. H. Hill; second intermediate, Miss Jessie Reeder; primary, Miss Jennie Brown. Masonic Lodge, No. 251, was chartered in 1856. The charter members were H. J. Short, W. W. Elder, U. S. Washburn, John Washburn, T. F. McGowan, J. S. McWharter. H. J. Short was the first W. M. The present officers are: Isaac Van- ordstrand, W. M. ; John Vanordstrand, Senior Warden ; George Stephenson, Junior Warden ; J. T. Shannon, Secretary ; N. Low, Treasurer. They own their hall and have it nicely furnished, and are in a prosperous condition. Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 483, was established in 1872. The charter members are William Shannon, J. C. McFarland, J. I. Mills, J. T. Walton, F. S. Watkins. The first officers were: William Shannon, N. G.; J. C. McFarland, V. G. ; F. S. Watkins, Secretary. It now has sixty members and is in good working condition. The present officers are: S. R. Shannon, N. G. ; Mr. Reisser, V. G. ; Hugh Robb, Recording Sec- retary ; George A. Hull, Treasurer ; N. Low, Permanent Secretary ; Lodge Deputy, William Marker. The Lodge meets every Friday. Encampment No. 168, was established in 1875. Charter members. J. C. McFar- land, D. H. McFarland, N. Low, John Fllmming, J. B. Robertshaw, J. C. Geroldman, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 481 T. A. Walter, J. F. Brown. The officers are Hugh Robb, C. P. ; N. Low, H. P. ; George W. Bell, S. W.; G. A. Hull, J. W.; R. W. Orr, Scribe; G. W. Marker, Treasurer. Meets first and third Mondays of each month. The Good Templars were instituted December 21, 1874, with twenty-seven mem- bers and the following officers: J. E. Jewett, W. C. T.; Rev. H. R. Peairs, P. W. ; Frank Capell, Secretary ; Mrs. J. E. Jewett, Treasurer; John Shannon, Financial Sec- retary; S. R. Shannon, Marshal. The Lodge numbers sixty-seven, and meets in the Masonic Hall. The present officers are : S. R. Shannon, W. C. T. ; Mrs. N. B. Shan- non, V. T. ; Arthur Short, Secretary ; Miss Altha Campbell, Financial Secretary ; John Fryer, Treasurer ; John Greenlee, Marshal ; J. G. Chatterton, Chaplain ; John Peters, P. W. A Degree Temple is attached to the Order, with twenty-five members. It is in a good condition and the interest well maintained. RANDOLPH STATION. When Randolph Station was first established it was on the township line between Sections 3 and 4. When the Randolph Grove Post Office was first established, David Noble was Postmaster. This was the first office in the town. Gov. Moore succeeded Noble as Postmaster, after whom Karr was appointed. When the station was estab- lished, the post office went there, and Olcut was appointed Postmaster. The location of the station did not accommodate those living north of the Grove. The railroad company es- tablished Karr's Station, a "flag station" opposite the residence of William Karr; after- ward, by consent of the company, the station was moved to Karr's Station, about two miles. H. J. Feelder was engaged in buying grain there, and W. C. Stewart shipped a good deal of grain and hay during the war. J. C. Elder is present Station Agent and Deputy Postmaster, and is engaged in buying grain. Grain loaded here goes south to Clinton thence to Chicago or to Bloomington, and thence east to Philadelphia. The names of physicians who have practiced here are : Dr. H. Noble, who studied at home and with Dr. Luce in Bloomington, died in 1870; Dr. R. G. Laughlen, who came here in 1857, went into the army in 1862, returned and moved to Bloomington ; Dr. D. H. McFarland, who came in 1862 ; Dr. H. C. Luce, who succeeded Laughlen ; Drs. Patterson and Suggett, and Dr. W. L. Pollock, who came in 1872. As a proper closing of the history and people of this important township, a short sketch will be appropriate of Hon. John Moore, one of the most remarkable and most important personages of Randolph. John Moore was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1793 ; attended school a few years after arriving at school age, but perfected what book education he had by reading while engaged at his trade. He served a full apprenticeship in England and came to America in 1817. He worked around in different places in several different States, married in Kentucky and settled down at Harrison, Ohio, to work, where he remained seven years. During this time and for a few years after he came to Illinois, his habits were convivial and free. Strong drink was not a stranger to him by any means, and some of his best friends, on this account alone, doubted the propriety of making him a Representative when his name was first brought forward for that position. In 1830, in company with the Passwaters he came to Randolph Grove and pre- pared to make his home, where it continued to be until his death. His first settlement was in Section 15, where he put up his cabin and fixed up a small shop to work at his 482 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. trade of wagon-making. Here he quietly spent the few years which ensued before he became drawn into public life. If not the first, it is certain that he was among the first, to teach school in Randolph, teaching half a day and working at his trade the remainder. In 1831, or as his son-in-law, Richard Passwaters, thinks, in 1832, Mr. Lindley, an admiring friend, brought out his name for Justice of the Peace. He was elected, and for the first time began to show the quality of the material that was in him. He con- tinued to serve as Justice for a number of years, so very acceptably that Judge Treat, who was at that time Circuit Judge, says, " he would render the best decisions of any Justice within his knowledge." Either in 1834 or 1836, he was suggested by some friend as candidate for the Legislature. The county, district and State were Democratic, and all that was thought necessary to secure an election was to nominate an acceptable man. His friends went to Merritt Covel, at that time an authority in the Democratic camp, with his name. They were met with an unexpected rebuff. Said Covel, " You can't resurrect John Moore ! " Whether this taunt from Covel, his own better nature, or the appeals of his friends, who had got their hearts set on making him a public man, or all combined had the effect, certain it is that he became a changed man. He was elected to the House and continued to serve there until 1840, when he was elected to the State Senate over David Davis, after that memorable contest which the people of McLean Cqunty, who were here, never tire of talking about. It is said that Davis gave up the contest, privately, before the election, an account of Moore's capacity for adapt- ing himself to every position, and the ease with which he got the sympathy of all classes. Moore was pre-eminently a man of the people, and thought it no sin to give them a chance to see it in that light. In 1842, he was selected, with considerable unanimity by his party, for their candidate for Lieutenant Governor, and was elected, and served through a four-years term. He then enlisted for the Mexican war and was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, and went through the war, participating in every^ battle of that regiment. On his return, in 1848, he was appointed State Treas- urer by the Governor, an office made vacant by the death of the recently-elected incum- bent. He was elected successively to that position in 1850 and 1852, and was a candi- date in 1854, but was defeated by James Miller, who was the candidate of all the ele- ments, which united against the continuance of Democratic ascendency in the West. Moore was the first in Illinois to fall before the popular rising against the Kansas- Nebraska bill. He was one of the Trustees of the Illinois Central Railroad lands up to his death, and thousands of the residents of this and adjoining counties held their titles from him. His eyes had for some years been troubling him, and in 1866, he went to Boston to have a surgical operation performed, which brought him to his death. His remains were brought to Randolph Grove and buried near where he had so long lived. Among all classes of people there are no two opinions in regard to his ability, integ- rity and worth as a public man. All place him in the higher range of politicians in al' these particulars. He had, for a laboring man, a mind well-stored both in reading and travels. In the various positions of public life running through more than a quarter of a century, he never got rich, and at his death was worth less than many who had begun life when he did here in Randolph, and had attended to their own private affairs. He had a remarkable memory, a kind, generous nature, and from the time of his pro- fessing religion his life was worthy of no blame. He was one of the rare instances in which political excitement did not seem to lead away from a fixed principle. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 483 LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP. At the formation of the County of McLean, it was divided into five townships or precincts, each precinct being so located and outlined as to suit the convenience of its inhabitants. Of these, the Mackinaw Precinct was much the largest, embracing, as it did, nineteen townships of the present size of Lexington. The county then extended far to the north, and included a large portion pf what is now Livingston County ; and Mackinaw Precinct embraced ten of the townships afterward set off to that county. Of that vast township, larger than an average county, Lexington now occupies the middle of the southern part, and, at that time, was the most populous portion. At the time of the first white settlement here, there were found two small tribes or bands of Indians in what is now the township under consideration. These bands were of the tribes called Kickapoos and Delawares, about three hundred each. They had built their towns, the former near the present site of the village of Pleasant Hill — a mile or so south — and the Delawares nearly three miles further up the Mackinaw. The houses of the Indians were mostly constructed of poles set in a circle twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, the tops meeting at a point about ten feet above the ground. Over these poles the skins of animals were stretched, near the top, and, at the bottom, large pieces of bark, peeled from the trees and dried, constituted the siding of these primitive dwellings. Dirt was heaped up on the side as high as the poles would bear, and thus quite a comfortable abode was formed. The door consisted of the skin of an animal, and the chimney and window were identical, being simply an opening left at the top for the egress of smoke and the ingress of the sunlight. In morals, if they could be said to have any, the Kickapoos were superior to the Delawares. The former had a code of morals which, in some respects, were severe in the extreme. Drunkenness, which was so common among the Indians, was prohibited by this tribe, and the infringe- ment of the rule relating thereto was death to the law-breaker. Some of the old set- tlers remember cases of this kind. They even professed a kind of Christianity, and some of them were, no doubt, really pious. They were all great beggars, and the men were lazy. The women did a little gardening, raising corn and beans, while the men spent their time in hunting. Game was plenty here, but they were not content to hunt in their own neighborhood, preferring to take long rambles to other parts of the country in search of game. On some of these expeditions, they would be gone for several months, but would always return as the cold weather approached, and spend the winter in their wigwams. After a few years, the whites having settled quite numerously in their neighborhood, the Kickapoos removed their camp to a point further east, in Living- ston County, still known as Indian Grove, and the Delawares wandered off to Arkansas. A year or so before the Winnebago and Sac troubles, the Kickapoos changed their eamp to Oliver's Grove in the eastern part of Livingston County, where they resided a short time and then joined other bands of their own tribe at their reservations, west of the Mississippi. FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENTS. The first white settlers in this vicinity were Conrad Flesher and family, John Haner and sons — Jacob, John and William — and Isaac and Joseph Brumhead. These 484 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. families arrived here in 1828, at which time Bloomington had been settled by Hendrix and Dawson about six years, and a few settlements had been made in various other parts of the county. This was three years before the formation of McLean County, and while most of it still belonged to Tazewell, and the ancient town of Mackinaw, some fifteen miles further down the river, was the capital. The families named settled in the timber of Mackinaw River, a short distance south of the present site of the town of Lexington, with the Kickapoo Indians as their nearest neighbors, about three miles further up the stream, and the Delawares as many miles beyond. In the year 1828, the population of what is now Lexington Township con- sisted of not more than twenty white persons, and fifteen or twenty times as many Indians. The intercourse between the two races was by no means so unpleasant as might be supposed. Notwithstanding the advantage in numbers of the Indians over the whites, and notwithstanding their general jealousy of the encroachments of their pale-faced neighbors on their ancient rights, they annoyed them but little, and never became openly hostile. In 1831-32, when rumors of impending troubles were plenty, the Indians still professed friendship for the whites, and asserted their readiness to take up arms against Black Hawk, rather than to assist him. The privations of these pioneer families were, in some respects, very great, cut off", as they were, from almost all social, religious, educational and commercial advantages. Of course, they enjoyed all of these advantages in a very limited degree. The first settlers were people who greatly valued such privileges, and, though they were for many years without schoolhouses and churches, easily found the facilities for enjoying them- selves both socially and religiously. The greatest privations arose from a want of the means of communication with the outside world. An absence of railroads, and even of good wagon-roads, rendered the locality almost inaccessible to postal and commercial facilities, and traveling for other than business purposes out of the question. Most of the first settlers were from Ohio, and we believe all who settled in 1828, with one excep- tion, were from that State. Of the families named, we believe the Haners and Brum- head were related by marriage, and came from the same place in Ohio. All these fam- ilies are still represented here, but the original pioneers all passed on to a country that is always new, but where the trials of the pioneer life are unknown, many years ago. The first settlers were all farmers, after a fashion now unknown. They raised a little corn and a few vegetables, and, like their red neighbors, depended largely upon the rifle for subsistence. Their houses were but little superior to those of the Indians, being merely little cabins, erected with the help only of the ax, and perhaps an auger. No locks, nails or any other article of iron entered into their construction, but just such devices as could be wrought out on the ground by the use of the tools named, and of such materials as the locality afforded. The only boards used for any purpose were such as were hewed out of logs. Some ten or twelve years after the settlements indicated, John Haner, Sr., built on the Mackinaw a saw-mill, which supplied, from the logs cut in the vicinity, the lumber for the partial construction of many of the houses still standing in the township. Jacob Spawr, who came to the country in 1826, was handy with the ax and saw, and constructed from walnut logs, by hewing, the boards which he after- ward made into coffins in which many of the old pioneers were buried. It was no every family, however, who could afford to lay away their loved ones in even so good a coffin as this, but many a worthy old settler was entombed in a casket constructed by HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 485 simply splitting in two a log, cut to proper length, and the halves scooped out by the use of a common chopping-ax. One of the troughs thus prepared received the remains, and the other placed in its original position and held there by wooden pins or hickory bark, served as the lid. Benjamin H. and William Downey were brothers. They came to this country about the same time that the families before mentioned arrived. They were also from the State of Ohio, and one of them was related to the Haners by marriage. During the years 1829-30-31, the population of McLean County increased quite rapidly, and the neighborhood at the Mackinaw timber received several acces- sions. The following persons, in nearly the order in which their names are mentioned, arrived in this locality during the years named : Joseph, Moses, Aaron and John Pat- ton and son Benjamin came in 1829, having lived a short time in what was called Old Town Timber, east of Bloomington. This family came to the county from Indiana, though some of the older ones of the family were natives of Kentucky. When they first came to the township, they lived in one of the recently-deserted Indian wigwams until they built a more comfortable abode. The family of the Messers came from near Columbus, Ohio, in 1828, to the Mack- inaw timber, and settled at first in what is now called Money Creek. After a year's residence there, they came to this township. Mr. Messer was a man of more than ordi- nary importance. In 1812, while he yet resided in Ohio, he enlisted in the service of the United States as a soldier, and served in that capacity during several campaigns. He was one of the founders of the original United Brethren Church, since removed to Lexington, and preached for the same for a number of years. A large number of his descendants still reside in the northwestern part of the county. Isaac Messer died many years ago in Money Creek Township. Valentine Spawr and family located in Lexington Township in 1829, having lived two years in Money Creek. This has been one of the most favorably known families in this part of the county. Mr. Spawr was from Pennsylvania, where he had taken an active part in public enterprises of various kinds. In 1794, he was a soldier under Gen. Anthony Wayne, in a campaign against the Indians in Northwestern Ohio. The Indians had, for several years, given the Government a good deal of annoyance, and Gen. St. Clair had suffered a severe defeat at their hands. In the year mentioned " Mad Anthony," as he was called, was sent out against them, and, at the rapids of the Maumee, he met them and gained over them a complete victory, resulting in the treaty of Greenville, by which vast tracts of territory were ceded to the United States. Mr. Spawr died here in 1855. Of this family, Jacob Spawr, son of the above, had really preceded his father and the rest of the family one year, but remained in Money Creek ten years, removing to Lexington in 1836. The other sons, John, George and Peter, accompanied their father to Money Creek in 1828, and, in 1829, removed with him to this township. Of these, Jacob is still a resident of the village of Lexington ; Peter died some years ago in Kansas ; George lives in Blue Mound Township, and John occupies the old Spawr homestead. Patrick Hopkins moved from Indiana in 1830, and settled in the central part of the township of Lexington. About twelve years ago, he moved to the village of Lex- ington, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1874. 486 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. John B. Thompson was one of the early citizens of the township, as he was also one of the best known. An influential and well-known family is that of the Uawsons. James R. Dawson, the father of a number of the name in this and adjoining townships, came with his family from Ohio, in 1832. He settled at first in Money Creek, but removed to Lexington Township a year later. In 1831, the precinct of Mackinaw was organized or set off by the County Commissioners, and of this domain, John B. Thompson, named above, was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and Henry Flesher, Constable. The election was held at the house of John Patton. The Judges of Election were John Hawley and Conrad Flesher. Jacob Spawr, who then lived in what is now called Money Creek, was also elected a Justice of the Peace the same year. Though the territory over which these dignitaries held sway was large, embracing, as it did, more than half as much as now constitutes the largest county in the State, their duties as public officers were not arduous ; indeed, they did not materially interfere with their usual avocations. The limits of the precinct a year after this were somewhat modified by the formation of Vermilion Precinct, embracing the settlements of the upper part of Vermilion River in Livingston County. Gradually, from time to time, as the popula- tion and wants of this part of the county demanded, the outlines of the precinct were changed, until 1858, when they were established as we now find them. In 1832, occurred an event which, though it took place many miles distant, was the cause of much excitement and apprehension in this neighborhood. For a year or more, deep mutterings from the northwestern part of the State had been heard, indi- cating a near approach of trouble from the Indians who lived there. Treaties had been made with the chiefs by which the territory there had been ceded to the Govern- ment, but the original possessors were loath to give it up, and returned occasionally from their reservations west of the Mississippi to their old homes, upon which occasions they never failed to annoy and sometimes to massacre the whites, who were then beginning to settle there. Of course these acts would be resented, and finally open hostility was declared by the Indians, who, headed by Black Hawk, crossed the river and commenced to over-run the country, destroying property and scalping all who came in their way- Though the scene of these troubles was a hundred miles distant, and though the Indians in this vicinity professed friendship, yet there was a constant dread and alarm. The settlements here were comparatively weak and scattered, and had their enemies chosen to attack them, they would easily have been overpowered. Fortunately, how- ever, the State and Government took prompt and active measures to suppress the uprising of the savages, and their devastations never reached this section. Some pre- cautions were taken by the people along the Mackinaw to prevent a surprise. A company of rangers was organized for the purpose of scouting through the country in the direction of the enemies' camps, to ascertain their movements. Several forts or blockhouses were built at various points along the Mackinaw, one of which was erected in this township. The one built here consisted simply of a log building some 20 feet square at the base, with a projection all around at the top to prevent any from climbing its sides. Through the sides near the top were made port- holes, to allow the firing of rifles, or such other fire-arms as the settlers might possess, without exposing the body to shots from without. To this fortification it was proposed to flee upon notice of approaching danger, and a good many families who lived at a HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 487 distance, during the prevalence of alarm, left their farms and lived near the blockhouse until the troubles were over. In the neighborhood of Pontiac and Fairbury, then in this county, there was not an inhabitant left, all having fled to this vicinity, or to others beyond. Some brought their women and children, and occasionally returned to look after traces of the Indians, and their deserted homes. Fortunately, the summer passed without any more serious trouble to this section than the neglect of crops and the troubles incident to moving back and forth. Many frights are remembered, which now seem quite ludicrous ; but when it is remembered thai the settlers were without telegraphs to inform them of the movements of the enemy, and, indeed, without any easy means of communication with the seat of war. it cannot be wondered at that they were in a state of mind almost bor- dering on a panic. The immediate result of the Indian troubles was to check immigration to this State, and for a few years but few new settlers made their appearance in this section. However, after the lapse of a few years, when it began to be definitely understood in the East that no further molestations were likely to occur, a new tide of immigration set toward this country never before or since equaled. This began in about 1834, and continued about five years. A system of advertising and speculation similar to that now prevailing in tbe country several hundred miles further West, brought thousands upon thousands. Not unlike the excitement which prevails in later times in regard to the Western gold, silver and lead mines was that which swept through the Eastern States in regard to Illinois lands and town lots. During the years 1835, 1836 and 1837, more than five hundred new towns were laid out in Illinois, not less than a dozen of which were in McLean County, Lexington being one. Railroads were projected through nearly all of them, and these, with the town sites, were platted, showing depot grounds, parks and drives, and were sent with the most exaggerated descriptions to all parts of the country. The State government caught the epidemic, and bills for railroads, canals, and other internal improvements were passed, corresponding in magnitude with the universal expectancy of the people. In 1837, a financial crash came and found this State but illy prepared for the shock. As a consequence, the numerous railroads, canals, and paper cities vanished in thin air ; and then for a number of years, improvements and immigration were at a stand-still. Of course, this part of the country having no extra inducements to offer, partook of the general stagnation ; and for a score of years no remarkable advance was made, either in population or improvement. Occasionally, a new arrival was announced. A relative or friend writing back to the old home in the East or South would induce some one to come out and see the country, and perhaps work a year, and once here, he would likely stay. As in other parts of the State, the first set- tlers located in or near the timber, and thus it will be seen by a glance at the map where the first improvements in the township were made. A strip of a mile or less in width, on either side of Mackinaw Creek, embraced all of the settlements for fifteen years or more after the first settlement was made. In 1840, Jacob Spawr took the cen- sus of the county, and he says that at that time his house was the farthest away from the timber. Among those who located here during the five years following the Indian scare, were John Smith, Milton Smith, James Brown, William Popejoy, Isaac and Jacob Harness, Dr. Abbott Goddard and Jacob Spawr, who came in, as nearly as can be remembered, 488 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. in the order in which their names occur. The founding of the town of Lexington was the indirect cause of bringing to the neighborhood some of these, and a number of other families. In 1854, occurred an event which had more to do with the immediate development of the country than any other single cause. For years it had been known that this was one of the finest agricultural regions in the country ; farms had been opened and successfully cultivated ; schools had been organized and churches founded ; towns had been platted and post lines and ofiices had been established. It seemed that almost everything had been done that individual energy could accomplish, and yet the country was poor and backward ; much of the very best land was even then for sale at Congress price. In the year mentioned, however, the " one thing needful " to this section — a means of disposing of the abundant productions which heretofore found no market, came. It is impossible to conceive how the country through which the Chicago & Alton Railroad passes ever would have approached the wonderful development it has but for the timely completion of this enterprise. Indeed, it is not too much to say that it is the very basis of the greatness of the country through which it passes. Immedi- ately upon the completion of the road, the prices of real estate doubled, and within three years there was not to be found a foot of Congress land within ten miles of its line, where whole townships had lain unoccupied for thirty years without a single purchaser. Commerce is said to be the great civilizer. In this instance, it has proved itself eminently so, and much more. It has not only improved the condition of the people socially, intellectually and morally, but it has brought the people. With the people have come the schools and churches, and to these have come teachers and books and ministers and Sunday schools. With the railroad came improved methods of farming, better plows, better means of harvesting grain, and better prices for grain. With the railroad came lumber which enabled those who would settle on the prairie to protect their grain from the stock which roamed at large, and to protect their cattle and horses and themselves from the inclemencies of the weather. This made it possible to utilize all of that vast extent of country wnich till then was thought to be useless except for a boundless pasture-field. For several years after its completion, the road was in a greatly embarrassed condition, owing somewhat to incompetency in the management; but of late years, through a more systematic policy, and a liberal course toward its patrons, it has not only become one of the soundest roads financially, but the most popular line in the West. SCHOOLS. The citizens of Lexington Township have always been noted for a deep interest in whatever would tend toward the education of the youth. Though the advantages of school education to the early settlers were exceedingly meager, they, nevertheless, have striven to give to their children that of which they were, in a great measure, deprived. The first schoolhouse was a little log cabin built in the timber just south of Lexington. Like all of the schoolhouses of that early day, it was a joint affair, being erected by all interested in providing means of learning for the few children of the neighborhood. The State Government had not, at that time, made provision for the general education of the people, and a school depended entirely on the interest taken by private indi- viduals. As the people were nearly all quite poor, it may be easily imagined that enterprises of this kind were of the most primitive character. A little log shanty that HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 489 -would not now be worth $10 as a schoolhouse, a teacher who was barely able to give a little instruction in spelling, reading and writing, the only apparatus a bundle of birch switches — these were the school advantages provided for the children of 1830. And yet, surprising as it may seem, some of our most competent business men, judges and legislators, got their education in this very class of schools. Perhaps in no particular has the country changed more than in that of educational advantages. From the little log shanty, with its huge fire-place, its puncheon floors and seats, and its paper windows, have sprung ten comfortable buildings, in various parts of the township, estimated in value at over $12,000, each of these furnished with improved desks and seats, and, in most cases, with charts, maps, globes and other apparatus. rr POLITICS AND WAR. This township has furnished its full quota of men to fill positions of honor and trust. For a number of years, the township has been not without a representative, either as a county or State officer, of which those of Judge and Representative, in the persons of Hon. Thomas F. Tipton and Hon. W. M. Smith, are worthy of special mention. The township did its duty well in the recent great, struggle of the nation to preserve its identity. The call for men and means to put down the rebellion had scarcely been made before numbers of the strong and loyal men of this part of the county stepped forward to defend their country and to preserve the nation intact. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. The law authorizing the organization of townships for the transaction of business previously done by county officers, as before stated, was adopted by this county in 1857, and the first township election was held in this township in April of the following year. The following officers were elected : Jacob C. Mahan, Supervisor ; Jonas Fell, Clerk ; T. E. Scringer, Assessor ; James H. Gaff, Collector ; 6. B. Okeson, Overseer of Poor ; J. W. Smith, George Flesher and James Adams, Commissioners of Highways ; John Fulwiler and H. McCrackin, Justices of the Peace; and J. Hand and Jacob Best, Con- stables. At that time there were in the township 310 voters. Since that time, the number has increased to nearly double. At the last election, there were polled over five hun- dred votes, and a majority of which were polled for the following persons : George B. Okeson, Supervisor; James M. Bay, Collector; John Gallehugh, Assessor; William H. Shepherd, Clerk ; William A. Smith, Noah Wilson and George W. Vandolah, Commis- sioners of Highways ; Reason A. Wells and George Bradford, Justices of the Peace, and Henry C. Hays and James E. Johnson, Constables. VILLAGE OF LEXINGTON. As before indicated, the village of Lexington was founded during the great " town- lot speculation " era, the plat being selected and surveyed as recorded in the office of the Circuit Clerk, for James Brown and Ashael Gridley, by Elbert Dickason, January 14, 1836. The original plat consisted of parts uf the northeast quarter of Section 1, and of the northwest quarter of Section 8, Town 25 north, Range 4 east. The plat has since been greatly enlarged by numerous additions. The enterprise, like most others of its time, for nearly twenty years seemed to be a failure, and, but for the building of the 490 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. railroad through this section, doubtless would have proved so. Numerous other places, with advantages fully equal to those afforded by Lexington, have budded, blossomed and died. At the time when the line was surveyed, there were not in the village more than a dozen families. The first improvement made after the town was surveyed was by A. Gridley and C. Carpenter, who erected a store-building. This was rented and occu- pied by Carpenter with a stock of goods for about two years. In the mean time, two or three families settled at the place, but the hard times coming on, the store was found to be a bad venture and was taken to Bloomington, the house being removed to Clarks- ville, the last-named being considered a better point for business. The first dwelling- house was a cabin erected b\ Jacob Spawr, on the site of the more modern and pretentious dwelling occupied by him. Mr. Spawr had lived in Money Creek Township for nearly ten years before settling here. For a year or so after the removal of Carpenter's store, Mr. Spawr's family were the only residents of the town. His double log house was post ofiice, dwelling and tavern, and Mr. Spawr was Postmaster, farmer and landlord. At about this time, Livingston County was organized, with Pontiac as the seat of justice ; courts were beginning to be held there, and Lexington being in a direct line between Bloomington and Pontiac, and the only place on the road where public entertainment was to be had by the traveler, this became a general stopping-place for lawyers, judges, litigants and witnesses on their way to the court at either place. Lincoln, Douglas, Treat and many other worthies and dignataries were among those who stopped regularly and partook of Mr. Spawr's hospitality. Though his accommodations were quite limited at first, he was credited with being a first-class tavern-keeper, and continued to monopolize the business until 1854, when the railroad made its appearance. Then Messrs. Franklin & Long built what has since been known as Long's Hotel, and now used as a boarding-house, and Mr. Spawr retired from the hotel business. A short time after the removal of the Carpenter store, William Lander built a dwelling-house and moved to the place. About three years intervened before the place was considered an available point for business. Then J. C. Mahan brought on a stock of goods. George Dement and Messrs. Knotts & Gregory were also among the first merchants. Other classes of business gradually came, as circumstances seemed to war- rant. Blacksmiths, shoemakers, carpenters and additional merchants started business at various times, until, in 1854, there were probably nearly two hundred inhabitants in the town. From the year named, the real growth and prosperity of the town may with propriety be dated. The railroad brought a large number of laborers who were employed in the construction of the line. These made their headquarters here, and after the completion of the road many of them became permanent residents of the village and vicinity. Hotels, additional stores and shops at once became a necessity, and, those wants being at once supplied, the population in a short time was doubled. The surrounding country filled up very rapidly about this time, and this levied additional trading facil- ities on the little town, and everything seemed for a time to contribute to its improve- ment. Another era of hard times followed in 1857, which gave a partial check to progress, which, with the breaking-out of the war of 1861, put an effectual check upon the development of the town. After the war closed, money was found to be plenty, and, as was the case all over the country, so here, business was brisk and another period of im- provement followed. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 491 Just at the close of the war, the first of the fine brick blocks which now grace the village was erected by J. C. Mahan. The Smith Block was erected about two years later. Of course, Lexington grain trade dates no further back than the completion of the railroad. The nearest markets, prior to that time, were Pekin, Peoria and Chicago, whence farmers hauled by wagon over the prairies their superfluous products. How- ever, on the location of a station at this place, a trade of this character at once sprung up here, which has been quite extensive ever since. The country in the vicinity of Lexington is exceedingly productive, and grain and stock buyers at once became a neces- sity. Among the first grain-buyers here were Messrs. Dexter & Kinkaid. The extent of the trade was not at first realized, and it was some time before the complete apparatus for handling grain now in use was erected. Of the gentlemen named, Mr. Dexter was the railroad agent, and the firm confined their operations in grain to buying on the track and loading directly into the cars, sometimes using the company's building for storing such as came in while cars were not to be had, and shoveling by hand or wheel- ing by trucks into the cars. Messrs. Fulwiler & Okeson also engaged in the grain trade after the same fashion. John Richardson also did a little in the same line. The first improved means of handling grain was introduced by Messrs. Dawson & McCurdy some time after the railroad was completed. This was the first elevator proper, and is the building now used by S. R. Cleggett as a kind of store-room. \ ORGANIZATION OF THE VILLAGE.. In 1855, a year after the completion of the railroad, the citizens of the town were aspiring to be known and recognized as an incorporated village, and a year and two days — July 6, 1855 — found the citizen voters assembled to take measures to accomplish the important fact in the history of the town. Thomas F. Tipton, since Judge and member of Congress, was chosen Clerk, and G. T. Dement, President, of the meeting. The motion to call an election to choose officers was carried, and the 12th day of the same month was agreed upon for the purpose. The election was accordingly held at Dement's store. At the election, thirty votes were cast, and John Fulwiler was chosen President of the Board of Trustees, and Jacob C. Mahan, M. Magill, G. T. Dement and Croghan Dawson as members. Thomas F. Tipton was selected Village Clerk, and G. W. Knotts as Treasurer. The organiza- tion then and there effected was under the provisions of the general law of the State. The same charter, somewhat modified by the Legislature in 1867, has been in force ever since. In 1874, a vote was taken to adopt the organization common to towns and villages of the State and now in force, but the proposition was voted down by a large majority. Again last year, the proposition to adopt the general law was lost, and the organization consequently stands nearly in its original form. The present Board of Trustees consists of William Skelly, D. H. Vandolah, George W. Hiser, Charles H. Preble and Henry Weekly, the first named being Presi- dent. J. W. Weekly is Clerk ; A. B. Davidson, Treasurer and Police Magistrate, and M. G. Hays, Marshal. The number of votes polled at the last election was 265, indi- cating a population of near 2,000. The temperance question has entered very largely into corporation politics at this place, and, singular as it may appear tp other towns used to the presence of saloons, 492 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. there has never been an authorized dram-shop in the village. Naturally enough, we look for a high state of morals and refinement in a place thus so solidly opposed to the liquor traffic, and in this we are not mistaken. In no instance within our observation, have we found a more intelligent and moral people than inhabit Lexington. As a fur- ther evidence of this, one need only turn his attention to the places of religious and secular instruction which have been established here, and which are in a most prosper- ous condition. CHURCHES. The old pioneers, though they would not have hesitated much to engage in a rough-and-tumble fight, and did not hesitate to take a dram once in a while (though they say the whisky did not contain as much infernal fire as it does now), were yet almost universally pious people, and enjoyed themselves religiously quite as well as the more fastidious church-goers of to-day. The religious services were simple, the church- buildings were simple, the methods of conveyance to and from church were simple, and the manners, dress and intercourse of the people who attended church were primitive in the extreme. But some of the old pioneers assert that the natural organs of the voice, with which they praised God, were to be preferred to the organ now pumped by a boy and skillfully manipulated by a popular but not pious young lady or gentleman, dressed in silk or broadcloth, instead of the ancient linsey-woolsey or jeans. Let us not quarrel with our fathers and mothers about the matter ; they have sac- rificed their preferences to our modern methods, and many, if not most, of them are praising Him on harps of such glorious construction as we are little able to comprehend. The United Brethren seem to have been the pioneers, religiously, in this neighbor- hood, or, at least, they were the first to organize a society. There were a number of Methodists here at about the same time, but they generally fraternized with the United Brethren, and a number of them went into the early organization. For a number of years, church services were held in private houses, in barns or in the groves — " God's first temples" — as the size of the congregation and the state of the weather seemed to indicate. Ten or a dozen years after the first settlements were made here, a house of worship was erected south of town, in the timber. It was quite a comfortable and com- modious edifice for the times. When the village began to grow, however, a demand arose for a church-building in town, which, about that time, was erected. The old building finally went into disuse, and was removed to the village and appropriated to a very practical, though scarcely so dignified a use as formerly — that of livery-stable — and the spot from which the Scriptures were once eloquently expounded is now occupied by John Barret, who dispenses horse-knowledge with equal fluency. About twenty- four years ago, the society built in the village their present house of worship, and though the same frame is still in use, the house was so remodeled last fall that it scarcely appears to be the same building. In the rebuilding, some $2,000 were expended, and the Brethren now have one of the most comfortable houses of worship in this part of the county. Lexington seems to have been a favored location for the faithful of this denomination, and was, in consequence, for a number of years, the seat of residence of Bishop Edwards. A fine residence was erected for him. The house once occupied by the Bishop is now owned and occupied by Albert Dawson. The present Pastor of the Church is Rev. John Morrison. The Sabbath school in connection with this Church is successfully managed by James Norman, Superintendent. &£ by Dr. T. D. Fisher, C. A. Barley and C. M. Davis. The capital stock is $5 a share. There were eight to commence with. Subscriptions to the capital stock could be paid in books. Mrs. N. T. Humphrey, President; Dr. Fisher, Vice President; Gr. L. Sheldon, Secretary; Mrs. T. A. Taylor, Librarian. There are 700 volumes. Loan tickets are $2 per year, or 75 cents per quarter. Stock- holders pay, $100 per year. The affairs of the Association are under the management of an Executive Committee. Mrs. Taylor has been Librarian from the beginning. From her last report it appears 1 ,500 books had been taken out during the year. While yet in its infancy, no one can estimate the influence of this in the present, or on the future. There are already many valuable books upon its shelves. We notice sets of " Chambers' Miscellany," Rollins' and Macauley's histories, Wilson's " Rise and Fall of the Slave Power," " Plutarch's Lives," and many of the standard works of travel, history, fiction and poetry. The citizens can well afford to give it a wider influence. The Havana, Rantoul & Eastern Railroad is, or at least the recently built section from Fisher to Le Roy is, a Le Roy enterprise, and its history belongs here. March 24, 1876, the company was organized here to build a narrow-gauge road from Fisher to Le Roy, an extension of the road already built from Rantoul to Fisher. James Bishop was elected President, C. A. Barley, Secretary, and J. Keenan, Treas- urer. This action was taken because the people of Empire Township, which had donated $75,000 to the I., B. & W. R. R., felt that they had been discriminated against in the matter of freights, and they had assurances that if this road was built, their grain could be shipped off at less freight than they were paying. Fifteen thousand dollars was subscribed to the stock, when the death of Mr. Bishop put a stop to the matter for awhile. In the spring of 1868, B. J. Gifford, of Rantoul, was elected President, the capital stock was increased to $30,000, the right of way was mostly donated, and in ten months from his election, the road was built and in running order. Two-thirds of this stock was subscribed in Empire Township, cre- ating no debt. The road thus built is twenty-three miles long, and has eight stations on it. It has already met all expectations, freights are lower than ever before, and the road is doing a good business. It has good Eastern connections, and will, probably, in time, be continued west to Havana. The successive Postmasters of Le Roy have been Hiram Buck, Dr. S. J. Weldon, S. D. Baker, James Kimler, S. A. Moore, Gr. D. Crumbaugh and J. W. Brown. CITY ORGANIZATION. The town of Le Roy was incorporated in 1853, and remained under town organi- zation until the spring of 1874, when the fire which burned out the corner opposite the Le Roy House, burned up the town records. In this fire, two stores, Sill's drug store, a hotel, ten-pin alley, Dr. Fisher's office and two other wooden buildings were destroyed. A petition was presented to the Board to permit a city organization. A census was taken, which showed a population of 1,018. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 535 On the 16th of July, an election was held to vote for or against city organization. B. F. Brinley, L. H. Parks and H. M. Phillips were Judges of Election. The vote was 99 for to 11 against city organization, and 91 for to 14 against "minority repre- sentation." On the 10th of August, an election was held for a Mayor, Clerk, Attor- ney and six Aldermen, at which election A. J. Thomas, M. S. Stout and C. Howard acted as Judges; 179 votes were cast, and the following officers were elected : M. S. Stout, Mayor; J. W. Brown, Clerk; A. R. Arbuckle, Attorney; James Wright, A. B. Johnson, J. M. Stearns, William Buckworth, John Kline and A. T. Bishop, Alder- men. For license, 97 ; against license, 81. August 14, the new officers assumed the duties of their offices, and J. Keenan was appointed Treasurer ; J. F. Mcllfresh, Mar- shal and Street Commissioner. At the election in 1875, J. W. Wright was elected Mayor; C. A. Barley, Clerk; G. D. Crumbaugh, Police Magistrate ; John Kline, Z. Chick, J. W. Brown, I. N. Kaughman, H. Murray and C. Wamsley, Aldermen. In 1876, C. A. Barley, Clerk; S. A. Moore, Attorney ; T. L. Buck, B. F. Brinley, A. B. Johnson and J. B. Patter- son, Aldermen. J. Keenan was appointed Treasurer. The Council this year estab- lished the fire limits, including within such limits Blocks 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, original town, and 136 in Conkling's Addition. T. J. Barnett was elected Alderman to fill a vacancy. In 1877, J. M. Suggett was elected Mayor; Barley, Clerk ; Keenan, Treasurer; Moore, Attorney, and J. B. Patterson, R. C. Hallowell and I. N. Kaughman, Alder- men. Rev. R. D. Taylor was appointed Marshal and Street Commissioner. In 1878, A. B. Johnson was elected Mayor, to fill a vacancy ; T. L. Buck, J. F. McKinzie and E. M. King, Aldermen. The city is provided with a Champion fire-extinguisher, in charge of a regularly- organized fire department, of which George Phillips is Foreman. Directory. — The following are the men and firms now engaged in business : Dry goods and clothing, Joseph Keenan, L. H. Parks, W. W. Reynolds & Son ; gro- ceries, Brinley & Stout, I. N. Humphrey & Son, Murray & King ; hardware and implements, Beeney & Galusha, G. W. Potts ; clothing, boots, etc., D. Young, J. W. Humphrey; drugs, etc., William Buckworth, A. C. Fisk ; boots and shoes, J. Stearns; books, etc., Maxwell & Co., J. W. Brown; harness, W. Braselton, J. C. Corcoran & Bro. ; bank, J. Keenan; butchers, Clark & Longbeck, George Yost; millinery, etc., Mrs. M. C. Hampton, Mrs. T. A. Taylor ; physicians, T. D. Fisher, J. F. McKenzie, G. W. Keys, George Espey ; lawyer, J. M. Stillwill ; insurance, C. A. Barley ; wagon- makers, Z. Chick, N. L. Robinson ; grain and lumber, Barnum & Keenan, J. 0. Peck- ham & Co. ; milling, Barnum & Keenan ; newspaper, C. M. Davis ; blacksmiths, James Wright, L. Wilcox, B. F. Ayton, William Jones, Henry Alters. John Moss, L. Kazar ; hotels, Le Roy House, Sam Bevens ; Cottage House, Mrs. A. R. Arnold ; jewelry, C. C. Mayer. J. W. Veatch ; restaurant, Albert Miller; livery, A. Murray ; furniture, etc., Howard & Hallowell'; dentists, T. G. Erskine ; photographer, 3. Hammond; tile- maker, Kelley ; nursery, L. A. Pike ; saw-mill, J. S. Young; live-stock dealer, J. V. Smith ; carpenters and buildmrs, A. B. Johnson, George Simpson, Charles Wamsley, I. N. Kaufman, J. Patterson. Empire Station, on the line of this road, four miles southeast of Le Roy, is a ham- let of a few houses and a fair, small business. 536 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. CHENEY'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. The wealth and magnificence of McLean County grew from its beautiful groves as much as from any other one thing. These goodly forests in their primeval beauty drew the pioneer as surely as the magnet does the needle. No other considerations overbore the generous shelter which these islands of shade and their accompanying cool streams gave — about the only comforts which the early settlers found in their new homes. All other were surroundings of discomfort. The cramped cabins, the absence of schools and markets, sickness — always the attendant on new locations — severe storms, depredations of wild beasts, fires, snakes, poorly paid toil, and the uncertainties of the future, all gave way to the supporting shelter of a grove of timber. When Jonathan Cheney first saw the grove, which took its name from him in 1825, it covered nearly all of Sections 19, 20, 28 and half of 27 and 21 , something more than four square miles in all. The Sangamon River, here large enough to be of good value for watering stock the year around, ran directly through it, and the timber was of good strong growth for lumber. Cheney gave his name to this grove, and in turn the grove gave the name to the voting precinct, where, until 1858, the people assembled to perform the glad, glorious duties of Americans — to vote without the modern inventions of "bulldozing" or bribery. This in turn gave the name to the township when it was organized ; but a little incident will show how near this last scheme came to failing. When the name Cheney's Grove had been decided on and sent to the Auditor's office at Springfield, the chirography as may well be supposed, was not perfect, and the official mistook the name for Cherry Grove, which name had already been pre-empted by a town- ship in Knox County, and he informed the Board of Supervisors that another name must be selected ; but the error was discovered in time to save the name. Cheney's Grove is in the eastern second tier from the southern line of the county, and has Anchor on its north, Belleflower on its south, Arrowsmith on its west, and Ford County on its eastern boundary. It is a full Congressional Township, and is described as Town 23, Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian. The Sangamon River touches it at the center of its western boundary, and passes through in an east-south- easterly course, passing out at the extreme southeast corner, the grove lying along both sides of this, with Saybrook nearly in the center of it. The high rolling prairie which marks the northern boundary of the Sangamon Valley, all through eastern McLean extends through the northern portion of the township, and out into Ford County, toward Gibson City, forming the delightful variety frequently alluded to in this work. The land in the Grove and most of that south of it is also sufficiently . rolling for good drainage and the highest cultivation. The LaFayette, Bloomington & Muncie Railroad runs through the township from east to west, having on it the only village or post office in the town — Saybrook. Jonathan Cheney with his wife and eight children, Mary, Thomas, Owen, Keturah,- Emilia, George^ William Haines and Catharine, came here in 1825. Two little twin girls and one other whose stay was not long, were left buried at their old home in Ohio, and two children, Return Jonathan and Rebecca, were born here. Of these thirteen, all but the three above mentioned lived to grow up, and all but one of them married. The grandchildren HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 537 of the aged pair numbered fifty-nine; their great-grandchildren have not yet been num- bered. His homestead was on Section 28, south of the Grove, and several children settled around him there. The elder Cheney was a man of strong will and great deter- mination ; a man of good judgment, but seems to have been very undecided in his earlier days, for he moved frequently. Came with his family once to Illinois and returned; came again, leaving them here, he returned to Ohio, and wrote them to sell out and come back. They did not follow his advice, however, and he returned to Cheney's Grove, and the next boy which was born to him he named Return Jonathan, a name which might well have been given to the father. He had returned, however, for the last time now, for he remained here to see his children grow up around him prosperous and respected. Nearly all of them lived in the county and became well off financially, though most of them died at a less age than he and his estimable wife attained to. He died in 1862, at the age of seventy-seven. His widow surviving him about fifteen years. Of his children, Thomas and Owen early entered considerable land in Padua, and became important citizens in the early history of that part. The latter died, and the former removed to California. George and William Haines owned and lived upon large farms in the southern part of this township, where their widows yet reside. Return owned a large farm just south of them, in Belleflower Township, which, a few years since, he sold, and still resides near Saybrook. Catharine and Rebecca married the brothers, John and Benjamin Prothero, pros- perous and successful farmers, who live, the former in Saybrook and the latter on a fine farm south of the Grove. Mary became Mrs. Stansbery, and lived near the grove on the south, and Emilia, Mrs. Horr, and are both dead. William Haines was elected State Senator for this dis- trict to fill the unexpired term of Hon. Isaac Funk, who died while he was in office. He served in an acceptable manner for the single year which he sat in the Senate. His tragic death is too recent and the circumstances too sad to call for reproduction here. He was long one of the best known and most generally respected men in this part of the county. Probably, next to Jonathan Cheney, in point of fact, though not, perhaps, of date, the man who did most to " settle " Cheney's Grove and make life comfortable here was old Robert Cunningham, who came here from Clarke County, Ind., in 1829, where he had lived twenty years. He had done good service under Harrison in the war of 1812, and was present at the battle of Tippecanoe. He took up 400 acres of land, rightly judging that his family would want nearly as much as that. He built a log house in the northeast corner, and went to work mak- ing a farm with the aid of his boys. Three or four years after (we are sorry the date cannot be accurately established), he built the first and only water grist-mill ever built on the Sangamon River in McLean County. It was a curiosity in its way, and if such a mill could now be exhibited at Bloomiugton, bolts, bins, stones and all, it would make a larger return of Shekels to its owner, at 5 cents a sight, than it would to be run as a merchant-mil). There was probably not a sawed board or stick in it; in fact, no sawing was being done yet in this part of the county. It is evident that sawing was not in demand, or he would have put up a saw-mill instead. 538 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. His " kit " of millwright tools to build it consisted of an ax, adz, jackplane, draw- ing-knife, and, possibly, a jack-knife, hammer and saw. Most of the work was done with the three former-named implements. The building was of logs, and it is believed he did every bit of the work on it, except raising the logs, himself. The stones were the common prairie bowlders, cut down to get about two-feet face on them. The floors, meal-bins, flume and all other " nice work " were puncheons, split out and dressed down to match. The latter did not always " hold water," and he had to " dust " it down with gravel, very frequently, to keep the water from running through the widening cracks. The wheel was made out of the same handy puncheons, and the bolting-chest similarly. For a long time, he had no elevator to carry the ground matter up to the bolt, and it was lugged up in the half- bushel and emptied on a platform — the original Saybrook platform, it may be — where a low-priced boy (the older ones had to be kept at work on the farm) sat hour after hour poking the product of the stone into the upper end of the bolt. This was business for the boys, and it will not be doubted when they say they sometimes got very tired of it. No smut-machine nor middlings-purifier cumbered up the old mill ; but the people esteemed it a decided improvement over pounding their grain in a mortar. There was sufficient water to run about six months in the year, and, in 1838, he built a saw-mill, with the old-fashioned gate-saw, which, in flush times of water, would, go up one minute and down the next. The rainy season of 1844, the stream was too high, during a great portion of the spring and summer, to run the mill, as indeed the long-continued rains prevented almost all labor ; planting, tilling and travel were impeded, and it was one of the most discouraging years the old settlers ever knew. Mr. Cunningham continued to run these mills for about fifteen years, and until Mr. Blakesley built the old steam-mill. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham were the parents of fifteen children, all of whom grew up, married and had families of their own, though none of them seemed to have been blessed by Providence with the same number. All of them lived around here for a while, and four still live in McLean County. Eleven are still living. The names of these children, ten danghters and five sons, together with the number of children each has been the parent of, are here given, and until some one in McLean County can show a better record, Saybrook will claim the championship for the Cunninghams : Sarah, 12 ; Phoebe, 6 ; Anna, 5 ; Mary, 9 ; Thomas, 6 ; Jesse, 3 ; Abby. 7 ; Farily, 8 ; King Solomon, 6 (he had only one wife) ; Sardelia, 6 ; Emeline, 4 ; William E., 8 ; Jer- emiah, 5 ; Aphia, 5 ; Robert, 6. Total, 96. Mrs. Cunningham, in addition to the daily household work and the exacting duties pertaining to maternity, carded, spun and wove the wool which made their daily clothing; brought thus safely through the mumps, measles, whooping-cough, croup, cholera morbus and courting, and lived to the good old age of seventy-five years, without ever losing a child or losing her firm faith in fore-ordination and predesti«ation, which is the central doctrine in the faith of that branch of the Baptist Church of which she was a bright and shining light. It never has been fully understood by mothers of the present day how those old mothers in Israel got along. That they had some strong sustaining aid in the way of sense of duty, and, perhaps, in most cases, the aid of faith in the promises, is more than likely. Indeed, it can hardly be conceived that such an endless round of pressing and exhausting labors, running through nearly HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 539 1 thirty years of woman's life, could be borne without such aid. The sense of duty is one of the strongest, and nerves weak mortality to the most laborious and heroic acts. That which could have driven Mrs. Cunningham to her grave or to destraction was, possibly, to be endured even with joy and pleasure under the incentives of faith, duty and love. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham were members of the Antinomian, or in common parlance, " Hardshell," Baptists. Their house was the' place of the stated preaching of that sect. Rev. John Darnall, of Indian Grove, was for years the regular preacher here. The membership here was limited, and now seems to have entirely disappeared. It is due to them to say that, at least in their case, none of the absurdities which, by common fame, attached to some of the disciples of this sect were ever acted on by them. While holding to all the doctrines of the sect firmly, they were sensitive to any irreg- ularity of conduct as they could have been had they believed in salvation by works alone. James, a brother of Robert Cunningham, came here at the same time, and lived with him, or near by, where he lived on Section 27, where James Thompson now resides. Robert Means came from Kentucky and settled on the Little Vermilion in 1829. The next year, he came to Cheney's Grove and settled north of the Grove, where James Vanscoyoc lives. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and again shoul- dered his musket when the Black Hawk war sent a thrill of fear through these settle- ments. His first winter here was the one of the deep snow, when everybody here- abouts had to do their own grinding. He used an old iron wedge for his millstone, and fastened it by a pole to a spring-pole overhead, and utilized the power of his children to drive it. It was a novel experiment, but worked well. He died in 1835, leaving a widow and ten children with but little means of sup- port ; but they were used to work and got along without suffering more than many others. Six of his children now live here — James R., Owen A., David D., Mrs. Ball, Mrs. McMackin and Mrs. Vanscoyoc. The former is a Justice of the Peace and a business man of Saybrook, and has repeatedly held important trusts. He is recognized as a man of strict integrity and very good business habits. W. H. Riggs came here from Kentucky, in the fall of 1830, just before the snow fell, with his brother-in-law, Henry Pitts. They were on the way to the Wabash, with a drove of hogs, when the deep snow fell, and nearly froze to death on the way back. Their feet and faces were badly frozen, and they considered themselves fortunate in escaping death. They settled on the farm where John Newcomb . now lives. Mr. Riggs took a claim on Section 17, and pounded his own corn in a hominy mortar for two months. He was the first Class-leader of the first Methodist class that was formed here. He and his wife had been members of the church in Kentucky, and, coming into the new settlement, resolved to bring their religion with them. His coming here was largely owing to his objections to the institution of slavery, and ,he did not mean that his children should come up under its influence. He and his wife still live here, and own and occupy a good farm of 200 acres. Their six children have grown up around them, honored, respected and enterprising citizens. Mr. Pitts traded a horse to Mr. Clark for his claim, and lived on it awhile. Snowden Ball came here from Ken- tucky, in 1831, at the age of seventeen, and commenced working on a farm. In 1835, he married a daughter of Robert Means. He died in 1873, and left a widow and eight children. Mrs. Ball and three of the children still live on the farm north of the Grove. 540 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. His brother, Hilleary Ball, came at the same time, the young men accompanying their uncle, with whom they lived after the death of their father. Mr. Ball was mar- ried in 1 838 to a daughter of Aaron Hildreth, who was one of the first settlers in Arrow- smith Township. He has been a prosperous farmer, and he and his wife still live here. Five of their children have grown up and live near them. Ephraim S. Myers, who is now the oldest resident of the township, came to what is now Vermilion County from Kentucky, in 1826, when twenty-five years old. After working around awhile, he married, and farmed two or three years, and then, in 1830, came to where he now lives. Only Jonathan Cheney, the Cunninghams, Robert Means, Benjamin Thomas and a Mr. Clark then resided here. He was a hearty, driving, hard- working man, with a constitution like iron, and a disposition to make the most of life. Full of tunes — in fact at the age of seventy-seven they are not all out of him — work, hunt- ing, visiting and other duties were all alike to Uncle Ephraim. He didn't much care which it was, he enjoyed them all. When the deep snow fell, he had just returned home with a quantity of meal for his winter's use ; but before the snow was gone he had to pound hominy like the rest of his neighbors. He says he has hunted in every timber grove -and on every stream and spring from the Little Vermilion to the Mackinaw, and every species of game known in these pans, from wild-hogs to rattlesnakes. The old settlers never tire of telling of Myers' hunting exploits. He and Cheney went down to what is now called Drummer Grove, to hunt, and took along a dog which bore the name of Drummer. The dog behaved so unreasonably that they killed him ; and ever afterward the piece of woodland was called Drummer's Grove, and the township in which it stands took its name from that dog, which, by the way, was not so famous in his life as hon- ored in his untimely death. Mr. Myers has been twice married, and is the father of twelve children, most of whom are living within a few miles of his home. Every male member of his family, except Ephraim himself, who was old enough to enlist, joined the grand army of the Union, and marched into Dixie to sustain the old flag. Five of his own sons, a step- son and a young man whom he had brought up in the love and admiration of the flag of his country, seven in all, went forth from his roof. One, Jacob, his eldest never returned to tell the story of his trials and triumphs. He has a fine farm ot 500 acres, and thinks he can enjoy what he has accumu- lated for a few years. Benjamin Thomas came about the same time to Section 27. He died soon, and his widow continued to live there for some years. Fielding Lloyd lived early on a portion of the land now occupied by Myers. Abram Stansbery, one of a large relationship which has numerously settled or grown up here in the eastern part of the county, came here about the same time, and, in 1832, while the fright in regard to the Black Hawk war was at its height, he married a daughter of Jonathan Cheney. A wedding at any time in the new settlement u caused talk," but this one at a time when it was not known what moment the red-skins might pounce down on them and carry the tomahawk, the scalping-knife and the fire brand through the Grove, caused many remarks. But Abram's faith was strong, and answered all by quoting the slightly changed apostolic injunction, " Better to marry than to enlist." At this time, only one house — that of Father Newcomb — •eighteen miles away, stood between here and Urbana, at Newcomb's Ford. Mr. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 541 Stansbery died leaving two grown children and a considerable estate. Edward Stansbery came here from East Tennessee in 1833. With the neighbors' help, they fixed up their little cabin and got to living before winter set in, but the next year they all had the ague so badly that they could not do anything. He entered the land he had a claim on in 1835, in Section 20, and sold this and bought another. He died in 1860. His son, W. K., for a long time and still Post- master at Saybrook, was thirteen years old when he came — just the right age to be very thoroughly impressed with matters, and with a good memory, his assistance kindly furnished to the writer of this sketch is hereby gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Edward Stansbery was for more than fifty years a firm and consistent member of the Methodist Church ; was one of its earliest promoters here. Of his seven children, only two remain here — one son and one daughter. He was a very small man in stature, but large in manliness, abounding in faith and good works. His brother Ezekiel came here at the same time and settled on Section 19. He had a good farm of 120 acres. He died there leaving nine children, two of whom still remain here. E. K. Stansbery had a chance of schooling such as was to be found in the Grove at that time, and made good use of it. The first schoolhouse was built in 1832, between where the mill and the cemetery now are ; indeed, this schoolhouse and cemetery were the " first beginnings" of Saybrook. A Mr. Rowland taught school, and a Mr. Harbison followed him. The school was run by subscription. The teacher and some of the citizens carried a subscription-paper around, and such as felt able subscribed for one or more children's schooling at §2 per term. The attendance upon school was not limited to the scholars subscribed for, but the teacher would not undertake the school unless a sufficient number of subscriptions were made to pay him for his services. While lame William Johnson was teaching, the schoolhouse burned down, and his school was transferred to a vacant house of Mr. Che- ney's during the remainder of the term. A schoolhouse was then built one mile west of the present Saybrook, which also burned, when one was built a mile and a half east, which soon became a third scholastic feast for the "devouring flames." Just why all these " cool retreats " of learning thus burned is not known unless it is found in the fact that the youths here had such a " burning desire " for education that the buildings themselves caught the enthusiasm and went up in smoke. Isaac, another of the numerous name of Stansbery came to the Grove in 1836, and commenced farming on his brother Abram's place, and has lived to see nine of his ten children grow up to manhood and womanhood, most of whom settled near him. His son Isaac gave his life to his country, and died at Milliken's Bend. Otha Owen came here an orphan boy of eleven with his Uncle Elias in September, 1834, who settled and took a farm on Section 35, south of the Grove and near the river. He died in 1862. Otha lived with him eleven years, went to school at the old log schoolhouse near the cemetery until it burned and followed the fortunes of the others. He well remembers the " sudden change" in 1836. His uncle was away and his aunt kept him home from school to dig a trench around the barn to keep the water and slush from running into the stable. When the " change " struck him, he bethought himself to cut the night's wood. The cold was so intense that he could only remain at the wood-pile about three minutes at a time ; but the wood had to be cut, or the family would certainly freeze to death before morning. It was a lively time for the lad, and the 542 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. hour that he spent trying to cut wood without freezing to death will never he forgotten. He remembers as but yesterday seeing the mail-carrier going by on his way to the next post office east, which was more than five miles away. He felt sure the man could not stand the trip, but believes he did, for he never heard of his death. When he arrived at age, he entered eighty acres of land where he now lives, in Sections 34 and 35. He owns 147 acres here and has seen eight of his eleven children grow up around him. The year 1844, all the flat land of this country was afloat all summer ; not corn, enough was raised to feed the teams on, and small grain was cradled in the standing water. Mr. Owen says that the county road before spoken of was laid out on the half- section line to accommodate those who were trying to build up Saybrook, which was also the fact in regard to the settlers at Indian Grove, directly north of Saybrook. Ethan Newcomb came to Newcomb's Ford, a kind of a half-way place of enter- tainment down the river, twenty miles from Cheney's Grove, in 1828. In 1835, he removed with his family to Section 17, Cheney's Grove, where he made the first frame house that was built here. The lumber was sawed with a whip-saw as there was no mill then running here. He bought the claim of Henry Pitts ; the same on which John Newcomb lives. One of his daughters married 0. H. P. Vanscoyoc ; one, Jacob Smith, of Arrowsmith, and one, William Arbogast, of the same township. His sou John lives there yet on Section IT. His son Joseph split rails and made a farm on Sec- tions 18 and 19, where he still resides. Nine of his eleven children live, most of them near him. James Vanscoyoc came from Ohio to Old Town Timber in Padua in 1829. After living there some years, he came to Cheney's Grove and settled on the Means place. Five of his seven children are living either in this or the adjoining townships. One son, Walter, was for some years in business in Arrowsmith, and did much to build up that village and often occupied positions of trust in the official matters of the town. The family is recognized as one of the most enterprising and successful in this part of the county — not in the sense of acquiring large property, for none of them have become wealthy, but as strong, good citizens and valuable accessions to any new neighborhood. John Prothero came from Canada to Cheney's Grove in 1840. He located on what is part of the Haines Cheney farm, and entered the land in 1842. In 1857, he went to Bloomington and returned here in 1873. He owns a good farm north of Saybrook, but lives in the village now. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1875, and is giving his best endeavors to keeping up the reputation which Saybrook has always had for peace and quiet. Benjamin Prothero followed him in 1848. He lived with his brother awhile, and then took up land south of the Grove and east of Cheney's land. He has about five hundred acres of as fine land as there is in the town, and is a prosperous farmer and a careful manager. Both these men married daughters of Jonathan Cheney. Elijah Ellsworth came from Ohio in 1856, and settled out on the prairie, on the northeast quarter of Section 24. He has upon his place the identical log house which Return J. Cheney was born in after his father returned from Ohio. J. W. Bowie has a fine farm on the same section, and Jack Cunningham has a. farm on Sections 24 and 25, which he improved in 1859. James Vanscoyoc improved a HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 543 farm in that part of the township in 1860. About this latter date, the township filled ^Z^&t-^^s PRES. ILLS WES. UNIV. BLOOMINGTON HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 549 The Randolph Grove Circuit then embraced portions of six counties, and is now divided into nine circuits. From Randolph Grove, the line extended to Wapella, Clinton, nearly to Decatur east, to where Bement now is, to Champaign ; thence to the Upper Wabash Conference, north through Ford to Paxton, west to the Kickapoo charge. It included twenty-three appointments, and took three weeks of daily preaching in houses, shops, groves or schoolhouses wherever the people could be best accommodated. While Mr. Stoddard was on this circuit, there was no time that interesting revivals of the Spirit were not in effective operation at some points. This was in the Illinois Conference, and the annual conferences were held west of the Illinois River. In 1864, the Central Illinois Conference was formed of what was before a Presiding Elder's district, with Rev. Jacob Kanoyer as Elder. Mr. Stoddard formed the class at Cunningham's Schoolhouse in 1857. Abram Zook was first Class-leader. Rev. Mr. Van Gordon followed Mr. Stoddard, and Mr. Gomline succeeded. Mr. Stoddard then returned for two years, by which time the circuit had been divided by the State road running to Danville. Mr. Warner succeeded him. Mr. Stoddard continues to reside here at Saybrook, and still preaches ; but, at his own request, on account of failing health he has been assigned evangelist's work. He thinks there is no such work as itineracy. Had he his life to live over again, he would choose it above and before any other field of labor or occupation. Yet how the human con- stitution can stand such a life appears a mystery. Being out in all weathers, through storms and extremes of heat and cold, often without an opportunity to change wet clothes before an appointment, and riding afterward to some other appointment or to lodgings, changing beds every night — now sleeping in an open cabin, now in a comfortable bed — with every variety of cooking, preaching three or four times Sunday, and, through the week, almost daily. It was apparently violating every known law of health. Now, at sixty-six years of age, he enjoys looking back over a life well spent in his Master's service, with no regrets except the feebleness of his labors — a happy, faithful, pious old man. The congregation continued to worship in the schoolhouses until 1865, when the present plain, neat edifice was built — 30x40, and cost SI, 800. Edward Byers, D. G. Tear and John Prothero, Esq., were Trustees, who had the building in charge, and Rev. Mr. Cornell was Pastor in charge. James Perry was builder. A Sabbath school has been maintained since the church was built, and for seven years continually, winter and summer. The school numbers about fifty. Levi Heller, Superintendent. The Church belongs to the Cheney's Grove Circuit, numbers forty members, and now in charge of R. J. C. Foulk. The Christian Church was built in 1871. Joseph Newcomb, P. H. Faught, Thomas Powlson and M. C. Young were prominent in forwarding the work. Elders G. H. Adams and Harry Vandervoort have regularly served the Church with occasional services conducted by Dr. Sabin, Speed Stagner and Elder Tipton. These regularly-organized churches are supplemented by an active Young Men's Christian Association, organized in 1879. Rev. James Miller, W. H. Schureman, John M. Howard and 0. C. Sabin were instrumental in organizing it. They have a nicely-furnished room, with reading, music, etc. They expect to establish a library. The officers are not permitted to contract any debt. The officers are W. H. Schureman, Presi- dent; H. P. Cummer, Vice President; J. M. Howard, Secretary ; O. C. Sabin, Treasurer. 550 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. INCORPORATION. An election was held May 28, 1866, for or against town incorporation, which: resulted in the affirmative. June 6, an election was held for five Trustees under this charter. Hamilton Warford, L. B. Grant, W. K. Stansbery, J. W. Lowery and C. W. Atkinson were elected. H. Warford was chosen President and C.»W. Atkinson, Clerk. The boundaries were fixed at one mile square, being the south half of Section 21 and north half of Section 28. A special charter was granted by the Legislature, approved March, 1867. By this charter the limits were restricted by leaving out the south half of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 28. Under this the people elected a President and four Councilmen ; they to appoint an Attorney r Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor and Collector, and such other officers as were necessary to enforce the authority and powers conveyed by the charter. Very full powers were granted. An election was held April 6 for or against the adoption of this charter,, which resulted in sixteen votes for it and none against. Another election, of course, followed, for the average young American, whether it , be a natural or artificial person, is not satisfied long at a time without an election r at which H. Warford was elected President, M. R. Stansbery, Police Magistrate, and W. K. Stansbery, T. J. Warren, J. L. Ballard and Samuel Watson, Council. After the general incorporation act was passed in 1872, the town, by an election, accepted that, and since have been under it. A vote is taken each year whether license for the sale of drinks shall be granted. In the years 1873 and 1875 only, the vote has resulted in favor of license. About one hundred and fifty votes were cast at the last election. There are about one hundred and seventy-five voters in the corporation. BUSINESS HOUSES. The hotel block was built in 1871 by Alexander McKensie and T. J. Warren for hotel and store-room. It is frame, 60x80, two stories high and basement. It is on the south side of the street, while all the other stores are on the other side. The brick " Union Hotel " was built in 1870 by Thomas Halloway, and has been in use as a hotel ever since. The Crigler Block was built by Drs. J. M. Crigler and J. L. Ballard on the corner of Main and Lincoln streets. It is one of the finest in town — two stories and basement, the post office and a store on the first floor and offices above. It cost about $7,000. The three-story and basement brick block on the corner of Lincoln and Cyprus streets was built by M. B. Rankin up to the third story in 1872. The third story was built and is owned by the Masonic Building Association. The first story is occupied by stores, the second by offices and the Young Men's Christian Association, and the upper by the lodge rooms of the Masons and Odd Fellows. The next store east was built the same year by the Robinson Brothers, who live in Ohio. The next one by Dr. C. T. Amor and T. A. Stansbery the same year. The next one by Dr. Crigler and Jack Hepburn. The finest block in town was that built by O. C. Colebyin 1871, right west of the Union Hotel. It was a double store, brick, two stories and basement, with a fine hall above. It burned in the winter of 1873, which was the only really disastrous fire Say- brook has ever had. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 551 Rush Wirt is making a good quality of tile, which is in demand. He uses the Penfield machine and employs five hands. RESIDENCES. Saybrook has several very pretty residences ; in fact, its buildings throughout are rather a credit to a young village which has grown up in the woods. Hilleary Riggs built, in 1874, a fine frame house with ten rooms well finished off, costing about $6,000. It occupies a block standing about in the center, with the grounds in good order and fine outbuildings. T. J. Warren built a similar one in 1875, which is nicely arranged, good basement- story, nice grounds, good barn and a very pleasant location. J. M. Crigler has a neat cottage on the north side of Lincoln street, with ample grounds, good outbuildings, fence and shrubbery. It was built by William Lewis, in 1869, but Dr. Crigler has remodeled and beautified it. 0. C. Sabin, Esq., has a neat, two-story brick residence in the north part of town, which, with its surroundings, is neatly adorned by a wealth of floral display which is rare to find in a quiet country home. The ample grounds are diversified by mounds, trees and rare plants, while along the winding paths the pleasant foliage and bloom of thousands of Grod's loveliest ornaments send up their kind return of thanksgiving for the care which makes them beautiful. A conservatory on the ground keeps it always within the power of the family to have the sweet influence of floral assistance in beautifying their pleasant and modest home. Mrs. Sabin owns a half-section of land in Anchor Township, where the old Stackpole residence stands. J. A. Myers has a nice residence in the south part of town. The grounds com- prise seven acres, delightfully suited to display and decoration. A nice home built by M. T. Hall, in 1865, now owned by the Brittin estate, upon a five-acre lot, is of the same order. Prof. Oliver Springstead, west of town, has a beautiful five-acre lot, with a nice two story brick residence, octagonal in form and neat in appearance ; the grounds are good. The house was built in 1870. It is not often, by the way, that school-teachers are able to live in such elegance ; but Mr. Springstead, fortunately, has " husbanded his resources," and does not intend to go out to commons in his declining years. J. R. Means has a nice house, built in 1870, on half a block, which he is getting into very nice condition. O. C. Smith has a nice little house, tastefully set off with a beautiful display of flowers and shrubbery. Everything about it shows the good taste which reigns there. NEWSPAPERS. J. S. Harper was the first to try his fortune in the newspaper line at Saybrook, as he was in many other places ; indeed, he has been the great newspaper starter of the day. He commenced the publication of the Saybrook News in 1872, about the time the railroad was completed, and continued it about a year. He then went to Farmer City, on account of some little difficulty with the village authorities. In December, 1872, H. H. Parkinson moved his printing-office from Lexington to Say- brook, and began the publication of the Saybrook Banner. He continued the publication a 552 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. year, with the assistance of those ready writers, 0. C. Sabin and Esquire Van Voris, when he went to Wilmington, having sold his paper to Mr. Sabin, who, in August of that year, changed the name to McLean County Anti- Monopolist, a defender of the special views of those engaged in the " farmers' movement." In January, 1874, he moved it to Bloomington, continued its publication a year and sold it to Mr. Goff. T. J. Horsely commenced the publication of the Saybrook Herald October 9, 1875, first as a five-column folio, then as a four-column quarto for one year, then as a six-column folio. It is a neatly-printed, non-partisan local paper, and seems to be receiving a generous support. Mr. Horsely has had a large experience in newspaper work, at Roberts, Chebanse, Du Quoin, Morris, Aurora and elsewhere. The Sunbeam, a paper under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, commenced its publication May 1, 1879, W. H. Schureman, manager, the edi- torial department being in the care of 0. C. Sabin, Esq. Its peculiar field is literature and the causes of temperance, religion, intelligence and morality. GRIDLEY TOWNSHIP. Gridley Township is the largest in the county, being a full Congressional Town- ship and a half; is nine miles long east and west, by six miles north and south, embra- cing Township 26, Range 3 east, and east half of Township 26, Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian. The Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway runs through the northern tier of sections, and on the south the Mackinaw Creek runs through three sections of its southern tier. It is all prairie except the four or five sections along the Mackinaw, which were formerly well timbered with oak, black walnut, maple, ash, basswood and such other kinds of timber as grow naturally in this part of the State. The land is quite level in the northern part, but farther south it is quite rolling. The soil is rich and deep, fully equal to any in the State. The township lay wholly within the belt, the even sections of which (except the school section) Were given to the Illinois Central Railroad. That company at once brought the land into market, and it was rapidly sold to actual settlers. Their terms of sale were easy, although their prices were kept high. The price was scaled from $8 to $18, according to distance from a station. The terms were two years interest in advance, and payments to be made in four equal annual installments after the expira- tion of two years ; the purchaser to pay to the agent 50 cents per acre for his commis- sion, if he bought of the agent. As this town had very few settlers, nearly half the land went into the possession of the railroad on the passage of the act of incorporation. Ashael Grridley, then as now a prominent citizen of Bloomington, was agent for the sale of these lands in the district which embraced all the land between the Illinois River at La Salle and the southern boundary of McLean County. When the land was all wild and unfenced it was not an easy matter to tell just where to find the section lines and corners. And it was necessary for the agent to keep in his employ men that knew every foot of the ground — knew where the corner-stakes could be found, and could read the resin-stalk on the prairie " like a book." One of these was a Boston Yankee, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 553 who had served his time on the ocean wave, and came out here to seek his fortune — G. W. Kent — who afterward became proprietor of the town of Gridley, and named itafter his employer. When township organization was adopted, the name clung to the township. It was formerly believed that these wild prairies never would be inhabited. That these lands might do for cattle to roam over, as they do over the vast pampas of South America. And as late as 1850, the argument used by Douglas in securing the passage through Congress of the act granting to the State the alternate sections of land for six miles on each side of the railroad to be built, was that in no other way could these vast prairies be settled. For twenty years the land now comprising the township of Gridley had been in the market without a tithe of it being sold, and less even cultivated. Nobody wanted it, for they could not make a living from it. This Illinois Central Railroad, for years after it was built, did not carry passengers and freight enough to pay running expenses. But as soon as it was built, its lands, in such townships as this, went off very fast. The terms of payment were made so easy that it induced many to buy who otherwise would not have thought themselves able to pay $10 or $12 per acre. Indeed it was a fact that some were able to pay for their land out of the first- crop of wheat ever raised ; but they never got such a crop again, from that time to this. But it helped to sell the land and increase the population. Most of the land was never fenced. The owners early set out hedges, which now form the principal fencing. Since the first two years' experience, corn has become the principal crop, and probably mu*t remain so ; though there is reason to believe now that crops must rotate, in order to keep up the average yield of former years. A gentleman fully qualified to form an estimate, from his long acquaintance and from business transactions running through fifteen years here — Mr. W. H. Boies — says that an " average " corn crop is under, rather than over, thirty bushels per acre in the two townships of Gridley and Waldo (and there are no better corn tracts certainly east of the Illinois River). It would look as though men must find some cheaper way of living before they can get rich on thirty-cent corn. The first commercial venture, in the way of shipping produce, was by Kent & Young in 1859 and 1860. They brought a Buckeye mower onto this prairie, and cut several hundred tons of prairie grass; bought whatever else they could, and baled it and sent it to Peoria. It cost them, at Peoria, $4 per ton. There may be yet a return to first practices. The raising of grass, as an alternate crop, may prove advisable. The first white men known to have made their home in this township were James Bigger, in 1833; Reuben and Taylor Loving, in the spring of 1835. These men have passed away and their families are gone, none of them, it is believed, now residing in the township. At the same time, or in the same year, came Enoch Beem, from Indiana. In August, of that year, he was sick with the chills. Partially recovering, he went out and ate wild plums which were hardly ripe, and died soon after. He was an exemplary man and devotedly pious. His was the first death inside the limits of this township. He was buried at Clarksville, a hamlet a little way up the stream, which was and con. tinued to be until the building of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, a rival of Lexington in prospective importance. Beem left a widow and five small children, and some prop- erty for their support, but not much. Mrs. Beem managed carefully and brought up 554 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. her children. One son, David, lived on the farm, after arriving to manhood. Another, Reason, was for a long time Postmaster at Lexington. The same fall John Slown came into the little settlement on the Mackinaw. He was of Irish descent, and came here from Kentucky, and still lives in Gridley. He is the oldest resident now living in the town. He rented some land and worked in saw- mills for a few years. There was no mill on the stream at that time above Kappa, but others were soon built. The nearest mills where grinding could be done were at Peoria and Kankakee. When they took their grists to mill, they were obliged to take their turn ; and it often required two or three days to grind out what was ahead of them. The land was not in market then, but came into market the following year. Three years later he built the first frame house in the township. The clapboards were black walnut and the shingles oak. Pine had not come into use in these wilds at that time. The inside finishing was black-walnut. Mr. Slown was elected Constable in 1843; and when the township was organized, was elected Justice of the Peace, and has continued to serve as such, being elected each term either as Justice of the Peace or Police Magistrate. In 1862, he enlisted in the Ninety -fourth, under Captain, now Governor, John L. Routt, and served two years. He has always been a firm temperance man, even when along these timber-skirts nearly every one was accustomed to drink intox- icating liquors. At the age of eighteen, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has lived consistently up to his profession. He was the father of eight children — five of whom survive — one of whom lives near his old home on the Mackinaw. Mr. Slown now lives in Gridley village, engaged in the furniture and agricultural implement trade. Notwithstanding the hardships incident to pioneer life, he still thinks they enjoyed life better then than now. John B. Messner, known far and wide as a hunter, came to his present home in Gridley the same year. He had come on to the Mackinaw five years previous, and married into the Patten family, one of the first to settle in the vicinity of Lexington. He was long considered one of the most daring and successful hunters among many who at that time gave much attention to that avocation, either for sport or as a partial livelihood. He gave the names to the two streams which run into the Mackinaw at this point — Buck Creek and Turkey Creek. In this following, he met some narrow escapes, one of which, twenty years ago, nearly ended his life and practically closed his career as a hunter. While chasing a deer from Rook's Creek, his horse stepped into a dangerous hole and threw him with such violence that the injury nearly cost him his life. Hunting, as carried on in the earlier days, has, of course, with the spread of civ- ilization, disappeared, and there is not enough of danger and adventure in the hunting of to-day to lure such men as Mr. Messner into it. It was not uncommon for Messner to kill fifty deer in a single season, running through the late fall and early winter. One of the singular incidents of his avocation is thus related by Mr. Messner : When out on a tramp a cold day, he drew off his boots to more carefully approach the deer he was following. In the excitement of the chase some considerable time elapsed before he returned to the place where he had left his boots. When he did so, he found them so frozen that they resisted every effort to draw on, and he was actually obliged to go home in his stocking-feet. He learned a lesson, however, by this experience. At another time, a buck which he had wounded, caught him in the nether garments by his antlers, and nearly destroyed him and his valuable clothing. He has latterly given more HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 555 ■attention to farming. He has raised a large family of children, several of whom live near him. He and his son John own 440 acres in Sections 27 and 34 in Town 26, Range 2, and are recognized as good and successful farmers. In 1844, Jonathan Coon commenced to improve the place where John Slown had lived, the principal attraction to which was the fine spring of water on the place. He had been among the early settlers of the county, and had followed building as a business. He built the first Court House of Pontiac about 1839, a building which still stands there, showing excellent workmanship. Adam Coon, the father of Jonathan, Isaiah and James S. Coon, came with his sons to the county in 1836. He resided two years where Towanda now is, and two years at Clarksville before coming to Gridley. He died here at the residence of his son in 1863. He and his sons, while not of the very earliest settlers of Gridley, came here when no farms had been taken up on the prairie, and largely helped to change the early wilderness into farms. They were fond of hunting, and still relate many instances of decided excitement in that line. They at one time found a lynx, an animal not common here, and killed it. Many people remember the tornado of May 13, 1858. Mr. Isaiah Coon, whose habit is to keep a record of the weather, gives a very intelligent, minute account of it. It differed from the usual sultry weather tornadoes which are common, in that it was a steady wind of near two hours' duration, strong enough to blow down timber, unroof houses and level fences. The track of the storm's path through Mackinaw timber was nearly seven miles wide, and is yet dis- cernible. This is the same storm which took the early settlers of Chenoa by surprise, and leveled some of their new-made homes. George W. Cox, who has been long a prominent man in town, came to the county in 1837, and, in 1842, married a daughter of Taylor Loving, since which time he has resided in Gridley. In 1844, he broke the prairie, where he now lives. He has been successful as a farmer, and having received a good education in Maine, before coming to this State, was looked to by the early settlers as one to look after the public affairs. Old Sammy Ogden, as he is familiarly called, after living several years in Money Creek Township, took up the land he now lives on, in Sections 34 and 35 (Range 3), about 1840. He was fond of horses, and racing was a passion with him. He used to attend every horse-race between Peoria and Le Roy, and usually had a horse that could win. In selecting the farm he now lives on. he was governed by the fine stream — Buck Creek — which runs across it. He has been largely engaged in raising and feeding cattle, and has been successful. He has a good farm of 280 acres, well stocked, and gives it good attention. Jesse Stretch commenced early what is now a very good farm of 240 acres in Sec- tion 26. Like most of his neighbors, he has fed cattle largely and made it a good busi- ness. FARMS. There are in Gridley a number of large farms, which have been very successfully managed, and which are worthy of a passing notice. John Gregory, who, although not one of the very earliest, came here at an early day, and, by good management, hard work and practical sense, has accumulated what seems to be a very good share of this world's goods and lands. He owns something .over 2,000 acres, lying in Sections 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 32 and 33 (Range 3), which is 556 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. under good cultivation, well fenced, and is considered the finest stock-farm in Gridley. Mr. Gregory has for many years made the raising and feeding of cattle his principal business. He had not many advantages in early life, but such as he had, he made good use of, and is spoken of by those who have long been his neighbors, as a man of large intelligence, decided convictions and positive qualities. He was at one time the candi- date of his party for Representative, and it is believed he would have proved a useful member. His party was, however, largely in the minority, and the system of electing minority representatives had not then come into constitutional use. He resides now at Normal, though he still owns his large farm. Joseph Houseman for many years carried on a large stock-farm. James Moon, a son-in-law of Gregory, owns and occupies the Houseman farm of 900 acres, adjoining the Gregory farm. He is also engaged in raising and feeding cattle largely. William Alspaugh, another son-in-law, has also a stock-farm adjoining- Senator David Davis owns a fine, well-watered, rolling farm out on the prairie, three miles from the Mackinaw, in Sections 14, 15, 23, 26 and 27, embracing 1,540 acres. Buck Creek runs through it, and numerous springs supply water to the herds. The farm carries 230 head of cattle, most of which are being grain-fed. The farm lies in that part of the township which is highest and most rolling, shedding toward the Mackinaw on the south, and north, toward Rook's Creek ; 200 acres are under the plow, 200 acres in meadow and about 1,100 in pasture. There are no hedges on the place, but it is all fenced with a five-board and cap fence. Some open draining has been done, and tile are now being put in where needed. Hugh Hynman, a man of large experience in cattle-feeding is Superintendent of the farm, and looks well after the interests of the Senator, who does not himself (we may be pardoned for saying) either hold the plow or drive. There is a neat and comfortable two-story house and a nice, well painted barnr 36x50 feet, and sheds for the storage of all the implements and farm-tools used on the farm. Boies & Breese, while largely engaged in other branches of business, farm 900 acres of land, raising corn and feeding stock. They feed from 75 to 100 head each year and a large number of hogs. They are both men of iron constitution and large capacity for business and endurance. J. J. Kemp, who resides in Lexington, owns a fine farm of 1,040 acres in Sections 24, 25 and 36. Emily Moberly owns a fine farm of 320 acres in Section 11. H. Hadley has a good farm of 240 acres in Section 9, with good buildings and excellent improvements. H. E. Sieberns, who, through nearly the whole history of Gridley, has been engaged in trade in the village, owns in this and the adjoining township several hundred acres of land, which is being successfully managed, with satisfactory results. J. B. & J. P. Messner have an excellent farm of 440 acres near the Mackinaw? in Range 2. Jacob Hoobler has for twelve years been engaged in raising and feeding sheep on his farm. He keeps several hundred head of middle-wooled sheep, and has been very successful in the undertaking. Michael Vineyard, James Tarman, Joseph Yeagley and George Kemp have large farms devoted to grain-raising, and Jesse Stretch, Samuel Ogden, and the Coons have HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 557 each fine cattle-farms. By the year 1860, the lands in this township had pretty gener- ally been brought into cultivation. Very little fencing was done except on the older farms. Hedges came into general cultivation. At first, wheat-raising was the general business, but this soon was abandoned, and corn is now the staple crop. Those living in the southern part of the township trade at Lexington, on the Chi- cago & Alton Railroad, or at Kappa, on the Illinois Central ; in the northern part, prin- cipally at G-ridley or at El Paso. The coal supply for the northern part of the county comes from the Vermilion or from Mapleton, no coal having been raised at Gridley. Several attempts to reach coal have been made, but without success. Township organization was effected in 1858, but the township records have been so shockingly kept, or rather have not been kept at all, that there is nothing to show who have been township officers for the first twelve years of its existence. Taylor Loving was first Supervisor — one of the oldest residents — after whom there was an endeavor made to name the township at the time of its organization. There followed him as representatives on the Board of Supervisors, George W. Cox, James McNaughr, C. K. Drum, H. F. Freed, F. D. Callsen, T. W. Lock, John Slown and M. F. Vineyard. The names of H. F. Freed, F. D. Callsen and D. L. Hoover appear in the list of Clerks. As Assessors, Joseph Houseman, J. T. Tarman, A. W. Skinner and T. W. Lock. As Collectors, C. W. Ballinger, Joseph Wetherby, John Socks, L. G. Russell, H. G. Mc- Cord, A. W. Shepard. There are no records of any election prior to 1873. The soldier record of Gridley is a noble one. At that time there were 162 voters in the township, and the record shows 137 enlistments. All the regiments that were raised in the county, and the separate companies raised in the neighborhood, had repre- sentatives from Gridley. The zeal and activity with which her citizens responded to the several calls for troops was unsurpassed in the county. All through the trying ordeal for the preservation of the integrity of the government against organized treason, her citizens carried the banners of their country to the final triumph. GRIDLEY VILLAGE. The village — or town, as it is legally known — of Gridley, the only village in the township, is eight miles from Chenoa, on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and six from El Paso, on the Illinois Central, on the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad. Early in 1856, it was known that the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad would locate a station in this vicinity, and Mr. G. W. Kent, who had for years been in the employ of Geo. Ashael Gridley in assisting purchasers of Illinois Central Railroad lands to locate their purchases on the boundless prairies which stretched from a few miles south of La Salle to Bloomington, thought that he saw a lively speculation in buying the section of land which the station would stand on, and build a town. The financial crash ot 1857 partially relieved the mind of Mr. Kent from these oppressive day-dreams of wealthy accumulations. Taking Thomas Carlisle into partnership, they purchased the entire Section 4 of Township 26, Range 3, and proceeded to lay out their town. The first thing which worried the new landed proprietors was a proper name for their town. The worthy names " Kent " and " Carlisle " had been pre-empted by other towns in the State. Carlisle wanted to call it " Gardner," for his old friend, the then Governor of Massachusetts; but it was learned that that goodly name had recently been given by the late Henry A. Gardner, then a civil engineer on the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad, to- 558 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. a place on that road. They then decided on giving the place the name it bears, in honor of their long-time employer. The town plat embraces all of the east half of the southwest quarter and the west half of the southeast quarter of the section, 160 acres, the streets running at right angles by points of compass. The right of way for the railroad and its side tracks was given, and an open spot on either side, aggregating eleven acres, was left open to public travel and convenience, but not legally " dedicated to the public " by the deeds of these proprietors. This vacant land, a few years later, became the cause of long and expensive litigation, of which more hereafter. There were thirty-eight blocks besides the grounds mentioned. The first passenger-train passed through here February 28, 1857. The next month, the first lot was sold to James T. Acklin, and, a little later, the proprietors built a small house and blacksmith-shop south of the railroad, where Mrs. Listen now resides. The first dwelling-house was built the same year by Charles Cochrane, which is now occupied by J. C. Boies. The first store was built this year for J. M. Mitchell, on the corner just north of the depot, and is still occupied by him for that purpose. Mr. M. is the pioneer merchant, having been the first to bring a stock of goods into the town, is a gentleman of quiet habits, a descendant of the French Huguenots, and retains many traits of character common to those heroes. These, as were the other buildings put up at this time, were built by S. J. Lock, a gentleman then recently from Boston, seeking a home and work in this new field. He still resides in Gridley, though he has wan- dered some in other places, and still wields the hammer and shoves the jack-plane. About the same time, and during the season of 1857, were built the houses of Philo Sleezer, Mr. Whitney, Mr. Wilbur and Mr. Preston. Mr. Lock, soon after this, " took to the country," and his mechanical skill was kept fully employed, summer and win- Mr, putting up the small farmhouses which were needed by the unprecedented influx of farmers for the next two or three years. The first depot-building, put up this year, also has a " history." For some time after the Peoria end of this railroad was built, there was no railroad bridge. Passengers came out of Peoria on foot or by Parmely's buses across the bridge, and took the cars at this end of the bridge. The depot was built at that place for the convenience of passengers. When the railroad bridge was made, there was no further use for the building there, so it was taken down and removed to Gridley. It was placed in a mud- hole east of the present building, and enjoyed all the privileges and immunities of a depot until the tornado of May 13, 1858, sent it kiting. The corner of the building hit against the north rail with such force that it was bent out of parallel several inches, and, for a year, trains ran around it on the switch. The rail has since been straight- ened, however, and trains can now run regularly. Messrs. Carlisle & Kent, in July of this year, transferred their entire interest in the town and in Section 4 to Gen. Gridley, and he remains the owner of a considerable number of the lots. Mr. Kent moved his family here in the spring of 1858, into a house which was near enough completed by the time of the tornado to get the full benefit of whatever wind could reach it. The first schoolhouse was built in 1859, by private contributions of Messrs. Mitchell, Cochrane, Manning, Kent and Young, and cost $105. For some reason not now fully understood, the citizens living in Gridley Station could not get public funds for building, although, after the building was up, they could get the teachers' wages, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 559 and Charles Cochrane, who came here as Station Agent, was put into the school as teacher. He was a young man of good education, superior to many who got "'stificates" in those days. Born in New Hampshire and educated there, he had taught in Kentucky, and at Mount Hope, in this county. The first school had sixteen scholars. Mr. Cochrane also kept the first lumber-yard. Lumber came from Chicago via Chenoa for some years, and principally via Gilman, as the railroad company now is in closer business relation with the Illinois Central than with the Chicago & Alton. The first hotel was built in 1859 or 1860, by C. K. Drum. Gen. Gridley donated two lots and $200 toward it, on condition that Drum should put up a house worth $1,000. The " Gridley House " actually cost several hundred dollars more than was stipulated. The first commercial venture engaged in to make Gridley a " shipping point" was the cutting and baling of several hundred tons of prairie-hay. It proved reasonably successful. The grain trade has been, since 1859, the principal commercial business of Gridley. During the earlier years, it was principally wheat. There were no ware- houses to hold the grain for shipment, and the grain was shoveled directly into the cars, that is, all that did not scatter on the ground. This was a wasteful method, and men began putting up small buildings to hold a carload or two. When the load was pro- cured for the car and a car could be secured for the load, the grain was carried out in baskets or wheelbarrows. Wheat gradually disappeared as a shipping commodity, and corn became king. Great, long lines of cribs stretched out all around the depot-grounds to hold the hundreds of thousands of bushels that annually seek a market here. The men who have engaged in this business here, and have annually held the market price up to a point where they could command as much grain as is bought at any point on the line of this railroad are the men who have really conserved the prosperity of this place. A short notice of these men is appropriate. James M. Mitchell commenced the purchase of wheat and country produce in 1858, soon after opening his store here, in fact as soon as there was any to buy. He bought for Boies & Van Vleet, a grain firm then doing business in El Paso. G. W. Kent, in 1859 and 1860, engaged in the business, and during the latter year built the first grain- house in town. It was 16x24 feet, and answered the purpose very well in those times. George A. Coburn built a warehouse the following year, and Mr. Mitchell continued buying for John Dehner, of Pontiac and Chenoa. In 1862, Silas E. Brooks commenced to buy corn here for a Boston firm. The ruling price was 10 cents. They allowed him to buy all he could for 12? cents, he to make his commission out of that, and they to furnish him lumber for cribs. He employed Kent to buy for him on a commission, and the two continued buying as long as they could get it for 10 cents. The corn remained here until 1864-65, and sold for an average price of $1,03 per bushel. It seems that some others than "bloated bond- holders " made something in those days. William H. Boies, who had been in the grain trade in El Paso for a few years, to which place he had come from Livingston County, N. Y., was appointed station agent here at this time, and commenced in a small way the business which has grown on his hands until he is now one of the heaviest shippers on the line of this road. He rented the Coburn Warehouse to begin with, and his business soon outgrew that. In 1866> 560 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. he built his present large steam elevator, which has a capacity of 20,000 bushels. In 1869, he formed a partnership with Richard Breese, an Englishman who had for twelve years been largely engaged in stock farming and feeding. A little incident shows the transmutations of things in this changeful country : One of this firm recalls how he bought 400 bushels of corn in 1862 of N. J. Pillsbury, now a Judge of the Appellate Court in this State, for 10 cents a bushel. It seemed to be a big job for the future Judge, for it took him nearly all summer to draw it in with a yoke of steers. In 1863 or 1874, Sykes & Smith were in the grain trade, and built a horse-power elevator, which was burned in 1878. C. P. Ayers, for several years a farmer in Livingston County, has been for two years engaged in buying grain. F. D. Callsen, at present Justice of the Peace and insurance agent, was engaged, during several years, in buying grain. This does not claim to be a complete list, but gives the names of those who have been instrumental in making the Gridley market one of the very best in the county, and aggregating shipments of from a quarter to half a million bushels per year. In 1860, the present schoolhouses were built, and the present depot. One of the " seven wonders " of Gridley is the wind-mill built in 1874 by Mr. Martin, of Peoria, for the Franzen Bros. It is patterned after the old Dutch mills that for ages have pumped the waters and ground the grist of the industrious race which have made the sea to blossom like the rose. It is octagonal in shape for about 18 feet in height, 32 feet in diameter on the ground, tapering up to about 26 feet at the top of this first story, which is surrounded by a platform 8 feet wide, upon which the " engineer" operates the machinery which shifts the wings to the breeze, there being no fan-tail, as there is on our common American wind-mills, to throw the wings to windward. Above this, the building is conical, running up to a sugar-loaf top. This section is shingled. Above this are attached the huge wings, four in number, 33 feet long and 8 feet wide, made of strong timber frame, covered with high boards and sail-cloth. Within the wonder increases. The huge timbers, so placed as to give great strength to withstand the terrible strain which would rack and tear in pieces any ordi- nary frame in a moment, give to the unpractical eye the impression of a chaos of heavy beams, braces, posts, girths, girders, sills, in endless number. You dodge and twist around among them and wonder how or where the architects of this structure expected to have the grists placed or the stones run. In the second story are three runs of stones, smut-mill, etc., and all the machinery usually found in any well-regulated grist- mill, in the amount of space that in most mills is allotted to the stone and a few old boxes for customers to sit on and warm themselves. In an L are the bolts, meal-bins, etc. All the shafting, gearing, etc., are of wood, with a few trifling exceptions. By an ingenious device, the " governor," which is used on all steam-engines to regulate the escape of steam, is made to raise or lower the upper millstone, according as the motion of the mill is slow or fast. The proprietors find the wind of late years so uncertain that they are now putting in a thirty-horse-power upright engine so as to be able to about double the working capacity of the mill. The town of Gridley was incorporated under the general incorporation act in 1869. The first election resulted in the choice of H. E. Sieberns, President ; W. H. Boies r HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 561 George Jewett, D. Sloan and S. L. Martin, Trustees ; M. C. Prescott, Treasurer. These men put the machinery in motion and adopted such ordinances as were found necessary to do the business of the town. In 1870, the Board elected consisted of W. H. Boies, President; H. E. Sieberns, George Jewett, S. Archer, H. Drum, and M. C. Prescott, Treasurer. 1872, George Jewett President ; W. H. Boies, S.' C. McConnell, B. P. Van Dolah, and J. E. Jewett, Clerk. 1873, W. H. Boies, George Jewett, W. C. Mack and F. D. Callsen. 1875, H. Drum, President ; J. D. Webster, Clerk ; W. C. Mack, H. A. Piatt and V. Meininger. 1876, F. D. Callsen, President; J. D. Webster, Clerk ; Joseph Gilmore, E. P. Gibbons, Richard Breese, Trustees; D. L. Hoover, Treasurer. 1877, J. D. Webster, President; J. A. Taylor, Clerk; R. Breese, H. A. Piatt, C. H. New- hauser, Trustees; D. L. Hoover, Treasurer. 1878, George Frank, President; R. Breese. C. H. Newhauser, E. Lugeanbeal ; J. A. Taylor, Clerk ; D. L. Hoover, Treasurer, 1879, George Frank, President ; W. H. Ruckle, Clerk ; E. Lugeanbeal, Isaac Sheets and Ham. Franzen, Trustees ; D. L. Hoover, Treasurer. The only official salaries paid by the town are for Clerk, $10 per annum ; Treas- urer, 3 per centum. J. M. Mitchell was appointed the first Postmaster, and continued in office until the administration of Andrew Johnson, when he was removed and Upton Coomes was appointed. In 1869, Mitchell was re-appointed and has served ever since. The gentlemen who have in turn served as agents at the depot are Charles Coch- rane, G. W. Kent, H. H. Soper, S. E. Brooks, W. H. Boies, E. C. Shearer, W. G. Mess- ier and George A. Parmely, who is agent at present ; baggage- master, Thomas Liston ; trackmaster, William Lynch ; engineer, Joseph Hoffman. Among the earlier business men of Gridley, who has quietly but energetically attended to his business in such a manner as to make a success of it, is Mr. H. E. Sieberns, who, in 1863, put up a building and stocked it with a complete stock of goods, on the corner east of the post office corner. He has been universally successful in his engagements and has acquired a competency. The first child born in the village of Gridley was Willie Sleezer, who arrived at his majority in September, 1878, and feels almost as though he had " grown-up with the country." The first death was that of the excellent wife of James M. Mitchell, who died soon after he commenced business here. Maj. Houghton is one of the characters who, a few years since, was well known along this road as a resident of Gridley. He frequently passed back and forth on the trains, selling his photograph, and interesting the passengers with his bright and intelli- gent conversation. He was less than four feet in height and well-proportioned, with fine head and interesting features. He was just large enough to look out of the car windows by standing on tip-toe, carried a gold-headed cane and dressed the style of a gentleman of leisure. For several years, he has been traveling with a Lilliputian troupe, of which he is the chief attraction. The schoolhouse is not, perhaps, as attractive, nor is it as expensive, as many more ambitious villages can show, but the school itself is a good one. Under the charge of B. F: Howard, the pupils are being attended to properly, and are acquiring a thoroughly good and useful education. Pupils enrolled, 120 ; daily average attendance, 103. Miss Luella Barnum is assistant, having charge of the younger scholars. The course of 562 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. study embraces all rudimentary studies and algebra, botany, pbysiology, philosophy, physical geography. The school continues nine months of twenty-two days. The present business men and firms are : Dry goods and groceries, J. M. Mitchell (twenty-two years), H. E. Sieberns (fifteen years), W. C. Mack, George A. Frank, Bloom- enshine & Seidel, Philip Klein ; drugs and notions, D. L. Hoover ; books, news and notions, G. W. Kent; boots and shoes, Chris. Overbach, E. G. Alvord; grain, Boies & Breese, C. P. Ayers, W. C. Mack, John Smithers ; hardware and tin, J). L. Myers; restau- rant, Isaac Sheets ; millinery, etc., Misses Boies, Misses Slown & Roberts, Mrs. J. C. Houghton ; wagon and carriage makers, C. H. Newhauser, E. Lugeanbeal, John Laufer; livery, M. C. Drum; grist-mill, H. Franzen & Bro. ; butcher, M. Barry; harness-maker, G. Inthurm ; furniture and undertaking, Gilmore & Slown, August Strathman ; lumber, etc., Sloan & Gilmore ; physicians, L. C. McConnell, J. A. Taylor, Dr. Kruze. Gridley has four churches — the Christian, the Mennonite (New Ormish), the Methodist and Congregational. The first preaching in the village was by Elder Branch, the Baptist clergyman of El Paso. His services were usually held in Mitchell's store, but he had no regular appointments here. Next in point of time, Rev. S. W. Cobb, a Congregational minis- ter, preached for some time every fourth week, in the station-house. The edifice was not, in all respects, as comfortable to go to sleep in during preaching as are some churches of the present day, with cushioned pews and all the " modern improvements ;" nor, perhaps, were the words of the devout men of God so sensational as to call for publication in the daily papers, nor for telegraphing all over the country, but the com- mon people heard them gladly. In 1862, Rev. J. A. Johnson, Congregationalist, of El Paso, commenced preaching regularly in the schoolhouse, and in June, the Church of that name was regularly organized according to the custom and canon of that denomination by a council called for that purpose, with eight members. Mr. Johnson continued Pastor until January, 1863, when Rev. G. M. Conville succeeded him, remaining until April, 1864. Rev. B. C. Church, filled the pastoral relation for four years, during which time eight joined the Church. Rev. J. A. Palmer next served the Church, four years, receiving eleven members. Rev. W. E. Cattin succeeded him for two years, who, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. H. G. Pendleton, who is now filling the pulpit, alternating his labors here with the church in Nebraska Township. During each winter of his service here, protracted efforts have been maintained, resulting in bringing into the Church forty- two additional members. A flourishing Sabbath school, under the superintendency of Mr. J. M. Mitchell, has an enrolled membership of 120. The church-edifice, 36x40, was built in 1866 by Tarman & Ruckle ; contractors, at a cost of about $2,000, and dedicated to the worship of God the same year. The patient and laborious pastoral work of Mr. Pendleton, is fully appreciated by the people of his own charge and the community. The German Mennonites, who have settled in such numbers in the vicinity of Gridley are, in many respects, a peculiar people. Some of their peculiarities might well be followed by those who are to the manor born. Politically and socially, they are non-resistant and take no part in the affairs of State, never voting or seeming to care who runs the ship of State or the town-meetings. They carry their religion into every affair and business of life. If a brother gets into debt and honestly cannot pay, the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 56& brethren contribute to liquidate ; but if able to pay and will not, he is cast out as unworthy. They will not go to law, but settle all disputes within their own organization. In 1874, they decided to build a church, but their religious tenets require them to build on a firm foundation. Before a blow was struck, every dollar of the money was collected ; after which a contract was let and the work rapidly done. They have erected thirty sheds, with doors to them, for their teams, as most of them come from their farms in the surrounding country, and every team is carefully housed before its owner commences his religious services. The church-edifice is 30x40, with an L 16x40, and cost $1,200. Near the church they erected a dining-hall and kitchen, where a meal is served each Sunday, their serv- ices continuing during the day. Members take turns in providing the necessary food. They practice baptism by immersion. They hold, almost literally, to the doctrine '* If a man take away thy coat," etc., for they do not permit their members to prosecute a thief, or even to follow one to recover stolen property. They seem as near free from the vices of the day as any class of people known in this vicinity. The Christian Church was built in 1866; is 36x40. There is also a Church of the same denomination in the southern part of the township, in the vicinity of Mr. Gregory's. The M. E. Church was built in 1871 and 1872. It is 36x50, with a tower in the center of the front 10 feet square, running up to a spire 80 feet in height. The number of churches would indicate a probable rivalry and strife that is nowhere noticeable in reality. The petty rivalries and bickerings which are so common in small towns seem to be here entirely wanting, and peace and good-will seem to reign everywhere. Business seems to be reasonably prosperous, and every one appears to have the general good at heart. At the time the village of Gridley was platted and recorded, there were left two open pieces or parcels of ground between the railroad and the platted blocks, which, by general consent, became public. The original proprietors apparently intended them for general use in transacting the business of the town. There was no attempt to sell or lease them, and as soon as the place became of any importance, business men began to put up offices, elevators and corn-cribs on them. The proprietors, in furnishing their plats for record, did not dedicate them to the public, and, as far as the record went, they appeared to be the private property of the proprietor. In July, 1875, Gen. Gridley caused the plat of the town to be resurveyed and replatted. Among other changes, he caused the land marked depot ground, south of the railroad track, then used by various parties for storage of grain, to be laid off into lots thirty feet wide, and proposed to sell them at a price which would have made the operation a pretty good speculation. The railroad company procured an injunction in the United States Court, restraining him from selling these lots. This injunction was dissolved, however, and Gridley commenced suits in ejectments against all parties, including the railroad company, occupying any part of the land in question. The cases were tried in McLean County and resulted in favor of the defendants. On an appeal to the Supreme Court, the decision of the lower court was sustained, and the occupants remain in undisputed possession of the land. This litigation caused the parties much perplexity and no little expense, and was the cause of much ill-feeling against Gen. Gridley. He was said to be " rich," and to 564 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. have no respect for the rights of poor men ; that he wanted to shut up the town and ruin those who were engaged in trade, and remarks that were continually made were far from complimentary. The fact probably was, that there was sufficient of legal show for the claim he set up to render it probable that the courts, on a full hearing, would give give him a verdict, and very few men would decide to give away thirty or forty good business lots if there was a chance of selling them. Gen. Gridley is probably no excep- tion to the general rule of landed proprietors. DANVERS TOWNSHIP. Dan vers is located in the northwestern corner of McLean County. It includes all of Town 24 nortb, Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and one and one- half miles from the south side of Town 25 north, in the same range, and consequently contains forty-five square miles. It is bounded on the north by Woodford County, on the east by White Oak and Dry Grove Townships, on the south by Allin Township, and on the west by Tazewell County. It is well supplied with timber. Stout's Grove, which lies farthest to the southeast, is the most important. The timber extends south, on the west side, to near the middle of Section 19 ; from this point, irregularly east to within two and one-half miles of the east line of the township ; thence north and slightly west to near the north line ; thence along the northern part may be found some little timber. Thus it will be seen that all the northwestern part of the town- ship is timbered land. Of course, this is not a solid body of timber, for there are farms in here, many of which have been cleared from these woods. Still may be seen the cabin built of logs and surrounded by a few small fields, while the forest approaches suggestingly near. But these are only relics of bygone days, the more comfortable frame furnishing a desirable home for the successful farmer. The south and eastern part of the township is prairie, the northern part of which is quite rolling, but the southern part is only slightly so. These prairie lands are rich and productive, yielding an abundance of corn, oats, potatoes, etc. There are portions of the timbered land that are broken and not very fertile, while other parts yield fair crops of wheat, rye, oats, corn and other products. Cattle and hogs are extensively raised throughout the township. Danvers is crossed by the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad, which enters the township near the middle of the east side of Section 24. From this point, the road bears northwest until it reaches the middle of Section 1 6 ; thence it follows close to the half-section line to the West side of the township. Sugar Creek rises near the southwestern corner of Section 1, and flows south and west through Sections 12, 13 and 14; thence more southerly through Sections 22, 21, 28, 32 and 33. Rock Creek is a small stream which flows north from the northern part of the township. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. So large a body of timber as is found here very' naturally attracted early settlers. They soon settled all along the south and east sides of Stout's Grove, the families coming in so rapidly as to make it almost impossible to trace the early settlement. The first family •was Ephraim Stout's. They were from Tennessee. They came in the fall of 1825, or w/ £aLt4rJt^ L^. xJfjt **-4S^CC PRES. OF ILLS. NORMAUJNIV. NORMAL HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 567 about that time. They stopped on the southeast corner of the Grove, afterward given their name. The first house, it is said, that they ever built is standing yet. It was a log house, put up of good hewn logs, and afterward weather-boarded on the outside and plastered on the inside. It is said to be in a good state of preservation yet. The place is now owned by Mr. Chastine Mitchell. Ephraim Stout was a large man of command- ing presence. His early education had been neglected, so that he could not be said to .have much book knowledge ; but his practical knowledge of the world was extensive, and his ability to judge the qualities of men almost complete. He and all those immediately connected with him were Friends. This man had a son named Ephraim, who was mar- ried and came to the Grove with his father. They lived at the Grove a long time, and then moved farther west, finally settling in Oregon. There were four sons and several daughters. David Stout, a brother to Ephraim, came the next year. In the same year, Robert Drain settled on the east side of Stout's Grove. Soon after him, and probably in the same year, James Wilson came from Kentucky. In 1827, Matthew Robb, Robert McClure and Peyton Mitchell came to the settlement at Stout's Grove. These all remained in this country and became prominent persons in its history. Robert McClure is commonly called " Colonel " on account of his service and position in the Black Hawk war. Matthew Robb was a prominent man, and was one of the first owners of the village of Danvers. Mitchell and McClure came from Kentucky. The former settled in Sangamon County, this State, in 1818. His sons, now living on the south side of the Grove, remember Springfield when there was only one house in it. Peyton Mitchell was a minister. He belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterians. He preached the first sermon ever preached in Funk's Grove. .Jonathan Hodge came in the fall of 1826 and made some improvements, and then went back to Sangamon County after his family. They arrived in the spring of 1827. Jonathan Hodge was born in North Carolina in 1789, of German parents. He came to Barren County, Ky., when a boy, and stayed there until after his marriage. He moved to Sangamon County, 111., in 1821. From Sangamon he came to Stout's Grove, where he reared his family of four sons and three daughters. Two brothers, William F. and U. S. Hodge, now live in the village of Danvers, and, as they have been in the township fifty-two years, they are looked upon as the old settlers of the place, and their stories of " ye olden time " are listened to with delight by many of the more modern folk. Jonathan Hodge was one of those men who enjoy themselves most perfectly in the woods chasing game. While yet in Sangamon County, he indulged his passion for hunting to a considerable extent. He was often associated with the old Indian chief Shaubena, or 'Shabbona, who was well known in all this country, at that time. On one occasion, when in company with a Mr. Cantrell, Mr. Hodge and his companion fell in with a panther. They watched her until she went into a hollow log that lay upon the ground. Then they closed the opening and caught her. It proved to be a female with a number of young ones. They took the young ones home and kept them for some time, but when the wild disposition began to manifest itself they were killed for fear of mischief. During the operations with the female, the male made his appearance, but was gone again before the hunters' rifle could be turned upon him. Jonathan Berry came to the settlement, at Stout's Grove, at an early period in ita history, but, after remaining awhile, went off and joined the Mormons. Among the • other prominent settlers, we have the names of James McClure, Samuel McClure, the v 568 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Conger family, Joseph Snodgrass, Simeon Henshaw and Joshua Hobson. These came from different places and settled at different times in the township, but they all came comparatively early, and were among the best citizens of the settlement. The old State road, passing through here, was a matter of considerable importance. On it, in the western part of the township, Mr. Alvin Goodenough kept "The Way- side Inn." Mr. Groodenough kept his house for a long time on this public thorough- fare, but was finally compelled to give it up, as the advance of civilization furnished more convenient modes of travel than that of the old-time stage-coach. The railroad now carries the traveler through, without any stopping in the country. The German, the Yankee and the Southern man find comfortable homes here, and all seem prosper- ous and contented. EDUCATIONAL. This settlement, .like all others begun more than fifty years ago in McLean County, had many difficulties to overcome before any perceptible progress could be made in educational institutions. The first efforts at instruction of any kind that can be traced at present, were very simple lessons in rudimentary knowledge given at the residences of the early settlers, and among the " Quakers," as these people are com- monly known. The first schoolhouse was built before there were any regular schools. It was made of round and split logs, and was near the center of Stout's Grove. Part of two logs was hewn away, and afforded light. In cold weather, this aperture was covered with paper. The huge log fire served to enliven the dull routine of school- hours, while the uncushioned puncheon formed the only settee for both master and pupil. Archibald Johnson was the first teacher. He taught a subscription school, and " boarded round." The time of this school is not certainly known, but it is thought to have been in the winter of 1832-33. He was a preacher, and was quite prominent in the first meetings held at the Grove by the Cumberland Presbyterians. His price per scholar, fur a term of three months, was $2. He was a good teacher, so far as we can learn ; but there is a little incident told in regard to this first teacher which illustrates the sensitive feelings of early pioneer life. A young man, hearing of the school at the Grove, and desiring to improve his knowledge of books, made application for admission. Arrangements were made, and he was admitted. The young man had come from a distance, and his apparel savored of more cultured society than did the ordinary " homespun" of the average schoolboy. But this made no great stir until, upon a certain occasion, he applied to the master for a copy. The masters always " set" copies in those days, and this was no unusual request. But the muse had possession, and in a fit of poetical effusion the teacher wrote : "A man without learning . And wearing fine clothes, Is like a gold ring In a hog's nose." The application was too apparent. The young man left school. The neighborhood considered it a great slur upon the young gentleman's character, and the event was remembered and handed down as a neighborhood sensation, thus illustrating the sacred- ness with which the teacher's position was held. Lyman Porter was the second teacher, and was regarded as an excellent gentleman and successful teacher. He remained many years. The third teacher was Hosey HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 569 Stout. He soon went off to Nauvoo and joined Joseph Smith's Mormon band. After the trouble at Nauvoo and the death of Smith, Stout went to Utah. He became one of the twelve Apostles under Brigham Young. He has continued in Mormonism, par- ticipating in all their peculiarities, and is said to be still living with several wives. Matthew Robb was the first School Treasurer. He was also the first Justice of the Peace, the first Representative from this section, and one of the first Commissioners in Tazewell County. At present the schools have multiplied, and stand as well, perhaps, as any in the county. There is a large population of Germans in this township, and they use the German language very extensively. This requires the teaching of German, and it is done mainly in the public schools. Teachers are employed, so far as practicable, who can speak both English and German ; then they have regular classes in German and English. Where the neighborhood is composed mostly of Americans, the majority do not favor the employment of a German teacher, as a matter of course. This leads to the formation of private schools for the benefit of those who must learn the German language. There have been a few of these, mostly in the neighborhood of the German Church, on the south of Stout's Grove. Further details in regard to the schools of the township are given in the following : Number of children under twenty-one years, 793; number of children between six and twenty-one years, 652 ; number of scholars enrolled, 445 ; number of schoolhouses, 14. Amount paid teachers, $3,188.37 ; total expenditures, $4,314.96. Estimated value of school property, $5,600. Highest wages paid per month, $75. RELIGION. We are not aware of the manner in which the neighbors of this township regard its inhabitants, but judging from the number and kinds of church people, we should regard them as second to none in the proportion which church-members bear to the entire population. The Friends, the Mormons, the Cumberland Presbyterians, the United Brethren, the Methodist Episcopal, the Congregational, the Christians, the Baptists and the Mennonites are all represented. There are, probably, members of other churches, but we did not learn of any other organizations. The first to hold meetings of any kind were the Friends. They held them in the cabin belonging to Ephraim Stout. But the Friends moved away, so that there is no trace of them now. There was a Mr. Walker, a Methodist preacher who preached very early, but no society was formed at that time. The first to organize and keep up regular meetings were the Cumberland Presbyterians. Peyton Mitchell was a minister of this church ; and when he came here in 1827, he, with some others, soon began meeting. Thomas McClure, an Elder in this Church, and father of Robert McClure, the Colonel, came to the settlement in 1 828. The McClures, Hodges, and Mitchells were prominent in this Church. It was not long until camp-meeting was held in the grove, near the Stout's Grove Cemetery. There were a number of preachers who gave their aid to this effort. Among these may be mentioned Gilbert Dodds, Thomas Camp- bell and John Berry, a few times present; Milton Bird, who afterward distinguished himself in the ministry ; James Davis and James McDowell. John Berry is said to have organized the first regularly organized band of Christians here. Mr. Walker also assisted on the camp-ground. William Brown was also among the early ministers. 570 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. There was a kind of Sabbath school organized as early as 1828. It was little more than a Bible-class, which met at different houses and spent a portion of the Sab- bath day in reading the Scriptures. After the building of the schoolhouse, all societies held meetings in it, each one quitting as it was able to build a church for itself. Then the Sabbath school was taken to the schoolhouse, and continued there until churches were built, and then each church would have its own school. The first church-edifice was erected by the Cumberland Presbyterians, about 1834 or 1835, near the residence of Henry McClure. It was a neat frame building and was used a long time as a house of worship. It was afterward moved to Danvers and put to other uses. When the society moved from the first old church to Danvers, it left a number of its members a long way from church. Preaching was held among them on the south side of the grove and caused a considerable increase in the membership. They were sufficiently strong to erect a new church. This was done in 1873. The house was located on the north side of Section 19. It is an elegant country church, 36x48 feet. The cost of building was $2,300. It will probably seat 500 persons. The present membership is about sixty. The first preacher was William Harris. The pres- ent Pastor is J. H. Millholland. There is also a cemetery in connection with this Church. The Methodists were early here. Their first man was probably the Rev. Mr. Walker. Zadoc Hall was preaching in the Grove as early as 1834. In December of this year, three brothers, Jeremiah S. Hall, Israel W. Hall and William E. Hall, came in. They were no relation to the preacher, Zadoc Hall, but were Methodists, and in the house of Israel W. Hall meeting was held until the building of the Methodist Church in the village of Danvers. There is a society of Methodists who hold meetings at present in the brick schoolhouse, north part of the Grove. The United Brethren had meetings in that first log schoolhouse, built near the center of Stout's Grove. John Dunham the missionary, who preached all over this country during the first years of its settlement, was their first minister. We under- stand that the society never became sufficiently strong to build a church. Messrs. Shoup and Levick are among the most prominent members at present. They hold meetings in the schoolhouse northwest of the village of Danvers. In 1850, the Baptists formed a society in the northern part of the township. Augustus Cram was their first minister after the organization of the society. Pre- viously, the Rev. Mr. Bly preached for them, and, for awhile, the Rev. Mr. Sherman. The organization finally worked farther south, until they built a church in Danvers in 1874. The Christians began their work very early. Mr. Peeler was the leader in forming the society. They have a neat country church one and one-half miles northwest of Danvers. There are two German Churches in the township, with a large membership to each. They hold services in the German language and speak in German, generally. They are sometimes called the Ormish Church, but do not claim that name themselves. In fact, we understand that there is no church that calls itself Ormish. They all claim to be Mennonites, and these believe and practice the doctrine and precepts of Menno Simon. One of these churches is three miles north of Danvers, the other is two and one-half miles southwest from the same place. The Church north is the older. There were HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 571 members of the Mennonite Church in the vicinity of the present church before the organization here, but they belonged to an organization already established in Woodford County. The first of the Mennonites to settle in the township were Peter Conner and two brothers of the name of Strupher, John and Valentine. The Strupher brothers are the oldest now living. The first house of worship was built in 1851. It was one mile north of the present edifice. It was 28x36 feet and cost about $500. This build- ing soon became too small for the large congregation, and a new one was built in 1873. This is the largest structure of the kind in the township, being forty feet wide and sixty feet long. It cost $3,100. The first minister was Joseph Stuckey. He is still the man in charge, assisted by John Stelhey. There are at present about four hundred adult members. These generally follow farming. They come from Pennsylvania and Europe. But a few are mechanics and some tradesmen. The church southwest of Danvers was built about sixteen years ago. Prominent among the first members were Christian and Jacob Naffziger. Their first minister was Michael Kistler. He remained only two years. After him came Christian Gingerig. He has been here fourteen years. Their church edifice is 30x36 feet. It cost about $2,000. The number of communi- cants is 125. As is well known, the Mennonites are followers of Menno Simon, who lived in Germany about the time of Martin Luther. They remained in Germany until about one hundred and seventy years ago, when they emigrated largely to Russia. They there received liberty to practice their doctrine of " non-resistance." They were not compelled to enter the army until 1870, when laws were enacted requiring all young men to spend a number of years in the army. The Mennonites were given ten years in which to reconcile themselves to their fate or to emigrate. Large numbers began to flock to this country, and no season has passed without bringing colonies of them to our shores. Preparations were making for a large immigration to this country in the summer of 1879, but the plague, or black death, or epidemic, of what name no matter, which has been raging within Russian borders, has put a damper upon them. They cannot get away and would not be permitted to land at our harbors, in all probability, should they reach them. They are a worthy class of citizens, and it is to be hoped that they may be able to find in American institutions a protection of their rights, and in American soil a fertility surpassing any that they have previously enjoyed, and yielding the neces- sary elements of a quiet and prosperous home. THE ROCK CREEK FAIR ASSOCIATION. This Association originated as a farmers' club about ten years ago. John A. Ewins and Peter H. Vance, two public-spirited, energetic farmers, took the lead in its formation. Meetings were held semi-monthly. At first they met only to discuss the best methods of raising crops, tilling the soil, rotating crops, etc. ; presently the ladies became interested, and the company was enlivened by female wit and loveliness; the affairs of the kitchen were discussed, and everything pertaining to the farmer's home received a share of attention. When the fall of the year arrived, the men brought specimens of their crops ; the results of any particular plan were there laid before the club. When products began to be brought, the meetings began to assume immense proportions at once. All could show something. Thus a regular grange was formed without any assistance from national or State granges ; and they have held out well. 572 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. No political tricksters have been able to capture them, or use the association for polit- ical purposes. Five years ago, they organized themselves into a regular Fair Associa- tion, with the title above. They started with fifty shares of stock ; each share was val- ued at $5. Since that time the Association has met with such marked success that a share is now worth from $20 to $25 ; the number has not been increased. Their grounds are located five miles north of Danvers on Section 25, Town 25, Kange 1 west. The use of this lot was donated by John A. Ewins to the Association for fifteen years. They have a light board fence inclosing the premises, good wells of water — three dug last fall — a large commodious amphitheater, a floral hall, stalls for horses and cattle, pens for pigs and all the belongings of a thoroughly organized and successful fair. The fourth annual session of this Association was held at their grounds on the 25th, 26th and 27th of September, 1878. There were not less than three thousand persons in attendance. The receipts were sufficient to pay all the premiums and leave a large balance in the treasury. From this balance they paid for repairs and a number of improvements, and then had more than $200 left. The officers of this Association for the year 1879 are: P. H. Vance, President; John A. Ewins, Vice President; J. J. Yoder, Treasurer; and John S. Popple, Secretary. The Advisory Committee for 1878 were John F. Carlock, Joseph Wilson and Jonathan Sharp. They publish an annual catalogue of premiums from which we learn the following : The preamble to their Con- stitution and By-laws, declares that the citizens of Rock Creek and vicinity organize for the purpose of stimulating agriculture, horticulture and the improvement of differ- ent kinds of stock, and for the mutual benefit of all classes of society. The Constitu- tion provides for the name and officers given above. It also defines the duties of officers, and provides for their annual election by ballot. The by-laws refer to details of management during the annual sessions. Ten classes were organized for premium-lists. Class A included horses and mules ; Class B, cattle ; Class C, swine and sheep ; Class D, farm products ; Class E, textile fabrics ; Class F, preserved and canned fruits ; Class Gr, bread and cakes ; Class H, horticulture; Class I, poultry; Class K, manufactured articles. In the private premium-list, there were offered for premiums for the best looking baby, the best lady rider of fifty years old, and for the best male equestrianism, those com- peting to be over sixty years old. WAR RECORD AND POLITICS. Danvers Township furnished at least three men for the Black Hawk war. Levi Danly helped to bury the Hall family, that were so cruelly murdered by the Indians. Benjamin Conger was also true to the call for men. Robert McClure was Colonel, and his deeds are, no doubt, kept in the records of that summer's campaign. Jonathan Hodge was not among the troops, but was on the scene of action long enough to be surrounded by a band of Indians, led by the notorious Simon Girty. This was at the house of John L. Ament, where one man was killed at the door and the others dared not show themselves. There were a uumber of persons in the Mexican war from this side of the county ; but of those who went from the present limits of Danvers Township, it is hard to make a li s t — John Armstrong and Andrew Hodge being the only persons whose names we learned. In the late war, Danvers furnished her share of men to preserve the Union. Clayton Levick died from disease contracted in the army. William Shoup was shot at HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 573 Fort Donelson. George Spainhowert was wounded, and died from the effects after a- long time. He was said to be the man who shot Stonewall Jackson. Warner Blue died in the hospital. George Fif'er and a Mr. Wilson were shot and killed. Dr. Pierce, a surgeon in the army, died of disease. It will thus be seen that many sacred lives were offered on the country's altar. Long may their memories live in the hearts of a grateful people, and the fourth war, that shall call on the ready citizens of Danvers, occur only when peace can no more be had by honorable means, and liberty is harassed by the blood-hounds of despotism. In political matters, Danvers has usually stood Republican. In all questions of State or national importance, the Republicans have a comparatively large majority. Occasionally, party lines are manifested in township elections, but usually they are not so rigidly drawn in local affairs. In the Presidential election of 1856, the Democrats carried the precinct. Mr. Stephenson also carried the township in 1878. HIGHWAYS. The old State roads were matters of considerable importance in the early history of our State. They were the only public thoroughfares. The road through Bloom- ington to Peoria, from Champaign County, was traveled long before there was a rail- road in the United States. Now the railroad passes directly along the line of the old highway, through the township. Then, the stage-coach made occasional visits to the few inns on the way; now, the engine, with its train of rumbling cars, darts past a score of villages every few hours. Another very early road leads from the village of Danvers, along the south side of Stout's Grove. It does not follow lines, but is adapted to the face of the country. It passes near the old house first erected by Ephraim Stout. It also passes two churches and one schoolhouse within the limits of Danvers Town- ship. The section lines are not generally authorized roads. There is not a section line -extending east and west that has any considerable length of road upon it. There is a road extending east and west, through the center of the second tier of sections from the south. From the State road north, there are several roads, but they nearly all pass through the center of the sections. There are several, just a mile apart, extending through the center, instead of on the section line. From the road south of Stout's Orove, others lead south. These are all, so far as we were able to discover, in good condition ; and though the timber causes roads to be laid out very irregularly, it does not render them undesirable. ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP. It was from Danvers that the petition to call an election for the adoption of the township system first started. Ira Abbott was the man who originated the movement. A petition had been before the Commissioners' Court before, but the measure failed to carry until the election held according to the prayer of Mr. Abbott's petition. The first election after the adoption of this system, held April 6, 1858, resulted as follows: James Alison, Supervisor; W. F. Hodge, Town Clerk; George W. Danly, Assessor; Thomas McClure, Collector ; John W. Barnett, Overseer of the Poor ; Ira^Jiowell, Joseph Fry and Caleb Johnson, Commissioners of Highways ; John C. Haybarger and Henry I. Deal, Justices of the Peace; Philip W. Roadcap and John H. Swindle, Con- stables. The officers for 1878, were as follows, being elected on the 2d day of April: 57-t HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. John A^JEwins, Supervisor; Louis Bourguin, Collector; Isaac Plank, Assessor; Moses Hastings, Town Clerk; J. J. Yoder, Commissioner of Highways. VILLAGE OF DANVERS. This village is pleasantly located on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Rail- road, about ten miles west of Bloomington. It is situated on the prairie between Dry Grove and Stout's Grove. The surface of the country in its immediate vicinity, is sufficiently rolling, requiring no draining, and makes what is apparently a healthy location. Long before a railroad was built in Illinois, this little village was a regular station, but it was on the stage-route from Bloomington to Pekin and Peoria. The town was surveyed by Elbert C. Dickason. The certificate of the surveyor is dated January 15, 1836. A plat of the village was filed with the County Commissioners, and approved by them, March 7, 1836. The original survey included a rectangular portion„of land from the northwest corner of Section 23, 72 rods wide and 96 rods long, being longest from north to south. It was 4 blocks wide and 5 long, with a public square in the center. The village was owned by Israel W. Hall and Matthew Robb. They ordered the surveying and filed the plat. The place was then called Concord. But during the remainder of the year nothing was done to build up the village. Since that time r two additions have been laid off. The first of these was the McClure Addition. It included five blocks on the east side of the original village. This addition is located in Section 24. Peter Folsom was the Surveyor. His certificate is dated December 12, 1851. Charles J. McClure was the owner. Plat was filed and approved by the Commissioners, December 23, 1851. It is known as C. J. McClure's Addition to the village of Concord. The second addi- tion was made by Otis Hall and Andrew_Vance, a plat of which was filed with the County Board, June 10, 1869. This was located on the west side of the original vil- lage. It is called simply Second Addition, and includes a row of five blocks. It will thus be seen that the village of Danvers (formerly Concord) is one of the oldest in McLean County. Bloomington had scarcely been in existence a decade when Danvers was born, and, although it has not grown so rapidly as many of its more favored sisters, it has had a steady increase during the past ten years. Its location in the midst of a prosperous farming community, will necessarily cause it to continue to grow and prosper as long as these interests remain. Its healthful location with good school and church privileges, will always make it a desirable place of residence for retired farmers and others. The first building erected after the village was surveyed was put up in 1837 by Nicholas Conger, but he never lived in the house. The proprietors of the village never lived within its limits. The first actual residents were J. G. Reyburn and family. They had been among the earliest settlers of Walnut Grove, in Woodford County. In the spring of 1837, they moved to Stout's Grove, and remained there one year. Then they came to the village of Concord, which makes the date of first settlement 1838. Mr. Reyburn kept a grocery store at the time. Afterward, he added other articles to his line of goods, making a general country store. Soon after Mr. Reyburn, Asa R. Rankin came in. Then came Hodge & Yanc e with a dry goods store and a general country trade. Although Concord was on the old stage-route, there was no post office established here until about ten years after the first settlement. The people went to Wilkesborough for their mail. The first mill was a saw-mill, and was put up and owned HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 575 by Hobson & Havens. They ran it for some time, and then it passed into other hands. This was the first of the kind in the township. There had been a horse-mill for grind- ing corn, at an early date, on the farm of Ephraim Stout, near Sugar Creek. John Guthrie ran the first blacksmith-shop in the village. The first in the township was on the farm of Robert McClure, and was operated by a Mr. Burt. Mr. Reyburn's was the first regular store in the township, but there had been a few goods kept before this by Thomas Drain. Concord continued to grow for ten or twelve years, until it became a village of considerable trade. But after that time, for more than half a score of years, it was almost lifeless. Mr. Ira Abbott, the present Postmaster and oldest busi- ness man in town, came here in 1854. At that time, T. J. Bunn, now of Blooming- ton, and Kaufman, of Pekin, were in business here : but there was a long time after this that Mr. Abbott kept the only store in the village. From 1854 to 1862, there were not more than three houses built. The first post office was established here in 1848 or 1849, but it was called Stout's Grove Post Office. Israel W. Hall was the first Postmaster. The village was called Concord until 1861. Ira-Abbott was appointed P. M. in 1861, and immediately got up a petition to have the names changed. A meeting of the citizens was held at Mr. Abbott's store. It was first decided to call the place Sumner, but there was a post office of that name already in the State. It was then agreed to name it Danvers, out of regard for Israel W. Hall, who came from near Danvers, Mass. These are the only two places in the United States of this name. Since the beginning of war times, Danvers has had a fair growth for a country village. It has always operated under its special charter, until recently, when it was incorporated under the general laws of the State. The incorporation takes in one mile square. There are, at present, four general stores, kept by Ira Abbott, C. C. Ro wi-11 & Co., Randolph & Hougham, NafFziger & Crist ; four groceries^C. R. Stuckey, Jacob Yoder, George Bunn, who also "keeps a loan office, M. Sebastion, who also adds boots and shoes to his line of trade ; Popple Bros, keep hardware and farming implements ; D. H. P arkhur st keeps a drug store. The lumber-yard is owned by S. W. Baker. The staff" of life may be obtained from Wheeler & Fansom, at their large flouring-mill — at least, the necessary ingredients may be had there. Willia m Naff ziger will accommodate the traveling public at his hotel on the corner. Miss Williams will adorn the young ladies so that " catching beaux " will be no difficulty and prepare married women to keep their husbands at home, if they will patronize her millinery-shop. Meat-shop is kept by Edward Bunn. The first school-building was erected in 1852. Who taught the first school in it we were unable to learn. In 1864, a new house was built. This has continued until the present. It is a two-story frame, and though somewhat worse for the wear of fifteen years, furnishes comfortable apartments for their excellent schools. Two teachers are employed. The Principal, John P. Yoder, has had charge for a number of years, and enjoys a deserved popularity. Although Danvers was forty-three years old on the 7th of March, 1879, no attempt has been made to establish a publication of any kind until quite recently. On the 29th of March, 1879, appeared the first issue of the Danvers Independent. This journal is issued every Saturday by Dr. D. C. Gideon and George Bunn, who are editors and pro- prietors. It is devoted to the business interests of Danvers and vicinity. It is a neat, 576 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. twenty-four column paper, run by energetic business men, and will, as it grows older, no doubt, receive a large patronage and be a credit to the village. The Methodists were the first to build a church. They built a house of worship in 1852. It was 30x36 feet. It is still standing, but is not put to use of any kind. The meetings are now held in the Presbyterian Church. Preaching is had every two weeks by Rev. Mr. Van Pelt, of Bloomington. The Methodists have their times of refreshing and of religious dearth. At present, the society is not large. The Congregational Church was organized in January, 1862. Their first Pastor was Jerome D. Jones. They began with about twenty members. Prominent among them may be mentioned I. D. James, Br. Parkhurst and Ira Abbott. The church was erected in the fall of 1862. It is 35x50 feet; cost of construction, $1,600. This was considered very cheap for the times and the character of the edifice. The present num- ber of communicants is about fifty. The Rev. M. M. Longley is Pastor. This is the only Congregational Church ever in the township. The Cumberland Presbyterians, as noted in the history of this township, were the first to organize a church at Stout's Grove. The society met in the church at the Grove for a great many years ; but after the village of Danvers began to grow, the greater portion of the membership was on the east side. It was decided to build in Danvers. Accordingly, in 1865, a house was erected. This was just at the close of the late war, when everything was costly. The building cost about $6,000. It was dedicated in April, 1865. Size of church, 40x50 feet. First preacher in the new church, J. A. Chase. Since the first, they have had a number of ministers. The pres- ent Pastor is the Rev. J. C. Van Patten. The Presbyterians have ever been strong and influential in this part of the county. Besides being the first to organize, they have been the most permanent and numerous of the English churches. Their house of wor- ship is the largest in the village. The present membership is about one hundred. Although the Baptist Church is the most recently built and its membership gath- ered together at a comparatively recent date, the edifice is one of the neatest churches to be found anywhere. It was built about five years ago. The Pastor at the time of building was H. H. Ballard. The house cost $2,700. They have a very fair member- ship and respectable congregation. It will thus be seen that Danvers has four organized churches in town, with several not far off in the country. They certainly have the opportunity to be a religious people. THE CEMETERY. " Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade, Where heaves ihe turf in many a moldering heap, Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." When the Cumberland Presbyterians built their first church, in 1834, they very naturally prepared a burial-place for their dead. This cemetery is located beside the railroad, about two miles northwest of the village of Danvers. It is the principal place of burial for all this section of country. There are other cemeteries, but here are found the resting-places of many of the pioneers. Here, too, with regard to Danvers, " The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." Many tokens of affection may be seen in .this beautiful country cemetery. It is cozily hovered round by the native forests, and HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 577 the only thing that would seem to disturb the slumbering spirits is the thundering by of the iron steed. It seems quite out of taste to us that railroad companies must carry their traffic beside the quiet churchyard, where rest the only mementoes of many sacred dead. Among the many tombs — some with elegant and costly, others with humble and touching monuments — we noticed only a few. Here rest the remains of Matthew Robb and wife ; there, those of the Drain family ; and farther along, some of the McClures. Yonder is a poor fellow who was killed by a runaway team ; while here is an inscrip- tion in memory of one who died in the Sunny South. Passing on, we find the names Stevenson, Wheeler, Danly, Taylor, Naffziger, Rowell, Wilson and hosts of others, inscribed on glistening marble, bringing to mind days long past, and telling of the sacred memories that still linger in the hearts of the living. HAMLIN was a small post village, four miles west of Danvers. It was on the old State road, and had, at one time, more than " half a score of dwelling-houses, a blacksmith-shop, two grocery stores and a saloon." The mail was carried by the stage-coach line, in those days, from Bloomington to Pekin, and, as this little place was on the route, a post office was established there in 1861 ; James Dunseth was made Postmaster. The office was afterward moved a mile farther west, but was still called Hamlin. In 1867, James Parker was made Postmaster. But the I., B. & W. R. R. began to carry the mail in 1870. The office was then moved still farther west, across the line, into Tazewell County, and is now at Lilly, the next station west of Danvers, on the I., B. & W. R. R. WILKESBOROUGH was a little village on the old State road in the eastern edge of Danvers Township. It lay on the west side of the Third Principal Meridian. This meridian forms the east boundary of Danvers Township. Wilkesborough was never a place of much importance. It had a little store or two and a post office. Mr. J. 0. Barnard was Postmaster. There was an office here for, perhaps, ten years. It remained until 1848 or 1849. The exact date we could not ascertain. All this time the people of Concord, now Danvers, were obliged to go to Wilkesborough for their mail. When the office was discontinued at Wilkesborough, it was moved to Concord, and called Stout's G-rove Post Office, and so remained till 1861, when the names of the post office and village were changed to Danvers. The village of Wilkesborough is not now recognized. There is nothing to indicate to the stranger. the previous existence of any such place. Its course has long since been run. It lives only in records and the memories of those who still cherish fond recol- lections of the " good old times in McLean County." MOUNT HOPE TOWNSHIP. This township occupies the extreme southwestern part of McLean County. It is bounded on the north by Allin Township ; on the east by Funk's Grove ; on the south by Logan County, and on the west by Logan and Tazewell. The surface of country embraced by these lines is, for the most part, undulating without being hilly, and no part of the township is so level as to be termed flat. The land is of an exceedingly 578 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. productive character, being well adapted to the raising of corn, rye, oxts and the vege- tables common to this climate. Hogs and cattle in great numbers are raised ; indeed, Mount Hope Township is noted as a stock region. It is watered by branches of Sugar Creek which flow through from east to west. These branches afford good stock water and drainage for the farms lying adjacent; they also afford sufficient water and fall for mills of moderate power, though they are not utilized for that purpose. The Chicago & Alton Railroad passes through the southeastern part, and furnishes an outlet for the products of this and adjacent townships. The township is now almost devoid of timber. Formerly one or two sections were covered with wood, but the pioneer's ax materially reduced that small area, and it may now be said that this is a region without groves except the artificial ones planted by the early settlers. The township is described in the Congressional survey as Town 22 north, Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and the north third of Town 21, in same range. The township therefore consists of forty-eight full sections, or nearly 31,000 acres. When McLean County was first organized, this township, with others in this part of the county, was embraced in what was called the Kickapoo Precinct, extending not only further north and east, but also four miles further south, including within its boundaries all that part of Logan County now called Atlanta Township. The pre- cincts of the county were at various times changed in size and shape to suit the con- venience of the inhabitants, until 1858, when Mount Hope Township was formed, with boundaries co-extensive with what we now find them. The township derives its name from a company that was formed in 1835 for the purpose of opening up Western lands, of which more hereafter. FIRST SETTLERS. In 1824, the Funks had already occupied a considerable portion of the timber lying along the east branch of Sugar Creek. In those times, the timber-land was the great desideratum, and it was occupied first. The southwest part of the grove, how- ever, was vacant, and here the first settlers of Mount Hope Township located. They came at various dates between 1824 and 1835, from the State of Ohio, several of them having been acquaintances of the Funk family, and being guided by their advice to this region. As nearly as can now be remembered, they settled here in about the chrono- logical order in which their names appear. William Johnson appears as one of the first Justices of the Peace of the Kickapoo precinct, and also as one of the three County Commissioners at a later day. Isaac Baker was a leading man in the early times of this county. The early records of the county testify to his competence as a public officer. The neat and well-kept record of the County Court is one of the very few exceptions to a bungling and almost unintel- ligible chirography, which graces nearly all of the early county records of the State. The fact is, the office of "C. C. C. C," as Mr. Baker signed himself, was not then equal to that of Township Clerk at this time, either in emoluments or in time required to perform its duties. About three days' work at each quarterly session, at $2 per day, was the allowance of the Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court — an office which now requires the continual services of a Clerk and two or three assistants. Then, too, the county was double the size we now find it; but it will be remembered that the whole population did not exceed one of the most thinly settled townships of to-day. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 679 Philip Cline and James Murphy came about the same time. Murphy was one of the first Justices of the Peace of the Kickapoo Precinct. It is said that Murphy was a noted hunter in the early times, and made a good share of his living by the use of his rifle. Indeed, we may well believe that many of the early settlers were experts with the gun, and that a good many of them were guided to this part of the country by reports of the abundance of game that was to be found here. Deer, wild turkeys, pheasants and prairie chickens could be killed in almost any amount; and some of the stories told by the pioneers, in relation to their hunting expeditions, sound marvelous in the ears of the younger people. Jacob Moore, John and Robert Longworth, Daniel Proctor, Ezra Kenyon and Nicholas Darnall were also among those who located here at a very early date. This settlement was, in reality, a part of the Funk's Grove neigh- borhood, and had no connection with the grand scheme of colonization inaugurated in the central part of the township a few years later. MOUNT HOPE COLONY. This was a grand enterprise which originated in Rhode Island, in 1835, and had for its object the opening up of Western lands, and of settling the same with respectable and enterprising farmers, mechanics and tradesmen. A charter was obtained from the State and a company lormed, with a capital stock of SI 2,500. A constitu- tion and by-laws were formed, and everything arranged in the most business-like shape. The stockholders were men of means and intelligence, and had for their object not only to make money, but to benefit, financially and morally, some of their poorer neighbors and acquaintances, who might contemplate emigration to a Western country. At that time there was a perfect flood of emigration setting in toward this State. Hundreds of similar schemes were being organized throughout the East ; hundreds of thousands of circulars, similar in import to what we now see advertising the lands of Kansas, Nebraska and Texas, were sent everywhere, and the eyes of people in moderate circumstances and those without means were turned to Illinois. A provision of the by-laws was, that each stockholder was entitled to 320 acres of land, to be afterward selected by a competent agent. Each stockholder was also to have four lots in the proposed town or village of Mount Hope. It was further stipu- lated that the stockholder should either himself settle upon the land apportioned to him or cause it to be occupied by an active, energetic farmer, and that, within a specified time, each tract should be improved to the extent of at least $300. Accordingly, a committee was appointed, consisting of John C. Cass, Seth Talbot and two other men of the name of Carpenter, to come out to this place and locate the land. Twenty-two sections, as nearly in a block, without interfering with the claims of others who had already settled, were located in the name of John C. Cass, Agent of the Providence Farmers' and Mechanics' Emigrating Society. Then William Peck, their own surveyor, was sent out to survey the lands and plat the prospective town. In this work, Mr. Peck seems, from the record still extant in the archives at Bloomington, to have been assisted by Elbert, then Surveyor of McLean County. The town, with its streets and alleys and public square, was duly mapped out, a stone being planted at the northwest corner of the public square, from which it was decreed that all future surveys should be made. Alas for all human calculations ! The stone is about all that is now left of the once prospective city. 580 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. After Mr. Peck had made the survey, he returned to his constituents, made his report, and then the land, to the amount of 320 acres each, was apportioned to the stockholders. This still left some 6,000 acres unapportioned, which was to be held" in trust by duly-appointed Trustees. These Trustees were Koyal Chapin, John H. Mason and Asa Pearce. From these Trustees the stockholders received their deeds. The lands were afterward appraised by disinterested parties, and rebates awarded to such as happened to draw tracts considered of less value. Under this arrangement, about fifteen families came out from Rhode Island and Massachusetts and settled upon their respective tracts of land. All the preliminary arrangements had been made by the spring of 1837, and during that year and the fol- lowing, the settlements were made. Only three of the stockholders ever came here to reside permanently. These were John Rathbone, Dr. J. Whipple and Seth Talbot. But for the crash that came to the country that year, these splendid calculations might have proved a reality. No scheme was founded on a better basis than the Mount Hope enterprise, but business of every kind that year was prostrated, and the founders of the colony had other use for their spare means than the improvement of Western lands. Times were even t harder in the East than the West, and in that one feature seems to have been the secret of the failure. The weak point in the enterprise was in having non-residents for stockholders. Had the stockholders all been actual settlers, who had invested their means in the project, and had they removed to the place, doubt- less the result would have been different. As it was, most of the tenants sent out soon became dissatisfied, some returning to their homes in the East, and others seeking new Eldorados further on. The few who remained, struggled along, but accomplished but little of the grand work that had been expected of them. A few houses were erected in the intended metropolis, a school and church were organized by the help of friends in the East, but beyond this the project was a failure. The lands of the company were held in trust until about 1854, when a company of gentlemen residing in Bloomington, of whom William McCulloch, E. H. Rood and Hudson Burr were members, bought the remaining lands at prices ranging from #3 to $5 per acre, and the Mount Hope Colony ceased to be. Perhaps the event which had the most to do with the immediate abandonment of the company project was the completion of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad through the eastern part of the township, leaving the nucleus of the company's town several miles to the west. The road was completed through here in 1853, and was the means of building up many thriving and substantial towns and cities along its line and wherever a town was unhappily left outside of its track, it as certainly collapsed. This was notoriously the case with the respective towns of Mount Hope and McLean. The lands of the company, together with all other unoccupied lands in the township, were, very soon after the completion of the road, occupied by a second flood of emigration from the East, and the settlements made subsequent to that date were of such frequency that we do no not attempt to record them. The next event of public consequence was that of the organization of the township as a separate precinct. This was accomplished in 1858. In November of the preceding year, the act authorizing township organization had been adopted by the county, and this portion of the county had been set off as a separate precinct. The first election in this township occurred April 6, 1858. At this first election, Daniel Winsor was elected HISTORY OF McLEAN COJNTY. 581 Supervisor; Adam Stubblefield, Clerk; Samuel B. Kinsey, Assessor; E. H. Valentine, Collector; Thomas J. Enslow, Overseer of the Poor; Elbridge G. Clark, John H. Young and Joseph A. Pitts, Commissioners of Highways ; John Kellogg and James Palmer, Justices of the Peace. Of these, John Kellogg has held the office ever since, having held the office of Squire for twenty-four consecutive years, and Samuel B. Kin- sey, the then Township Assessor, appears in the list of township officers for 1878-79, as Supervisor. The full list of officers, as at present constituted, consists of Samuel B. Kinsey, Supervisor ; Lafayette Archer, Collector ; Stacy B. Kinsey, Assessor ; Samuel I. Leach, Clerk ; A. J. Nelson, Edward Stubblefield and Samuel B. Kinsey, Commissioners of Highways ; John Kellogg and Samuel Y. Ewing, Justices of the Peace ; and William Carrington and Charles B. Wright, Constables. The largest number ol votes ever cast at an election was 335, though the number of voters in the township at this time probably exceeds 350. The politics of the township have always been decidedly Republican, the ratio being about two to one of the opposition. A decided cast to the complexion of politics was given by the early settlers of the colony. They were, with scarcely an exception, rank Abolitionists. Indeed, if tradi- tion is to be relied on, a regular station of the underground railroad, with agent and con- ductor, existed in the neighborhood. John Moss was suspected of being connected with the scheme of aiding and abetting and otherwise assisting runaway slaves in their efforts to gain their freedom. It is said that in Moss' cellar was a secret chamber, of which no man except John Moss knew the location or existence until his old house was removed, when, this same tradition says, it was brought to light. In this dark recess, during the day, at the approach of danger, the dark objects of Mr. Moss' solicitude received by way of the railroad during the previous night, were concealed until the danger was past. The following night. Moss or some other sympathizer would convey the human chattels to Aunt Polly Mahan's station, at Laxington ; or, if the nights were long and the roads and weather good, to that equally notorious nest of Abolitionists in New Michigan, in Livingston, to be cared for in a similar manner by Charles Paget and his coadjutors. THE WAR. With the next important event in the history of this township, the underground, railroads and their necessity passed away, as at one grand stroke the shackles of those yet remaining in bondage were struck off, and their perilous pilgrimage to Canada thus dispensed with. It is not to be wondered at that this township, whose political education had con- sisted largely in means of bringing discomfort to the slave-owners and their hired slave- catchers, should take a deep interest in a war which, though not, primarily, waged in the interests of the colored race, must, nevertheless, result in their liberation. To that end, Mount Hope made a large and precious sacrifice. The alarm of war had scarcely sounded before the able-bodied citizens of the township were seen marching toward the nearest recruiting-stations, as it were, in squads. Most of those who went from this township enlisted in the Second and Fifth Illinois Cavalry and in the Seventh and One Hundred and Seventeenth Infantry. Company A of the One Hundred and Seventeenth was made up almost wholly of Mount Hope soldiers. It is difficult to say, at this time,. 582 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. how many actually went from this township, as many went to other towns and enlisted there, and were never credited to this township. Notwithstanding this apparent loss, the town- ship was never drafted, and, at the close of the war, had more than furnished its full quota. Of those who went out to fight the battles of their country and who returned not, are remembered Daniel Feathers, Adam Hoffman, Michael Kauffman, Nathan Kinsey, J. Ewing. William Stone, John Harley, William Waltman, D. Perstannie, Emanuel Keeve, D. Brock, Peter Burbank, George Brown, Casper Heckard, John Caton, Caleb Chapin, William Haughey, William Owen, Clarence Trott, Edward Butts, Emery Crawford and David Mason. Quite a number of these were killed in actual conflict, some died in rebel prisons of starvation, and others of wounds or disease contracted in the army. Their bones lie mingled with the soil of the country which they went out to rescue from the hands of those who sought the destruction of the Union. The sacrifice was a costly one, but their country demanded and they gave it willingly. The township was honored by the selection from the ranks of its brave boys of quite a number to fill high positions in the army. In Company A of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment, the commissioned officers were all Mount Hope men. Samuel B. Kinsey, who had resigned his office of Supervisor, was Captain ; H. W. Wood, who had also resigned the office of Constable, was First Lieutenant, and Dennis Kenyon was Second Lieutenant of the same company. Charles Beath was promoted to the office of Captain of Company A. in the One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment; Benjamin Hieronomous, to First Lieutenant, and George W. Brown, to Second Lieutenant. F. A. Wheelock and C. W. Wheelock were both promoted to captaincies in the Fifth Cavalry. A. H. Dillon was First Lieutenant in the Thirty-eighth Regiment ; James Palmer, Second Lieutenant in the One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, and Austin Rollins was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the First Missouri Cavalry. EDUCATIONAL. Mount Hope Township is noted for its good schools. No interest has received greater attention than that of education, and the amount expended for the purpose of educating the youth is greater than that paid out for any other single object of a pub- lic character. A lady of the name of Pierce taught in her own house the first school in this part of the county. She was one of the Mount Hope Colonists, and her house was just east of the village. The school consisted of a few of the children of the colonists, and the branches taught were a little reading, writing and arithmetic. A schoolhouse was built in very early times on Section 32 in Town 21, which was then in this county, but now in Logan, and near where Atlanta now stands. A school- house was also built at an early date in Funk's Grove, a little west of the present site of Funk's Grove Station. These two schools were attended by the children of Mount Hope Township for several years, when a house was erected in the colony neighborhood. This was a small frame building, and was erected for both school and church purposes. The building was erected partly with means obtained from persons in the East friendly to the colonists. It was used for a number of years as a house of worship and as a school - house. Soon after the village of McLean was laid out, it was removed to that place, where it was devoted to similar purposes until its usefulness had been outlived and more commodious quarters, both religious and educational, had been provided. *£r. PROF. OF LANGUAGE ILLS. NORMAL UNIVERSITY HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 585 At the time the boundaries of Mount Hope were fixed, in 1858, there were in the township five schoolhouses, mostly of rather an inferior character. At that time, the school law of the State had been in operation but three years, and a few items extracted from the report of Daniel Wilkins, then School Commissioner of McLean County, will be interesting and instructive, as compared with similar items of the present year. ^Extract from Daniel Wilkins' Report, 1858 : Whole number of schoolhouses 5 Number of scholars 129 Number of persons between 5 and 21 287 Average wages paid to teachers per month $28 00 Whole amount expended for school purposes $671 00 Extract from N. I. Leach's Report for 1878 : Number of schools in township 9 Number of scholars 436 Number of persons between 6 and 21 517 Number of persons under 21 759 Whole amount expended for school purposes $5,000 Estimated value of school property $13,000 Township school fund $5,000 The first Township Treasurer was John Longworth, who held the office until 1874, when the present Treasurer, I. N. Leach, was appointed. The people of Mount Hope are proud of their school system, of their comfortable and well-furnished schoolhouses and of their efficient school officers, and believe firmly that they will compare favorably with those of any township in the county. MILLS. Mill interests in the early history of the county were considered of much greater importance than at present. The easy communication between neighborhoods, towns and cities by means of the railroad has revolutionized almost everything, but nothing more than that of transforming the grain into flour or meal. To the early settler, one of the most important items in his calculations was the grinding of his grain. There were no steam-mills then, and a site for a water-mill was an important thing. The pioneers were all poor, and, though mill-sites might have been plenty, they could not improve them. Therefore, numerous devices were invented to convert wheat and corn into bread. A few were possessed of hand-mills not greatly unlike those in use some thousands of years ago, and to which allusion is made in the Bible (Matt., xxiv, 41) : " Two women shall be grinding at the mill," etc. By and by, some of the more fore- handed farmers brought in a kind of horse-mill, which, though a very primitive affair, was considered a valuable accession to the industries of the neighborhood, and a wonderful convenience. These mills were mostly used for simply cracking corn, upon which the old pioneers lived. Corn was the staple feed for man and beast, and upon it they all thrived and grew healthy and strong. About fifty years ago, Isaac Baker began the erection of a water-mill on Sugar Creek in Funk's Grove, but for some reason, the enterprise was abandoned. It was at about that time that he was elected to the office of " C. C. C. C," when he removed to * This includes the portion of Town 21 north, Range 1 west, lying in McLean County. 586 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Bloomington to assume the duties of said office ; and this may explain why such an important project was allowed to fail. About ten years later, John Caton erected a small water-mill on Sugar Creek, which has not yet ceased its busy din. The mill, though a small affair, had, in its early days, an enviable reputation, and was looked upon as almost an indispensable thing. Things are different now. Mills are now usually extensive establishments, and furnish flour to consumers hundreds of miles away. Formerly, it was the universal custom for farmers to make their monthly trips to the mill with a bag of wheat, and, returning a week later, find it ground into flour for the family use. Now, most farmers sell all of their grain at the nearest railroad station. The grain-buyer sends it to the city, there to be handled and commissioned by the elevator. Then it is bought by one of those extensive grinding establishments, made into flour, put up in barrels or neat little sacks, and sold to a wholesale dealer in flour. From there it goes, by way of the same railroad that carried it as grain, back to the village, where it was formerly bought to be handled by the grocer and sold to the same man who produced it. Everybody who touched it in the long round has made a little money out of it, and this leaves us in a quandary how all this can be done and still compete with good mills near home. Per- haps some of the late disclosures on adulterated food may yet throw light on the subject. The little mill was years ago purchased by Jacob Moore, by whom it is still operated. VILLAGE OF MCLEAN. The year 1852 was an eventful one for the region of country through which the Chicago & Alton Railroad was built. Along the completed part of the line, sprang up a score or more of villages and towns heretofore undreamed of. The products of the prairie, in a very short time, from various causes based directly on the completion of this enterprise, doubled, trebled, and then quadrupled. This required a corresponding increase of trades to handle the same, and the railroad company gave every encourage- ment toward the development of the country and the villages along its route. Though McLean did not at once spring into prominence, it may be said it is, in every sense of the word, a creature of the road. The town was laid out by Peter Folsom, then County Surveyor for Franklin Price, from the southeast quarter of Section 35, Town 22, Range 1 west. A stone planted in the northeast corner of Lot 1 of Block 1, was planted for the guidance of all future surveys. The town was laid out June 20, 1855, but it does not seem to have improved much for a few years. Gr. L. and F. A. Wheelock were in the neighborhood in 1854, and, in 1855, they moved into the station-house, and transacted the business of the company at this point. E. G. Clark, a relative of the Wheelocks, came about the same time. The next persons of importance to locate here were H. W. Wood and John Kellogg. They came to the place in 1856 — Mr. Wood from Massachusetts, and Mr. Kellogg from Tre- mont, where he had resided many years previously. Dr. F. P. King, about the same time removed from Menard County to this place, and engaged with Mr. Kellogg in the mercantile trade. The Wheelocks and Wood also opened a store. Perhaps we k have made the impression that the above were the first merchants here. That was not HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 587 strictly the case, as John Goodhue had kept a few groceries and notions prior to the opening of these stores. Mr. Goodhue was also the first Postmaster ; afterward, Mr. Kellogg was appointed Postmaster, and kept the office in his store. Kellogg & King soon dissolved partnership, and the latter went to Wilmington to take charge of the Stewart Hotel of that place. A. H. Dillon, in company with Mark Marion, erected a small warehouse and com- menced buying grain. J. S. and G. P. Barber soon after built a warehouse and bought grain. In 1866, Thornton B. Colton erected an elevator, which was the first of the kind here ; three or four years later, the building was burned. In 1867, M. G. Haughey's elevator was built. This building has a handling capacity of about six thousand bushels. The Mount Hope mills and elevator were built in 1868; the mill by Stone, Aldrich & Co., and the elevator by C. C. Aldrich. The cost of both establishments was over $25,000. The mill has four runs of buhrs, and the elevator has a storing capacity of 20,000 bushels. These are said to be the most complete of their kind in Central Illi- nois. Every convenience and modern improvement that money would buy have been put in. An institution of this kind is a credit to the town and its founders. We had almost forgotten that another attempt at milling was made here prior to the establishment of Mount Hope Mills. In 1865, G. L. Wheelock purchased a flour-mill at Waynesville and removed it to this place. It was fitted up and run for awhile, and then sold to Cyrus H. McCormick, who subsequently removed it to Greenview. The first blacksmith-shop was put up in 1857, by F. A. Wheelock. Mr. Wheelock was not a blacksmith, but built the shop more for the purpose of starting the business than for any other. He soon sold the building to George A. Glotfelter, a practical work- man. In 1859, Glotfelter and H. W. Wood added their wagon and carriage factory, which is still operated by Messrs. Wood & Stones. Like almost every other branch of industry, the wagon and carriage business is being monopolized by the large corpora- tions, and Messrs. Wood & Stones, though they still do considerable in that line, do but little compared to their former business. EDUCATIONAL. The first school-building was the one mentioned on another page as having been removed from Mount Hope. The building is familiar to the earlier residents of the village, but to the new-comers it may not be known that the old Congregational Church and schoolhouse is still in use in the village, but since 1868 as a carpenter-shop. This his- toric building was donated by the Mount Hope people, in 1857, to the School District of McLean and removed to this place the same year. The house, with some refitting, was the schoolhouse and church for those who chose to occupy it, until 1868, when the new and substantial building now used for school purposes was erected. This is one of the most convenient of its kind to be found in towns of like size in the country. It is a solid frame building 40x60 feet, two stories high ; it contains four large sitting-rooms, besides halls, recitation-rooms, etc. The cost of the building was $10,000. The school sustained here is a graded one of four departments. A. M. Scott is Principal. RELIGIOUS. McLean is well supplied with church facilities, there being in the village three good church-buildings, occupied by as many organized religious societies. 588 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The Congregational Chureh organization dates back to the formation of the Mount Hope Colony ; and though at times the society had a precarious existence, the original books, with entries regularly made, indicating its removal to this place, and other facts, showing a complete chain of evidence, are still in existence. The Atlanta Congregational Church drew largely from the original organization ; but the root of organization still remained alive at Mount Hope, and, putting forth a small shoot in later years and being properly cultivated, has grown and thrived of late years in a very satisfactory manner. The society recently erected a very handsome church-building, 31x42 feet in size, costing, including the lot, $2,000. The present membership of the Church is about thirty. Rev. J. H. Shay, of Bloomington, is Pastor. In connection with the Church is a prosperous Sunday school of about sixty scholars, of which F. H. Doane is Super- intendent. It is claimed for this society that it was one of the first in this part of the State to espouse the cause of the colored people, then in bondage, and also one of the first to take advanced grounds against the liquor traffic. When both of these questions were unpopular, this organization heralded to the world that it would affiliate with no man or set of men, religiously, who could not adopt their views. The Methodist Episcopal Church of McLean was organized in 1857. Capt. I. C. Trott and John Kellogg and a few female members constituted the first class, with Capt. Trott as Class-Leader. This has been a most prosperous s )ciety. From the small beginning indicated, the Church has grown to number about one hundred and seventy- five. The Pastor is Rev. Thomas D. Weems. The Sunday school connected with this Church was started in 1857, by John Kellogg, with just three scholars. Mr. Kellogg was Superintendent, teacher and all for a time. The school now numbers, in regular attendance, eighty members. A. R. Dillman is Superintendent. In 1866, this society built their present neat and commodious building, at an out- lay of $3,725. It is 35x55 feet in size, and will accommodate about three hundred sittings. The Baptists of McLean and vicinity organized a society of that denomination in 1858. This event was brought about by Rev. John Merriman. A couple of years later, the mutterings of war began to be heard throughout the land, aud all kinds of enterprises, including churches, were at a standstill, and the infant society named was not an exception. But little was done in the way of church work for six or seven years, during part of which time no meetings were held. In 1867, through the advice and assistance of Rev. E. J. Thomas, now of Atlanta, the McLean Baptist Church was re-organized, and a house of worship erected the next year. The church-building is a neat frame 24x40 feet in size, and cost the society $1 ,400. There is no preaching service held here at present, though prayer-meeting3 and Sunday school are kept up. The Sunday school numbers about forty members in regular attendance, of which Mrs. Henrietta Clark is, and has been for the last five years, Superintendent. The Sunday school has the reputation of being conducted on the most approved plan. Besides the above, two other churches of the Methodist denomination are to be found in the township outside of the village. The Mount Hope Church, near the aucient village, was started nearly forty years ago. Some of its original members were James Murphy, Jacob Moore, Ezra Kenyon and John Longworth. Dr. Daniel Proctor HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 589 and John Stubblefield were among its first preachers. The society built a house of worship about ten years since. It is a plain frame building about 28x40 feet in size. About twenty-five members belong to the society. Rev. Thomas D. Weems is present Pastor. Sunday school is sustained during the summer, but owing to the distance from the church at which many of the members live, it is suspended during the winter. Ebenezer Church is located near the center of Town 22, being on Section 17. The society was formed about ten years ago and the house of worship erected at the same time. About fifty persons belong to this organization. Rev. Mr. Shinn is Pastor. A., F. & A. M. McLean Lodge, No. 469, was chartered in October, 1866, with B. E. Pumpelly as W. M. ; H. W. Wood, S. W. ; Charles H. Hitchcock, J. W. ; E. G. Clark, Secretary ; T. D. Cotton, Treasurer, and James Gibbs, Tiler. Samuel B. Kinsey, Thomas McGary and M. H. Reed were also charter members. The present membership is twenty-nine. They have lost by death four, and by dimission fully fifty. The present officers are: C. C. Aldrich, W. M. ; Clark Snedeker, S. W. ; John Yates, J. W. ; Samuel I. Leach, Treasurer ; H. W. Wood, Secretary ; D. J. Palmer, S. D. ; A. W. Bascom, J. D., and George Youngman, Tiler. ORGANIZATION OP MCLEAN. "The legal voters of the village were notified to meet at John Kellogg's office on Saturday, May 19, 1866, to vote for or against organization." The first record of the village, still extant, reads as above. On the day appointed, a meeting was held in con- formity to the notice and resulted in a vote of twenty-nine in favor of, and four against) incorporation. The meeting at which this action was taken, was called to order by E. G. Clark. On motion of Charles S. Beath, E. B. Johnson was elected President of the meeting and E. G. Clark, Clerk. The oath of office was administered by James S r Barber, who was then a Notary Public. At this meeting, it was also agreed to ho' the election for officers at the same place on the 26th, being one week later. At th lr# election, E. B. Johnson, Daniel Tenney, Edward Bonifield, John E. Rawlins and *8 s W. Wood were elected Trustees, the first-named being President. E. G. Clark w appointed Clerk and Collector ; Thornton D. Cotton, Treasurer, and Edward Bonifif n0 Assessor. The vote polled at this first election was forty-one. This organization, wl e m was under the general law of the State, continued until 1873, when, in the mean '• a new general law having been passed, the new act of incorporation was adopted 8 ance vote of thirty-two to seventeen. are ° The present officers of the village are: John Kellogg, President; W. 0. T n ^ C. C. Aldrich, Charles M. Noble, Lewis Fay and A. C. Stonaker, Trustees, and ^ rn P art Wood, Clerk. > n secur " set tiers Mllside TOWANDA TOWNSHIP. } valley Towanda Township is situated in the geographical center of McLean Count lde e includes one Congressional town, and is known as Town 24 north, Range 3 east a y seem Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded on the north by Money Creek Tov f would on the east by Blue Mound ; on the south by Old Town, and on the west by J> 590 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The surface of the country is varied and interesting. Towanda Township is not so level as many parts of Illinois prairie. The surface has sufficient slope to drain itself without the assistance of tiling, unless it be in a few exceptional instances. The greater portion of the township is prairie, but there were, originally, two important groves. Most of the timber has been cleared away, with the advance of civilization and the con- version of the wild prairie lands into fruitful farms. The grove lying farthest south, near the center of the township, on the west side of Money Creek, is known as Smith's Grove. It was so named from David Smith, who settled there in 1830. The other woodland is known as " Money Creek Timber,'' although Smith's Grove is properly Money Creek Timber. But when the name Money Creek Timber is used, reference is always made to that portion lying in the north part of the township. It is the beginning of a large body of timber which extends down Money Creek, through the township of the same name, to the Mackinaw. The southwestern part of Towanda lies on "the divide," between the waters which flow into the Mackinaw and those which flow into Sugar Creek. This is the prairie which the early settlers considered worthless, but which now is among the most enviable por- tions of this thriving township. The only stream worthy of notice is Money Creek. The headwaters of this little creek take their rise in Padua and Arrowsmith Townships. After passing through the southwestern part of Blue Mound it enters Towanda near the northeastern corner of Section 25. It passes in a northwesterly direction through the township, leaving it near the line between Sections 4 and 5. The remainder of its course lies in Money Creek and Hudson Townships, where it enters Mackinaw near the line between Hudson and Gridley Townships. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad crosses the northwestern corner of Towanda, extending directly northeast and southwest. This road was built in 1853, and soon began to do a large shipping business to Chicago and the Northeast from this lapart of the country. sn The soil in this township is not surpassed in fertility by any in the county, and the mount of corn and oats annually produced is immense. This is, also, a good grass 1 Country, and a considerable number of cattle are raised. Hogs abound. At one time, latcere was a fair proportion of wheat raised, but it is not now extensively sown, several ente l ur es having deterred the farmers from further efforts in this direction. not a years, early settlements. ana as As is well known, all old settlers were found along the creeks and near the groves, re-orga consequence, this township presented two points for early settlement — Smith's neat frai an( j Money Creek Timber. The former was settled first, so far as Towanda is here at ne d. But, by the best authority now attainable, it appears that there was a school jjent n Money Creek almost as early as that made by John Hendrix at Blooming Clark ; e . Louis Soward and Jacob Harness must have settled in Money Creek Township the rei r ]y as 1824 or 1825, near the line between that and Towanda. ^The first settlers within the present limits of Towanda Township were John round iQ er an( j fauoily. John Trimmer came from Hunterdon County, N. J. He came ancient; f rom the Wabash country by an Indian trail, and camped at what was afterward James Smith's Grove. This was in August, 1826. Few white men were to be seen in HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 591 these parts at that time. It is said that the Trimmer family saw no white man after they left the Wabash until they came in here. Indians were plenty, and the only play- fellows the Trimmer children had were young Indians. Soon after reaching their early home, and while they were still in camp, the father died, leaving the widowed mother with eight children to provide and care for. She moved from the Grove to the head of Money Creek Timber soon after the burial of her husband, and there remained. Of the eight children some are dead, and others have moved away, so that none are left on Money Creek but Jesse Trimmer, who was but a lad when the family came West. After the Trimmers moved away, Frederick Rook came to Smith's Grove. He was a German, and remained little more than a year, when he left for Livingston County, and settled on a creek which afterward bore his name. David Smith and family came next. Smith was of German descent, and came originally from North Carolina, although he had lived in Kentucky and Indiana. The family reached the Grove, which has ever since borne the name, in the spring of 1830. John Smith entered the land where the Jones family now lives. Later, a large tract of land in that vicinity passed into the hands of the Joneses. The earliest of the Jones family was N. M. Jones, who still lives, and is quite an extensive farmer and dealer in fine stock. Soon after the Trimmers moved to Money Creek Timber, or, at least, about that time, Elbert Dickason moved to the head of the Timber. He was from Ohio. The early settlers called him " Major " Dickason. He was one of the most prominent men in the township in that early day. In the spring of 1831, Jesse Walden came to the same neighborhood. He was originally from Kentucky. He came to Sangamon County in this State in the fall of 1828. Mr. Walden rented a farm of Jacob Spawr. He lived three years here. Afterward, he moved around, living in several places, until he finally settled down near Smith's Grove. Between these two settlements might soon have been found Richard Fling. Mr. Williams, carpenter and builder, who now resides in Bloomington, married Mr. Fling's daughter. The growth in population, from this time on, was steady, and, though it was not so rapid as in late years, it is impossible to trace the individual settlers as they came in and filled up the few vacant nooks that remained around the borders of the timber. It is worthy of note that the first settlement out on the prairie, at any considerable distance from the timber, was not made before 1849 or 1850. The man who first dared to brave public opinion and prairie wolves was William Halterman. He was born in West Virginia, and moved first to Ohio and then to Illinois. He settled in the western part of the township, near a sulphur spring. Doubtless, the spring had more to do in secur- ing his location at that point than did the fertility of the soil. Those early settlers who came from the mountains, where bubbling springs gush forth from every hillside and glittering cataracts dance wildly over huge ledges of rocks, while down the valley rushes the mighty stream, are not to be mocked for wishing to dwell again beside the gurgling waters ; but that a sulphur spring should have peculiar charms, may seem strange. Had the prairies been able to furnish the old mountain-spring, they would have been settled long before they were, no doubt. 592 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The second settler, on the prairie, was William D. Moore, who came into this from Money Creek Township. He settled on the farm which he now occupies in the spring of 1853. After the building of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, the settlement was rapid, and the township has since steadily increased in wealth and population. r r EARLY INDUSTRIES. The first blacksmith-shop was an item of considerable importance to the early set- tlers. This will become evident when it is remembered that those who first settled on Money Creek had to go, it is said, all the way to Springfield to get their plows sharpened. Those were the days when wooden moldboards were in use. The plowman depended altogether upon his oxen for a plow-team ; but we fancy that a good horse must have been in demand when a share was dull. David Trimmer ran a blacksmith-shop at the head of Money Creek Timber as early as 1828. He is said to have " picked up " the trade, in the first place, but was afterward recognized as an excellent workman, especially upon edged tools. " Uncle " Henry Moats says that Trimmer made an adz for him which he kept more than forty years, and that it would cut a nail without making any impression upon the adz. His customers came from far and near, and he was, no doubt, a relief to the community. Another early enterprise was a saw-mill, which was built on Money Creek, as early, perhaps, as 1837. It was erected by Elbert Dickason and John Pennell. The former was a resident of this township, but the latter lived just across the line north. This mill, like nearly all others in this country at that time, was run by water-power. It had an upright saw and did a vast amount of sawing. Smith's Grove and Money Creek could furnish as fine a lot of timber as was to be found anywhere. It was never fitted up for grinding, and as the woods began to be cleared away, it fell into disuse and was finally abandoned altogether. The flouring-mills built in the village of Towanda were the first in this part of the country, and they were very short-lived. The people got their breadstuffs at Bowling Green, in Woodford County, also at mills down on the Kicka- poo, until after the erection of steam-mills in Bloomington. Sometimes, in dry weather, when the water-mills in all this section of country were unable to run for want of water, they were compelled to go as far as Ottawa, on the Illinois River. THE FIRST MARRIAGE solemnized was that of Jacob Spawr and Eliza Ann Trimmer. This took place Decem- ber 3, 1826. Mr. Spawr had no license, and a trip to Vandalia to get one seemed a greater task than was necessary, so he posted notices beforehand, in its stead. William Orendorff officiated, and made the necessary returns to Vandalia. This first marriage took place in the same family in which occurred THE FIRST DEATH, and in the same year. As related in these pages before, John Trimmer died a short time after the family reached Smith's Grove. He was buried in a walnut coffin made by hewing out slabs from a log with an ax, and finishing with a jack-plane. The funeral was attended by their neighbors at Blooming Grove and adjoining settlements. It is not now remembered who was the first person born in the township. Benja- min Stretch, who now resides in Towanda, is the oldest man now living in this part of the country, who was born here. He was born on Money Creek in the fall of 1830. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 593 t The family came here the same summer, from Ohio, and Benjamin Ogden and family. Benjamin Stretch's father, Mr. Jesse Stretch, was a carpenter. He built the first house on the spot where the McLean County bank now stands, in Bloomington. This was one of the first business houses in Bloomington. THE FIRST POST OFFICE was kept at the residence of William D. Moore. As has been related in the pages before, Mr. Moore was the first to settle on the prairie, where the village of Towanda now stands. William G. Bishop had held that honorable position for a number of years, just over across the creek. This old man seems to have tired of his trust. He took a day to visit his friend on the prairie. As the chat became free and the folks were having a pleasant visit, Mr. Bishop informed Mr. Moore that he should like to be rid of the post office, and that he should be much pleased to have Mr. Moore take it off his hands. Mr. Moore remonstrated, saying that he was unacquainted with the routine of post office work, and further suggesting that he had not the political influence at Wash- ington, necessary to secure the appointment. Mr. Bishop replied that those obstacles might easily be overcome, and that he only wished to find a man that would accept the office. The result was, that, in a few weeks, an appointment came, and Mr. Moore was duly installed Postmaster. Those were the " good old times," when the office sought the man, and not the man the office. For why should it be otherwise? Mr. Moore informs us that all the office paid was $3 or $4 per quarter. We suspect that should office-holding be again made as meagerly remunerative as then, we might have a return to "the good old times." When the village of Towanda was laid out and the mail began to be carried on the cars, the office was brought down to the station and David S. Kinnan was made Postmaster. Towanda post office is the only one now in the town- ship. CHURCHES. The first preaching was probably done by John Dunham, a United Brethren preacher, who held meetings at Smith's Grove. John Dunham was a missionary sent # out by the general brotherhood to preach the Gospel wherever an opportunity might present itself. He preached in various parts of the settlement on Money Creek, as well as in adjoining settlements. The exact date is not known, but it was early as 1832. In later years, the Rev. Mr. Dodd preached at Smith's Grove. He was a Presbyterian, and held services, sometimes in his own house and sometimes in those of the members. He organized the first society within the present limits of the township. After the schoolhouse was built in District No. 1 , they held meetings in it until the building of their church in the village of Towanda. The Rev. Ebenezer Rhodes, known then as a New Light preacher, held meetings at a very early day, at the house of Elbert Dick- ason. Mr. Rhodes was afterward identified with the Christian Church. A large and flourishing society of the last-mentioned was formed farther north, on Money Creek. It is possible that the Methodists, also, held occasional meetings. There was a class formed very soon, the regular place of meeting being at the residence of Jacob Spawr, across in Money Creek Township. Mrs. Trimmer and her son David were prominent members. The Baptists, also, began their meetings at Smith's Grove. This seems to have been the starting-point for nearly all the enterprises in the township. They com- menced there about the same time that the Presbyterians did. These societies began to 594 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. § take definite shape first about the year 1852. The first Baptist minister was James Cairns. This denomination built the first church in the township, in the village of Towanda, in the year 1858. The Roman Catholic Church has quite a society in the southeastern part of the township. They have a neat country edifice, which has been built recently. The settlement in that neighborhood is made up chiefly of persons of Irish descent. At different times there have been other denominations here, but they have never succeeded in establishing societies which remain at the present time. Among those who had something of a beginning, may be mentioned the Protestant Methodists and the Christians. EDUCATION. If there were any very early schools, all traces of them are now extinct. The artificial division into townships did not take place until a comparatively recent date, and when it did occur, it cut the early settlements on Money Creek near the middle. The early schools, across in the other township, probably answered for all on the creek who desired a knowledge of the three R's. The first schoolhouse was built of logs, at Smith's Grove. In it was taught the first school, but who was the first teacher is not now remembered. When the township was organized and districts began to be laid off, Smith's Grove District was No. 1. Its school had been running for some time, and it continued to be the only school for quite awhile afterward. School lands were sold at a low figure. Isaac P. Kinnan and William D. Moore were Trustees for about sixteen years. They divided the townships into school districts as fast as it became necessary. Throughout there are good schoolhouses, and a general tendency to keep up with the times, is manifest. An idea of the condition of school work throughout the township, may be formed from the following: Number of school districts, 7 ; number of chil- dren under twenty-one years, 619 ; number between six and twenty-one, 544 ; number scholars enrolled, 361 ; schoolhouses, 7 ; amount paid teachers, $2,974.92 ; total expend- itures, $3,772.06; estimated value of school property, $9,300; highest wages paid per month, $60. RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS. The advent of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, was a great thing for this country. This road crosses the northwest corner of the township. As soon as the farmers had an outlet for their corn, cattle and hogs, they could raise crops with a bet- ter prospect of selling, and thus the community was stimulated and made to develop its resources. Public highways are abundant and kept in good repair. Nearly all section lines are authorized public roads. In the southern part of the township, there are some exceptions to this rule. Besides the section lines recognized as public thoroughfares, a few others are found that do not follow those lines so closely. The most important of these is, first, a road which lies along the line of the railroad, from the southwest to near the center of the village of Towanda. Thence it extends east for a short distance and afterward northeast, crossing Money Creek near the section line between Sections 4 and 5, close by the site of the old saw-mill. Another important highway is a road connecting the village of Towanda with southeastern points. It enters the township from the east and passes through the middle of Sections 13, 14 and 15. It passes to HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 595 the center of Section 16, and thence in a zigzag course alternately north and west, to the village. There are three roads which cross Money Creek. At two of the cross- ings, the stream is spanned by iron bridges. One of these is on the Lexington & Bloomington road, just northeast of the village. The other is on the road leading from Towanda southeasterly. ORGANIZATION OF TOWANDA TOWNSHIP. Although the Illinois Legislature made provision by which the several counties might adopt the township organization several years earlier, McLean County did not adopt it until 1857. Previously, this township was included in Money Creek Precinct. When the station was made here, many of the people from the surrounding country moved in, so that the old place of voting on Money Creek was on one side and an out- of-the-way place. By order of the County Board, the place of voting was changed to the village of Towanda, September 6, 1856. It was still Money Creek Precinct. James Gilmore, Sr., Hadley J. Short and Silas Waters were appointed Commissioners to divide McLean County and to establish township organization. They reported Feb- ruary 26, 1858, Town 24 north, Range 3 east, of the Third Principal Meridian, was called Towanda, and constituted a voting precinct. Since that report, many of the townships have been changed, but this one remains as first organized. The first election under the new order of things was held April 6, 1858. It resulted as follows : Supervisor, Nathaniel S. Sunderland ; Town Clerk, Edwin R. Reeves ; Collector, William Halterman ; Assessor, Joel N. White ; Overseer of the Poor, Lemuel Kiblinger ; Commissioners of Highways, John Mack, Joseph K. Dod- son and David H. Cowan ; Overseers of Highways, William D. Kinnan, Elijah Ellis, Jeremiah Shade, Calvin Barnes and Dennis Whiterago ; Poundmaster, Norman Finite; Constables, John L. Baylor and Edwin R. Reeves; Justices of the Peace, Willis P. Pepenoe and John N. King. At present, Frank Henderson is Supervisor and also Township Treasurer ; George Hilts is Town Clerk ; Cornelius Gatliff and D. F. Biddle are Justices of the Peace i Benjamin Stretch, Patrick Merna and A. A. Riddle are Commissioners of Highways. The Trustees are W. H. Maey, Monroe Barnes and Nelson Jones. WAR RECORD AND POLITICS. The early settlers, though often frightened by rumors of Indian wars, and though thoroughly scared during the Black Hawk war, never suffered anything from the Indians farther than a few annoyances in the way of theft. None of the few who dwelt here at that time, except Frederick Rook and, perhaps, another man whose name we did not learn, were in the above-mentioned war, nor do we find traces of any in the Mexican war. But when the dark clouds of conflict obscured our national horizon in 1861, Towanda turned out her proportion of men immediately. No draft was ever necessary. When the last call came for twenty-six men, they met it, though the num- ber was disproportionately large. The township offered, at one time, $300 bounty. This, with $300 paid by the county, made the total bounty for entering $600. It was only for the last call that the $300 was paid by the township. Most of those who vol- unteered earlier got only $150 from the township. Several brave " boys " offered their lives on their country's altar. William Sears was shot at Ramsey's Lane. He 596 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. was First Lieutenant, and was in command of his company when they made the charge in which he was killed. Nathan Sears, William's brother, died from disease. Richard Russell also sickened and died. John H. Dodd was shot accidentally and killed. Philip Miller died of disease, and F. E. Wise was killed in the fight at Natchez. Whether there were others who died from the effects of disease contracted in the army, or that were killed on the battle-field, we have not been able to learn. But enough is known to make it evident that the patriotism of this township stands unchallenged. In political matters the township has been pretty evenly balanced, but generally, of late years, there has been a small majority in favor of the Republican ticket. THE VILLAGE OP TOWANDA. This village is located in the northwestern part of the township of the same name. It includes the southwest quarter of Section 5. This land was entered by Peter A. Bedeau. The certificate of entry is dated February 18, 1853. The original plat of the village included only forty acres from the center of this quarter-section. It was then owned by Jesse W. Fell and Charles W. Holder, who filed a plat of the town with the County Board, to be recorded December 7, 1854. The original forty acres was donated by Peter A. Bedeau for town purposes. The remaining part of the quar- ter-section was sold by Mr. Bedeau to Jesse W. Fell and Charles W. Holder on May 1, 1855. The proprietors immediately surveyed it and laid it off into town lots. These were afterward sold to such as wished to embark in business and become residents of the new town on the prairie. Mr. Charles Roadnight, an Englishman, became the heaviest property-owner in the village. In fact, at one time, he owned the greater part of it. Towanda is pleasantly located on the prairie, less than a mile southwest of Money Creek. The village is on high land, and, judging from its location and the number of its physicians, is a very healthy place in which to live. It is situated on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, about half way between Bloomington and Lexington. The railroad enters the village at the southwest corner, and passes in a northeasterly direction through it. It is surrounded by a good farming and grazing country, and has all the natural facilities for a flourishing inland town. It would have grown much more rapidly, no doubt, had it not been so near to our ambitious county seat, whose shadow reaches far out into the surrounding country, chilling the young life-blood in many smaller towns. The population of Towanda, at present, is about 500. EARLY SETTLERS. As noted in the history of the township, William D. Moore was the first to settle near the present site of Towanda. He is now within the town limits, although he resides on the northwest quarter of Section 5. Mr. Moore came from Ohio. He reached Money Creek October 21, 1851. In the fall of 1853 he moved to his presen fc residence. This was the first residence within what are now the limits of Towanda ; although, at that time, no one had ever thought of a village there. The only house between his and Bloomington was the residence of Mr. Halterman, near the sulphur spring. Mr. Moore kept the post office, and the mail was still carried on horse-back. But there was destined to be a great change in a few years. When the village was laid out, and the cars began to stop at the switch, people came to the railroad to enter into business. David S. Kinnan built the first residence in what was then the village. He HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 597 and James Alexander built the first warehouse. Mr. Kinnan still resides on a farm near the site of the old saw-mill, on Money Creek. Mr. Alexander lives in town. T. J. Laney built the second dwelling, and with Wesley Fletcher Bishop, the second ware- house. Mr. Bishop built the third dwelling-house. He also ran a small grocery store. This was the first storehouse in the village. The first dry goods store was set up by Frank Henderson in 1857. After running it a short time, he sold out and went on a farm. He is one of Towanda's strongest men. Wesley F. Bishop was the first station agent. He served in that capacity before any dwelling had been erected. When the mail began coming on the railroad, in the winter of 1855 and 1856, the office was brought down "into town," and David S. Kinnan became the first Postmaster in the village. Samuel C. Ware is the present Postmaster. He is also Police Magistrate. EDUCATION. The first schoolhouse in Towanda was built in 1854. It was a neat frame build- ing, 24 by 26 feet. It is still standing and is a good building yet. In 1866, the number of children had so increased as to demand a new and larger building for their proper accommodation. Accordingly a house was begun and nearly finished, when it burned to the ground before ever being used. The origin of the fire is not known. But the good people of Towanda were not to be discouraged by a fire. The next year a large and commodious building was erected, and it has done good service ever since. The first teacher in the new building was G. H. Thrasher. Three teachers are regu- larly employed. Mr. James A. Jones now has charge of the schools. Last year, the Principal was paid $60 per month, being the highest wages paid in the township. The School Directors at present are George W. Howard, M. J. Wise and George Hilts. MILL8, "WAREHOUSES, ETC. A good flouring-mill with two sets of buhrs was soon built by Boadnight & Strothers. After running it a short time, the builders traded it to Nathaniel S. Sunder- land. He had been in possession but a short time, when the mill was destroyed by fire. Mr. Sunderland lost, at the same time, a large warehouse, which burned with the mill. The property was heavily insured, so that the owner sustained only a partial loss. After this, Henry Warner built another mill. It experienced a fate similar to that of the Sunderland mill. It had been in operation scarcely a year when it was swept away by the fire-fiend. It, also, was insured. There remains in Towanda a monument to the hopes and ambition of one of her early citizens. It is known as the " big " building. It is situated on the northwest side of the railroad, just across from the depot. It was built by Charles Boadnight, when he was determined to make a large place of Towanda. The house faces the rail- road and is built parallel to it. It is 50 by 100 feet, and two stories in height. It is only partly occupied. FIRES. For a small town, Towanda has quite a fire record. Mr. Sunderland's large steam flouring-mill, and with it his warehouse, were the first victims. The fire next seized Mr. Warner's new mill and it was leveled to the ground. These were well insured ; but when Mr. Campbell's dry goods store was burned, he lost it all. His policy had expired the day before the fire. The burning of the new schoolhouse before it was occupied at all was another sad fire. Mr. Laney also lost a grocery store by fire. 598 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. CHURCHES. Towanda may be said to be a religious town. It is not to be supposed from tbis, however, that everybody belongs to a church, but there certainly is a fair proportion that do. There are three churches and each has a comparatively large membership. The Baptists built the first church in the village in 1858. Their first minister was James Cairns. Before this, the Presbyterians had organized a society and held meet- ings in the schoolhouse. They built the second church. This church was begun in 1863 and dedicated January 18, 1864. Robert Conover preached the dedicatory sermon. He was Pastor of the same church continuously until March, 1878. The Methodists organized in 1857. N. H. Craig was Pastor. They, too, held meetings in the schoolhouse until the building of their church in 1866. These churches are all respectable houses of worship ; they do credit to the village. Although other religious denominations have held occasional meetings here, none have been able to establish a permanent organization. INCIDENTS. There is seldom anything to enliven the dull monotony of life in a country village. An occasional suit before the Squire, some neighborhood gossip, or the advent of some small show or unknown lecturer, make up the ordinary sensation. But an accident occurred in the early history of this town that is still vividly recalled by the older inhabit- ants. This took place about the year 1856, on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad. The southern-bound freight, passing through in the night, had exhausted its supply of water. The train was left standing on the main track, while the engine went down to Bloomington to the tank. A watch was placed on the track, that the next southern- bound freight might not run into the caboose on the track. The watch, instead of attending to his duty, went into a house and there fell asleep. The train came rushing down the track, and ran into the other one. Three men were killed. Two of these were literally torn in pieces. Parts of their bodies were strewn all along the track. Cars were piled up and thrown around in every conceivable shape and direction. The train had been running at full speed. The third man had been carried along with the engine. In the morning, when the wreck was examined, he was found crowded up against the fire-door. His body had been mashed by a freight-car, and then baked by the fire in the engine. The man was killed by the collision, so that he suffered no pain from the fire. The watch was so frightened when he saw the result of his carelessness, that he left the country immediately, and nothing was ever heard of him afterward. Towanda has, at present, three churches, one graded school, two drug stores, one dry goods store, four groceries, three grain-dealers, two blacksmith-shops, and two wagon-shops in connection with the smithies. There are no hotels in the village. When the traveling public stop in Towanda, they are not supposed to stay overnight. But should any one be compelled to remain, the good people will house him comfortably in their own dwellings. There are no lawyers. When cases come up before the Squire, as come they will, sometimes, a lawyer from Bloomington is frequently seen wending his way to Towanda. All villages have one or more physicians. Towanda has two ; but they are trying to starve those by failing to indulge in the necessary amount of sickness. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 599 HUDSON TOWNSHIP. Hudson Township lies in the northern part of McLean County. It is west of the center, touching Woodford County on the northwest. It comprises one Congressional town, known as Town 25 north, Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian. On the north, it is bounded by Woodford County and Gridley Township of McLean ; on the east, by Money Creek ; on the south, by Normal ; on the west, by White Oak Township and Woodford County. Hudson is well supplied with streams. The Mack- inaw Creek is the only large one, but there are several other streams of minor impor- tance. Six-Mile Creek rises by several branches in Normal Township. These unite in Sections 17 and 20 and form one stream, which flows in a very tortuous course north and west, leaving the township near the southwest corner of Section 6. The Mack- inaw flows westerly along the northern boundary, cutting in and out at several points. Farther toward the west, it bears south. The northwest corner of Section 5 is left on the right bank of the stream, while the greater portion of Section 6 is also on the north. Money Creek flows northwesterly across the northeast corner of the township. A large branch of the last-named stream rises in the southeast part of the township, and flows mostly north. There was originally considerable timber in Hudson, but it was not in large bodies. The groves that we look for in every township are represented by Havens' Grove. This was but a small body of timber, lying partly in Sections 20, 28, 29 and 17. The Money Creek Timber extended along that stream in the northeast. Mackinaw Timber skirted the northern boundary. The Illinois Central Railroad extends through the township. It enters from the north, near the northwest corner of Section 4, where it crosses Mackinaw Creek. It extends south, in the same row of sections, through the township, leaving one-fourth mile west of the southeast corner of Section 33. Like nearly all the others, Hudson reports a good yield of wheat in pioneer times. It was, probably, superior in the production of that cereal to most other townships of the county. Rut it is with it, as with others, the days of wheat-harvesting to any considerable extent are past. The principal products at present are corn, oats, rye, pota- toes and kindred crops. Cattle and hogs are produced in abundance. Considerable shipping is done, both of grain and stock. The surface of the country is slightly rolling in places, while in others there is a tendency to too great a level. The soil is black, deep and fertile. Its productiveness is unsurpassed. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. Although Hudson had a few early inhabitants, the township was not settled up as rapidly as some others, especially during the first four or five years. The first to stop within its present limits were Railey Harbert, his son-in-law, Richard Gross, and Mosby Harbert. When Jesse Havens and company arrived, they found these men and fami- lies at the grove, on the east side. They were living in cabins. Gross' was made of split logs, but Harbert's was little more than a pole pen, covered with unshaven boards, that had been riven with a frow. The boards were held on by poles, as nails were 600 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. unknown, and altogether too much of a luxury, at any rate to be wasted on the roof of a cabin. Havens came in the fall of 1829. In the summer before, Harbert had raised a patch of sod-corn and sown ten acres of wheat in the fall. But in the winter, the Harberts and Gross sold out to Jesse Havens and his son-in-law, Benjamin Wheeler. They then moved away to Blooming Grove and entered land there, where they remained. In the summer of 1829, in Licking County, Ohio, there was much talk of the great prospects out West. This was particularly the case in the family of Jesse Havens. A daughter and son-in-law had already spent a year in the new country, and their glowing reports of fine country, plenty of game and rich soil had the desired effect on the relatives in the East. Accordingly, Jesse Havens, Benjamin Wheeler, his son-in-law, and Jacob Moats started West with their families. They stopped first with those who had sent such enticing words back. This was at Hezekiah Piatt's, at Big Grove, Champaign County. Here, the emigrants left their families a short time, and went down to the Sangamon River, intending, if they liked it, to settle there. But they soon returned and started northwest, with their families. They stopped a short time at Buckles' Grove, and then came on to what has since been called Havens' Grove. Here the Havenses and relations remained. Jacob Moats moved his family to Money Creek, where he lived till his death, and where his descendants still live. Jesse Havens was born June 23, 1781, in New Jersey, near the mouth of Squan River. His father was a Welshman, who spent his life on the ocean. Mr. Havens early came West. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Newark, Ohio. He enlisted in the war of 1 81 2, and participated in the wonderful defense at Fort Stephenson, under Maj . Croghan. In McLean County, he was a man of considerable importance. He was County Commis- sioner before the adoption of the township system, and was generally known through- out the county. He afterward sold out and went to Iowa ; but upon his death, in 1862, he was brought back to Havens' Grove for interment by his son Hiram. Several of his descendants live at Havens' Grove. Hiram Havens, a son of Jesse Havens, tells many an interesting story in regard to early pioneer life. He was quite a hunter and often indulged in trials of skill with the friendly Indians. He reports many of the savages as good marksmen, although he never found an Indian that could shoot at a mark with a precision equal to his own. The Indians would excel in what they called random shooting. They would scarcely ever fail to bring a running deer to a halt, or a flying turkey to the ground. The Indi- ans made Havens' Grove a kind of headquarters, several hundred often camping there. They were wild for whisky, but were careful to keep the Sabbath. Jesse Havens entered most of the land on which the Grove stood, so that other emigrants beside those of the first company did not come in rapidly. Hezekiah Piatt came from Big Grove, not long after Havens settled here. David Trimmer, son of John Trimmer, of Money Creek, and son-in-law of Jesse Havens, moved up to the southeast corner of the Grove, from Bloomington, where he had been running the first blacksmith-shop ever in the place. Here he lived a long time, until his wife died. Afterward, he went to Kansas, where he still resides. The next after Trimmer was John W. Hatfield, of Bloomington. He remained for some time, and then went to Eureka and from Eureka to Missouri. These were \X HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 603 about all that can be traced at Havens' Grove until the formation of the colony which laid out the village of Hudson. Not long after the settlement at Havens' Grove was first made, the Hinthorns came to Money Creek timber on the east side of Hudson Township. They were relatives of the Havenses, and came from the same part of Ohio. There were three brothers of them — Adam, William and Isaac. Next came Elijah Priest, who had married Rebecca Hinthorn ; they arrived in July, 1834. Then Isaac Messer, the United Brethren minister, moved down from above Lexington. Isaac Turnipseed came to McLean County as early as 1831, but did not move into Hudson Township until after his father- in-law, Issac Messer. These names include about all who settled in Hudson Township early, and had no connection with the colony that located at the village of Hudson. THE HUDSON COLONY. The period preceding the year 1837, was an era of speculation in this part of the country. Schemes of almost all kinds were projected throughout the United States for the purpose of making fortunes rapidly. The old and sure, but plodding, methods of making money were abandoned, and expedients of various kinds for the purpose of out- stripping them were adopted. Patent rights, new discoveries of various kinds, and mineral springs were tried by individuals ; and the States and the Government partook of the excitement and projected canals and other public improvements on a vast scale. In this part of the State, colonization schemes flourished to an unlimited extent. Com- panies were formed in all parts of the country with a view of settling a locality simul- taneously and with a common purpose — that of mutual benefit. It was reasonably con- ceived that with such a concert of movement, many of the hardships and privations usually incident to pioneer life might be dispensed with, and that the social, religious and educational privileges of the older settled parts of the country could be immediately transferred to their new homes. These enterprises were begun mostly during the years 1834-36, and were carried on with varied success. But few ever realized the bright anticipations of their projectors, but doubtless most of them were in a measure success- ful. Perhaps the colony of which we write has proved nearer a realization of hopes of its organizers than any other in this part of the State. The Illinois Land Association, as it was called, was organized at Jacksonville, in this State, February 6, 1836, by Horatio N. Petitt, John Gregory, George F. Durkitt, and a number of others, the three named being appointed a committee of general superintendence. Nearly all of the township of Hudson was entered in the name of Horatio N. Petitt. Each member of the colony paid $235 for a share in the enterprise; for this, he was entitled to receive 160 acres of land, four town lots in the prospective village of Hudson, and a share in the net profits of the undertaking. Church and school advantages, were some of the inducements held out to the colonists to embark in the speculation, and these the Association eventually provided. One of the induce- ments held out to the colonists, however, the Association was unable to make good, and that was in regard to the amount of timber to be apportioned to each farm. Twenty acres were thought to be an amount requisite to furnishing fuel, fencing and building material for a quarter-section, but when the Association came to purchase the woodland, it was found that nearly all had been already occupied by earlier settlers, and that they were loath to part with it even at a fair price. The relative value of timbered land was x 604 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. then much greater than at present. It was not known that just a few feet below the sur- face of the ground lay millions of tons of superior fuel, all packed away from ages remote for this very generation. The means of transporting lumber from the pineries of the north and other parts of the world had not yet been provided. Consequently, every one who proposed settling here took into account the supply of this very neces- sary article, comparing its exhaustion all the while with the length of time actually required to grow a crop of the same. The failure, therefore, of the Association to sup- ply the amount of timber caused no little dissatisfaction, and quite a number of the stockholders withdrew and removed to other parts. Some twenty of the original stock- holders became actual settlers and have proved to be our most worthy and wealthy citizens. Among these were Horatio Petitt, John Gregory, John McGoun. James Robinson, Oliver March, James and Joseph Gildersleeve, Jacob Burtis and Samuel P. Cox. The originators of the enterprise were, many of them, from near Hudson, N Y., and the name was given the village in honor of the one where they had formerly lived. On the 20th of June, Petitt, Gregory, Cox and a number of others left Jacksonville in a two-horse wagon, and after a journey of two days arrived at the spot destined to be the site of the village. The party made arrangements with the few settlers in the neighborhood for board for a short time, during which time the surveying and platting was completed. At this time, Jesse Havens and sons-in-law, and one or two more fami- lies were living in the township, and all except Havens, in one story, one-roomed, chinked and daubed log cabins. Mr. Havens was one of the leading men of -the county, and as became a man of his standing, had reared for himself an edifice of more than ordinary pretensions, it being not less than a double log house. In this most of the colonists found shelter and food for the few weeks consumed in preparations for the apportion- ment of the lands. By the 4th of July of the year named, Elbert Dickason, who was then County Surveyor, with the help of some of the colonists, had made the survey complete, and on the day named the Independence of the United States was celebrated by the drawing for lots and lands. This accomplished, several of the colonists set out on their return to their homes to bring out their families, while others immediately began the erection of dwellings, so that before the cold weather, several new houses were to be found here. The new houses were all of a better character than the log cabins of the pioneers, being mostly heavy frame buildings ; and the township in a short time took on a greatly improved appearance. The next year several more new houses went up, and all of the indications were favorable for a thriving town and settlement. The hard times, however, which usually follow a period of speculation came on that year, and not only did it put a stop to this scheme, but to all others of a similar charac- ter throughout the West, and, from 1837 till 1850, progress in this particular locality was very slow. Occasionally a new settler made his appearance, but in the dozen years but little perceptible change, either in population or improvements could be observed. Much of the land entered in the name of Horatio Petitt has since been many times transferred, though a few of the farms still remain in possession of the original colonists who still reside in the township. SCHOOLS. According to promise, the company erected, a couple of years after the establishing of the colony, a schoolhouse in the village. This was a frame building and was used as HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 605 schoolhouse and church for many years. It is still standing and is still used for school purposes. The same year, S. P. Cox donated a piece of land from his farm, and a school- ' house was erected there. In this latter mentioned house, the first public school was taught that year, Cordelia Shope being credited with being the pioneer teacher. The causes which checked immigration brought progress to a stand-still for the next twenty years, of course had their effect on all other enterprises, including the building of schoolhouses, and for twenty years only two more were added to the number erected the first year. The years 1854 and 1855 brought events which have been the direct causes of the rapid development of the school system of this sec- tion. Our readers need not be reminded that in the year 1855 was established the sys- tem of free schools which now prevails in this State, and which is the boast and pride of all of its intelligent citizens. The best school system, however, would be of little use in the best and richest country, if there were none to be educated. During the twenty years following the establishing of the colony, but few additions had been made to the population of the township, and the few educational advantages seemed to be about all that could be afforded or that were desired. About this time, however, the railroads were completed through this county — the Illinois Central immediately through the towoship ; the Chicago & Alton within a mile of the southeast corner, and the Toledo & Peoria a few miles north of the north line — not only " brought a new lease of life " to this part of the county, but infused the life-giving principle into every department of industry, society, religion, politics and education. They brought with them, not only the facili- ties for improving all these, but the people themselves, and that of a most desirable class, and from this very date may be calculated the real prosperity of the township. Very soon additional educational advantages were in demand, and the school law opportunely gave them the authority to put such enterprises in operation. The citizens of this township have always taken a lively interest in any means for educating the youth, and, as a consequence, we find facilities not surpassed by any township of equal population in the county. A few figures from the report of the County Superintendent of Schools will give the reader a better idea of the condition of schools, than any other means at our command : Number of schools, 9 ; number of persons under twenty-one and over six, 495 ; number of scholars enrolled, 415; total value of school property, $4,000; highest wages paid teachers, per month, $50 ; whole amount paid for teaching, $2,540.92 ; whole amount expended for school purposes, $3,467.75. An encouraging feature in the above report is that 84 per cent of all persons between six and twenty-one years of age, were last year in attendance at school. Taking out those over eighteen, it would probably dis- close the fact that not more than two or three per cent of those between six and eighteen received no schooling within the year specified. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. The first preaching done in the township was by John Dunham, the United Brethren Missionary. He preached at various places in the grove. When the society of United Brethren was formed on Money Creek, those of that faith, in this neighbor- hood, united with it and attended meetings at the regular place of preaching on Money Creek. As a result, there was no society formed in Hudson Township, at a very early date, as most of the early settlers were United Brethren. 606 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The first to organize a society were Methodists. The first Methodist preacher that ever held services was, probably, Rev. Mr. Latta, of Bloomington. David Trimmer was the leading spirit in Methodist affairs. The society increased, and built a church just west of the village of Hudson. This was a small church, but served as a place of meet- ing until the building of the present house of worship in the village. In early times, sectarian feeling did not run so high as it has sometimes since. Latta used to preach occasionally at Jesse Havens'. Mr. Mitchell, of Stout's Grove, also preached here early. He was a Presbyterian, but we learn of no Presbyterian society in these parts. Around Hudson, and to the north, there is quite a strong society of German Bap- tists or Tunkers, or, as they call themselves, Brethren. The first persons of the Breth- ren's faith, to settle in the township, were John Y. Snavely and wife. They came from Indiana, and settled three-fourths of a mile northwest of the village of Hudson, in the east edge of Havens' Grove. Mr. Snavely and wife still reside on the same place. When they first moved here, they were not members of any church. Mr. Snavely had been reared in the Mennonite faith, but on becoming interested in the subject of religion, they visited Indiana, and were there received into the Church of the Brethren. On reaching home again, they gave their credentials to the church already organized in Woodford County. A brother of J. Y. Snavely came next. He and his wife joined the church in Woodford County. There was also a sister, Elizabeth, who belonged to the same fraternity. These five, John Y. and Moses Y. Snavely and wives, and the sister Elizabeth, were the only persons of the faith in the community for a long time. They held their membership in the Woodford County church, where they attended meeting. In 1865, two more were added to their number — Abram Blough and wife, from Pennsylvania. In 1866, Thomas D. Lyon and wife and three daughters added their influence to the small society just starting. Soon after Mr. Lyon and family came, they organized a society. The organization was effected in 1868, under the supervision of James R. Gish, of Woodford County. At this time, Thomas D. Lyon was ordained Elder, and John Y. Snavely was elected Deacon. Mr. Lyon has had charge of the society ever since. He was born in Hardy County, W. Va., March 3, 1821. His father was Michael Lyon, and his mother's name, before her marriage, was Louisa Stingley. Her father was a native of Germany. Michael Lyon is of Irish extraction. He is still alive, living with his son at the village of Hudson. Thomas D. Lyon lived in Hardy County until 1864. October 26, 1843, he married Mary Clark, of the same county. Her ancestors were like her husband's, her father being of Irish descent, and her mother a German. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have been members of the Brethren's Church from their youth. They have had nine children, eight of whom are still living. Five daughters are married, and all' live within a radius of two miles from their father's home, in Hudson Village. Three of these daughters married brothers — sons of John Y. Snavely. The three boys are younger, and not married. Mr. Lyon has presided over the church interests of his flock with eminent ability and success. For fifteen years, he has been able to observe a steady growth. He has had the satisfaction of seeing his charge increase from a dozen to more than three-score. With no meeting-house at first, they held services in the various schoolhouses in the neighborhood. Now they have a comfortable church, the only difficulty being a lack of room to accommodate their grow- ing congregations. The church was built in 1875. It is two miles north of the village of Hudson. It is a comfortable house, 32x48 feet. It has a basement, and is heated HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 607 by a furnace. The building is characteristic of the people, being plain, but substantial. It has no cupola, and has a side entrance. The cost of the building was $2,000. It proves too small for the purpose. It might do if it were not for the semi-annual com- munion, which the Brethren from all parts make it a point to attend. On these occa- sions, large numbers are unable to gain admittance. Previous to the building of the church, the communions were held for some years in a large shed, erected at the resi- dence of John Y. Snavely. The officers of the church, at present, are: Minister, Thomas D. Lyon; Elder3, John Y. Snavely, Henry Forney, John L. Snavely ; Deacons, Abram Blough, Samuel Stutzman, Moses Y. Snavely, John Forney, William Blough; Clerk, Francis M. Snavely. WARS AND POLITICS. Hudson had no men in the Black Hawk war. There were but few in the town- ship, and these were too old or too young. As a reminiscence of the Black Hawk war, we clip the following from the Bloomington Pantagraph : ;t The first man buried in Hudson Township was Mr. Solomon Lewis, a veteran of the Black Hawk war. Lewis was a soldier in Capt. Brown's command in the regular army, stationed near Danville. When the Black Hawk war broke out, in the spring of 1832, the company were ordered to report at Fort Willburn, a military post near where the city of Peru now stands. On the march thither, Capt. Brown camped at Havens' Grove, where Lewis took sick, and was left at Havens' House, where he died and was buried. When the war was over, Capt. Brown, on learning of the untimely end of his brave soldier, detailed a Sergeant and twelve men to pay the last honors of war over their comrade's new-made grave. The Pantagraph is under obligations to Mr. George P. Ela for the foregoing facts." We did not learn of any who went from this township to the Mexican war, but, during the u late unpleasantness," Hudson furnished her full quota. Not only did she furnish men to go to the front ; she left her sons on the field of battle. A strange mor- tality was visited upon the Hudson troops. We were told that about thirty persons from this township went out never to return. We were sorry that we could not ascer- tain the names of all the brave men who fell on Southern fields and died in Northern hospitals. William H. Chadbourne died from the effects of disease ; Wellington R. Sanders was shot at Vicksburg, Miss. ; William Jones died of disease ; Erwin Clark was shot at the battle of Corinth ; Shepherd Richardson was also shot and killed ; James Richardson died from the effects of disease ; Alfred Burtis and his brother, James Burtis, both died at Camp Butler before reaching the scene of action ; Michael Bare, Francis M. Gastman and Walter Stuckey all died in the service ; in like manner, Robert Huston, Jacob Guyer and Jacob Reynolds were sacrificed in the Union cause. These were all citizens of Hudson and were from the prominent elements of her society. Besides these, there were a number of young men working for the farmers in the country, who volunteered, and died in the South, but whose names are now forgotten. They rest in their soldiers' graves, bereft of personal honors, but forming an essential element of the nation's glory. In political matters, Hudson is Democratic. When national or State questions come up, and discussions run high, and political feeling is thoroughly aroused, they turn out a good vote here, the Democrats generally carrying the day by a good majority. 608 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. In township elections there is not much party strife, one ticket generally being all that there is in the field. RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS. The Illinois Central Railroad, which was completed through the township in 1854, is the only one crossing its territory. This road did much to settle up the prairies, and although it has often tried to trample on the interests of the community by exorbi- tant freights, it has always relented when the people began to haul to and from other roads. There is a considerable amount of grain and stock shipped by it, and the people would realize much difficulty if it were cut off. At the time of building, there was a great rush to get the road completed within the specified time. Everybody that could be had was employed for a time on the portion of the road in the immediate vicinity of Mackinaw Creek. A large force was kept constantly employed night and day. Provisions and feed sold high. The farmers made money then, but it did not last long. Most of the section lines are public thoroughfares. Diagonal roads are not numer- ous. One of the most important roads is one leading from the village of Hudson to Normal and Bloomington. It follows the section line between Sections 33 and 34, and then turns toward the railroad track. Another road that does not follow section lines altogether may be found passing on the line between Sections 32 and 33. North of this, it follows the east edge of Havens' Grove, but finally finds its way back to the sec- tion line. There is another diagonal, zigzag road through the north tier of sections. It comes in from Money Creek Township, and crosses the Mackinaw near the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad. The roads are kept in good repair, so far as we were able to learn. The oblique roads described, with those following section lines, furnish all the necessary out- lets for farmers and others wishing to cross the country. There are several small streams bridged by wooden bridges, but we found none made of iron. ORGANIZATION. There was a voting precinct at Hudson for a long time. The voters from White Oak used to come over to vote here; but in the adoption of the township system, Hud- son included only one Congressional town. When the first election thereafter was held, April 6, 1858, it resulted in the election of the following township officers : James H. Cox, Supervisor ; Henry Conkling, Town Clerk ; Alfred S. Weeks, Collector ; Warren Coman, Assessor; John W. Hatfield, Overseer of the Poor; Jacob H. Burtis, Jr., Stephen Arthur, Benjamin Wheeler, Commissioners of Highways ; Hiram Havens and James Nighbarger, Justices of the Peace ; Isaac Messer and Enoch A. Gastman, Con- stables. It will be seen that many of the earliest settlers were represented in this list of officers, and by comparison, that some of the same elected twenty-one years ago, are officers yet. The present list of public servants is as follows: Alfred S. Weeks, Super- visor ; Thomas Lewis, Town Clerk ; Edgar Sager, Collector ; John Ferguson, Assessor ; George W. Gastman, Daniel Gonder, Jesse Piatt, Commissioners of Highways ; George W. Gastman and Dr. James Johnson, Justices of the Peace; Frank Evans, Constable. HUDSON. The village of Hudson is located on the Illinois Central Railroad, six miles north of Normal. It is pleasantly situated, being near the eastern edge of Havens' Grove, in the prairie. In the immediate vicinity of the town, the land is rather level, but the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 609 surrounding country is good. Portions of the village are very pretty. The surface is rolling, in many places, and. when covered with the green grass of spring, it is not inferior in beauty to many parts of more pretentious cities. Hudson originated with the formation of the colony which settled the prairie east of Havens' Grove. Consequently, it is one of the oldest villages in McLean County. Bloomington was quite a small place when Hudson took its rise. The comparison is not now much to the benefit of the latter ; but when the amount of labor and energy that has been bestowed on the former is taken into consideration, we are not surprised. But Hudson does quite a local trade. The crossings of the railroads at other points have left it at the mercy of the single road sometimes ; but this has been overcome by the energy of its merchants, who do not propose to be imposed upon. Salt was, at one time since the building of the Illinois Central Railroad, hauled from Bloomington ; but is not necessary now. Hudson has two churches, which are quite creditable to so small a place as it is — a Baptist and a Methodist Church. The Methodist Church is the descendant of the one whose church-edifice stood, for a long time, down by the grave-yard, west of town. When that building became too small for the accommodation of the membership and usual congregations, the more commodious one in town was erected. This occurred in 1856, when a house 40x56 feet was erected. The present membership is not so large as it has been heretofore, although there are quite a list of names still on the books. The present Pastor is the Rev. T. R. McNair, who has had charge of the Methodist Church at Towanda and White Oak, also. The Baptist Church in Hudson, although not as early organized as the Methodist, is in quite a prosperous condition, and bids fair to hold its own. In the first organiza- tion, there were only thirteen members. Prominent among these may be mentioned J. H. Cox and wife, Samuel P. Cox and wife, Andrew Armstrong and wife, James Ambrose and wife and John Graves and wife. The first meetings were held in the schoolhouse. These services were conducted by Benjamin Thomas and A. S. Denison. These two men united their efforts in a protracted meeting. This was in 1855. , A. S. Denison organized the first church, and served as its Pastor the first two years. After him, James Cairns took charge. He remained a long time. It was during his pastorate that the church was built. This church-edifice is a handsome frame building, 36x40 feet. It was erected in 1859 and 1860. The cost of construction was $2,000. The present membership is about eighty. As illustrating the hold which the Pastor, Mr. Cairns, had upon his people, it is stated that, when he left Hudson for Fairbury, sixteen of the members moved with him and went to the same place. The present Pastor is the Rev. S. G. Miner. The ministers in charge since the first organization, and their order, have been as follows : A. S. Denison, James Cairns, Rev. Mr. Sturgeon, John Sawyer, E. J. Thomas, S. G. Miner. The business interests of Hudson are looked after by several firms. Cox & Aldrich run a large general store on the corner near the depot. They also carry on a drug store and lumber-yard. They own one of the elevators, and operate the other. They deal exten- sively in grain of all kinds, their principal shipments being of corn and oats. Some rye is also handled. Carlock & Brothers keep a general store. A. Bistorious is a dealer in groceries. Adam Schoberlein adds boots and shoes to a line of groceries. H. Hasen- winkle owns the mill. It has three runs of buhrs, and does a very fair business. There "* 610 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. are three blacksmith-shops. Thomas Calem operates one, William Lupton another, and r* , William Plurshey the third. He also keeps a carriage and repair shop and a wagon- shop. John Jewell runs another wagon-shop. MOSAIC LODGE, NO. 628, A., F. & A. M. This Lodge was chartered by the Grand Lodge at its annual session, held in October, 1869, by Harmon G. Reynolds, then Grand Master of the State of Illinois. The name selected by the brethren, though a very appropriate one, as applying to individuals, can scarcely be considered so when applied to this Lodge. The name Mosaic, as originally applied to the pavement of King Solomon's temple, signified that " human life was checkered with good and evil," and, while this Lodge has had some ups and downs, it is k 1 peculiarly noteworthy that the organization has pursued the even tenor of its way, ^ seeking notoriety neither by great display or a noticeable lack of good works. .In regard to membership, it has " held its own" since its organization, seeking to build into 1 its temple only such timber as the Master Architect would approve. And so we find ' that, in 1879, it numbers about thirty members. The first Master was George W. i \t Jewell. The present officers are : Daniel Gonder, W. M. ; D. H. French, S. W. ; M. ^F, -Moats, J. W. ; George Stoll, Treasurer; R. H. Dement, Secretary; F. R. Johnston, •lyt* S. D. ; John Jewell, J. D., and J. A. Miller, Tiler. With but few changes, the above •^ j ■ - brethren have held the offices for nearly the whole decade of the Lodge's existence. The night of meeting on the " checkered floor," is on the Friday on or before the 5 ^ full moon of each month. Hudson takes pride in her schools. The building is the same one erected by the colony at the first organization of the village. Although it is thus somewhat antiquated, it affords comfortable apartments for the aspiring young people of the village. There \q^ 4^-are two teachers employed. Hudson, like the other small towns of McLean, reaps a large benefit from the State Normal University, at Normal. Graduates from this insti- tution teach Hudson's schools, and yet the village is smaller than the aspiring young alumni of that institution usually prefer to select as the scene of their pedagogical feats. Miss Nettie Cox, a graduate of the Class of 1877, is now teaching here. She is the daughter of the merchant whose business proclivities are the life of Hudson. DALE TOWNSHIP. Dale Township is in the western part of McLean County. It is one of those town- ships which cuts off bits from several of the early settlements. It has no grove of importance lying entirely within its boundaries, although there is considerable timber in little patches, the largest entire grove being Hougham's, or Harley's. Dale includes one Congressional town, designated Town 23 north, Range 1 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded on the north by Dry Grove Township, on the east by Bloomington, on the south by Funk's Grove, and on the west by Allin Township. On the north side, it cuts into Twin Grove, taking off a strip of timber about one and one-fourth miles long, and one-half mile wide. On the east side there is some timber, and in the southern part is Hougham's or Harley's Grove. Across the northwest corner, Big Slough and another little stream pass. Brooks' Branch of Sugar Creek rises near Covell. The largest stream through the township is the branch HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 611 of Sugar Creek which comes from Bloomington, and cuts off quite a large triangle from the southeast corner of the township. Dale is well watered. It lies in a kind of valley or swag in the prairie. The north side is higher, and so is the southeastern corner, occupied by Shirley and vicinity. The valley extends in a southwesterly and north- easterly direction. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, main line, crosses the southeast corner of the township, coming in from the northeast, near the northeast corner of Section 25, through the corner of Section 36, and then through Section 35. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad crosses the northeast corner of the township, passing in a northwesterly direction through Section 1, and cutting off a small corner from Section 2. The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad enters the east side at the middle of the east side of Section 12. It passes southwest, through Section 13, and then turns almost directly west, and so continues through the township. It will thus be seen that Dale is well crossed by railroads. The L, B. & W. cannot be said to be of much advantage, but the two branches of the C, A. & St. Louis Railroad furnish two shipping points within its limits — Covell and Shirley. The soil is black, deep and fertile. There are some portions which it is necessary to drain. Occasionally, a natural pond may be seen, and considerable of the land is flat. But there is an immense amount of corn, oats and potatoes raised. At the small station of Covell alone, we noticed 35,000 to 40,000 bushels of corn in the crib. Cattle are raised, and hogs abound. The facilities for shipping are excellent, and many things conspire to make the farming community comfortable and independent. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. The early history of Dale is closely allied to the history of other townships, par- ticularly to that of Dry Grove Township. Twin Grove was first settled, so far as can now be ascertained, by Stephen Webb and William McCord. William McCord, Stephen Webb, George and Jacob Hinshaw left Tennessee in June, 1827. They came west and north until they reached the Ohio River, having no trouble and a pleasant journey. From the Ohio, they experienced difiiculty and trial on every hand. The swollen streams often caused them much delay. On these occasions they would be com- pelled to ferry their goods across in canoes, and swim their horses and cattle. When, at last, they reached Cheney's Grove, George Hinshaw said he would go no farther. The others came on and settled at Twin Grove. William McCord remained until the spring of 1831, when he left for Woodford County. He there settled in Panther Grove, being the fourth family in that settlement. The cabin that he built is said to be still standing. Stephen Webb still lives at Twin Grove, but not on the original farm. The descendants of Hinshaw may be found in the same neighborhood. At about the same time that the Hinshaw-McCord company came West, Elander Hurst and Matthew Harbert came to Twin Grove from Sangamon County, this State. Harbert was the first to own the Daniel Munsell place, but this was in Dry Grove Township. Elander Hurst settled on the southeast side of the Grove, in Dale. Just west of Mr. Hurst was a Mr. Ellis, who came to the Grove very early, but the particulars of whose life we failed to learn. He afterward moved north, to the Galena lead-mines. 612 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. In 1830, then, we find in Dale Township the following families, along the south side of Twin Grove: Beginning at the southeast corner, we find Mr. Hurst; going west, we come to Mr. Ellis first, then the residence of William McCord, and just west of this, the old farm first occupied by Stephen Webb, but at this time occupied by Benjamin Hinshaw. Here was a line of four residences. They were the only ones in the township with the exception of Robert H. Johnson's family, at Hougham's Grove. These on the north were not without their neighbors, for a number of families were on the north side of the Grove. At the date last mentioned, a company of emigrants from Butler County, Ohio, arrived at Twin Grove. They reached their destination October 9, 1830. The com- pany was composed of the following gentlemen and their families : Samuel Beeler, William Beeler, Francis Rockhold, George Beeler and Isaac Ryneerson. They all set- tled in a row, on the south side of Twin Grove. The company had sent out before and bought the land, and came this year to occupy it. They all lived and died here with the exception of Francis Rockhold, who still lives in Missouri. Their descendants are among the most prominent citizens of these parts, and are familiar to all who are acquainted with the history of the neighborhood. In the same company was a young man of the name of Jesse Hill. He was a Kentuckian by birth, but moved to Indiana at the age of nine. He was here in Mad- ison County when the company of emigrants came along. He was of an adventurous spirit and engaged with them. They were to give him money enough to return when he had gone as far as he wished. Mr. Hill married the daughter of Col. Beeler, and remained in Illinois. He worked in the neighborhood at various places, spending most of his time for awhile at well-digging. He soon entered a piece of land, built his cabin and took his Nancy home with him. Mr. Hill still lives on the south side of the grove, at a lovely place where he is sheltered from the northern gale in winter, and yet enjoys all the comforts of the southern breezes in summer. He has several children in this country, and some boys in the West learning what pioneer life means. The first to venture out into the edge of the prairie, were Isaac Barker and Dea- con Tompkins. They came from Ohio and went into the prairie on the southeast of the grove. Oliver Pease soon moved to the township, from Dry Grove. Others began to come in rapidly. The settlement was soon large and all the paraphernalia of an old settled country began to appear. So far we have dealt with the single settlement at Twin Grove. This is not the only one, but it was the most important at first. We have not mentioned all those who came in to Twin Grove, but we have endeavored to give a fair idea of the manner of the first settlement. The details of early neighborhood history, at this late date, are meager and hard to obtain. The first settler at Harley's Grove, or what was formerly called Hougham's Grove, was Robert H. Johnson. He was a Virginian by birth, but at a very early age he removed with his parents to Jackson County, Tenn. Here he remained for a number of years, when he again moved, this time to Overton County, in the same State. In 1814, he married a Miss Potter. He started to Illinois in 1828. He first stopped at Blooming Grove. Here he met a warm reception. The old-time sympathy manifested itself in the liveliest manner. George Hinshaw had built a cabin for the family at what is now called Harley's Grove. This cabin had no shutter to the door, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 613 so that Funk's hogs that had been in the woods eating the mast, found it a comfortable sty. When Johnson took possession, they were unconscious of the number of animals that would dispute their right before morning. It is reported that a large drove of hogs made their appearance after the family had retired for the night, and demanded admittance. The wary dog disputed with them the narrow pass afforded by the door- way. The pioneer, aroused from his slumbers, managed to apply the fire-wood in such a judicious way upon the poor creatures' noses as to cause them to beat a retreat. In the mean time the wife, who was always on the alert, cast the fiery darts of a righteous one out at the opening, where a chimney should have been, and made it impossible for the enemy to enter by that route. On the next day, the Funks appeared on the scene and things were adjusted in a more amicable way. The Johnson family lived here, the only inhabitants of the Grove, for some time. They had plenty of game at hand, and had many an adventure with the deer and wolf. Mr. Johnson had not entered the land, so that some years after his first settlement, a man of the name of Hougham entered it and bought Mr. Johnson's improvements. Hougham owned a large portion of land in that vicinity and was for a long time the only person there. Johnson went north to Twin Grove, and met his death by accident, in 1837. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. The first sermon preached in Dale Township is not now remembered. The Rev. Mr. Latta, of Bloomington, often preached on special occasions at such places as seemed to demand religious services. Mr. Jesse Hill remarks that the first regular preaching in the township was held at his house. It occurred on this wise: Mr. Hill was digging a well at the prospective residence of Mr. Elias York, on the east side of Twin Grove, in Dry Grove Township, when Rev. Mr. Royal came along. Said he, " Dou you ever have any preaching in here?" "Yes," replied Mr. Hill, "a funeral sermon occasionally." " Do you wish any regular preaching?" continued Rev. Royal. " Now, sir," said Mr. Hill, " if you will occupy my cabin, down there, you are welcome to it." The minister accepted the proffered cabin and left word in the neighborhood that he would be there in one week from that day, which brought the sermon on Thurs- day. >At the hour appointed, he was promptly on hand. Services were held in the little cabin, whose unchinked walls presented a hole-y appearance and whose simple benches and unpretending stools furnished the only means of sitting. There were several persons present, and, at the close of services, a class was formed. When Mr. York finished his residence, the place of preaching was changed to his house. This formed the Methodist Church in the south of Dry Grove Township. The class was always kept up after the first meeting, but the place of meeting has been all the time in that township, until the removal of the church to the Cemetery in 1877-78. If the reader will refer to that township, he will there find a more complete history. There was an early organization of the Christian Church at Twin Grove, but it was across the line north. Many of the members of that Church lived in Dale Town- ship, but the first organization of a church inside of what is now Dale, did not occur until 1859. At what is known as the California Schoolhouse, something more than a mile north of Shirley, this first society was organized December 4, 1859. It was organized by the advice and consent of the Grassy Ridge Church in Bloomington Township. There were thirteen original members. Jonathan Park was the minister ; 614 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. he continued so to act until the society was moved to Shirley. The following are the names of the first list of members, who became such December 4, 1859 : Jonathan Park, Barthana Park, Sidney Park, Alevilda J. Park, John J. Denham, Minerva E. Denham, Andrew J. Denham, Mary W. Denham, Elzira F. Quinn, Hannah Smith, Mary Jane Lane, Hardin Boulware, Florinda F. Boulware. The meetings were held in the schoolhouse ten years. Jonathan Park was their preacher. He was the pioneer settler of that part of the prairie. Of course, when he came to McLean County, nearly thirty years ago, it was then looked upon as being an old settled community, but notwithstanding all that, he tells us that when he stopped where he now is, there was not a farm between him and Brown's Grove. In the southeast corner of Dale Township, there lived, until quite recently, a trio of ladies noted for their old age. These were Ann McNitt, Mary Boulware and Eliza- beth Quinn. The latter is still living. Ann McNitt was born December 29, 1786, and died May 15, 1878. It will thus be seen that she was in her ninety-second year at the time of her death. She came to Illinois about 1852. At that time, her husband was still living. Recently, she has lived with an adopted son, Mr. James G. McClelland, about three-fourths of a mile west of Shirley. Mrs. McNitt came originally from Pennsylvania. There she was born before the Constitution of the United States had ever been framed. At the time of the war with England, she was twenty-six years old. Before Robert Fulton first tried his boat on the Hudson, she had reached womanhood ; and when the first cars began their puifing on the American continent, she was growing old. And yet this hale old lady has lingered on the shores of time, enjoying good health, almost to the present time. Mary Boulware, or Aunt Polly Boulware, as she was familiarly known, lived to be even older than her associate just cited. She was born May 12, 1786, and died February 16, 1879. It will be seen from this that she was almost ninety-three years old. Her early life was spent in Madison County, Ky. There she claimed the attention of this world before the Northwest Territory had been organized. She came to Illinois in 1853. Her husband was living at that time. He died in 1864, in the the seventy-fifth year of his age. He was some three years younger than his wife; After the death of her husband, she lived, most of the time, with her son, James F. Boulware, who lives one and one-fourth mile west of Shirley. Mrs. Boulware con- tinued in good health until the last sickness. She had a few seasons of sickness, but, as a rule, she and Mrs. McNitt retained much of their early vigor. The third and youngest of the trio is Elizabeth Quinn. She is ten years younger than those who have lately passed away, and might have been looked upon by them, at one time, as quite youthful. And yet, to the vast multitude of mankind, she is an old person indeed. She was born April 23, 1796, almost four years before the death of Wash- ington, and long before a Napoleon shook the world with his wonderful campaigns. Kentucky had not been long a State, and Tennessee was admitted to the Union in the same year. EDUCATIONAL. The early educational intelligence in regard to Dale Township is meager in the extreme. The early settlement which has been spoken of at Twin Grove had its school, but it was across in Dry Grove Township. Jesse Hill relates the difficulties often met in getting up a school. On one occasion, he signed for a scholar himself, and afterward HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 615 gave his right to a neighbor who had children to send, and received in return two baskets. Thus trade was carried on, and the children educated. The first school taught within the township did not occur until so comparatively recently that its time and place are not of much importance. The present condition of the schools is good, so far as we were able to learn. The following will illustrate the growth of the public-school system in the township : Num- ber of persons under twenty-one years, 568 ; number of persons between six and twenty- one years, 364 ; number of scholars enrolled, 278 ; schoolhouses, 7 ; amount paid teachers, $2,218.64 ; total expenditures, $4,107.61 ; estimated value of school prop- erty, $7,350 ; highest wages paid per month, $50. WAR RECORD AND POLITICS. We were unable to learn of any in the Black Hawk war, except William Lash and James Phillips. Mr. Lash was a noted fighter. He was also in the Mexican war. He would never take any insinuations in regard to the demeanor of the troops among which he was serving. It is related, that at one time in Bloomington, a man insinuated that the Mexican soldiers did much else than fight. He had directed his remark to Mr. Lash; but had not more than finished his remark until a heavy rejoinder from the soldier's fist landed the man in a place of quiet, from which he scrambled up and left the company without bidding them a last adieu. Mr. Lash was the only man in the Mexican war from Dale, so far as we were able to ascertain. In the war of the rebellion, there was the proportion from Dale that was required from all. Many brave soldiers who fought in the Union cause, looked back to their homes in Dale. They seem to have been fortunate, most of them, for the list of the unre- turning is not so long as that furnished by many townships in our fair State. We did not hear of a single person shot in the field; but there were some who suffered that worse fate, death in the hospital. Wallace Kinkaid died of the small-pox, and Thomas Stanton died of the measles. Charles Morgan, William Harvey and Edward Harvey also died in the service of the United States. If there were others, we failed to find their record. The full details of these horrible wars can never be learned on earth. If, in the hereafter, there shall be a reckoning of the affairs of this world, may the unknown braves who sleep in deep oblivion, with their deeds unsung and their names unkuown, receive a just recompense of reward. In political matters, Dale Township stands very close. For some time, the majori- ties have not been large. It cannot well be said to be Republican or Democrat. RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, main line, was built through the south- east corner of the township, in 1854. Shirley was made a station, and the township had means of shipping from that early date. But thirteen years after this, the Jack- sonville Division of the same road passed almost directly through the township from east to west. Covell was made a station immediately, and, being near the center of the township, offered better means for shipping grain, cattle, hogs, etc. The public highways are numerous enough to answer all the purposes of the farm- ing community. The roads do not cleave to the section lines with the tenacity often noticed in prairie townships, although quite a number of section lines are authorized 616 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. highways. There is a highway that follows the track of the C, A. & St. L. through the southeast corner. Tt leads from Bloomington southwest. On the second section line from the south, there is a public road which comes in from Stanford, on the west. On the east side of the township, it turns north, then east, and then northeast through the woods to Bloomington. It is the Stanford road to Bloomington. On the north side, there is a well-traveled, important road, leading from the south side of Twin Grove to Bloomington. It cuts through the center of the north tier of sections. It was on this line that the first settlements in the township were made. Then there is a road from Shirley west. There are quite a number of small streams that are crossed by these roads. At these places, bridges are generally found, but none of iron. In some places, it is difficult to make a good road, on account of the difficulty of draining, but most of them are in good repair. ORGANIZATION OP DALE TOWNSHIP. When McLean County adopted the township system, Dale was organized with the present name, and held its first election for township officers April 6, 1858. The result, as recorded in the County Clerk's office, was as follows : Richard Rowell, Supervisor ; Oliver J. Fish, Town Clerk; John D. Lander, Assessor; Edward Wilson, Collector; Jacob Johnston, Overseer of Poor ; Daniel Kent, Henry Merriman, Isaac Mitchell, Commissioners of Highways ; John Mitchell, Alfred Fowler, Constables ; James M. Ward, E. Moberly, Justices of the Peace ; A. D. Benjamin, Overseer of Highways. The officers of the township at present are as follows : A. J. Wilson, Supervisor; Jacob Brigham, Town Clerk ; Edward Wilson, Assessor ; A. R. Freed, Collector ; Vassal W. Tompkins, James W. Quinn, Aaron J. Moore, Commissioners of Highways ; Charles Dunk and C. M. Reed, Justices of the Peace, and William A. Campbell, Con- Stable - SHIRLEY. This little village is situated on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, six miles southwest of Bloomington. It is located in the prairie. To the west is Harley's Grove ; on the south, some distance, is Funk's Grove, and northeast is Blooming Grove. The spot on which it is located is higher than much of the surrounding country, partic- ularly that to the north and west. When viewed from these directions, Shirley seems high and dry. The surrounding country is fertile and the farming community seem in easy circumstances, but the little village of Shirley does not grow very rapidly. It is too near to Bloomington, no doubt, so that most of the farmers go up to the city to do their trading. There was a switch put down at Shirley when the railroad was first built, but the village was not surveyed till a much later date. In the summer of 1859, the west half of Section 36 and the east half of Section 35 were laid off into lots, irrespective of half-section lines. This was done by George P. Ela, who was then Deputy Surveyor for McLean County. Ela's certificate is dated July 8, 1859. The plat of the village, filed in the Recorder's office, bears the certificate of George P. Ela, County Surveyor, and is dated September 14, 1866. The village was laid out and surveyed for John Foster. This survey included 2 T 6 5 ° 1J - acres in Lot No. 2, and 23 acres in Lot No. 7 of Section 35, east half. But there were some improvements long before this. The first residence was built by Emly Moberly. It is still standing, but Mr. Moberly now lives in Bloomington. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 617 The second dwelling was erected by Hiram Quinn. The first house that was used for storehouse is now occupied by the Methodists and Presbyterians as a place of worship. It is called the Union Church. The Funks and the Quinns were the most important element in the early history of Shirley. They are still interested here. Beside the Union Church, mentioned as being the first storehouse, there is another, erected by the Christians. The Union Church has no regular services at present. The two societies — Methodists and Presbyterians — united their strength and fixed this build- ing up so that it affords tolerably comfortable apartments, but the societies are not strong. The Christian Church was first begun by Rev. Alexander Hutchinson, who held meetings in the schoolhouse at Shirley in the fall of 1868. There was quite a revival inaugurated, so that they began to build, and finished their church in 1869. At this time, the society of Christians, formed at the California Schoolhouse ten years previously, were transferred to the village and united with those just beginning. The church is 36x56 feet, and cost $2,8.00. At present, there is no regular Pastor. Jonathan Park still lives just north of the village, but does not now preach. The society has a good membership for a country church, and a pleasant house of worship. We did not learn the particulars of the first school, nor the name of the first teacher. The school-building now standing was erected in 1869. It is a large, two- story frame. It has a large room and two recitation-rooms on the first floor, with a large hall up-stairs. The good people of Shirley must have calculated on a more rapid growth than time has furnished, so far. Only one teacher is employed now, and ten years have gone by since the house was built. There are quite large elevators in the village, owned by Funk & Douglas. There are two storehouses — one brick and one frame. The brick store is not operating now. It is owned by John Foster. The other store is owned by William B. Lane. Hiram W. Quinn and Benjamin F. Quinn have the house rented and keep a general country store. The post office is kept in the station-house, by J. L. Douglas, who is also the agent for the railroad. A blacksmith-shop is run by R. M. Browning. Charles Dunk runs a carpenter- shop and metes out justice to the community. Foster's brick residence, on the east side of the railroad, is the most prominent dwelling in the town, as the Fosters are the big men of the place. COVELL. A little cluster of residences on the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, near the center of Dale Township, is called Covell. The only buildings of a public character are a blacksmith-shop, a store, the elevators and a church. The station is situated in the level prairie that occupies so large a portion of the center of the township. Although the place consists of but few houses, yet it must be a lively place for shipping. If it ships other things in proportion to the amount of corn we saw cribbed up there, it certainly does a heavy business for a place of its size. We understand that there is now one-third as much corn here as there is in Bloomington. The elevators are owned by Linebarger & Brother, of Stanford. Covell was surveyed by G-eorge P. Ela, County Surveyor. Date of certificate of survey, October 15, 1867. This survey included 52-^g- acres from the northeast corner 618 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. of the northwest quarter of Section 21. The plat was filed, and town laid out by John L. Rowell. This was just at the time of the completion of the railroad through the township. The first residence here was built by Mrs. Campbell, in the fall of 1867. In the same fall, A. P. Hefner built a shop and lived in one part of it for awhile. His daughter was the first child born in the place. The first building of any kind was a warehouse. In this same fall of 1867, W. Gr. Witherow built a house and kept a grocery store. Piper & Soulty now own this building, but Mr. H. G. Bomgardner keeps a general country store in it. Mr. Bomgardner is also station agent. A. P. Hefner still runs a blacksmith-shop. There is no schoolhouse in the village. The district is large, and a number of the patrons live to one side, so that the schoolhouse is some distance to the southwest. There is a very pretty country church at Covell. It was built in the summer of 1867, by the united efforts of the Methodists, Baptists and Old School Presbyterians. Each was to have the church one-third of the time. Prominent among the Methodists were William Rogers and Martin Newton. Their first minister was Elder Barger. Their present Pastor is Col. Johnson. Among the Presbyterians may be mentioned Robert and Crawford Campbell, David Hart and Dr. Mills, now of Normal. The Rev. Robert Criswell was their first minister. Thomas Cutting, John Freed and Mr. Ballard were Baptists. They had preaching occasionally, but no regular pastor. There has been one noted revival since the building of the church. This occurred under the labors of Revs. Criswell, Byerly and others. Criswell continued to preach for the Pres- byterians for some time. Byerly was a Methodist. The Rev. Mr. Evans now preaches for the Baptists. The building is 32x48 feet. It cost $2,500. FUNK'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. To write the history of this township without making the Funk family the central group would be like an attempt to present the play of " Hamlet with Hamlet left out." We are therefore sure our readers will not feel disappointed or displeased if this chapter partakes largely of the biographical with members of this family mentioned most prominently. Indeed, we are quite certain that those acquainted with the history of the town will fully appreciate the propriety of such a presentation and would criticise us justly were we to write otherwise. The Funk estate, at the death of Isaac Funk, who is the central ^figure of this group, covered about 20.000 acres, or nearly two- thirds of the township. For this reason, therefore, if for no other, should the name figure prominently in the history of this part of the county. But, as we shall presently see, the name extends as high as the lands do in length and breadth. Two years after the first settlement had been made in the county, this region had not yet been occupied by any white man. In the spring of 1824, Isaac Funk and his brother Absalom came to McLean County, and they, with William Brock, with whom they had resided for a short time in Sangamon County. Brock had been in McLean County (or. rather in what is now McLean, as the county had not then been formed), and by his representations of the fine country about Old Town Timber and Blooming Grove, a tour of inspection was taken, resulting in the selection of the grove ^5^^%^^-^ BLOOMINGTQN HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 621 now bearing the Funk name as their future home. On their arrival at the grove, the Funks declared that this location was all that could be desired, and, though by persua- sion of Brock they continued their survey of the country to Old Town, yet their first impressions of this grove were not changed, and even Brock was forced to acknowledge that he had either overestimated his former choice or that Funk's Grove was so much superior that part of the charm of the country further up the creek had been obscured. It was finally agreed to settle here, and arrangements were at once made to lay claim to large tracts of the lands lying in and about the grove. The Brocks erected a little log cabin at the south end of the grove and began keeping house in the pioneer style, and Absalom Funk, being then unmarried, boarded with them. The land in this part of the State was not then in the market, and settlers simply squatted on the lands which they designed afterward to purchase of the Government. Land was plenty then, and no one thought of disputing the slender title. Brock and the Funks claimed as much as they thought they could enter and then went to work to prepare for its entry when it should come into market. None of them had any means, but all had plenty of ambition and a good amount of well-developed muscle. The father of the Funks had been very wealthy, but, during the war of 1812, had loaned large amounts of money to different persons, and the hard times which always follow a war coming on, his debtors were driven to bankruptcy, and he was, in consequence, ruined. In the fall of the year named, Robert Stubblefield, a brother-in-law of Isaac and Absalom Funk, also from Ohio, came out and settled at the north end of the grove, and then the Funks went to live with them. The Stubblefields have been an influential family in this part of the county and second only to the Funks. The family is a large one and, without an excep- tion, they have been remarkably successful in their various callings. It may not be generally known that Adam Funk, the father of Isaac, Absalom and the other pioneers of that name, ever came to this country, as he died in 1832 ; and but few now reside in this part of the country who lived here at the time. Adam Funk was a native of Virginia, but had lived for a number of years in Fayette County, Ohio. In 1824, his wife having died, he removed, with his other two sons, to this place, and resided, until the marriage of his son Isaac, with his son-in-law, Robert Stubblefield. In 1826, Isaac Funk was married to Miss Cassandra Sharp, of Peoria, then called Fort Clark. From the very first, Isaac Funk was the acknowledged leader in politics and every public enterprise, and his reputation as a shrewd business man was not long confined to McLean County, or even the State. Though he met with some reverses and was obliged to undergo many hardships incident to a new country, his energy and pluck were always equal to every occasion. He believed in the old saying that, what is worth doing is worth doing well, and having fixed upon stock-raising as a business, he pursued it with the same spirit that, had his mind been turned specially to politics or religion, would have made him one of the foremost in either. Mr. Funk never left even the details of his business to hired help, but looked after the most trivial matters. His own eye saw that his stock was well cared for, and when they were to be marketed, always accompanied the herd to their destination. In the early times, it was essential that the strictest economy should be practiced by all, and whether this trait was natural with Mr. Funk, or whether he acquired it by the force of habit, he always practiced it. He was distinguished by his plain clothes after he had acquired a fortune. His outfit in this respect would not compare favorably with that of most young men T 622 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. who receive a salary less in amount than would have fed a dozen of Mr. Funk's steers. As a result of all of Mr. Funk's economy and industry, at the time of his death he was one of the wealthiest men and largest land-owners in Illinois. Until the organization of the Republican party, Mr. Funk was always a strong Whig, and as such was, in 1840, elected to the Legislature of the State from this dis- trict. The agitation resulting from the organization of the Republican party, brought out in Mr. Funk a latent power, of which few were aware that he possessed. In his career as a legislator, he showed no special marks of prominence. He was always accredited with performing the work assigned him with the same care with which he attended his cattle, but it was not dreamed that the plain, plodding farmer would yet make the walls of that same house ring with applause, and that hundreds in every State should acknowledge his strength of character, as well as his goodness of heart. He sympathized deeply with the downtrodden race, and when the war of the rebellion was inaugurated, his great and loyal heart was stirred to great deeds and words. In 1863, he was in the State Senate, when a bill was before that body having for its object the aid of the Sanitary Commission. There were in the Senate at the time several members who were opposed to the bill, and Mr. Funk had set his heart on its passage. The opposition, though not openly antagonizing the bill from avowed hostility to the real object of the appropriation, yet urged economy, and by various pleas and pretenses, well known to legislators, sought to deprive the measure of some of its most important features. Though Mr. Funk was an uneducated man, he was yet quick to detect the real grounds of the opposition, and this so worked upon his mind that, though he had never attempted a speech before, his natural eloquence burst forth, as it were, spontaneously in one of the most telling speeches of the session, a few extracts of which are here given. Mr. Funk said : Mr. Speaker : I can sit in my seat no longer and see such boys' play going on. These men are trifling with the best interests of the country. They should have asses' ears to set off their heads, or they are secessionists and traitors at heart. I say there are traitors and secession- ists at heart in this Senate. Their actions prove it. Their speeches prove it. Their gibes and laughter and cheers here nightly, when their speakers get up in this hall and denounce the war and the administration, prove it. I can sit here no longer and not tell these traitors what 1 think of them, and while so telling them I am responsible myself for what I say. I stand upon my own bottom. I am ready to meet any man upon this floor from a pin's point to the mouth of a cannon upon this charge against these traitors. I am an old man of sixty-five. I came to Illi- nois a poor boy. I have made a little something for myself and family. I pay $3,000 a year in taxes. I am willing to pay $6,000, aye $12,000; aye I am willing to pay my whole fortune, and then give my life to save my country from these traitors that are seeking to destroy it. Mr. Speaker, you must excuse me ; I could not sit longer in my seat and calmly listen to- these traitors. My heart, that feels for my poor country, would not let me. My heart, that cries out for the lives of our brave volunteers in the field, that these traitors at home are destroying by the thousand, would not let me. My heart, that bleeds for the widows and orphans at home, would not let me. Yes, these villains and traitors and secessionists in this Senate are killing my neighbors' boys, now fighting in the field. 1 dare to tell this to these traitors to their faces, and that I am responsible for what I say to one and all of them. Let them come on right here. I am sixty-five years old, and I have made up my mind to risk my life right here on this floor for my country. Mr. Speaker, these traitors on this floor should be provided with hempen collars. They deserve them. They deserve them. They deserve hanging, I say. The country would be bet- ter off to swing them up. I go for hanging them, and I dare to tell them so right here to their HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 623 traitors' faces. Traitors should be hung. It would be the salvation of the country to hang them. For that reason I would rejoice at it. Mr. Speaker, I beg pardon of the gentlemen in the Senate who are not traitors, but true, loyal men, for what I have said. I only intend it and mean it for secessionists at heart. They are here in this Senate. I see them joke and smirk and grin at the true Union man. But I defy them. I stand here ready for them, and dare them to come on. What man with the heart of a patriot could stand this treason any longer ? I have stood it long enough, and I will stand it no longer. 1 denounce these men and their aiders and abettors as rank traitors and secession- ists. Hell itself could not spew out a more traitorous crew than some of the men who disgrace this Legislature, this State and this country. For myself, I protest against and denounce their treasonable acts. I said I pay $3,000 a year taxes. I do not say it to brag of it ; it is my duty — yes, Mr. Speaker, my privilege to do it. But some of these traitors here, who are working night and day to get their miserable little bills and claims through the Legislature, to take money out of the pockets of the people, are talking about high taxes. They are hypocrites as well as traitors. I heard some of them talking about high taxes in this way who do not pay $5 to support the Government. 1 denounce them as hypocrites as well as traitors. The reason that they pretend to be afraid of high taxes is, that they do not want to vote money for the relief of the soldiers. They want, also, to embarrass the Government and stop the war. They want to aid the seces- sionists to conquer our boys in the field. They care for taxes? They are picayune men. They pay no taxes at all and never did and never hope to, unless they can manage to plunder the Gov- ernment. This is an excuse of traitors. The whole effect of the speech is impossible to describe. Frequently, his ponder- ous and honest fist came down upon his desk with a crash that made the walls resound, and that made the objects of his wrath wince. The speech was received with applause and cheers, which the speaker was unable to suppress, and, when he sat down the gal- leries and the floor joined in a prolonged applause. The speech in full was printed in most of the papers throughout the North, and Mr. Funk received the hearty congrat- ulations of loyal men from all parts of the nation. During the whole war, while he lived, his whole mind was given to aiding his country in its struggle for preservation. But he did not live to witness the triumph of -the principles for which he so earnestly pleaded. He died on the 29th p f-Jannary. 1865, a few months before the surrender of the rebel army. His wife, with whom he hadnved happily for nearly forty years, died within a few hours of her husband, and they were both buried in the same grave, in the Funk's Grove Cemetery, in which the father of Isaac Funk had been interred thirty-three years before, he also being the first. At the time of Mr. Funk's death he was a member of the Senate, which was then in session. Upon the public announcement of the sad event to that body, Hon. J. W. Strevell, then a member of the same House from Livingston County, pronounced the following appropriate eulogy : Mr. Speaker : There may be other members upon this floor, whose more intimate and peculiar relations to the deceased better fit them to pay a just tribute to his memory than myself. But his immediate neighborhood to my district, and the endearing ties which I have reason to know existed for many years between him and a large portion of the good people I have the honor to represent, make it at least proper that I should pay an humble but affection- ate tribute to the memory of the departed. Long before it had ever occurred to me to meet Senator Funk personally, I had, by hear- ing those who knew him in early times relate so many little incidents and reminiscences of him, which go to make up the sum of a great life, become almost familiar with his character. He 624 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. was one of the pioneers of Illinois ; and it is not singular that a character so marked and pos- itive as his should leave its lasting impress upon those around him and upon the destinies of his State. He knew Illinois in its infancy. He was familiar with it when the old stage-coach was the most rapid means of communication with its distant borders. Bui he lived to see the infant State of his adoption grow to be a giant, embracing within his parental arms two millions of children, from all countries and climes. He lived to see the old stage-coach give place to the iron horse, majestically coursing through his own broad acres, carrying the blessings of com- merce wherever civilization is known. All this he was blest to behold ; and in all this develop- ment he had borne a part. Ages may roll away, and the name of him who was but yesterday habited for the grave, and confined to its narrow portals, may be forgotten, as all names must be ; yet the influence of his character and life upon the destinies of Illinois will be felt to the remotest day. Whoever does not know that Senator Funk deserves to be classed among the great men of his time, does, in my judgment, but poorly comprehend the true elements of character. Probably the most wealthy man in the United States, save one, who was exclusively devoted to agriculture, he was a representative man of his class. Nor was he distinguished for wealth alone. His patriotic utterances in the hour of his country's darkest gloom, will long be remem- bered and cherished by a grateful people. His fame was not bounded by State lines, nor indeed by county. Many across the broad Atlantic will read and lament that the Christian, patriot and agricultural king is dead. True, he had none of the embellishments of learning or art, which so well adorn true greatness, and which, too, are so often mistaken for it. But in com- mon sense — which really is most uncommon — in penetrating sagacity, in fidelity to right, and, above all, in genuine kindness of heart, few were his equals. It is only a few days since a pub- lic measure came up in this House about the propriety of which there was some doubt, and he opposed it. Few, perhaps, have sought the reason why he did so. " Because," he said, " it would be doing for himself what he did not do for his hired man." Ah! here is the rule of justice and judgment which obtains at the tribunal where he has gone, and where we must go — " Do unto others as ye would that they should do to you," for with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. The last time I ever saw Senator Funk, he came into this House to consult with his esteemed colleague at my side, and to ask me to join a portion of my district with his county, in restraining some evil practice of gaming. Little did we then think that these halls would no more echo the sound of his voice. So inscrutable are the ways of God to man. It was then very perceptible that his health was much disturbed. In reply to a ques- tion, he said he was far from well. Even then, the grim monster was struggling for his prey. But the proper limits for these few remarks will not allow of any special detail. I would gladly linger over his memory and his virtues. Illinois will wait long for the coming of another such as he. But I am glad to believe that the enemy did not find him as one wholly disarmed. He marched out of his strong fortress unseen by mortal eye, with the calm dignity so peculiar to his nature, and surrendered up to the King of Terrors. He had, I doubt not, long since learned that " Who builds on less than immortal base, Destines all his joys to death." But how instructive this lesson to us. Neither wealth, nor place, nor power could save him from the grave ; for if wealth could beguile death, then he had no need to die. How unspeakably sad, and yet more beautiful than any creation of romance, was that other death so closely connected with his. The golden cord that binds one heart to another in the world is seldom so strong that it will not bear to be broken. But in this instance, that cord had grown to be life itself. Scarcely had he entered the valley of the shadow of death before she who had been the loved companion of more than forty years of joy and sorrow, without any apparent disease, left all, and followed in swift pursuit. Nearly half a century ago, they started out on life's journey, hand in hand, and now, at the end, they peacefnlly lie down together and draw the drapery of death around them. Erelong they will rise triumphantly, to hail Him Who has conquered death, and the brightness of Whose coming will dispel the gloom of the grave. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 625 Mr. Funk left no will, but a well-understood wish was carried out in all its details by the heirs. No administration was entered into, but all of the children, nine in number, met and divided the vast estate in a perfectly amicable manner, without even the advice of any outside party. Just before his death, Mr. Funk had erected a very fine family mansion on the site of his old house. This, in the apportionment, was set apart to the youngest son, who bears the father's name. A biography of other mem- bers of the family will be found in another part of the work. Of the five brothers who came out in 1823, 1824 and 1825, only Robert survives. There were originally nine children, six boys and three girls. None of the other members of the family prospered as did Isaac. Absalom, who died in 1840, had prospects almost equally bright ; but his comparatively early death came before the most prosperous times of this section were fully realized. It is said of John Funk, who came out in 1825, that he was utterly oblivious to lands, cattle or money, except just enough of the last-named to have a good time. He was always sure of a living from his two brothers, " Ab. and Ike." At the stores, it was known that John never had anything to pay with, though he would buy with the same confidence as would his two well-to-do brothers. At the end of stated periods, Isaac and Absalom would call for their bills, and as regularly would the merchants pre- sent John's accounts, which Isaac and Absalom good-naturedly liquidated. J ohn never made any inquiry about his bills with a view to settlement, but it is supposed he fully expected to pay them himself. The Funks, Stubblefields and Brock, as before inti- mated, claimed the most of the land adjacent to the timber, and when it came into market, entered the same. The township, therefore, did not settle as rapidly as some others, because there was no more timber-land, and the value of the prairie was not appreciated until a later day. However, when the Illinois Central Railroad was char- tered, one-half of the vacant land was given to that company as a consideration for the building of the road. The balance of the unoccupied land was at once raised to $2.50 per acre, at which price it was soon bought. The Chicago & Alton Railroad, completed through this section in 1852, further increased the value of lands, and thus hastened their sale, so that, by about 1856, all of the township of Funk's Grove had been entered. The building of these roads was the real basis for the prosperity of this sec- tion. Prior to this, the markets for the products of the farm were Chicago and Peoria, and supplies had to be hauled long distances by wagon. The roads have brought mar- kets almost to the very doors of the producers, and goods are as cheap as in the large cities. MILLS. The timber of this township is very fine. Unlike most timber along the little creeks, which is usually of a small, stunted growth of oak and basswood. the timber along Sugar Creek at this point, is of a heavy growth of walnut, maple and oak. A saw-mill was built here at an early date, for the manufacture of the trees into lumber. The large farming and stock-raising operations carried on by Isaac Funk, required a large amount of lumber for fences, sheds, etc. The mill was put up by Isaac Funk mainly for his own use. Later, Col. J. Straight, of Indianapolis, bought of the Funk family 1 ,200 walnut trees, and brought to the station a mill for the manufacturing of them into lumber. An amount exceeding 2.000 cars has been sawed and sent to New York, where there is a large demand for the product for 626 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. making furniture. The beautiful forest is rapidly passing away, and, in a short time> the best part will thus have been consumed. Before the building of the railroads through this country, there were two special inducements for building distilleries. There was a large surplus of corn which it was difficult to market, and the consumers of the product of the still were plentier than at present. It was not counted a disgrace to patronize the tavern, which was then the dram-shop; and a small distillery in the midst of a farming community was accounted a good thing for those who brought there their grain for sale, and took back a jug or a barrel of the product. To accommodate those who might wish to patronize such an institution in either way, Robert Funk built a small distillery on Section 17, in about 1840. We are bound to say, however, that the distillery was not a great success. In a few years it was allowed to run down, and the copper stills were sold as old copper. To the credit of the old-time distillers, it is said they made a better article than is man- ufactured by the more pretentious establishments of the present day. EDUCATIONAL. The first schoolhouse built in this township was a small log affair, erected on the site of the Methodist Church, west of Funk Grove Station. It was built upon the mutnal assistance plan, the neighbors meeting at an appointed time, bringing their axes, saws and such other implements as they happened to possess. This was about 1827, and the Funks and Stubblefields, of this township, and several persons at the west end of the grove, in Mount Hope Township, were concerned in its erection. It is described as being about twenty feet square, covered with clapboards held in place by weight-poles ; as having a clapboard door hung on wooden hinges; puncheon floor and puncheon seats, and with desks made by boring auger-holes into the wall, inserting wooden pins therein, and laying on the pins boards hewed from walnut logs. The warming apparatus was a huge fireplace extending one-half of the whole length of one side of the house, into which could be rolled logs requiring the strength of two of the largest boys to carry. The arrangements, however , were the crowning invention of that time. On two sides of the house, the halves of two contiguous logs of the wall were cut out the whole length of the building. Across these openings, at short intervals, were placed small sticks, upon which paper greased with hog's lard was pasted. This made a translucent window, admitting the rays of light, and, at the same time preventing the children from looking out, and obviating the necessity of blinds. Nothing in modern use, except real stained glass, compares in utility with the windows of this schoolhouse. The fastening to the door, too, was ingenious, and deserves description. The latch was a wooden bar, similar to those now in use on gates or barn-doors, and was placed on the inside of the door. To enable one on the outside of the door to raise the latch, an auger-hole was bored through a few inches above the latch, and through this a leather thong was drawn, and tied to the latch inside. Doubtless this invention gave rise to the saying, " the latch - string is out," as it was used on the doors of most of the cabins at that date. In this temple of learning, Andrew Biggs and Andrew McMillan taught some of the first schools. One of these taught the first, but we are unable to settle the honor more definitely on either. A little reading, writing and ciphering constituted the full course of study at the Funk's Grove Academy. Jonathan Dow was one of the pioneer teachers at this school, and, from some of his peculiarities, must have been related to HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 627 Lorenzo, of evangelist fame. It was the custom in those times for the teacher to " board round," but Dow preferred to board himself at the schoolhouse. He lived entirely on vegetable diet, nearly all of which consisted of apples, potatoes and corn- cakes, which he had stored in large quantities beneath the floor of the school-room. It was the custom then at Christmas to demand of the teacher a treat, and in the event of any hesitation on the part of the master, he was barred out of the house. The boys, however, never found Dow outside, as he boarded there, and, when Christmas came that winter, the master assumed to have the advantage of the boys, and declined to stand the apples and cider demanded. But the boys were not to be baffled so easily, and with a preconcerted action seized upon the teacher and dragged him, squirming and kicking, from the house. Rushing inside, they closed the door, and another parley ensued, without the effect, however, of bringing the obstinate Dow to terms. At last, after a short council of war had been held by the boys, they opened the door and allowed the master to enter. He thought then he had won the day, but the movement of the boys was only a little strategy to again get him in their hands. He was accord- ingly again grabbed and carried to the creek which ran close by. The ice was cut, and they were about to immerse him in the chilly flood, when he gave up and promised to treat. Then were disclosed the stores of apples, cider, potatoes and hominy beneath the puncheon floor. All helped themselves to the viands ; a good time was had ; the parents praised their boys' pluck in whipping out the master ; and then the school pro- ceeded as before. A few years later, a schoolhouse was erected in the southeastern part of the town- ship, in the Kickapoo Creek settlement, and owing to the large tracts of land held by the families heretofore named, and the sparsely-settled condition of the townehip, no other schools were organized for more than twenty years, though the old buildings, with the puncheon floors, seats and desks, long before that time, gave way to better houses. As indicating the progress made in this township, in 1858, there were reported two schools, with fifty-two pupils ; in 1868, five schools, with two hundred and eighty pupils ; and at this time again ten years later, six schools, with about three hundred scholars. In 1858, the total expenditure for sustaining schools was a little less than three hundred dollars, while in 1878, it was nearly as many thousands. RELIGION. Were we to judge this township by the number of church spires, we should say that there is but little of the article here, as the large township contains but one church. However, the people here are not without all of the church privileges requisite to a high standard of Christianity. The church mentioned is near the center of the town- ship, and this furnishes accommodations for all in its vicinity; while churches at McLean, Waynesville, Shirley and Heyworth count among their strongest supporters citizens of this township. The Methodist Church of Funk's Grove was organized at a very early day. The little log schoolhouse mentioned above was built for religious as well as edu- cational purposes, and here, at about the same time, the church was established by Adam Funk, Robert Funk, Robert Stubblefield, John Stubblefield, Mrs. Brock and a few other women. It may be said that the church at the time was a family affair, as the parties were nearly all related, the two Stubblefields named having married sisters of Robert Funk. The society worshipped in the little log schoolhouse and its successors 628 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. until 1866, when the present comfortable house of worship was erected. It is a good: frame building, 36x50 feet in size,|and cost $3,500. The country in the vicinity of the church is sparsely settled, there being so many large farms ; and the number of mem- bers does not, at present, exceed thirty. Sunday school is sustained during the summer, but during winter it is suspended. Rev. Mr. Shinn is the present Pastor. DESCRIPTION. Funk's Grove Township is bounded on the west, north and east, respectively, by Mount Hope, Dale and Randolph Townships ; and on the south by DeWitt County. This township consists of all of Congressional Town 22, Range 1 east, and the north third of Town 21, in same range. It is one of the best watered townships in the county, seeming to be the natural home for stock of various kinds common to this cli- mate. Indeed, this has long been a notorious stock region. The Kickapoo and branches of Sugar Creek flow from the northeast to the southwest. The land is of a first-class quality, well adapted to the raising of corn, rye, oats, wheat and vegetables of various kinds. The Chicago & Alton Railroad, built in 1852, passes through the north- western corner, affording at the station and at McLean an outlet for the vast products of this section. A switch is the only improvement at the station, and was located at the request of Isaac Funk, and for the accommodation of his estate. OLD TOWN TOWNSHIP. There is not a railroad coming into Bloomington, which carries its passengers through a prettier country — a country more attractive to the eye, and one which would attract the attention of strangers more quickly — than does the La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad as it passes through Old Town Township. As one travels over this road, he gets a very fair view of almost the entire township. This road extends east and west through the center of the third tier of sections from the north. The rolling prairies stretch far away to the north, while on the south may be seen, extending the entire length of the township, the irregular edge of the Old Town Timber. This township derived its name from the belt of timber which crosses its southern border. This grove is some eighteen miles long, and two to three miles wide. It fol- lows no water-course, but passes directly east and west, without regard to the " lay of the land." It derived its name from the old Indian town on its northern border. Old Town is an exact Congressional township, and lies just south of the center of McLean County. It is designated Town 23 north, Range 3 east of the Third Principal Merid- ian. It is bounded on the north by Towanda Township, on the east by Padua, on the south by Downs, and on the west by Bloomington Township. It is crossed by the head- waters of Kickapoo Creek. The little stream enters from Padua, at the southeast cor- ner of Section 13. It flows west to the northeast corner of Section 22, and thence south to near the southwest corner of Section 33. All the northern part of the town- ship is prairie, with the exception of Island Grove, a little patch of timber near the cen- ter. The prairies are rolling, and are covered by fine farms and elegant residences. The soil is good, and yields largely of either corn or oats. Corn is the principal product. Oats come next. Potatoes and grass do well. A large portion of the corn is shipped, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 629 but not all. A considerable amount of hogs and cattle are shipped. Very little wheat is produced. Beside the La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad already men- tioned, Old Town is crossed by another. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railway. This road crosses the southwest corner of the township, entering from the southeast, near the southeast corner of Section 32, and leaving near the southwest corner of Section 30. There are two flag-stations in the township — Holder, on the east side, on the L., B. & M. R. R., and Gillum, in the southwest, on the I., B. & W. EARLY SETTLEMENT. When emigrants began to come into McLean County, it was not long before every grove had its cluster of pale-faces. Not only do we find that every cluster of trees brought early settlers, but larger belts were soon surrounded. The first settlement of Old Town Timber was begun farther east than the present limits of the township of the same name. But it was not long until a settlement was made on Kickapoo Creek. In the spring of 1826, William Evans built the first cabin ever erected in Old Town. He came from the settlement at Blooming Grove. He went to work, and, by the spring of 1827, he had enough prairie broken to permit of quite a crop. But all his hopes were destined to be overthrown. In September, 1827, there came a hurricane which demol- ished his crops, swept away his fences and destroyed his dwelling. After so severe a disaster, he was too much disheartened to rebuild his scattered improvements, so he moved to Blooming Grove. It will thus be seen that the first attempt to establish a dwelling in this populous and beautiful township, was a failure. The elements were against it, and who could prevail ? The same hurricane that dealt such a heavy blow to Mr. Evans, destroyed much of the Old Town timber. Where it passed through, the forest was leveled to the ground. There still may be seen a few trunks of the large trees that were uprooted by the gale. Tbe present growth of timber has sprung up since the storm. The next man to arrive at Kickapoo Creek, in this township, was, probably, Will- iam Maxwell. He came from North Carolina about 1829, or, possibly, as late as 1831. He lived on Kickapoo Creek until his death, which occurred in 1837. He had three sons. They all moved away to Iowa. One daughter now lives in Le Roy. Her hus- band's name is Henry Dickerson. John Bishop came in 1830. He is now living in Bloomington. In 1833, William Bishop arrived. His wife, the mother of Dr. Bishop, in Bloomington, is still living. At about this time, John Hendryx came. He is not the man who first settled in Blooming Grove, but quite another person, and is no relation. He had several children, the most prominent of whom is Mrs. Lewis Case. On the 26th of July, 1833, Lewis Case and family moved into the little settlement begun on the Kickapoo. Mr. and Mrs. Case are now the oldest settlers living in the township, though there are others living in different parts of the county who lived in Old Town before they did. The Cases came from Seneca, N. Y. Mr. Case was born in 1809, and Mrs. Case in 1810. They have four daughters now living, but none reside in the township. When Lewis Case came, he found Isaac Haner here. Teams were scarce in those days, and even a good pair of oxen were not always to be had, so Mr. Haner had yoked his cows, and with those prepared the soil for the seed. In the fall of 1833, Archibald Martin arrived. He afterward moved over into Padua Town- ship, and died there. In the fall of the same year, Abner Case and family came. Abner <330 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. €ase was the father of Lewis, and moved into his house when he first arrived. Mrs. Case loves to tell the story of their winter's residence in the cabin. Lewis Case and family, the family of Abner Case, of Charles Lewis and of Thaddeus Case all lived within the narrow limits of one small cabin. This cabin had but one room, and that was not more than fourteen feet square. A log house was the best kind for this sort of crowding. The logs were bored into and pins driven in, which supported one side of the bedstead. One leg was all that this primitive style of bedstead required, the places of the others being taken by two sides of the wall. The trundle-bed then did its bes fc service, for it was not possible to find sleeping-room for thirteen persons within a space fourteen feet square, and this partly occupied by household goods, without the double- layer system so easily introduced by a trundle-bed. Trunks and boxes of all kinds had to be perched on wooden pins in the wall. And yet those were days in which the fabric of life was fraught with as much joy as are the more recent times, with all the luxuries of a more advanced civilization. How many of the poorest in our midst would dare to brave the hardships of pioneer life ? But the necessity of such trying circum- stances is now past. Even the frontier settlements in the Far West are not compelled to endure the trials and privations that were once common in this country. In 1834, James Cowden came from Kentucky. The family located in the southwestern part of the township, and some of the descendants still reside there. Paul Lebo came later, probably about 1837. He first stopped in Padua, but afterward came into Old Town. He was killed by the falling of a tree. The accident occurred in the Old Town Timber, just south of Lewis Case's residence. Mr. Lebo had succeeded in getting the tree partly down, but it had lodged in another tree. On cutting the second tree, he started to run, and, just as he was about clearing the length of the tree, one of the upper branches struck him on the head and crushed his skull. His son was on the ground at the time, and witnessed the accident. The Campbell family came in 1837. Mr. Campbell was born in Ireland, but came to this township from Bourbon County, Ky. He was what they called a rich man, in those days. He brought with him $1,400 in money. He had four sons. Tbey own considerable land in the southeastern part of the township, and are prominent citizens of that locality. From this time on, the immigrants followed each other in such an irregular way that it would be impossible to trace them. It was a long time before the northern part of the township was settled. Although the prairie was as charmingly located as it could be, the early settler did not venture upon it. There were a few who had made their homes on the prairie in 1854. In this year, the first of the settlement now in the northeast corner of Old Town and adjoining townships was made by John R. Benja- min, who came from Columbia County, N. Y. He belongs to the Friends, and was the forerunner of the settlement formed by them. EDUCATIONAL. The first school in this township is very vividly remembered. There are no doubts as to its location, or who was the teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Case were anxious to see their children enjoying the benefits of a good education. There were others, too, that longed to get their little ones within the limits of some educational institution. But the want of a building made it difficult to begin. It was thought HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 631 that the smoke-house, belonging to Mr. Case, might suffice for the present need ; but on farther consideration, it was concluded to use the spare room in his barn. The barn was a new one ; and, though the thought is diverting, doubtless furnished more com- fortable apartments than many of the first buildings erected especially for school pur- poses. The school was taught in the summer, and, of course, no fire was necessary. The horses could occupy one side and the school the other — at the horses' heads. This barn is standing yet ; and the marks on the old barn-door, which answered as a kind of schedule, long remained to tell the story of regularity or irregularity of the members of that little school. The teacher of this little flock was Callista Stanton. She had eight pupils. As a compensation for her services, duly and faithfully performed, she received the munif- icent sum of $1.50 per week. This was the summer of 1838. Miss Stanton was a very fairly educated lady. She remained in the county and continued teaching for a long time. What remuneration she afterward received for her labors as " school ma'am," we do not know, but it is to be hoped that the directors never concluded to reduce her salary on account of "hard times." After this, a log schoolhouse was built, and a male teacher employed. Schools multiplied and houses were built, until now there are eight districts instead of the one in 1838. How many children there were then, under twenty-one, we do not know, but not, probably, more than 25 ; now there are 407. The number, then, between six and twenty-one, was about 15 ; the same heading now shows 264. The number of pupils then enrolled wao 8 ; at present there are 221. No school buildings had then been erected, while seven beautiful schoolhouses now furnish the youth of the township comfortable apartments in which to pursue a course of instruction, without the necessity of sheltering themselves either in smoke-houses or barns. The total amount paid their teacher, had she continued teaching for nine months, would not have reached $50. The actual amount was $15. Now the town- ship pays annually, for teachers, $1,966.07, with a total expenditure of $2,897.06 per annum. The estimated value of school property is $3,100. The highest wages paid for teaching is $45 per month. CHURCHES. The first to hold meetings here were the Methodists. There had been preaching at the residence of Mr. Frankenbarger, in Padua. Mrs. Case tells how thankful she was when they got an ox-team and wagon, so that they could go to meeting. Not everybody could afford a wagon in which to ride to meeting. It was a luxury that was to be appreciated. There was soon a sufficient number of members around the resi- dence of Lewis Case to justify the formation of a class. This class met at the cabin on Sundays for prayer and class meeting, their regular circuit preaching being held during the week. The Rev. Mr. Royal was the the first circuit preacher. Circuit preachers traveled over vast scopes of country and established places of meeting wher- ever there was an opening. They preached a greater portion of the time, and, conse- quently had to make many of their appointments on week-days. The members of this first class were Abner Case, Jane Hendryx, Mr. and Mrs. Cusey, Eliza and Paul Lebo, Mrs- Hartley and Rachel Case. A number of the young men who came to prayer and class meeting here, finally became ministers. William Orange held a pro- tracted meeting in the cabin. It was continued a long time and resulted in the addi- tion of many new members to the little class of eight. The cabin, the residence of 632 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Mr. Lewis Case, continued to be the place of meeting for thirteen years. The Presid- ing Elder on this district when the meeting was first organized, was John Sinclair. Quarterly Meeting was held at one time in the same barn in which was taught the first school. Peter Cartwright, the renowned pioneer of Methodism, used to preach at Old Town Timber, but he never preached at Mr. Case's cabin. There are quite a number of Methodists in the southern part of Old Town, but their place of meeting is in Downs. They have a church and a large and flourishing society there. The Methodists built a church at what is known as Benjaminville — a clump of houses near the northeastern corner of the township. This was built in 1859. It is a neat little building, 20x32 feet. The society flourished and did well in Benjaminville, but when the L. B. & M. R. R. came through only a mile and a half south, and the little town of Holder was laid out, they thought it would be better to move the church to Holder. Accordingly, in 1873, it was taken down to the station. But the church was sold, in 1877, to the United Brethren, who still own it. The Methodists then built a church in Padua Township, east of Benjaminville, where they now hold serv- ices. This society of United Brethren was organized recently. Its pastor is Rev. F. R. Mitchell. The Protestant Methodists first held their meetings in the schoolhouse near Scam- mon Rodman's. They had a great revival there. A society was built up, and as a result a church was built. It is called Pleasant Grove Chapel, and is located on the northeast corner of Section 27. It is 28x38 feet, and was built about sixteen years ago. Among the prominent early members, may be mentioned Messrs. Rodman, Fogle and John Brown. There is a very fair society at present, with the Rev. T. J. Gregory as Pastor. The first and only Christian society in the township was begun about twelve years ago, in a schoolhouse west of Benjaminville. They began with about twenty members. Robert Moore and Harrison Horine were Elders. They organized the Cnurch and were the only preachers for a time. In 1869, they built a church in Ben- jaminville. The cost of construction was nearly $2,000 ; size 30x42 feet. The com- ing of the railroad had the same effect upon the Christians that it had upon the Method- ists. They, too, moved their church to Holder. The society is not as strong now as it has been. Some of its members have died and others moved away. The Rev. Robert Moore is still Pastor, although they have had others. In the northeastern part of Old Town and adjoining townships, there is one of the strongest settlements of the Friends that is to be found anywhere in the State. John R. Benjamin may be regarded the father of the society. In 1854,, he came from Columbia County, N. Y. There were very few settlements, at that time, on the prairie. There was an opportunity for making a selection. He bought the south half of Section 1 and the northeast quarter of Section 12, adjoining. In the spring of 1856, two other families came — Joseph Marot and Timothy Benjamin, a brother to John R. Benjamin. Marot moved to Padua, but Joseph Benjamin occupied the northwest quarter of Section 1. Abner Moore, their first minister, came in the spring of 1858. He was a New Yorker, too, and came from near Rochester. After his arrival, they had regular Sabbath services. For this purpose, they used the upper story of a building erected by Mr. John R. Benjamin, and used as a shop below, but with a fair room above. In this hall, they held their meetings for a year and a half. They built their HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 633 "first church in 1859. It is three-fourths of a mile south of the northern line of the township. This became too small, and was moved off the church lot, and is now used for public meetings of all kinds. It is a frame house, 24 by 32 feet. TBe second church was built in 1874. This, too, is a frame church, 32 by 42 feet, and cost SI, 800. From the first, the society has continued to grow, and has increased to about twenty-five families. At one time, Sidney Averill taught a Friends' school in the hall over the wagon-shop. He was a preacher, and exercised himself in both teaching and preaching. Before the building of a church here, the members used to go to Putnam County, to attend Quarterly Meetings. Since 1875, the Quarterly Meeting has been held here twice a year. They hold one in Indiana, and one in Putnam County, this State. These are the only Quarterly Meetings held anywhere in the States of Illinois or Indiana, and, as a result, these meetings are attended from long distances. At the southeast corner of Section 1, and just across the line, in Padua Township, several dwelling-houses were built. Mr. Benjamin built a wagon-shop, and a store and blacksmith-shop were afterward set up. Then came the three churches, so that the place was called a town. No organization was ever effected, but it is known as Benja- minville. There is now a store and blacksmith-shop, with several dwellings. There is not much demand for a village. Holder is only one and a half miles south. Both are quite small, most all trading being done in Bloomington. WAR RECORD AND POLITICS. There were very few inhabitants here during the Black Hawk war. We found no soldiers of the Mexican war. The late war called out the full strength of the township. There were no drafts. Of those who lost their lives from service in the army, we learned the names of none but Henry Mannen and Samuel Fogle. There probably were others, but they rest in their unknown graves, with no one to herald their deeds abroad or " draw their frailties from their dread abode." Since the organization of the Republican party, Old Town has been Republican. This township alone gave Lincoln 100 majority. Since that time, the Republicans have not held their own, or what would be, perhaps, a different thing, the opposition has developed more strength. But on all national or State questions, where party contest is direct, the Republicans carry by a greater or less majority. Party spirit does not gen- erally run very high. All are amicable and disposed " to bear the evils that they have," etc. In township elections, only one ticket is put in the field. This is composed of Democrats and Republicans, little attention being paid to parties so long as the candi- dates are able and willing to discharge the duties of their respective offices according to the best of their ability, and for the good of their constituents. INCIDENTS. The first child born in Old Town was Disa Maxwell, and the next was Chloe Bishop. The former was born in 1831. The first marriage was solemnized in 1835. The parties made happy were Alice Hendryx and William Brewer. The husband after- ward died, and the widow married William Hartly. She now lives in Bloomington. The first death is supposed to have been that of a little child about a year old. This was in 1834. Mr. Case split out slabs from a basswood-tree and made a coffin. He planed it, and, after considerable labor, made it appear quite pretty, but it was white. 634 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. To blacken it, the ladies took straw and burned it, and made a paint of the ashes. They were surprisingly successful, and had the coffin nicely colored. The Old Town settlers suffered frequently from prairie-fires. No one, who has never witnessed a fire on the prairies, can form any just conception of it. There is nothing that seems more like the indignant breath of the Almighty, or reminds one more forcibly of that passage of Scripture, " The elements shall melt with fervent heat," than does the onward rush of a prairie-fire as it gathers strength from a sweeping gale. It bounds on with a speed equal to that of the swiftest horse, and often overtakes the traveler on the road. We were not informed of any losses of property from these tornadoes of flame, but we learned that Abner Case, in fighting the fire in order to extinguish it, lost one eye. Game was plenty, and there were a number of hunters along Old Town Timber. The hunters used to make the ruins of Mr. Evans' cabin, that he left on the creek, after the hurricane of 1827, a place of rendezvous. Wolves were numerous on the prairie, with turkeys and bees in the woods. Some of the customs in the domestic economy were unique, and suggest the adapt- ability of the pioneers. In salting meat, they used troughs made from logs. For a wash-tub, the ladies frequently used one-half of a salt-barrel. The barrel was sawn through the middle, and thus furnished two to the barrel. The wheel and the loom were the necessary furniture of every dwelling, and to make them often required a vast amount of work. Trees had to be cut down and split into timbers of the proper dimen- sions, and then hewed and planed and mortised until things would fit all round. Mrs. Lewis Case reports her first wash-board as follows : A stick of wood of moderate size, split in the middle, then smoothed off a little with a plane, then sawed across to a short depth, and tolerably close together; after this, alternate spaces between the saw-cuts, chiseled out with a narrow chisel. This leaves a board on which a pioneer woman could wash and get her clothes clean, by a rough usage of the hands and careful management of the clothes. A sad affair occurred only a few years ago, which gives another text from which to preach a temperance sermon. Frederic Hendryx had had some trouble in his family ; he went to Bloomington, became intoxicated and started home ; he got hold of a revolver and declared that he would shoot his wife. When he reached home in this condition, his wife became frightened and started to run ; she had only reached' the gate when she was shot by her husband. All the large children were frightened off the place ; but when the people came to the house next morning, they found Mrs. Hen- dryx lying dead at the gate with her little child in her arms. The child was alive and had been asleep. Farther search revealed the fact that, after killing his wife, Hendryx had gone to the straw-stack and there shot himself, so that the morning found them both dead. RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS. The La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railway was completed through this section in 1871. The cars began running in the fall of the same year. The Indianap- olis, Bloomington & Western was finished a short time before. The former extends through the township on the half-section line, two and one-half miles from the north side ; the latter crosses the southwestern corner. These roads both received aid in the way of bonds. Bloomington subscribed heavily ; but Old Town owes them nothing. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 63& While it is questionable whether they have been of any material benefit to Bloomington, there is no doubt about the advantage which the country derives from them. They take the farmers' grain and stock, right at home, almost. They increase the value of • land, since any one who wishes to farm can have ready means of transport for his pro- ducts ; and any one desiring a country residence, can have it with about all the conven- iences of a suburban villa, and at a much smaller cost. These influences cause a thorough development of all the resources of the country. In contrast with the present facilities for shipping grain, Mr. Case mentions the fact that he has hauled wheat all the way to Chicago and sold it at 38 cents per bushel. There are forty-one miles of authorized roads in the township, excluding twelve miles on the outside lines, kept in repair by other townships ; these are generally kept in good condition. The prairie is sufficiently rolling to permit the drainage of all roads that need it. There is one iron bridge ; it spans the Kickapoo. The old State road from the Big Grove to Peoria, crosses the township a short distance ; it runs along the north line of the township a short distance ; when near the southeast corner of Sec- tion 33, it turns obliquely north and west, through Sections 29, 30 and 32. There is another old road that follows no lines on its course ; this is the road to Cheney's Grove from Bloomington. With the exception of these two roads, all follow section lines, most of which are regularly laid out as public thoroughfares. ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP. With the other townships of McLean County, Old Town began her separate organized existence in 1858. It will be seen that some of the men who were elected at the first town- ship election — April 6, 1858 — are now officers of the township. The return made to the County Clerk in 1858 was as follows: Scammon Rodman, Supervisor ; Lindley Hefling, Town Clerk; Samuel Noggle, Assessor; Frederic R. Cowden, Collector; John B. Chores, Overseer of the Poor ; Chalkley Bell, Samuel Sunderland and Elihu Rogan r Commissioners of Highways ; John Rowley and James A. Savidge, Justices of the Peace ; Gilbert Tompkins and Samuel Mitchell, Constables. The present officers are : James Rayburn, Supervisor ; J. M. Dooley, J. J. Cowden and J. Fleming, Commission- ers of Highways; Jeremiah Whitcomb and J. D. Rowley, Justices of the Peace; Gil- bert Tompkins, Constable ; Scammon Rodman, Dennis McBarnes and Archibald Camp- bell, Town Trustees ; J. M. Dooley, Town Treasurer ; 0. G. Dooley, Assessor ; S. C. Fuller, Collector. HOLDER is a station on the La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad, on the east line of the township. It is on the prairie just north of the small stream that is the principal source of Kickapoo Creek. Holder was surveyed in October, 1871, by W. P. Ander- son, County Surveyor. Charles W. Holder was the owner of the village, and had it surveyed. It comprised, at first, forty acres — twenty acres in Old Town and twenty in Padua. The portion in Padua was located in Section 18 — ten acres in the northwest corner of the southwest quarter, and ten acres in the southwest corner of the northwest quarter ; but this has been bought back and belongs to the adjoining farms. So, also, has the ten acres on the south, in Old Town. Ten acres is all that is left. This is the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of Section 13. F. I. Bradley has been the station agent from the first. There was never a post office in the township until this 636 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. one was established here. Fleming Brothers keep a general country store. They also buy and ship grain. William P. Anderson is also a grain-dealer. More corn is shipped than anything else. There is a considerable shipment of hogs and cattle to Chicago by way of the Illinois Central. G. A. Rowley has blacksmith-shop. There are two churches. The history of these, may be found under the heading " Churches," in the general history of the township. There are but few dwellings in Holder, but it does an amount of business more than proportioned to its size. GILLUM is a flag-station on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railway, in the southwestern corner of the township. It is on the section line between Sections 31 and 32, near the center from north to south. LAWNDALE TOWNSHIP. Township 25 north, Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian. Lawndale is a full Congressional township, but, owing to the fact that its northern tier of sections lay along the " correction line," they are, on an average, a half mile longer from north to south than the standard section, and it makes the township six by six and one-half miles. The name given it was by " natural selection," and -Was suggested from the topographical appearance when in a state of nature. An elevation which but for its continuous stretch would properly be called a mound, extends from the northwest cor- ner of the township through it to the east center. From this ridge, the slope toward the northeast ends in almost a dead level, which stretches away for miles to Indian Grove in Livingston County. Toward the southwest the decline is more gentle and more undulating. Free from any break or unpleasant appearance, the early settler must have looked with real pleasure upon the slope stretching away to the Mackinaw Timber, to the extreme southwestern corner of the town, a scene not easily forgotten by one who viewed this beautiful nature's lawn, now thickly studded with houses, orchards, hedges and all the insignia of healthy cultivation, before a furrow was struck or any- thing to disturb the eye nearer than the curling smoke of three or four cabins along the stream in the distance. That such beautiful dales should lie open to settlement for twenty years after being brought into market, must ever remain to the younger ones who read these pages, in a great measure a mystery. Standing on this elevation, one cannot fail to partially realize the fear that hung over poor Maj. Darnall's mind on that desperate winter's trip from the Mackinaw to Indian Grove. With but slight help from a tropical imagination, one can almost see hope, fear and dread despair by turn taking possession of him, as his faithful horse flounders through the deep in crusted snow on that never-to-be-forgotten ten-miles trip. No military leader ever led an army on doubtful engagement more fully impressed with the magnitude of the respon- sibility of his every move than was Maj. Darnall on that lonely, trying ride to his snow- bound little family. For the first five miles, his way led gradually up the rise of land, the Indian Grove not being in sight until he had completed the first half. Hardly knowing whether he would ever see the trees which surrounded his home, he pressed on in the terrible snow until this height was gained, after which the way was more easy by the natural declivity of the land, but the difficulty largely increased by the fatigue V ■muW* /ha^t lAsTsT/fly^ HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 639 of his faithful horse. It is not to be wondered at that his relatives on the Mackinaw were so uneasy as to try soon after to make an unsuccessful trip of discovery. The endeavor was abandoned, after making only a portion of the distance, from sheer inabil- ity to go on. The Henline Creek flows from near the center southwesterly to the Mackinaw, which only runs across the southwestern corner of the township. Lawndale was all prairie, except portions of Sections 31, 32 and 33. The name was suggested by Hon. John Cassedy when the township was organized, and readily accepted. The timber along the stream is of the varieties usually found in this portion of the State — oaks, black-walnut and hickory predominating. Along this the early settlers lived without for ten years being troubled by tax-gatherers, neighbors, or other attendants to civiliza- tion. They purchased timber-land, but enjoyed the free use of all the prairie-land they wanted, not thinking it worth buying. When the first prairie-lands were bought for SI .25 per acre, the timber-lands were held at, and in fact, some actually sold for from $35 to $60 per acre. With no coal to burn, no Osage orange for fencing, and herds of cattle ranging at will over the country, before the days of cattle ordinances, it was hardly thought safe to commence a farm without a piece of timber-land to furnish fencing and fuel. The first settlement made in the township was by the Henline family, some of whom, with their numerous descendants, stilPreside on the lands that they first brought into cultivation. Three brothers of the name, who were of German descent, John, George and William, had grown up in Boone County, Ky., and in the fall of 1828, started from that place for this State. It was at a time when Illinois was attracting a considerable immigration, thousands of families leaving; the State to better their condition where they could find cheap land and plenty of it for their usually numerous families. Many of them had become dissatisfied with the effects of slavery, and, with their moderate means, felt that they preferred homes in a free State. The Henlines came as far as the western boundary of McLean County and remained a few weeks, when John went farther and made a home on the southeast quarter of Section 30 of the present town of Lawndale, about two miles from the stream, on Henline Creek, which took its name from him. He was crippled while on his way from Kentucky, and never recovered ; but this did not prevent an active fron- tier life. Here he lived, and his family grew up around him, and died in 1869. His wife was a sister of Major Darnall, who was the first settler in Livingston County, at Indian Grove, and who, at this writing, still lives there. His sons, David, William B. and Martin, young boys at the time of their journey hither, became the large landed proprietors of this and adjoining townships, and for many years were known as the leading live-stock men of this part of the county. In later years, reverses came to them as to thousands of others, who have seen the accumulations of industrious lives swept away by adverse circumstances. William, a brother of the pioneer, made a home on Section 32, nearer to the Mackinaw ; and George, another brother, near by. These three brothers were the only residents of the present Lawndale at the time of the " deep snow " and of the " Black Hawk war " — two of the principal early events of our history. They will never tire of telling, nor will the reader of reading, of the events of the time. Never in the history of the State was such a snow known as fell early in the 640 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. winter of 1830-31. The snow fell without wind, and is said to have been fully four feet deep, followed soon by a rain, which was in turn followed by a severe freeze, keep- ing the snow from drifting and making it almost impassable. Game of all kinds suf- fered death by starvation, and what seemed at first a real help to the settlers, in the ease with which they captured game and meat, became a loss before spring, in the destruc- tion of that which they largely depended on. During the time of the snow, the Henlines found it necessary to feed some of the wild hogs, to " keep them along," and picking corn was accomplished industriously by poking the snow away from the stalk and fishing out the ear, about as we hunt young potatoes when we do not wish to pull up the vines. It was not very rapid picking, but the boys did not have to go to school, and the number of head of stock to feed was not many. Up to the time of the Black Hawk war, there were Indians in this vicinity, and so far from being considered dangerous company, were rather encouraged in their visits. The Henlines returned on a visit to Kentucky in the fall of 1830, to procure farm implements, stock, etc. Mrs. H., having an eye to future barrels of apple-butter, pulled up a few yearling apple-sprouts, which she carefully wrapped up in cloths, " heeling them in " with earth, and brought them to the Mackinaw. What Phoenix has been doing for the prairies, she did for the early settlement ; and there never was a prouder fruit-grower in all McLean County than was Mrs. Henline when she first picked apples from the orchard which her forethought had given, and which her children and children's chil- dren still gather from. PORT HENLINE. One of the matters about which memory lingers and much has been said was the '» fort" which was built at Henline during the Black Hawk war. So far as the writer knows, no written or printed description of this frontier work exists, and it was his good fortune to get from the lips of one who was active in military operations of this " department," Mr. George Spawr, who still lives with his son in Lawndale, a descrip- tion of the formidable fortification. Capt. Merritt L. Covel, of Bloomington, was chief in command, and the men of this frontier followed his orders without a murmur. The fort was at John Henline's house, on Henline Creek, about two miles from its mouth and about one hundred and ten rods from the present Evergreen M. E. Church. Logs were cut about the length of a rail-cut and split in two. A trench was dug, about three feet deep, and these split logs were firmly set in the ground, perpendicularly, so as to form a perfect protection against anything in Indian warfare. The inclosure thus made was about four rods by six, giving plenty of room for all to collect if necessary. A similar one was built at Rook's Creek, for the protection of that neighborhood. Mr. Spawr was one of the mounted guard who ranged the country from the Mackinaw to the Vermilion. About the time of change of guard, Capt. Covel instructed two of the soldiers to give a false alarm, to see whether the militia would come to time in good order, and really for fun, possibly. Spawr gave the alarm, and such another " breaking for the timber " never was known in these parts. The only Indians in the neighborhood were the Kickapoos, at Oliver's Grove, who, with reduced numbers and long abstinence from warlike adventure, were really more afraid of the whites than the whites were of Indians. They seemed to reason thus : Living here alone, without arms, and almost surrounded by white settlements, within a day's march of civilization, they could be made an easy prey to any hostile demonstration the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 641 whites might, from revenge or from sheer desire for blood-letting, engage in. The whites, with a century's experience before them, could hardly be expected to be free from anxiety. They could not well anticipate this disposition on the part of the Kickapoos ; hence the mutual fear. Happily, the " vigorous prosecution " of the war in the northern part of the State soon relieved the settlers on the Mackinaw from all fear, and, in a few weeks, they were permitted to return to their crops without having seen any actual war. The defeat of Black Hawk removed the last fear of Indian war from this State, and sent in a tide of immigration which lasted till the great commercial crash of 1837. Martin Batterton came here from Madison County, Ky., where so many of the settlers of McLean came from, in 1833, coming on horseback. He was a cousin of the Henlines, and after looking at the country concluded to make it his home. He purchased the claim of Nicholas Darnall and returned to Kentucky for some tools, with which he went to work. He was skilled in the use of tools and became the handy mechanic of the settlement. 1^1835, the land " came into market," as the settlers say — that is, the United States was slow in making surveys, and settlements ran far ahead of land offices — but on that year the surveys had been made and land offices opened, so that land could be entered and title secured. In many places, there was a good deal of strife in securing land, but here no one attempted to jump another's claim, and, consequently, nobody failed to get the land he lived on, if he wished to. The settlers in Lawndale secured title to their land and purchased such as they wished at the minimum price. Martin Batterton entered the northwest quarter of Section 32, and built a house- upon it, in which he now resides. He married the following year, and an interesting family of children have grown up around him. His only son, who served faithfully in the war for the Union, and was afterward editor of the Vicksburg Herald, was acci- dentally killed in 1865. His daughters are married, the one to T. B. Kilgore, one of the most prosperous farmers in Lawndale ; the other to A. J. Moon, a successful mer- chant in Lexington. John Smith came to the Mackinaw in 1834. He took up land and, later, entered in Section 30, southeast quarter, where his son, Shelton, still resides, who is well-knowo as an enterprising and public-spirited man. Shelton well recollects the first school which was taught in this neck of timber, as he was about eleven years old and was one of the pupils. The teacher was an Irishman, well-educated, but retaining plenty of the " rich Irish brogue." He taught in what is now known as the Chinese plan. Pupils studied aloud, and teacher, hickory in hand, marched around, shouting his orders like a militia captain on parade day, making himself heard by the superior strength of his voice. He only taught till Christmas and left, it is supposed, in consequence of a determina- tion on the part of the school to " bar him out," according to the custom of the times. Hunting was the great sport in those early days. Deer and other game were so plenty that it made matters very interesting. The " sudden change," so often spoken of by the old residents, was, in many respects, a strange phenomenon. Late in December, 1836, the weather had been warm r and the ground was covered with wet, the mud being thin from recent rain and thaw- ing. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a western wind sprung up, and was so cold that the thin mud and slush commenced .to freeze at once. Children who were returning 642 HISTORY OF MoLEAN COUNTY. from school were frosted, and the mud froze to their shoes, so that it was almost impos- sible to walk. The small streams were so frozen over, in about twelve minutes' time, that it was almost impossible to cross. Small animals, unused to such matters, were frozen in the mud ; many were picked up and carried in to save their lives, after they were unable to extricate themselves. Without any weather bureau, and without the aid of telegraphic reports from all along the line, it was difficult to fix the storm-center, area and origin of this peculiarly severe streak of weather ; but from such information as could be learned, it seems to have come from the regions of the usual sudden changes — the history and direction of which are now very accurately understood — to have trav- eled in an east by southeasterly direction, at the rate of from twenty to thirty-five miles per hour, and that its center was nearly that of the center of the State. Thomas Smith soon after this took up land on Section 29. William Henline was the first to build a brick house in town, though this happened several years after the date of which the present is a record. From this (1837) until the railroad age (1851), very little can be said of this settlement, more than of hundreds of others all over the West. The general crash which followed the speculative era of 1835 and 1836, the political doctoring immediately following, a bankrupt State, saddled with a debt which seemed to be irredeemable, all tended to prevent immigration. Certain it is that very little' change took place in the real-estate market of Lawndale. The score or two of citizens who inhabited the future town were not of a speculative turn. They held the timber-line close, occupied the prairies back of it freely, raised a few cattle that there was a market for, raised a little pork for sale, and found a market for it at Bloomington, Pekin or Chicago. They did not want to sell their timber-land, and did not want to buy the prairie ; did not encourage immigration ; indeed, they now very unanimously believe that their time would have been a happier one, with fewer regrets and less trouble, had the ante-railroad era continued. They became thoroughly conservative in regard to the influx of new neighbors, from the little experience they had soon after the time that the land upon which they lived came into market — a crowd of hungry specu- lators, with all kinds of wild-cat bank bills appeared, ready to buy them out, or, if possi- ble, to find where there was an available tract of timber-land to be purchased of the Government. They would " prospect " for " corners " by the day, and, with compass in hand, run lines all over to find what the settlers refused to tell them. There was no end to the devices of these " locusts " to find out where certain lands could be found. It was very natural that the residents should be unwilling to show them any accommoda- tion. THE RAILROAD AGE. Though Lawndale never had a railroad, and some of her citizens undoubtedly think them the sum of villainies, their present prosperity is, beyond question, owing to the building of these great highways. Hon. John Cassedy, with whose name the growth and development of the township has been so identified in its every interest, came here from New York City in the summer of 1851, determined to be a farmer. A sketch of his life, and of his experience, is well worthy of preserving, not more as a memento to a, faithful public officer, than as a preserving of certain incidents and customs that never will be repeated in the time to come, however much history may " repeat itself." John Cassedy, at the age of eighteen, had received a common-school education ; had helped his father to clear a timber farm in the wilds of Michigan ; was tall, rather HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 64& slender, not remarkably robust, physically, but mentally of a cast which, as was said of the discoverer of America, would have constructed a new world if he had failed in dis- covering one. He returned to New York City, the place of his birth, to accept a clerk- ship which had been offered him, devoting his earnings to assisting his father in the maintenance of the family until his majority. At the age of twenty-three, he had saved from his earnings about $250, $160 of which he paid at the broker's office of Jacob Little & Co., then famous in Wall street, for a 160-acre land warrant; first stipulating that, in case he did not locate it, they would buy it back for $150. He took a railroad ticket to New Buffalo, a point on Lake Michigan, once quite important, but now for- gotten, except by those who, coming to Chicago about that time, found that the terminus of the Michigan Central Railroad ; putting the remainder of his fortune in gold, with his land warrant, which he dreamed was his farm, into a belt around his body, he struck out afoot to find a farm. He knew that the Illinois Central Railroad was soon to be built, and that it was to pass through Bloomington ; and, after much study and some considerable doubt about locality, decided to get as near that line of road as possible. The land, for fifteen miles each side of that line of proposed road, had been withdrawn from market when he got to Danville. The fifteen-mile exemption covered the town- ship of Lexington. He procured from the land office at Danville, a plat of Town 25, Range 5, which adjoined the railroad land, and also a plat of Town 26, Range 6 (Indian Grove), intending to locate his land warrant somewhere on the former, and, with $50 of his money, get a forty-acre piece of timber in the latter, for he found no timber-land still in the hands of the Government in the former. Arriving here, he made the acquaintance of Shelton Smith, with whose aid he soou selected the quarter-section he wanted on Section 18, where he still resides ; but to get his timber land was a more difficult matter. He knew that there were two forty-acre pieces in t the Indian Grove timber still subject to entry. One of these he must have or he could not take the prairie farm, for a prairie farm with no timber land to look to for fuel and fencing was, at that day, practically valueless. Striking out across the country for the Grove, he could not make out the corners so as to find out the particular forties which he wanted to inspect. If he let the residents of the Grove know what land he wanted to buy, there was nothing to prevent their getting to Danville ahead of him and entering it, as he was on foot. They all had land to sell at $40 per acre, but, unfortunately, he could not buy more than one acre at that price, and must depend on his mother wit to find the cheaper land. Another trouble he met was that, learning he was from New York, and still wearing the soiled " Broadway suit," they recalled the sorrowful experi- ence with some Yankee peddler who had recently depleted the cash of the Grove neigh - borhood by selling some new-fangled Yankee invention, which worked very well in model, but which utterly failed to realize the fortune which the imaginative speculator had portrayed. They did not want any Yankees in there, and all with one accord began to make it difficult for him. By strategy, he got sight of his forty, and went to Dan- ville and entered both tracts. At that time, standing on the land of Section 18, he could see the roofs of Pleasant Hill, a few houses along the Mackinaw, and, from the high land north of his house, could see the roof of Ben Walton's house, in Belle Prairie, just then being built. From his farm east to the Indiana line, over the Grand Prairie, there was not probably a house or an inclosure. He returned to New York and continued in the employ of the company that he had clerked for, who sent him to North 644 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Oarolina to superintend a mine, where his strong democratic notions in regard to the right of one man to own and sell another received a decided weakening. In 1855, he returned to Lawndale to live, broke up his land, built a house and went to farming. He raised three crops before there was any chance to sell his corn. In 1860, it became necessary to sell some. He hired a man to shell, which cost him, with the hands he had to employ and board, 3 cents per bushel. Shelled 1,200 bushels, hauled it to Lex- ington, hired three cars and sent it to Chicago, and waited for returns. They came, and it did not take much ciphering to make ou«- that his corn in crib just netted him 7 cents a bushel. Such was farming, even after railroads were built. Mr. Cassedy is a man of large information, positive convictions, and, everywhere and under all circumstances, true to those convictions. He was the first Supervisor elected from the township. Ten times elected to that important office ; five times served as Chairman of the Board. Has continually served his town in other official positions. Has served the county with great credit in the Legislature during the most important General Assembly, when the Revision of 1874 was adopted, and has never been a failure anywhere. Politically, he was a Democrat originally, but joined the Republican party early in its history, and has stood firmly by that party since. But it is, perhaps, less as a partisan than as a clear-headed, progressive and earnest friend of right and home interests that he holds the reputation which he does. Not always over-nice in the terms which he uses, he sometimes aroused animosities, particularly when in the Legislature, which, fortunately, led to nothing more serious than a challenge he once received after a wordy crossfire in which it would seem that he had said something to arouse the ire of a city member. The message was sent by a page of the House, and was probably intended to frighten the country member. Cassedy read it, coolly picked up his pen and wrote this reply: "Sir — Yours received and accepted. Place of meeting, on the top of the State House dome ; time, 12 o'clock to-night ; weapons, pistols for two, coffee for one. P. S. You won't need any coffee. Resp'y, J. C," and returned it by the same page. During the years from 1854 to 1857 inclusive, Lawndale was pretty generally settled up with persons who owned the land they settled on. Among others, the follow- ing appeared here during that time: J. W. L. Matheny, settled on Section 5 ; he was the first blacksmith in this part of the country, and his house was the home of the Methodist ministers who served their generation on this prairie. He took a deep interest in the Sabbath school and indeed in every good work. Meek and retiring, he never sought public notice, but earnestly followed where conviction led, even to the battle-field. George W. Hanks built on and improved the southwest of Section 6, after which, he moved to Yates Township, and has recently died. He was a man of enlarged views, public spirited, and in all respects a good citizen. Joel Smith came on to the southeast of Section 5, from Ohio, and still resides there, a trusty, good citizen. John F. Smith on the southwest of Section 4. James T. Ayers, a public-spirited, pious man, improved a farm and resided here until he enlisted in the army. He was a local Methodist preacher, was full of good works, and his influence all for the right. His son lives in Allin Township. John Burdett came here from Kentucky and bought land in Sections 9 and 16. In company with Dr. J. W. Yoemans, then a practicing physician at Pleasant Hill, he bought three acres of land near the Henline stream, half a mile below the old fort, and eighty rods HISTORY OF McLEAN COJNTY. 645 west of the Evergreen Church, upon which they erected a steam grist-mill, the first and only one in the township, about the year 1853. They put in one run of stone and later, bolts, and for a time did very good work. Dr. Yoemans afterward moved to Pontiac, where, in 1866, he was appointed Postmaster, and soon disappeared in consequence of being charged with complicity in the murder of Mr. Yoe. S. Withers, living now on the Shelton Smith farm, bought and improved on the northeast quarter of Section 9. H. H. Hughs moved here from Kentucky onto the southwest quarter of Section 1 0, and died here. His wife was burned to death while burn- ing off some rubbish . S. L. Greenwood took up and improved the southeast quarter of Sec- tion 10. J. R. Moon improved a farm on Section 16, where he died. James B. Williams came from Ohio to, and settled on the southeast quarter of Section 8. He was a local preacher and lives now near Pleasant Hill. James Wilson, from Ohio, settled on Sec- tion 25. John Hawthorne, an Irishman, took up and improved a farm on the south- west quarter of Section 28. Joseph Hamilton, from Ohio, a man of many good qualities, took up and improved a farm on Section 3, and T. A. Hopkins on Section 4. The township has always been and is yet a large corn-producing one. There have been occasional trials of some other cropping. "Very early, wheat was a great crop, and occasionally a crop of barley and of flax has been raised. Oats has proved a good crop, and the little wheat which has been sown late years has done well. For a number of years, cattle raising and feeding was the great business. During the war, it was very profitable, but latterly many have suffered losses and the feeding of cattle is nearly dis- continued. The corn is now sold off or fed to hogs, which branch of farming has, one year with another, proved most profitable. David and William B. Henline have for many years been the largest owners of real estate and the largest farmers in the township. They early bought large tracts of land and successfully managed it for many years. L. R. Wiley, one of the early settlers on the Mackinaw, whose house stands on the township line in such a position that he sleeps in Martin and washes and eats his meals in Lawndale, owns and works 440 acres in Sections 27 and 33. He is a good farmer, and, with the aid of his boys, now grown up around him, works it well. Hon. John Cassedy owns and works 600 acres in Sections 4, 7 and 18. He formerly fed cattle largely, but now only feeds about two car-loads (thirty-two head) per winter. He has a good, plain house and very comfortable feed yards, sheds, etc. He keeps his business well in hand and is successful. George Davis, a wagon-maker, living in Lexington, has a good farm of 320 acres in Section 14, and James Wilson a like farm in Section 25. These farms are both in the hands of good tenants. S. Weeks has a fine farm on Sections 1 3 and 24, with fine buildings, neat and tasty grounds, hedges well trimmed, everything showing thrift, care and close attention to business. He has been a successful cattle-feeder, and still continues in that line. T. B. Kilgore has a good farm of 320 acres in Section 26, and is esteemed by his neighbors one of the best farmers in Lawndale. He is a man of great energy and thorough attention to his business, and fairly successful. J. T. Starkey, John White and M. W. McNab, while perhaps making less pretensions to large business, are neat and successful farmers. 646 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. CHURCHES. In the earlier days, like many others, the community was not blessed with stated religious teaching from the pulpit, and there was not a disposition to seek spiritual guidance. It is told of one circuit-rider who thought he had a call in this " neck of woods," that when he rode into the neighborhood, the boys mistook him for one seeking an opportunity to trade horses, and seized him by the bridle, and, nolens volens, pressed him to the stable to trade horses. His protests against trading were only esteemed a well-assumed shyness to appear too anxious to trade. In the year 1851, a small build- ing was put up at the timber near where the residence of Benjamin Taylor now stands. It was a small house, but comfortable. There was no regular preaching, but the Meth- odists and United Brethren occupied it occasionally. When there was to be preaching, the minister would advertise it by marking on the building with a coal at what time he might be expected. As he seldom failed to meet an engagement, he had a full turn- out from miles around. Revs. Messrs. Calhoun, Craig, Frank Smith, A. Winset and others, preached in the little chapel at different times. In 1856, politics ran high and party spirit was not exactly toned down hereabouts. Some of the Methodist preachers were more than suspected of being " Abolitionists " in very thin disguise. "Abolitionism " did not rage in this country. "Bleeding Kansas" and "Topeka Constitution" were not terms of endearment. When one of the preachers preached and prayed in favor of bringing their religion to the polls, and such other generalities, some of the hearers- thought it was political preaching, and went out and made a battering-ram out of a good-sized sappling and bombarded the house of worship in real earnest. The preacher escaped without much injury ; but not so well the bombarders, for the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, and Lawndale soon after became in political sympathy with that kind of preaching. The Methodist Church now standing on Section 5 (at the southeast corner) was built in 1865. Service had been held for some years by the itinerant preachers of that denomination, and, in 1860, an organization was formed in that part of the town- ship, services being held in the schoolhouses until the church was built. The building is 24x36, plain, and cost about $2,000. J. W. L. Matheny and H. H. Scott were the leading spirits in the enterprise. It belongs to the Pleasant Hill Circuit. Rev. Messrs. Carmack, Day, Hart, Frank Smith, William Underwood, Stevens, Jones and Rogers, have officiated successively. The "Evergreen" M. E. Church, a neat and commodious building, 24x40, about eighty rods east of the center of Section 30, was built in 1868, at a cost of about $2,700. The men to whom, among many others, only in less degree, the building of this edifice is due, were Shelton Smith, David Hitch, J. T. Starkey and John Cassedy. This belongs to the same circuit and the same ministers have preached there. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION was effected in 1858. The first officers elected were: John Cassedy, Supervisor; T. S. Smith and J. T. Ayres, Justices of the Peace; John Burdett, Clerk; H. H. Hays, J. R. Moon and Alfred Heath, Commissioners of Highways ; J. H. Burdett, Assessor, and J. R. Moon, Collector. The town was divided into four road-districts. John Cassedy was Supervisor for ten years and Shelton Smith, J. W. Vawter, T. B. Kilgore HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 647 and Cyrus Benson have served the town in that capacity. The Justices have been, in addition to those first elected, John Cassedy, J. T. Starkey, Malcom McNab, Silas Wilcox, S. M. Smoats. The following have been elected Assessors : Joseph Hamilton, J. F. Myers, W. H. Myers, S. M. Smoats, Gr. W. Kirker, and these Commissioners of Highways, J. W. Vawter, A. B. McNab, H. H. Scott, R. M. Vance, Hugh Neal, J. Benson, H. W. Warner. Politically the town was Democratic until 1860, when it was a tie on Presidential candidates. Since then, Republican by about fifteen majority until the "farmer's move- ment" took shape, since which it has usually given a small majority against the Repub- lican ticket. The Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry took a strong hold among the farmers here, as well as in almost all the farming communities. Notwithstanding the determi- nation to the contrary at the opening, it soon assumed a political cast, and after its short run, went the way of other organizations whose objects are good, but which have only the general good at stake. , Human nature seems to lack the ability to carry on those purely social and unselfish associations. SCHOOLS. By 1852, there seemed, for the first time, a necessity for common schools. The rush of immigration consequent upon the railroad age had commenced. In that year the township school organization was effected. At the close of 1851, not one-quarter of the township had been sold ; but in three years from that time, land was held at $8 per acre, which was a rapid advance, but not beyond a just value. The school section was upon the creek, and was coveted as early as this for a cattle range, having, for most of the year, a good water supply. In 1855, the school land was sold at a low figure, and was really of no great value to the schools, compared with what it would have been if kept for ten years longer. " The Swamp-Land Fund," which was intended as an addi- tion to the common-school fund, has not, in this county, proved, directly at least, such an addition. Complaint is made, that the County Court, previous to the adoption of township organization (and this complaint was one of the principal reasons for adopting that system in this county), had diverted the proceeds of the County Swamp- Land Fund, to secure the location of the State Normal School at or near Bloomington. There never was any general complaint that the Normal School was not, in all respects, a worthy and a valuable institution, and really a desirable acquisition, but that its ben- efits were largely local. But the great complaint was, that the using of the fund in that way, was a diversion from the common-school fund. The law required that these " swamp " lands (many of which are known to be the very best farms in the county) should be " drained " and sold. The draining was never done except on paper, and one of the great benefits which would have accrued from a general system of drainage was never received. In April, 1866, the town was divided into five school districts; and, in 1878, into nine. From the last report of the Treasurer, Cassedy, the following figures are taken : Number of districts, 9 ; number of teachers employed, 13 ; whole number of children under twenty-one, 518 ; number between six and twenty-one, 357 ; whole number enrolled in schools, 272 ; average number of months taught, 8 ; amount paid teachers, $2,127.53 ; paid for other expenses, $1,277.20 ; total amount paid, $3,404.73 ; amount 648 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. of school fund, $4,077. The township furnished her full quota of men to serve in the grand army of the Union for suppression of rebellion. Indeed, it is believed that more than the full number were really supplied. The circumstances were all against getting full " credits " to a township like this. Many of the younger readers will hardly understand what this means, and an explanation is here given for their benefit (the reading of which may be " skipped " by those who were supervisors during that trying time, and those who were in mortal fear of a " draft," for such are presumed to fully understand all about it). During the filling of the first calls of the President for men, all enlistments were from pure patriotism, or from a laudable desire for military renown from honor or promotion. Men rushed to arms from every township of our common country, without ever thinking whether they had a residence, caring only to know whether they had a country. Many transient men enlisted who had no home. In Lawndale there were many new comers, their sons and hired men staying with them perhaps only a few days, and then hurrying to arms without knowing or caring where their residence was. No company or part of a company was raised in town, and many who went to the centers of enlistment, were marked on the rolls as being residents of the place where they enlisted. As time went on, and the demands for men became more urgent, men were always around the business centers, who were shrewd enough to induce men to credit to their place of enlistment instead of their own homes. Thus Lawndale and similar towns never got credit for the men who went to the army ; and when a draft was ordered, it became a source of great trouble and anxiety on the part of those who had the township affairs in charge, to hunt out and get credit for those who had enlisted. The men from Lawndale enlisted in most all the various regiments which were raised in the county. Some of the first into Capt. Patten's company, of the Twentieth. Others into Oglesby's Eighth. Several into the " Normal " and the Ninety fourth. Some going into the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth, which was raised in Livingston County, and of course into many others. The town should, without further delay, make up, for preservation, a record of those who nobly served and heroically died for their country's cause. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. PADUA TOWNSHIP. Padua Township is in the second tier of townships from the southern line of the county, and the third from the east line, being joined on the north by Blue Mound, on the east by Arrowsmith, south by Empire, and west by Old Town. The surface of the soil is gently rolling, being higher and more rolling along its northern sections, and along a portion of the southern. The high ridge frequently spoken of in these sketches as lying along the line which divides the townships in 24 from those in 23, is plainly discoverable along the northern part of Padua. Indeed, it extends from Normal almost due east nearly to Gibson, in Ford County, and fairly divides the head-waters of the Money Creek, the Mackinaw and the Vermilion north, from those of the Kickapoo, Salt Creek and the Sangamon on the south. Such " divides" are not uncommon, and are always sought out by the " second settlers," that is, those who came in the second HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 649 immigration wave, after the timber line bad all been occupied ; and the farm-seeker would only take such lands as his judgment told him would not be liable to overflow, and would need no draining. In this view the judgment was hardly correct; for it is a well-known fact now that all through these uplands are spots which are greatly improved by tile draining. A similar, though less marked and less uniform, ridge runs from the head of Old Town Timber almost due east, to the county line, five miles south- east of Saybrook, keeping almost exactly on the line between Townships 22 and 23. These two ridges hold within their bounds all of that portion of McLean County lying east of the Kickapoo, in Town 23, Ranges 3, 4, 5 and 6, and embraces the valley of the Sangamon River for the first twenty miles of such valley. The remarkable thing about this valley is that it is bounded, as above stated, almost exactly north and south, by the township lines of these four Congressional town- ships, the north branch of Salt Creek only seeming to find a way across the southern boundary. It was here, at the point where the timber grows upon this " divide " between the Kickapoo and the Sangamon, that the Indians made their habitations and lived in their Old Town home, as is more fully set forth in another portion of this work ; and near the corners of the towns of Padua, Arrowswith, Empire and West, are 6till to be seen the old fortifications by which they expected to protect themselves from the dangers of " civilization." The township of Padua derived its name from the postoffice of that name within its borders, and was selected by the Department, or, rather, by some official of the Department, for there seemed to be no one living in the neighborhood who had an ambition to have his name perpetuated by post offices. It is six miles square, being a full Congressional township, and had, at its original settlement, about six square miles of timber, covering very nearly the six southern sections. It has no considerable stream running through it. The La Fayette, Bloomington & Western Railroad, which, since its construction, is known by the title of La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington, runs through it from east to west, having on it, Holder, on the west line of the township ; Padua, near the centre ; and Ellsworth, near the eastern line ; Benjaminville, a hamlet, with its church, post office and blacksmith-shop, before railroad times, on the prairie, near the northwestern corner ; and its wooded counterpart, familiarly called " Stumptown," on the timber line. With a singular disposition to make the local name as horrid as it could well be, the christening powers added the name of Saint Clairsville, as the name of the precinct where the people from this whole country went up to vote in the olden time. St. Clair would have been, as the name of the good preacher who, after Peter Cartwright, had charge of the Elder's district, an appropriate name for the field of his labors ; but he who suggested, sanctioned or authorized the tacking of the " viile " onto the good Elder's name and that of Friend Benjamin, has lain himself open to being called a " villain." EARLY SETTLEMENTS. In the absence of any official record, and now that the oldest citizens have passed away, it is not positively known, but there is good reason to believe, that John W. Daw- son, who was also of the first in Blooming Grove, was the first to settle in that part of Old Town Timber which lies within the present bounds of Padua. Dawson came with his old friend, John Hendrix, from Champaign County, Ohio, via Sangamon County, to 650 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Blooming Grove, and made the first settlement in McLean County in 1822. Four years later, or fifty-five years ago, he sold his claim there and set up his lares and penates and what little else he had, in Padua, on the farm now occupied by John Wirt. Daw- son sold his Bloomington claim to Benjamin Cox, who died before he removed his fam- ily to it. His son David became the owner of the place. From this, it appears that the settlement of Padua was only four years after that at Bloomington. Mr. Dawson was the father of ten children, who are either dead or scattered from the home of their childhood. He moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and died there. In 1829, James Van- scoyoc came from Ohio and took a clSim where his son-in-law, Marks Banks now lives. He was a man of energy, and helped greatly in bringing to subjection the wild lands of Padua. He remained here about twenty years, and then moved to Cheney's Grove. Of seven children, five grew up and settled around him in this and the adjoining townships. William R. Goodheart, father of Sheriff Goodheart, of McLean County, after many wanderings, came here to live in 1827. He only remained here about three years and then took up his abode in Bloomington. He had, perhaps, seen more of the world than any man who was known hereabout at that time, or, very likely, since. Born in Scotland, after living awhile in Holland, he ran away and went to sea ; was captured by the French ; and, taking the matter as easily as possible, he enlisted under the first Consul, and followed the French eagles through seven years of campaigning ; stood sentinel on the porch of St. Peters, in Rome ; and was present at the burning of Mos- cow. While the Scotch are famous for being found in every clime, and inhabit places in every corner of the globe, he was probably the first Scotch Presbyterian who ever helped the French infidel hold the keys of the Vatican against the Pontiff, who is popu- larly credited with being the ecclesiastical successor of St. Peter. This exemplifies one of the strong peculiarities of the Scotch. He subsequently enlisted in the British serv- ice and came to America to help subdue the States, but was captured in Perry's victory, and, preferring service in the American cause to being exchanged, he enlisted under Harrison. He lived in Ohio awhile after the close of the war, and then came to McLean County and tried the Mackinaw awhile; came to Padua, then went to Bloom- ington, where he died in 1842. He became a devoted member of the Methodist Church, and was licensed by Cartwright as an exhorter. His life was a varied one, full of the most startling incidents. Born in the land of John Knox, growing up with the Dutch, bearing arms for infidel France, serving commercial England, fighting for Young America, braving the hardships of frontier life in McLean, making the first brick that were made in this county, enlisting late, but with the spirit of a trained sol- dier under the banner of the cross, he devoted his latter years to a fervid and effective preaching of the Word. He was the father of ten children, most of whom grew up around him to honor the memory of his gnarled life and triumphant death. Jeremiah Greenman came from Ohio to the Dawson place in 1831. He entered a farm and remained here until he died, in 1843. Nine children were born to him, eight of whom grew up. One was killed in the battle of Prairie Grove, and the youngest son, Jeremiah, after serving his country in the war for putting down rebellion, returned to care for his widowed mother. A few years since, he sold the farm to Willis Whight- man, and removed to Kansas. Jesse Frankeberger came here from Ohio in 1829, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son Frank. He was a local preacher of the M. E. Church, and the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 651 preaching services, especially quarterly meetings, were frequently held in his barn. He was a man of strong good sense, and a good manager. He owned and managed a large farm, and preached wherever he was wanted all over this part of the country, from the Mackinaw to Monticello, in the houses or barns or groves, wherever he could collect a few together, riding miles to attend an appointment, and returning home without a dinner. Politically, he was a strong Democrat. He remained upon his farm here until 1858, when he went to Bloomington, where he died at the age of eighty. He was three times married, and was the father of eighteen children, twelve of whom are now living, only two, however, in Padua — Frank and Mrs. Allen Hendrix ; the others are scattered all over the West. His widow recently died here at a good old age. Adolphus Dimmick came here in 1832. He was originally from Tolland County, Conn. He took up a claim near what is called Stumptown, and lived there until 1845. His family are all dead, except his wife, who married Mr. Ireland. She still lives on the farm which she helped to make, which is in charge of her nephew, John Livingston. Josiah Horr, who has been, and still is, reckoned an influential man in the history of Padua, came here from Lewis County, N. Y., in 1836. His wife was a Cheney, which probably decided his coming here. He still lives on the ground he first entered has 350 acres, which he and his son are farming. He has repeatedly served his town as Supervisor, and in other official capacity, to the general satisfaction of his neighbors. He lived first on the Dawson place, but soon got into his own cabin. The Padua post office was long held at his house, but was moved when Ellsworth was established at the station. There has hardly been a year since he came here with his father that he has not been in some minor official position — being a man of strong mind and clear percep- tions, good education and sterling honesty. John Bishop, who has lived for some years in the " Stumptown " neighborhood, came to the timber about this time, but first settled further west. Quite a large family grew up about him, several of whom gave their services, and one his brave, young life, to his country's cause. This family, like the other Bishops in this part of the county, are highly respected for their ability and worth. John Hendrix came to Old Town Timber from Huron County, Ohio, in 1836, and took a claim where the " Cheney's Grove Road " crosses the Kickapoo. In 1854, he came to Padua, and died here in 1857, leaving a comfortable property to his children, who, with his grandchildren, grew up here. Of his six children, three are now living. One was the unfortunate subject of the startling tragedy which, by his own hand, closed the lives of himself and wife in a moment of mania. Another, Allen Hendrix, is too well known in every township in McLean County to need anything more than the men- tion of his name here to recall a hundred incidents and recollections to the mind of nearly every reader. After living awhile with his father in Old Town, he went to Bloomington and built four houses near where the L. M. & B. R. R. depot now is in Pone Hollow. He has lived in Padua twenty-one years, on the farm one-half mile south of Padua Station. He married a daughter of Rev. Jesse Frankeberger, by whom ten children were born, nine of whom are living. Mrs. H. is a woman of great personal worth, attractive both in appearance and in the excellence of mental powers and firm 652 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. „ Christian character. Several of her children live near. A son, Lewis, is a large and prosperous farmer. Another, William B., has served several terms as Coroner of McLean County, and as a Justice of the Peace in Bloomington. Mr. John Hendrix, the father of Allen, should not be confounded with Mr. John Hendrix, who was the first settler in the county. The latter came from Champaign County, and it is not known that he was a relative of the Huron County man. • Allen — we think no secresy is violated in so stating — is a Republican, and proba- bly no important convention or 'caucus of that party has been held in the county for twenty years without his presence. No one who knows him will question his fixed- ness of opposition to whatever he antagonizes. Owen Cheney came here with his father, Jonathan Cheney, who, it will be remem- bered, lived here awhile before settling Cheney's Grove. Owen married Maria, a daughter of J. W. Dawson, and commenced early to make a farm out on the prairie. He was a man of energy, and, though dying comparatively young, left a considerable property. His son, Hon. J. H. Cheney, now living in Bloomington, the Vice President and Treasurer of the L. M. & B. K. R., owns a large faim in this township, near Ellsworth, and is largely engaged in cattle-feeding and trading. His annual sales of cattle and hogs are large, and his business capacity is of the highest order. William Harrison, another son-in-law of Dawson, commenced a farm here about the same time, and still lives with his son on the farm near Ellsworth. William and Frank Evans, sons of William Evans, who was one of the first set- tlers of Blooming Grove, early took up farms near the timber, and have raised large families here. David Brannaman came here with Josiah Horr, and took up a farm near him at Stumptown. He had seven children. His son Addison lives still on the place. I. B. Jackson, now living at Cheney's Grove, took up a farm near here first, and has quite a large family living around here. Henry Burne came from Ohio and settled on " Bald Hill " about the same time. He died here and his children are scattered. His sons, who live in Martin Township, are among the best farmers of that town and are respected and successful. John Arrowsmith purchased the place and still lives on it, his children living around him. His son, the present Supervisor, lives on the farm which was entered about thirty-five years ago by Archie Martin (his father-in-law). Mr. Martin died about fifteen years ago, leaving a family of six children and about five hundred acres of land. The children still reside here. Henry Arrowsmith, a brother of John, has a good farm in that part of the town- ship, his children living around him. Henry Bump, who came from New York, set- tled on the farm now occupied by Thomas Mitchell, near the station. The earlier settlements in the northwestern part of the township, around about Benjamin ville, were made by a number of members of the Society of Friends. John Benjamin, a brother of the present County Judge, commenced his farming operations out on the prairie twenty-five years ago. He gave the name to the post office there and owns 1,000 acres of land around it. He is an excellent man, a good farmer and a citi- zen of great worth and influence, maintaining the early simplicity which marks the sect. His children have settled around him, and there seems no reason why he should HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 653 not be contented and happy. His land is of the best ; the buildings, stock and appoint- ments all very good. Henry Bedell, from New York, settled near Mr. Benjamin in 1859 ; is like him in religious belief and practice. He has half a section of fine land, is a good farmer and most excellent neighbor — his eight children living near him. No higher tribute can be paid him than that of one who has long lived near him, who said, in the blunt way which carries with it the conviction of truth, " Henry Bedell is a credit to the community, an honor to the name. He is a Quaker, and a good one." Friend Abner Moore, a preacher of the Society, lived there several years. He died, leaving a son and three daughters. He was a very old man, but greatly esteemed. His son James has recently sold the old homestead, for $52 an acre, which does not look much like " hard-pan " prices. If it indicates anything it is that good farms are not as much affected by shrinkage in prices as poor ones. Dr. Hinton came here from Ohio about 1844, and began the practice of his pro- fession. He was a well-educated and skillful physician. He owns about one thousand acres of land. His son Alvin has succeeded to his father's practice, and has a large and successful practice in this and the adjoining townships. Jonas Krum, father of I. B. Krum, grain-dealer at Bloomington and at Arrow- smith, settled near the mill at Stumptown about thirty years ago. He carried on a considerable farm until his death, about 1860. There are besides these, who are regarded as the early settlers, the names of sev- eral others which properly belong here. Bichard Swan and Mr. Gribbs settled early, near the timber. James G-anoe, John Campbell and William Orange, a little later. Later still, James Welch, Thomas Kennedy, Matthew Bichardson and James Beed, in the northern part. Joseph Jennings, from Tazewell County, has a fine farm of 400 acres, which he bought of Mr. Hamilton, east of Benjaminville, about 1860. The buildings are first- rate — two good houses and three barns — with 1,200 trees on the place. He is a good farmer, very industrious and successful. Ashley Merwin has a fine farm of 240 acres, upon which is a nursery and large orchard. George Brigham came here from the northern part of the State, in 1846. He has a good farm near the middle of the north line of the township. Thomas Kennedy has an excellent farm of 240 acres, in the western part of the town. He came here from Funk's Grove, in 1863. The buildings, orchards and fences are in excellent condition, and the farm shows a careful and successful farmer. James White owns 200 acres of land in Section 17, which he bought in 1857. It is a fine farm, with good buildings and excellent orchard. Jonathan Spencer has a well-improved farm in Section 17, upon which he has lived eighteen years. He has a fine, new barn, and first-rate stock, having a decided weak- ness for good horses. A thrifty man, with a family of nine children, ought to be, and is, deemed a success. CHURCHES. Besides the Friends' meeting-house, there are within the township three Methodist a Christian and a Baptist Church. The first regular Quarterly Meetings here were held in Frankeberger's barn, by Peter Cartwright and John St. Clair, Presiding Elders. The former is well known, the latter not 654 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. so well, but quite as favorably. He was a most excellent man, and tbe few wbo are now here that formerly knew him, speak of him in terms of profound admiration. At a camp-meeting once, when the services were at the most interesting point, a heavy and very threatening cloud collected, and, with awful peals of thunder and terrific lightning, approached. The tornado was too well known by these dwellers along the timber edges at this time. Fear seemed to seize every heart but the pious Elder's, who, with no indi- cations of other than a fear for the final condemnation of the impenitent, discontinued his sermon, and asked the whole congregation to unite with him in a prayer to Him who holds the winds in the hollow of his hand, for the aversion of the coming storm. With tones as free from feeling as if he had been in his chamber, he sent up the petition of the congregation, that if it was the Lord's will the storm might pass by, that the re- ligious services then in progress might be permitted to continue, to the glory of Grod, and the up-building of His Kingdom. Whether in response to the prayer of faith or not is not given to finite minds to decide, but the storm divided and passed away. The effect upon the audience was beyond the power of pen description. The whole congregation shouted as they sang a hearty thanksgiving, and each one felt as if stand- ing on holy ground. They retired to their tents to continue clear into the middle of the night hallelujahs of praise. It was the most remarkable soul-stirring scene ever witnessed in this part of the country. Some of the earlier preachers here were Mr. Frank- eberger, William Royal, John French and Squire P. Chase. The first class consisted of eight persons, with John French for leader. They were : Mr. and Mrs. French, Mr. and Mrs. Swan, Mr. and Mrs. Frankeberger and two daughters. The first M. E. Church was the Old Town Chapel, near the southeast corner of the township, south of where Ellsworth now is. It was built about 1845, and is about 30x38. Jesse Frankeberger, Ezekiel Arrowsmith and Andrew Jones were largely instrumental in building this house. An M. E. Church was built in 1860, at Benjamin- ville, under the active energies of James White, Joseph Murphy and others. It was removed to Holder, and sold to the United Brethren, after which the Methodists built Harmony Chapel, in 1877, two miles east of Benjamin ville, on Jennings' land. It is 32x40, plain and neat, painted and carpeted. This was under the pastorate of Mr. Job Ingram, now of Downs, and W. B. Rucker, Seth Middleton Jennings, White and others were active in supplying the long felt need. Asbury Chapel was built at Stumptown about 1869, and cost about $1,900. David and Alfred Frankeberger, and Lewis Hendrix were the leading spirits. The house was dedicated by Presiding Elder Buck. The Baptists have in years past held an important position in the southern portion of the township. Their house of worship was built about 1843. Elder Whitney preached here several years. Elders Fiske and H. H. Ballard also officiated frequently. There were about twenty-five members at the time of building. Archie Campbell, Mrs. Esther Ireland and Elder Whitney were the most energetic in this work. Mrs. Ireland, now apparently nearing her end, has long been a stay of the church, by her example, her earnestness, doing personally all that any woman could, her purse always open, her faith always strong. Her nephew, Mr. Livingston, and Charles Ingell are live workers in the cause. The Christian Church had on organization before Ellsworth was laid out, and held meetings in Center Schoolhouse. Elder Speed Stagner and Mr. Robinson have preached, and Oscar D. Campbell officiates at present. /? (CP#/£&?^~ MONEY CREEK TP. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 657 The township is usually Republican, when party lines are strongly drawn, but the people have a fashion of voting independently. The following is the list of township officers who have been elected since township organization was adopted : 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 Votes Cast. Josiah Horr C. H. Hobart 165 170 1L9 203 209 207 145 183 192 267 230 287i Supervisor. Josiah Horr Josiah Horr Josiah Horr James Wirt H. R. Arrowsmith.. Josiah Horr. George Brewer. George Brewer. J. H. Campbell. C. H. Hobart.... C. H. Hobart..., C. H. Hobart. Josiah Horr Marks Banks B. Marot Josiah Horr W. R. Anderson.... Josiah Horr Josiah Horr David Moore P. V. Weidnor P. V. Weidnor William O'Neal P. V. Weidnor P. V. Weidnor Charles Holdren... VV. A. Arrowsmith. Ira Stout C. H. Hobart Ira Stout Ira Stout Ira Stout Joseph Pierce S. D. Vandervoort. A. J. Wampler A. J. Wampler A. J. Wampler J. Holdren A. J. Wampler A. J. Wampler A. J. Wampler A. J. Wampler Assessor. W. A. Lebo W. A. Lebo W. A. Lebo E. P. Glasscock... E. P. Glasscock... D. Frankeberger. D. Frankeberger. J. H. Walker George A. Yost.... John Whitcomb ... John Whitcomb ... George A. Yost W. C. Lacey William O'Neal... James Hancock.... David Moore J H. Pierce D. Frankeberger .. I. B. Jackson William Rockwell. David Moore Collector. R. Percey. R. Percey. R. Percey. H. Barnes. George Greenman. J. W. Heacock. Charles Sackett. S. D. Vandervoort. H. H. Ballard. A. J. Wampler. H. H. Ballard. C. 0. Rider. Oliver Holdner. C. 0. Rider. The following have been elected Justices of the Peace: T. N. Hoffman, John Bishop, Josiah Horr, James Smith, H. H. Ballard, D. 0. Stout, D. Frankeberger, G-. W. Crutchler, F. La Rue, H. T. Edwards, James A. Doyle. The Commissioners of Highways have been: B. Fetheroff, S. Gaver, A. Merwin, A. Frankeberger, J. R. Benjamin, S. Stanger, William Harrison, Sylvester Stanger, Thomas Starr, I. B. Jackson, Wilson Vandervoort, James Welch, Levi Branson, John Creel, J. B. Moore, Ed. Coale, D. P. Carlisle. In 1867, by a vote of 79 to 49, the township voted to subscribe $25,000 in ten year's 10-per-cent bonds to the La Fayette, Bloomington & Western R. R. Co. Soon after, the township voted $5,000 additional to the same road. These bonds are due next year, and a proposition has been made to issue in lieu thereof, thirty new bonds, payable five of them each year, for six years, which will probably be accepted. PADUA STATION. At the time the railroad aid was voted by the township, it was supposed that the station would be near the center of the township. When the road was completed, how- ever, one station was placed on the western line and one near the eastern, where certain " influential " men had land. This is said not to have been satisfactory to Allen Hen- drix and his neighbors, near the center, and they set about " coercing " the officials to provide for them. They did this by a pertinacious system of coaxing, badgering, threatening, begging and buying ; they finally got a station by agreeing to put up the buildings, which was done on Allen Hendrix's land in Section 17 ; he, with Thomas Mitchell, Joseph Jennings, James Moore, A. R. Coe and A. Mervin were principally instrumental in securing this concession. When the station was established, the post office was called Padua, the name which had for years been used by the office at Horr's. AA 658 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. Samuel Rodman was first appointed Postmaster. Alpheus Webber moved his store from Stumptown to the new station and sold it to Samuel & Scammon Rodman, who contin- ued in business till 1877, when they sold to W. I. Merwin, who is now in trade, is Sta- tion Agent and Postmaster. Cheney, Rodman, Merwin, and some others, have been engaged in buying corn, and the latter had a steam-power hay press in use for awhile, until it burned. The Padua tile-factory was erected by Samuel Stoops & Co., in 1878. They have two kilns with a capacity of 20,000 pieces, and use the Tiffany machine which will run from six to eight thousand per day. About $2,000 are invested in the buildings and machinery, and eight men are employed. Sales are ready, and the tiles, which usually run from two and one-half inches to six, are said to be as good as any. They use steam power, and require four days to properly burn. ELLSWORTH VILLAGE. Ellsworth was laid out on the lands of Mr. Ellsworth, J. H. Cheney and A. B. Ives, of Bloomington, in 1871. The land of the former lay north of the railroad; Cheney's south of the road and east of the principal street, and Ives' west of that. A^ J. Wampley bought the first lot that was sold ; he purchased, in 1871, on the Ives land. The switch and depot were put in the next year, and the post office established, Wamp- ley being first Postmaster, a position which he holds yet. Wampley at once opened up a general stock of merchandise, and continued there until 1878, when he moved his store and house across the street to lots bought on the Cheney land. John Campbell moved his store and stock of goods from Stumptown, in 1872, and has continued in trade since that time. Harry Vandervoort v and Joseph Pierce put up a store and opened in the hardware and implement trade, in 1873. In 1877, they sold to Holdren, who added drugs to his stock, and continues in trade. W. L. Sapp, James Reed and Mr. Arnold associated with themselves twelve other farmers, and subscribed $100 apiece to commence the " Club " store in 1872. Mr. Van Gundy was employed to conduct it. The next year, Reed & Van Gundy bought it out, and after another year Reed retired, and Van Gundy has continued in the busi- ness since. In 1874, Dr. Patterson, who had been here in practice a year, coming here from Heyworth, put up a small store and put in a stock of drugs, which he has continued to run in connection with his practice. The same year, Mr. Rockwood put in a stock of groceries in the building used by the "Club" store, and Joseph Starkey moved his store from a place three miles south- east, popularly called " Confedrit X Roads " (from a real or fancied prevailing opinion that some of the citizens there held opinions not dissimilar from those so eloquently championed by Rev. Mr. Nasby, Deacon Pogram and Saint Bascom), which he contin- ued to occupy for a few years. August Flint has a wagon-shop ; A. Jacoby a harness- shop ; H. T. Colwell, a shoe-shop. Dr. L. H. Scaggs has been in the practice of medi- cine for some years. David Hitch, who had had considerable experience in milling, built a grist-mill with two runs of stones, the citizens subscribing $1,000 toward it. After running it awhile, he sold to S. F. Myers, who is doing a very fair business. Stumptown was just in the edge of the timber. A steam-mill was built there as early as 1854, by Horine & HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 659 Harrison. After running it awhile, they sold to Fisher & Gibbs ; they to David Hitch, who was in trade with Webber, who put in a good grist-mill and sold to Hobart, who, in turn, in company with Mr. Dickinson, put the machinery into the Le Roy Mill. Webber & Hitch were selling goods, and John Campbell, also. James Holdren had a blacksmith-shop, and John Selman a wagon-shop. These all took to the prairie when the first proud snort of the locomotive was heard at Ellsworth, and Stumptown became like " Sweet Auburn," a deserted village. Benjaminville contained a store carried on by Mr. Hollinshead, a blacksmith-shop by Mr. Burrows, and the Friends' meeting-house, built in 1862, with sheds, etc., for comfort as well as worship, at a cost of $1,000. WEST TOWNSHIP. The township of West is the second from the east in the southern tier of town- ships. It embraces a Congressional township and a third, and is described as Town 22 north, Range 5 E., and 12 sections off the north end of Town 21 north, Range 5 E. of the Third Principal Meridian. It was originally all prairie except about 300 acres in Sections 6 and 5, where the extreme eastern point of the Old Town Timber runs out on the line between West and Arrowsmith. Topographically, it is one of the most curious in the county, being, as you pass from the northern to the southern boundaries, a suc- cession of high ridges, amounting almost to hills, and valleys. Along its northern end a high ridge extends entirely across the township from Old Town Timber nearly to Cheney's Grove, forming the southern boundary of the valley of the Sangamon, and is a pleasant succession of hillocks and vales, not too abrupt for general cultivation, and making a delightful contrast when viewed in connection with the pleasant valleys on either side, and the broad stretch of level country stretching off to the east into Ford County. The surface, as if by " unanimous consent," makes a gentle declivity to the south, reducing gradually both its elevation and its unevenness for two miles, reaching a dead level, which forms the head of the east branch of Salt Creek, which is about one mile in width, and extending without any seeming variation in its' monotonous plain entirely through the township from west to east, and apparently forming a portion of the stretch of level land which runs due east from Randolph's Grove, through and beyond the eastern border of the county, more nearly a perfect plain here than on either side, of unsurpassed richness, but too flat for thorough cultivation in wet seasons. It was intended to drain this thoroughly, but the cumbrous machinery of our drainage laws were past the ability of such mortals as undertook it, and the attempt was aban- doned until our wise legislators succeed in forming a drainage law which can be executed by common people, without going to the Supreme Court with every acre drained. Farther south, and extending like this valley across the entire township, is an elevation less high and more even than the one at the north ; and beyond this is the flatter land which forms the southern end of the township. Across the southeastern corner of this latter the branch of Salt Creek runs, being here increased by numerous branches to a stream of sufficient size to supply the wants of the herds at all seasons of the year. There were no early settlements in this township. It was not until about 1850 that the first sod was turned, and much of the land was unplowed as late as 1865, when 660 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. the boys came "marching home " to find, many of them, that it was too crowded in the old homesteads and " swarming " was the order of the day. This " swarming " wave coming principally from the West soon filled up the country that until then had remained unbroken. Tazewell, Fulton and other »western couuties, sent many of their young men in here. West is pretty liberally supplied with railroads. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western runs about three-fourths of a mile across the southwestern corner. The Springfield branch of the Illinois Central — formerly the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield — runs two miles across its southeastern corner, cutting Sections 1, 11 and 12 (T. 21-5), and has two stations on it, Weedman and Kumler. The Havana, Rantou] & Eastern runs across on the half-section line of sections, numbering from 19 to 24 inclusive, having two stations, Sabina and Delana. INDIANS. When the first white settlers made their way into this locality they found a band of Indians in assumed possession of quite a tract of country, though in reality their chiefs had for them some years before traded all of this land to the Government. They were, however, permitted to occupy the country until such time as it was wanted by actual white settlers. An Indian town was not such a substantial affair as the towns and villages of the county to-day, being but the rudest cabins and tents made of bark, skins of animals and slender poles. Therefore, an Indian town was not necessarily permanent, and we have no evidence that this Kickapoo village had existed in this locality more than a few years. The probability is that it was a band that had moved from some other place upon the appearance of the lawful owners of the country. At Danville, a few years previous, a tribe of the Kickapoos were occupying the timber along the Big Vermilion, and, upon the approach of the whites, they removed to the interior of the State, and from evidences in possession of H. W. Beckwith, Esq., of Danville, but little doubt remains that this was the same band. As soon as the whites had settled to some extent in the neighborhood of Old Town Timber, the Kickapoos, feeling that they were being somewhat crowded, removed their town or camp to the banks of Mackinaw, near the present site of Pleasant Hill ; thence, after a few years, to Indiau Grove, in Livingston County; and, in 1832, to Oliver's Grove, in the same county. At the last-named place they / lived a year or two, when they removed from the State and were lost as a distinctive band or tribe, being merged with other kindred tribes at the reservations beyond the Mississippi. The early white settlers speak in the most kindly terms of their early red neigh- bors. They were kind, honest, temperate and religious. Of course they were very ignorant, poor, and not over nice in their habits, though a few of them were credited with being neat in person and habits and of being possessed of some education, such as obtaiued only in good schools. Of this last class were uotably Aunt Nancy and Aunt Peggy. They are remembered by some of the early settlers as very decent-looking and good-mannered squaws who made considerable pretense to book learning. On one occasion, they went to hear the pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright, discourse on religion, and when asked how they liked him, replied, " Oh, he talks very well, but he has no education." In the library of Mr. Beckwith, of Danville, is a copy of the first paper published in the State in 1818, called the Illinois Magazine. In this paper is printed HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 661 a sermon delivered by a Christian Indian to this same band of Kickapoos while tbey still resided near Danville. The sermon was translated into English by Gurdon S. Hubbard, who was then an Indian trader at Danville, and furnished to the magazine named for publication. For good, sound sense and good rhetoric it is not often excelled by the more enlightened white divines of to-day. Mr. Hubbard says the sermon waslistened to with close attention, and seemed to be well understood and appreciated. In house-building, they approached more nearly to civilization than most others of tbeir race. While living in this vicinity, some of them provided themselves with houses or cabins as good as some of those occupied by the wbites. It is true, most of their dwellings were of a very primitive character ; but Mrs. Paist, who was here in 1822, and then a little girl, informs us tbat several of their cabins were graced with a second story, and were, in many respects, quite comfortable. The women cultivated patches of corn, beans, potatoes and other vegetables, and in the line of agriculture, excelled most of their white neighbors, though the men considered labor of that kind below their dig- nity, their business being the pursuit of game, with which the forests and prairies of this part of the county abounded. During the trouble with the followers of Black Hawk, in the northwestern part of tbe State, the Kickapoos remained friendlv to the whites, and, though the excitement consequent upon that war caused some suspicions even at this distance from the seat of war, and though quite a large number of soldiers were raised for the war in this county, the friendly Kickapoos remained true to their professions, and no outbreak occurred. At one time, Machini, who was the chief of the band, proposed a great war-dance, at which many of the settlers became very much frightened, and prepared for defense. They, however, did not understand the import of the demonstration, for, as afterward understood, it was not a menace, but simply the celebration of some past event. Indeed, Chief Machini, to express his friendship for the whites, invited a number of them to take part in the evolutions peculiar to the occasion. Some of the whites, however, fear- ing that this might be a ruse to entice them from their homes for the purpose of murder- ing them, discreetly "sent their regrets." The Dawsons and Orendorffs, however, attended, and were entertained in as kindly a manner as possible. Machini invited John Dawson to take pa*rt in the exercises, and, thinking to please the chief, he entered into the contortions with zeal. Mr. Dawson imagined that he understood the step quite as well and could sing far better than the chief himself; but he had sung but a few stanzas of the " he aw haw an a haw he haw" when the chief musician, who was Machini himself, shouted, "Stop!" Then turning to Mr. Dawson, in a very grave and somewhat injured manner, said : " Friend Dawson, you dance much good, but you no sing good." Mr. Dawson thereupon ceased his harmony, and confined himself to his muscular exercises. The war-dance passed off without any other disagreeable incident, and Machini thereafter explained that Dawson's singing confused him. In these dances, the women took no part whatever, but were simply spectators. When the first white man came here to reside, there was upon Section 5, upon the high land which lay beyond the point of timber, the remains of the old Indian fort which, though much talked about by those who make Indian history a study, still seems to be very little known by the citizens of the county in general. The land upon which it stood was surrounded by a fine growth of blue grass, showing that at one time the 662 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. prairie grass had been killed out by cultivation, or by being very thoroughly tread over by man or beasts. It is a well-known fact that prairie grass has not the quality of propagation, hav- ing no seeds and no root power of procreation. In these respects it is anomalous. It is not known that any other plant lacks these two essential principles of preservation and propagation. Once kill the roots of a single square rod of prairie grass and to the end of time that particular piece of land will never be covered with a growth of prairie grass again. When in the course of events this destruction occurred at and around the old fort, blue grass came in and remained as long as the land was kept in pasture, which was till about the year 1867. This was famous grazing ground, and Isaac Funk selected and entered it as he did other such lands in this part of the county. It still remains in the family, it being the property of his son George. Until it was put under the plow, the remains of the fort were plainly seen. A recent visit to the ground, in company with Mr. S. H. West, shows that the plow has pretty nearly oblit- erated the last fading lines of this most important landmark. But the importance of its position as a strategic point, as such defense was understood by Indians, will never be effaced. In another portion of this work, under its proper head, will be found a very full account of the military events which called this fort into being, and the results it effected ; it remains here to describe only its exact locality and position. In the timber were numerous breastworks behind which, with the friendly alliance of the trees, a last stand could be made in case the defenders of the Old Town rights stood in need of them, but just outside of the timber, fifty rods from the west line, and not more than fifteen rods from the north line of Section 5, stood the works of the fort proper. The land seemed formed by nature for this particular defensive purpose. So elevated as to command, in a clear day, before civilization had dotted the country with hedges and groves, a clear view of from fifteen to twenty-five miles from the east clear around to the southwest, and north, northeast and northwest a somewhat less extended view. The earthworks themselves were about ten rods by fifteen, with the corners rounded, being longer from north to south, and having the western lines run- ning past each other to admit entranee. A passage-way extended down the hillside west to a stream of water to prevent the cutting off of this needed supply. The works were about breast high. It is evident that the attack was expected from the way of the east, as no one would think of attacking the wily Indian through their natural covert, the timber. On either side, south and north, were the burying-grounds so long used by the Indians. These have in years past been ruthlessly dug over to secure the silver ornaments which were buried with their dead in great numbers. The ground was dug over and over, and hundreds of silver rings, bracelets, etc., were taken out. The bones are now lying on the surface, and at one time it was very common for the boys of the neighborhood, after each rain, to collect on the ground to find whatever of silver trinkets had been uncovered by the rain. In the dry, gravelly knolls around were buried their corn and provisions, for they never seem to have learned the habit of selling their crop before husking-time, and hauling it off to the nearest railroad, to enrich the " middle-man." HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 663 EARLIER SETTLEMENTS. The first settlements in West were made in the northwestern and southeastern cor- ners of the town. Henry West in the former, and John Weedman in the latter, are excellent samples of the educated, industrious, business farmers which the " second wave " of immigration brought to these parts ; men endowed with such qualities as to prove a success anywhere. The Crumbaughs, having reduced an " Empire " from wilderness to fruitful fields, went to " West," and verified the old saying, with slight variations — " Westward the Crumbaugh of Empire takes his way : " only in this particular case, Westward was toward the rising sun. James Love, James Spear, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Rice were the first settlers in West — Mr. Love near the north line, in Section 4, Mr. Spear near the west line in Section 6, and the other two near him. Mr. Love came in 1848, and lives here still on the land he first took up. He has 160 acres, with fair buildings, and is comfortably fixed. James Spear came in 1849, from Ohio, and died in 1859, leaving a widow and five children. Mrs. Spear afterward married David Bean, who has a half-section in Section 11, and her children all, with one exception, are settled around her. James has eighty acres in Section 11; is a young man of sterling qualities and respected by all. Henry West came to this county in mature manhood, in 1850, from Kentucky. He was at that time forty-six years old, and had, by the careful habits and strict bus- iness ways, for which he was so well known both here and there, acquired enough to buy him a comfortable farm, when he could find one that suited him. The reasons for leaving Kentucky were such as operated to induce so many of the pioneers of Illinois to come here. Land was getting too high there for men of moderate means to hope to put their children on good farms. He also had a strong desire to get his family out from the influences of the institution for which he had no admiration. After coming here, he looked around awhile. The year 1851 was one of those rainy seasons which used to occur with consider- able regularity every seven years. The years of floods, which are well-remembered by the present generation, were 1844, 1851, 1858, 18fi9. It will be seen that each sev- enth year was, for a time, the rainy one. It has been said that 1837 was a similar one, but no record of such has come under the observation of the writer, unless the financial flood may be taken as such, for it swamped more men than all the others combined. We know that the year 1830 was, but the heavy and long-continued flood came in the winter in the form of snow. This remarkable coincidence of the repeated seventh year of flood and the enforced idleness of the land called to the minds of religious people and teachers the Levitical law laid down in Leviticus, chap, xxv, 4—7 verses, wherein the Lord directed the children of Israel when they should have come into the land to which he would bring them ; that they should let their fields rest untilled and vines undressed each seventh year, and should not even gather what crops or fruit grew spon- taneously on that year ; that their teams, servants, maids, and, probably, women, too, should rest. The line of argument which would follow from these repeated seventh- year rainy " dispensations of Providence " can be so easily imagined or remembered that it need not here be repeated. It was boldly insisted that the law of the Lord was unchangeable, making wise the foolish, and that this country would never prosper until that law was fully obeyed. Probably it will not be doubted that, if, after coming into 664 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. this glorious county, which was literally flowing with a superabundance of milk and honey — the cows had only to be driven in from the boundless pastures, and the bee-trees to be hunted — the people had given each seventh year to the kind of rest, good works and missionary work, and the land and teams to such rest as the Lord had required of Israel, they would have lasted longer, lived more contented, and increased in those qual- ities which tend to higher and better life. The rainy season warned Mr. West that he must look for high land, and, after a good deal of search, he found what suited him in the southeast quarter of Section 5, where Mr. Hedrick now resides, belonging to N. T. Brittin, a man of large wealth and acquisitive habits, living a few miles west, in Empire. He soon closed a bargain with the proprietor, but when he came to get his deed, Brittin " kicked out," and wanted $50 more. This incensed West, whose notions of honor were of the highest Kentucky order, and he determined to have no more to do with Brittin, but could not find another place that suited him and he was obliged to pay the Yankee the price. Mr. West continued to live here until 1869, buying land as he was able, until he had acquired 2,800 acres, lying in Sections 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 17, 20 and 21. He was the first Supervisor of the township, and continued to represent it in the Board of Super- visors as long as he remained a resident. The town received its name from him, but not by him. The naming occurred in this way: At the first town meeting, in April, 1858, Mr. Simeon H. West, then a young man, proposed to call the town Pottawatomie, from the Indians, whose fort still stood on the hill in that township. He explains this mistake by saying that, though the Indian residence was so well-known and so much talked about, there was an alarming ignorance in regard to them ; that an old citizen had informed him that it was that tribe which had its home here. The mistake was a very natural one, as will appear from the Indian history at the end of this sketch. When his proposition was made, he learned for the first time that it was the Kickapoos who lived here, and, on his motion, the name of Kickapoo was given to the township. At the first meeting of the Board of Super- visors, the Board was informed that there was already a township by that name in Peoria County, and, on motion of some member of the Board, it was named from the Super- visor from that town. Mr. West was largely engaged while here in stock-feeding and driving. He never believed in selling grain. When he determined to marry again and reside in Blooming- ton, he gave each of his children a good farm. Mr. I. H. West, Mrs. Hedrick and Mrs. Cawby, still live on the lands their father thus provided for them. Henry West was a man of strong, robust constitution, firm will, fixed purpose, and kind and affectionate in his family. This latter trait was the more marked, perhaps, than any other. He still resides in Bloomington, but owns considerable land in this township. Simeon H. West lived here with his father a few years and spent some years in travel. He was traveling through Kansas when " Ossawatomie Brown," Jim Lane and the Free State men were hunting the " Missouri Sheriff," and " Border Bufiians," and " Atchison, Stringfellow & Co." there, trying to overcome the "elections" which the Cincinnati directory had figured so largely in. He had been an Emancipationist in Kentucky, but a States' Rights Democrat in Illinois. He fell in'with parties of both sides there, fre- quently, but was easily able to convince both that he was not there to interfere in the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 665 Kansas war. He went twice to California, and spent considerable time there. His time was for some years after his return given to improving his place, since which he has devoted more time to attending to township and county affairs, having been for many years the Supervisor from this town. With enlarged information, he has taken a leading position on the Board, and has given much attention to the matter of delinquent taxes, one of the toughest questions which the present generation has to deal with. He lives on a fine farm near where his father first bought, with convenient buildings, well surrounded with groves, evergreens, orchards and well-kept fields. He has formerly run a heavy cattle business, but, like most of the farmers hereabout, now usually runs what cattle he has through the winter light, and grass-feeds for a fall market. For some years now he has thus fed about one hundred head each year. A public-spirited man, and one who seems well appreciated by his neighbors. Politically, he is decidedly inde- pendent, and never finds a party that holds him in traces long at a time. Harrison Barnett settled on Section 3, in 1854. He died in 1863. His son lives on the farm, and has fine, perhaps extravagant, buildings for a 160-acre farm. Daniel Barnhart came here in 1854, and purchased a farm on Section 10, and still resides there. He is a good farmer and has an excellent farm. J. T. and L. A. Crum- baugh, of the plethoric, progressive family in Empire, about the same time took up farms on Sections 7, 18 and 19, along the line of Empire, and still reside there. They are good farmers, energetic and public-spirited. Have driven a large cattle business and are still doing a safe one. Father Thomas V. Warnsley, now of Heyworth, had a farm here about the same time. He remained here ten years, preaching around as opportunity offered, and then, in the absence of so many of the younger preachers in the army, there were not enough to half fill the appointments, he accepted an itinerant appointment from Conference. He, while here, preached both in the houses, and by his daily walk and conversation. Mr. McFarland and Mr. Coleman each had farms along the western border, at that time. S. L. Bishop, M. M. Craig and Bobert Butledge, of Downs Township, each had small farms in Sections 17 and 20, which, some years after, they sold to J. G. Moore, who came here from Pike County, in 1872. Mr. Moore owns the south half of 17, and the northeast quarter of 20, in West, and about 900 acres in Belleflower, which is kept mostly in grass. He is a man of large capacity for business and work, and is regarded a successful one. He keeps from three hundred to four hundred head of cattle, but, like his neighbors, he prefers to grass-feed, stall-feeding being nearly abandoned. G. W. Hedrick, whose father was one of the earlier settlers in Bandolph's Grove, came here from Padua, about 1866, and lives on the West homestead. He has 520 acres, and has followed cattle-raising pretty extensively, and very successfully. John Weedman, Sr., came into this part of country about 1844, from Randolph, and lived seven years at Hurley's Grove, now Farmer City, in DeWitt County, with his three sons, John, Amos and Isaiah. In 1851, he entered 160 acres on the southern line of this county, where Weedman Station now is, and considerable in DeWitt. In 1853, the different members of the family entered 1,000 acres more in West (21-5), along Salt Creek. This was among the first land entered in this corner of the county, and among the very finest. The excellent living water of this stream makes the land desirable for cattle-farming ; indeed there is none better in the county, though not taken so early as that in the northern part of the township. The little clumps of native G66 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. timber along its banks made a fine shelter. Amos Weedman built on Section 11, and remained there eight years, when he sold to John, and went to Hurley's Grove, and bought the Hurley farm for $80 per acre. He is now Sheriff of DeWitt County. In 1851, John Weedman, Jr., began farming operations here, built a house and commenced turning the sod. The first year he lost his team and all his cattle by sickness. It did not exactly break him up nor discourage him. He has been remarkably successful in his business, having now 1,000 acres of land, a considerable town property and his banking business at Farmer City. He has carried on stock-raising and feeding largely, formerly stall-feeding 200 head in a winter, but now prefers grazing, though from habit, perhaps, he thinks he must feed a couple of car loads. His house is a neat and commo- dious country home of modern build, with veranda nearly encircling it, with neat and tasty surroundings, and the farm well-fenced, well-tilled, well-stocked and well (stream) watered. About nine years ago, when the railroads which center at Farmer City were building, he engaged in banking business there, and laid out an addition to the town of 100 acres. E. McCord came here in 1853, and commenced a farm on Section 11, but did not remain here long. Isaiah Weedman owned considerable land in West, and lived here several years. He entered the military service and was killed at Holly Springs. In 1854, Melvin Lowery and W. L. Drybread came from Indiana, and settled where the latter still resides. Mr. Lowery moved West some years after. Dr. Cheney, of Le Roy, came here from Ohio, and entered land in 1851, where Mr. Hamilton now resides. He was a man of energy, and carried on his farm success- fully, and attended to a large medical practice here for ten years. He then sold to John Hamilton and went to Le Roy, where he engaged in trade, and did much to build the substantial part of that young city. He met financial reverses, however, and saw the accumulation of many years of hard work swept away. John Hamilton, since he bought the Cheney farm, has been largely engaged in stock-raising. He has kept from three hundred to twelve hundred sheep. For awhile he lived in Bloomington, to put his children in school while there. Mr. J. B. Lewis, now in the bank at Farmer City, was in charge of the farm. Mr. Lewis was one of the most esteemed and useful citizens during his residence here ; was continually called on to do the work of the town offices, being a good accountant, and a safe, accu- rate and faithful man. West has been rather given to furnishing the surrounding cities with bankers, besides Mr. Weedman and Mr. Lewis at Farmer City. Joseph Keenan, who is prob- ably the most extensive business man in Le Roy, was for years a resident of this town. He had a good farm on Section 31, upon which he resided before he began banking at Le Roy. Mr. Clark, father of the Clark boys, came here from Morgan County in 1853, and bought the Lucas land, a half section in 27. He brought with him the first herd of thoroughbred short-horns ever brought into this part of the county. They were pur- chased of D. A. Brown, of Sangamon County, and were white, which was the prevail- ing popular color twenty-five years ago. J. M. Moon came here twelve years ago from Mendota, La Salle County, whence he had formerly come from De Kalb County. He purchased the south half of Section HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 667 10, where he still resides, the north half and southeast quarter of Section 12, and the southwest quarter and west half of northwest quarter of Section 7, in Belleflower. The home farm he works ; the other is rented to four tenants, who raise corn mostly. For several years Mr. Moon ran a butter dairy of twenty cows, and for awhile fed cattle largely. He had been a business man for several years before he tried farm- ing. He has a good farm with fair buildings, and is reckoned a successful farmer. He has recently laid a mile of tile drain on his home farm, and believes if they are properly laid, by applying the level to every three pieces when laid, that it cannot fail to be of great advantage to the wet lands. He says he has cut more than thirty miles of open ditch with machines. He is a man of intelligence and good business qualifications. He ha^ tried raising flax somewhat, and thinks it promises to be a success. He prefers mixed farming to any one branch alone. George W. Snook, one of the best farmers, and universally considered one of the best citizens in West, came here from Maryland in 1868. He owned a section of land in the northern part of the township for a number of years. He now lives on and owns a fine farm in Section 23, where he has fine buildings and a well-managed farm, a railroad depot and a store, and is extensively engaged in the grain trade. He has prac- ticed grain raising, never having invested in the cattle business much. I. M. Hoffman has a good farm of 120 acres in Section 35. He is a good farmer, a careful manager, and has things looking nice around him. William Biggs has a good farm on Section 2, is a good farmer, and keeps matters in good shape ; a good citizen and public-spirited man. W. J. Kimler came here from Bloomington in 1867. He was a grandson of Mr. Orendorff, one of the earliest settlers in the county. He has a fine farm of 200 acres, with good buildings, hedges, etc. Rev. John Kumler owns a considerable farm in Section 36, and in 1 and 12, (21-5). He is now at Bloomington, at the Wesleyan University, where he has an appointment by the Conference of the M. E. Church. His farm is in charge of renters. Kumler Station is on his farm. There are two good houses and a fine barn. I. K. Orendorff entered land in Sections 36 and in 1 (21-5), and about 1858, his sou Perry came onto it to make a farm. He is a good farmer, has good buildings, and considerable fruit. He has 240 acres close by Kumler Station. Stephen E. Clarno, an old resident of Logan County, who came across the Sanga- mon River with his father in 1819, when there were only three families between there and Fort Clark, purchased 400 acres of Mr. Ball, in 1875, along Salt Creek, just north of John Wedman's residence, paying for it $40 per acre, cash. He built a large barn, and, after living there a year to see whether he liked it, he sold his farm in Logan and bought 280 acres more, and built a large two-story house — large enough to entertain a good many friends at once. He had been a great traveler ; had gone all over all the Western States and most of the Territories, trying to find the best place he could find, and, when he found this one, he believed he had got about as good a farm as could be found. It lies for a mile along both sides of the stream, which here has water enough at all seasons of the year, is clear, with gravelly bottom. Here he and his family feel, as well they may, content to work out their time earning a living and laying up a trifle against a time of need. The old gentleman was laid hold of by the citizens of West, after he had been here one year, and elected Supervisor. One year satisfied him, 668 HISTORY OP McLEAN COUNTY. however, and he retired on his laurels. He is a good farmer, and calculates he has got enough for his four children (he has buried nine), so that each can have a good farm. The land lies in Sections 2 and 11. Cary Buford, Vice President of the First National Bank of Farmer City, owns Section 3, a splendid tract of land. His children live on it. Thomas Warton has a good farm in Section 33 — 240 acres. James Kincaid, 160 acres in Section 32 ; Henry Grizzell, 240 in Section 33 ; and William Scott, 80 in Section 28. These men have been here since about 1853, and have good improvements and are good farmers. Corn-raising and stock-grazing and feeding have been the principal lines of farming. Some years since, considerable broom-corn was raised, but this crop has been discontinued. Some are now raising flax, but as there is no sale for the straw, it is not very largely grown. Some small fields of wheat are seen, and oats receive more attention. Corn and stock remain the staples. RAILROADS AND STATIONS. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad was built by large local town- ship stock subscriptions, in 1870. This township voted $20,000 subscription, and 10 per cent bonds were issued. The road only runs across the southwestern corner, about three-fourths of a mile, with no station in it. Empire Station is just west of the town- ship line. Half of the bonds have been paid, and the balance come due in three and eight years from now. West has never gone into any contest of the legality of these bonds, and makes the best of what seems to have been a rather one-sided bargain. It never has objected to paying whatever it agreed to, though a case may arise soon wherein it may try titles with the railroads. She pays her taxes closer than any township in the county. There are no delinquent taxes to be fought over in the Courts. The stock of the town in this railroad has been wiped out by the recent sale of the road, under a decree of foreclosure, for $1,000,000, which, it is believed, is just about enough to pay the lawyers for wrecking it and the enormous legal (and illegal) expenses which follow such a proceeding in Court, and the back taxes due. By a timely motion on the part of the Board of Supervisors, an order was entered of record that no deed should issue for the road until taxes were paid. The Springfield Division of the Illinois Central Railroad — formerly the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield — runs across the southeastern corner about two miles. No bonds were voted for this road. It was built in 1871 and 1872. The stations are Weedman, near the southern line of the township, and Kumler, near the eastern. At the former, Lee Watt is station agent. R. M. Ewing has a grocery store, and Mr. Bumcrots a blacksmith-shop. Capt. James Steele, from Menard County, is buying grain. He had been teaching school for eighteen years, and came here two yeats ago to work up the grain-trade. He has bought about 100,000 bushels per year. The most of this grain is sold on track. Halliday Brothers, of Cairo, have been large buyers, taking the white corn to Cairo and the yellow and mixed to Chicago. The M. E. Church was organized here some years ago. This spring, Messrs- Kissack, Hellor, Weedman, Steele and Reed were elected Trustees, and will build a church on land procured from Mrs. Dodson this summer. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 669 At Kumler Station, C. D. Belleville has a store, Frank Rawlings a blacksmith- shop, and Mr. Thrashor buys grain. This station is of recent origin, and not so much grain is bought in here. The Havana, Rantoul & Eastern Railroad, narrow-gauge, was built in 1878 (see Empire for its history). About $7,000 were subscribed to the stock in this town. It runs straight across the town from west to east on the half-section line, half a mile north of the center of the township. Two stations are on it — Sabina, on the line between Sections 20 and 21, and Delana, on the line between 23 and 24. No depots havp yet been put up. Keenan & Barnum, two grain-dealers at Le Roy, buy grain and have a grocery store at the former, and G-. W. Snook at the latter. About one hundred thousand bushels of grain have been purchased at the two stations this winter. This road was built as a matter of self-preservation to get lower freights and less hauling. There seems to be a difference of opinion whether it has accomplished all that was claimed, some asserting that grain has been from 2 to 4 cents higher in consequence of it, while others say it is a great convenience, yet it has not increased the price of grain to the farmer one cent. Of course, the men who put their money into it only expect to get the return indirectly, and there seems to be little reason to doubt that it will result in an increase of the value of the farms in the central part of thf! township more than the $7,000 invested in it. Very little but grain or lumber is carried by this road, passenger traffic is light, and, as yet, no stock shipments. The grain is carried to the eastern end of the route, where it is reshipped on to Wabash cars at a point fifteen miles east of the Indiana State line. In 1870, a vote was taken in West Township, which resulted in a donation of $25,000 to the Decatur and State Line R. R. This road has not been built for reasons very fully set forth in the Anchor Township article, and the time for issuing the bonds expired by the terms of the act under which the aid was voted July, 1877, and it was generally supposed that the subscriptions made in this and other counties had fallen by these terms. An act of the Legislature, passed in 1877, extended the time for issue three years. The plan for building this road has been revived, and it may yet trans- pire that the towns which voted bonds will have to stand it or fight the matter in the courts. The temper of the people of West is to contest it, and it is likely the chance will be afforded within a twelvemonth. CHURCHES, ETC. The United Brethren Church, on Section 2, was built in 1871. It is 34x40. The men who were, in a great measure, instrumental in accomplishing the work were Samuel Bright, Daniel Barnhart, Daniel Bean, J. P. Roby, Mr. Slingoff and Mr. Morris. Service is maintained every alternate Sabbath. Messrs. Morris, Fisher, Mitchell and J. W. Gilbert have officiated in turn since the chapel was built. Mount Olive M. E. Church was built about 1869, west of the center of the town- ship, through the active aid of the Clarks, Hamands, G-rizzell and others of that denomi- nation who live in that vicinity. A Methodist Church is to be built at Weedman the present summer. The town still owns its school section, and has it leased and under cultivation, waiting for higher prices than the present. Until Township organization, resi- dents here used to go to Le Roy to vote. 670 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Below will be found a list of the township officers elected since township organiza- tion. It will be seen that Henry West was continuously elected Supervisor until his removal from town, and that his son, S. H. West, has been retained in that position much of the time since, though not usually in political sympathy with the majority in the township, a tribute alike to the good judgment of the citizens and the wise and valuable services of the Supervisor. Mr. J. B. Lewis, also, during the early years of the township history , was almost continually in the official service of the town until he removed to Farmer City to engage in banking pursuits : Date. Votes Supervisor. Cast. Clerk. Assessor. Collector. 1858 38 Henry West.... ..... 32Henry West 27 Henry West 48 Henry West John Hamilton Rev. T. E. Wamsley.. H. Croskey John Weedman. 1 859 1860 H. Croskey 186? J. Hamilton 1863 J. T. Crumbaugh Louis Barnett 1864 S. H. West 1 865 29Henry West 52 Henry West 123|Henry West William Rosencrans.. L. A. Crumbaugh ... 6. W. Snook lSCC J. B. Lewis 1867 1868 92 Henry West 72 J. B. Lewis 90|.J. M. Moon 140 f J. B. Lewis 126S. H. West 108S. H. West 52S. H. West 105 S. E. Clarno 178JS. H. West 108!S. H. West 98|S. H. West W. J. Kimler J. B. Lewis. 1869 W. J. Kimler 1870 1871 H. E. Wentworth W. J. Kimler G. W. Snook E. Barnhart J. B. Lewis. 187? G. W. Snook John Clark. 1873 W. W. Hammond D. M. Dickinson D. M. Dickinson 1874 1875 James Kincaid. 1876 1877 W. J. Kimler 1878 W. J. Kimler S. Healea 1879 W. J. Kimler The Justices of the Peace who have been elected are H. R. Coleman, M. H. Cawby, William Rosencrans, George Hedrick, L. T. Delaplain, E. Dickinson, R. Rob- ertson. Commissioners of Highways elected are M. H. Cawby, S. M. McFarland, Isaiah Weedman, H. Barnett, J. T. Crumbaugh, J. Hamilton, R. J. Rutledge, J. Oliver, James Love, J. B. Lewis, D. Barnhart, H. Williams, John Clark, W. L. Drybread, G. W. Snook, I. Beckelhammer, L. T. Crumbaugh, S. Healea, J. B. Savage, J. M. Hoff- man, David Hart. Some pages back, the confusion in regard to the Indian tribes was alluded to, and the statement was made that that confusion was a very natural one, and that the mistake which so annoyed Mr. Simeon H. West, in his attempt to rescue the name of the primeval inhabitants of this town from oblivion, was not so much of a mistake, after all. The statements following are given on the authority of Hon. Perry A. Arm- strong, of Morris, Grundy Co., who is the highest authority in all matters pertaining to Indian history and tribal complications in this part of the State. The Kickapoos, Pottawatomies and Miamis, more than a century ago, formed an alliance, offensive and defensive, against the Illini, who were the first inhabitants of this region of which history gives any authentic account. The Illini- — meaning supe- rior men — were a confederation of the Peorias, Moinguienas, Kas-Kaskias, Tamaroas and Cahokias. In 1700, their great Chief, Chicago, went to France, and was received HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 671 with the distinguished consideration which the French always showed the Indians, and which was the secret of their success in dealing with them. Against this confederation the allies first-named above began a war of extermina- tion, — probably coming here from the east, — which was long and eventful, and ended in the tragedy of " Starved Rock," in La Salle County, in 1774, a year before the beginning of the American Revolution. This defeat of the Illini, who had held the prairie State so long, left the allies in undisputed possession of a large portion of the eastern half of the State ; but, true to their robber-like instincts, they immediately fell to quarreling over the conquest. I» this latter struggle, the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies were united against the Miamis. To settle the whole matter, it was agreed that each contending party should select three hundred picked men, who should meet each other in mortal combat, the contest to determine on the result of the combat. The opposing bands met on the banks of Sugar Creek, less than a year after the affair at Starved Rock, and by the terms agreed on, the duel opened at sunrise and lasted till the going down thereof. When the sun set on this exciting day, only twelve warriors remained able to do battle, seven of which belonged to the Kickapoo and Pottawatomie side, and five to the Miamis ; and the lat- ter retired to their old homes east of the Wabash, which left this portion of the country in undisputed possession of the two tribes, who amicably divided the country on the- line of the old Indian trail running near Oliver's Grove. This trail was distinctly vis- ible until the land came into cultivation. When this boundary line was established, the Pottawatomies retired to the Fox River, and the Kickapoos occupied this region. The amicable relations of the two tribes were never broken, the former never coming south of Rook's Creek, in Livingston County, which was not quite the southern limits of their possessions. It will be seen that the two tribes were not only on very friendly terms with each other, but were frequently together ; and, in all probability, the Pot- tawatomie tribe has occupied the very ground which the people of West now cultivate. The township might well have borne the name first suggested twenty-one years ago. ARROWSMITH TOWNSHIP. Arrowsmith Township was named by the Supervisors after Ezekiel Arrowsmith, who was the first Supervisor and one of the early settlers. It contains thirty-six sections, being a full Congressional township, and is known of record as Town 23 north, Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is almost entirely prairie, having originally about one square mile of timber in Sections 31 and 32, where the eastern extremity of Old Town Timber lies along the line of Arrowsmith and West, giving to eich a little patch of woodland, which was so highly prized by those who first com- menced settlement here. There was in addition a small bunch on Section 24, " Smith's Grove," which hardly grew to the importance of being called timber-land. In its gen- eral topographical appearance it is not unlike Padua, which is upon its western border, having the same high ridges along its northern and southern sides, a trifle more elevated and uneven, the well-rounded hills being a somewhat more prominent feature in its land- scape, and the level of its valley being somewhat more undulating than in the former. Under the head of Padua (which see), a fuller description of the peculiarities of the €72 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Sangamon valley is given, which need not be repeated here. The Sangamon River, by its numerous rivulet feeders, becomes a considerable stream in its course across the township, although not large enough to make it sufficient for mill-power. The town- ship is bounded on the north by Martin, east by Cheney's Grove, south by West, and west by Padua, and is second from the eastern and southern boundary line of the county. Owing to the lack of timber it had few early settlers, and correspondingly fewer early incidents of importance. EARLY SETTLERS. So far as the facts in regard to the earliest settlement in this township are at hand, it seems that the sons of Jonathan Cheney were the first to take up claims and live in what is now Arrowsmith. The land around the head of the timber was attractive on account of its grass. All around the old Indian fort, the blue-grass had come in after the prairie-grass had been killed out. The first year of Jonathan Cheney's residence in the county, he had driven his cattle here for late pasturage. Undoubtedly attracted by this fine pasturage, his sons, when they began to look out homes for themselves, looked this way, for, in 1833, two or three of them had taken claims in this township. Thomas lived for a while in Section 31, where he had a little patch of about ten acres fenced in. He did not remain on it long, however, as a few years after he sold it to Daniel Hall, and joined his brother Owen, in Padua, in building a mill. He afterward went to Cali- fornia. Cassel Banks, father of Marks Banks, of Padua, rented this land one year. David Hall came here about 1837, and settled on this land in Section 31. Here h"! and his sons, Pryor and Daniel, built their cabins, and remained here until the old gen- tleman died. Pryor removed to California, and Daniel, Jr., died here, his children Jiving around here. Their sister married Mr. Maurice. William Cheney took up the land in Section 30 about the same time, and, in 1835, Abijah Westover came from New York and bought Cheney's claim, and, in 1839, married a daughter of Aaron Hildreth. About 1850, he went to California, and thence to Australia and returned, and finally set- tled down in Johnson County, Mo. His wife still remains here, and keeps the hotel at Arrowsmith, and is now the oldest resident of this township, having come here with her father in 1836. Her daughter married Mr. Cundiff, and lives on the Mackinaw, and her son Sherman is engaged in the grain and lumber trade at Arrowsmith. Aaron Hildreth came here from Lewis County, N. Y., in 1836, and settled in Sec- tion 31. He had three sons and two daughters ; one daughter married Abijah Westover, as stated above, the other married Hillery Ball, of Cheney's Grove ; both are still living. The sons went West, and Charles married Miss Owens, and remained on the homestead for many years, a prosperous and successful farmer. When he died, he had 600 acres of land. Aaron Hildreth died here in 1851, and his wife in 1849. A. C. Jones came here from Ohio, in 1839, and settled on the line between this town and Padua. For some years his residence was across the line on Section 25 of the latter ; afterward he lived on this side of the township line. His daughter married Mr. Cline, who was the first one to engage in business at the station here, after the railroad was built, and still continues a prosperous merchant. Mr. Jones had five sons, who are all dead ; two of whom died in the service of their country. He now lives in the village, a hale and hearty old man, enjoying the advantages of a frugal life commenced in the privations which are •consequent on settlement in a new country. He has seen the wide prairie of Arrowsmith Z-£4j& c/us MONEY CREEK TP. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 675 changed into productive farms. Samuel Arrowsmith, the father of the present race of that goodly name, came to this county with his three sons, Ezekiel, John and Henry, and made his home a little west of the present town. Ezekiel came here onto the farm he now resides on, in 1842, in Section 30. He has 230 acres of land. He was the first Supervisor of the town, and is esteemed one of her best citizens. His house was early the place of religious meetings in this part of the township, and his early interest in the prosperity of religion has not been chilled by the increase of his worldly interests. All these were in the southwestern corner of the town, that being the first inhabited in consequence of the nearness of the woodland. St. Clairville was the voting precinct, and these worthies, that is, the masculine and mature portion of them, had to go there to develop the highest prerogative of the backwoodsman, to vote for " Tippecanoe," or little " Van Van Van." No one of them in this " neck of the woods " ever got a chance to vote for Jackson. The handiest mill to the settlement was that built by Thomas and Owen Cheney. Others before them had put up mills, and used the common prairie bowlders, yclept " nigger-heads." The Cheneys were progressive men, and would have nothing but the very best buhr stones. So they sent a team to St. Louis to bring them in. Chicago could not furnish any such material in those days. Mr. John B. Thompson, after his marriage in 1841, made his home with his father-in- law, and, some years after, his aged father gave up his home on the Mackinaw and came here, and spent his last days with him. Mr. Thompson commenced selling goods at the place which was known as " Nasby's Cross Roads " about 1860, and for a time did a large business there, selling $20,000 worth per year. He also kept the Lenox Post Office, which had been kept by private families about there for thirty years. When Arrow- smith village was begun, he moved his store and post-office here in 1873. Abram Stansbery was the old mail-carrier, who long supplied the Lenox office and carried the mail from Bloomington on horseback to Cheney's Grove and thence on to Danville. One of the Indian burying-grounds of the Old Town was in Arrowsmith, and Mr. Thompson tells how, for a long time, people used to dig up the Indian remains to get the silver trinkets that were buried with them, such desecration being continued as long as there were any trinkets to be found. No law was supposed to exist against this resurrection, as under the old-time notion, this was the " white man's country." About this time, the settlement at Cheney's Grove on the east began to swell over the town- ship line. In 1838, William Arbogast commenced a farm on Section 13, where he lived until his death. Of his children, one, J. L. Arbogast, remains on the homestead which his father made into a farm, the rest having found homes in Kansas. Jacob Smith, who has for more than thirty years been recognized as a prominent man here, having several times been elected Supervisor and frequently to other important township offices, came into this township to live in 1844, and took up the land in Sec- tion 24, south from and opposite the Argobast place, where he now lives. He had wandered around a good deal. He came to the Mackinaw Timber in 1833, with his mother; went back the next year to Indiana. The next year, returned, and, a year after, made his home at Cheney's Grove, where, for years, he worked the land of the patroon until he saved enough to enter a little land of his own, when he came to his present farm. He has been fortunate, rather it should be said, careful, in his matters, though not as greatly prospered in his family as many of those hardy old pioneers who can BB 676 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. point to a dozen or more children and three or four score of grandchildren. Of hi& seven children, three only survive. Garrett V. Wall came here from Vermilion County in the winter of 1845, and took land in Sections 19 and 20, in the west part of the township. He married here and lived there thirteen years, when he sold out and went to Kansas. He returned and has since lived at the village, carrying on his trade. He is a Mason, a man of large information and good abilities. Elias Owens, from Ohio, in 1848, bought a house of Thomas Martin near Le Roy, and moved it to a farm east of Hildreth's, and Thomas Fry and Gabriel Stein came into Section 19 in 1850. Owens is dead. Fry went to Old Town, and Stein to Mis- souri. By this time, 1851, the passage of the bill to build the Illinois Central Rail- road through Bloomington, closed to market all land lying between the west line of this township and Bloomington, and, of course, every one who wanted to buy land near the latter, then a growing young town, rushed into the towns of Range 5 in a hurry. The entire town soon filled up. Its history from that time (except what refers to the village) is a continued story of prosperity. The hills and the valleys send forth the story of plenty, and the barns and houses show that the men of Arrowsmith have made good use of the natural resources of this goodly land. There are many excellent farms, a short notice of a few only can find room here. John Marsh came here with little but energy and good judgment, about 1850^ He owns 700 acres of land near the head of the Sangamon, with good out-buildings and one of the best houses in town. He keeps about five hundred sheep and trades largely in cattle, feeds a few, and raises grain. The farm is well watered and neatly and successfully managed. S. T. Bane, joining him on the west, also along the river, running up to the town- ship line, has about six hundred acres with good buildings. He feeds cattle, and is a good farmer, having as good a farm as one need wish for. He has been there about twenty years. John Slingoff has half a section in Section 34. He is a grain farmer, and with several children whose help he uses, manages to work his broad acres well, and produces some few thousands of bushels each year to sell. A. C. Hazele, on Section 34, has a good grain farm, fair buildings and good sur- roundings. He is a good farmer and good manager. T. W. Maurice, on Section 21, has 240 acres. A nice grain farm with good barn and comfortable house. He is a good farmer, thrifty, intelligent and successful. David Hileman has 260 acres in Section 22 and adjoining it. Has lived on the land from its first cultivation ; is a clean, neat farmer ; has good buildings, hedges, etc. He is a public-spirited man and good citizen. Philip Hileman, on Section 20, has a fine grain farm of 280 acres, with fine house and good crops, almost universally. Anderson Young lives in the village ; his farm is just northeast of his residence. One-fourth of the village was laid out on his quarter-section. Good buildings and a good farmer. He has a very fine tract of land. I. C, A. S. and T. P. Bane have 580 acres in Sections 3 and 10, fine rolling land, well improved and well cultivated. They are enterprising, thriving, industrious young men. They have been in the habit of working and trading together, but the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 677 former, now married, concluded to be satisfied with his more recent partnership, as it promises to be a success. They have dealt largely in cattle. Sabina Sackett has a fine farm in and adjoining Section 17. He is a first-rate farmer, has a nice house and says he is bound "to have one of them 'ere things " called a barn, and is putting up one of the best in town. He has fed cattle some, but does not make it the chief business. Ezekiel Arrowsmith has 200 acres where he has so long resided, and is considered one of the best farmers. M. Pemberton, in Section 27, has a large farm — grain and stock ; is also engaged in buying and shipping. James R. Cundiff has 136 acres in Section 27, with good buildings. He has five acres of black-walnut grove now growing. They stand about one rod apart. He con- siders them the best timber to raise on the prairie, especially on dry land, for the rea- sons they grow quick, nothing will kill them out, timber very valuable, and the nuts — when people become accustomed to them — will find good market. Mr. (i. is a good deal more than three-quarters right. The town is usually Republican. The following list shows the Township officers who have been elected since 1858, the year township organizations took effect : Date. Votes. • Supervisor. Clerk. Assessor. Collector. 1858 1859 56 47 James Ellis S. O'Neal J. Fenstermaker J. Fenstermaker J. Fenstermaker J. W. Stansbery S. O'Neal J. Fenstermaker. F. Ki oiler. 1860 1861 J. F. Payne. Hugh Birney. S. F. Bane. J. F. Payne. 186? 54 81 97 73 96 A. Fenstermaker A. Fenstermaker Samuel O'Neal W. W. Moore 1863 1864 1865 S. F. Bane 1866 VV. Vanscoyoc 1867 1868 98 93 135 107 113 95 118 139 129 170 173 183 G. W. Rayburn James Crosson » A. Brannaman J. M. Stipp J. M. Stipp 1869 W. Vanscoyoc 1H70 S. E. Cline G. W. Payne J. M. Thompson G. W. Payne 1871 Jacob Smith J. W. Barnes. 1872 1873 1874 T. W. Maurice T. W. Maurice ..... John Marsh J. L. Arbogast. W. W. Moore. Thomas Clary. S. E. Cline. 1875 T. W. Maurice 1876 J. A. Larimer G. W. Payne J. M. Stipp. S. E. Cline. 1877 J. Robinson O. G. Atherton J S. Mills 1878 P. Porter T. W. Maurice A. H. Webber. 1879 J. C. Bane B. Cornell. The following gentlemen have been elected Justices of the Peace : Walter Van- scoyoc, D. G. Tear, W. H. Thompson, Jeremiah Reed, J. R. Lewis, A. G. Barnes, J. M. Thompson, James Crosson. And the following Commissioners of Highways : Isaac Cornell, Jacob Smith, R. Porter, 0. H. P. Vanscoyoc, Thomas Fry, Henry Hickman, John Marsh, James Cundiff, John Coss. H. R. Rayburn, R. C. Watson, J. M. Green, John Deutsch, W. C. Jones, J. R. Lewis, William Spencer. At a special town meeting, June 3, 1867, held, according to notice, to vote for or against subscribing $25,000 to the capital stock of the La Fayette, Bloomington & Western Railroad. The vote resulted : For such subscription, 76 ; against such 678 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. subscription, 12. At a special town meeting, February 19, 1868, to vote for or against $5,000 additional subscription to the capital stock, the vote resulted, 41 for to 3 against such additional subscription. Ten-per-cent bonds, running ten years were issued for this $25,000, and they are now just about due. An election was held August 17, 1869, to vote on the question of giving $15,000 to the Decatur & State R. R., which resulted 23 for to 85 against such aid. The bonds that were issued in aid of .the L., B. & M. R. R. were issued before the road was built. The terms upon which they were voted, included a stipulation that the road should establish a depoc in the town. It was agreed that there was no authority to issue until such depot was established, and that hence the issuing was illegal. It was believed that the three years' interests that was paid before such depot was established could be recovered. A suit was the result, which, after costing the township a few hundred dol- lars in the way of expenses, lawyers' fees and fee-bills, was discontinued, the Court holding in a similar case that bonds were good. ARROWSMITH VILLAGE. Arrowsmith was surveyed and platted in 1871. Railroad communication was opened in 1872. The land upon which it was laid out belonged to Mr. Young, Jonas Fry, James Crosson and M. Ulmer — ten acres each. The men were required, or per- mitted, as it were, to convey to the certain persons who had the car$ of the railroad officials, land enough upon which to start the young town for $17 per acre, in order to get the station located in the center of township where it naturally belonged. S. E. Cline put in the first pair of scales here, late in 1871, before trains were running on the railroad, so that he enjoys the reputation of being the father of the town. Cline and James R. Larimer at once commenced buying and cribbing corn. In the spring of 1872, the switch was put in and depot erected. John A. Larimer and Mr. Jones put up the first store north of the railroad and east of Main street. Garrett V. Wall moved in the small house next north of the drug store adjoining his present res- idence. W. H. Thompson moved his store in from " Cross Roads " in the beginning of 1873, and continued to sell goods; indeed, before this time, he had quite a reputa- tion for selling. The post office had been previously moved. During 1872, Mr. S. E. Cline built the residence now occupied by him, and Mr. Wall put up the one now used by him as a residence — both of these were on Young's quarter of the town. Mr. R. S. Krum, brother and representative of J. R. Krum, grain-dealer of Bloomington, put up, in the southwest quarter of town, the first residence that was built here, and about the same time put up the small grain office which now stands in the rear of his present store. He has been continuously in the grain trade to the present time, and proposes to stay. No man has done more for the interest of the young village. In 1873, A. B. Ives and Walter Vanscoyoc built the present large steam elevator, 40x50, which was occupied by Cline & Larimer. It has been in use ever since, and is now in charge of Mr. Ives' son. Seth Mills moved his dwelling-house and blacksmith- shop the same year, in from the " Cross Roads." He still occupies them, and has built, since, a new shop; and Mr. J. A. Larimer built a residence on Main street south of the railroad. W. H. Thompson built a dwelling on Main street north of the railroad, and Walter Vanscoyoc, who now lives at Saybrook, built one which he occupied for some years. Mr. O. G. Atherton, same year (1873) built the store he now occupies, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 679 and put in a stock of drugs, books, etc. He has since enlarged the building to accom- modate his family residence, and continues to occupy the building yet. Cline & Lar- imer put up the building now occupied by Cline as a store, and put in a full line of general merchandise for a country store. Mr. Larimer, in the spring of 1875, with- drew from the partnership, and entered into a partnership with Robinson, which con- tinued until 1879. In 1872, Levi Heller put up a wagon-shop, which he used for a year, and then sold and built another. In 1873, Edward Wright built and occupied the " granger " store on the corner north of the railroad, with a full line of goods, and, after a year, sold to A. H. Webber, who still continues in trade there. Mr. T. W. Maurice, Jr., built the saddler's shop, and built a dwelling which he still occupies. August Mantle built a dwelling, and in company with Peter Hileman, who built the store used by them, went into the hardware trade. Isaac W. Wheeler built the nice hotel in 1 874, and soon died. Mrs. Westover now owns it and keeps hotel. She is now the oldest resident of the township. A. T. Ives has occupied the elevator since 1874. The follow- ing is the business directory of Arrowsmith in the spring of 1879: General merchan- dise, S. E. Cline, J. A. Larimer, A. H. Webber; groceries and provisions, R. S. Krum ; drugs, etc., W. H. Thompson, 0. G. Atherton ; hardware, tin, etc., August Mantle; harness, T. W. Maurice, Jr.; restaurant, Milton Sharpless ; blacksmiths, Seth Mills, John Mills; wagon-maker, Mr. Blake; grain, Sherman Westover, I. R Krum, John Deutsch, J. R. Cundiff, J. R. Larimer ; elevator, A. T. Ives ; carpenters, Nathan Hawk, William McDaniel, A. Lake; millinery, etc., Mrs. McDaniel, Mrs. Jones ; hotel, Mrs. Westover ; physicians, 0. P. Paulding, M. D. Hull ; Pontmaster, J. A. Larimer ; station agent, R. L. Thomas. The trade of Arrowsmith has been of a more permanent character and more gen- erally prosperous than most of the new railroad towns. Nearly all those who com- menced trade here have continued and are prosperous. Only one general assignment, for the benefit of creditors, has been made in the seven years of business. Trade is drawn from ten miles away, on the Mackinaw; and as a grain-shipping point, no station on the line of this railroad has done more one year with another. Only two years in its history has it been exceeded by any. During the grain year just closing, the trade has not been quite as much as an average. There has been an average of about 800 car-loads, of 375 bushels each, making, in the aggregate per year, 300,000 bushels, 90 per centum of which is usu- ally corn. Dealers here, as at other points on this road, find themselves compelled to sell on the track, as the system of special contracts, given to large dealers, renders it impossible for them to ship for their own account. Much of the corn goes to Cleve- land; but the difference between the rate of freight which dealers here would have to pay, and what those parties which buy of them here have to pay, would amount to 8 cents, which would "cut off the profits." The village is neatly built, the houses being of a neat, substantial and inexpensive character; but are, in comfort and taste, better than are usually found in new railroad villages. A. H. Webber has, perhaps, the neatest one — one which was built by Mr. Hileman — now deceased. Esquire Thompson and Mr. Cundiff have each very pleas- ant homes. 680 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP. The township of White Oak is one of the most interesting in McLean County ; it is the smallest in area — containing a little over seventeen sections of land — being a trifle less than half a Congressional township. Its population, in 1 870, was 532, 9 less than shown by the census of 1860. At the present time, its population is probably about the same as in 1870 ; but as most of the other towns in this county have gained largely, it is doubtless true that White Oak now contains fewer inhabitants than any other town in McLean County. It has remained about stationary ever since its land was all taken up, about the year 1860. White Oak Grove, from which the town derives its name, is a very large tract of timber lying on both sides of the Mackinaw River, nearly twelve miles in length from east to west and from four to eight from north to south. Very little of the Grove lies in this township — barely a few hundred acres — the balance being in the towns of Kansas and Montgomery, Woodford County. White Oak Grove contains quite a number of romantic spots. There are several picturesque views, more striking, perhaps, than any others in this part of the State - A little north of the township line, in Kansas, may be found very high ridges, giving fine scenery, while even from the high prairie rolls in White Oak, beautiful views are visible. Indian Point, a little west of the Carlock farm, is an historical spot, the fav- orite camping-place of the Indians. The Indian trail was plainly to be seen when the first settlers arrived, and is still visible on the bluffs of the Mackinaw, a little below Forneyville. This trail came from the Wabash, touched the north side of Cheney's Grove; from there to Money Creek, not far from Towanda ; from there to Indian Point ; thence to the Mackinaw, below Forneyville, and so on to Fort Clark, now Peoria. There were other trails, but this one was very distinct and often traveled by the Indians. The history of the township of White Oak is almost inseparable from that of the whole Grove, and we shall once in awhile find ourselves on the Woodford County side of the line without being aware of what we are doing. The northern part of the Congressional township, of six miles square, forms the township of Kansas, in Woodford County, while the southern portion is White Oak, in McLean County ; and the county line between the two townships is such a jagged : 'struck-by -lightning" sort of an affair, that we shall certainly be pardoned if we are on the wrong side occasionally. The early settlers regarded White Oak Grove as one settlement, the later divisions having been brought about in 1841 and subsequently, rather violently, or, perhaps we should say, without the actual consent of those most interested. It appears that settlements were not made along the Mackinaw at as early a day as they were made in the southern part of McLean County. We find Blooming, Ran- dolph's and Funk's Groves had each several families as early as 1823, while it was five or six years before any are reported as being in White Oak. Doubtless this was owing to the fact that the settlement of this State was then proceeding from the south toward the north, and the early pioneers felt that the Mackinaw Timber was rather a frontier settlement. The pioneers of the other groves in McLean County preferred to live together, being anxious to build schoolhouses and have the social and religious advantages of HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 681 ■well-settled communities, rather than be scattered too far apart. Probably the presence during these years — from 1823 to 1829 — of large numbers of Indians along the Mack- inaw had something to do with this state of affairs. These Indians were regarded as friendly, but no one knew just how far to trust them. In fact, in 1827, troops were called out to protect settlers living north of the Illinois River, and it required consid- erable courage to locate many miles in advance of a strong settlement. The southern portion of White Oak Grove — that which forms the north part of the present town of White Oak — must have presented an interesting appearance to the early prospectors. Here was a magnificent body of timber, fronting upon a beautiful tract of the finest prairie to be found in the State. A few miles in the rear was a stream well stocked with fish ; while the Grove was a noted resort of deer, turkeys and other wild game of the period. Here the pioneer might reasonably look forward to a long season of good hunting, while he could, at the same time, avail himself of all the advantages to be derived from timber and prairie adjoining in such large bodies that neither would be likely to be at once taken by new settlers. The correctness of this reasoning, so far as it relates to wild game has been proved by the fact that two deer were killed in this neighborhood as late as 1874 ; while, at the present time, White Oak Grove possesses wild turkeys and more game than any other timber of Central Illinois, though the Mackinaw does not furnish fish as it did fifty years ago. Smith Denman, the oldest man living in White Oak, was its first pioneer. He settled here in September, 1829. During the same year, Thomas Dixon arrived, and, also, Littleton Sandford. In 1830, Elisha Dixon. John Brown, Samuel and Robert Philips settled here. In the spring of 1831, three brothers, John, James and William Benson, settled near each other, on the south side of the Grove. A year after that, Abraham W. Carlock made his home about one hundred yards west of the McLean County line, in Woodford. During the same year, Zachariah Brown and Orrin Robinson made their settlement. Reuben Carlock came in 1833. Other settlers, also, arrived before this time, so that by the end of 1836, there was a goodly number in and about the Grove. Some of the above-named should be cred- ited to Woodford County. Several of the early pioneers had lived in other portions of McLean County before taking up land here. The Bensons were sons of John Benson, of Blooming Grove, and came to that settlement with their father in 1823. They took a prominent part in the affairs of that settlement. Their father is often referred to in its history. He taught school at the southwest side of Blooming Grove several terms, was first County Treasurer of Taze- well County and was one of Blooming Grove's best men. He removed to White Oak in 1842. Here he passed the last years of his life — a remarkable instance of longevity ; he died in 1874, having been ninety-six years old. He lived in the " Benson Settlement,' with his three sons, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren — 115 in all, most of whom were living in the same neighborhood. Mr. Benson was a genuine pioneer. He lived in Kentucky in his boyhood, until 1798, when his father removed to Southern Indiana. In the war of 1812, John Ben- son fought with Gen. Harrison at Tippecanoe. In 1820, he removed to Illinois. He was one of the best specimens of the early pioneers, having been a man of some 682 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. education, while he was, at the same time, a hard-working, industrious settler. His mem- ory will be gratefully preserved by our community as well as revered by the large fam- ily which he founded. His three sons, who settled in White Oak, were " chips of the old block " — men most admirably fitted for the work they undertook. In fact, Smith Denman, the Dixons, the Browns, the Phillipses, the Carlocks and all the pioneers were first-class men. Here was organized, naturally, at an early day, one of the pleasantest communities to be found in the West. The early settlers were well-disposed persons, and their descendants are of the same disposition. It is not saying too much to state that nowhere in McLean County can its equal be found. The present generation is largely made up of people who were born here or who have lived here from their childhood, and they have nearly all fallen into the good ways of the settlement. The town possesses five churches, with seat-room enough for more than all its inhab- itants — something that can be said of but few towns in the United States. Its inhabit- ants are mostly a church-going people. They are honest, moral, religious, social, eco- nomical, are not in debt, have no paupers, do not go to law, are generous to each other in misfortune, have no aristocracy, pay their bills — in short, form a strictly well-reg- ulated, we might almost say a model, community. Here we find, more marked than in any other town in the county, the simplicity and good habits of our early settlers, uncontaminated by modern degenerate practices. There are no large villages near enough to attract the attention of the younger people, and they find amusement and sociability at home, and grow up purer and better than would be the case were they convenient to a city. Besides this, we should mention the fact that the population has changed less than any other, is made up more of the fam- ilies and descendants of the first settlers, and is mingled less with foreigners than is the case in most towns. Fortunately, the foreigners living here are nearly all of the relig- ious, careful, economical class, whose manners and customs are largely in harmony with those of the balance of the community. The family connections of the Bensons, the Carlocks, the Browns, the Phillipses, and those of a few others of the old families, form some remarkable circles of relatives, living in good circumstances, moral — nearly all of them religious — bringing down to the present generation the best qualities of the early pioneers of this county, they are among the very best specimens of the " good old times " that can be found in McLean County. Their influence has affected the whole neighborhood favorably, and the hon- esty and good conduct of the people of the township have given it an enviable reputa- tion. " Little White Oak " is the favorite of the balance of McLean County. Its history should be written with more care than we can give, as it abounds in most inter- esting events. Unfortunately for us, we can devote but little space to the fractional township now under consideration. We hope the history of the whole of White Oak Grove, without regard to the present township lines, will be written by some person who can do justice to the whole Grove. The deep snow which came late in 1830, and stayed until February, 1831, found only seven families at the Grove — Elisha Dixon, Smith Denman, Thomas Dixon, John Brown, Samuel and Kobert Phillips and Littleton Sandford. Elisha Dixon arrived the very day the snow commenced falling. There were over forty days in which snow fell, and it was thirty-six inches deep on a level in the Grove. In some spots where drifts HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 688 formed from prairie winds, the drifts were from ten to fifteen feet deep. As none of the settlers had been here over about a year, and most of them less than that, they were not as well prepared as were those who lived at Blooming Grove and other old settlements, and there was considerable suffering. This story has been so often told r and is repeated so much elsewhere in this book, that we will give it little space in this chapter. The sufferings of this little band of pioneers, however, deserve more particular record, it being almost the beginning of history, as far as White Oak Grove is concerned. At the time of the Black Hawk war, in 1832, several of the bravest men volun- teered in Capt. McClure's company, and served through the campaign. Among the number were John Benson and Mr. Phillips, and there were several others. After the news of the defeat of the troops from McLean and Tazewell Counties at Stillman Valley, the whole of this region became panic-stricken, and there were fre- quent " scares " along the Mackinaw, that in after days were often made sport of, though at the time they occurred they were terrible. There was so much reason to dread the Indians that a company was called out to guard the " frontier " of McLean County, and they patrolled the " border " for sixty days, most of the time, however, being farther east and northeast than the territory under consideration. The people living a few miles north and east were much more frightened than the residents of White Oak Grove. Among the settlers who were in the township of White Oak, or in the Grove very near the present township, in the year 1841. we find the names of Smith Denuian, Thomas Dixon, John Dixon, Joseph Dixon, Elijah Dixon, Elisha Dixon, James Ben- son, John Benson, William Benson, Silas Garrison, Reuben Carlock, George Carlock r A. M. Carlock, Abner Peales, John Hinthorne, Samuel Kirkpatrick, John McGee, Stephen Taylor, Isaac Allin, Richard Rowell, Frank Rowell, R. C. Brown, Jeremiah Brown, Orman Robinson, Zachariah Brown, John W. Brown, John Denman, James Phillips, Lewis Stephens, D. M. Stephens, Jared D. Franklin, John Hinshaw. This indicates a very fine settlement for this early date, and shows us that the timber-land was probably all taken that was situated convenient to the prairie. When the county of Woodford was formed, in 1841, there was great interest alorg the border of the new county. The territory was all in McLean, but it was denied by the latter county as well as by the persons who were engineering the movement for the new county of Woodford. There is no doubt that all the district south of the Mack- inaw River belonged naturally to McLean County, while nearly all its residents would have preferred to remain. In arranging the division, however, it was found necessary to adopt a line other than the river. We have two different accounts of the reasons for making such a broken line as the boundary became. One is that the McLean County managers, being Whigs, did not wish to endanger the small Whig majority of the county, and allowed several Democratic families to remain in Woodford, taking just enough Whigs to leave that party in the majority in McLean. The other story is that, in making the division, the Democratic families preferred to remain in Woodford, which was likely to be of their own faith, while the Whigs came as willingly into the Whig county of McLean. Certain it is, however, that the residents of Kansas Township have not remained satisfied with the county in which they live. Most of them, with those inhabitants of Montgomery who live south of the Mackinaw, are in sympathy •684 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. with McLean. They trade mostly at Dan vers, Hudson or Bloomington. In time of high water, they cannot cross the river to reach Metamora, their county seat, without considerable trouble, though since the erection of a bridge at Forneyville, in Mont- gomery, and one in the northern part of Kansas, they are much better accommodated than formerly. A majority of the legal voters of the town of Kansas petitioned the Woodford County Board of Supervisors, September 12, 1873, to be annexed to McLean County, giving good reasons for the change. Woodford County was not willing this should be done, though McLean County would no doubt agree to the proposition at any time. If a railroad is ever built through this township from Bloomington to Eureka, as has at times seemed probable, it will render it easy for many of the inhabitants in Woodford, who reside south of the Mackinaw, to travel conveniently toward their county seat, while the White Oak people can much more readily reach Bloomington. Within the last few years, the village of Oak Grove is starting up in the central part of White Oak. We find there now the Town Hall, built in the early part of 1878;. the post office, two stores, a hotel, a wagon-shop, two blacksmith-shops, a physi- cian, and about twelve families are residing there. All this has happened within the last three or four years, and the indications are very favorable for the building of quite a nice little village, either with or without a railroad. The only wonder is that a village has not been commenced here earlier, as the wants of the surrounding country will easily sustain quite a town. There is no trading-place of any importance nearer than eight or ten miles, and the roads are often so bad that the necessities of a farming com- munity require towns much nearer together than we have had them in the past. Oak Grove may be regarded as a permanent town. It will draw to itself most of the elements from the rich surrounding country that go toward the formation of a village, and will become a town of considerable importance. Were we writing the history of the towns of Danvers and Montgomery as well as of White Oak, we should give a sketch of the Rock Creek Agricultural Society, whose remarkable success in establishing a well-attended fair, away from any town or village, has attracted a good deal of attention. These fair-grounds are southwest of the town of White Oak a few miles, but the citizens of this town take an interest in the insti- tution. White Oak Township was organized in the spring of 1858, the first election having been held April 6, 1858. The name of the town was a fortunate selection, as thereby this fraction of a township, the smallest in the county, has obtained a name that entitles it to the historical record of the whole grove. White Oak has always possessed a large share of influence in the councils of the county at large — much more than some of the newer and larger townships have been able to secure. The town has had no debt, or, if it ever had any, it was only of a very temporary nature. In 1878 was built a town hall, at the village of Oak Grove, White Oak being one of the few towns in this county that can boast of this useful public building. At the township election, April 1, 1879, Albert Wright was chosen Supervisor; Samuel Lantz, Town Clerk ; W. H. Wright, Assessor ; James E. Harrison, Collector, and Jesse Chism, Road Commissioner. White Oak started its free schools in 1837. Reuben Carlock was the first Town School Treasurer, and continued in office fourteen years. The first School Trustees in HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 685 the same year, were Isaac Allen, Josiah Brown, Ormon Robinson and Elisha Dixon. At first, there was but one school, which was attended by an average of fifty scholars. It was seven years before the next school was started. At that time, the school matters were managed in the school district of what is now the two towns of Kansas and White Oak acting as one township ; at present, in White Oak alone. There are now five school districts, though some of the support comes from adjoining towns. The number of pupils enrolled in this township alone, in 1878, was 123. The total number of children in the school was 1-44, being about one-third of the total population. The amount of the township school fund was $2,858. The estimated value of the school property is $3,150. The present School Treasurer is Samuel Lantz. The total amount of money expended for school purposes in the year ending September 31, 1878, was $1,410. White Oak is a very small town, and, of course, does not furnish large figures, but we notice that if the children of Bloomington attended school in the same ratio, it would require desk-room for at least 1,000 more pupils. White Oak is a Republican town. In the olden times, it was a Whig neighborhood. It is noted, however, for the spirit of toleration existing between the members of the different political parties. This town sent a large number of soldiers to the late war, several of whom laid down their lives in the service of their country. Could the full war-record of White Oak be compiled, it would be of more interest than anything we have given in these pages, and would show that its sons have been heroes in the cause in which they volunteered. There are living in this township quite a number of the veterans of the war, who are among its most respected citizens. We have mentioned that White Oak is rather remarkable for the piety of the fam- ilies within its borders, and we might state that, from its early settlement, this remark would hold true. Religious meetings were started early, and at first at private houses. The first sermon was preached at the residence of Mr. Smith Denman, by Rev. Mr. Royal, a Methodist minister. The second was by a man of the name of Beach, a Bap- tist, who also preached at Mr. Denman's. In the grove near this residence, a great many camp-meetings have been held at different times. The first church in the township was the Christian Church, at the edge of the grove in the northwest part of the town, and was erected about 1850. A few years after this, the Methodist Church was built near Mr. Denman's, at the edge of the grove. Some time after, another Christian Church was built, about half a mile east of Abraham W. Carlock's. All of these churches are near the township lines, and as near the county line, and quite a portion of their support comes from Woodford County. They help give White Oak its good name, and we are glad they are on the right side of the line. A few miles south of the grove is the church of the Presbyterians, which is the most central, perhaps, of any in the town. Near Winton Carlock's is the Mt. Zion Church of the United Brethren, making the fifth in White Oak Township. The total value of these churches is over $10,000. They will seat more people than the total population of the township, something that can be said of the churches of but few towns in the county. There are a number of families of Unitarians, Universalists, a few Second Adventists, and some members of other denominations in the township. White Oak being a farming township, with only one small village, barely three years old, has, of course, no manufactures. As early as 1833, one of its citizens — 686 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Thomas Dixon — built a mill on the Mackinaw, which did some service. This mill r however, was not in this township. Some years ago, the steam saw and grist mill, known as the " Western Mills," were built in the township, near its northern line, the only manufacturing establishment in the township of much importance. They have never proved very profitable. We find the town of White Oak may be classed as one of the most prosperous of any in this part of the State. When we make this statement, we include its moral, social and financial condition, all of which are on a remarkably good basis. Our report of its early history and present state may be imperfect, but we have endeavored to make it clear to our readers that White Oak is, in every respect, a good town. DRY GROVE TOWNSHIP. Dry Grove Township was so named from a grove in the southwestern part. This grove was long known as Dry Grove. Who first gave it the name, we do not know- All the groves in the county were named early. The reason for calling this Dry Grove may probably be found in the fact that it is on high ground, without any stream of water running through it. The township bears the same name that was given it at the first organization in 1857. It lies in the northwestern part of the county, and includes one Congressional town. It is bounded on the north by White Oak, on the east by Normal, on the south by Dale, and on the west by Dan vers Township. It is known as Town 24 north, Range 1 east of the Third Principal Meridian. As will be seen by this the Third Principal Meridian forms its western boundary, separating it from Dan vers Township. Besides the grove mentioned above, there is another in the southeastern part of the township, called Twin Grove. These skirt the southern border, forming almost an unbroken line of timber nearly across the southern side. On the north there is no native forest; but the many clusters of forest-trees planted by the industrious farmer, together with the orchards, give the country the appearance of a woodland. This is upland prairie. It lies in very good shape for farming and pasturing. A few flat places where the water might stand, have been drained at a small cost. Corn and oats are raised to a considerable extent ; hay and meadows are abundant ; stock is raised largely. On the south side, along the timber, the products are the same with some wheat ; but wheat is not extensively cultivated. The old settlers tell us of the wheat raised forty and fifty years ago, but the country has undergone a change since that time in regard to the adaptability to wheat-growing. This seems to be the history of all new settlements. The black rich soil that one sees in passing through this township, is enough to make an old farmer feel like stopping and going to work. There certainly can be no discount on the fertility of the soil. One branch of Sugar Creek takes its rise in this township. There are numerous branches of this stream from the center, east and northeast. They unite in one and leave on the south side near the center of Section 33. There is also a small stream flowing northwest from the northern part, and one on the west rises near the railroad, and flows in a zig- zag course to near the northwest corner. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Rail- road enters the township one-fourth mile west of the southeast corner of Section 35.. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 687 It passes diagonally north and west through the township, leaving from the middle of the west side of Section 19. There is not now, nor has there ever been, so far as we know, any post office or village within the limits of Dry Grove Township. The nearest was the old post village of Wilkesborough, just across the line, in Danvers Township. There has been no call for any such thing, its proximity to Bloomington being of more advantage than the building of half a score of villages. The trains on the I., B. & W. R. R. do stop at Twin Grove, when they have a passenger to that point, and there is a switch there where farmers may load grain, but there is no station-house nor regular station. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. The two groves on the south side of the township offered as many points for settle- ment to the pioneer. It is no wonder that these hardy, hunting men should select the places that they did for their early efforts at civilization. These woodlands are still attractive. They are ^on the upland. There are no marshes nor swamps in them. The ground is rolling and soon dry after the rains. In early spring, the grass is seen peeping out from under the leaves, clothing the woodland with a carpet of green before the somber prairies put on their summer's garb. The first to enliven the township with a white man's home, was Peter McCullough. He came from Flemingsburg, Ky., and settled in the grove in 1826. Peter McCul- lough was a noted character in early times. He was a man of remarkable shrewdness and decisiveness. His son William McCullough is well known in the general history of the county, both as an honored and respected citizen, and as a brave and efficient soldier and officer. There are several of the descendants of Peter McCullough still living in the county. He kept a kind of inn for some time, and many anecdotes might be told in regard to the primative modes of entertainment. The next man in the township was Stephen Webb. Mr. Webb came originally from North Carolina, but moved early to Kentucky and then to Tennessee. From Tennessee, he came to Illinois with William McCord and George and Jacob Hiashaw. Their trials and hardships make quite a long story. The journey was made under the most discouraging circumstances, and show hardihood, pluck and perseverance. After reaching this country, some stopped in one place and some in another, Mr. Webb finally locating his claim at Twin Grove, within the present limits of Dry Grove Township. This was in 1827. Mr. Webb has resided in the township ever since. He still lives at a place he has occupied since pioneer days. He was born May 8, 1797, and is, consequently, getting along to an extreme old age. He has a number of children residing in the county. In 1828, Henry Vansickles came to Dry Grove. He was from Pennsylvania, and came to the county and stopped at Blooming Grove in 1826. He remained a long time, but finally sold out and went to Iowa. All the family of children, except the wife of Charles J. McClure, have gone to various parts of the West. After this, settlers began to come in quite rapidly. It is not now possible to trace them in the order of their arrival. In 1830, we find at the Grove, on the west, a number of families ; Jacob Hin- shaw, George and Reuben Carlock, Josiah Brown, Thomas Tanner on the south side ; James Hefford. Henry Vansickles, William Gilson, John Dixon and Peter McCullough 688 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. on the north side. Then, in 1831, there came to the same Grove Walford Wyatt, Asa Hutton and Abraham Hays. In 1830, there were at Twin Grove the following families: Stephen Webb, Mat- thew Harbard (who lived on what was afterward known as the Daniel Munsell place), Landay Hurst and a Mr. Lucas. In the fall of the same year, George Beeler came to the Twin Grove, from Butler County, Ohio. Ormond Robison came to Dry Grove in 1832. He remained but a short time, but moved to White Oak Grove in 1835. At this time, John Enlow came to the east side of Twin Grove. He stopped on the prairie and went to farming immediately. In 1837, the Munsells came from Indiana. By this time, the settlement had increased to respectable numbers. They began to leave off hunting and sports, and settled down to the ordinary routine of rural pur- suits. Many of the earliest pioneers began to feel restless under the restraints of more advancing civilization, and hied them away to the more congenial atmosphere of deer and turkey, the wolf and panther, the Indian and buffalo. EDUCATIONAL. The citizens of Twin Grove and Dry Grove suffered all the inconveniences usually experienced by the original inhabitants of any country. The few who dwelt within convenient distances of one another were not, at first, sufficiently numerous to support a school. So far as can now be ascertained, the first school taught in the township was held in a log cabin on the farm that Jacob Hinshaw bought of Abraham Carlock, when Hinshaw first came to the settlement. The teacher was Daniel Crooks. His was, as all others at that time, a subscription school. The number of pupils or the amount of money the worthy teacher received for his services, we know not ; but it would not be in accordance with the spirit of the times to suppose that he more than earned a sufficiency for family necessities. It is probable that the first schoolhouse in the township was at Twin Grove. The exact date of its erection we were unable to learn, but it was quite early in the history of the settlement. The first teacher here was James Garten. About the time of the building of the schoolhouse in Twin Grove, the progressive spirit manifested itself at Dry Grove. The pioneers concluded that the private resi- dence on Mr. Hinshaw's place was no longer sufficiently ample, commodious or dignified to- serve as the educational edifice of the community. It was not hoped that anything superior to good, hewn, straight logs could be obtained, but there would be an improve- ment ; so they decided to build. A meeting was held to decide upon the location. Those on the west side contended that the schoolhouse should be in the middle of the grove, as they were all settled around it in the edge of the prairies. But those on the east said " No." They maintained that the greater bulk of settlers was on the east side, and that there would be more discommoded by placing it in the center than by locating it farther east. The west end people could not be persuaded to accept a com- promise where they considered themselves plainly in the right. The eastern folks were no less emphatic in their assertions that the west end minority wished to control the majority, and bring a great inconvenience upon many. When it was ascertained that neither side would yield, they split. . One party built their house in the eastern part of Dry Grove, and the others built theirs a little west of the center. During the HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 689 first winter, school was taught in both houses, but the division worked the greatest harm to each party. Neither could keep up school afterward for want of the union that they lost in building. This story is told illustrating the fact that sometimes the usual har- mony of the frontier settlements gave place to local strife. It is not to be supposed that the contest was bitter, or that any acted maliciously, but we do learn that men then as well as now, would hold out for what they conceived to be their rights. The first teacher in the center school was George Hopkins ; the first in the east end was Daniel Crooks. Mr. Warlow tells many incidents of the school that he attended at Dry Grove, some time after this, and taught by Milton Williams. This man had come to the Grove quite early from Richmond, Ky. He afterward moved to Oregon with all his family, except Col. William McCullough's wife. Milton Williams taught at Dry Grove for some time. He kept a loud school. Every boy and girl tried to see how much noise it was possible to make, and those who have taught school know how great the possi- bilities are in this direction, even in the ordinary school of to-day, where noise is sup- posed to be at a discount. What a happy jingle those loud schools must have presented t There could have been no laws against whispering, for only the merest blockhead would have attempted such a thing. The frequent command to '' keep quiet," so common now in every school, would have been out of place altogether. And yet, there is but little doubt that he was " In his noisy mansion skilled to rule," for the birch was applied without ceremony to all who refused the mild scepter of " moral suasion." Schools have multiplied and improved till now many neat buildings declare the interest manifested by the people in education. Further details of the present standing of school matters in the township may be found in the following : Number of pupils under twenty-one years, 554 ; number of pupils between six and twenty-one, 370 , number of pupils enrolled, 241; number of schoolhouses, 8; amount paid teachers, $2,241.03; total expenditures, $3,455.39 ; estimated value of school property, $4,450 ; highest wages paid per month, $50. Among the earliest of the churches was the United Brethren's organization. John Dunham preached all over this country at a very early date, but we hear of no organization in Dry Grove until after the arrival of David Mason. Mr. Mason bought out the old schoolmaster, Milton Williams. Mason was from Ohio, and came about 1836. The organization of the church did not occur until two or three years after- ward. A Rev. Mr. Davis was the minister that organized the society. For some time, there were but few members, and the society was quite feeble, but after a protracted effort by the Rev. Abraham Eccles, during which a revival of considerable importance was gotten up, the society was more prosperous. Beside Mr. Mason, Mr. Harmon Gillespie and Philip Rodcap may be mentioned as prominent supporters of the church. The United Brethren built their church in 1850 and 1851. It was 24 by 36 feet. It was put up by the members of the society. The only cash outlay was for such things as must necessarily be bought. They hauled their own saw-logs to the mill and had them converted into lumber, with which to build their church. From this fact, it is not possible now to give the cost of this church. It still stands, and furnishes the necessary conveniences for religious services. The society is not very strong at pres- ent. Rev. J. W. Fisher is Pastor. G90 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. The Christian Church is the strongest at Dry Grove. It was organized by James Robinson and Amos Watkins. They held their first meetings at the residence of Samuel Barker. The house was a cabin, just across the road from where Mr. Snod- grass now lives, in the eastern side of Dry Grove. These pioneer preachers lived on Panther Creek, in Woodford County, and came down to this grove to preach, and start a church, if possible. They were successful. This was in 1842. Belonging to the first list of membership, we find the names of John Harbard, Abraham Staggers, William Beeler, Samuel Harley, Stephen Webb, Francis Johnson, James Ward, George M. Hinshaw and others. After the first organization, the church experienced a season of inactivity. For some time, the cause was at a low ebb. But they revived again, and built their first church in 1850 and 1851. It stood on the site of the present church, and cost about $600. It was 30 by 40 feet. With the progress of the society, this house became too small, and was replaced by another of more spacious dimensions, in 1864. This building stands on Section 33, near the southwest corner. It is just in the south edge of the timber. There is a neatly-cared-for and elegantly-orna- mented cemetery in connection. Here rest many of the earlier settlers. This is a frame house, 40 by 50 feet. Total cost of building and fitting up, ready for dedication, $2,525. It will seat, comfortably, 350 persons, though there are often a greater num- ber in it at one time. The present Pastor is the Rev. George W. Minier, who preaches semi-monthly. There is a large congregation and nearly two hundred members. There is a meeting of some kind every Sabbath, and a large Sunday school is kept running most of the time, in connection with other services. The Methodist Church, that has for a long time been of considerable prominence in the Twin Grove neighborhood, was first begun in Dale Township. But it was soon brought over the line. The first meetings, in Dry Grove Township, of this church, were held at the residence of Elias York. The prominent members of the first class were Elias York and wife, Elizabeth Rockhold, wife of Francis Rockhold, and a Mr. Overton and wife. Overton was a son-in-law of Elias York. Prominent among the early ministers were Robert McClun and old Father Goodheart. In 1837-38, there was a great revival among the Methodists, at this point. They were also joined by the United Brethren, Father Mason being one of the prominent workers. The church-building was erected in 1864. It was located on the east side of Section 34, about one-half mile north of the township line. The original cost of building, exclusive of inside fixtures, was about $2,100. It is 34 by 50 feet. At the time of building, Rev. William C. Johnson was Pastor. They had just had an effective series of meetings, and the church was in a prosperous condition for a country church, there being more than a hundred members. Among these early members were Samuel Brown, Daniel Munsell and wife, John Gillespie and wife, and Mr. Gillespie's mother, Carlisle Munsell and wife, Mary Henry, R. E. Strimple and wife and mother, Thornton McFee, William Derryman and wife, and Jacob Johnson. The first Board of Trustees for the house of worship, consisted of R. E. Strimple, Daniel Munsell, Carlisle Mun- sell, Samuel Sill, James P. Elliott, John S. Gillespie and Thornton McFee. The house is a neat, country edifice, having been recently repainted and fitted up anew. In the fall of 1877, it was moved from the old site one-half mile south, so that it is now in Dale Township. It was moved to the Twin Grove East Side Cemetery. This cem- etery is one of the oldest in the neighborhood. It is not under the supervision of any V CHENEY GROVE TP. ^/ HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 693 •church organization. An association, bearing the name of the cemetery, has it in ■charge. In the history of this church, there have been several stirring revivals. The one -of most remarkable results was that known as Berkholder's revival. This took place soon after the church was built. There were more than one hundred joined the church during those meetings. There were seventy received into full connection on a single •day. Lately, there has been quite an awakening, under the efforts of Col. Johnson, of Bloomington, who is the present Pastor. EARLY INDUSTRY. The first settlers at Dry Grove had to endure the usual hardships for lack of mills, -shops, and such other enterprises of a public character that are always necessary for the happiness and enjoyment of any community. The lack of milling facilities was felt more keenly, perhaps, than the want of any other single thing. The great distances which it was necessary to traverse in order to reach even a water-mill were enough to discourage the most determined. During the deep snow of 1830 and 1831, all were compelled to provide for themselves. The particulars of this ever-to-be remembered winter have been so often rehearsed that it is needless to dwell upon them here. It seems that this taught all to be prepared to make their own meal. The usual sight of .the front yard included a mortar and sweep for the pounding of corn. As nearly all families lived in the woods, a mortar was generally made by chopping down a tree, cutting the stump off so as to make it level, and then burning a basin from the top. In this the corn was put, and pounded by a heavy pole with an iron wedge in the end, and swung from the upper end of a sweep similar to the kind often seen used in drawing water from a well. These were common all over this country, and were made so by such times as occurred during the winter of 1830 and 1831. The first to erect a mill of any kind within the present limits of Dry Grove Town- ship was Matthew Harbard. This was a horse-power " corn -cracker." It was on the Daniel Munsell place. Here the farmers brought their corn and had it ground. They had no sieves. The manner of separating the hulls from the meal was varied and often unique. It was useless to bring wheat to these mills, for they " could not do the subject justice." It is said that sometimes wheat was ground in a coffee-mill, if the family happened to be so fortunate as to own one. Those were the mills that were nailed to the wall. The next mill was built where King's mill now stands. It occu- pied the old red building which still stands on the same spot. This was a saw-mill, and was not erected until long after the early settlement. At a still more recent date, Mr. King built a large flouring-mill, with three sets of buhrs, at the same place. For some time he did a large business. A few years ago, he took out his machinery and moved it to Kansas. The building and the apparatus for sawing stood unused all the time. But we learn that Mr. King has recently returned, and expects soon to have the mill running again. The first blacksmith-shop was operated, at an early date, by James Gilson, on his brother's farm on the north side of Dry Grove. He discontinued the shop and left the country after a short time. He was considered a first-class smith. Old Mr. Mason had a large family of boys. A story is told by Mr. Hinshaw illustrating the remarkable suc- cess Mr. Mason had in bringing up a number of hands to help him subdue the wilderness cc 694 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. and make it "blossom as the rose." Mr. Hinshaw says that in passing through the Grove he came upon Mr. Mason and nine sons, who were all chopping on one log. The father had taken his station at the butt of the log, and arranged his sons in the order of their ages ou the log with him. The oldest was next the father, and the youngest at the top of the tree. These were all large enough to do good work, and enjoyed themselves in a race to see who would be the soonest done. What a number of axes that man must have had ! And what a serious time they must have had when they all began to grind 1 WARS AND POLITICS. In the Black Hawk war, Dry Grove was well represented.- Col. William McCul- lough enlisted as a private in the company commanded by Merritt Covel. His great courage, spirit and daring are well known by all. James Phillips, Thomas Brown and Berry Wyatt were under Col. McClure. Col. McCullough was on the battle-field of Stillman's defeat, and there supplied himself with a gun which a hostile Indian was wont to use against the whites. McClure's command did not reach the scene of action in time " to save the day " nor participate in the flight. We are thus saved the pain, of chronicling any disaster to these men on that occasion. But they were in the field, ready to go at their Captain's command, and the simple fact that they had no oppor- tunity of dealing the enemy a heavy blow, should not detract from them any honors. They went at the call of an emergency and left their friends and relatives, not knowing whether the Indians would visit their home while they were gone, or whether their own scalps would be trophies strung to some chieftain's neck. In the war with Mexico, Dry Grove claims honors, too. Among those who went to Southern battle-grounds, we learned the names of Benjamin Wyatt, A. J. Mason, John Cranmer, Allin Palmer, J. S. W. Johnson and Thomas Johnson. These all went, and returned again unhurt by Mexican balls, and unharmed by the ravages of disease. The call of 1861 met a hearty response, and, during the four years of war that followed, the sons of her soil fought in many a battle and bled on many a field. Robert John- son died in the hospital ; John Brooks died in camp ; William Winn also died from the effects of disease ; Samuel Randall was thrown from a boat and drowned. If there were others who offered their lives in support of a cause dear to their hearts, we were unable to learn their names. There has been a goodly number of men in every one of the three wars which have occurred since the first settlement of the township. May the memories of the men who responded so readily at every call for the defense of kindred and home, long be cherished by those for whom they hazarded their lives, and may their deeds of valor be told to generations yet unborn. Politically, Dry Grove has always been Democratic, until within the last few years. But for some time, the Republicans have been in the ascendency. In township elec- tions, party-lines are not so closely drawn. ROADS. The first road through the township was the State Road from Danville to Fort Clark (Peoria). This was located by Robert McClure, Daniel Francis and a Mr. Phil- lips. It is followed very closely by the I., B. & W. Railroad. It crosses the south- west corner of the township, and is one of the most important roads in it. It is com- monly called the Peoria road, and is a much frequented thoroughfare. All the overland travel toward the West passes this way. It was on this road that Peter McCullough HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 695 kept his "way-side inn." Until the building of the I., B. & W. Railroad, in 1870, a regular line of coaches was run across the country from Bloomington west. This road is kept in good repair, and, as it passes obliquely west and north, it furnishes the shortest route to points off in that direction. Another important road crosses the northeastern corner of the township. It leads from Bloomington northwesterly. It passes obliquely through Sections 24, 14, 11, 10 and 3. The road is thrown up, being pretty well graded and drained, where draining is necessary. Beside these diagonal roads, most of the section lines and some of the half-section lines are regularly authorized highways. They are kept in good repair. There are many small streams in the township, but these are nearly all bridged. Where the Peoria road crosses Sugar Creek they have an iron bridge. ORGANIZATION OP THE TOWNSHIP. . Before the adoption of the township system, this lay in Bloomington and Concord Precincts. The early officers were not distinct from the officers of those precincts. On the adoption of this system, December 3, 1857, Town 24 north, Range 1 east, was called Dry Grove, and constituted a township for political purposes. At the first elec- tion, held April 6, 1858, the following officers were elected: Supervisor, Elias Yoder; Town Clerk, Alexander Forbes ; Assessor, Samuel C. Deal ; Collector, Abraham Harri- son ; Overseer of the Poor, David Sill ; Commissioners of Highways, Eleazer Munsell r Casper W. Harlin, John L. Shorthouse ; Constables, William D. Harbard, Michael S. Sill ; Justices of the Peace, Mahlon S. Wilson, Samuel H. Brown ; Overseers of High- ways, Simeon Lantz, J. Phillips, Roswell Munsell. MONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP. Although Money Creek Township was settled very early, before there had been any considerable settlement in what is now McLean County, and almost as soon as the advent of John Hendrix to Blooming Grove, no villages now dot its prairies or hover along its streams. There is not even a post office within the present limits of the town- ship, and very little remains of Clarksville, the only place that has ever assumed the dignity of even a hamlet. Money Creek Township is located in the northern part of the county, being in the second tier from the north. It is directly north of the center. It is bounded as fol- lows: On the north by Gridley, on the east by Lexington, on the south by Towanda, and on the west by Hudson Townships. It comprises one Congressional town, and is designated, Town 25 north, Range 3 east of the Third Principal Meridian. The soil is rich and productive throughout the greater portion of the township. The surface is covered by a considerable belt of timber. In the southwestern corner, and from the center, extending southeasterly, there are some fine prairies. There is, also, a small portion of prairie-land in the northeastern corner. Money Creek enters the township from Towanda at Section 32 ; after passing in a north, and slightly northwestern direc- tion, it leaves in Section 18, but curves back east into the township again ; finally leaving between Sections 6 and 7. Mackinaw Creek crosses the northeastern corner of the township, flowing northwest. It enters at the southeast corner of Section 12, and leaves near the middle of Section 5. Along Money Creek and Mackinaw, there was, 696 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. before it was cleared away somewhat, very fine timber for this country. The old saw- mill on Money Creek did a vast amount of sawing in an early day, and there is consid- erable timber yet. This accounts for the early settlements made here. This township is also crossed by the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, which enters at the south- west corner of Section 33, and leaves at the middle of the east side of Section 13. The principal products are corn and oats. Wheat is cultivated to a limited degree. Hogs and cattle are raised to a considerable extent. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. " Old Louis Soward," as he is universally known among the few who remember him, came to this country from Ohio. He was one of those jolly old frontiersmen who enjoy themselves best away from the haunts of civilization. One to whom the trials and vicissitudes of pioneer life were preferable to the restraints of more advanced society. He was a great hunter. In those days deer were plenty ; they might be seen in droves at almost any time. Turkejs abounded in the woods of the Mackinaw and Money Creek. Wolves nightly indulged in their melancholy lamentations over the scarcity of prey. Bees, too, were plenty in the woods. " Uncle Louis " was a great hand at scenting bee-trees, and often brought home vast quantities of sweets for family use. He was a great story-teller. Many of his stories are repeated around the firesides on Money Creek, and many a hearty laugh is had at the ready wit of this early pioneer. Mr. Soward had a family of four boys and three girls ; but with all the family, he left the township at quite an early day, for the wilds of Wisconsin. The exact date of Mr. Soward's arrival is not now known. It was prior to the settlement, farther up, by the Trimmer family, and as they came in 1826, the Sowards must have come as early as 1825. It is thought by some that they came even earlier. Jacob Harness, a brother-in-law of Louis Soward, came, also, from Ohio, and, it is thought, about the same time. He sold his claim to John Pennell, another Ohio matii and moved to Mackinaw Creek, in Lexington Township. In 1826, Jacob Spawr, then a young man, took a claim on Money Creek. He worked for Mrs. Trimmer, who was then a widow, and, in the fall of the same year, married her daughter. His father, Valentine Spawr, came to the creek the next year. The Spawrs were from Pennsylvania. Valentine Spawr had been a soldier under Gen. Wayne. In 1829, John Steers and the Van Buskirk family came to Money Creek. Van Bus- kirk lived here until he died. Some of his descendants are still living on Money Creek. A daughter married Mr. Henry Moats, and lives just west of the schoolhouse in District No. 3. In the spring of 1830, Mr. M. N. Barnard moved in and bought Mr. Steers' claim. In the spring of 1830, the Moats family came. Jacob Moats was born in Penn- sylvania September 16, 1785. His father was a German, who came from Germany and settled in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. When Jacob Moats was still a young man, the family moved to Licking County, Ohio. They were all farmers. There Jacob married Sarah Hinthorn, who then resided in the same county of Ohio. Miss Hin- thorn was born in West Virginia, near Wheeling. When forty-four years old, Jacob Moats started West with his large family of nine children. It took five weeks to reach the Big Grove. Here they stopped for a time. They rented a house of David Smith, who afterward moved to Smith's Grove, in Towanda Township. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 697 In coming West, there were several families in the train with which the Moats family came. From the Big Grove they were accompanied by Jesse Havens. They came to Hudson first, where Havens bought out Baily, Harbert and Moats, another of the Harberts. This was in the fall of 1829. But spring found the Moats family on- Money Creek. From here they never moved, and the family of children grew to man- hood and womanhood in this neighborhood. The old Mr. Spawr had sold his claim to Jacob Moats, and on this he lived until his death, in 1844. Of his nine children, four died in the. fall of 1840. They all died within a short time. None of the doctors were able to understand the disease or arrest its fatality. Three girls and one boy, ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-six, were carried away within four weeks. Two others were taken with the same disease, but recovered. One other brother died afterward. The remaining four children married and settled on Money Creek. Henry Moats, the oldest of the family, is now the oldest old settler living any- where in this part of the country. The Moatses have always been an important ele- ment in society, taking the lead in church matters, and giving liberally of their means to the support of whatever they considered beneficial to the neighborhood. In 1830, Jesse Stretch and Benjamin Ogden came to the settlement, from Ohio. John Ogden came in 1832, and stopped down on the Mackinaw. Benjamin Ogden bought out Louis Soward. Among the others that came, in a short time, may be mentioned Dr. Flthan McAf- erty, who came from Ohio and began in the forks of Money Creek and Mackinaw ; William Wilcox, from the same State, who went to the same neighborhood ; John B.. Wiley, William Young, and a number of others. In 1836, the Bishops came. Will- iam Gr. Bishop held the first post office. The early settlers went for their mail to the town of Mackinaw, now in Tazewell County. After they had gone such a long distance, they had to pay 25 cents for each letter. The post office was pretty soon established at Bloomington, and then they were somewhat relieved, for the post office was not more than fifteen miles away. Finally, there was a mail-route established from Ottawa to Springfield, by way of Bloomington, and Money Creek received an office, being on the route. The mail was carried oa horse-back, the carrier making one round trip a week. When Mr. Bishop gave up the office, and Mr. Moore, of Towanda, was appointed, Money Creek lost the only post office she ever had, and she has never been able to get another. But she does not need it. Hudson, on the west, Lexington, on the northeast, and Towanda, on the south, fur- nish all the necessary facilities. CLARKSVILLE. A.bour forty-five years ago, James Clark laid out the village of Clarksville. There was an effort made to establish a village, and at one time it was thought that Clarks- ville would become a flourishing town. It was located on the north side of Mackinaw Creek, in the northeastern part of the township. The town was finally abandoned. A few dwelling-houses and a church are all that is left to mark the spot. THE FIRST SCHOOL was taught in a house erected for school purposes, about forty-five or forty-six years ago. This house was built of logs. For windows, it had openings — where a log had 698 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. been cut away. These were covered with greased paper. During the long winter-days, these semi-transparent slits furnished all the light from without. Whenever the huge log-fire could be made to burn with sufficient brilliancy, it may be supposed that the youth suffered nothing from want of light. But, unfortunately, this was seldom the case. The chimney was built of mud and sticks, and it failed to " draw." Mrs. Henry Moats, who was then a young girl of thirteen, tells us that the memory of that old house is terrible. The first winter in it was one of absolute suffering. The fire-place would " smoke " so badly that the schoolroom was continually filled with it. Their eyes grew red, they caught bad colds, and their heads would ache continually. They suffered from cold, too. Slabs, hewed from logs, served as seats. The first teacher was Lindsey Scott, He came from Tazewell County, near Pekin. What he received, we were unable to learn ; but one thing is certain — he got his board, for he " boarded round." As near as can be remembered, he had twelve to fifteen scholars. These, at $4 per scholar, for three months, would give $48 to $60 for the term, beside his board. This is probably somewhere near the actual facts. It must be remembered, farther, that those were the days when the teacher began school as soon as he reached the house in the morning, and closed only when the approach of night showed that the children must be going or that darkness would overtake them on the road. The Testament and spelling-book were about the only texts in general use. Those who aspired to a knowledge or " 'rithmetic," generally had a book ; but grammars and geographies were unknown. This first schoolhouse was located on the east bank of Money Creek, in the midst of the earliest settlements. The old log schoolhouse has long since passed away. The children who went to school in it are now old men and women, or have passed away with their early teacher. New and more inviting buildings now furnish comfortable apartments where the young people can delve into the mysteries of science, or puzzle themselves over mathematical questions, without danger of freezing or having their eye-sight impaired for want of light. Schools are generally in a good condition, and the people take a just pride in sustaining them. Some of the leading facts in regard to the educational work of the township may be learned from the following : Number of children under twenty-one years, 583 ; number of children between six and twenty-one years, 394 ; number of scholars enrolled, 302 ; number of schoolhouses, 7 ; number of school districts, 8 ; amount paid teachers, $2,511.31; total expenditures, $3,702.40; estimated value of school property, $3,900 ; highest wages paid, $60. CHURCHES. The first preaching on Money Creek was by Isaac Messer, a local preacher, belong- ing to the church of the United Brethren in Christ. The meetings were held at the residence of Mr. Valentine Spawr, who was noted as coming to Money Creek in 1827. Peter Spawr — a son of Valentine Spawr — had married one of Mr. Messer's daughters, and in that way Mr. Messer became acquainted on Money Creek. For a long time, he made semi-monthly visits to these parts, and gathered the people together to hear the preaching of the Gospel. A society of about a half dozen United Brethren was formed in 1832. Prom- inent among these were Jacob Moats and wife, and Jesse Havens and wife. The Rev. John Dunham organized the class. After the organization was effected, meeting was HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 699 held at the residence of Jacob Moats, until the building of the church in 1856. The ffrst regular circuit preacher was James P. Eckles. In 1856. the United Brethren built a neat, substantial church. It is located about one-third of a mile north of the south- east corner of Section 30, and still serves as their place of worship. The Moatses are among the strongest members. It is largely due to their influence, that the church was built where it is; and their means have been the principal source of support. The Methodists had an organization in working order, as early, perhaps, or nearly so, at least, as that of the United Brethren. Jacob Spawr and wife, and old Mrs. Trimmer, with her son David Trimmer, were the prominent members, and the only ones, so far as remembered now. Jacob Spawr's residence was the usual place of meet- ing. James Latta, a Methodist preacher, held meetings there as early as 1830. They built a church one-quarter of a mile east of the present schoolhouse, in Dis- trict No. 3, but after the village of Towanda sprung up, they abandoned it, and united with those farther south in building a new church in the village. The old building was sold and used for other purposes. The first members of the Christian Church, of any prominence, were M. N. Barn ard and Young Bilbrey. Preaching was held at each of these men's houses. Their first preacher was James Robinson. He preached here as early as 1835, and has con- tinued his services, semi-occasionally, ever since. The Christians built a church in 1857, the next year after the building of the United Brethren's Church. This sub- stantial country church is located on the southeast corner of Section 20. The Christians have quite a large membership. The Rev. Ebenezer Rhodes assisted them in the building up of their society. The Christians, Methodists and United Brithren are the principal denominations in the township. If there are others, we were unable to learn anything in regard to them. Taking the township as a whole, the United Brethren are, probably, the most numerous. They have three organized classes — one at Hefner's schoolhouse, another has a church at the old site of Clarksville, and the other meets in their church, just north of Towanda. The Methodists and Christians are by no means scarce. PROGRESS. The people on Money Creek manifested the true spirit of progress. They built schoolhouses and churches. They erected mills and secured a post office; and if they built no towns, it was not for the want of an attempt. Mr. Pennell and Mr. Baylor ran the saw-mill, just across in Towanda Township, and George Wallace built a flour- ing-mill on the Mackinaw. When this mill was built, they had an old-fashioned " rais- ing." Those were the days when the jug went around, and everybody indulged. They had a fine time, but no one became intoxicated. This mill was like its neighbors, it depended upon the force of the running stream for its power. It was near the site of Clarksville, and was built about 1836. But when dry weather came, the neighborhood was compelled to go off long distances to mill. Sometimes they went down to the Murphy mill, on Kickapoo, and sometimes they were compelled to go all the way to Ottawa. Wallace gave up the mill to a Mr. Denson. Denson died with the Asiatic cholera in 1855, and after this, the mill went down, and nothing has been heard of it since. Jacob Spawr was made Justice of the Peace. Justices had but little to do in those days. Lawsuits were seldom carried on, and marriages were necessarily few. 700 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. WAR AND POLITICS. We fouDd no soldiers that were in the Black Hawk or Mexican wars. In the early- days, the settlers were often badly scared by rumors of danger, but farther than this,, they were not disturbed. In the late war, Money Creek furnished her quota of men. They offered a number of brave men on their country's altar. Among those who were killed on the field of battle, were the following: Arthur Busick, John Kriger, James Arbuckle, Davidson Dodson, and two persons of the name of William Trimmer. Ques- nell Rayburn and Joseph Stretch died of disease contracted while in the service of their country. In the first settlement of this country, the two parties were Democrat and Feder- alist ; then came the Whigs, and later the Republicans. In early times, the township was Democratic. Latterly, it has been pretty evenly balanced between the Democrats and Republicans. ' Within the last few years, quite a number have joined the National Greenbackers. MURDER. Two and a half miles northeast of the village of Towanda, but within the limits of Money Creek Township, there was found, one morning in October, 1876, the body of a man, in the field of James Donohue, about forty rods from the railroad. The body was first discovered by Mrs. Strode. She thought it was a " tramp " asleep, and so- reported the matter at home. The boys went out and found the man dead, lying on his face. They reported, and immediately sent for Coroner Hendricks. Dr. Smith, of Bloomington, held the post-mortem examination, and found that one ball had entered behind the jaw, and passed back of the trachea, down below the heart. Another bait had passed through the body just below the ribs and toward the left side. An examina- tion of the skull showed a fracture on the back, as though he had been struck with the- breech of a pistol. There was also a mark on the skull at one side, and a piece gone from the ear, which went to prove that the man had been struck. From papers on the body, it was found to be that of Albert Anglen. He was from Grafton, W. Va. He had let- ters in his pocket from a young lady in Flora, Colo. It was ascertained that he had been an exemplary young man, and had been respected by all of his acquaintances. With the body was found a pair of boots, lying to one side, that he could not have worn. These were recognized by a shoemaker at Shippey, 111., as being a pair that he had mended for Karl Klusty, a Bohemian. Klusty and Anglen had been working at Shippey. They had passed through Towanda a few days before, and it is supposed that the Bohemian murdered the young American for his money. The revolver probably belonged to the American and was snatched away from him while his attention was drawn toward something else. The men had slept over night at a straw-stack near. A great many arrests were made, but none proved to be the man sought. Quite recently, it has been ascertained that Karl Klusty has arrived in Bohemia, and is there under arrest, where it is hoped that he will meet with the punishment he so justly deserves. HIGHWAYS. In the early history of this settlement, Indian trails were the only roads. There was a very prominent trail passing through the settlement, which connected the Wabash with the Illinois. Indian paths, of course, followed the most direct and convenient course. The first road made by white men did the same. Many of these became HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 701 regularly-established highways, and, as a result, we find the township crossed in all direc- tions by roads that follow section or half-section lines but little. In townships that are composed of prairie-lands almost wholly, we naturally look for roads on every section line, but, where there has been a considerable amount of timber, it is not so. Accord- ingly, we find a number of section lines that are not authorized highways. The principal road through the township is the Lexington and Bloomington road. It enters the township from the southwest, with the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Rail- road. Afterward, it passes a short distance north, and then one mile east ; thence one mile north and one-fourth mile west ; thence one-half mile north ; after that, one and one-half miles east ; one and one-fourth miles north again, and from this point, in a northeasterly direction, through the remainder of the township. Another much-traveled road, is the one leading north from Towanda village. It follows the section-line between Sections 31 and 32 and 35 and 29 ; here it meets the road extending across the town- ship, on the north side of the second tier of sections, from the south. A strangely-zigzag road passes north, through the second tier of sections, from the west. It extends through the township, and though it makes many turns, it never passes outside of the second tier of sections. There are a number of oblique roads, the most noticeable being the following : A road, beginning one-fourth mile north of the southwest corner of Section 15, and extending northeasterly, crossing a branch of the Mackinaw on an iron bridge ; a road beginning at the southeast corner of Section 2, and passing partly in a zigzag course, and partly in a northwestern direction, through the old site of Clarksville, to the north- ern line ; from the iron bridge on the branch of the Mackinaw, first due north three- fourths of a mile, and then in a zigzag and oblique direction to the northwest. Although the roads of Money Creek are thus seen to cut the farms in many places, they furnish shorter routes to market, and any inconvenience is thus overcome by a positive benefit. The origin of the name Money Creek, is shrouded in mystery. There are two theories afloat, that we hear of — " Ever since the days of Capt. Kidd, The Yankee thinks there's money hid," and ever since the oldest settlements, there has been a legend afloat in regard to the hiding of some money at Smith's Grove, by some one, who died and left it buried there. It was told how great wealth might possibly be found there. As this story was circulated very early, it may have given rise to the name as applied to the creek. Again, it is said that some Indians found a piece of money along the creek, and gave it the name of Money Creek, from this fact. DOWNS TOWNSHIP. Downs Township occupies, in the southern tier of townships, the fourth from the eastern border of the county, and is described as Town 22 north, Range 3, and the northern two tiers of sections of Town 21 north, Range 3 east of the Third Principal Meridian. Downs was principally a prairie town, having no timber except Diamond Grove, a small collection of timber on the Kickapoo, in Sections 5, 6 and 7, and 702 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. skirting of " Old Town Timber," along the northern border of Sections 1, 2 and 3, and u Johnson's Point," a small grove in Section 25 — covering in the aggregate scarcely four sections of the forty-eight which constitute the town. The Kickapoo is the only creek in Downs, running for about three miles across its northwestern corner. " Blue Branch " and " Jacoby's Branch " run through the town, and the Long Point Creek, a branch of the Kickapoo, forms in the southern part. The land in the northern half is high and considerably rolling, containing some of the finest farms in the county. The southern portion is more flat, and contains fewer which attract the pleasureable attention of the traveler. The timber here was good, and several mills were built early along the Kickapoo for sawing it into lumber. Before any mills were built, the hardy pioneers whittled out the first lumber with whip-saws, a process slow enough, and so gone out of date in this part of the country that many of the readers of these pages will wonder what whip- sawing is. The log to be sawed was first hewed to a partial square, so that it would remain in position and could be lined with a carpenter's line, and then raised upon a frame erected for the purpose, high enough for one of the sawyers to stand erect under it ; a pit was dug deep enough so that the <: man below," or pit-man, could do his work without inconvenience. The saw was not unlike a common cross-cut saw, except, of course, the teeth, which were set for rip work. One man stood on the log, and one underneath, the pit-man being obliged to cover his face with a silk hankerchief, or some similar covering, to prevent the sawdust from ruining his eyes. The sawyers were obliged to follow the lines, and it required no small amount of skill to make very decent boards. Two hundred feet a day (board measure) was a big day's work for two men, about what a good mill will cut in ten minutes. Still, this is the way our fathers made their first lumber, and the way still practiced in boat-yards and in countries where tim- ber is so scarce that there is no demand for mills. In 1868, under the pressure of the popular railroad arguments, Downs voted $10,000 stock in the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad. The road was built, and runs, for about five miles, across the northeast corner of the township, from northwest to southeast, cutting Sections 5, 4, 10, 11 and 13. The station on Section 4 is the only railroad station in town. This road was recently sold out under foreclosure of mortgage, and the stock- holders get nothing for their stock. The Court, however, found a way to allow law- yers' fees, amounting to $32,000, for their labors in cleaning the stockholders out. The records of the township do not show that the lawyers have yet " declared a dividend " on the stock owned by Downs. There were several mills put up on the stream ; none of them lasted a great while, though. The difficulty was to get a dam which would stand the pressure of spring freshets and the rainy season. John Rice had a mill which, by constructing a long " race," had about seven feet fall. It was built about 1840, and had the old-fashioned "flutter" wheel and gate. Hon. John Cusey run this mill for some time. He says that he has sawed as high as four thousand feet in twenty-four hours, though this was far above the average capacity of the mill. It was customary to saw logs for the half, or small lots for 50 cents per hundred feet. Much of the lumber went to build Bloomington, and some of the houses HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 703 stand there yet. In the absence of pine, which now forms every portion of the houses built, the buildings were made entirely of hard wood — home-sawed lumber. The clap- boards and casings were of black-walnut, the frame of oak, hewn out, and the joints, braces, etc., sawed. No " balloon" buildings were built in those days. The floors were ash, and the lath either basswood or oak, split with an ax by laying the pieces on a plank, so that the entire board would hang together when put on the wall, and separated to the required distances by driving wedges in until they were nailed. The shingles were of oak or black-walnut, shaved. Such shingles, if properly laid, would last forty years, or until they were, like the " Deacon's Masterpiece," worn out. Severe Stringfield had a grist-mill further down stream, near the southwest corner of Section 5. It was built about 1831. It was about 16x20, one story high, and had a water-head of about five and one-half feet. The stones were home-made, being eut out of the bowlders found here on the prairie. They were little more than two feet in diameter, and did very good service. The lower one, since it has ceased to do service as a " nether mill-stone," is serving its generation as a door-step for H. C. Bishop's house. What service it will next see is not for the historian to undertake to say. Elder Elijah Veatch put up a mill, about 1840, on the same stream ; and some genius, whose name even has departed from memory, started a pottery about the same time. It was not a success, however. It was on Section 17, on the Jacoby branch. The township took its name from Lawson Downs, who came here from White County — though originally from Tennessee — in 1829, and took up a claim at "Diamond Grove," on Section 6, some years before the land here came into market. He afterward entered this land, and left it to his children. He was here during the deep snow, and endured the hardships of that terrible winter, when he had to dig his sheep out of the snow, hunting them as the boys do ground-squirrels, by their holes. He served, under Capt. Covell, of Bloomington, in the Black Hawk war for thirty days. He was mar- ried, in 1836, to Sarah Welch, by whom nine sons were born, six of whom grew up to manhood. His life was devoted to farming, and received the reward which industry and frugality brought to those who turned the wild places into farms. He died in 1860, at the age of fifty-one, honored and respected by his neighbors. Henry Jacoby took up a claim here about the same time, and was for years a neighbor of Downs. These early adventurers did not find all the conveniences here which would make life pleasant. The hunting was better than now, but all those things which are now thought to be necessaries were wanting. Money was so scarce that it was hardly talked of as a commodity. In place of the short-horns and Berkshires, which you see now in every pasture and feed-yard in this magnificent county, were the black, brindle, piebald, polled, streaked and speckled cattle which, for want of a name, we usually call natives. They were as uneven in quality as variegated in colors, and lacked all the finer beef-qualities for which their successors, the short-horns, are so famous. They answered the purposes for which they were wanted, however, perhaps full as well, perhaps better, than the present popular breed would have done. The working cattle were lively, and endured fatigue and heat well ; and even after they were fatted, they stood the long drives, which the then system of marketing demanded, much better than the cattle of the present day would. They could hardly have been called handsome, but they were in all ways the main help and chief profit of the farmer. As much can hardly be said of the wind-splitting prairie-rooters that were the only hogs 704 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. then known in these parts. But then, they were hogs, and did not like to be trifled with. They lived on roots and nuts, and could outrun a horse. When the farmer went to feed them, he put the corn where he was sure the contrary fellows would find it ; and if he had tried to call them with that long, sonorous, half-shout and half-groan now in use to bring hogs to their feed, the chances are decidedly that he would have scared them out of the timber, and might never have seen them. But they were handy to drive, as men had to drive hogs in those days. The breeds of hogs which farmers, now raise and feed never would have stood the trips to Chicago and Galena that those " timber hogs " did. Thomas Toverca came here from Bandolph, about 1830. A short notice is given of him in the accompanying history of that township. He was one of those charac- ters that the rapid march of civilization is fast abolishing. He had served under Gov. Edwards in the early Indian difficulties in this part of the State ; and in the expedition to which he was attached, an engagement had taken place at the crossing of the Wabash River. Later, they were driven from Old Town Timber, at the place where the early white settlers, a few years afterward, found such fine blue-grass pasture, and were followed until they crossed the Illinois River, near Ottawa. Mr. Toverca was a rough, uncouth man, of no early culture, but was an ardent believer in the truths of religion, and was an exhorter of considerable power. After living a short time with his old friend Randolph, he took up a claim in Section 7, here in Downs, and resided here until 1861. He then moved to Iowa, and died at Oskaloosa. R. F. Dickerson, of Empire, tells of getting up an exciting reaction at one of Toverca's meetings, by getting a dog and cat to fighting out doors while the meeting was in progress in the schoolhouse. John Price came here from Kentucky, in 1830, but did not then locate here. In 1834, he entered the land on Section 4, which, in 1836, he made his home, and upon which he still lives. This first, he entered at Vandalia, and later, he entered land at Danville, making, in all, nearly seven hundred acres, which he purchased at the Govern- ment price. His neighborhood was called Priceville, and still popularly retains the name, although the station and post office are called Downs. In 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Price celebrated their golden wedding in a most pleasant and long-to-be-remembered entertainment. He has always been a public-spirited man, and has taken an active part in township affairs. He was proprietor of the little village, and has taken a lively interest in its welfare. The aged couple, who have enjoyed almost sixty years of mar- ried life, look back on the trials and privations of those early years with few regrets. Of their eight children, four are still living. Gillum Station, in Old Town, was named after one of his daughters, Mrs. Mary Gillum Condon. William Weaver came here from Washington County in the fall of 1832, and set- tled on the township line between Downs and Old Town. He was a preacher of the Anti-Mission Baptists, and used to hold religious meetings in the schoolhouses. He brought sixty head of cattle with him when he came here, and commenced at once to improve his farm. Of thirteen children, twelve grew up to maturity, though only two yet reside in town — his youngest son and the wife of A. P. Craig. Mr. Weaver died in 1838, of congestive chills. His son, Joseph B. Weaver, who was born the year before his father came here to live, is a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He lives at Downs Station, and has HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 705 shown a lively interest in the affairs of his township, both political and educational. He served three years in the Ninety-fourth Regiment, and is greatly respected in the community in which he lives. E. H. Wall came here from Kentucky, in 1833, and settled in the Priceville neigh- borhood, in Section 5. He had for a number of years been a devoted member of the M. E. Church, and was for ten years a class-leader there. When he came to the new home, he brought his religion with him, and exercised a decided influence for good. When he was quite young, Rev. Peter Cartwright had made a visit to his lather's house, and had made a strong impression on the young man's mind. He often had occasion to exercise a good influence for the keeping of the Sabbath, and was one of the first to get a schoolhouse built where schools and meetings could be held. His life was an exam- ple of fervent piety, and the exercise of noble aspirations. About 1853, he moved to Section 24, and remained there until he died from the effects of a cancer that for fifteen years had slowly spread, withstanding ail efforts to stay its progress. William Bishop, who settled in the same neighborhood, and kept the "Six-mile House" across the line in Old Town Township, entered the land where his son Henry now lives, in Downs, in 1838. Henry C. has a fine farm, and is a prosperous farmer. Rev. R. D. Taylor came to Old Town Timber in 1836.. He had been educated at Princeton College, Kentucky, a school of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and came here before his ordination, partially because he believed it to be an important field and one needing laborers, and partly because he did not believe in the institution of slavery, and wanted to get away from it. He commenced to preach here, and was ordained by the Mackinaw Presbytery in 1838. He went to work with a will, and preached and taught school. His circuit extended from the Mackinaw to Salt Creek. He lived on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 3, and used to hold serv- ices in the house of Mr. Manning, and later, in the Union Church, built on the north- east quarter of Section 2, by the Methodists and Presbyterians jointly. While he was preaching, one Sabbath, his house took fire and burned up, with all its contents. He was just expatiating on the mercy of God, and had just remarked that, no matter what calamity comes to us, the goodness and mercy of God are plainly discernable, even in calamity, when the alarm of fire was sounded, which proved to be his home. He was an excellent school-teacher, and many of the older citizens of Downs received their finishing at his hands. Hon. John Cusey, Wiatt Adams, P. B. Price, Mrs. Condon, J. B. Weaver, Asa Savidge, and many others, were among his graduates. He moved from here to De Witt County, and thence to Le Roy, where he still lives, still laboring in the Master's vineyard, though, for several years, he has not held regular pastoral relation. He is believed to be the first regularly-educated minister who labored here, and his record and labors here show how much good can be done by an earnest, devoted life, when seconded by the aid which education gives. For more than forty years he has given his labors to the cause of religion, and, as he believes every Christian minister's duty is, has saved enough, and only enough, to make him and his wife comfortable, if he is spared here beyond the time his strength of body and mind will permit him to labor. He has no complaint to make, and few regrets. His later years seem peaceful and lit up with a spirit of unclouded joy. Mr. Isaac Peasley came from Virginia to this county in 1834, and remained for two years a renter on Jesse Funk's land, and, in 1836, came out onto the prairie and 706 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. put up a cabin on Section 19, two miles from the timber, a little west of where his son, Sylvester, now lives. When the neighbors came out from Randolph's Grove, to help him put up his house, they made light of his judgment in coming out so far from the Grove, and offered 1o give him all the land he could see. They were sure he never could live there — a statement he almost thought verified when the " sudden change " struck his prairie home, the December following. He moved across the road, a few years later, onto Section 30, and remained there till he died, in 1861. His son, Sylvester, commenced to make a farm at his present residence, in Section 20, in 1847. In his younger days, he did not enjoy many educational advantages, as his time was given to helping his father care for the family, but a well-stored mind shows that he has not let slip any advantages that were in his reach. He is an ordained minister of the Baptist denomination, and continued to preach until a bronchial affec- tion compelled him to discontinue it. He has given much attention to the raising and feeding of stock, and has, by hard work, good judgment and excellent business habits, acquired a fair portion of this world's goods. Like all the early settlers, he was obliged to make Chicago his market when it seemed about all the load of grain was worth to get there. He early made cattle-raising his principal business. He has always taken an interest in the affairs of the town and of the schools. He was elected the first Supervisor, and, for the last eleven years, he has been continuously the Supervisor ; and, for the last two years, Chairman of the Board. He owns 300 acres of land, which is being well worked. In 1876, he built a large and well-arranged residence on his farm, really the finest one in Downs. It is 34x48, two stories high, with large, airy rooms, and well arranged for the comfort of the family and the delight of his friends. The cellars are nicely plastered and frost-proof, and, indeed, all its appointments are excellent. Mr. Peasley has a fine herd of short-horns, numbering about twenty-five, among which are several very fine animals, showing the same good care in selection and excel- lent judgment in breeding which are seen in all his affairs. He is justly esteemed one of Downs' best citizens, such a one as McLean County knows how to use in her public affairs. W. W. Peasley has a fine farm of 375 acres on Section 29. The buildings are excellent, and the grounds beautifully adorned with evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubbery. The beautiful lawn and neatly-trimmed hedges indicate the home of refine- ment and comfort. The Sabbath-school Conventions are usually held on his grounds, and it would be difficult to find a more delightful place for these annual convocations. Ebenezer Craig came to Downs and took up land near the northern line of the township, in 1834. He moved to Empire Township two years later, and returned to Downs in 1840, where he resided till his death in 1854. His son, A. P. Craig, continued to reside on the homestead, making it into a good farm. He married a daughter of Mr. Weaver, and had ten children born to him, nearly all of whom made their homes near by. He was a man of intelligence and probity, dying, respected and esteemed by all who knew him, in 1874. He owned about 600 acres of land, most of which was in this township. His business was principally cattle- raising and feeding. One of the most successful farmers in Downs, according to the testimony of all his neighbors, is Mr. Henry Welch, who came here from Indiana, in 1835, and took up land at Diamond Grove, where he still resides. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 707 He was a driving, energetic man, and permitted nothing to distract his attention from his farming, except that during the first few years he was obliged to team and work around wherever he could earn enough to give him a start. He has, for years, been a large stock-raiser and feeder of cattle, hogs, horses and sheep. His experience in the latter was more successful than the average, except that he was never able to get hold of a herd of sheep that worse than useless dogs would not destroy by the score on every occasion. His losses from dogs have been discouraging. He has a fine farm where he resides, and a large farm in West Township. In cattle -raising and feeding, he has no superior, though he never has driven so large a business as the Funk's and some others, he has, neverthless, been a decided success. Mr. Welch is the father of eight children, most of whom have grown up around him to enjoy the advantages of his excellent example, his thrift and good management. Hon. John Cusey came to McLean County with his father and brother in 1836, and was for several years engaged in working at his trade, that of a cabinet-maker and carpenter. At different times he has run nearly all the saw-mills erected on this stream, and was engaged in building several of the earlier houses, which were built in this town and in Bloomington. He framed and built the first framed house built in Downs — that now owned by Joseph Kershaw, on Section 21. It was built on Section 11, November, 1842. In 1843, it was moved to Section 1, in Randolph, and, a few years after, moved back to Section 21, in Downs, where it now stands. To move houses in those days was not so great an -undertaking. They put a pair of false sills under them, chamfered off like sleigh-runners, and made a bee, getting together a few prairie-breaking teams of cattle, and made short work of drawing it a few miles. After this working around for several years, he, in 1845, entered the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 6, Town 21 , Range 3. He sold as good a team as he ever owned to get money to enter this, as he supposed, forty ; but, when he got to Danville, he found that it was what was known as a fractional corner, and contained fifty-six acres ; he deposited his fortune there and came back home to raise enough to pay for the tract. He lived there twenty-three years, and then moved farther east, on Section 5, where he now lives. For many years, he was in the employ of Jesse Funk as his clerk, going with him to buy and weigh his purchases. Funk could buy more hogs than any man in the country. He placed the most implicit confidence in Cusey, a confidence which it is almost unnec- essary to say never was violated in the slightest. It was Funk who gave Cusey the title of " Deacon " against the latter's protest, for Cusey is a Methodist, and does not recognize the Congregational title ; but his employer excused it by explaining to Mr. Cusey that people around where he went to buy hogs would not be suspicious of him when they learned that he kept a deacon for his companion and clerk. The " Deacon " never thought of demanding increased salary to support the pomp and circumstance of this titular dignity. Mr. Cusey has always taken an interest in politics. Following his father's strong anti slavery bent, he became a Republican, and has held strongly to that party since its beginning. He has eight times been elected Assessor and twice Supervisor. In the latter position, he displayed the strong, clear, good sense which is the leading point in his character in so marked a degree, that, in 1872, he was selected by the Republicans as their candidate for the Senate, and he was elected the first Senator from McLean County after it became a district alone. 708 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. During the time of his service in the State Senate, the revision of the laws of the State was perfected, and, with untiring zeal, he exerted a large influence on the side of Tugged justice, strict accountability of officials, and more prompt enforcement of law against all violators. Whether the people of McLean County know it or not, the writer knows that no Senator from that county ever goes to Springfield that he does not awaken a kind of undefined suspicion on the part of the others that there is lurking about him sundry embryo raids on the treasury or illy-concealed demands for appropriations which must be opposed and defeated. Mr. Cusey was not free from the suspicion which the locality attaches o her representatives. He was, fortunately, able to do much to not only relieve him- self, but those who follow him, from the unjust and disagreeable imputation. On the whole, his term of service in the Senate, while a laborious, was a very successful one. Being at a time when the " Farmers' movement" was at its height, he was, from his occupation, his uncommon good sense and loyalty both to the interests of the farmers and to his own convictions, enabled to do many things to satisfy them that all legisla- tion is not in the interest of monopolies and lawyers. The peculiarity of his name — his own family and his brothers being, so far as he knows, the only persons bearing the name in America — was the subject of many a remark, and a mistake while he was in the Senate. There sat in the Senate during the three winters that Mr. Cusey was there, Col. Thomas S. Casey, who was, in all things except in his unbounded good nature, the very opposite of John Cusey. Tall, handsome, full- built, with a full share of the dash which a short year's service which had given him the title he so gracefully wore, a lawyer of excellent abilities, and the acknowledged leader of the Democracy of the Senate, which was in minority one session, and by union with the Independents and the Haines became a majority the following one, as proud of his name as of his person, it is not strange that the frequent confounding of the names of these two radical opponents should produce amusing mistakes and be the cause of almost endless explanation. It also afforded an easy way out of an unfortunate or unpopular vote. Nearly everything which the present generation learn of their Repre- sentatives they get from telegrams in the daily papers, and the frequent mistakes which telegraphic operators make in names is notorious. If Cusey introduced a bill to protect the financial interests of owners of valuable horses, Casey was published in his Egyptian home as " giving his valuable legal mind to fixing the legal status of colt and sire." When Cusey introduced a bill to protect the Downs sheep from the ravages of dogs, Casey's constituents were congratulated by the local press on the fact that their Senator was finally aroused to the most important farmers' interest of the day. Many laughable incidents arose from these matters, among which was the introduction of a bill by Col. Casey, as he jocosely said, to protect his fair name, for changing the name of Senator Cusey. One of the " Mistakes of the Telegraphers," which the writer is certain never has been in print, but which he is personally able to vouch for, was this : The person who held the not very pleasant position of night operator at the Springfield office that winter, and who had, probably, a thousand times clicked off the names of these two worthy Senators, had heard so much said about the confusion he was innocently making that he came to the Senate chamber, one afternoon, to look at them, in order, perhaps, to familiarize himself with their appearance. Calling to his aid an officer of the Senate, he asked to have Col. Casey pointed out to him. After taking a C^S LEXINGTON HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 711 good look at the leader of the Democracy, and remarking that he was a splendid fellow, and suggesting a "pity he drinks," said, inquiringly, "Now, which is Cussy?" The broad grin which followed was the first intimation he had that he had not simply been making the mistake of spelling. Senator Cusey, since he retired from the Senate, has devoted his time to farming. He was married to Miss Bishop, a daughter of Jacob Bishop, of Randolph, in 1843, who has had nine children, seven of whom are now living. S. T. Richardson came to Downs and took up a piece of land just south of Dia- mond Grove, along the Kickapoo, in 1839. He was a brother-in-law of Henry Welch, and came here to bring their mother, Mrs. Welch. He worked a small farm, but his time was much given to teaming. Pekin, in Tazewell County, was the nearest river point to all this eountry, and much of their farm produce went there after the comple- tion of the Illinois Canal, though Mr. Richardson and others went frequently to Chi- cago. In going to Chicago, with cattle, they had the first station at Smith's Grove, next at Eppard's Point, then at Babcock's Grove, called Wolf Grove. There was then a long stretch before they reached the timber on the Mazon. He has a good farm, of 200 acres, on Section 18, and is enjoying the well-earned rewards of a laborious, honest and well-spent life. He is highly esteemed, as such men always must be. With his fine family of children, and some grandchildren, to enjoy the good example of a faithful life, he does not much regret the trials and discourage- ments of his early career. He now resides in Bloomington. In the early days, postal facilities were always of less interest than at the present. Few families took the papers, and the correspondence of an entire neighborhood, like this around Diamond and Old Town, would not amount to as much as that of a school- girl now. They depended largely on sending letters by some one going to, or returning from, the new home. Twenty -five cents for a letter was too much for frequent cor- respondence, and it was not unusual for a letter to remain in the office for weeks, especially along about tax-paying time, before the required " two bits " could be spared. The earliest post office for this part of the county, was at Gov. Moore's, though soon after that, one was established at Lytleville, and one at Le Roy, though, in point of convenience, Bloomington was better than either. About 1856, Downs Post Office was established, and was kept at the house of Mr. P^easley until the railroad was built, and was then transferred to Downs Station, without a change of name. Besides the good farms alluded to in the accounts of early settlement, Downs has a number of fine farms and thrifty farmers. J. W. Kershaw owns 510 acres in Sections 21 , 22 and 28. He has been largely engaged in raising and feeding, and buying for feeding cattle, and has made this business a suc- cess. He has a nice house, and probably the largest, best-arranged, and best barn in town. His farm is well adapted to stock-raising, and the orchards good. Wyatt Adams has a fine farm of 2 1 acres on Sections 1 6 and 1 7 , about two miles south of Downs Station. He has farmed this land 34 years, and there is nothing to indicate that the land is run out. He has a pleasant house, which seems, to the passer-by, to be the home of comfort and well-directed industry. He has raised a family of eleven children, and is naturally proud of them. Who wouldn't be ? for there is luck in odd numbers, and most of the early settlers of Downs brought up crops of nine, ten, or •twelve. Eleven was not, by any means, a common number. Solomon Mason has 200 712 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. acres in Section 18. It is a good farm, and Mr. Mason is nicely fixed to enjoy the frugal luxuries of a rural home. Henry Wagner has a comfortable home and his farm of 275 acres, in Section 17. He has been a successful farmer, but has never branched out largely into the cattle business, like some of his neighbors. Everything about him bears the indication of thrift and well-directed industry. Nelson McDaniels has been a successful stock farmer for thirty years. His farm is now in splendid condition. Eber Hornor came onto his present farm of 200 acres, directly north of Rev. Sylvester Peasley's, in 1 852, from Indiana. He bought of Mr. Dennis. The farm had been worked several years, and shows a careful, thrifty manager. He never has dealt much in cattle. George M. Wilson has a good farm on Section 8 (21, 3), with a nice residence, and everything about the place looks tidy and well kept. He has not made a specialty of of any particular branch of farming, but has been more than ordinarily successful. John McConnell has a fine farm of half a section in Sections 35 and 2 (21, 3). He has a good house, built two years ago, 26x30, two stories high, with three well- proportioned rooms in each story, nicely furnished, with large kitchen and summer- kitchen in the rear. The grounds are neatly adorned with evergreens and shrubbery. The barn, recently built, is large and roomy, about 40x60, and painted. A fine pair of twin boys, Eddie and Willie, now twelve years old, are one of the chief attractions of this beautiful country home. Mr. McConnell has lived here twenty years, and is a respected and honored citizen. Cornelius and Byron Covey, father and son, have good farms about one mile north of McConnell's, and are excellent farmers. Very few of the farmers of Downs have been led into unfortunate speculations to their financial detriment. Those who have gone heavily into buying, feeding and ship- ping cattle, during the years of gradual decline of prices of cattle, have inevitably suf- fered, and some have been bankrupted. During those years while prices were receding, of course large ventures could hardly fail to bring large losses ; but most of the farmers have cautiously kept their business within their control. CHURCHES. Elder I. D. Newell, a home missionary of the Baptist denomination, was in this field at work, holding meetings as early as 1836. He organized a church, and a build- ing was erected at Lytleville about that time ; and soon after him, Elder Elijah Veatch preached there and in the surrounding country. There was a church organized, and preaching maintained by it for a time, at the Macedonia Schoolhouse, in this township ; but it has disbanded. Rev. Joel Hulsey, of the same denomination, came from Ken- tucky and preached at Lytleville awhile, and, in 1838, came to this town and bought land on Section 19, and remained here for some years. There was an organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and meetings were regularly maintained along the Grove ; and a union church was built by that denomination, co-operating with the Methodists, on Section 2, and was occupied by those two denominations in harmony for several years. Rev. R. D. Taylor, Revs. Neal and Archie Johnson and James McDonell were the preachers of the former, and Father Shepherd, Father Royal and Rev. Miflin Harker were the Methodist preachers. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 713 Rev. William Bishop, a minister of the Cumberland Church, lived here a few years, preaching and teaching. He went to Mexico in 1846. The United Brethren early held meetings, and formed an organization very early. In 1844, that terribly rainy season, when it rained so much that people could not work their land, and they had not much else to do but attend to their religious interests, Rev. Mr. Zook came here and held meetings around in the schoolhouses, and re-organized the church. While holding his protracted meeting, the people built rafts to get to his preaching, and the attendance was large. A church was decided on, and Solomon Mason, Lawson Downs, S. T. Richardson and other leading men took hold and erected the one standing near the township line. They have generally maintained preaching here, and usually a Sunday school. A Methodist Church was built about 1863, on Collins' land, in Section 25. Mr. Collins, Elias Walls, Jesse and John Karr were the principal men in this enterprise. Preaching is regularly maintained. It belongs to Le Roy circuit. The United Brethren built a church in the northwestern quarter of Section 14, about 1873, called the " Pleasant Grove " Church. James and Matthias Killian were largely instrumental in building it. It is about 26x36. It belongs to Randolph's Grove circuit. The following figures, taken from the last report of School Treasurer E. Homer, show the condition of the schools : Principal of Township Fund, $3,683 ; whole num- ber of children under twenty-one, 607 ; whole number between six and twenty-one, 397 ; number of districts, 9 ; whole number enrolled, 370 ; average number of months taught, 7£ ; whole amount paid teachers, $2,268; whole amount paid for other pur- poses, $868 ; total amount paid, $3,136. In addition, is the Independent Kickapoo School District, which is located partly in this and partly in Old Town. The following is a list of those who have been elected to the township offices from the date of township organization : Supervisor. Clerk. 1858 1859 1860IN 186l|c. 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 Sylvester Peasley. N. McDaniels McDaniels H. Rutledge C. H. Rutledge C. H. Rutledge E. Hornor John Cusey John Cusey J. B. Weaver Sylvester Peasley. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. Sylvester Peasley.. John McConnell... .J. Hedrick , .|C. E. Barclay JA. M. Savidge .JA. M. Savidge .|E. R. Young , .1 George Waddington. . S. McTeer , . Joseph Null , .|Joseph Null .Joseph Null , .Joseph Null , .JA. P. Lott .A. P. Lott .A. P. Lott , JA. J. McComb JA. J. McComb , .JA. J. VfcComb .|A. J. McComb .A. J. McComb .A. J. McComb .A. J. McComb JA. J. McComb J. Cusey N. McDaniels. John Cusey C. H. Rutledge. C. E. Barclay \C. H. Rutledge. William Benjamin P. C. Eskew. P. Brickey N. McDaniels. John Cusey N. McDaniels. John Cusey J. J. Hancock. John Cusey Eber H>rnor. J. J. Hancock J. B. Weaver. A. P. Lott J. J. Starkey. John Cusey A. Daniels. John Cusey iG. W. Downs. John Cusey John Lott. J. McConnell J. Savidge. A. P. Lott M. 0. Stanwood. A. P. Lott ,...S. Smith. C. E. Barclay William Johnson. J. McConnell J. R. Pogue. James Fulton Charles Allen. E. Landers M. 0. Stanwood. C. E. Barclay M. 0. Stanwood. Byron Covey M. 0. Stanwood. 714 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Justices of the Peace: A. P. Craig, S. McTeer, John McConnell, Asa Savidge, Harvey Robertson, H. M. Morehouse, J. B. Weaver, John Price, J. E. Johnson, J. H. Simpkins. Commissioners of Highways : J. G-. Bishop, D. 0. Orendorff, J. Kershaw, A. P. Craig, P. C. Eskew, 0. C. Rutledge, U. S. Washburn, P. B. Price, J. McConnell, C. E. Barclay, Wiatt Adams, H. Welch, E. Hornor, I). Phillips, J. J. Hancock, A. H. Pogue, J. E. Killian, Byron Covey, Samuel Sniff, H. C. Lott, J. D. Downs, D. W. Mason. THE VILLAGE OP DOWNS. There seems to be a difference of opinion in regard to the true name of this station. Priceville is the name by which the neighborhood was known for several years ; when the station was established near the center of Section 4, in 1870, the railroad officials called it Downs. The same year, the Downs Post Office, which was for several years at Mr. Peasley's house, was transferred to the station, and the post office authorities have since known it as such. Soon after, the small office of " Delta," in Old Town, was discontinued, and all mail matter for that place was ordered sent to Downs. The reader will please take his choice. P. B. Price, son of old Father Price, laid out the town and platted fifteen blocks north of the railroad. It is nine miles from Bloomington, on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad, and is the only station and the only post office in the township. C. D. Bellville, as soon as the place was laid out, built a store on .the block north of the depot, and filled up with a general stock of goods. He now lives at Weedman, where he is engaged in trade. In the fall of the same year, J. A. Davis and Amos Allen built a store and put in a stock of merchandise. The following spring, the Killian brothers built and occupied another. These three were more than the trade would support, and this latter firm bought out the stock of Davis & Allen, and consolidated with their own. In 1874, the Killian Bros, sold to Craig & Rodman, who continued for about six months, when Rodman sold out; and, in the following spring, John Craig sold to his brother Joseph, who .closed out the stock in 1876, and closed up the store. In the fall of 1876, Mr. Savidge moved the old storehouse from Delta, and Davis & Killian put a stock of goods in it. In the spring of 1877, C. D. Bellville made another mercantile venture, and six months later moved the goods to Kumler, and sold the build- ing to A. Anderson, who keeps a shoe-shop there. In the fall of 1877, John Bellville traded his store for Kansas land to John Den- ham, who closed out the stock in six months, and sold the building to Davis ; soon after this, Davis & Killian dissolved and Cowden took an interest ; 0. Staten purchased the stock and good will in April, 1879. When Davis & Killian left the store they had so long occupied, Price Bros, opened a stock of dry goods and groceries, and ran it for a year, when they closed out the bal- ance of their stock, and the store has not since been occupied. In the fall of 1875, Drs. Montgomery & Chapin built and stocked the present drug store, and have continued to occupy, adding stationery, groceries and wares. Dr. James Montgomery, the " father of the town," and the " good physician " for all the surrounding country, was educated in the " Green Isle " of his nativity, and after serving his adopted country for three years in Capt. Walden's company of the 94th, commenced the practice of medicine in this neighborhood. In the spring of 1871, he HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 715 moved to Downs Station. His partner, Dr. S. L. Chapin, came here in the spring of 1875 ; that fall, he entered into partnership with Montgomery, and, in 1878, took up his residence in Holder, north of here, in order to better accommodate his large prac- tice in that vicinity. P. B. Price, either alone or with J. J. and B. R. alternately, has been engaged in grain, lumber and stock trade, at Downs, ever since the town was laid out. The busi- ness, some years, has been quite large and lucrative, but at others very unsatisfactory. J. H. Robertson came, when the village of Delta migrated southward, in the spring of 1871 ; his blacksmith-shop was burned in 1873, and he rebuilt and took in Frank Lewis as partner. He has all the time carried on a considerable trade in agri- cultural implements with his blacksmithing business. When the people of Downs wanted a Justice of the Peace who could " temper " the spirit of the community, they elected Robertson ; he knows how to strike when the iron is hot. J. K. Gardner sold implements here during the seasons of 1876 and 1877. The Post- masters of Downs, since the office has been located at the station, have been C. D. Bell- ville, John Bellville, John A. Davis, and Oliver Staten, who was appointed April 1, 1879. The railroad agents, successively, have been C. D. Bellville, from 1870 to 1873 ; J. A. Davis, till 1876 ; George Willhoite, until 1877, and A. Daller since. The " Hopewell " M. E. Church was built about 1867, at where the Hopewell Cemetery was and still is. It belonged to Old Town Circuit at that time, and became attached to Le Roy Circuit in 1873. A year later, it became a station. It is about 36x50, plain, and cost about $2,400. Thomas Twining, J. N. Savidge, John Rice, Dr. James Montgomery, J. H. Robertson, P. B. Price and James Brakey, were, among others, prominent in building this house of worship. Revs. S. Middleton, W. C. Lacey, J. G. Bonnell, T. J. N. Simmons, assisted by George Reed, S. H. Whittock, William Willis and George Scrimger, have successively served the Church at Hopewell. In 1 878, the building was moved to Downs and repaired, at a cost of $300. Rev. Job Ingram is the present Pastor, under whose earnest ministrations the church and Sabbath school are in a flourishing condition. The church numbers 130, and the school about 100. What is known as the " Kickapoo Academy " was chartered as an independent school district in 1867. The territory embraced is about four sections in Downs (including the station) and two. or three in Old Town, including Gillum Station. This district has, by its charter, a Board of Education, of six members, and certain other privileges, which, by the other school districts, are deemed unfair. One of its incon- veniences is, that the district embraces both Downs and Gillum Stations, and as there is but one schoolhouse, all the children which Gillum furnishes must take the railroad for two or three miles to school. The present Board of Education consists of J. H. Robertson, President; J. B. Weaver, Secretary ; J. A. Davis, Treasurer ; George P. Wood, P. B. Price, John Cow- den and S. Scott. Miss Jennie Francis and Miss Wallace have been teaching ; but for the summer term Miss Chatterton takes the place of Miss Francis. The building is 24x40, two stories. Nine months' school is maintained, and the pupils number from seventy-five to one hundred. 716 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. ALLIN TOWNSHIP. Allin Township was formerly called Mosquito Grove. It lies on the western side of McLean County, and is the second township from the south side of the county. It includes a full Congressional town, and no more. It is designated Town 23 north, Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded on three sides by other townships of the county, viz., on the north by Dan vers, on the east by Dale and on the south by Mount Hope ; Tazewell County lies on the west. The Third Principal Merid- ian forms the eastern boundary, being the line which separates it from Dale Town- ship. Allin was first named from a small grove in the northwestern corner of the town- ship, on the branch of Sugar Creek which takes its rise in Danvers and flows through Stout's Grove. The stream is a small one, and so is Mosquito Grove. When the name was changed it was called Allin, in honor of Mr. Allin, of Bloomington, whose history is so closely identified with that of the city. There are three considerable groves in the township. The one of most import- ance, perhaps, or, at least, the first settled, is Brooks' Grove, on the south. It is sit- uated on Brooks' Branch of Sugar Creek. Farther up on the same stream, and in the eastern part of Allin, is Brown's Grove. Then there is Mosquito Grove, already mentioned. There are three streams, all of which flow in a southwesterly direction. They are all branches of Sugar Creek. The one farthest to the northwest cuts off only a small portion of the northwest corner. The next begins near the northeast corner, and mean- ders a little west of southwest. Brooks' Branch begins about Brown's Grove, and passes through the east and south part of the township. With the exception of the groves already pointed out, Allin is prairie. The soil is deep, black and fertile. It produces abundant crops of corn, oats, potatoes and grass. Some wheat is still raised, but not enough to make an important item in the enumera- tion of products. There was a time in the history of this country when wheat was a paying crop, when the average farmer would not think of sowing less than twenty to thirty acres. Mr. Warlow says that he has cut as many as 300 acres of wheat and oats himself in one season. But those days are past. Farmers now raise little more than what is necessary for their own use. Hogs and cattle are raised extensively. The large elevators at Stanford indicate a heavy grain-growing community. The prairies are tolerably level, but not so much so as to seriously affect the farm- ing interests. The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad passes through the township, extending in a nearly east and west direction. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. The first log cabin in Brooks' Grove, was put up by Miles Brooks. He moved into it on the 14th day of March, 1830. He was a native of Virginia, but, early, moved to Kentucky. From Kentucky, he came to Indiana, and from there to Illinois, in 1829. He first stopped at Cleary's Grove, in Menard County. When he settled at the grove which has ever since borne his name, he found very few people in that part HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 717 of McLean County. There was a cluster of families north, at Stout's Grove, and others northeast, at Twin and Dry G-roves, but his neighbors were not inconveniently near nor extremely numerous. Miles Brooks opened up a farm there, and continued to reside at the grove. His son, Presley T. Brooks, still owns the farm, and has resided upon it until recently. He has been a noted man in the township from its earliest history. His children reside in the township, two sons doing business at Stan- ford. Mr. Brooks married a Larison. The Larisons are well known in the early his- tory of McLean County. The first settlement made at Brown's Grove, was by William Brown. He was from Tennessee. He came to the grove at an early date — some say, about the time that Ephraim Stout came to Stout's Grove, in Danvers Township. If this be true, he was the first inhabitant of what is now Allin Township. William Brown did not remain at the grove which bears his name, but sold out and moved to Mackinaw Creek, where he lived until his death. He had several children, who lived in Allin with their father. They all went with him to the Mackinaw, up above Lexington, where some of them still remain. A son-in-law of Mr. Brown, by the name of Poor, is particularly remembered. He, too, followed the sire to other parts. There were a number of the Stouts, who moved to Brown's Grove at an early date. They were some of the same company that first inhabited Danvers Township. These were given to hunting and sporting. They spent most of their time in that way. They did very little at farm- ing, and when the country began to fill up with .he tides of emigration from Eastern States, they found a more congenial element in other lands. Robert Meann came early to this same grove. He afterward died of the bilious fever. Mr. Warlow says that he had a young brother, twelve years old, who died about the same time, of the same disease. When a person now has simply bilious fever, he is not considered dangerously ill. But. then it was otherwise. He thinks that the doctors killed them. Bleeding was the process for all diseases. The doctors came out from Bloomington and found their patients suffering from an extremely high fever. They then performed the bleeding operation. When the patient's blood was nearly all gone, the fever would abate. When the physician again made his appear- ance, if the patient was a little better, he would bleed him again. It is true that some survived the treatment ; but others died, when, it is thought, the better knowledge of to-day would have relieved the suffering and preserved the life. Benjamin Warlow entered land on the north side of Brown's Grove in the fall of 1836. Here he built a cabin and reared his family. The Warlows were from New York. They moved to Ohio, and then to Illinois. They spent the first two years at Dry Grove. Richard A. Warlow still resides near the site of the old log cabin, first built on the north of the grove. He is the oldest inhabitant of this part of the township. He has been a prominent person in the history of the township, having held about all the offices within the gift of the people. The settlement at Brooks' Grove grew slowly, the Brooks family being the only settlers of note for some time. Mosquito Grove was settled by the Reddons. This grove, as remarked previously, was a small patch of woods on the branch of Sugar Creek that flows through Stout's Grove. The grove is in the prairie, some miles from any other timber. It, very naturally, was selected by a number of brigands and desperadoes as the seat of their 718 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. depredations. As early as 1836, these men began to collect at Mosquito Grove. They were led by Grant Reddon, who was assisted by his two sons, Jack and Harrison. Although these men were not quite as notorious as the terrible Benders, of Cherry Vale, Kan., whose notorious infamy aroused the whole State, yet their deeds were car- ried on much after the same fashion. The grove became the rendezvous for thieves, counterfeiters and criminals generally. This gang infested the grove for nearly ten years, and yet the people were aware of the den's location all the time. They were afraid of the Reddons, who were known to be desperate characters. Jack Reddon is- said to have assisted in the murder of Col. Davenport, at Rock Island. Crimes of vari- ous kinds were committed, horses were stolen, and even murder was supposed to have been perpetrated. A peddler, who came from Peoria, was traced as far as Mosquito- Grove, but was never heard of afterward. The Reddons were seen with clothes that, the peddler was known to have ; so that the evidence of abduction seemed almost conclusive. The brother of the peddler traced the matter so far, but none of the murderers were ever brought to trial. At last, the situation became desperate. The people began to realize that it was a great detriment to the country, as well as a dangerous thing to permit in their midst. An armed band was formed, and the Reddons compelled to leave the country. This put an end to their work in this country. Where they started again in their nefarious business is not known ; but it seems unfortunate that the leaders were not brought to trial. But, perhaps, the evidence was not sufficient to convict, although suspicion amounted to a conviction and almost to a certainty. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. We have no records of early religious gatherings. As Mr. Hill, of Twin Grove, would put it, " Of course, we have a few funerals," but we find no church in the town- ship at present whose history dates back to the first settlement of the township. Those of the early inhabitants who had any religious preferences seem to have united with churches in other localities. There were plenty of organizations in the various groves, and it was customary to travel what now seem enormous distances in order to reach a place of worship. The only church in the township, outside of the village of Stanford, is the edifice erected by the Cumberland Presbyterians in 1863. It is a fine country church, stand- ing a short distance northeast of the village of Stanford. It is in the open praiiie, but has company in the tall, white tombstones that stand so lonely and still in the graveyard adjoining. The building is 40x60 feet, and cost about $4,000. The members of this society belonged to the church organized at Stout's Grove, before the organization here. The Rev. J. A. Chase began preaching in the schoolhouse, which stood one-half mile north of the site of the present church. Here a considerable interest was awakened in the cause, and a number of additions made to the society. As a result, the members of this denomination, living in convenient distances, met and formed a society, and built a church immediately. John Armstrong, Thomas Neal, Kane Cooper and others were prominent men in the organization of the society and the building of the church. J. A. Chase continued his efforts until two years ago. After him, came J. G. White, of Jacksonville, 111. He is the present Pastor. The society has been a pretty strong one, there having been over five hundred members since the first organization. The present number of communicants is something over two hundred. The church may be HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 719 considered a child of the Stout's Grove Society, though the offspring is of more lusty- growth than the parent. EDUCATIONAL. The first school in the township was taught on the north side of Brown's Grove, at the residence of one Mr. Stout. This man had gone up into the northern part of the State. About Elgin, somewhere, he married, and his wife proved to be an Eastern lady, with more education than the average pioneer woman. Accordingly, when she came to Brown's Grove, it was thought best that she utilize her superabundance of knowledge, and teach school. She taught in her own house. Later, a schoolhouse was built, and the youth taught in the usual way. Mr. Warlow remarks the difference between then and now. Then, three months were all that the year afforded. Now, eight and nine months are the number usually taught. Then, private houses and log cabins were the seats of learning. Now, neat frame schoolhouses appear for the accom- modation of all. The people seem to take pride in their schools, and keep them up to the times. At present, the status of the schools is indicated by the following : Number of children under twenty-one years, 621 ; number of children between six and twenty-one,. 334 ; number of scholars enrolled, 287 ; number of schoolhouses, 7 ; amount paid teachers, $3,225 ; total expenditures, $4,142.16 ; estimated value of school property $6,000 ; highest wages paid per month, $60. POLITICAL AND WAR RECORD. Unlike the greater portion of McLean County, Allin is Democratic. In all State and national questions, it turns out strongly for the old party which it has honored with its suffrage for so many years. In township elections, the dominant party is generally remembered, although the returns do not always show strict party tendencies. Further than a general scare, we hear of no harm from the Indian war of 1832. If there were persons who enlisted in the companies sent out from this county, we were not fortunate enough to learn their names. They rest in their unknown graves, with none to cherish their deeds of valor. Allen Palmer and Joseph Bozarth were in the Mexican war. These were all, we suppose, that were among the few whom the Government accepted to fight its battles ; for it will be remembered that of the 8,370 men who offered themselves from the State of Illinois, only 3,720 could be accepted. During the war of the rebellion, Allin furnished its share of men for the defense of the Union. We learned the names of the following who gave their lives to the cause : Austin Bond died from the effects of the measles ; James Gourley, John Brooks and Josiah Bozarth died while in the United States service ; William Ryan vol- unteered and was captured and paroled, when he returned home. Afterward he went again as a teamster, and was kicked to death by a rebellious mule. If any fell in battle we know them not. To meet an enemy on the field of battle, and there to be shot down like a beast, is hard, regardless of all the glory that is attached to heroic deeds ; but to languish on beds of disease, in foreign lands, and there to sicken and die, where no sympathetic hand of mother or sister or brother or wife can press the aching brow, is far worse. 720 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTT. ORGANIZATION OP ALLIN TOWNSHIP. The Commissioners who first laid off the county into townships for political pur- poses, reported Town 23 north, Range 1 west as constituting such a division, and named it Mosquito Grove Township. The name was afterward changed to Allin, in honor of Mr. Allin, whose efforts in behalf of Bloomington are very well known to all the early inhabitants. The first election held, April 6, 1858, for the election of township officers, resulted as follows : Presley T. Brooks, Supervisor ; John M. Jones, Town Clerk ; Green B. Larison, Assessor ; John Armstrong, Collector ; John W. Godfrey, Overseer of the Poor ; Thomas Neal, Leonard McReynolds, Jarvis Mack, Commissioners of Highways ; Richard A. Warlow, John Cavett, Justices of the Peace; Henry M. Kerbaugh, Kane E. Cooper, Constables. This list, besides introducing many new names, takes us back to the early settle- ment of the township. It includes at least two of the oldest settlers now in it — Presley T. Brooks and Richard A. Warlow. The late election, for 1879-80, resulted in the choice of the following township officers : John L. Kaufman, Supervisor ; Abel Brooks, Town Clerk ; Leonard McRey- nolds, Peter D. Springer, Justices of the Peace ; Amos Harrison, John Armstrong, Andrew Springer, Road Commissioners ; Sigh Hennershotz, Constable ; Scott Wier, Assessor ; Michael Garst, Collector. RAILROAD AND HIGHWAYS. Before the building of the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, the farmers in the west and south part of the township had to haul their produce long distances to market. Accordingly, when a proposition was made to secure the railroad through the township by taking $25,000 worth of stock, the scheme was strongly supported. The men of the eastern side were not so anxious to take a $25,000 debt, but their interests were not so vitally affected. On election day, the bonds were carried through triumphantly. The township is still owing about half of the amount, but it got the railroad, and the farmers are benefited materially thereby. The road was built in 1867. The first trains began running the same fall. The public highways of Allin comprise several good roads. The section lines extending east and west are nearly all laid out roads. The only exceptions to this are found in the southwest corner and the east side. The north and south section lines are not generally authorized highways, though several of them are. As is generally the case, the groves are bordered by roads which pay no attention to section lines. Brook's Grove is thus completely surrounded. There is also another road which reminds us of early settlements in the eastern side. It extends north and south through the sec- tions, not even following the half-section line. There are a number of wooden bridges across the streams, but we found none composed of iron. The roads are generally drained or thrown up. This is rendered quite necessary by the lay of the country in many portions. But, notwithstanding a few natural difficulties, the highways are in as good condition as they are generally found throughout the county. STANFORD. The original Burvey of Stanford included the southwest fourth of the northwest quarter of Section 21, together with forty acres off of the north side of the southwest HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 721 ■quarter of Section 21. George P. Ela was the County Surveyor at that time, and he laid off the town. His certificate of survey is dated October 7, 1867. The village was surveyed for John Armstrong. It was then called Allin. Since the first, there has been an addition. This includes five acres from the northwest corner of the south- east quarter of Section 21, and is called Maurer's Addition. Stanford is located in the prairie, two miles north of Brooks' Grove. It is on the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, twelve miles from Bloomington. This railroad was the cause of its birth. It was begun with the rail- road, and does considerable business. The village is surrounded by a comparatively level prairie, which renders the approach in rainy weather somewhat difficult. The distance from Bloomington is sufficiently great to give the place a very fair local trade. The large elevators attest the amount of grain annually shipped. There are a number of farmers, situated to the south and west of Stanford, that have no other convenient market for their corn, oats, etc., and the days when men haul produce long distances to market are passed. John Armstrong, the man for whom the town was surveyed in 1867, is still a res- ident, and one of the most prominent men of the village. John Rockhold, who is still engaged in the business, was the first to start a store. He runs a large grocery trade. The first station agent was Henry Daniels. There have been a number since his time. The agent that remained longest, and was best known, was A. M. Berkholder. The present obliging agent is Jasper Morgan. The first Postmaster was Dr. Lackey, and the present official is William Rufwiler. The first school was taught before the erection of any building for educational purposes. This was taught in a dwelling-house, by a Mr. Loomis. For some time, schools were taught in various dwelling-houses. In 1869, a brick schoolhouse was erected, which has served the purposes for which it was built until the present. It is two-story, with the usual arrangements. Although it is some- what worse for ten years' wear, it will probably answer the purposes until the growth of the village demands a larger house. Two teachers are employed ; generally a gentle- man above and a lady below. There are two churches in the village — a Methodist and a Christian. The Chris- tian Church was organized by James Robinson, in 1870. The first meetings of the men of this persuasion were held in Bozarth's Hall. Presley T. Brooks, Dr. Lackey, G. M. Wright and others, were among the prominent men of the first organization. The church is 30x46 feet. The cost of building was $3,200. This church is, perhaps, the strongest society in the village, but is not equal to the Cumberland Presbyterian Society, whose church building stands just northeast of town a short distance. The present membership of the Christian Church is about sixty. Their Pastor is the Rev. W. B. Berry. The efforts of the Rev. Mr. Pilcher secured the erection of a Methodist Church in 1875. Prominent among the members whose purses secured the church edifice, may be mentioned Messrs. George Bunney and Jonn Barnett. The building is 30 by 46 feet. Rev. Mr. Shinn is the present pastor. The building was not paid for at first, and for some time the society were troubled with the debt. As a result the present membership is not large. As a business directory, we note the following: S. B. Wright & Co., dealers in drugs and medicines ; L. A. McReynolds and B. F. Bowling, contractors and builders ; 722 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. C. Roth, dealer in hardware and stoves ; Martin Lewis, agricultural implements ; Rock- hold & Grerbrick, grocers ; also C. A. Naffziger, grocer ; W. C. Rusmisell, grocer and dealer in hats, caps and dry goods ; D. C. Dossett, wagon and blacksmith-shop ; C. W. Naffziger, lumber yard; A. Jewett and Mr. Morgan, boots and shoes; Murphy &. Hennershotz, dealers in live stock; William Ruf, painter; C. H. Wick, harness-maker! Martin Lewis & Co., meat market; J. N. Tryner, painting and graining; Libbie Cole' dress-maker ; Joseph Bachman, wagon-shop ; Roth & Brock, dealers in agricultural implements and farm machiuery : Linebarger & Bro., grain dealers. From the fore- going it will be seen that Stanford has representatives of nearly all the trades. She has her physicians, but we found no lawyer's sign. Another item that is missing is a hotel. So far as we could learn, there never has been one in the village. But should the weary traveler find it necessary to remain over night, he will find himself comfort- ably cared for if he should stop with Mr. Morgan, the boot and shoe man. As every little town must advertise its trade, it became necessary that measures be taken to cheapen the process. This is usually done by the establishment of a local newspaper. On the 8th of February, 1879, appeared the first issue of the Stanford. Tribune. It is a very fair country paper, and is well patronized by the local advertisers. Linebarger & Son are the editors and proprietors. It is not particularly partisan, being run in the business interests of Stanford and vicinity. The journal is still in its infancy, and will, no doubt, increase in strength and influence as it grows older and the village increases in population. , Stanford has had its experience with saloons and the intoxicating bowl. At times there have been licensed saloons in the village, but at present these do not exist. A very remarkable temperanee sermon was preached by an accident which occurred during the time that the village gave licenses. Harry Moore was running a saloon at the time. A young man by the name of Woodrum was working for a farmer near the village. In the afternoon on a certain day, this young man ran out of tobacco. He concluded that it was not possible to get along without a bit of the weed, so he left the team in the field where he had been at work, and intended to step over to the store to get a plug of tobacco and return immediately. He had not been in the store long, until he concluded, that he must go by the saloon and get a drink. Unfortunate man ! That was his last drink ! Some one got up a drinking-spree. The question was, who can drink the most without its hurting him ? The young man from the farm was ambitious and determined not to be outdone. He drank fourteen glasses. This was enough to upset any man, especially as they were taken at once, without any rest. After the drinking, he went out of the saloon and walked a short distance only when he fell. On approaching him, it was found that he was very seriously affected, and in a very short time he was dead. Only a half hour before, he had been in the field working away, with no intention of taking a drink even, but now he was a cold corpse lying in the street — a dead man — one who had killed himself by the foolishness of over-much drinking of strong drink- HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 723 BLUE MOUND TOWNSHIP. In general appearance and in topography, Blue Mound is not unlike Martin. It has no timber-land, however, and the little streams or runs which run across it to the northeast toward the Mackinaw, and to the southwest, into Money Creek, are deeper cut, and show pebbly bottoms not common in this prairie country. Township 24 north, Range 4 east of the Third Principal Meridian, is a full Congressional township, and is in the centre of the eastern part of the county, being in the third tier of towns respectively from the north, east and south lines of the county, and the third east from the Illinois Central Railroad. With the peculiar beauty of its primeval state, and the excellence of its soil, it is a wonder that it was so long before it came into general cultivation. Probably the fact that it was within the fifteen-mile belt which was withdrawn from market at the time the Illinois Central land grant was made, had much to do with this delay. Certain it is, there is nothing in the nature of the land that would delay settlement. The name was derived from the mound, an elevation on Section 28, which, though not very high, was, when seen from the level land, stretching off toward Bloomington, high enough to attract general attention and notice. The " blue " part of it was only such as distance lends to it, for there is no blue appearance on close inspection. Settlements were first made in 1854, on the north side, near the Lexington line, and, the same year, near the southeast corner. John Speed Stagner. from Madison County, Ky., but who had been living four years near Bloomington, and one of the best-known men in Blue Mound, from his energy and public spirit, came on Section 27, and purchased 200 acres of land around the sides of that section. While in Bloomington, he had united with the Christian Church, and had been ordained an Elder, and at once took an active part in the spirtual welfare of the new settlement. A few had moved in the year before. Thomas Arnold had settled on Section 27, entering the four inside forty-acre tracts, thinking it would prevent others from buying until he should be able to purchase. He still resides on his original purchase, and has good improvements on it. David Wheeler was at that time on the south side of Section 25. He removed to Kansas a few years since. James A. Doyle, from Kentucky, who now lives in Ellsworth, was then on Section 23, where he lived about twenty years. John Doman, now dead, was on a farm of 160 acres, in Sections 34 and 35. Alexander Willhoite, from Owensburg, Ky., and William Newton, were opening farms on Section 11. Zachariah Arnold, who, like his brother Thomas, was from Virginia, and at that time unmarried, was commencing to improve on Section 35, where he still lives. All these had come here to live the year before. Stagnor, on the north side of the township, a little settlement, was growing up at the same time. Isaac Smith, who afterward committed suicide in a temporary fit of insan- ity, had commenced to make a farm on Section 9. William L. Barton' came from Ohio to Section 4 in 1854. William McHugh, a brother-in-law of Mr. Barton, came about the same time. He rented a farm in Lex- ington for a time, and then purchased the northeast quarter of Section 4. Mr. Burton and N. T. Linthicum, both of whom are now dead, settled in the same neighborhood about the same time. William Russell also purchased a farm at the same time. Anderson 724 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Brumhead made a farm on Section 5, where he still resides. Mr. Arnold, father of Scott Arnold, opened up a farm on Section 7, where the younger Arnold still lives. Mr. King also commenced farming on a large scale. He lived on a part of Section 4, east of the church, and owned all of Section 8. His operations were large, and so conducted as to indicate an unbalanced mind. Great crops of wheat were raised about this time. Indeed, many men were able to pay for their land and improvements from the proceeds of a single crop. Forty bushels was not uncommon, and was sufficient to induce many brilliant castles of marvelous wealth to be erected in the minds of the newcomers. They came to believe that wheat would grow almost spontaneously on this virgin soil, and many went in debt for land to sow to wheat. Several years of almost entire failure followed, driving those who engaged in it most largely into bankruptcy. Mr. King had a large breadth of wheat, and, the following year, he sowed on the stubble, without even plowing it, though he did harrow after sowing. The result was what misrht well have been expected. He was soon utterly ruined, both in purse and mind, and was taken to the asylum. Many others lost all in the wheat-raising mania. William A. Galdon. opened up a farm where he now resides, near the corners of Sections 1, 2 and VI. The financial crash of 1857 unsettled affairs greatly, and few settlers came in for ten years. From this settlement, near the Lexington line, to that on the south, around about Speed Stag- ner's, was long an open prairie. It was not till the close of the war for the Union, when " Johnny came marching home " to make new alliances or renew long-broken ones, and new homes were needed, that this whole range of country for miles around Blue Mound, stretching out east to the county line, was filled up by the hardy, industrious, patriotic men who now live here. They came almost with a rush. Old settlers tell of their surprise, after living on these prairies for years, at seeing this rush of immigra- tion. Daily, as they were at work in their fields, the vision, unobstructed by trees, sweeping for miles in all directions, new shining roofs would spring up, almost by magic. This migration came from the west, Tazewell, Fulton, western McLean and other coun- ties sending their young and strong men to this open field. CROPS. Since the first experience in wheat, corn has been, and probably will continue to be, the great staple crop. The adoption of the law preventing cattle from running at large, made it possible for men to crop their land without fencing, and hedges were started, although there are many pieces of land in the township which are still open. There is no railroad, marketing of the crops being done at Lexington on the north, and Ellsworth and Holder on the south. Old settlers tell of a terrible tornado which swept over the town in the summer, which did much damage and caused more fright. The wind had blown from the east all day, and at night came back from the west in a terrible gale. For years, the people at the East had heard heart-rending stories of the awful winds on these treeless prairies. This was the first experience these settlers had after leaving their Eastern homes, and some of them fully expected, when the " storm center " should fairly get " onto " them, to see their cook -stoves going skyward, their cattle's limbs flying promiscuously through the firmament, and the fleeces blown clean off the sheep, going to re-enforce the clouds. The damage was comparatively light, but the fright was enormous. They have now lived here long enough to know that we really have no more wind here than they do in HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 125 Ohio or New York. We now hear the stories coming from Kansas and Nebraska that Eastern folks heard twenty-five, years ago from Illinois. Below is given in table the names of those who have served the town in an official capacity during its history : Date. 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 Supervisor. J. H. Doyle J. H. Doyle D. Wheeler D. Wheeler J. T. Smith William Elbert.... William Elbert.... William Elbert.... J. H. Newton J. H. Newton D. Wheeler William McHugh. William McHugh. William McHugh. William McHugh. W. H. Russell W. H.Russell , William McHugh. William McHugh. William McHugh. William McHugh. Clerk. N. T. Linthicum.. J. T. Smith J. T. Smith J. T. Smith J. M. Carey D. Wheeler D. Wheeler D. Wheeler William Elbert.... William Elbert.... H. Green H. Green H. Green H. Green B. Brigham J. R. Tavener J. R. Tavener George Cooney.... I. W. Farquhar... I. W. Farquhar... I. W. Farquhar... A. J. Willhoite. A. J. Willhoite. J. Snail J. A. Barton..., M. S. Gill J. Snail J. Snail A. McMullen.... A. McMullen.... Robert Barr Scott Arnold S. A. Stoops G. L. Libbey J. Spawr , W. T. Branson . H. C. Hayes B. Brigham B. Brigham C. H. Pierson... W. H. Russell... B. Brigham Collector. D. Wheeler. D. Wheeler. William Elbert. W. T. Elbert. P. J. Foster. Isaac Smith. Isaac Smith. Milton Barton. W. H Russell. A. Cumming. J. K. Blain Ion. Scott Arnold. B. Brigham. H. C. Hayes. T. H. Newton. Isaiah W. Farquhar. H. C. Hayes. Ed. Allen. Ed. Allen. Ed. Allen. Ed. Allen. The following persons have served as Justices of the Peace : J. M. Rayborn, Isaac Smith, P. Barnhouse, G. L. Libbey, J. Van Bushkirk, D. Wheeler, E. Easley, J. B. Bender, L. C. Blake, Thomas Arnold. The following have had charge of highways : J. Lupton, J. S. Stagner, H. Hor- ney, H. Coal, W. Newton, William McHugh, Isaac Smith, J. W. Abbott, W. H. Hayes, William Benjamin, James Smith, Wesley Lewis, W. I. Arnold, D. Wheeler, W. H. Murphy, J. Arnold, W. L. Sapp, M. S. Sill, L. Bender, E. H. Burbank, E. B. Johnson. D. Wheeler served as Township School Treasurer three years, Isaac Smith ten years, until his tragic death. After him, William McHugh for some time, then Ben- jamin McCoy, the present very efficient officer. On the death of Mr. Isaac Smith, a deficit was discovered in his affairs ; demand was made upon the signers of his bond ; they resisted payment for several reasons which seemed sufficient to them, the principal one being that the School Trustees, whose officer the Treasurer is, had been derelict in duty, in not sufficiently examining his affairs, and in permitting him at the time of his last election to serve six months without a new bond. Hon. William H. Smith, of Lexington, was one of the bonds- men, and he was known to be wealthy, which was thought to have had its influence on the Trustees, they probably reasoning that he was " good for it." The case was tried before Judge Tipton and decision given against the Trustees and in favor of the bonds- men, on the ground that the office was an annual office and that an annual bond must be signed, and for this neglect the signers of the bond were released, following the decision given in the case against the bondsmen of Duff, Treasurer of the State Reform School. The amount was not large, but the legal principle and its effects were important ant to every township in the State. Capt. Rowell, attorney for the Trustees, carried the 726 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. case to the Supreme Court, where Judge Tipton's decision was reversed and a new trial granted, which resulted in holding the bond good, thus throwing an additional security over all school funds. The Reform School case was never carried to the Supreme Court, through the negligence of the State officials, or it might have been reversed. For some years, the people of all this prairie country suffered great inconvenience in consequence of the expensive fencing necessary to protect their crops from the great herds of cattle which were allowed to roam at will over the prairie. In 1872, the town- ship provided by ordinance against cattle running at large, at their regular town meeting. The ordinance followed the one of the town of Cropsey, which had been sustained and proved successful in its operation. « SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC. The town is now provided with suitable schoolhouses, and good schools are main- tained. From the report of 1877, the following figures are taken : Number of districts, 9 ; whole number of children under 21 years, 621 ; number between 6 and 21 years, 429 ; number enrolled in schools, 384 ; value of school property, $6,000 ; amount of town fund, $6,823 ; amount paid teachers, $2,523. Total expenses, $3,626. The citizens of Blue Mound very early took the matter of religious service and religious instruction in hand. Mr. John Speed Stagner, who, in many respects, is a pioneer in every good work, had, by a recent consecration of his life to religious work, and ordination to the work, according to the custom and rule of the " Christian " Church, come into his new home determined to build up religious institutions. Meetings were at first held in his house. Elders David Sharpless, Anderson and Knight were the first to hold religious services in this neighborhood. After the schoolhouse was built, meetings were held with considerable regularity there by the same preachers, followed by Elder U. H. Watson, Father Johnson and others. In 1865, the present " Blue Mound Christian Church " was built under the direc- tion of Messrs. Stagner, Arnold, Doyle and Willhoite. The building is about 26x40, plain, without spire or decoration, and cost about $1,200. A Sabbath school is main- tained during the warmer part of the season. The " Grand View Prairie " Presby- terian Church is located on Section 2, on land donated by Mr. Golden. The edifice was erected in 1872. Messrs. J. S. Campbell and Newton Cook, of Lexington Township, and Robert Barr, of Blue Mound, were Building Committee, and had charge of the work. The church is about 30x42, and had a tower, which has been blown away in a storm. The name was taken from a town in Ohio, which was dear to the remembrance of those who organized the church here. Rev. Mr. Elliot, who was stated supply of the church at Pleasant Hill, preached in the schoolhouse here occasionally. Later, Rev. Mr. Cris- well, who, since the church organization, has regularly supplied the pulpit, held a pro- tracted meeting, which resulted in a request for regular church organization, which was accomplished by the Bloomington Presbytery, April 19, 1873, Rev. Mr. Conover, a member of that Presbytery, officiating. The original members were Mr. and Mrs. Davis, ■Spears, Barton, Campbell, Barr and Hastings, who were received by letter, and twenty- three others on profession. The " Union " M. E. Church was built on Section 5, about 1861. Rev. George Snedaker, of Pleasant Hill Circuit, formed a class at Union Schoolhouse about 1860. After him, Rev. David Carmack preached and organized Union Church, consisting of LEXINGTON HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 729 some twenty-five members, among whom were the families of Andrew Smith, R. M. Hopkins, H. C. Hayes, S. W. Evans, William Russell, A. Brumhead and M. S. Sill. The edifice is about 30x45, plain, and cost about $2,000. It is now the head of " Union " Circuit, and has a comfortable parsonage, costing SI, 000. The names of those who were in this enterprise, and to whom the church is indebted for their nice buildings, were A. Smith, R. M. Hopkins, H. B. Downey, S. W. Kvans, M. S. Sill, I. Smith, H. C. Hayes, F. M. Bowers and S. M. Beebe. The clergymen who have in turn served this church, are the Revs. Robert Pierce, John Lucock, Dr. Aldrige. Frank Smith, Mr. Ferris, Isaiah Giddings, J. Kern, Jacob Souders and J. W. Flowers. A Sabbath school, numbering about seventy-five, is maintained by R. M Hopkins. The church numbers one hundred. The " Free-Will " Baptists formed a society in 1868. Elder Thomas Blanden came here from Kentucky and held meetings in the schoolhouse, anft organized a church of about twenty members, and built a large, plain edifice, about 28x36. The leading men in this enterprise were James Scott and H. P. Thompson. The organiza- tion is weak, and does not now maintain regular religious services. The church is used irregularly by other denominations. A short notice of some of the larger and more successful farmers is appended : John Fletcher, of English birth, has a splendid farm of 600 acres in Sections 19 and 20. He has good buildings, farms well, and carries about one hundred head of cattle. Joshua Brown, who, besides the farm he lives on, owns other large farms, has 460 acres in Section 31. He was from Tazewell County. Has good house, barns, sheds, etc., attends closely to his business, keeps his fields neat and tidy. He carries about one hundred head of cattle. Nathan J. Parr, who has lived here fifteen years, has half a section in Section 23, and eighty acres in Section 14. He has good farm-buildings, and is a good farmer. William A. Golden, an early settler, farms about half a section, situated in Sec- tions 1, 2 and 12. He has a substantial house and barn, and his farm is kept in excel- lent condition, and his buildings well cared for. M. S. Sill had until last year what is generally considered one of the best and best appointed farms in Blue Mound. He sold it to Samuel Etnire, and moved to Normal. The farm consists of 240 acres in Section 8. The buildings are large and attractive, with good sheds, and all has an appearance of thrift and success. Daniel Shay, an Irishman by birth, has recently put up a fine, modern house on his farm in Section 27. The farm is 160 acres, and is in excellent culture. Leonard H. Bender came here from Pennsylvania in 1870. He has a fine farm of 200 acres in Section 22. The house is probably the largest in the town, ahd everything about it indicates care, thrift and good attention. On the Mound in the northeast corner of Section 28, John Butler has good improve- ments surrounded by a good farm. Zachariah Arnold has a good farm of 160 acres in Section 35, and his brother Thomas a like farm right in the center of Section 27. Both are considered excellent farmers and good citizens. A. H. Conger, on Section 18, has a fine farm of 200 acres, with nice house, barn and out-buildings. Several others might be named. Indeed, a trip over the township KE 730 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. shows few ill-managed farms or neglected buildings. The general care of roads and hedges is apparent, and it is altogether a good place to live in. YATES TOWNSHIP. Yates Township, known officially as Town 25, Range 5, was, until 1862, a part of Chenoa; at that date it was separately organized, and by resolution of its citizens, took the then popular name of " Union," at their first town meeting in 1863. This is easily accounted for, for at that time fully two-thirds of her fighting population were " at the front " doing their full duty in carrying the tattered flag " on to Vicksburg " and the " sacred soil " generally ; while fully three-fourths of those who remained at home were praying and paying to help on the glorious cause. No stronger friends of the Union could be found on any six miles square of contiguous and compact prairie anywhere, than here. The name was objected to on account of its having been frequently adopted of late by other townships near by ; and on the following year was changed to Yates, after the then Governor of Illinois. Nothing could better show the tendency of public sen- timent in the young township than the successive selection of these " radical " names. Yates is the northeastern township in the county, and forms, with Chenoa and Gridley on the west, the northern tier of townships which "cap " the county of McLean on the map, not unlike the jnansard roof of a house. Like the other townships in this vicinity, some of the land is flat, but at least ninety per cent of it is rolling, and almost every acre capable of the highest cultivation. There is little difference in the lay of the land in the different parts of the township, except that that portion along the railroad (first tier of sections) is more level, and that portion farther south more rolling; the northern portion shedding toward the Vermilion, and the southern half toward the Mackinaw. Yates is a full Congressional township, the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway running across its northern tier, upon which is Weston, the only post office in the township; the soil is rich and deep, capable of a wealth of production far beyond anything yet accom- plished ; free from township debt ; settled with sober, industrions, economical people, giving a large place in their minds to religious and educational improvement; it would be indeed difficult to find its superior in all respects in this or any other State. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. Previous to the year 1856, there were few settlements in the township. There being no timber, it was not subject to early settlement. About this date, there came the general rush into the prairie country, but there being no station in this township, gen- eral settlement was delayed a few years. The first settlement seems to have been made on the "Harris place," so-called, on Section 10, just south of where Weston now stands. The land was entered by Mr. T. C. Buntin, of Terre Haute, Ind. The land was rented to Boyd and others, when, in 1867, it was sold to Harris, who, a few years later, traded it to W. H. Levers, for Chenoa property. David Vance, who, through a long official connection with the school interest, and the general interest he has taken in the affairs of the township, church and every good work, is rightly regarded a most worthy and useful citizen, came onto Section 15, in 1866. He had previously lived in Lawndale and Lexington, coming there from Ohio, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 731 in 1853. He proved a man of excellent judgment and enlarged public spirit. A friend of education, he was early elected School Treasurer, and has done much to conserve the financial affairs of the schools. He was one of the most efficient in building the first house of worship, the Methodist, and has exercised a careful oversight in its financial matters. John Pool came here from the Mackinaw in 1865, at which time only the farm of J. M. Pettigrew (Section 8), and the Harris farm (Section 10), were occupied in this northern part of the township. Squire Pool soon took an interest in the affairs of the new township, was early elected a Justice of the Peace; engaged a portion of his time in surveying, and, in 1872, built a store in Weston, where he has continued in business, quietly attending to his large and prosperous mercantile affairs, and honestly serving the public in his official capacity. John D. Banta settled on Section 26 about this time, on a farm upon which he remained several years. He took a lively interest in the affairs of his town, and was, while he remained a citizen of the township, often intrusted with its official interests. Hugh Henning took up a farm and still lives in Section 22. A year or two later, Joseph Burger purchased a farm in Section 25, and still remains on it. The brothers J. C. &. G. W. Hanks settled, in 1866, in the southeast part of the township, and were among the very first to take an interest in its affairs. As a singular coincidence, or more properly a pair of coincidences, they were both elected members of the first Board of School Trustees in 1857, and both of the first Board of Commissioners of Highways in 1863. They early were recognized as among the best men in the neighborhood, a reputation which they have in no way marred during a life which extends through the entire history of the township. The same year, J. E. Wikoff took up a farm on Section 32, and, the following year, the brothers Christian and Fritz Jacobs made homes near by each other in Sections 29 and 31. These men seemed well satisfied with their locality, and well they might be, for it is of the best farming land ; and they have remained, making good homes and good citizens. About the same time, Christian Ziller opened up a fine farm in Section 11, a half-mile from where Weston now stands, and still lives there, enjoying the fruits of his industry, thrift and intelligent economy. Anton Adam, an intelligent and thrifty German, was among the earliest on the ground, moving here from Ohio, in 1865, and making a farm on Section 2. Here he has lived ever since, minding his own business, taking care ,of ll Old Adam," as he says ; has got a nice place, looking tidy, comfortable and frugal. He was one of the leading spirits in building the beautiful and sightly German Church at Weston. Rev. W. P. Graves, long a member of this Conference, and at this time in charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Weston,, bought what is now known as the Wilson farm, as early as 1864. The following year, he had a portion broken, and built a house, but sold it in 1866. James Brady opened up a farm at about the latter date. E. D. Westervelt and F. P. Beach commenced farming here the same year. ORGANIZATION. In May, 1857, before the township had been officially organized, the people, feeling the necessity for schools, elected the first Township School Board. G. W. Hanks, J. C. Hanks and E. D. Westervelt were chosen Trustees. They elected F. P. Beach 732 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. Treasurer, an office which he continued to hold until 1865. In 1860, the township was divided into five districts, and the trustees caused the north half of the school section to be divided into eighties and sold. The next year, however, they took back one eighty- acre tract. In 1865, the Trustees elected J. C. Hanks Treasurer, and, in 1868, sold eighty acres of the school land for $42.75 per acre. In 1869, David Vance, the present Treasurer, was elected. In 1871, the township was divided into nine districts, of four sections each, except that the south half of Sections 9 and 10 are attached to District 5, which makes that district five sections and District 3 only three. In 1876, eighty acres of land were sold for $25.30 per acre ; 240 acres still remaining unsold. From the first, the affairs of the school fund seem to have been very judiciously managed, and the men who have had charge of it seem to have been worthy of the confidence reposed in them. The township now has a fund of $11,151, nearly all placed on real estate, and about $6,000 worth of land left unsold. This fund is the largest, save one, in the county, and will, eventually, be the largest. In some of the districts, no tax is neces- sary. In No. 3, only $75 has been levied in three years ; and the aggregate of debt for schoolhouses in the township is only $1,700. The following figures are taken from the report of 1876 : Number of districts, 9 ; number of teachers employed, 15 ; number of children under twenty-one years, 608 ; num. ber between six and twenty-one, 374 ; number of scholars enrolled, 252 ; amount paid teachers, $3,016 ; amount paid for incidentals, $246.25 ; total paid, $4,432.22. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. At the September (1862) term of the Board of Supervisors, this township was set off from Chenoa, to which it had been previously attached, and at the first town-meeting, in April, 1863, F. D. Beach was elected Moderator, and John D. Banta, Clerk. On motion of George W. Hanks, the new township was named Union. A year later, it was changed to Yates, in honor of the then war-Governor. The township was divided into four road districts. Eighteen votes were cast. The officers elected at this and successive elections are as follows : Date. Votes Cast. 1863 18 1864 28 1865 30 1866 37 1867 61 1868 62 1869 80 1870 143 1871 61 1872 187 1873 112 1874 170 1875 135 1876 130 1877 162 1878 130 Supervisor. Clerk. Collector. O. Irwin O. Irwin D. Banta D. Banta C. Langs taff.. B. Powell.... Vance E. Wikoff E. Wikoff E. Wikoff C. Wright.... C. Wright.. . C. Wright.... C. Wright.... C. Wright.... C. Wright.... J. D. Banta J. D. Banta A. Muzzy A. Muzzy A. Muzzy T. B. Hayslip T. B. Hayslip Wm. R.White Wm.R. White Wm. R.White Wm. R. White G. W. Conarroe G. W. Conarroe J. R. Maxwell L. V.Smith L.V.Smith F. B. Beach Alman Muzzy J. C. Hanks J. C. Hanks T. T. Smith J. C. Hanks J. C. Hanks George Wolfe G. S. Johnston G. S. Johnston J. H. Amsler John Rupp ,,, P. J. Peister P. J. Peister W. W. Shedd W. W. Shedd , F. P. Beach. J. L. Westervelt. Oscar Westervelt. Oscar Westervelt. T. C. Sutton. H. B. Wikoff. H. B. Wikoff. William L. Pancake. William L. Pancake. A. S. Lang. J. H. Wilson. J. R. Maxwell. J. R. Maxwell. D. R. Grady. D. R. Grady. D. R. Grady. The names of those who have been elected Commissioners of Highways are G. W. Hanks, J. C. Hanks, J. R. Jones, J. W. , J. L. Westervelt, J. M. Pettigrew, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 733 H. B. Wikoff, J. R. Gorhatn, J. D. Banta, Apollos Powell, D. V. Davis, Abram Stevens, J. Castle, Simon Beckler, G. Arnold, J. T. Green, P. Coons. Those who have served as Justices of the Peace are T. C. Powell, John Pool, Erastus Thayer, G. A. Wolfe, G. M. Allison, Justus Castle. The principal interest of the citizens of Yates is, of course, farming, their princi- pal crops being corn, oats, rye, and hogs. Very few have attempted cattle-feeding, and have escaped the financial disasters which have overtaken so many in the older and richer portions of the county. The richness of the soil, and its suitableness for cultiva- tion in any kind of season, has given a healthy success to the farming community, while the absence ot great wealth on the part of any has kept out a tendency to extrav- agant living and inordinate display, which, sooner or later, must affect the entire community. There are many good farms — no large ones — in Yates. Some of the best it may not be amiss to name, even at the risk of leaving out some quite as worthy of notice. C. C. Wright, who, for several years, has ably represented this town on the Board of Supervisors, has a farm of 240 acres, in the northwestern portion of the township, which is well managed and in excellent condition. Abram Stevens has 320 acres, extending back from the village of Weston, a portion of it being in Livingston County, which, though rather flat, is well drained and very productive. He has a fine residence near Weston, and everything about him looks neat and comfortable. John Rupp owns a half section in Section 22, which is regarded one of the best in Yates. 0. T. Phil- lips has a fine farm of 320 acres, three miles west of Weston, which is a very good farm and well cultivated. Simon Beckler farms 250 acres on Section 13, which is excellent land and well cared for. John T. Green has a fine farm of 450 acres, just west of the village, which is one of the largest and best in the township. THE VILLAGE OF WESTON. Previous to the year 1866, there had been a switch and a water-tank about two miles east of where Weston now stands, which was on the west line of Livingston County, three miles from Fairbury. This watering-place was, for this or for some other reason not known to the oldest inhabitant, called Weston. When, in the year above mentioned, the switch and town plat were laid out on Section 3 of Yates, west- ward the name of Weston took its way, and became attached to this place. The plat and its surroundings embrace about 120 acres in the southeast quarter of Section 3, which the abstract of title shows passed from the United States to Horatio N. Wheeler, of Peoria, and from Wheeler and wife to W. F. Bryan, of Peoria, so that there is no trouble in regard to the title of all town property. It was understood that Mr. Cruger, the Vice President of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway, was to be a partner in this town speculation, but no such arrangement was made, and Mr. Bryan continued sole owner. The town was surveyed by the late Nelson Buck, of Pontiac, and embraced twenty-three blocks besides the public common, lying between the depot-grounds and the blocks, and one square which has been set apart for a public square, and set out to trees. For some years, there was no depot-building or freight-house. Mr. H. D. Legerwood was agent, and Dr. H. E. Johnson was Postmaster, and kept a few groceries for sale. J. O. Exley came here in 1868, from Philadelphia, and built the large store 734 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. which he still occupies for a residence and store, and put in a stock of goods. About the same time, Mr. McKee, a carpenter by trade, built a store and rented to Henry Culp for mercantile purposes. Dr. Holderness, now of Chenoa, also built, and opened a small stock of drugs and medicines. The grain trade, by this time, demanded better accommodations than shovel and apron, and John Boland built the elevator now stand" ing. Boland soon after sold it to Exley, who put in a run of stones to grind corn, and put in steam power. George Hancock put up the first blacksmith-shop, and G. W. Allison the first wagon-shop, the same year. A. W. Howard and C. C. Enslow, under the name of A. W. Howard & Co., soon after this commenced the grain business hero and built the western elevator. The firm carried on a large business here, buying grain and selling goods, for ten years. In 1871, Mr. Boyd built the eastern elevator, 24x48 feet, 30 feet high to the top of the square, and has a capacity of 15,000 bushels. He remained in trade only about a year, since which Haynes, Jorden & Co., of Chenoa, have occupied it; three years later, Mr. A. Rakestraw entered into partnership with them and carried on a large business in the firm name of Rakestraw, Haynes & Co. In 1872, John Pool left his farm and came to Weston to engage in the mercantile trade. He has built a large and lucrative trade, carrying the largest stock of goods in the village. The same year, Edgar Blaisdell came from Chenoa. where he had been in trade six years, and became business manager for Haynes, Jorden & Co. Three years later, he purchased the western elevator, a fine building 24x32 feet, 40 feet to the top of the square, which, together with the old building, 24x30 feet, 18 feet high, has a capacity of about 25,000 bushels. He is a business man of large ability, and, besides his large grain trade, is agent for Mr. Bryan, Postmaster, and, in partnership with Mr. Purdy, is interested in the store. A good idea of the business of Weston can be got from the following figures: Of the crop of 1878, there have been purchased here 83,000 bushels of corn, 38,000 bushels of oats, 8,000 bushels of rye. Grain is usually shipped from here to Philadelphia, occasionally to Peoria and to Chicago. There are now twenty-five residences in Weston, three churches, three elevators, eight stores, and a dozen shops, offices, etc. The Methodist Church was built in 1873; is a plain, four-walled structure, with- out ornament, 32x46, and cost $1,700. Since its organization, the Weston Church has been a part of Chenoa Circuit, and has been regularly supplied by the pastors of that charge, whose names appear in the history of that place. It has about fifty members, and begins to feel the need of a pastor for full time. The Christian Church was built the same year ; is 30x40, plain, like the other, andj like it, is kept nicely painted ; cost, $1,400. Elder H. D. Legerwood was the earliest and is the present Pastor of this church, and it is through his faithful labors, in a great part, that this comfortable house was built and religious services kept up. By far the sightliest church edifice is Zion Church, the building of the German Evangelical Church, which was built in 1875 and 1876, and dedicated to religious wor- ship in February, 1876. The building is 24x36, twenty feet high, with a spire sixty- five feet high, from in front of the centre. The trustees who had this building in charge, and who so faithfully did the important work, were Messrs. Anton Adam, Joseph Adam, Kiradan Raedle, John Nagel and J. Jikadanz. The building cost about $1,800. This church belongs to the Illinois Conference, and is in the Pontiac Circuit, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 735 the other appointments being Sand Ridge, Owego, Ocoya and Rooks' Creek. Rev. George Eichenlaub is Pastor. The Weston School is in charge of Mr. David Vance, Jr., who is doing faithful work in behalf of education ; number of pupils enrolled, 50 ; average attendance, 39. Pupils are taken through the statutory studies. The persons and firms now engaged in business here are : Dry goods, etc., John Pool, H. C. Purdy & Co., R. R. Grady, J. 0. Exley, J. W. Finley ; grain, Rakestraw, Haynes & Co., Rlaisdell & Leeret; blacksmiths, W. H. Loper, Warren Chamberlain; wagon-maker, G. W. Allison; restaurant, J. W. Finley; physician, ; sta- tion agent, H. E. Lamb; baggage and trackmaster, James McNally. The Postmasters have been H. E. Johnson, A. W. Howard, H. C. Purdy and Edgar Rlaisdell. RELLEFLOWER TOWNSHIP. Relleflower is the extreme southeastern township of the county, and was one of the latest to come into general settlement. It is like the others in the southern tier, six miles by eight, being described Town 22, Range 6 east, and the northern twelve sections of Town 21, Range 6 east of Third Principal Meridian. In topographical appearance, it is gently undulating, the highest ridge of land being that which forms the " divide " between the Sangamon and Salt Creek, running through from north to south about two miles east of the western boundary line of the town. Salt Creek runs along near the western boundary from Sections 18 to 31, when it crosses into West. The Sangamon River barely touches the northeastern corner, and makes off toward the east, thence southwest again. The land from northeast corner to southeast corner is pretty level. There is very little wet land in Relleflower ; nearly all is capable of cultivation, and all of good drainage. In the northern portion of the township, the land is diversified by numerous round hillocks, which give an interesting appearance to the surface. It was originally entirely destitute of timber, except one poor lone tree which stood on Section 19, near the ford of Salt Creek, and for years seemed to stand as sentinel to that important cross- ing. Several non-residents got hold of considerable of the land, but most of it has now been brought into cultivation. The Springfield Division of the Illinois Central Railroad runs directly through Town 22, Range 6, touching at the northeast corner of Section 1, running thence almost a due southwest course, hardly bending, and leaving the township a little south of the corner of Section 31. The Chicago & Paducah Railroad runs across the southeastern corner of the township, and the Havanna, Rantoul & Eastern Narrow Guage runs very nearly east and west across it. Considerable drainage has been done by open ditches, and tile draining is now being practiced. J. W. Snyder is making tile in the southeastern part of the town, and the township owns one of the Pontiac Graders, which stands out night and day, like the Lone Tree, as a kind of sentinel or watch dog. It has done pretty good service for the town, however. The town was named by Jesse Richards, the first Justice of the Peace. It was first called Prairie, but Esquire Richards had a great admiration for the Relleflower apple, and proposed the name, which was readily accepted. 736 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. All the earlier settlements were made along the northern tier of sections, and along the County Road, so called. This road, for reasons that do not seem to be fully under- stood by the present generation, was run on the half-section line half a mile west of the section line, which is in the middle of the townships, entirely across the county, except that it makes a set-off at Rankin's Grove, in the northern part of Cheney's Grove Township, and has on it the post office at Potosi, the two post offices, Garda and Dart, in Anchor, the iron bridge over the Mackinaw in that township, Saybrook, and Belle- flower station in this town. The first schoolhouse was built in 1857, and the first school was taught by Miss Green. There are now ten districts and eleven schoolhouses in the town, the Belleflower District having two schoolhouses, which are both occupied in the fall and winter terms, the schools being consolidated during the summer term. The M. E. Church, a fine structure, 36x50, with belfry, was built in 1873, under the pastorate of Rev. Job Ingram. The Church numbers about one hundred and fifty members. R. E. Moreland came here to live on Section 6 in 1858. At that time, there were only about a dozen voters in the township, and most of them are now gone. He com- menced farming in Section 6, but, some years after, located on Section 9, where he now resides. He has a farm of 160 acres, with comfortable buildings. He commenced to buy grain at Belleflower Station as soon as it was established, and has continued in the same business ever since. At that time, Jesse Richards had a farm. Thomas Green, just deceased, had eighty acres on Section 9. He was a worthy old man, but for some time had been in declining health. His son Thaddeus, who lived near him, was then here. T. 0. Bailey had a farm on Section 6. He was a brother of Washington Bailey, of Downs, and remained here only two or three years. Moses T. Hall was on Section 5. He was one of the first elected Justices of the Peace. He is now gone. William Riley came from Ohio to Section 21, in 1855. The only neighbors he had in that part of the town were rattlesnakes, who made themselves so familiar on closer acquaintance, that Mr. Riley, who had never seen the like of that in the eld country, got fairly disgusted with their frequent visits into his castle, traded off his farm, and left. George Wheeler was also away out by himself alone for several years, on Section 23, but did not let the snakes or the shakes drive him from his legal rights. He remained there until his death, in 1877. Daniel Abel was among the first. He settled on a farm in Section 8, and still lives there. George Youle purchased the R. J. Cheney farm about 1869. He has 1,000 acres in Sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, which are given to raising, grazing and feeding of stock. He buys and ships. He generally has a herd of about three hundred horned cattle, and stall-feeds about one hundred and thirty in a winter. He is a man of large business capacity, and a good manager. His farm is probably one of the best in the township, being diversified and well adapted to every line of husbandry carried on in these parts. W. A. Latham came here from Ohio about 1866, and has a large farm near the center of the town. He is engaged largely in keeping sheep and bees. He is a prac- tical and enterprising man, and has an excellent farm. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 737 Gov. John McNulta has a good section of land in the northern part of the town- ship, which is mostly in pasture. No resident of the township has more largely filled the requirements which are due from the citizen to his day and generation than Robert E. Guthrie, who now, though still by no means beyond his usefulness, cultivates his quiet farm on Sections 10 and 11. Though not strictly belonging to the history of Belleflower, a short and imper- fect sketch of his life and labors must find place here, as a tribute to the pioneer, the faithful son, the Christian preacher, the father, and the citizen, and not more a tribute to a well-spent life, than an example to those who shall read these pages. Mr. Guthrie came to McLean County with his father in 1826, to move Mrs. Cox to Blooming Grove, whose husband had died after purchasing the Dawson claim, being then seven years old. His father was so straitened in circumstance?, that during nearly all his boyhood, he required his work on the farms that he severally worked in different parts of the county. He received only about ten months school in his life — in the schoolhouse — though his life has been largely devoted to study, and he is a man of large information. He worked for and with his father at the north side of Funk's Grove, where the C. & A. R. R. enters it, then at the Henry Moots' place, one mile west of Towanda, then to the Benjamin Ogden place, afterward near Bloomington, where he opened a farm for James Allin, near the present engine house, between Maine and Mason streets, which they farmed for two years, after which, with his father, he engaged in the car- penter and mason trades in Bloomington. At the age of twenty-two, he believed he should give his life to the preaching of the Gospel. And those who talk nowadays about taking up the Cross, and leaving everything for the service of God, might possibly change their notions in regard to the sacrifices they make, by comparison with the early itinerants. His duties were such that no man, raised under the system of the present day, could stand it. Going from house to house, and from timber point to timber point, preaching daily and nightly, through storm and darkness, through rain and snow, with no time to study except when on horseback, supported by the strong love for souls, by a constant intercourse with God through prayer and meditation, with so little worldly support that, at the end of six years, he was actually obliged to discontinue preaching and go to work on a farm to raise money to pay his debts, resuming service again as soon as he could see his way out. At the beginning, his "salary" was about $80. Beecher has been severely crit- icised for saying that a laboring-man ought to get along well and live on $1 per day — if he could not get more. The same men who growled at Beecher, would probably acqui- esce if he had said that a clergyman ought to dress well, wax fat until his eyes fairly stick out, and preach eloquently on " two bits" per day. When he was admitted to travel for two years on trial, in 1841, he was examined by the quarterly conference, and recommended to the annual conference, which admitted without the present examina- tion, for in those days conference did not question the spiritual grace of those who sought service in the vineyard at $80 per year and pay their own expenses. Bishop Morris assigned him the first year to the Wauponsett Mission, a three weeks circuit, embracing Indian Grove, Weeds (four miles up the Vermilion River from Pontiac, near the present station of McDowell), Rutterfords (Pontiac), Welman's (Cornell), Long Point, John Argolright, Barrackman's (Reading), Phillips (Newtown), Dice's 738 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. (below Streator), Vermilion ville, Wheatland's farm, Widon Armstrong's, South Ottawa, Lewis (twelve miles above Ottawa), Wauponsett (at John Kellogg's), and on the Mazon, three miles above Sulphur Springs, and other places in Livingston and La Salle Counties as Providence seemed to direct. After this first year, his field of labor was in the southern part of the State. He served such churches as those at Jacksonville, Springfield, as Presiding Elder of the Quincy District, the church at Decatur, and, in 1858, got back to his old home, among the people with whom he had grown up. He was Presiding Elder of the Bloomington Dis- trict. In 1862, in response to an almost unanimous call from the men of the Ninety- fourth Regiment, many of whom were members of the churches over which he presided, he accepted the commission and consequent responsibility of Chaplain of that regiment. He carried with him into the service the same earnest and intense desire for the salva- tion of the impenitent, with a firm faith in the " Sword of the Lord and of Gideon." In 1867, he found himself so broken down in health that he was obliged to ask Conference for relief from ministerial labors, and with his children went to work on his farm in Belleflower. A year later, he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, a position which was given him by the citizens of McLean as a slight tribute to a life spent in the service of religion without other reward than an approving conscience, and with a rugged constitution, undimmed by the exacting demands of the cause and the care and anxiety of the responsibility of a large family growing up with no other inheritance than that of love and peace. Since the spring of 1873, he has lived on his farm, surrounded by and with the aid of his children, making home pleasant with the blessings which flow from well-requited toil and the happiness which springs from religious attention to every duty. C. W. Atkinson, the present County Clerk, is a son-in-law of Elder Guthrie, and was living in Cheney's Grove when elected to that office. BELLEFLOWER. When the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad was built, in 1871, the town- ship of Belleflower voted $30,000 in twenty-year ten per cent bonds, and the road established the station of Belleflower near the center of the township, where the rail- road crosses the county road which runs through the county on the half section-line before spoken of, on Section 21, forty miles from Gilman, and seventy-one from Springfield. George N. Black bought the south 100 acres of the southeast quarter of that section, and laid out forty acres in blocks and lots, and the remainder into out-lots of from one to five acres each. He then transferred it to the Railroad Company, and title comes from the Trustees of that corporation. When the road was mortgaged, this (and other) town plats do not seem to have been mortgaged, for, in the transfer to the Illinois Cen- tral, the town was not included, and title still comes from the said Trustees. R. E. Moreland was the first to engage in any business here. He commenced to buy grain in August, 1871, and has continued to this day. A. & A. J. Henry, of Chicago, commenced the winter following. That fall, John Nichols began the grocery trade, and put up the first dwelling-house. He also kept a boarding-house near where the post office is, and A. Libairn commenced the trade in general merchandise, which he still continues. In the spring of 1872, T. B. Groves, from Logan County, HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 739 built and occupied a hardware store, which has since been continually occupied by him in his large hardware and implement trade. J. W. Eyestone built a grocery store and occupied it awhile, and sold it to R. Rome, who still continues in the same line of trade. Then E. L. Rush built the build- ing near the post office for a drug store, which he stocked and continued to run for two years. Hiram Rush built a store next to Rome's, and ran it for a year, and then went to Kansas. Soon after these, G. W. Stokes built and occupied a drug store. He afterward added groceries to his stock, and has since carried on a very successful trade, with full stock of goods in these lines. About the same time, the building now used by the post office, was built and occu- pied by the Cline Brothers, dealers in groceries, for a time. The first Postmaster was A. H. Marquis, then J. W. Eyestone; E. L. Rush and L. B. Grant followed. The present business men are : Dry goods, A. Libairn ; groceries and provisions, R. Rome; groceries and drugs, G. W. Stokes; hardware and implements, T. B. Groves; grain, R. E. Moreland, H. F. Plummer, J. H. Pumpelly, the latter also dealing in lum- ber, lime, etc.; wagon-maker, E. H. Fuller; blacksmiths, A. C. Brandon, George H. Mittan ; boarding, W. T. Ward. The population is about two hundred and fifty. Belleflower has always done a large grain trade, averaging 350,000 bushels one year with another. The grain from this station has usually been shipped East to Prov- idence and Boston, especially the oats; but now, dealers find it to their interest to sell on track. A large amount of it has been sold to the Halliday Brothers, who have shipped to Cairo or to Chicago. Osman Station, on Section 1 (21-6), is on the Chicago & Paducah Railroad, which runs across the southeastern part of the township. It was laid out and named by Moses Osman, long an officer of that road, and one of its builders. Mr. Sherrard is engaged in the grain trade, and Mr. Dillon is selling goods there. The Havana, Rantoul & Eastern Narrow Guage Railroad, built in 1878, runs from west to east, angling across three sections of the west half, and on the half section line of the remaining three sections, leaving the town line at the center of Section 36. Lorette is the name of a station recently established on that road, east of its crossing of the Illinois Central. Business has not begun to tower up at Lorette yet, but the narrow- gaugers propose to buy some corn there in the future. CROPSEY TOWNSHIP. Cropsey Township embraces the south half of Town 25, Range 6 east of the Third Principal Meridian, is three miles by six, and is territorially the smallest in the county, being only one-third the size of Gridley, which is the largest. During most of its polit- ical history, it has been attached to the present town of Anchor (24, 6), and in school affairs is attached to, and forms a school township with Belle Prairie, in Livingston County. The township is entirely prairie; and, as a consequence, had no early settlements. Probably the first to settle here was Col. A. J. Cropsey, from whom and by whom the town was named, in 1858. Col. Cropsey came here from Will County, 111., where his parents had long resided in Plainfield, and commenced farming operations in 1854. 740 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. He had entered two sections of land, and built a house in or near the center of Section 22. He was a man of enlarged views, having enjoyed the excellent advantages which the son of an intelligent and prosperous farmer in Will County would even at that duy receive. He was at once looked up to as a leader among men. He was ardently attached to the M. E. Church, of which he was a member, and a local preacher of con- siderable note. He did not remain here long, however. He became interested in the building of the new village of Fairbury, the nearest railroad point to his farm, ten miles north, and, in I860, was elected the first Representative in the Legislature from Living- ston County, i. e,, the first resident of that county who was ever elected to the Assembly. He was chosen Major of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth (a Livingston County regiment), and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, serving till the close of the war. He became interested in a large tract of land where Lincoln, Neb., now stands, and went there soon after the close of the war, and was largely instrumental in securing the removal of the capital to that place ; was elected State Senator, and was a prominent candidate for the nomination for Governor. He recently went to Texas to make his home. Such is a short and imperfect sketch of one who will ever be held in kind remembrance by all who knew him when he commenced his active, useful life here. The general topographical description of the township is, that the high ridge of land which runs through Lawndale at the west, runs across Cropsey from northwest to south- east, but is wider, spreading into an undulating highland, shedding off toward Indian Creek at the north, and at the southern side of the town toward the Mackinaw, which is only one mile from its southern boundary. The land is excellent and is easily drained. The farmers present a gratifying appearance of thrift, and distance to market seems to be about the only drawback to tho .comfort and convenience of the inhabitants. Fairbury, which is ten miles away from the township, is the nearest railroad point. G. W. Freshcorn, who is now one of the oldest residents of Cropsey, came here from Chester County, Penn., in 1856. There were then living in what is now Cropsey. so far as his recollection serves (which he admits is at this age somewhat treacherous), A. J. Cropsey on Section 22; Alonzo and Levi Straight and father on Section 13 ; Stephen and Nathaniel Stoddard, and Edward Ward, still living here ; James Darr, James Harkness on Section 23, and Henderson Crabb on Section 20. Mr. Freshcorn bought land on Section 20, and still lives on the same farm. The largest farm, and, in some respects one of the very best, is the one owned by Moses Meeker, of Tazewell County, and worked by his sons, E. B. and D. B. Meeker. The farm consists of 840 acres in Sections 22 and 27. The buildings are large and good, suitable for so large a stock-farm, well stocked and well managed. The Meekers feed about two car- loads of cattle at a time, and keep a large stock of cattle and hogs. John Straisser has a good farm of 480 acres in Sections 24 and 25. He raises grain and feeds some cattle. J. Hinshaw works a fine farm of 240 acres lying in Sections 28 and 33. Esbon Merrill has a large farm in Section 29, keeping about half in pasture, and the remainder in meadow and under plow. He also feeds some fat cattle, though none of these farmers carry this branch to the extent they did a few years ago. Edward Ward, one of the first settlers, has a fine farm and excel- lent buildings. He is recognized as one of the best and most successful farmers. J. C. Arnold has 120 acres in Section 34, which is well and nicely managed. The farmers here seem to have paid better attention to their hedges than in many other places, and HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 741 one sees here some of the finest hedges in the county, unfortunately in too many locali- ties entirely neglected. In the division of the township which took place in 1877, all that portion of the old town lying in Town 24, Range 6, was set off into a separate political organization with the name of Anchor. The official record before 1877 covers the two towns until that time, but for the years 1877, 1878, it is only for the present town. The township was organized in April, 1858, at a meeting held at the house of Levi Straight. A. A. Straight was chosen Moderator, and A. J. Cropsey, Clerk. The town was divided into two road districts on the half-section line running through the town north and south, which now has the iron bridge on it. Below is given, in table, the officers who have been elected to the principal offices during the official life of the town. Date. VoteH Cast. Supervisor. Clerk. Assessor. Collector. 1858 J. H. Van Eman.... N. M. Stoddard .... D. E. Straight Henderson Crabb.. N. M. Stoddard ,,,, J. Ward . E. W. Mahoney ..Charles Crabb .J Charles Crabb 1859 E. Merrill N. M. Stoddard. I860 E. Merrill... II . Crabb. 1861 G. W. Freshcorn S. P. Alford. 1862 1868 19 17 14 14 19 39 36 64 105 76 76 101 136 78 85 56 32 H. Crabb. N. M. Stoddard. 1864 1865 B. M.Stoddard H. Crabb J. P. W. Eson Robert Rand. J. W. McCullough. J. W. McCullough. J. W. McCullough. J. W. McCullough. 1866 Henderson Crabb.. H. L. Terpenning.. M. H. Knight H. L. Terpenning.. H. L. Terpenning.. H. L. Terpenning.. H. L. Terpenning.. H. L. Terpenning.. H. L. Terpenning.. G. R. Buck H. L. Terpenning.. H. L. Terpenning.. 1867 J. P. W. Eson 1868 .Charles Crabb ..|j. C. Swatsley 1869 J. McCullough H. Crabb 1870 ..J. C. Swatsley ..J. C. Swatsley ..|J. C. Swatsley ..J. C. Swatsley . H. A. Thomas .H. A.Thomas 1871 Z. C. Worley J. C. Swatsley. 1872 1878 Z. C. Worley Z. C. Worley J. C. Swatsley. E. H. Worley. 0. D. Rutter. C. D. Morris. 1874 1875 C. B. Ward 1876 1877 1878 D. B. Spencer J. W. McCullough... J. W. McCullough... J. T. Tanner. A. W. Green. A. W. Green. Those who have served as Justices of the Peace are, L. F. Straight, G. W. Fresh- corn, J. H. Van Eman, Ellis Elmer, H. L. Terpenning, J. T. Tanner, A. Beale, A. E. Jones, I. C. Lefler, J. P. Worley, J. E. Whiting and J. Hinshaw. The Commissioners of Highways have been, A. A. Straight, Gr. W. Freshcorn, N. M. Stoddard, S. A. Stoddard, D. Thompson, N. Brigham, Joseph Elmer, E. H. Ward, J. W. McCullough, a. Haller, M. H. Knight, John Sharpless, J. B. T. Mann, Z. C. Worley, A. S. Dart, J. C. Arnold, P. J. Decker and E. B. Meeker. The township, in 1868, adopted at its town meeting a long cattle "ordinance." It contained eleven sections, and was carefully drawn, providing that cattle should not run at large, and providing for empounding and fixing penalties ; providing how they should be released, and giving the proper officers power to act in all cases. This was a new way of dealing with a very troublesome subject, and it proved a very effective way. The Legis- lature had passed a law allowing townships to vote for or against permitting cattle to run at large. One of the provisions of this law was that in case a majority of the legal voters of any township should vote against letting cattle run at large, the law should then be in effect in that township, whether the voters in an adjoining township adopted or not. This complicated matters very much, and there were constant depredations upon the part of those who did not choose to live up to the law. Custom had grown into a 742 HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. kind of law, and citizens were unwilling to take the law into their own hands and make a pound of their own inclosures. This ordinance was the subject of a legal decision, and soon became very effective. RAILROADING. The center of the old town of Cropsey was, and is yet, about fourteen miles from the nearest railroad station, being about equidistant from Saybrook, on the south, and Fairbury, on the north. This of itself was enough, during the era of railroad-building and bond-voting, to make it of interest to railroad-builders and popular with voters to go into the bonding business. Several propositions were made and votes taken in this direction. None of these propositions were received favorably until the Decatur & State-Line Railroad took form. This road was to run from Decatur, where it would connect with the Decatur & East St. Louis road, of which it was to be an extension, direct to Chicago, passing through Chatsworth. The road would have been, had it been built, an almost air-line route from St. Louis to Chicago — several miles shorter than the shortest line between those two cities. The Boodys, of the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad, which controlled the Decatur & East St. Louis line, were very anx- ious to build it, for it would give them a Chicago connection which they had been, and still have been, unable to get. The proposition really seemed the most feasible of the many railroad propositions then in existence. They were in business relations with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and were really dependent on that com- pany for the money to build it. When the citizens of Cropsey were shown the magni- ficent future which such railroad facilities would give them, it is not to be wondered at that they were ready to get all the wealth which this would bring them, and all for just a single vote. It looked like a "big thing," and there could be no doubt that the road would be built. A special town meeting was held October 25, 1869, to vote for or against a propo- sition to donate $60,000 of bonds. This was the third meeting which had been held on the matter — the first two resulting adversely to town aid. At this meeting, the proposition was carried by the almost unanimous vote of 44 to 5. A proposition was also carried to donate $5,000 per mile and right of way to the same road. As the town was about eleven miles in length, from the northeast to the southwest corners — the direction the road would take — it was considered equivalent to the other proposition. January 10, 1870, by a vote of 46 to 31, it was voted to give $15,000 to the D. & St. L. R. R., provided its line touched the town and a station was placed there. The road had the option, of course, of these different proposals. The destruction of millions of dollars of the Rock Island company's property, by the Chicago fire, followed before it had recovered from the loss by the " Granger excitement," and general depres- sion of railroad interests alone saved the township from being as heavily in debt as any other in McLean County. A railroad is now contemplated, called the Clinton, Bloomington & Northeastern, which is proposed as an extension to the Chatsworth Branch of the Illinois Central. It is projected by the farmers owning land along the line, and is energetically pressed by Mr. D. B. Stuart, a large land-owner in Cropsey and Anchor. H. L. Terpenning and J. T. Tanner, the Supervisors, and other energetic men. The scheme seems a feasible one, and the road is likely to be built without running the town in debt. HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 743 SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES. D. S. Crum, Esq., is Treasurer for Town 25, Range 6, and lives in Belle Prairie. From his last report the following figures are taken : Number of districts, 9 ; whole number of children under twenty-one years, 618 ; number between six and twenty-one years, 425; number enrolled in schools, 380; amount of township school fund, $7,000, about one-half of which is loaned on real estate. The Belle Prairie Agricultural Society is jointly supported by the two towns. It originated in the Belle Prairie Grange, and was organized in 1874, and has held three annual fairs — that in 1878 in the new hall belonging to the society, which is 28x40, and on the land of D. S. Crum, Esq. The Society pays no money-premiums, but awards blue and red ribbon premiums. No fees for admission are charged. A track, upon which the only " purely agricultural horse-trots " known in this part of the country take place, is one of the feature of the exhibition. No racing is permitted, but it is doubted whether any horse could carry off the blue ribbon unless he made something better than a snail's time around that agricultural track. The society is largely social in its tendencies and aims, and is worthy of study with a view of extending to similar locali- ties a like institution. Ira C. Pratt is President; H. L. Terpenning, Vice President; William Stickler, Secretary ; D. S. Crum, Treasurer. The Belle Prairie Mutual Insurance Company, a farmer's company of these towns, together with Indian Grove, is in successful operation. There are 126 policies out- standing, covering an insurance of $103,000. H. L. Terpenning is President ; C. H. Benson, Secretary. Lodge No. 631, A., F. & A. M., was organized in 1869, at Potosi. It consists of eighteen members. H. L. Terpenning is Worthy Master, and Dr. A. W. Green, Sec- retary. During the preparation of these pages, the death of John Thomas occurred at the residence of his grandson, H. A. Thomas, Esq., one-half mile southeast of Potosi, in the 98th year of his age. Father Thomas was born in Halifax, Windham Co., Vt., March 5, 1782. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and served until its close. He was a cloth-dresser by occupation, and worked on the farm summers and at his trade win- ters. He was three times married, and was the father of twelve children, nine of whom survive him. In 1852, he went to live with his son, at Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he assisted, for a number of years, in carrying on a dairy. In 1868, he came to Illinois, and has since made this place his home. He had, for many years, been a pensioner of the Government. Nearly thirty years ago, a cancer made its appearance on his left cheek, which slowly made its way until the time of his death. The cavity was about four inches in diameter. Though this was not the cause of his death directly, still it may have hastened it somewhat. For some years, he has gradually lost strength, but was only confined to his bed about four months. During his helpless- ness, he was kindly cared for by his son and grandson, and the wife of his grandson. Think of the changes time has wrought in this county during only half of the lifetime of this aged soldier ! There is no church in the present town of Cropsey, though the Belle Prairie Meth- odist Episcopal Church is just across the line. 744 HISTORY OF McLEAN county. POTOSI. Potosi can hardly be called a village, though it has long been a center for the citi- zens to collect, get their tri- weekly mail, and trade. When the post office was estab- lished, it was, for a time, kept by citizens at their houses. Some thirteen years ago, Dr. H. W. Green, a recently-diplomaed physician, came here, looking for a place to prac- tice, and soon after, started a drug store, which grew into his present large general trade in merchandise. The post office was removed to his store. Dr. Green, in addition to his extensive medical practice and his general merchandise, takes a lively interest in the religious affairs of the surrounding country. He is an ordained Elder of the Christian denomination, and preaches almost every Sunday in some locality within a few miles' ride of his home. In his daily life and labors, he fully exemplifies the great amount of labor and usefulness an educated and earnest man can accomplish even while attend- ing faithfully to. his own secular affairs. J. E. Whitney carries on a blacksmith-shop, and A. D. Taylor a shoe-shop, at Potosi. One of the most exciting occasions in the history of Potosi, was the speck of war over the " butternut pole " which was raised by the Democrats on the occasion of a political rally during the campaign of 1868. Owing to the color of the Confederate army uniform, which was brown, of a butternut shade, the butternut had come to be accepted by the soldiers of the Union army as a symbol of " secesh " doctrines. Some person, either out of pure " cussedness," or for some unknown reason, put a few butternuts on the pole. This was thought, by some returned soldiers, to be a taunt, and was taken in dead earnest, as tending to spread treasonable sentiments, and they declared it should come down. The party who raised the pole, declared they would defend it even unto death. The excitement spread, and there was talk, on both sides, of " enlisting for the war" to bring down or to sustain that pole. Arms were collected and stored in convenient places. Men became as thoroughly in earnest as they ever were on the fields of Dixie. The one side declared that no butternuts should ever be permitted to wave (or shake) over the four corners at Potosi, and the other just as ener- getically affirming that that pole should not come down while they lived to defend it. At this juncture, some of the Republicans thought of the company of " Tanners," organized and officered to help carry on the Grant campaign, and went to get their assistance. As Capt. McDowell and his company of Tanners had never been sworn into the State service, he did not feel like volunteering to put down rebellion or butternuts at Potosi without an invitation from the Governor. He con- sulted Maj. Osman, who was in command of a Democratic Company, and the two agreed to lay the matter before the Governor and be guided by his order. They there- fore sent a message to Gov. Oglesby, laying the matter before him, and asking advice or orders; Capt. McDowell, for the Republicans, and Maj. Osman, for the Democrats, agreeing that his orders should be complied with. The Governor was absent from Springfield, and it was not until a day after that he sent his reply, which was to the effect that the Republicans should go home and thus save the majesty of the law, and the Democrats should take down, and thus save, their butternuts. The order was obeyed, and the butternuts were taken down and turned over to Capt. McDowell and Maj. Osman, who expressed them to the Governor, who kept them safely in the archives of State. Thus ended what bid fair to be at one time a serious riot. cApiottom figures. He married Miss Isabel Keller, of Oneida Co., N. Y., in January, 1854 ; they have one child — Eva E., now Mrs. P. Pierce, of Chicago. - CHARLES L. CAPEN, attorney at law, Bloomington; was born in Union Springs, N. Y., in 1848, and is the son of Luman W. Capen ; in 1856, he came West with his parents and settled in Bloomington; in 1865, he graduated at Normal University; in same year he entered Harvard College, and graduated in 1869; he returned to Bloomington and entered the law office of Hughes & McCart, reading and preparing himself for active practice; in 1871, he was admitted to prac- tice law at the Illinois bar; in 1873, he became partner with Williams & Burr; this is one of the leading firms of the McLean County Bar, under the style of Williams, Burr & Capen. ~ C. R. CARR, M. D., Bloomington ; among the physicians of Bloomington of recognized ability, is Dr. C. R. Carr, who is a native of Terre Haute, Ind.; he wa3 born June 15, 1845, and began the study of medicine in 1868, under Dr. William Hill, of Bloomington; in 1871, he became a graduate of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, of New York; after graduating, he returned to Bloomington and became the partner of Dr. Hill for one year; he then returned to BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 771 New York and accepted the position of House Surgeon in the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary ; this position he held until the fall of 1873, when he returned to Bloomington and engaged in the practice of his profession ; he is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society, the McLean County Medical Society, the Bloomington Pathological Society and of the Illinois Central Medical Association ; he has given his time fully and exclusively to his profession since residing in Bloom- ington ; has a good practice, which is the result of his own energy and close attention to business. ^^4 W B. CARLOCK, Bloomington; was born on the 15th day of March, 1842, at White Oak Grove, Woodford Co., 111.; his father, Abraham W. Carlock, is a large land-owner in both McLean and Woodford counties, and from the time his son, W. B., was 10 years of age, he was actively engaged in hard work, until he arrived at the age of 23, when he entered Lombard University, at Galesburg, as an academic student; soon after, he commenced his studies at Lombard, and graduated with the first honors of his class in the month of June of 1867; the fall succeeding, Mr. Carlock entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, a law student; he was a close and faithful student, and completed the full law course of that widely renowned Univer- sity in the spring of 1869, having passed a most commendable examination in all the different branches of law which he studied there ; after leaving Ann Arbor, he took a short vacation, and he again resumed his law studies in the law office of Messrs. Williams & Burr, of Bloomington, 111., and remained in that office during the fall of 1869 and winter of 1869 and 1870; during the latter part of the winter of 1870, he passed his final examination previous to being admitted as a regular practitioner to the bar of the State of Illinois ; the committee who examined him being composed of Hon. Robert E. Williams, Capt. J. H. Rowell and Hon. William E. Hughes ; his license to practice law was issued to him soon after leaving the above office, which was immedi- ately after the examination held there. After receiving his license, he again took another vaca- tion for the summer of 1870, ostensibly for the benefit of his health, but really to prospect for a future partner for life ; accordingly, during the summer he formed the acquaintance of one of Bloomington' s fairesk, best and most accomplished young ladies, Miss Missouri McCart, a sister of Robert McCart, formerly a well-known lawyer of Bloomington, 111., but now located at Fort Worth, Texas ; on the 6th of October, 1870, W. B. Carlock was married to the young lady, at the residence of her parents in this city ; from and after the date of his marriage begins his active career as a lawyer ; he was without money, but not at all discouraged as to his future pros- pects ; in addition to his law practice, he has reaped a handsome profit from his wire device for preventing reverberations or faulty reflection of sounds in public halls, etc., for which he obtained letters patent ; he writes the German language well and speaks it fluently ; he is the only attor- ney at the Bloomington bar who speaks the German language, and it has been the means of add- ing not a little to his success ; among the important cases in which Mr. Carlock has figured might be mentioned the case of the People vs. Augusta Meyer, for child-murder; William Elmer, for assault with intent to kill Charles Awe, of this city ; People vs. Ben Chrisman, charged with the murder of Davis ; the latter he conducted without assistance, and received many congratula- tions ; he aiso conducted proceedings for the disannulling of the marriage contract in the case of Bruchman vs. Ragotzki, on the ground of duress and fraud, and this was a new movement in law; also, Flagg vs. Roberts, a suit for slander; a series of cases of Epple vs. Freehauf, involv- ing the payment of money on lands in this county. GUY A. CARLTON, livery, Bloomington ; in speaking of the business industries of the city of Bloomington, the firm of Carlton & Kerr require more than a passing mention ; they are both old residents of the city, and, since 1875, have been engaged in the livery business ; their establishment is located at Nos. 112, 114, 116, East Washington street ; here, they have every- thing arranged neatly and comfortably ; they do not aim to keep the largest number of horses ; but what they have are among the best of the city, as are also their carriages and hacks, one of the latter being kept at the " stand" on the west side of the Public Square, Mr. Kerr usually looking after custom in this line. Mr. Carlton is a native of Penobscot Co., Maine ; he was born in September, 1837 : remaining at his native place until he had grown nearly to manhood, and had received his education ; in 1854, he came West and located in this city ; until 1861, he was engaged in the grocery business and at railroading. He then enlisted in the late war of the rebellion in Co. A, 8th I. V. I., three months service ; serving this term of enlistment, he returned, and, in 1862, again enlisted in the three years service; this, as 1st Lieutenant of Co. A, 94th I. V. I. ; he had served but about two years, when he was discharged on account of dis- ability ; following this, he returned to Bloomington, and, until 1875, was engaged in various business enterprises, among others was starting the first city express in Bloomington in 1864 ; he has been generally successful in his former business undertakings, and has already made a success of his present business. F. W. CHRISMAN, grocer, Bloomington ; was born in Shelby Co., Ky., Feb. 24, 1850, where he was raised and received his early education ; he came with his parents to McLean Co., in 1869, and learned the grocery business with his father at Hey worth ; for a number of years, he taught school; he came and settled in Bloomington in 1876, and, for a time, sold agricultural implements ; he began in the grocery business in 1877, and is now located at No. 507 W. Market St., where he keeps a good stock of goods. He married Miss Susan E. Garrett, of this county, Dec. 17, 1872 ; they have one son — Berry H. 772 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: M. X. CHUSE, Bloomington; was born in Switzerland in 1831; when lie was but 14 years old, he, with his parents, emigrated to America, landing in New York City ; thence to Albany, N. Y., and from there West to St. Louis ; here Mr. Chuse was working on a farm at Jefferson Barracks about four months ; then to Centerville, St. Clair Co., 111., farming a short time ; he also com- menced to learn his trade of harness-maker; he returned to St. Louis and finished learning his trade there; and, about this time, was Mr. Chvise's first experience in the Fire Department; in 1845, he ran with the Washington Fire Co., No. 2; when he became of age, he joined Liberty, No. 6 ; this was about 1849. In 1850, he moved to Bloomington, which has been his home ever since he commenced at his trade as harness-maker ; from this, he managed to save money, and car- ried on a very extensive business ; he also was engaged in the wholesale saddlery, harness and leather business, the firm being Chuse & Risser. Twenty-five years ago, Mr. Chuse rang the first fire bell to call a meeting to organize a Fire Department, and ever since then, he has been connected with the Fire Department; he was first a pipeman, then assistant foreman, then fore- man, ;ind chief engineer ; to-day Bloomington has probably one of the best regulated Fire Departments for a town of its size in the country. Mr. Chuse is also Superintendent of the Water Works, which has the stand-pipe system, with a stand-pipe 210 feet high, perhaps the tallest in the State ; Mr. Chuse superintended the building of the Water Works, from the time they were first started until their completion. Such is a short sketch of Mr. Chuse, one of the best known and most respected men of Bloomington. J. R. CLARK, 'bus line; Bloomington; another line of business that should be a pride to the citizens of Bloomington, is a thoroughly reliable 'bus line. This business is represented by Messrs. McBean & Clark. Mr. J. R. Clark, the junior member of the firm and subject of this sketch, is a native of the State of New York. In 1862, he enlisted in the 6th N. Y. I. B., spend- ing three years of his life in the service of his country. The many hardships he passed through during his army life, can only be thoroughly understood by those who have passed a similar experience. In 1866, he came West and spent a short time in Dubuque, Iowa, and Chicago. In 1867, he came to Bloomington, and entered the employ of the U. S. and A. M. Express Cos., which situation he held for eight years. May 6, 1871, he married Miss Alice McKisson, who was a native of Bloomington. In 1875, he first engaged in his present line of business, the firm then being McKisson & Clark ; this partnership lasting but about one year, he then selling out to Mr. McKisson and again entering the employ of the Express Cos., though this time he remained with them but a short time ; then in company with Mr. McBean buying the 'bus line which they are now running. They have met every demand of the public in their line. They now have on the line 3 ' busses, 6 hacks, 2 baggage and 1 mail wagon ; they keep 26 head of horses at their barns, which are located on East St., bet. Grove and Olive, and, during the 24 hours make 18 trains. By their courteous and gentlemanly treatment of their customers and the traveling pub- lic, they have established a good business. Their promptness in attending calls during all kinds of weather, the neatness and cleanliness of their vehicles, must insure them success in the future as they have had in the past. W. G. COCHRANE, confectioner; Bloomington; the success of W. G. Cochrane, the " Candy- man," is a fair demonstration of what cm be done by energy, industry and a close attention to business. He is a native of Plymouth, N. H. In 1863, he came West, after having served a term of enlistment in the war of the rebellion; his first location in the West was in Chicago, where he remained seven years, engaged in the confectionary business; five years of this time he was in company with C. W. Sanford. In 1870, he came to Blooomington, and engaged in his present business ; his establishment is located at No. 218 North Center st.; the building being 22 feet front and 100 feet deep, the rear being used for manufacturing purposes ; the front part being used as salesroom. Here, Mr. Cochrane has by far the finest stock of goods in the city in his line, consisting of a complete line of pure candies, large quantities of foreign fruits and nuts, and a complete assortment of cigars and tobaccos. His specialty being strictly pure candies, his candies are bsconiing as celebrated in the city of Bloomington as those of Gunther are in Chicago. He is a wide-awake down-easter and is certainly doing a wide-awake business. ^N. B. COLE, M. D,, Bloomington; another of the regular physicians of Bloomington, who has established a reputation as a thoroughly read man in the science of medicine, is Dr. N. B. Cole, who is a native of Fairfield Co., Ohio ; he was born Dec. 28, 1837 ; began the study of medicine under Dr. E. Lynch, of Lancaster, Ohio, and graduated at the Long Island College Hospital of Brooklyn, in 1860; he began the practice of medicine in ^Etnn,, Ohio, where he remained but two years, then entered the U. S. Army as Assistant Surgeon of the 19th Ohio, but was afterward commissioned as Surgeon of the field hospital of the 50th Ohio. Returning from the army in 1865, he located in Bloomington, where he has since resided, engaging in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the McLean Oo. Medical Society, also of the Illinois State Medical Society ; since locating in Bloomington, he has given his time exclusively to the practice of his profession ; his practice is large and of a gratifying nature, whictt is the result of his energy and close attention to business. WILLIAM CONDON, grocer, Bloomington; was born in County Cork, Ireland, Nov. 1, 1829; during his early life, he learned the trade of a baker; he came to this country in 1851, locating in New Haven, Conn., and there began the trade of a painter; in 1852, he moved to> BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 773 Chicago ; here he followed painting, in the employ of the I. C. R. R. Co. , until 1856, when he came to Bloomington, 111., and engaged with the C. & A. R. R. Co.: he continued with the latter com- pany until 1861, when he embarked in the grocery business at his present place, No. 802 West Chestnut, where he keeps a fine grocery store, with a good class of well-assorted groceries. He married Miss Bridget McNamara, of his native country, June 1, 1857; they have a family of eight children. J-—DR. HENRY CONKLING was born in Morristown, N. J., April 27. 1814 ; his father Stephen Conkling, moved to New York City in 1816, where the Doctor lived until he was 16 years old, when he returned to his native place and finished his school days in the Morristown Academy ; his father and family emigrated to Ohio in 1831, and located in Mt. Vernon, at which place he- joined them in 1832. When 23 years old, he was united by marriage to Eliza Wiley, daughter of Hugh Wiley, who lived near Mt. Vernon ; in the spring of 1838, he came to Le Roy, in thia county, making the journey in eighteen days, on horseback; his brother Edgar Conkling, was living there and had laid off two additions to the town ; he returned to Ohio in a few weeks, and moved back to Le Roy the next fall, with his family ; they came in a covered wagon, camp- ing out on the way by the roadside ; while living in Le Roy, he taught school and studied med- icine with Dr. David Edwards ; in the year 1843, he commenced the practice of medicine near Mount Hope, in this county ; in the year 1844, he moved to Washington, Tazewell Co., this State ; his health failing, he returned to Ohio in 1845, and practiced medicine five years, during which time he graduated and received his diploma from the Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio. His wife died in the spring of 1850 ; in June of that year, he returned to McLean Co., and located at Hudson, where his brother-in-law James T. Gild«rsleeve, Esq., was living, where he practiced medicine fourteen years, during which time he had an extensive practice ; in 1864, he moved to Bloomington ; during this year he was sent South as an additional Surgeon in the army, and was assigned to the 7th I. V. C ; when Corinth was evacuated by Gen. Beauregard, the Doctor, with some of the Union army, pressed hard after them ; many of the Union soldiers were wounded in a skirmish ; these the Doctor took charge of, placing them in a cabin having one room, the best that could be done for them at that time ; as soon as they were able to be moved, the Doctor sent them to the general hospital. After the war closed, he was appointed one of the Examining Pension Surgeons for disabled and wounded soldiers, which position he held about three years. He was married to his second wife January, 1851 ; she was the widow of L. Sampson, who died with cholera in Bloomington in 1849 ; she died in the fall of 1863 t He was married to his third wife in May, 1866 ; she was the widow of C. E. Dodge, a Baptist minister, also the daughter of Peter Withers, who emigrated to this county from Kentucky in 1832. In June, 1866, the first meeting was held in Urbana, 111., for the purpose of devising ways and means for the construction of a railroad from Danville, 111., through Bloomington, to the Illinois River : he was the only delegate from Bloomington to the meeting ; the meeting adjourned to meet in Le Roy in August, at which time an organization was effected, and the Doctor was appointed Secretary and one of the Directors of the road, known then as the Dan- ville, Urbana, Bloomington & Pekin Railroad ; he took a very active part in this enterprise, devoting all his time to its accomplishment; May 1, 1870, the road was finished, the Doctor putting in the last bolt that tied the road between Indianapolis and Pekin ; as an appreciation of his efforts and success, the citizens of Bloomington presented to him, by the hands of Gen. I, Bloomfield, in Schroeder's Opera House, a valuable gold watch, engraved thereon a locomotive with the initials' I. B. & W. R. R. The Doctor is the proprietor of the Turkish and Electro- Thermal Institute, located in Bloomington, 111., for the treatment of disease, which is largely patronized, not only by invalids but those who take the baths as a luxury. THOMAS B. CORMAN, engineer of steam fire engine No. 1, Bloomington ; was born near Nicholasville, Ky., in 1849, and is the son of Abraham Corman; when he was but 2 years old, he came with his parents to Bloomington, in 1851 ; here he has resided ever since; he learned the trade of a machinist; about 1866, he was a member of the hand fire engine, Prairie Bh"d ; in 1871, he accepted a position as fireman on the steamer Prairie Bird No. 1 (commonly called stoker), this position he filled until 1874; he then was appointed engineer for the same steamer, which place he has held ever since ; he is now one of the oldest members of the Fire Department. THOMAS COULTAR, contractor, Bloomington. The Orphan's Home, National and People's Bank buildings, Dr. C. Wakefield's residence and many other prominent public and private build- ings of the city of Bloomington and McLean County, were built by Mr. Thomas Cuultar, con- tractor and builder; he is a native of Clark Co., Ohio, where he spent the early part of his life^ ana was educated by the old subscription school system ; he served a regular apprenticeship at Springfield, at the carpenter and joiner trade, and came West in 1856, and located in Blooming- ton, where he has since resided, engaged in contracting and building; Bloomington was but a small place of about 5,000 population when he came to it in 1856 ; he has stuck steadily to hia business from that time until the present, and is now known as a thoroughly reliable and responsi- ble contractor ; during the busy season he employs about twelve men regularly, and sometimes in special cases gives employment to many more than this number; his shop is located corner East and Douglas streets; he is a man well known and has many staunch friends; no better guarantee of his ability is needed than a view of some of the above mentioned buildings. 774 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: T. J. COX & CO., millers, Bloomington ; another important feature of enterprise in McLean Co., is the milling business; the leading and most successful firm in this line is that of T. J. Cox & Co.; the members of the firm being T. J. Cox and his brother, George H. Cox; T. J., the sub- ject of this sketch, is a native of Dixfield, Oxford Co., Me., where his father, who is also a native of Maine, is still residing, engaged in the mercantile business, the firm being T. J. Cox, Sr., & Son ; the early part of T. J.'s life was spent in a country store, where he learned something of business and human nature; he was born Oct. 25, 1837; in 1857, he came West, locating at Bloomington; in 1858, he engaged in the mill business by buying the Eagle Mills; in 1874, he bought the Union Mills : he also qwhs one-half of the McLean County Mills ; the Eagle and Union Mills have a flouring capacity of 400 barrels daily ; during the greater portion of the year they are run to their full capacity ; the McLean County Mills have a flouring capacity of 100 barrels {>er day ; this mill is also kept busy most of the time ; the Union and McLean County Mills are ocated close to the Illinois Central Railroad depot, while the Eagle is near the C. & A. R. R. depot. Mr. Cox, though not a practical miller by trade, has proved himself to be one among the best financiers of McLean Co.; he owns the finest milling property in the county, which is the result of his own industry, energy and good financiering. Since writing the above he has bought his brother's interest, and is now sole proprietor of the Union and Eagle Mills. GEORGE H. COX, miller, Bloomington ; Mr. George H. Cox, of the firm of T. J. Cox & Co., is a native of Dixfield, Oxford Co., Me.; he was born Nov. 22, 1849, and came West in June, 1866, and engaged with his brother T. J. as book-keeper, which position beheld until 1872, when he went into partnership with his brother, the firm name being then as now, T. J. Cox & Co., their mills being the Eagle, located near the C. & A R. R. depot, and the Union, located near the I. C. depot ; they have a flouring capacity of about four hundred barrels of flour daily, and the reputation of the mills is such and the firm is so well known that, during a great portion of. the year, they are run to their full capacity ; they are very conveniently located for shipping, which is quite an advantage where so much flour is to be shipped. George H. spends his time prin- cipally at the Eagle Mills. The firm of T. J. Cox & Co. is so well known, and their financial success has been so marked that any compliments of the press are wholly unneeded on their part. N. W. COX, painter, Bloomington; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 2, 1825; his father was Amos Cox, who was among the first settlers of McLean Co.; they settled in this county in 1828 ; his father returned to Ohio and soon after died, and is therefore not well remembered in this county ; but his family have witnessed the entire growth and development of McLean Co., and assisted in many of the public improvements. N. W. Cox has been engaged in mer- cantile life for a number of years, though his first business experience was in painting ; this he learned thoroughly while quite young ; in mercantile life, Mr. Cox was quite successful, though like many others, he met with adversity, when he again returned to his trade ; he enjoys the reputation of being an honorable and upright man. He married Miss Elizabeth Satterfield, of this county. WILLIAM COX, clerk, Bloomington ; son of John and Elizabeth (Walker) Cox, and grand- son of Benjamin and Philena (Dye) Cox; his father was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Sept. 13, 1803 ; his grandfather came to McLean Co., 111., in 1825 ; bought land and returned to bring his family, but soon died; in 1826, the grandmother came to McLean Co. with her family, which consisted of seven children, four sons and three daughters, also a nephew, John Kimler, and settled in what was then called Key's Grove, later known as Blooming Grove. A.t that time, the county was wild and desolate, and they experienced all the trials and hardships of a pioneer's life. John Cox married Miss Elizabeth M., daughter of William Walker, a pioneer, March 18, 1828 ; they raised a family of six, only three of whom are now living; he died Feb. 9, 1858, and his wife, Oct. 22, 1876. The subject of this sketch was raised upon a farm, and received a com- mon education at district school, and took charge of the home farm after the death of his father, on which he continued until 1872, since which time, he has been engaged in the grocery business. He married Miss Minnie A. Ashby, of Bloomington, July 3, 1878. DUDLEY CREED, present editor and publisher of the Democratic News, Bloomington ; was born in Berry ville, Highland Co., Ohio, Aug. 10, 1853, in which place he resided until he was 12 years of age, when he commenced working on a farm, during the summer months, and attending the high school in the winter, at Hillsboro', to which place his parents moved in the year 1864. He gradu- ated from that school in the spring of 1868, and moved with his parents to Chillicothe, Mo., at which place he taught school for four or five months. Then he entered the office of the Chilli- cothe Tribune, for the purpose of learning the printing business, at which establishment he remained for three years, when he was made local editor of the Tribune. Mr. Creed moved to Bloomington in 1874. In 1876, in partnership with F. M. Doxsey, he purchased the job-print- ing establishment of A. L. Paine, at 212 North Main street. In June, 1876, moved the office to Paxton, Ford Co., and established a newspaper called the Ford County Blade. In December of the same year, sold out and returned to this city and established the Democratic News, the first number being issued Jan. 6, 1877. SH. C. CRIST, M. D., Bloomington; is another of the well established physicians of Bloom- ineton ; he is a native of Muskingum Co., Ohio, and was born Dec. 28, 1846 ; he began the study of medicine in 1865, under his father, Dr. David Crist (now deceased), who was among the leading BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 775 practitioners of Bloomington for twenty-three years; he was a native of Perry Co., Ohio; t>egan the practice of medicine in 1842, after graduating at the Columbus Medical College, of ■Columbus, Ohio; during his residence in Bloomington, he was engaged in constant practice until his death, which occurred March 19, 1875. H. C, the subject of this sketch, in 1865, became a graduate of the State Normal University, thus qualifying himself for a thorough and compre- hensive course of study in the science of medicine ; during the winters of 1867-68 and 1869-70, he attended the Rush Medical College of Chicago, graduating in the spring of 1870 ; afer graduating, he began practicing in Bloomington, which he continued until 1874, when he accepted the appointment of Surgeon of the Pima Indian Agency, of Arizona ; this post he held until the death of his father in 1875, when he resigned and came home to settle up the estate ; remaining here, he began practicing, which he has continued with very gratifying success; he is a thoroughly well-read physician, and has devoted much time and study to that part of the medical science known as obstetrics, in which he has practiced very successfully. He is a member of the McLean County Medical Society, also of the Illinois State Medical Society. >— »"^ DAVID DAVIS, Bloomington. Cecil Co., Md., claims the proud distinction of being the birthplace of Mr. Davis ; he was born in 1815 ; his education was received at Kenyon College, which, located at the village of Gambier, in the State of Ohio, was a half century ago one of, if indeed not the leading educational institution west of the great Eastern universities ; here Mr. Davis formed the acquaintance of men, who have become equally famed with himself; Edwin M. Stanton, the great War Secretary under the lamented Lincoln, was an intimate college friend of the subject of this sketch; at the same institution Stanley Matthews erected the foundations of a future that has made him famous as the trusted adviser of a President ; here, too, Ruther- ford B. Hayes, President of the United States, implanted the germ of a wonderful career ; Henry Winter Davis, the "prince of parliamentary orators," if not an immediate associate, was a student at the same college, so that we find that the Alma Mater days of Mr. Davis were cast among associations which could not have failed to leave a lasting impression upon his mind, and no doubt, exerted an important influence upon his future. In 1847, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention : in 1848, he was chosen Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, em- bracing four counties ; in 1862, he was appointed one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1835, Mr. Davis removed to this city, and immediately stepped into a lucrative law practice, and that he was deserving of this his application and his fidel- ity to the interests of his clients gave ample proof. As a mere lawyer Mr. Davis was consci- entious, even to his own disadvantage and pecuniary loss, as some of his professional colleagues claimed, and yet his career has abundantly demonstrated the truth of the old axiom that hon- esty is the best policy, though it is not the intent to infer that the subject was honest from policy. He never sought political preferment, never aspired to political place — though his name has on several occasions been mentioned in connection with high civic honors; he has always clung steadfastly and proudly to the chosen profession of the law, and to this directness of purpose and concentration of effort we must ascribe much of his great suc- cess. As a judge Mr. Davis has won an enviable place among the ermined magnates of the Bench ; the conspicuous traits of his character as a jurist, are his inflexible and unswerv- ing devotion to truth, his rigid impartiality upon all cases brought before him for adjudi- cation, and his honest desire that every accused should have his case properly presented before the Court ; if accused had not what he considered able counsel, he would not hesitate himself to consult the authorities to see that they had been fully set forth before the jury; he saw truth as if by intuition ; he had an inborn, natural inclination toward equity, in illustration of which many incidents are recalled by attorneys who have had cause to remember this truly com- mendable trait, but none more pertinent than this : At a session of the Danville Court, at which Judge Davis presided, a "celebrated case," known as the Jones cause, was up for adjudication; able counsel were employed on both sides, as interests representing a large sum were at stake ; Daniel W. Voorhees, now United States Senator, appeared for the defendant ; the case was con- ducted in a skillful manner on both sides, the trial occupying several days in the hearing. Judge Davis took a keen interest in all the proceedings, and as usual discovered the equitable side. Mr. Voorhees overwhelmed the opposition with authorities parallel with the case, and it was universally conceded that this authority preponderated in the favor of his client ; the attorneys were congratulating Voorhees upon the probable successful termination of the trial. "No," said he, "it's of no use to argue the case ; Davis will take it under advisement and will have a special law passed rather than give a decision that would rob the defendant of his rights, even though the weight of the authorities seemed to be against him." No greater compliment coulchoick, and finally began business for himself in tuning; he began on a small scale; by his close attention to business he now has a fine trade ; has a fine line of musical instruments, for which he paid cash, buying them direct from the manufactories, more especially the pianos, of which he keeps several different manufactures ; he also does something in the jobbing trade of small instruments ; his reputation as a piano-tuner is not equaled in the city, as he keeps most of the finest instruments in order for a circuit of eighty miles ; he is a thoroughly educated man in his line of business, and bids fair to rank among the large dealers of the State. S. HAYES, carriage and wagon manufacturer, Bloomington; was born in Hartford Co., Conn , Jan. 17, 1807, where he learned the trade of wagon-making; he came to Bloomington in 1840; he embarked in business on his own account shortly after arriving here and has been a successful man ; he owns the property occupied by him, corner of West and Front sts., a loca- tion well adapted to his business ; he makes all kinds and styles of vehicles and has the reputa- tion of turning out substantial and honest work, which fact, probably as much as any other, has secured him an extensive trade ; he has been a hard-working business man as well as enterpris- ing and public-spirited, having always taken active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the community. He married Miss Eliza Roab, of his native county, in September, 1829. They have raised a family of seven. CAPT. GEORGE T. HERITAGE, mechanic, Bloomington. Capt. George T. Heritage is one of the few natives of England who is a resident of Bloomington ; he was born in 1834, and, in 1846, came to Canada, where he remained for about nine years ; in 1855, he came to the States and located in Bloomington, beginning work for Mr. Walton the same year of his arrival; for twenty-four years he has held his position in the factory, though, during this time, he was engaged in the war of the late rebellion. In April, 1861, he enlisted as Sergeant in the 8th [. V. I., three months' service; after serving his term of enlistment, he returned and helped to organize the 39th I. V. I., which he entered in Co. B as First Sergeant; after nine months serv- ice, he was promoted to the rank of Captain; in 1864, he was shot through the body, from the effects of which he has not yet recovered and probably never will, as the wound w is a severe fne; upon his return from the army, as soon as his health would permit, he again accepted his position with Mr. Walton; for many years he has had charge of the wood-work department of the factory ; during most of the time has charge of four or five men ; he is now one of the hon- ored'and respected soldier-citizens of Hie city of Bloomington. H. H. HEWITT, hardware, Bloomington. A fair illustration of what can be done by energy, industry and a close attention to business is found in the hardware and agricultural implement trade of Mr. H. H. Hewitt; he is a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y. ; upon coming West, in 1857, his first location was in El Paso, Woodford Co., 111. ; here he taught the first school ever taught in El Paso; this was in the winter of 1858-59 ; in 1860, he opened the first hardware store in that place; this business he conducted until 1869, when he sold out and came to Bloomington ; for two years he was engaged in the book trade, the firm being Miner & Hewitt; in January, 1873, be again engaged in the hardware trade, with Mr. Haggard, the firm name being Haggard & Hewitt; in 1874, he bought Mr. Haggard's interest in the business, and has since conducted it alone; from 1871 until 1873, he also had an interest in a hardware establishment in El Paso ; his establishment is located at No. 309 N. Main st. ; this building is 24 feet front and 100 feet deep, three floors and basement; in addition to this, he has two large sheds for storing farm machinery ; prominent among his line of goods is the Schuttler wagon, Champion reaper and mower, the " Early Breakfast" and "Everlasting" stoves; he employs from eight to ten men; his business aggregates about $100,000 per annum; this is wholly the result of his industry, energy and good financiering, by which he has established a business of which any man may justly feel proud. ^MRS. W. H. HANNA, Bloomington. Of those who were, during their life, prominent mem- bers of the bar in Bloomington, we mention Mr. Hanna; he was a native of Brookfield, Ind. ; those who are familiar with the history of Indiana will well remember the prominence of the Hannas ; his people moved from his native place to In lianapolis when he was but two years old ; there he resided until the age of 25, when he moved to Bloomington and beg*n the practice of law, as he had become a graduate of the legil professiui before leaving Indianapolis ; his death occurred Aug. 5, 1870, in his 43th year. He was nurried in 1846, Mrs. Hanna being still a BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 789 resident of Bloomington, and they are among the first families of the city, thoroughly educated and refined people. E. T. HUTCHINSON, dentist, Bloomington; before engaging in any profession, it would be well for any person to study his adaptability for that profession ; this seems to have been the case with Dr. E. T. Hutchinson, whose natural talent in the profession of dentistry has been well proven by his success; he is a native of Christian Co., Ky. ; was born April 9, 1845, and began the study of dentisti'y in 1868, graduating at the Pennsylvania Dental College of Philadelphia in 1871 ; after graduating, he returned to Bloomington, where he has been a resident since 1857, and began the practice of his profession; his office and residence is located corner Center and Grove streets, being what is known as the Hutchinson Block, which he erected in 1875, with special reference to the dental business ; here, by his own design, he has elegantly furnished reception and operating rooms, paying special attention to having his operating room well lighted by large, French plate-glass windows, thus enabling him, with the help of the finest-improved make of dental instruments, to do fine and lasting work while operating, he having spen r much time in the study and practice of this part of his profession ; of his success and ability in this part of the science, there is abundant proof among the first families of the city. ^ M. D. HERRINGTON, butcher, Bloomington; was born in Lenawee Co., Mich., April 23, 1844, where he lived until 1856, when he removed, with his parents, to Tipton, Iowa ; in 1858, they removed to Laclede, Mo., and, in 1869, to McLean, 111. ; during his early life, he obtained a good education, including a commercial course at Quincy, 111. ; his first business experience was in the grocery line, at Hannibal, Mo. ; he returned to Bloomington in 1873, and opened a meat-market; his shop is at 615 North Main street, where he has one of the neatest markets in this section of the State ; the trade he has secured in this vicinity, and the satisfaction given to both private and public houses prove him to be a good business man. He married Miss Ida Jones, of this county, Aug. 15, 1871 ; they have three children. BARNEY HEMMELE, grocer, Bloomington, was born in Germany Sept. 4, 1837; he came to this country in 1843, with his people, who settled in Alleghany, Penn., where he was raised and schooled and learned the trade of a cigar-maker, nerving a regular apprenticeship. In 1853, he moved with his parents to St. Louis, and lived there until 1862, then to Bloomington, 111., where he engaged in business on his own account: he opened his present place of business in 1868; his location is 710 West Market street, where he keeps a good assortment of groceries. He married Miss Caroline Pope, of this place, April 7, 1861 ; they have a family of eight children. ^,^-^FRANK HOBLIT, banker, Bloomington, son of Samuel and Abigail (Downey) Hoblit, who were among the first settlers of Logan Co., 111., where they resided many years, and had much to do with the settlement and development of that section ; they were zealous workers in the cause of religion, belonging to the Baptist denomination ; by industry, perseverance and integrity, they amassed a large property, and were public-spirited and benevolent; in 1854, they removed to what was known as the Downey farm, Atlanta Township, where the father died May 26, 1866, beloved by friends and relatives, and respected by all who knew him. The subject of this sketch was born in Logan Co.. 111., Nov. 1, 1839 ; was brought up on a farm, and received a good com- mon-school education ; he began clerking at 18, was a merchant at 21, and a banker at 26. Mr. Hoblit was a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Philadelphia in June, 1872. In 1878, the National State Bank of Bloomington was established and Mr. Hoblit appointed Presi- dent of the Bank, which has a capital of $100,000, and does a general banking business. He married Miss Mellie A., daughter of Dr. J. S. Allen, Jan. 5, 1864; she was born Jan. 2, 1846. f — l B. F. HOOPES, grocer, Bloomington ; wholesale and retail grocer and proprietor of the Bloomington Steam Coffee, Spice and Hominy Mills. Mr. Hoopes' advent to this city dates back to 1856, when he embarked in the grocery business, and, excepting four years, during which he resided in Springfield, has been one of the leading business men of Bloomington. Although never making any great fortune at one venture, yet he has constantly added to his possessions, until to day we find him enjoying a liberal trade and ranking among the solid men of this city. He is located at 105 West North street, a very central point for a large trade, and enjoys a good reputation for fair dealing with patrons. Another enterprise, which is a credit to the city as well as a paying institution, is the Steam Coffee, Spice and Hominy Mills which he has added to his already extensive business. He is a native of Pennsylvania ; born in Chester Co. Aug. 28, 1828. During his early life, he obtained a good education, laying the foundation for future use- fulness. Oct, 12, 1862, he married Miss Augusta Harwood, of Holly, N. Y. ; they have one child— Albert H. ^— F..A. HOMUTH, butcher; Bloomington ; was born in Prussia, September 20, 1828, where he was raised and schooled ; during his early life, he learned the trade of a tailor, which bus- iness he followed until 1860, when he came to this country, locating in Goshen, Ind., where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1863, when he removed to Bloomington, 111., and began in the butcher business. His shop is at 110 East Front street, where he keeps a well-arranged market ; he is a practical butcher of over fifteen years' experience and is said to be well-skilled at the business. He marriei Miss Tora Roof, of Bloomington, 111., in May, 1864 ; they have a family of two children. 790 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; B. L. HERRINGTON, butcher ; Bloomington ; was born in Hillsdale Co., Mich., Oct. 80, 1851. He came to Bloomington, 111., in 1865, and obtained a good education at the Wesleyau University, and also attended the Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind. He began in I he butcher business in 1873, and is now conducting a first-class market at 202 East Front street. He married Miss Mary J. Delano, of this county, December 20, 1878. — -CHRISTIAN HAKER, saloon-keeper; Bloomington; was born m Prussia, in 1843, and is the son of Christopher and Fredericka (Hagen) Haker, of Germany. He came with his parents, in 1857, to America, landing in New York City, and came directly West and located in Manitowoc, Wis. There he engaged in the butcher business. In 1859, he came to Bloomington and worked at his trade more or less until 1870, when he entered the saloon business. He married in Bloom- ington to Miss Dora Fack, of Germany ; they have had one child, now dead. Mr. Haker's mother died in Bloomington ; his father is now living in Bloomington. Mr. Haker has three brothers and one sister living in Bloomington, and two sisters and a brother in Manitowoc, Wis. GEORGE HOFMANN, saloon and boarding-house ; Bloomington ; was born in Germany, in 1831; when 12 years old, he was on the sea as a sailor. In 1850, he came to America and landed in New York City. At the breaking out of the late war he was in New Orleans, and left that city on the last ship that sailed from there before the port was closed ; he went to Boston, and enlisted in the United States Navy, and was in the battle of Fort Jackson, and at the sur- render of New Orleans ; he did good service in the navy and was honorably discharged. In 1863. he came to Bloomington; here he commenced the saloon and boarding-house business. He is one of the prominent Germans of the city. He married in Boston to Miss Paulina Hewert, of Germany ; they have three children. F. HAMMOND, general agent for the Singer Sewing Machine ; Bloomington; was born in London, England, July 27, 1840. He came to America in 1869 ; came West and located in Chi- cago, where he entered the employ of the Singer Manufacturing Co. as a machinist ; he is a prac- tical machinist. He was stationed for three years at Peoria, as general agent ; from there he went to Bloomington and took charge of the Singer Co.'s office at 106 W. North street, which building, including the Phoenix Hotel and the corner north of the hotel, belongs to Mr. James Bolton, one of the members of the Singer Manufacturing Co. As an evidence of the extensive character of the Singer Sewing Machine enterprise it may not be inappropriate to mention that they employ 40,000 girls, women, boys and men in the manufacture and disposition of their machines ; use 8,000 horses, and over 2,500,000 of their machines are in use. The company sold last year 366,000 machines, an excess of 73,000 over any preceding year, despite the hard times. Mr. Hammond has two sons connected with the general office in Chicago. F. W. Ham- mond is book-keeper, and N. C. Hammond is a machinist. ~*SD. D. HAGGARD, hardware merchant, Bloomington; was born in Christian Co., Ky., Nov. 16, 1819. and is the son of Dawson and Charity (Baldwin) Haggard, of Virginia, havingcometo Kentucky at an early day ; Mr. Haggard's father died when he was young, leaving him to take charge of the farm ; here Mr. Haggard remained on the farm until 1837 ; he then went to Indiana and located in Greene County ; here he remained until 1841, engaged in farming; he then went to Bloom- ington ; he came here a poor boy, and first commenced making half-bushel measures iu the winter of 1841-42 ; thence to a farm four miles south of Bloomington ; he was also engaged in the manufacture of shoe pegs, by a machine invented by himself; in 1843, he entered mer- cantile business, locating four miles south of Bloomington ; he was also in business in Danvers an f l Concord, in general merchandising; in 1846, he came to Bloomington and commenced busi- ness in a general store; from that he entered the hardware business, and at one time he was one of the largest dealers in this line, his sales reaching $100,000 a year, but, during the hard times, he failed ; Mr. Haggard has returned to the hardware business, and to-day is the oldest mer- chant in the city. Mr. Haggard married, in 1847, Miss Nancy Minter, of Jessamine Co., Ky.; she died in 1854; he next married Miss Mary A. Ballard, of Fayette Co., Ky.; three sons and one daughter. ^--O. N. HODGE, farmer, P. O. Bloomington; was born in McLean Co., 111., on the old home- stead, Nov. 15, 1826, and, with the exception of thirteen years in California, the first three years of which were spent in mining and the rest of the time in farming, he has made the old home- stead his home; he is the son of William H. Hodge, who was born Jan. 4, 1794, in Rockingham Co., N. C; his ancestors came from England, and settled in Pennsylvania about 1700, when they moved to North Carolina. Mr. William H. Hodge, with his parents, moved to Tennessee in 1812; here Mr. Hodge was engaged in teaching school, as well as in Kentucky. In 1820, he started for Illinois, where he arrived on the 20th of February of that year ; he first settled in Sangamon County; in 1824, he moved to Blooming Grove, McLean Co., 111.; here he bought land quite extensively; at. this time there were but few families in the county; Mr. Hodge assisted in the organization of Tazewell Co., in 1827: also, in the organization of McLean Co., in 1831. Mr. Hodge was Sheriff, Collector and Assessor of Tazewell Co. from 1827 to 1831. Mr. Hodge married, in 1814, Miss Rachel Wall, of Kentucky, who died about the year 1845 ; has had ten children, six of whom are living. William H. Hodge died May 20, 1875, with lung fever, being sick abou*, three days. Thus the old settlers of McLean Cj. are, one by one, passing beyond the shores of the unknown river. The children of William and Rachel (Wall) Hodge now living BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 791 are — 0. N. Hodge, born Nov. 15, 1826 (married Nancy J. Tipps and had one child, both deceased); Nancy (married Hugh Harris, now of Oregon) ; William C. (married Rachel Mur- phy, and lives in Bloomingion) ; Mary J. (married Pleasant Hill, and living in California) ; James P. (married Miss Ellen Rouse, of Ohio, daughter of Col. John Rouse) ; Harriet (married 0. P. Woodsworth, and living in Bloomington.) LOUIS HAKER, saloon-keeper, Bloomington; was born in Prussia, Dec. 7, 1836 ; in 1857, he came to America, and landed in New York City ; he came directly West, and first settled at Manito- woc, Wis., where he was engaged in a saw-mill, and remained until 1859, when he came to Blooming- ton, which has been his home ever since. Mr. Haker was first engaged in a brick-yard ; he also was at work in Phoenix Nursery ; he has made two trips with live-stock to New Orleans. He was in the late war and did good service ; he enlisted, in 1862, as private in Company A, 94th 1. V. I.; was at the battles of Perry Grove. Fort Morgan, etc., and a number of skirmishes ; was mustered out in 1865 ; he then returned to Bloomington, and was on the city police of Bloomington and did good service. He married Minnie Swart z, of Germany. He began the saloon business in 1872. E. C. HYDE, Bloomington ; is the oldest merchant tailor in Bloomington, now doing busi- ness in the city; he came to Bloomington in 1854, and commenced business in 1855; he was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Feb. 13, 1826, and is the son of Joel Hyde; moved with his parents to Delaware, Ohio, where he entered the Wesleyan University, and received a good edu- cation ; he also learned his trade, as tailor, in Delaware, Ohio, May 12, 1854 ; when he arrived in Bloomington, he was first engaged in clerking in a store ; from that he became owner of a merchant tailoring establishment in 1855; in that year his store took fire and his stock was entirely destroyed ; he then went to Chicago and purchased $600 worth of piece goods, giving his notes to be paid in three and six months: he paid these notes before they became due, and from that time on Mr. Hyde has been very successful in business; to-day he owns one of the finest stocks of piece goods, and has a trade that will do credit to any town in Illinois. SEBASTIAN HOIIMANN, barber, Bloomington; more familiarly known as Charlie Hohmann, the barber ; was born in Germany, Jan. 9, 1841 ; in 1846, he came to America, and landed in New York city ; from there he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he first engaged in working in a glass factory ; at 14 years of age he commenced to learn his trade as barber, in Buffalo ; he at length came West and has been located in different States, working at his trade. Mr. Hohmann was also barber on the Mississippi River for four or five seasons ; he was on the steamer Grey Eagle, then running between St. Louis and St. Paul, when she collided with (he railroad bridge at Rock Island, and sunk in a very short time ; Mr. Hohmann was one of six whose efforts saved forty- eight persons from a watery grave: he himself received a very painful wound on the wrist, the effects of which are apparent to this day. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in 1862, as private, in Co. A, 96ttt I. V. I.; he had charge of a brigade band for one and a half years, and the remainder of the time served in the ranks; he was mustered out at close of war; in 1865 he returned to Bloomington, which has been his home ever since ; he is one of the oldest barbers in the business in the city, and owns the finest shop in Bloomington, situated in the Ashley House. Mr. Hohmann is also manager of Hohmann & Hasiing's band, which is one of the finest bands in Central Illinois. — t^OHN M. HAMILTON, Bloomington. Mr. Hamilton wai born at Richwood, Union Co., Ohio, May 28, 1847 ; his birth-place, or the habitation iu which he first saw the light of this world, was a rough-hewn log cabin, located in the deep beech woods of that section of Ohio ; he is a direct descendant of that branch of the old Scotch family of Hamiltons which more than a century ago planted itself as a part of the advance guard of civilization in Maryland and Virginia ; his father was one of twelve children — ten sons and two daughters, who are now located in different parts of Illinois and Ohio ; in 1854, John emigrated with his parents in a covered wagon, to Marshall Co., Ill ; here his father purchased a large farm, but the business crash of 1857 swept nearly everything out of his possession, and John and older brother were compelled to support, by their own labor, the entire family. In 1864. when but 16 years of age, young Hamilfon enlisted and served for a year in the Union army ; returning home he taught a district school in the winter of 1865, meantime continuing to prepare himself for college, snatch- ing such moments from labor as he could, for the cultivation of his mind ; from the sale of a piece of land given him by a well-to-do uncle, a small amount saved from his earnings as a teacher, and a contribution from his father, John raised sufficient ready funds to enable him in September, 1865, to start out upon a classical course in the Delaware (Ohio) Wesleyan Univer- sity; and, in 1868, he graduated third in a class of forty-six students, receiving the degree of A. B.; in 1871, he received a second reward for his perseverance by having the affix of A. M. bestowed upon him by the same institution; he at once began the study of law in earnest, but his finances being exceedingly low, he was compelled to accept a position as Principal of an academy, at Henry, 111.; he was at this time so sorely pressed for means that he found it neces- sary to negotiate a loan of $50 from an aged lady friend to defray his current expenses until such time as he should draw his salary ; on account of serious illness. Mr. Hamilton, in the spring of 1869, was compelled to resign the position of Principal of the academy ; he then pros- ecuted the study of law at home, in Marshall Co., slowly regaining his health in the meantime ; 792 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: in the month of August, 1869, Mr. Hamilton came first to Bloomington, and through the influence of a recommendation from the entire Faculty of the Ohio Wesleyan, obtained a situation as tutor in the Illinois Wesleyan ; here he was occupied for three hours each day in hearing classes recite in Latin ; he had not relinquished his law studies; but every leisure hour was put in faithfully with the books, and, that he might have the benefit of a valuable library and ripe experience, he entered the law office of Weldon, Tipton & Benjamin; in the spring of 1870, he drew yet nearer the cherished wish of his life, being at that time admitted to the bar ; soon after. he began practice with Weldon & Benjamin on a salary ; in October, 1870, the present firm of Rowell & Hamilton was formed, being third in order of the oldest law firms in the city. In 1876, Mr. Hamilton's friends placed him in nomination as a Representative in the State Senate, to which he was elected for four years ; he has served on the following committees: Judicial, Revenue, Education, State Institutions, Municipalities, Elections; he introduced and secured the passage of the bills establishing the new Appellate Court ; as a member of the Committee on Revenue, Mr. Hamilton took a prominent part in the warm fight of that session between the people and the great corporations of the State, when the latter endeavored to escape taxation ; it is needless to say he was on the side of the people ; as a member of the Committee on Public Institutions he visited and examined them all, and reported on their condition ; he was instru- mental in obtaining the most liberal appropriation for the Normal University that has been obtained for that institution for a number of years, increasing the regular appropriation by $2,500. In 1879, he was elected President of the Illinois State Senate, by the Republicans in caucus, unanimously ; in 1879, he was elected Vice President of the Illinois State Bar Associa- tion. HERMANN HOFFMANN, saloon-keeper, Bloomington ; was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Ger- many, July 19, 1847 ; came to America and landed in New York City about 1859 ; he first located in Newark, N. J., where he learned his trade as traveling-bag maker ; he followed his trade about fifteen years, and was in the employ of T. B. Pettis, a large manufacturer in Newark, N. J., who is now a Member of Congress ; In 1877, Mr. Hoffmann came West and located in Bloomington ; here he commenced the saloon business, and has followed it ever since ; has in his employ his brother, Valentine Hoffmann, who was in the late war, in the 13th N. J. V. I.; he did good service ; was in the Army of the Potomac ; also in Sherman's campaign, and served over three years. Mr. Herman Hoffmann married Miss Sibela Wallrab, of Germany ; they have three children, two girls and one boy. J. E. HOUTZ & CO., dry goods, Bloomington; this firm commenced business in 1873; they have had experience in the dry-goods business some thirteen years ; they occupy one of the finest blocks for the dry-goods business in the city, known as the Gridley Block ; their stock of dry gools and carpets is complete, and one of the largest in the city. WILLIAM E. HUGHES, Bloomington. The subject of this sketch was born in England, but, when 18years of age, came to America with his father ; they settled in Michigan, where Hughes finished a course of study at the best institutions the State afforded ; in all departments of busi- ness, legal, historical and learned literature, Mr. Hughes became profoundly versed, and, having an uncommonly retentive memory, he has lost nothing from the store, but has rather added thereto ; he is a careful reader and a close thinker, and is especially familiar in intricate law questions ; Mr. Hughes first came to Bloomington in 1862 ; his first movement in business was as a salaried official of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, a position which he is said to have filled with studious care for the interests of that corporation, and in a manner highly satisfactory to its managers ; in this work he continued until the summer of 1866; in that year, he entered the law office of Williams & Burr, reading and preparing himself for active practice; here he remained, making the best possible use of his advantages, for three years, until 1869 ; an advantageous law part- nership was formed between Mr. Hughes and Robert McCart, which, while it existed, had a large and valuable practice in all the courts of adjudication ; this partnership was dissolved in September, 1877. Mr. Hughes filled with distinction and ability the position of City Attorney, made vacant by the retirement of Mr. McCart. In the year last named, the present partnership with Ira J. Bloomfield was formed, and, since its operation, has been employed in a number of the more important cases at the McLean County Courts, as well as in the higher tribunals. — JUGGINS & CO., marble works, Bloomington. It is often supposed that good work in the marble and monument business cannot be obtained anywhere except in a few of our larger cities. This is a mistake, as is evinced by the superior talent exhibited and work produced by Messrs. Higgins & Co., since their establishment in Bloomington ; these gentlemen commenced business in 1876, and have turned out some of the finest work in Bloomington ; they are now finishing one of the finest monuments for the Bloomington Cemetery ; its weight will be thirieen tons, and this will be the finest piece of work in the cemetery ; this firm employs more hands than any other establishment of its kind in Bloomington ; the firm is Mr. J. P. Jung, a native of Illinois, who came to Bloomington in 1869, and has had many years' experience in the marble business, and Mr. H. J. Higgins, a native of Ohio, who enlisted in the late war in Co. D, 59th Ohio V. I., and participated in the battles of Stone River, Mission Ridge, Perryville, Chickasaw Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, etc.: with the exception of three months' sickness, Mr. Higgins was always at his post; after being mustered out as Sergeant, he BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 793 re-enlisted, in 1835, in Co. E, 192d Ohio V. I., as 1st Lieutenant ; here he was detailed as Provost Marshal ; also Judge Advocate Court Martial two months ; after the close of the war, he returned to Ohio. In 1865, he came to Illinois, where he has been engaged in the marble business ever since. All persons dealing with them may be assured of the most honorable treatment and the most skillful workmanship. DANIEL HEGaRTV, dealer in stoves and tinware, Bloomington; was born in the County Cork, Ireland, in May, 1836, and is the son of James Hegarty, a brewer; in 1849, he emi- grated to America, and landed in New York City, July 2, 1849 ; he lived in the State of New York about eighteen months, and, in 1851, he came West to Illinois, and located in Chicago, where he learned the trade of a tinner, and worked thereuntil 1858; he then came to'Blooming- ton ; here he first worked for the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company as tinner and coppersmith about two years; he then went to Texas ; from there he returned to Bloomington and commenced to work for Holder, Miller & Co. In 1862, he commenced business- for himself on Main street; thence to normal about eighteen months; from there he returned to Bloomington, where he now keeps a complete stock of hardware, stoves and tinware. In 1877, Mr. Hegarty was elected Alderman from the Fifth Ward; this office he still holds. He is a Democrat in politics. M. HANSEN, dealer in dry goods, Bloomington; was born in Saarburg, Germany, in 1839; in 1850, he came to America, and was engaged on the New York Central Railroad for thirteen years as brakeman, then baggage master and conductor; in 1864, he came West, and accepted a position as yard master ai Springfield, for the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company; thence to Bloomington. Mr. Hansen's first experience in mercantile life was clerking in a gro- ery store, for about one year ; he then entered the sample-room business, and, in 1869, he en- gaged in his present business, which he has followed ever since. By hard work and good man- agement he has become owner of a good dry-goods store. He married Miss Susan Wirz ; they have three children. He has held the office of Alderman of his ward. He is a Democrat in politics. ? CHARLES HENNECKE, insurance and European steamship agent, Bloomington; was born Aug. 16, 1823, in the Province of We->tphalia, Prussia, near Dortmund, and is the son of Rev. A. Hennecke. After serving in the Prussian army, he sailed, in 18 oO, for America, and landed in New York City May 26, 1850; from this year until 1855 he was seeking a location ; was in Buffalo, N. Y., Petersburg, Va., and Toledo. Ohio: from whence he came to Bloomington, Aug. 17, 1855 ; here he began clerking in a dry-goods store; was for a short time in the cigar and tobacco business, and, in 1864, commenced his present business. He represents some of the leading insurance companies, and does a general foreign exchange and passenger business. Mr. Hennecke is agent for the well known insurance company, the Northwestern Mutual Life Insur- ance Company, of Milwaukee, Wis. Every well regulated and prominent city has its insurance representatives, and no men are more necessary in any line of business. To pi-operly conduct a first class agency requires constant watchfulness, hard work and a thorough devotion to the de- tails of the business. After saying this much, we are led to state that Mr. Charles Hennecke is one of the leading and most reputable agents in McLean County. Mr. Hennecke is assisted in his office by his son Albert. June 17, 1857, Mr. Hennecke married Miss Julia Schultz. ^*-~ JACOB JACOBif, grocer, of the firm of F. Oberkoelter & Co., wholesale grocers and liquor dealers. Bloomington ; came to Bloomington, 111., in 1853 and has been a wholesole grocer for •upwards of eight years. His place of business is 111 & 113 S. Main street, where he keeps a grocery store. Mr. Jacoby is a native of Germany, and was born in Rhenish Bavaria, June 22, 18^:8, ■where he received a good education in German, Latin and French. He came to the United States in 1850, and located in Greenfield, Mass., thence to Illinois as above mentioned. He began do- ing for himself with no means, but to-day he ranks with the solid men of Bloomington. He has also held a number of responsible and prominent positions. He married Miss Mary Niergath, of Woodford Co., 111., in February, 1855. They have a family of three — Rosa, now Mrs. Charles Froschaurr, of Indianapolis ; William A. and Etta M. F. JOHNSON, Jr., milling, Bloomington. There is probably no flouring-mill in the county so well known as the old McLean County Mills, of Bloomington. Many years ago, Mr. F. John- son, Sr., came west from his home in Ohio and took charge of the mills. In June, 1873, he bought the entire mills, and later, sold an interest to T. J. Cox ; in 1879, the mills were leased to F. Johnson, Jr., and F. F. Beard, the firm being known as Beard & Johnson. Mr. F. John- son, the subject of this sketch, is a native of McLean Co ; he was born Sept. 2, 1852. Having been a resident of Bloomington, he has had the advantage of attending good schools, which he has improved, being a commercial graduate, and a good literary scholar. His earliest business experience was in the mill business, helping his father; he had full charge of the books, and was conversant with all the details of the business ; by close attention, he had become a thor- oughly practical miller before his father quit the business. With his thorough knowledge of the business, there is but little doubt of his ultimate success in his present undertaking. They have a flouring capacity of 100 barrels of flour every twenty-four hours, and fifty barrels of meal. They are kept running the year round to supply the demand for their goods. S. F. JOHNSON, grocer, of the firm of Sprague & Johnson, Bloomington; was born in Bel- mont Co., Ohio, Sept. 9, 1824; during his early life he began to study for the ministry in 79-4 . BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: connection with the M. E. Church. In 1845, he removed to Christian Co., and, in 1847, became regularly engaged in the work of the ministry. He was married in July, 1851, to Miss Mary Ellis, of Christian Co. He continued in the ministry until 1861, when he organized the 17th Kentucky Cavalry, and entered the service as Colonel, serving four years. He came to Bloom- ington in 1875, and, in 1877, became engaged in the grocery business. He is a man of good physical as well as mental powers, and a much-respected citizen. OTTO KADGIHN, saloon and restaurant, Bloomington ; was born in Germany, in 1827 ; emigrated to America, and landed at Galveston, Tex., in 1857; he went to San Antonio, Tex., and remained there but a short time ; from there he went to New Orleans, thence to St. Louis, where he learned the trade of a painter, which he followed in St. Louis about nine months ; from there he came to Bloomington, 111., where he commenced to work at his trade; since then he lnis been engaged in the grocery business ; after that he entered the restaurant and saloon business, which he has followed ever since. He is one of the prominent German citizens of Bloomington. PATRICK KEATING, Bloomington ; was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in August, 1837, and is the son of Patrick Keating. In 1846, he emigrated with his parents to America, landing in Quebec, Canada, and from there they went to Albany, N. Y. He states that the first nioney he made was here, as newsboy for the Albany Evening Journal, edited by Thurlow Weed and Mr. Seward. In 1855, he became fireman .on the Albany Northern Railroad; in 1856, he came to Chicago, and was fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad, and Galena Railroad : he returned East, and was fireman on the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad until 1860 ; he then returned to Albany, N. Y. ; here he enlisted, in 1861, in 25th N. Y. V. I. (Albany Burgess Corps) ; this regiment did a good three months' service in the Eastern campaign ; Mr. Keating was at length mustered out ; he then returned to the New York Central Railroad as fire- man ; in 1864, he came West as a locomotive engineer; he accepted a position on the Chicago & Alton Kailroad ; he has been connected with this road ever since ; he has run a passenger engine on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, from Bloomington to Chicago, for ten years ; perhaps there is not an engineer on any line running out of Chicago better knowj.\ and liked than Patrick Keating. In 1875, he was one of the invited guests with a very prominent party to a trip to California. He is now engineer on the pay-car train, which position he was appointed to in 1875. In 1877, his friends in the Fifth Ward elected him as Alderman ; this office he is now filling with honor and credit. Mr. Keating is a Democrat in politics. H. T. KELLEY, machinist, Bloomington. The iron and molding depariment of the plow manufactory of John T. Walton is under the supervision of Mr. H. T. Kelly, who is a native of Alleghany Co., Md. He came West as early as 1836, and located in Illinois, remaining fourteen years ; then returned East, where he resided for nine years ; in 1862, he came to Bloomington, where he has since resided. The same year of his .arrival, he accepted a position in the plow factory then run by Walton & Hamilton; in 1866, he became foreman of the molding depart- ment, which position he has since held. During his early life, he had but little chance of getting an education, having the advantage of nothing but the old subscription school system. He learned his trade in 1838, in Warren Co., 111.; by close attention to business, he has for many years held a responsible position, having most of the time about eight men under his charge. He is an honored and respected citizen, and enjoys a good name and reputation, which he has earned by honesty and industry. JOHN REMEDY, chairmaker, Bloomington. Another important feature of the Blooming- ton Chair Factory is the finishing department; this is under the charge of John Kemedy. who is a native of Ontario, Canada. In the fall of 1839, he came to Detroit, Mich., and, in 1841, began learning the trade of making and finishing chairs. He remained in Detroit until 1843 ; then removed to Milwaukee, Wis., where he stayed but a short time, coming to Chicago in Sep- tember of the same year ; here he made his home for nearly eight years, and for the next twenty years spent his life in Wisconsin and Chicago. In 1873, he accepted a situation with a manu- facturing company in Clinton, Iowa ; remaining there about four years, then removing to Bloom- ington to accept the position of superintendent of the finishing department of the Blootnington Chair Manufacturing Company; this position he has filled with perfect satisfaction to all parties interested ; he employs from seven to nine hands in this department, they being usually girls; he is a thoroughly reliable gentleman ; by his honesty, sobriety and industry, he is now hold- ing a good situation. J. A. KERR, livery, Bloomington; Mr. J. A. Kerr, of the firm of Carlton & Kerr, of whom we have spoken, is a native of Harrison Co., Ohio ; born Jan. 16, 1836 ; while he was yet a boy his parents moved to Logan Co. ; the early part of his life was spent in farming in different localities. In 1861, he enlisted in the war of the rebellion in Co. F, 41st I. V. I., remaining in the service about two years, when he was discharged on account of disability; among the heavy battles he was engaged in may be mentioned those of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, the battle of Shiloh and the siege of Corinth. Upon his return from the army, he took a contract to carry the United States mail from Pekin to Bloomington ; he also established a passenger route, and ran this line for six years, when he accepted an appointment of postal clerk on the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad, his " run" being between Centralia and Freeport ; this he followed for three years, BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 795 then resigned and engaged in the grocery trade in Bloomington with Mr. Carlfon, his present partner, the firm being known as Carlton and Kerr, the same as at present ; in 1875, he began, with Mr. Carlton, in the livery business, where we now find him. He has passed through many and varied experiences during his life, but is now probably permanently located, as they have a well-established business, which they are conducting successfully. 1). P. KING, harness manufacturer. Bloomington ; one of the business men of this city, who has seen much of the world, and has met with many and varied experiences in travel, is D. P. King, who is a native of Somerset Co., Pa. He was born April 22, 1822; at the age of 11 years, he, with his parents, moved to Ashland, Ohio, where he remained a^out fifteen years. It was there that he learned the trade of a saddle and harness maker, and received a fair education. From there he went to Pittsburg, remaining but one year ; thence to Wheeling, W. Va., for one and a half years, and from there to Galena, 111, where he lived about one year ; removing again, he went to St. Louis, and from there to California, via Santa Fe route ; he was there mining and prospecting one year ; he concluded to make his h6me voyage by water ; was shipwrecked on Nov. 22, finally landing in Acapulco, from whence he made his way to the City of Mexico, and from there to St. Louis, Mo. ; thence to Lexington, Ky., where he was located for twelve years ; thence to Cincinnati, where he remained until 1865, then removed to Springfield, 111., and to Bloomington in 1866; here he began working at his trade until 1870, when he engaged in busi- ness for himself; his establishment is located opposite the post office, on Center street ; here he is manufacturing everything in the line of harness, saddles, bridles, etc. By his energy and indu-try, he has established a good business. t THOMAS C. KERRICK, Bloomington; Thomas C. Kerrick was born in Franklin Co,, Ind., April 25, 1818 ; there he received the benefits of the excellent school system of that State ; theie advantages he improved and made the most of, being, it is said, from boyhood, an indefatigable student, and placing his books above all other objects. He thus, in comparatively early child- hood, obtained a valuable groundwork fur his future education. In the fall of 1860, Mr. Kerrick removed, with his parents, to Woodford Co., this State. He remained upon the farm, following the plow and his studies until the fall of 1868. During these eight years, he had mastered all the various branches of an English education, and added to his knowledge of literature, so that, when he entered the Illinois Wesleyan University in 1868, he was already far advanced in his studies. Here he remained, following the beaten path of the college students for two years ; he then entered into active business as Superintendent of L. H. Kerrick' s extensive stock and grain farm, in Funk's Grove Township ; meantime, he devoted all his leisure time to the study of law, and afterward read law with McNulta & Aldrich. He toiled patiently and faithfully until 1875, when he passed a rigid examination creditably, and was admitted to practice in the month of January of that year. He formed a partnership with McNulta & Aldrich as soon as he was ad- mitted to practice. In 1876, Gen. McNulta forme i a partnership with Hon. Lawrence Weldon, and, in 1877, Mr. Aldrich accepted a professorship in the Wesleyan University, which, of course, dissolved the firm. Mr. Kerrick then opened an office and began practice on his own account. He has secured the services, as assistant, of Mr. H. D. Spencer, an active and ambitious young lawyer, whose attainmeuts in all legal knowledge must soon bring him into deserved prominence. Mr. Kerrick was appointed City Attorney by Mayor Reed, and since he has held the office has done good work, and a service which promises to make him a capable and efficient officer. As a lawyer, Mr. Kerrick is prompt, decisive and sincere. "^TL D. KIRKPATRICK, merchant, Bloomington, is another of the old residents of McLean Co ; he is a native of Adams Co., Ohio; came to McLean Co. in 1850, and in time, had estab- lished a reputation as an auctioneer in the sale of stock and other personal property; he was engaged in this business for twenty-one years ; when his hearing becoming affected, he was obliged to give it up; after this he engaged in the mercantile business. His establishments are located at Nos. 502, 504 and 508 North Main street; No. 502 is used as a general salesroom of china and glassware, carpets, Wall-paper, dry goods and notions, and in fact everything pertain- ing to a general variety store. This store is 66x23 ; basement same size, which is used for man- ufacturing and finishing furniture; No. 504 and basement is used exclusively for furniture, of which he keeps a full and complete stock ; No 508, first floor and basement being same size as No. 504, viz.: 60x23 feet. This store is used for doves and tinware; prominent in this stock is the Champion Monitor cook stove, which is highly recommended by hundreds of housewives This entire business comes under the direct supervision of W. A. Kirkpatrick, who is now 23 years old, and has already proved himself to be an able financier, as he, for some time, has done all the buying, and has had charge of the books. He is verifying the old proverb, that "goods well bought are half sold." When Mr. A. D.. Kirkpatrick gave up the business of stock-selling, his brother, J. H., who came to this county the same year as himself, took it up. From his thorough knowledge of stock, and natural ability as a salesman, he has done a business that in every way has been gratifying to himself, and to those for whom he has conducted sales sometimes realizing 25 per cent above the owner's invoice of property. He is not one of the slow kind of auctioneers, but gets his buyers to evince some interest and enthusiasm, and sometimes " run- ning off" $10,000 worth of stock in two hours time — his sales, sometimes, reaching §15,000. As this is decidedly a stock county, and as he does about 9J per cent of the selling, his business 796 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: is of much greater magnitude than one would at first suppose, being about $200,000 per annum* He is a thoroughly educated man in his business; and not only does the principal business in this county in his line, but conducts large sales in the adjoining counties and other parts of the State of Illinois. H. KUMMER, furniture, Bloomington. Mr. H. Kummer, of 113 S. Main street, is a native of the south of Germany ; he came to the United States in 1872, and located in this city ; he began working for Mr. C. L. Camp in 1875, and became his successor in 1879; before leaving Germany he had received a fair education; though he has been a resident of the United States only seven years, he has already learned to speak the language very fluently; he does a general business in stoves and tinware, new and second-hand furniture, and, in fact, any articles of house-furnish- ing goods he is always ready to buy, providing they are such that can be sold again. Though he has not been in business so long as some, he has already established his character and rep- utation for honesty and square-dealing. — C. F. KOCH, grocer, Bloomington; son of Frederick and Caroline (Deininger) Koch, was born in Esslingen. Germany, March 17, 1848; he came to this country with his parents in 1858, locating in Cincinnati, Ohio; where they remained until 1856 ; they then came to Bloomington ; here he received a good education, laying the foundation for future usefulness ; his father died Jan. 5, 1875, leaving but one child — C. F., who began in mercantile life in 1869, at his present location, which is No. 810 West Front st. ; here he keeps an excellent grocery store. He mar- ried Miss Katie L. Feise', of this place, Aug. 22. 1872 ; they have two children — Louisa C. and Emma C. JOHN KOESTER, editor, Bloomington ; editor of the McLean County Deutsche Presse ; was born in Germany July 11, 1815, and received his education at Hessen, Marburg and Goettingen; he came to the United States in 1859, locating in St. Louis, where he engaged in the business of a florist ; he also taught school for a time; in 1864, he came to Bloomington and established his present paper, beginning its publication in March, 1871 ; since which time, he has by diligence and ability built up a good circulation ; it is the only German paper printed in McLean Co. He married Miss Wilhelmina Grosbernd, of his native country, in October, 1859 ; they have a family of six living. M. G. KOPF, M. D., Bloomington. Dr. Kopf is a native of France ; in June, 1853, he left his native country and sailed for the United States ; came West as far as Belleville, where he remained until 1857 ; then removed to Leavenworth, Kan.; the doctor was eight years a Surgeon in the French army, four of which was spent in Africa; he passed through twelve heavy battles: by his knowledge of surgery he was induced to enter the army in 1861 as Surgeon of the Leavenworth Hospital; he passed through many of the border troubles of Kansas and aided in suppressing the war of the late rebellion ; he was a brave and true soldier, and still retains his sword and bugle. In 1865, he went to East Liberty, Penn., where he lived for one year ; then came to Bloomington ; he is a regular graduated physician of the allopathic school, a gentleman and a soldier. I. R. KllUM, grain dealer, Bloomington. Among the citizens of McLean County who have in many instances been identified with the development and improvement of the county, is I. R. Krum, dealer in grain, lumber and coal ; he is a native of Green Co., N. Y. ; in 1849, he came West with his parents ; he being then 12 years old ; they located in McLean County, where for five years he was engaged in many different kinds of work for the farmers and cattle dealers ; for a year or two he was engaged as clerk in the grocery business ; after which, he engaged as bookkeeper with Mr. Elihu Rogers, which situation he held until he was 21 years of age ; he had been dependent upon his own resources in procuring an education, but,, being obliged to work hard, he had but little time, except nights, for study ; but in this way he secured a good business education ; also learned phonography and the German language; at the age of 21, he formed a partnership with Mr. Robinson, engaging in the coal, lumber, grain trade and milling business ; the latter business they had conducted but about two years, when their mills were burned, causing a loss for them of $20,000 ; the firm was known as Krum & Robinson, the part- nership lasting for thirteen years, when he bought Mr. Robinson out, and has since conducted the business alone ; in 1871, he established a branch house at what is now Arrowsmith and, in 1877, he established another branch house at Lilly ; the combined shipments of the three houses now amounting to about 1,700 cars per annum; this immense business is wholly the result of Mr. Krum's energy, industry and good financiering; he has always been liberal and public-spirited, helping to forward any enterprise that he deemed for the public good ; he is a gentleman so well known that any compliments of the press are wholly unnecessary. ' MRA LACKEY, druggist, Bloomington. Mr. Ira Lackey, of the firm of Funk & Lackey, is another of the old residents of Bloomington, and a man long established in business ; he is a native of Wayne Co., lnd. ; was born in 1838, and. in 1855, came to Illinois, locating at Bloom- ington ; his first business engagement was in the capacity of a clerk for the drug firm of Paist & Elder, with whom he remained for about three years; the firm changing to Paist, Marmon & Co., he still remained with them for two years ; then he and his brother engaged in business in the Ashley-House block, where they carried on the drug business for five years, the firm being BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 797 known as I. & G. W. Lackey ; his health then failing, he sold out to his brother, went to Chicago and began traveling for Fuller, Finch & Fuller, wholesale druggists ; he traveled for this firm until 1869 ; having regained his health, he returned to Bloomington, and again began the retail drug business by buying the drug establishment of J. M. Major, since which time he has been permanently located, gradually increasing his business until now he has one among the finest retail drug houses in this part of Illinois, doing a retail trade of about $38,000 per annum, besides his jobbing-trade, which is gradually increasing; his establishment is located at No. 110 W. Washington street; by his careful management and close attention to business, he has established a business, of which any man should be proud, and has no less reason to look for success in the future as he has had in the past. ^—OlOBERT LOUDON, steam-fitting, Bloomington. In all cities of the size of Bloomington, there is always room for one first-class plumbing and steam-fitting establishment ; this want has been supplied by Mr. Robert Loudon, who is a native of Ayrshire, Scotland ; he was born March 22, 1832, and at the age of 25, emigrated to the Uni ed States; though before leaving his native country he had learned the trade of a machinist, and had received a good education, upon his arrival in the United States, he located at Alton, 111., where he entered the employ of the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad ; he was there one year, when the company moved their shops to Litch- field, he and one other man being the only ones retained out of forty men ; he was with the Rail- road Company until 1859, when he went to Jacksonville and started a machine shop ; the firm was Ellis, Shields & Loudon ; he was there but a short time, when he again went back to the Railroad Company's employ, remaining with them until 1862 ; then went to Cairo, where he was employed in the United States Navy Yard for one year ; in 1863, he came to this city and accepted a posi- tion as foreman in the C. & A. R. R. shops; this position he held for some time ; then took charge of Mr. Ollis' foundry ; he remained with Mr. Ollis about six years, when he concluded to engage in business for himself; his business, though on a small scale when he began, has since grown to such proportions as to be a credit to himself and the city ; he is not only engaged in plumbing and steam-fitting, but also in the manufacturing of engines, and in fact every* thing pertaining to plumbing and steam-fitting; a more complete conception of his business may be gained by referring to his card, which is found in our classified directory ; his establishment is known as the Eagle Machine Works, and is located at 620 and 622 N. Main street, and 607 and 609 N. Center street. Mr. L.isa thoroughly educated businessman, and is well known to the citizens and business men of Bloomington. He has fitted up his works with $12,000 worth of machinery ; his manufacture of engines and boilers may be seen at the Pantograph office and at the tile- works, where they have given good satisfaction. r— —DR. A. H. LUCE, physician and surgeon, Bloomington. In the practice of medicine, in all cities, there are those physicians who, by long practice, have become so well known to the peo- ple that the compliments of the press are unneeded on their part. Among this class of the physicians of Bloomington we find Dr. A. H. Luce, who has been a resident of the city since 1842. He is a native of Wayne Co., N. Y., and was born Feb. 28, 1816. He began the study of medicine in 1838, and graduated at the Geneva Medical College of New York in 1842, and located in Bloomington the same year. Since his residence here, he has given his time exclu- sively to his profession. He is a member of the McLean County Medical Society, of the Illinois State Medical Society, and of the A. M. Medical Association. In 1864, he was elected President of the State Society. He was one of the organizers of the McLean County Medical Society, in 1854, of which he was the first President, as he has also been since. He has also frequently written articles for the different medical journals. . N. LOAR,' M. D., Bloomington. Dr. Loar is a native of Greene Co., Penn., and was born April 1, 1840. He began the study of medicine under Dr. J. Loar, then of Mount Pleasant, Penn., but now a resident of Bloomington. During the winter of 1864-65, he attended the Physio- Medical College of Cincinnati; practiced medicine during the summer of 1865, and, during the winter of 1865-66, he again attended lectures at the College ; summer of 1866, he spent his time in practice, and, in the winter of 1866-67, he again attended college, graduating in the spring of 1867. He spent the summer of 1867 in practicing his profession in Knox Co , Ohio, and in the fall of the same year removed to Bloomington, where he has since resided, giving his time and attention fully and exclusively to his profession. He came here young and a stranger, and, being naturally of an unassuming nature, the future sometimes looked dark; but, being a gen- tleman as well as a thoroughly well-read physician, his practice gradually increased, as did also his circle of friends, until now, by hid close attention to business, he has a fine practice and a host of warm friends, some being of the poorer class, to whom he has been a friend in many cases of need. W. A. LEWIS, Superintendent Chair Manufactory, Bloomington. In all extensive manu- factories, it is always necessary to have a general superintendent. This position Mr. W. A. Lewis holds in the Bloomington Chair Manufacturing Company's establishment. This firm manufactures about 40,000 chairs per annum. Mr. Lewis is a native of Niagara Co., N. Y., was born Nov. 19, 1829, and came West in 1855. He had learned the trade of a cabinet-maker before leaving the East. Upon his arrival in Bloomington, not finding suitable prospects in the cabinet business, he. engaged in the grain-trade, which he followed for seventeen years, and, in 1873,. 798 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: when the Bloomington Chair Manufacturing Company was organized, he accepted a situation with them, which he has since held. During his early life, he had but little chance of getting an education, but. by industry and good observation, he succeeded in procuring a fair business education. He is now filling a position of responsibility and trust, which is the result of his sober, industrious habits and close attention to business. r~ •'• LITTLE, physician and surgeon, Bloomington. The medical profession is well represented in Bloomington, and includes among its list gentlemen of recognized merit. Included in this class is Dr. J. Little, whose practice is large and of a gratifying character. He is a native of Washington Co., Ind , and has been dependent, upon his own resources in the procuring of his medical education. In 1855, he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. Pence, of Terre Haute, Ind. In 1861, he entered the U. S. Army as Hospital Steward of the 33d I. V. I.; he had filled this post less than one year, when he was promoted to the post of Assistant Surgeon of the 24th Missouri V. I. ; this office he held until the spring of 1864. Upon his return from the army, he again began the study of medicine, and, during the winter of 1864-65, he attended the Bellevue Hospital of N. Y. Upon the close of the term at Bellevue Hospital, he entered the Long Island Hospital for the spring course; graduating at this college, in June, 1865. After graduating, he again entered the army as surgeon of the U. S. C. Inf. ; this post he held until 1866, when, upon the close of the war, he came to Bloomington, remaining but a short time, when he removed to Le Roy. McLean Co., where he located and began the practice of medicine, remaining there eleven years. In the spring of 1877, he removed to Bloomington, where he has since resided, engaging in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the McLean County Medical So- ciety, of which he is the present Secretary. Is also a member of the Illinois State Medical So- ciety, and of the Illinois Central Medical Association. ' Has held the position of City and County Doctor since 1868. He has made frequent contributions to the medical journals. Since his leaving the army, in 1866, he has given his time fully and exclusively to the practice of his profession. E. B. LAWRENCE, carpenter, Bloomington; is a native of Greene Co., Ohio; at the age of 17 years, he left his home and went to Springfield, Ohio, where he remained ten years. While there, he learned the trade of a carpenter, though he is now a master also of the pattern makers and cabinet trades. In 1860, he came West, locating in Richland Co. He made several changes after this, to Logan Co., then to Sangamon, back to Logan, and finally to McLean, in 1872, where he has since remained, engaged working at his trade. He is one of the straight-forward, honest residents of the city of Bloomington. Being a No. 1 workman, and attentive to business, he has won a good name and reputation. ALLEN T. LAWRENCE, Justice of the Peace, Bloomington ; was born in Morgan Co,, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1840; he was brought to Bloomington by his parents, in 1841, where he has since lived; he was educated at the Wesleyan University. His first business experience was in book-keeping, which he followed for a number of years; during the late war he enlisted with the 8th I. V. I., and, at the expiration of this term (three months), he re-enlisted with the 94th I. V. I., and was appointed Assistant Military Postmaster for the army of the frontier, and was mustered out in April, 1863. He then returned and took up book-keeping. In 1870, he was elected Police Magistrate ; was also appointed U. S. Commissioner for the Southern District ; the latter position he still holds, with that of Justice of the Peace, to which he was elected in 1877. He is a thor- ough business man, social, genial and much respected by all who know him. He married Miss Jennie M. Wilson, of Centralia, Sept. 21, 1872. They have one child — Harrie S. JOHN H. LOEHR, Deputy Treasurer, Bloomington; was born in Somerset Co., Penn., June 15, 1831, and is the son of Peter J. and Anna B. (Snyder) Loehr ; Mr. Loehr's advent to this city dates from the year 1846. Many important positions of trust have been confided to him during his residence here, among which we may mention those of Deputy County Clerk and Deputy County Treasurer, positions which he has filled with credit and honor. WILLIAM LOGAN, butcher, Bloomington; of the firm of Daniels & Logan; a native of Ireland ; was born March 8, 1834 ; he came to the United States in 1849, and directly to Bloom- ington, 111., where he has since lived a respected citizen ; he is said to be the oldest butcher in Bloomington, having been continually in the business here for upward of twenty-five years ; his long continuance and present patronage is proof of his ability as a butcher ; the fine quality of his meats and his honorable manner of doing business secure for him extensive patronage. He married Miss Ann Prier of Philadelphia, Penn., Jan. 17, 1853; they have six children. AUGUST LAUFER, stone-mason, Bloomington; was born in Prussia, May 1, 1832, he emigrated to America in 1867, and, coming West, located in Decatur, 111., where he was engaged at his trade, which he learned in Germany when he was about 15 years old; Mr. Laufer remained in Decatur until he came to Bloomington ; since he came here, he has been engaged in working on some of the best business blocks and public buildings in the city, such as the Gridley Block, now occupied by J. E. Houtz & Co.'s dry goods store, Wesleyan University, Methodist Church, the new City Hall, etc.; Mr. Laufer's stoneyard is located at the corner of Center and Market streets. He was married to Mina Shmechel, of Germany ; they have had 8ix children ; three children living. LE ROY BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 801 S. W. LYMAN, Bloomington j is one of the oldest conductors in the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad; he was born in Chittenden Co., Vt., June 23, 1831, and is the son of Erastus and Sarah (White) Lyman ; when Mr. Lyman was about 21 years of age, he began railroading on the Vermont Central Line as brakeman, which position he filled but a short time ; he then was appointed conductor of the V. C. R. R.. running from Rouse's Point to Windsor, Vt.; remained with this company about three years ; he then came West in 1854, and was conductor on the vlichigan Central Railroad one year; in 1855, Mr. Lyman came to Bloomington and entered the employ of the C. & A. R. R., as conductor, which position he has held, principally, ever since. Mr. Lyman married in Bloomington Miss Carrie Phillips ; they have three chil- dren, two girls and a boy. CARL LARTZ, saloon-keeper, Bloomington; was born in Prussia in 1836; he came to America and landed in New York City in 1856 ; he remained in New York State until 1857, when he came West to Bloomington, 111.; here he commenced work in a brickyard, and, in 1862, he entered the army, enlisting in the 94th I. V. I., Co, A, a« private, and did good service; he was mustered out in 1865. At the close of the war, he returned to Bloomington, and followed brickmaking until 1876 ; he then entered the saloon business, which he has followed ever since. He married Miss Reaka Rabenstrof, of Germany ; they have eight children. LIPP & FICKWEILER, hotel and restaurant, Bloomington ; proprietors of the Jefferson House, one of the home-like hotels of Bloomington. Otto Lipp was born in Weidenburg, Ger- many, 1845 ; came to America in 1856, and landed in New York City ; he then went to Lancas- ter. Penn., and, in 1868, came West and located in Bloomington; here he was engaged at his trade as cigar-maker, a trade he had learned in Lancaster. Mr. Lipp commenced the hotel and restaurant business in 1878, in partnership with Ernest Fickweiler, who is one of the leading Germans of Bloomington. /—"-"- A. LIVINGSTON & CO., dealers in dry goods, Bloomington. As in most other branches of business and manufactures, Bloomington takes a leading position in the dry-goods line, hav- ing several leading houses of the kind in Central Illinois, and which take rank with those in cities of 100,000 inhabitants. A leading dry-goods house is that of Messrs. A. Livingston & Co., who commenced business in Bloomington in 1865, and are one of the oldest in the dry-goods business ; they carry a very valuable stock of dry goods and notions, valued at $"25,000. _^^ C. D. MYERS, Bloomington ; was born May 7, 1847, in Meigs Co., Ohio; when 5 years old removed to Marion Co., W. Va. ; for twelve years he worked on a farm, where farming was hard ; attended the private schools two or three months in the winter season ; at the age of 15 he left home to do for himself, and returned to Ohio ; when he reached his destination, Pomeroy, he had just. 50 cents, this being his entire worldly possessions, except the clothes on his back and a small supply in his valise; he was not discouraged, though he did not then know what he was to do. This was in 1863 ; he obtained a situation as clerk and errand boy, in a dry-goods house in Pomeroy, where he remained about a year. In 1864, he enlisted as a recruit in the 32d Ohio Inf., and served till the close of the war, being nearly one year; he was then 17 years old. With the money saved in the army he entered the National Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio, in the fall of 1865 ; continued at school one year ; returned to West Virginia and worked on a farm, and taught school until 1869, when he again entered the National Normal, where he remained until 1872, in the summer of which year he graduated. Having chosen law as his profession, he entered that department in the University of Michigan, in October, 1872, and received the degree of LL. B., at that institution, in 1874. Mr. Myers was admitted to the bar in Michigan, but did not practice there. He first hung out his shingle in Bloomington, in 1874. Though an entire stranger, he soon found friends, and some business. Shortly after he came to Bloomington, he entered into partnership with Mr. Albert Bushnell, under the firm name of Myers & Bush- nell. This business connection lasted until January 1, of the present year, when the firm of Myers & Stroud was formed. COL. WILLIAM McCULLOUGH, deceased, Bloomington, whose portrait adorns this work, was the son of Peter and Levina McCullough, and was born Sept. 11, 1812, in Flemingsburg, Ky.; the McCullough family came to what is now McLean Co., 111., in the year 1826, and settled at Dry Grove ; in early life, the subject of this sketch worked on a farm • in 1832, he enlisted as a private soldier, in the company commanded by Merrit Covel, and went to the Black Hawk war; there he was distinguished for his great personal courage ; having been so unfortunate as to lose his gun, he made good its loss by snatching one from the hands of an Indian on the ground of Stillman's Run. In December, 1833, he was married to Miss Mary Williams ; they had been schoolmates, and were taught by Milton H. Williams, the father of Mrs. McCullough ; in 1840 Mr. McCullough lost his right arm in a threshing machine ; in the same fall he was elected Sheriff of McLean Co., and held this office for three successive terms ; he was then elected Circuit Clerk of the county, and held this office for four successive terms ; in August, 1861, he entered the army and was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 4th I. V. C; with only one arm and a defective eye, he, nevertheless, performed his duty fearlessly and efficiently ; he was at Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson, at Shiloh and at Corinth : on the 5th of December, 1862, Col. McCul- lough was killed in the engagement with the rebels near CoffeQville, Miss ; his body was brought home and buried in Bloomington Cemetery ; when the news of his death reached Bloomington, the bar of McLean Co. held a meeting and passed resolutions to his memory, as he continued to hold his office of Clerk of the Circuit Court. The following is taken from, the report of this meeting : William McCullough entered the military service of the United States, in August, 1861, and was immediately commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry. From that time he gave his whole heart to the cause of his country, and put all his energy to the suppression of the foulest rebellion that ever disgraced the pages of history; he was present with his regiment at the operation which resulted in the capture of Ft. Henry, and in the taking of Ft. Donelson he rendered such efficient and valuable service that he attracted the attention of his com- manding officer (the lamented Gen. Wallace), whose official report acknowledges and commends his gallant conduct; he was also in the battle of Shiloh, and in all the movements of the army that led. to the evacuation of Corinth, by the rebels under Gen. Beauregard, and from that time until his detth, he was always present where danger was to be met, or laurels won, and was ever a brave, faithful, energetic and accomplished soldier. In consideration of the services he has rendered the country, and inasmuch as he was long officially connected with this court, the members of this bar, in perpetuation of his memory, pray that this paper, together with the following resolutions, be spread upon the records of this court; Resolved, That we, the members of this bar, have heard with the deepest regret of the death of Lieut. Col. William McCullough, the Clerk of this Court, who fell in battle, bravely contending for the liberty and laws of his country against a causeless and most wicked rebellion. lleeolved, That in the death of Lieut. Col. McCullough we feel that we have lost a warm-hearted, faithful friend ; but our greatest regret is that the Government has losta brave, accomplished and patriotic soldier, and liberty a valiant champion. BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 807 Resolved, That we take this solemn occasion to renew, with a firmer purpose, our unalterable attachment to the constitution and laws of the country, and to again pledge to the Government our unswerving support and warmest sympathy in all its efforts to suppress this infernal rebellion. Eeiolved, That the Clerk of this Court furnish to the family of Lieut. Col. McCullough a copy of these resolutions. The mooting was addressed most eloquently and appropriately by C>1. Gridley, His Honor Judge Scott, Hon. Leonard Swett and by Messrs. W. H. Hanna, Jesse Bishop, David Brier, J. H. Wickizer, K. E. Williams, James Ewing and M. W. Strayer, all giving some pleasant incident of kindness which they had received at the hands of the deceased, and all bearing testimony to the uniform urbanity, sociability, kindness, generosity, fidelity and integrity of Col. McCullough in all the walks of social and public life. Upon motion, the preamble and resolutions were then unanimously adopted. Also, upon motion, \V. H. Hanna, Esq., was appointed a committee on behalf of the bar, to present these resolutions to the court, and to ask that they be spread upon the records of the same. W. P. BOYD, President. JESSE BIRCH, Secretary. William McCullough had eight children, four of" whom grew to manhood and womanhood — Mrs. Nannie L. Orme, widow of Gen. William W. Orme, whose sketch will be found in this work; Mrs. Fannie M. Orme, wife of Frank D. Orme, lives in Washington, D. C; William A. McCul- lough died Sept. 2, 1869; he was, during the war, a soldier in the 6th I. V. O; Howard M. Mc- Cullough, died July 1, 1871; he was also a soldier in the 94th I. V. 1. Col. McCullough was frank and outspoken in his manner, and a warm friend ; he was one of the most popular men in McLean Co HON. JAMES MILLER, deceased, Bloomington, whose portrait appears in this work, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born in Rockingham Co., Va., May 23, 1795. His grandfather was a Presbyterian minister in Ireland. He received such an educa- tion as could be obtained in a district school. When he was 16 years of age, his parents moved to Madison Co., Ky. ; he was brought up on a farm, but having a talent for trade, he left the farm and became a merchant. At the age of 20, he was elected to fill the offices of Collector and Sheriff, positions of trust and responsibility. While living in Kentucky, he became greatly dissatisfied with the institution of slavery, and determined to leave the State, and, in the year 1835, came to Bloomington, and formed a copartner- ship in the mercantile business, first with John Magoun, and afterward with John Magoun and John E. McClure. He owned a great deal of land, which he had entered, and also a large city property. In 1856, Mr. Miller was elected State Treasurer of Illinois, and so well and faith- fully did he fulfill the trust reposed in him to the satisfaction of the people of the State that he was re-elected in 1858. Mr. Miller, early in life, became a member of the Methodist Church, at a time when popular feeling was against that denomination, and while he was holding a position dependent upon popular will ; he was earnest and devoted, and soon was made a class-leader, and afterward a recording steward. During the remainder of his life, he occupied positions of trust and responsibility in the church. Mr. Miller has been twice married ; his first wife was Miss Juliet McClelland, of Shelby Co., Ky., who lived but one year after marriage, leaving one child, Juliet, now living in Kentucky; on the 1 8th day of March, 1827, he married Mrs. Belle McGarvey, a daughter of John and Jane Moore, natives of Rockbridge Co., Va. ; she was born Jan. 15, 1793; she had one child by her first husband, Alexander McGarvey, viz., John W. A., born Dec. 1, 1820; by Mr. Miller, she had four children, three living — Robert A., born Feb. 10, 1828: William T., Aug. 17, 1831 ; James E., Sept. 5, 1833 ; and one deceased— Otaway W., born March 23, 1830, died July 14, 1830. Mr Miller, after a long and useful life, died on the 23d day of September, 1872. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, who took an active part at his funeral obsequies. At the Quarterly Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held in Bloomington Oct. 14, 1872, resolutions of respect were passed to his memory. Mr? . Miller is still living, at the ripe old age of 86, an excellent lady, who, during her whole wedded life, worked with her husband in the cause of Christianity. JOHN N. MARSO, dealer in boots, shoes and dry goods, Bloomington ; was born in Germany, in May, 1835 ; emigrated to America when he was a child ; came West, and first set- tled in Wisconsin ; his father was Jacob Marso, who died in Wisconsin, leaving the family in very poor circumstances. The son, at 14 years of age, commenced to learn the blacksmith trade, then that of a machinist; then turned his attention toward engineering ; he was one of the first firemen on the Illinois Central Railroad ; there were only three engines on the road at that time ; he then became a steamboat engineer on the Mississippi River ; thence to Blooming- ton, and entered a position in the machine-shop of the Chicago & Alton Railroad ; from there, with $3,000 capital, he entered the dry-goods business ; to-day, he owns a stock of dry goods valued at $7,000, and owns the store he occupies. He married Barbara Thomas ; they have seven children. J. C. S. NEFF, photographer, Bloomington; is a native of Ohio, having come to Illinois when quite young. He began his trade at the age of 14, in Chicago, where he spent some ten or twelve years in one of the best art galleries of that city ; he opened business where he is now located, irt October, 1878, and is favored with a good patronage from the citizens of Bloomington and McLean County; his work is among the best in the city ; Mr. Neff also takes orders for oil-painting and India-ink work. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 94th I. V. I., as private ; did good service, and was mustered out in 1865, at the close of the war.' HENRY NEUERBURG, saloon-keeper, Bloomington ; was born in Rhenish Prussia, in 1833 ; came to America, landing in New York City, in 1854 : he then came West, and located 808 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: first in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained but a short time, and in 1857 came to Illinois and settled in Lee Co., where he engaged in farming; in 1859, he came to Bloomington, and has made this his home ever since, ranking as one of the prominent Germans of Bloomington. He was married in Bloomington, to Josephine Michels, of Germany ; they have five children, all born in Bloomington — Josephine, Rudolph, Henry, George W. and Louis. Mr. Neuerburg, in 1860, returned to Germany, and while there received some money ; he then returned to Bloom- ington, and, with this money, commenced business. '" --LUKE NEVIN, grocer, Bloomington; was born in Boyle, Roscommon Co., Ireland, Nov. 14. 1828, and was raised upon a farm ; he came to the United States in March, 1849, locating in New York City, where he found employment with the H. R. R. R. Co., continuing until 1853, when he removed to Springfield, 111., and engaged with the C. & A. R. R. Co.; he removed to Bloomington in 1853, continuing in the railroad service until 1860 ; in 1860, he engaged in the grocery business; his location is 622 and 624 North Main street, where is to be found a fine grocery, with a well-assorted stock of goods and sold at bottom figures ; Mr. Nevin is a pleasant man to deal with, and we find him enjoying a good trade. He has twice married, first to Miss Margaret Judge of his native country ; they were married in New York City May 21, 1857 ; she died Aug. 10, 1874, leaving a family of five, and. Oct. 11, 1875, he married Miss Sarah Mor- ris, also of his native country ; they have two children. J. T. NICCOLLS, grocer, Bloomington; is the son of John and Maria (Steele) Niccolls, who were among the early settlers of McLean Co.; they came from Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1849, in which year Mr. Niccolls entered a large tract of Ian I in this and adjoining counties ; it is said that he was one of the largest land-owners, and improved more land than any one in McLean Co.; he was an enterprising, public-spirited and much-respected citizen ; like many others, they met with adversity, and lost heavily ; they still survive, at the combined ages of 144 years. The subject of this sketch was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., July 11, 1839, and was brought to this county in 1844, where he has since lived; he is now doing business at No. 604 North Main street, where is to be found a well-assorted stock of goods at bottom figures. He married Miss Lucinda E. Hardman of Salem, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1858; they have one child — Lulu M.; as a family, they are much respected. MRS. A. M. NOBLE, widow, Bloomington. Of those who have represented the medical profession in this county, Dr. Noble, now deceased, was among the prominent ones ; he was a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio; his people, who were among the pioneers of McLean Co., located at Randolph Grove, in the spring of 1831 ; the Doctor began the study of medicine at the age of 19, under Dr. Colburn ; at the age of 22, he began his practice in Le Roy, where he remained until 1865, when he moved to Bloomington and began his practice in that city, which he contin- ued as long as he was able ; when he was unable to leave his room, many of his patients insisted upon his prescribing for them ; his death occurred on March 14,1871. Mrs. Noble is still a resident of Bloomington ; her father. Mr. John Greenman, was one of the prominent and early pioneers of the county, having located here in 1829 ; he was among the first to open and teach a school in the county ; they were among the early pioneers, and were obliged to endure many of the privations incident to pioneer life, but as the county became populated and improved, they were recognized among the honored and respected citizens. WILLAM O'NEIL, grocer, firm of O'Neil Bros., Bloomington; is a native of County C>rk, Ireland ; was born in September, 1831 ; he came to this country in 1851, locating in St. Louis, where he lived some three years ; came to Bloomington in 1854, and, for some twelve years, was in the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, after which he embarked in the grocery business : they are located at the corner of Chestnut and Lumber streets, where he enjoys a good reputation for his fair dealing with patrons. Iu June, 1861, he married Miss Joanna Nagle, of his native country ; they have a family of eight. ~DAVID O'NEIL, grocer, of the firm of O'Neil Bros., Bloomington; is a native of County Cork. Ireland; was born in October, 1833, and came to this country in 1851, locating in St. Louis; he came to Bloomington in 1854, and engaged with the C. & A. R. R. Company, with whom he continued twenty years acting in the capacity of engineer seventeen years, and for thirteen years as passenger engineer; during this time, he met with no serious acccidents, although his engine w s twice turned over, and he met with a narrow escape ; as a railroad man he is well known and much respected; he is now connected with his brother William in the grocery business, and enjoying a large trade that they have built up by honorable dealings. He married Miss Johani Pyne of Chicago, January, 1865 ; they have eight children. "^ GEN. WILLIAM W. ORME, deceased, Bloomington, whose portrait will be found in this work, was the son of W. C. and Jane T. Orme, and was born in Washington, D. C, Feb. 17, 1832 ; when he was 13 years of age, his parents died, from which time, Mr. Orme was compelled to rely upon his own exertions ; he attended Mt. St. Mary's College at Emmettsburg, Md.. and, after his graduation, learned the trade of a cabinet-maker ; in the year 1849, he came West, and first located in Chicago for a short time ; while there, he read law in the office of J. Y. Scammon; in 1850, he came to Bloomington, and, having opened an office, commenced the practice of law, and continued the same but for a short time, being tendered and having accepted a position in the oilice of Gen. William McCullough, Clerk of the Circuit Court of McLean Co. On the 27th BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 809 day of October, 1853, he was married to Miss Minnie L., the daughter of Gen. McCullough, and shortly afterward, formed a co-partnership with Leonard Swett in the practice of law. The next year (1862), after the breaking-out of our late civil war, Mr. Orme was commissioned Colonel of the 94th Regt. I. V. I , and, after one year of active service, was, in 1863, promoted by the late President Lincoln to the rank of Brigadier General ; ill-health, however, unfitting him for active duly in the field, he was placed in command of the post at Chicago, which included Camp Doug- las ; his health, however, being still very poor, he, a short time after accepting the position, tendered his resignation, which President Lincoln accepted, and, relieving him from active duty, appointed him Supervising Agent of the Second Agency of the Treasury Department, at Mem- phis, Tenn.; in June, 1865, he again tendered his resignation, but Mr. Lincoln was so anxious that he should remain, that his resignation was not accepted until November of the same year. The following card shows the friendship existing between himself and Mr. Lincoln, and the high estimate that Mr. Lincoln placed upon his ability and competency. This card was carried to Gen. Halleck by Mr. Swett, the partner at law of Gen. Orme : Washington, Aug. 2, 1862. Gen. Halleck — Please see the bearer, who will tell you truth only about Wm. W. Orme, whom I also know to be one of the most active, competent and best men in the world. (Signed), A. Lincoln. Gen. Orme died of consumption at the age of 35. Although cut down in the prime of manhood, and a bright career nipped in the bud, Mr Orme left behind him an enviable name and a spotless reputation ; he left a widow and four children — two girls, Mary B. and Lucy, and two boys, William and Edwin. Mrs. Orme was again married Oct. 5, 1876, to D. S. Dyson, M. D., who resides in Bloomington. — ^OWEN PIXLEY & CO., dealers in clothing, Bloomington. In this, as in other branches of business and manufacture, Bloomington takes a leading position, having several houses of the kind which take rank with those in much larger cities. A leading house here in the clothing business is that of Owen Pixley & Co., who commenced business in Bloomington in 1878; Messrs. C. S. Darnell and H. R. Jones, who represent the house in Bloomington, assure the pub- lic that the materials used in the manufacture of clothing are the best made ; their stock of gent.'s furnishing goods is complete; this house is a branch from Utica, N. Y.; here, over eight years ago, Owen Pixley & Co. commenced the manufacture of clothing, etc., and since then they have established branch houses in Lockport, N. Y., Oil City, Penn., two at Indianapolis, Ind., Greencastle, Ind., Terre Haute, Ind., Fort Wayne, Ind.; all goods marked in plain figures and sold at New York jobbing prices. This feature of establishing retail stores in cities where it does not conflict with wholesale trade has proved a grand success to its originators, and is appreciated by the people who visit their nine stores, and save the ordinary retail dealer's profit by buying direct from manufacturers, at wholesale prices. ^ RICHARD OSBORN, Bloomington. He is one of the few practicing attorneys here who were born in the county, being born in McLean Co., Dec. 25, 1845 ; in 1856, he went, with his father, to Missouri ; here he worked on a farm and studied the common branches as leisure would permit; but, in 1861, his martial spirit overcoming all other considerations, he enlisted in the 23d Missouri Infantry, being then but 16 years of age ; although young, he made a val- iant soldier, being in many prominent and desperately -fought battles ; in January, 1862, he was captured by guerillas and robbed, but. after being retained one day, he was released ; he was fighting in the Sherman army during the Atlanta campaign, and was dangerously wounded in the shoulder and arm in front of \tlanta, Ga., on the 7th of August, 1864, after passing through a series of engagements, and having been under fire for over forty consecutive days. In Novem- ber, 1864, having recovered from his wound sufficiently to travel, he was discharged, after hav- ing served three years and three months. Mr. Osborn then attended district school, acquired a fair, common-school education, taught school in Iowa, and then for one year he applied himself, with unrelenting perseverance, at Oskaloosa College, Iowa. In 1866, he returned to McLean County, and taught school, very successfully, in Randolph Township ; he then attended school at the Normal for one year ; all this time, he was rapidly acquiring a very thorough knowledge of all branches of English education, and had read extensively ; for one year he acted as Princi- pal of the graded school at Whitehall, Greene Co., HI. In the fall of 1870, Mr. Osborn was elected Sheriff of McLean Co.; he was efficient, and made one of the most fearless officers the county ever had. He commenced reading law in the office of McNulta & Aldrich ; he entered the first class of the Wesleyan Law School, and was admitted to practice Jan. 8, 1875 ; he grad- uated, and took the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Mr. Osborn then formed a partnership with J. T. Lillard, Aug. 1, 1875, which, under the style of Osborn & Lillard, yet continues. -v. GEORGE W. PARKE, retired, Bloomington Prominent among the old residents of Bloomington, who have been identified with the growth and improvement of the city, is Mr. George W. Parke, who is a native of Chester Co , Penn.; he was born in 1815, and remained a resident of his native place until he had grown to man's estate and received his education. His first trip West was in 1837, though he remained only until 1840, when he returned East ; he came to this city in 1851, and engaged in the lumber trade and the manufacture of furniture, though the latter business he had followed but a short time when a large factory, which he was interested in and had helped to build, burned to the ground, the loss being a calamity both to 810 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: the firm and the city. He was very successful in the luinber trade, being engaged in this busi- ness when the city was growing rapidly ; he built a great many houses in the city, which are still standing; among others was the first three-story building ever erected on the west side of the public square, Mr. Kersey Fell donating the ground to any one who would erect a three- story brick ; he was also engaged in the grocery and provision trade about ten years, which he sold out about 1865, and has not since been actively engaged in any mercantile business. He is now one of the Directors of the People's Bank, where he is usually found during business hours. He has been an active, energetic business man, and now is reaping some of the rewards of his industry and economy. """■"G. R. PARKE, physician and surgeon, Bloomingtnn. Dr. C. R. Parke is another of the old reliable physicians of Bloomington; he is a native of Chester Co., Penn.; was born June 23, 1825, and began the study of medicine in 1844 ; in the spring of 1847, the degree of doctor of medicine was conferred upon him at the University of Medicine of Pennsylvania, located at Philadelphia; he practiced one year in Delaware Co., Penn ; in 1848 he came West, and located at Como, III., where he spent one year in practice; in the spring of 1849, he accepted the posi- tion of surgeon to the Como Emigrant Co., "en route" overland to California -they making a successful journey in 103 days; while there, he spent the time mining, prospecting and prac- ticing his profession in Sacramento: in the winter of 1850-51, he returned to Illinois via Nicar- agua and New Orleans, and located near Peoria; here he engaged in practicing his profession about one year; in 1852, he removed to Bloomington, where he remained until 1855, when he accepied an appointment as Surgeon in the Russian army of the Crimean war; resigning upon the declaracion of peace, he traveled through different countries of Europe, returning to Bloom- ington in 1857, where he has since resided, except three years spent in Arkansas, from 1870 to 1873. The Doctor has spent much time in the study of his profession — especially of the eye, ear and general surgery — in the treatment of which cases he takes special pride. MRS. M. PAIST, Bloomington. The people of Bloomington will long remember Mr. Paist, of the firm of Paist & Marmon ; he was a native of Pennsylvania ; born in 1806 ; his first move West was to Ohio, and from there to Illinois, when he located in Bloomington in 1851, shortly afterward engaging in the drug trade in company with Dr. Elder ; in 1854, the firm became Paist & Marmon, which partnership lasted until Mr. Paist's death, which occurred Jan. 25, 1874, in his 67th year. Nov. 24, 1849, he was married to Miss M. Dawson — her people being among the first settlers of the county — locating here as early as 1826 ; when they first Bettled among the Indians, their nearest neighbor was nine miles from them. So much has been said of this family, that we will only remark, that Mrs. Paist still resides in Bloomington, a very intelligent and highly respected lady. W. D. PENNER, grocer, Bloomington ; was born in Prussia, May 20, 1837 ; during ing his early life he obtained a good education, and began in mercantile life when but 14 years of age in the capacity of a dry goods clerk ; remaining in Elbing and Koenigsberg some five years, he came to this country in 1856, locating in Detroit, where he remained for a time ; thence to Chicago ; he came to Bloomington in 1858, and engaged with Humphreys & Co., grocers ; he next removed to Alexandria, La., and, previous to the late war, was appointed Steward of the Military Academy; he returned to Bloomington in 1865, and engaged in the grocery business ; his store is at No. 120 S. Center street; here he keeps a first-class grocery. He married Miss Anna Stoeckigt, March 31, 1859 ; they have a family of seven. FRED S. PH03NIX, book-keeper, Bloomington; was born in Illinois, and is a son of Franklin K. Phoenix, who was born in Perry, N. Y. ; when a young man, he came West and located in Delavan, Wis. ; there he commenced the nursery business on a very small scale, but with good management and hard work he was successful ; from Delavan he came to Bloomington in 1856 ; here he started with only ten acres of ground for his nursery ; but, from year to year, he gradually improved it, and at one time owned over 600 acres of land in nursery stock, this being, perhaps, the largest nursery under one management in the United States ; he lias had as high as 450 men at one time at work in the nursery, and the sales amounted to over $250,000 in a,vear ; he shipped goods to all parts of the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries. ^BAILEY PLUMB, painter, Bloomington; is a native of Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he was born July 25, 1830, but was raised, schooled and learned the trade of a painter in Fredonia, N. Y. ; he served a regular apprenticeship at his trade under his father, and became a thorough workman before embarking on his own account ; he removed to Miami Co., Ohio, in 1852, where he lived until 1865, when he came to Bloomington, 111., where he has since lived a well-to-do citizen, and enjoys the reputation of being a first-class workman in house and sign painting ; his place of business is No. 404 Northeast street; here he is prepared to do all job-work promptly and neatly. He married Miss Mary Hyde, of Troy, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1853 ; they have one child — Anna B. (now Mrs. E. H. Jackman). GEURGE W. PRICE, farmer; P. 0. Bloomington; was born in Warren Co., Ky., Oct. 3, 1816, and is the son of James B. and Mary (Wall) Price, who were among the first settlers of McLean Co., having made their home here in 1833; James B. Price was born July 24, 1792, in Mecklenburg Co., N. O, and with his parents, in 1804, moved to Kentucky; he visited Illinois from 1829 to 1833, when he moved here with his family; Mr. Price assisted in organizing BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 811 McLean Co , and has held several offices of public trust ; in 1849—50, he served one term in the Legislature, and assisled in getting the Illinois Central Railroad bill passed. Mr. Price married Feb. 10, 1814, to Mary H. Wall; five children are living; George W. Price, the subject of this sketch, was engaged in farming from the time he was able to hold the plow, and in winter months attended the district schools of the period; in 1833, he came to McLean Co.; settled on the old homestead. Mr Price married, June 14, 1836, Matilda B. Prunty ; they have had fourteen children. JW . B. PROBASCO, grain-dealer, Bloomington ; one among the most successful business nTen of Bloomington, is a native of Cumberland Co., N. J.; was born Oct. 8, 1836, and in 1856, went South, where he was engaged in business in Alabama, Mississippi, New Orleans and Tenn- essee until 1863, when he returned to New Jersey, but remained but a short time, coming West the same year and locating in Bloomington, where he has since resided, excepting time spent in the South ; he was engaged in the hotel business in Bloomington until 1871, being very success- ful in this line ; he then engaged in the real estate and loan business, which he continued until 1875, when he embarked in the grain trade; he has now a large elevator on the C. & A. R. R., between Chestnut and Locust streets, with a storage capacity of 40,000 bushels, besides his JOHN E. POLLOCK, Bloomington; was born Feb. 1, 1843, near West Liberty, Logan Co., Ohio, and is the son of Judge Pollock, now residing and practicing law in Ford Co., 111.; at the age of 8 years, Mr. Pollock removed with his father to Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he attended the public schools, and even then gave promise of the ripe scholar he was afterward to become. He afterward attended one year at Augusta College. Ky., and. still later, was a student in Miami University at Oxford, Ohio ; in the last-named institution, he pursued a regular classical and scientific course up to within one year of completion, being a member of the junior class at that time ; he dropped the course to begin the study of law ; the latter study he pursued during a period of three years in the office of Judge William Lawrence, of Ohio, now a man of national fame ; though young in years, Mr. Pollock outranks many older members of the McLean Co. Bar in length of practice, having been admitted in the Courts of three States and also in the United States Courts, as early as 1865 or the spring of 1866; he passed a creditable examina- tion before the Supreme Court of Ohio at the December term of 18b5. Mr. Pollock came to Bloomington in 1866, where he has remained in the practice until the present, and in which he has been eminently successful ; he was a member of the firm of Shackleford & Pollock for one year about 1870; his firm style was afterward Pollock & Campbell, and still later, Bloomfield, Pollock & Campbell ; for eighteen months past, he has been the partner of Hon. Thomas F. Tipton ; he was two years Master in Chancery of the McLean Circuit Court ; on the acces- sion of Judge Reeves to the bench, Mr. Pollock was succeeded in the Master's office by Capt. Rowell. J. S. ROSS, lightning-rods, Bloomington. Of those who for yeara have been active business men of this city, we mention Mr. J. S. Ross, who is a native of Pennsylvania ; he came West in December, 1849, and located in this city, where he has since resided ; he began the manufacture of pumps shortly after his arrival; this he followed but a short time, then engaged in the cloth- ing trade, with his father; this, and the grocery business he continued until 1861, when he again began the manufacture of pumps ; this business he soon increased to a large scale, employ- ing sometimes about twenty men, and manufacturing and selling about 1,200 pumps per year; in connection with his pump trade, he has taken up the sale of lightning-rods ; the pump trade not being so good as formerly, he has given more attention to rods, and believing the best to be the cheapest, he has secured the Chambers' patent rod and insulator ; he is well read in the science of electricity, and is meeting with good success in the sale of the " Chambers rod ;" he is a good financier, and has made a success of his different business enterprises ; an old resi- dent of the city, and one of the honored and respected citizens. "-*- A. N. RINEHART, druggist, Bloomington. Another of the responsible drug firms, is that of T. Haering & Co.; the firm is composed of Messrs T. Hasring and A. N. Rinehart, the latter named gentleman being junior member of the firm ; the partnership dating from 1872. Mr. Rinehart, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Hampshire Co., W. Va.; he was born March 18, 1843, and came West in the fall of 1854, locating in Macon Co., and in 1869, came to Bloom- ington, where he has since resided, except one year spent in Piatt Co. In the fall of 1870, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Downey, of Philadelphia, but a resident of Bloomington at time of marriage ; she was born Sept. 25, 1849 ; they have one child — Katie E., born July 28, 1871. In 1872, he went in partnership with Dr, T. Haering; their drag establishment is located at No. 413 N. Main ; the building is 60x22, andHs stocked with everything in the drug line ; this depart- ment comes particularly under Mr. Rinehart' s supervision, as the doctor is many times attending professional calls ; though all who know him are well aware of his ability as a druggist. 812 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: JOSEPH RODGERS, grocer, Bloomington ; was born in Somersetshire, England, Oct. 25> 1825 ; came to the United States in 1843, locating in Detroit, where he engaged in the chand- lery business, in which he continued until 1849, when he removed to La Fayette, Ind., and there lived until 1852; thence to Attica, Ind., where he opened in the chandlery business; he con- tinued this until 1873, when he came to Bloomington, 111., and embarked in the grocery bus- iness. His place of business is 721 West Chestnut street, where he keeps a good stock of gro- ceries. He married Miss Eliza Tolman, of Keene, N. H., March 16, 1845; they have a family of six living. WM. M. REEVES Deputy Circuit Clerk, Bloomington; was born in Ross oo., Ohio, Jan. 4, 1838, where he was raised and schooled. He came to McLean Co., 111., in 1855, with his people, and, in 1856, removed to Delaware, Ohio, where he attended the Wesleyan University for two. years ; then he returned to Bloomington, and engaged in the dry goods business. He continued in mercantile life for several years. In 1861, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he fol- lowed until 1870, when he went into the grocery business. In 1874, he was appointed to his present position in which he has since continued, with the exception of the year 1877, when he was connected with the Bloomington Woolen Mills. He married Miss Mary M. Bedinger, of Paris, Ky., Nov. 25, 1868. JOHN REED, Bloomington. John Reed, of the firm of Reed & Barger, importers and jobbers in queensware, glassware, etc., was born in Ross Co., Ohio, June 1, 1828. During his early life, he obtained a good business education, finishing at the Salem Academy, at South Salem, Ohio. His first experience was in agricultural. pursuits. This he followed until 1865, when he began in mercantile business, in which he has since continued. He came to Blooming- ton in March, 1868, and, with his present partner, opened a store of glass and queensware, and, by close application to business, and uprightness in dealing, they have won the confidence and patronage of the citizens. Mr. Reed not only holds a prominent position as a business man hut as a man of liberal views and of reliability, as is evidenced by the fact that he is now serving as City Mayor ; also as Trustee and Treasurer of the Wesleyan University. He has been honored with other positions of responsibility and trust. He married Miss Mary A. Barger, of Ross Co., Ohio, Feb. 24, 1852; they are the parents of five children, three only of whom are living. ■ — F. KQ3DIGER, grocer, Bloomington ; was born in Saxony, Germany, June 21, 1833, where he was raised, schooled and served a regular apprenticeship at the trade of a miller ; he came to- this country in 1853. and located in Bureau Co., 111.; here he found employment upon a farm, remaining some three years ; he then removed to Minnesota, where he remained until 1860; in that year came to Bloomington, where he has since lived ; he began in mercantile life, by engaging in the bakery business; this he continued until 1872, when he opened a grocery store ; he is now located at 1107 North Main street, where he keeps a grocery store with a well assorted stock. He married Miss Lucetta Bittig, formerly of Bavaria, Germany, July 5, 1861 ; they have a family of four children. "NM1SS SARAH E. RAYMOND, Superintendent of the Bloomington Public Schools. Bloom- ington ; was born in Lisbon, Kendall Co., 111., where she receive 1 a common school education, and in 1860 taught her first school ; she graduated in 1866, from the State Normal School, of Normal, 111., then taught two years in Newark, 111., and in 1868 came to Bloomington and accepted a position in one of the ward schools as teacher, then as Principal, and was finally appointed Superintendent in 1874, which position she has filled ever since. Miss Raymond has been remarkably successful as a teacher and Superintendent, aud has the determination and good judgment which achieve success, and a pleasant manner and kindly disposition which make her deservedly popular. REV. ERHARDT RIEDKL, Pastor of the German Lutheran Church, Bloomington; was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1824; came to America in 1848, and first located in Wentworth Co., Ohio, where he was licensed as preacher under Dr. W. Sihler, who was President of the Senate of Ohio. Missouri, and other States ; he has taught school and preached in different parts of Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa; in Franklin Co.. Mo., he taught school about two years; thence to Cape Girardeau Co., thence to Cape Girardeau City, where he remained about nine years, engaged in preaching ; Rev. Mr. Riedel was also loc ited, for a short time, in Dubuque, Iowa, thence to Cook Co., 111., about twenty-five miles south of Chicago, where he remained about seven years; while there, his congregation erected a very handsome church, at a cost of $22,000; from Cook Co. came to Bloomington in 1876; here he has done much good in the chjirch and the schools. J. D. ROBINSON, florist, Bloomington ; owns one of the finest and best-arranged floral gardens in Bloomington, if not in the State ; he was born and brought up in the city of Bloom- ington, and has had abundant experience in the nursery business ; was at one time working in Phoenix Nursery. His father, James Robinson, was one of the pioneers of McLean County ; was born in Saratoga Co.. N. Y., March 11, 1808; he was engaged in business in Saratoga Springs for some years and then came West and located in Bloomington, in the spring of 183n the spring of 1861, in the 17th 111. Inf. ; he was elected 1st Lieut, of Co. G, which was raised in Woodford Co. ; he was promoted to the Captaincy in 1862 ; after a brilliant service of three years, he returned home to the pursuits of a peaceful life. He attended the law department of the Chicago University ; here Capt. Rowell applied himself with dili- gence, and in 1865 he graduated with an especially fine record, being the valedictorian of his class. His mind being thus stored with legal lore, the next movement in order was the realiza- tion of something from the investment ; he immediately began practice in Bloomington ; a part- nership was formed with Tipton & Benjamin, which continued through the years of 1866, 1867 and 1868. His energy aud ability soon demanded recognition, and, in 1868, he was elected State's Attorney for McLean, Logan and DeWitt Counties, and prosecuted with distinguished ability for four years. The partnership now with the Hon. J. M. Hamilton was formed in 1871. Capt. Rowell is one of the most successful criminal lawyers in Illinois, and this result has been reached by his own efforts. When he began his education, and upon entering Eureka College, he had $40 and a suit of clothes, and these constituted his worldly possessions. It was a struggle for success which sometimes looked dark and uncertain, but indomitable will triumphed over adverse circumstances. THOMAS PIERCE ROGERS, M. D., Bloomington, whose portrait appears in this work, was born Dec. 4, 1812, in Columbiana Co., Ohio ; his ancestors came from the north of Ireland; his grandfather, George Augustus Rogers, was born about the year 1735, in the north of Ireland, and was educated at Oxford for the ministry, but gave up that calling and accepted a commission in the British army ; he came to this country as Colonel in the army under Gen. Braddock, and was at the battle of Bloody Run (or Braddock's defeat), andalso with Gen. Wolfe when he stormed Quebec ; after peace was declared, he returned to England, resigned his commission and came to the United States about the year 1774; his son, Alexander Rogers, the father of Dr. Rogers, whose sketch we are writing, was born in 1773 : the family first settled in Frederick Co., Md., where it stayed until 1786, when it moved to Fayette Co., Penn. ; there Mr. Alexander Rogers married Catharine Wallahan, who was born in Carlisle, Penn. In the year 1798, Dr. Rogers' grandfather, father and all their connections moved on the extreme frontier, then the wilderness of Ohio ; there his father settled on a farm. The subject of this sketch received such an educa- tion as could be obtained in the little, round-log schoolhouse of a new country; at the age of 17, he went to a select school at New Lisbon, and finished his education at a Quaker institution at Salem ; he then returned home, working one or two years, and continuing his course of study ; he chose the profession of medicine, and began his study in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio ; he finished his course of study in Philadelphia, and returned to Tuscarawas Co., where he practiced in company with Dr. Lewis ; in the spring of 1838, he started for Illinois on horseback, and came to Marshall Co. ; and, in the month of March, located at Decatur, Macon Co., and soon afterward formed a copartnership with Dr. Thomas H. Reed, from Nashville, Tenn. ; Dr. Rogers afterward moved to Washington, Tazewell Co., and formed a copartnership with Dr. G. P. Wood, which continued for seven years. In June, 1840, he married Miss Harriet Wilcox, of North Bergen, Genesee Co., N. Y. ; she died four years after her marriage ; they had one child — Harriet Julia, who died at the age of 9 months. In May, 1846, he married Mrs. Minerva Burhance, a widow lady with one daughter. In 1848 Dr. Rogers learned from Stephen A. Douglas, in Peoria, that the Illinois Central Railroad would surely be built, and this decided him to move to Bloomington for a per- manent home ; he moved to Bloomington in March, 1849, and continued the practice of medicine up to 1867, when he retired from his profession, having been a successful practitioner for thirty years ; he then engaged in agricultural pursuits. While practicing his profession, he was three times chosen a delegate to the National Medical Conventions ; he was twice chosen a delegate to State Medical Conventions. Dr. Rogers has been more or less connected with politics since com- ing to the West; while at Decatur, he held the office of Postmaster for two years ; in 1848, he was selected at the Convention, at the village of Waynesville, to be a candidate for State Senator, but was defeated ; in 1862, he again received the nomination of his party for State Senator, but 814 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: was again defeated ; he has been honored by his party by being made a member of every Demo- cratic State Convention, except one, since 1844 ; has been chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, McLean Co., for eighteen years out of twenty-four; was appointed a delegate from Illinois to the Convention at Baltimore, which nominated Franklin Pierce ; he was an alternate delegate to the Charleston Convention ; was a delegate to the Baltimore Convention, when Doug- las was nominated. When the war came, the Doctor took strong ground for the Union, and did much work in getting volunteers, and took the stump and advocated crushing the rebellion out by the power of arms. In 1864, he was a delegate to the Convention which nominated McClel- lan for President ; when the Liberal movement was inaugurated, Dr. Rogers moved actively and efficiently in the matter, and was placed in nomination as its candidate for the Legislature under the minority representation system ; he was elected a member of the Lower House of the Assem- bly, and has been re elected every two years since ; and is at present serving in that capacity, and is recognized as one of the most active and far-sighted of its members. -r— \ OWEN T. REEVES, Bloomington. The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 18, 1829, in Ross Co., Ohio ; after a period at the common schools of the day, he entered the Wesleyan Uni- versity, at Delaware, Ohio ; his studies were pursued uninterruptedly with the highest results, and he graduated one of the most thoroughly learned students that ever went out of the institu- tion, in 1850; he received a merited compliment by being retained in the institution as tutor; he also filled the responsible position of Principal of the Chillicothe, Ohio, High School for four years, and engrafted upon the schools of that city many important changes in study and system which remain to this day ; he was recognized as one of the leading and most advanced educators of the day in Ohio : meantime, and during his active school service, he read extensively the primary law works, with a view to entering into the practice of the law, a profession for which he had certainly many natural qualifications. In 1854, Mr. Heeves was attracted to and located in the then young but promising city of Bloomington, 111. ; his known large experience in public- school matters operated to bring his services in demand ; he drew up the charter of the Union- School System, of Bloomington, in 1857 ; for five years he served faithfully and intelligently as a member of the Board of Education ; the magnificent system of schools in this city, and their flourishing condition, are results, in a great measure, due to the efforts of Mr. Reeves; and he yet watches their development with earnest solicitude. In 1861, he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors for Bloomington Township; in 1862, he was ^appointed City Attorney ; in these offices Mr. Reeves is said to have discharged the duties incumbent upon him in a faithful and praiseworthy manner, devoting to them his whole time and talents. In the latter part of 1862, when the country was struggling in the throes of civil war, Mr. Reeves responded to the call for troops, and, with commendable energy and patriotism, organized the 70th Illinois Infantry Regiment ; this regiment he commanded as Colonel with marked distinction ; after his service in the army, Col. Reeves returned to the walks and pursuits of private life. In 1867, he procured the charter for the L., B. & M. Railroad, and took a prominent part in the organization of the company and the construction of the road ; this varied and important business occupied actively all his time ; when the road was leased to the Wabash, Mr. Reeves became General Solicitor of the leased line, and continued such so long as the road remained in the hands of the Wabash. In 187-1, Col. Reeves joined Judge Benjamin in the organization of the Bloomington Law School ; during all this time he has enjoyed a large and important law practice ; in the month of March, 187 7, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court. ~^SMRS. GEN. GILES A. SMITH, Bloomington. History is but a plain, unvarnished state- ment of facts, whether these facts be relative to the works of art or of nature ; and if of the lat- ter, it may be of nations, kingdoms, States or individuals, the truths are just as important to be left upon record ; there was many a hero in the war of the late rebellion of whom the world is yet ignorant, or to whom history has not done justice. We would here mention the name of Gen. Giles A. Smith, as we purpose giving a brief biographical sketch of his life. To go into detail would require a volume half the size of this. He was a native of Jefferson Co., N. Y. ; was born Sept. 29, 1829 ; remaining at his native place until he had grown to man's estate, and had received his education ; leaving his native place, he came west as far as London, Ohio, where, for a short time, he was engaged in business ; he then went to Cincinnati, and for two years was in the employ of Day & Matlock, wholesale dry goods merchants. In 1856, he was married to Miss McLain, who is a native of Madison Co., Ohio, and a resident of London at the time of marriage : the same year they became residents of Bloomington, where she still resides. From this date until 1861, he was engaged in the mercantile and hotel business, being engageil in the latter business just previous to entering the army. From a Sunday until the following Thursday he closed the hotel, settled his private affairs and raised a company of soldiers ; he entered the service as Captain of Co. D, 8th Mo. V. I., the regiment being commanded by his brother, Morgan L. Smith; in the fall of 1861, he was stationed at Paducah, from which place, with his regiment, he took part in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson ; also the battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth, where his regiment was first in the rebel works, and took posses- sion. After the capture of Corinth, his regiment went to Memphis as a part of the 15th Corps ; here Gen. Smith was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and. on the promotion of his brother to a Brigadier, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel ; he soon after took part in BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 815 Sherman's first attack on Vicksburg, and afterward in the attack on Arkansas Post, where his horse was shot from under him, and himself slightly wounded; in the operations resulting in the capture of Vicksburg he took an active and conspicuous part. By a brilliant and daring feat, he, with his. regiment, rescued Admiral Porter and his iron-clads, when they were surrounded and hemmed in by the rebels. After the capture of Vicksburg, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, for gallant and meritorious conduct on the field of battle. As brigade com- mander, he took a conspicuous part in the campaign resulting in the defeat -ef Bragg, and at the siege of Chattanooga and battle of Mission Ridge, where he was badly wounded ; recovering from his wound, he returned to the field as brigade commander in the 15th (then the 17th) Army Corps, under Gen. Frank P. Blair. On the 22d of July, 1804, was fought the memorable battle of Atlanta, in which Gen. McPherson fell. The heaviest portion of this battle fell on the divis- ion of Gen. Smith. His gallant and heroic conduct on this occasion forms no small part in the history of that eventful day ; he then took part in Sherman's great march to the sea, in com- mand of the Second Division of the Seventeenth Corps. After the surrender of Lee, he, having been promoted to a full Major General, was transferred to the Twenty-fifth Army Corps, and stationed at Brownsville, Tex. After the division of the corps, he declined the commission of Col- onel of cavalry in the regular army, and returned to his home in Bloomington. He was appointed by President Grant as Second Assistant Postmaster General, which position he held until his resignation on account of failing health, in 1872. He then became a resident of Bloomington and of San Jose, Cal., but a resident of the former place at his death, which occurred on Sunday, Nov. 5, 1876. Thus perished a brave and gallant soldier, an honored citizen and fond husband and father. Mrs. Smith is still a resident of Bloomington. She was with Gen. Smith during most of his army life, and many of the scenes and incidents of war are indelibly impressed upon her memory. She has possession of all of the General's papers and commissions of promotion, which are, as they should be, highly prized by herself. She is a lady of fine mental culture, and is amply able to conduct the education of their only daughter. WILL S. SMITH, was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1851 ; he is the eldest son of Matthew C. and Mary Jane Smith, who were both natives of New York State ; his father was captain and owner of a vessel running between New York City and Albany, on the Hudson River ; he died February 18, 1857, leaving a family of five children — Anna E. (now Mrs. Dr. S. C. Wilson), Will S., Matthew C. and Frank B. ; during his life-time, however, he recognized the value of an education and made every effort to secure for his children that mental culture which is imperishable ; but Will was not a studious youth ; the glorious fun of fishing, hunting, base ball and other athletic sports, had for him a far greater charm than the problems of his arith- metic, the puzzling intricacies of his grammar, the comprehensive knowledge contained within the pasteboard lids of his geography, or even the polysyllables of his spelling-book ; all told, his schooling amounted to less than four years of constant attendance ; to this day, he acknowledges that it was his fault that not even a common-school education accompanied him when he embarked for himself in the struggle of life ; he applied himself to several vocations and finally settled down to learn the art of printing, which business he is at present engaged in ; he has worked in some of the largest cities in the country; in 1866, he, with his mother and youngest brother, moved West and settled in Bloomington, 111., where his sister and next elder brother preceded them about six months ; he married Miss Sue A. Colvin, Nov. 13, 1873; she was born in this county ; in 1876, Mr. and Mrs. Smith visited the Centennial Exposition, and made an extended tour through the East, visiting nearly all of the largest cities, and spending some time at his old home, where he had not been for ten years ; in 1878, he went to Chicago, 111., where he and his wife are at present living. "~" H. P. SEIBEL, Justice of the Peace, Bloomington ; was born in Bavaria, on the Rhine, June 1, 1831, where he received his education ; he came to this country in 1849, locating in Cincinnati, where he was engaged in book-keeping ; while there he was a member of the School Board for several years ; after which, he was engaged in the manufacture of pianos, in which business he continued some four years ; he came to Bloomington in 1872, where he has since lived, an enterprising and much respected citizen ; he was instrumental in establishing the paper-mill, which was for a time operated successfully; he is the founder of the Maennerchor Society of Bloomington, in which he officiated as President for several years ; for the last two years has served as musical director; this society is one of which the citizens of Bloomington may well be proud. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1877; this, with many other honorable and prominent positions, he has filled with credit. He married Miss Catharine Hoffmann, of Germany, Nov. 11, 1855; she was born June 24, 1831; they have a family of five. THOMAS SLADE, attorn ey-at- law, Bloomington ; was born in fall River, Mass., in March, 1834 ; he was of Quaker parentage, all of his ancestors for generations back being of that religious faith ; he received his preliminary education before entering college, at the Fall River high school and at Friends' Seminary, Providence, R. I ; in 1856, he entered the regular col- legiate course of Brown University, in the city of Proviience, which course he finished in three years. After graduation, he remained in the institution as a resident graduate for some months ; in March, 186U, he started for the West ; he landed in St. Louis in the same month, and at once 816 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: entered upon the study of the law, being at the same time employed as a deputy in the United States Ciicuit Clerk's office in St. Louis ; after a few months, in order to devote his entire time to his studies, he abandoned this position and entered the law office of "Knox, Smith & Sedge- wick; Mr. Slade continued his law studies until December, 1862, before applying for admission to the bar, at which time he was admitted to the bar of St. Louis, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession in that city. Just at this time, the troubles incident to the rebellion were convulsing the city of St. Louis, Composed of so many conflicting elements and factions arising out of the great questions at stake, and Mr. Slade united with the National Guards, a regiment which was at that time kept on duty in the city, at intervals standing guard over prisons and other duty in that vicinity; being engaged in this service, the work of his profes- sion was considerably interrupted, but he continued to practice a=( opportunity allowed and was building up a substantial and rapidly-growing business. In 1864, he was a candidate for City Attorney before the Republican convention of St.. Louis; five candidates were before the con- vention, but the contest was finally reduced to that between Mr. Slade and a Mr. Stewart, the latter a one-armed soldier, the latter receiving the nomination after a vigorous fight, by a very small majority ; no more fitting complin ent could have been paid to a young man, who arrived a stranger in the city four years before, than the flattering support he received in that conven- tion. In 1865, Mr. Slade decided to leave St. Louis, though regretting to leave the thriving business he had already established ; but, having gone from a cool coast climate, he was never satisfied with the warm sultry climate of the St. Louis region, and for this sole reason he left and came to Bloimington in quest of a cooler and more bracing climate; he at once effected a partnership with Mr. W. M. Hatch, who was then one of the longest resident attorneys of the place, the firm being styled Hatch & Slade ; in 1872, this firm was dissolved ; in 1879, he formed a partnership with Mr. H. E. Hadley, who is a young man with very flattering prospects for success ; he is a graduate of the Chicago College of Law. Mr. Slade, in 187.', was appointed a member of the State Bo ird of Education. ^-— AUGUSTUS SEIBEL, baker, Bloomington ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, Jan. 23, 1845, and came to this country in 1856, locating in Cincinnati ; for some two years he attended school, then began the trade of a baker, which he followed until December, 1861, when he enlisted with the 6th Ky. V. I.; he was in many of the heaviest battles and most severe skirmishes of the war; was promoted to 2d Lieutenant, then to 1st Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant; he was mustered out at Brazos Santiago, Tex , Nov. 13, 1865. His place of business is 713 West Chestnut street ; he is a practical baker of many years' experience, which enables him to turn out the best of bread, cakes and pies, which can be obtained at the store or from the delivery wagon. He married Miss Margaret Hoffmann, of Cincinnati, July 2, 1867 ; they have been resi- dents of Bloomington since 1868, and have a family of three children living. 0. B. STILES, cigar-maker, Bloomington; was born in Norwich, N. Y., May 7, 1839, where he was raised, schooled, and learned the trade of a cigar-maker, in which business he has had many years of experience; he came to Bloomington in 1866, and began on his own account the manufacturing of cigars, and did an extensive business for a time, but, like many good busi- ness men, met with adversity; but, being possessed of energy and perseverance, he began anew with the determination to succeed, and is now doing quite an extensive business ; his place of business is No. 120 South Main street, where he superintends the manufacturing of fine cigars. He married Miss Louisa A. Conly, of his native county, Nov. 15, 1860 ; they have one child — Lott ie M. R. W. STUBBLEFIELD, dealer in and importer of Norman French horses, Bloomington ; he is a native of McLean Co.; first engaging in the stock business in 1868, when he began buying, selling and shipping cattle and hogs until May, 1874, when he made his first importa- tion of Norman horses ; since engaging in the business, he has imported twenty-three head ; he has on hand now about forty head of thoroughbred and graded stock, among which are imported seven sttllions and six mares; his stock-farm of 160 acres is located three miles west of Shirley ; he is also doing a feed and livery business ; located corner of Front and Lee streets, in what is known as the old Jones livery-stable ; though his importations may not be so large as some other dealers, no tiner stock can be found in the State of Illinois than is found at his stock-farm or at his stables in Bloomington. — ~ T. W. STEVENSON, hardware, Bloomington ; T. W. Stevenson, of the firm of Stevenson & Bro., is a native of Christian Co., Ky.; his people in 1863 left Kentucky and came to McLean Co., where he has since been a resident; in 1872, he was engaged in general job-work and repairing; this he followed until 1875, when he engaged in the hardware trade with his brother, J. C; in 1877. they built No. 107 East Front street, which is a fine brick, with heavy plate-glass front, the building being 20x90 feet, three floors and basement ; they have the entire building well stocked with a complete line of hardware and stoves ; they are also agents for J. W. Reedy' s elevator, one of which they are using in their own establishment. T. W. was married Nov. 30, 1876, to Miss Mary Gildersleeve, her people being old and prominent settlers of McLean Co. There is probably no family of brothers now residing in Bloomington who are better or more favorably known than the Stevensons ; they are not only live, active business men, but some of them have won distinction politically ; the brothers, T. W. and J. C, have shown as much energy .. WCStVTK BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 819 and good business tact as any ; beginning upon a very small capital, they have, in a few years, established a business of which they may well be proud. *— M. G. SIMONS, ice-dealer, Bloomington ; was born in Wyoming Co., Penn., Nov. 25, 1829, where he spent his early life and obtained a schooling ; he removed to DeKalb Co., 111., with his parents in 1844, where he lived until 1863, when he came to Bloomington, 111., and engaged in the ice business, continuing it one year; he then engaged with the C. & A. R. R. Co., and after two years returned to the ice business, and -is now prepared to supply the citizens with the best of ice at reasonable rates. He is honorable and upright in his dealings, and a much-respected citizen. He married Miss Ellen M. Brown, of De Kalb Co., 111., March 2, 1856; they have a family of seven. J. V. SCOTT, contractor and builder, Bloomington, is a native of Pennsylvania ; in 1845, he came West and located in Greene Co., Ind.; there he began learning the trade of a carpenter and joiner, serving a regular apprenticeship of three years ; he remained there working at his trade until 1865, when he again moved West, locating the last time in Bloomington, where he has since resided ; he has been actively engaged in his business since learning his trade ; for thirty-three years has been a contractor ; since his residence in Bloomington, he has, by close attention to business, won the respect and confidence of the prominent class of citizens ; the consequence has been, a large number of the finer class of prominent buildings have been con- tracted to him for erection ; among the many of this class of buildings, may be mentioned Funk's, Pollock's, Colwell's and Probasco's ; by a steady attention to his business and a respect for the rights of other people, he has established a large business. < ^-~ WILLIAM HAWLEY SMITH, County Superintendent of Schools, Bloomington; was born in Franklin Co., Mass., Oct. 7, 1845; he was brought to Christian Co., 111., by parents in 1855, and was raised upon a farm, and received his early education at. the district schools ; he removed to Normal in 1865, and en'ered the State Normal University, graduating in 1870, and the following year was Principal of the Granville Public School (Putnam Co.); from 1871 to 1873, was Principal of Tonica Graded School, after which he abandoned teaching on account of his health, and went out on the road as commercial traveler, continuing at this until January, 1875, when he resumed teaching, taking charge of the Farmer City Graded School, continuing until the following November, when he was elected to the office of County School Superintend- ent. Mr. Smith is a man of fine mental powers, social and genial, through which qualities he has won the popularity that placed him in his present position. He married Miss Ellen H. Galusha, of Morris, 111., July 19, 1870; they have two children — Arthur G. and Leslie. ,-^— "DR HERMAN SCHROZDER, proprietor Grand Opera House, Bloomington ; was born in the town of Althaldensleben, near the city of Magdeburg, in Prussia, in 1821. His father was one of the great Napoleon's old soldiers, who gave the signal of retreat from Moscow on the side of the Emperor. On his deportation to Siberia he escaped from Russian slavery, and found, after a long wandering, a home and wife in Althaldensleben. Here the doctor was born in a year of great famine, and taken in a basket to the Kloyster Fields, by his laboring mother ; he had the best schools the town and Kloyster could afford, and, being of Catholic parents, was selected to become a priest. As his parents were poor — aristocratic people, and even the Bishop, took hold of this remarkable scholar, and furnished him with the means to study, but after the death of his mother, he abandoned the idea of becoming a priest, and commenced the study of natural philosophy and medicine. At the height of his studies, his main protector, Herr Nathusius, died, and he commenced the study and work of an architect ; here he succeeded so well that soon he became the contractor of Government buildings, and made money, with a great prospect before him. He then married, in 1846, the youngest daughter of the late Baronet Prince von Buchau, who was the General Adjutant of the great Gen. Blucher, at Waterloo, and last commander of Cassel. But, with his thorough study of history and love for Republican principles, our doctor became an agitator in press and public speeches, and, in the great historical year 1848, we find him upon the barricades an I among the revolutionary speakers, and, as a contra revolution took place, our doctor was prosecuted, and would have been shot, if he had not escaped at night with his young wife to free America, disguised, in one of the old, rotten, wooden ships. In New York, he soon found out that he could not succeed, so he wandered as an emigrant to Cleveland, Ohio ; here he found kind friends, and took up again the old study of medicine, and, after two years, became a physician of note ; after practicing medicine in Mansfield and Mt. Gilead, Ohio, for a while, he traveled by wagon to the West, and landed in the then little town of Bloomington, 111. He settled, in 1852, near the Illinois Central depot, then a prairie, and constructed a shanty out of the first old log house ever built in Bloomington, and practiced medicine. Our doctor had a sharp eye to business, and bought of Mr. Wm. Dimmet nine town-lots, and erected, in the course of two years, thereon, thirteen houses, from lumber he made himself from twenty acres of tim- ber-land, which he bought. Rents were high then, and soon the doctor accumulated money to buy from the Illinois Central Railroad 120 acres of land, now the south side of El Paso, and 80 acres, now the city of Gilman ; he named it Schrcederville ; he laid it out in lots, but sold it, in 1856, for a good price then, and commenced grape culture, and probably the first vineyards in the West. His success was great, particularly in the propagation of grape vines and plants ; he soon became the leading man in his new business, and has sold by this time, over twenty millions of JJ 820 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: young vines all over America, even to France and Germany ; his ambition and profits were great, and, in 1866, he built the opera house, with two stores, opposite the Court House Square, in this city ; in 1869, he helped build Minerva Block, the finest building in the city. Other valuable blocks and city property he added year by year, besides nearly 10,000 acres of Western lands. He invested in the Bloomington Coal Mine, and owned nearly one-fifth of the stock ; was twice President of the mine, but sold out at a great loss, to devote his time to his nursery business. In 1878, he erected his Steam Sausage and Meat Pressing Factory, on South Main street, a bus- iness of great promise. His vineyards are laid out in Schrceder's Addition. The doctor has two daughters — America and Minerva, and one son, Franklin. As a jovial, literary and business man, he will not soon be forgotten in Bloomington. ~A. C. SWEETSER, Justice of the Peace, Bloomington; was born in Oxford Co., Me., Feb. 23, 1839 ; he removed to Leeds, Wis., where he lived some four years, and thence to Blooming- ton ; during his early life, he learned the trade of a miller, which he followed until 1861. He then enlisted in Co. K, 8th I. V. I. (three months), and served until the expiration of the term ; then re-enlisted with the 39th I. V. I.; he was in many severe battles and skirmishes ; before Petersburg, on June 2, 1864, he was severely wounded in both legs, from the effect of which he was compelled to have the left leg amputated ; previous to receiving these wounds, be had served some three years, and escaped without a scratch, though having many narrow escapes. After the war, he returned to Bloomington, and, in 1867, was elected Town and City Collector, serving some five years, and in 1873, he was appointed a Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. Mr. Sweet- ser is a man of good business ability, social and genial, and a much-respected citizen. ""JAMES STONE, Captain of Police, Bloomington; was born in Jefferson Co., Tenn., Jan. 21, 1845; he was brought to this county by his parents while quite young, and received a good common-school education. During the late war, he enlisted with the 33d I. V. I., and served two and a half years, and was in many of the severe engagements, escaping without a scratch After the war, he followed school-teaching for about seven years. In 1873, he was appointed upon the police force, where he bears the reputation of always discharging his duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, through which he has won the friendship and respect of the citi- zens of Bloomington ; he was appointed to the position of Captain of the Police, by Mayor Bunn in 1877, which position he has since held, having been re-appointed in 1878, by Mayor Reed. He married Miss Cynthia Foster, of this place, March 30, 1869; they have a family of f our — Jennie E., Stella, Pearl and an infant. "H. H. SWAIM, Deputy Sheriff, Bloomington; was born in Marion Co., Ind., Dec. 16, 1840, and raised, chiefly, in St. Joe, Mo., where he received his schooling. During the late war, he enlisted with the First Engineer Corps, of Missouri, entered the army July 13, 1861, and partic- ipated in many severe engagements, among which were Lexington. Shiloh, and the principal engagements while with Sherman, through Georgia ; he escaped without injury. After the war, he located in Bloomington, where he has since been engaged in various business capacities. Many important positions of trust have been confided to him here, among which we may men- tion that of Street Commissioner, to which he was elected in 1866, and re-elected in 1867, and to his present position as Deputy Sheriff March 21, 1872. He married Miss Paulina Stewart: they have one child — Leota P. -JOHN SPINNING, butcher, Bloomington; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., Sept. 6, 1843, where he passed his early life ; he came to Bloomington in 1873, and followed carpentering, also contracting and building for a time ; then engaged in the butcher's business; his market is located at 304 North Main ; keeps the best quality of meats, both salt and fresh, and is a practi- cal and well-posted butcher. He married Miss Nancy Simpson, Sept. 28, 1869 ; they have two children— William S. and Roy. J. R. SCOTT, grocer, of the firm of Scott & Miller, Bloomington ; was born in Greene Co., Ind., May 29, 1852 ; his parents were John V. and Phoebe M. (Plumb) Scott ; he received a good education, and began in mercantile life with A. Eversole, Esq., continuing with him for a number of years, and thoroughly learning the business ; he opened business for himself in 1875, in com- pany with Thomas Evans ; this partnership lasted one year, when he became associated with his present partner ; they are located at the corner of Main and Mulberry streets ; here they keep a neat and well-stocked establishment ; they are careful and reliable business men ; they are still young, but with a prospect of success before them. Mr. Scott married Miss Katie M. Roberts, formerly of Carlisle, Penn., Dec. 20, 1876. ^- WILLIAM STAUTZ, butcher, Bloomington ; son of Jacob and Bibianna (Uhri) Stautz, who were early settlers of Bloomington ; the father died Sept. 24, 1878 ; he had lived a prominent and much respected citizen. The subject of this sketch was born in Bloomington, Nov. 24, 1859 ; he now manages the affairs of the butcher shop located at 501 W. Market street, one of the neat- est and best arranged shops of the city, and has the reputation of keeping for sale the best quality of all kinds of meats, both salt and fresh. -~F. R. SPRAGUE. grocer, firm of Sprague & Johnson, Bloomington ; was born in Union Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1851, and brought to this county by his parents in 1857, locating in Lexing- ton, where he was raised and schooled; he came to Bloomington in 1870, and in 1871 he engaged with Aldrich & Bros, (wholesale grocers) as book-keeper, where he remained until BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 821 1875, after which he was with A. Anthony (grocer) until 1877, when he embarked in the grocery business on his own account : he is located at No. 619 North Main street ; here he keeps a fine grocery, in which is offered a well assorted stock of goods, and sold at bottom figures. PH. W LL1AM STAUTZ, butcher, in company with F. A. Homuth. Bloomington; is a native of Prussia, where he was born May 15, 1838 ; at the age of 14 he emigrated to this country, and came directly to Bloomington, where he has since temained, engaged in the butcher business, which has given him some eleven years' experience in the business, lie married Miss Caroline Diedrick, of his native country, Sept. 23, 1877; they have one child — Maiilda. ^AMES B. STEVENSON, Bloomington; was born in Christian Co., Ky., and moved to Illinois and located in Bloomington in 1853 ; in 1867, in company with others, he helped to sink the McLean Co. Coal Shaft, which was first sunk to a depth of about three hundred feet; this vein they worked for a year or more, when they sunk it again to a second vein, which was about four hundred feet from the surface ; this vein proved to be a better quality, but also very expensive to work. After a period of about three years of discouragement and unforeseen dif- ficulties, the company again prospered, and found a third vein of coal at five hundred and forty feet below the surface, being the deepest working shaft in the State. The McLean County Coal Co. are now raising from three hundred to four hundred tons of coal per day, and their pay rolls vary from $16,000 to $19,000 per month, giving employment to about three hundred men, and reducing the price of coal to half its former cost, saving many thousand dollars to this community. < CHARLES SHACKLEFORD, Bloomington; was born in Maysville, Ky., on the 4th day of October, 1840; his early youth was passed in acquiring the rudiments of book knowledge; he entered Bethany College, Virginia, and after years of close and patient study, graduated with much credit in 1860; he returned home and entered the law office of Hon. John A. Clarke, one of the prominent attorneys of Maysville. For four years he applied himself with diligence, and acquired a vast amount and wide range of legal knowledge. In 1864, he received the necessary authority to practice in Kentucky. Through fidelity to the interests of his clients, Mr. S. worked himself into a really lucrative practice; but, like a great many others, he thought, to achieve distinction, he must leave the scenes of youth and seek it among strangers. At that day Illinois was the El Dorado for which all amb tious and aspiring spirits were push- ing. Mr. Shackleford broke away from home and friends and familiar associations, and cast his fortunes with the hospitable and open-hearted people of Illinois; he located in Bloomington, and very soon business of an important nature came pouring in upon him ; rapidly he acquired an extensive practice in the Stnte and Federal courts in Illinois and Missouri, and now he has at least sufficient business to keep him constantly engaged ; although he has a miscellaneous practice of no small importance, his largest revenue it derived from his services connected with trust estates for Eastern capitali ts. This business he has managed with uniform success, as he has all the oiher details of his legal business. In 1875, the Democratic Cen'ral Committee of Ohio, engaged Mr. Shackleford for a series of speeches in tlje campaign of that ye;ir, in the interest of Gov. Allen. Mr. S. made an extended canvass, speaking in company wiih such orators as Pendleton, Voorhees and Judge Thurman. His speeches attracted wide attention, and were published extensively as campaign do uments. He advocated with conspicuous ability the increase of the currency in the interest of the West, and in all essential points he cham- pioned Western issues. W. W. STEVENSON. Superintendent McLean County Coal Company, Bloomington ; was born in Christian Co., Ky., Aug. 15, 1840. When 11 years old, he came to McLean Co., 111., and settled in Bloomington When he was about 15 years old, he commenced to learn the trade of printing, in the Pantograph office. He worked at his trade some eighteen months, thence to school, where he received a good education. In 1859, Mr. Stevenson commenced farming on a piece of Illinois Central Railroad land ; here he remained until 1863. He then entered the butcher business. Since then, he has been engaged in grocery, boots and shoes and hardware business. In 1868, he was appointed Superintendent and Weigher of the McLean County Coal Company. The shaft is 540 feet below the surface, being the deepest working shaft in the State. The coal is of the very best quality. They are now raising from three hundred to five hundred tons of coal per day. They employ two hundred hands. Mr. Stevenson, in 1878 was elected Alderman from the Third Ward on the Independent ticket. He is a Democrat in politics. N. C. SWEENY, Bloomington; was born in Muskingum Co. Ohio, Jan. 1, 183s, and i-t the son of Joseph Sweeny, ot Maryland, a farmer, who moved to Ohio at an early day. and from thence to Illinois, about 1858 ; he died in McLean County, in 1871, at the age of 65 years, respected and honored. Mr. N. C. Sweeny came to Bloomington in 1860: he was at one time in the lumber business, and also, for a short time, in the grain business. He is a Republican in politics, and, in 1876, was elected Alderman of the First Ward, which office he now fills. , STEPHEN SMITH, dry goods, Bloomington: one of the best-known business men of Bloomington; was born near Clarksville. Tenn. When he was only 5 years old he moved to Illinois with his parents, and settled in Greene Co. His father was a farmer, and a soldier of the war of 1812. Mr. Smith was raised on the farm. When he was 18 years old, in 1847, he commenced clerking in a store. In 1850, he formed a partnership with his brother. In 1851, 822 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: they moved their stock to Springfield and commenced the dry goods business. There Mr. Smith remained until 1860, when he came to Bloomington, and, April 5, I860, began the dry goods business in his present location, and to-day is the oldest dry goods man in Bloomington. H. M. SENSENEY, coal merchant, Bloomington; was born in Frederick Co., Va , and is the son of John Senseney. At the age of 21, he came West and located in Bloomington, where he has remained ever since, engaged chiefly in mercantile business. He has been in the retail grocery line, in the coal business and a traveling agent on the road ; the first in the grocery line from Bloomington. Mr. Senseney married Miss Love Ballard, in May, 1865 ; they have four children, one girl and three boys. --ADLAI E. STEVENSON. Mr. S. is by birth a Kentuckian, having been born in that State on the 23d day of October, 1835. In 1852, he came to Illinois, and soon after began study at the Wesleyan University ; he also pursued his studies, both scientific and classical, at Center College, Ky. He was known as a thorough and practical student, and the time passed in the company of professors and students was put to the best possible use. His mind was placed at the head- waters of the fountains of knowledge, and of all that flowed through he retained only the most precious gems. In May, 1858, he was admitted to the bar, after a rigid examination — an ordeal which is as greatly dreaded by the legal aspirant of to-day, if indeed not more than it was twenty years ago. On the 18th of December, 1858, Mr. Stevenson located in Woodford Co., and for ten years had a large and important practice there. In 1869, he located in Bloomington, and has practiced his profession here since. Mr. Stevenson has been the worthy recipient of honors at the hands of the people. In 1861, he was appointed Master in Chancery of Woodford Co., by Judge Richmond, and was re-appointed to the position in 1863, holding the office for four years. In 1864, Mr. Stevens received yet farther public recognition. In that year he was elected Pros- ecuting Attorney for the Twenty-third District, within the boundaries of which was embraced the counties of Woodford, Marshall and Putnam. This position he held for four years, and it is said that he prosecuted for the State with so much vigor that his district was nearly cleared of law- breakers. In 1864, he was a candidate for Presidential Elector, in the McClellan campaign, and made a uhorough canvass of the State. At this time, he attracted attention as a ready debater and fluent speaker, and made a good record as a campaign orator. In 1874, Mr. Stevenson was sent by the people of the 13th District to represent them, in Congress, and while there he demeaned himself in a manner to command respect from political friends and foes. In 1877, President Hayes appointed Mr. Stevenson to a position upon the Board of Visitors to West Point Naval Academy. All these positions have been filled intelligently and the duties discharged faithfully, and the most searching investigation into Mr. Stevenson's public acts would fail to uncover either neglect or malfeasance. While in Congress, Hon. A. E. Stevenson was a member of the Committee on Territories, and the District of Columbia. He was appointed by the Speaker of the House as a member of the special committee to investigate charges against Federal offi- cials in the Custom House at New Orleans. While in Congress, Mr. S. constantly advocated the reduction of expenses of the General Government, and opposed the admission of New Mexico as a State in the Union, because of "its lack of the requisite population. He favored the repeal of the Resumption act and the remonetization of silver. He delivered a speech in Congress in Jan- uary, 1877, advocating the organization of the Electoral Commission for the purpose of settling the complications growing out of the late Presidential election. He favored the faithful execu- tion of that law, and opposed schemes tending to delay the count of the electoral vote. He became a law partner of James S. Ewing in June, 1869, which partnership still continues. Among the important suits in which this firm have been engaged as counsel are the mandamus proceedings against the towns of Waynesville and Old Town, recently decided by the Supreme i ourt in their favor. In both cases the writ of mandamus was denied, by which the towns were relieved from a heavy bonded indebtedness. Mr. S. has been an active member of the Masonic fraternity, being Past Master of Bloomington Lodge, No. 43, as well as a member of the Chapter and Commandery. — -ISAAC W. STROUD, attorney at law, Bloomington; was born in McLean Co., 111., Sept. 16, 1845, and is the son of Elbridge Stroud, who was an early settler of this county, having made his home hereabout 1830, coming from Ohio; his death occurred Feb. 20,1855, when about 42 years old. Isaac W. Stroud was admitted to practice law at the Illinois bar in 1874; in 1875, he was elected by the Republican party as Treasurer of McLean County; this office he filled until 1877. MRS. C. TOWNSEND, wHow, Bloomington; is the widow of Rev. J. B. Townsend (now deceased). Mr. Townsend was a gentleman of more than ordinary mental capacity, though for many years an invalid. In speaking of those who are gone, we feel that this history would be incomplete, without a personal mention of Mr. T. He was a native of Washington ( o., N. Y.; was born Aug. 8, 1810; his father intended him for the legal profession; for this purpose he entered the Union College of Schenectady, N. Y., where he was graduated with honor in 1835; he then spent one year in Castleton, Vt., as assistant principal in a seminary; he then entered the Auburn Theological Seminary ; finishing his theological course in the Union Seminary of New York ; his health failing, he moved to Knoxville, Tenn., taking charge of a seminary for young ladies; here he formed the acquaintance of Gen. John H. Cook, of Virginia; his health BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 823 still being poor, he was induced to visit Gen. Cook at his home in Virginia ; regaining his health, he again began preaching in Goochland Co., Va; in 1843, he went to the wild country of Mis- souri, and began his work there ; shrinking from no duty and laboring almost incessantly, his health again gave way, and he was compelled to desist; from here he went to St. Louis, and took charge of the Free Church ; here, for six years, he was eminently successful ; his congre- gation grew so rapidly, as to cause the erection of a large edifice, known as the Pine Street Church; in 1850, he accepted a call as the Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church of Cincin- nati ; this appointment he held for nearly two years, when his throat again became so bad, that he retired from the pulpit ; though he lived for twelve years after retiring, he did not after- wards preach. For five years he was engaged in the grain trade in St. Louis; then moved to McLean Co., where he resided until his death, which occurred from consumption Jan. 27, 1865. As a financier, Mr. Townsend was as successful as in the pulpit. During his business in St. Louis, he accumulated a fine property; though, by the treachery of those he thought were his friends, he lost over $20,000; he still left, at his death, a fine property. Sept. 6, 1839, he mar- ried Miss Cordelia Dunning, of Fairfield, N. Y. Mrs. Townsend is still a resident of Blooming- ton. She is a pleasant, genial lady, and is respected by a large circle of friends. THE BLOOMINGTON LEADER, Bloomington. The publication of the Weekly Leader was commenced on the 17th of December, 1868. by Orin Waters and John S. Scibird, who were for- merly owners of the Pantagraph ; on the 22d day of February following, the Daily Leader was started, and both publications have appeared regularly ever since; on July 12, I860, the Eveninj Leader was changed to a morning paper, and as such was published until Oct. 9, when it was again changed to an evening paper ; Mr. Elias Smith was editor-in-chief, assisted on the local by J. S. Scibird, one of the proprietors ; as a compliment to the publishers, the position of Post- master was given to Mr. Scibird, who held the office for four years ; in 1872, a stock company was formed, composed principally of leading politicians, who elected O. Waters as Manager ; hard times continued and it proved a financial failure; Feb. 19, 1874, 0. Waters purchased the right, title and interest of the stock-holders and became sole proprietor and publisher; in Jan- uary, 1875, Mr. Waters became financially embarrassed and the establishment passed into the hands of the present proprietor, Mr. M. F. Leland ; the Leader has grown to be a strictly first- class paper, and is fearless in its advocacy of the right ; it is Republican in politics, and does not hesitate to expose wrong, whether in the Republican party or out of it ; the Weekly Leader enjoys a large circulation and the confidence of its readers ; the Daily Leader is also a creditable and enterprising sheet, an/1 has a large advertising patronage and an entensive circulation ; journal- istic ventures have been frequent in Bloomington, but in nearly every instance, with the exception of the Leader and Pantagraph, they have been failures and short-lived. M. F. Leland, the present proprietor and publisher of the Ijeader, was born in Sherborn, Middlesex Co., Mass., on the 28th day of March, 1835 ; came to Bloomington, in 1858, and for a number of years was engaged in the photograph business in this city ; was then one of the proprietors of the East Grove Street nursery, in company with E. Beaumont ; in 1869, he took a position on the Lender, as solicitor and collector; subsequently he was local editor, and still later became proprietor and publisher. Under his management the Ijeader grew in influence, and in the first three years the circulation of the Weekly Leader more than quadrupled ; the daily also improved in its appearance and support, and now enjoys the reputation of being one of the best and most reliable publications in the State ; the job-printing department is one of the largest and best equipped in Central Illinois, and turns out. a large amount of choice work ; in fact, the Leader is established on a firm founda- tion, and its future is as sure as the sunshine ; considerable money has been sunk in bringing it to its present sound financial standing, an experience which we may say all newspapers have to pass through before reaching the goal which the ambition of the publishers anticipates. WILLIAM W. TUTTLE, of the firm of Baird & Tuttle, Loan Agents, Bloomington ; was born in New York, and is a graduate of Columbia College ; he came West in 1872, and entered into partnership with Mr. Baird in the loan business. These gentlemen have control of the Phcenix Nursery. - — . THOMAS F. TIPTON, Bloomington ; was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Aug. 29, 1833 ; his father, Hiram Tipton, removed from the Buckeye State to Illinois, in the year 1844, and settled in the section now known as Money Creek Township. In March of 1845, his father died, Thomas at that time being but eleven years old ; he continued to live with his mother until her second marriage, in 1847, when he cut loose from the parental roof-tree, and began life on his own account, and took his future into his own hands. At this time he is described as a boy, that, while he had no vicious habits, possessed a quick and retentive memory, a deep reverence for truth and honesty, and with a keen contempt for anything affected or snobbish. During the summer months, he worked on a farm, and, in winter, he went to school, thus obtaining knowledge under difficulties ; this was continued until he had attained to his sixteenth year, when he began teach- ing, but in the winter going himself to school as a pupil. Mr. Tipton began the garnering of legal knowledge in the law office of H. N. Keitly, at Knoxville, 111., being a careful reader and a close, pains-taking student ; at this time he was in the most robust health, being very strong and active, and excelling in all athletic sports. In the spring of 1854, young Tipton was admitted to practice, and, as a singular coincidence, attained his majority the same year. He began active 824 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: law practice at Lexington, and continued there until Jan. 1, 1862, at which time his lucky star directed him to Bloomington, and in the spring of 1863, he formed a law partnership with Reu- ben M. Benjamin. In January, 1836, Gov. Oglesby appointed him State's Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and for two years he discharged the duties of the office with infinite satisfactiou to the law-abiding people, and to the great annoyance of evil-doers of high and low degree. In 1869, the Hon. Lawrence Weldon became a partner, and the firm was then known as Weldon, Tipton & Benjamin; but, as his worth became recognized, Mr. Tipton was called higher up. In August, 1870, he was elected Circuit Judge, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the venerable Jno. M. Scott, who had been elected as a member of the Supreme bench of the State. When Mr. Tipton took his place on the bench, the new constitution had been but just adopted, making many radical changes, and opening up a vast field of unexplored legal work, thus mak- ing work on the bench necessarily slow, and much more laborious than formerly ; he was rewarded for his fidelity to the interests of the people, and his efforts in behalf of equity, by an indorsement in the way of a re election for the term of six years. He remained on the bench until March 1, 1877, when he resigned to take a seat in Congress — another step higher. The 1st of March, 1877, Mr. Tipton and John E. Pollock formed a law partnership under the style of Tipton & Pollock, as it now stands; previous to his election to the bench Mr. Tipton enjoyed a large civil and criminal practice; it was as varied as litigation itself, and it was uniformly managed with good tact and acknowledged legal acumen; he was not a lawyer simply to wring from quib- bles and technical obscurities th it justice which else he could never reach, but he sought to win upon the broad spirit of the law in its most elevated sense. He was elected to the Forty-fifth Congress as a Republican, receiving 15,229 votes ; in Congress he favored the Silver bill ; intro- duced a bill for postal savings banks ; opposed the further contraction of the currency and the Wood Tariff bill ; also opposed the William and Mary College bill, and the " Potter revolution" he opposed ; he was against the transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War Department. "nQHARLES THEIS, grocer, Bloomington; was born in Prussia, Oct. 7, 1824; during his early life he received a fair education, and began mercanti'e life as clerk with a wholesale house, remaining some eight years ; he came to this country in 1851, locating in St. Louis, and followed clerking in variou< branches of mercantile business until 1857, when he came to Bloomington, 111., shortly thereafter embarking in the grocery business on his own account, and locating at his present place of business, No. 712 W. Chestnut street; here he keeps a good line of groceries. He marr.ed Miss Frances Sommerheuser, of his native country, in September, 1856; she was born Feb. 2, 1832 ; they have a family of six — Bertha, Clara, Charles, Julia, Ida and Flora. L. L. TRACY, engineer at Water-works, Bloomington; was born in Chittenden Co.. Vt., Oct. 21, 1818. During his early life, he obLained a good education, and for some ten years was engineer for the Steamboat Transportation Company that plied between Whitehall and St. John, Canada. This gave him a thorough knowledge of engineering. He abandoned steamboating in 1850, and removed to Janesville, Wis., where he followed milling until 1865 ; thence to Aurora, 111., where he engaged in flouring. He came to Bloomington in 1867. He had by his own energy accumulated a large property, but, like many good business men, met with adversity and lost severely; but, being possessed of untiring energy, he resolved to begin anew, and engaged as engineer with William Flagg. machinery manufacturer, and, since 1871, has been gradually returning toward his once high financial standing. He was appointed by Mayor Reed to his present position in 1878. He is a practical engineer, and considered the right man in the right place. He married Miss Elizabeth Hill, of his native county, Feb. 12, 1844. They have four children living. s^ ""^jr. F. TRYNER, grocer, of the firm of Tryner & Tewk^lwrry, Bloomington ; was born in Lincolnshire, England, Oct. 30, 1809. He came io this country in 1833, locating in New York City, and there engaged in the tailoring business, which he followed until 1844, when he began in the clothing and furnishing business. In 18 >6, he removed to Salem, 111., and opened busi- ness. In 1866, he came to Bloomington, and, for a number of years, was with his son, G^A- Tryner (grocer). In 1876, he engaged in business with his present partner. These many years of mercantde experience enable him to command a good trade. His place of business is 103 West Front street, where he keeps a well-assorted stock of family groceries and provisions. He has twice married — first to Miss Eliz ibeth Roberts, of Wakefield, England, in February, 1833 ; she died in 1851. He was married to his present wife in 1854; she was formerly Margaret H. Sclover, of New Jersey. He has eight children living. THE EYE. H. R. Persinger, editor, Bloomington. The Bloomington Sunday 3Iorniny Rye was started on Jan. 20, 1878 ; it was the second attempt at Sunday journalism in Bloomington ; the Sunday Herald, the first venture, commenced in July, 1877, and, after a painful struggle of three months, died out : great doubts, therefore, were entertained as to the success of The Eue, and the publisher, although confident, was discouraged and distrusted on every hand ; the office was located in the second room, upstairs, over Living-ton's clothing house, corner Main and Washington streets; when the paper went to press about midnight on the 19th of January, the press-room was thronged with a crowd eager to see the infant ; fears were whispered of its recep- tion, and its early demise was predicted as certain ; in the face of the unlimited amount of dis- trust exhibited, the editor sometimes looks back and wonders how he ever had the courage to BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 825 pursue his adventure ; but his confidence never once flagged ; a discouraging accident happened at the very outset ; owing to utter carelessness on the part of the pressman, who had been drinking, two of the forms shifted out of place on the press, and several columns of bright, new type were mashed and ruined in spots ; although late and everybody worn out, the matter had to be almost wholly reset, which occupied the whole night, and the papers were not all printed until 4 o'clock A. M. ; Sunday dawned dark, and ihreatening rain ; but a small army of excited news- boys were soon scampering over the city, yelling — " Here's yer Sunday Morning Eye." and their enthusiasm was enhanced by the ready s.iles they met with. The Eye was looked upon with favor, and from that time. to the present one — one and a half years — has constantly increased in favor and circulation; it, to-day, circulates in almost every home in the city; has been twice enlarged and improved ; enjoys an envied advertising patronage, and is in a condition of gratify- ing prosperity ; in material and influence, it has trebled itself in value, and is not incumbered by a single debt In October, 1878, it was removed to elegant rooms over the People's Bank, corner of Center and Washington streets, where it now has the finest location and most cheerful office in the city ; its subscription price is $2 a year, postage paid, or 5 cents a copy ; the city circulation is far in excess of that of any other Bloomington local paper. Its editor, Holland R. Persinger, was born at Xenia, Ohio, June 9, 1852; he began his career as a journalist or printer in the office of the Sidney (Ohio) Democrat, a weekly paper, in February, 1869, finishing his apprenticeship in the office of the La Fayette Daily Courier ; he was employed as city reporter and editor of the La Fayette Sunday Leader, nearly five years previous to his advent in Bloomington. In 1877, thinking he could manage a paper of his own. he traveled over Illinois in search of a location, landing at Bloomington, and, in January, 1878, produced The Eye, of which he is still editor and proprietor. J. THOMPSON, grocer, of the firm of Thompson & Jameson, Bloomington; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Oct. 19. 1842, where he spent his early life ; he his received a good busi- ness education. During the late war, he enlisted With the 2d Ohio V. I., entering the service in August, 1 861 ; he participated in many of the most severe battles of the war — such as Perry- ville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga and Mission Ridge, and the march of Sherman to Atlanta ; he escaped without a scratch, and was mustered out after a service of thirty-seven months. He then attended commercial college at Dayton, Ohio, for a time, and afterward re-entered the army in the Quartermaster's Department at Little Rock, Ark., as shipping-clerk, which position he held for six months; he then went to Galveston, Tex., where he was appointed collector for the G.. H. & H. R. R Co. ; after remaining here awhile, he went to Lacey, Va., where he acted as assistant Postmaster for two years. He has held a number of prominent and responsible posi- tions. He is doing business at 701 North Main street, where he keeps a well-assorted stock of goo Is, sold at bottom figures. He married Miss Amanda C. Carrier, July 31, 1868. /~J. R. TANKER -LEY, photographer Bloomington; was born in Middlesex Co., Va. ; at the age of 18 years, he commenced to learn the photographic art with Shew & Marks, of Baltimore, the leading artists of that city ; in 1867, he came West and located in Bloomington ; in 1870, he commenced photographing in the rooms he now occupies, and is one of the oldest and finest photographic artists in the city; has had over thirty years' experience in the art; those who visit his parlors will see that he produces first-class work. /"LEWIS B. THOMAS, insurance agent; Bloomington ; was born in McLean Co. 111., Sept. 27, 1838, and is the son of William and Catherine (Hains) Thomas. William Thomas is a native of Pennsylvania, having come to Ohio at an early day, where he was raised on a farm. In Febru- • ary, 1836, he came to Illinois, and located in what is now the city of Bloomington, McLean Co. He was engaged in farming until about 1841, when he entered the saw mill business, and con- tinued it for five years. He was elected to the office of County Treasurer and Assessor of McLean Co., and filled the same for about thirteen years. He was also treasurer of the war fund. He was engaged very extensively in the live-stock business and was, at one time, one of the largest stock-dealers in this vicinity ; he followed this business about thirty-five years. In 1867, be failed. He entered the insurance business in 1849, and. in 1859, his son, Louis B., the subject of this sketch, succeeded him in the business. He represents the best insurance companies in the country. Mr. Thomas was elected City Treasurer of Bloomington in 1860, and filled the office with credit. J. E. VOAK, M. D., Bloomington. Another of the old physicians of Bloomington, who has been in constant practice for twenty years, is Dr. J. E. Voak. He was born March 16, 1829, and is a native of Yates Co., N. Y. He began the study of medicine under Dr. D. Lathrop, of Syracuse, N. Y.; attended and became a graduate of the Syracuse Medical College in 1855. He also, in 1866, became a graduate of the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, Phil- adelphia. He began practice in Independence, Iowa, where he remained nearly two years; was also engaged in the drug business during this time. The next seven years he spent in practice in Mason and Logan Cos., 111., and, in 1866, located in Bloomington, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. He is also the author of a medical work of 320 pages, known as Dr. J. E. Voak's Family Guide. This work is now found in hundreds of families, and is, of itself, a proof of his study of the science of medicine and of his ability as a physician. 826 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: W. S. VINYARD, manufacturer of clothing, Bloomington. The success of any enterprise depends almost entirely upon the financiering of the party who is conducting it. Though a man may meet with fair success as a merchant, he may be much more capable of conducting the busi- ness of some lines of manufacturing. This seems to have been the case with Mr. W. S. Vinyard, who is a native of Pope Co., 111., and was for two years engaged in the dry-goods trade in Jack- sonville, 111., and in this city from 1873 until 1878, when he engaged in his present business of the manufacturing of overalls, jackets and jeans pants ; his factory and salesroom is located at No 101 W. Market. The building being 90x22 feet, two floors, one would hardly suppose so much business could be done in so small a space ; the first floor is used as a cutting-room, sales- room, storeroom and office ; the second is given up exclusively to manufacturing; here, he has twenty Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines, every one of which is kept going; he employs, in all, about twenty-seven hands, most of whom are young ladies ; the most of his goods are shipped to points in Illinois, after supplying the home trade. His business aggregates about $40,000 per annum. In establishing and successfully operating his factory, he has done a business that is not only a credit to himself, but a benefit generally to the citizens and the city of Bloomington. r-DR. C. WAKEFIELD, Bloomington; was a native of Watertown, N. Y., and was born July 12, 1815 ; he is a direct descendant of Th. Wakefield, who emigrated from England about the year 1680; his father, Joseph Wakefield, was a native of Rutland, Vt., and was one of the first party of emigrants to Watertown, N. Y.; here he improved a farm, married Susan Sawyer, who emi- grated from New Hampshire, and raised a family of six children, viz., Betsey, Elisha, Orion, Zera, Cyrenius and Egbert. Cyrenius served out his minority with his brothers on his father's farm, working during the summers, attending and teaching school during the winters. In the spring of 1837, in his 22d year, he emigrated to Bloomington, 111, going by steamer around the lakes ; at Chicago he took stage to La Salle ; in the night he was aroused by a horn announcing the arrival of a steamboat, on which he took passage to Pekin, 111 ; from this point there was no public conveyance to Bloomington ; he got his trunk carried on a load of merchandise and reached Bloomington himself very comfortably in two days by his pedestrian ability. He lived in this vicinity two years and taught a large school three miles south of the town for fifteen months. The schoolhouse had an immense fire-place in one end, as stoves were a rare article in the West at that time. He then bought land west of Farmer City, in DeWitt Co., and commenced the labors of improving a farm. By teaching school winters and improving his land summers, he, in four years, had a good farm, with a comfortable frame house upon it. This musi have suggested the need of a housekeeper, for he then took another tour over the lakes back to Watertown, N. Y., and, on the 17th of August, 1843, was married to Miss Harriet Richardson, who had been, for many years, his old schoolma e. Another trip over the lakes and across the then prairies, and they reached their cozy fvm-house, where they commenced the duties and experi- ences of domestic life. His plan was to enter into an extensive stock-raising business as soon as he could. In June, 1845, Dr. Zera Wakefield, who graduated in Cincinnati, and had, for ten years, been doing an extensive practice in Arkansas, came North to visit his brother. He liked the country so much better than the South that he concluded to settle here. After visiting his friends East, he returned to Arkansas, settled up his business there during the winter, and, in May, 1847, arrived for a permanent location. He and Cyrenius then formed a business partner- ship ; he advanced money against Cyrenius' farm and stock : they then started a country store, which was quite successful under the management of Cyrenim, while Dr. Z. Wakefield entered immediately into the practice of his profession. After about two months, the miasmatic fevers commenced and were of unusual prevalence and severity. With his accumulated skill in sub- duing the violent congestive fevers of the South, he was able to break up the most severe cases here in a few hours. His wonderful success created a great sensation, and his fame soou extended fifty miles around. With the aid of a driver and a change of horses, he was quite una- ble to fill all of the demands upon him. When they could not get him, they wanted some of his medicine, and this necessitated keeping it prepared, with directions, to supply the demand. He prepared concise recipes of the compound he used, and instructed Cyrenius in all of the arts of compounding, so that he was able to supply the demand. This soon necessitated printed direc- tions and a uniformity of bottles, and thus originated the highly-celebrated Wakefield's medi- cines. During the S'immerof i847, some demand for agencies arose in the surrounding country, which was supplied to the extent of forty or fifty This condition of events gradually changed their country store into a medicine laboratory. In June, 1848, after two years of prac- tise here, Dr. Z. Wakefield took a violent congestion of the lungs, which caused his death in thirty-six hours. This was a heavy stroke on Cyrenius, who was greatly attached to his brother. The demand for these medicines was great, and, much of his means being invested in it, he wisely bought his brother's interest and continued to extend their usefulness. He sold his farm and moved to Bloomington in February, 18o0, in order to get better postal and express facilities. He applied himself diligently to the study of medicine and pharmacy to prepare himself for a more extensive work, and here gained the title of Doctor. During his first few years in Bloom- ington, he did quite an extensive drug business in company with Robert Thompson. His medi- cine laboratory was then in the rear of the drug store. In 1856, he built a brick laboratory near his dwelling-house, and to which subsequent additions have given its present extensive BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 827 proportions. In 1857, he retired from the drug trade, and gave his whole attention to his medi- cine business. He has pursued his business with wonderful energy until now (1879) he has extended the local agencies over all of the Western States and accumulated quite a large capital. But his pathway has not all been sunshine, for, in February, 1853, he lost, by fire, his new two- story dwelling-house, which he had built the fall before, with much of his furniture, and with no insurance. In the great fire of Oct. 16, 1855, he lost, in addition to his half of the drug store and building, his medicine factory and a three-story brick building, with small insurance. He has lost heavily by security debts and insurance companies, all of which he waded through with- out faltering. In 1871, Dr. Wakefield took in partnership his son Oscar, and his brother-in-law, C. S. Jones, and surrendered to them the most of the labors and perplexing cares of his exten- sive work, that he might improve his health and enjoy more completely the fruition of his many years of toil. Since his retirement from active duties, he has spent considerable time in travel- ing. In 1874, he spent the spring in Florida and other Southern States, and the summer in Col- orado ; the summer of 1876 he spent, with his family at Atlantic City and the Centennial, and in the summer of 1878 he, with his family, traveled four months in Europe. He has raised a fam- ily of four children, viz., Emma, Oscar, Hattie and Homer; Emma is now Mrs. A. S. Eddy, and jesides in Bloomington; Oscar is married and occupies the Doctor's former residence, and he occupies his fine stone residence, which he built in 1871 ; Hattie and Homer are yet in their teens. Dr. Wakefield is a man of very firm and decided principle ; politically, he is a Repub- lican. After the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, he was among the foremost in advocating the formation of a new party, and he was one of those who organized the Republican party in Bloomington, ai the first meeting, Sept. 9, 1854. He is decided in his religious views, and fol- lows his convictions to their legitimate results. He is at present a very liberal supporter of the Free Congregational Church of this city ; in fact, he is one of the most liberal citizens of Bloomington, ever ready to assist those who are in real distress ; during the past winter, he gave much time to the work of charity, being at the head of the Public Committee on Distribu- tion, and, at the same time, was a liberal subscriber to the cause. Dr. Wakefield is a man of quiet, retiring manners, never seeking public office or any kind of notoriety. He was sought by the public, a few years ago, as a member of the City Board of Education, which position he filled very ably, and declined re-election. As a citizen, he stands among the foremost of the best. known of the many public-spirited men of our city, having a fame that extends outside the city, county or State, being, in fact, a man of national reputation. f "WILCOX BROS., dealers in dry goods, Bloomington ; one of the best and largest stocks of dry goods in Bloomington may be found at the above-named store ; Mr. Frank B. Wilcox is a native of New York ; his first experience in the dry-goods business was as a clerk in that city ; in 1868, he commenced business as one of the firm of Richardson & Wilcox, in Bloomington, which afterward changed to Wilcox Bros.; these gentlemen now occupy a room 25x106 feet, Mr, L. T. Wilcox attends to the purchasing of goods, and has had over eleven years' experience in the dry goods business ; he understands the quality of goods and knows the best places to buy the same ; those wanting any kind of dry-goods, silks and dress goods, will do well to call on Wilcox Bros. FRANKLIN WHITE, Bloomington; was born in Oswego, N. Y., May 13, 1833, and is the son of E. White, a contractor and mill-builder; from 1839 to 1845, the family resided in several of the leading cities — Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis; in 1845, they settled in Chicago, then a. city of 13,000 inhabitants ; here Mr. White remained until 1860 ; he learned the trade of a pattern-maker in Chicago ; Mr. White states that he saw the first railroad laid out from Chicago, and the first telegraph line laid into it ; he and his brother had a little experience in the mer- cantile business in Chicago ■ in May, 1860, Mr. White came to Bloomington and accepted a posi- tion in the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops, as foreman of the pattern department ; this place he has filled ever since ; in 1876, he was elected to office as Alderman from the Sixth Ward ; in 1878, he was re-elected to same office, having proven himself a man of acknowledged ability. Mr. White's political opinions are Republican. Z. WATERS, M. D., Bloomington. The longest established and representative eclectic physician of Bloomington is Dr. Z. Wateis, a native of Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y.; he was born May 16, 1836, and, with his parents, removed to De Witt Co., 111., in 1844 ; early in life, he decided upon the profession of medicine, and read the allopathic system, and, in 1859, com menced practice in Van Buren, Crawford Co., Ark., where he continued for three years ; in July, 1861, he returned to Bl omington, and, in October of the same year, entered the Eclectio Medical Institute, of Cincinnati, where he graduated in the spring of 1862. He then enlisted in the army as a private soldier, and was soon promoted to the p sition of Assistant Surgeon of the 68th I. V. I.; with his regiment, he joined the army > f the Potomac, where he was placed in charge of what was known as the Octagon Hospital, two miles west of Alexandria. Va. At the expiration of the term of enlistment, he returned with his regiment to Springfield, where they were discharged in September, 1862; in October, 1862, he commenced the practice of medicine in Bloomington, 111., where he has continued to the present time. Dr. Wafers is the author of the well-known "Waters' Family Medicines;" also the inventor of the "Waters' Abdominal and Uterine Supporter." He is a member of the Illinois State Eclectic Medical Society, and of 828 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: the United States Eclectic Medical Society ; as a physician and as a man of honor, he stands high in the estimation of the people of Bloomington. JOHN C. WILDBERGER, saloon-keeper, Bloomington ; was born in Switzerland in 1833, and is the son of Jacoh and Mary F. Wildberger, of Sw tzerland; in 1853, he sailed for America and landed in New Orleans in April, 1853 ; here he remained but a short time, and then came to Bloomington in the same year, which has been his home ever since. He enlisted in Co. A, 101st I. V. I., as Orderly Sergeant, in 1862, and was mustered out in 1865 ; he participated in the battles of Resaca, Loikout Mountain (the battle above the clouds), Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, etc., and was with Sherman on the march to the sea, through the swamps of the Caro- linas, and at Washington on the grand review ; he did good service and was only sick about two months ; with this exception, he served full time. At the close of the war. he returned home to Bloomington ; Mr. Wildberger was in the bakery business about five years: he was, also, for a short time, a resident of Morgan Co., Ill He married Hattie Weersh, of Switzerland ; they have four children — John, Casper, Hattie and Lotta. """FRANCIS X. WOCHNER, brewer, of the firm of Meyers & Wochner, Bloomington : was born in Germany in 1832: came to America in 1839, landed in New Orleans, thence to Illinois, and located near Springfield, where he engaged in farming; from there he came to Bloomington ; here he entered with Mr. Myers upon the making of beer ; they employ about ten men and draw their patronage from the surrounding country. >"" ,, S. R. WHITE, lumber, Bloomington. One of the prominent contractors and builders of Bloomington is S. R. White ; he is also a dealer in lumber, lath, lime, shingles, etc, his estab- lishment being located at 304 East Douglas street. Mr. White is a native of Huntington Co., Ind., ; it was there that he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder; since his residence in Bloomington, he has, in many instances, proven himself a thoroughly accomplished workman as well as a responsible contractor. He came to Bloomington in 1868, and first began working at his trade, and in 1874, he embarked in the lumber trade, and contracting and building; in this, he has proven himself a good financier, as well as a reliable contractor ; during the season, he employs quite a number of men and frequently has several buildings in course of construction at the same time ; he is now doing a good business, which is the result of his own energy, industry and good financiering. ^^ J. L. WHITE, M. D., Bloomington. Among the leading physicians of Bloomington, whose name and ability are familiar to the people, is Dr. J. L White ; he is a native of Westminster, Mass : after receiving a liberal education here and at Williston Seminary, of Easthampton, he began the stu Lucy McDonald, formerly of Winchester, Ky., Feb. 22, 1855 , they have raise I a family of six. —-ALBERT WELCH, grocer, Bloomington. The advent of this gentleman to McLean Co., dates back to the year 1835, at which time there comparatively few settlers, and the coun ry pre- sented rather a desolate appearance; he had but little means, but was possessed of willing hands and a determination. He was married to Sarah, daughter of G. Randolph, Esq., of this county, Oct. 22, 1846; they first located in what is now Randolph Township, where he entered his first forty acres ; they prospered and gradually added to their land until they had 500 acres of as fine land as may be found in McLean Co. They have raised a family of two boys and two girls. He is now doing business at 225 East Front street, where he keeps a well-assorted stock of provisions and family groceries. W. M. WILLIAMS, grocer, Bloomington; was born in Montgomery Co., Tenn, Aug. 11, 1839; his parents removed to Christian Co., Ky., in 1843, where he was raised and educate! ; he came to McLean Co. in 1856, and, for a time, was engaged in agricultural pursuits; in 1858, he emigrated to Washington Co., Tex., where he began mercantile life, and, after a time, returned and resumed farming. In August, 1862, he enlisted with the 108th I. V. I., and was in many of the most severe battles of the war; at the expiration of his enlisted term (three years), he returned to Bloomington ; in 1866, he removed to La Fayette, Ky , where he embarked in the grocery business, in which he continued until 1868, when he returned to Bloomington and opened a grocery store ; he is located at 204 East Front street, where he keeps a fine grocery, in which is offered a well-assorted stock of goods, sold at bottom figures. He married Miss Sarah E., daughter of D. J. Livingston, Esq., an early settler of this county, Nov. 5, 1868. ^-MRS. ALLEN WITHERS, widow, Bloomington. But few of the citizens of McLean Co. who are now deceased were better known or more respected than Mr. A. Withers ; he was a native of Jessamine Co., Ky ; came to McLean Co. in 1834. On May 2, 1836, he married Miss Sarah Rice, who was also a native of Jessamine Co. His first business in Bloomington was in the dry-goods trade, which he followed until 1837, when they moved to Clark Co. Mo., where 830 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : they remained eight years : he returned to Bloomington and, in 1847, in company with Mr. Temple, again embarked in the dry-goods business, the firm being known as Withers & Temple; from this he engaged in the hardware business, which he continued for three years, when be gave up the mercantile business entirely ; moved to the country and engaged in the fine-stock trade ; he had been very successful in business : had just secured a fine property in Blooming- ton, and was preparing to move there when he was taken sick, from which he never recovered ; his death occurred March 3, 1864, in his 56th year. After his death, Mrs. Withers removed to their residence in the city, which is located at No 305 West. Locust street ; she is a very pleas- ant, genial laiy ; is well known, loved and respected by a large circle of friends. P. WEBBER, M. D., Bloomington. Dr. P. Webber is a native of France; born Jan. 5, 1813 ; he came to the United States in I860, and located in Peoria, 111., where he remained until 1869 ; he is a regularly graduated M. D., and, previous to his coming to the United States, he had been a surgeon in the French army during their crusade in Africa; this was fr >m 1834 t> 1839; when he left Peoria, in 1869, he came to Bloomington, where he has since resided. His people were those of rank and nobility; the name used to be spelled De Webber, but, dur- ing the time of Robespierre and the revolution of 1794, his people, with many others, were caused to suffer, and, as is the French custom, the name is now spelled without the De. The Doctor has a good practice, having many patients from adistance who come to him to be treated for old chronic diseases, as he makes a specialty of this kind of human troubles, and has quite a repu- tation in this respect. His office and residence is located at No. 607 West Market street. H. B. WRIGHT, physician and surgeon, Bloomington. The science of medicine is of such magnitude that years may be spent in the study of some particular part of it. Dr. H. B. Wright, one of the well-established physicians of recognized ability of Bloomington, has spent much time in the study of that particular part of the medical science known as female diseases ; he is a native of Otsego Co., N. Y. ; was born Nov. *^0, 1824. He is a graduate of the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago; he began his practice in Bloomington in 1869; his suite of rooms is located at 211 North Mainstree*. Having a great many lady patients, the Doctor has taken special pride in fitting up his office and reception rooms; here he has every convenience, his office being supplied with choice medical works, fine cabinets of medicines, elegant adjustable chairs, as well as many fine and rare specimens of anatomy and geology ; since his practice here he has met with a gratifying success, having cured some cases of female diseases of twenty-two years' standing ; he is a pleasant, genial gentleman as well as a well-read physician, both of which are conducive to his success. S. C. WILSON, D. D. S., Bloomington; among the leading dentists of this city who have established a name and reputation for fine and lasting work is Dr. S. C. Wilson, who is a native of Newburgh, N. Y. ; he was born Aug. 20, 1841, and began the study of dentistry in 1857, with Dr John Cottam. In 1861, he became a member of the 71st Regiment N. Y. Militia, and the sime year was ordered to Washington, D. C, participating in the first battle of Bull Run; he returned to Newburgh, and in 1862, his regiment was ordered to Baltimore ; in 1863, he entered the 168th N. Y. V. I., and remained in the army until 1864. Upon his return from the army, he resumed the practice of dentistry, becoming a partner of his old tutor, Dr. Cottam, remaining with him about one year, when he sold out to him and came West, locating at this city, where he has since resided, engaging in the practice of his profession. Here, by his close attention to business and his thorough knowledge of dentistry, he has established a fine practice. His suite of rooms are located corner of Jefferson and Main, where he is supplied with all the equipments necessary to do first-class work. H. D. WHITCOMB, painter, Bloomington; was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 13, 1830, and was taken by his parents to Monroe, Mich., in 1832, remaining until 1835 ; he then returned to his native county ; in 1839, he came to Illinois, and located in Putnam Co., where he lived until 1851 ; thence to Ottawa, for one year. He attended the Judson College (of Put- nam Co.) for a time, and, by study and practice at home, he acquired a good education. He resided for about five years in Lowell, La Salle Co. He practiced medicine in Amboy, Lee Co., for about eleven years. He is a man of fine physical as well as mental powers, and a natural artist; his taste being in that direction, he removed to Bloomington, in 1868, and has since given his attention to fine painting, in which he enjoys the reputation of being second to none. He married Miss Laura C. Hurd, of Middleport, Niagara Co., N. Y., March 1, 1851 ; they have five children. -— -"JOHN T. WALTON, plow manufacturer, Bloomington. Prominent among the business industries of Bloomington is the plow manufactory of John T. Walton, located at 210 and 212 W. Washington street. Mr. Walton is a native of Bracken Co., Ky. ; he came to Bloomington in 1840, with his people ; In 1849, he began work in the plow manufactory of Mr. Brokaw, serving an apprenticeship of four years ; in 1854, he, in company with Mr. H. Hastings, began business in the manufacture of wagons and stocking plows ; in the fall of 1855, he began business alone in the manufacture of wagons; in 1857, he took Mr. A. Hamilton as a partner, and they began the manufacture of plows ; in 1866, he bought Mr. Hamilton's interest in the business, and has since conducted it alone ; he is now conducting one among the largest manufacturing establish- ments in the city, his factory being 50 feet front by 115 feet deep, three stories, besides an " L" NORMAL TOWNSHIP. 831 of two stories, 22x55 ; he gives employment to from twelve to eighteen men, and manufactures about two thousand five hundred plows per annum. A more complete conception of his busi- ness may be gained by referring to his business card, which is found in the business directory of this work. This large business is the result of his own energy and industry and good financier- ing. He is a man who is well known, it being frequently said of him, " His word is as good as his bond." NORMAL TOWNSHIP. HIRAM BAKER, real estate, Normal; was born near Troy, N. Y., Sept. 27, 1818; son of B. and Lucy (Ives) Baker, who were of English descent During his early life, he obtained a good business education, laying the foundation for future usefulness. He came to Illinois in 1837, locating in Fulton Co ; then, in 1841, removed to Peoria Co.. where he was engaged in real estate some twenty-seven years ; in fact, Mr. Baker has been a successful dealer in real estate thus far through life. He has improved a large amount of land ; now owns 230 acres in the homestead located near Brimfield, 111., and a large tract of land in Henry and Ford Cos. ; alto- gether, he owns 2,200 acres of improved land. He enjoys the reputation of being a public-spirited and highly-respected citizen, having always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the community. He married Miss Sarah Frye, of Peoria, 111., Feb. 16, 1847 ; they have raised two children — Hattie P., now Mrs. George Champion, of Normal, and Frank R. ; he married Miss Delia A. Sheton, of Normal, June 3, 1875. , WILLIAM H. BEDINGER, farmer, P. 0. Normal; son of Joseph and Nancy P. (Moore) Bedinger, who were among the early settlers of McLean Co. ; was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., Feb. 5, 1836, where he was raised and educated. He removed to McLean Co. with his parents in 1856, settling in Normal Township. He owns 200 acres of as fine land as may be found in the county. He married Miss Mary E. Bishop, of McLean Co., March 6, 1861 ; they have had seven children, only three of whom are now living — Daniel H., John and Nellie. CATHARINE B1TTNER. farmer; P. 0. Normal ; widow of Conrad Bittner ; was born May 20, 1830, in Germany; came to the United States in 1854, and resided in Butler Co., Ohio, where she married Mr. Conrad Bittner Sept. 20, 1 855 ; they came to McLean Co. in 1856, and located where she now resides in 1864. Mr. Bittner died July 10, 1866, beloved by friends and relatives, and respected by all who knew him, leaving a family of two — Anna E. (now Mrs. George Bohrer) and John, who is superintending the home farm, which consists of 164 acres, with a fine residence. JESSE BLACKBURN, hardware, Normal; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Oct. 15, 1829, where he was raised and schooled ; also learned the trade of a cabinet-maker ; he came to Mer- cer Co., 111., in 1847, where he followed his trade, together with carpentering, until 1849, when he removed to Lee Co., Iowa, continuing his trade at different places until 1856, when he removed to Nebraska, where he lived some four years, then returned to Illinois, where he mar- ried Miss Eliza Baily, of Tazewell Co., 111., in September, 1859; they moved to Nebraska, where they lived until 1865, then returned to Illinois; in 1867, they located in Normal, where they have since lived; his present business he established soon after settling here, and, by square dealing, has built up a flourishing trade ; they have a family of five children, three boys and two girls. L. H. BOHRER, farmer; P. 0. Normal; born in Brown Co., Ohio, July 17, 1830, where he was raised ; during his early life, the advantages for an education were few ; he came to McLean Co., in 1856, where he has since lived, a well-to do citizen; he has made agricultural pursuits his principal occupation thus far through his life. He married Miss Nannie Artist, of McLean Co., 111., March 25, 1875; she was born in Clark Co., Ky., July 12, 1841 ; they have a beautiful home and farm, consisting of ninety-three acres of highly -cultivated land ; they are much-respected citizens. W. P. BUCHANAN, stock-dealer ; P. 0. Normal ; was born in the city of Philadelphia, November 6, 1853; he came to Bloomington, 111., with his parents in 1861, and received a good business education ; he has followed farming and stock-dealing thus far through life, and has, by his industry and good financiering, been quite successful; he located in Normal in 1876. He married Miss Rebecca J. Dryer, of Normal, Oct. 13, 1876; they are well known and much respected. LESTER L. BURRINGTON, Principal of the High School, Normal University, Normal; was born in Burke, Caledonia Co., Vt., March 24, 1838; he attended the district schools of his native State, then the Green Mountain Liberal Institute, of South Woodstock, Vt., now known as the Green Mountain Perkins' Institute ; he graduated at Tufts' College, near Boston, in 1866 ; Mr. Burrington taught his first school in 1858, twenty-one years ago, in a district schoolhouse of Vermont ; from there he went to Franklin, Mass., where he was Professor of Ancient Languages in Dean Academy, where he remained about three and a half years ; he returned to Vermont and took a similar position in Goddard Seminary ; here he remained about four years ; from 832 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: there he came West, and was in St. Paul, Minn., one year ; Jan. 1, 1874, he accepted a position in the State Normal University, with wbich he has been connected ever since. GEORGE CHAMPION, hardware, Normal; was born in the city of Bristol, England, Feb. 24, 1840, where he was educated ; he came to this country with his parents in 1854, locating in Elgin, where he learned the trade of a machinist, also that of a carpenter; he enlisted with the 69th I. V. I. ; went out in 1S62, and served to the expiration of his enlisted term (100 days), after which he located in Chicago, where he followed his trade until 1867, when he came to Normal and embarked in the hardware and tinware business, in company with his brother Thomas; this partnership continued until 18 '8, since which time he has managed the business. He is a practical business man, industrious and accommodating, and has built up a large trade. He married Miss Hattie Baker, of Normal, Jan. 6, 1869 ; they have three children — Gertie B., George and Frank B. WILLIAM CLARK, farmer; P. 0. Normal; a pioneer of McLean Co.: was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, April 9, 1806, where he received a good, common schooling. In 1831, he emigrated to New Brunswick, and settled at St. John's; thence to Illinois in 1840, locating in McLean Co., where he has since resided, a well-to-do citizen. The trials and hardships of a pionei-r life are yet fresh in his memory. He married Miss Matilda Irvine, of his native country, Jan. 11, 1830; she was born in June, 1810. They have, by industry and economy, accumu- lated a property, consisting of 1«8 acres of land, under fine cultivation, and a beautiful res- idence ; they have had ten children — only four of whom are now living. KEZIAH COLLINS, farmer, and widow of Elmer Collins; P. 0. Normal; was born in Oxford Co., Me., April 25, 1826, where she was raised and educated; she is the daughter of Silas and Hannah (Davis) McLaughlin. They removed to Boston, where she married Mr. Elmer Collins Sept. 16. 1847; he was engaged in the mercantile business in Boston until 18-34, when they came to McLean Co., ill., where he engaged in the grain trade, continuing two years; he then turned his attention entirely to farming. He died Jan. 18, 1865, leaving a family of six — three boys and three girls — four of whom are now living. He was a thorough business man — beloved by relatives, and respected by all who knew him. His sons now superintend the farm, which consists of 360 acres, under fine cultivation. ^m.30W N W. COOK, professor of mathematics in the Illinois State Normal University, Normal ; was born in New York April 20. 1844, and is the son of Col. H. D. Cook. In 1851, Prof. Cook, with his parents, came West and settled in McLean Co., 111.; here they remained until 1853, then moved to Woodford Co , 111. Prof. Cook entered the State Normal University in 1862, and graduated in 1865; he then commenced teaching school in Brimfield, Peoria Co., 111.; here he remained but one year, and returned to Normal, and became Principal in the Model School Department. In 1868, Prot. Cook became a teacher in the State Normal University, and was professor of history and geography; in 1869, became professor of reading and elocution; in 1876, he was appointed professor of mathematics. ■^■"■■*»W. F. COOLIDGE, farmer; P. 0. Bloomington; was born in Watertown, Mass., June 20, 1829; the son of John and Mary S. (Bond) Coolidge, who were of English origin. During hia early life he obtained a good education, and came to Illinois in 1855, locating where he now resides. He owns 400 acres of as fine land as can be found in McLean Co. He married Miss Vlary J. Hesketh May 25, 1852; she was born in Maine Dec. 2, 1829 ; they have six children living, whom they are giving the advanttge of a thorough education. MRS. JOANN\ H. COOK, Normal, (widow of the late H. D. Cook); was born in Wash- ington Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1817; she married Mr. H. D. Cook, Jan. 21, 1841 : he was born in Madison Co., N. Y., March 6, 1817; he was raised in Oneida Co., where he was educated and learned the trade of a carpenter ; he came to McLean Co., 111., in 1852, and, for a number of yeirs, was connected with the Illinois Central Railroad Company. In 1860, he was elected to the State Legislature. In 1861, he organized a company and entered the army, as Captain, with the 4th Illinois Cavalry, serving through the entire war; he was promoted to Colonel in 1864; and, through meritorious services, was appointed, in 1865, to the office of Military State Agent of Illinois; he came to Normal in 1869, and, in 1873, was appointed President of the Board of Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners, in which position he served until his death, which occurred Nov. 9, 1873. He was beloved by friends and relatives, and respected by all who knew him ; he left a promising family of four children. REV. R. A. CRISWELL, Normal; was born in West Virginia, near Wheeling, May 20, 1820; son of John and Rebecca (Kilgore) Criswell, who were of Scotch origin ; during his early life his school advantages were very limited, but by home study he prepared himself, and entered the West Alexandria Academy in 1844, continuing some four years ; then entered the Washing- ton College, at Washington, Penn., and graduated in 1849 ; early in life, he had chosen the work of the ministry, and was educating himself for that work ; he entered the Princeton Theological Seminary; took a thorough course, and graduated in May, 1852; during this time, he was licensed to preach ; he came to Illinois in 1852; loc ited in Menard Co., and began preaching in the North Sangamon Church, and was installed over that Church in November, 1853, where he remained sixteen years. He served during the late war (in different regiments) as Chaplain; he located in Normal in 1867, where he has since lived, continuing in the work of the ministry. NORMAL TOWNSHIP. 833 He married Miss Elizabeth E. Carson, of West Virginia, June 29, 1852 ; they are prominently known and highly respected ; they have raised a family of nine. A. F. DICKINSON, attorney at law, Normal ; was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., in 1834; he came West and located in Wisconsin, in 1856, where he was engaged in farming, and afterward taught school. Mr. Dickinson was also engaged in publishing a leading newspaper called the La Fayette County Union, a strongly Republican paper ; in 1867, he came to Normal and began in mercan- tile business, and followed it about two years ; he next engaged in the land agent and insurance business ; he has also been, for two terms, a member of City Council ; five years, Police Magis- trate, and two years, Justice of the Peace. He graduated in the Law School of the Wesleyan University, in 1875, and the same year commenced the practice of law; he held the office of Postmaster of Normal, for several years, and gave entire satisfaction, having proved himself a man of acknowledged ability. SAMUEL B. DENNING, retired, Normal; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., March 1, 1811, the son of Solomon and Ann (Hart) Denning, who died in 1814, and he was left to battle with the world without parental care or advice ; he was raised by his grandfather, Valentine Hart ; he began doing for himself at the age of 15, and learned the trade of a weaver, which business he followed several years. Feb. 7, 1833, he married Miss Elizabeth D. Alexander, who was born in the city of Bedford, Jan. 27, 1807 ; in 1835, they removed to Knox Co., Ohio, where he took up farming; they came to Illinois in 1841, locating in Montgomery Oo., where they remained until 1849; thence to McLean, where they have since resided, well-to-do citizens and highly respected ; they have raised a family of seven ; they are finely educated. Mr. and Mrs. Denning now live at the combined ages of 141 years. WILLIAM EGINTON, farmer; P. 0. Normal ; was born in the city of Philadelphia, Oct. 19, 1816 ; the son of William and Jane (Gray) Eginton. He came to Bloomington, 111., in 1837, locat- ing where he now resides, in 1844: here he has since lived, a well-to-do citizen. He married Miss Matilda Burr, of New Jersey, in July, 1838; she came with him to Illinois, April 1, 1844, and at length died, leaving seven children to mourn her loss ; she was beloved by friends and relatives, and respected by all who knew her. Mr. Eginton and family reside on the old home- stead, which consists of eighty-three acres of well-improved land. T. W. EVANS, dealer in coal and grain, Normal; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Oct. 17, 1817; son of Robert and Rhoda (Wilson) Evans, who were of Welsh descent. Mr. Evans was raised in Madison Co., Ohio; during his early life, school advantages were limited. He began doing for himself in 1840, dealing in wool and sheep, and accumulating property. He was twice married ; first to Miss Eliza Jones, April 11, 1841 ; she died July 27, 1844, leaving two children — Charles and Isaac, who are deceased. He came to McLean Co., 111., in 1854, where he has since lived ; he has always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the com- munity. He has followed stock dealing and farming for many years, and has been successful. Jan. 4, 1856, he married Miss Julia A. Armstrong, of Jackson Co , Va. ; they settled in Normal in 1870; they have one child — Ellen H. STEPHEN A. FORBES, Normal ; was born in Stephenson Co., 111., May 29, 1844, and is the son of Isaic S. Forbes, a farmer. Prof. Forbes was brought up on the farm, and when about 14 years old, he entered the preparatory department of Beloit College. At the breaking-out of the late war, he enlisted as private in Co. B, 7th I. V. C. ; he was promoted to First Sergeant, then to 2d Lieutenant, and then to Captain, and did good service, and was honorably mustered out at the close of the war; he then returned home and thence to Chicago, where he commenced the study of medicine in Rush Medical College, of Chicago. In 1867, he was teaching school in the southern part of Illinois ; he became Superintendent of the public schools of Mt. Vernon, 111. In 1872, he became Curator of the museum of the Illinois State Normal University ; since this he has been appointed Director of the museum. H. L. FISHER, retired, Normal; was born in Norfolk Co., Mass , Oct. 30, 1819 ; the son of Abijah and Fanny (Field) Fisher, who were of English origin. He was raised upon a farm, and received a common school education. Being of a mechanical turn of mind, he chose the trade of cabinet-making ; he also learned the trade of a carpenter, which business he followed for a number of years. In 1846, he removed to Providence, R. I., where he married a daughter of Rev. G. W. Appleton, Oct. 12, 1847, after which they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he fol- lowed his trade for a time ; from thence he went to Hamilton, where he was engaged in manu- facturing and in mercantile business until 1849 ; from thence he went Dayton, and, in 1852, to Tazewell Co., 111. ; then, in 1869, to Normal, 111., where he has since lived. He has served in a number of prominent positions and discharged his duty to the satisfaction of all concerned. They have two children— Clarence C. and Herbert E. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been workers in the Baptist Church for upward of forty years. PATRICK FLANAGAN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Normal; was born in Queens Co., Ireland, in July, 1829 ; he came to this country in 1851, locating in Cleveland, Ohio, and, in 1853, went to California, and remained, engaged in mining some six years, and was quite successful; he returned to Bloomington, 111., bought land, and is now one of the well -to-do farmers of McLean Co. He owns 171 acres of well-improved land, and a fine re idence in Bloomington. He married Miss Hannora Curren, in October, 1869; they have five children — three boys and two girls. 834 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: A. D. FURMAN, farmer and nursery; P. 0. Normal: was born Oct. 9, 1829; the son of Daniel and Laura (Cowles) Furman. He came to Normal, in 1858, and, in 1860, he went to Bradford. Penn , where he married Miss Sarah E. Andrus, Oct. 29, 1862 ; then returned to Nor- mal, 111., and bought a piece of land, and began the gardening and nursery business ; they set- tled where they now reside, in 1868, and own seventy-four and one-half acres adjoining the town plat of Normal, and a beautiful residence. They have three daughters and one son. JOHN GREGORY, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Normal; was born in Tazewell Co., Oct. 8, 1821 ; son of Jehiel and Sarah (Van Dolah) Gregory; he was raised upon a farm, and received a common education. He was married twice, first to Miss Caroline Dawson, Jan. 19, 1842; they came to McLean Co., 111., in 1844; she died Sept. 26, 1845. Mr. Gregory has always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the community in which he has lived, and, by his industry, perseverance and integrity, has amassed a large pjoperty, and now owns 3,090 acres ; he has been quite successful in stock-dealing, which business he still fol- lows. He is a respected citizen, and one of the solid men of McL- an Co. He married his pres- ent wife July 9, 1846 ; her maiden name was Mary Ann Henline, of this county ; they have a family of seven children, whom they are giving the advantages of a thorough education. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory are active members of the Christian Church. "N EDWIN C. HEWETT, President of the Illinois State Normal University, Normal; was born in Worcester Co., 'Mass., Nov. 1, 1828; in 1852, he graduated at the State Normal School in Bridge- water, Mass.; in 1853, became an assistant teacher at the Normal School, of Bridgewater, where he remained four years. In the fall of 1858, he came to Illinois and entered upon his duties as teacher in the Normal University, as Professor of History and Geography; in January, 1876, he was made President of the Normal University, where he has remained ever since ; in 1863, he received the com| limentary degree of A. M. from the University of Chicago. His long and use- ful career as an instructor places him among the first in his profession. H. E. HOBART, dairyman and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Normal ; was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1816, and was raised in Cayuga Co. until he was 16, and then removed, with his par- ents, to Geauga Co., Ohio, where he lived until March, 1858, when he removed to Rock Co , Wis., and remained one year ; he then returned to Ohio and located in Macon Co., bought land, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In the spring of 1865, he came to McLean Co., 111., locat- ing where he now resides, and engaged in farming, stock-raising and dairying ; his farm lies upon an elevated piece of prairie, presenting a beautiful view of Normal and Bloomington, as Well as the Soldiers' Orphans' Home — as fine a location as may be found in McLean Co. He has always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the community in which he has lived. He married Miss Lynda A. Bassett, of Ohio, Oct. 2, 1849; she was born May 17, 1821; they have two sons — Howard E. and Frank B , who are promising young men. JOHN HOSELTON, farmer; P. Normal; was born in Washington Co, Md., Aug 2, 1817; oldest son of Christian and Eve (Rohrer) Hoselton, of German descem ; his parents located in Holmes Co., Ohio, where he was raised a farmer, and has followed agricultural pur- suits thus far through life. He married Miss Nancy Dalbey, of Holmes Co., Ohio, April 25, 1842 ; she was born in Washington Co., Penn., Oct. 25, 1824 ; they came to McLean Co. 111., in 1857, where they have since lived, prominent citizens, and have done much toward building up and establishing churches and schools. They have been ardent workers in the M. E. Church for many years. They have, by industry and economy, accumulated a good property, and have a family of seven children. GEORGE P. HOWELL, farmer; P. 0. Normal; was born in Morris Co., N. J., Dec. 27, 1810; the son of Elias and Elizabeth ( Pierson) Howell, of English origin ; ': e was raised in Licking Co., Ohio ; during his early life school advantages were limited; he came to McLean Co. in 1852, where he has since lived, a highly-respected citizen. He owns a good homestead, finely located. In March, 1831, he was married to Miss Matilda Preston ; she died Jan 22, 1874, leaving a family of seven children — four sons and three daughters. J. C. JA.YNES, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Normal; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov. 21, 1825, where he was raised and received his early education. During his early life, he learned the trade of a miller, in which business he continued some twelve years. He has twice been married ; first, to Miss Eliza Champion, of Otsego, N. Y., in February, 1846 ; they came west in 1861, settling in Woodford Co., 111., where she died April 6, 1866, leaving two children ■ — Clarie and Mary A. (deceased). He returned to Otsego, N. Y., in 1866, and, Dec. 24, he married Miss Mary 0. Champion ; they came West and located in Kappa, 111., where he engage I in mercantile business, also superintending his farm. They own a fine farm of 160 acres ; also a beautiful residence in Normal. They have one child — Viola I. They are much-respected cit- izens. G. G. JOHNSON, grocer, of the firm of Johnson & Chipman, Normal ; was born in Corn- wall, Conn., March 25, 1852 , his parent? were Hopkins and Sarah (Lewis) Johnson. He was left without parental advice and care while quite young, and was raised by an uncle, receiving a thorough business education ; he came to Normal with his uncle, Lemuel Peck, in 1869. He began doing business on his own account in 1873. Their place of business is neat and well stocked. cX£ (Usisvzd DAN VERS TP. NORMAL TOWNSHIP. 837 JAMES KELLY, Normal ; was born in the county of Derry, parish of Desertlinn, Ireland, Dec. 18, 1815; he came to this country in 1821, with his parents, settling in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he was raised and schooled. In 1833, he removed to the city of Buffalo, where he served a regular apprenticeship at the trade of a brick-mason and plasterer, after which, he attended school at Oberlin, Ohio. In 1845, he located in Platteville, Wis. where he lived until 1865, when he came to Normal, where he has since lived He married Miss Philomelia C. Cul- ver Nov. 10, 853 ; they have two children — Alice M. and Lida A. J. S. LACKEY, M. D., Normal; was born in Madison Co., Ky., March 14, 1836. He is largely a self-made man, having been left to battle with the hardships of the world without parental advice or care when a mere boy; he was educated at Charlottesville, Va., and com- menced a medical course. He came to Illinois in 1857, and graduated at the Chicago Medical College in 1861, and there began the practice of his profession ; in 1862, he came to Blooming- ton ; in 1865, he removed to Augusta, Ark., where he remained for a time ; then returned to Illinois and settled at Stafford, where he remained four years; he located in Normal in 1872, and, giving his entire attention to his profession, has built up a large practice. As a physician, he is well-read and energetic. He married Miss Sallie Didlake. of Bloomington, Nov. 9, 1858 ; they have three children — Keith, Eddie D. and M. P. RICHARD LONG, farmer, P. 0. Normal; was born in County Cork, Ireland, July 15, 1823. He came to this country in 1845, and lived for a time in Salem, Mass., and also in different parts of that State ; he resided in Rockland Co , N. Y., for three years; in 1853, he removed to Chicago ; in May, 1854, to McLean Co , where he has since resided. He bought his present, farm in 1867, which consists of 83 acres of finely-improved land. He married Miss Mary Corter in September, 1853 ; they have raised a family of eleven children, eight of whom are now living. WILLIAM M. LOEHR, farmer, stock-dealer and dairyman, P.O. Normal; was born in Somerset Co , Penn., May 16, 1826, where he was raised and schooled. He came to McLean Co., 111., in 1845, locating in Bloomington. He has followed agricultural pursuits thus far through life, with the exception of some five years, when he was engaged in the lumber busi- ness, in Bloomington. He located where he now resides in 1873 ; his farm consists of 150 acres of as fine land as may be found in McLean Co., with a beautiful residence, located in the center of a large grove of evergreens. He married Miss Margaret Brendel, of Montgomery Co., Ill , in September, 1853 ; they have five children, whom they are giving the advantages of a thorough education. MRS. L. R. LUFKIN, Normal; widow of Charles D. Lufkin,and daughter of Addison and Nancy (Hicks) Smith, who were of English origin; they settled in Shelbyville, 111., in 1830; here Mrs. Lufkin was educated, and Oct. 28, 1855, was married to Mr. Charles D. Lufkin, who followed mercantile business up to his death, which occurred in March, 1863 ; he left a family of promising children, one daughter and four sons. Mrs. Lufkin and family located in Normal in 1878, that her family might finish their education. Mrs. Lufkin has been an active worker in the Episcopal Church since a child. HENRY McCORMICK, Professor of History and Geography of the State Normal Univer- sity, Normal ; was born in County Mayo, Ireland, February 5, 1837, and brought up on the farm until he was 16 years old; he then emigrated to America. He first located in Ohio, where he was engaged in farming for two or three years ; he then went to Wisconsin. In 1859, he came to Boone Co , 111., and commenced teaching school, and remained there until 1865. He then came to Normal and entered the State Normal University, and in 1868 graduated. He then became Principal of the Normal Public Schools for one year. In the fall of 1869, he became a member of the State Normal University Faculty, and his been connected with the institution ever since, being now Professor of History and Geography. JOSEPH MILLER, farmer; P. 0. Normal; was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Jan. 14, 1829. He was brought to this country by his mother, in 1834, settling in Fairfield Co., Ohio, where he was raised until the age of 14, after which time he began to do for himself. During his early life he learned the trade of wagon-making, also carpentering, and followed contracting and building for a number of years. He came to Illinois in 1854, locating in Bloomington, where he followed his trade two years ; thence to Benjaminville, where he lived eleven years ; thence to where he now resides. He owns 80 acres of fine land, and is a public-spirited and well-to-do citizen, respected by all who know him. He married Miss Eliza J. Stimmel, of Frank- lin Co., Ohio, Jan. 29, 1857. STEWART MOONEY, farmer; P. 0. Normal; was born in County Antrim, Ireland, March 3, 1833. He was raised in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. He came to the United States in 1852, and located in Harrison Co., Ohio where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and on the 8th of April, 1855, he was married to Miss Mollie Black, of Carroll Co.. Ohio. He came to Illinois shortly afterward, remaining until 1859; then returned to Harrison Co., Ohio, and in August, 1862, he enlisted with the 126th Ohio Inf., and participated in many of the most severe engagements of the war, serving three years, and was one among the fortunate ones who escaped without a scratch. He was taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness, and was confined in the Andersonville prison several months. After the service he returned to Harrison Co., and, in the KK 838 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: fall of 1865, he and his wife came to McLean Co., 111., and shortly located in Tazewell Co., engaging in agricultural pursuits. They located where they now reside in 1875. He is a thorough and practical farmer, and a much respected citizen. T. NIHILL, Township Assessor ; Section 1 ; P. Normal ; was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1836. He came to this country in 1850, locating in Western New York, where he engaged with the New York and Erie Railroad Co. In 1854, his parents settled in Harrison Co., Ohio, and he then engaged in agricultural pursuits. They removed to McLean Co., 111., in 1856, settling near Le Roy, and in 1862, they located in Normal Township, where they have since lived ; he has served as Township Assessor for nine years. He owns a beautiful little home farm, which consists of eighty-two acres. Married Miss Caroline A. Bennett, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, in January, 1858. They have a family of six, whom they are endeavoring to give a good education. His father died in 1872, at the ripe age of 78. His mother still survives, at the age of 90. VIRGINIA C. OHR, Superintendent of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, Normal; was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 28, 1836, and is the widow of Col. S. P, Ohr, who was a native of Maryland. They were married Oct. 15, 1856. During the late war Mr. Ohr entered the army as Captain in the 61st I. V. I. During his service he participated in many of the most severe battles of the war, and arose to the rank of Colonel, serving three years. His death occurred Sept. 14, 1864 ; after which Mrs. Ohr was appointed Superintendent of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, at Springfield, which position she held until 1869, when the Soldiers' Orphans' Home was established at Normal, she being appointed Superintendent, and has since officiated in that capacity. Mrs. Ohr is a lady of rare ability, having satisfactorily managed the affairs of this institution since its establishment. Mrs. Ohr has four daughters, two of whom are assistants, and two finishing their education. As a family they are well known and highly respected. THOMAS PISELL, farmer; P. 0. Normal; one of the pioneers of McLean Co.; was born in Somerset Co., Penn., in 1814, and was taken to Richland Co., Ohio, by parents, where he was raised ; he has followed agricultural pursuits thus far through life ; he came to McLean Co., 111., in 1852, locating at Twin Grove, and, in 1855, he located on the farm where he now lives; at the time of settling, the country was comparatively new, and the trials and hardships of a pio- neer life are yet fresh in his memory ; but he has succeeded in accumulating a good property ; he owns a fine farm of 104 acres, the best watered farm of the county, there being an artesian well near his residence which furnishes an inexhaustible quantity of fine water. He married Miss Margaret Morrill, of Richland Co., Ohio, in September, 1836; they have raised a family of nine, six of whom are still living — four boys and two girls. S. J. REEDER, retired ; P. 0. Normal ; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Jan. 21, 1824, but was raised and received his early education in Fayette Co.; he finished a good business edu- cation at the Sidney Academy, Sidney, Ohio; he came to McLean Co., 111., in 1849, locating at Randolph's Grove, and, for a time, taught school ; then took up agricultural pursuits, continuing until 1863, when he sold out and removed to Normal for the purpose of educating his family. He was appointed Postmaster of Normal in 1864, and was elected Justice of the Peace; after having served some two years as Postmaster, he resigned, but served as Justice of the Peace twelve years, and is at present Township Supervisor ; these positions he has filled with credit. He has been an active worker in all matters pertaining to the interests of the community. He married Miss Sallie, M. McWhorter, of Clinton Co., Ohio, April 10, 1849 ; she died April 4, 1874, beloved by friends and relatives, and respected by all who knew her, leaving a family of six. HANNAH ROGERS; P. 0. Bloomington ; was born in Greene Co., N. Y., July 1, 1808, her maiden name being Hannah Hubbard. She married Elihu Rogers, who was born in Greene Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1805, and, in 1844, came West to Illinois, and located in Old Town Timber; he came here worth perhaps $1,200 or $1,500 ; invested in land, and was very successful in farming ; at one time, he was among the leading farmers of the county ; he entered the grain business and dealt very largely in grain ; he also erected a flour-mill, and, for a time, was doing well ; hut, with the financial crash of 1857, he lost considerable money ; but he managed well and was a hard worker, and contrived to accumulate considerable property. Mr. Rogers was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, and one of the first Trustees of this Church at Bloomington ; he purchased the lumber with his own money to build the Church, and donated to the Church $1,600 ; he died of bronchitis Dec. 2, 1872 ; he was respected and beloved by all. Mrs. Rogers has erected a very fine residence on Main street, which is her home, and has built a business block in Normal. JEREMIAH ROOP, farmer; P. 0. Normal; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 10, 1822 : he was taken by his parents to Center Co., where he was raised and schooled, and learned the trade of cabinet-making, which business he followed some sixteen years ; being a thorough mechanic and industrious, he accumulated a good property ; he removed to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., where he was married April 20, 1849, to Miss Eleanor Gapen, of Boone Co., Ind.; they came to McLean Co., HI., in 1855, locating in Downs Township, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, continuing until 1867, when they came and located where they now live, in a beautiful residence ; they own a fine property, which is the result of their industry and economy ; they have three children — Alice, Frank and Burt. NORMAL TOWNSHIP. 839 J. B. SARGENT, Township Collector; P. 0. Normal; was born in Douglas Co., 111., Dec. 28, 1844 ; his early life was spent upon a farm ; at the age of 19, he entered the Asbury Univer- sity of Greencastle, Ind., where took a thorough course, graduating in 1860. and chose law for his profession, but his health became so impaired that he was compelled to abandon it for a time. Sept. 1, 1809, he married Miss Florence C. Farrow, of Greencastle, Ind.; then engaged in agri- cultural pursuits for five years. In 1875, he came to Normal, and, in 1877, was elected Town- ship Collector, and, in 1878, was re-elected. He is a thorough business man. He also serves as a Trustee of the Wesleyan University. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent are much respected by all ; they have raised a family of three — William F., Snowden G. and Jean B. MRS. MARY M. SEWARD, Normal; widow of the late M. D. Seward, who was one of the founders of the Bloomington Stove Works; was prominently connected with this company until his death, which occurred Oct. 22, 1870; he left a family of two. Mr. and Mrs. Seward came to Bloomington in 1866. They were married June 15, 1854; she was the daughter of William M. and Mary M. Pettit, born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., July 29, 1832. He was born in the same county Sept. 9, 1830. During his brief life in McLean Co., he had, by his integrity and social qualities, won the highest regard of all who knew him. MINOR L. SEY.viOUR, Professor of Natural Science in the Illinois State Normal University, Normal ; was born in Kings Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1835 ; his father, H. S. Seymour, was a farmer; here on the farm the son remained until 19 years old ; he then set out to seek an education ; he entered the academy at Owego, N. Y., and also attended the school in Ithaca, N Y., where now is located Cornell University. In 1856 Prof. Seymour came West ; here he has been engaged most of the time in school teaching in different pans of Illinois. In 1878, he was appointed Professor of Natural Science in the State Normal University. SAMUEL M. SILL, farmer ; P. 0. Normal; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., May 15, 1839 ; he came to McLean Co., 111., with his parents, in 1854, locating in Dry Grove Township. He married Miss Julia Stephens, of Oak Grove, in this county, Dec. 2, 1863 ; they settled where they now reside in 1864, and own 164 acres of fine land. They have been quite successful, which is the result of energy, perseverance and economy ; they have two children — Ida and David E. MRS. NANCY 0. SMITH, Normal; widow of the late Brainard Smith; was born in Berk- shire Co., Mass., June 17, 1822; her husband was a native of Franklin Co., Mass., where he was born May 28, 1818. They were married April 4, 1844. They located in Franklin Co., and began farming; in 1856, they came to Illinois, locating in Christian Co., where they remained until 1865, when they came to Normal for the purpose of educating their family, consisting of three sons and three daughters, who are now finely educated. Mr. Smith died Aug. 21, 1877> beloved by friends and relatives, and respected by all who knew him. ^""^ALBi-.RT STETSON, Professor of Language and Reading in the State Normal University,. Normal; was born in Kingston, Mass., Aug. 6, 1834; he graduated from the Bridgewater Normal School in the spring of 1853 ; after teaching three years, he entered Harvard University, from which he graduated in 1861; he taught school in Provincetown, Mass., uutil the fall of 1862, when he came to Normal; he became a member of the Faculty of the Normal University Oct. 12, 1862, and has been connected with this institution ever since. MRS. CATHARINE STUART, Normal; widow of Chambers M. Stuart, who was born in Bath Co., Ky., Feb. 7, 1823; while residing there he taught district schools and farmed up to- the fall of 1858, when he moved to Clark Co., Ky., where he continued the same occupation until November, 1862, when he moved to Normal Township, McLean Co., 111., where he engaged one year in farming; he then moved to Normal, and went to work at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in Kentucky, and at other times he taught school until his decease, Aug. 15, 1872. Feb. 18, 1847, he married Miss Catherine Stephens, of Bath Co., Ky., where she was born Feb. 1, 1828; they were blessed with eight children, viz.: Mary T., James S.. Leander,. Alpha D., Alice, George M., Lee and Fred; James S. died Feb. 26, 1871, aged 21 years, 6> months and 17 days; Leander died in August, 1851, aged 2 months. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart were members of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Stuart is an active member at. this time. Mis* Alpha D. is a school teacher, and now so engaged in Sec. 16, Mt. Hope Township. A. C TAY'LOR, Deputy County Clerk, Normal; son of George M. and Elizabeth (Hawkins)' Taylor; was born in Mahoning Co., Ohio, Jan. 23, 1851; he came to McLean Co., Ill , in 1861, with his parents; they settled in Normal in 1863, where he was educated, attending the Normal! school; here he obtained a good business education, laying the foundation for future usefulness. His first employment was as clerk in the drug business, then for a time in the grocery trade. In December, 1876, he was appointed Clerk ; and, in 1877, Deputy County Clerk. He was appointed Secretary of the McLean County Republican Convention in 1877; these positions he has filled with credit. WILLIAM G. THOMPSON, farmer ; P. 0. Normal ; son of Charles and Ann (Graves) Thomp- son ; was born in Culpeper Co.. Va., April 30, 1804 ; he came with his parents to Christian Co., Ky., in 1812, where they lived until 1835 ; thence to McLean Co.. 111., where he has since lived, and been a witness of the change from a wild and desolate, to a thickly-settled and well developed country. He has taken an active part in public matters, and especially in the Church, being one 840 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: of the first to organize and establish the First Baptist Church, of Bloomington, and has since been prominently connected with its growth and prosperity. He has been twice married ; first, to Miss Louisa Hazard, in December, 1831 ; she died in July, 1838. And, Sept. 27, 1841, he married Miss Mary Dodge, of t'ulpeper Co., Va. Mr. Thompson owns 140 acres of beautiful land, in sight of Bloomington, and finely located. Here he has resided twenty-six years, and has been a resident of the county forty-four years. He has four daughters — Margaret, Minnie, (now Mrs. John Burgart, of Bloomington,) Abbie and Hattie. MRS. M. E. VANPELT, Normal ; widow of Rev. John F. Van Pelt. He was a native of Car- rol Co., Ky., where he was born Jan. 27, 1821 ; the son of Samuel and Anzolitta (Goddard) Van Pelt ; he was raised and schooled in Carroll Co., and began early in life to prepare for the work of the ministry, beginning to preach at the early age of 20 years, in the M. E. Church. He was a member of the Kentucky Conference, some twenty-five years. He married Miss Mary E. Wight, of Shelby Co., Ky., Sept. 26, 1850. They came to Normal, in 1864, and settled where Mrs Van Pelt now resides. He organized the first M. E. Church of Normal, and labored faithfully in the work of the ministry until his death, which occurred May 8, 1867. He died beloved by friends and relatives, and esteemed by all who knew him, leaving a family of six children — Samuel James W. (deceased), William M. (deceased), Mary L., John R., Sarah E. H. K. VICKROY, fruit grower ; P. 0. Normal ; was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., Oct. 24, 1842 ; he came to Illinois in 1856, locating in Bureau Co., and was schooled at the Mt. Carroll Seminary ; in 1858, he began in the nursery business, continuing it until 1862, when he enlisted with the 93d I. V. I. ; he participated in many of the most severe battles of the war ; was mustered out after the service of three years ; after which, he returned to Bureau Co. ; in 1869, he removed to Champaign, and took charge of the orchard and garden of the Illinois Industrial University, continuing there until 1874, when he came to Normal and established his present business ; his many years of experience enable him to thoroughly understand and successfully manage his already extensive business : he is a man of fine social qualities, and a practical busi- ness man. He married Miss Mary P. Graves, of Bureau Co., 111., Dec. 10, 1868 ; they have two children — M. E. Louise and H. Edwards. G. R. WOOLSEY, vi. D., Normal ; son of Jesse and Freelove (Rogers) Woolsey, who were pioneers of Henry Co., 111. ; he was born in Henry Co., 111., Sept. 21, 1840, where he was raised and obtained his early education ; he attended the Mendota Collegiate Institute ; he graduated at the Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, in March, 1868, and soon began the practice of his profession in Normal, where he has built up a large practice, and established a fine repu- tation ; his increasing practice testifies to his ability ; hiving had eleven years' practice in this vicinity, he is well known and much respected. During the late war, he enlisted with the 112th I. V. I., and participated in. many of the most severe engagements, serving some three years. RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP. JACOB BISHOP, farmer ana stock-raiser ; P. 0. Hey worth ; was born in Frederick Co., Md., June25, 1797. At an early date, he moved with his parents to Fayette Co., Penn., where he lived until March, 1812, when they moved to Ohio and settled in Licking Co., near the Perry Co. line ; during the moving, they passed several bodies of troops going to tight the British. He lived in Ohio until 1820; he there married Miss Mary Ann Weedman May 10; she was born in Pennsylvania Aug. 15, 1830. He came to Illinois and settled at Randolph Grove, on his present place, and the next season he built a house on his place. He and his brother-in-law, John Weedman, bought an ox-team and did an extensive business breaking prairie ; in the fall of 1831, he hauled 100 bushels of oats to Chicago, and has made upwards of twenty trips since. He owns 300 acres in this county, and has thirteen children — Sarah Ann, George B., Hannah, Charity, Jacob C, Charlotte, John S., Mary E., Harriet, William F., Elizabeth, A. M. and Joseph A. ; all live within twenty miles of the old homestead. Jan. 23, 1873, Mrs. Bishop died. Mr. Bishop is now 82, and enjoys good health, and has sixty-eight grandchildreu. JAMES BISHOP, farmer, P. U. Heyworth ; was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Nov. 12, 1821, and lived there nineteen years ; he then went to Calloway Co., Mo., near Portland, where he lived a year; he then came to Illinois, and settled in McLean Co., working by the month for Mr. M. L. Bishop; in 1847, he came to his present place, and has lived there since. He is not an office-seeker, and has held no office, except connected with the schools and roads. He owns 5o8 acres in this county, located about three miles southeast of Randolph Station, on the Big Kickapoo Creek; it is well adapted to stock-raisiug, in which he is largely interested. March 26, 1846, he married Miss Mary Thompson, a native of Ohio; they have had ten children, seven of whom are living — Chloe, George, Jane E., Arthur A., James, Charles and Ida May. His parents, Aquilla and Susannah Winn Bishop, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky ; they were married in Ohio, and died in Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1839 and 1823 respectively. RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP. 841 BENJAMIN CHRISMAN. farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Hey worth ; was born in Fayette Co., Ky., on his fathers farm, Feb. 5. 1847, where he lived until 1867, when, with his parents, he came to Illinois, and settled on the present place, and has lived here since He married Miss Eva Durgy March 14, 1872, who was born near Watertown, N. ¥". ; they have two children — Jennette and Joseph H. He owns 277 acres in this township, located four miles northwest of Heyworth, well adapted to stock, in which he is largely interested. His parents, Jefferson and Jennette Chrisman were natives of Fayette and Jessamine Cos., Ky ; they were married in Kentucky, and had six children, two living — Benjamin D. and Henry H ; they came to Illi- nois and settled in McLean Co ; he died Oct. 5. 1876, and she died April 1, 1879. HARRISON H.CLARK, farmer; P.O.Randolph: was born in Licking Co., Ohio. July 6, 1836, where he lived until he was 20 years old ; he then, with his parents, came West and settled near his present place, where he lived four years ; they then moved to an adjoining farm that he and his brother George had bought ; he lived there until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th I. V. I., and was in the service three years ; the last year he was Second Sergeant of Co. I. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, Mobile and the other engagements of the regiment. On his return from the army, he engaged in farming with his brother. In the spring of 1867, he came to his present place and has lived here since. He owns 160 acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor. In the winter of 1866, he married Miss Sarah Blandine ; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio ; they have had five children, four of whom are living — Ransom, Pauline, Charlie and Lewis B.; deceased — May. GEORGE H. CLARK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Randolph ; is a native of Licking Co., Ohio, and was born May 5, 1834, on his father's farm, where he lived twenty-three years; he then came West to Illinois and settled near his present place, and lived there three years, when he occupied his present place, and has lived here since. He married Miss Eliza E. Bowers Jan. 23, 1856 ; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio ; they had five children, four living — Emma B., Myron H. George L. and Chloe ; Nancy died. He visited this township the spring before he was mar- ried and worked on a farm here for several months. He began farming on his own account, on becoming of age, living with his parents until after he had married. He then moved to a farm near by and lived there until the fall following, when he visited Minnesota, and soon came to Illinois, as stated. He owns 165 acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor and management; it is located seven miles southwest of Bloomington, and two and one-half miles northwest of Randolph. MATTHEW COVARDALE, retired farmer ; P. 0. Randolph ; was born in Maryland, Aug. 13, 1807. He married Mrs. Thompson, formerly Miss A. Collison, Feb. 8,1835; they have no children ; she has four children by former marriage — Frank, Mary Jane, William and Eliza- beth. He lived in Maryland eight years, and, with his parents, moved to Hamilton Co., Ohio, where he lived until the fall of 1830, when he came on horseback to Illinois, and settled in Ran- dolph's Grove, working by the month. He soon rented a small place aad farmed until 1885, when, upon being married, he moved to a farm adjoining the present place, and now a part of same. He lived there until 1843, when he moved to his present residence. He owns 393 acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor. His wife is a native of West Virginia ; she was born Jan. 9, 1810. Her former husband, George Thompson, was a native of Virginia; they settled in this county in 1832 ; he died in August, 1833. Her son, William Thompson, married Miss Cassandra French, who died in Iowa; they had two children — Oliver C. and Minerva. His present wife was Miss Mary Jones; they were married in Iowa, and have had nine chil- dren ; seven living — Anstis, Mary J., Martha E., George, Daniel, Edith and Nellie. In 1868, he returned from Iowa, and has lived here since. J. 0. DAVIS, farmer; P. 0. Heyworth ; was born in Galena, Kent Co., Md., April 20, 1838, where he lived eight years ; he then, with his parents, went to Cecil Co., Md., where they engnged in farming nine years ; September, 1856, he came West to Illinois, and worked by the month on the farm for Judge Davis and L. W. Betts, with whom he continued eleven years ; he then rented a farm from the Judge, two miles east of Bloomington, and faimed the same for two years ; then he came to the present place, which belongs to Judge Davis and contains r, 27 acres, in the management of which he is in partnership with the Judge ; they are largely interested in stock- raising, for which the place is well adapted. He is no office-seeker, though he has been identi- fied with the offices connected with the school and road. Dec. 8, 1867, he married Miss Mary Moore ; she was born in Pennsylvania, in 1850 ; they have five children — Susie B., Frank L., Lorena M., Ella H. and James L. G. M. DELANO, Postmaster, Heyworth; was born on Seguin Island, Me., June 17, 1823, where he lived until he was six years of age ; when, with his parents, be moved to Portland, where they lived until 1839 ; they then moved to Boston, Mass., where he lived until 1853, during which time he learned the harness-making trade ; he then came West to Illinois, and worked at his trade in Bloomington until December of the same year ; he then went to St. Louis, Mo.; thence to Springfield, 111., where he followed his trade for two and one-half years, when he again went to Bloomington and worked at his trade about one year; he then moved to Leroy, and, in 1858, came to Heyworth and engaged in the business on his own account, and followed the same until 1868. In July, 1861, he was appointed Postmaster, and has held the position since; at #42 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: first, the business of the office was light, but, with the growth of the village and surrounding country, it increased until now it is fully four times the amount when he took charge, notwith- standing that the territory has been lessened by new offices near by; in 1875, it was made a money-order office. Nov. 6, 1851, he married Miss Annie O'Brien ; they had three children; two living, viz. : William and Mary. J. D. DOWNS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Downs. The subject of this sketch was born in Downs Township, this county, where he lived until he was 24 years old ; he then settled on his present place, locating on the part situated in Downs Township, where he lived until the winter of 1878, when he came to his present place. He married Miss Eliza A. 'Cowden, Feb. 20, 1868 ; they have four children, viz. : Frank E., Mary M., Albert R. and Frederick Lawson. He owns 214 acres in this county; it is located three and a quarter miles southwest of Downs Station, on the I. B. & W. Railroad, and ten miles southeast of the city of Bloomington. W. W. ELDER, grocer, Hey worth ; is a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio : he was born on his fuller's farm Sept. 19, 1828, and lived there until he was 6 years of age, when, with his par- ei'ts, he moved to Fayette Co., Ind., where they engaged in farming, remaining eight years, when they came to Illinois and settled in McLean Co., and engaged in farming; in 1850, he began farming on his own account, and continued at same until 1856, when he came to Hey worth and engaged in the grain business with Mr. Rutledge, and, the same year, built a dwelling-house, it being the first built within the town plat; he was identified with the grain business at this point under different firm names until 1872. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B, 94th Regt. I. V. I., and was elected 2d Lieutenant; was wounded at the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., from which time until February, 1863, he remained in the hospital ; he then came home, and, in June, the same year, he received his discharge. In the winter of 1872, he engaged in his present business, and has twice held the office of Supervisor of this township ; also Justice of the Peace and School Treasurer. Feb. 14, 1850, he married Miss Amanda J. Rutledge. W. M. FOWLER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. H ey worth ; was born in Bosquoin, Hills- borough Co., N. H., Oct. 22, 1807, where he lived ten years, when, with his parents, he moved to Morgan Co., Ohio, where they engaged in farming; he lived there until he was 19 years of age. He then, Dec. 14, 1826, married Miss Mary Hutchins, who was born in Lincoln Co., Me., Nov. 10, 1804; they have had ten children, six living, viz., Mary Ann, Jane, Sarah S., Margaret M., Louis and Sophia S. After his marriage, he engaged in farming on his own account near his father's place and followed the same eight years ; he then went to Washington (now Noble) Co., and engaged in farming; in 1861, he and his sons-in-law put an oil well down on the farm 147 feet deep, and took 3,000 barrels from same ; he also gave leases for eight other wells; in 1865, he sold his place and came to Illinois, and bought and settled on his present place ; he now o.vns 24o acres, having shared considerable among the children. After his marriige, while in Ohio, he learned shoemaking, and had considerable trade in that business in connection with his farm. GEORGE W. FREEMAN, farmer; P. 0. Heyworth; was born in Oswego, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1827, where he lived about four years, when, with his parents, he moved to Wayne Co., where they lived until 1848; he then moved to Ohio and settled in Hancock Co.; engaged in railroad- ing and lived there until 1853, when he went to California, going by overland route with ox-team ; his object was mining, and he met with fair success ; he remained there until summer of 1855. Nov. 14, 1850, he married Miss Martha Anderson, a native of Richland Co., Ohio ; she remained in Ohio during his trip to California ; on his return from there, he went to Ohio and sold out his place and started for Iowa ; he stopped at Lyttleville, in McLean Co., on business, and, his wife being ill, he determined to remain until spring, when he rented a farm near his present place and lived on it a year ; he then moved to a farm near by, thence to Heyworth, and served as a Constable five years; he next moved to Funk's Grove, thence again to Heyworth and thence to his present place, and has lived here since. He enlisted in the 94th I. V. I., but, upon exam- ination, he was rejected, owing to his lack of teeth. He has held the office of Constable and Collector ; he has also served three years, and is now on his fourth term as Supervisor. He owns 255 acres, located three miles west and a half-mile north of Heyworth, which he has earned by his own labor. His parents, Morris and Orinda Freeman, were natives of New Jer- sey and Vermont. He was a contractor and builder, and, owing to a certain contract, he failed; and, though but 14 years old, the son engaged on the farm at $5 per month, in order to assist his mother, who died in 1859. ABRAHAM FRY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Randolph ; was born in Greene Co., Penn., Jan. 6, 1816, where he lived until he was ten years of age; when, with his mother, he went to Ohio and settled on a farm in Licking Co., Ohio ; in August, 1826, his father died, while in Penn sylvania, on his return from Ohio, where he was improving a farm ; shortly after this, the family moved to the farm in Ohio; though he was quite young, he made a hand at the plow, and lived with the family until his marriage, when he moved to an adjoining farm ; in 1854, he came to Illinois, and, in the spring of 1855, he settled on his present place. He has been Assessor of this township about five years; he has taken an active interest in the schools of his neighbor- hood, and has been Director of the same for twenty consecutive years. In October, 1837, he RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP. 843 married Miss Sarah Myers, who was born in Ohio, and died April 22, 1863 ; they had two chil- dren — Perryander and J. B. ; the former enlisted in the ( J4th I. V. I., and died at Springfield. Mo., Oct. 16, 1862. His present wife was Miss Elizabeth Bishop; they were married Nov. 8, 1864 ; she was born in this township ; they had two children ; one living — Mary ; Laura died June 25, 1873. He owns 430 acres in this township, which he has earned by his own labor and management. J. W. FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Hey worth ; was born on his present place Jan. 11, 1832, and has always lived on the same; in 1865, after the death of his father, he took charge of the place. July 30, 1866, he married Miss E. C. Fryer; they have two children — Jessie A. and John W. He first took charge of the farm in 1865, after his father's death, and, in 1868, he received the same as his share of the estate; his father, Jesse, was born in Clark Co., Ky., where he lived about six years ; he then, with his parents, moved to Ohio; in 1824, he came to Illinois ; and, in 1825. he settled on the present place and lived here until his death, Feb. 6, 1865. The present Mrs. J. W. Funk is a native of Scioto Co., Ohio ; she was born in Portsmouth, Aug. 30, 1843 ; her parents, John and Nancy A. Glover Fryer, were natives of Ross and Champaign Cos., Ohio ; they were married in Portsmouth ; her parents were early settlers there ; her father built the Government blockhouse at Urbana, and Mrs. Fryer has the ax he used for the same ; there were fourteen men at work and but two axes. In 1865. they came to Illinois and settled at Lincoln, where he followed his trade of carpenter and builder, and resided there until 1869, when they went to Ohio, and remained there until 1873, when they came to McLean Co., and lived one year with their daughter ; they, then, again went to Ohio, where they lived until 1876, and then came to McLean Co. again, and have lived here since. T. D. HARTSON, stock-dealer ; another of the old settlers and natives of McLean Co., who is probably as well and favorably known as any farmer and stock-dealer in the county ; he was born in 1836, and, during his early life, he had to depend upon his own resources for getting an education, as he was left an orphan at the age of 4 years ; his people, who were natives of New England States, came West while much of Illinois was yet but sparsely settled and improved, his father being one of the first settlers of De Witt Co., and establishing the first store in that county in 1830 Mr. Hartson has spent most of his time in agricultural pursuits and stock-dealing : his farm of 200 acres is located five and one-half miles south of Bloomington, on Sec. 7, Randolph Township. He, for the past three years, has been President of the McLean County Agricultural Society, which has been organized for the past twenty-six years ; he is always ready to help forward anv enterprise that he deems for the public good, and is well known as one of the energetic, enterprising and thoroughly reliable citizens of McLean Co. DAVID HOUGH AM, farmer and machinist; P. 0. Hey worth ; was rorn in Highland Co., Ohio, Jan. 16, 1825 ; in 1835, he came to Illinois with his parents and settled in De Witt Co. ; in 1852, he came to Lyttleville, where he, Mr. Rust, and a brother-in-law, built the present saw and grist mill, and carried on the same eleven years ; he then sold out his interest, and has since followed farming and his trade of machinist ; he formerly traveled with Mr. William Stevens, they repairing machinery and building mills in different parts of the State. He formerly carried the mail from Heyworth to Lyttleville, and was Postmaster of the latter place for a short time. Nov. 11, 1853, he married Miss Mary Rust, who was born in Monroe Co., Miss., June 9, 1824, ; they have six children, viz.: Francis M., George W., Mary F., Thomas Jeff., Louisa J. and David A. In 1850, he went to California by ox-team, and returned by Panama and New York. WILLIAM F. IJAMS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington; was born in Mus- kingum Co., Ohio, on his father's farm, July 7, 1816, where he lived until he was 21 years of age. He married Miss Eley Robinson Feb. 2, 1837, who is a native of Licking Co., Ohio, and was born Oct. 25, 1818. The following December, he moved to a farm of his own, near by his parents, where he lived until 1852; he then came West, to Illinois, and settled in Marshall Co., where he engaged in farming, and lived there two years ; he then came to his present place, locating on the part situated in Downs Township ; in 1868, he moved to his present residence. He is no office-seeker, his only offices being connected with the schools and roads. He owned 480 acres in this county, which he has deeded to his children, he managing the property during life. He has eight children — Mary Ann, William H., T. L., Sarah E., Edith, Eliza J., Samuel H. and Rosie. H. A. KARR, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Heyworth ; was born in Hamilton Co , Ohio, Aug. 5, 1830, where he lived nearly four years ; he then moved with his parents to Illinois, and settled in McLean Co., where the present village of Heyworth now stands, where they lived twenty-two years ; they then came to the present residence, both being on the same farm, and he has lived here since. At the age of 18, he worked around by the month, until he was 21 years old, making his residence at home; he then apprenticed to the caipenter's trade, and followed the same for fifteen years, being transient in this neighborhood ; he then took the management of a portion of his father's farm, and has followed the same ever since He owns 174 acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor. He married Miss Mattie E. Story, June 10, 1861, who was born in Hamilton Co., 111. ; they have four children — Lyon, Grant, Mary and Frank. His parents, Walter and Eliza A. Karr, were natives of Sussex Co., 844 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: N'.'J.; they were married in Hamilton Co., Ohio; he died March 20, 1879; she died June 3, 1843. NATHAN LOW, boots and shoes, Heyworth ; is a native of McLean Co., 111., and was born on his father's farm July 5, 1835, where he lived until 1855 ; he then visited St. Paul, Minn. In 1856, he, in company with A. J. Mason, engaged in the livery business in Bloomington, 111. ; he continued in the business for six months, when he withdrew and went to Missouri, also visit- ing Omaha, Neb., to look after a claim, which he found had been "jumped." In 185(5, he engaged in the general merchandise business at St. Joseph, Mo., and in the following November he exchanged the same for the Denman House, in Bloomington, which he sold in December, 1857, and went to Missouri; in. the spring of 1858, he went as assistant wagon master in a Government train to Salt Lake City, being discharged there in November of the same year ; from thence he went to California, stopping in San Bernardino Co. ; thence to Los Angeles ; thence to San Francisco, in 1859; thence to Olympia, Washington Territory, where he conducted a sheep ranche until 1861 ; in July of that year, he took his stock to the Walla Walla Valley, and remained until 1862 ; he then went to Florence City. Idaho, and engaged in gold-mining, remaining until 1863, when he returned to Heyworth, III., via the Panama and New York route, arriving here in December, 18 >3, when he engaged in farming in this township, and followed the same until 1867 ; he then went to Missouri, and engaged in the stock business ; in the spring of 1868, he engaged in his present business. He married Miss Annie M. Hill Nov. 30, 1865 ; she is a native of Holmes Co., Ohio ; they have five children. D. H. McFARLAND, physician, Heyworth ; was born in the village of Licking Creek, Cumberland Co., Penn., Oct. 16, 1831, where he lived three years, when, with his parents, he moved to Mercersburg, in Franklin Co., Penn. ; he lived there until he was 17 years of age ; one year of this time he spent clerking in a general merchandise store, in Mercersburg. In 1848, with his parents, he moved to Clinton Co., Ind., and engaged in farming until 1852; he then, with his brother's family, went to Monongahela City, Penn., remaining one year, and then returned to Frankfort, Ind., and engaged as clerk in the iron, hardware and grocery business, remaining one year, when he again went to Monongahela City and clerked for twenty-eight months in a general merchandise and mining business ; then returning to Frankfort, he engaged as clerk in the drug store of Dr. Dunn, and read medicine under Drs. Dunn, Byers and Carter for three years ; he then went to Chicago and attended lectures at the Rush Medical College, in 1857 and 1858 ; he then returned to Frankfort and began the practice of medicine ; in 1859, he came to Heyworth and engaged in the dry-goods business with his brother J. C. ; they continued one year, when the business was destroyed by fire; he then engaged in the drug business and office practice in Louisville, Ky. In 1861, he was commissioned as First Assistant Surgeon 15th Ind. V. I., and remained in the service one year, when, owing to ill health in his family, he resigned, and settled in Heyworth, and has lived there since. In 1868, he went to the Rush Medical College and presented himself for graduation ; he spent several months in the college hospital, and received his diploma by direct examination. June 22, 1859, he married Miss Miriam E. Dunn, of Indiana. S. MANN, hardware, etc.. Heyworth; was born in Galesburg, Knox Co., 111., Sept. 12, 1842, where he lived one year, when, with his parents, he moved to Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., where he lived eighteen years ; he then went to Hornellsville, Steuben Co., N. Y., and apprenticed to the tinner's trade, remaining three and one-half years ; he then went to Warsaw and engaged in the business on his own account, continuing fourteen months, when he sold out and went to Kansas City, Mo. ; thence to Bloomington, 111. ; thence to Mason City, where he worked at his trade about one year, and then engaged in the business on his own account, con- tinuing four years ; he then came to Heyworth and established his present business ; at first, he started in a very small way, and, by close attention to business and good management, he kept steadily increasing his stock, until now it not only embraces all the goods found in his line, but includes a general tin, sheet-iron and copper manufactory, in which all goods in this line are made to order in any pattern ; he also deals in agricultural implements, and keeps a full variety of the best make on hand. Sept. 12, 1867, he married Miss Elmira Burnett, of Horuellsville, N. Y. ; they had three children, two living — Frankie and Willie. H. A. MYERS, farmer; P. 0. Bloomington, box 991 ; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Aug. 23, 1827, where he lived until 1864. He was married Dec. 25, 1849, to Miss Levina Schechter, of Richwood, Union Co., Ohio ; die was born in Knox Co. When but 20 years old, he took up the management of the home farm and conducted the same until 1864; in 1851, he bought a farm adjoining his father's farm, of 183 acres ; in 1864, he sold the two farms and came West, bringing with him 1,400 head of sheep, and located two miles east of Bloomington; he next moved to a farm six miles from Bloomington, on Cheney's Grove road, containing 564 acres; he then came to his present place, located ten miles from Bloomington, and containing 257 acres. When he came West, he was largely interested in wool-raising ; lately, he has confined himself to stock and general farming. They have had ten children, eight, still living — Theodosia A., Henry S., Margaret C, James F., William F., Rose L., Jennie and James S. SAMUEL NICKERSON, dry goods, Heyworth ; is a native of this township and born on his father's farm Sept. 16, 1849, where he lived eleven years ; they then moved to a farm near RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP. 845 Heyworth, being there also about eleven years, when the family came to the village; he lived here two years; then went to Terre Haute, Ind., and engaged as clerk in a hardware store, remaining two years; he then returned to Heyworth, and was confined by sickness until the following August, when he visited the lakes in Wisconsin ; returning in the fall, he remained until the spring of 1877 ; he then traveled east, visiting his father's native place in Maryland, and returned in July the same year. In the spring of 1878, he bought out Short & Dillon, for- merly Wamsley Bros., and has conducted the business since. The business was first established by Wamsley Bros about 1865, and was conducted by them until 1878, when they were super- seded by Short & Dillon, who, in a few months, disposed of the business to Mr. Nickerson, who found that, with no experience and a depleted stock, his task of putting the business on a good footing was by no means a small one ; but, by close attention to business, coupled with the knowl- edge that in buying lay the chief point of selling, together with a cautious study of the wants of his trade, he soon had the satisfaction of seeing his business increasing, and each succeeding month adding to its variety and extent, until now it is conceded that his is the leading business in his line in Heyworth. Though gaining this point, he felt that, so long as there was a chance to benefit his trade, there was something for him to do, and to meet this point, he, on March 1, 1879, put his business on the cash basis, thus securing to his customers goods at prices which do not include the losses on bad accounts, which, in a credit business, are sure to occur in spite of the best judgment. E. J. PASSWATER, farmer and stock -raiser ; P. 0. Heyworth ; is a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio; was born Sept. 15. 1821, and lived in Ohio till 1830, when, with his parents, he came to Illinois and settled at the west end of Randolph Grove May 16, 1830. In the fall, his father entered the present place, and lived here until his death, Feb. 28, 1851. Mr. E. J. Passwater married Miss Almeda Savage, who was born in Kentucky and died Feb. 12, 1865. After his mar- riage, he began business on his own account. After his father's death, he and his brother Clem- ent took the management of the farm and bought an additional eighty acres. After his brother- Clement's marriage, they divided the home farm, the original falling to E. J., where he has lived ever since. By his first marriage he had ten children, nine living — Martha J., Ann 11., Rhoda C, Ervin P., Alice, Elizabeth, Levina, Enoch H. and George W. ; Almeda died. Sept. 7, 1871, he married Mrs. Annie E. Jones Atchison, who is a native of this county ; they have one child — Emma May ; she had two children by former marriage — Sarah G. and Charles N. His par- ents, Pernell and Comfort Short, were natives of Delaware ; she died April 25, 1844. CLEMENT PASSWATER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Heyworth; was born on hia father's farm, in Hamilton Co., Ohio, March 17, 1825, where he lived five years, when, with hia parents, he came to Illinois, and settled at the west end of Randolph's Grove; this was in May 16, 1830: he lived with his parents until June 1, 1848, when he married Miss Rebecca Yocom, of Kentucky. After his marriage, he began business on his own account, working part of his father's farm, his wife remaining at her home in Sangamon Co., which place he also made hia home. In the spring jf 1849, he settled on eighty acres that he and his brother had bought previously, and on which he lived until 1867, when he came to his present place, and has lived here since. He is no office-seeker, and has held no office except connected with the schools. By his marriage he has had seven children, six living — Emily J., Stephen H., William F., Enoch D., James C. and John L.; Mary C. died JOHN R. PETERS, of the firm of Slagel & Peters, blacksmiths, etc., Heyworth: was born on his father's farm, in Shenandoah Co.. Va., Aug. 8, 1845, where he lived one year; he then, with his parents, moved to Hardy Co., Va., where he lived until 1861, when, with his mother and family, he came West to Illinois, and settled in McLean Co., at Lexington, where, at the age of 16, he was apprenticed to the trade of a blacksmith, according to State statute. After learning his trade, he took a trip East, visiting his native county in Virginia, after which he returned to Lexington and worked at his trade. In 1866, he went to Martin Township, in this county, and engaged in the blacksmithing business on his own account. In 1868, he sold his business and came to Heyworth and worked for Mr. Slagel, with whom, in the summer of 1871, he formed a part- nership, an account of which will be seen elsewhere. Aug. 23, 1870, he married Miss Mattie £., daughter of Mr. J. Slagel ; she was born in Pendleton Co., Va. ; they have one child — Hurbet J. WILLIAM QU1NTON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Heyworth; was born in Kilkenny Co., Ireland, March 21, 1811, where he lived until he was about 33 years of age ; he then went to Australia and, in 1849, came to the United States, settling in California, and, in 1850. he came to Illinois, settling on his present place, and has lived here since. In December, 1856, he mar- ried Miss Mary Ann Mooney ; she was born in Wexford Co., Ireland, in December, 1833 ; they had seven children, five of whom are living — Mary Jane, Elizabeth, John H., Sophia and Will- iam. He owns 320 acres in this and DeWitt Co., which he has earned by his own labor and management. His farm is located four miles southwest of Heyworth, and is well adapted to stock-raising. While in Australia he cared for sheep and followed farming, and when the Cali- fornia excitement began, he left Australia for same and followed mining, and met with fair suc- cess, but. owing to sickness, had to leave. HENRY RALEY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O Bloomington; was born in Bedford Co.* Penn., Jan. 20, 1845; his parents moved to Clay Co., Ind., when he was but 6 months old, and 846 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: lived there until 1855, when in the fall of that year they came to Illinois and settled in Bloom- ington Township, this county, and lived there three years ; they then moved to Old Town Town- ship, and he lived there until 1866. On Dec. 20, of that year, he married Miss Lizzie S. Welsh; they have four children, viz., William A., Eugene E., Henry L. and Charles E. After his marriage, he came to this township and lived here one year; he then moved to Hudson Township, living there six years, and then came to his present place; in 1864, he enlisted in the 155th Reg. I. V. I., and remained in the service one year; he owns 206 acres in this county; it i« located seven miles southeast of Bloomington, and four miles west of Downs, and is well adapted to stock-raising. DR. A. F. ROGERS, grocer, Hey worth ; is a native of Leicester, Worcester Co., Mas*., and was born Oct, 11, 1812; he lived in his native town about three years, when, with his parents, he moved to Bernardston Mass., thence to Swansea, N. H , where he lived until he was 6 years of age; he then came West to Illinois, and settled at Waterloo, Monroe Co., where he was prin- cipally engaged in farming until 1835, when he joined the Methodist Conference, and remained in active service until 1858. He attended the first conference held in this county in Bloom- ington, about 1842; in 1844 and 1845, he was on the Bloomington Grove Circuit, during which time he held a revival in Bloomington, some forty to fifty being converted. In 1858, he engaged in the drug business in Leroy, and in 1865 he came to Heyworth, moving his drug business here, which he continued until 1870, his store being the first in the place; he then engaged in preach- ing until 1877 ; in the spring of 1879, he engaged in his present business. In the fall of 1835, he married Miss Ann Eliza Warnock, daughter of Judge Warnock, of St. Louis, Mo.; she died in 1842; they had four children — two living, viz., Dr. L. H. and Mrs. Ann E Howard. In 1845, he married Miss Julia A. Gibbs, of Leroy ; they had eight children — five living, viz., Mrs. Lucretia Whiting, Mrs. Ellen Stretch, Flora, Austin W. and Orvill. 0. C. RUTLEDGE, of the firm of I. Vanordstrand & Co., grain, lumber etc., Heyworth ; was born in McLean Co., 111., on his father's farm, located in the present township of Randolph, Oct. 19, 1831, where he lived until the age of 27; in the summer of 1855, he bought grain in ) ley worth for Mr. E. Birney.'of Le Roy, this county, and thus did the first business transacted at Heyworth; at first the business was very small — all the grain was handled by hand, and weighed on small platform scales. In the fall a small warehouse was built, in which to handle and store the grain. In the spring of 1856, Mr. Birney quit the business at this point, and the firm of Elder & Rutledge was formed, doing business until April 1, 1858, when they consolidated with Mr. I. Vanordstrand, and did business as I. Vanordstrand & Co.; during the following summer, Mr. Rutledge withdrew from the firm; and on being married, he moved to Downs Township, engaging in farming; he remained there two years, when he returned to Heyworth and engaged in the general merchandise business with Mr. J. C. McFarland — the firm being McFarland & Rutledge; they continued in the business until 1865; during three years of this time Mr. McFarland was in the army, and Mr. Rutledge had the entire management ; he then sold out his interest, and bought an interest in the business of I. Vanordstrand & Co., and has continued a member of that firm since ; in 1872, Mr. Elder withdrew from the firm. Mr. Rutledge is the oldest living native resident of this township. In 1862 he was Assessor, and received the appointment of Township Treasurer the same year ; he has also held the offices of Township < lerk, Village Trustee, Corporation and School Treasurer. He married Miss Sarah A. Elder June 8, 1858, who died in 1865; they had one child — Mary F. He married Miss Letitia A. Battershell, Dec. 24, 1866; they have two children living, viz., Lettie and Lyndon. T. 0. RUTLEDGE, farmer and stock-raider; P. 0. Heyworth; is a native of Augusta, Ga.; he was born Sept. 17, 1806, and lived there six years; he then, with his parents, moved to Henderson Co., Ky., where he lived thirteen years, when he came to Illinois and settled in San- gamon Co., where he lived one year; in 1826, he settled on his present place and has lived here since. Jan. 1, 1829, he married Miss Cynthia Rutledge, of Kentucky; they were married in this township, and had twelve children — seven living: five in this county, one in Missouri and one in Kansas; he owns 343 acres in this county, having given all his children farms, all of which he has earned by his own labor and management He came here in au old wagon, which, with a team of oxen, constituted his possessions at that time. He was in the service sixty days with Gen. Stillman, in the Black Hawk war, and was present at the General's defeat; after the expiration of the sixty days, he enlisted for thirty days to assist in building block houses in Chicago. His father died in Kentucky ; his mother and eight children came here in the wagon. Being the oldest, the care of the farm and family principally fell to him. His mother died in 1836, near Le Roy, this county. R. H. RUTLEDGE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Heyworth: is a native of Henderson Co., Ky.; he was born on his father's farm March 21, 1810, and lived there five years, when, with his parents, he came to Illinois and settled in White Co., where they engaged in farming: in 1824, they moved to Sangamon Co., thence to Logan Co., and in 1826, they came to Randolph Grove and settled near the present place. Aug. 20, 1830, Mr. Thomas Rutledge died; he was born in South Carolina, and married Miss Sallie Smith, of Georgia ; they had twelve cl^ildren — four now living. Mr. R. H. Rutledge being the eldest son at home, he took the management of the farm. In 1831, he improved a farm near Le Roy for his mother, his father having sold the RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP. 847 old homestead just previous to his death. She moved to the Le Roy farm, taking the family, except Mr. R. H., who, June 9, 1831, married Miss Charity Weedman, a native of Perry Co.. Ohio; this was the first marriage in McLean Co.; after his marriage, he entered a part of his present place. In the fall of 1831, he made his first trip to Chicago, going by ox team, and has since made Howards of twenty trips by team to that point. He marketed at Fort Clark (now Peoria) as early as 1827; he owns 253 acres in this township, which is well improved and stocked; Oct. 16, 1872, he lost his dwelling-house by fire. In building his present residence, he used eight-inch sills of oak and walnut, made from trees that have grown up since his settle- ment here; he had twelve children — six living, viz., Mary Jane, Sarah L., George T., Nancy E., Leander and Marquis De L. J F. RUST, tarmer and stock-raiser; I'. 0. Randolph; was born in Maury Co., Tenn., Aug. 11, 1810, where he lived about six years, when, with his parents he moved to Monroe Co., Miss., wher^ they lived two years; they then moved to West Tennessee and lived there four years, when they came to Illinois, and settled in Hamilton Co. ; in the spring of 1834, he came to McLean Co. with a drove of cattle, belonging to Isaac and Jesse Funk, bringing some to Funk's Grove; he then worked by the month for Mr. Jesse Funk, having hired to him in the southern part of the State, and lived with him in all about six years; in 1839, he bought 120 acres in De Witt Co. Oct. 22, 1840, he married Miss Elizabeth Lindley, a native of Christian Co., Ky., and, in November following, moved to his farm and lived there six years; he then sold out and moved to Randolph Grove, on a farm near his present place; in the winter of 1857, he came to his present place and has lived here since ; he has marketed produce in Chicago, also at Ft. Clark and Pekin ; he has given farms to all of his children, and has 400 acres for himself and wife, all of which he has earned by his own labor and management. H. J. RUST, Sr., farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Randolph ; was born in Maury Co., Tenn., Jan. 6, 1823 ; in 1829, he came to Illinois with his parents, who settled in Hamilton Co. ; Nov. 28, 1834, they bought 100 acres in Randolph Township of Gov. Moore, for $6 per acre ; in 1847, they moved to Lyttleville, where his father and others built a saw and grist mill ; in 1852, he bought a land-warrant and entered his present place and has lived here since. Feb. 24, 1848, he married Ruth E. Boroughs, who was a native of Dearborn Co., Ind., and died Nov. 27, 1862; Sept. 31, 1863, he married Miss Elizabeth Hoover, who is a native of Clermont. Co., Ohio. In 1846, he volunteered for Col. Baker's regiment, but was put in reserve and never called for. He owns 183£ acres in this township, which he has earned by his own labor and management, bis start in life being a horse and saddle ; his parents, William and Nancy (McGee) Rust, were natives of Granville Co., N. C. ; they were born Feb. 23, 1793, and Nov. 11, 1789 ; they had nine chil- dren ; both died in this township Aug. 5. 1868, and Aug. 25, 1873, respectively. J. SLAGEL (of the firm of Slagel & Peters), blacksmith, Heyworth ; was born on his father's farm in Randolph Co., Va., March 8, 1830, where he lived eighteen years ; he then went to Harper's Mill, in Pendleton Co., Va., where he was apprenticed to the trade of a blacksmith with Jacob W. Harper, and remained six years, during which time, on April 17, 1851, he mar- ried Miss Huldah Raines, of Pendleton Co., Va., and by whom he has had ten children, six of whom are now living, viz., Martha E., Mary Susan, Noah W., Charlie, Minnie and George J. In 1854, he moved to Coles Co., 111., where he lived until 1857, when he came to Heyworth and engaged in his present business ; beginning in a small way, he gradually kept increasing the business, and, in 1871, he took Mr. J. Peters as a partner; the business flourished under the management of the firm, and besides a horse-power engine, they added several improved machines to facilitate the work in their carriage and wagon manufactory, and later they added a feed and meal mill ; in 1872, when the depression that followed was beginning to be felt, the firm began to curtail the business, believing such course better than to have a stock of goods on hand made under the disadvantage of former high prices; the working force was reduced and the stock on hand disposed of, and no new stock was made except on orders ; the capital arising from the sale of the stock was placed in good and marketable real estate, so that when the depression became general and severe, though the firm experienced a great falling off in trade and shrinkage of values, they were in no wise embarrassed by the change. SAMUEL R. STILLMAN, farmer; P. 0. Heyworth: was born in Sussex Co , N. J., on his father's farm, Jan. 1, 1828 ; he lived there a few years, and then moved to Morris Co., N. J., and lived there until 1838, when, with his parents, he came to Illinois and settled on his present place ; his father entered the place, buying it from the government at $1.25 per acre ; he lived with his parents until 1849. Dec. 20, of that year, he married Miss Polly K. Peasley, a native of Virginia; she died Nov. 17, 1870. In November, 1854, he moved to Lyttleville, in this town- ship, and bought an interest in a saw and grist mill which had been erected for sawing ties for the Illinois Central Railroad ; he carried on the mill until March, 1860, when he returned to the present place ; in 1861, he sold his interest in the mill, and, in August, 1862, he enlisted in the 94th I. V. I., Co. B, and remained in service until the close of the war; he was in the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Ft. Gaines, Ft. Morgan, Spanish Fort and the other battles of the regi- ment. He owns 400 acres in this county, located on Mud creek, two and a half miles west of Heyworth, on the main road to McLean, which enjoys the reputation of running through the best ten miles of land in the county. Nov. 28, 1871, he married Miss Prudence E. Moore; she 848 » BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: was born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Feb. 28, 1839; the members of the family are, Margaret L„ Mirtin V., Malinda J., Albert R., Sylvester P., Herschel E., Maria L., Mary L , Samuel E., Ray E. and Judson M. A. R. STILLMAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Hey worth ; is the son of Samuel R. and Polly E. (Peasley) Stillman, and was born in Lyttleville, Kandolph Township, McLean Co., Ill , March 10, 1855, and came with his parents to a farm adjoining his present place. Sept. 3, 1874, he married Miss Sarah Nickerson, who was born in this township, and died June 3, 1875 ; March 16, 1876, he married Miss Henrietta Greeney, who was born in this township ; they have one chihl — Oakley E. After his marriage, he came to his present place and has lived here since : it is located on the main road from Heyworth to McLean, about three miles west of the former plai e. J. S. STOCKDALE. farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Heyworth ; was born in Allegheny Co., Penn., Jan. 26, 1814, where he lived about sixteen years, when, with his parents, he moved to Washington Co., same State, and engaged in farming, remaining there until 1854; they tht-n moved to Monongahela City, where he worked at wood-turning in a chair and cabinet- ware factory, and remained one year; he then cime West to Illinois, and bought a farm in Sangamon Co., which he sold the following fall and returned to Monongahela City, remaining there until spring ; he again came to Illinois, stopping with his brother-in-law, Mr. Porter, near Blooming- ton, and lived with him until the following September, when he bought and settled on his pres- ent place, which now contains 150 acres, located one mile from Heyworth, on the main road to McLean ; it is well supplied with living water, there being three or four mineral springs, which though not improved give ample evidence of their worth ; one is in daily use, and is looked upon as the family drug store. Feb. 26 1847, he married Miss Margaret Curry, a native of Pitts- burgh, Penn. ; they have three children, viz. : William B., James C and Alice V. A. M. STRINGFIELD. farmer and stock-raiser: P. 0. Randolph ; was born near Murfrees- boro, Tenn., Oct. 14, 1809, and lived in Tennessee about one year; when, with his parents, he went to Huntsville, Ala., where he lived until the fall of 1819 ; when, with his parents, he came to Illinois, and lived one season in White Co. ; then moved to Sangamon Co., where he lived about one year ; while there his father died ; in the spring of 1823, he, his brother and brother- in-law, came to Randolph Grove, and he and his brother improved a farm for their mother, which she settled on in the fall of 1823 : and, in March, 1824, Miss Temperance Stringfield and John W. Taylor were married ; this was the first marriage in what is now McLean Co. ; they lived there until 1826, when Mrs. Stringfield and her children — Severe, A. M. and Virginia, went to Galena 111., where they carried on a wagon-shop, and ran teams, which they continued for two years, during which, Mrs. Stringfield died. In the fall, A. M. returned to Randolph Grove, and engaged in farming on the place he helped to improve for his mother ; in November, 1831, he took cattle to Galena, and in February, 1832, be settled on his present pl>ice. March 25, of the same year, he married Miss Amelia Hand, a native of Ohio ; her parents settled near the east side of the Grove in 1824; they had eight children, seven living — Thomas C, Jesse P., George H , John H., Barbria H., Elizabeth V. and Mary E. In 1831, he was elected an officer in the 39th Regiment Illinois Militia, being Captain of Co. B. He has been Justice of the Peace for eight years, Supervisor of this township (two first terms after county organization), and has served about four years since. Though he has given land to his children, he retains 300 acres, for himself and wife. Mr. Stringfield was one of the early settlers of this county, and his early days are full of amusing and thrilling scenes and incidents among the Indians and wild animals; he carries the scars of several wolf-bites — a full account of which, together with his adventures with the Indians, would fill an ordinary book. S. T. THERY, engineer and Police Magistrate. Heyworth; is a native of Jefferson Co., Ohio, and was born in Tiltonsville, where he lived about eighteen years. He was then appren- ticed to the cabinet trade in Warren Co.. where he remained two years ; he then came to Illinois, and settled near Le Roy, where he engaged in farming, and lived there most of the time until 1854, when he came to Heyworth and engaged at wagon manufacturing, continuing until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. B, 94th T. V. I., being Corporal; was in the service nearly three years. In February, 1865, he was transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, and was made Com- pany Clerk, which he held about one month, when he was promoted to Sergeant. He was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Siege of'Vicksburg, where he was taken sick and confined to hospital one year; after his discharge, he came to Heyworth, and worked at wagon-making, following the same until 1868. August 1, of that year, he took his present position, and has held the same since. He has held the office of Town and Village Clerk about five years. In 1877, he was elected Police Magistrate of Heyworth. Oct. 21, 1865, he married Miss Eliza J. Mills, who was born in Ohio Co, Va. They have five children, viz.: Sarah A, Alma, Ida, Mamie and Melorie. T. M. THORNBURY, farmer; P. 0. Randolph ; is a native of Chester Co., Penn , where he was born Aug. 17, 1829, where he lived until he was 23 years of age, during which time he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed it. for seven years; he then engaged in butchering and marketing, at West Chester and Philadelphia, continuing in the business ten years. In 1862, he came West to Illinois, and settled on a farm three miles east of Bloomington, and lived RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP. 849 there until 1867, when he moved to Bloomington, and entered into partnership with E. Barker, and built the Union Flouring Mills of that place; he finally sold his interest, and bought the flouriug-mill and warehouse at Shirley, and conducted the business there for a year and a-half, when he sold out the business ; during this time he resided in Bloomington ; he then moved to a farm about three miles northwest of Bloomington, and remained there until 1865, when he came to his present place. Oct. 10, 1861, he married Mrs. Mary A. Preston, formerly Miss Mary A. Price ; she is a native of Philadelphia. GEORGE UHRICH, blacksmith, Hey worth ; is a native of Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio ; he was born Oct. 4, 1829, and lived there until he was 15 years of age, when he went to Cadiz, Ohio, and was apprenticed to the trade of a blacksmith, and remained there until he was 18 years of age ; he then worked transient until he was 21, when he engaged in the business for himself, at Uhrichsville, where he remained until the spring of 1857, when he came to Illinois, and stopped in Bloomington. remaining transient until 1859, when he came to Heyworth, and engaged with Mr. Forsby, who carried on a shop at this place ; after working a few months, he engaged in the business on his own account (buying out a Mr. Graham, who also had a shop here,) and is carrying on the business since. Adjoining his is a wagon shop, and in new work, the two shops work as one, thus giving each the advantage of the other, and enabling them to do all kind of building and repairing in their respective lines. On Sept. 12, 1852, he married Miss Adaline Brown, of Putnam Co., N. Y. They have five children. ISAAC VANORDSTRAND, of the firm of I. Vanordstrand & Co., grain, lumber, etc., Hey- worth; is a native of Washington Co., Penn., and was born Feb. 11, 1824, on his father's farm, where he lived until the age of 20 ; he then attended the Cross Creek Academy, where he remained about eighteen months. In September, 1845, he came West to Illinois, settling in McLean Co., and taught the Kimbler School at Diamond Grove; he then took charge of a general mer- chandise business for Mr. Wm. Mahon, assignee for his son John D. ; his wages in this capacity were $8.33 p er month, his time lacking six days of being three months, and, to complete that period, he spent the six days in the harvest field. After visiting Pennsylvania, he formed a part- nership with H. J. Short and J. N. Low, under the firm name of Short, Vanordstrand & Low, general merchants, located at Short Point. In the following April, Mr Short withdrew, and the firm became Vanordstrand & Low, who moved the business to Independence (the present site of Mr. Vanordstrand' s residence), and conducted the business until February, 1848, when he bought out Mr. Low, and conducted the businesn until 1850, at which time his brother John took an interest with him, the firm name being I. and J. Vanordstrand. In 1852, Mr. John Vanord- strand sold his interest to his brother Parker, who was a silent partner. In 1856, the firm sold out to J. C. Frisby, who moved the business to a town then located one and one-half miles north of the present village of Heyworth. The following winter, the store burnt down, whhich proved the collapse of both business and town. From 1856 to 1857, Mr. Vanordstrand was engaged in setting up his former business and the management of his farm. In 1857, he bought out J. S. and G. P. Barber, who were carrying on the grain and lumber business in Heyworth. April 8, 1858, he consolidated with Elder and Rutledge, the firm being I. Vanordstrand & Co. In 1872, Mr. Elder withdrew. In Sept. 14, 1848, he married Miss Eliza Ann Low, a native of Blooming Grove, this county, she was born April 30 1832. They had three children; two living, viz., Willie and Craig. W. VANORDSTRAND, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Heyworth ; is a native of Randolph Township, McLean Co., 111., and was born on his father's farm, near the village of Heyworth, Nov. 20, 1855, where he lived about twenty-one years, except two years he spent at school, in Lincoln, this State. Nov. 22, 1876, he married Miss N. M. Noble, who was born in Randolph Township, this county, Dec. 26, 1858. They have two children, viz. : Charley V. and Carl. In the spring of 1877, he came to his present place, which contains 160 acres, located two and one- half miles from Heyworth, on the main road to McLean. L. D. WELCH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. box 965, Bloomington; is a native of Ran- dolph Township, McLean Co., Ill , and was born Dec. 2, 1847, and has always lived in this county. He lived with his parents until he was 23 years of age, when they moved to Blooming- ton, and he and his father worked the farm in partnership ; his father furnishing the help. In 1876, he traded a farm he owned east of this for the present place, paying the difference in values. Sept. 22, 1869, he married Arabella J. Lemen, who was born in Ohio ; they have four children, viz.: Minnie L., John E., William B. and Gertrude May. At the age of 11 he joined the M. E. Church, and has taken an active interest in its affairs ; he is Church Steward and Trustee, and has been Superintendent of the Sabbath school. He has not sought for office in county affairs, and has held none except in connection with the schools. J. A. WELCH, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Downs ; The subject of this sketch was born in Downs Township in this county, on his father's farm, Jan. 6, 1849, where he lived until he was 23 years of age. He married Miss Myrtilla J. Bishop, Nov. 23, 1871 ; she was born in Randolph Township in this county ; they have three children, viz.: Henry A. Jr., Florence and Mary M. After this marriage, he came to his present place and has lived here since. He owns 227 acres in this township, which is located 10 miles southeast of Bloomington and four miles s uthwest of Downs Station. 850 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP. JOSEPH B. AMBROSE, clerk, Lexington ; born in Morgan Co., Va„ Nov. 8, 1821, which was his home until his removal to Troy, Miami Co., Ohio, in 1843, where he resided some three years ; in 1848. he returned to the county of his nativity, locating at Berkeley Springs, and sub- sequently to West Virginia. He was married in 1853, to Miss Mary E. Hyre, who was born in Upshur Co., West Va.; in the spring of 1854, he removed to Illinois, locating at Lexingtou, which has since been his home Mr. A. has served as member of the Town Council two terms. VALENTINE J. BECKER (V. J. Becker & Co.), drugs and groceries, Selma; born in Buf- falo, N. Y., Oct. 3, 1853, but removed to Illinois in early childhood, with his father's family, locating at Lexington, this county ; in July, 1874, he was employed as clerk in the drug store of McNaught & Butler, where he remained until Feb. 12, 1878; for a few months of the same year he was with a drug firm at Kenosha, Wis., but engaged with Matt. W. Borland, pharmacist at Xo. 378 West Van Buren street, Chicago, 111., in July of that year; he engaged in the drug business, under the firm name of V. J. Becker & Co., at his present location, Jan 20, 1879. GEOKGE BRADFORD, farmer, Sec. 21; P. 0. Selma; born in Cumberland Co., Me., June 29, 18^3, and is a son of David Bradford, who was born in the same State ; Mr. B. is a descenu- ant of Gov. Bradford, of colonial times, and therefore of. the old Pilgrim stock; at the age of 13, he moved to North Bridgewater, Mass., where he resided until his removal to the West; in the fall of 1854, he removed to Illinois, locating at Pleasant Hill, his present home, where he fol- lowed shoemaking for some years, and afterwards engaged in the drug business ; in the spring of 1877, he sold his drug stock and became a tiller of the soil. He has filled the office of School Treasurer seventeen years; was elected Justice of the Peace in 1872, and still holds that office; owns 130 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre. In 1850, he was married to Miss Martha Paul, who was born in Dedham, Mass. ; they have three children — George C, Charles W. and Mary E. JONATHAN CREERY, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Selma; born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Aug. 1, 1835, where he resided until 1853, removing to St. Joseph Co., Ind., in the spring of that year ; in 1855, he crossed the plains, arriving at Placerville, Aug. 10 of that year, where he engaged in mining; some two years later he went to Southern Oregon, thence to Frasier Kiver in 1858; when they entered the British possessions, they had to pay a fee of §15; this entitled the miner to a license good for three months, and at the end of that time the license was renewed for an other quarter for the fee of $5 ; after a short stay, he returned to Oregon ; in 1861, he went to Idaho, thence to Montana, some three or four years later, where he, with others, discovered the Elk Creek mines, which proved to be very rich; in 1867, he returned to the States, and the fol- lowing year, purchased the farm known as the Esq. Thompson place, where he has since resided; owns 220 acres of land in Lexington Township. Married, in 1858, to Miss Rebecca J. Hatfield, who was born near Elkhart, Ind.; four children — Viola, Hayden, William H. and Nina. ALFRED B. DAVIDSON, attorney at law and Justice of the Peace, Lexington ; born in Ross Co., Ohio, Sept. 8, 1833, but removed in early childhood, with his father's family, to Ill- inois, locating near Bloomington in December, 1836, where he followed farming till about 19 years of age, then came to Bloomington and served as clerk until 1856 ; he was, for a time, engaged in the mercantile business at Decatur, 111., but returned to Bloomington, where he dealt in groceries and grain. In August, 18G2, he enlisted in the 94th I. V. I., and was mustered out at the expiration of his term of service : in October, 1865, he located at Lexington, his pres- ent home, and engaged in the grain business; elected Police Magistrate in May, 1867, which office he still fills ; has also served as Town Clerk and Corporation Treasurer several years : admitted to the bar of the State in January, 1876. Married in 1858, to Miss Ellen G., daughter of Dr. W. H. Mitchell, of Decatur, 111.; they have five children— Minerva, William H., Alfred J., Nellie B. and Anna J Mr. D. is Master of Lexington Lodge, No. 482, A., F. & A. M. GEORGE W. DAVIS, farmer, carriage and wagon maker ; P. O. Lexington ; born in Ches- ter Co., Penn., June 10, 1833, and is the youngest son of Matthew and Elizabeth (Hush) Davis ; his father was born near Philadelphia, Penn , July 4, 1774; he was of Welsh, and his wife of German, parentage. Mr. Davis resided in Chester Co , the place of his birth, till about 15 years of age, when he went to Pickaway Co , Ohio, and learned the carriage trade with his brother; he subsequently worked at his trade in Philadelphia and Reading, Penn.; thence to Ohio, where he remained about one year; in April, 1855, he moved to Illinois, locating at Lexington, his present home, where he worked at wagon-making for other parties; in the spring of 1857, he went to Omaha, Neb., where he remained about eighteen months, and then returned to Pickaway • o., Ohio, and again, in August. 1859, went West, stopping in Iola, Kan., thence to Ft. Scott, Kan.; thence to Pennsylvania, returning to Lexington in 1863 ; owns 320 acres of land in Lawn- dale Township, this county, and 120 acres in Iowa. In 1864, he was married to Miss Sarah Biggs, who was born in Money Creek Township, this county ; she died in 1867 ; one child by this union Walter M. Mr. D was married to his present wife, Catharine Morris, in 1869; she was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio; one child by second marriage— Jessie E. LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP. 851 JOHN DAWSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 7 : P. O. Lexington ; born in Madison Co., Ohio, Dec. 4, 1820, but removed, when about 12 years of age, with his father's family to Ill- inois, locating in what is now Lexington Township, this county, in September, 1882 ; his father, James R. Dawson, was a native of Bourbon Co., Ky., and among the first settlers of this vicinity. The subject of this sketch was in Chicago in 1833, when Gen. Scott's troops were there and remembers asking his father to buy land in that city, and the request being promptly answered by, " I don't want any land in this pond." Mr. D. has followed farming and stock-raising for many years, and, in 1858, he also engaged in shipping cattle, which he followed for about ten years. In 1875, on account of failing health, he removed to California and there engaged in raising fine cattle ; in April, 1879, he returned to his present home. He was married in 1844, to Miss Arminta Adams, who was born in Boone Co., Ky.; eight children by this union, two of whom are living — Thomas A. and Orlando F. Mr. Dawson owns 742 acres of farm lands in this county. CROGHAN DAWSON, farmer and stock -raiser; P. 0. Lexington; was born in Madison Co., Ohio, Oct. 10, 1822, and is a namesake of Maj. Croghan, who defeated the British and Indians at Lower Sandusky, Ohio, in 1812; his father. James R. Dawson, was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Oct. 10, 1794 ; he moved to Ohio when about 15 years of age, and, in 1816, married Miss Mary Ogden ; they removed to Illinois in the fall of 1832, locating in what is now Money Creek Township, this county. The subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm until 20 years of age, after which he became a tiller of the soil on his own account, combining with it wolf-hunting, both as an amusement and, to some extent, a necessity in these early times, as his wolfship possessed such fondness for the flesh-products of the farm that it became necessary to kill wolves as well as weeds. In 1849, he married Miss Elizabeth Haner, who was born in Fayette Co., Ohio; her father's family came to this county when she was a child, settling here as early as 1829 ; they have nine children living — Merritt, Ezra, Azor, James B., Ella (wife of E. Campbell), General McClellan, Dolly, Captain John and the youngest, who is now waiting for that legacy — a name; they have lost one child — Emma, who died in 1854. Mr. D. owns 956 acres of farm-land, valued at $30 per acre ; he has also given great attention to stock-raising, and, in 1858, commenced shipping cattle quite extensively, and continued until 1870. He has served one term as Assessor of Lexington Township. GEORGE T. DEMENT, general stock merchant, Lexington; born in Alexandria, Va., March 19, 1815, but removed in early childhood with his father's family to Maysville, Ky. ; thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1824 ; in 1832, the Asiatic cholera made its first appearance on this continent, and his father, Richard Dement, was its first victim in the city of Cincinnati ; in 1834, Mr. Dement located at Nashville, Tenn., and engaged in the manufacture of chairs, and dealt in furniture. In 1837, he was married to Miss Ann E., daughter of Braddock Richmond ; she was born in Rhode Island. Mr. Richmond's home, for many years, was with his daughter, Mrs. Dement ; his age at death was 92 years. With the exception of the above, there has not been a death in this family for a period of over forty years. In the spring of 1838, he removed to Illinois, locating at Tremont, Tazewell Co., where he engaged in farming; since 1852, he has resided at Lexington, his present home ; here he built the first warehouse, and shipped the first grain sent by cars from this market ; Mr. D. also purchased the first safe brought to L., and a gentleman from an adjoining township, who had not become accustomed to this style of furniture, came into his store, placed himself in a good position to get the benefit of this, as he supposed, artificial heater, remarking, " It's a very cold day." The following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Dement — Clara E. (wife of Gen. Franklin), Richmond S., George R., Martha A. and Ambrose. DAVID T. DOUGLASS, physician, Selma; born in Morristown, N. J., July 21, 1842; he received his early education at the place of his nativity, where he resided until his removal to Illinois in 1866 ; his first location in the West was at Saybrook, this county ; he followed teach- ing until 1869, when he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating at that institution in February, 1871, commencing the practice of his profession at Saybrook soon after; in 1872, he removed to his present home : owns 120 acres of land in Lexington Township. In 1872, he was married to Miss Mary L. Pierson, who was born in Morrow Co., Ohio ; one child by this union — Miriam. The Doctor is a member of Lexington Lodge, No. 482, A., F & A. M. JAMES P. DOUGLASS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11 ; P.O.Lexington: born in Morristown, Morris Co., N. J., which was his home till his removal to Lexington Township, this county, in December, 1868. The year prior to his removal to this State, he was married to Miss Mary S. Paul, who was born in Morristown, N. J. ; they have five children — Mary A., Lucretia J., Ida B., and the twins — Emmett B. and Everett P. Mr. D. owns eighty acres of land, valued at $3,200 ; has served as School Director three terms. As a relic of former times, he has a $4 Con- tinental bill bearing date 1776 ; this promise to pay is as follows : " This bill entitles the bearer to receive four Spanish mill dollars, or the value thereof in gold or silver, according to a resolu- tion of Congress passed at Philadelphia, Feb. 17, 1776." Mr. Douglass is a descendant of William Douglass, whose name is found in early Scotch history. CHARLES S. ELDER, Sr., physician and surgeon, Lexington ; born in Waterloo, Seneca Co., N. Y., May 7, 1835 ; but removed in early childhood with his father's family to Conneaut, 852 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Ohio ; in 1843, they removed to St. Clair Co., 111., and three years later to St. Louis, Mo. ; in the fall of 1852, the family came to Bloomington. 111. The Doctor commenced the study of medi- cine with Dr. W. A. Elder, of Bloomington; in the fall of 1858, and during the winter of 1859-60, attended a course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 33d Illinois Infantry as Musician, and was appointed leader of the band in the summer of 1862, with rank of 2nd Lieutenant; by general order from the War Department dis- charging bands, they were mustered out of the service in the fall of that year. After his return from the army, he continued the study of medicine at Rush Medical College, graduating at that institution, Jan. 23, 1863, and commenced the practice of his profession at Chenoa, 111., the fol- lowing i-pring; in 1875, he removed to Bloomington, where he was associated with his brother in the practice of medicine until 1877, when he removed to Lincoln, 111., and embarked in the drug business in connection with his medical practice ; in March, 1879, he removed to Lexing- ton, his present home. He married, in 1856, Miss Mary E., daughter of Dr. E. Martin, of Bloomington, afterward a resident of Lexington ; Mrs. Elder was born in Fayette Co., Ohio; they have six children — Lora M., Josephine, Edgar B., Lottie, Grace and Charles S., Jr. The Doctor is a member of Lincoln Lodge No. 210, A., F. & A. M. ; demitted from Chenoa Chapter No. 143. JAMES FINLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Lexington; born near Ripley, Brown Co., Ohio, July 15, 1826, but removed in early childhood to Clinton, Co., that State ; he followed boating four years on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers; in 1842, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained twelve years ; in the fall of 1857, he removed to Illinois, locating in Blue Mound Township, ihis county, where he followed farming six years; then moved to Marshall Co., 111., bought land there (123 acres), which he sold in 1876, and returned to this county and purchased the Haner farm, where he now resides. Married in March, 1849, to Miss Harriet Owens, who was born in Ohio ; eleven children by this union, seven of whom are living — Mary, Joseph W. C, Stephen A. D., Matilda B.. Richard C, General D. and Maggie L. ; lost four — Benjamin M., Ruth A. and Vallandigham ; one died in infancy. NOAH FRANKLIN, farmer and breeder of fine cattle ; P. 0. Lexington ; born in Owen Co., Ind., June 29, 1831 ; in the spring of 1850, he removed to Illinois locating in Money Creek Township, this county, where he engaged in farming, and since the above date has given con siderable attention to stock-raising; at his " Spring Park Farm." one and a half miles west of Lexington, he has several head of "short horns," which breed he makes, a specialty ; owns 1.000 acres of farm land, valued at $30,000; since 1877, Lexington has been his place of resi- dence. Served as Supervisor of Money Creek Township several terms. Married in 1854, to Miss Sarah O, daughter of Jacob Spawr; she was born in Lexington, her father having settled here as early as 1826 ; they have four children living — Ida M. (wife of C. D. Bush), Minnie M., Noah E. and Bertram A. ; Lola died Jan. 2, 1863. —JOHN FULWILER, merchant, Lexington ; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Dec. 24, 1810, where he resided until 27 years of age. In 1837, he located near Bloomfield, Perry Co., Penn., where he engaged in the iron business under the firm name of McGowan, Fulwiler & Co., their works being known as the " Juniata Iron Works." Subsequently, he engaged in merchandising at Shippensburg, also dealing in coal lands at the same time. The town of Tremont, which is located about twelve miles west of Pottsville, was laid out by Mr. Fulwiler in about 1843. As early as 1842, he made an extended tour through the Northwest, visiting Chicago, St. Paul, Council Bluffs, Quincy, Galena, Springfield, Bloomington, Peoria and other places ; he again came West in 1850-52, removing to his present home in the spring of 1854. Mr. F. has served as Super- visor, member of Town Council and held other minor offices. In 1834, he was married to Miss Mary Mahon, who was born in Cumberland Co., Penn.; by this union, there were ten children ■ — five sons and five daughters, seven of whom are living. JOHN GALLEH UGH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1; P.O.Lexington; born in Madison Co., Va., Dec. 25, 1826, where he resided until 1839, when he removed to Illinois, locating in Lexington, this county, in the spring of that year, and the following year removed to Money Creek Township where he engaged in farming; served two terms as School Director in that town- ship; he removed, in 1871, to his present home; served as Assessor in Lexington Township seven years, and is the present incumbent. Married, in 1851, to Miss Mary A. Weakley, who was born in Rappahannock Co., Va. ; five children by this union — John M., Thomas J., Elizabeth A., (wife of William Morris), Lucy E. and Noah F. DR. CHARLES T. GRAY, dentist, Lexington; born in New Market, Shenandoah Co., Va., May 24, 1822; removed to Pendleton Co., that State, when twelve years of age; thence south to Highland Co., and, in the fall of 1855, to Oldtown, this county. He has resided at Lexington since 1859, where he has been in the constant practice of his profession since. At the age of 18, he commenced the study of dentistry, and has followed this profession during the past thirty-six years ; he has been a member of the Town Council several terms and served as Township Assessor one term. Married, in, 1849, to Miss Jane C. Arbogast, who was born in Virginia; she died in 1868; seven children by this union, five of whom are living — Sarah J., wife of Wesley Goddard ; Lucy C, wife of Shelby Bull; Amelia C , wife of Arthur Scroggin ; Mary V. and Walter E. He was again married to Mrs. .>arah A. Goddard (McAboy) in 1875 ; she was born in Virginia. The Doctor is a member of McLean Lodge, No. 206, I. O. 0. F. / /up- Pa*j&6**&#~ yk , -& DAN VERS LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP. * 855 MARSTON HEFNER, stock-dealer and shipper, Lexington ; born in Money Creek Town- ship this county, Jan. 27, 1834; his father, Michael Hefner, who was born in Virginia, settled here in the fall of 1830, and was among the first settlers in this section. Mr. Hefner had been farming and stock-raising until his removal to Lexington, his present home, in 1868. >He still owns a farm of 400 acres of fine farm land in Money Creek Township. In 1855, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary P. Wood, who was born in Indiana ; two children by this union — Charles F. and Francis A. ; their adopted daughter, Daisy E., came to them as a relic of the great Chicago fire of 1871, her father losing his life in the great calamity, and her mother's death soon occur- ring on account of exposure and grief. Since 1867, Mr. H., on account of his wife's health, has spent considerable time in the Eastern, Southern and Western States ; but, during the last two years, her health has been such that she has been confined to her home. Mr. H. has been some- what unfortunate in his business associations, having frequently indorsed for others, as was cus- tomary with stock-dealers, having, in consequence, many debts of others to pay ; one party, though refused further recognition in business matters, forged Mr. Hefner's name, where he could not purchase norses on his own account, thus placing in jeopardy the business reputation of Mr. H., as well as his purse, involving him in a long and expensive litigation, costing, with other surety debts, over $15,000. After these many years of expensive litigation, he has been fully vindicated by the decision of the Supreme Court of the State in his favor. SOLOMON HART, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3 ; P. O. Lexington ; born in Ashland Co., Ohio, April 4, 1836 ; when about 15 years of age, he removed to Wyandot Co., Ohio ; in 1809, he went to California by way of Laramie, Ft. Kearney and Salt Lake, stopping in Carson City during the winter of 1859-60, where he engaged in mining ; he also spent one year, 1863, at Placerville, Cal., and returned to Ohio in 1864 ; he came West in the spring of 1865, locating in Lexington Township, this county ; has served two years as School Director in this township. Married, in 1867, Miss Catharine Knipple, who was born in Somerset Co., Penn. They have four children — Franklin G., John W., Cora M. and Joseph C. Mr. Hart owns eighty acres of farm land in Lexington Township. HENRY HAYS, deceased, Lexington; was born in Virginia, May 28, 1810. On the 15th of September, 1831, he was married to Miss Sarah B. Smith, who was born in Mercer Co., Ky., May 5, 1814, and, in the fall of 1833, they removed to Illinois, locating in Lexington Township, this county. By this union there were nine children, seven of whom are living — William H., born Oct. 22, 1835; Matilda B, wife of C. M. Beebe, March 23, 1838; Sarah H., wife of A. Bur- ton, Nov. 11, 1839; Ann E., wife of S. Howard, Feb. 18, 1842; Harriet D., wife of R. B. Beem, Oct. 14, 1843; Henry C, whose sketch is given below; James A., Feb. 21, 1846; Mary O. was born Aug. 23, 1832— died Oct. 10, 1845; Milton S., born May 10. 1835, died Oct. 22, 1845. By second marriage there were four children — two living — Marion G., born Aug. 25, 1850; Frank, October, 1859; Louisa S. died July 1, 1858; Rayburn died Dec. 31, 1854. Mrs. Hays died Feb. 17, 1848, her husband surviving her some twelve years; his death occurred March 5, 1860. HENRY C. HAYS, Constable, Lexington ; born in Lexington Township, this county, Dec. 13, 1844, which has since been his home, with the exception of a few years. In 1861, he enlisted in Co G, 33d 111. Inf., serving with that regiment until March, 1865; he was appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1876, serving two years; elected Constable in the same year, and is still serving in that capacity ; served as Collector in Blue Mound Township two years, and Assessor one year. Married, in 1866, Miss) Sarah B Graves, who was born near Shakerstown, Ky. One child by this union — Erie W. Mr. Hays is a member of Lexington Lodge, No. 482, A., F. &. A. M. GEORGE W. HISER, Sr., clerk, Lexington; born in Wayne Co., Ind., Oct. 2, 1843, where he resided until 1856; his father, Henry Hiser, kept hotel for many years about three miles west of Centerville, Ind., and on the old stage route between Richmond and Indianapolis. In August, 1856, the family removed to Illinois, locating at Pleasant Hill, this county. The subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm till 1860, then located in Lexington, his present home, and followed teaming for a few years. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 68th 111. Inf.; the regiment was soon ordered to Alexandria, Va., but returned to Springfield in September of that year, and mustered-out. In January, 1864, he entered the store of S. R. Claggett, as clerk, and, in July of that year, engaged with Goddard & McCurdy, dealers in lumber, and served in that capacity about four years, with this and other firms. In 1868, he engaged with Geo. W. Knotts, and the following year became a partner in the business, but, about a year later, sold his interest to Mr. Knotts, and continued with the firm as clerk, till January 1874; also learning the tanner's trade during this period. After leaving the employ of the above firm, he clerked for Mr. Claggett for some three years, and, in May, 1878, engaged as clerk with the firm of Carnahan & Poole. Mar- ried, in October, 1864, Miss Ella B. Popejoy, who was born in Lexington Township, this county, Oct. 27, 1846; four children by this union — three living — Claude L., born Oct. 25, 1868; Orrin L., July 12, 1874; Maidie L., Aug. 17, 1877; lost one — Dotta L , who was born Nov. 10, 1870, died March 15, 1871. Mr. Hiser was elected a member of the Town Council in the spring of 1878, and Supervisor in April, 1879. ROBERT M. HOPKINS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 32; P. 0. Lexington; born in Owen Co., Ind., Feb. 6, 1830, but moved with his father's family, in early childhood, to Illinois; his father, Patrick Hopkins, who was born in Delaware, was among the first settlers of McLean LL 856 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Co., having located in what is now Martin Township, this county, in the fall of 1830. The sub- ject of this sketch worked on his father's farm until about 26 years of age, then became a tiller of the soil on his own account. Married, in 1856, Miss Mary L. Smith, who was born in Mis- souri; she died in Sept. 1863; two children by this union; one living — Charles C. ; William G. died in 1864. Was again married, to Miss Letitia Lilly, who was born in Madison Co., Ohio; five children by this union — Orange J., Mary E. and Ann E. ; lost two — Edmund M. died in 1868; one died in infancy. Mr. Hopkins owns 320 acres of land in Lexington Township, where he has resided for the last twenty-three years. HEZEKIAH HORNEY, farmer and stock -raiser, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Lexington ; born in Fayette Co., Ohio, July 3, 1826, where he resided until his removal to Illinois, in 1853, settling in Blue Mound Township, this county, in October of that year. In 1865, he moved to his present home, in Lexington Township; owns 280 acres of land. Married, in 1849, Miss Sarah J. Gaff, who was born in Fayette Co., Ohio ; five children by this union — Melissa C, Morgan M., Emma J., Edward C. and James P. ; served as Commissioner of Highways in Blue Mound and Lexington Township for several years ; is one of the Township Trustees of Lexington Township. Mr. Horney is a member of the Lexington Lodge, No. 482, A., F. & A. M., and McLean Lodge No. 206, I. 0. 0. F. He is giving considerable attention to the breeding of draft horses, and was the first in this vicinity to introduce the Norman stock ; has taken several premiums at the State and County Fairs ; also took second premium at the Missouri State Fair at St. Louis, on three-year- old draft horses, in 1870. JAMES E. JOHNSON, Deputy Sheriff and Constable, Lexington ; born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Sept. 22, 1846, where he resided until his removal to Lexington Township, this county, in the fall of 1860 ; here he followed farming until the war broke out, then enlisted in Company G, 4th 111. Cav., in Aug., 1861, serving until mustered out at the expiration of his term of serv- ice, Oct. 1, 1864. In the early part of the war he served as Orderly for Gen. Wallace, at Forts Henry and Donelson ; was with his regiment and participated in battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, battle of Black River and many skirmishes through Mississippi and other parts of the South. Returned to Lexington Township in 1864; was appointed Marshal in 1876, elected Constable in 1877 and appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1878. Married in 1867, to Miss Mary L. Bishop, who was born in Franklin Co., Ohio ; four children by this union — John II., Jennie, Lena and Edna. WM. H. KENNEDY, banker, Lexington; born in Brown Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1831, and is a son of Hugh W. and Minerva E. (Logan) Kennedy; his father is a native of Virginia, but removed to Ohio about fifty years ago; his mother was born in Kentucky. The subject of this sketch came to Lexington, his present home, in the spring of 1856, his first occupation being that of clerk in the store of the late Dr. Goddard, serving in that capacity for the period of one month, at a salary of $16, paying for his board for the same period $15 ; he followed the occu- pation of clerk some time, for various parties, and subsequently became a partner of I. Harness, in the clothing business, and afterward a partner of S. R. Claggitt, in general trade. In 1867, he engaged in the live-stock business, but, the following year, the Bank of Lexington was established, and he became cashier, which position he has since held. He has served as Town Clerk, School Direc- tor and Township Treasurer ; owns 320 acres of farm lands, valued at $12,000. In 1858, he was married to Miss Caroline, daughter of I. Harness ; she was born in Lexington ; six chil- dren by this union, five of whom are living — Arthur M., Eugene A., Ella E., Lucian and Lucy; Leonard A. died in 1865. Mr. K. is Secretary of Lexington Lodge, No. 482, A., F. & A. M. DAVID LAPSLEY, dealer and shipper of live-stock, Lexington; born in Richland Co., Ohio, May 18, 1842, but removed to Huron Co., Ind., in childhood; came to Illinois in 1858, locating at Lincoln, Logan Co., where he remained two years ; then removed to Lexington, his present home, and engaged in farming. Enlisted in the Marine Artillery in 1863 ; in connec- tion with this organization, there was an attempt on the part of New York City to get the credit for these soldiers, who were mostly from Illinois; the attention of Gov. Yates being called to this fact, an investigation was made, the fraud shown up and the organization disbanded, after being in the service some seven months. Mr. L. was married in 1876. to Miss Clara M. Grove, who was born in Marshall Co., 111.; one child by this union — Zella. Mr. Lapsley is a member of the Town Council. WILLIAM McCRACKEN, merchant, general stock, Selma ; born in Franklin Co., Ohio, July 28, 1828, where he resided until 1852, removing to Illinois in the fall of that year, locating at Pleasant Hill, this county. His business during the first nine years of his residence here was in running saw-mills. In 1861, he enlisted in Company G, 33d 111. Inf., and remained with the regiment till Feb., 1862, when he was transferred to the navy, being assigned to duty on board gunboat Pittsburg ; was discharged on account of disability oft' Fort Pillow, in April, 1862. In 1864, he engaged in the mercantile business at Pleasant Hill, where he has since resided. He was married in 1864, to Miss Nancy J. McKee, who was born in Adams Co., Ohio ; four children by this union — Maggie E., James H., George W. and Nellie M. ISAAC S. MAHAN, Sr., attorney and Notary Public, Lexington. Born in Highland Co., Ohio, Jan. 2, 1831, but removed in early childhood to Brown Co., with his father's family, and, LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP. 857 in 1846, to Illinois, locating at Lexington, his present home, where for several years he worked at the carpenter s trade and clerked in stores. In 1857, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held until 1877, a period of twenty years. He commenced the study of law in 1854, but discontinued until 18i5, when he again resumed, being admitted to the bar of the State in July, 1867 ; has served as member of the Town Council several terms, and also held other minor offices. Married in Jan., 1857, to Miss Frances S., sister of Dr. Luce; she was born in Erie Co., Penn., Aug. 2, 1835 ; died Oct. 9, 1869. He was again married, in 1870. to Miss Margaret J. Shephard (Kennedy), who was born in Sardinia, Brown Co., Ohio, Sept. 13, 1^33 ; two children by this union — Isaac S., Jr., and Reba L. Mr. M. claims to have had quite an extended experience in railroading, but in view of the many dangers to life and limb, lie abandoned it many years ago. He is a member of McLean Lodge, No. 206, I. 0. O. F. JACOB C. MAHAN, flour, feed and grain, Lexington; born in Highland Co., Ohio, July 21, 1826, where he resided till the fall of 1842, then removing with his father's family to Illinois, locating near Lexington, wnich at that time was a town of rather small proportions — three or four dwellings and a blacksmith shop. In 1847, he engaged in merchandising at Lex- ington, which he followed for several years, and, in 1865, with others, established the banking firm of J. C. Mahan & Co., which is still operated under the same firm name. In 1867, he built the first brick block erected in the town of Lexington ; he has served as Supervisor, mem- ber of the Town Council and Justice of the Peace. In 1849, he was married to Miss Ann E, Brown, who was born in Frankfort, Ky.; she died in Sept., 1872 ; by this union there were seven children, six of whom are living — George S., William R., Francis E., Ella G. (wife of N. K. Jones), Permelia C. and Maud P.; Charles K. died in 1866. He was again married, in 1873, to Susie F. Poor, who is a native of Massachusetts ; of the two children by this union but one is living — Melville P.; Herbert B. died in 1875. Mr. M. is a member of McLean Lodge, No 206, I. 0. 0. F. ; owns 400 acres of farm lands, valued at $12,000, and city property,, valued at $15,0U0. STEPHEN MERRILL, photographer, Lexington ; born in Alleghany Co., lid., Oct. 11, 1830, where he resided until 1864, removing 10 Illinois in the fall of that year; his first location was Lexington, his present home, where he has since followed his present occupation. He has- served as a member of the Town Council three terms. In 1860, he was married to Miss Rachel R. Rohrbough, who was born in Upshur Co., Va.; they have two children — Swayze B. L. and William B. Mr. Merrill has followed his present business for something over seventeen years - T all work warranted and children's pictuves a specialty. ALMARON J. MOON (Smith & Moon), general stock, Lexington ; born in Fayette Co. r Ohio, Dec. 19, 1837 ; removing, at the age of 22, to this State, locating in Lawndale Township, McLean Co., where, for several years, he followed farming and stock-raising; in 1863, he removed to Lexington Township, and to his present home in 1870, and engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Smith & Moon ; he still owns 285 acres of farm land, valued at §11,400. Married in 1861, to Miss Zerelda J. Batterton, who was born in Lawn- dale Township, this county, her father having settled in the county at an early day ; they have two children — Irena and Martha. Mr. M. is a member of Lexington Lodge, No. 482, A., F. & A. M. DAVID PARKHILL, farmer, carpenter and builder, Sec. 2; P. O.Lexington; born in Fayette Co., Penn., Dec. 29, 1811, where he resided until 1845, then moved to Pittsburgh, that State, where he worked at his trade, mostly in connection with steamboat building ; in 1854, he removed to Illinois, locating at Bloomington in March of that year, and two years later removed to his present home ; owns eighty-two acres of land in Lexington Township. Married, in 1838, to Miss Mary Reeves, who was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn , in May, 1806 ; one child by this union — Margaret Jane, wife of F. B Luccock. JOHN W. POWLEY, dealer in stoves, tinware, etc., Lexington ; born in Shippens- burg, Cumberland Co., Penn., April 29, 1837, where he resided until his removal to Illinois, in the spring of 1855 ; he located at Lexington, his present home, at the above date, and engaged in his present business, manufacturing, in May of that year, the first tinware made in Lexing- ton. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 33d I. V. I. as musician, and remained with the regiment until mustered out at Old Town Landing, Ark., by order of the War Department, in August, 1862; in 1863, he crossed the plains, and after a short stay in Colorado, returned to Lexington, and resumed his former occupation ; he has served as member of the Town Council two years, and Constable six years. Married in 1867, to Miss Maggie K Bricker, who was born in Franklin Co., Penn.; five ohildren by this union — Reese B., Mabel E , Anna G., John W., Jr. and Emma K. CHARLES H. PREBLE, st>ck-dealer and shipper, Lexington; born in Erie Co., Penn., Feb. 25, 1832, where he resided until 1854, removing to Illinois in the fall of that year, locating at Lexington his present home; he was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1872, when he engaged in his present business, which he has since followed ; he has served as member of the Town Council three terms, and is a member of the present board. In January, 1856, he married Miss Martha Kent, who was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y.; five children by this union — Edith M., Nettie, Lillian, Grant and Nannie. 858 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: THOMAS E. SCRIMGER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23; P. 0. Selma; born in Rich- mond Co., Va., July 1, 1818, but removed to Ohio with his father's family in 1815, locating near Columbus, that State ; in September, 1852, he came to Illinois, stopping at Pleasant Hill, this county, the first winter, and removing to the farm where he now resides the following spring. Mr. S. was among the first to settle on a prairie farm in this vicinity ; owns 200 acres of land ; he was the first Assessor of Lexington Township, after township organization. Married Sept. 24, 1840, to Miss Margaret McCracken, who was born in Ohio Jan. 1, 1817 ; died Jan. 28, 1862 ; four children by this union — two living — George E. and Mary R., wife of S. H. Palmer. Henry A. enlisted in Co. G, 33d I. V. I., in 1861; discharged Dec. 20, 1862; died Jan. 18, 1863. James W., enlisted in Co. C, 94th I. V. I. in 1862; mustered out July 17, 1865; died July 14, 1866. Was again married Nov. 8, 1862, to Julia A. Parker, who was born in Steuben Co., N. Y.; four children by this union — three living — EllaC, Josie E. and Schuyler E.; one died ininfancy. JAMES N. SMAIL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 34; P. 0. Lexington; born in Morrow Co , Ohio, March 15, 1850, where he resided until 11 years of age; in 1861, he removed to Iowa, thence to Indiana the following year; in the fall of 1866, he removed to Illinois, locating in Coles Co., returning to Indiana two years later; since the spring of 1874, his home has been in Lexington Township, this county ; owns forty-six acres of land. Married, in 1873, to Mar- garet A., daughter of Milton Bull; she was born in this county; children by this union — Cora A, James A. Mr. S. resided in Kansas during the fall and winter of 1871 and spring of 1872, where he was engaged in teaching. RICHARD STEVENSON, Postmaster, Lexington ; born in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., Dec. 28, 1828, where he resided until 1850; then removing to Lexington, Va., where he worked at carriage-making. In 1853, he was married to Miss Mary E. Buchanan, who was born in Virginia ; by this union there were seven children, five of whom are living — Alice, Amelia, Fan- nie, Nellie and Cora; lost two — Eddie died in 1865, Sallie in 1855 ; in May, 1857, he removed to his present home, where he followed wagon and carriage manufacturing for some ten years ; after- ward engaging in other business, and is now a member of the firm of Edwards & Stevenson. Mr. S. has served as Assessor, and for several years a member of the Town Council ; he was appointed to his present position in 1878. Member of Lexington Lodge No. 482, A., F. & A. M., and McLean Lodge No. 206, I. 0. 0. F. JESSE TRIMMER, deceased, Lexington ; Mr. Trimmer was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J., March 14, 1818: in the summer of 1826, he moved with his father's family to Illinois; first stopping at Smith's Grove, this county, and soon after locating in what is now Money Creek Township ; in the following October his father, John Trimmer, died, leaving to the care of his widow a family of eight children. The subject of this sketch was married in 1839, to Miss Amanda Gilmore, who was born in Fayette Co., Ohio; her father's family having settled in Money Creek Township, in 1837 ; Mr. Trimmer's death occurred Aug. 27, 1876, his wife surviv- ing him until Jan. 30, 1878 ; they had ten children, six of whom are still living — Eliza A., wife of John T. McNaught; John F., who enlisted in the 94th Illinois Infantry in 1864, was trans- ferred to the 37th Illinois Infantry in 1865, and mustered out in May, 1866; Sarah E., wife of Joseph A. Scott; David F.. whose sketch is given below ; Mary and Enos A. William, the eldest of the family, enlisted in the 33d Illinois Infantry in 1861, and served till November, 1862, when he was discharged on account of sickness, and died soon after of disease contracted in the army. DAVID F. TRIMMER, loans, and dealer in live stock, Lexington; Mr. Trimmer, who is a son of Jesse and Amanda Trimmer, was born in Money Creek Township, this county, July 27, 1851 ; until 19 years of age, he worked on his father's farm ; then attended the State Normal University at Bloomington two years, afterward being engaged in teaching. In 1874, he located at Lexington, his present home, and, during the same year, he was married to Miss Josephine ' McCafferty, who was born in Money Creek Township ; they have two children — Floy and Myrtle. Mr. Trimmer owns 240 acres of land in Money Creek Township, and a half interest in 200 acres in Gridley Township. DAVID H. VANDOLAH, stock-raiser and shipper ; P. 0. Lexington ; born in Money Creek Township, this county, Nov. 8. 1841 ; his father, James Vandolah, having settled in the town- ship in the fall of 1835. The subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm until 1855, when he came to Lexington, his present home, and attended school, soon after engaging in livery and stock business, the latter having been his principal business for a period of over twentyyears. Mr. V., with others, established the Bank of Lexington, Dec 16, 1868, under the firm name of Harness, Vandolah & Co. He has served as member of the Town Council several terms. Mar- ried in 1864, to Miss Britiana Bray, who was born in Owen Co., Ind. ; two children by this union — James and Sheridan. Mr. Vandolah has a fine stock-farm of 500 acres four miles west of Lexington, well-watered, having several good springs which furnish pure water for stock throughout the entire year. JOHN W. WATERS, M. D., physician, (office in People's Drug Store,) Lexington; born in Montgomery Co., Md., Dec. 16, 1828, but removed in childhood with his father's family to Cen- tral Ohio ; he received his early education at West Bedford Academy, and, at the age of 20, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Henry Waters, of Elizabethtown, Ohio, graduating CHENOA TOWNSHIP. 859 at Sterling Medical College, at Columbus, in March, 1855, having commenced the practice of medicine at Dallas, Darke Co., some three years prior to the above date. In the spring of 1855, he removed to Illinois, locating at Selma, this county, where he resumed the practice of his pro- fession ; during the winter of 1860-61, he attended lectures at Rush Medical College, at Chicago, and again in 1864-65; he is also a member of the Illinois State Medical Society; in 1868, he removed to his present home and became a partner with Mr. Reynolds in the drug business, whose entire interest he purchased in 1871. What is known as the " Smith Block," was built by Dr. Waters, Milton and William M. Smith in 1868, and, in 1876, he sold his drug stock to Grier & Poor. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1853, died the following year; her place of nativity was Darke Co., Ohio ; his second marriage was in 1857, to Miss Nannie C. Park, who was born in Washington Co., Penn. ; they have one son — Frank P., now 21 years of age, and a resident of Barbour Co , Kan., where he is engaged in the stock business. Although the Doctor has had some business interests to look after, he has been in the constant practice of his profession in this vicinity for the past twenty-four years. Owns 440 acres of farm lands, valued at $30 per acre, and city property, valued at $12,000. CHENOA TOWNSHIP. S. C. ALLEN, general merchant; Chenoa ; was born in York Co., Maine, March 2, 1826; when he was about 10 years old, he went to sea as cabin-boy on board his uncle's ship, and fol- lowed the sea for seven years, during which time he made two voyages around the world and one trip to Africa ; he visited China, Sumatra, all of the West India Islands, and all the points on the Atlantic coast from Greenland, to New Orleans. After leaving the sea, he learned the hide and leather trade and settled in Peabody, Mas3., and engaged in the manufacture of leather, in which he was very successful ; he also afterward entered the wholesale hide and leather busi- ness in Boston, and continued that with good success until 1857, when he removed to Illinois - T he followed farming in New Rutland for several years, and then built a store in that place and engaged in general merchandising ; he came to Chenoa in 1869 and continued merchandising until 1875 when he was obliged to succumb to the pressure of the times, and suspend business ; he shortly settled up his affairs, however, and resumed trade, and is now doing a successful busi- ness, having one of the largest stocks in town of such goods as suit the demand. He was mar- ried March 4, 1856, to Mrs. M. J. Mover, of Kensington, M. H. JAMES BRADY, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Chenoa; was born in County Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 2, 1837; he came to America at the age of 11 years, and lived two years in Toronto, C. W.; in 1853, he came to Putnam Co., 111., where he lived till 1862 ; he then came to Yates Township, McLean Co., when that township was very new ; the deer were so plentiful they had to be driven away from the corn ; he lived there two years, and, in 1864, settled on his pres- ent home, one mile south of Chenoa. Mr. Brady is a self-made man, a most successful farmer and a prominent stock-dealer, having made some of the largest shipments of stock from McLean Co.; he owns a well-improved farm of 156 acres. He was married August 25, 1858, to Miss Jane Boyd, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in July, 1839 ; they have eight children — Lawrence H., Edwin M., Samuel T., Louis R., Mary E., Jennie A., Roscoe J. and Gracie H. Mr. Brady was a member of the first Board of School Directors in his district, both in Yates and Chenoa Townships, and helped build the schoolhouses in both districts. He has served as Director seven years, and been Treasurer of the Board of Highway Commissioners three years. BESLEY & WIGHTMAN, dealers in hardware, stoves, tinware, farm machinery, etc , Chenoa. This firm was established in 1866, and has had a steadily increasing trade in every- thing that pertains to their line of business ; among the goods handled by them may be men- tioned the following: The Harrison wagon, Nichols, Shepard & Co. 's threshing machines and the Sweepstake threshing machine, Buckeye reaper and mower, Furst & Bradley sulky plow and rake, etc., Marseilles corn-sheller and Keystone and Barlow rotary corn-planters ; in cooking stoves they represent the Challenge Stove Works, of Peoria, and the Bloomington Stove Company ; their leading base-burner is the "Climax," manufactured by Tapplin & Rice, Akron, Ohio ; besides these, they carry a complete line of heavy and shelf hardware, tinware and general house-furnishing goods. G. W. Besley, the senior partner, was born in Oakland Co., Mich , May 19, 1841; came with his parents to Waukegan, 111., in 1853; in 1861, he left home, going to Oquawka, Peoria and Clinton, 111., learning the tinner's trade in the last-named place. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Co. D, 146th I. V. I., was promoted to Sergeant and served ten months, doing provost duty at Quincy, Springfield and xMount Sterling; returned to Waukegan and remained till his removal to Chenoa in 1866. He was married Feb. 3, 1869, to Miss Sarah M. Bacom, of Chenoa, and has two children — Winnie A. and Flora J. J. E. Wightman was born in Steuben Co.,N. Y., June 10, 1837; in 1838, his parents removed to McHenry Co., 111., where he remained till 1852, when he went to Chicago and learned the tinner's trade ; he first, started in business in McHenry, 111., in 1857; two years later he removed to Waukegan, and 860 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: thence, three years afterward to Clinton, 111., where he followed the hardware and, stove business until 1866, when he came to Chenoa; he has served six years as Alderman, and is the present Mayor of the city, to which office he was elected in the spring of 1877 ; he has been President of the Board of Education for the past ten years. He was married Dec. 31, 1857, to Miss Isabella M. Atkinson, of St. Charles, 111., and has three children living — Henrietta E., Hattie B. and John E , Jr. A. H. COPELAND, ticket agent for the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Co., and man- ager of the Western Union Telegraph Office, Chenoa; was born in Middlebury, Vt., June 7, 1830 ; after receiving an academic education, he learned the printer's trade, which, owing to ill- health, he abandoned, after following it five years, and entered the Middlebury post office as Assistant Postmaster, and, at the same time, manager of the American Telegraph Office ; after about a year, he left the post office, and engaged in the book, news and publishing business, con- tinuing, however, in charge of the telegraph office, and also agent for the National and Fiske & Co.'s Express for several years ; in 1868, he came to Chenoa, and assumed charge of the C, A. & St. L., ticket office. Mr. Copeland was married Nov. 12, 1855, to Miss Frances L. Copeland, of Granville, Ohio, and has two children — George E., now clerk in the Internal Revenue Office, in Springfield, and Hattie A. Mr. Copeland is eminent in the Masonic fraternity ; he was made a Mason in Lodge, No. 2, at Middlebury, Vt.: exalted to Royal Arch degree in Jerusalem Chapter, No. 3, Vergennes, Vt.; received the degree of Royal and Select Master in Vergennes Council ; was charter member of Potter Chapter, R. A. M., and Middlebury Council, R, & S. M.. at Middlebury, Vt.; he is Secretary of Chenoa Lodge, No. 292, A., F. & A. M., and is also Past High Priest and charter member of Chenoa Chapter, No. 143, R. A. M. He has also been a prominent Odd Fellow ; was Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, and, since coming to Chenoa, has represented the Lodge in the Grand Lodge of Illinois ; he has held all the offices in the Lodge, both here and in the East, and is Past D. D. G. M., of Chenoa Lodge, No. 387, and is also Encampment member. C. J. CHISAM, freight agent of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Company, Chenoa; is a native of New York ; he was born in Taberg, Oneida Co., March 13, 1856 ; when about 14 years old, he entered a dry-goods store, in Holland Patent, in his native county, and continued clerking until 1872; he then came West, and entered the service of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Company as cashier of the freight department at Springfield, 111., where he remained until his appointment as freight agent at Chenoa; he is careful and punctual in the discharge of the duties of the position, and all having freight business to transact with the road sire always sure of a prompt and gentlemanly attention, while the company are equally certain that their interests will be guarded with the same promptness and vigilance. HENRY CRABB, blacksmith and manufacturer of wagons, buggies, etc., Chenoa; was born in Forfarshire on the eastern coast of Scotland, fifty miles from Edinburgh and the same dis- tance from Aberdeen, on the 15th of November, 1830; at 15 years of age, he learned the trade of a blacksmith, and afterward worked in large machine-shops in Arbroath, a large manufo.ctur- ing town in his native county, where he became familiar with all branches of the machinist's trade ; in August, 1854, he left home and came to America ; he came direct to Tazewell Co., 111., and worked two years in Washington and awhile in Morton; he came to Chenoa in 1866, and started his blacksmith and wagon shop, which he still continues ; he manufactures wagons and buggies, does horse-shoeing and a general repairing of plows, farm machinery, etc. He was married Jan. 29, 1866, to Miss Margaret S. Guthrie, of Peoria, a native of Glasgow, Scotland; they have four children — Jennie M., Annie C, Harry G. and Grace G. Mr. Crabb has served one term as member of the Chenoa Board of Aldermen. FR\NK A. DUNN, traveling auditor of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad; P. 0. Chenoa; was born in Androscoggin Co., Me., Sept. 9, 1850; in 1864, his parents removed West, settling in Richmond, Ind., where they still reside; in 1867, he entered the office of the Pitts- burg, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad as message-boy to learn telegraphing, and, in 1868, was appointed operator at Bradford Junction, Ohio, and continued in the employ of that road at different points until 1871 ; he then went to St. Louis as train-dispatcher for the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad Co., which position he held until 1873, when he went to Peoria and took a like position with the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Company ; in 1874, he took the Chenoa Station as agent for the same road, and continued as such one year, when he was appointed traveling auditor of the road ; he is one of the most faithful and efficient officials in the employ of that company. He was married Sept. 19, 1875, to Miss Addie W. Payne, a daughter of J. D. Payne, of Chenoa. and has two children. EVAN DAVIES, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Chenoa; came to McLean Co. in 1858 — twenty-one years ago; he was born in Merionethshire, Wales, April 10, 1826, and developed those hardy traits of character, for which the people of that country are noted ; and these habits of industry, frugality and integrity have been of inestimable value to him, in the more fertile valley of the Mississippi ; he was raised on a farm, and came to the United States in 1856, and after living two years in Oneida Co., N. Y., removed to Illinois, locating in Chenoa Township, McLean Co., and is therefore one of the earliest settlers in the township ; he owns a good farm of 160 acres, the result of his own efforts. He was married April 9, 1852, to Miss Ellen Evans, CHENOA TOWNSHIP. 861 who was born in Merionethshire, Wales, in May, 1823 ; they have had three children, two of whom are living — Jennie E. and Charles H.; one son, David E., died Oct. 24, 1873, at the age of 19. Mr. Davies held the office of School Director for six years in succession. G. V. EWING, M. D., physician and surgeon, Chenoa; has been a practicing physician in this county for the past ten years ; he was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, Feb. 12, 1831 ; his gen- eral education was obtained at the Vermilion Collegiate Institute in his native town — Hayesville, Ohio; in 1849, he began the study of medicine, and after reading one year, he entered the Cleveland Medical College, where he graduated and received the degree of M. D. in 1852 ; returning to Hayesville, he practiced medicine there two years, removing thence to Stephenson Co., 111., in 1854, and was engaged in practicing his profession there for fifteen years, coming to Chenoa in 1869. Dr. Ewing has never dabbled in politics, but has devoted all his energies to the study of medical science, and the duties of his extended and successful practice. He is a member of the Stephenson and Woodford County Medical Societies. He was married Mareh 22, 1852, to Miss Martha Kuhn, a daughter of Rev. Jacob Kuhn, professor of languages inthe Vermilion Collegiate Institute. She died in 1866, leaving five children, four of whom are living — Frank C. (now of Wheatland, Cal.), Mary V., Florence N. and Granville R. He was married again April 28, 1870, to Miss E. S. Wilson, of Lexington, Ohio. JOSEPH EVANS, retired farmer; P. 0. Chenoa; was born in Worcestershire, England, March 26, 1811. He learned his father's trade of a glover, but on becoming of age, engaged in merchandising. In 1844, he came to this country and settled in Morton, Tazewell Co., 111., seven miles from Peoria. He began life in this State poor, and, though land in those days was cheap, was able to purchase but forty acres, but by industry and economy he gradually accumu- lated some money, which he invested in land, selling it when he could do so at a profit; he con- tinued this on a more extended scale, as his means increased, making it a rule, however, never to buy more than he could pay for. Three years after Mr. Evans' settlement in Morton, Mr. Lin- coln, then in Congress, secured his appointment as Postmaster, which position he held eleven years. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1850, serving eight years. In 1864, he purchased a farm of 160 acres, in Chenoa Township, whither he moved in 1866 ; in February, 1877, he moved into the city; he served as Justice of the Peace from 1870 to 1874, and for the past three years has been Commissioner of Highways. He was married in April, 1836, to Miss Harriet Holloway, Worcester, England, and has seven children living — Harriet, now Mrs. Griesser, of Tazewell Co.; Mary, wife of Francis Webb, of Tazewell Co.; Alfred; Jane, now Mrs. William Roberts, of Ringgold Co., Iowa; Herbert, Ralph and Dora. ROBERT J. ELLIOTT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19; P. 0. Lexington; was born in Mahoning Co.. Ohio, July 14, 1839; the family descended from John Elliott, the missionary, and the first man to translate the Bible into the Indian dialect; his parents died when he was quite young. At the age of 16 he went to Lawrence Co., Penn., to live with an uncle, and was living there at the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion; he enlisted in Co. D, 134th Penn. V. I., in 1862. and was mustered in at Harrisburg, Aug. 10; he served nine months in the army of the Potomac, taking part in the five-days battle of Fredericksburg, and the five-days battle of Chan- cellorsville ; he was mustered out in May, 1863, and, in the fall of the same year, came to Illinois, and settled on a farm in Lexington Township; in 1871, he removed to Chenoa Township, where he now resides. He was married Nov. 1, 1864, to Miss Emeline Flesher, a daughter of George Flesher, of Lexington Township; she was born in McLean Co., March 31, 1845; they have five children — George H., Willie D , Peter W., Frank L. and Arty C. Mr. Elliott has served six years as School Director. WARREN M. FALES, dealer in general merchandise, Chenoa. The above-named gentleman has done business in Chenoa for the past sixteen years. He was born in Dedham, Mass., April 11, 1833. When he was 18 years old, he learned the carver's trade, which he followed about five years, and then engaged in the mercantile business, in which he continued until his removal to Illinois, in 1861. The first year in this State he spent in Wenona, and in 1862 came to Chenoa and opened a store. He is not only the oldest merchant now in business in the town, but he carries the largest stock both in extent and variety, consisting of dry goods, boots and shoes, clothing, hats, caps, notions, groceries, queensware, etc. ; his large store occupies the west half of the Hamilton Block, the upper part of which contains two public halls. Mr. Fales is a suc- cessful business man, owning considerable property in town, besides a section of land in Texas and a quarter-section in Kansas. He is now engaged in building a fine residence in the city. He has served several terms as Alderman of Chenoa, and been several years a member of the Board of Education. He was married May 15, 1863, to Miss Charlotte B. Nichols, of Reading, Mass., and has three children — Florence Elizabeth, Warren Dexter and Susan Agnes. DR. J. M. GALLEHUE, dentist, Chenoa. In the practice of dentistry, perhaps more than in any other profession, superior ability is necessary to success in a country town, owing to the prevalent idea in the public mind that first-class dental work is only to be obtained in the larger cities ; but notwithstanding this mistaken notion, Dr. Gallehue has, during his five years' prac- tice in Chenoa, satisfied the people that they can not only obtain as fine work, but at much lower prices than in the cities ; he is the only dentist in the place, has an extensive practice, and all his work is warranted to give entire satisfaction to his customers. Dr. Gallehue was born in 862 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Madison Co., Va , Nov. 16, 1852, being a son of John Gallehue, now of Lexington, in this county. He came to McLean Co. with his parents at the age of 7 years; he left home in 1870, and the next year began the study of dentistry in Lexington ; after one year, he went to El Paso, 111., and continued his studies with Dr. M. H. Patton, of that place; after completing which, he practiced with him about eight months, coming to Chenoa in 1874. He was married March 25, , to Miss Mary McLean, of Lexington, and has one child — Herbert Glenn. JOHN CHRISTIAN GERISCH, of the firm of Gerisch Bros., dealers in live stock and pro- prietors of the Chenoa Meat Markets, Chenoa; is a native of Germany; he was born in Hoch- statten Hesse-Darmstadt, on the 25th of March, 1848. When he was 14 years old, he was apprenticed to the butcher's trade; after completing which, he worked one year, and in 1865 came to the United States ; remained a short time in New York City, and then came on to Chenoa ; he spent but a few months here at that time, however, but went to Peoria and stayed two years, and then returned to Chenoa and entered upon his present business with his brother John Adam Gerisch ; they have now been in business as a firm for eleven years, are the only firm engaged in their line of trade in the town, and do an extensive and prosperous business, having two markets in the place ; they are among the most successful business men of Chenoa. Mr. Gerisch was married Jan. 25, 1872, to Miss Lena A. Fellwock, of Livingston Co., and has two children — Minnie M. and Nettie A. JOHN ADAM GERISCH, of the firm of Gerisch Bros., dealers in live stock and proprietors of the Chenoa Meat Markets, Chenoa; was born in Hochstatten, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Dec. 12, 1839. His father owned an oil-well and farm near the Rhine, just at the foot of the vine- clad hills, in the richest part of Germany, ten miles from Darmstadt, the capital of the State, and twenty-two miles from Heidelberg. Mr. Gerisch came to this country in 1863, and after spend- ing a short time in New York City and Guttenburgh. N. J., he came to Peoria, 111., and the next year (1864) he came to Chenoa, and in 1865 began the butchering business with his brother Jacob Gerisch. In the fall, he went to Chicago and remained six months, returning to Chenoa in the spring of 1866, since which time he has been engaged in business here. He was married Oct. 7, 1867, to Miss Augusta Amelia Fellwock, of Livingston Co., 111. ; she was born in Saxony, Germany, Sept. 25, 1844, and came to this country with her parents when but a child. E. P. G. HOLDERNESS, M. D., physician and surgeon, Chenoa; was born in Manchester, England, Nov. 5, 1832, being a son of Dr. William Holderness, a physician of that city. The same year, 1832, his parents emigrated to America and settled in Kentucky, being among the early pipneers of that part of the State ; his father is now a resident of California. When but a boy. the Doctor learned the printing business in the office of the Ripley Bee, in Ohio, but abandoned it for the more congenial employment of studying medicine under his father's instruction ; he practiced with his father until 1855, when he became a student of the Eclectic Medical Institute, in Cincinnati; In 1856, he came to Bloomington and continued his studies, working in the mean time at the printer's trade to meet expenses; he then taught school in McLean and Peoria Counties, and, in 1858, began practice with Dr. J. W. Waters, of Pleasant Hill (now of Lexington) ; he graduated from the Missouri Medical College, of St. Louis, in 1860, and continued to practice in Pleasant Hill one year, removing thence to Towanda, where he remained until 1876, when he came to Chenoa, where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Not satisfied with previous attainments, in the winter of 1864-65, Dr. Holderness attended a course of lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, and another course in 1874-75, receiving the degree of M. D. from that institution, also. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Lurinda Mitchell, of Pleasant Hill, 111., daughter of William H. Mitchell, now of Fair- bury, 111. T. H. HARDER, attorney at law and real estate and loan agent, Chenoa; is a native of Wayne Co., N. Y. ; he was born Feb. 28, 1852 ; in 1858, his parents removed to Illinois, settling in La Salle Co. ; he left the farm at the age of 18 years, and spent about two years in traveling in different Western States. In September, 1872, he became a student in Union Christian College, in Indiana, where he remained over two years ; after leaving college, he came to Livingston Co. and taught school during the winter, and spent the following summer in the law office of Lawrence & Strawn, having previously read law in private for about a year; in the fall of 1875, he entered the Union College of Law, Chicago, being admitted to the senior class ; graduating in June, 1876, he returned to Pontiac and began practice with the firm with whom he had studied the summer before. In March, 1877, he removed to Chenoa and engaged in the practice of his profession ; he has succeeded in establishing himself firmly in a practice which is quite extensive, consider- ing the time he has been here. He was married Nov. 23, 1876, to Miss Lomenda Garner, of Pontiac, and has one child — Delight. THOMAS Y. HERVEY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Chenoa. Among the prominent citizens of the township who have settled here more recently, is the above-named gentleman, who came from Livingston Co. in 1874; he was born in Ohio Co., W. Va., Jan. 13, 1837. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1849, the family settling in Peoria Co. ; there he resided until September, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. A, 47th I. V. I., and served till th«> close of the war ; he was present at Nashville when Gen. Hood attacked that city ; also participated in the siege of Vicksburg. battles of Jackson, Miss., Old Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and several minor CHENOA TOWNSHIP. 86S engagements. In 1866, he removed to Livingston Co. and purchased 160 acres of land in Pike Township, which he improved and made his home till his removal to Chenoa Township in 1874 ; he still owns his farm in Livingston Co , and fifty acres in his home place, making 210 acres in all ; both farms are well improved. While in Pike Township, he served three terms as School Director, one term as Supervisor, and one as Collector ; he is now a member of the Board of School 'trustees. He was married Dec. 26, 1866, to Miss Mary Hawcridge, of Peoria Co., 111., a native of Stockport, England, and has four children — Nettie E., Walter D., Charles M. and Margaret M. WILLIAM A. HAYNES, of the firm of Haynes, Jordan cSz, Co., dealers in grain, land, stock, coal etc., Chenoa ; was born in Marshall Co., 111., Jan. 12, 1836 ; he is a son of Samuel Haynes, who was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1799, and emigrated to Marshall Co., 111., in 1835, and is now a resident of Chenoa. Mr. Haynes received a public-school education, and in 1863 started in the grain business, in Sparland, 111. ; two years later, he removed to Lacon and engaged with his brother, W. S. Haynes, in the grain and lumber trade; in 1869. he came to Chenoa and formed a partnership with R. J. Jordan, his brother becoming a member of the firm about a year afterwards. On the burning of their elevator, in 1873, the firm embarked in banking, intending to abandon the grain business, but a favorable opportunity presenting itself, they sold out their bank and resumed the grain business in the spring of 1878. They are prin- cipally engaged in buying corn during the fall and winter and holding it for the spring market ; they have had in store, during the past winter, about 250,000 bushels of corn. Mr. Haynes and his brother own four warehouses — two at Chenoa, one at Weston, and one at Meadows. They also own about 1,300 acres of land, lying mainly in Livingston Co., besides quite an amount of town property. He has never sought official positions, and with the exception of that of School Trustee, for the past eight or nine years, has held no public office. He was married Jan. 1, 1856, to Miss Delphia Fosdick, of Marshall Co., 111. WILLIT S. HAYNES, of the firm of Haynes, Jordan & Co., dealers in grain, land, stock, coal, etc., Chenoa; is a native of Illinois. He was born in Marshall Co., March 1838, being a son of Samuel Haynes. He remained on the farm until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he enlisted in Co. H, 53d I. V. I. ; was promoted to Sergeant, and participated in the battle of Hatch'e River, Tenn., and several minor engagements. He remained with his regiment about two years, and, in July, 1863, was detailed as a clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, and stationed in Memphis. After about two years, he went to Vicksburg in the same capacity, where he served another year. Returning in 1866, he engaged with his brother, William A. Haynes, in the grain and lumber, in Lacon, 111., and continued till 1870, when he came to Chenoa and became a member of the firm of Haynes, Jordan & Co., whose operations in the grain and banking business are given above. His business career, as well as that of the other mem- bers of the firm, has been a successful one. He was married Dec. 28, 1871, to Miss E. A, Bowen, a daughter of Alfred Bowen, formerly of Woodford Co., but now a resident of Chenoa ; she was born in West Virginia Dec. 28, 1846; they have one child — Eldon Roy, born Jan. 14, 1879. WILLIAM HOTSENPILLER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Lexington. Chenoa Township not only received a large addition to its population during the years 1867 and 1868, but this increase was from a class of people far above the average in intelligence and enterprise. Among those who settled in the township in the former year was the subject of this sketch. His resi- dence in McLean Co., however, covers a period of twenty years. He is a native of Virginia, born in Shenandoah Co. on the 23d of February, 1838, and there lived until 1859. On arriving at his majority, he came West and engaged in farming in Lexington Township, McLean Co. In 1867, he removed to his present farm in Sec 33, where he owns eighty acres of land. He has served nine years as School Director, and takes an active interest in the subject of education, as well as in all matters relating to the good of the community. He was married April 4, 1861, to Miss Frances M. Derham, of Lexington, who was born in Morgan < o., Va., Dec. 6, 1839; they have seven children — Virginia May, Mary Emma, Annie Grace, William Milton, Charles Elmer, James Madison and Bessie Eunice. ROWLAND J. JONES, farmer ; P. O. Chenoa ; was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, Feb. 8 1808. He was raised a farmer, and, in 1850, came to America and lived five yeai-s in Utica, N. Y. In 1855, he moved westward to Cambria Co , Wis., and the following year to McLean Go , and settled in Yates Township, six miles southeast of Chenoa, being one of the earliest settlers in that part of the county. The northern part of the county was then, for the most part, an unbroken prairie, with not a house for miles. Deer and other wild game were plentiful. Mr. Jones was then a poor man, but has been industrious and economical, and his labors have been rewarded with success, as he is to-day one of the most reliable and highly- respected citizens of the township. He removed to his present home in 1867. He was married May 12, 1838, to Miss Jane Davis, of his native county ; of eight children, two are now living — Sariah and Abbie, the latter the wife of Rev. C. H. John, of Chillicothe, Mo. Two sons, Jona- dab R. and Josiah D., died while in the service of their country, both members of Co. K, 94th I. V. I.; Eliakim died in Utica, N. Y., when but a child ; John E. died in 1867 at the age of 17 ; the others died in infancy. Mrs. Jones died March 16, 1868. Mr. Jones was married again 864 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: March 5, 1870, to Mrs. Hattie Harper, who was born in the north of Ireland, and raised in the north of Scotland. ROSCOE G. JORDAN, dealer in grain, real estate, stock, coal, etc. (firm of Haynes, Jor- dan & Co.), Chenoa ; has been a resident of McLean Co. for the past twenty-three years. He was born in Oxford Co., Me., July 6, 1834. He received an academic ^education in the North Bridgeton Academy, and, in 1856, came to Bloomington, and, after clerking awhile in the Pike House, engaged in buying grain. About a year later, he removed to Hudson, and continued in the grain and mercantile business until his removal to Chenoa, in 1867. He erected a steam elevator, which burned down in 1873. The first two years he did business alone, and, in 1869, the firm of Haynes. Jordan & Co. was formed. Mr. Jordan is a large real estate owner, having no less than 700 acres of farm lands in McLean Co., beside his interests in Western lands. His business career in Chenoa has been a successful one, the firm of which he is a member being among the heaviest grain-dealers in McLean Co. He was married May I, 1860, to Miss Mary Dunham, of McLean Co., and has three children — Mary F., Arthur D. and Abbie. Mr. Jordan has been a member of the Chenoa Board of Education for the past nine years, and for several years, Alderman of the city. ANDREW JACKSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Chenoa. About a mile southwest of the city of Chenoa, on Sec. 15, is undoubtedly the finest farm in Chenoa Township, and one of the finest in McLean Co. It contains 480 acres, under a high state of cultivation, and with good improvements, the barn especially being noticeable as the best in this part of the county. The history of the proprietor, Mr. Jackson, is the history of thousands of other successful farmers in this Western country. Coming to Illinois, twenty-five years ago, a poor man in all but that energy of character and habits of industry, which warrant success, he worked on u, farm by the month the first year, in Peoria Co., then rented a farm for several years, and finally, accumu- mulating a sufficient sum, engaged in farming on his own land. He was born in Washington Co., Penn., Aug. 5, 1829; came to Peoria Co., Ill , in 1854, landing in Peoria, April 3. In 1868, he removed to his present home, purchasing 240 acres of land, subsequently adding thereto, until he now owns 480 acres in one body. He was married, Oct. 4, 1854, to Miss Sarah Keyes, of Peoria Co., 111., who was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Oct. 9, 1833; they have two children — Oscar I. and Estella B. Mr. Jackson has served several terms as Commissioner of Highways and School Director. A. D. KEEPERS, dealer in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc. ; P. 0. Chenoa. Although this gentleman has only been engaged in business in Chenoa since 1875, he has suc- ceeded in building up an extended and healthy trade. Having an experience of seventeen years in the dry-goods line, he is enabled to adjust his stock to the demands of his trade, buying only in such quantities and of such goods u his customers demand ; he has few remnants left on hand, and his stock, in consequence, presents an exceptionally neat and attractive appearance. He keeps a full line of dry and fancy goods, boots and shoes, groceries, etc., and is one of the most successful and substantial business men of the place. Mr. Keepers was born in Morris Co., N. J., July 26, 1848. When he was about 7 years old, his parents removed to Illinois, locating in Gardiner, Grundy Co. He remained on the farm until 1862, and then entered a dry-goods store in Wilmington. He remained there but a short time, when he went to Gardiner, and, after clerking about five years, engaged in the dry-goods business for himself, in which he continued until his removal to Chenoa in 1875. He was married, Aug. 17, 1870, to Miss Tillie Burlew, of Watseka, 111. WILLIAM E. KETCHAM, general insurance agent, and dealer in groceries, provisions, crockery, etc. (firm of Ketcham & Seybolt) ; P. 0. Chenoa. ; was born in Otisville, Orange Co., N. Y., Sept. 9, 1838. In 1856, he came to Tremont, Tazewell Co., 111., and engaged in civil engi- neering on the Tonica & Petersburg R. R., and assisted in the survey of that road from Wash- burn to Petersburg, 111. In 1858, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Tazewell Co., serving two years In Jan., 1861, he obtained a position in the Post Office Department in Washington, D. C, and, in September following, was transferred to the pay department as Paymaster's Clerk, and held that position till Aug., 1865. In Sept , 1865, he came to Chenoa, and, with A. B. Seybolt, engaged in the grocery business, which they still continue. For the past three years, he has been transacting a general insurance business. In March, 1871, their store was destroyed by fire, and they at once erected their present two-story brick building, forming a part of Union Block. He has served as <'ity Clerk for nearly five years. He was married, Jan. 21, 1868, to Miss Mary A. Clapp, of Cleveland, Ohio, and has three children living — John, Lillian and Anna. WILLIAM KOCH, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Chenoa ; is a native of Illinois ; born in Tazewell Co., April 3, 1843. His father, Caspar Koch, one of the pioneers of Tazewell Co., is still living there, and is a prominent citizen of the county. Mr. Koch resided in Tazewell Co. till 1865, when he went to El Paso, Woodford Co., and, in 1867, came to McLean Co. and settled on his present farm on Sec. 28, in Chenoa township, where he owns 170 acres of land. He was married, on the 6th of February, 1873, to Miss Lydia A. Groutsch, also a native of Illinois, born in Peoria Co., May 15, 1849 ; they have two children living — Emma Bell and Lui Franklin. Mr. Koch possesses the characteristics of his German ancestors, of industry, thrift, and careful man- agement, combined with the intelligent progressiveness which marks the people of the West ; CHENOA TOWNSHIP. 865 and it is not, therefore, to be wondered at that, during the p%st half-doze i years, while others have succumbed to the pressure of the times, poor crops and low prices, he has made sure and steady progress on the road to success. 1.1 1,1 E BROTHERS, cigar manufacturers, Chenoa, have been engaged in business here since 1875 ; they are both natives of Germany ; Adolph Lilie, the elder, was born in Hanover Aug. 17, 1845 ; he came to this country in 1866, and, after spending one year in New Jersey, came West to Chicago, from which place he went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained about six months ; he then returned to Chicago and clerked about two years in a wholesale wine house, after which, he learned cf township, county and school offices he has had his share, having been Justice of the Peace eighteen years, Postmaster at Le Roy seven years, County Commissioner, Surveyor, County Judge under the Constitution of 1848 for eight years, Supervisor of Empire Township four years, which office he now holds, Township Trustee of Schools, School Director, etc. In 1874, he was appointed, by Gov. Beveridge, one of the Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University, of Urbana; in 1875, he was elected Trustee of the Lombard University, at Gales- burg, which office he now holds. Mr. Buck is one of if not the largest landholder in Empire Township, and has never laid a claim against a deceased estate. His marriage with Mercy Kan- was celebrated April 4, 1827 ; she was daughter of Capt. John Karr, one of the patriots of the Revolutionary struggle ; the golden wedding of the above couple was celebrated April, 1877 ; it was attended by friends and relatives, from far and near ; they came from surrounding counties and cities and States ; they came from Iowa and from Cincinnati, Ohio ; over one hundred representatives of all ages, from childhood to old age, came, among the latter being upward of thirty over sixty years of age ; they gathered around the table, bountifully supplied ; prayer was offered by the Rev. D. P. Bunn, of Decatur ; the address of welcome was delivered by C. A. Buck, youngest son of the aged couple, out of respect to whom this vast company had gathered, and who showed unmistakably their feelings of love and respect by the many and valuable presents which they brought, among which was a heavy silver-headed cane to Mr. Buck, from the Hon. David Davis, of Bloomington, a solid gold-headed cane, from his neigh- bors, the presentation speech being made by Rev. D. P. Bunn, responded to, with much feeling, by the recipient ; they also received a set of upward of fifty pieces of china, with gold band; Mrs. Buck was the recipient of a solid silver castor, from her children, large silver sugar-spoon, the gift of Mrs. Judge Davis, a $5 gold piece, from Mrs. Campbell Wake- field, a set of solid gold sleeve buttons and cuff pins, from ladies of Bloomington ; of the above company gathered, three had witnessed the marriage ceremony, fifty years previous. The children of Hiram and Mercy Buck were — Amanda M., born July 10, 1828 (wife of James H. L. Crumbaugh, living three-quarters of a mile south of the old home) ; Thomas L. Buck, born Oct. 23, 1831 (lives in Le Roy) ; Elizabeth R., btfrn Feb. 21, 1834, died Feb. 13, 1837 ; Martha E., born Dec. 14, 1838 (now wife of John McConnell, lives in Downs Township) ; Nancy J., born Feb. 19, 1843 (now Mrs. Isaac F. Dawson, of Downs Tp.), and Charles Albert Buck, born Aug. 19, 1849 (he is a graduate of Lombard University, of Galesburg, and lives across the road from his parents). THOMAS L. BUCK, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Switzerland Co., Ind., Oct. 28, 1831 ; he emigrated, with his parents, to Illinois and located in Randolph's Grove in 1833 ; his father opened a hotel in Le Roy in 1837, which he kept eight years, after which the subject of this sketch remained with his father and engaged in farming until marriage, when he located upon Section 6, Town 21, and followed farming until the fall of 1874, when he removed to Le Roy, that he might have better privileges of churches and schools ; he now owns 160 acres of land upon his home farm, 80 acres in De Witt Co , 35 acres within the city limits of Le Roy, where , he resides, upon all of which he has good buildings, and also several hundred acres of timber and pasture. He is now one of the Aldermen of Le Roy, which office he has held for three years. His marriage with Mary J. McConnell was celebrated March 16, 1859 ; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 16, 1829; they have two children by this union — Rose E., born Jan. 2=» 1860, and Orral M., born Aug. 23, 1862. ' CHARLES ALBERT BUCK, farmer, Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; the subject of this sketch is the youngest son of Hiram Buck, whose biography appears in this work ; he was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Aug. 19, 1849; he attended the common schools during his youth, among which was the school at Le Roy ; at 19 years of age, he entered the Normal University, at Normal, which he attended one term, when he entered the Lombard University, at Galesburg, EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 877 in 1870, from which he graduated in the spring of 1875; he has since engaged in farming, in partnership with his father, during the summer, and school-teaching during the fall and winter. •lis marriage with Harriet Claycomb was celebrated Feb. 3, 1876 ; she was born in Warren Co., 111., Dec. 23, 1848; they have one child by this union — Nannie Mer, born Aug. 16, 1877. GEORGE W. BUCKLES, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch is among the oldest settlers now living who was born in McLean Co. ; his birth occurred Feb. 14, 1834, in what is now Empire Township ; he was the oldest son of Peter and Jane (Kut- ledge) Buckles, who were among the early settlers, locating in Empire Township, McLean Co., about the year 1828 or 1829. Peter Buckles was born in Tennessee, Dec. 10, 1809; the maiden name of his wife was Jane Rutledge; she was born in Kentucky, in November, 1814 ; they were united in marriage May 10, 1833, and located upon Sec. 29, Empire Township, where they passed the remainder of their days ; they were the parents of ten children, six of whom are now living, the oldest being George W., born Feb. 14, 1834; Thomas J., born April 16, 1836; Robert, born in 1840; Andrew J., born April 7, 1844 (his sketch appears in this work) ; Martha (now Mrs. Davis Ross, lives near Shirley), Emma D. (now Mrs. William Gay, Empire Township) ; Mrs. liuckles died Nov. 2, 1868 ; Mr. Buckles died April 21, 1871. The subject of this sketch remained upon the farm until May 22, 1856, when he was united in marriage with Mary Bishop; she was born in McLean Co., July 18, 1838; she was the daughter of William G. Bishop, who- was born in Tennessee, in 1785, and located in Money Creek Township about 1835, where he was appointed the first Postmaster, which office he held for eighteen years ; he died April 13, 1862 ; Mrs. Bishop's maiden name was Jane Briggs ; she was born in South Carolina, Jan. 30, 1796, and now lives in Money Creek Township. The children of George W. and Mary (Bishop) Buckles were nine in number — Harriet, born March 21, 1857; Rebecca J., born Dec. 3, 1858; William Robert, born March 17, 1860; Peter D., born July 25, 1862, died Sep. 4, 1864; Clar- rissa A., born Nov. 20, 1863, died Aug. 29, 1864 ; Olive W.. born Nov. 15, 1865, died March 17, 1867 ; Thornton A., born Feb. 25, 1868 ; Laura E., born Nov. 10, 1871, died Oct. 3, 1872, and Nolan A , born Nov. 9, 1878. ANDREW J. BUCKLES, farmer. Sec. 29; P. 0. Le Roy; born in McLean Co., 111., April 7, 1844 ; he was the youngest son of Peter and Jane (Rutledge) Buckles, who located in Empire Township, McLean Co. about the year 1828 or 1829; Peter Buckles was born in Tennessee, Dec. 10, 1809 ; the maiden name of Mrs. Buckles was Jane Rutledge ; she was born in Ken- tucky, in November, 1814; married May 10, 1833, and lived in Sec. 29, until her decease; Mrs. Buckles died Nov. 2, 1868; Mr. Buckles died April 21, 1871 ; their children were ten in number, of whom six are now living — George W., born Feb. 14, 1834; Thomas J., born April 16. 1836 ; Robert, born in 1840; Andrew J., born April 7, 1844 ; Martha (now Mrs. Davis Ross), and Emma D. (now Mrs. William Gay.) The subject of this sketch has always lived upon the old place where he was born, and where he is now engaged in farming, his farm being located about one mile south of Le Roy, where he has about one hundred acres under fence and culti- vation. His marriage with Angeline Watt was celebrated Oct. 3, 1867 ; she was born in De Witt Co., 111., Oct. 5, 1849; they have two children, now living, by this union — Frank P., born Nov. 24, 1872; Ada B., Aug. 10, 1876. Mrs. Buckles was the daughter of P. P. Watt, who was born and raised in De Witt Co., 111., and located in McLean Co. in 1865; where he lived until his decease, which occurred March 26, 1876 ; Mrs. Watt died in Logan Co., in October, 1853. S. F. BAHNUM, lumber and grain merchant and miller, Le Roy, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Aug. 11, 1824; when he was 10 years of age. his parents moved to Erie Co., N. Y., and in the year 1847, came to Defiance, Defiance Co., Ohio ; after the death of his father, his mother, in the spring of 1864, moved to Blooming- ton ; she now resides with her son, Mr. Barnum, in Le Roy. The subject of this sketch remained, however, in the State of New York, and from the age of 14 up to the age of 23 was employed in woolen-mills in Erie Co., which employment he was compelled to give up on account of ill health, turning his attention to farming. In 1856, he came to Le Roy, and engaged in farming, returning the same fall to New York State, and during the year 1857 filled the position of book-keeper in the wholesale produce and commission house of Irving Kester, in Buffalo. In the fall of 1858, he formed a copartnership with Henry Case in the general merchandise business, in Eden Valley, Erie Co., N. Y., and having continued in the same for two and one- half years, sold out his interest, and in the year 1861 again turned his attention to farming, continuing at such up to 1865, when he came to Bloomington, and was engaged as a book-keeper in the house of Bruner & Whitmer up to the year 1870, when he moved to Le Roy and started the lumber business, in connection with Mr. Bruner, to which was afterward added that of coal and grain. In 1872, having purchased the "Empire Flouring Mill," they took in also as a partner Joseph Keenan ; in 1876, they purchased the interest of Mr. Bruner, and have con- tinued up to the present time as the firm of Barnum & Keenan. Before Mr. Barnum's removal to Le Roy, he held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years in Erie Co., N. Y. He has been married twice, his first wife being Miss Clarinda Bunting, of Eden, Erie Co., N. Y. ; mar- ried in 1844 ; she died in 1862 ; they had three children, two living — Matilda M. and Henry I , and one dead, Henry. He married his present wife, Miss Adeline E. Patterson, in the fall of 1865 ; they have two children — Percy D. and George P. 878 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ZACHARIAH CHICK, wagon-maker, Le Roy; born in Dimington, Somersetshire, England, •June 6, 1826; at 14 years of age, he was apprenticed for six years to learn the wagon-maker's trade ; after completing the same, he worked in his native town a short time, when he went to >the Channel Islands and worked upon the Island of Jersey upward of one year, when he volun- teered as carpenter and shipped from Portsmouth upon the British flag-ship Penelope, going to the southwest coast of Africa, where he remained about fifteen months, making the coast at Sierra Leone Cape Palmas, Island Fernando Po and the adjacent islands, among which were the •Cape de Verde and Canary Islands ; after returning to England, he received hia discharge and worked at his trade until he emigrated to America, landing in Quebec, Canada, May 9, 1851 ; remaining in Canada two months, he came to Chiaago, and worked at carpentering until fall ; he rhen went to Griggsville, Pike Co.; worked as journeyman during the winter, and the follow- ing spring started a wagon shop of his own, which he continued two and a half years ; upon Oct. 8, 1854, he started for England, and arrived at Liverpool upon the 16th of November fol- lowing. He was married Dec. 16, 1854, in Barrington, to Caroline Bond; she was born in Barrington, Somersetshire, England, Dec. 3, 1826; she was the daughter of Thomas Bond, of Barrington, Somersetshire, England, a prominent contractor and builder ; Mr. Chick was a son of John Chick, who was born in Somersetshire, England, April 23, 1787, and who also was a prominent contractor and builder at the time of his death. In the spring of 1855, Mr. Chick again sailed from England with his ( wife, landing in New York, April 16 ; coming West, he worked at the agricultural machine shops at Ottawa, fifteen months, and, in June, 1856, he removed to West Township, McLean Co., where he followed farming for five years ; in the spring of 1862, he located in Le Roy, and engaged at his trade, which business he has since success- fully followed; the children of Zachariah and Caroline (Bond) Chick are Thomas Z., born Aug. 28, 1857; John Bond, April 29, 1860; Sarah Bond, Jan. 17, 1862, and Caroline, June 26, 1864. GEORGE M. CONRAD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Le Roy; the subject of this sketch was born in Henry Co., Ind., July 27, 1840; he was the son of Adam and Hannah (Maples) Conrad; his father was born in Hardy Co., Va., Nov. 30, 1796; he located in Indiana in 1839, and at Twin Grove, McLean Co., Ill , in 1864, where he lived until his decease, which occurred Nov. 30, 1873, aged 77 years ; he lies buried in the beautiful cemetery at Twin Grove ; Mrs. Con- rad was born in Lewis Co., Ky , Oct. 9, 1803; she now lives with the subject of this sketch, who has erected a residence for her especial benefit upon his place near his own, and although now in the 76th year of her age, she is in possession of all her faculties and daily attends to her own household duties, which afford to her much happiness ; G. M. Conrad came West with his parents and was engaged in partnership with his father until 1866, when he entered the law office of Judge Tipton, at Bloomington, where he read law one year, and, in 1867, he engaged in the grocery trade at Bloomington, under the firm name of Hardisty & Conrad, which firm was dissolved in 1868; in 1869, he removed upon his present place, where he has 121 acres of land under cultivation, upon which he has good farm buildings. He was united in marriage with Matilda Sexton, Feb. 15, 1869 ; she was born in Fond du Lac Co., Wis., June 24, 1848 ; they were the parents of two children, of which one died in infancy; the living, Lola E., was born April 15, 1878. CHARLES COPE, farmer, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the old settlers ; born in Fred- erick Co., Va., Oct. 21, 1813 ; he emigrated with his parents when quite young, and located in Marion Co. until about 34 years of age, the last twelve years of which he was engaged in buying cattle and driving them across the Alleghany Mountains to Lancaster, where he could dispose of them; in 1847, he came to Illinois and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., at which date he purchased eighty acres of his present place, and, in 1849, purchased 400 acres, upon which he then settled, and where he has since continued to live; he now owns 640 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Mary E. Crumbaugh was celebrated Jan. 28, 1847; she was born in Kentucky, Oct. 3, 1827; she was the daughter of Daniel and Martha (Robinson) Crumbaugh, who emigrated from Kentucky to Sangamon Co., 111., in 1828, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., 111., in 1830; Mrs. Crumbaugh died June, 4, 1857, leaving ten children ; Mr. Crumbaugh died May 19, 1874 ; the children of Mr. and Mrs. Cope were twelve in number, of which five are deceased; the living are — John J., born June 19, 1849; William, Nov. 30, 1854; Francis M., July 25, 1857; Eleazer H., Nov. 3, 1860; George L., Dec. 28, 1862; Mary E., Jan. 12, 1866; Ann M. R. C, Sept. 22, 1869. Mr. Cope has been School Director for eighteen years ; is a life-long Democrat, having cast his first vote for Andrew Jack- son, and has voted the Democratic ticket for forty-five years. His limited school education was obtained in a log schoolhouse with log benches and mud fire-place ; of the deceased children, four died in infancy; one, Isabel J., was born Aug. 13, 1852, married George W. Simpson, and died Sept. 19, 1876, leaving one child — Mary F. JAMES H. L. CRUMBAUGH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 7; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Henderson Co., Ky., May 1, 1826; he emigrated with his father Henry Crumbaugh to Illinois in 1828, and first located in Sangamon Co. for two years, when they removed to what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1830 ; Henry Crumbaugh was born April 26, 1789, in Frederick Co., Md.; he died Oct. 22, 1877, in McLean Co., 111.; his widow still survives him, and lives upon the old place; her maiden name was Sarah Baldock. EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 879 The subject of this sketch remained with his father and engaged in farming and stock-raising until 27 years of age, the last ten years of which he was in partnership with his father in the above business, as well as buying and driving cattle to Chicago ; he removed upon his present place in 1857, where he purchased 210 acres, where he has since lived, and to which he has since added by purchase, until now he owns 950 acres, all of which is under fence and cultiva- tion. His marriage with Amanda M. Buck was celebrated Sept. 28, 1851 ; she was born Feb. 10, 1828; three children were the fruit of this union — Laura E., born Aug. 26, 1852; Edith, May 31, 185H, and Hiram H., June 20, 1861; Mr. Crumbaugh has frequently made trips to" Chicago with oxen and horses, loading up with grain and provisions, and back with salt, leather, etc; he hauled the lumber for his present buildings from Bloomington in 1865 and 1867. DANIEL T. CRUMBAUGH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Le Roy; born in McLean Co., 111., Jan. 24, 1832. His father, Daniel Crumbaugh, was born Dec. 7, 1791, in Frederick Co., Md.; he came to Ohio in 1812, then to Scott Co., Ky.; he served in the army in 1813, and was engaged against the British and Indians ; he emigrated to Sangamon Co., 111., in 1828, and, in 1830, located in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., where he lived until his decease, which occurred May 19, 1874. His first wife was Susan Winters, of Scott Co , Ky., with whom he was united in marriage in 1816; she died, and for his second wife he married Martha M. Kobinson, of North Carolina ; she died June 4, 1857. Daniel T. Crumbaugh was raised upon the farm until 21 years of age, when he. with another brother, purchased 160 acres of land, which they worked in partnership until Oct. 17, 1859. when he was united in marriage to Mar- garet Willey. She was born Sept. 29, 1840, in McLean Co.; she died Aug. 31, 1864, leaving three children, viz.: David, born Oct. 5, 1860; Martha M., Aug. 5. 1862; and Daniel T., June 15, 1864. His marriage with Laura A. Stine was celebrated Nov. 22, 1869. She was born in Mon- roe Co., Ind., May 8, 1845. Two children were the fruit of this union, one of which is deceased. The one living is James Wilmer, born Oct. 12, 1875. Mrs. C. was daughter of Elias and Mary Stine, who emigrated from Indiana and located in McLean Co., 111., in 1848. Mr. Stine died in 1853. Mrs. Stine now lives with Mrs. Crumbaugh. Of township and school offices, Mr. Crum- baugh has had his full share ; in politics, is a Democrat, but has never run for office. JOHN E. CRUMBAUGH, farmer and stock -raiser, Sec. 14; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in McLean Co., 111., Aug. 3, 1837. His father, Henry Crumbaugh, was born April 26, 1789, in Frederick Co., .Md. In 1810, he removed to Kentucky, where he lived several years, and, in 1828, he located in Sangamon Co., 111., living there until March, 1830, when he located in McLean Co. and followed farming until his decease, which occurred Oct. 22, 1877. He was married in April, 1820, to Sarah Baldock, who survives him, and is now living with the youngest son upon the place first settled upon in 1830. John E. Crumbaugh was brought up on the farm until 27 years of age — the last four years receiving one-third of the crops. He first removed upon his present place in 1864, living one year, when the next three years upon the farm of James Pemberton, and, in 1869, purchased 105 acres, and located upon his present place, where he has since lived. He now owns 295 acres upon his home farm, and has good farm buildings. His marriage with Margaret Pemberton was celebrated Dec. 29, 1859. They had three children by this union, viz.: Simeon H., born June 30, 1861, died June 10, 1864; Martha E., July 17, 1867; Cory May, May 18, 1873. GEORGE W. DAVIS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Wood Co , W. Va., Aug. 11, 1829 ; he emigrated with his parents when 6 years of age, and located in Champaign Co., Ohio, where he engaged in farming until 26 years of age, when he purchased the home farm, upon which he engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1869, when he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 7, Empire Township, McLean Co., and purchased 100 acres of land, upon which he has since lived. His marriage with Maria Benedict was celebrated March 15, 1854 ; •he was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 30, 1834 ; they have seven children by this union — Elias M., born Dec. 9, 1854; Jeremiah F., Nov. 18, 1856 ; Angeline M., Oct. 9, 1858; Sarah L., Dec. 6, 1861 ; George H., June 4, 1864 ; Mary J., Sept. 6, 1866; Samuel E., Nov. 8, 1870. The father of Mr. Davis died Nov. 8, 1861, 79 years of age ; his mother died at the age of 74; both died in Champaign Co., Ohio. Mrs. Davis father died in Champaign Co., Ohio, Ma»-ch 8, 1859. Her mother is now 80 years of age, and lives in the above county. HENRY C. DICKERSON, retired farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.;.born in Hamilton Co., 111., Aug. 30, 1825 ; his father, Michael Dickerson, located in McLean Co. in 1829, where he died in 1835; at 21 year* of age, Henry C. entered 40 acres of land, and paid for the same with money which he had earned at $5 per month ; two years later, he bought 80 more, and a few years later found him the owner of the old homestead and other land to the amount of upward of 700 acres in this county, and 900 acres of land in. different parts of Kansas ; he has settled on his three married children $9,000. Although not a member of any church, he contributes liberally to their support, having donated some $600 toward the erection of the M. E. Church in Le Roy. He built the Empire Mill and Elevator, one of the best mills in the county, at a cost of upward of $25,000 ; he has had his full share of misfortunes, having lost by security debts $15,000, and, in April, 1877, his residence, which he had erected at a cost of $7,500, with $1,500 worth of furniture, was destroyed by fire, upon which there was an insur- ance of $2,500 ; during the summer of the same year, he lost nearly $3,000 by the Phoenix Bank 880 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: at Bloomington, aside from which he has lost largely in smaller amounts. Although Mr. Dick- erson has been a resident of McLean Co. for a half of a century, he has traveled largely in the Western States and Territories. His marriage with Leodicy Maxwell was celebrated Oct. 27, 185C ; she was born in McLean Co. July 16, 1830; they have five children — Elizabeth J., Corelia, Adelaide, Rose L. and Belle. Mr. D. has driven ox-teams to Chicago with grain, loading back with goods, the trips being from twelve to fifteen days ; has also driven hogs to the same market, and cattle and horses to Milwaukee. C. P. DICKERSON, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in what is now Randolph Township, McLean Co., 111., June 26, 1827 ; he is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, living set- tler now living who was born in this county ; his father, Michael Dickerson, was one of the first settlers of McLean Co., where he died Feb. 10, 1836. Calep B. Dickerson lived upon the farm with his mother until 22 years of age, after which he rented land and followed farming until 1851, when he purchased 100 acres of land upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he now owns 140 acres, with good farm buildings. He married Tabitha Buckles April 3, 1851 ; they have twelve children by this union, viz.: William E., born March 18, 1852; Mary J., June 19, 1854 ; Adaline, June 22, 1856; Franklin, July 8, 1858 (deceased) ; Henry D., Dec. 8, 1860 (deceased) ; James A., June 20, 1862 ; Wesley A., Nov. 23, 1864; Maranda Ellen, May 27, 1866; Charles, March 21, 1868 ; George, June 31, 1872 ; Tilden and Matilda A., twins, born June 18, 1876. Mrs. Dickerson was the daughter of Abram Buckles, who was born in Virginia June 28, 1800 ; he emigrated with his father and located in White Co., 111., in 1810. In 1819, he married Mary Williams, and, in 1832, he located at Buckles' Grove, McLean Co., where he died May 17, 1878. Mrs. Buckles died Dec. 19, 1876. ELIADA DICKINSON, retired farmer ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Hartford Co., Conn., Sept. 1, 1810 ; he was raised to farm labor until 21 years of age, when he went to Bristol, Conn., and worked at the foundry business six years, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Griggs- ville, Pike Co., in June, 1836 : here he entered 400 acres of land, upon which he lived until 1859, when, selling his farm, he engaged in the merchandise trade at Perry four years, selling out in 1863, and purchasing 220 acres of land in Sangamon Co., upon which he lived two years; in the summer of 1865, he purchased 240 acres of land in West Township, McLean Co., which he deeded to his son, and afterward purchased 200 acres, upon which he lived until 1876, when he moved to Le Roy, and, in 1878, he purchased his present place, which contains twenty acres, one-half of which is within the corporation, and where he has since lived. Mr. Dickinson first voted for Jackson for President; he supported the Democratic party many years, joining the Republican party upon its organization, since which time he has been an ardent supporter of the same ; of township and school offices he has had his full share, and held the office of Justice of the Peace, while in West Township, five years. His marriage with Lois B. Fancher was cele- brated Nov. 24, 1833 ; she was born in Bristol, Conn., Sept. 29, 1812 ; she died in Sangamon Co., 111., Nov. 10, 1864, leaving three children — Sarah Ann, born Dec. 10, 1839 ; David Monroe, Oct. 29, 1842, and Mary Thalia, July 5, 1847. WILLIAM H. DOOLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Clark Co., Ky., Aug. 15, 1834 ; his father, William Dooley, emigrated from Kentucky in the fall of 1851, living in Bloomington until the spring of 1852, when he purchased 1,500 acres of land in Old Town Township, upon which he located and followed farming and stock-raising until his decease, which occurred June 7, 1869 ; his widow is now living in the same township. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until 20 years of age, when he was united in marriage, Oct. 12, 1854, to Eliza J. Noggle ; she was born in Ohio, May 7, 1835, (her parents emigrated from Ohio and located in McLean Co. in 1850) ; eleven children were the fruit of this union — John J., born Aug. 18, 1855, died Oct. 28, 1858 ; Alice C, born May 26, 1857, died March 22, 1874; LillieM., born Sept. 10,1860; Milton H., born Feb. 21, 1862; George E., born March 9, 1864; Mary A., born Nov. 1, 1866, died Sept. 4, 1872 ; Frank R., born July 26, 1868, died May 18, 1869; Damaris M., born April 11. 1870; Obadiah M., born Nov. 14, 1871 ; Hattie, born Aug. 12, 1875, and Lida B., born Nov. 4, 1877. Mr. Dooley moved upon his present place May 1, 1876; he has 920 acres in his farm upon which he has good buildings, his house being built during the summer of 1873, at an expense of upward of $7,000, and is considered by many, as the best farm house in the county ; he is extensively engaged in raising, feeding and shipping stock, of which he ships his hogs mostly to Indianapolis, and cattle to Chicago; he feeds from 125 to 150 head of cattle, and from 200 to 300 hogs, about 30 horses and some sheep. JOHN DUNLAP, farmer, Sec 2 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. ; born in White Co., 111., April 21, 1827; his father, Moses Dunlap, emigrated from Tennessee to White Co., at a very early day, where he lived until about the year 1828, when he emigrated north and located* at Blooming Grove, and entered land joining the old home of Judge McClenn ; living here about five years, they went to Arkansas, but returned and entered land in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1834, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred May 6, 1858. Mrs. Dunlap died June 23, 1863. The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents to McLean Co. in 1828, and, with them, located upon Sec. 2, Empire Township, in 1834, where he has since lived with the exception of seven years, in which he was engaged in fanning in Marshall Co., Iowa, and Cherokee Co., Kan. Mr. Dunlap is an industrious, hard-working man, EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 881 a good business manager, and much respected in the township in which he lives; he has accumu- lated a good property, and raised a family of ten children, having lost three by death; the living are — Henry, Josephine, Rosella, Moses, James, Stephen, William, Lucinda C, Margaret A. and Eliza. His brother James was one of the first white children born in McLean Co , being born in Blooming Grove, April 1, 1829; he never married, but made his home with his brother John until his decease, which occurred May 29, 1878. P. C. ESKEW, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Patrick Co., Va., where he was raised upon a farm until 18 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co., November, 1834 ; he entered his first land, eighty acres, at Long Point Timber in 1837, upon which he erected a log house, and, in 1839, sold his claim with improvements ; he then engaged as farm laborer until 1841, when he followed farming for himself until 1846, at which time he entered eighty acres of land at Buckles' Grove, and, in 1852, entered eighty acres more adjoining, and afterward added twenty acres of timber, upon which he lived until 1877, when he rented his farm and removed to Le Roy, where he now lives. He married, April, 1837, Julia Troxel ; she died Aug. 18, 1838, leaving one child — Leona, born Aug. 14, 1838, now Mrs. Oliver Harding, living in Empire Township. He married for his second wife, Sarah Johnson. Oct. 7, 1841 ; she died June 11, 1876; nine children were the fruit of this union — Catherine, bora Aug. 27, 1843, (married Alexander Free,) she died in Kansas, May 1, 1876; James M., born Sept. 16, 1845, farming in Empire Townahip ; Louisa, born June 1, 1847, died March 6. 1864 ; Ellen, bora June 13, 1851, (married John Allen,) she died May 20, 1875, in Kansas; Matilda, born June 9, 1849, now Mrs. Jonas Arnold, of Downs Township; Martha A., Oct. 1, 1853; Mary, born Oct. 4, 1856, (married F. Phillips.) died April 6, 1876, in Downs Township ; Paran, June 16, I860, died in January, 1861. and William A., born March 10, 1862. His marriage with Mrs. Harriet P. Dickerson, was celebrated Feb. 13, 1877 ; she was bora in Hamilton Co., Ohio, March 20, 1828 ; she was a daughter of Jacob Karr, who emigrated from Ohio, and located in Empire Township in 1839, where he lived until his decease in 1840; her first marriage with Robert F. Dickerson, was celebrated Jan. 1, 1845: he was born in Hamilton Co., 111., Oct. 30, 1823 ; he emigrated West with his parents in 1825, and located in McLean Co., where he lived until his decease, which occurred Oct. 16, 1875; eleven children were the fruit of this union, viz. : Merritt M., bora Oct. 27, 1845, now merchant of Monticello, Piatt Co. ; James L., born July 4, 1847, now farming in Fayette Co., Iowa; Martha, born Feb. 20, 1849, now Mrs. George Pray ; Emma E., bora Nov. 16, 1850, now Mrs. F. Molesworth; Owen L., born Nov. 15, 1852, died in infancy; Clara, born Sept. 11, 1854 ; Mary, bora March 27, 1857, died in infancy ; Ida May, born March 25, 1859, now Mrs. John Pogue, of Texas; Robert F., born Sept. 25, 1861 ; Mary S., Sept. 24, 1863, and Harriet R., Oct. 11, 1865 ; of the above, four are now living at home. Mr. Eskew is a strong temperance man; has been a life-long Democrat; was never an aspirant for office, though often being urged to allow himself to run for office he always refused. Of township and school offices, he has had his share, having been Commissioner several years, School Director sixteen years, and Town Collector, of Downs Township, one year, and now holds the office of Road Commissioner in Empire Township. T. D. FISHER, M. D., Le Roy: (whose portrait has a place in this work), was born in Ligo- nier, Westmoreland Co., Penn., Oct. 1, 1826; his father Abel was of Quaker origin, and was bora in Pennsylvania, June 3, 1788, and died March 19, 1876 ; his mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Stewart, was of Scotch descent, born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., and died June 29, 1840. Dr. Fisher lived at home until he was 21 years of age, and received his early educa- tion at the " Ligonier Academy ; " in the year 1848, he read medicine under Dr. T. Richardson, of Pleasant Unity, Penn., and, in 1850, attended his first course of lectures at Cleveland, Ohio, in the Medical Department of the Western Reserve Medical College ; in May, 1853, he com- menced the practice of medicine in Le Roy, and having attended the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, during the session of 1856-57, graduated from that institution, and has ever since con- tinued the practice of medicine in Le Roy, and has built up a large and lucrative practice. He was President of the McLean County Medical Society in the year 1876, and was also a member of the Illinois State Medical Society. He married Miss Henrietta Lisenbey, of De Witt Co., 111., in the year 1853. Dr. Fisher may appropriately be cailed a " self-made man," being emi- nently a man of self-reliance ; having accumulated the means by which to obtain a medical education by teaching school. He has always been a strictly temperate man, using neither tobacco, whisky or any intoxicating liquors. M. R. GALUSHA, hardware merchant, firm of Beeney & Galusha, dealers in hardware, stoves, tinware, agricultural implements, farm machinery, etc.. Le Roy; bora in Madison, Jeffer- son Co., Ind., Nov. 22, 1844, where he attended school until 12 years of age; he then worked upon the farm in summer and attended school in winter until 16 years of age when he ran upon the Ohio River one year as cabin-boy. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in the army until the close of the war and was mustered out of service in the spring of 1865 ; he served in the army of the Tennessee, under Gen. Thomas, and was in several engagements, the heaviest being the battle of Nashville, on Dec. 28, 29 and 30, 1864, where the rebels, under Gen. Hood, were defeated with great loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. He remained in Nashville during the winter, and until he received his discharge, when he returned to Indiana, and in the fall of 1865 882 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: he came West, and located in Downs Township, McLean Co., TIL, where he followed farming until the fall of 1877, when he sold out and, in the spring of 1877, removed to Le Roy and asso- ciated with William H. Beeney in the above business, which he has since followed. His mar- riage with Emma Karr was celebrated Oct. 8, 1869 ; she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., 111., Nov. 14, 1850. They have two children by this union — Harry, born May 3, 1870, Jes- sie, Aug. 22, 1875. Mrs. Galusha was daughter of Jesse Karr, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. He emigrated from Ohio and located in this county in 1835. Mr. Galusha was the son of Hiram Galusha, who emigrated from Vermont, and located in Jefferson Co., Ind., previ- ous to 1840, where he engaged in manufacturing tobacco until his decease, which occurred in 1852. DANIEL GILMORE, farmer: P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Derry, Rockingham Co., N. H., April 6, 1807, where he attended school and followed farming and coopering until 22 years of age, when he made a trip around the world in the sailing ship Clay, which voyage consumed nearly two and a half years. In 1832, he emigrated South and located in Pope Co., Ark., upon the Arkansas River; here entered and purchased 1,000 acres of land, upon which he farmed and raised cotton, the latter being his chief product ; he then put up machinery for making cotton warp, which he manufactured largely and for which he found a ready market. He was also engaged largely in the general merchandise trade. The above pursuits he followed until after the breaking out of the rebellion, when he, being a strong Union man, was obliged to leave, by wnich he lost some $15,000; he came North in 1864, and located in Le Roy, McLean Co., ID., and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed. He married, Sept. 22, 1836, to Maria Scott ; she died Jan. 2, 1839. He married, for his second wife, Mary Jane Menefee, Dec. 22, 1 842 ; she died March 14, 1848, leaving two children — Martha and Daniel. Jr. He married, for his third wife Mary J. Nease, June 30, 1850; she died May 24, 1861, leaving three children — Alice, Hiram N. and William Sampson. His marriage with Mrs. Catharine Watson was celebrated Sept. 9, 1869 ; she has two children by her first husband, Levi L. Watson ; her children are Hattie A., now Mrs. 0. P. Joseph, and Jennie V., who remains at home. Mr. Gilmore was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he has been an active member of the same. THOMAS D. GILMORE, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Warren Co., near Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 18, 1814. He attended school a limited time, until 12 years of age; he then went into the blacksmith-shop of his father, learned and worked at the trade until 22 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located on the spot where he now lives in the fall of 1836. He drove his team of oxen all the way from Kentucky, bringing with him his wife and two children and all of his property, which consisted of two yoke of oxen and wagon, one horse, saddle and bridle, his blacksmith tools, a few household goods and $4 in cash — the latter he invested in pork, obtaining one hundred pounds. He then put up a log cabin with puncheon floor, clapboard door, with wooden hinges ; a raccoon bedstead, with one leg, in which poles were inserted, the other ends being fastened in holes made in the side and end logs of the house ; boards were laid across from the side rail and upon one of the side logs of the house, when the rude structure was complete. He made stools, which were used for chairs, and a clapboard table. Having completed his house and manufactured the above furniture, he set up his forge, bis skill as a blacksmith soon became known, work poured in upon him, and he was kept con- stantly at work, his custom extending as far as Farmer City, Cheney and Randolph Groves. He would labor from 4 A. M. until 9 or 10 at night, and then attend to his chores. He had the misfortune to lose his i-hop by fire, and, the year after he settled here, his leg was broken by a tree falling upon him, which confined him to the house for four months. He first entered 40 acres of land, and has since added by purchases until he owns 155 acres, upon which he has lived since 1836, with the exception of a short time while on a visit to Kentucky He followed his trade here, with the exception of eight years in which he was engaged at his trade in Le Roy, until 1855, since which time he has given his attention to his farm. His father, Andrew H. Gilmore, was born in North Carolina, and emigrated to Kentucky when quite young, where he lived until he emigrated to Illinois in 1857, where he purchased land and built a house but a few rods from his son, in which he lived until his decease, which occurred Oct. 17, 1870, at the ripe old age of 98 years. Thomas D. Gilmore and Matilda Savage were married in Kentucky Jan. 2, 1834. Three children were the fruit of this union — Martha Frances, born Nov. 21, 1834, now Mrs. James W. Wright, of Le Roy ; Mary M.. May 1, 1836, died Aug. 15, 1863 ; and Joseph P., June 5, 1838, now living in Oregon. Mrs. Gilmore died Oct. 5, 1839. Mr. Gilmore married Mary J. Brannaman Dec. 11, 1840. She was born in Augusta Co., Va., Feb. 11, 1821. Six chil- dren were the fruit of this union — Andrew D., born March 2, 1842, died in infancy; Ira F., Nov. 10. If43, lives in Padua Township; Lucinda M., Jan. 14, 1850, now Mrs. R. C. Charles- ton, living in Kansas ; Kentucky G., Feb. 9, 1855, now Mrs. F. Hendricks, of Padua Township ; Elizabeth A., July 24, 1859; Augusta M., Sept. 16, 1862. Mrs. Gilmore was daughter of David and Mary (Hulderman) Brannaman, who emigrated from Virginia and located in Padua Town- ship in 1836. Mr. B. died in the fall of 1846. Mrs. B. died in the spring of 1870. E. E. GREENMAN, retired merchant and farmer ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Washington Co., Ohio, Jan. 23, 1816. His grandfather, Jeremiah Green- man, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army during the revolutionary struggle, and was a warm EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 883 friend and associate of Gen. Washington. At the close of the war, he located in Washington Co., Ohio, where he died about the year 1827. His father, John Greenman, emigrated to Illinois with his family and located in the southeast part of Blooming Grove, Aug. 29, 1829. He taught school during the following winter, and, during the summer, clerked for James Allin, of Bloomington, while his sons raised a crop of corn upon eighteen acres of land rented of William Dimmit, upon land now completely covered by buildings, being located between the Court House and the Illinois Central Railroad. He entered his first land Feb. 2, 1830, being the west half of the southwest quarter of Sec. 4, and upon which now stands a part of the city of Bloomington, the whole tract being now improved by business and dwelling houses. His first house he built upon what is now West Washington street, where he lived until the spring of 1831, when he with his family removed to De Witt Co., engaged in farming during the summer, and died in the fall of the same year. The subject of this sketch, with the family, returned to Bloomington, and, the following year, raised a crop at Old Town, when he learned and worked at the carpenter s trade in Bloomington nearly two years, after which he went to Dixon's Ferry, Lee Co., where he assisted settlers in laying claims and erecting houses for six months, then to Plattville, Wis., where he followed his trade, selling goods and mining two years. Returning to Bloomington. he worked at his trade for one year, when he went to Iowa, and the next two years was engaged building a mill, farming and working at his trade. In the spring of 1842, he again returned to Blooming- ton and was engaged one year in peddling goods through the country with a one-horse buggy. In the spring of 1843, he was associated with S. D. Baker, now a prominent merchant of Bloom- ington, and engaged in the general merchandise trade at Le Roy, which business he successfully followed until 1858, when he retired from active business until 1865, at which date he engaged in the grocery trade, which he followed until 1869, when, on account of ill health, he retired from active business. In 1873, he was elected Township Treasurer, which office he has since held. When Mr. Greenman located at Blooming Grove, there were only thirty-seven families there. They have nearly all passed awav, there now being two or three living, of which Mr. G. is the oldest of the first settlers at Bloomington. His marriage with Martha A Pearce was cele- brated Feb. 14, 1848. She was born in Champaign Co.. Ohio, Feb. 27, 1831. She died July 14, 1864, leaving three children now living, having lost five by death. The living are — Mary B., born Oct. 18, 1853, now Mrs. Scott Crumbaugh ; John E., Sept. 6, 1855 ; and Charles E., March 1, 1861. 0. S. HARDING, farmer and stock-raiser ; Sec. 4, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; bnrn in Henry Co., Ind., Dec. 12, 1826 ; his father, Saul Harding, was a native of Kentucky, and, with his parents was driven to Ohio by the Indians at a very early day ; they then removed to Indiana, and were among the first settlers of the State, living in Rush, Wayne and Henry Counties, emigrating from the latter county in 1841, to Wapello Co., Iowa. The subject of this sketch remained with his father, farming, until 21 years of age, after which he engaged in farming for himself until April 6, 1850, when he started by team overland to California, taking the Oregon route, crossing the Rocky Mountains at South Pass, and arriving at Placerville July 26, having been nearly four months upon the trip. He engaged in mining in the vicinity of Placerville, until November fol- lowing, when he went to San Francisco and embarked upon a sailing vessel for home. He was landed upon the coast of Guatemala, from which place he packed across the country upon mules to New Granada, thence via San Carlos, down the San Juan River to the coast of the Caribbean Sea, thence to the Isthmus of Darien, from which point they sailed to New Orleans, where they arrived after a tedious and perilous voyage. He then returned to Jefferson Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1867, when he returned to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, where he has since lived. He owns upwards of 200 acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married Leona Eskew, Jan. 15, 1857 ; she was born in De Witt Co., 111., Aug. 14, 1838 ; eight children were the fruit of this union — Paran H. T., born Dec. 20, 1857 ; Julia H., born Dec. 11, 1859; William H., born March 6, 1862 ; Rufus A. J., born Jan. 22, 1864; Nimrod, born May 31, 1868; Cloey E., born Aug. 29, 1871 ; Mary E., born Jan. 5, 1874 ; Dolly May, born Feb. 3. 1877. Mrs. Harding is the oldest child of P. C. Eskew, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., and whose biography appears in this work. EDWARD HEALEA, farmer ; P. 0. Empire. The subject of this sketch was born in Har- rison Co.. Ohio, May 1, 1829 ; he was raised upon the farm of his father, until 19 years of age, when, in 1848, he rented land and engaged in farming until 1856, when, with four horses and a Pitt's thresher, he started West, continuing his journey until he arrived in Empire Township, where, after setting up his machine and threshing a few bushels, he disposed of the same and one team of horses, driving the others back to Ohio, and the following summer again brought a thresher to Empire Township, which he sold after using one season, and, in the spring of 1858, he removed with his family to McLean Co., where, after putting in his crop upon rented land, he ordered a threshing machine from Ohio, following threshing during the season for sixteen years ; he still owns this machine and now declares it to be as good as new. Mr. Healea con- tinued to live upon rented land until 1868, when he removed upon his present place, which he had purchased in 1865, and which he has since brought from its wild prairie condition to a high state of cultivation. He owns 160 acres upon his home farm, upon which he has expended a large amount of skillful labor, as the pleasing surroundings of his dwelling will at once show. In 884 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: front of his residence he has planted a large number of useful and ornamental trees of both native and foreign growth, and his familiarity with the names and nature of each of the many different kinds will show the careful study he has given to the same. He does not confine his farming to the raising of corn and grain. His grape-vines may be counted by the hundred He also raises a large amount of raspberries, cherries, peaches and apples, with which his neighbors are liberally and gratuitously supplied. He has for the past three years been engaged in ship- ping hay to New Orleans and the Eastern markets, the same being the production of his own farm. He is also largely engage-! in buying corn for J. 0. Peckham & Co., Providence, R. I., having purchased upwards of 12,000 bushels during the present season. His marriage with Amy Tilton was celebrated Feb. 19, 1848 ; she was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, Sept. 24, 1829 ; three children were the fruit of this union — George G.,born Nov. 29, 1849; John, born June 18, 1831, and William, born Nov. 6, 1861. They also have an adoDted daughter, Mary Healea, born Dec. 17, 1866. LINDLEY HEFLING, farmer, Sec. 2. Town 21 ; P. 0. Empire. The birthplace of this gentleman was in Harrison Co., Ohio, Feb. 5, 1826. His father, Fielding Hefling, died when the subject of this sketch, was but 10 years of age, leaving six children, of which Lindley was the second son, and upon him and his elder brother fell the care and labor of supporting the family, which duty they nobly performed until each member was old enough to provide for himself. In his youth, he had the advantage of three months' schooling during the year; by close application to his studies and devoting his spare time to the same, he was able to obtain a fair education, and at the age of 17 years engaged in school-teaching, which occupation he fol- lowed in connection with farming, until upwards of 21 years of age, when he was united in mar- riage Aug. 20, 1848 to Elizabeth Gardner; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Oct. 20. 1827; he then rented land upon which he farmed for six years, when he removed to Illinois in 1855 ; he first located four miles from Bloomington for eighteen months ; he then removed to Old T^>wn Timber, where he rented land four years, when he purchased forty acres upon which he lived until 1865, when he then sold out and purchased his present place of eighty acres, where he has since lived. The children of Lindley and Elizabeth Hefling were nine in number, of which four died in infancy ; the living are — Sarah, born Aug. 26, 1849, now Mrs. Albert White, De Witt Co.; Anna M., born Feb. 18, 1851; now Mrs. Ross Arrowsmith, of Padua Township; Ada, born June 18, 1853, now Mrs. John Healea, De Witt Co.; Freeman D., born July 7, 1860 ; Lulu, born Sept. 14, 1867. Mr. H. has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of twenty-five years ; Mrs. H. having been a member previously. Township and school offices have been his in plenty, having filled the office of School Director many years in Ohio and Illinois ; was the first Town Clerk of Old Town Township, and two years Collector, and two years Collector in Empire Town- ship, and Assistant Collector for two years, and other petty offices. He is a strong temperance man, which he carries into local politics, measuring to a certain extent the capacity of the can- didate which he supports by his temperance principles. D. 0. HOWARD, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept 2, 1821 ; he was the third son of Eleazer Howard, who was born in Windham Co., Conn., Aug. 20, 1793 ; he located in Ohio in 1840, and in 1851 located in McLean Co., 111., where he lived until his decease, which occurred March 17, 1872, in the 79th year of his age. He was married to Matilda Wood, in Connecticut, Feb. 1, 1815. Mrs. Howard was a native of Windham Co., Conn.; she was born Feb. 17, 1792 and died March 1, 1878. The subject of this sketch followed farm- ing and milling with his father and younger brother until the emigration of the father to Illi- nois, after which, he, with his brother, continued the same until 1855, when he sold his interest in Ohio, and emigrated to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., where he has lived for a period of twenty-four years. He now owns upwards of 200 acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings ; his brick residence being built in 1863. his barn a few years later. Of township and school offices he has held his full share, having held the office of School Director seven years, Supervisor of the township two years, and other petty offices. His mar- riage with Sarah Ann Smiley was celebrated Feb. 23, 1847 ; she was born in Bradford Co., Penn.; she died May 8, 1848, having one child — Sarah, now Mrs. Geo. Riddle, born Feb. 19, 1848. His marriage with Sarah E. Smiley, was celebrated in Pennsylvania Nov. 23, 1852; she was born in Crawford Co , Penn., April 10, 1830; they have five children living — William H., born Dec. 1, 1853, married and engaged in farming and teaching ; Charles W., born Nov. 26, 1855, farming ; Homer D., born June 26, 1858; Frank, born May 7, 1863, and Mary M., born Nov. 29, 1866; the last four living at home Mrs. Howard's father, William H. Smiley, was, born in Bradford Co., Penn., in 1792. He was married to Susan Burch, in Crawford Co.. Penn., in 1823. and died in Bradford Co., Penn., Sept. 2, 1843. Mrs. Smiley was born in Crawford Co., Penn., Jan. 1, 1803, where she has lived for upwards of three-fourths of a century. R. S. HOWARD, furniture and undertaker, Le Roy ; born in Madison Co., Ky, June 15, 1827; he was raised upon a farm until 17 years of age, when he commenced to learn the trade of cabinet-maker, which he followed until June, 1846, when he enlisted in the 2d Regt. Ry. Vol. Inf., to serve one year in the war with Mexico ; leaving Louisville with his regiment in June, he went down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, thence by vessel to Brazos, EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 885 at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, then marched to Mexico, crossing at Matamoras ; he served under Gen. Taylor, and was in many engagements — the heaviest being the battle of Buena Vista, in which his regiment suffered severely in killed and wounded — among the former, the Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel and his Captain ; he remained in Mexico until June, 1847, when he, with his regiment, returned to New Orleans and were mustered out of service ; returning to Jessamine Co., Ky., he again resumed his trade, and after completing the same, he engaged in the furniture business until 1859, when he emigrated to Illinois and purchased a farm in Empire Township, McLean Co., upon which he located and followed farming until the winter of 1862, when selling out, he removed to Bloomington and engaged in the furniture trade for a period of ten years; closing out his business in 1872, he ihen came to Le Roy and purchased the furniture business of H. M. Morehouse, which he has since continued ; he admitted R. C. Hollowell as a partner in 1876, since which time the style of the firm has been Howard & Hollowell. Mr. Howard is a strong temperance advocate, and has never used intoxicating liquors, profane lan- guage nor played cards. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been an active member of the M. E. Church since 1844 — his wife becoming a member soon after. His marriage with Lavina Sageser was celebrated Dec. 27, 1848; she was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Dec. 17, 1830; they have no' children of their own, but have raised, from infancy, a nephew of Mrs. Howard's, by the name of Joseph S. Sageser; he was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., March 24, 1856. Mr. Howard has extende 1 to him all the advantages of a liberal education. After attending the common schools at Bloomington until 16 years of age, he entered the Com- mercial College, graduating from the same after a study of two years, when he entered the Wes- leyan University at Bloomington, where he attended for four years; he is now attending his first course at the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia. Mr. Howard proposes to have him graduate from the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, during the coming year, after which he will return to the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and remain untd he grad- uates from the same. CHARLES M. INGLE (deceased); one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Wash- ington Co., East Tenn., Feb. 22,1829; his father, Henry Ingle, located in McLean in 1836 and followed farming until his decease, which occurred in the spring of 1849 ; his widow died Dec. 14, 1853. Henry Ingle was a shoemaker, and would peel the bark, dry and grind the same, then tan his own leather, which he would then manufacture into boots and shoes for the settlers for many miles distant; Charles M. Ingle also learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed during the winter for many years after the death of his father ; in 1857, he abandoned his trade, and gave his whole attention to farming ; he removed upon Sec. 2, Empire Township, in 1862, where he purchased eighty acres of land, to which he afterwards added, and at his decease, owned 120 acres, upon which he had good farm buildings. He took a deep interest in the cause of religion, and lived a consistent and devoted Christian life, having been an active member of the Baptist Church for a period of upwards of twenty years — Mrs. I. joining at the same time. His marriage with Hannah M. Bunn was celebrated March 9, 18o4 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, March 7, 1835 ; two children were the fruit of this union —one of which died in infancy ; the living — Lillian Jane, was born Aug. 9, 1858. Upon June 30, 1878, Mr. Ingle ceased from his labors, and passed down the dark valley, neither a great nor remarkable man, but a kind hus- band and father, a good neighbor, a true Christian, and one of whom his contemporaries will admit that his life was not a failure, and did not live in vain ; of his father's family of ten chil- dren only two now survive. The surviving daughter of Charles and Hannah (Bunn) Ingle was united in marriage with Charles W. James July 6, 1875; he was born in Coles Co., 111., April 10, 1851 ; he is a young man of good education, having attended the two universities at Bloom- ington for a period of three years ; he then followed teaching for seven years, and is now engaged in school-teaching during the winter, and farming in the summer upon the old farm of the parents of his wife. The children of Charles and Lillian (Ingle) James are two in number — Irus K., born Dec. 19, 1877, and Blanche N., born Sept. 15, 1878. DANIEL JACKSON, (deceased) farmer; born in Fauquier Co., Va., Jan. 16, 1808; he was brought up to farm labor until 18 years of age, when he emigrated to Champaign Co., Ohio, liv- ing two years, then to Sangamon Co., 111., a short time, and in the fall of 1830, came to McLean Co. and laid a claim upon Sec. 5, Empire Township ; he made his home in the winter of 1830 and 1831 with John W. Dawson, and when not in his employ, made improvements upon his place ; in 1834 and 1835, he entered his claim of 160 acres, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred March 20, 1861. When Mr. Jackson located here, his property con- sisted of one yoke of oxen and one horse ; he worked, during harvest, at 25 to 50 cents per day ; he often made trips with his oxen to Chicago, taking up wheat, which he sold at 35 to 40 cents per bushel, receiving his pay in groceries, salt, leather, etc. His pine lumber, door, windows, etc., for his first frame house, he hauled from Chicago with oxen — the trip consuming about two weeks. Commencing in life without capital, he had, at the time of his death, accumulated upwards of five hundred acres of land, a part of which was his original claim, upon which he located in 1830. His marriage with Margaret Waldon was celebrated Feb. 12, 1832 ; she was born in Rockingham Co., Va., May 5, 1809 ; ten children were the fruit of this union, of which eight are now living — Mary Ann (now Mrs. R. R. Dalton), Elizabeth J. (now Mrs. Narley), ^86 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Esther (now Mrs. F. Wahls), Andrew, Ruth (now Mrs. Rehker), Margaret, Armanda R. and Daniel T. Mrs. Jackson now lives upon the old home, with her son Andrew; he was born May 5, 1840, and biought up on the old farm until Aug. 11, 1862, when he enlisted in Co D, 94th Regt. Vol. Inf., and went forward to battle for the Union; he served through the campaign of Missouri and Arkansas, after which he served in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama; he was in many severe engagements, among which was the battle of Prairie Grove, siege and capture of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Morganzia, Fort Morgan, Ala.; alter taking the above fort, he was engaged in several raids in Alabama, one of which was up the Fish River, where they destroyed the rebel salt works of upwards of 1,200 kettles; upon the 26th of March, 1865, was in the attack upon Spanish Fort, Mobile Bay, which continued until April 9, when it surrendered ; he was then forwarded to Galveston, Tex., when he was mustered out of service July 17, 1865, receiving his discharge Aug. 9, 1865, at Springfield, 111., having served in the Union army three years ; he then returned to Empire Township, and located upon the old place, where he has since successfully followed farming. J. KEENAN, merchant and banker; Le Roy ; born in Clinton Co., Ohio, March 10, 1828. He attended school and assisted his father in farming until 18 years of age, when he engaged in business for himself in Ohio, the last four years of which he engaged in farming. Se'ling his farm in Ohio, in 18e>4 he came to McLean Co., and purchased a farm, upon which he lived until 1865, when he removed to Le Roy, and, after dealing in real estate one year, engaged in the dry goods trade, which business he has since successfully followed. In 1872 he added a general banking business, and does the only banking in Le Roy. He is also a? sociated with S F. Barnum in buying and supplying grain to the Eastern markets. They do an extensive milling business, supplying their choicest brands of flour in lots from a few sacks to a car-load. They also deal in lumber and coal, meeting the demands of Le Roy and the country tributary to it. His business card appears in the Business Directory of Le Roy. Mr. Keenan is truly a public- spirited citizen, and has probably done as much as any one to advance the interests of Le Roy. He is among the most successful and one of the wealthiest merchants in Le Roy. His marriage with Hannah Sidles was celebrated Oct. 8, 1848 ; she was born in Ohio, Jan. 5, 1828 ; they have four children now living — Walter M., born Nov. 17, 1850; Clara B., April 2, 1859 ; Arthur J., April 17, 1862; and Luther C, May 5, 1866. In the fall of 1866, Walter M. entered the Hills- dale College, where he attended two years, and in 1868 he entered the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and graduated in 1872, and, after completing his law studies, he associated in the law business with Baker & Osgood, remaining in this business until 1878, when he engaged in the dry goods commission trade, corner of Monroe street and Fifth avenue, Chicago, under the firm name of Albright & Keenan, which business he has since successfully followed. Clara B., after attending the High School at Le Roy, attended the Ladies' Seminary one year at Monti- cello, after which she entered the Female College at Evanston, where she attended two years, and is now receiving instruction at the Academy of Design, in Chicago. JOSEPH KERSHAW, retired farmer; P. O. Le Roy; born in Lancashire, England, May 8, 1802, where he worked in the cotton mills until 24 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York Sept. 7, 1826. Upon landing, his capital consisted of one single copper penny. He then sold his bedding, and with the proceeds reached Boston, and walked to Stoughton, where he worked for the Stoughton and Canton Manufacturing Co., until he had a capital of $13, when he started to walk to New York, and on the way was robbed of all his money, save his copper penny. He worked at cotton spinning in the mills in New Jersey and Philadelphia, until 1830. when he emigrated to Williamson Co., 111., where he located eighty acres of land, and in 1836 entered eighty more, making a farm of 160 acres, upon which he lived until 1853, when he sold out and removed to Downs Township, McLean Co., where he purchased 400 acres of land, and engaged in farming and. stock-raising until 1870, when he removed to Le Roy, where he has since lived. His marriage with Hannah Robinson was celebraied in Eng- land. Sept. 3, 1823 ; she was born in England, Dec. 10, 1799, and died March 2, 1859, leaving five children now living — John W., Hannah, Francis, Mary Ann and I'hcebe. His marriage with Lucinda Gilmore was celebrated June 6, 1860 ; she was born Jan. 4, 1817 ; she emigrated from Kentucky, and located in McLean Co. in 1858 ; she is now in her b3d year, is in possession of all her faculties, and does all the household labor for herself and husband. Mr. K., now in the 78th year of his age. enjoys good health, and attends to the " chores" which his neat little place requires. He now keeps two horses and a cow, which he daily attends to. Arriving in New York without means, he has struggled against poverty, and succeeded in securing a good prop- erty, and has settled a good share upon his children, reserving enough to support himself and wife through life. THOMAS W. KEYS, physician and surgeon, LeRoy; born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, Jan. 18, 1838; he emigrated to America when 10 years of age, and landed in New York, July 12, 1849; coming West, he, with his parents, located in Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where his father located 180 acres of land upon which he settled, and where he still lives. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and attended the common school until 18 years of age, when he engaged in teaching in the common school during the fall and winter for five years, during which period he devoted all his spare time to his studies to further advance his education. EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 887 At the age of 21 he was elected Superintendent of Schools; at the age of 23, he taught in graded schools, as Principal, at Taycheedah; in 1862, he was Principal of the High School at Mattoon, for one year, and in 1863, he attended Rush Medical College, at Chicago; in 1864, he was chosen Principal of the Public School at Lexington, and in the spring of 1865, commenced the practice of medicine at Rapp, Woodford Co., until the fall of 1868, when he was appointed Principal of the school at Atlanta, one year, and in 1869, he located in Le Roy, where he has continued the practice of medicine ; he is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, from which college he has his diploma, and also holds a diploma from the State Board of Health of Illinois ; he was elected to deliver the valedictory address at the time of graduating from the college at Keokuk. His marriage with Jennie McGill was celebrated Oct. 8, 1865; she was born in Erie City, Penn., March 28, 1848; her parents emigrated West, and located in Lex- ington, 111., in 1853, where they still live; the children of Thomas W. and Jennie (McGill) Keys are three in number — William If., born Oct. 28, 1866; Minnie F., born Feb. 1, 1870, and Carrie D., born June 1, 1873. JAMES KIMLER, farmer, Sec. 28; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Loudoun Co., Va., Aug. 16, 1811; he emigrated with his father Moses Kimler. when quite young, and located in Bourbon Co., Ky., where he was raised upon a farm, until 1827, when he removed to Montgomery Co., Ind., living here until he emigrated to Illinois, in the year 1832 ; during the three years following, he was employed by his uncles John and Calep Kimler, near Bloomington ; in the winter of 1835, he went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he engaged in stock-dealing, buying his cattle in McLean and surrounding counties, driving them to Milwaukee, where they were disponed of, when he would return for another drove; he followed this business - several years, the last three years of which he was engaged in partnership with Benjamin Cox; in 1836, he, with Benjamin Cox, located a claim of 865 acres, in Milwaukee Co., Wis., which they entered, upon its coming into market in 1839, and sold the same in 1843 ; a portion of this claim is now built up with solid buildings; a part of the city of Milwaukee now standing upon the same; in 1843. he purchased seventy-six acres upon Sec. 17, Empire Township, where he lived until 1848, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and where he now owns 260 acres of land, within one mile of Le Roy. He was married to Cassandra Jane Clearwater, Jan. 28, 1838; she was born in Putnam Co., Ind., Oct. 22. 1821 ; their children were, Mary J., born Nov. 10, 1838; Elizabeth, born May 13. 1840, died Oct. 22, 1843; Martha E., born Aug. 24, 1842; Harriet B., born Feb. 13, 1845; Sarah C, born Dec. 17, 1847; Elizabeth A., born March 23, 1850, and Caroline, born May 20, 1853. Mrs. K.. was daughter of Reuben and Jane Clearwater ; her father was born in North Carolina, March 6, 1781 ; died April 9, 1865, in McLean Co.; her mother was born in Tennessee, June 20, 1781 ; her maiden name was Jane Miller; she died June 3, 1864; in 1835, Mr. Kimler's father, Moses K., came to Illinois and located upon Sec. 29; he died in Le Roy, February, 1850 ; Mrs. K. died at the residence of her son in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. K. have taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having joined the M. E. Church in Le Roy in 1840. JOHN KLINE, farmer, Sec. 16; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Franklin Co., Penn., Feb. 27, 1827, where he attended the common schools, until 15 years of age, when he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until 1850, when he went to California via the Isthmus, sailing upon April 11 ; he was shipwrecked upon a reef of the Caucus Islands, upon the 25th of May, but after a detention of one week, resumed his voyage, reaching San Francisco, Aug. 13, having been four months and two days upon the trip ; he immediately went to mining upon his own account for eighteen months, meeting with fair success ; he then formed a partnership with Sam Austin, and engaged in dealing in provisions and mining supplies, freighting the same from Stockton to the mines with their own teams; he followed this business un.til June, 1853, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and in October, 1853, came to Bloomington, McLean Co., 111.; then to Le Roy, where he purchased a farm of 190 acres in Downs Township; he then worked at his trade in St, Louis, during the winter of 1853 and 1854; returning to Le Roy he rented his farm ; then went to Pennsylvania for the summer, and in the fall returned to Le Roy, and after working at his trade for Messrs. Gilmore & Wright a short time, purchased the interest of Mr. Gilmore, con- tinued in business with Mr. Wright until Dec. 25, 1855; in the spring of 1856, he purchased seventy acres of his present place, to which he has added by purchase, until he now owns 140 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings ; he followed farming upon his present place from 1856 to 1858, when he again associated with his old partner, Mr. Wright, and continued the blacksmith trade, until 1862, since which time he has given his whole attention to farming ; he was one of the first Aldermen of Le Roy, serving two terms ; President of the Board of Trus- tees while Le Roy was a village ; Township Trustee several years, and Supervisor of the Town- ship. His marriage with Ellen Buck was celebrated Jan. 15, 1856; she was born in Indiana, Dec. 7, 1830 ; she was the daughter of Hiram Buck, one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; Mr. Kline has seven children now living, having lost two by death ; the living are Lida, bom Oct. 29, 1856, now attending the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington ; Erwin, Jan. 1, 1858, living at home; Lenora, Sept. 1, 1859, now teaching at Le Roy; Clara, April 18, 1861, now teaching at Mansfield; Charles and Grace, twins, April 11, 1865; Harry B. and Irvin, twins! Aug. 4, 1869, the latter died in infancy. 888 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : D. L. MOREHOUSE, retired merchant and farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Lower Canada, near Montreal, Feb. 19, 1809 ; at 3 years of age, his father, with the family, was driven from home by the English, during the war of 1812, escaping without removing anything of value, save the horses which they rode, ana upon one of which Mrs. Morehouse rode, and took with her the subject of this sketch and an infant, making their way to Onondaga Co., N. Y.; they lived therrt one year, then to Genesee Co., and, in 1817, located in Orleans Co., where they lived until 1832. Mr. M. received a limited education in his youth, being employed in various pursuits for the support of his father's family, three years of which he worked upon the Erie Canal. In the winter of 1830, he attained his majority, and started out to seek his fortune, taking with him all his worldly possessions, which were tied up in a pocket-handkerchief; he worked that winter cutting cord-wood, at 16§ cents per cord, working in the woods, with the snow two to three feet deep, and receiving his pay in corn, at 44 cents per bushel, which he hauled to mar ket, a distance of seven miles, and exchanged for goods ; in the spring he hired out for one year, for $10 per month, and the two years following he worked eight months each year, at $12 and $13 per month. The following fall, he married his present wife, then a poor orphan, and the next day commenced to cut logs to erect his log house, which was a rude structure, with a stick chimney, plastered with mud, with stones piled up some three to four feet at the back, as a fur- ther protection from fire ; they then went a distance of seven miles and ran in debt $19 for such household articles as they were obliged to have, which debt was a source of great anxiety to Mr. Morehouse until liquidated, the following winter, by hauling staves; his first cupboard and table was an old chest, which answered the double purpose, and which he now has in his house as a relic. Having become settled in his log house in the spring of 1834, he commenced farm- ing for himself, which business he followed until 1853, when he found his financial affairs would allow a wider field of labor, which he extended by engaging in the mercantile trade, and also purchased a lathe machine saw, grist and shingle mill, which different branches of business he successfully carried on until 1857, when he sold out his store, rented his farm and mills, and, com- ing to Illinois, he formed a business partnership, in the latter part of the year, under the firm name of Humphrey, Wakefield & Co., and engaged in the grocery and milling business at Le Roy. He sold his milling interest in 1859, and, in 1860, he, with his son Cyrus S., engaged in the general merchandise trade, which they followed until 1864, when his son succeeded in the business, and Mr. Morehouse retired until 1873. when he purchased the dry-goods store of T. J. Barnett, and after running the same several months, sold the stock to his son C. S., at Champaign City. Mr. Morehouse commenced life without capital, and has, by his own hard labor, economy and care- ful business management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, accumulated a good property; he has settled upon his children upward of $12,000, and has reserved enough to support himself and wife through life. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been an active member of the M. E. Church since 1830, his wife joining about the same time. Mr. Morehousehas held an official position in the Church nearly always since he was admitted a member ; is a hard worker ; contributes liberally, having donated $1,000 to the erection of the M. E. Church at Le Roy, and a like amount to the Centennial of Methodism, in 1866. His marriage with Mary A. Smith was celebrated Oct. 29, 1833 ; she was born in Morris Co., N. Y., April 19, 1810; six children were the fruit of this union — Olive A., born Oct. 15, 1834 (now Mrs. Dr. S. H. Birney, of Urbana) ; Hiram N., born Oct. 22, 1836 (now farming near Le Roy); Cyrus S., born Dec. 13, 1839 (merchant at Champaign) ; Amos R., born Feb. 9, 1842 (lumber merchant, Big Rapids, Mich.) ; Orrill M.,born July 5, 1844 (now Mrs. E. C. Barthlow), and Philo F., born Sept. 4, 1847, died Sept. 15, 1849. J. W. MURF1ELD, farmer ; P. O. Empire; born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Aug. 18, 1821 ; he removed, with his parents, to Franklin Co., where he lived with them until i!l years of age, when he purchased a farm and engaged in farming in Franklin and Union Counties, until he emigrated and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in the spring of 1865 ; he then pur- chased eighty-seven acres of land, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Malinda McCauleyans was celebrated Dec. 31, 1843; she was born in Virginia July 5, 1816. and died in McLean Co., 111., July 30, 1875, leaving four children, viz., Barbara C, born March 21, 1846 ; Vianna, born April 11, 1852; John M. C, born July 8, 1854, and Madison E., born Oct. 11, 1857. Mr. Murfield married for his second wife Matilda J. Downing, May 28, 1876; she died Aug. 12, 1877. His nuptials with Mrs. Kate Clement were celebrated Feb. 11, 1879; she was born in Pennsylvania July 16, 1833 ; her maiden name was Kate Stine ; of the deceased children, two died in childhood, and one — Isabel J. — was born Aug. 23, 1847, married C. H. Cayton, and died Nov. 5, 1872, leaving three children. AD.\M MURRAY, stock-dealer and livery stable, Le Roy ; born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, March 22, 1843, where he followed farming until 19 years of age, when he enlisted Aug. 22, 1862, in the 122d Ohio Vol. Inf.; he served first in West Virginia, then with the Army of the Potomac, under its different commanders, until the close of the war, being mustered out of serv- ice July 3, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio. He was in many hard-fought battles, among which were the battle of the Wilderness, Winchester, Petersburgh and at the siege and capture of Richmond. After his discharge, he returned to Ohio, and in the spring of 1866, came West, and located at -■jjrjiT.it-, LE ROY EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 891 Le Roy, McLean Co., 111., where he has since lived ; he has been extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock to the Eastern markets, in connection with which he, in 1875, also engaged in the grocery and provision trade; ne sold his store in 1878, and now, in connection with his stock business, keeps the only livery stable in Le Roy. His marriage with Alexine McMakin was celebrated May 5, 1870; they have four children, now living, by this union — St. Elmo, Kate A., Ada and Charles P. JOHN W. MAREAN, retired blacksmith, Le Roy; the subject of this sketch was born in the city of Frederickton, British Provinces, July 10, 1821 ; his father, Aaron Marean, was born sixteen miles north of Portland, in the town of Standish Cumberland Co., Me., where he lived and followed blacksmithing (with the exception of five years when he lived in the Provinces, from 1818 to 1823) until his death, which occurred in 1834; John W. removed from the place of his birth with his parents to their native place, Standish, when he was two years of age ; here he spent the days of his boyhood; attended the common schools during the [winter and worsed at blacksmithing during the summer until 17 years of age, when he finished his trade, which he followed in Standish until 22 years of age, when he removed to Portland, where he lived one year, then to Lewiston two years, and, in 1846, removed to Richmond on the Kennebec River, where he followed his trade until he emigrated West, when he located in Bloomington, McLean Co.. 111., in the spring of 1856; in the spring of 1857, he removed to Le Roy and followed his trade until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th I. V. I.; he was mustered in as Corporal of Company G ; he with his regiment went to St. Louis, and was engaged in the campaign through Missouri and Arkansas; then to Vicksburg and New Orleans, and, in the fall of 1863, was detailed to return to Le Roy and recruit for the regiment, remaining here through the fall and a portion of the winter ; he returned to his regiment, then at Brownsville, Texas, and, in the spring of 1864, went via New Orleans to Ft. Margan, Alabama, and, after capturing the above fort, remained there during the winter, and, in the spring, he was detailed to assist in making up a pontoon train, going to Mobile, from which place he marched across the country to Baton Rouge, on the Mississippi River; after the surrender of Lee, an order being issued for all soldiers on detailed duty to report to their regiment, he made his way back to Mobile, Ala., and joined his regiment, having, with a companion traveled a distance of upward of eight hun- dred miles upon a capital of 50 cents, being often placed in peculiar circumstances ; the writer of this article is inclined to the belief that the rebel element with whom he was contending, involuntarily contributed liberally to their support during this tedious and perilous journey ; in June, 1865, he was forwarded to Galveston, Texas, where he received a sunstroke which came near proving fatal, and his partial recovery may be attributed only to the careful nursing and skillful medical attention which he then received ; after recovering sufficient strength, he came via New Orleans and Cairo to Springfield, 111., where he was mustered out of service in August, 1865. Mr. Marean served in the army three years, and has his health much impaired from the effects of the hardships and exposure of army life, but more especially suffers from effects of the sunstroke received while in Galveston in the summer of 1865; to such an extent has he suf- fered from the latter cause, that he works but very little at his trade, devoting his attention to fine stock. His marriage with Emily Wilson was celebrated in Portland, May 18, 1846 ; she was born in Westbrook, Cumberland Co , Maine, June 18, 1818; three children were the fruit of this union — Sarah A., born March 12, 1847 (now Mrs. J. V. Smith, of Le Roy); George Edgar, Sept. 9, 1849 (now living at home); Annie Wilson, Nov. 14, 1851, died Aug. 24, 1852, in Rich- mond, Maine. WILLIAM OLIVER, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Washington Co., Md., Jan. 30, 1808; he was the son of John Oliver, who was born in the North of Ireland Noy. 28. 1773, and located in what is now Ross Township, Ohio, in 1811; he was in the war of 1812, and, at its close, returned to his farm in Ohio, and followed farming until his decease, which occurred Feb. 12, 1852. The mother of William Oliver was born in Maryland Sept. 2 , 1789; her maiden name was Mary Beck; she died Sept. 13, 1852. William was the oldest son and was brought up on the farm until 26 years of age, when he rented land for several years, until he purchased a farm upon which he lived until he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 1, Empire Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1852 ; here he purchased 200 acres of land, upon which he settled, and where he has since lived. His marriage with Mary Cowvill was celebrated in Ross Co., Ohio, April 24, 1834 ; she was born in the above county May 14, 1803 ; six children were the fruit of this union, three of which are deceased, viz., William, born Feb. 2, 1843, died Feb. 18, 1864, and two which died in infancy ; the living are Mary Jane, born April 23, 1836, John, March 28, 1838, and Henry H., Feb. 21, 1841 ; the father of Mrs. Oliver was Eleazer Cowvill ; he was born in Virginia and died in Ohio at the age of 86 years. The maiden name of her mother was Jane McFarland, born in Massachusetts and died in Ohio, aged 74 years. JACKSON OLIVER, farmer, Seo. 19 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Ross Co., Ohio, Feb. 13, 1817; his father, John Oliver, served in the war of 1812, after whieh he followed farming in Ohio until his death Feb. 12, 1852 ; he was born Nov. 28, 1773, in Ireland. The maiden name of Mrs. Oliver was Mary Beck; she was born Sept. 21, 1789, in Maryland, and died Sept. 13, 1852. Jackson Oliver emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 19, Empire Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1854; here he purchased 213 acres, to which he has since added by purchase until NK 892 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: he now owns upward of six hundred acres, upon which he has good farm buildings ; he erected his two-story brick residence in 1860, and barn in 1870. Mr. Oliver was united in marriage with Clarissa Cutright Nov. 5, 1843 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, May 19, 1821 ; seven chil- dren were the fruit of this union, viz., Henry, Sarah J. (deceased), Robert, Leroy P., Lewis D., John W., and one which died in infancy ; they have also raised two orphans from infancy, one until 18 years of age, at which time she married ; the other is now 10 years, and is being edu- cated as one of their own children. Mrs. Oliver was daughter of William Cutright, who was born in Ohio -luly 18, 1791, where he died Nov. 10, 1846. Mrs. Cutright was born Jan. 25, 1782, in Virginia ; she is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Oliver, and is in the 98th year of her age. Mr. Oliver has taken a deep interest in the cnuse of religion and education, having, with his wife, joined the C. P. Church in Le Roy in 1862, and has filled the office of School Director several years in the district where he lives. BOBERT OLIVER, farmer, Sec. 30; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., born in Ross Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 1849; at 5 years of age, he emigrated with his parents to Illi- nois, and located upon Sec. 19, Empire Township ; he is the second son of Jackson Oliver, whose biography appears among the sketches of this township in this work. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools until 19 years of age, and assisted his father upon the farm until 20 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Cornelia Watt March 17, 1870: she was born in Illinois Oct. 1, 1850; they have two children by this union — Pleasant Jackson, born Dec. 13, 1873 ; Milvin A., June 24, 1876. Upon the marriage of Mr. Oliver, he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has good farm buildings, and owns upward of forty- two acres and works eighty acres belonging to his father. Mrs. Oliver is a daughter of Pleasant Watt, who was born in Kentucky and died in McLean Co., 111., March 26, 1876. LE ROY W. PRAY, farmer and stock -raiser ; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Feb 21, 1840; he emigrated to Illinois with his father, Daniel Pray, and located upon Sec. 25, Empire Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1852, where he assisted his father in farming until 1861, when, after vain efforts to join a regiment from Illinois, the regiments having been made up, he went to St. Louis and enlisted as private in the 8th Mo. V. I., being mustered into service June 16, 1861; after being engaged in the interior of the State for a few months, they were stationed at Cape Girardeau two months, and from there to Paducah, Ky., where they remained until February, 1862, when they went up the Tennessee Biver to Ft. Henry, and from there to Ft. Donelson, on the Cumberland River, where, after severe fighting for two days, in which the 8th Missouri lost heavily, the fort was captured, with 15,000 prisoners, upon the 16th of Feb- ruary, 1862 ; he was next engaged in the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, from which place, while on the march to Corinth, he was wounded at the skirmish of the Russell House, May 17, 1862, and was sent to the hospital at St. Louis, where he remained a short time and returned home on a furlough: after returning again to the hospital he was refused a permit to join his regiment, but, watching his opportunity, he prepared himself, and, when the first detail was ready to march, he stole in their ranks and with them marched away ; by inquiry, he found his regiment lay at Memphis, where he succeeded in joining them, remaining here until December, 1862, when he was forwarded to Vicksburg, where, with his regiment, he was engaged upon the unsuccessful assault upon the above place on the 28th and 29th of December, 1862 ; he was then in the battle of Arkansas Post on Jan. 10 and 11, 1863, and, during a part of the winter, was engaged upon the canal opposite, which was within shelling distance of Vicksburg, and which rendered the labor dangerous and tedious; about the 17th of April, steps were taken for the reduction of Vicksburg, and from that date until the capture of the same, July 4, 1863, he was either on the march or in active service, being engaged in the battles of Jackson, Miss., on May 14 ; Champion Hills, May 16 ; seige and capture of Vicksburg; second battle of Jackson, July 14 to 18 ; he then returned to the rear of Vicksburg, remaining until fall, when they went to Chattanooga, Tenn., and engaged in the battle of Mission Ridge, which engagement was brought on by two companies of the 8th Missouri crossing the river, making their way in rear of the rebel pickets, when, capturing the same without alarming the rebel camp, they were sent to re-inforce the 9th Army Corps, but, before reaching Knoxville, the rebel army had with- drawn ; during the winter following, he was stationed at Larkin's Ferry, guarding the pontoon bridges, and, in April, they started on the march to Atlanta, and were engaged in the battles of Rome Cross Roads, Lay's Ferry, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca and Kenesaw Mountain ; arriving within a few miles of Atlanta, he was sent back to St. Louis ; mustered out of service, receiving his discharge July 7, 1864, having served in the Union army upward of three years ; he then returned to Empire Township, where he has since followed farming, with the excep- tion of two years, when he went to Nebraska and laid a soldier's claim. He married Sept. 14, 1864, to Mary, daughter of Hamilton Gilbert; she was born in this township July 15, 1844 ; she died June 14, 1876, leaving one child now living — John H., born Jan. 23, 1866. His marriige with Emily, daughter of James Bishop, was celebrated Aug. 7, 1877 ; she was born in Empire Township Aug. 30, 1843. WILLIAM PFITZENMEYER, farmer and brick manufacturer; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Wur- temburg, Germany. April 14, 1827. He attended school until 14 years of age, when he learned and worked at brick-making until he attained his majority, when he emigrated to America, EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 893 landing in New York in May, 1848. Coming West, he worked two years at his trade in Pulaski, Logan Co. ; then two years in Bloomington, McLean Co., and, in 1854, returned to Germany, where he was married, March 27, 1855, to Sophia Rutter: she was born in Wurtemburg, Ger- many, Jan. 18, 1827. Upon the 3d of May, 1855, he, with his wife, sailed from Germany, and landed in New York the June following. Coming West, he located upon Sec. 28, Empire Town- ship, McLean Co., where he has since lived. He now owns sixty acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings, his two-story brick residence being erected in 1876. He cultivates about thirty acres of his farm, but has given his attention mostly to burning brick, of which he has burned as high as six hundred thousand in a single season. Two children were the fruit of this union — Sophia Matilda, born April 9, 1857, died July 28, 1862 ; Hugo Ulrich Gustav, born July 9, 1868. WILLIAM M. ROSS, farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Empire; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1848, where he attended school and followed farming until 19 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in the spring of 1867. He then hired as farm-laborer, until he was united in marriage with Mary E. Ross, April 6, 1871 ; she was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Sept. 26, 1853 ; she was the daughter of Talmage Ross, who emi- grated from Ohio, and located in McLean Co., in 1855. The children of William M. and Mary E. Ross were four in number, viz. : Lemuel Talmage, born Aug. 14, 1872; Harly Davi*, Sept. 25, 1874: William A.. Oct. 16, 1876, and George, Sept. 11, 1878. In 1871-72. he farmed upon rented land, and in Sept., 1872, he purchased eighty acres on Sec. 35, upon which he located in the spring of 1873, and to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 118 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings, all of which he has made by his own hard labor. JAMES RUTLEDGE, (decea-ed) farmer; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born Feb. 22, 1808. He emigrated from Kentucky to Illinois, and located in McLean Co., about the year 1830, where he entered land, upon which he lived until his decease, which occur- red Nov. 30, 1863. He was united in marriage with Pruo"y Vandeventer, in Logan Co., 111. ; she was born in Tenn., March 6, 1816 ; she came with her parents to Sangamon Co. in 1825 ; when 10 years of age. she came with John Buckles to this county, and was the first white woman that ever cooked a meal's victuals at what is now known, as Buckles' Grove, Empire Township. They were the parents of seven children now living Mrs. Rutledge is now 64 years of age, and is now keeping house in Le Roy, and has moved but once during the past forty-seven years. In a brief letter, written by her, to be presented to the meeting of old settlers, she makes mention of her first meal, cooked at Buckles' Grove, as being the first meal cooked by a white woman at that place, she then being but 10 years of age, and the date being 1826. She also draws a beautiful illustration of the contrast between that date and the present, showing the wonderful changes that have since occurred. AMOS RUTLEDGE, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy. This gentleman is a native of McLean Co.; born in what is now Empire Township, Feb. 17, 1841. He is the son of James Rutledge, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township. The subject of this sketch was brought up on the farm until he attained his majority, when he was united in marriage, upon the 25th of Nov., 1862, to Hannah Gilmore ; she was born in Ohio, and located in Illinois in 1856. He then commenced farming for himself, which he followed until 1867. He then engaged in the dry-goods and grocery trade in LeRoy one year, by which transition he lost some $6,000, and, leaving him largely in debt, he then engaged as farm-laborer, and has since successfully followed farming, and has paid up his liabilities in full. He is now largely engaged in farming as well as purchasing gra n, upon a liberal salary, for the firm of J. 0. Peckham & Co., of Providence, R. I., to which place he ships largely, having purchased upwards of 40,000 bushels during the last four months. The children of Amos and Hannah (Gilmore) Rutledge were six in number, of which five are now living, viz. : William, Etta. Almeda, Fred and Calla. GEORGE M. SELLERS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Knox Co., Ohio, Sept. 8, 1837, where he followed farming until the fall of 1859, when he made a visit to Wil- liamson Co., Texas ; after remaining during the winter, purchased a mule, upon which he started for home through the wilds of Texas and the Indian Territory. He arrived at Sinithton, Mo., upon the 18th of May, having made a trip of 800 miles alone, through a dangerous and perilous country. He then returned to Ohio, where he, with another party, purchased 1,500 head of sheep, and started to drive them overland to Texas; arriving in Edgar Co., he wintered his sheep, and, in the following spring of 1861, drove them to McLean Co., and herded the same for two years. In 1863 he sold a part of his sheep, and returned to Ohio, where he purchased 150 head of cattle, which he brought to this county and sold. In the springof 1864 hepurchased 136 acres of his present i lace, to which he has since added, until he now owns 230 acres, with good buildings, and is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. His marriage with Sarah C Bonnett was celebrated Oct. 8, 1863; she was born in Knox Co , Ohio, Oct. 21, 1835. They have two children by this union — Lizzie R., born Nov. 4, 1865, and Mary, born Sept. 19, 1871, died Sept. 20, 1873. Mrs. Sellers is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Yonntz) Bonnett, whose biography appears in this work. The father of Mr. Sellers, John Sellers, lives upon the place upon which he located in 1824, and is upwards of 80 years of age. He has held several offices, among which he was a member of the new Constitutional Convention in 1855. His wife died in Ohio in 894 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 1838. After the marriage of George M. Sellers, he lived a short time in LeRoy ; then two years in Bloomington ; since which time he has lived upon his pleasant place, situated within view of, and at a distance of one mile from, LeRoy. In 1877 he was elected as Highway Commissioner for three years, which position he now holds. CHARLES STERLING, farmer, Sec. 4. Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Nov. 24, 1821 ; his father, Thomas Sterling, died when the subject of this sketch was 8 years of age, after which he assisted his mother until her second marriage, when he commenced labor for himself. His first wages were $4 per month, the receipts of which were used for the support of the family until he was 20 years of age ; he was then employed by one man for a period of seven years in succession, when he commenced to farm for himself, in 1846, which business he followed in Ohio until the fall of 1854, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Empire Township, McLean Co. The following spring, he, with his brother Samuel, rented land which they worked in partnership together, until he purchased 160 acres of land in Sec. 35, where he lived eight years, when, disposing of the above, he purchased his present place in 1864, where he has since lived. He now owns about 200 acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and economy, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage Dec. 17, 1848 ; her maiden name was Anna Kesler ; she was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1827 ; they had seven children by this union — Thomas, born Feb. 21, 1851, now practicing law at Springfield, 111. ; Isabella, Dec. 18, 1852, now teaching school at Decatur; Sarah E., Nov. 14, 1854, now Mrs. N. Vance, DeWitt Co.; John A., Feb. 1, 18 >7 ; Joseph, March 5, 1859; Eda Alice, Sept 9, 1862, and one which died in infancy ; of the above John A. and Joseph are now attending the Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Mr. Sterling has filled the office of School Director for several years, and is now School Trustee. SAMUEL STERLING, farmer, Sec. 4, Town 21; P. 0. LeRoy; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Sept. 27, 1824 ; his father died when his family were quite young, after which he contin- ued to live with his mother, working out what spare time he had until 18 years of age, when he engaged as farm laborer until he emigrated to Illinois and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1854 ; he then, with his brother, engaged in farming until 1859 ; then farmed alone for five years, after which he purchased forty acres, upon which he lived six years, when he disposed of the same and purchased eighty acres of his present place in 1871, where he has since continued to live. His marriage with Martha West was celebrated Sept. 18, 1860 ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Dec. 1, 1832 ; they have four children now living by this union, having lost five by death; the living are — John O, born Jan. 22, 1863 ;• Elizabeth, March 27, 1866; Ada B., Sept. 15, 1876, and James E., April 17, 1878. Mrs. Sterling was the daugh- ter of W. H. West, who emigrated from Harrison Co., Ohio and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1855 ; Mr. and Mrs. West both died in McLean Co. in the fall of 1862. JOHN TIPTON, farmer, Sec. 29; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Oct. 27, 1835, where he attended school until 11 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois with his parents and located in McLean Co., near where Towanda now stands; his father died some six months after his arrival, after which he remained with his mother and managed the farm until he attained his majority, when he rented land and engaged in farming for himself until 1870, when he purchased 120 acres of land upon Sec. 29, Empire Township, which he exchanged for his present place in 1878. His marriage with Nancy E. Rucker was celebrated July 4, 1871; she was born in Madison Co., Ky., and died in McLean Co., 111., July 4, 1873, leaving no children. Mr. Tipton is a brother of Thomas F. Tipton, a prominent lawyer of Bloomington, more gen- erally known as Judge Tipton, having held the office of Judge for eight years; his sister, Mrs. William S. Tuttle, now lives in Saybrook, McLean Co. SILAS WATTERS, retired farmer and merchant, Le Roy ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Stafford mk, Va., Nov. 19, 1803. At 11 years of age, in 1814, he, with his parents and brothers and sisters, crossed the Alleghany Mountains in a two-wheeled cart drawn by one horse ; the parents have since passed away, but the children, of whom there were nine, all are living, the youngest being 65 and the oldest 79 years of age. In 1830, the subject of this sketch located in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., where he has lived for a period of nearly half a century ; he first entered 180 acres of land, to which he afterward added until he was in possession of 640 acres, a portion of which he still owns. He has always fol- lowed farming and stock-raising, and for a period of ten years was also engaged in the mercan- tile business in Le Roy and neighboring towns. He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been an active member of the M. E. Church since 1825, and filled every office in the Church which is given to a layman ; he has had his full share of township and school offices, and held the office of Associate Judge of McLean Co. during the term of Judge McClum, in 1850-51. His marriage with Christiana Conaway was celebrated Feb. 12, 1824; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., June 9, 1799 ; she died Oct. 25, 1866, leaving four children, having lost two by death; the living are: Chalton D., born June 17, 1826; John T., born Aug. 22, 1827; America, born Nov. 9, 1828; Nancy, born Jan. 30, 1831. His marriage with Mary Jane (Baddeley) Barr was celebrated Dec. 21, 1868; she was born in Manchester, England, March 3, 1823 ; she emigrated with her parents in 1835. EMPIRE TOWNSHIP. 895 CH ALTON D. WATTERS was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., June 17, 1826 ; he settled with his parents upon his present place in 1830, and is the oldest contiuuous resident upon any one place in Empire Township, having lived upon his present place for nearly half a century. He has always followed farming, and has in his home farm 221 acres, situated one mile from Le Roy, upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Sarah C. Moore was celebrated Dec. 29, 1852 ; she was born in Virginia, Sept. 20, 1829 ; eight children were the fruit of this union, of which six are now living — Silas, Miller C, John T., William, Christie Ann and Mattie May. BRUCE WATT, farmer, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch was born in De Witt Co., 111., June 19, 1855, where he attended the common school until ten years of age, when he located with his father upon Sec. 29, Empire Township, McLean Co., where he lived until the decease of his father, P. P. Watt, which occurred March 26, 1876. Mrs. Watt dicl in Logan Co., III., in October, 1853. The subject of this sketch lived in Le Roy one season after the death of his father, and in the winter of 1876 he purchased his present place, where he has since lived. His nuptials with Carrie Pence were celebrated April 26, 1877 ; she was born in McLean. Co., 111.. Sept. 25, 1857; they have one child by this union — Sibyl, born Oct. 31, 1878. MATTHEW D. WEBB, farmer, Sec. 33 : P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Union Co., Ohio, Nov. 23, 1845, where he lived upon his father's farm until 17 years of age, when he enlisted March 17, 1863, in the 96th 0. V. I.; he remained in camp at Columbus. Ohio, until April 1, when he was sent to Mew Orleans, and was engaged in the Red River Expedition, where he was in many engagements, among which was the battle of Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill; he then remained at Morganzia Bend a short time, after which he was engaged in the capture of Ft. Gaines, Ft. Morgan, Ft. Blakely, and Spanish Fort, when the city of Mobile surrendered to the Union forces, where he remained a few months ; when he was forwarded to Galveston, Texas ; then to Brownsville, where he was mustered out of service and received his discharge, in the early part of the summer of 1866, at Columbus, Ohio, after serving in the Union army for a period of over three years ; in September, 1866, he came to Illinois, on horseback, and located at Le Roy, McLean Co., where he followed carpentering a short time, and in 1871, he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and where he has a farm of eighty-five acres, two and one-half miles from Le Roy. His marriage with Nancy M. Rutledge, was celebrated Nov. 24, 1870; they have two children now living, by this union — Malinda M., born June 4, 1873, and Laura B., April 26, 1877. Mrs. Rutledge is the daughter of James and Prudy Rut- ledge, who were among the early settlers of McLean Co., and whose biography appears in this work. GEORGE YONTZ WEST, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch was born in Knox Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1847 ; his father, John C West, was born in Knox Co., Ohio, and followed carpentering and farming until 1851, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., and in 1869, he removed to Taylor Co., Iowa, where he now lives. He was married in Ohio, to Susan Bonnett ; she was the daughter of John Bon- nett, whose biography appears in this work; Mrs. West was born in Ohio, April 27. 1821; she died a few years after removing to Illinois, and lies buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, one mile east of Le Roy ; at 20 years of age, George Y. West, made his home with James Bonnett. and commenced dealing in stock, his first purchase being ten hogs; he has since enlarged his busi- ness, buying, feeding and shipping cattle, horses and sheep to Chicago and the Eastern markets; he located upon his present place in April, 1878, where he has about 100 acres of land, which he purchased in 1874. His marriage with Hester I. Scott was celebrated March 21, 1878; she was born in Clinton Co., Ind., March 1, 1853 ; she is the daughter of William E. Scott, now living in Empire Township. JAMES S. WILEY, farmer, Sec. 36; P. 0. Le Roy; a native of Empire Township, McLean Co., 111.; born on the 5th day of Aug.. 1839 ; his father, James Wiley, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, June 10, 1810; he emigrated from his native country to the West India Islands, in 1828, where he was employed as book-keeper and overseer of a large plantation upon the Island of Jamaica until 1835, when he emigrated to America, and to McLean Co., 111., and until 1845, fol- lowed the mercantile trade at Le Roy and neighboring towns; he then engaged in farming, which business he followed until his decease, which occurred on the 5th of June, 1860 ; he now rests in the beautiful cemetery situated one mile east of Le Roy ; during his life he was largely idenii- fied with the interests of the township, was one of its most influential citizens and filled many offices, among which was Justice of the Peace for sixteen years, and was the first Supervisor of Empire Township, and held the office continuously until his decease. His widow now lives in Le Roy ; she is a sister of our much respected and worthy citizen Silas Waters, and is one of a family of nine children, who, with their parents, crossed the Alleghany Mountains in 1814, in a two-wheel cart, drawn by one horse; the children are all now living; the youngest now 65 and the oldest 79. James S. Wiley lived with his father, attended school and followed farming until 17 years of age, since which time he has given his whole attention to farming; he removed upon his present place, in February, 1869, where he owns 120 acres of land, under a high state of cultivation. His marriage with Kate Williams was celebrated Jan. 19,1869; she was born in McLean Co., Sept. 10, 1843; they have two children — James B., born May 27, 1870, and Daisy A., Dec. 20, 1872 ; Mrs. Wiley was a daughter of Aaron S. Williams; he was born in White Co., 896 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 111., and was one of the early settlers of this county. He married Nancy Conaway, who emi- grated with her parents from Kentucky, and located in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are now living in Normal. THOMAS M. WHITAKER, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Mason Co., Ky., March 10, 1807. His father, James Whitaker, was born in Mary- land, near Havre de Grace, and emigrated to Kentucky when quite young ; here he followed farming, and worked at the trade of stone and brick m ison until liis decease, which occurred in . Kentucky about the year 1840 ; he married, in Kentucky, Cordelia Field ; she was born in Maryland, and died in Kentucky, in 1845. The subject of this sketch learned the trade of a brick mason, which he followed, with farming, until 23 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Matilda Barnett upon the 27th of February, 1830 ; she was born in Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 11, 1811; she was the daughter of Moses and Catherine (Ellis) Barnett, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in the spring of 1831 ; Mr. Bar- nett died in 1855 ; Mrs. Barnett died May 15, 1865. Mr. Whitaker followed farming eight years in Kentucky after his marriage, when he emigrated with his family to Illinois, and landed in Le Roy Dec. 31, 1837: he located upon his present place in 1841, where he has lived for a period of thirty-eight years; upon his locating here he had no capital, save one team, a strong arm and willing hand ; he then purchased forty acres of land on twelve months' time ; he then put up a log house, in which he lived some fifteen years, when it gave place to his present pleas- ant and convenient place. Mr. Whitaker has suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life ; he now owns upward of 200 acres of land, which, aside from raising a large family, he has accumulated, with the assistance of his amiable wife, by their hard labor, energy and industry. Their children were ten in number — Charles A., born Nov. 3, 1832 ; Catherine. Sept. 10, 1834 ; Mary Jane, July 3; 1836 ; Alvin, Jan. 29, 1841 ; George M., Feb. 16, 1843 ; John 0., May 10, 1845: Alfred and Albert (twins), June 26, 1848, and two deceased; Alvin served in the Union army for upward of three years ; at the battle of Petersburg, he was color-bearer of the 39th Regt. ; was wounded and taken prisoner while still holding to the glorious old flag; after laying in rebel prisons, he was paroled ; the war closed soon after, and he received his dis- charge. In politics, Mr. Whitaker has been a life-long Democrat, having cast his first vote for Andrew Jacks n, and has worked hard for the success of the party ; he has never sought polit- ical honor, but has held some petty offices, among which was School Director in his district for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker have trod the path of life peacefully together for nearly half a century, and should their lives be spared but a few short months, by the kindness of the same Providence which has so long watched over and protected them, they will live to witness the anniversary of their golden wedding. JAMES W. WRIGHT, blacksmith, Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of Illinois; born in Indiana, jNov. 5, 1827. He emigrated with his parents when 1 year old, and located in Vermilion Co., near Danville, 111., in the fall of 1828 ; he was raised to heavy farm labor until 21 years of age, when he met with an accident by a tree falling upon him, which broke his leg and caused him to relinquish farming ; he then went to Danville, where he learned and worked at the blacksmith trade for three years, and, in the winter of 1851, removed to Bloomingion, McLean Co., where, after working one year, he came to Le Roy and associated with T. D. Gilmore, in the blacksmith trade two years ; then one year with John Kline, under the firm name of Wright & Kline; then two years with Robert Ingle, when Mr. Wright bought his partner's interest, and continued three years alone ; he then admitted his old partner John Kline, which partnership con- tinued two years, since which time Mr. Wright has continued business alone Of town and school offices he has held his share, having been Town Trustee, School Trustee, one of the first Alder- men, and was elected the second Mayor of the city of Le Roy, which office he held for two years. His marriage with Martha F. Gilmore was celebrated Feb. 14, 1853 ; she was born in Warren Co., Ky., Nov. 21, 1834 ; nine children were the fruit of this union, four of whom are living, viz. : Matilda, E., born Feb. 3, 1854, now Mrs. Townsend L.Smith; William, born June 27, 1858 ; James W., born March 25, 1869; McLean, born March 22, 1877; the deceased are Thomas D., Stephen A. Douglas, Joseph Price, Cora Bell and Francis. Mrs. Wright was the daughter of Thomas D. Gilmore, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., who emigrated from Kentucky, and located in Empire Township, in 1836, where he now lives, at the age of 64 years. Her grand- father lived to the ripe old age of 98. Mr. Wright's mother was one of nine children, all of whom are now living, the youngest being 65 years, and the oldest being 79 jears of age. Silas Waters is one of the number. The above family of nine children with their parents crossed the Alleghany Mountains in a two-wheel cart, drawn by one horse, during the year 1814. JOHN YORK, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Knox Co., Tenn., April 17, 1829; he removed with his parents to Monroe Co., Tnd., when quite young, and was brought up on a farm here until 18 years of age, when he enlisted in the 4th Ind. V. I., to serve during the war with Mexico, leaving home June 8, 1847, going down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, then by vessel to Brazos Santiago, Texas ; from there to Vera Cruz, where he landed in October; he served in Mexico during the war: leaving Mexico in July, 1848, he retured via New Orleans and Cairo, to Madison, Ind., where he received his discharge In the spring of 1849, he emigrated West, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co , 111., where CHENEY'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. 897 he first purchased 100 acres of land, upon which he removed in 1850, and to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 280 acres upon his home farm, with good farm buildings, his residence being erected in 1877. His marriage with Sarah F. Ingle was celebrated May 26, 1850; she was born in Tennessee, March 6, 1831. She was the daughter of Henry Ingle, and sister of Chas. M. Ingle, both deceased, and whose biographies appear in this work. Mrs. York died Jan. 11,1878, leaving thirteen children, viz; Henry, Charles, Francis, Milton, Stephen, Mary, McLellan, Peter, Robert and Eva, (twins), Irwin, David and Richard. CHENEY'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. G. W. BARTON, M. D., Saybrook ; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., May 11, 1838. In the year 1859, he came to Bloomington, McLean Co., and spent sevin years in teaching school in the neighborhood, and attending the Wesleyan University, of Bloomington. In 1862, he entered the army and served as a private for three months ; after his discharge, he again enlisted for three years, and acted as Hospital Steward in the Marine Hospital at New Orleans until the close of the war, upon which he entered the " Chicago Medical College" and graduated in the year 1869, and was appointed House Surgeon and Physician, Mercy Hospital, at Chicago. In 1870, he came to Saybrook, where he has continued the practice of his profession, and has now quite an extensive practice. He married Miss Olive Hinsdale, daughter of Morris Hinsdale, of Gen- esee Co., N. Y., July 7, 1869; she was born in Genesee Co., July 21, 1840 ; they have two child, ren— Olive L., born Jan. 28, 1874; Charles ML, Aug. 17, 1875. HON. W. H. CHENEY, deceased, whose portrait will be found in this work, was born Feb. 19, 1822, near Mechanicsburg, Ohio, and died in Cheney Grove, 111., Aug. 24, 1878. He was the tenth child and fourth son of Jonathan and Catharine Cheney. In 1825, his parents came to Illinois and settled in the grove which now bears their family name. At that time, their nearest neighbors lived at Blooming Grove, twenty-five miles distant. As may be supposed, educational facilities were rare. In this family Mary, the eldest daughter, instructed the younger chil- dren, and afterward taught school in the neighborhood. The subject of our sketch attended school in the winter season until 19 years old, when he began his life business of farming and stock-dealing. During his boyhood, his frequent playmates were little Indian boys, who taught him to use the bow and arrow with considerable dexterity. He was rather fond of hunting, and, in his youth, killed a great many wild turkeys, deer and wolves. In the win- ter of 1843, he shot ten head of deer. When not quite 21 years old, he married Miss Mary Jane OrendorfF, aged 16. She was the daughter of William and Lavina (Sales) OrendorfF, and was born and educated in Blooming Grove. This grove was named by her mother, and when the town which is now the city of Bloomington was started, its name was taken from the grove. She was a most affectionate wife and mother ; was entirely devoted to the interests and welfare of her husband and children, and was universally loved and respected. Their children were nine in number — Lavina, Jay, Kate, Charlie, Emma, Willie, Harry, Mary Belle and Min- nie Estelle ; six are now living — Lavina, wife of W. H. Beckwith, lives in Saybrook ; Charlie, who married Miss Lizzie Pugsley, resides near the homestead, which adjoins Saybrook. The remaining four live in their childhood home. Jay died in infancy, Willie when not quite 3 years old, and Emma at the age of 22. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Cheney made himself a home, where he all his life resided, on the southern edge of the grove, about a mile and a half from the head of the Sangamon River. This stream runs through his farm, which is composed of about a thousand acres. George Cheney's farm adjoins his, and for many years the two brothers dealt in live-stock as partners. , A remarkably close friendship existed between them ; George's death was mourned most deeply by his brother. Mr. Cheney possessed a deeply religious nature, and, although not a member of any religious denomination, yet he entertained a profound respect for Christianity wherever he found it truly exemplified ; and particularly after the loss of a portion of his family, did he turn his thoughts toward the life yet to come ; in the beginning of his last illness he remarked, among other things, that he held the kindest of feelings toward every person living. In politics, he was always Republican, and bore a promi- nent part. In 1867, he was elected to the State Senate to succeed Hon. Isaac Funk. The grant- ing of the charter for the La Fayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railway Company was due principally to Mr. Cheney's exertions. The road afterwards built by this company passes through Saybrook, near his home. To him was accorded the honor of first "breaking ground" at the commencement of the work. May 28, 1873, Mr. C. married Miss Caroline Brown, daughter of Demas and Mary Brown, of Medina, Ohio. She is a most estimable lady, and highly regarded by all who know her. Their children are three in number — George, Nellie and Wilbur Haines ; they, with their mother and the unmarried brother and sisters, constitute one family. Mr. Cheney's manners were cordial, yet accompanied by a dignified bearing that immediately commanded respect. In character, he strongly resembled his mother, who was a person of rare 898 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: good sense and judgment, and whom he always treated with the kindest respect and reverence. He was always a temperate man, and never used tobacco in any form. In his dealings he was a man of whom it might well be said, " His word was as good as his bond." True to his friends, and to his enemies also true, for they always knew where to find him. In public enterprise in his vicinity he was ever the leading spirit. Possessed of restless, indomitable energy, his mind was always at work devising improvements, both public and private, which he rarely failed to carry through. The old adage, " Where there's a will there's a way," was unusually verified in his case. He possessed the will and he made the way. Like many pioneers, he was noted for open-handed hospitality. Scattered over the country there are scores of men who will recollect his home as a welcome stopping-place in their travels, before the days of railroads in the West. He was a very social man. and delighted to entertain his friends in his own home. Fond of music and possessing an excellent voice, he spent many an evening singing, for the enjoyment of his family. '• John Paulding," "Sinclair's Defeat" and other ballads of the olden time. Having, from his childhood, practiced incessant industry, he had little pity for need caused by idleness, but no deserving poor one ever left his presence unaided. His was an extremely sensitive, nervous organism, and any hurt, eithefc' physical or mental, caused him intense suffering. He was a most affectionate husband and father. The welfare and comfort of his family seemed to be his greatest care and pride. His place in the hearts of his intimate friends cannot be filled. In his death, the community where he had lived lost an active worker, and the world an honorable man. His grave is in the family lot in the new cemetery, and can be seen from his late resi- dence. R. J. CHENEY, farmer; P. 0. Saybfook; is the youngest son of Jonathan Cheney, the first settler in this township, and was born on the homestead in this township Aug. 24, 1828. He lived with his parents up to the age of 20, assisting them on the farm, when, having entered land on Sec. 33, he improved it and lived upon it for two years, when, having sold it, he entered and improved a farm in Belleflower Township, which he afterward sold, and, on Feb. 15, 1870, moved to his present home, where he has since resided. He has held the office of Supervisor of Belleflower Township one term. He married Miss M. E. Green, daughter of Thomas W. Green, of Belleflower Township, Dec. 10. 1846. She died March 5, 1858. They had four children, three living — Oscar, born Nov. 6, 1847 ; Alonzo, May 29, 1851 ; Lyman, July 8, 1853 ; and one dead — Rebecca, born July 11, 1856, died Sept. 28, 1874. He married his second wife, Miss Maria Rice, daughter of Henry Rice, of Empire Township, Oct. 10, 1858. Her parents were among the early settlers of this county. They have three children — Margaret, born Dec. 17, 1859; Frank, Jan. 23. 1862; and Mary, Sept. 22, 1863. EZEKIEL COILE, farmer; P. 0. Saybrook; was born in Washington Co., E. Tenn., Nov. 13, 1834. In the year 1849, his parents moved to this county, and, the first two years, lived upon the farm of E. Myers, and then entered and improved the farm on Sec. 16, where they have ever since resided. His father died there Oct. 4, 1877. His mother still lives with her son. His farm contains 160 acres. He has been Township Collector for one term, fle married, Sept. 17, 1861, Miss Helen Lewis, daughter of William D. and Nancy Lewis, of Cheney's Grove Township, who came to this county in the year 1856, from Kentucky, and died here. They have a family of seven children, all living — Mary, born March 27, 1864; Esther M., May 6, 1867 ; Sarah, May 22, 1869 ; Tacy J., Nov. 2'2, 1871 ; John H., May 25, 1875 ; Rosa W., Oct. 18, 1876; and Robert V., Nov. 1, 1878. Mrs. Coile was born July 12, 1843. T. S. COLLINS, dry goods merchant; Saybrook; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 28, 1836. Upon the death of his father, when he was but 5 years of age, he went to live among his relatives until he was 16 years of age, when he went to Warren Co., Ind., and started in life for himself, unaided, and first worked upon a farm during the summer, attending school during the winter, and, at the age of 19, taught school. In 1858, he moved to Illinois and set- tled in De Witt. Co., teaching school, and from there went to Maroa, Mason Co., and clerked until the fall of 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Co D, 116th Regt. I. V. I., and was pro- moted to First Lieutenant of same company, serving as such until the close of the war, in 1865. Having returned to Maroa the same fall, engaged in mercantile business until the year 1873, when, having started a branch store at Gibson, Ford Co., 111., took charge of it until 1876, when he came to Saybrook and opened a large dry-goods store, and also formed a copartnership with G. R. Means in the grocery, boot and shoe business. He married Miss Hattie Hedger, daugh- ter of Thomas Hedger, of Maroa, May 24, 1866. They have five children — Willie, born Aug. 4, 1867; Bertie, Sept. 14, 1869; Minnie, Oct. 7, 1871; Olive, Sept. 14, 1874; and Grace, Sept. 20, 1877. JOHN M. CRIGLER, dentist, Saybrook; was born in Rockingham Co., Va., Dec. 13, 1847. In 1849, his parents moved to McLean Co., and settled in Dry Grove Township, six miles west of Bloomington, being among the early settlers of this county. They now reside near Stanford. The subject of this sketch, at the age of 18, started in life upon his own resources, and his suc- cess in his profession is due to his own energy and ability. He first, went to Pekin College, Pekin, 111., for one year, and in December, 1867, went to Bloomington and commenced the study of dentistry with Dr. S. C. Wilson for one year, and on Sept. 14, 1868, came to Saybrook and opened an office. In connection with Mr. Hepburn, built the first brick business house, CHENEY'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. 899 and also, in 1871, the brick block known as "Crigler's Block," and also has been engaged in the real estate business — mostly in Kansas lands. He was a charter member of the "Central Illinois Dental Society," of Springfield ; has also been Town Trustee two terms, and President of the Board one term. He married Miss Love E. Ballard, eldest daughter of Dr. J. L. Ballard, Dec. 21, 1871. They have one child — Maud F, born Aug. 2, 1874. Dr. Crigler has a large practice, and from September, 1868, to September, 1878, his practice amounted to $30,207. THOMAS CUNNINGHAM, farmer; P. 0. Saybrook ; is the second son of Robert Cunning- ham, and was born in Clarke Co., Ind., Nov. 18, 1818, and came with his parents to this town- ship at the age of 11 ; he resided with them until he was 22 years of age, when he married Miss Minerva A. Spence, Feb. 21, 1841; she was a daughter of James and Susanna Spence, of Liv- ingston Co., 111., being the first settlers of that county, having moved there in 1833. After his marriage, he built a house on his father's farm, and lived there until the year 1846, when he went to Livingston Co., purchased a farm, and, having sold it, returned in 1848 to his house in this township ; and, having entered and improved his present farm, moved upon it in the spring of 1851, where he, at present, resides. His wife was born Nov. 21, 1821 ; they had six children, four living — Phoebe A., born Dec. 10, 1841, (who married Granville Michaels, they have one child — Willie G„ now living with his grandparents) ; James W., born Feb. 6, 1851 ; Harvey J., born Nov. 26, 1855, and Lewis H. B., born June 14 1859; and two died — LucindaJ., born April 28, 1844, died Sept. 24. 1872, she married John Armstrong, of Livingston Co., leaving one child, born April 2, 1866, and is living with his grandparents ; and Ellen C., born Dec. 12, 1854, died Sept. 13, 1855. W. E. CUNNINGHAM, farmer ; P. 0. Saybrook ; is a son of Robert Cunningham, one of the pioneers of this county, and was born in Clarke Co., Ind., May 11, 1828; when he was about a year old, his parents came to Illinois and settled in the year 1829. in Cheney's Grove, in this township, on Sec. 27; his father died here Sept. 28, 1858, and mother, April 6, 1859. The sub- ject of this sketch remained with his parents up to his marriage with Miss Irene Cunning- ham Nov. 6, 1849 ; she was a daughter of Joseph Cunningham, of Clarke Co., Ind. ; shortly atter- his marriage, he entered the land, improved it, and has remained there ever since. His wife was born Feb. 20, 1824 ; they had eight children, four living — Joseph C, born Sept. 17, 1850; George T.,born Oct. 26, 1851; Parker D., July 15, 1853, and Mary K.. born Sept. 18, 1859 ; and four died — Albert If., born July 19, 1855, died Nov. 12. 1865; David, born Jan. 4, 1858, and died Jan. 11, 1858 ; Carrie L., born Feb. 18, 1862, died Sept. 30, 1863 ; and Naomi B., born Dec, 17, 1864, died Aug. 26, 1866. ELIJAH ELLSWORTH, farmer; P. 0. Saybrook ; born in Clark Co., Ohio, " ec. 15, 1815. He lived, until he was 40 years of age. with his parents in that county. His mother died in the year 1846, at the age of 84, and his father at the age of 90. In the year 1856, Mr. Ellsworth came to Illinois, and settled in this county, at " Old Town Timber," in the " Frankberger house," living there for about eierht months. In the year 1H67, he purchased and improved the farm upon which he now resides, containing 200 acres, unincumbered. He married Miss Ellen Pow- ell, June 18, 1836, daughter of Stephen and Lydia Powell, of Clark Co., Ohio, who came from Virginia at an early day. Her father died at Chillicothe, Ohio, and her mother in Indiana, Mrs. Ellsworth was born May 3. 1818 ; they had four children, three living — Walker, born Sept. 6, 1838 ; Hamilton, Aug. 8, 1842, and Duncan, Aug. 7. 1844, and one deceased — Charlotte, born Sept. 7, 1840, died Sept. 7, 1876. His two sons, Hamilton and Duncan, enlisted in Co. B, 107th regiment I. V. I., in our late civil war, and served until its close. T W. GARRISON, farmer; P. 0. Saybrook; was born in Jefferson Co., 111., April 14, 1859. His father died, Oct., 1851 ; his mother still lives in that county. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents up to the age of 13, and, after the death of his father, worked upon a farm in Marion Co., Ohio, for six months, then moved to Johnson Co., Mo . and, returning from there to Illinois, went from there to Iowa, and, in the fall of 1860, came to Bloomington, McLean Co., where he enlisted in Co. C, 20th regiment I. V., and served for twenty-two months, and was wounded at Fort Donelson, and at the battle of Britton's Lane. Tenn., Sept. 5, 1862, and was in hospital at Jackson, Tenn. After his discharge, he went, to Jefferson Co. for two years, and, in the winter of 1864, came to McLean Co. and lived there until 1874, when he went to California, farming, and also engaged in the grocery business at Markwest, and, in the year 1876, returned to McLean Co., and settled on Sec. 6, where he has since resided. He married Miss Melinda J. Hawkins (daughter of Joseph and Amelia Hawkins, of Jefferson Co., 111.), April 5, 1860; she was born in Jefferson Co., 111., Aug. 23, 1844; they had eight, children, five living— Cora L., born Feb. 22, 1864; Birdie A., Aug. 30, 1866; Rosa B, Aug. 15, 1870; Hattie E., Aug. 5, 1876, and Clyde D., Dec. 14, 1878, and three deceased — Ora R., born Aug. 14, 1868, died March 20, 1870; Amelia E., born July 13, 1874, died June 14, 1875, and an infant unnamed. HENRY GERLING, farmer ; P. 0. Saybrook ; was born in Buffalo. N. Y„ May 27, 1857, His father Henry was born in Mecklenberg. Swerin, Dec. 13, 1827, and his mother Nov. 22, 1825. When he was quite young, his parents removed to McLean Co., and settled two miles southwest of Bloomington, where they now reside. Mr. Gerling lived with them until he was 21 years of age, when he purchased and moved upon a farm in that neighboi hood, and remained 900 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: there until the spring of 1879, when he purchased his present farm on Sec. 21 of this township. He niarried, Feb. 1, 1877, Miss Resa Alberts, daughter of Adam and Dora Alberts, of Blooming- ton Township, in this county. Her father died, Feb. 15, 1863, and her mother married William Finger, of Bloomington Township, her present husband, who was born Feb. 16, 1814; she was born in 1810. Mrs. Gerling was born May 30, 1858. They have one child — Herman, born May 30, 1877. P. R. GILMORE, farmer ; P. O. Saybrook ; was born in Warren Co., Ky., April 9, 1815 ; when he was 18 years of age, he learned the trade of blacksmithing, working at it for three years. In 1836, he came to McLean Co. and settled in Old Town Timber, in this county, carry- ing on his trade for two years, when he returned to Kentucky for four months ; he then returned to McLean Co. and first settled in Cheney's Grove, having married at that time Miss Eveline Owen (daughter of Samuel Owen, of Cheney's Grove Township), Jan. 10, 1839; four years after- ward, lived on the farm of W. H. Cheney, farming and blacksmithing; from there he went to north of Cheney's Grove for two years; then to the farm of S. Ball for two years; from there to the village of Le Roy, blacksmithing for two years ; then to the Newland farm in Cheney's Grove, and, in 1857, moved to where he at present resides; his wife died Oct. 9, 1873 ; she was born June 25, 1815 ; they had twelve children, eight living — Mary F., born Oct 22, 1842; James T., May 22, 1844; Robert P., Feb. 4, 1847; Caroline M. (now Mrs. Samuel Reams, of Cheney's Grove Township), Jan. 1, 1850 ; Catharine (now Mrs. David Vanschoick, of Cheney's Grove Township), Sept. 28, 1851 ; Rhoda (now Mrs. William Johnson, of this township), March 28, 1854; America (now Mrs. James Perry, of Saybrook), Feb 12, 1859 ; Davidson, June 25, 1859; four deceased — William H., born Nov. 16, 1839, died May 20, 1841 ; Eliza J. (married to Jacob Lloyd), born Jan. 13, 1840, died Feb. 20, 1869; George F., born Jan. 6, 1846, died March 1, 1846 ; Samuel, born Jan. 29, 1856, died Feb. 22, 1858. LEVI HELLER, carriage and wagon maker, Saybrook ; was born in Taylortown, Clark Co., Ohio, Oct. 3, 1847; when he was about 8 years of age, his parents moved to St. Louis, and, the next spring, moved to Weston, Mo., for one year, and from there to Bloomington, remaining in or near there for four years, and then moved to Benjaminville, 111., for two years ; then returned to Sharpsburg, Mo., and, in 1862, came to Bloomington; Mr. Heller, at the age of 15, after the death of his mother, started out to carve his own fortunes, working upon a farm for two years, when he enlisted in Co. I, 145th I. V. I., and served six months ; upon his return, he com- menced learning the trade of wagon making at Canton, Fulton Co., 111., and then established himself in business at Lancaster, Peoria Co., 111., for two years, and then in Glasford, in same county, for over three years, and, in 1872, came to the village of Arrowsmith, McLean Co., remaining there up to 1878, carrying on the business of wagon making and blacksmithing, and, in April, of the same year, came to Saybrook, and, at the expiration of eight months, formed the present copartnership of Heller & Nelson. He married Miss Sophia Jones, of Lancaster, 111., Oct. 14, 1868 ; they had four children, two living — John L., born Aug. 11, 1874, and Nellie M., Jan. 12, 1877; two deceased — Edward A., died Aug. 3, 1873. and Mamie, July 27, 1873. D. B. HEREFORD, dealer in dry goods and groceries, Saybrook ; was born in Woodford Co., 111., Sept. 15, 1851 ; at the age of 16, he was thrown upon his own resources, and, having gone to Bloomington, in this county, worked for two years at the trade of carpenter, after which, he Btudied law in the office of Gapen & Ewing for two years, and, being admitted to the bar in the year 1878, commenced the practice of the law in Chenoa, of this county, and continued such for eighteen months, and then came to Saybrook, and, having taught school for two winters, clerked in the store of T. S. Collins for about one year ; having bought out the business of A. H. Antrim, he opened his present store on the 18th day of February, 1879. He married Miss Maggie Powell (daughter of E. N. Powell, of Secor, Woodford Co., 111.), Dec. 21, 1873; they have one child — Clarence E , born Jan. 8, 1875. AMOS HIRE, farmer; P. O. Saybrook ; was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Jan. 23, 1813 ; his father died in the year 1859, and his mother in 1832; he lived with them until he was 21 years of age, and then started into the world to carve his own fortune, and worked upon a farm for a year or two, and then learned the trade of a joiner and carpenter, and two years afterwards, Aug. 16, 1837, married Miss Mary Jeffers (daughter of Isaac and Nancy Jeifers, of Fayette Co., Ohio); her parents moved to Missouri, where her father died ; her mother then returned to Ohio, and soon afterward came to live with Mr Hire. Mr. Hire, after his marriage, moved to Fay- ette Co., Ohio, farming and working at his trade of joiner and carpenter up to March, 1875, when he purchased his present farm on Sees. 19 and 30, of this township, where he now resides, containing sixty acres; his wife was born April 22, 1817; they had twelve children — nine liv- ing—Lewis B., born Sept. 6, 1838; Martha (now Mrs. Eli Wood, of Ohio), May 23, 1841 ; Sallie M. (now Mrs. William Mills, of Fayette Co., Ohio), May 29, 1843 ; Hulda, June 24, 1848 ; Isaac G., Sept. 2, 1850; Zida E., Oct. 22, 1852: Rameth T., Aug. 16, 1859; Samuel A., March 8, 1863; three died— Amzi, born Feb. 10, 1840, and died July 29, 1863 ; Harlan B., born Sept. 12, 1854, and died Feb. 26, 1860, and an infant. His son Amzi enlisted in Co. G, 90th Ohio V. I., in our late civil war, and died from disease contracted in the army. THOMAS HO LW AY, proprietor of Union House, Saybrook ; was born in Toronto, Upper Canada, Sept. 24, 1825 ; at the age of 8, his parents moved to Jordan, Onondaga Co., N. Y., CHENEY'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. 901 where his father died Sept. 6. 1847, from injuries received by being thrown from a wagon ; his mother is still living in Onondaga Co., N. Y., a^ the good old age of 83. Mr. Holway married, Oct. 8, 1848, Miss Emily Hunter, daughter of John Hunter, of Onondaga Co., N. Y., and the next year moved to this county and settled on Sec. 11, of this township, remaining five years, when he moved to Saybrook and built the "Union House" — the first brick building in the vil- lage ; the brick was made in the village, near where now is the depot of the L. B. & M. R. R. — Mr. Holway working in making them ; he has ever since kept the hotel — except one year — and a good one it is in every respect; he has also been engaged in the brick business for the last twelve years ; his wife was born in Albany, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1825, and died in Saybrook Jan. 28, 1867; they had six children — three living — Martha M., Mary and Kittie ; three died — Katie, Johnnie and Alabama JOSEPH HORSMAN, farmer; P. 0. Saybrook; was born in Highland Co., Ohio, Aug. 1, 1836 ; in 1858, he went to Fayette Co. and remained there up to the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in Co. G., 73d Regt. Ohio V. I., and served for thirteen months, and being discharged, returned to Fayette Co. and again enlisted in the 100 days' service in Co. D, 168th Regt. Ohio V. I. ; he participated in the battles of Cedarville, Port Republic and Bull Lick Valley, Va. ; after his return from the army, he lived upon his farm until the spring of 1865, when lie came to McLean Co. and settled on Sec. 30, where he has since resided. He married Miss Almirinda Rowe (daughter of Willis Rowe, of Fayette Co., Ohio) March 26, 1857; she was born May 14, 1839; they had four children — three living — Clara F. (now Mrs. John Lewis), born April 30, 1859; Joseph H., June 23, 1862; Uriah 0., May 14, 1867, and one died in infancy. Mr. Huseman's mother died June 19, 1875, and his father Nov. 29, 1875. JAMES HUNTER, farmer ; P. 0. Saybrook; was born in County Down, Ireland, March 17, 1836; his parents died in Ireland ; the subject of this sketch came to the United States when he was 22 years of age, and first settled in Livingston Co., Western New York, for six years; from there he moved to Marion Co., 111., remaining there for two years, and in March, 1861, came to McLean Co., and first lived in Danvers Township, for fifteen years, and in April, 1874, came to this township, on Section 9 where he at present resides; he owns eighty acres. He married Miss Jane Cowen March 19, 1867, daughter of William and Eliza Cowen, of County Down, Ireland, who moved to McLean Co. in 1864, and settled in Danvers Township ; her father died in 1865; her mother is still living ; Mrs. Hunter was born Feb. 22, 1842; they had seven children, six living — Martha, born Aug. 6, 1869; William, born July 1, 1871; Emma, born Jan. 19, 1873 ; Robert L., born Sept. 19, 1874 ; Eliza, born July 18, 1876, and John E., born July 3, 1878 ; and one died— Jesse M., born May 6, 1868, died Sept. 16, 1868. DAVID HURLEY, lumber merchant, Saybrook; was born in De Witt Co., 111., Dec. 2, 1833 ; until he was 21 years of age, he assisted his parents upon the farm, and then, having purchased a farm, worked it. for seven years. In 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 107th Regt. 111. V. I., and served until the close of the war, after which, he returned to his farm, and, after remaining seven years, in Dec, 1872, removed to Saybrook, and first followed teaming for two years, then formed a copartnership with Leonard Reddick, in the lumber business — Reddick & Hurley — and, three years after, bought out the interest of Mr. Reddick, and has continued the business under his own name ; he also established a branch of his business at Belleflower, con- necting his son-in-law, Henry Plummer, with him, under the firm name of Plummer & Hurley. He married Miss Lucinda Tackwell, of De Kalb Co., Tenn., March 20, 1859; they had four children, two living — Lavina A. and Harriet E. (now Mrs. Henry Plummer) ; two deceased — Mary Ann and one infant. CREED McDANIEL, druggist, Saybrook. The subject of this sketeh was born in Arrow- smith Township, of this county, March 2-5, 1853 ; he lived with his parents, upon a farm, up to the age of 21 ; in 1871, his father moved to Kansas, and settled at Emporia, and, in the fall, returned to McLean Co. Mr. McDaniel first learned the trade of carpenter, and followed it, off and on, for three years, at the same time learning the drug business, and, in the year 1877, pur- chased the drug store of R. S. Lackey, in Saybrook, which he continues to carry on. He mar- ried Miss Maggie Jane Barnes (a daughter of A. G. Barnes, of Arrowsmith Township), Dec. 14, 1876. J. A. MAGEE, meat market, Saybrook; was born in Union Co., Penn., Oct. 24, 1851 ; his father, John T., was born in Union Co., Penn., April 15, 1827, and married Miss Mary A. Sheckler, Oct. 24, 1850 ; she also was born in same county, Feb. 14, 1828; they moved to Mer- cer Co., where his father died Oct. 6, 1863, and his mother Dec. 6, 1863 ; after their death, the subject of this sketch went to Union Co. and farmed for three years : he then went to Fulton Co., 111., and lived with his grandfather; in 1873, he worked in a butcher-shop in Avon, of same county. In 1874. he went to Kansas, remaining one year, and, returning again to Ellis- ville, Fulton Co., carried on a saw-mill for one year, and, in Dec, 1875, came to Saybrook and opened a meat market in connection with his brother, W. A. McGee. He married Miss Lizzie Anderson Sept. 20, 1876 ; her father, Thomas H., when quite an infant, moved with his parents, to Peoria, 111., and at 16 years of age, went to Fulton Co., Ill, and was engaged as engineer of the saw-mill of Thomas Maples for eight years, and, in 1869, came to McLean Co., and first settled in Cropsey Township, farming, and, in 1871, came to Saybrook and worked as engineer in the 902 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: saw-mill of J. M. Stansbury. He died March 25, 1871. His wife was Miss Mary Conelly, of Canton, Fulton Co., III. Mr. McGee's family consists of one daughter — Clara M., born Sept. 25, W. T. MASON, barber, Saybrook ; was born in Greene Co., 111., March 25, 1858; his parents moved to Mercer Co.. 111., when he was 3 years of age, and still live there; when he was 16 years of age, he learned the trade of a barber, in Oxford, Ind., and went to New Boston, 111., for two years, and from there to Morning Sun, Iowa, and, in the year 1877, came to Saybrook and opened a shop, which he now carries on. He married Miss Rhoda Green, daughter of Thomas and Laura Green, of New Boston, Mercer Co., 111., Dec. 5, 1877. Mrs. Mason's parents are still living. J. R. MEANS, Justice of the Peace, Saybrook: was born in Lewis Co., Ky., March 22, 1825 ; his parents, in the year 1829 moved to Little Vermilion, Vermilion Co., Ill , and the same winter his father came to Cheney's Grove, and having built a cabin upon the north side of it, returned the next spring to Vermilion Co. and brought his familv ouf, arriving here in March. 1830, being among the early settlers of this county. His father died upon the home- stead Aug. 6, 1836, and his mother, March 1, 1875. The subject of this sdetch lived with his mother up to the date of his marriage with Miss Nancy Stan-bury, May 7, 1844, when he rented a farm, remaining upon it three years, when having entered and purchased Congress lands in Sec. 25, of this township, moved upon them and remained until the year 1863, when he came to the village of Saybrook and purchased a mill, carrying it on for nine months ; having sold the farm he originally entered, he purchased a farm on Sees. 21 and 16 and lived there until 1867 ; in 1869, he returned to Saybrook, where he still resides ; he held the office of Supervisor for the years 1877-78, and has been Justice of the Peace for fourteen years. His wife was born May 11, 1827, in Tennessee. They had six children, four living — Mary A., (now Mrs. John Pitts, of Kentucky), Sarah M. (now Mrs. J. S. Barwick, of Logan Co.), Ulrich L., and John H.; two deceased — Amos and James E. G. ROBERT MEANS, dealer in groceries, boots, shoes, etc, Saybrook ; is the son of David D. Means, one of the early settlers ot this county, and was born in this township Aug. 5, 1853 ; he lived with his parents up to the age of 22, when he became employed in the store of T. S. Collins, of Saybrook, as a clerk, remaining with him for one year, when he formed a copartner- ship with J. W. Riggs in the general merchandise business, under the name of Riggs & Means, and continued the same for two years, when, it being dissolved, he formed a copartnership with T. S. Collins as Means & Collins in the general merchandise business, in which they are now engaged. He married Miss Hattie Ball, daughter of Hillary Ball (one of the old settlers of this township), Oct. 3, 1878. J. A. MYERS, dealer in grain and coal, Saybrook ; was born in Fayette Co., Penn., April 19, 1831 ; when he was quite young, his parents moved to West Virginia, near the State line, and at the age of 3 years moved to near Decatur, 111., where they resided for one year, an I then went to Marshall Co.; in the year 1855, they moved to Fairbauk, Buchanan Co., Iowa, where they are now residing ; his father was born in the year 1800, and was married to Miss Sarah Jane Beatty, of Belfast, Ireland, who came to this country when she was 10 years of age, with her parents, who settled in Fayette Co., Penn. Mr. Myers remained at home until he was 23 years of age, when he married his first wife, Margaret Bennington, daughter of Thomas Ben- nington, of Marshall Co., Iowa, Jan. 5, 1854; her parents were early settlers of this State, her father having participated in the Black Hawk war, and died in the fall of 1856; her mother still lives in Marshall Co. Mrs. Myers died Oct. 11, 1865; she had four children, three of whom are living — Melissa M. (now Mrs. Robert S. McCune, of Saybrook), born March 11, 1855; Mary E. (now Mrs. L. A. Clark, of Arrowsmith Township), December 18, 1856, and Harvey f\, one deceased, Sarah J., born March 12, 1863, died March 24, 1865. Married his second wife, Elizabeth A. McCullough, daughter of William McCullough. of Eureka, Woodford Co., 111., an old settler of that county, March 13, 1866: she was born in Jefferson to., Va., and when 10 yeai-3 of age went with her parents to Woodford Co., 111. JONATHAN NELSON, wagon and carriage maker, Saybrook; was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., Aug. 23, 1844; his parents moved to Bloomington, when he was 4 years of age, being among the early settlers of this county; the subject of this sketch lived with them up to the age of 19, when our late civil war having broken out, he enlisted in Co. A, 94th regiment I. V. I., and served three years. In connection with his enlistment, quite a mistake has been made, which we wish to correct in this biography, and that is that he was entered and carried upon the rolls of his company as John Nelson, instead of Jonathan Nelson, his right name, and therefore the credit he deserves as having acted in defense and in perpetuation of the Union, is not given him upon the National records. After his discharge from the army he returned to Bloomington, and was engaged for three or four years manufacturing and selling pumps, aud, in 1870, came to Saybrook, working at his trade for three years, when he went to Pike's Peak, and remaining one summer, returned to Bloomington, and after staying there two years, came to Saybrook, in 1875, and engaged in the business of wagon-making, and in November, 1878, formed a copart- nership with Levi Heller, under the name of Heller & Nelson, in the wagon-making business. He married Miss Sarah E. Nelson, of Bloomington, Oct. 16, 1867 ; they had five children, four CHENEY'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. 903 living — John M., born April 3, 1871; Richard 0., May 6, 1872; Lillian C, June 7, 1875; Emma J., Oct. 8, 1877; and one deceased, Charles H., Aug. 4, 1868, and died Feb. 7, 1870. C. T. ORNER, M. D., Saybrook; is a native of Reiding, Peun., and was born on the 17th day of September, 1846; he received his early education in the schools of that city, and while attending the High School, our late civil war having broken out, he enlisted, being then but 18 years of age, in Co. M, 198th Regiment P. V. I., and at the end of two months was transferred to the Medical Department as Hospital Steward, of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division of the 5th Army Corps, and served from Sept. 17, 1864, until the surrender of Gen. Lee to their brigade, and was breveted Assistant Surgeon, for services rendered at Hatcher's Run; upon his return from the army, he commenced the study of medicine with Prof. S. D. Gross, of Philadelphia, for two years, and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, March 9, 1867, and at once commenced the practice of medicine, at Reading, Pa., and continued such until his marriage with Miss Mattie E. Crothers (daughter of William L. Crothers, of Springfield, Ohio), which occurred Aug. 3, 1868, when he went to Springfield and practiced his profession for one year, when he returned to Reading, Penn., and remained until May, 1871, and then came to Saybrook, where he has been practicing ever since. He has been President of the Central Illinois Medical Society, and is now a member of the State Medical Society, of the McLean County Medical Society, and corresponding member of the Clark County, Ohio, Medical Society, the Berks County. Penn., Medical Society, Academy of Natural Sciences, of Reading, Penn., and Trustee of the Bloomington Medical Society. J. W. PUGSLEY, hardware merchant, Saybrook ; was born in Athens Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1828, when he was but 2 years of age, his parents moved to near the city of Columbus, and one year after located near Mechanicsburg, Champaign Co., where his parents died. The subject of this sketch, at the age of 23, started in life to carve his own fortunes with no resources but his energy and determination, and first rented a farm and worked it until the fall of 1854 ; in February, 1855, he came to McLean Co , and first settled in Empire Township, where he remained until the spring of 1864, when he commenced farming for himself one mile west of Cheney's Grove, continuing there until the fall of 1867, when he moved to the village of Saybrook, and was first engaged in the stock business until April, 1876, when he opened his present hardware store, the largest in that village. He was one of the first Commissioners of Highways after the organization of the township. He married Miss Rachel Brittin (daughter of Nathan Brittin, of Champaign Co , Ohio), Oct. 29, 1851 ; she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, May 4, 1829 ; they had four children, one living — Sarah E. (now Mrs. Charles C. Cheney) ; three died — Marseilles, Owen D. and Alice B. RANSOM PALMER, livery-stable, Saybrook; was born in Chautauqua Co. N. Y., April 15, 1840. He lived with his mother until he was 20 years of age, and after her death, went to Wis- consin, and, in the year 1859, crossed the plains to California ; mining and prospecting for one year, when he returned and stopped atGlenwood, Mills Co., Iowa, where he married Miss Fannie Bngg (daughter of Jonas Bragg, of same place), July 16, 1861. In the spring of 1862, he moved to Saybrook, and was first engaged in the mercantile business for three years, under the firm of Palmer & Gallagher, when, having sold out, engaged in the milling business for himself, for two years; he then opened the present livery-stable, with his brother Charles; has held the office of Assessor, two years, and is at the present time Deputy Sheriff of the county ; he is also engaged in the real estate business, renting and selling lands. His family consists of two boys — Luther, born Jan. 24, 1865, and Earl, Dec. 16, 1877. CHARLES PALMER, livery-stable keeper, Saybrook; was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1840. When he was 5 years of age, his parents moved to Dodge Co., Wis., living there two and one-half years, where his father and two brothers died. Mr. Palmer remained at home until he was 15 years of age, and then worked upon a farm until the year 1857, when he went to Wisconsin, and in February, 1862, enlisted in Co. H, 2d Regt. Wisconsin Volunteers, and served three years. After his discharge, he came to Saybrook and engaged in farming up to 1877, when he opened the present livery stable with his brother Ransom. He married Mary E. Ball, daughter of Snowden Ball, of Cheney Grove Township, Dec. 25, 1866. They have two children — Cora A., born Jan. 5, 1869 ; and Richard A., March 28, 1876. JOSEPH RANNEBARGER, farmer; P. O. Saybrook; was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 1844. His parents were born in Frederick Co., Md., and moved to Ohio in 1829. His father, Stephen T., was born Aug. 7, 1802, and married Miss Susanna Michael in November, 1823; she was born July 20, 1801. When Mr. R. was 7 years of age, his parents moved to Illinois, and settled in Cumberland Co., living there until 1858, when they went to Sangamon Co., where his mother died in the year 1865. After her death, his father moved to De Witt Co., 111., and from there went to live with a son in Macon Co., where he died Oct. 11, 1877. In the same year, Mr. Kannebarger moved from De Witt Co. to McLean Co. and purchased the farm on Sec. 14, where he now resides. He enlisted in Co. B, 10th Regt. 111. Cav., and served two years and four months in our late civil war. He married Oct 30, 1870, Miss Sarah Ann Conn, daughter of David Conn, of De Witt Co., 111. Her father lives in Nebraska. Her mother died when she was three years of age. Mrs. Rannebarger was born Aug. 19, 1851. They have three children — Perry, born Aug. 27, 1872; Rosetta, Aug. 17, 1874; and Nora L., Aug. 11, 1876. 904 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: H. R. RAYBURN, retired farmer; P. 0. Saybrook; was born in Mason Co., W. Va., Jan. 26, 1815. In the fall of 1833, he left, home and went to Ross Co.. Ohio, and lived with his uncle, David Corbitt, until the fall of 1835, and then went to Madison Co., and, in the fall of 1836, returned to Virginia and was engaged in the blacksmithing business, having a shop on his father's firm during that winter, and, the following spring, went to Point Pleasant and worked in the blacksmith-shop of William Dashner, and on Aug. 13, 1837, having married Miss Mary White, daughter of James White, of Pennsylvania, moved to Madison t.'o., Ohio, and farmed until the fall of 1852. when he came to McLean Co , and settled six miles southeast of Blooming- ton, on the farm of William Bishop, remaining there five years, and, having purchased a farm in Arrowsmith Township, of this county, moved there in the spring of 1858, and, on Dec. 10, 1873, came from there to Saybrook. He has been School Director and Trustee in Arrowsmith Township, and also was a member of the Town Council of Saybrook for one year. His wife was born Sept. 15, 1815, in Allegheny Co., Penn. They had ten children, eight living, four boys and four girls— Granville W., born May 8, 1838; Cooper M. C, Feb. 7, 1845; Calvin H., Oct, 8, 1846: John R , Oct. 14, 1850; four girls— Mary J. (now Mrs. Moses Durand, of Pike Co., 111.), born Aug. 22, 1840; Martha A. (now Mrs. Cyrus Hartpence, of Caldwell Co., Mo.), Nov. 12, 1841 ; Isabella (now Mrs. James H. Wright, of Pike Co., 111.), Aug. 23, 1848; and Margaret E. (now Mrs. Eldon T. Brigham, of Iroquois Co.), Aug. 10, 1854. LEONARD REDDICK, grain dealer, Saybrook ; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, June 19, 1822. His father died upon the homestead where he had resided over forty-five years. The subject of this sketch remained at home until he was 21 years of age, farming, when he served an apprenticeship of two years at the trade of carpentering, in Uniontown, and worked in that neighborhood until he was 29 years old, and then moved to Hamilton Co., Ind., and continued his trade there until 1865, when he came to within six miles southeast of Bloomington, remairf- ing there until the next winter, when he came to Saybrook and worked at his trade of carpen- ter up to the spring of 1874, when he formed a copartnership with David Hurley, as the firm of Reddick & Hurley, in the lumber business, and in the spring of 1877, having sold out his interest, has been engaged ever since in buying and selling grain. Married his tirst wife, Miss Sarah Moore, of Muskingum Co., Ohio, Jan. 13, 1849; she died April 12, 1852; they had two childien, one living — Harriet J. (now Mrs. Zachariah^Sparks, of Missouri), and one deceased — Mary C. Married his second wife, Miss Rebecca Galaway, of Hamilton Co., Ind., Dec. 31, 1853 ; they had seven children, four living — Sanford B., Alvira, Fremont and Joseph G. ; three died in infancy. i G. W. RIGGS, farmer ; P. O. Saybrook ; is the son of William M. Riggs, one of the pioneers of this county, who settled in this township, north of Cheney's Grove, in the year 1830, and was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Dec. 11, 1827 ; so he was only three yeais of age when his parents moved to this township. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until he was 22 years of age, assisting upon the farm; in 1849, he entered and improved the farm on Sec. 7, upon which he at present resides. He at present holds the office of School Trustee, and has for some years. He married Oct. 11, 1849, Miss Minerva W. Lewis, daughter of William D. and Nancy Lewis, of Fleming Co., Ky., who moved into this township in the year 1856 ; her mother died Dec. 21, 1866, her father, October, 1871. Mrs. Riggs was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Dec. 27, 1827 ; they had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are still living — Olive J. (now Mrs. James McKinney, of Indiana, now living in Cheney'sGrove Township), born Sept. 11. 1350; Nancy H. (now Mrs. William H. Yasel, of Kansas), Dec. 11, 1851; John W., Jan. 26, 1855; Melrie L., Dec. 17, 1856; Charles B., July 29, 1859; Martin L., Nov. 13, 1861 ; Mary L , Nov. 6, 1863; Eva M., May 24, 1868, and Rosa B., July 24, 1870, and two deceased— William A., born Sept. 21, 1853, died June 27, 1855; Ella K., born Jan. 18, 1866, died Nov. 27, 1866. H. A. ROWE, farmer; P. 0. Saybrook; was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Dec. 22, 1830. He lived at home until the age of 24, when he married Miss Mary J. Ferguson, Aug. 31, 1854 ; she was the daughter of William Fergusqn, of Maine, a traveling minister of the United Brethren Church, who moved, first to Maryland, and from there to Pennsylvania, and married Miss Cathe- rine Campbell, of Cumberland Co., Penn., and afterward moved to Ohio, and in 1865, came to Saybrook. in this township, where they still reside, both being in their 76th year. Mr. Rowe, after his marriage, remained in Fayette Co. for ten years, farming. In 1864, he enlisted in Co. K, 168th Regt. Ohio V. I., under Capt. E. E. Ritter, and served five months ; five days after his return to Fayette Co., he moved his family to McLean Co. His wife was born Aug. 2, 1833, in Cumberland Co., Penn. ; they had five children, four living — Etta B (now Mrs. H. C. Myers, of Cheney Grove Township), born Aug. 22, 1 8 • > 7 ; William H., Feb. 25, 1860 ; Jennie M., Aug. 25, 1867 ; Nellie, Feb. 22, 1875, and one died— Orrin II., born Aug. 12, 1855, and died Oct. 25, 1865. They are both members of the Methodist Church. OLIVER C. SABIN, attorney at law, Saybrook; was born in Knox Co , Ohio, May 19, 1840 ; his father, Daniel Sabin, was born in Virginia in the year 1809, and married Miss Rhotla Williams (daughter of Abram and Sarah Williams, of Washington Co,, Penn.); in 1851, they moved to McLean Co. and first settled in White Oak Grove, since known as Oak Grove Township, and, in 1865, came to Anchor Township, where they now reside. The subject of this sketch, at the age of 16, started in life for himself unaided, having to earn the means by which he received CHENEY'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. 905 his education ; he first attended Eureka College, Woodford Co., 111., and, afterward, the State Normal University at Bloomington, remaining there over two years. While attending college, our late civil war having broken out, he went into the army in the capacity of Secretary to Col. L. F. Ross, and. upon his promotion to Brigadier General, acted as his Aid-de-Camp, and also as Southern Agent of the Chicago Tribune, and, afterward, correspondent of the St. Louis Democrat, and subsequently became one of the editors and proprietors of the Memphis Appeal. In 1863, he returned to McLean Co. and studied law in the office of Robert E. Williams, in Blooms ington, and was admitted to practice in March. 1864. On Jan. 4, 1864, having married Miss Mary C. Bent (daughter of William E. Bent, of Elgin, 111.), he practiced law in that city in con- nection with Judge Sylvanus Wilcox. Having moved to Sedalia, Mo., he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Pettis Co., but, owing to the ill-health of his family, returned to Elgin, 111., and, in the year 1871, came to Saybrook, where he has since been practising his profession. His family consists of three children — Rhoda, born Sept. 5, 1870; William B.. Aug. 20, 1872, and Oliver C, July 31, 1874. He owns 500 acres of land in this county, valued at $15,000. W. H. SCHUREMAN, banker, Saybrook; was born in Green Valley, Tazewell Co., Ill ., Sept. 11, 1853; when he was 17 years of age, he became engaged in the mercantile business with his father, Samuel Schureman, under the firm of Schureman & Son, in Green Valley, Tazewell Co., 111., and continued the same for seven years, and, in the year 1877, commenced the banking business in the same place, known as the " Farmers' Bank," in connection with his father, Samuel Schureman, and his uncle, Jonathan Schureman, and continued it up to his removal to Say- brook, where he has since been engaged in the banking business as successor to W. H. Riggs <& Bro., under the name of W. H Schureman & Co., composed of his father, Samuel Schureman, Jonathan Schureman and himself, representing a capital of $75,000, all in real estate. OLIVER SPRINGSTEAD, Superintendent of Public Schools, Saybrook; was born in Albany Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1823 ; he remained with his parents up to the age of 21, attending school, and, in the year 1848, entered Union College, Schenectady, and graduated in 1852, and from there entered the Theological School at Concord, graduating from that institution in the year 1834; six months before his graduation, he was appointed Professor of Mathematics in Warnersville Seminary, New York, and, after holding that position one year, came, in 1855. to Illinois, and, the first summer, held the position of financial agent for the Northwestern Uni- versity, at Evanston, and also assisted in selling scholarships to complete the building of the Rock River Seminary ; in the spring of 1856, was appointed Superintendent of Public Schools in Peru, 111., serving four years, when he became the Principal of Lee Center Academy ; having returned to La Salle, he was appointed Principal of Public Schools for three years ; in the spring of 1867, came to McLean Co. and engaged in the manufacture of cheese for three years; after which, he came to Saybrook in charge of the public schools for two years, and then engaged in lumber business and farming until 1878, since which time, he has been again Principal of the Public Schools. Married Miss Eliza Bennett, of Penn Yan, N. Y., July 28, 1857; she died Jan, 12, 1863 ; he then married Miss Mary Carter Dec. 25, 1867; they have two children — Jeremiah, born Feb. 4, 1876, and Eva L., in July, 1878. W. K. STANSBERRY, Postmaster, Saybrook; was born in Washington Co., E. Tenn., Aug, 29, 1820 ; his parents came to this township in the year 1833, and were among the early settlers of this county ; his mother died here in the year 1856, and his father in 1864. Mr. Stansberry lived with his parents until he was 24 years of age. On Jan. 8, 1846, he married Miss Sarah Jane Yazel, daughter of David Yazel, of Ohio, and soon afterward, having purchased a farm one and one-half miles north of Le Roy, in this county, lived upon it four years ; having sold it, he moved to the village of Le Roy and was engaged in the house-carpentering business for ten years ; selling his property in 1858, he moved to Saybrook and worked at carpentering up to 1864, when he purchased a saw mill, and carried it on until 1869, since which time he has held the office of Postmaster ; he has also been Assessor five years, and a member of the Town Coun- cil ever since the organization of the township, except one year, and has been President of the Board for two years ; also School Director for sixteen years. His wife was born Dec. 31, 1826 5 they have five children, three girls and two boys — Harriet E. (now Mrs. Jonathan Hyer, of Lex- ington, 111.), Olive J. (now Mrs. D. H. Simmons, of Ohio), David E., Cora B. (now Mrs. C. O, Smith, of Champaign Co., 111.) and Milton. W. A. STEWART, farmer; P. 0. Saybrook; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, June 12, 1832; in the ye>r 1852, his parents moved to Fulton Co., 111.; his father died there Oct. 3, 1872; hia mother still lives in McDonough Co., 111. Mr. Stewart came with his parents to Illinois, and remained with them for four years, when he married Miss Matilda Hiett Dec. 25, 1855 ; she was a daugh er of Jesse and Sarah Hiett, who settled in this township in 1830, being among the pioneers of this county ; her father died Sept. 2, 1839, and her mother Sept. 20, 1852. After their marriage, Mr. Stewart lived in Fulton Co., Ohio, for four years, then one year in McDon- ough Co., and, in the year 1861, came te McLean Co. and settled in Dale Township, eight miles west of Bloomington, and, in 1870, moved to Cheney Grove Township and settled on Sec. 12, where he at present resides. He holds the office of Supervisor. His wife was born Dec. 30, 1835, in what is now known as Danvers Township, in this cuunty ; they had six children, four living— Clara, born Dec. 29, 1858; Orrie, Feb. 9, 1866; Frank, Nov. 17, 1867, and Helen, July 906 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 15, 1871 ; and two deceased — Florence, born Sept. 29, 1857, died Nov. 28, 1857, and William H., born Aug. 8, 1862, died May 29, 1870. JAMES THOMPSON, farmer; P. 0. Saybrook ; was born in Summit Co., Ohio, Jan. 2, 1840 ; in the spring of 1857, he and his brothers came to Tazewell Co., 111., and remained until the winter, when they returned to Summit Co., and the next spring came to McLean Co., their parents following in the fall, and settled together on Sec. 27, on what is known as the Robert Cunningham farm, where they have since resided. His parents died there, his father Oct 13, 18(35, and his mother May 2, 1876. The subject of this sketch enlisted in Co. L. 4th I. V. C, and served for three years, having participated in the siege of Ft. Henry and battles of Ft. Don- elson and fhiloh ; in the advance on Vicksburg, he was by the side of Col. McCulljugh when he was killed : in battle near Coffeeville, and was taken prisoner, but remained so ouly for a few minutes, having escaped during the excitement : after his discharge, he returned to the farm. Has held the office of Collector for three years. Ife married Miss Charlotte Cliver Jan. 2, 1861, in Tazewell Co., a daughter of Richard Cliver, of Tremont, Tazewell Co., 111., one of the early settlers of that county, having settled there in 1837 ; she was born Feb. 23, 1843 ; they have six children, all living — James R., born Jan. 13, 1862; Albert B., Sept. 5, 1865; Lucy C, March 23, 1867; Elizabeth C, Dec. 7, 1868; John R. W., Sept. 19. 1870, and Harry G., April 27, 1872. Mrs. Thompson's mother died Jan. 16, 1855 ; her father is still living. ADAM VENCILL, grain dealer, Saybrook; was born in Tazewell Co., Va., Dec. 20, 1826 ; When he was 4 years of age, his parents moved to Decatur Co., Ind., remaining there two years, and afterward to Clinton Co , where his father died in 1833. His mother married again, and, in 1841, went to Tippecanoe Co., Ind , where she now resides The subject of this sketch, at the age of 20, started in life for himself, working upon a farm until the age of 25 ; then rented a farm for four years, and, having purchased a farm of 160 acres, farmed it for twelve years ; having leased his farm in the year 1863, he went to La Fayette and engaged in the grocery busi- ness for four years, and having sold out engaged in the grain business in La Fayette for two years ; and then went to White Co., Ind., and purchased a warehouse, and built a flouring-mill in con- nection with it, which he carried on for six years ; having sold it, he went to Indianapolis, engaged in grocery business, then returned to La Fayette; for one year engaged in grain business, and, in spring of 1876, came to Saybrook, and has been engaged in grain business up to the present. He married Miss Mahala Potter, of Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Jan. 22, 1856; she died in spring of 1857. He married his second wife, Miss Eliza T. Frazier, April 3, 1859. He had one child by first wife — Laura I., who died in August, 1870 ; and six children by present wife, four living — Edgar A., Hattie E., Henry A. and Clara E. ; two died — Charles M. and John W. T. H. A. WINTER, M. D., Saybrook ; was born in Niles, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Nov. 9, 1843 ; his father dying when he was an infant, he resided until he was 9 years of age with his grandfather, and afterward with his uncle at Kelloggsville, N. Y., where he attended school for five years, and afterward Cortland County Academy, in Homer, N. Y., and also the High School, in Berlin City, Wis. At the breaking out of our late civil war, he enlisted at the age of 18, as a private in Company " B," 11th Wisconsin Volunteers; and, after serving one year, was discharged on account of disability following typhoid fever ; he, however, again enlisted in Co. B, 72nd Regi- ment Indiana Volunteers, of Wilder' s Brigade of Mounted Infantry, and served until close of the war, and helped bring into camp Jefferson Davis, President of ex-Confederate States, and was in active service during Gen. Sherman's campaign. After his discharge, Mr. Winter studied medicine in the office of Dr. F. M. Hiett, of Williamsport, Ind., and came with him to Saybrook, and continued his studies there up to 1866; and, in the years 1867-68, attended a course of lectures at Rush Medical College ; he then returned to Saybrook and continued the study of medicine with Dr. Hiett, and also taught school during the winter for five years ; in 1871, he commenced the regular practice of his profession, and carried on a drug store under the firm of Roberts & Winter; having sold out in the fall of 1872, he returned to Rush Medical College, graduating Feb. 19, 1873, and has since that time been in active practice in Saybrook. He mar- ried Miss Delia Atkinson (daughter of Rev. William Atkinson, of New Brunswick), Sept. 25, 1867 ; they have one child — William A., born July 9, 1868. CRIDLEY TOWNSHIP. W. M. ALSPAUGH, farmer ; P. O. Lexington ; was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, in the year 1850, and when about 4 years lders of that township ; in 1878, Mr. Alspaugh removed to and settled upon 200 acres of land on Section 34, Gridley Township, where he now lives and G RIDLEY TOWNSHIP. 909 hag one of the finest residences in the township; his land is all under cultivation and is valued at about $35 per acre ; he is young, wide awake and intelligent, and is well posted upon all sub- jects concerning his county and township, and works his farm upon scientific principles, com- bined with industry and forethought. He was married in 1876 to Miss Sabra Gregory, daughter of John Gregory, formerly of Gridley, now of Normal, who was bjrn in Gridley Township in 1857 ; Effie is their only child. W. H. BOIES, of the firm of Boies & Breese, dealers in grain and stock, Gridley ; was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Jan. 22, 1833 ; at the age of 18, he became a clerk in a store in Moscow, where he remained until 1856; he then came West and located in EL Paso, 111., when that, place contained but five houses ; in the spring of 1857, he engaged in the lumber business, and, shortly afterward, in the grain and grocery trade ; he was then in moderate circumstances, yet, during his residence of five years in El Paso, he took a leading part in all the enterprises of the town ; he was a member of the Town Council, and helped to form the first charter. In January, 1862, he went to Watseka as agent of the T., P. & W. R. R., but, the same year, removed to Gridley and began dealing in grain, Mr. Breese becoming a member of the firm in 1869; they dealt, also, in agricultural implements until 1877; since Mr. Breese joined him they have been dealing largely in stock ; they have 900 acres of land in this vicinity, and are engaged exten- sively in farming and stock-raising, having from 150 to 200 head of cattle, and usually about 20u hogs. Mr. Boies was station agent here for thirteen years. In 1867, he built the elevator known as the Boies & Breese Elevator, having a capacity of 25.000 bushels of grain ; he is an energetic business man and public-spirited citizen, at the same time genial in manner and pos- sessing social qualities of the highest order. He was married Nov. 18, 1867, to Miss Mary A. Taylor, of Perry, N. Y., and has four children — George V., Nettie W., Charles C. and Willie H. Mr. Boies has been a member of the Village Council a number of years. RICHARD BREESE, dealer in grain and stock (firm of Boies & Breese,) Gridley; is a native of Cambridgeshire, England, and was born Aug. 24, 1822. He was raised to agricultural pursuits, and followed farming in England to 1852, when, on the 11th of October, he started for the United States. He settled near Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio, where he lived until 1857; he then came to Illinois and purchased a farm in Livingston Co. He continued farming with good success until 1869, when he removed to Gridley and engaged with W. H. Boies in the grain, stock and agricultural implement business. While in Livingston Co. he served as Trustee three years, and three years as Commissioner of Highways. He was one of the Trustees of Gridley from 1.876 to 1879, and also School Director three years. Mr. Breese is one of the most substan- tial citizens of Gridley ; has been successful in business, and owns, with Mr. Boies, 900 acres of land lying in Livingston and McLean Counties. He was married at the age of 22 to Mis< Mary A. Miller, of Cambridgeshire, England; she, however, lived but about three years, and, at her death, left two childreu, one of whom is living — Eliza, now Mrs. C. H. Neuhauser, of Gridley. Mr. Breese was married again, in January, 18 A, to Mrs. Sarah Richardson, of Huntingdonshire, England. F. D. CALLSEN, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public and general collection agent, Gridley ; was born in Haltsee, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, June 28, 1833. He was intended for the military service, and educated accordingly. When the revolution in Schleswig-Holstein collapsed and that country failed to secure its independence from Denmark, Mr. Callsen, not wishing to serve in the Danish army, left the service, and was employed in a store in Altona until 1855, when he came to this country. The first six months he clerked in a drug store in New York City, after which he went to Canada and obtained a situation in a general store. In 1858, he came to Illinois, and, with H. E. Sieberns, carried on business in Farnisville, until the war broke out. He then enlisted in the 17th I. V. I., and was made Second Lieutenant of Co. G. He took part in the battles of Ft. Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, luka, Bolivar, the campaign in Northern Miss- issippi, battles of Port Gibson, Bayou Pierre, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Black and the siege of Vicksburg. After the battle of Pittsburg Landing he was promoted to First Lieu- tenant and transferred to the U. S. Signal Corps, and after the fall of Vicksburg was made an officer on the staff of Gen. Leonard F. Hoss, and later of Gen. John D. Stevenson, of Missouri. Returning from the war, he engaged in mercantile business in Gridley, the firm being Sieberns & Callsen. In 1865, he opened up a new farm in the vicinity, and farmed until 1872. when he and Mr. Sieberns started in the grain and coal business and continued that until 1878, since which time he has been in his present business. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1877, has served three years in succession as Supervisor, and two years as Treasurer of the township, besides holding various other town offices. He was married in December, 1863, to Miss Julia Niergarth, of Woodford Co., and has one child — Caroline E. Mr. Callsen came to this country with nothing, has been successful, and now owns a good farm of 160 acres, besides a good dwell- ing and other property in Gridley. GEORGE A. FRANK, dealer in general merchandise, Gridley ; the above-named gentleman was born in Juniata Co., Penn., of German parentage, Feb. 12, 1840; in 1845, his parents removed to Illinois, settling in Peoria Co., where they still reside; he left home in 1859, going to Warren Co., where he engaged in farming ; in the spring of 1864, he returned to Peoria Co., and there resided until the fall of 1866 ; he then removed to Livingston Co., just across the line OO 910 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: from Gridley, and followed farming there until 1874, when he came to Gridley and engaged in his present business. He is at present a member of the Board of Trustees, this being his second term ; he has also served for the past two years as Township School Trustee. Mr. Frank was married Aug. 28, 1859, to Miss Laura Halcomb, of Peoria Co., 111.; they have six children — Laura R., wife of Frederick Blumenshine, of Gridley; Alfred A., Meta G., Cora M., Maud and Pearl. JAMES A. GILBERT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. El Paso, Woodford Co.; was born in Manchester, Dearborn Co., Ind., April 1, 1839 ; a few years later, his parents removed West to Oquawka, Iowa, but shortly afterward returned and settled at Rochester, Peoria Co., 111.; there they lived about five years and then removed to Brimfield, where his father still resides. In March, 1865, Mr. Gilbert entered the Union army as a Corporal in Company K, 47th I. V. I., and served till after the close of the war. In 1868, he removed to Greene Township, Woodford Co., and, in 1870, to McLean Co., and settled on his present farm, where he owns 160 acres of land. He was married Dec. 20, 1867, to Miss Mary Baker, of Elmwood, 111.; she was born in Marshall Co., Va., Sept. 17, 1843; they have five children — Charles J., Minnie A., Burtis S., Eunice Blanche and Lucy E. JACOB HOOBLER, farmer; P. 0. Gridley; was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, in the year 1818, where he lived with his father Michael Hoobler, until the age of 20 years, when he went to New Jefferson, Ohio, and engaged in the mercantile business for himself until the year 1868, when he removed to McLean Co., 111., and bought and settled upon a farm of i60 acres (his present home), in Gridley Township, and in 1872, bought 160 acres more, and, in 1875, eighty acres, making in all 400 acres, eighty acres being on Section 10, and 320 on Section 3, Gridley Township ; part of this land being under cultivation and part pasture, valued at about $45 an acre. He was married in the year 1853, to Miss Catherine Grier Galbraith, who was born in 1832, near Cannonsburg, Washington Co., Penn.; they have eight children living — Katie Bell, Charles, Robert M., Samuel G., Annie L., Rachel F., Jacob Henry and Albertie. Mr. Hoobler' s resi- dence is located upon Section 10. Gridley Township. D. L. HOOVER, dealer in drugs, medicines, books, stationery, etc., Gridley; is a native of this State; he was born in Putnam Co. Nov. 11, 1845; when he was about 4 years old, his parents removed to Bureau Co., and there resided until 1856, when they removed to the western part of Livingston Co.; in 1869, he engaged in farming, to which business he had been raised, and continued it until 1871, when he came to Gridley and started in the drug business. He has one of the neatest and most tastily arranged stores in the county, and keeps a full supply of all goods in his line, and of a reliable quality, consisting of drugs, medicines, books, stationery, toilet articles, fancy groceries, paints, oils, varnishes, brushes, lamps and lamp goods, cigars and tobacco, etc. Mr. Hoover was married Jan. 14, 1869, to Miss C. G. Williams, of Washington, Tazewell Co., 111., and has two children — Lovena A. and Myrta. He has served as Town Clerk two years, and as City Treasurer and Collector four years, and still holds these offices. J. J. KERR, Gridley; was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Dec. 27, 1850; he is a son of Thomas Kerr, now of Waldo Township, Livingston Co.; when he was 15 years old, he accom- panied his parents to the United States, having been, for the two years before that, engaged as a clerk in a wholesale grocery house in Aberdeen ; after coming to Illinois, he remained on the farm five years, then entered the office of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad Co in Chicago ; after remaining there four months, he feturned to Gridley and entered the employ of Boies & Breese ; he continued with them fifteen months, after which he entered into partnership with D. L. Hoover, in the drug business ; in this he continued until December, 1877 ; the sum- mer of 1878 he spent in Europe, traveling quite extensively in England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Germany, and returning in December, 1878, since which time he has not been in active business. He was married May 3, 1877, to Miss H. M. Hartley — a daughter of William Hartley— late of El Paso, 111. L. C. McCONNELL, M. D., physician and surgeon, Gridley ; was born in Ripley, Brown Co.. Ohio, April 13, 1836; when he was about 4 years of age, his parents removed to Indiana, and settled in Fayette Co.; he was educated, principally, at Fairview Academy, in Rush Co., Ind., where he spent three years, and prepared for the junior class in college ; entering Bethany College, Va., he remained about a year, when a difficulty occurred in the college, arising out of the slavery question, and he left at the close of his junior year, together with several other Northern students. He began the study of medicine in 1855, and spent the winter of 1856-57 at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati ; he then went to Greenfield, Ind., and remained until the fall of 1858, engaged in study and practice; returning to the Medical College, he took his second course, graduating in February, 1859; he then located at Fairview, Ind., and practiced medicine two years, when he removed to Richmond, Ind , and there remained until his removal to McLean Co. in 1866 ; he spent the first two years in Bloomington, and in August, 1868, settled in Gridley, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession ; he has served on the Board of Village Trustees, and as School Director, but with these exceptions, has declined to hold any public offices, his extended practice receiving his constant and undivided attention. He was married Oct. 7, 1857, to Miss Columbia A. Nutting, of Connersville, Ind., and has one child living — Minnie I. GRIDLEY TOWNSHIP. 911 D. L. MEYERS, dealer in hardware, tinware, stoves, etc., Gridley ; was born in Wurtem- burg, Germany, May 5, 1832, and, until the age of 20 years, followed the business of wine- growing, his father being the owner of a vineyard. In 1852 he came to Amerh a, and worked on a farm in Wayne Co., Ohio, for four years. He then removed to Plainfield, Will Co., 111., and engaged in farming for himself. In 1859 he went to Washington, Tazewell Co., and, after farm- ing a few years, about the close of the war removed to El Paso, and, with his brothers-in-law, George and Samuel Zinser, opened a hardware store, and soon afterwards another store, in Washington. After about eighteen months, he disposed of his interest in the Washington store to his i artners, but continued his business in El Paso until his removal to Gridley in the fall of 1875. Mr. Meyers does the only exclusive hardware and stove business in the place, and carries a full line of goods of the btst quality. He was married, Jan. 13, 1860, to Miss Katie Zinser, of Washington, 111., who lived but about a year. Mr. Meyers was married again in Feb- ruary, 1862, to Miss Mary M. Zinser, of Washington, 111. ; they have one child — Edward L. C. H. NEUHAUSER, blacksmith, carriage manufacturer, and dealer in agricultural imple- ments, Gridley ; was born in Saarburg, Alsace, France, Oct. 6, 1840. When he was 6 years old, his parents came to this country and located at Syracuse, N. Y., where his father died a year later, and, about two months afterwards, his mother removed with her family to Butler Co., Ohio ; resided there two years, and removed thence to Campbell Co., Ky. There he lived nine years ; then returned to Ohio, and lived with an uncle about four years, going thence to Cincin- nati, where he remained six months. In 1863 he came to Illinois, and worked in Bloomington, Hudson and El Paso. In August, 1864, he removed to Waldo Township, Livingston Co,, and engaged in contracting and building. He afterwards came to Gridley and followed butchering one season, and then resumed building. Returning to Waldo Township, he continued farming till March, 1874. He then purchased the wagon and blacksmith shop of George Jewett, and has continued in this business to the present time. He also engaged in the implement trade with his brother, John Neuliauser, for one year; then sold out to his brother, Oct. 19, 1877. They were burned out, after which he erected his present building, and bought his brother's business. He maVes a specialty of John Deere & Co.'s Moline plows and cultivators, Deere & MausurCo.'s and the Quincy planters, D. M. Osborn & Co.'s harvesting machinery, Adams' corn-sheller, and minor implements of various descriptions and the best quality. Mr. Neuhauser was married, Dec. 9, 1864, to Miss Eliza Breese, a daughter of Richard Breese, of Gridley. Of ten children, six are living — Sarah E., Catherine, Lucy L., Minerva, W. Etta and Mary A. Mr. Neuhauser has served two years in the Village Council. JOHN NORTH, deceased, formerly of Gridley Township; was born in Lincolnshire, England, Nov. 4, 1812, and there resided until his removal to this country. He was one of a number of brothers who settled in the western part of Gridley Township and the eastern part of Woodford Co., several years ago. He was married in England, in June, 1838, to Miss Rachel HatclifFe, who was also born in Lincolnshire, March 4, 1818; about the year 1850, he emigrated to the United States, and settled in Washington, Tazewell Co., 111., and in 1854 removed to Wood- ford Co., just across the line from McLean, and, after several years, to the place where he lived till his death. He was a successful man, and accumulated a comfortable property, leaving at his death an estate of 280 acres. He was a man of exemplary life and steady, temperate, industri- ous habits, a member of the Baptist Church, and enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. He died Jan. 3, 1865, leaving a family of seven children, ell of whom are now living — Sarah (wife of Edmund Tippler), James R., Henry, Joseph R., Elizabeth (wife of Wi Ham Bailey), Spencer H. and Ellen (wife of Harvey Leonard), all of whom are settled in the neighborhood, except Henry, who lives in Oregon. Mrs. North resides on the homestead, surrounded by her children and their families, and in the enjoyment of an ample estate, and honored by the entire com- munity. FRIEDR1CH SCHAFER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. El Paso, Woodford Co.; was born in Waldmohr, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, May 11, 1820. At the usual age in that country, 14 years, he was apprenticed to the trade of a shoemaker. He came to the United States in 1852, and located at Washington, Tazewell Co., 111., where he worked at his trade six years, and then engaged in farming. In 1864, he removed to McLean Co., and settled on his present farm. He owns 160 acres on Sees. 22 and 23, finely improved and cultivated, besides 20 acres of timber on the Mackinaw ; nor is his success in life to be estimated by the amount of real estate owned by him ; he is, financially, one of the solid men of the community, possessing those characteristics of his countrymen which enable them to succeed so often where others fail. He was married March 1, 1846, to Miss Louisa Vogelgesang, who was born in Breidefelder- Hof, Bavaria, Aug. 28, 1828 ; they have seven children living — Frederick J., now Pastor of the Evangelical Association of the Warrensburg and Clinton Mission, Kansas), Lewis (a farmer, of Sumner Co., Kan.), Christian (a farmer, of Yates Township), John (of Sumner Co., Kan.), Katie L. (a music teacher, of Brown Co., Kan.), Louisa E. and Matilda. N. B. SEIDEL, of the firm of Blumenshine & Seidel, Gridley, dealers in general merchan- dise; came to the place in 1875; he was born in Berks Co., Penn., Dec. 22, 1839; he is of German descent, his ancestors being among the first settlers of that part of the State ; the neigh- borhood in which he was raised was composed entirely of German people, and at one time there 912 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: were but three men in his township who could speak English, and Mr. Seidel himself was 20 years of age before he could speak or understand the English language, although his ancestors, for several generations, were natives of this country. In 1857, he came West, to Stephenson Co., 111., and began work at the carpenter's trade. Three years later, he returned to his native State, and again came to Illinois in 18G5; he spent about three years in Bloomington, removing to El Paso in 1868 ; he followed his trade there until his removal to Gridley, in 1875. He was married Aug. 10, 1862, to Miss Emma E. Grim, of Hamburg, Penn., and has three children — Edward B., William H. and Hattie A. HENRY E. SIEBERNS, general merchant, Gridley ; was born in the Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, March 23, 1825. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to the carpenter trade, after completing which, he learned the cabinet-maker's trade. He came to this country in 1853, land- ing in New Orleans, and proceeding up the river to Louisville, Ky., where he went to work at his trade. In 1855, in consequence of the Know Nothing disturbances in that city, he left Louis- ville and went to Canada West. Two years later he came to Illinois, and engaged in mercantile business with F. D. Callsen, in Farnisville, Woodford Co. In 1864, he removed to Gridley, where he and Mr. Callsen had just previously started a store; since that time he has continued in business here, and also has been in the grain business nine years, from 1868 to 1877. He carries one of the largest and best selected stock of goods in the place. During his residence of six years, in Farnisville, he served constantly as Postmaster and Town Clerk, and was also elected Justice of the Peace just before leaving for Gridley He has held various offices in this place. He was married in May, 1857, to Miss Caroline Niergarth, a native of Bavaria, Germany. They have nine children living — Julietta, Juliana, Mary R., Walter H., Minnie, John R., Otto, Charles and Henrietta E Mr. Sieberns, for the past five years has made Peoria his residence. He is one of the most successful men of the county, owning 1,440 acres of land in Livingston and McLean Counties. JAMES B. SNEED, farmer; P. 0. El Paso, Woodford Co. ; was born in Garrett Co., Ky., March, 1836, being a son of John H. and Elizabeth Sneed, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Indiana. In 1852, he came with his father's family to McLean Co., and resided six years in Bloomington. The family then removed to the eastern part of Woodford Co., and, after four years, located on Section 2, Gridley Township, where his father resided until his death, June 4, 1876. His mother is still living. Mr. Sneed was first married March 19, 1861, to Miss Tama Hawkins, of Woodford Co. ; she died Feb. 18, 1862. He was married again May 4, 1864, to Mrs. Julia A. Taylor, a daughter of Robert C. McCollum. of Christian Co., 111., whose wife's former name was Margaret M. Mills, both formerly from Kentucky ; she was born in Christian Co., Feb. 3, 1888. They have two children — Mary Arminta, born Feb. 19, 1865, and Frank McCollum. born Jan. 1, 1868. Mrs. Sneed's former husband was J. S. Taylor, who was born Jan. 13, 1834, and was drowned Feb. 22, 1860, in Bureau Creek, in Peoria Co. ; by him she had two children — John William Taylor, now of El Paso, who was born Jan. 10, 1859, and was the first child born in the city of El Paso, 111.; and Julia Frances Taylor, born May 20, 1857, and died Dec. 10, 1859. Mr. J. S. Taylor was a hardware merchant of El Paso, and one of its first set- tlers. Mr. Sneed now resides on the homestead, his real estate being situated in Morris Co.. Kan., where he owns 160 acres of land. PETER SOMMER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Gridley; has been a resident of Illinois since 1834; he was born near Strasburg, Alsace, France, April 24, 1811. He came with his parents to the United States, in 1828; they settled in Butler Co., Ohio; there he lived till his removal to Illinois, in 1834; he was one of the pioneers of Woodford Co., the Indians not having yet left their hunting grounds on the Mackinaw, when Mr. Sommer took up his claim from the Government, built his log cabin, and began to carve himself a home in the wilderness. After living there thirty-two years, he settled on his present farm in 1866. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres, well-improved, his set of buildings being among the best in the township. His success in life is due entirely to his own exertions. He is emphatically a self-made man. Has held no political offices, giving all his attention to his legitimate business of farming. He is a leading imember of the Apostolic Christian Church, and was prominent in the building of the church in Gridley. He was first married in August, 1834 to Miss Catharine Schertz, of Woodford Co. ; she came with her parents from Alsace, in 1832 ; she was born in August, 1816, and died in August, 1874. They had ten children, four of whom are living: Catharine, wife of John Ehres- man, of Livingston Co. : Barbara, wife of Peter Ehresman, of Gridley Township ; Mary, and Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Rich, of Gridley Township. M. T. VINEYARD, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Lexington ; was born in Roanoke Co., Va., in the year 1826, where he worked on his father's farm until the age of 22 years. In the year 1848, Mr. Vineyard left Virginia and removed to Iron Co., near Iron Mountain, Mo., where he remained seventeen years engaged in farming. From Iron Mountain, he removed to Illinois, settling north of the town of Metamora, Woodford Co., and remained there over three year3. In the year 1 869 he left Metamora and removed to and settled upon 120 acres of land on Section 27, Gridley Town- ship, where he also owns 160 acres, formerly J. B. Pirtle's place, making in all 280 acres, all under cultivation, and valued at about $35 per acre. Mr. Vineyard was elected to the office of Supervisor of Gridley in the year 1876, and has held the office until the present, being re-elected GRIDLEY TOWNSHIP. 913 again last April. He was married in 1848 to Miss N. C. Leigh, who was born in the year 1832, in Gloucester Co., Va.. and who died in the year 1868. In 1870, he was married to Miss Mary 0' Neil, who was born in Iron Co., Mo., in 1847 ; they have two children, viz.: Maggie Leigh and Robert F. Their residence is a very fine one, and, with the improvements he contemplates mak- ing, will be a beautiful home. DAVID WELCH, farmer, Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Gridley ; was born within four miles of the town of Tipperary, Ireland, in the year 1836. Patrick Welch, David's father, a farmer and quite a prominent man in his day, died in the year 1847, and his wife, Margaret, soon followed him to the tomb, leaving David an orphan, under the guardianship of his uncle, Michael Stokes, with whom, in the year 1849, he left Ireland and emigrated to America. Mr. Stokes, with his ward, settled in New Haven, Conn., where David learned carriage-painting, and, after serving his time, worked at his trade as carriage-painter, in Litchfield and New Haven Counties, until the year 1861, when he left Connecticut, and went to Peoria, 111.; here he remained until April, 1862, when he went to El Paso Township, Woodford Co., and, in partnership with his cousin, William Stokes, bought eighty acres of land ; they remained there until the spring of 1865, when they s 11 their land and removed to Gridley Township, March 11, 1865, and bought in partnership 160 acres of land, and, in the summer of 1872, they divided their 160 acres ; and David having, in 1868, purchased forty acres of land, the division left him the owner of 120 acres, to which he added Hghty more, purchased in 1876, making 200 acres in all, located on Sec. 7, Gridley Township, a-d all under cultivation, and valued at about $40 an acre. Mr. Welch is a wide-awake, intelli- gent man, quite prominent in local politics, and has held the office of Assessor of Gridley Town- ship for one term, being elected in the year 1872. In 1875, he was elected to the office of Road Commissioner, and re-elected in 1878, and now holds the office. On the 25th of December, 1859, he was united in marriage at Naugatuck, Conn., to Miss Ellen Cany, who was born in County Lim- erick, Ireland, in the year 1834, but who emigrated to America when very young ; they have had four children, one — Maggie — dead, and three — John, Margaret and Patrick — living. JOHN WHITEMAN, farmer, Section 28; P. 0. Gridley; came to Illinois in the year 1857, all of his earthly possessions being a team of horses and wagon, valued at about $300, and $1 .50 in money ; he now owns his farm of 160 acres, in Gridley Township, and 80 acres in Owen Co., Ind. — all gained by hard work and good judgment : he was born in Sandusky Co., Ohio, in the year 1834, and when quite small his father removed to Owen Co., Ind. and John helped on the farm until his father's death, which occurred in 1845 ; after this event, John remained at home with his mother until he reached the age of 23. In 1857, he left Indiana, and, taking his mother with him, went to Illinois and settled her at Scattering Point, Livingston Co , where Mrs. Whiteman had a brother, and on whose place she lived until 1860, when John removed her to McLean Co., where he had preceded her, in 1857 ; he removed to his present place in 1864, and rented of his father- in-law, and, in 1873, he bought the farm, consisting of 160 acres, located on Section 28, Gridley Township ; it is all under cultivation and is valued at $35 an acre. In the year 1862, he married Miss Jesse Stretch, who was born in Money Creek Township. McLean Co., 111., and died in 1871, leaving five children — Willie E., Frank E., Ella May, Ena Gay and Nancy Inze, all liv- ing. Mr. Whiteman was again married, in the year 1873, to Miss Emeline Farmer, who was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1853 ; they have had three children — one dead, and Eva and Daisy living. DAVID WILSON, school-teacher, Gridley ; David Wilson was born in the year 1850, in Lincoln Co., Ky.. where he lived with his father, William D. Wilson, until the age of 5 years. In the fall of 1855, Mr. Wilson removed his family from Kentucky to Illinois, stopping at Bloom- ineton until the spring of 1856 ; they then removed to and settled upon a farm in Chenoa Town- ship, McLean Co.; here they remained until the year 1863, when they removed to Gridley Town- ship, within a half mile of the town of Gridley. Mr. Wilson's father bought and settled upon eighty acres of land, which he farmed until his death, which took place in 1866. David, after his father's death, remained on the farm until 1869, when he went to Woodford Co. and engaged in the sewing-machine business until 1871 ; during the years 1871 and 1872, David attended school at Normal; after leaving Normal, he spent the summer of 1873 traveling through Kan- sas, in which State (Marion Co.) he owns 320 acres of land; he also owns 80 acres in Sullivan Co.. Mo. For two years Mr. Wilson taught school in District No. 7, Grand View, and has taught for two years past, and now teaches School District No. 4, Gridley Township. In the year 1872, he married Miss Catherine Wilson; she was born in McLean Co., 111., in the year 1857 ; Estella May, a bright little girl, is their only child. His residence is on Section 16, Grid- ley Township. 914 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES PADUA TOWNSHIP. HENRY R. ARROWSMITH, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Ellsworth; owns 198 acres, worth $45 per acre ; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, June 10, 1815 ; remained on the farm with his father until 22 years old ; came from Ohio to Indiana in 1839, where he remained six months, then came on to this county. Was married while in Ohio to Anna Cowgill Feb. 8, 1838 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Oct. 8. 1809; they have had six children — Daniel, David E., Elizabeth A. (now wife of G. W. Baine, of Padua); Ezekiel, died May 14, 1841 ; Sarah J., died Aug. 18, 1849 ; Henry F., died Sept. 24, 1849. Has held the office of School Director three years; Township Treasurer, fifteen years ; Justice of the Peace, two years ; held the office of Supervisor of the Township one term. He was one of the first settlers of this township ; coming here with but very little property ; by industry, economy and hard labor has accumulated some $10,000 or $12,000 worth of property. He is Democratic and Methodist. A man of great influence in the neighborhood where he resides. DVVID E. ARROWSMITH, farmer; P. 0. Ellsworth; was born in McLean Co., 111., April 22, 1842 ; he remained with his father on the farm, assisting him. Was married to Catharine Baine Sept. 8, 1864; she was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Nov. 11, 1833, and died April 19, 1872; the fruit of this marriage was four children — Mary, George H., David and Anna C. ; he married Oct. 17. 1877, Sarah C. Hoover; she was born in Hampshire Co., Va.. Oct. 6, 1857 ; they have one child — Olive, born Nov. 27, 1878. He continues to live with his parents on the farm. DANIEL ARROWSMITH, farmer; P. 0. Ellsworth; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Aug. 28, 1838 ; remained with his father on the farm, Was married to Mary A. Baine Nov. 17, 1859 ; she was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Nov. 4, 1831 ; they have had seven children — Mertilla J., born Jan. 16, 1861 ; Myra, July 12, 1866 ; Harry B., July 23, 1868; Robert L., Jan. 29, 1871 ; Cary, March 16, 1876; Lucy A., born Sept. 10, 1862, died Sept. 18, 1864; Jonas E., born Aug. 30, 1864, died April 22, 1865. He is living on a piece of land given him by his father. WILLIAM P. ANDERSO % farmer and surveyor, Sec. 19; P.O. Holder; owns seventy- eight acres; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Nov. 18, 1833; lived with his parents on farm until 21 years of age, helping his father carry on farming up to this time ; shortly after this, he came to this State, where he was married to Ruth A. Whitcomb, Feb. 27, 1861 ; she was born in Vermilion Co., Ill, June 18, 1841; they are the parents of two children — Alvin W., born July 8, 1862: Camilla E., Jan. 31, 1866. Mr. A. has held the office of Supervisor one term ; was County Surveyor six years, and Deputy Surveyor three years. Is now engaged in farming. MARKS BANKS, farmer, Sec. 25; P. 0. Ellsworth; was born in Floyd Co., Va., Jan. 12, 1823; lived with his parents until 14 years of age, assisting his father in farming; his mother died when he was but 14 years old ; he then worked at the blacksmith trade, two years ; then at the carpenter trade, in which he has been engaged ever since. Was married to Rebecca Van- scoy, April 15, 1847 ; she was born in Indiana, Feb. 7, 1824 ; they are the parents of four chil- dren — Mary H., now wife of William Vangundy, of Ellsworth; Millard O; Rachel E., born in 1855, and an infant deceased. He owns 600 acres of fine farm land, worth $45 per acre. Has held office of School Director three years ; Postmaster one year ; Supervisor of Township one term ; he had, when married, not over $100 worth of property, but has by industry, economy and hard labor, with good management, accumulated, probably, about $25,000 worth, and is a man of con- siderable influence in his neighborhood. ALBERT E. BINGHAM, farmer; P. 0. Ellsworth; owns sixty acres of land; was born in Lake Co., 111., March 28, 1841 ; remained with his father on farm until 17 years of age; Mr. B. enlisted in the late war in 1862, in Co. D, 94th I. V. I., and was in the battle of Springfield, Mo., and several skirmishes ; served three years, and was mustered out by general order, at Springfield, 111.; he then returned to farming. He married Mary J. Hays, Oct. 15, 1868; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., June 29, 1846; they are the parents of two children — Harry W., born Feb. 12, 1873, and Eva, Oct. 5, 1876; his parents were natives of Connecticut; her parents, of Pennsylvania. JOHN CAMPBELL, merchant, Ellsworth ; was born in Dory Co., Ireland, April 7, 1820 ; emigi*ated with his parents to Pittsburgh, stayed there eighteen months, then moved to Jessamine Co., Ky., where he lived about eight years; thence to Illinois in 1834, settling in McLean Co., where he has since resided ; remained with his father and assisted him in farming until 21 years of age. Was then married to Rebecca Weaver, Sept. 15, 1841 ; she was born in Virginia about the year 1823, and died about 1845 ; by this marriage he had three children — Lottie B., now wife of E. Craig, of McLean Co., and two infants deceased. Was married Feb. 23, 1847, to S. L. Jackson ; she was born in Virginia ; they are the parents of ten children, nine living — James S. ; Elizabeth J., now wife of William Harden, of Saybrook ; Mary A. ; Rachel M., now wife of Frank Tuler, of Belleflower; John A. ; Matilda ML, now wife of Charles Mills, of Lexington, PADUA TOWNSHIP. 915 111. ; Thomas W. ; Ella E., deceased ; George W. and Dora L. He has held the office of School Director four years ; he worked at blacksmithing and wagon-making for two years, and, in 1873, engaged in mercantile business in Ellsworth, starting with about $5,000 worth of goods, and has been doing a lively business ever since. He has 198 acres of land in this township, and owns three lots and a house and store in Ellsworth, besides a house and two lots in Bloomington within two blocks of the public square. JOHN DALLING, farmer; P. Ellsworth; was born in England, June 24, 1844; came with his parents to this country when 12 years of age ; was married to Theresa Dean, Nov. 12, 1869 ; she was born in England in the year 1844 ; died April 28, 1877 ; they were the parents of two children — Elias and Gertrude ; the latter died Sept. 12, 1871. He enlisted in the army in 1862, in Co. C, 151st I. V. I ; served two years and ten months; was in the battles of Gettys- burgh. Cold Harbor, Petersburgh, Winchester, and several other battles ; was wounded by a mus- ket ball passing through his right lung and out near the spine, for which he receives a pension ; was mustered out by general order at Philadelphia. BENEWELL FETHEROFF, farmer. Sec. 22; P. 0. Ellsworth; owns 139 acres of well- improved land ; was born in Hocking Co., Ohio, March 18, 1827 ; remained on the farm with his parents until 26 years of age; then emigrated to Ross Co., Ohio, where he was married to Rebecca A. Sykes, Nov. 5, 1853 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Oct. 24, 1833 ; they are the parents of five children — Elmer E., born Sept. 17, 1862; Frank A., May 27, 1867; Lewis N. died September, 1851 ; Harriet F. died Sept. 6, 1862, and an infant. He has held the office of School Director eighteen years, and still holds the office of Commissioner of Highways one term. He was in the war of 1812. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania; his wife's mother was of Ohio ; her father, of England. ALFRED FRANKEBERGER, farmer, Sec. 27 : P. 0. Ellsworth ; owns 162 acres of excellent farm-land ; was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Sept. 16, 1828 ; came with his parents from Ohio to McLean Co., 111., when he was but eight months old ; lived with them on the farm until 23 years of age ; engaged with his father in farming, until married to Elizabeth Dunning, Dec. 24, 1850; she was born in Monroe Co., Ind., Dec. 5, 1825 ; they have had four children — John M. and Eliza J., now wife of Henry Inglish, of Padua, and two infants deceased. His father was one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., as there were but about three or four families in the county when he arrived ; hence he is one who helped the county from a wilderness to its present prosperous condition. He still resides on the farm which his father entered and lived on until his death ; has held the office of School Director one year, Commissioner of Highways one term, and is a very industrious, economical and energetic man, and respected in the neighborhood where he resides. REUBEN FENSTERMAKER, farmer and mechanic, Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Ellsworth ; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Feb. 26, 1832 ; came with his parents to this State in 1853. and still continued i to work on the farm until Aug. 7, 1862, when he enlisted in the United States service; he enlisted in Co. D, 94th I. V. I., as 1st Corporal; was in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., the siege of Vicksburg, capture of Yazoo City, battle of Brownsville, Tex., capture of Fort Morgan, Ala., siege and capture of Spanish Fort, Ala., and in a number of other skirmishes ; held the position of Orderly Sergeant four months ; was mustered out in 1865, at Galveston, Tex. ; he returned to this county, where he has been engaged in farming and raising fine horses up to the present time ; he owns an interest in a farm of 230 acres of excellent land in the south- west corner of Arrowsmith Township. He has never been married. WILLSON D. GROW, Sec. 19, farmer ; P. 0. Holder ; owns 40 acres ; was born in Shelby Co., Ky., June 12, 1841 ; lived with his parents on the farm until 21 years old ; he was never married, and, with an older brother lives a bachelor's life, carrying on farming together; he is in good circumstances; came to this State in the year 1859, first settling in Mackinaw ; remained there one year, then came to this county, where he has resided since. WILLIAM HARRISON, farmer, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Ellsworth ; owns 120 acres of excellent farm land; was born in Berks Co., Penn., May 30, 1820. His father died when he was but 1 year old, leaving him in care of his grandmother, who raised him until 12 years of age ; he then moved to this county, where he has resided ever since. Was married to Nancy J. Davvson in 1840 ; she was born in McLean Co., 111. ; they have had nine children — Mary E., now wife of Charles Hobart, of Kansas ; Adelaide, now wife of William Young, of Padua ; Estella, Hattie, Minnie, Lucinda and Albert J.; deceased— Charley and Cary. He was then married to Barbara Young in February, 1869. Has held the office of School Director fifteen years, and Road Com- missioner one term. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. JOSIAH HORR, farmer, Sec. x.7 ; P. 0. Ellsworth ; owns 595 acres of excellent farm land, worth $45 per acre. Was born in Lewis Co. N. Y., Oct. 9, 1807 ; remained with parents until 21 years of age, assisting his father in farming ; moved from New York to Ohio in the year 1828 ; remained there nearly seven years. Was married in Ohio to Temperance Cheney Oct. 28, 1830; she was born in Harrison Co., Va.; they have had eight children, six living — William F., Elizabeth, now wife of David M. Bunn, of Kansas; Martin, Abner, Sarah, now wife of W. Anderson, of Padua; Martha, now wife of James E. Wood ; deceased— Rachel, died Oct. 1, 1840; Quincy, Aug. 30, 1835. Mr. H. has held the offices of School Director and Township Trustee 916 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: five years, Justice of the Peace fifteen years ; was Supervisor of Township on the first Board in the county ; has been Supervisor about twelve years ; was Postmaster about fourteen year*. He was one of the first settlers in this township. He has given satisfaction in every office he has filled ; is a man pleasant in manners, agreeable, and respected by all who know him. THOMAS KENNEDY, farmer, Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Padua ; owns 290 acres of land, worth $40 per acre. The subject of this sketch was born in Dumfries Co., Scotland, Nov. 22, 1816; remained with his father on the farm, assisting him until 33 years old, when he emigrated to this county in 1851, having been previously married in Scotland to Ellen Johnston. Nov. 18, 1850 she was born in Dumfries Co., Scotland, in June, 1850; they have five children— William, Walter Robert, Mary J. and Ellen A. Mr. Kennedy has held the office of School Director two years ; not withstanding all the losses he has sustained in this country, including $4,000 by loaning money and $1,200 from destruction of his barn by fire, he has property to the amount of, perhaps, $25,000, though having but$500 when he arrived in this county ; he has accumulated this property by farming and raising stock, and is a very industrious man. WILLIAM ORANGE, farmer. Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Ellsworth ; owns 220 acres of land ; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., April 18, 1805; moved to Pennsylvania with his parents when but 3 years old ; remained there about fifteen years, helping his father on the farm. During this time, he moved back to Kentucky and worked at blacksmithing, then moved to Ohio, where he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Alcorn, June 17, 1823 ; she was born in Allegheny Co., P'enn., Feb. 25, 1805 ; died Oct. 8, 1845; four children by this marriage — William, James, Jane and Elizabeth, now wife of James Lesly. He was then married to Eliza Wolf June 6, 1846; she was born in Madi- son Co., Ohio, July 4, 1816 ; they have one child — Elizabeth A. He is one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., coming here in an early day. when the country was a wilderness, with plenty of Indians and wild animals, and has borne his part of the hardships of a pioneer life. He was pos- sessed of a good constitution, and is now 74 years old and yet quite active, and is a very excel- lent citizen. MATTHEW RICHARDSON, farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 11; P.O. Ellsworth; owns 350 acres worth $50 per acre ; was born in Dumfries Co., Scotland, in the year 1823 ; resided with his parents on the farm until 23 years of age. Was then married to Christina Nichol, in the year 1847 ; she was born in the same county in Scotland ; they have had twelve children — Mar- garet, born Dec. 6, 1848, now wife of Richard Williams, of Arrowsmith ; Jane, April 5, 1850, now wife of Madison Williams, of Arrowsmith; Mary A., March 16, 1854, now wife of John Frankeberger, of Padua; John, Jan. 2, 1856; Genette, May 22, 1858. now wife of Ira Landers, of Padua; William, Feb. 2, 1860; Matthew, Dec. 27, 1861 ; Archibald, Oct. 16,1864; Thomas, April 11, 1867, and George A., March 21, 1869. Deceased — Agnes, died Aug. 16, 1863, and an infant, Nov. 6, 1863. He has held the office of School Director four years. He came to this county with only 25 cents, and has, by industry, economy and perseverance, accumulated pro- perty to the amount of $20,000, consisting principally of land. He feeds and ships many fat cattle every year, and some hogs. Mr. R. came to this county from Scotland in the year 1851. JAMES REID, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O., Ellsworth; owns $250 acres, worth $50 per acre; was born in Kercud Bright, Scotland, Dec 27, 1830; he remained with his father until his death, which occurred when he was only 15 years of age; then lived with his uncle until 19 years of age ; came to this country in the year 1851, stopping in the city of New York one year, then to Kentucky, where he remained one year. Was then married in Kentucky to Sarah A. Price, March 28, 1853 ; she was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Aug. 11, 1827 ; they have had six children, four living — Margaret M., now wife of Ashly Dilts, of Empire Township; William P.; Lizzie; Richard P.; James H., died Nov. 21, 1875. and an infant. Mr. Reid has held the office of School Director nine years. Mrs. Reid is a niece of Gov. Bishop, formerly Governor of Ohio. Mr. R. was in the grocery business and grain trade in Ellsworth four years, and was among the first to commence business in Ellsworth, being engaged quite extensively. LEWIS H. SKAGGS, M. D., physician, Sec. 23 ; P. O. Ellsworth; owns 275 acres, worth $50 per acre ; was born in Monroe Co., Va., in October, 1837 ; remained with his father on the farm until 15 years of age; his chances for an early education were somewhat limited, having attended school only about nine months during the first fifteen years of his life ; between the ages of 15 and 22, he attended the college at Sweet Sulphur Springs ; he taught school between six and seven years ; in the spring of 1849, he emigrated from Virginia to McLean Co , settling in Le Roy ; remained there four years, during which time he practiced dentistry and studied medicine ; went to Chicago and attended a medical college, where he received a diploma. He enlisted in the army in 1863, in the 94th I. V. I. ; served as Assistant Surgeon ; was Surgeon at the battle of Vicksburg, battle of Lake Spring, Mo. ; also had charge of a hospital ; thence to Brownsville, Tex., at the siege of Fort Morgan; was in Marion hospital when the magazine exploded, wounding seven or eight hundred. The Doctor is a graduate of Rush Medical College ; after he was mustered out, came home and engaged in partnership with Dr. Hinton, of Padua, in 1865, which continued for two years. Was married to Ella Hinton, Aug. 16, 1866; she was born Dec. 30, 1847. JOHN STEVENS, carriage-maker, Ellsworth ; was born in Hampshire Co., W. Va., in 186^- his parents died when he was very young, and generally he had to shift for himself; he traveled PADUA TOWNSHIP. 917 over several States, working at different occupations, chiefly farming and carriage-trimming. In 1876, he was married to Jennie Turner, who was born in Missouri in the year 1860; he is an iudustrious and energetic young man, and resides in Ellsworth, where he contemplates starting a carriage shop soon. JAMES F. THOMPSON, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Ellsworth ; owns 103 acres, worth $40 per acre ; was born in Boone Co., Ky., Sept. 13, 1822; came with his father to this county, from Kentucky, when 7 years of age, and has resided in the county ever since. Was married to- Mary A. Arrowsmith, April 17, 1845; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, March 28, 1828, died Aug. 8, 1860; six children — Elizabeth J., now wife of Lewis Pearce, of Arrowsmith, John H, and Martha E. ; Elijah died in 1874; Ezekiel died in 1861 ; Mary E. died in 1860. He was afterward married to Margaret Boine ; she was born in Virginia; they had seven children ; the names of the living are — Desdemona A., Gertrude, Isaac A., Corrilla J., Benjamin, Fanny L. ; William R., died Feb. 4, 1878. He was one of the pioneers of McLean Co.. experiencing the hardships of a pioneer life. HARRISON G. VAN DERVORT, farmer and minister of the Gospel, Sd-. 15; P. 0. Ellsworth ; owns forty acres; was born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Sept. 25, 1846; his mother dying when he was 6 years of age. he remained with his father and sister on a farm ; his father died in Octo- ber. 1861, previous to which his father had moved from Indiana to this county, in the year 1849 ; the son had a common- school education and the benefit of five years of home study, pre- paratory to the ministry. Was then married to Isabel McVay May 21, 1873, who was born in Greene Co., Penn., June 14, 1850; they are the parents of two children — Ola Bell, born Feb, 11, 1875 ; Lula Myrtle, born Aug. 30, 1876. Entered upon the ministry in 1867 ; was ordained the same year, and is a minister of the Christian Church ; has charge of the Church at Saybrook j also thit at Oak Grove, and has preached considerably in the southern part of this State, and also in Kansas ; he traveled three years for the .Missionary Society of this county ; has held the office of President of the Missionary Society, also President of Sunday School Society, and is a speaker of no small degree of eloquence ; has been very successful in gaining members to his his Church. He enlisted in the late war in 1865, Co. B, 150th I. V. I.; served three months ; went as musician ; was mustered out by general order. His father was a native of Virginia ; his mother, of Ohio. His wife's parents were natives of Pennsylvania. JAMES WHITE, farmer and mechanic, Sec. 17; P. 0. Padua; owns 240 acres of land, worth $40 per acre. The subject of this sketch was born on Brooklyn Heights. N. Y., Sept. 4, 1819 ; lived with his father on a farm, assisting in cultivation, until 16 years of age ; then moved to the city of Brooklyn ; remained there some three years, working at the carpenter's trade. He was married to Louisa Smith April 4, 1841 ; she was born in North Carolina Aug, 19, 1815. Mr. White emigrated to this county in 1849 ; they have had seven children — Miry (now wife of James Keeny, of Wisconsin), James R. and Asa; deceased — Sarah, George and two infants. Has held the office of School Director ten years, of Pathmaster three years. Has donated a considerable amount of money for church purposes and charitable institutions ; has been and still is a very influential and useful man in the community where he resides ; he donated $400 for the Bloomington College, McLean Co., 111. GEORGE WATKINS, farmer. Sec. 36; P. Ellsworth. The subject of this sketch was b3rn in Henry Co., Ind., Jan. 4, 1842; his parents died when he was but 8 months old; remained with elder brother until 11 years of age. and then emigrated to Iowa, where he stayed three years, then came to this county, where he resided, working on a farm until Aug. 14, 1862. when he enlisted in the army, enlisting in Co. D, 94th I. V. I.; was in battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., siege of Vicksburg, capture of Yazoo City, battle of Atchafalaya, Brownsville, Tex., Ft, Morgan, Ala., and the siege of the Spanish Fort ; was mustered out July 17, 1865. Returned to this county ; continued to work on farm until married to Sarah C. Barnes, Nov. 26, 1868 ; she was born Feb. 19, 1846; they are the parents of four children — Mary E., born Nov. 20, 1872, died Jan 28, 1873 ; Henry A., born Jan. 1, 1875 (deceased) ; Manford 0. and Sanford E., born July 4, 1877, both living. His parents are natives of Virginia; his wife's, natives of Ohio, and among the pioneers in Illinois. WILLIAM WIRT, farmer, Sec. 26; P. 0. Ellsworth; owns 245 acres of excellent land, worth $45 per acre; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Sept. 6. 1831 ; the residence of his parents at the time was in Virginia ; he remained with parents until 7 years of age, then moved with them to Ohio; stayed until 14 year- of age, then came, from Ohio to McLean Co., 111., in the spring of 1850 ; still continued to work on farm. Was married to Ellen Reid Feb. 8, 1866 ; she was born in Defiance Co., Ohio, April 1, 1844; are the parents of seven children, four living; the names of the living are Charles, Laura A., Thomas and Royal ; deceased — Albert and two. infants. Mr. Wirt farms quite extensively, and raises some fine horses ; principal crop is corn ; feeds his own grain at home, and is a very neat farmer. 918 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: WEST TOWNSHIP. WILLIAM H. ADAMS, farmer, Sec. 25; P. 0. Belleflower; born in Attica, Fountain Co., Ind., May 20, 1836; his father, Daniel Adams, died when the subject of this sketch was 4 years of age, and he lived with his mother two years, after which he made his home with Jesse Meharry, until 25 years of age, when, upon Jan. 1, 1861, he was united in marriage with Maria 6. Meharry ; she was born in Montgomery Co., Ind., March 5, 1837. They had five children by this union — Margaret J. I., born March 15, 1863; Ella May, Oct 6, 1865; Annetta, Oct. 24, 1867; Jessie E., April 19, 1870, and Emily L., Nov. 6, 1873. Mrs. Adams is a daughter of Hugh Meharry, who was born in Pennsylvania; located in Indiana, in 1829, and is now living in Ford Co., 111. In the spring of 1861, Mr. Adams came to Illinois, and until 1868, followed farming in Livingston Co., when he entered the general merchandising trade, at Forrest, for two years, and again engaged in farming in Livingston < o., until 1877, when he removed to Sec. 25, West Township, McLean Co.. where he has since followed farming. In politics, Mr. Adams is a strong Republican ; his first vote for President was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and he has always acted With the Republican party. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having held the office of School Director and Trustee in the various districts in which he has lived, and with his wife and two oldest children, are members of the M. E. Church ; the parents having been members for a period of thirty years ; Mr. Adams has never made use of either liquor or tobacco, nor played at cards, and does not know one card from another. LEANDER BAKER, farmer; P 0. Farmer City. Mr. Baker is a native of this county ; he was born in Blooming Grove, March 19, 1842; he is a son of Seth Baker, one of the early settlers of the county, emigrating at a very early day; his parents both died when he was a small boy, and he was raised by his grandfather, William Orendorff, at Blooming Grove ; he obtained a common-school education, and at the age of 21, he was united in marriage wiih Mary M. Canouse, on the 26th of November, 1863 ; she was born in Ohio, March 10, 1842 ; they have two children by this union— Effie A., born Jan. 23, 1865 j Eddie A., April 18, 1867. On the 8th of Decem- ber, 1865, he located upon his present place, where he owns 130 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings, and which he intends to make his future home. ASBURY BARNETT, farmer, Sec. 3; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; born in McLean Co., 111., Sept. 28, 1854; he is the youngest son of Harrison Barnett, who was one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; he died in 1862, as also did his wife ; they both lie buried in the beautiful cemetery, one mile east of Le Roy ; after the decease of his parents Mr. B. made his home with his grand- mother Wall, until 18 years of age, during which time he attended the Normal School and Wes- leyan University for five terms ; he located upon his present place in 1863, where he has 160 acres of land, upon which he has farm buildings second to none in the township. His marriage With Mary Johnson, was celebrated Sept. 25, 1873, ; she was born Dec. 15, 1853 ; they have three children — Mattie May, born June 13 1874; Fannie Bell, Feb. 2, 1876, and Mercy Jane, Dec. 16, 1878. Mrs. Barnett is a daughter of James Johnson; he was born in Kentucky, and emigrated to Downs Township, 111., at an early day, where he lived until his decease, which occurred Aug. 5, 1866. Mrs. Johnson's maiden name was Mary Satterfield ; she was born in Tennessee, in 1813, and now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Barnett. The mother of Mr. Barnett was Mercy J. Karr ; she was born Dec. 1, 1835, and died March 23, 1863. DANIEL BARNHART, retired farmer; P. 0. Delano: born in Union Co., Penn., Sept. 24, 1805 ; he emigrated with his parents to Ross Co., Ohio, in 1810, where he lived until 1854, when he came to Illinois, and located in Arrowsmith Township, McLean Co., and, in the fall of 1855, he came to West Township, where he purchased 170 acres, upon which he lived until 1872, since Which time he has been living with his son, upon Section 2. He married Catharine Senff, Jan. 31, 1833 ; she was born Aug. 26, 1807, in Ohio ; she died Dec. 28, 1870. They had five chil- dren, of which two are now living — David and Lavinia J. David is the only son now living ; he was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Dec. 27, 1833 ; he emigrated with his parents to McLean Co., 111., and, since 1855, has lived upon the same farm, with the exception of fifteen months engaged in the saw-mill business. He now has 240 acres of land under fence and in a good state of cultiva- tion, upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Elizabeth Creachbaum was celebrated in Ohio Feb. 9, 1854 ; she was born in Ohio, Oct. 11 1837. They have nine children, viz. : George N., born Nov. 15, 1854 ; Franklin S., Nov. 24, 1856 ; William D., March 19, 1859; John R., Jan. 11, 1862; Charlie L , Oct. 20, 1866; James D., Nov. 1, 1870; Benjamin L., June 14, 1873; Maggie A. M., June 27, 1875; Aubry E., Sept. 4, 1877. Mrs. Barnhart was a daughter of John Creachbaum, who was born in Ross Co., Ohio, where he died October, 1867. He married Catharine Rough ; she was born in Ross Co., where she died Nov. 23. 1878. Of township and school offices Mr. Barnhart has had his full share, having filled the following offices: School Director, twenty years; School Trustee, three years; Assessor, one year ; Town Collector, one year ; and other petty offices. WEST TOWNSHIP. 919 N \THANIEL H. BECKHAM, farmer. Sec. 22 ; P. 0. Sabina ; born in Warren Co., Ky., May 1 1 , 1836 ; his father, Nathaniel Beckham, was also born in Warren Co., Ky., March 21, 1802. He married Elizabeth Low, who was born in the same county Oct. 25, 1803. They were the parents of eight children, of which seven arenow living. Mr. Beckham died in the same county, Aug. 21 1844; his widow, whosurvives him, still lives in thesame county. Nathaniel, Jr., received a limited educa- tion in an old Kentucky log schoolhouse, and lived in Kentucky, where he followed farming and working out by the month, until 1861, when after visiting various Southern and Western States, among which was Texas and the Indian Nation, he came to McLean Co. in the spring of 1861, and for several years was engaged in farming, and employed as farm laborer until December, 1877, when he located upon his present place, Section 22, West Township, where he has 320 acres of good prai- rie land, and 100 acres of timber in Padua and Empire Townships ; alsD several lots in the city of Le Roy. He is quite extensively engaged iu farming, his corn crop for the year 1878 exceed- ing 5,000 bushels, for which he finds a market at the railroad station of Sabina, located upon his own land. His marriage with Rachel Bishop was celebrated Jan. 5, 1868 ; she was born in Empire Township, May 23, 1846. They have six children — Charles H., born Oct. 3, 1868; Mar- garet E., born Feb. 26, 1870; Susan A., Feb. 12, 1872; Anna M., Sept. 14, 1873; Eliza, Sept. 5, 1875, and James B., June 25, 1878. Mrs. Beckham is a daughter of James Bishop, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., and whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Town- ship in another part of this work. CALEB D. BELLVILLE, merchant, Postmaster and Notary Public, Kumler; born in Bel- mont Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1823 ; he was the oldest son of Samuel Bellville, who was born in the State of Delaware, rsov. 22, 1778; he located in Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1806, where he lived until 1831, when he located in Rush Co.. Ind., and died in Vigo Co., Ind., March, 1867, at the age of S9 years. His marriage with Phoebe Dille was celebrated April 9, 1820 ; she was born in New York, May 23, 1800, and died in Vigo Co., Ind., in 1845 ; the Bible from which this record was taken was presented to her by her father upon her marriage, in 1820, and is now held by Mr. Bellville very valuable as an heirloom. Caleb D. Bellville remained with his father, attended school, and followed farming and merchandising until 18 years of age, when he went to Galena, 111., and. after working there one year, with the proceeds of his wages attended the select school six months. He then went to work at carpentering, devoting all his spare time to the study of surveying, which he continued four years, during which time he had some practical experience in surveying In 1853, he went to Richland Co., Wis., where he lived three years, during which time he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Deputy County Surveyor ; he then went to Crawford Co., where he was appointed Deputy County Surveyor, and assisted to lay out the town of Belle Center, and used every effort to secure the county seat. In 1859, he returned to Richland Co., and, in 1862, was elected County Surveyor for two years, and, in March, 1854, enlisted in the 38th Regt., Wis. V. I. ; he was detailed upon the detective service, and, after serving one year was. on account of disability, from rheumatism, contracted while in the army, discharged. He then went to Vigo Co., Ind., and followed farming three years, and in the fall of 1868, he came to McLean Co., and located in Oldtown Township, where he lived two years, when, upon the completion of the I. B. & W. R. R., he built the first building erected upon the town plat of Downs, and opened the first stock of goods at that place ; here he remained in trade, during which time he was Postmaster until 1875, when he again moved upon his farm, and, in 1877, he «rected the first building at Kumler Station ; was appointed the first Postmaster and put in the only stock of goods at the station. His marriage with Mary J. McClurg was celebrated Sept. 24, 1843; she was born in Hancock Co., Ind., July 10, 1825; she died in Vigo Co., Ind., Oct. 14, 1867, leaving four children, viz. : Elizabeth J., born May 14, 1847, now Mrs. Perry Orendorff; Andrew, born June 24, 1852; Olive L , born Aug. 17, 1854, and Martha A., born Aug. 19, 1860. He was united in marriage with Rebecca E. Laughlin, June 20, 1869 ; she was born in West- moreland Co., Penn., April 26, 1831. They have one child by this union, viz.: Flora M., born May 9, 1870. WILLIAM BIGGS, farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. O. Saybrook ; was born in Fayette Co , Ohio, June 5, 1824, remaining with his father until the year 1839, when his father died. He then lived with his mother until 1856, on the farm, engaging in farming. He was married to Caroline Pumpelly Nov. 16, 1861. She was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, July 13, 1839. They are the parents of one child — Nancy E., who was born Aug. 26, 1862. He has held the office of School Director ten years, School Trustee ten years, County Commissioner one year, and Supervisor of Township one term. His father is a native of Delaware, and his mother of Maryland. Mrs. Biggs' father is a native of Maine, and her mother of New Hampshire. He owns 190 acres of good farm land. LEWIS BIGGS, farmer, Sec. 14; P. 0. Belleflower ; born at Smith's Grove, McLean Co., 111., Aug. 1, 1845. His father, Andrew Biggs, was born in Delaware. He emigrated to Ohio, from there to Illinois, and located at Funk's Grove in 1835. He followed farming until his decease, which occurred April 2, 1876. The subject of this sketch followed farming until 19 years of age, when he enlisted in the 146th Regt. I. V. I., in August, 1861, and remained in ser- vice until the close of the war, receiving his discharge July 8, 1865. After farming one year with his father, he came to West Township, and for five years farmed upon the land of William 920 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Biggs, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived. He owns eighty acres of and, which he has placed under good cultivation, and upon which he has good buildings. His. marriage with Bettie Cawly was celebrated Oct. 5, 1878. She was born in Kentucky July -29, 1852. They have one child by this union — Clarence Dean, born July 24, 1874. Mrs. Biggs is the daughter of Moses H. Cawly, whose sketcli appears in this work. SAMUEL BRILEY, farmer, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Farmer City; born in Sumner Co., Tenn., Apr 1 10. 1833. His father, James Briley, was born in South Carolina; he was one of the patriots of the war of 1812 ; was in many battles, among which was the battle of New Orleans, under Gen. Jackson. He located in Tennessee, among the Indians and wild beasts, about 1816, and, about this date, was married to Jane Bundy. She was born in Wilson Co., Tenn. They were the parents of nine children, five are now living. Mrs. Briley died in Sumner Co , Tenn., in 1866. Mr. Briley still lives upon ihe old place, where he has lived for a period of sixty-four years. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farm labor until 21 years of age, when he started out to seek his fortune, coming to Illinois in 1854. He located in Marion Co., and, upon his arrival, his capital consisted of his few clothes tied up in a pocket-handkerchief. Here he was employed as farm laborer for five years. He then followed farming for himself for six years in Marion Co.. during which time he hid paid for eighty acres of land, which he then sold for $1,100, and, in 1865, he came to McLean Co. and purchased one hundred acres of land, where he now lives, and upon which he has good buildings. Mr. Briley has suffered much loss from different causes, among which we mention the loss of his dwelling, with furniture, and all of the clothing of the family, in 1865. In 1869, he lost all his horses, thereby meeting with a loss of upward of $500; and, in 1875, he lost seventy-five hogs, being the whole amount of his stock at that time. For five years, on account of sickness, he was unable to perform any ltbor upon his farm, being attended by five different physicians. Upon the 10th day of March, 1859, he was united in marriage with Ann E. Burford. She was born in Harrison Co., Ind., Dec. 4, 1836. They have three children now living by this union — Burford L., born June 29, 1860 ; Elmer Ellsworth, Jan. 14, 1862; and Carrie May, June 8, 1868. Mrs. Briley is a daughter of Cary L. Burford of whom especial mention is made in the sketch of his son, James C Burford, in another column of this work. JOHN BRITTIN, farmer, Sec. 1, P. O. Saybrook; born in Empire Township, McLean Co., 111., May 3, 1848. He was the second son of Nathan T. Brittin, who emigrated from Ohio and located upon Sec. 1, Empire Township, in 1829. Here he entered land, erected a log house with stick-and-mud chimney, puncheon floor and clapboard door, hung with wooden hinges. His first bedstead was called, in early days, a raccoon bedstead, built by boring holes in the end and. side logs of the house, in which poles were inserted and fastened to a single post, where they met. Their first cupboard and table was an old dry-goods box. In this they kept their dishes and provisions, and also used it as a table. He married Sarah Barnett ; she was born in Ken- tucky, Feb. 15, 1816; she died in Illinois Aug. 7, 1878. Mr. Brittin was born in Ohio Oct. 18,. 1809 ; he died in McLean Co., 111., Oct. 10, 1869. He was held in great esteem by the poor, to whom he was very kind. He commenced life without means, and at the time of his decease had accumulated upward of one thousand acres of land and some $50,000 in securities. They raised a family of nine children, all of whom lived to grow up. His sketch appears among the biog- raphies of Empire Township. John Brittin lived with his parents until 20 years of age, when his father deeded him 126 acres in Empire Township, upon which he farmed until his father's death, when he lived upon the old homestead one year, when he removed upon his own farm, which he afterward exchanged for his present place. He now owns 205 acres upon Sec. 1 , West Township, all under a good state of cultivation. His marriage with Isadora Straight was cele- brated June 2, 1867. She was born in Brown Co., Ohio, July 5, 1849. She was the daughter of Amos Straight, who came from Ohio and located in Empire Township in 1858, where he now lives. JAMES C. BURFORD, farmer, Sec. .3, Township 21 ; P. 0. Farmer City ; born in Harrison Co., Ind., June 23, 1843. His father, Cary L. Burford, was born in Kentucky, and emigrated to Indiana. He afterward lived a short time in Missouri, when he returned to Harrison Co., Ind., where he followed farming, and was also engaged in the merchandise trade, during which time his store was destroyed by fire, by which he suffered a loss of some $4,000. After living in Indiana several years, he came down the river upon a flatboat, taking with him upon the boat his cattle, horses, machinery, household furniture, etc. He then purchased 700 acres of land in Marion Co., and for eleven years engaged in farming and stock-raising, when he sold out, and, in 1865, came to McLean Co., where he purchased 640 acres of land upon Sec. 3, Township 21, West Township, upon which he then located, and followed farming and stock-raising until 1870. with the exception of one year's residence in Le Roy. In the fall of the above year, he removed to Farmer City, where he built a double brick store, and, until 1877, was engaged in the general merchandise trade, when he was succeeded b.v four of his sons, viz.: C. S., J. M., W. T. and J. H. His business is now confined to the duties required of him at the First National Bank of Farmer City, of which he is Vice President and a large stockholder (to the amount of $10,000), the care of his farm and large amount of real estate which he owns in Farmer City. He was united in marriage with Annie Shields, Jan. 29, 1829. She was a native of Virginia. Their golden, WEST TOWNSHIP. 921 wedding anniversary was celebrated at their residence in Farmer City upon Jan. 29, 1879. It was largely attended. Eight of their nine children were present, and fourteen of the twenty- four grandchildren. They came representatives of all ages — from infancy to old age. They came to the number of upward of one hundred. They came from adjoining villages, counties and State, bearing costly presents of silver an ries, quinces, plums, etc. HENRY GRIZZELL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33 ; P. O. Sabina ; born in Gloucester^ shire, England, July 28, 1815. He was the only child of Josiah Grizzell, who was born in 1769, and raised in Gloucestershire, England. He followed farming until his decease, which occurred in the fall of 1834. His mother was born in the same place ; her maiden name was Anna Roach ; her birth occurred in 1769 ; she died in England in 1843 ; they both lie buried in the churchyard in Harrisville Parish. The subject of this sketch attended the private subscription schools in his youth, after which he followed farming until he emigrated to America, where he landed in New York in April, 1851, after a tedious voyage of thirteen weeks. He then lived in Auburn, N. Y., two years, when he emigrated West, and located at Cleaverville, Cook Co., 111., in 1853. Here he followed farming and carpentering for two years, and in 1855, he came to McLean Co., living near Bloomington two years, and, in 1857, he came to West Township, and entered 160 acres of land, upon which he located the following year, and where he has since lived. He waa 924 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: •one of the first settlers of West Township, and is one of, if not the oldest resident of the township. He now owns 290 acres of well-improved land in Sections 32 and 33, which be has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and economy, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife, to whom he was united in marriage in Monmouthshire, England, July 15, 1844 ; her maiden name was Jane Martin ; she was born in the parish of'Hardwich, Glou- cestershire, England, Dec. 12, 1815 ; her fither, Thomas Martin, was born in the same shire, and died in Monmouthshire in the fall of 1847 ; her mother's maiden name was Hannah Vick ; she was born in Gloucestershire, and died in Worcestershire, July, 1841. The children of Henry and Jane Grizzell were eight in number, of which four are now living, viz : Ann Maria, born May 15, 1845, now Mrs. H. R. Benson, wife of a prominent lawyer of Bloomington ; Edward H., Dec. 15, 1846, farming in Barton Co., Kan. ; Robert, Aug. 27, 1848. now in Kansas ; and John Martin, now attending the Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. Grizzell have been members of the Episcopal Church since their childhood. ELIJAH HAM AND, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Perry Co., Ohio, Nov. 0, 1846, where he followed farming until 19 years of age, when he enlisted in the 114th Ohio V. I. ; upon the 22d of August, 1862, he was sent to Memphis, and was engaged in the campaign through Tennessee, the battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, fight of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, from there to Young's Point, where, for three months, he was engiged in digging the canal, being a large part of the time exposed to the fire of the rebel army ; in the spring of 1863, he joined the main army of Grant at Milliken's Bend and participated in nearly all of the battles through the campaign, among which were Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Black River, Champion Hills, and, upon the 22d of May, when the gallant charge was made upon the rebel breastworks at Vicksburg, in which his regiment suffered great loss in killed and wounded ; he was then transferred to the Gulf department, going to Texas; was engaged in the Red River expedition, after which, he was sent to Florida, and from there marched overland and assisted in the capture of Ft. Blakely, which was virtually the last battle of the war; in August, 1865, he was mustered out and received his discharge at Columbus, Ohio, having served in the Union army upward of three years. After receiving his discharge, he located in West Township, McLean Co., and farmed with his father until 1869, when he purchased his present place of eighty acres, upon which he has since lived and upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Emma Coleman was celebrated Sept. 6, 1867; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, July 16, 1848; they have five children by this union, viz., Maggie R., Lydia S., Thomas S., Nannie B. and Emma L. Mrs. Hamand is the daughter of Henry R. Coleman, of the early pioneeis of McLean Co. Mr. Hamand is a Republican ; he cast his first vote for A. Lincoln and has always worked for the success of his party ; he is a Steward of the M. E. Church, of which he with his wife have been members since 1873. JOHN HAMILTON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Farmer City; born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Nov. 22, 1820, where he attended school and followed farming until 23 years of age, when, after clerking one year in the merchandise trade, he purchased a farm in Knox Co., which he improved until 1850, when he sold out, and, emigrating to Illinois, purchased a farm in Empire Townfhip, McLean Co., upon which he located and followed farming for four years, when, in 1855, he again sold out and purchased his present farm of 320 acres, upon section 6, Town 21, West Township, upon which he then located, and where he followed farming until 1862, when he rented his farm and removed to Bloomington, where he engaged in buying and ship- ping stock to Chicago and the Eastern markets until 1872, when he returned to his farm, where he has since lived. He was married to Rebecca R. Pritchard, in Cadiz, Ohio, Aug. 21, 1845: she was born at the above place March 7, 1825; she is a daughter of John and Sarah Pritchard ; her father was born in Frederick Co., Md., and located in Ohio at an early day ; her mother's maiden name was Sarah Brownfield ; she was born in Fayette Co., Penn. The children of John and Rebecca Hamilton were seven in number — Sarah J. (now wife of B. F. Funk, of Bloomington), born June 11, 1846; Mary, born March 31, 1849 (she was married to Judge A. S. Wilson, of Washington Co., Kan., where she died Oct. 12, 1878, leaving two children); Alice, born July 15, 1851 (now Mrs. J. J. Dally, of Missouri); Ella, born Jan. 14, 1854 (now wife of W. E. P. Anderson, a lawyer); Bella, born Jan. 26, 1858; Lizzie, Aug. 14, 1860, and Ernest P., Sept. 12, 1866 ; the last three now living at home. WILLIAM W. HAMMOND, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Sabina. The subject of this sketch was born in Lancashire, England, April 2, 1839 ; his father, Wm. Hammond, was born at the above place, where he followed blacksmithing until 1841, when he emigrated to America; he died in Illinois in 1869 ; his widow died in New Jersey in 1877. Wm. W. lived with his parents until 14 years of age, when he came to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1854 ; his capital at that time was $5 ; he immediately secured employment as farm laborer, at $8 per month; and the proceeds of his first season's labor was loaned out and has remained in than condition for the past twenty-five years. He continued to work out until 22 years of age, when he was united in marriage, on the 9th of Dec, 1861, with Catharine Bishop; she was born in McLean Co., April 4, 1842 ; five children were the fruit of this union, of whom four are now living, viz.: Ida May, born Sept. 23, 1862 ; James W., Sept. 3, 1864; Charles B., Oct. 14, 1866, and Elizabeth C , March 11, 1870. Mrs. Hammond is the daughter of the Hon. Malou WEST TOWNSHIP. 927 Bishop, whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Township. In 1861, Mr. Ham- mond engaged in farming for himself in Empire Township, and, in 1867, he located upon his present place, where he has since lived and where he has 120 acres of land upon which he has good farm buildings. He has held the office of Town Clerk, one year ; School Director, nine years in succession, and some other petty offices. He and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, having joined in 1871. GEO. W. HEDRICK, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; born in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., 111., Oct. 6, 1836. His father, Elijah Hedrick, was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Oct. 19, 1801 ; he emigrated to Sangamon Co., in 1824, and to Randolph's Grove, McLean Co., about the year 1828 or 1830; he lived in McLean Co., until 1871, when he removed to Kansas, where he now lives. He married Susanna Lake ; she was born in Virginia, and is now living in Kansas. The subject of this sketch commenced farming for himself at 21 years of age, and, after two years' labor, he passed one winter in Texas, after which he returned to McLean Co., where he followed school -teaching on account of ill-health, and the balance of the time has been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. In 1865, he located upon his pres- ent place, where he has 320 acres of well-improved land, and 200 acres in other parts of the township ; he is largely engaged in farming, stock-raising, feeding and shipping to the Chicago market. He keeps 100 head of cattle, 160 sheep and some horses ; he has fed hogs largely, and within two years has lost upwards of two hundred by the cholera, and his bad luck with hogs has led him to turn his attention more to the feeding of cattle and sheep. Upon the 20th of September, 1865, he was united in marriage with Martha West ; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., July 1, 1834 ; they have four children now living by this union, having lost two by death ; the living are — Nellie, Frank, Emma and May. Mrs. Hedrick is a daughter of Henry West, who is prominently mentioned in the sketch of Moses H. Cawby, in another part of this work. GEO. W. HILL, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Sabina. Mr. Hill was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, on the 31st day of January, 1838; he emigrated with his parents, when two years of age, and located in Pike Co.. 111. His father, Wm. L., was born in Madison Co., Ky., in the year 1810, and emigrated to Ohio in 1830, where, the following year, he was married to Sarah Salter, who was born in Clermont Co., Ohio; they were the parents of nine children, of whom five are now living. Mr. Hill's decease occurred in Pike Co., 111., in the spring of 1865; his wife having died two years previous. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and followed farm- ing until 23 years of age, when, on the 13th of March, 1861, he was united in marriage with Almira J. Cohenour; she was born in Pike Co., 111., Feb. 15, 1839 ; her parents emigrated from Pennsylvania to Pike Co., in 1836. Upon the marriage of Mr. Hill, he rented land and followed farming in Pike Co. until 1863, when he came to McLean Co , and, after farming one year in Dry Grove Township, he purchased 140 acres in Bloomington Township, which he improved until 1868, when he sold out and purchased 80 acres of his present place, which now contains 120 acres, and upon which he then located, and where he has since lived. The children of George and Almira Hill were seven in number, of which one is deceased ; the living are — Wallace H., born Jan. 22, 1862 ; Effie D., Aug. 30, 1865 ; Almira J., March 31, 1868 ; Winnie M., Aug. 26, 1870 ; Nellie, Nov. 16, 1873, and Annie, Feb. 23, 1877 ; the deceased died in infancy. THOMAS HUDDLESTONE, deceased, farmer. This gentleman was born in Yorkshire, Eng., Dec. 30, 1806 ; he was the son of Thomas Huddlestone, who died in Yorkshire about the year 1860. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until 28 years of age, when, on March 8, 1834, he was united in marriage with Mary Frank, in Yorkshire, Eng., where he followed farming until 1840, when he emigrated to Canada and followed farming until about the year 1852 ; he then emigrated with his family to Illinois, and followed farming in Cook Co., until the fall of 1857, when he came to West Township, McLean Co., and entered 160 acres of land upon Section 33 ; here he lived until his decease, which occurred Sept. 26, 1865. The father of Mrs. Huddlestone was Francis Frank ; he emigrated from England and died in Canada ; her mother was Mary Ann Dobson, born in England, and also died in Canada. Mrs. Huddlestone was born in Yorkshire, Eng., in Oct., 1817 ; she still lives upon the old place, and, although 62 years of age, in possession of all her faculties, and daily performs her household duties. Mr. Huddlestone lies buried in the beautiful cemetery, one mile east of Le Roy. Their children were three in number — Elizabeth, born in November, 1835; Frank, born in January, 1843 ; Mary Jane, born in 1846. Frank Huddlestone now lives upon the old place. His marriage with Mary Warren was celebrated Jan. 28, 1873 ; she was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1844 ; they have four children by this union — Charles L., born Jan. 10, 1874; William T., Jan. 2, 1875; Edmond W., Aug. 1, 1876; M. F., Jan. 23, 1879. The father of Mrs. Frank Huddlestone, Martin L. Warren, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he died in April, 1872 ; her mother's maiden name was Hannah J. Overton ; she was born in New York State, and died in Jefferson Co., May, 1872. JAMES JACKSON, farmer and plasterer ; P. O. Farmer City, De Witt Co. ; born in Man- chester, Eng., Feb. 3, 1846 ; his father, Joseph Jackson, emigrated from England and landed in New York in the spring 1850; after living upwards of five years in Rochester, N. Y., he came West in 1856, and located in Le Roy, McLean Co., where he lived until 1863, when he removed to PP 928 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : Farmer City, De Witt Co., and followed milling and the dairy business until his decease, which occurred in Farmer City in April, 1875 ; his widow, who survives him, still resides in Farmer City, ; her maiden name was Hannah Higginbottom ; she was born in Derbyshire, England. The subject of this sketch remained with his father, and followed plastering and farming until June 9, 1862, when he enlisted in the 68th Regt. I. V. I., and was sent to the Eastern army, where, after five months service, he received his discharge ; and upon the 12th of February, 1863, he re-enlisted in Co. I, 39th Regt. I. V. 1, and was forwarded to the army of the James, and was in twenty-seven different engagements, among which were Ft. Darling. Darbytown Roads, and for one month under fire in front of Petersburgh, and remained in active service until the cap- ture of Richmond and surrender of Lee's army, in April, 1865; he then remained in Richmond until August ; was mustered out of service at Norfolk, Va., and received his discharge at Spring- field, 111., Dec. 16, 1865 ; he then returned home and followed farming and plastering until 1876, when he purchased his present place of 110 acres, where he has since lived. His marriage with Martha J. Weedman was celebrated Dec. 24, 1868 ; she was born in Kankakee, 111., May 20, 1849; four children were the fruit of this union, viz. : Nellie, born April 26, 1872; John \., born May 19, 1876 ; Bertha, born June 18, 1879, and one who died in childhood. W. J. KIMLER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Weedman ; born in Bloomington Township, McLean Co., Nov. 10, 1838. His father, Caleb Kimler, was one of the early settlers of McLean Co, locating in Blooming Grove, about the year 1828 or 1830; here he lived until his death, which occurred Jan. 9, 1848. The subject of this sketch engaged in farming until 22 years of age, during which time he taught school one season, and on Aug. 29, 1862, he enlisted in the 4th I. V. C. and went forward to battle for the Union : he was sent to the front at once, and was in active service in Mississippi and Tennessee until December, 1863, when he was sent to Natchez, Miss., where he remained one year ; they were then engaged in scouting through Mississippi and Louisiana, and were afterward engaged in scouting through Tennessee, during which time they destroyed the Memphis & Charleston R. R.; and was engaged in Tennessee and Louisiana in scouting, destroying railroads, etc.. until the close of the war, when he returned to Springfield, and received his discharge the latter part of June, 1865, having served in Ihe Union army nearly three years, during which time he was neither wounded, taken prisoner, nor sent to the hospital nor guard-house. He then returned to Blooming Grove and followed farming and stock business one year; and in the spring of 1867, he purchased 120 acres in West Township, upon which he lived until 1873, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has 200 acres of land on Sec. 35, upon which he has good farm buildings. His mar- riage with Ellen Hoover was celebrated April 2, 1867 ; she was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Feb. 13. 1839. They have five children now living, having lost one by death ; the living are: Cora May, born Jan. 4, 1868 : Olie E., Aug. 26, 1869 ; Mary F., Aug 24, 1871 ; William B., Oct. 13, 1875; Jessie P., June 7, 1877. Mr. K. has had his share of town and school offices, having been Town Clerk four years, which office he now holds, as well as Trustee of Schools since 1871, School Director, School Treasurer, and other petty offices. JAMES KINCAID, farmer, Sec. 34; P. 0. Farmer City. The subject of this sketch was born in Menard Co., Ill-, Jan. 3, 1841, where he attended school and assisted his father in farming until 1862, when he was united in marriage, May 2, 1862, with Ann E. Lukins ; she was born in Menard Co. July 3, 1841. He then engaged in farming for himself in Menard Co., until the winter of 1871, when he came to McLean Co,, and located upon Sec. 34, West Town- ship, where he has since lived, and where he owns 160 acres of land, upon which he has good buildings. His father, Andrew Kincaid, now lives in Menard Co.; he was born in Bath Co., Ky., in 1810; his wife was born in the same county in 1820; both parents are now living; they emigrated from Kentucky to Menard Co. in 1836, and were among the oldest living settlers of that county ; his first patent for 160 acres of land is signed by Van Buren, as President. Mrs. Kin- caid is the daughter of Jesse Lukins, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Menard Co. in 1831, where he died in 1855 ; his widow survives him, and lives in the same county. The children of James and Ann Kincaid were six in number, of which five are now living, viz: William T., born Jan. 4., 1864; Andrew D., Feb. 3, 1865: John G., June 7, 1866; Laura A., Oct. 22, 1867, and Martha E., April 25, 1870. In politics Mr Kincaid is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for President ; he has held several offices, among which is School Director, six years in succession, and as Town Collector he successfully handled the funds of West Township for four years. JOHN T. LUKINS, farmer; P. 0. Farmer City; born in Fleming Co., Ky., Feb. 14, 1836; he was the oldest son of Jesse Lukins, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in VLenard Co., 111., in 1837, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred in March, 1 855; his widow survives him, and now lives in Menard Co. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until 15 years of age, after which he and a younger brother carried on the farm until 22 years of age. when he purchased eighty acres of land, which he farmed until 1871, when he sold out and came to West Township, McLean Co., where he purchased 160 acres, upon which he has since lived. His marriage with Mary C. Hughes was celebrated Dec. 8, 1859 ; she was born in Menard Co., 111., March 14, 1841 ; they have eight children by this union — Thomas, born Sept. 30, 1860; William E., Feb. 15, 1862; Eva, April 26, 1866; Ida, Feb. 15, 1868; WEST TOWNSHIP. 929 Susie, Nov. 4, 1869 ; Jennie, Dec. 22, 1871 ; Minnie F., April 18, 1875; John E., Feb. 7, 1877. Mrs. Lukins is the daughter of Hugh D. Hughes, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Menard Co.. 111., at a very early day, where he died in 1862 ; his widow survives him, and lives in Menard Co. S. R. MITCHELL, farmer and capitalist; P. 0. Farmer City; born in Franklin Co., 0., Aug. 29, 1832; he was brought up to milling until 18 years of age, when he engaged in farming for his father until 21 years of age; he then emigrated to Illinois and located in Lexington Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1853, where he followed farming and milling until the loss of the mill by fire in 1857, when he devoted his time to farming until 1865, when, selling out, he purchased eighty acres upon Sec. 17, Empire Township, upon which he lived until 1875, when he again sold out and purchased his present place of 100 acres, where he has since lived ; he also rents other land, upon which he raises large amounts of grain, etc.; he also makes a specialty of loaning money. He was married to Elizabeth Horner, March 12, 1857; she was born in Pennsylvania Feb. 8, 1838 ; they have ten children now living, having lost one by death ; the living are — Joseph, William, Samuel, Homer, Harry, Ollie, Milton, Mattie, Benjamin, and Henry. Mr. Mitchell has held many offices, among which we mention : Supervisor, two terms ; Road Commissioner, nine years while living in Empire Township, and School Director, many years, of District 4. J. M. MOON, farmer. Sec. 10; P. 0. Delano; was born in Sheffield, Lorain Co., Ohio, June 22, 1835; he remained with his parents until he was 19 years of age, receiving a liberal education, first attending Berea Institute, in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, for one year, then the Folsom Commercial College, Cleveland, and afterward for one year in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, perfecting him e elf in penmanship ; after leaving that institution, he taught penmanship in Ohio and Kentucky. In the year 1855, he became engaged in buying and shipping horses from Ohio, and in 1857 engaged in the grain and mercantile business, in the village of Malta, De Kalb Co., 111., and continued in such until the year 1861 ; his health becoming impaired, he disposed of his business and became the traveling agent of William B. Young & Co., of Chicago, manu- facturers of agricultural implements, and remained with them for five years ; during this time having, with his brother George W. Moon, purchased a tract of 1,040 acres of land in West- Township, of this county, in the year 1867 settled upon it and improved it ; being mostly swamp lands, he made over thirty miles of ditch, rendering them to-day the best corn lands in this county. Mr. Moon has held the office of Supervisor for two terms. He married Miss Mary Jewett, daughter of Charles Jewett, of De Kalb Co., 111., Feb. 16, 1857 ; they had six children, four living — Charles 0., Jennie E., Beatrice Y. and Lucina, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Moon has always taken an active part in politics, as a Republican, and has been a member of the McLean County Republican Central Committee. WILLIAM MORRIS, farmer and insurance agent ; P. 0. Sabina; born in Sussex Co., Del., June 10, 1814; at 12 years of age, he emigrated with his parents to Preble Co., Ohio, where he followed farming until 1839, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Morgan Co., where he rented land and followed farming for eight years. In 1847, he purchased a farm of 200 acres in Macoupin Co., upon which he farmed until 1865, when he sold out and purchased 160 acres of land in West Township, McLean Co., upon which he then located, and where he has since lived during a period of fourteen years. During the past seven jears, he has been local agent for the Rockford & Forest City Insurance, confining his business to territory within fifteen miles of his residence. His marriage with Sarah Ayton was celebrated Aug. 2, 1837 ; she was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Sept. 10, 1812; they were the parents of ten children, five of whom are now living — James B., Isaac N., Mary C, Lydia M. and Eliza W. Mr. Morris has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the M. E. Church for the past forty years ; has been local agent for the American Bible Society for twenty years, and Treasurer of the same for twelve years. Mrs. Morris' maiden name was Sarah Johnson ; she has two children by her previous husband, Henry Ayton — Benjamin F., living in Le Roy, and Jane E. r living in Greene Co., 111. EDWIN M. MURPHY, farmer, Sec. 6; P. 0. Le Roy ; born on Sec. 2, Empire Township,. McLean Co.. May 23, 1836, where he lived with his parents, attended school and followed farm- ing until when he, with his father and brother, emigrated to Oregon, but not being pleased with the country, he returned to McLean Co., and purchased 152 acres of land upon Sec. 6 r West Township, upon wh'ch he located and where he has since lived. He was the youngest son of Isaac Murphy who emigrated from Ohio and located in Bloomington about the year 1826 or 1827 ; he was married to Mary Whitney, in Bloomington; she was born in Meigs Co., Ohio, and came to Illinois at a very early day; she died in McLean Co., in 1869; Mr. Murphy entered the land where Mr. Dooly now lives, when the Land Office was at Vandalia ; his first team was » yoke of steers; he afterward raised a team of colts, and in this way obtained his first team of horses; he worked at carpentering in Bloomington, and put up some of the first building-t of that town, among which was the first jail, using the fruits of his labor to pay for his land ; he then followed farming and stock-raising until he had accumulated 980 acres of land, which he sold out and went to Oregon, where he died April 14, 1872; his olde3t son. Charles, was the first white boy born in Bloomington, in December, 1830. Edwin M. Murphy was married to- 930 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Jane Howell, in September, 1862 : she was born in Kentucky, and died in McLean Co., in November, 1870, leaving two children — John, born Nov. 12, 1863, and I*aac L., born June 20, 1866. His marriage with Margaret Oliver was celebrated Oct. 26, 1871 ; she was born in County Derry, Ireland, Feb. 19, 1838, and emigrated to America with her parents when 15 months old ; her father, William Oliver, located in De Witt Co. in 1853, and died May 12, 1875, at the age of 96 years. The children of E. M. Murphy by his second wife are Mary Jane, born Dec. 5, 1872 ; Laura Bell, Dec. 11, 1876. PERRY ORENDORFF, farmer ; P. 0. Kumler ; born in Bloomington Township, McLean Co., July 7, 1842; he is the second son of James K. Orendorff, who was born Dec. 28, 1812, in Kentucky, and came to Illinois with his parents about the year 1817 ; he located at Blooming Grove in 1823, and was one of the early settlers of this county ; he endured all the hardships and privations of frontier life ; he served in the Black Hawk war ; was a member of Merritt Covel's > company. He was united in marriage with Lavina Sales May 4, 1837; she now lives upon the old homestead ; Mr. Orendorff died Jan. 31, 1875, in Bloomington Township, where he had lived for upwai'd of half a century. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools until the fall of 1863, when he entered the Wesleyan University, which he attended until the following spring, when he engaged in farming with his father until the spring of 1869, when he located upon his present place, where he has 240 acres of well-improved land, upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Elizabeth J. Bellville was celebrated April 4, 1869 ; she was born in Galena, 111., May 14, 1847 ; they have three children by this union — James D., born April 5, 1872; Carrie L., born Dec. 9, 1876, and Lillie, born Sept. 11, 1878. Mrs. Oren- dorff is the daughter of C. D. Bellville, who has an extended sketch among the biographies of this township. ROBERT POLK, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Farmer City. This gentleman was born in County Derry, Ireland, upon the 24th of June, 1828; at 16 years of age, he, with an older sister, emi- grated to America, and landed at Philadelphia in July, 1845 ; after following teaming here a short time, he went to Delaware, where he followed farming six years, and, in the spring of 1858, he emigrated to Illinois, and lived in Chicago three months, when he came to Empire Township, McLean Co., where, after obtaining employment for a time, he rented land and followed farming ten years, during which time he purchased thirteen acres, upon which he erected a residence, which he disposed of in 1871, and leased 160 acres of land in West Township, upon which he lived five years ; in the spring of 1876, he removed upon his present place, which he had pre- viously purchased, and which contains eighty acres of land, all under fence, and in a good state of cultivation, and upon which he has good farm buildings. Mr. Polk landed in Le Roy in 1858 with a capital of but 40 cents, and, for lack of means, his family were left in Chicago ; he has, since the above date, with the asssistance of his wife, by their united efforts, strict economy and hard labor, accumulated a good property. His marriage with Martha Green was celebrated Feb. 1, 1855; she was born in County Donegal, Ireland, Dec. 11, 1830, and emigrated to America when quite young; they have six children by this union, viz., Robert J., Mary J., Sarah E. (now Mrs. John Conn, of Belleflower Township), Martha B., William S. and Margaret E. Mr. and Mrs. Polk are both believers in the Protestant religion, and educate their children in that belief. WILLIAM E. REID, farmer; P. 0. Weedman ; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Oct. 31, 1850 ; he is the youngest son of R. S. Reid, who was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1811 ; he emigrated to Illinois and located at Randolph Grove, McLean Co., in the fall of 1875, where he now lives. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools until 18 years of age, after which he attended the High School and Normal School, a', Urbana, for three seasons, and one season at the Teachers' Institute, at Bloomington ; at 21 years of age, he engaged in school- teaching, which he has followed for the past eight years, in connection with farming, in which, for the last six years, he has been an equal partner with his father; upon the 14th of March, 1879, he removed upon his present place in West Township, which he intends to make his per- manent home. His marriage with Eliza M. Welch was celebrated March 19, 1878 ; she was born in Danvers Township, McLean Co., Oct. 8, 1852; she is a daughter of Henry and Minerva Welch, who are among the early pioneers of McLean Co., and whose biographies appear in of Downs Township. JOHN B. SAVAGE, merchant, Postmaster and Justice of the Peace, Sabina; residence, Sabina Station ; was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1844; his father, Whalen Savage, died when the subject of this sketch was but 10 years of age, and he, with his mother, emi- grated to Illinois and located in Downs Township in the spring of 1854; he there worked at farming during the summer, and attended school during the winter until 20 years of age, when, in the spring of 1864, he enlisted in the 68th Reg., I. V. I., and served with the Army of the Potomac until he received his discharge; he then returned to Downs Township and was employed by John McConnell seven years in succession. He was then engaged in farming a short time upon rented land in Downs Township, and, in 1872, he removed upon his present place in West Township, where he has since lived, with the exception of two years' residence in Le Roy, one year of which he was engaged at milling, and one of which he was engaged in the merchandis- ing trade for himself. During Mr. Savage's residence in Downs Township, he held the office of WEST TOWNSHIP. 931 Highway Commissioner, Constable, and, as Collector, he successfully handled the funds of the Township for the year 1871. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1876, and, at the completion of the railroad through Sabina, he was appointed Postmaster, both of which above offices he now holds. He is also engaged in the merchandise trade, handling lumber, coal, salt, lime, etc., and buyiug grain for Barnum & Keenan, of Le Roy. His marriage with Sarah L. Crumbaugh was celebrated Oct. 1, 1868; she was born in Empire Township Dec. 17, 1848 ; they have two children by this union — Herbert, born Sept. 14, 1872, and Annie, April 11, 1875. Mrs. Savage is daughter of Montgomery Crumbaugh, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in McLean Co. in the year 1841. Her mother was the daughter of Henry West, in whose honor this township received its name. He was the first Supervisor, which office he held for many years. THOMAS A. SAXTON, farmer, Sec. 5, Town 21 ; P. O. Farmer City ; barn in Harrison Co., Ohio, Dec. 12, 1826 ; at 11 years of age his father died and Thomas, being the oldest son, devoted all his energies toward the support of the family ; at 21 years of age, he commenced as farm laborer, being employed by one party seven years in succession. He then rented land and followed farming and threshing until 1864, when he sold his threshing-machine, some farm machinery and stock and located upon the farm of J. Keenan, West Township, McLean Co., 111., and followed farming and stock-raising until 1872, when he purchased his present place of 160 acres on Sec. 5, and, in 1875, settled upon the same, where he has since lived ; he has brought i he same to a good state of cultivation, divided in forty-acre lots, and upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Mary Jane Healea was celebrated Nov. 11, 1852 ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, April 19, 1827 ; they were the parents of five children, of whom one is deceased: the living are — Mrs. Sarah M. Grizzell, born Jan. 22, 1854, living in Barton Co., Kan.; Mary M., Feb. 3, 1858, married and lives in Ohio ; Joseph F., Jan. 11, I860, and Will- iam F., Jan. 27, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Saxton, with their two oldest children, are members of the M. E. Church, the parents having been members for the past eighteen years, and Mr. S. hav- ing filled the office of Steward of the church both in Ohio and Illinois as well as several town and school offices. J. D. SCOTT, farmer; P. 0. Kumler; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 14, 1842, where he attended school and assisted his father in farming until he attained his majority, when he enlisted in May. 1864, in the 167th Reg., Ohio V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union. He was in the campaign of West Virginia during his term of service, and was mustered out and received his discharge in the fall of 1864 ; he then returned to Ohio, and, upon the 11th day of January, 1865, was united in marriage with Susan A. Kumler ; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Sept. 20, 1844 ; they have four children by this union — Otto G., Ord E., Ollie M. ana Nellie. Upon his marriage, he continued farming for himself in Butler Co., Ohio, until 1868, when he removed to Union Co., Ind , where he engaged in the dry goods trade until 1872, and, in the summer of 1873, he came to Illinois and located upon Sec. 1, Town 21, West Township, McLean Co., where he has since followed farming. GEORGE W. SNOOK, farmer and grain-dealer ; P. 0. Delano. This gentleman was born in Maryland, on the 25th of January, 1823 ; he was the son of John Snook, who was born in the State of Maryland, and died in Ohio, in the spring of 1839, At 15 years of age, the subject of this sketch started out with an older brother, to seek his fortune, his capital consisting of $2.45 ; his first labor was working upon the turnpike in Clark Co., Ohio, upon which he labored three months, without receiving his wages, when the contractor failed and fled, and Mr. Snook lost his three months labor ; during the following winter, he performed various duties upon a farm, receiving from 30 to 50 cents per day, and in the spring his capital invoiced one ax, a new suit of clothes and $15 in money. He was then confined to the house two months with a broken leg. After which he was employed as a farm laborer, until 1842, when he was united in marriage with Mary M. Fuller, Sept. 15, 1842; she was born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 6, 1822. He then rented land for two years, and in the winter of 1844, he labored at $8 per month, and in this manner he supported his family, which at that time consisted of himself, wife and one child. He then farmed on shares two years, when he hired out in a distillery, where he worked for eight years, his wages varying from $15 to $30 per month ; during this period of labor he made his first land purchase by investing §500 in Indiana land, which he held three years, when he realized a profit of $1,000. He continued dealing in land while working by the month, until he had realized a profit of $3,500. In 1854, he purchased a farm, for which he paid $4,000, upon which he located and engaged in farming and dealing in land, until 1861, when he so'd out, and coming West, located in Logan County, 111., in the fall of 1861. Here he followed farming and dealing in real estate, until he came to McLean Co., and located upon Sec. 23, West Township, in 1868, where he has since lived. He now owns 1,100 acres of land, upon which he has ten sets of good farm buildings, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, economy and careful business management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, and to her efforts he generously attributes the greatest share of his success. In politics, he is a Republican. His religious belief is Universalist. Has been a strong temperance advocate for the past thirty years. He is a public-spirited man, and considers well the interest of his township; to his effort" the township of West may feel truly grateful for what has been accomplished for 932 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: its benefit. The completion of the narrow-gauge railroad through the township, at this time, is one of the public enterprises in which he has been actively engaged. He has witnessed the completion of this road, secured a station upon his own land, and engaged largely in buying grain, and although this is his first season, his shipments will reach 100,000 bushels, for which he pays the highest possible price. He has also secured a post office at the station, put in a stock of merchandise, put up a blacksmith-shop, and deals in coal, to which he will soon add a stock of lumber. The children of George and Alary Snook were ten in number, of which eight are now living — Nancy M., Joseph L., John T., Charles C, Walter H., Sarah L., Henry Q., and Will- iam W. JAMES STEELE, farmer and grain-buyer; P. 0. Weedman ; residence Weedman Station. The subject of this sketch was born in th? city of Glasgow, Scotland, June 30, 1835. He emi- grated with his parents, when 7 years of age, and landed in New Orleans, in the winter of 1842. Coming up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, he landed at Louisville, Ky., where he resided with his parents until the summer of 1853, a part of which time was employed in farming in Indiana. At the latter date, he came to Sangamon Co., 111., where he arrived in poor health, and with a capital of 15 cents. He then worked at farming during the summer, and through the winter he worked for his board, and, by strict economy and close application to his studies for two years, he had advanced sufficiently in his studies, and had saved of his earnings means to enter Illinois State University at Springfield, which he attended until 1859, when, having exhausted his means, he engaged in teaching until 1862, when he raised a company for the Illinois volunteer infantry, which was mustered into service, and sent to Kentucky. After serving one year he received his discharge on account of disability. He then resumed teaching, which extended over a period of eighteen years, thirteen of which was employed in the villages of Athens and Sweetwater. In the fall of 1876, he located upon his present place, where he has 160 acres of land, with good farm buildings. Aside from farming, he is largely engaged in buying corn for the Southern and Eastern markets. His marriage with Sarah E. Ham was celebrated in Sangamon Co., 111., April 11, 1861; she was born in Sangamon Co., Feb. 16, 1843; they have five children now living, having lost three by death. The living are — John H., Albert H., Laura B., Minnie, and Ann Eliza. JACOB G. SWEGLE, farmer; P. 0. Kumler; born in Fulton Co., 111., May 13. 1845; here he was engaged in farming until 27 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Mrs. Frances E. Swegle, March 10, 1874; her maiden name was Frances E. Householder; she was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Knox Co., with her parents, when quite young. Upon the marriage of Mr. Swegle, he followed farming a short time, in Fulton Co., and, in 1874, he located upon Section 12, West Township, where he has 160 acres of land under cultivation, upon which he has good farm buildings. The children of Jacob and Frances Swegle are — Charlie and William. Mrs. Swegle has two children by her previous husband — Elizabeth and Ruth. WILLIAM L. SWINEY, farmer; P. 0. Farmer City; born in Menard Co., 111., Sept. 5, 1851 ; his father, William C. Swiney, was born in Kentucky, and emigrated to Illinois and located in Menard Co , in the year 1836 ; here he entered 320 acres of land, upon which he lived until 1870, when he sold out and purchased 640 acres in De Witt Co., where he has since lived. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Eldredge, in Menard Co.; she was born in England and emigrated, with her parents, to America when quite young, landing in Baltimore ; from there to Illinois. The subject of this sketch attended school and assisted his father in farming until 23 years of age, when his marriage with Sarah C. Weedman was celebrated, upon the 21st of June, 1875; she was the daughter of George Weedman, who was born in Perry Co., Ohio, in 1824, and located in McLean Co., 111., in 1830, with his parents; they came to Bloomington when there was but one log cabin there. He now lives in De Witt Co., near Farmer City, and is engaged in farming; Mrs. Weedman was born in Indiana; her maiden name was Kate Danner ; both parents now live in De Witt Co. THOMAS WARTON, farmer; P. 0. Farmer City ; born in Pike Co., 111., April 22, 1845, where he lived upon the farm until 21 years of age ; he had obtained a common-school educa- tion, and at the above age entered the Whipple Academy, at Jacksonville, in 1867, where he attended two seasons, and, in 1869, came to West Township, where he boarded, for two years, with Henry Grizzell, and improved his farm, which he has since brought from its wild, prairie condition to its present state of cultivation. He erected his present residence in 1874, where he has since lived. His marriage with Anna C. Bright was celebrated Dec. 25, 1874 ; she was born May 10, 1851 ; they have one child now living by this union — Mary A., born Dec. 11, 1876. Mrs. Warton was a daughter of Peter L. Bright, who emigrated from Pennsylvania to Illinois, and is now making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Warton. JOHN WEEDMAN, farmer, stock-dealer and banker; P. 0. Farmer City ; residence Weed- man Station; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Perry Co., Ohio, Feb. 3, 1828; his father, John Weedman, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1797; he emigrated to Ohio, and, in the fall of 1830, removed to McLean Co., III., and was in Bloomington when there was but one log house in the place ; after living in McLean Co. seven years, he removed to De Witt Co.. near Farmer City, and entered land upon which he lived many years, then emigrated to Iowa, where he lived until his decease, which occurred at his home in Webster City, March 2, WEST TOWNSHIP. 933 1867 ; Mrs. Weedman was born in Maryland, and died in De Witt Co., 111., in 1853; her maiden name was Rachel Wilson ; their children were seven sons and three daughters, of which all save one lived to grow up. The subject of this sketch made his home with his father until 1850, when he, with four of his brothers, went overland to California, going by the old Oregon route, crossing the Rocky Mountains at South Pass and arriving at Placerville, upon the 26th of July, having been four months upon the trip ; he then for nine months engaged in mining and trad- ing, and, upon April 1, 1851, left San Francisco upon a sailing vessel via Panama, which they crossed upon mules, foot and by boat ; from there by steamer to New York, having been six weeks upon the trip; he then returned to Illinois, and for two years engaged in farming in De Witt Co., where he located upon his present place, where he has since lived during a period of twenty-nine years ; he has upon his home farm 660 acres, upon which he has fine buildings, and 234 acres in De Witt Co., with good buildings, also fifty-two acres within the corporation limits of Farmer City, a large portion of said city being laid out by Mr. Weedman, his brother and Mr. McCord ; he is largely engaged in buying, feeding and shipping stock to Chicago and East- ern markets ; in 1870, he associated in the banking business at Farmer City, under the firm name of Thomas & Weedman, and, in 1876, he purchased his partner's interest, since which time he has continued the banking business under his own name ; his business card appears in another part of this work. Mr. Weedman related to the writer many incidents characteristic of frontier life that this brief space will not admit; in 1847, he went with Isaac Funk with a drove of cattle to Chicago, and finding a dull market, he for many days assisted in herding them on land upon which a part of the city of Chicago now stands ; he also assisted in driving hogs to Pekin, and to Eugene, upon the Wabash, at one time driving 1,200 head; about the year 1843, he with his father, took a load of apples and peaches to Chicago ; the dealers at that time would not. purchase so large a load, and he was obliged to peddle them out from house to house, in lots of from one peck to a full bushei ; he also made many trips to Chicago with grain, selling the same at 50 cents per bushel, freighting goods to Springfield from Chicago at $1 per hundred. His marriage with Mary A. McDonald was celebrated March 31, 1853; she was born in Madison Co , Ohio, Sept. 22, 1834 ; six children were the fruit of this union, of which four are now liv- ing—Harriet J., born Dec. 21, 1857; Cassius M., Aug. 12, 1860; Rachel, March 4, 1862, and John S., Dec. 15, 1865; the oldest daughter, after attending the Wesleyan University, entered the Female College at Jacksonville, where she is now attending, and from which she expects to graduate the coming season; of the other children, the oldest son is attending the High School at Farmer City, the young children living at home. Mrs. Weedman is the daughter of Thomas McDonald ; he was born in Tennessee in the year 1802 ; he emigrated with his parents to Ohio, at an early day, and located at Farmer City in 1851, where he now lives with his wife, to whom he was married in Ohio, where she was born and raised ; her maiden name was Rebecca J. Erwin. SIMEON H. WEST, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Arrows mith ; Mr. West was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., where he attended the common schools during the winter until 16 years of age, after which he engaged in farming until he emigrated to Illinois, and located in West Township in the spring of 1851. West Township received its name in honor of his father, who was the first Supervisor of the township, which office he held until 1869, when he removed to Bloomington, where he has since lived. In 1852, the subject of this sketch went to California, going down the river to New Orleans, then to Vera Cruz by sailing-vessel, then horseback via the City of Mexico to Acapulco ; from there by steamer 2,000 miles to San Francisco, where he arrived in April of the same year ; he remained in California and engaged in mining until 1854, when he returned via the Nicaragua route, being swamped in Virgin Bay, where he had a nar- row escape from drowning, forty of the ninety passengers being lost; he then returned to his farm which he improved until 1859, when he again went to California by the overland route, going by the mail stage from Tipton, Mo., to San Francisco. Cal., — a distance of 3,000 miles, being made by constant travel day and night, 1,100 miles of which were among hostile Indians ; he followed mining in California with fair success until 1861, when he returned to his farm, where he has since lived. His marriage with Martha 0. Neal was celebrated June 21, 1863 ; she is a native of Ohio; they have six children by this union — Rosa L., Henry C, Laurence J., Marietta, Carrie M. and Marcus D. In 1873, Mr. West was elected Supervisor of West Town- ship, which office he has since held with the exception of one year, the last year being elected without opposition. He is largely engaged in feeding cattle, which he buys and ships from Chicago in car-load lots, and, after feeding until ready, re-ships to the Chicago market. 934 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: MOUNT HOPE TOWNSHIP. L. J. ADKINS, farmer; P. O. McLean ; was born in Pike Co., Ky., April 7, 1824; went with his parents to Louisville. Ky., in 1831. His father, Elijah, was one of the first settlers of Pike Co. ; the county seat was built on his land. In 1842 he went to Clarksville, Tenn., where he engaged with his brother-in-law, clerking in the wholesale grocery and confectionery business until 1850. He then engaged in the confectionery business on his own account, and was burn d out the same year, losing nearly everything. Sept. 19, of the same year, he married Hester E. Poor ; she was born in Logan Co., Ky., May 18, 1832, and was a daughter of Col. D. W. Poor; he represented Logan Co. in the State Legislature three terms. In the fall of 1854, they moved to Mount Hope Township, where he bought 160 acres, and has followed farming ever since. They have had nine children ; three sons and four daughters are now living. CARLON C. ALDRICH, grain and lumber dealer, McLean ; was born in Swanzey, Cheshire Co., N. H., Oct. 2, 1829 ; married to Miss L. A. Willson, Nov. 6, 1854, and moved to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1855. He located in the village of McLean, Aug. 8, 1860, where he engaged in the grain and lumber trade. In 1868 he formed a copartnership with A. B. Stoner and H. W. Bachman, under the firm name of Stoner, Aldrich & Co.. and erected the Mount Hope Mills. An elevator, in connection with the mill, affords the best facilities for the handling and storing of grain. Mr. Aldrich owns 200 acres of farm-land in the vicinity of McLean, worth about $40 per acre. He has served the people of Mount Hope as Supervisor for two years. He has three children — two daughters and a son. CORDELIA G. ALLIN; P. 0. McLean; widow of John W. Allin, who was born in Vandalia, 111., July 9, 1826; moved to Bloomington with his parents previous to 1830. Nov. 8, 1849, he married Cordelia G. Parsons, who was born in Monongalia Co., West Va., Sept. 30, 1823 ; moved to Connersville, Ind., with her parents, in 1833, and to Bloomington, 111., in 1842. Mr. Allin followed farming until his decease, Dec. 3, 1865. They moved to Mount Hope Township in March, 1859. They had four children — Lucy E., Harriet A., William P. and George, who died May 8, 1861, aged 8 years and 27 days. Mrs. Allin, with her three children, now resides on the farm (160 acres) which they purchased in the spring of 1859. LAFAYETTE ARCHER, Collector, McLean ; the present Collector of Mt. Hope Township; is a native of New York, his birthplace being near the city of Rochester ; he came West with his people when he was two years old, they locating in Bureau Co. He remained there until the age of 23 years ; while a resident of this county he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. .From there he came to McLean Co., and for two years was engaged in farming. In 1862, he entered the army in the war of the late rebellion — three years service. He had served nearly his term of enlistment, when he received a wound which disabled him for further service. He was in many of the heavy battles, among which may be mentioned the battle of Nashville, in 1864; that of Pleasant Hill, battle of Tupello, Miss., and also the battle of Fort DeRuso. After leaving the army, he returned to McLean, and, until 1877, was engaged at the carpenter trade. From this he began farming again, and, in 1878, was elected to his present office. He is an old soldier who enjoys the respect and confidence of the people, and any confidence yet placed in him has not been betrayed. G. A. ATCHLEY, farmer; P. 0. McLean; one of the finest farms of 160 acres, in Mt. Mope Township, is that of Mr. Atchley, located in Sections 1 and 12. He is a native of Mercer Co., N. J., his father and mother both being natives of the same State; he was born in 1831, and, during his early life, received a fair education. He came West in December, 1868, and bought 120 acres of his present farm, his family coming in the spring of 1869. Since then he has added forty acres to his farm. Under his careful cultivation he has made it one of the most valuable pieces of property in his vicinity. He was married Dec. 18, 1852, to Miss Mary Applegate. They have a family of four children — one son and three daughters. Mr. Atchley is well kn>>wn as one of the thoroughly reliable men of Mt. Hope Township. H. W BACHMAN, engineer. McLean ; is a native of Montgomery Co., Ohio ; he was born May 5, 1836; when he was 3 years old, his people moved to Jasper Co., 111. ; upon the death of his father, in 1844, the family moved to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1852 ; then moved to Tazewell Co., 111. ; while he was a resident of Pennsylvania, he had learned the trade of an engineer; he spent a few years in travel over the Western States, and, Aug. 13, 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 3d I. V. C, three-years' service, being mustered out of service in Springfield, 111., in 1864 ; during his service he was in thirty-eight battles, among which were the battles of Pea Ridge, first battle of Vicksburg, that of Arkansas Post and of Gun Town, Miss. After being mustered out of service, he returned South, and, for a time, was in Govern- ment employ ; after which, he went to Texas, where he remained till 1866 ; in 1867, he came to McLean and engaged in the milling business, though he did not form his present partnership until 1868, the firm now being Stoner, Aldrich & Co., Mr. Bachman being the engineer of the firm ; MOUNT HOPE TOWNSHIP. 935 he is a straightforward, unassuming kind of a man, though in point of integrity and honor he may always be depended upon WILLIAM L. BARNES, farmer; P. 0. McLean; was born in Scituate, R. I., June 11, 1814. He married Sarah Andrews Nov. 23, 1840 ; they had one daughter, born April 29, 1845 i she married James H. Irvin, of Mt. Hope Township, Sept. 5, 1860, and died Oct. 5, 1865, leav- ing no issue. Mrs. Barnes was born in Killingly, Conn., April 9, 1820. They moved from Rhode Island to Mt. Hope Township in February, 1856, where they still reside, owning a good home and eighty acres of beautiful land. A. W. BASCOM, druggist, McLean. In writing of the business industries of McLean, the drug establishment of A. W. Bascom requires mentioning. This is, by far, the leading house of the town, and one of the brightest, cheeriest business houses of the place. He is a native of Washington Co., Ky.; was born in March, 1855, and was 8 years old when his people left Ken- tucky; remaining with his father through his travels, until he located at McLean in 1865 ; he received a good education, and at a proper age engaged as a clerk in the drug line ; he has now been in business for himself for three years, though he has had seven years experience in the drug business, which has enabled him to become a thoroughly-educated druggist; among his stock and assortment of goods, may be mentioned, first a full and complete line of pure drugs ; aside from this lie has a large stock of lamps and lamp fixtures, cigars and tobacco, garden seeds, a fine line of show-case goods, etc. These are all conducive to his success ; but no more so, than a fine family prescription department, over which he presides personally. He is certainly one of the live, active business men of McLean ; and as a financier, has proven himself equal to any emergency that has yet arisen. JAMES C. BASCOM, M. D., McLean. Dr. J. C. Bascom, one of the long-established phy. sicians of McLean, is a native of Brown Co., Ohio ; when he was yet but a boy, his parents moved to Kentucky, locating at Augusta ; during his early life he had but little opportunity of getting an education ; he prosecuted his studies, both literary and scientific, under great diffi- culties ; but, being of a determined nature, he surmounted all obstacles. He began the study of his profession in Washington Co., Ky., and also began his practice there, which he continued for eighteen years; then moved to Louisville, and from there to Greencastle, Ind., finally locat- ing permanently in McLean, in 1865. He is an active member of the Literary Society, and at present is holding the office of President of the Public Library Association, to which he has made very liberal contributions ; he is a gentleman who, in his dealing with the public professionally, has maintained a straightforward course, thereby winning the respect and esteem of the betier class of the community. In May, 1845, he married Miss Fanny M. Jones, a native of Washing- ton Co., Ky. ; they have five children, four daughters and one son, the latter being one among the leading business men of the place. The Doctor, by his energy and industry, has acquired a nice home and established a good business, and now, at his time of life, instead of wandering over the world, he is one of the honored and respected citizens of McLean. THOMAS CARR, McLean, 111. : was born in Westborough, Worcester Co., Mass., May 2 >, 1860. His father, Thomas Carr, Sr., emigrated to that State from Ireland, in 1855. In May, 1853, Miss Rosa O'Hagan emigrated in company with a younger sister from County Down, Ireland, to Westborough, where she was united in marriage with Thomas Carr, Sr., Dec, 31, 1857. In February, 1867, the little family moved from Massachusetts to Minnesota, where they remained until the following August, when they removed to McLean, 111., where they now reside, Young Thomas, the subject of this sketch, has, by remarkable diligence and perseverance, passed through the various departments of the McLean School, with great credit to himself and his teachers. On the 22d of May, 1879, he, together with his classmate Clarence L. Stonaker, con-, stituted the first graduating class of the McLean School. Mr. Carr delivered the valedictory address. Since he was nine years of age, Thomas has, during vacation and on Saturdays, been engaged in the grocery store of F. A. Wheelock, where he enjoys the confidence of his employer, and the good will of the community. On the 18th of February, 1879, the candidates for appoint* ment to the Military Academy at West Point, were examined at Bloomington. Thomas entered for examination in a class of thirty-eight, and, although failing to secure the appointment, stood third in the class. We have in this case a striking instance of what untiring industry and ster- ling integrity can accomplish, together with an illustration of the almost universal law, that the mother's influence is one of the most potent forces for good known to the world. SAMUEL J. CHAPIN, farmer and breeder of short-horns ; P. 0. Atlanta, Logan Co. ; was born Aug. 27, 1812, in Uxbridge, Mass. ; he followed farming and school-teaching until 1839, when he came to Mt. Hope Township, McLean Co., 111., via Pittsburgh (over the Alleghany Mountains), down the Ohio, and up the Mississippi River to St. Louis; thence to Pekin, 111., by water, and from there overland to Mt. Hope Township, arriving in the spring of 1839. He married Comfort Ann Tucker, Dec. 1, 1837 ; she was born in Massachusetts, and died Aug. 31, 1840 ; they had one son — Frederic W., who is now in California. He was married March 29, 1841, to Harriet N. Morse; she was born in Sutton, Worcester Co., Mass., March 29, 1817, and came here in the fall of 1837, with her father, John Morse, who built the second frame house in Mt. Hope Town-, ship ; by this marriage there were six children, only one now living — John Morse, the youngest; the oldest, Caleb F., lost his life in the late war, at the age of 20 years and 7 months, after three 936 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: years of volunteer service in the Union army. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin and son, John Morse, now live on the old homestead, owning 376 acres, prairie and timber. JOHN MORSE CHAPIN, farmer; P. 0. Atlanta, Logan Co.; was born in Mt. Hope Town- Bhip, June 1. 1853, and married Ophelia A. Willis, April 10, 1878 ; she was born in Wapello Co., Iowa, May 28, 1849. L. P. CROSWELL, dealer in hardware and tinware, McLean ; is a native of Clermont Co., Ohio ; in 1865, he came West and located at McLean, here he also learned his trade, that of a tinner ; in October, 1878, he began business for himself; he is just the right kind of man to taake a success in business ; though still a young man. and not very long engaged in business, he has already the leading hardware house in McLean ; his stock comprises everything almost imaginable in the hardware line — heavy and shelf-hardware, stoves, table and pocket cutlery, revolvers and ammunition, and, in fact, everything in the hardware line; tinning of all descrip- tions is done to order; should he succeed in the future as he has done in the past, there is little doubt of his success. JOHN M. DARNALL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Stanford; was born in McLean Co., 111., Sept. 30, 1833 ; came here with his parents in December. 1834. His father, Nicholas Dar- nall, was born in Boone Co., Ky., March 15, 1807, and moved to McLean Co., 111., before the deep snow of 1829-30, being one of the earliest settlers of the county; he died April 16, 1848. John M. Darnall married Hannah Zollars Jan. 3, 1865 : she was born in Waynesville, De Witt Co., 111., June 24, 1841 ; they have had five children — Lee and Charlie, living; Sarah died June 8, 1870, aged 1 year and 12 days ; George died April 6, 1872, aged 7 months and 26 days ; the eldest, a daughter, died in early infancy, vir. Darnall owns 222 acres of prairie and timber land ; a portion of it is part of the farm his father bought in 1834. WILLIAM W. EWING, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. McLean; was born May 6, 1843, in Butler Co., Ky.; he moved with his father's family to McLean Co., 111., in May, 1853 ; he enlisted in Co. B, 2d I. V. O, on Nov. 16, 1863, and, after two years of active service, was mustered out with his regiment at San Antonio, Tex., Nov. 22, 1865. He was married, March 7, 1867, to Miss Sirilia M. Crain, who was born in Logan Co., Ky., April 15, 1849 ; her father was a Lieutenant in Co. K, 8th Ky. O, who died in the United States service March 7, 1863. They have two sons— William W., born Jan. 20, 1869, and John L., Dec. 3, 1874. Mr. Ewing owns a farm of 160 acres, situated in Sec. 20, where he now resides; his land is worth about $40 per acre. E. FARNSWORTH, farmer; P. 0. McLean. E. Farnsworth is a native of St. Charles Co., Mo., his parents being natives of Vermont, the name of Farnsworth being of English origin. When he was 7 years old, he went to live with an uncle in Detroit, Mich., until the age of 21. He is naturally fond of travel, and has traveled over many of the States and Territories. In 1852 he was married to Miss Sarah A. Longworth, she being a native of Ohio, though her parents were among the early settlers of McLean Co. In the spring of 1867 he located on his present farm of 156 acres, which is located one-half mile west of McLean, and is a splendid piece of property, under a good state of cultivation, and improved with good buildings. This is wholly the result of Mr. Farnsworth's energy and industry. During the war of the late rebel- lion, he was anxious to enlist, but, on account of a crippled hand, was not accepted. He has held the office of School Trustee for sixteen years, being elected in 1853. They have a family of four children — two boys and two girls. LEWIS FAY, M. D., McLean. Another of the pioneers of McLean is Dr. Fay, who is •a native of Worcester Co., Mass.; he was born in 1832, and, at the age of 18 years, began the study of medicine, finishing his course at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, where he graduated in the spring of 1855; spent one year in Fayette Co. and then came to McLean, where, for a few years, he was kept riding almost day and night ; the country being new and the streams not bridged, he was frequently obliged to ford them when the water was so cold as to be almost dangerous ; the consequence of this overwork was, in 1860, his health failed and he was obliged to give up his practice ; to regain his health, he made a trip to the West, spending one year at Pike's Peak and other localities; upon his return, his health being yet delicate, he tried farm- ing until 1864 ; at this date, he went to Atlanta, Logan Co., and engaged iu the drug business, which he continued until the spring of 1871 ; he then returned to McLean and began the practice of his profession ; the Doctor is a man who has seen and helped to make many of the improve- ments in the development of McLean Co. ; he is a man of good standing and ability, and may justly be called one of the pioneers of McLean Co. GEORGE W. FUNK, stock-dealer; P. 0. McLean. George W. Funk, who is well known in McLean Co., is a native of Funk's Grove Township. He was born May 14, 1827, being the oldest of the sons of Isaac Funk. His father dying Jan. 29, 1865, the business of settling up the estate devolved upon him, there being about 27,000 acres of land and a large amount of stock and •other property, which he took charge of by the unanimous consent of his brothers. He has been married twice, first, Jan. 29, 1867, to Miss Susan Pumpelly, she being a native of Ohio, but most of her life was spent in Kentucky. At the time of marriage, she was a resident of McLean Co. At her death, which occurred Dec. 15, 1867. she left a boy but 6 days old; they have named him Isaac. He was married again May 30, 1876, to Miss Rose Fitzwilliams, she being a native MOUNT HOPE TOWNSHIP. 937 of Ross Co., Ohio ; they have, by this marriage, one child, a little girl, born March 4, 1878. He is one of the large land-owners of the county, owning 3,200 acres, most of which is located in Funk's Grove Township. He now makes a business of feeding and shipping stock. In 1870, he was elected on the Republican ticket to the long term of the Legislature of 1871-72, there being an extra session called to determine some means of relief to the people of Chicago, who suffered from the effects of the great tire of 1871. There is no family in McLean so extensively and favorably known as the Funks. George W., the subject of this sketch, is probably as well known as any member of the family, though they are all prominent citizens of McLean Co. JACOB FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 24; P. 0. McLean; was born in Funk's Grove. McLean Co., 111., April 7, 1830, and was married to Miss Mary A. Waltham Nov. 18, 18-38, who was a native of Bedford Co., Penn.; Mr. Funk has three children — Charles A., Clara M. and Dean. He owns a farm of 2.500 acres, valued at about §45 per acre; his residence is situated on the north bank of Sugar Creek, in Sec. 24. He has served the people of Mount Hope Township as School Trustee for eight years in succession, which office he now holds ; he has also served as Highway Commissioner for nine successive years. R. E. GIFFORD, grocer, McLean; one of the active business men of McLean; is a native of Watertown, N. Y. ; born in April, 1850, and at the age of 2 years came West with his people, they locating in Pike Co., where he remained until March, 1864, then located at McLean, McLean Co. At the age of 19 years, he engaged with Mr. Aldrich, with whom he remained for three yeara. In 1864, he began traveling for C. Wakefield & Co., of Bloomington, his route being principally through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska ; he was with Mr. Wakefield until the spring of 1878, when he decided to engage in business on his own account. In a short time after leaving the road, he located at McLean, and embarked in the grocery trade, which he has since continued with good success ; his stock consists of a general assortment of goods — a full line of groceries and provisions, queensware, china and glassware, fresh and canned fruits, sirups, oils, smoked, pickled and dried meats, brushes: nails, salt, and garden seeds, and, in fact, everything pertaining to a well-stocked grocery and general assortment store; he is pleas- ant and courteous in his treatment of customers, his four years' experience on the road having taught him many valuable ideas of commerce. MRS. E. J. HARLEY, McLean. Mr. Harley, who died Jan. 6, 1873, was well known to the people of McLean and Logan Counties, and will long be remembered by a large circle of friends. He was a native of Pennsylvania his birthplace being near Philadelphia. When he was but a boy, his people came West as far as Ohio, locating at Dayton ; they moved from there to McLean Co., being among the first settlers of the county, locating at what is known as Har- ley' s Grove, the name originating on account of the Harleys being the first settlers there. In after years, his father, brother and himself ran a saw-mill for about six years ; he then removed to Logan Co., and was engaged in a distillery for five years, and, later, engaged in farming, which business he was engaged in at the time of his death, which occurred as above stated. He was married, March 27, 1852, to Miss E. J. Houghey; her people being early and prominent pioneers of McLean Co.; Mr. Harley, being a resident of Logan Co. at the time of their marriage. After his death. Mrs. Harley in 1877 removed to McLean, where she now resides one of the promin- ent and highly respected ladies of the town. M. G. HAUGHEY, grain dealer, McLean. Another of the principal business men of McLean, is If. G. Houghey ; he is a native of Greene Co., Ohio, where he was born, in April, 1840; in 1848, his people moved West, locating in Logan Co., 111., for two years, then removed to McLean Co.; his father owned one section of land, a short way from the town of McLean, the old farm being known generally throughout the county as the old Houghey farm ; there Mr. Houghey grew to manhood ; being one of a family of nine children, be had to depend upon his own exertions, in a measure, in procuring his education In 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 17th I. V. I., for three years' service ; after serving about one year, he was discharged on account of disability. After returning from the army he engaged in the stock trade, gradually drifting from this to the grain trade ; in 1871, he rented the elevator where he now does busi- ness, buying the same in 1874 ; he has a storing capacity of about thirty thousand bushels of grain ; during the season, he buys about one hundred thousand bushels of corn. In connection with the elevator he handles lumber and building materials and a good assortment of drain tiles. He is doing an extensive business, which is the result of his own energy, industry and good financiering. MRS. MARY J. HITCHCOCK, hotel, McLean. The people of McLean will long remem- ber Mr. John M. Hitchcock, who, for some time previous to his death, was proprietor of the McLean Hotel. He was a sharp, shrewd business man, and at his death left his family in easy circumstances. He was a native of York Co., Penn. During his life he had been quite a trav- eler. In 1850 he made a trip overland to California. He enlisted twice in the Union army in the war of the late rebellion, first in the 161st Ohio National Guards — three mouths' service. Serving his term of enlistment, he returned home, and again enlisted in Co. A, 62d Ohio V. I., but this time was discharged on ccount of disability for service. Mrs. Hitchcock is a native of Baltimore Co., Md., her people moving to Ohio when she was 13 years old. She was married May 12, 1850, her maiden name being Rind. His death occurred Aug. 20, 1876. He left a family 938 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: of two girls — Miss Addie M., born Feb. 8, 1858, and Miss Mazila A., March 22, 1874. Mrs. Hitchcock is still conducting the McLean House. By her courteous treatment of strangers and those who have had occasion to visit her house, she has many friends among the traveling public. FRANCIS M. HOBL1T, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Atlanta, Logan Co. ; was born in Logan Co., 111., April 1, 1837. He married Margaret VI .Tuttle, Dec. 24, 1863 ; she was born in the same county ; they had one son — Francis Eugene. His second marriage was to Amanda J. Pervis, and was celebrated May 23, 1866; she was born in Wilson Co., Tenn., March 24, 1843; she came to Sangamon Co., 111., with her parents in 1849, and has been a resident of Illinois ever since, and an active and consistent member of the Baptist Churcli since the age of 17. Mr. Hoblit owns 160 acres of fine prairie land. By his last marriage, he has six children — Dora A., William A., Aurilla M., John E., Kate E. and James. JOHN KELLOGG, Notary Public, McLean. In writing the biographical history of the old settlers of McLean, Mr. John Kellogg is mentioned »s, if not the first settler, one who is surely as well known as any man of Mt. Hope Township : he is a native of Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Mass., born April 19, 1803; his people are of Welsh descent; in 1834, he made a trip West, locating at Pekin, where he remained two years, buyi»g grain, which lie shipped to St. Louis ; he organized the first Sabbath school that was ever originated in that place, filling the office of Superintendent, which he has done for many years in different schools, as he has been a member of the M. E. Church for fifty-two years. A two horse wagon which he brought from the East was a great curiosity to the class of settlers which he found at Pekin ; he tells many funny incidents which occurred be ween himself and the people ; they could hardly be reconciled to the belief that a live Yankee was a safe kind of an animal to be at large ; however, before leav- ing there, they were most any of them ready to fight for him if occasion required ; after residing there two years, he returned to the East, where he remained until 1854, when he again came West, locating at Tremont, Tazewell Co.; there he was engaged in the mercantile trade for three years, when he moved to McLean and followed the same business until 1862. Since his residence in McLean, he has been almost continually in public office ; for many years, he has been Justice of the Peace and Notary Public : he held the office of Postmaster tor twelve consecutive years, except during A. Johnson's administration ; he was at that time asked to remit $5 to help sup. port the Constitution, which he refused to do, the consequence being he stepped down and out for a couple of years ; he has also held the office of Township Supervisor for two years ; during the township organization question, he took an active part, being President of the meetings. He is a man so well known to the people of Mt. Hope Township that compliments of press are unnecessary. He was married Oct. 15, 1828, to Miss Sarah Hubbard, of his native county ;. thev have had two children, but one of whom is living — Mr. N. S., who was born July 17, 1829. " SAMUEL B. KINSEY, farmer; P. 0. McLean; was born in Highland Co. Ohio, Sept. 19, 1826, of Quaker parents; he moved, in 1843, to Logan Co , 111., where his time was occupied witli teaching in winter and farming in summer. In 1850, he was elected as Assessor and Treas- urer of Logan Co., which responsible position he held for two years. Soon after the expiration of his term of official service in Logan Co., he entered with a land- warrant a quarter-section of prairie land in Mt. Hope Township, to which he has added another quarter-section since, toget' er with twenty-five acres of timber land. Mr. Kinsey was united in marriage with Miss Mary Stephens in December, 1848 ; they had one son — G. H., who died upon fairly arriving at the age of manhood, and a daughter who died in infancy ; his wife died after but a few years of married life ; in August, 1854, he was married to Miss Melicent Stephens, a sister of his first wife, and who still lives; this union resulted in five children — John A., Jervis H., Nathan L., Effie and Maud. In the first organization of Mt. Hope Township, Mr. K. was elected Assessor, and, two years after, Supervisor, and continued on the Board until 1862, when he resigned, having received from Gov. Yates authority to organize a company of infantry for the United States service, which he succeeded in doing ; he raised ninety men in six days and was at once elected Captain ; his company entered the service as Co. A, 117th I. V. I ; he resigned his commission on account of failing health on the 10th of May, 1864, and returned home, hi 1869. he was elected Commissioner of Highways and School Trustee, and, in 1876, was elected Supervisor, all of which offices he now holds. EZRA T. KEN YON, retired farmer; P. 0. Atlanta. Logan Co.; was born in Sterling, Windham Co., Conn., Fe - '. 16, 1813. At the age of 10 years, he went into a cotton mill, aud worked in various departments until April 13, 1840, when he started for the West with his little family and $1,000 in money. They came via Erie <'anal and the lakes to Chicago, thence to Crown Point, where they stayed only a short time. Procuring a team of oxen and wagon, they loaded up their baggage, himself sick with ague, and wended their weary way across prairies, swamps and rivers, reaching Mount Hope Township on the 9th day and the farm where he now resides, 160 acres of which he had purchased two years before. They arrived on the 18th day of July, 1840. Mr. K. married Susan S. Rahbone, of Scituate, R I. Oct. 7, 1832. She was born in Exeter, R. I., Oct. 4, 1809. Her forefathers were of English origin, and farmers. They have been blessed with two sons — Dennis and Ezra W., who own fine homes and large farms adjoining the homestead. Prosperity now smiles where at first they experienced hardship for ten or fifteen years, when they had to go forty miles to mill or market with an ox team, and sell their corn or MOUNT HOPE TOWNSHIP. 939 oats for 5 cents a bushel, and wheat for twenty-five cents ; while for clothing they spun, wove, colored, cut and made up wool from their own sheep ; and now, for the last nine years, rich in home and friends and ripe in years, they are reaping their earthly reward, with a, homestead increased to 400 acres, and farm buildings desirable for size, number and convenience. DENNIS KENYON, farmer and stock-raiser, P. 0. McLean ; was born in Coventry, Kent Co., R. I., Oct. 24, 1833. While yet a lad of 7 years, his parents moved to Illi- nois, where they still reside. Mr. Kenyon was united in marriage with Miss Adaline G. Peck, Aug. 15, 1854. She was born in Dighton, Bristol Co., Mass., Jan. 30, 1827. He served as Second Lieutenant in Co. A, 117th I. V. I.. He was mustered into the service Sept. 19, 1862, and resigned his commission Dec. 28, 1863. He has served the people of Mount Hope as Supervisor for two years in succession. He owns a valuable farm of 1,600 acres, situated on the east branch of Sugar Creek. His residence is on Sec. 32. EZRA W. KENYON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Atlanta, Logan Co. ; is the youngest son of Ezra T. Kenyon, and was born in Windham Co.. Conn., Jan. 21, 1835. He came to Illinois and to Mount Hope Township with his parents in 1840. March 25, 1858, he married Margaret A. Leonard. She was born at Silver Lake, Susquehanna Co., Penn., May 19, 1837. They have three children — Sarah E., Emma L. and Arthur T. Mr. Kenyon owns 520 acres of fine rolling prairie and woodland, adjoining and contiguous to his father's and brother's land. S. I. LEACH, book-keeper ; P. 0. McLean. The residents of Mount Hope Township are principally from the New England States. Of these we mention Mr. Leach, who is a native of Cheshire Co., N. H. He remained a resident of his native place until the age of 21 ; he then enlisted in Co. A, 14th N. H. V. I., for three years service ; serving his term of enlistment, he was discharged, July 21, 1865, and returned to New Hampshire, where he remained but a short time, when he came West, accepting a situation with Mr. Aldrich, Sept. 1, 1865. This position he has since held. Since his residence in McLean, he has held several public offices, being at present Clerk of Mount Hope Township, having held this office since 1868. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees, and has held the office of School* Treasurer of Mount Hope Township since 1874, all of which offices he has filled with credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the people. He was married Oct. 12, 1862, to Miss Nancy M. Blake, of his native county ; they have a family of three of the brightest little boys in the village. Mr. Leach is a true type of the Eastern gentleman, in education, deportment and courtesy; he has the esteem and friend- ship of the people, and is generally known among them as a man whose word is as good as his bond. JOHN LONG-WORTH, retired farmer ; P. 0. McLean. Many of the younger people of McLean Co. have little idea of the hardships endured by the early pioneers, and when told of them by parties who were the first settlers, the facts seem almost too romantic to be true. Of those who were among the early settlers of Mt. Hope Township, we mention Mr. and Mrs. John Longworth. He is a native of Washington Co., Ohio, while she is a native of Maine. In 1836, they came West and locited in Mt. Hope Township, their possessions being principally stout hearts and willing hands. They have both been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years ; he since 1830 and she since 1 829 — church being held at the different neighbors' houses, their's being the meeting-house for about four years. Mrs. Longworth says it was no small affair, as the cus- tom usually was for the whole congregation to take dinner before going home. In those days, she used to do her own spinning and weaving. A complete history of their lives would require a book half as large as this. Though we will add that by energy and iudustry they accumulated a good property, and for many years have been known as among the more prominent and better class of citizens of the township. Mr. L. still owns 193 acres of land in Sec. 31, a part of which is the same new land that he located on in 1836. He has also held several public offices. They were married in 1831 ; her name, previous to marriage, being Miss Prudence P. Edwards; they have a family of six children, three sons and three daughters MARION McCORMICK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. McLean; was born March 3, 1834, in Brown Co., Ohio; lived there until 1850, and then moved to Tazewell Co., 111., and in 1856 bought a farm of eighty acres in Boyington Township ; he sold this farm in 1863, and moved to Mount Hope Township, McLean Co., buying 160 acres, and now owns 240 acres of beautiful land. He was married Jan. 29, 1861, to Belinda C. Longworth, who was born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Dec. 26, 1834; they have two children — Louie M., born Nov. 27, 1862, and Isaac C, March 8, 1871, and died March 16, 1871 ; Frank Moore, a little boy of seven years, has been their household pet since three months old, and, as near as may be, is considered one of their own family. Mr. McCormick enlisted under Capt. Colt in the volunteer infantry, at Delavan, 111., in August, 1862; was mustered into the service the same month, and served seven months in Kentucky and Tennessee, and was discharged on account of physical disability. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick, and daughter Louie, are members of the M. E. Church, in McLean. C. M. NOBLE, M. D., McLean. It is very seldom that a young physician meets with such success in the first few years of his practice as has Dr. C. M. Noble, of McLean. He is a native of Randolph Township, McLean Co.; born Dec. 16, 1850 ; after receiving a thorough literary education at the Normal College, in the fall of 1873 he began the study of medicine, graduating 940 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; at the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, Penn., March 11, 1876; after graduating, he returned to his home, his people being residents of his native township ; they were among the prominent pioneers of that part of the county, the family being of English origin. The Doctor had remained at home but a short time until he concluded to locate at McLean ; when he came there, he was wholly unacquainted, though in a short time he had established himself both in society and in a professional sense. He is a member of the McLean County Medical Society, and of the Central Illinois Medical Society, of which he held the office of Vice President during the year 1878. By his close attention to business, his thorough knowledge of the science of medicine, he has established a practice that is probably not equaled by one-half of the old physicians of the county. JOHN J. PITTS, teacher, McLean; was born Oct. 20, 1853, in Mt. Hope Township, McLean Co., 111. ; he attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, during the year 1869-70; he entered Shurtleff College at Alton, 111., September, 1870, and graduated in June, 1877. He has conducted the large school at Mt. Hope for two years in succession. He owns 160 acres of fine farming-land, situited on Sugar Creek, which is worth about $45 per acre, where he now resides. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Roberts, of Alton, 111., Aug. 14, 1878. JOSEPH A. PITTS, farmer, McLean; was born in Bristol Co., Mass.; Nov. 14, 1823; he moved to McLean Co., 111., Oct. 14, 1852. He was married to Miss Betsy V. Peck, March 24, 1852 ; they have had four children, viz. : John J., born Oct. 20, 1853 ; Elizabeth S., born April 25, 1857 ; Lemira M., born Sept. 7, 1861 ; and Augustus D., born Oct. 9, 1862. Mrs. Pitts died Nov. 24, 1867. Mr. Pitts married Miss Augusta A. Starbuck, May 16, 1876, for his second wife, by whom he has one child — Herbert A., who was born Oct. 29, 1877. He owns a farm of 840 acres, situated in Sections 27,28, 33 and 34, where he now lives; his land is worth about $45 per acre. JASON T. PLACE, farmer ; P. 0. Atlanta, Logan Co. ; was born in Foster, Providence Co., R. I., Sept. 10, 1820; at the age of 22, he commenced teaching a district school in Rhode Island ; in the fall of 1846, he first came to Illinois to see the country, and taught school during the winter in a log cabin ; returning fo Rhode Island the next spring, he taught school and farmed until 1856 ; then made another visit to llliniois, and remained teaching and farming until the fall of 1861 ; he then returned to Rhode Island, and, on April 15, 1862. married Martha E. Peck, the youngest daughter of Gen. William Peck, who was one of the original owners, and Surveyor, of Vlt. Hope colony; she was born in Dighton, Bristol Co., Mass., May 23, 1834 ; in the fall of 1869, they sold their farm in Rhode Island, and moved to this county, and, in the fall of 1870, bought the farm they now own (160 acres), and moved on in the spring of 1871 ; they have two- sons — Raymond M., born in Foster, R. I., March 4, 1866; and Thaddeus R., Aug. 11, 1868. N. POSTON, railroad agent, McLean. It is generally conceded by the citizens of McLean, that Mr. N. Poston has been the most accommodating and courteous ot any man that has been in the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, stationed at McLean, for many years; he is a native of McLean Co.; his people settling in the county as early as 1851 ; he is of English descent, on his mother's side, though his great-grandfather was one of the staff of Gen. Wash-* ington ; he began learning telegraphing with his brother, though not until he had received a liberal education at the Wesleyan College of Bloomington, and at the University of Kentucky, at Lexington ; his brother being located at Braidwood, with whom he studied, on the Jackson- ville Division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad : he is now both freight and ticket agent and operator at McLean, and is also agent for the U. S. Express Co.. The different branches of his work keep him quite busy, though he is thoroughly capable of attending to them in a proper manner. JOHN S. RATHBONE, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Atlanta, Logan Co.; was born in Johns- ton, Providence Co., R. I., Nov. 22, 1830. and moved to McLean Co., 111., in September, 1853 ; his father, John H. Rathbone, was one of the old colony men, and built the first frame house (now standing and occupied by them) on the prairie in Mt. Hope Township, on the farm which he bought, and now owned by the son — the title never having passed out of the family. This house was built in 1837. Mr. Rathbone married Mahala McCrary March 11, 1859, who was born in Gibson Co., Ind , March 8. 1839; they have had seven children — Ann E., Benjamin G.. Charles A., Mary 0., William H. and Abbie ; deceased — one— John H., who died at the age of 1 J years. Mr. Rathbone owns this fine old homestead of 320 acres, except seven acres, which were cut off by the C. A. & St. L. R. R., and sold by him. A. M. SCOTT, teacher; P. 0. Atlanta, Logan Co. Mr. A. M. Scott, principal of the graded school of McLean, is a native of Onondaga Co., N. Y. ; he was born in 1852 ; his people coming West in 1856, and locating at Atlanta, Logan Co. ; this he has since called his home, though since he has been 18 years old, the most of his time has been spent in other localities ; by his own exertions, he has succeeded in procuring a good education, having attended the Normal College of Bloomington. He has been engaged principally in teaching, though for a short time he whs in the employ of a Beloit firm, of Wisconsin, as book-keeper and traveling salesman ; he taught his first term of school at the age of 18 years. Previous to coming to McLean, he had taught the schools of Wapello and Hey worth. He accepted the position of principal of the McLean school in the fall of 1878; under his supervision it has been re-organized to a graded MOUNT HOPE TOWNSHIP. 941 school, as was also the Hey worth school. He expects to graduate his first class at McLean in May. of 1879. If the assertion of the public, and the statements of his many friends may be relied upon, he is a gentleman. and scholar, as well as a first-class teacher. Should he succeed in the future as admirably as he has in the past, there is but little doubt that his ambitions may be realized. BENJAMIN V. SHARP, farmer ; P.O. McLean; was born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., April 29, 1839; he moved to Pike Co., 111., in 1856, and to McLean Co. in September, 1859, entering the Wesleyan University, remaining there two years. He then enlisted in the 2d I. V. C, for three years service, but was discharged at the end of a year on account of poor health ; he returned to the University, where he remained two more years — until September, 1864 — when he moved to Mount Hope Township. He married Miss Lizzie A. Heazle, of Bloomington, Sept, 13, 1864; she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Nov. 6, 1845, and came to Bloomington with her parents November, 1851; her school days were spent in the Bloomington Female College, and she was a graduate of the Class of 1864; they have had three children — James A., born June 2i', 1865, and Freddie B., March 17, 1867 ; Maud E. died March 3, 1876, aged 2 years, 10 months and 13 days. Mr. Sharp owns 245 acres of fine prairie and timber near McLean. A. R. STONER, miller, McLean. The firm of Stoner, Aldrich & Co., proprietors of the Mount Hope Mills, is without a doubt the most prominent milling firm in McLean Co.; Mr. Aldrich does the general outside business of the firm, Mr. Stoner being the practical miller, and Mr. Bachman, foreman, the elevator in connection with the mill being the individual property of Mr. Aldrich. Mr. Stoner, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Harrisburg, Penn.; he learned the trade of a miller in Lebanon Co. of that State; served a two years apprenticeship, and before leaving had entire charge of a seven-run mill ; this alone, is pretty good evidence of his practical ability ; he has done considerable traveling to have succeeded so well, if we remember the old maxim, "A rolling stone gathers no moss;" in 1853, he came West and began milling in Peoria; he was there but a short time ; from there he went to Mackinaw, then back to Peoria, and, in 1860, went West, where he spent four years; one and a half years of the time he spent in the Walla Walla Valley; made his home trip in 1864, to the East; same year he came West, and, in 1867, located at McLean. In 1868, they began building the mill of which he is still one of the proprietors ; they have three run of stone, with a flouring capacity of about one hundred barrels daily ; their trade is about equally divided between custom and merchant milling ; their manufacture of flour is so well-known that no commendations are required ; they are, as a firm, men who have won the entire confidence of the community by honorable and square dealing. MRS. F. E. TAYLOR, dry goods, McLean. One of the most brilliant and thoroughly-edu» cated young physicians that has ever lived in McLean was Dr. Taylor, who is well remembered by the citizens. He was a native of Louisville, Ky. He began the study of medicine with Dr, Johnson, of McLean, and, in 1867, graduated with high honors at the Chicago Medical College, He began practice in McLean, though, in a short time, his health failed. Thinking a trip to Minnesota might be of benefit to him, he, with Mrs. Taylor, made the journey. They were in Minnesota about three months, then returned to McLean, where he died of consumption in 1869, in his 28th year. For the past two years. Mrs. Taylor has been engaged in the dry goods and millinery trade. She is possessed of good financiering abilities, and has established a business that forms an important item in the business industries of McLean. By skillful management, her business has grown to such magnitude that she contemplates taking a partner. She is a shrewd business manager in conducting her affairs so successfully, and has proved herself a better financier than many of the business men of the place. M. M. THOMAS, blacksmith; P. 0. McLean; is a native of Lancaster Co., Pa.; he was born in 1811; though quite old, he is still a driving business man; during his early life he had but little chance of procuring an education ; he first learned the trade of the manufacture of edged tools, and from his knowledge of this very easily picked up the blacksmith trade ; he has made several changes in his life — first moving to Ohio, where he remained for twenty-one years ; then came to Illinois and located in Henderson Co ; from there to Fulton, and to McLean in 1866. Since his residence in McLean he has been engaged in farming and blacksmithing ; in 1875 he sold his farm, and has since given his attention to his trade ; he is now manufacturing and selling large numbers of what is known as the Thomas Drag, of which he is the inventor, Mrs. Thomas is a native of Harrison Co., Ohio ; they had a family — two sons and three daughters ; had two boys in the war of the late rebellion, Albert and James B.; the former was in the 11th I. V. Cav.; the latter, J. B., in the 103d I. V. I., three years' service ; at the siege of Atlanta he was wounded, from the effects of which he died at Marietta, Ga. Mr. Thomas is one of the well-to-do, respected citizens of McLean. By his energy and industry he has established a good business, GEORGE VERRY, farmer; P. 0. Atlanta; was born in Armington, Tazewell Co., 111., April 13, 1851 ; he moved to Mt. Hope Township, McLean Co., in the spring of 1872, and mar-, ried Emma A. Crane, Oct. 8, 1874 ; she was born in Kentucky, Sept. 7, 18-54 ; they have had two children — Nora E. and Edna ; the former died Aug. 28, 1876. Mr. Verry farms 320 acres of land. C. W. WHEELOCK, farmer; P. 0. McLean; was born in Worcester Co., Mass., April 12, 1836; when he was 18 years of age, his parents moved to Illinois, and first settled in Macoupin 942 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Co., purchased and improved a farm, and, after a residence of one year, sold out, and, in the fall of 1855, came to the village of McLean, at that time containing but one house ; his father having been appointed agent of the C. & A. R. R., they lived in the small depot, and at the same time made the building do for a hotel, eight or nine years. In 1856, he built the hotel now known as the " McLean Hotel," in which he resided up to his death, March 25, 1870. Mrs. Wheelock now resides with her son, the subject of this sketch. He started in life for himself in 1859, as a farmer, and, at the breaking out of the late civil war, enlisted in Co. C, 5th 111. Cav., and served four years and four months. After his discharge, in company with his brother and father, he purchased a flouring-mill at Waynesville, and moved it to McLean in 1865, it being the first flour mill put up in that village. In 1867, they sold out to Conrad McCormick. Mr. Wheelock has since turned his attention to farming. He has been Constable, Assessor and Village Trustee, and at present Deputy SheriflF. He married Dec. 25, 1865, Mary F. Gibbs, daughter of James and Mary Gibbs, of McLean, who came from Menard Co. in 1859 ; they have had five children, three living — Nellie S., Charles G. and Carrie N.; and two dead — Edward and Fred. HUDSON TOWNSHIP. JACOB C. ADAMS, M. D., physician and surgeon, Hudson ; born in Mechanicstown, Car- roll Co., Ohio, May 20, 1848, but removed in early childhood with his father's family to Van Wert, Ohio, thence to Deer Creek Township, Tazewell Co., 111., in 1855 ; after a residence here of some ten years, he removed to El Paso, and, in 1868, commenced the study of medicine with his father, John Quincy Adams ; also, followed teaching for some years ; in 1871, he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated at that institution March 1, 1873, and commenced the practice of his profession the same year at Gridley, this county; removed to his present home in July, 1873. Married in September, 1874, to Misn Rose L. Chadbourne, who was born in Oxford Co., Me.; thej' have one child — Edwin M. The Doctor is a member of the fol- lowing Masonic bodies : Woodford Lodge, No. 654, and Macky Chapter, No. 30. DeWITT C. BENJAMIN, deceased, Hudson. Mr. Benjamin was born in Red Rock, Columbia Co., N. Y., May 28, 1820; he received his early education at the Academy at Kinderhook, N. Y., and, being a great student, became proficient in Latin and Greek at quite an early age ; When 16 years old, he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, three years later, was licensed to exhort ; in 1841, he received his first license as local preacher. In October, 1849, he was married to Miss Sarah Swartz, who was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., March 6, 1821. Four years after their marriage, they came to Illinois, locating in Hudson Township, this c.mnty, where his widow and the surviving members of the family, with the exception of one daughter (Mrs. Price), now reside ; they had a family of six children, three of whom are living ■ — Mary and Martha, graduates of Wesleyan University, now at home, and Annie, wife of Scott Price ; they have lost three — Roger, died July 6, 1861 ; Emma, Nov. 10, 1864, and their son, DeWitt C, who was a graduate of the Wesleyan University, died Feb. 8, 1875 Mr. B., for many years, was an earnest worker in the cause of Christ, traveling through the West and North- west, contributing also liberally to societies in need and to institutions of learning, always lend- ing a helping hand ; for some years he served as one of the Trustees of the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, and to this institution he contributed liberally and gave much of his time to its Work and needs. His widow still occupies the farm in Hudson Township, which contains 730 acres of land ; the heirs also own 960 acres of land in Kansas. ALBERT BISTORIOUS, general stock, Hudson; born near Culmer, France (now a part of the German Empire), April 20, 1846, but removed to this country in early childhood, with his father's family; they located at New Orleans, La., in 1850; thence to Galveston, Tex., and about a year later to Limestone Township, Peoria Co., where they resided until 1872, when they removed to the city of Peoria. The subject of this sketch resided at Peoria until 1865. In 1871, he was married to Miss Mary Hurl, who was born in Pennsylvania; four children by this union ■ — Catherine, Maggie, Dora and Ada. Mr. B. located at El Paso. 111., in January, 1872, and opened a restaurant and bakery, and three years later sold his business at El Paso and removed to Hudson, his present home. In June, 1878, he sold his building and stock on the west side of the railroad track to Carlock Bros., and, in December of that year, commenced business at his present location. Mr. B. is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Woodford Lodge, No. 654, and Macky Chapter, No. 30, at El Paso. He owns 160 acres of land in Woodford Co., 111. NEWTON C. BUMP, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22 ; P. O. Hudson ; born in Windham Co., N. Y., June 22, 1813; until about 18 years of age he worked on his father's farm, and then, with an older brother, engaged in the butcher business ; he subsequently bought and drove cattle to the New York City market. " Shipping cattle " in that early day was a phrase- ology not in use ; the only way to get stock to market was by the slow process of driving, and not unfrequently Mr. Bump dr»ve cattle over three hundred miles. In 1851, he came West and HUDSON HUDSON TOWNSHIP. 945 located in Old Town Township, this county, where he engaged in farming, and the following year removed to Padua Township, and was the first settler on the prairies in that section. The first school taught in his district was in a building furnished by Mr. B. In 1856, he moved to Bloom- iugton, and the following year made a trip to Missouri and bought cattle. In 1858, he moved on to a farm seven miles west of Bloomington, and two years later returned to Padua, and, in 1864, sold his farm and moved to Bloomington, where he kept a boarding-house till 1868, then located on a farm west of Bloomington ; came to his present home in 1870. Married, in 1845, to Miss Eliza Hubbard, who was born in Broome, Schoharie Co., N. Y.; they have three children — Adelaide V., wife of Francis Evans ; Rose; their daughter Lillie, who was born Jan. 10, 1854; died April 11, 1856. Mr. B. owns eighty acres of land in Hudson Township. CARLOCK BROS., general stock, Hudson. In June, 1878, George W. and Alvin W. Car- lock commenced business at Hudson under the above firm name, and, in the following December, George W., on account of failing health, sold his interest to his brother, Philip M., member of the present firm. Philip M. Carlock was born in Kansas Township, Woodford Co., 111., April 4, 1850; he worked on his father's farm until 21 years of age, then commenced farming in this county on his own account, which he continued until December, 1878, when he engaged in his present business ; owns eighty acres of land in Woodford Co. Married Feb. 27, 1873, to Miss Sarah J. Denman, who was born in Licking Co., Ohio ; three children by this union — Horace B., Willard L. and Effa P. Alvin W. Carlock was born in Kansas Township, Woodford Co , Nov. 10, 1856; he followed farming in Woodford and McLean Cos. until May, 1878, when he entered the store of A. Bistorious, as clerk, and, the following month, together with his brother George W.. purchased the stock of Mr. B., and continued the business under the above firm name, George W. disposing of his interest to his brother as above stated. Their father, Winton Carlock, was born in Overton Co., Tenn., April 21, 1819, but removed with his father's family to Illinois in the fall of 1827, locating at Dry Grove, Tazewell Co., and, in 1833, removed to his present home, Kansas Township, Woodford Co., where farming and stock-raising have been his occupation since the above date. His wife's maiden name was Lydia Gaddis ; they were married in 1842; she died in 1869. He was married to his present wife Nov. 29, 1871. GEORGE < RAIG, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 9; P. 0. Hudson; born at Temple, near Edinburgh, Scotland, April 4, 1827 ; at the age of 22, he came to the United States, and located at Rochester, N. Y., where he resided nine Years ; in December, 1857, he removed to Illi- nois, locating at Bloomington, and, in the fall of 1868, located on the farm where he now resides. He has served as School Director two terms, and Commissioner of Highways one term. Owns 365 acres of land in Hudson Township. Married in 1852 to Miss Janet Ferguson, who was born in Chapel Knowe, Dumfrieshire, Scotland ; she died in 1858; one child by this union — Maggie B. Was again married in 1863 to Miss Dora Ropp, who was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio ; four children by this union — John, George, Mary and Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Craig are members of the Oneida Christian Church. JAMES H. COX (Cox & Aldrich), general stock, Hudson; born in Oxford Co., Me., April 21, 1822; when about 19 years of age, he went to Massachusetts, where he remained about eight mouths, then returned to his place of nativity; in the fall of 1851, he removed to Illinois, locating at Hudson, his present home, and the following year embarked in the mercantile trade, which he has since followed. At the time of township organization, Mr. Cox was elected Super- visor, and served two years ; he has also served as Postmaster about twenty-five years. In 1846, he was married to Miss Mary A. Chadbourne, who was born in Maine ; five children by this union — Charles E., member of the firm of Cox & Aldrich ; Flora S., wife of John W. Aldrich ; Nettie V., graduate of the State Normal School, now teaching at Hudson; and the twins, Harry M. and Hubert M. THOMAS H. EWINS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 30; P. 0. Hudson; born in Danvers Township, this county, Oct. 2, 1837 ; his father, James P. Ewins, was one of the early settlers in McLean Co. ; he died when the subject of this sketch was quite young. In 1861, Mr. E. enlisted in Co. C, 20th I. V. I., and served about eighteen months ; was at the battle of Fred- ericktown, Mo., in the fall of 1861 ; in February, 1862, was wounded at the battle of Fort Don- elson, and discharged on account of wound in left wrist, the following July. After his return from the army, he was elected Collector in Danvers Township, and served two years. Married, in 1866, to Miss Emeline B. Wallace, who was born in Mercer Co., Penn. ; three children by this union, two living — Edward S and Katie A. ; their eldest daughter, Eva B., died in 1867. Since 1866, Mr. E. has resided in Hudson Township; owns eighty acres of land in this township, and has served two terms as Collector in Hudson Township. JOHN W. FORNEY, farmer, stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P. 0. Hudson; born in Somerset Co , Penn., March 21, 1843, where he resided until 21 years of age; then removed to Indiana, and while a resident of that State, learned the carpenter's trade. In 1866, he came to Illinois, locating in Hudson Township, this county, where he worked at his trade for some years, in 1871, he was married to Miss Rachel A., daughter of Thomas and Mary Lyon, of Hudson. Mrs. Forney was born in West Virginia; they have three children — Maud H., Lottie L., and Eby S. Mr. F. owns eighty acres of land in Hudson Township. They are members of the Bethel German Baptist Church. QQ 946 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : REV. OLIVER J. FISKE, was born in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 1809. His father, Isaac Fiske, was born near Boston, Mass., in 1792. In 1805, he removed to Nashville, Tenn., and was in the employ of the Government as a surveyor. He married Miss Betsey Johnson, a native of New Hampshire. The subject of this sketch removed with his father's family, at an early age, to their former home. When about 20 years of age he commenced a course of stud- , and, in 1837, graduated at Brown University, Providence, R. I. He was ordained as Pastor of the Bap- tist Church, in Lime Rock village, near Providence, the October following. In 1839, he married Miss Maria L. Brown, of Cumberland, R. I., and removed to Nashville, Tenn. For many years he was engaged in preaching, seldom receiving any compensation, supporting his family by teach- ing, in which his wife proved a valuable assistant. In 1849, he was appointed President of Enon College, near Gallatin, Tenn. After successfully conducting the affairs of the College, in 1854, he resigned, and in 1855, removed to Bloomington, McLean Co., 111. Mr. Fiske has since served as Pastor of churches in Old Town, Le Roy, Randolph's Grove and Rock Creek (now Danvers), in McLean Co., also in Versailles, Woodford Co., and Dwight, Livingston Co. In 1873. he removed to his present home, since which time, on account of failing health, he has seldom preached. The parents have had three children, two of whom are living — Edwin Brown, attor- ney at law, Rochester, N. Y.; Charles H., official law reporter, Indianapolis, Ind.; Oliver Edgar died in 1859, near Bloomington. DAVID H. FRENCH, railroad agent and telegraph operator, Hudson ; born in Andover, Windsor Co., Vt., Aug. 2, 1841, but removed in early childhood with his father's family to Saratoga Co., N. Y.; thence to Jefferson Co., Wis., in 1848, where he resided until 1860 ; then removed to Solon, McHenry Co., 111., and in February of that year to Stephenson Co., 111., where he engaged in farming. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 11th I. V. I. ; was at the battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, where, from arduous duty and exposure, he contracted chronic diarrhea, and was discharged, on account of disibility, in May, 1862 : he again enlisted in Co. A, 71st I. V. I. (100-days men), July 14, 1862, and was mustered out in November of that year ; his third enlistment was Jan. 28, 1864, in Co. A, 46th I. V. I., and was mustered out at Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 26, 1866, and received final pay and discharge at Springfield, 111., Feb. 1 ; during his term of service, he participated in the following battles : Fort Henry and Fort Donel- son ; Benton, Miss. June, 1864; Jackson, Miss., July 6, where he received a slight wound in leg; Clinton, La. ; siege and capture of Mobile, Ala., abont April 1, 1865. Married, at Freeport, 111, Oct. 14, 1863, Miss Kezia A. Roach, of Forreston, 111., who was born in Shefford, Canada; there are five children by this union — Albert A., born at Forreston, 111., July 23, 1864; Nellie M., at same place, Nov. 6, 1866; Truman H., June 21, 1870; Gertrude E., March 8, 1873; Charles R., Dec. 6, 1877 ; the last three were born at Hudson, 111. JAMES I. GADDIS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19 ; P. O. Hudson ; born in Palestine Township, Woodford Co., 111., March 5, 1845. His father, Silas Gaddis, was one of the early settlers of that county ; in 1848, they removed to what is now White Oak Township, this county. In February, 1864, Mr. Gaddis enlisted in Co. K, 39th I. V. I., and during his term of service pai-ticipated" in the following battles: Drury's Bluff, Va., May 16, 1864; Wier Bottom Church, May 20 ; Hatcher's, Va., June 2,16, 17 and 18 ; Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 14, 1864, and Deep Run, Aug. 16, 1864, where he was wounded in the left fore arm, and sent to the hospital at Ports- mouth, Va., where he remained until the following March ; was with the regiment in pursuit and surrender of Gen. Lee's army; discharged, on account of wounds, in August, 1865. Mar- ried, in 1870, Miss Elizabeth Campbell, who was born in Adams Co., Ohio; they have had two children, both deceased — Loran K., died July 7, 1872; Elva E., died April 10, 1879. CHARLES T. GILDERSLEEVE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Hudson: born in Hemp- stead, Queens Co., N. Y., Aug. 13, 1830, but removed, when 6 years of age, with his father's family, to Illinois. His father, James T. Gildersleeve, beeame a member of what has since been termed the Hudson Colony, but, it seems, the original organization was under a different title, and this only a local application. We quote from l; The Good Old Times of McLean Co.," set- ting forth the origin: " In the winter of 1835-6, in the town of Jacksonville, Morgan Co., III., certain parties drew up articles of agreement, associating themselves together to form a colony. The association was formed Feb. 6, 1836, and it was known as ' The Illinois Land Association.' The business of the association was conducted by an Executive Committee of three ; these were George F. Purkitt, Horatio N. Pettit and John Gregory. James T. and Joseph D. Gildersleeve subscribed for four colony interests, which gave them the right to nearly 700 acres of land, consisting of prairie and timber land, and town lots in Hudson." In September, 1836, Mr. James T. Gilder- sleeve left New York City for his prospective home in Illinois. They came by way of Philadel- phia and Pittsburgh ; thence by boat to St. Louis ; thence up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Pekin, and from thence across the country to Bloomington. They soon located at Havens' Grove, Hudson Township, this county. The family lived in a small house with Mr. David Trimmer, until they could build a dwelling, which was completed and occupied in December of that year. This house is now the residence of Charles T. Gildersleeve, two rooms and a hall of which were plastered by John Magoun in the spring of 1837. The ceilings of these rooms are now in a good state of preservation, notwithstanding the work was done over forty-two years ago. The subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm until the summer of 1855, when he was employed as HUDSON TOWNSHIP. 947 station and express agent, remaining in Iheir employ nearly fourteen years, during which period he was also engaged in the lumber and grain trade. In 1869 he resumed the occupation of farmer, which has since been his business. He owns 320 acres of land in Hudson Township. In 1854, he was married to Miss Mary A McCaughey, who was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Aug. 28, 1833 ; six children by this union, three of whom are living — Mary A., wife of T. W. Steven- son, of Bloomingion ; James T., and Henrietta R. The deceased are — Charles T., died May l8, 1857, Edgar C. ; April 9, 1870, and Bessie B., March 21, 1869. Mr. G. has many relics, which date far back into the pust, among which are a cane presened to his great-grandfather on his voyage from Wales to the United States ; a watch, of English manufacture, carried by his grandfather from the age of 16 i ill his death; a will, dated at Hempstead, Queens Co., N. Y., Sept. 17, 1838; a copy of the Bloomington Observer, bearing date June 15, 1839, pub- lished by J. W. Fell ; also many other relics. D. GONDER farmer and stock -raiser, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Hudson ; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 5, 1826. which was his home until his removal to the West; in Aug., 1847, he enlisted in Co. B, 5th Ohio Inf., and served one year in the Mexican war, under Gen. Scott ; the commander of the division was Gen. Patterson, and of the brigade, Gen. Gushing; after he was mustered out of the service, in 1848, he returned to the place of his nativity, and, in the fall of 1856, removed to Illinois, locating in Money Creek Township, this county; came to his present home in 1863. He has served as Commissioner of Highways one term; owns eighty acres of land in Hudson Township, and was married in 1850, to Miss Mary A. Leeding, who was born in Cambridgeshire, England : she came to this country in 1849 ; they have five children living — William, Harriet E. (wife of William Little), James H., Mary A. and' George W. ; they have lost four children — Francis M., died in 1866; Robert L., died in 1869, and two others died in infancy. JAMES GREER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Hudson ; born in the North of Ireland, April 4, 1813; in 1840, he emigrated to the United States; he first located in Long Island. N. Y., where he remained until 1847, when he concluded to try his fortune in the then far-off West ; he left New York in April of that year, arriving in Chicago the 2d of May, and located in Hudson Township, this county, the same month. Mr. G. has lived on the farm where he now resides thirty -two years; for several years after his settling here, there were no fences to interfere with travel between his place and Bloomington. Owns 203 acres of farm lands in Hudson Township, and 36 acres of timber in Money Creek Township. WILLIAM HASENWINKLE, proprietor of Hudson Mill and Elevator, Hudson ; born in Prussia Nov. 15, 1834; came to this county in November, 1857, and during the same year located at Bloomington, 111.; in 1868, he engaged in the milling business at Hudson, his present home; his mill was built in 1868, and the elevator in 1871. In 1861, he married Miss Louisa St oil, who was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, May 10, 1838. Mr. H. served nine months in the regular army, at Berlin, Germany; he is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 628, A., F. & A. M., at Hudson, 111. His business card will be found in the business directory of this work. JOHN HAYNES, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23; P.O. Hudson; born in Shropshire, Eng., March 9, 1831 ; came to the United States in 1859, and after working at his trade at Independence, Mo.; during that spring and summer, he came to Bloomington, 111., and worked on the State Normal School building; he came to Hudson Township in the spring of 1860, and engaged in farming; in 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 94th 1. V. I., and served till the close of the war ; was at the battle of Springfield, Mo., siege of Vicksburg, and other battles and skirmishes ; he has served two terms as School Director ; owns KO acres of land in Hudson Township. Married in September, 1865, to Miss Mary Dunseth, who was born in Money Creek Township; she died in 1869; two children by this union — one living — Nettie A., born Sept. 5, 1866. He was again married in 1869, to Mrs. Eliza (Rowe) Myers, who was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio; three children by this union — two living — Emma S. and John F.; Cora H., died April 14, 1872. HIRAM HAVENS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Hudson ; born in Licking Co., Ohio, March 29, 1817 ; when about 12 years of age, his father, Jesse Havens, moved to Illinois ; they first stopped at Big Grove, near the present site of Urbana. Champaign Co. In January, 1830, the family located at Havens' Grove, Hudson Township ; the condition of the county at that time, and the hardships consequent to the settling of a new country, will be fully set forth in the history of this and other townships. The subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm till about twenty-one years of age, when he became a tiller of the soil on his own account, com- bining his farm work with hunting, not only for amusement, but quite frequently as a matter of necessity, to furnish food from the flesh of the deer, and kill wolves for the protection of their poultry and flocks. Prior to the settlement of the Havens family, two parties, Harbard and Grose, had made claims within the present confines of Hudson Township, but their stay was temporary, their claims being purchased by Mr. Havens' father for $100 in silver ; Mr. H. being therefore the first permanent settler of this township. Mr. Hiram Havens was mar- ried to Miss Sarah A., daughter of John Trimmer, April 5, 1838 ; she was born in New Jersey, Feb. 4, 1821. Mrs. Havens' father came to Smith's Grove, now in Towanda Township, in the summer of 1826, and of this family further mention will be made in histories of Towanda and Money Creek Townships. Mr. Havens has served as Justice of the Peace twenty years ; Supervisor 948 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: one term ; he has given to his children a part of his land, but still owns and operates a farm of 170 acres. They have three children now living — Martha H., wife of John S. Johnston; Alice, wife of Allen Hibbert, and Etta B. ; they have lost two— Adaline died Nov 1, 1860 ; John B., Aug. 18, 1839. JACOB D. HOCHSTEDLER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 81; P. 0. Hudson; born in Somerset Co., Penn., Jan. 26, 1822, but removed in early childhood with his father's family to Holmes Co., Ohio, where he resided till 31 years of age; then removed to Illinois, locating in White Oak Township, this county, and engaged in farming; in the spring of 1858 he removed to his present home. He has served as Commissioner of Highways six years ; owns 200 acres of land in Hudson Township. Married, in 1849, Eliza Hospelhorn, who was born in Harrison Co., Ohio ; ten children by this union, seven of whom are living — George, John, Vlary, (wife of William Young), Emanuel, Jane, James, and Francis; lost three ; Samuel died in 1854; others died in infancy. WILLIAM I. HOLDER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20; P. 0. Hudson; born in Tazewell Co., 111., May 30, 1849; his father, Charles W. Holder, settled in that county in an early day; in 1854 the family removed to Bloomington, this county. The subject of this sketch was in the milling business six years, in connection with the Novelty Mills, and in 1867 Mr. H. and James C. Renison established the National Nursery, which they operated two years. Married, in 1869, to Miss Ida Bowen, who was born near Harper's Ferry, Va.; four children by this union — Daniel W., Vernon, Jessie, and Ella M. WILLIAM HURSAY, wagon and carriage manufacturer and blacksmith; Hudson; born in Licking Co., Ohio, Oct. 28, 1826, where he resided, with the exception of about three years, till his removal to the West. At about the age of 18 he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade ; in the fall of 1851 he came West, locating at Bloomington, this county, and the following April removed feo Hudson Township ; he first worked in the shop of D. Trimmer, and the following year located in the village of Hudson, and opened a shop of his own ; his custom at that time came from a large scope of country, frequently having work for parties twenty miles distant. In 1851 he married Miss Sidney Wolfe, who was born in Maryland, but removed to Ohio at the age of 12; twelve children by this union, five of whom are now living — Mary K., (wife of L. P. Huston). James H., George W., Charles T., and Eurie B ; others died in infancy. SAMUEL H. LEWIS, retired, Hudson ; Mr. Lewis was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, April 14, 1828, and is a pon of Samuel and Sarah (Sealey) Lewis. The subject of this sketch, when about 8 years of age, came with his father's family to this country ; they landed in New York City, in November, 1835, and soon after, his father became interested in what was known as the Hudson Colony, and through agents of the colony he purchased one section of land, also a timber-lot in Money Creek Timber ; they left New York City in May, 1836, travel- ing via boat to New Orleans ; thence up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Hennepin ; in the early fall of that year, they removed to Havens' Grove, adopting the only means of conveyance at that time — ox-teams ; Samuel H. worked on his father's farm for many years, joining with it the customary sport of that time — hunting, for which he soon acquired, or possessed, a natural fondness ; schools at that period were few and far between ; Mr. L. says he received his col- legiate education at a log college in B about the year 1843, under the tutorship of the late Dr. Hobbs. Mr Lewis began early to buy cattle, which he drove to the Chicago market, and, since the days of railroads, has been extensively engaged in shipping to that market. When 21 years of age, he served as Constable under William McCullough, then Sheriff of the county ; since then, he has served as Assessor nine years, Collector one year, Supervisor one term, and School Trustee for many years. About twenty-five years since, he made a trip to Texas where he purchased from two hundred and fifty to three hundred head of cattle, which he drove through to Chicago, being about three months on the way ; they passed through the country of several of the Indian tribes, but had no trouble except a trick on one occasion. For the purpose of extorting money, the Indians drove some of the cattle which crossed the Canadian River first upon a mountain, and then offered to get them down at $1 a head, but a negro was employed at half the cost. Mr. L. made a second trip to that State since the war, but found a great change in the people as a result of the war; on the first occasion, being very hospitable, and on the latter, regarding any one from the North with suspicion, and treating them accordingly. On the 1st of January, 1868, he married Miss Irene, eldest daughter of John and Anna Smith. Mrs. Lewis was born in Hudson Township ; her father settled in the township as early as 1829; they have two children — Jay S. and May. Aside from other property, Mr. L. owns 740 acres of land, all in Hudson township, this county. THOMAS D. LYON, Pastor of Bethel German Baptist Church, Hudson ; born in Hardy, now Grant, Co., W. Va., March 3, 1821. When about 20 years of age, Mr. L. com- menced teaching, which occupation he followed for many years, and, mainly through his own efforts, obtained an education, including a partial knowledge of German and Greek. In 1847, be entered the ministry, which has been his vocation since that date. He was married Oct. 26, 1843, to Miss Mary Clark, who was born in Hampshire Co., W. Va., Aug. 29, 1820. In 1864, Mr. Lyon removed his family to Illinois, and located in Towanda Township, this county, and, four years later, removed to Hudson, his present home. They have eight children HUDSON TOWNSHIP. • 949 living — Rebecca, wife of F. M. Snavely; Rachel A., wife of John W. Forney; Hannah, wife of John L. Snavely; Emily J., wife of John Sager ; Mary M., wife of William Snavely; S. C; Otis B. and Franklin H Their son David died Jan. 19, 1855. ISAAC MESSER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Hudson ; born in Lexington Township, this county. His father, Isaac Messer, fprmerly of Pickaway Co., Ohio, settled in what is now Lexington Township, this county, in March, 1829, and was one of the first settlers in that part of the county. For further particulars, see history of Lexington Township in this work. In the spring of 1834, they removed to Hudson Township, which has since been the home of the subject of this sketch. He was married to Miss Nancy E. Lock in 1854. She was born in Anderson Co., Ky. Eight children by this union, six of whom are living — William H., Elizabeth (wife of David Ogden), Margaret I., Mary I., Fannie H. and Leonora E.; two deceased — both died in infancy. Mr. M. has served as Constable one term, and School Director several years; owns sixty acres of land in Hudson Township. His father, Isaac Messer, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn, May 2, 1781 ; died Jan. 21, 1861. In 1805, he married Miss Sidney Forbus, who was born in the same county and State. Her death occurred in 1843. WILLIAM MORROW, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19 ; P.O. Hudson; born in Brooke now Hancock Co., Va., Nov. 15, 1834 ; he worked on his father's farm till 28 years of age ; also teach- ing during the winter season, and a part of the year operated the coal mines on his father's farm. In 1863, he removed to Illinois, locating in this county, on the 7th of April of that year: the following spring, he removed to the farm where he now resides, and, after an experi- ence of some two months as proprietor of a " bachelor's hall," he concluded to resign that position, and, therefore, married Miss I. Josephine, eldest daughter of Rev. David Robinson, of Beaver Co., Penn. Mrs. Morrow was born in Beaver Co., Penn.; two children by this union — Mattie V. and Stella. Mr. M. has served as Supervisor, four years ; Collector, one year, and School Director, for several terms ; owns one-half in 320 acres of land in Hudson Township. Mr. Morrow, in politics, is a decided Democrat. JESSE PL ATT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Hudson ; born in what is now Cham- paign Co., 111., Jan. 13, 1830; his father located there in the fall of 1829, and, about one year later, came to Havens' Grove. Hudson Township, and, therefore, was among the first to settle in the township. The condition of the country, hardships and privations of the first settlers is best known by those who have had this experience, and, under the head of Township History, much will be found on this subject. Mr. Piatt worked on his father's farm until 23 years of age, then set forth as a tiller of the soil on his own account ; he located on the farm where he now resides twenty-two years ago. He has served as Constable, one term; School Director, three terms, and is now serving in that capacity ; also, Commissioner of Highways. He was married in 1863 to Miss Jane Hinthorn, who was born in Licking Co., Ohio ; five children by this union — Elizabeth E.. James I., William E. and Margaret F.; one deceased, George, who died 1865. Mr. Piatt owns 260 acres of land in Hudson I ownship. ELIJAH PRIEST, retired farmer, Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Hudson ; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Sept. 10, 1812, but removed to Licking Co., that State, where he resided until his removal to the West. He is a son of James and Hannah (Anderson) Priest. The subject of this sketch, prior to his locating in the West, was engaged in making charcoal, and also during the winter season worked in a smelting-furnace, the latter occupation requiring great care, and, also, exposure to intense heat. Mr. Priest reached his twenty-first birthday on the 10th of September, 1833. and the following day was married to Miss Rebecca Hinthorn, who was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Nov. 16, 1812. In June, 1834, he removed to Illinois, and, on the 8th day of the following month, arrived at his present home in Hudson Township, this county. Mr. Priest, like many of the pioneers, brought little else with him to the country than a strong constitution and indus- trious habits, which, combined with economy, have gained him a competence for life; he now owns 800 acres of land in Hudson and Money Creek Townships. Mr. Priest relates many inci- dents of early times ; and, although many of these incidents will be related in the histories of townships, we copy one from the " Good Old Times in McLean Co. :" "He ran out of provisions near Big Grove then called Pin Hook, now Urbana ; he made many inquiries, and heard that a certain man had recently two sacks of meal ground at a mill ; Mr. Priest wished to buy some, and sent a boy named Henry Moats to get it. Henry came back empty-handed, but reported that the man had a big corn-pone on the fire. Mr. Priest then went with the boy, and the latter was instructed to open the door when Priest stood by the fire. Mr. Priest offered to buy some meal, but was refused ; then he stood by the fire where the pone was cooking, and Henry imme- diately opened the door. Priest was then about to walk off with the pone, but the man of the house saw that he must give way, and he allowed Priest a peck of meal." Mr. Priest had by his first wife seven children, four of whom died in infancy ; only two are now living — James S. and George W. ; their daughter Sarah died July 17, 1876; Mrs. Priest's death occurred April 30, 1867. He was again married, Sept. 11, 1870, to Mrs. Minerva McCurdy; her maiden name was Johnston ; she was born in Ohio ; her death occurred Jan. 24. 1875. JOHN SAGER, farmer. Sec. 16; P. 0. Hudson ; born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., March I, 1818, but removed to Tioga Co.. that State, when about 12 years of age, where he resided until his removal to the West, in 1846, locating in Stephenson Co., 111., in the summer of that year.; 950 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: tMs was his home for eighteen years. In 1864, he removed to the farm where he now resides ; owns 150 acres of. land in Hudson Township. Married, March 24, 1842, Miss Phoebe Meeker, who was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Oct. 4, 1817; her death occurred Feb. 14, 1875; they had four children, only one of whom is now living — Edgar, born Feb. 15, 1846 (now resides in Hudson Township); Charles W., born Feb. 18, 1843, died in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Nov. 11, 1844; John C, born March 15, 1856, died in Siephenson Co., 111., March 24, 1853; Douglass, born Aug. 9, 1859, died in this township, March 5, 1870. Mr. S. was married to his present wife July 9, 1876; she was born in Grant Co., West Va., March 6, 1853, and is a daughter of Thomas D. and Mary Lyon, of Hudson; their son, Willis L., was born May 16, 1877, died Jan. 20, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Sager are members of Bethel German Baptist Church. LEWIS SAILOR, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 13; P. 0. Hudson; born in Logan Co., Ohio, March 13, 1828, where he resided until 20 years of age, when he removed to Illinois, in the fall of 1848, stopping at Rock Island until the following spring, then removing to what is now To wanda Township, this county; here he engaged in farming, manufacturing brick, and masonry; he built a house for Jesse Trimmer, which was the second brick dwelling built in Money Creek Township. In 1858, he removed to his present home; he owns eighty acres of land in Hudson Township ; has served as Justice of the Peace two years. Married in 1850, to Miss Martha Dodson, who was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, six children by this union, five of whom are living — Mary (wife of T. C. Moats), John, Daniel D., Knowlton and Joseph H; lost one— Ida J., died Oct. 30, 1864. JOSEPH A. SCOTT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 24; P. 0. Hudson; born in Beaver Co., Penn., July 20, 1846; when between 1 and 2 years of age, his father and mother died, and when about 8 years old he went to Pittsburgh, Penn., where he resided until the second year of the war (1862), then enlisted in Company I, 168th Ohio V. I.; while the regiment was at Chattanooga, soon after he entered the service, he was detailed as clerk and served in that capac ity about fifteen months; he went from Chattanooga to Cleveland, Tenn., and was mustered out of the service in the fall of 1864. In the spring of 1868, he came West and located in Hudson, Hits county; owns eighty acres of land in Hudson and 240 acres in Money Creek Township. Married, in 1871, Miss Sarah E., daughter of Jesse and Amanda Trimmer; Mrs. Scott was born in Money Creek Township, this county; they have one child — Gracie A. Mr. Jesse Trim- mer, whose portrait appears in this work, was, with his mother, brothers and sisters, the first to locate in what is now Money Creek Township. Mr. Scott is W. M. of Mosaic Lodge, No. 628, A., F. & A. M. JOHN SMITH, retired farmer; P. 0. Hudson; was born in Randolph Co., N. C; as early as 1824 he moved a family to Peoria, III., then containing two or three houses; in the spring of 1830, he removed to Illinois, stopping first at Big Grove, now in Champaign Co., at the pres- ent site of Urbana, then an Indian trading post ; the Smith family removed to what is now Towanda Township, this county, locating at the grove which afterward took the family name, aud is still called Smith's Grove; many were the hardships and privations of these pioneers, more of which will be given under the head of township histories in this work. In March, 1831, he was married to Miss Anna Havens, and, in the spring of 1832, settled at Havens' Grove, Hudson Township, near his present home ; Mrs. Smith's father was the first to perma- nently locate in the grove which now bears his name (Havens' Grove), and also the first perma- nent settler within the present confines of Hudson Township ; for further mention of Mr. Smith and other early settlers, see general history of McLean Co. and histories of Towanda and Hudson townships. DAVID SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Hudson. Mr. Smith was born in Hudson Township, Dec. 31, 1836, and is a son John Smith, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this work. The subject of this sketch still resides on the old home farm, and their present resi- dence, which is still the home of his parents, is near his birth-place. In some of the rooms of this dwelling can be seen plastering which was put on the ceiling of the same more than forty years ago, and it is still in a good state of preservation. Mr. Smith's farm consists of 410 acres of land, all in Hudson Township, this county. JACOB Y. SNAVELY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 28; P. 0. Hudson; was born in Leba- non Co., Penn., June 22, 1826, where he resided until 22 years of age; then removed to Illinois, in June, 1848. In the spring of the following year, he settled on the farm where he now resides, which has been his home since that date. He was married June 25, 1849, to Miss Hosanna Beissel, who was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Dec. 4, 1822; her father, Jacob Beissel, settled in Marshall Co., 111., in May, 1839. Mr. Snavely has served as Highway Commissioner one term and School Director about fourteen years. They have five children — Mary B., born June 4, 1850; Daniel B., June 25, 1851; Moses B., Oct. 16, 1852; Kate B., Dec. 22,1856; Emma B., June 22, 1862. Mr. S. owns 424 acres of land in Hudson Township. EPHRAIM STOTLER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11; P. 0. Hudson; born in Somer- set Co., Penn., July 22, 1805, where he resided until his removal to Illinois, in 1855, locating first in Stephenson Co., in September of that year. In the fall of 1863, he removed to his present home in Hudson Township, this county. Owns 160 acres of farm land in Hudson Township, aud forty acres of timber in Money Creek Township. Married in 1832, Miss Sarah Wagner, who ARROWSMITH TOWNSHIP. 951 ■was born in Somerset C>., Penn Twelve children by this union, eight of whom are living — Maria, wife of If. Zimmerman; Sarah, wife of Joseph Long; Mary, wife of E. Newcomer, all now residents of Western Iowa; Rebecca, wife of W. Wilkinson, resides at Peoria, 111.; John, who resides in Woodford Co., 111.; Ephraim H., and Walter, at home, and William, now in Cali- fornia. They have lost four — Samuel, died April 18, 1849; Elizabeth, April 5, 1845; the others died in infancy. Mrs. Stotler's death occurred Jan. 1, 1866, aged 54 years, 2 months and 9 days. CHARLES TAYLOR, retired farmer; P. 0. Hudson; born in Lincolnshire, England, Nov. 8, 1831; came to this country in 1852, locating in New York city, and about one year later, removed to Scott Co , 111. In the spring of 1853, he removed to Hudson Township, this county, where he engaged in farming. Married in 1853, Miss Sarah A. Gillham, who was born in Scott Co , 111.; her father, William Gillham, was one of the early settlers of that county; one daughter — Eva B. Mr. Taylor owns eighty-three acres of land in Hudson Township. JOHN TRIMMEH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 24; P. 0. Hudson; born in New Jersey, May 16, 1823, but removed in early childhood, with his father's family, to Illinois; the family stopped at Smith's Grove, in Towanda Township, this county, in the summer of 1826 ; his father, John Trimmer, died soon after their arrival there, and the family then moved to what is now Money Creek Township, and were the first to settle in that township. The subject of this sketch was married in July, 1846, to Miss Rebecca Hinthorn, who was born in Indiana, Dec. 28, 1828, but came to Illinois when a child, her father, Stephen Hinthorn, being among the early settlers. The spring following their marriage, they settled on the farm where they now reside, and erected a log dwelling 13x18, having ground floor, except enough space covered with rough boards or split logs, for table and one bed. They have had eight children — Scott, born June 13, 1847 ; James, March 17, 1849; George, March 28, 1851; Samuel, June 1, 1853; Stephen, Aug. 1, 1855; Amanda E., March 10, 1860; Daniel, Nov. 23, 1865. and Etta J., Sept. 8, 1867; all are living, except George and Amanda E. ; the former died April 20, 1863, and the latter eight days later. Mr. Trimmer owns 240 acres of firm land in Hudson, and forty-five acres of timber in Money Creek Township. In the early history of Towanda and Money Creek Townships, further mention will be made of Mr. Trimmer's family, in connection with the early settlement. ALFRED S. WEEKS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 10; P. 0. Hudson ; born in Queens Co., N. Y., Feb. 9, 1807, where he resided until about 19 years of age, then removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he engaged as book-keeper for Stillwell, Burtis & Co., merchant tiilors. In 1836, he ctme West, and spent some three years in different parts of the State ; he then returned to New York, but came West again in 1850, locating where he now resiJes ; owns 160 acres of farm lands, and thirty-five acres of timber, in Hudson Township. Served as Justice of the Peace four years ; Supervisor, some eight years, and is the present incumbent ; has served as school officer for many years. Mr. Weeks was instrumental in bringing about a re-survey of Hudson Town- ship, the Government survey having been very imperfectly done, few, if any corners being reg- ularly located. Married, in 1846, Miss Phcebe E. Burtis, who was born in New York City — one child, Eliza A. Mrs. Weeks' father's family settled in Jacksonville, 111., in the fall of 1835; afterward moved to Hudson Township, this county. ARROWSMITH TOWNSHIP. ENOS ARBOGAST, farmer, Sec. 23; P. 0. Saybrook ; owns 165 acres of land, worth $35 per acre ; was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1825 ; lived with his parents on the farm, engaged with his father in farming ; came to this county when 15 years of age, and worked on a farm. He was married to Mary Morgan Sept, 6, 1849; she was born in Tennessee, Sept. 3, 1831, and died March 23, 1868; they are the parents of eight children, five of whom are living — Eliza J., Eva L., Lewis A., Myra A , Millie A.; deceased — Charles W., Bell and an infant. Mr. Arbogast was then married to Sophia Dunning July 14, 1869 ; she was born in Monroe Co., Ind., Dec. 15, 1837 ; the fruit of this marriage is four children — William, Alfred, Jonas A. and Mary A. Mr. Arbogast has held the office of School Director ten years, which office he still holds, and has been Pathmaster one term. Mr. Arbogast's father was in the war of 1812; his parents are natives of Virginia, and Mrs. Arbogast's parents are natives of the same State. JOHN L. ARBOGAST, farmer, Sec. 24; P. 0. Naybrook ; owns 180 acres of land, worth $35 per acre ; was born in McLean Co., 111., Sept. 9, 1844 ; lived on the farm, assisting his father in farming. His father died when he was but 16 years of age, his mother having died three years previous. Mr. Arbogast was in the late war, and went forward to battle for his country; he enlisted, in 1861, in Co. G, 37th I. V. I; was in the battle of Pea Ridge, battle of Prairie Grove, Ark.; battle of Sugar Creek, Ark.; battle of Van Buren, Ark.; battle of Chalk Bluff, Mo. ; battle at Vicksburg, Miss. ; was at the taking of Yazoo City ; went to New Orleans, thence to Brownsville, Texas, which was taken ; thence to Royal, which was also taken ; returned to Brownsville, and went from there to Chicago, where he was mustered 952 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: out, by general order, Oct. 4, 1864. Mr. Arbogast held the office of School Director six jears, Collector one term, and is at present School Trustee; he also held, for four years, the office of Constable in this township. He was married to Katie 0. Henderson Dec. 27, 1866; she was born in Lewis Co., Ky., Dec. 11, 1847 ; the fruit of this marriage is five chil- dren, four of whom are living, and one dead — Mary E., William H., Anna B., Sarah E., and Birdie, died May 15, 1875. M first vote ever cast in the township. Mr. Arrowsmith is »ne of the most benevolent men in this county ; he is regarded as a public benefactor in this township, where he still resides. AUGUSTUS BRAN AM AN, farmer, Sec. 22 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; owns forty acres, worth $60 per acre. Was born in Augusta Co., Va., June 1, 1834; remained with his parents until he became of age. His father died in the year 1846; he then took care of his mother until her death. He was married to Caroline Trowbridge Sept. 3, 1867 ; she was born in Fayette Co., Ind., April 5, 1841 ; they are the parents of seven children — Mary, John, David, Clinton, Hattie, Billy, and Emma, who died Aug. 28, 1873. Mr. Branaman has held the office of School Trustee two terms, and Assessor five years. Mr. Branaman was in the late war, and enlisted in 1862, in Co. D., 94th I. V. I., of McLean Co ; was in the battle of Vicksburg and at the surrender of Port Hudson. Mr. Branaman served as Hospital Steward two years. Returned to New Orleans, then to Brownsville, Tex.; thence to Mobile, Ala. ; was in several skirmishes up the Mississippi, several other battles and a great many skirmishes ; was sent home on account of sore eyes, and remained until mustered out by general orders. FREDERICK BUILTA, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; was born in Prussia Nov. 28, 1824 ; lived in Prussia nine years ; came to Pennsylvania in 1834, and thence to Peoria, in this State, where he remained until 1863 : he then came to McLean Co., where he has since resided. Was married to Jane Maurice Dec. 15, 1850 ; she was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Dec. 5, 1829: they are the parents of nine children — John H., George A., Thomas W., who died Sept. 17, 1853; Rosella J., David M., Mary E., Abraham L., Sarah A. and Frederick. Mr. Builta has 160 acres of land, worth $40 per acre. He has held the office of School Director, fifteen years. Mrs. Builta's grandfather was in the Revolutionary war; her father in the war of 1812. DOUGLASS DEMENT, farmer, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in Logan Co., 111., May 11, 1849; his father died when he was but seven years old, leaving him and two older brothers to take care of their mother, which they did by farming ; came to McLean Co. in 1873. Was married to Elizabeth A. Gull Feb. 22, 1875 : she was born in Somer- set Co., Penn., May 23, 1853 ; the fruits of this marriage are two children — Mary M., born Nov. 16, 1875; Jessie C, March 15, 1878 Mr. Dement owns ninety-five acres of good farming land, worth $40 per acre. He and his brother raised last year, with two teams, 7,000 bushels of corn. His father was in the Black Hawk war. Mr. Dement' s father is a native of Virginia, and his mother of New York. Mrs. Dement's parents are natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Dement is a very good farmer ; he is also intelligent and enterprising. SOLOMON F. DOWNS, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Saybrook ; owns 120 acres of excellent farming land, under good cultivation, worth $40 per acre. The subject of this sketch was born in McLean Co., 111., June 28, 1850. His father died when he was but 10 years old ; his mother having died four years previous. The brothers continued to keep house together and carried on farming until Mr. Downs became of age. He was married to Anna E. Reid, March 27, 1877 ; she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, April 5, 1853 ; the fruit of this marriage is one child — Lawson W., who was born Jan. 25, 1878. Mr. Downs' father was in the Black Hawk war. He is a very neat farmer, having every thing in its proper place, and is an industrious, energetic man. Mrs. Downs is an industrious and intelligent lady. FRANK J. FLEISCHER, farmer ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; was born in Germany, Dec. 13, 1844; lived in Germany until 19 years of age; was a weaver by trade; came to this country and county in the year 1864; worked on the farm until married to R. Eky Steur, Nov. 8, 1869 ; she was born in Germany, April 7, 1844 ; they are the parents of six children, five of whom are living, viz.: Louise E., Emma L., Agnes, Otto A. and Clara ; deceased, one infant. Mr. Fleischer still continues to farm; is well respected in his neighborhood. ARROWSMITH TOWNSHIP. 953 FREDERICK C. FRIDAY, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; owns 108 acres, worth $35 per acre. The subject of this sketch was born in Germany, Nov. 3, 1839; lived on the farm with his parents, assisting his father in farming, until 23 years of age; worked for his uncle two years; came to this country June 4, I860 ; went to Tazewell Co., 111., stayed two years and returned to this county. He was married to Melvina Wilson, May 23, 1867; she was born in Posey Co., Ind., May 23, 1841, and has had five children, only one of whom is living, viz.i Carl F. ; the deceased are — Julia M., Joseph C, Nettie B. and Mary C. Mr. Friday has held the office of School Director, one term, which office he still holds, and has been Overseer of Roads three years. Mrs. Friday's grandfather, on her father's side, was in the Mexican war, Mr. Friday's cash, when he came to this township, did not exceed $15, and, in a few years, he acquired over $4,000 worth of property. He is well respected in his neighborhood. JACOB HAY, farmer ; P. 0. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in PensyK vania, Dec. 16, 1811 ; resided with his parents on the farm until 21 years of age. Was married to Sarah Phipps ; who was born in Richland Co., Ohio, Jan. 2, 1818 ; they are the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are living, viz.: Samuel, Isaac, Mary A., Isabelle, John, Nancy, Ellen and Nelly; deceased — Elizabeth, Margaret M., Jacob and Sarah J. Mr. Hay, though 68 years of age, is an industrious, hard working man. and still continues to farm. S. P. HAY, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. O. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in Richland Co., Ohio, March 24, 1839 ; remained at home with his parents until he was married to Pracilta Mordin, Dec. 7, 1865 ; she was born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., March 12, 1847 ; they are the parents of five children, viz.: John M., Laura B., Mary M. (the next two are twins) Emma and Delia. Mr. Hay is quite an industrious farmer, whose principal crop is corn ; also raises oats to some extent. AUGUSTUS C. HAZLE .farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, May 25, 1818 ; lived on a farm until 23 yeara of age ; engaged with his father in farming, until he was married in Ohio, to Mary A. Pember- ton, Dec. 15, 1842 ; she was born in Clark Co., Ohio. May 31, 1825 ; they are the parents of six children, viz.: Elizabeth, died April 19, 1862; Philip N., born Sept. 1, 1846; Isaac N., July 1, 1850; John 0., March 9, 1852 ; William A., Aug. 28, 1855 ; James A., Aug. 28, 1855 ; the last named being twins. Mr. Hazle has held the office of School Director, fifteen years, and Overseer of Roads, twelve years. Mr. Hazle owns 160 acres of excellent farming land, worth $50 per acre. Mr. Hazle, when married, had only about $50 worth of property, but by his industry, economy and perseverance has accumulated about $9,000 worth of property, besides $3,600 he. has given to his boys. His father was in the war of 1812, and Mrs. Hazle' s father was also in the same war. HENRY FRY, farmer; P. 0. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, April 21, 1830 ; his father died when he was quite young, leaving his mother and sis- ter in his care, being the oldest son ; he continued to support his mother and sisters, by working at home part of the time, and worked out by the month until he married Susannah Darnell, Dec. 20, 1849 ; she was born in Holmes Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 1833 ; they are the parents of four- teen children, ten of whom are living — Serilla J., Rebecca, Mary I., John H., Stephen A. D., Barbara A., James W. L., Lucy E., Susannah and Matilda; the names of the deceased are — . Catherine E., died May 1,1865; Eliza E., died March 8,1865; Frances M., died March 8, 1867 ; Samantha, died Jan. 19, 1867. Mr. Fry was married in Ohio, and came to this State in the fall of 1853, and still continues to farm, his principal crop being corn ; he is very industri- ous and energetic. ANDREW C. JONES, farmer, Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; owns 200 acres ; was born in Union Co., Penn., March 15, 1816; removed with his father; assisted his father in farming and tanning until married to Eleanor Arrowsmith. May 19, 1836 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, April 16, 1818; they are the parents of seven children, two of whom are living — Mary E. (now wife of S. E. Clive), Margaret E. (now wife of J. R. Lorimer) ; deceased — Henry L., Benjamin N., Norman A., John W., Samuel A. Mr. Jones came to this county in 1839, hence was one of the pioneers of this county, assisting to turn it from a wilderness to its present prosperous con- dition. Mr. Jones has been very industrious, but his losses have been considerable, losing twenty-seven head of horses since he has been in this county ; notwithstanding, he has accumu- lated considerable property, owning 200 acres of fine farm land, besides town property in Arrows smith. PHILIP KELLER, farmer; P. 0. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in Ohio, July 31, 1840; lived with his parents until 21 years of age, assisting his father on the farm until he came to this county, in 1864. Was married to Mary E. Arrowsmith, May 28, 1868; she was born in McLean Co., 111.; they are the parents of five children — Rosa A., born Feb. 16, 1869; Nancy C, born Nov. 10, 1871 ; John W., born Dec. 13, 1872; Nettie M.. born Oct. 5, 1875; Oliver P., born March 17, 1878. Mr. Keller still continues to farm, his principal crop being corn. He had a brother instantly killed by a falling stick of timber, while raising a barn, JAMES M. KEPNER, farmer. Sec. 36: P. 0. Saybrook. The subject of this sketch was born in Juniata Co., Penn., April 17, 1842 ; remained with his father, engaging in farming and the lumber business; came to this county in 1866. Was married in Pennsylvania, to Margaret; 954 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: R. Campbell, April 23, 1863; she was born in Franklin Co., Penu., Aug. 14, 1842; they are the parents of four children — John M., Elizabeth R., Frances M. and William C. Mr. Kepner has eighty acres of fine farming land, and about one-fourth of an acre in raspberries, of which he had about ten bushels last year. He has about $7,000 coming to him from his father's estate — his father having died lately. He is very industrious and economical, and Mrs. Kepner is very industrious and intelligent. FRANKLIN KIMLER, farmer. Sec. 22 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; owns 320 acres of land, worth $40 per acre; was born in Montgomery Co., Ind., Nov. 16, 1831; remained with his father on the farm until 21 years of age, assisting him in farming and blacksmithing ; moved to this county at the age of 7 years; settled southwest of Le Roy; lived one year there; moved to where the town of Le Roy now stands, still farming and working at his trade, and was married to Jane Pemberton May 18, 1856 ; she was born in Fountain Co., Ind.; they are the parents of four children — James E., born April 5,1857; Elizabeth A., Jan. 18,1860; Mary B., Oct. 2, 1861 ; Frank A., April 24, 1867. Elizabeth E., now wife of Austin H. Vanscoyoc, of Kansas. Mr. Kimler has held the office of School Director eight years; he was in the late war, enlisting Sept. 4, 1861, in Co. I, 39th I. V. I., and served three years ; was in the battle of Drury's Bluff, Va., also in the battle of Fort Wagner. S. C , and several other battles and skirmishes; was mustered out by general order. Mr. Kimler had no property to speak of, when married; but has, at present, about $13,000 worth of property, which he has accumulated by industry, econ- omy and perseverance, made mostly by farming and raising cattle hogs and horses ; his prin- cipal crop has been corn. JOHN A. LARIMER, merchant and Postmaster, Arrowsmith ; was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, April 23, 1839; lived with his parents until 1848, when he came to this county; moved to Bloomington, and lived with his father until he enlisted (August, 1861) in Co. C, 33d I. V. I.; was in the battle of Pilot Knob and battle at Fredericktown, Mo.; fought Jeff. Thompson ; thence to Arcade and wintered there; went to Vicksburg May 1, 1863: crossed the Mississippi River; was the first Union soldier landed on that side of the river; went to Magnolia Hills, and Was there fired on by the rebels ; the fire was returned, and the fight lasted all day — Mr. Lar- imer being in the hottest part of the battle ; they were then engaged in one continual skirmish, until they got to Jackson, Miss.; after taking this place, the army moved toward Vicksburg; Mr. Larimer was then engaged in the great battle at Champion Hills; the rebel line was broken at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. During the march back to Black River bridge, Mr. Larimer helped to eat the supper prepared for Pemberton ; he was then ordered to Black River bridge, where a charge was made on the works, taking several thousand prisoners and a number of guns ; the rebels retreated after burning the bridge ; Mr. Larimer was wounded by a shell from the enemy's guns in this battle; he was then in the siege of Vicksburg ; was slightly wounded by a shell from the enemy's guns : was at the taking of Esperanza by siege, when he went to Texas and scouted around until January; he then re-enlisted for three years, and was in several other battles; was mustered out by general order Dec. 8, 1865. Mr. Larimer came home from the army, and engaged with his father in farming until he married Elizabeth J. Cowan Feb. 13, 1868; she was born in Clark Co., Ohio, May 24, 1845; the fruit of this marriage is four chil- dren—Eddy C, Robert P., William 0. and Anna B., who died Aug. 23, 1878. Mr. Larimer commenced the mercantile business in the town of Arrowsmith in 1871, keeping, as he always has, a splendid stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats, caps, etc., on hand. His experience in purchasing goods has enabled him to keep a better class of goods on hand, and to sell lower than any other store in Arrowsmith. Mr. Larimer has held the office of Supervisor of township two years, and was appointed Postmaster at Arrowsmith in 1872, which office he still holds. He is universally esteemed by all who know him. He is decidedly a business man ■ — very intelligent and pleasant. Mrs. Lirimer is also highly respected, and is a very intelligent lady. Mr. Larimer owns a house, lot and storehouse in Arrowsmith. JOHN D. LANDERS, farmer; P. O. Ellsworth; was born in Christian Co., Ky., Jan, 17, 1824; lived with his parents on the farm until 11 years of age ; moved with his parents to this county Oct. 17, 1835 ; drove ox-team in summer, and went to school in winter ; drove two droves of cattle to Wisconsin in the year 1844; came home, went to Kentucky, stayed one year, returned and ran his father's farm and mill one year. Enlisted in the Mexican war June, i846, in Co. B, 4th Regiment I. V. I., and served twelve months ; was in the siege and capture of Vera Cruz, the battle of Cerro Gordo, where he was wounded in the left hand, and several skir- mishes ; was mustered out by general order. Returned home, and engaged in breaking prairie and farming for about three years. He was married to Melinda A. Lash March 7, 1850 ; she Whs born in Ohio; died April 5, 1874; there were nine children by this marriage, viz., Adaline, Ira, Samuel, Perry, Myra, Sallie, Olif, Ella and Zaulda. Mr. Landers was then mar- ried to Charlotte Driskill, April 12, 1877 ; she was born in Defiance Co., Ohio, Dec. 23, 1849 ; the fruit of this marriage is one child — John David, Jr., born May 25, 1878 Mr. Landers owns 208 acres of farm land, under good cultivation, and has considerable influence in his neighbor- hood. Mr. Landers has held office of School Director twenty years; School Treasurer, three years; Assessor, three years, and Supervisor, one term. His grandfather lived to be 114 years of age ; his father is 81 years old, and still attends to business. ARROWSMITH TOWNSHIP. 955 JOHN' MARSH, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., March 14, 1828; lived on the farm with his father in that State until 12 years of age, then moved with his parents to the Western Reserve, in Ohio ; stayed there twelve years, engaging with his father in farming and dairying; came to this county when 24 years of age. Was mar- ried in Ohio to Eliza Hobart, March 8, 1852; she was born in Ohio March 14, 1828: they are the parents of eight children, viz., John F., Rena B., George A., Mary A., Elma C, Harry H., Eunice A. and Ruth A. Mr. Marsh has held the office of Commissioner of Highways seventeen years, and School Director twelve years. Mr Marsh had very little property when he came to this county, but now owns 668 acres of the finest farming lands in the county ; he has planted about twelve acres of the willow on the northwest of his dwelling-house, which makes a very fine wind-break ; Mr. Marsh's farm is one of the best improved in the township ; he is a man of great influence in the neighborhood, where he has lived for a number of years. Mrs. Marsh is an educated and accomplished lady ; in fact, the family are in very high standing. Mr. Marsh has made considerable money raising sheep, having made sheep and mules a specialty. ANSON MARSH, farmer, Sec. 4; P. 0. Arrowsmith; owns eighty acres, worth $35 per acre; was born in Seneca Co., N. Y. July 25, 1832 ; lived with his parents on a farm until engaging with his father in farming, the lumber business, working a stone-quarry, etc., until 22 years of age ; he came to this county about the year 1854 ; worked by the month on a farm until he married Sarah M. Wampler, Nov. 29, 1861 ; she was born in Highland Co., Ohio, Dec. £, 1835 ; they are the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living, viz.; Henry M. W., Theodocia, Mary J.. William W., Luis E., George I. and Laura A.; deceased — Florence M. and Alice. Mr. Marsh has held the office of School Director eight years, and Overseer of Roads several terms His parents are natives of New York; Mrs. Marsh's father is a native of Vir- ginia, and her mother of Ohio. FRANK MARSH, farmer, Sec. 19; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; was born in McLean Co., 111., April 10, 1853 ; lived with his parents on the farm, engaging with his father in farming until 19 years of age ; then farmed three years for himself on his father's farm, and was then married to Amanda J. Wampler, Dec. 24, 1874; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Aug. 2, 1854; the fruit of this marriage is one child — Goldie, who was born July 14, 1876. Mr. Marsh owns sixty acres of very fine farm land, probable value, $35 per acre, under good cultivation. Mr. Marsh's parents are natives of Ohio, and Mrs. Marsh's of Virginia. JOHN MURPHY, farmer, Sec. 5; P. 0. Arrowsmith; owns 120 acres of excellent farming land under good cultivation ; was born in Ireland, Dec. 26, 1823; lived with his parents on a farm until 24 years of age ; came to this country, first to New York, next to Cincinnati, and then to Kentucky, where he was married to Margaret Jones, April 22, 1852; she was born in Flem- ing Co., Ky. t Jan. 12, 1835. They are the parents of nine children — William A , John J., Mary E., Thomas, Eddy B., Susan B. and Kate M.; deceased — Mary E. died in 1856; George A. died Sept. 23, 1875. THOMAS O'BRIEN, farmer, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; the subject of this sketch was born in Ireland, April 28, 1831 ; lived with his parents, in Ireland, until 17 years of age, when he hired to J. Cull, a stockman, to drive fat cattle to market and fairs, looking after them while there; came to this country at the age of 21 years; came first to New York, stayed one year, then came to McLean Co. — farmed three years. Was then married to Mary Smith, April 28, 1856 ; she was born in Ireland, March 25, 1839. The fruit of this marriage is eleven children, of whom six are living, five dead — Lawrence, Thomas, John, Peter, James E. and Hugh ; deceased — John died in 1853; Anna died in 1853, and one infant; Rosanna died in 1868, and Thomas in 1868. Mr. O'Brien owns seventy-seven acres of excellent farming land under good cultivation. He has held the office of School Director three years, which office he still holds, jle had a brother killed in the late war. Mrs. O'Brien had a brother wounded in the battle of Prairie Grove, in Arkansas. ENOCH OROHOOD, mechanic, Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in Virginia June 1, 1828; remained with his parents until 19 years of age ; emigrated to Union Co., Ohio; came from Ohio, in 1849, to Sangamon Co.. this State, and remained until 1850; then to Christian Co., where he remained until 1852 ; moved to Bloomington on the 13th day of November, 1852. Was previously married in Ohio, to Anna Brown, Aug. 15, 1849 ; she was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Dec. 1, 1829. They are the parents often children — Edwin L., Enoch W., Anna B., Eva, Nellie F. and Colun R. ; deceased — Mary K., who died Feb. 2, 1856; James L., who died Feb. 21, 1864; Charles, who died in 1868; Joseph M , who died July 4, 1872. Mr. Orohood held the office of City Alderman, in the city of Clinton. His father was in the war of 1812. Mr. Orohood carried on the business of manufacturing bugg es, wagons and plows, very extensively in Clinton, 111., for twelve years, being a natural mechanic, and gave good satisfaction during that time. He is well read on general subjects. 0. PAULDING, physician, Arrowsmith. The subject of this s'< etch* was born in Asia, while his parents were there on a missionary tour. Mr. Paulding's parents having died when he was young, he knows but little of his early history. He has had the benefit of agooi education; he graduated at Amberly College, where he received a diploma for the practice of medicine, which profession he still follows. His residence is in the town of Arrowsmith, where he is now 956 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: practicing. He has built up a fine practice in the town and vicinity, in the past year, and is looked upon by all as an able physician, highly talented and very energetic. JAMES F. PAYNE, farmer, Sec 22; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; owns sixty acres of very fine farm land, worth $65 per acre. The subject of this sketch was born in Monroe Co., lnd., Jan. 31, 1831 and lived with his father on the farm until 21 years of age. He was married to Martha A. Gray, April 8, 1851 ; she was born in Monroe Co., Ind., April 7, 1832. The fruit of this mar- riage has been seven children, six of whom are living — George W., now engaged in buying grain in Arrowsmith ; Andrew J., also engaged in buying grain in Arrowsmith; John M., Jacob I., Tabitha E. and William H. ; deceased — Martha E. Mr. Payne has held the office of School Director seven years, and has been Township Collector from the year 1861 to 1864. Mr. Payne is well respected in his neighborhood. JOHN SMITH, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Arrowsmith; owns forty-five acres, worth $45 per acre; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, March 22, 1821. Lived and farmed with his father, and occa- sionally worked out by the month. Remained in Ohio until 21 years of age ; came to this State and thence to California, in the year 1850, and, while his party were crossing the plains, a large water-spout passed within thirty yards of them. He was married to Maria Rider Aug. 13, 1863. She was born in Ohio Sept. 24, 1843. They are the parents of eight children, viz. : William H., Ella C, who died April 12,. 1868; Idalia, Nona H., George M.. Anna, Francis L., Milo A. Mr. Smith's grandfather was in the Black Hawk war, and Mrs. Smith's grandfather on her mother's side was in the war of 1812. She is one of the survivors of the Kansas drouth of 1860. JACOB SMITH, farmer, Sec. 24; P. 0. Saybrook : owns 258 acres of land, worth f 10 per acre ; was born in Switzerland Co., Ind., April 21, 1817. Resided on a farm with his parents, assisting his father in farming ; worked out by the month. Came to this county in the spring of 1833, being the first settler in this township, helping to change it from a barren wilderness to a fruitful field of plenty. He was married to Rosana Newcom April 20, U'42. She was born in (Mark Co., Ohio, April 9, 1820. They are the parents of seven children, three living and four dead, viz. : Charles W., Lucinda J., Joseph P. ; deceased —Ethan A., died in the late war, of typhoid fever, March 25, 1864; Albert R., Anna J. and Mary E. Mr. Smith has held the office of School Director twelve years ; held the office of Commissioner of Highways two terms, which office he still holds, and held the office of Supervisor of this township three or four years. Mr. Smith had but very little property when he came to this county ; it did not exceed $200 ; but, by industry, economy and perseverance, has accumulated about $15,000 worth of property, consist- ing mostly of land. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been very liberal in donating money for benevolent purposes. Mrs. Smith donated $50 to assist in building a church. WILLIAM SPENCER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Oct. 11, 1842 ; resided with his father on the farm until 19 years of age, his mother having died when he was but 6 years old ; engaged with his father in farming until he came to McLean Co., in 1855 ; settled in Le Roy, and remained there three years, attending school a portion of the time. Mr. Spencer was in the late war, enlisting in 1861 in Co. 1, 39th I. V. I.; was in battle of Winchester and the skirmish at Black Water, Va.; was in the siege and capture of Fort Sumter ; in battle at Morris' Island and Fort Wagner ; re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864, and was in battle of Drury's Bluff; siege of Petersburg; assisted in the taking of Petersburgh ; went to Southeast Virginia ; mustered out by general order, and returned home. He was married to Mary E. Cline Jan. 3, 1869 ; she was born in Putnam Co., Ohio. June 21, 1857 : they are the parents of two children — Emma M., born March 19, 1870; Eva D., Oct. 9, 1873. Mr. Spencer owns 240 acres of excellent farming land, under good cultivation, his crop being mostly corn, which he has fed to hogs and cattle until the last four years. IRA A STOUT, farmer, Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Ellsworth. Owns 160 acres of land, worth $35 per acre; was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio ; went to school part of the time. Was married to Alice Pan- cake Feb. 25, 1875 ; she was born in Noble Co., Ind.; they are the parents of two children — David and Harry. The subject of this sketch has held the office of School Director, two terms; Town Clerk, two terms, and School Trustee, which office he still holds. MADISON WILLAN, farmer; P. 0. Ellsworth; was born in Henry Co., Ky., Sept! 5, 1847 ; lived with his parents on the farm until 14 years of age ; engaged with his tather in farm- ing ; went to Indiana ; stayed until 1865 ; came to this county, and married Jane Richardson, Jan. 18, 1872 ; she was born in Scotland April 5, 1850; the fruit of this marriage is one child — La Fayette, who was born May 7, 1875. Mr. Willan's father is a native of England, and his mother of Kentucky. Mrs. Willan's parents are natives of Scotland. THOMAS B. WATTS, farmer and school teacher; P. 0. Arrowsmith. The subject of this sketch was born in the State of Delaware, June 23, 1843 ; remained with his parents until 18 years of age, engaging with his father in farming in summer and going to school in winter. Mr. Watts attended the State Normal School at Bloomington, McLean Co., two and a half years : commenced teaching school at the age of 21. and continued for about twelve years. Mr. Watts was so successful in teaching that he retained his position in one school, in the city of Peoria, 111., for a period of six years. Mr. Watts has been teaching in this county for about two years. Was married to Louise L. Odelin May 27, 1867 ; she was born in the State of Vermont March 27, DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 957 1848; they are the parents of three children — Littie M., born Jan. 13, 1873 ; Cora B., May 11, 1875; B. A., June 3, 1877. Mr. Watts lives on his father's farm, and is a man of more than ordinary intelligence. Mrs. Watts is an Eastern lady, of refinement and taste. DOWNS TOWNSHIP. WIYETT ADAMS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. ; was born Feb. 1, 1828, in Warren Co., Ky. His father, Jesse Adams, emigrated to Illinois in October, 1830, and entered land in Old 'lown Township, where he lived until his decease, which occurred in 1843. He was married in Virginia to Elizabeth Goodman ; she was born in Tennessee, and died in Iowa in 1865. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom ten are now living. The subject of this sketch remained upon the home farm until 19 years of age, when, upon the 25th of March, 1847, he was married to Charity Bishop ; she was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Oct 18, 1826. They have ten children now living, viz. : Mary E., born Jan. 3, 1851', now Mrs. John H ol forty ; Joseph, a music teacher, born Feb. 9, 1852 ; Hannah E., May 9, 1853, now Mrs. Wamsley, of Hey worth ; Martin L., Oct, 14, 1854; May Dora, Dec. 15, 1855; Harriet L., Jan. 12, 1859, now Mrs. Frank Cowden ; Liddie Celia, April 22, 1860; Icha- bod M., Jan. 11, 1862; Sarah J., Aug. 30, 1865, and Nettie, Feb. 17, 1870. Upon the marriage of Mr. A., he rented land, upon which he farmed for three years, when he entered ninety acres of his present place, at $1.25 per acre, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 247 acres, which he has secured by his own exertions. He settled upon his present place in 1849, when he had only two neighbors on the prairie, and east it was perfectly wild for five miles, not a house being located within that distance. His milling was done at Mackinaw, a distance of fifty miles, making the trip from four to seven days with oxen ; afterwards at Bloom- ington, a distance of twelve miles. He assisted in organizing the township in 1857. Mr. Adams has held many township and school offices among which we mention Highway Commissioner and School Director. Mrs. Adams is a daughter of Jacob Bishop, who emigrated from Perry Co., Ohio, and located in Randolph Grove in the fall of 1829, where he now lives at the advanced age of 82 years. Mr. and Mrs. Adams were in Bloomington when there was but one dry-goods store in the place, neither mill nor churches. CHARLES ALLEN, farmer, Sec. 32 ; P. O. Hey worth ; born in Marion Co., Ohio, May 19, 1845. His father, David S. Allen, was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio, then to Illinois, and located in Padua Township, McLean Co., in 1845. Here he entered eighty acres of prairie and twenty of timber, upon which he lived until 1860, when, after living in Christian Co. three years, he returned to McLean Co. and settled in Downs Township, where he died, March 17, 1864. He married, in Ohio, Betsey Love; she died in McLean Co. in 1848, and lies buried in the Dawson graveyard, in Padua Township. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until the winter of 1864, when he enlisted in the 150th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union. He was forwarded to the front, and, during the year 1864, was engaged upon duty in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and, in the spring of 1865, he was discharged, and returned to Downs Township, and followed farming upon rented land until 1871, when he purchased his present place of 100 acres, upon which he then settled and has since lived. His marriage with Charity E. Cusey was celebrated Dec. 30, 1868. They have two children — John Cusey, born Oct, 22, 1871 ; Charles A., June 11, 1876. Mrs. Allen was born in McLean Co., Nov. 21, 1844. She is a daughter ot Senator John Cusey, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., whose biog- raphy appears in this work. C. E. BARCLAY, farmer, Sec. 19; P. 0. Downs ; born in Mason Co., Ky., Sept. 10, 1824. His father, Stephen Barclay, was born in Brown Co., Ohio, Aug. 11, 1800. He was married in Kentucky to Nancy Downing. She was born March 22, 1800, in Kentucky. They were the parents of six children, as follows — Susan, now Mrs. Sylvester Peasley, born June 7, 1822 ; Charles E,, Sept. 10, 1824; Harriet P., March 2 1827; James, May 14, 1829; Sarah, April 25, 1832 ; William, Feb. 16, 1835 — the last four are deceased. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farm labor, with his father, until 28 years of age, when, in the fall of 1853, he emigrated to Illinois, and the year of 1854, farmed upon the place of Campbell Wakefield, in Randolph Township, and in the fall of 1854, purchased his present place of 160 acres, which was in a wild state, and which he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of culti- vation, by his own hard labor. He was one of the first settlers upon the prairie; but a very few houses were in view at the time of his locating here. He has followed farming constantly during his residence here, and for the past fifteen years has been engaged in feeding and shipping stock. His marriage with Angeline Biggers, was celebrated May 19, 1850. She was born in Mason Co., Ky., Jan. 23, 1832. She died in McLean Co., June 4, 1867, leaving seven children — .lames S., born July 29, 1851; Mary A., Aug. 19, 1853; Nancy S., April 17, 1855, (the above three are married and live in Kansas); Charles D., Sept. 9, 1857; John H., May 21, 1860; Susan P., Feb. 20, 1862; George E., July 23, 1865 — the last four are now living at home. His marriage with 9 r )rf BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Elizabeth Willhoit was celebrated Jan. 23, 1868. She was born in Owen Co., Ky., May 8, 1842,. she was a daughter of Willis C. and Maria (Hancock) Willhoit, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in McLean Co., 111., in the spring of 1852. Mr. Willhoit died in McLean Co., April 9, 1873. Mrs. Willhoit is still living; is now in the 74th year of her age. They were the parent* of ten children, eight of whom lived to grow up; seven are now living; six of them are living in McLean Co. The children of Charles E., and Elizabeth (Willhoit) Barclay were five in num- ber— Lillie M., born March 7, 1869; Willis J., Nov. 1, 187U; Harry T., May 8, 1872; Hattie E.^ Aug. 20, 1875; William E., June 25, 1877. Of township and school offices he has had his full share, among which we mention Assessor for three terms, Commissioner of Highways three terms, School Director ten years, Town Clerk one year, and one of the Board of School Trustees for fourteen years, and other petty offices. WILLIAM R. BARTON, farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Heyworth. One of the oldest settlers of McLean Co.; born in Union Co., Ind.. Oct. 13, 1823; his father, Samuel Barton, was born in Loudoun Co., Va., in 1794. He emigrated from Virginia to Pennsylvania, thence to Union Co., Ind. He was married in Pennsylvania to Hannah Pitznoggle. She was born in Pennsylvania, of German descent. She died about, the year 1846, in Boone Co., Ind. Mr. Barton now lives in Boone Co., Ind., where he has lived for nearly half a century. He is now 85 years of age. They were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living. The subject of this sketch lived upon the farm of his father, until 1855, when he emigrated West, and located in Downs Town- ship, and in the spring of 1856, purchased forty acres of his present place, upon which he then settled, and where he has since lived. He has since added, by purchase, until he now owls eighty acres of well-improved land, which he ha 3 secured by his own hard labor, energy and industry. His marriage with Louisa A Sweet, was celebrated Oct. 17, 1844. She was born in Henry Co., Ind., Jan. 17, 1828. She died March 5, 1868. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom nine are now living — Eli, Catharine, Albert, John, Charles, Milton, William, Mary and Ellen ; of the above children, John was born Jan. 17, 1854; he was united in marriage with Lizzie J. Cruff, Feb. 10, 1875; she was born in Indiana, Jan. 29, 1852. She was a daughter of William Cruff, who located in Bloomington, in 1856, and now lives in McLean Co. DAVID F. BAYLOR, farmer, Sec. 8; P. 0. Downs; one of the early settlers of McLean Co., 111. ; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Sept. 27, 1832 ; he is a son of Jacob Baylor, who was born in Pennsylvania. May 16. 1805, and emigrated to Ohio, and located in Champaign Co., Ohio. He was married, March 25, 1830, to Nancy Beatly ; she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 30, 1810, ; she now lives upon the old place, where they located thirty-nine years ago. He fol- lowed farming and teaming in Ohio until 1837, when he emigrated to Illinois with his family and located at Blooming Grove, and, in 1839, located on Sec. 8, Downs Township, where he- secured eighty acres of land, upon which he settled, and where he lived until his decease, which occurred Jan. 6, 1848. He frequently made trips by team to Chicago, taking up grain, and bringing back salt, groceries, etc., the trip consuming upward of two weeks; he also made trips to St. Louis, taking grain to market and freighting back goods for Bloomington merchants; he continued farming and teaming until he had accumulated 200 acres of land at the time of his- death ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom five are living. The subject of this sketch emigrated to Illinois with his parents in 1837, and lived upon the home farm until 1866, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has eighty acres in his home farm, and also an interest in the old homestead. His marriage with Annette R. Mannen, was celebrated April 12, 1859; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Feb. 15, 1840; she died April 17,. 1864, leaving two children — Cary 0., born April 6, 1860 ; Maria I., born Nov. 25, 1862. He was united in marriage with Clara B. Philips, Nov. 19,1865 ; she was born in Greene Co., Penn., Jan. 7, 1842; they were the parents of five children, of whom four survive — Maggie F., born in 1867 ; Francis B., born April 22, 1868 ; Eliott EL, born Aug. 17, 1872 ; Vera L., born Oct. 8, 1*75. The deceased, Alfred N., was born Aug. 18, 1870; died Aug. 5, 1872. HENRY CLAY BISHOP, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Downs; one of the oldest living settlers of Downs Township; born in Clark Co., Ohio, Dec, 3, 1824; he was the second son of William Bishop, who was born Sept. 8, 1794, in Virginia. During the war of 1812, he was a teamster, and went to Fort Meigs and Fort Wayne. About the year 1820, he went to Virginia and mar- ried Margaret Lake; she was born in Virginia in 1803 ; she is now living in Bloomington at th& advanced age of 76 years ; they were the parents of nine children, who lived to grow up, eight of whom are now living. In 1833, he came to lllinios and located upon Sec. 30, Old Town Township, McLean Co. ; upon their arrival here they were obliged to sleep in a wagon for three weeks, and lived in the abandoned hut of a hunter for the first winter, and the following year, built the Six-Mile House, a double log cabin, which was used for many years as a stopping place for travelers. He entered land, to which he afterward added until he had 2,000 acres; of their children, eight are now living; three of the sons are farming in this county ; one is a physician of Bloomington, and one a physician of Chicago. Mr. Bishop was a man universally respected, and died Oct. 5, 18o5, at the advanced age of 61 years. The subject of this sketch remained at home until 1852, when he went to California overland, crossing the Rocky Mountains at South Pass ; there were six in the party, and they had two teams of cows hitched to the wagons ; the trip con- sumed five months : he remained in California until 1856, the most of the time being engaged DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 959 in mining , he then returned and engaged in farming, which business he has since successfully followed ; he located upon his present place in 1865, where he has 355 acres, upon which he has good farm-buildings, and some town property in Normal. GEORGE BISHOP, farmer, Sec. 10; P. 0. Downs; born in Randolph Township, McLean Co., 111., Nov. 28, 1848; he is a son of James Bishop, who was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, and emigrated to Illinois and located in Randolph Township at a very early day. The subject of this sketch attended the common school in his youth, and completed his education at the Nor- mal University at Bloomington, after which he remained with his father until the 7th of March, 1871, when he was united in marriage with Susan Welch; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Sept. 24, 1850: she is a daughter of Henry Welch, one of the pioneers of McLean Co., whose sketch also appears in this work. Upon the marriage of Mr. Bishop, he commenced farming for himself, which business he has since successfully followed ; he removed upon his present place in 1873, where he is engaged in farming 240 acres, all under a good state of cultivation ; they have four children by this union — Ella, born Jan. 28, 1872; James H., Feb. 28, 1874 ; William L. W., May 6, 1876 ; Alfred F , April 6, 1878. ARTHUR A. BISHOP, farmer ; P. 0. Downs ; born in Randolph Township, McLean Co., 111., April 10, 1855 ; he is a son of James Bishop, one of the old settlers who emigrated from Ohio, and located in McLean Co., at a very early day. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools in his boyhood, and assisted his father in farming until 22 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Susan Welch ; she was born in Downs Township, Sept. 7, 1856 ; she was a daughter of George Welch, who was born in Vigo Co., Ind., in 1829, and emigrated to Illinois with his mother and located in Downs Township in 1835 ; he was married to Jane Miller ; she was born in Ohio in 1835; she died in Downs Township, Oct. 1865 ; Mr. Welch died Nov. 20, 1856. The children of Arthur A. and Susan (Welch) Bishop are two in number — George Welch, born Nov. 10, 1877; Charles E., born March 27, 1878. Upon the marriage of Mr. Biehop, he settled upon his present place, where he has since followed farming; he has eighty acres of good prairie land, and ten acres of timber in Randolph Township. WESLEY BROWN, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Nov. 1, 1837, He is a son of John Brown, who was born in the same county and State, and now lives in Padua Township, McLean Co. Wesley Brown remained with his father, in Ohio, until 1855, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co., and on Dec. 1, 1859, he was united in mar- riage with Sarah E. Case ; she was born in McLean Co , Sept. 27, 1840 ; she is a daughter of Lewis Case, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., and whose biography appears among the sketches of Old Town Township, in another part of this work. Upon the marriage of Mr, Brown, he rented land, upon which he farmed until 1862, when he purchased his present place upon time, and in 1864, lost his residence and contents by fire, which was a serious drawback ; but he has since erected a good house, and paid for his farm of 160 acres by his own hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife ; their children were seven in number, of whom six are now living, viz., Lewis E., John E., Charles W., Mary 0., Salina L. and Roy W. ; the deceased died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been members of the Protestant Methodist Church since 1857 ; Mr. Brown is one of the strongest Republicans, having joined the party upon its organization, and has never in his life voted for a Democrat for any political position. AARON BUCKLES, farmer ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in White Co., 111., Dec. 9, 1827 ; he is a son of Abram Buckles, who was born in Virginia, June 18, 1800; he, with his father, moved to Illinois in 1810, and located in the grove bearing his name, in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1832, and was, consequently, one of the early settlers of this county; he entered good land, to the extent of some 300 acres, and lived in this county until his decease, which occurred May 17, 1878, nearly 78 years of age. He was married to Mary Williams ; she was born in 1805, and died in McLean Co., 111., Dec. 19, 1876 ; they were the parents of twelve children, of whom ten are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Buckles were both members of the Baptist Church for upward of fifty years. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farm labor until 20 years of age, when he engaged in milling, at Le Roy, for- a period of ten years, and again returned to farming, which business he has since followed. He located upon his present place in March, 1863, where he has upward of 160 acres of land, under fence and good cultivation. His marriage with Elizabeth Dean was celebrated July 20, 1851 ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ind., Aug. 22, 1833 ; they have three children by this union — . Robert W. H., born June 27, 1852; Isaac E., born June 21, 1854; John W., born Aug. 29, 1856, Mrs. Buckles is a daughter of John L. and Anna (Fox) Dean ; her father was probably born in Virginia, in Oct., 1807 ; Mrs. Dean was born June 13, 1813 ; they were the parents of four children, of whom two are now liviug. Mr. Dean died in Louisiana, in 1839 ; his widow then came to Illinois, and was married again, in Fulton Co., to William D. Brewer; they now live in Missouri. WILLIAM COLAW, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Downs; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in Highland Co., Va., near the Potomac River, Jan. 30, 1815, where he attended the public schools during the winter until about 18 years of age, during which time he worked upon a farm in summer, and followed farming in Virginia, until March 20, 1833, when. 960 BIuGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: he was united in marriage with Sabina Gum ; she was born in Virginia, Aug. 24, 1814, and died in Illinois, Jan. 30, 1859; they had eight children, of whom five are now living — William, Amos, Benjamin, Dyer and Jane. He married for his second wife Phoebe Wood, upon the 16th nf May, 1860; she was born in Virginia, in 1828; she died in Illinois, Sept. 28, 1868, leaving three children, of whom two are now living — Harvey and George. His marriage with Sarah Ann Wilson was celebrated Dec. 23, 1873 ; she was born in Tazewell Co., 111., July 11, 1836 ; she is a daughter of James H. Wilson, who was born March 19, 1797; he was a patriot in the American army during the war of 1812, and was in many battles, among which Was the battle of New Orleans, under Gen. Jackson ; he was one of the early settlers of Taze- well Co., locating there in 1834 ; he now lives in Clark Co., Mo. Upon the marriage of Mr. Colaw, he engaged in farming in Virginia, until he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Section 1, Downs Township, in Dec, 1854, where he has lived for a period of a quarter of a century. He first purchased 240 acres of his present place, to which he has since added, by purchase, until he now owns 700 acres, all of which he has made by his own exertions. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the M. E. Church for fifteen years. ROBERT COLLINS, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Le Roy: one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1819. His father, Robert Collins, died when the sub- ject of this sketch was 7 years of age, when he was bound out and was brought up to farming in Ohio until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in what is now Randolph Township, October 16, 1836, where he lived until the spring of 1839, at which time he located firty acres of land of his present place, to which he has since added, by purchase, until he now owns 224 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings. Coming to Illinois without capital, he has accumulated all of the above property by his own hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage by Hiram Buck, June 25, 1840. Her maiden name was Maranda Buckles. She was born in White County, Illinois, August 25, 1825. She was the daughter of Abraham Buckles, who was born in Kentucky, and was among the first settlers of McLean Co. ; he died in 1878. The children of Robert and Maranda Collins were — John A., born May 6,1843; Anderson J., Feb. 11, 1846; Mary A., Jan. 29, 1848 (she was married to James Eskew and died April 20, 1879, leaving four children) ; Tabitha J., March 31, 1849; Americus E., May 31, 1850; Sarah E., Nov. 25, 1851 ; Maranda P., Nov. 6, 1853; William R., March 26, 1855, died March 25, 1865; Alfaretta E., Feb. 26, 1857; Mahalia, Feb. 10, 1859; Clarissa B., July 24, 1864) Barbara F., Sept. 14, 1866; Rosetta, Aug. 8, 1870. Mr. Collins located upon his place when there were but few settlers ; not a house was to be seen west of him for a distance of six miles, where now are located one or more houses upon every quarter-section — such has been the marvelous development of the country during the forty years' residence of Mr. Collins upon his home. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the M. E. Church for a period of forty-two years, thirty years of which time he has been Steward and Class-leader. Mrs. Collins has been a church member for nearly forty years, and, of the children, all are members save three. CORNELIUS COVEY, farmer ; P. O. Le Roy ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Feb. 26, 1814. He was a son of Edward Covey, who was born in the State of New York in 1772. He emigrated to Orange Township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, in 1816, and was the third settler of that township. He emigrated to Illinois in 1835, and located in what Was then McLean Co., near Farmer City, where he lived until his decease, which occurred Nov. 28, 1854. He was married in New York to Hannah Northrup. She was born in Connecticut in the year 1785, and died March 19, 1861. She was a daughter of Stephen Northrup, who was born near Hartford, Conn., and volunteered as private at the commencement of the Revolution- ary struggle and served through the war. In September, 1780, he was detailed as the bearer of the dispatches from West Point, upon the Hudson, to Hartford, Conn., where Gen. AVashington and his suit were in session, announcing the traitorous designs of Gen. Arnold. Mr. Northrup drew a pension until his decease, which occurred when 78 years of age. The father and mother of Mr. Covey removed from New York to Ohio with oxen and sled, in the month of February, and used oxen many years upon his farm. The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents to Illinois in 1835, and, after living near Farmer City until 1845, sold out and located upon his present place, where he has lived for a period of thirty-five years. At the time of locating here, his capital consisted of $450 in cash, one team and one cow. He first purchased 100 acres of land, to which he has since added until he now owns 292 acres, with good farm buildings. In 1847, he took a load of wheat by team to Chicago, loading back with salt and groceries. A few years he did his trading at Peoria, which at that time was considered quite convenient. Upon Mr. Covey locating upon his present place, there was not a single house in view, west, where now upon every quarter of a section stands one or more residences. His marriage with Dicy Johnson was celebrated Sept. 5, 1836. She was born in White Co., 111., July 29, 1817. Her father was born in Kentucky. Her mother was Catharine Reed, born in East Tennessee in 1785. They emigrated to Illinois in 1823. The children of Cornelius and Dicy Covey were eleven in number, of whom six are now living, viz.: Edmond, James R., Byron, Lorenzo, Stephen H. and ■ - -'■ , ; : d c^A& > *% ^Z^^t^/u^^D HUDSON DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 963 Ellsworth. He has given his five oldest children $1,200 in land. He had three sons in the Union army, two of whom served in the 39th Regt. for over four years. He as well as all of his sons are strong Republicans, and labor for the support of their party. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, he with his wife having been members of the Baptist Church for upward of a quarter of a century. He has been a hard-working, industrious man, and, aside from the above-mentioned property, paid taxes upon $8,000 worth of personal property in 1878. JAMES R. COVEY, farmer; P. O. Le Roy; born in McLean Co , 111., Feb. 18, 1842; he is a son of C. Covey, whose sketch also appears in this wOrk ; he attended school and assisted his father in farming until Sept. 19, 1861, when he enlisted in the 39th Regt. I. V. I.; was first sent to Chicago, then Benton Barracks, Mo., then to Maryland, and was in the battle at Alpine Sta- tion, Va., Jan. 4, 1862; they were incorporated in the famous division of Gen. Shields, engaged in the battle of Winchester, Va., March 23, 1862, remaining with Shields during the Valley cam- paign ; was then in the Peninsular campaign, then to Suffolk, Va.; from there to North Carolina, then to Port Royal, where he saw the naval engagement between the iron-clads and Ft Sum- ter; was engaged in the siege of Morris Island, S. O, wbich resulted in the occupation of Fts. Wagner and Gregg by the 39th, Sept. 7. 1863 ; they afterward engaged in the battles of Drury's Bluff. Bermuda Hundred. Deep Bottom and Deep Run ; before Petersburg Aug. 24 to Sept. 24, 1864; Chapin Farm, Oct 7, 1864; Darbytown Road, Oct. 13 to 27, 1864, and, during the entire fall, was engaged in continual fighting; in April, 1865, the 39th was engaged in the gallant charge upon the rebel works at Petersburg, which was the direct cause of the evacuation of Richmond the following night ; they then followed the retreating rebels, and succeeded in obtaining a position between Lee and Johnson, and, after severe fighting one day, Lee surren- dered at Appomatox Court House ; he was then mustered out of service, and received his dis- charge Dec. 6, 1865, having served in the Union army upward of four years ; he enlisted as private : was promoted to Corporal Oct. 31, 1863, and to Sergeant Aug. 27, 1864; he re-enlisted as veteran at Hilton Head, S. C, Jan. 1, 1864 ; was wounded by a piece of shell at Morris Island, S. C, Sept. 14, 1863. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned home, attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington one term, taught school one winter, and, the spring of 1868, commenced farming for himself, which business he has since successfully followed ; he located upon his present place in 1875, where he has eighty acres, with good buildings. His marriage with Lizzie Jones was celebrated Oct. 8, 1868; she was born in Kentucky March 25, 1851 ; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two died in infancy ; the living — Hyatt E. — was born Sept, 1, 1875. FRANK COWDEN, farmer; P. 0. Downs; born upon Sec. 31, Old Town Township, McLean Co., 111., Dec. 22, 1854; his father, Frederick R. Cowden, emigrated from Kentucky and located upon Sec. 31, Old Town Township, in 1832, and is consequently one of the very oldest settlers of McLean Co.; his biography appears among the sketches of Old Town Township, in another part of this work. The subject of this sketch attended the common school in his youth, and assisted his father in farming until 20 years of age; in December, 1874, he engaged in the merchandising trade, with his brother John J., at Gillum Station, which business he followed eighteen months, when he removed his stock of goods to Downs and associated with J. A. Davis in the merchandising trade, and continued the same until March 7, 1879, when he disposed of his interest and engaged in farming ; he has seventy-six acres of land, situated at Downs Sta- tion, with good buildings. His marriage with Harriet L. Adams was celebrated July 3, 1877 ; she was born in Downs Township. McLean Co., Jan. 12, 1859 ; they have one child by this union — Charles Elmer, born May 16, 1878. Mrs. Cowden is a daughter of Wiyett Adams, who now lives in Downs Township, and whose biography appears among the sketches of this work. WILLIAM A CROOKSHANK; Sec. 6 ; P. O. Hey worth ; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1823. His father, William Crookshank, was born in the city of New York, and emi- grated to Ohio in 1818, where he followed shoemaking until he removed to Illinois, in 1853, and settled in Randolph Township, McLean Co.; he met with his death by being run over by the cars on the Illinois Central Railroad, about the year 1862. He married Elizabeth Hathaway, of New York ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living ; she died in Ohio in 1826. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until 18 years of age, when he drove stock to Illinois, and located in Randolph Township in the spring of 1842 ; he then worked as farm laborer for seven years, his wages at that time being from $6 to $12 per month, during which time he saved from his low wages $250, with which he purchased a team and rented land, and engaged in farming for himself; he removed upon his present place in 1872, where he has ninety-two acres under good cultivation, upon which he has good farm buildings : he also owns twenty acres of timber in Randolph Township. His marriage with Emily C. Bird- sell was celebrated January, 1850: she was born in Randolph Township May 16, 1833 ; she was a daughter of William Birdsell, one of the early settlers of McLean Co. The children of William A. and Emily Crookshank were six in number, of whom five are now living — Lucia F., born June 27, 1851, now Mrs. Charles L. Rutledge, of Heyworth ; Scott, May 20, 1854; John B., June 26, 1857 ; Jane, March 18, 1860 ; Harrison L., May 2, 1863 ; and one which died in infancy. JOHN CUSEY, farmer, Sec. 2; P. 0. Heyworth. One of the early pioneers and prominent men of McLean Co ; born in Ashland Co., Ohio, April 9, 1822, where he devoted his attention to Kit 964 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: mechanical pursuits until October, 1836, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co.; he followed carpentering, cabinet-making, etc., until 1840, when he, with his father, engaged in contracting and building, continuing the same in McLean and adjoining counties for several years ; among their first frame buildings was the barn of Lewis Case. Mr. Cusey located upon his present place of 560 acres in 1868, where he has been extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising; he has been most constantly in public offices for many years, having held the office of Town Trustee twenty years ; Assessor, nine years; Supervisor, two years ; was elected in 1872 to represent the 28th Senatorial District in the State Legislature, serving four years ; during the late war of the rebellion he was appointed Marshal, or Enrolling Officer, of the 39th and 40th Districts, which position he held until the close of the war. About the year 1870 he traced a map and suggested to Mr. Fi-her, the Vice-President of the Narrow Gauge Railroad, the advantages of a railroad running west through McLean Co. Mr. Fisher acted upon these suggestions, and called meetings at Rantoul and other places, which resulted in the building of the Narrow Gauge Railroad from West Lebanon, Ind., to Le Roy. Mr. Cusey has been in every respect a public-spirited man, and has filled every office to which he has been elected or appointed with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. There are niiiny things of interest to the public that we should like to mention of him which this brief sketch will hardly admit and do him justice, a circumstance which the writer of this article deeply regrets. His marriage with Hannah Bishop was celebrated upon the 23d of Nov., 1843 ; she was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Jan. 30, 1824 ; she is a daughter of Jacob Bishop, who emigrated to Illinois in 1829, and now lives in Randolph Township, at the advanced age of 82 years, and is in possession of all his faculties. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cusey were nine in number, of which two are deceased; the living are Charity E., Thomas H.. John A., James C, Joseph M., Mary J., and Hannah E. ISAAC F. DAWSON, farmer; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early settlers of McLean Co. ; his ancestors were among the early pioneers of McLean Co., and are prominently mentioned in another part of this work ; he was born in what is now Padua Township, McLean Co., Sept. 18, 1838; he lived with his father and followed farming until 23 years of age, when, upon June 17, 1861, he enlisted in the 20th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was engaged in the campaigns through Missouri and Arkansas, the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Britton's Lane, Fort Gibson, Jackson, Miss., Champion Hills, and upon the 19th of May, 1863, took a position in the rear of Vicksburg, and upon the 22d inst. took part in the gallant charge made upon the rebel breastworks, in which the Union army were repulsed with great loss ; here he remained until the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, and the following winter remained at Black River ; in the spring of 1864, he joined the army of Sherman, and was engaged in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain after his term of enlistment had expired ; he then returned to Nashville, where he received his discharge in July, 1864, having served in the Union army upward of three years; never was wounded nDr taken prisoner, but had his clothing shot through several times ; was never reprimanded nor put in the guard-house, nor was ever off duty. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned to McLean Co., where he has since followed farming ; he removed upon his present place in 1865. His marriage with Nancy Buck was cel- ebrated Dec. 25, 1864; she was born in McLean Co , 111., Feb. 19, 1843; they have two children by this union, viz.: Maud E., born Jan. 13, 1872; and Claud E., born Feb. 23, 1876. Mrs. Dawson is the youngest daughter of Hiram Buck, one of the early pioneers, whose biography will be found among the biographies of Empire Township, in this work. WILLIAM M. DAVIS, farmer ; P. O. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch was born in Greene Co., Tenn., July 1, 1838; he was brought up to farm labor until 18 years of age, when he learned and worked at the carpenter trade until the fall of 1862, at which time he was con- scripted in the rebel army, and was sent to the defense of Vicksburg, and upon the surrender of the above place, he was paroled, and after returning home, made his way within the Union lines, enlisting in the 8th Union Tenn. V. O, Oct. 1, 1863 ; he served in the army of the Cumberland until 1865, when he was transferred to the command of Gen. Stoneman, and served under him until the close of the war, receiving his discharge Sept 11, 1865. He then came to Bloomington, where he followed his trade until 1869, when he engaged in farming which business he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in February, 1879, where he has eighty acres, for which he paid $30 per acre, all of which he has accumulated by his own exer- tions ; his wages for the first two years at his trade were $6 and $8 per month respectively. His marriage with Sarah J. Bowen was celebrated March 25, 18t>9 ; she was born in Mifflin Co., Penn., March 22, 1846 ; they have six children by this union — Bertha, Edney, Albert, Sumner, Amie and Millie. WESLEY M. DICKERSON, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the old residents of McLean Co. ; born in Empire Township, Feb. 6, 1834. He is the youngest son of Michael Dickerson, who emigrated from Tennessee to Illinois and located in Empire Township in the year 1825 or 1826. The subject of this sketch remained upon the old farm until about 15 years of age, when he hired out at $6 per month as a farm laborer during the summer, and during the winter worked for his board and attended school ; he finished his education by attending the University, at Bloomington. He worked as farm laborer four years (the highest wages received was $7 per DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 965 month), when he, with his brother Caleb, engaged in farming, raising corn which they sold at 10 cents per bushel ; he made several trips to Chicago, taking up grain and bringing back salt, gro- ceries, etc, the trips consuming from fifteen to twenty days, during which time they camped out at night. In 1854, he purchased his present place of 140 acres ; he also owns twenty-six acres of land in Empire Township. In the spring of 1862, Mr. Dickerson met with an accident by being kicked in the stomach by a horse, which came near proving fatal, and for a long time his life was despaired of, and for a period of two years he was unable to labor upon his farm ; during which time he employed several physicians, and visited the mineral springs of the South, which proved of great benefit to him. His marriage with Maranda Chapman was celebrated April 27, 1874; she was born in Madison to., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1846; two children were the fruit of this union, of whom one is now living, viz., Viney Jane, born Sept. 30, 1876. Mrs. Dickerson was a daughter of William Chapman ; he died in Madison Co., Ohio, when Mrs. D. was quite young; the maiden name of his wife was Margaret Chapman ; she was born in Ohio ; she is now a widow a second time, her last husband losing his life while serving in the army during late rebellion ; she, with her father, Zadoc Chapman, are now living in Le Roy. JAMES W. DOOLEY, farmer; P. 0. Downs: born in Kentucky Sept. 17, 1851 ; his parents removed to Bloomington when he was 6 months old, coming up the river to Pekin, and from there to Bloomington by team ; he then located where the town of Holder now stands, living there a few years, when he moved to Indiana and lived until the fall of 1864, when he returned to McLean Co., and purchased a farm in Old Town and Downs Townships, upon which he lived two years, and, in 1866, he settled in Putnam Co., Ind., where he now lives. The subject of this sketch lived with his father and attended the common schools until 1873. finishing his edu- cation by two terms of study at Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind., where he graduated in book-keeping; he located upon his present place Feb. 14,1879, where he has sixty-eight acres, upon which he has a good residence. Upon the 19th of October, 1876, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth G. Cowden ; she was born in McLean Co., 111., June 17, 1857 ; they are the parents of two children by this union — Arthur C, born July 23, 1877; Nellie B., Oct. 31, 1878; Mrs. Dooley is a daughter of F. R. Cowden, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., whose biography appears among the biographies of Old Town Township, in another part of this book. S. C. DOUGLASS, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Bloomington, McLean Co., 111., Dec. 14 r 1851 ; he is the son of D. B. Douglas, who located in Bloomington about the year 1849, where he lived until 1859, when he removed to Clinton Co., Ind., where he is now engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch removed to Indiana with his parents, where he was brought up to- farm labor until 1871, when he returned to Illinois, and, afowns occurred Sept. 7, 1860; Mrs. Downs died Aug. 7, 1866 ; they lie buried in the beautiful family cemetery located in the forest upon the old farm, their graves being properly marked by marble tombstones placed at their graves, sacred to their memory, by their loving children. GEOKGE W. DOWNS, farmer; P. 0, Downs ; one of the old settlers, his birth occurring in Downs Township, McLean Co., 111., Aug. 22, 1839 ; his father was L. Downs, whose biog- raphy also appears in this work. The subject of this subject attended the common schools and followed farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th Regt. I. V. I , and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was in all the battles, excepting one, in which the 94th was engaged — the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort, and all the skirmishing and scouting in which the 94th was engaged ; after the capture of Spanish Fort, 9t)6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: the city of Mobile fell to the Union forces, and in June, 1865, he was sent with his regiment to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and, returning home; received his dis- charge at Springfield, 111., in August, 1865, having served in the Union army for upward of three years ; he then returned h jme and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed, living upon the old homestead where he was born. He has 154 acres of prairie and timber, the prairie being under a good state of cultivation. His marriage with Theodocia A. Myers was celebrated March 16, 1870; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1851 ; they have five children — Sarah, Henry L., Belle, Lavina, Elmer E. Mrs. Downs is a daughter of Henry A. and Lavina Myers, who located in McLean Co. in 1864, now living in Randolph Township. ALBERT P. DOWNS, farmer, Sec. 7; P. 0. Downs; born in Downs Township, McLean Co., 111., Nov. 18, 1852; he is a son of L. and Sarah (Welch) Downs, who were among the early settlers of McLean t'o., and whose biography appears among the biographies of this town- ship. The subject of this sketch attended school in his youth, and worked upon the old farm until Nov. 12, 1874, when he was united in marriage with Rebecca Lenien ; she was born in Ohio, Jan. 23, 1854 ; they are the parents of two children by this union — Josephine, born Aug. 19. 1875; Robert, Feb. 15, 1877; upon the marriage of Mr. Downs, he removed into his present residence, which he had erected previous to his marriage, and which stands upon the land that his parents settled upon in 1829. He owns eighty acres of prairie and timber, the prairie all being under a good state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Downs are members of the Church of the United Brethren. E. F. EDWARDS, farmer, Sec. 3, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early settlers; born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1826 ; he attended school in Ohio until 14 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Le Roy, in 1840, at which time Le Roy con- tained some fifteen or twenty houses and two stores ; here he lived until 2U years of age, when he removed to Waynesville, De Witt Co., and engaged with his father in the drug business for two years, when he disposed of his business and returned to Le Roy, where he lived several years. In 1862, he removed upon his present place, which he had purchased in the fall of 1850 ; here he followed farming four years, when he rented his farm, and, in 1866, he removed to Bloomington and followed his trade three years ; he was then elected Alderman from the Third Ward, and was appointed by the Council Superintendent of Streets ; he successfully represented his constituents as Alderman of the Third Ward for six years in succession, and served as Justice of the Peace four years. In the spring of 1879, he returned to his farm, where he owns 166 acres, also 160 acres each in Butler and Morris Cos., Kan., and a residence and one and a half acres of land in the city of Bloomington. His marriage with Mary Pharis was celebrated Sept. 14, 1847 ; she wa-i born in Ohio in 1831 ; she died in February, 1856, leaving two children, one of whom is now living — Emeline E. ; the deceased, Oscar, was killed by being thrown from a horse over an embankment, near Le Roy, when 23 years of age. Mr. Edwards married for his second wife Celia A. Hedges Feb. 5, 1857 ; she was born Jan. 3, 1842, in Morgan Co., Ohio; seven children were the fruit of this union, of which six are now living — Ida I., Effie L., Elmer M., Lee E.. Mertie O, and Minnie C. (twins) ; the deceased died in infancy. Mr. Edwards is a Republican, having acted with the Republican party since its organization, and is a strong advocate of tem- perance. He has been a member of the M. K. Church since 1843, and has filled different offices. He is a son of Dr. David Edwards, who was a physician and a Methodist minister, and had a very extended practice ; he lived in McLean Co. several years, when he located in Morris, Grundy Co., and practiced several years, and died in Kendall Co., in 1857 ; Mrs. Edwards died two years previous. WILLIAM ELLSWORTH, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Heyworth ; one of the early settlers of Illinois; born near Bowling Green, Ky., September, 1817; at six years of age he removed with his parents to Illinois, and located in St. Clair Co., where he lived until 19 years of age, at which time he went down the river to New Orleans, where he engaged for one winter chopping cord- wood. In the spring he returned to St. Clair Co., his father having died during the previous winter; it fell upon the subject of this sketch to manage the farm, which he nobly did, and sup- ported the family until 21 years of age. His marriage with Sarah Talbot was celebrated in 1840. She died in 1847, leaving three children — John T., George M. and Sarah J. His marriage with Mrs. Mary E. Chesney, was celebrated Nov. 8, 1848. Her maiden name was Pitts ; she was born in Tennessee, May 10, 1823. They are the parents of seven children, of whom one is deceased — Kincheon Albert, born Aug. 12, 1849 ; William S., born Feb. 2, 1851 ; Emily, born Jan. 2, 1855: Charles W., born May 13, 1858 ; Ezekiel W., born May 19, 1860; Mary B. f born Nov. 13, 1862, and one deceased. Mrs. Ellsworth was married to Robert Ohesney April 28, 1845; he died Dec. 22, 1847, leaving one child, now Mrs. John S. Bishop, of Randolph Township. Mr. Chesney was born in Pennsylvania, March 6, 1817. Mr. Ellsworth sold out in St. Clair Co., in 1860, and removed to McLean Co., where he purchased 190 acres of land, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived ; he has since added by purchase until he has upward of 900 acres of land, upon which he has four sets of farm buildings, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry; he also owns a flour and grist mill at Heyworth, which cost upwards of $20,000. The father of Wm. Ellsworth served all through the war of the Revolu- tion ; served three years during the last war of the Rebellion, in the 94th I. V. I. DOWNS TOAVNSHIP. 067 JOSEPH L. GOCHEE, farmer. Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Canada, July 1, 1831 ; ha removed with his uncle to Boston when a small boy, and, at 11 years of age, he started for him- self, going to New York, where he was raised upon a farm, and at 20 years of age emigrated to Illinois, and walked from Peoria to Le Roy, where he arrived in the fall of 1851 ; during the following two years he cropped with H. C. Dickerson, then worked one year in the brickyard at Le Roy, after which he worked as farm laborer, getting from $8 to $12 per month for about six months, o%during the season, and, in winter cut cord-wood at from 30 to 40 cents per cord. In 1858, he purchased eighty acres of his present place, at $12.50 per acre, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 160 acres of land, which he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation, and upon which he has good farm build- ings ; his residence being erected in 1873, and his barn in 1874. He was married Dec. 31, 1863, to Eliza A. Morgan; she was born in Rush Co., Ind., Aug. 5, 1844, and raised in Illinois. They have five children now living — Mary C, born June 7, 1865 ; Luella, born April 12, 1867 ; Tabitha Q., born Jan. 1, 1870; Thomas, born July 24, 1872 ; George, born July 24, 1875. Mr. Gochee commenced in life at 1 1 years of age, without capital, and has accumulated all of the above prop- er y by his own labor, energy and industry ; although having but a limited education himself, he is using every effort to educate his children. Mrs. Gochee is a daughter of George and Mary Jane Morgan, who emigrated from Indiana, and located in McLean Co., in 1844. Mrs. Morgan died in McLean Co., Feb. 7, 1869. Mr. Morgan now lives in Empire Township, one and a half miles from Le Roy. AARON V. HAGEMAN, farmer, Sec. 5, Town 21 ; P. 0. Hey worth ; born in Somerset Co., N. J., May 13, 1845. He emigrated with his parents, when upwards of 3 years of age, to Illi- nois, and located in Fulton Co His father, Peter V. Hageman, was born in New Jersey, Feb. 24. 1811. He married Helen Voorhees, Jan. 18, 1843, in Somerset Co., N. J. She was born in the same county, Jan. 8, 1821. She died in Fulton Co., 111., July 21, 1854. Mr. H. died May 27, 1863. They now lie buried in the cemetery near Farmington, Fulton Co., 111. The children of Peter V. and Helen I Voorhees) Hageman were four in number, of whom one died in infancy. The living are — A. V., born May 13, 1845; Celena, June 2, 1848, now Mrs. F. L. Morris, of Batavia, 111.; Cynthia, May 29, 1851, now Mrs. D. W. Bradley, living in Abilene, Kan. The subject of this sketch attended school, and assisted his father in farming, until the decease of the latter, when he attended school a portion of the time for three years, among which was the Batavia Institute one term. He located upon his present place in 1870, where he purchased, eighty acres of land, where he has since lived. His marriage with Margaret W. Hughes was celebrated Dec. 19, 1871. She was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1845 ; she is a daughter of Richard Hughes, who was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1808, and died Aug. 25, 1850. He married Elizabeth Elder; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and died in Ohio Sept. 6, 1870. There were eight children, of whom six are now living. Mr. Hageman is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a ruling elder. His wife is also a member of the same church. JOHN HOLFORTY, Sr., farmer, Sec. 19; P. 0. Heyworth ; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., June 20, 1821. His grandfather, Luther Holforty, was born in the North of Ireland, and was taken to this country by the British during the war of the Revolution. Upon arriving here he deserted and joined the revolutionary patriots. He was pursued, and had a narrow escape from being captured by the British, who passed over a brush-heap several times, under which he lay concealed. He was engaged at the battles of Valley Forge, Bunker Hill, and many other engagements, and served until the independence of the nation was established, and lived some fifteen years after this date. The father of the subject of this sketch, John Holforty, was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1785, and worked at carpentering and cabinet-making, until his death, which occurred in 1872, at the ripe old age of 87 years. He was married to Ann Sophia Rhein- wood ; she was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1792. She was of German descent. She died in 1865, 73 years of age. Their children were ten in number, of which six are now living. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until about 12 years of age, when he hired out as farm laborer, expending the fruits of his labor for the support of his father's family, until 21 years of age. At the above age, the youngest children being capable of self-support, he continued farm labor until 25 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located in St. Clair Co., in the spring of 1847, driving all the way from Pennsylvania by team, being thirty days upon the trip. He then bought eighty acres of land at $3.37 and $5.37 per acre, running in debt $110, which he paid off after a period of five years, the delay being occasioned by misfortunes and sickness. He lived in St. Clair Co. until 1860, when he, with his family, removed to McLean Co., and. in the spring of 1861, he purchased his present place of 160 acres of prairie land, and twenty acres of timber, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived. He has added by purchase, until he now owns 200 acres of land, with two sets of farm buildings, and also 240 acres of land in Kansas, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry. His marriage with Barbara Lutz was celebrated March 11, 1845 ; she was born near Darmstadt, Germany, Feb. 7, 1822: she emigrated with her parents to America in 1829 or 1830. and settled in Pennsylvania, and, in 1840, emigrated to Illinois and located in St. Clair Co. Her father was a soldier in the army of Napoleon, and with him crossed the Alps, and was obliged to subsist 968 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : upon the meat of dead norses, upon the retreat of the army from Moscow. Of 300 soldiers, only two survived to reach home. The children of John and Barbara (Lutz) Holforty were eight in number, as follows: Catharine A., John, George, Arthur B., Barbara, Miranda and Marion {twins), and Charles W. Mr. H. has been a member of the Church of the United Brethren lor the past forty-two years, Mrs. H. having joined about the same time. He is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and has never made use of intoxicating liquors or tobacco in any form. Of the above children, Catharine and Miranda are deceased. JOHN HOLFORTY, Jr., farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Heyworth. The subject of this sketch was born in St. Clair Co., Ill , May 21, 1848, where he attended the common school, and assisted his •father in farming until 1860, when he emigrated to McLean Co. and located in Downs Township, in the spring of 1861. He then engaged in farming with his father during the summer, and attended school in winter until 1864, when he attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington one term, and, the following year attended the Normal University. He farmed daring the sum- mer of 1866, and the following winter taught school and has since devoted his attention to farm- ing. In the spring of 1870, he rented land, and has since farmed upon rented land, and upon land of his father, John Holforty, Sr. His marriage with Mary E. Adams was celebrated July 1, 1869 ; she was born in McLean Co. Jan. 3, 1831 ; they are the parents of two children — Ber- tie L., born Aug. 28, 1872; Ella Frances, Oct. 12, 1878. Mr. Holforty is the oldest son of John and Barbara (Lutz) Holforty, whose sketch appears in this work. Mrs. H is a daughter of Wiyett Adams, who lived upon Sec. 16, Downs Township. E13FII HORNOR, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Downs; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1818. He was a son of Joseph Hornor, who was born in South Carolina in the month of Novem- ber, 1790, and who emigrated, with his parents, to the Territory of Ohio in 1802, and lived in Ohio until 1834, then removed to Boone Co., Ind., in which State he was united in marriage with Miriam Hollingsworth ; she was born in South Carolina about the year 1794. They were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living. Mr. Hornor died in Indiana May 26, 1869. Mrs. Hornor died in the same State a few yearj later. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until he attained his majority, when, upon the 12th day of December, 1839, he was united in marriage with Anna M. Sweet; she was born in Richmond, Ind., Aug. 18, 1822 Their children were eleven in number — Francis M., born Sept. 16, 1840 ; died Oct. 3, 1863 ; William Perry, born Oct. 28, 1841 ; died April 1858 ; Miriam O, Feb 29, 1844 ; Esquire H., Aug 10, 1845; John J. N., March 26, 1847, died May, 1858; Joseph E., July 11, 1849; Winfield Scott, May 26, 1851 ; Sarah J., June 12, 1854, died in infancy; Isaac Newton, Jan. 14, 1856 ; Charles M., March 3, 1860, died in infancy; A. Lincoln, Oct. 20, 1865. Francis M. enlisted in the 94th Reg., Co. B, I. V. I., and died in Louisiana, while serving his country, in 1863. Upon the marriage of Mr. Hornor, he commenced farming upon his own land of 16U acres, deeded to him by his father, and continued farming in Indiana until 1851, when he disposed of his prop- erty, and, on the 11th of April, 1852, located upon his present place, where he had previously purchased 120 acres, to which he has since added until he now owns liOO acres, all under a good state of improvement, and upon which he has good farm buildings. Of township offices Mr. H. has had his full share, having held the office of Supervisor, Collector, Highway Commissioner and is now appointed Township Treasurer. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and, with his wife, has been a member since 1859. T. J. IDEN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 28; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Licking Co., Ohio, March 10, 1841 ; his father, Thomas Iden, was born in Loudoun Co., Va., in 1792, and emigrated to Ohio and located in Licking Co., in 1829 or 1830, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred March 5, 1876. He married Elizabeth Hill; she was born in Loudoun Co., Va., in 1803, and is now living at the advanced age of 76 years. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools in Ohio, and followed the manufacturing of stoneware until 23 years of age, when he came to Illinois and located in Downs Township in the fall of 1863, where he worked as farm laborer until the 24th of December, 1868, when he was united in marriage with Rebecca Cochran ; she was born in Athens Co., Ohio, Jan. 5, 1839, and raised in Muskingum Co. ; they have three children by this union — John W., born July 23, 1870 ; Edgar H., born Aug. 4, 1873 ; and an infant, born Feb. 15, 1879. Upon the marriage of Mr. Iden, he rented the farm of Joseph Kershaw, and farmed one year; and the year 1869, he purchased his present place, upon which he located, and where he has since lived. He owns 160 acres upon his home farm, which he has mostly made by his own hard labor, and in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife. JESSE JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the old settlers of McLean Cq. ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 30, 1808; his father, Isaac Johnson, was born in Washington Co., Penn., and emigrated to the State of Ohio, when it was a Territory ; he died in Butler Co., Ohio. He married Nancy Thomas ; she was born in Virginia, and died in Preble Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch lived at home, and contributed all his earnings to the support of the family until 18 years of age. when he learned and w irked at the cabinet trade until 1838, at which date he emigrated to Decatur Co., Ind., and followed farming and working at his trade until 1849 ; he then emigrated to Illinois, and located in Bloomington Township ; the following year engaged in farming in Old Town Township, and in the spring of 1854, settled upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has forty acres of land. His marriage with Barbara Chambers was DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 969 celebrated in Ohio, Jan. 1, 1832 ; she was born in Ohio ; she died Nov. 8, 1832, leaving onechild — Barbara, now Mrs. Eliza Cusey. His marriage with Wilhemina Chambers, was celebrated in 1834; she died in Indiana, leaving four children — William O, Isaac, Thomas J. and Nancy J. His marriage with Lavina McAhren was celebrated May 26, 1840 ; she was born in Washington Co., Penn. ; her father, William McAhren, was born in North Carolina, and died in Shelby Co., Ind., in 1854 ; her mother died in the same place, in 1847 ; the children by this marriage were ten in number, of whom seven lived to grow up, viz. : Benjamin H., enlisted in Co. B, 94th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died while serving his country in Brownsville, Texas, in the summer of 1864 ; George W. , was also a volunteer of the 94th, but on account of sickness was not mustered into service; Sarah Jane ; Mary A. ; Elizabeth M. ; Samuel M. ; Lucinda F. and Lydia M. ; of the above, four served in the Union army during the late war of the rebellion. Mr. Johnson was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he with all his sons have been strong supporters of the same. JAMES C. JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Heyworth ; one of the old settlers ; was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Sept. 13, 1823 ; his father, Nicholas Johnson, served as captain during the Black Hawk war; was born in Montgomery Co., Penn., and emigrated to Indiana, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred in 1864. He was married in Indiana, to Malinda Cloud; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., where she died in 1850. The subject of this sketch was raised upon the farm until 23 years of age, when he was united in marriage, Sept. 18, 1846, to Elizabeth Hargitt ; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., March 3, 1828; they were the parents of twelve children, of who n one is deceased ; the living are — Malinda, born June 26, 1847; Thomas W., June 17, 1849; Mary E.. Dec. 28, 1850; George S.. Jan. 23, 1854 ; Richard M., Jan. 3, 1856; William R., June 26, 1858; Sarah J., Nov. 11, 1860; Charles W., March 18, 1866; Alfred E. and Albert W. (twins), April 10, 1869; James A., Jan. 4, 1871 ; the deceased died in infancy. Upon his marriage, he rented land and engaged in farming until 1852, when he drove an ox team from St. Joe, Mo., to Sacramento, Cal., within a period of eighty- five days, which, at that time, was the quickest trip on record, of which mention was made in the Sac- ramento papers; he there engaged in mining several months, when he returned to Indiana and purchased a farm, and in 1856 sold out, and coming to Illinois, purchased 160 acres in Livings- ton Co., which he afterward exchanged for eighty acres of his present place in 1859, where he has since lived; he now owns 120 acres of prairie and five acres of timber. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, with seven of their children and two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law, are members of the Campbellite Church. GEORGE W. JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 2 j P. 0. Le Roy ; born in what is now Downs Town- ship, McLean Co., Feb. 10, 1845 ; he is a son of James R. Johnson — one of the early pioneers — who was born in Kentucky in the year 1808, and emigrated to Illinois about the year 1830, and located in Downs Township, where he entered eighty acres of land, upon ■ hich he lived until his decease, which occurred in August, 1866. He was married in White Co., to Mary Satterfield ; she was born about the year 1812; she is now living in West Township, McLean Co. The sub- ject of this sketch lived with his father until the decease of the latter, when he continued to manage the old place for five years, after which he lived in W 7 est Township four years, and in January, 1878, purchased his present place of eighty acres, upon which he then located and where he now lives. His marriage with Maranda P. Collins was celebrated Oct. 12, 1871 ; she was born in McLean Co., Nov. 6, 1853; they have one child by this union — Nora Mabel, born Nov. 5, 1874. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Robert Collins, who was one of the early settlers, and whose biography appears in another part of this work. D. C. KAZAR, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Downs. The subject of this sketch was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., 111., Sept. 28, 1848; he is a son of Lathrope Kazar, who emi- grated from Ohio, and located in what is now the city of Le Roy in the year 1833; where he has since lived for a period of nearly one-half a century. David C. was the oldest son ; he attended the common school in his youth, and followed farming with his father until 21 years of age, when he engaged in farming upon rented land about two years; he then located upon his pres- ent place in 1873, where he and his wife have 110 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Mrs. Mary J. Williams was celebrated March 7, 1871 ; she was born in McLean Co., 111., April 6, 1840; they have one child now living by this union — Ira B., born June 4, 1874. Mrs. Kazar is a daughter of Alexander P. Craig — one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. — who located here about the year 1835. She was first married to Capt. C. Williams, one of the patriots of the late rebellion. He was captain of the 39th 111. Regt., and was killed, while serving his country at the battle of Deep Run. JOHN W. KERSHNER, farmer, Sec. 27; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 15, 1833, where he attended the common school in his youth, and made his home with his father until 29 years of age, when, on the 22d of February, 1863, he was united in marriage with Malinda Liming; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1845. Upon his marriage, he rented land and engaged in farming, in Ohio, until 1870, when he, with his family, emigrated West and located in Empire Township, when, after farming one year, he removed to Randolph Township and farmed upon rented land, until the fall of 1878, when he purchased his present place, and, upon Jan. 23, 1879, removed upon the same ; he has eighty acres of well-improved land, upon 970 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: which he has good farm buildings. The children of John and Malinda (Liming) Kershner are three in number, as follows: Samuel E., born Nov. '20, 1864 ; Joseph M., born May 14, 1867 ; Lewis 0.. born Aug. 27, 1877. Mr. K. is a son of Conrad Kershner, who was of German descent; he was born in Berks Co., Penn., Jan. 1, 1789; he was a member of the German Reform Church from infancy, and served for many years as Elder and Deacon, in Pennsylvania ; he located in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1857, where he died, Jan. "22, 1864 ; he was married to Susan Keller, in Pennsylvauia ; she was raised in Northumberland Co., Penn.; she died several years previous to the death of her husband ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living. JAMES E. KILLION, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P. 0. Downs; born in Clay Co., Ind., March 3, 1828; his grandfather, Adam Killion, was a Revolutionary patriot, and served in the American army during the Revolutionary struggle, until he was captured by the British, from whom he, with two others made their escape: he died in Indiana, about the year 1821. The father of James E. Killion was Matthias J. Killion, who was born April 26, 1804; he mar- ried, upon the 18th of March, 1824, Nancy A. Barnett ; she was born in Indiana, Jan. 21, 1805 ; she died Nov. 13, 1843, leaving nine children, of whom six are now living ; Mr. K. married a second time, and has by his second wife twelve children, making twenty-one in all ; he now lives near his son James E., at the advnced age of 75 years, and in possession of all his faculties. The subject of this sketch is the oldest son ; he attended common school in his youth, and assisted his father upon the farm until 18 years of age, when he commenced as farm laborer, working by the month at farming and contracting at clearing timber and cutting rails .until 23 years of age, when he purchased 106 acres of land in Clay Co., and for which he paid in full with the receipts of his savings for the last five years previous. Upon the 27th day of August, 1851, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Ratliff ; she was born April 25, 1830, and died Feb. 16, 1858 ; they had four children by this union— Nancy E., born June 20, 1852, died Oct. 29, 1857 : Emily J., born March 31, 1854; Sarah A., born March 23, 1856 ; John N., born Feb. 5, 1858; died Oct. 10, 1858. His inarriage with Elizabeth Brown was celebrated Jan. 9, 1859, in Indiana; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind., May 1, 1836 ; they have fivechildren by this union — Malinda E., born Dec. 22, 1862 ; James 0., Feb. 26, 1863 ; William J., born March 14, 1865 ; Charley B. born July 1, 1870, and Nettie L., born Oct. 15, 1873. Upon the marriage of Mr. Killion, he built him a log house, with a stick chimney, in which he lived until 1861, when he erected a brick residence, in which he lived until 1865, when he disposed of his whole farm and came West ; he first pur- chased 106 acres, in Indiana, for which he paid $2.50 an acre, and which was perfectly wild and heavy timber; he cleared the timber and disposed of the same for $40 per acre. In April, 1866, he emigrated to Illinois and purchased 160 acres of land, upon Section 14, Downs Township, McLean Co., upon which he then located and where he now lives; he has since added, until he now owns 240 acres, which he has made by his own hard labor, energy and industry. He and his wife are both members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Mr. K. having been a member for twenty-two years, and Mrs. K. for a period of nineteen years ; they also have three children, members of the same church. JOSEPH KINSEY, farmer, Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; Republican ; Methodist ; born in Wayne Co., Ind., Jan. 29, 1833; he is a son of Thomas Kinsey, one of the early settlers of McLean Co, now living in Randolph Township. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and attended school in his boyhood and worked upon the farm, until he emigrated to Illinois, with the family, and located in Randolph Township, where he hired out by the month, with Robert Stewart, for two years ; he farmed on shares one year, when he rented eighty acres of his father, in Downs Township, which he farmed for two years, when he purchased his pres- ent place, of eighty acres, upon which he located in 1874, where he has since continued to reside. His marriage with Mary Ann Kershaw was celebrated Dec. 10, 1857 ; she was born in Williamson Co., 111., and died Sept. 10, 1877 ; she was a daughter of Joseph and Hannah Ker- shaw, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work ; upon the 26th of Aug., 1877, she, with her husband, started to visit a sick relative in Le Roy; the horses became frightened and they were both thrown from the carriage ; Mrs. Ker- shaw received injuries causing a total paralysis below the shoulders; she retained perfect con- sciousness until the last, and died in great peace at her home, Sept. 10, 1877 ; the grace of God sustained her in her affliction, and she repeate tly exclaimed " The Lord's will be done ! all is bright." A large concourse of friends attended her funeral. His marriage with Mary C. Van Winkle was celebrated Jan. 3, 1878; she was born in McLean Co., June 1858; she is a daughter of John Van Winkle, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., now living in Downs Township ; they have one child by this union — Charles Henry, born Nov. 5, 1878. WILLIAM KINSEY, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Wayne Co , Ind.. Aug. 31, 1837 ; he attended the common schools during his youth, a,nd assisted in farming until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and settled in Downs Township, in the spring of 1854, where his father, Thomas Kinsey, purchased 240 acres, upon which he moved, with his family. The subject of this sketch remained upon the farm until 23 years of age, when, upon March 5, 1862, he was united in marriage with Hannah Waddington ; she was born in Williamson Co., Feb. 9, 1846 ; she is a daughter of George Waddington, who was born in England, June 9, 1818, DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 971 and emigrated to America in 1842 : he was married in Williamson Co , 111., to Elizabeth Ker- shaw ; she was born in England, Dec. 11. 1827, and is a daughter of Joseph Kershaw, now liv- ing in Le Roy, and whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work ; Mr. Waddington emigrated from Williamson to McLean Co. in the fall of 1857, where he purchased 160 acres of land, upon which he settled and lived until 1874, when he returned to England upon a visit ; after he returned home, he died, upon the 19th day of June, 1876 ; Mrs. Waddington died March 10, 1870 ; they are both buried in the Gilmore graveyard, in Empire Township ; they were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are now living! and nine are living in McLean Co. In August. 1862, Mr. Kinsey enlisted in Company B, 94th Regt. Vol. Inf., and served the fall and winter in Missouri and Arkansas, and was wounded in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., upon the 7th of Dec, 1862. and was sent to the hospital at Fayetteville, where he remained two months, and was then sent to Springfield, where he received his discharge, in March. 1863 ; he returned home and engaged in farming which busi- ness he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in the spring of 1867, where he has 160 acres of land under good cultivation, and upon which he has good build, ings. The children of William and Hannah (Waddington) Kinsey were five in number, of whom one is deceased ; the living are — George T., born May 18, 1864; Laura J., born Oct. 29, 1865 ; William Edgar, born Feb. 25, 1869; Elmer C, born Nov. 7, 1872; the deceased died in infancy v The parents of Mr. Kinsey live in Randolph Township, McLean Co. WILLTAM S. LAFFERTY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in DeWitt Co., 111., Aug. 16, 1847; he is a son of W. H. Lafferty, who was born in Ohio, May, 1807, and emigrated to Illinois and located in DeWitt Co. in 1835, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred April 18, 1875. He was Judge of the Probate Court of De Witt Co, for a term of four years. During his residence in Ohio he was a Colonel of a regiment of milU tia until his removal to Illinois, when he resigned. He married Amanda Anderson ; she was born in Philadelphia, and now lives in De Witt. W. S. Lafferty lived with his father and attended school and followed farming until 15 years of age, and, on Feb. 24, 1864, he enlisted in the 39th Reg., I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he served in the Army of the James River, under Gen. Grant, in Virginia, and was engaged in many severe battles, among which we mention Fort Darling, Bermuda Hundred, siege of Petersburg, capture of Richmond; and surrender of Lee. He then remained in Richmond until the fall of 1865, when he was sent to Norfolk, Va., where he was discharged December, 1865. having served in the army nearly two years. He then returned to De Witt Co., and followed farming until he located upon his present plac in 1873, where he owns eighty acres of land, and farms 160 acres belonging to his wife. He is extensively engaged in stock-raising, feeding from fifty to seventy-five head of cattle a"d some one hundred hogs. His marriage with Laura E. Crumbaugh was celebrated Dec. 5, 1872 i she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Aug. 26, 1852. They have two children by this union— -Charleo A., born Nov. 7, 1873; Blanche May, June 16, 1877. Mrs. Lafferty is a granddaughter of Esquire Hiram Buck, who has a very extended sketch among the biographies, of Empire Township, in another part of this work. She is the oldest daughter of J. H. L, Crumbaugh, whose sketch also appears among the sketches of Empire Township. WILLIAM R. LINTON, farmer, Sec. 3. Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Ohio, May 22, 1831. He attended school in his youth and followed carpentering and railroading until he emi- grated to Illinois ab^ut, the year 1859, and located in McLean Co., and engaged in farming, which business he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in 1871, where he has since continued to live. His marriage with Nancy M. Brittin was celebrated Feb, 17.1861; she was born in McLean Co., Aug. 28, 1837; nine children were the fruit of this, union, of whom four are deceased ; the living are — Dorsey D., born Oct. 11, 1861 ; Andrew E.,. May 8, 1863; Minor B., Oct. 25, 1869; Cora, March 28, 1874; May B., Dec. 20, 1876. Mrs Linton was the second daughter of Nathan T. Brittin, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work HENRY C. LOTT, farmer, Sec. 10, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Jefferson Co., Ind., June 2, 1829. His father, Jesse Lott, was born in Clark Co., Ky., July 15. 1800. He emigrated to Indiana with his parents at an early day, about the year 1812, where he entered land, and now lives upon land upon which he entered upwards of half a century ago. He was married in Indiana, to Elizabeth Heaton ; she was born in Virginia, and died in Indiana, August, 1853, The subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm until 28 years of age, when he emi- grated to Illinois, and located in Dale Township, McLean Co., in October, 1861. Here he fol- lowed farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. F, 94th I. V. I. He served in the campaigns of Arkansas and Missouri, and was engaged in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. In the spring of 1863, he was sent down the Mississippi to Milliketi's Bend ; then crossed the Mis- sissippi River at Warrenton, and joined the army of Grant, then in the rear of Vicksburg, taking a position upon the extreme left of the army, and continued the siege until the capture of Vicksburg, upon July 4, 1863. Upon the 12th of July, he went up the Yazoo river, and, after the capture of Yazoo City, went down the river to New Orleans ; then to Texas ; from there to Mobile Bay, where he was engaged in the capture of Fort Morgan and Spanish Fort. In the- 972 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: spring of 1865 he was sent to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and received his discharge at Springfield, 111., Aug. 7, 1865. He then farmed upon rented land for five years, and, in 1870, purchased his present place of 1*20 acres, where he has since lived. His marriage with Susan A. Phillips was celebrated Dec. 25, 1856 ; she was born in Jefferson Co., Ind., May 17, 1832; they have six children by this union— Charles G., born Oct. 18, 1857; Franklin P., Sept. 8, 1860; Florence N., July 20, 1866; Leleah U., April 20, 1869; Jennie H., Oct. 14, 1870; Annie E., Sept. 14, 1872. Mr. Lott is a Republican in politics, and has always supported the Republican party since its organization. He has been a strong temperance advo- cate for the past quarter of a century. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for upwards of eleven years, Mrs. Lott having been a member at that time. Mrs. Lott was a daughter of Robert Phillips. He was a native of North Carolina; he removed to Kentucky when 3 years of age ; he married Rebecca Graham ; she was a native of Tennessee. They were the parents of thirteen children, all of whom lived to grow up and become the heads of families, and all lived Until April, 1879, when the circle of the children was broken by the death of the oldest brother. Mr. Phillips died in Indiana in 1857 ; Mrs. P. died Dec. 29, 1878. When Mr. Lott Was 21 years of age, he was employed by the month upon a flat-boat, running from Cincin- nati to New Orleans, taking down from fifty to one hundred tons of provisions, hay, etc.; the boats cost from $100 to $200 to build, and, upon reaching New Orleans, would be sold for old lumber ; he would then work his passage back upon steamboats, and worked in this business for a period of seven years. ANDREW J. LUCAS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Randolph; born in White Co., 111., Nov. 7, 1818. His father, William Lucas, was born in North Carolina, April 15, 1787. He emigrated to Illinois and located in White Co. at a very early day, and located in Blooming Grove in 1824, where he died. Dec. 16, 1839. He married Gooden Hendricks; she was born in North Carolina, Jan. 26, 1794, and died in McLean Co., March 26, 1840. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom are now living — A. J., born Nov. 7, 1818; Dorcas, Jan. 19, 1829, now Mrs. Dr. Reeder, of Lacon, 111. ; Benjamin L., Jan. 9, 1831, living in Bloom- ington. The subject of this sketch removed with his parents to Blooming Grove in 1824, and is among the earliest settlers of McLean Co,, and one of the oldest living settlers of the county. He remained with his father until his death, and, within a period of two months, lost by death his father, mother, two brothers and a sister. In the spring of 1840 he commenced farm- ing for himself, which he continued for two years ; then he farmed on shares for three years. His marriage with Elizabeth Simmons was celebrated Dec. 28, 1844 ; she was born in Virginia, Feb. 5, 1819. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are deceased. The living are — Wilburn E., born July 9, 1847 ; Benjamin W., July 27, 1852; married and live at home. Mr. Lucas has lived in McLean Co. a period of fifty- five years. He removed upon his present place in January, 1879, where he has 217 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, upon Which he has good farm buildings. Mr. L. has been a member of the Christian Church for forty-six years, Mrs. L. and both children being members of the same Church. JOHN L. McCOMB, farmer; P. 0. Hey worth ; born in Indiana Co., Penn., April 22, 1820; he was the second son of James McComb, who was born in the same county and State on Oct. 14, 1785, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred April, 1865. He was united in marriage with Jane Laughlin in 1813 or 1814; she was born in Indiana Co., Penn., April 27, 1788; they were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now liv- ing. The subject of this sketch lived upon the home farm until 45 years of age, when, at the decease of his father, he disposed of his interest in Pennsylvania and emigrated to Illi- nois, locating in Knox Co. in the spring of 1866 ; here he engaged in farming one year, and, in the spring of 1867, he came to McLean Co., and settled on Sec. 6, Town 21, when he pur- chased 160 acres of land on Sees. 6 and 7, where he then located and where he has since con- tinued to reside. In politics, Mr. McComb is a Republican, having identified himself with the Republican party upon its organization, and has since labored for the success of the same. He is a strong temperance advocate ; and has never made use of tobacco in any form. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for a period of thirty-five years, his wife joining two years previous. His marriage with Rachel Kelly was celebrated Nov. 7, 1843; she was born in West- moreland Co., Penn., in December, 1819; eight children were the fruit of this union, of whom one died in infancy ; the living now all reside within a circle of four miles of their parents, four of whom now live at home; the living are — Addison J., born Aug. 13, 1844 ; William H., May 22, 1846; Camden W., March 23, 1849; Cyrus C, June 15, 1853; Millard, Sept. 18, 1855; Harriet, April 30, 1858 ; Lizzie, November, 1860. Of the above, Addison J. and William H. served in the 206th Regt. P. V. I. during the last year of the war. GEORGE H. McCOMB, farmer and blacksmith, Section 5, Town 21; P. 0. Heyworth; born in Indiana Co., Penn., July 16, 1822. He was a son of James McComb, who was born Oct. 14, 1785, in the same county and State, where he followed farming until his decease, Which occurred April, I860, upward of 80 years of age. He was married to Jane Laughlin in 1813 or 1814; she was also born in the same county, April 27, 1788; they were the patents of eight children, of whom five now survive. The subject of this sketch attended the common school until 18 years of age, when he learned and worked at the blacksmith trade ' DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 973 until 1869, at which time he emigrated West and located upon his present place where he has since lived ; he first purchased eighty acres of land upon Sec. 5, to which he has since added by purchase until he now owns 160 acres of good prairie land, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage on the 10th day of March, 1847 ; she was born in Armstrong Co., Penn , Jan. 8, 182'J; her maiden name was Caroline Irwin; they are the parents of nine children— Corydon I., born Dec. 16, 1847 ; Mary A., Sept. 23, 1850; Emma V.. May 31, 1853 ; James B., Oct. 31, 1855; Thomas R., May 27, 1858; Elmer E., Aug. 20, 1861, died Sept. 13, 1869 ; George W., born May 31, 18 >4, died Aug. 14, 1870 (killed by being thrown from a horse) ; Carrie J., born Nov. 24, 1866, died March 5, 1870; Annie Bell, born Oct. 1, 1869. Mr. McComb was an old-line Whig, and joined the Republican party upon its organization, and has since labored for the success of the same He is a strong temperance advocate. He has been a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church since 1848; his wife became a member about the same time ; three of the elder children are also members of the same Church. CORYDON I. McCOMB, farmer and blacksmith, Sec. 32; P. 0. Heyworth ; born in Indiana Co., Penn., Dec. 16, 1847. He is the eldest son of George H. McComb, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Downs Township. The subject of this sketch attended the common school until 16 years of age, when, on Aug. 5, 1864, he enlisted in the 206th Regt. P. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was forwarded to the Army of the James, under Grant, with Gen. Ord as brigade commander ; he was first engaged in front of Petersburg, and was afterward transferred to the front of Richmond, until the evacuation, when he, with the army, followed in pursuit of Lee until his surrender in April 1865; he then did guard duty at Lynchburg, after which he went to Richmond and Baltimore, and returned home, being mustered out of ser- vice, and received his discharge in July, 1865. He then returned home and learned and worked at the blacksmith trade until 1869, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 5, Town 21, Downs Township, McLean Co., where he followed blacksmithing and farming until 1872, when he opened a blacksmith shop at McLean, where he followed his trade three years. He located upon his present place in 1878, and engaged in farming and blacksmithing. His marriage with Emily Ellsworth, was celebrated Nov. 24, 1875 ; she was born in St. Clair Co., 111., Jan. 2, 1855. They are the parents of two children — Minnie E., born Feb. 22, 1877, and an infant, born April 14, 1879. Mrs. McComb is the eldest daughter of William and Mary Ellsworth, whose sketch will be found among the biographies of Downs Township. The business card of Mr. McComb appears in the business directory of the township, in another part of this work. JOHN McCONNELL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, April 9, 1832; his father, William McConnell, was born in Pennsylvania April 12, 1788. He married Catharine La Fever; she died in 1834; Mr. McC. died in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Oct. 2, 1876 ; he first came to Ohio upon a flat-boat down the river, early in the present century, and was offered for his boat a large tract of land upon which the city of Cincinnati now stands ; of their children, which were twelve in number, only four now survive; the rest all died of con- sumption. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools in his youth, and finished his studies at the Farmers' College, located upon College Hill, near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended two years; in 1854, he came to Illinois and purchased 160 acres of land, at $4.50 per acre, upon Sec. 35, Downs Township, McLean Co., and the following year located upon the same, and which he has since brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of improvement by continued hard labor ; he now owns 327 acres in his home farm and fifty acres of timber in Empire Township. Mr. McConnell was clerk of the meeting called to organize Downs Township, and assisted in the organization of the same ; township and school offices have been his in plenty, often holding two offices at the same time; lie has held the offices of Justice of the Peace fourteen years. Assessor two years, and Highway Commissioner, School Director and Trustee, one of the Executive Committee of the County Grange, and is now Master of the Downs Grange, No. 1163, and the present Supervisor of Downs Township, and Director of the County Insurance Company. His marriage with Martha Buck was celebrated June 17, 1862; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Dec. 14, 1838; they have three children by this union- Anna Belle, born March 18, 1863; Hiram E. and William M. (twins) Oct. 25, 1866 ; Mrs. McConne 1 is a daughter of Hiram Buck, whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Township, in another part of this work. When Mr. McConnell purchased his land, there were but few settlers upon the prairie; he commenced breaking prairie in 1856, with a team of eight oxen, six of which were perfectly wild and were handled with great difficulty. He commenced school-teaching in 1855, and taught for nine winters ; he has been a hard-work- ing, industrious farmer, and by his correct business habits has placed himself among the large land-holders and successful farmers of McLean Co. NELSON McDANIEL, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Downs; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., 111.; born in Monroe Co., Va., Nov. 26, 1815; his father, William McDaniel, was born in Virginia, where he followed farming until 1832, when he emigrated to Indiana and located in Boone Co. and followed farming there until his decease, which occurred in 1853. He was mar- ried in Virginia to Nancy Gore; she was born in Shenandoah Co., Va.; she died in Indiana about the year 1841 ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living. The 974 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: subject of this sketch emigrated to Indiana when 17 years of age, and made his home with his father until 25 years of age, when, upon Dec. 16, 1840, he was united in marriage with Lucinda Gapen; she was born in Boone Co., Ind., Nov. 16. 1822; she died September, 1855, leaving seven children^-Parisade, Daniel, AVilliam S., Zachariah, Sarah N., Joseph N., Lucinda Le Boy; his marriage with Naomi Matthews was celebrated September, 1856; she was born in Virginia in 1827; they have three children by this union — Mary F., Caroline and Charles S. Upon the marriage of Mr. McDaniel, he farmed upon land given him by his father, for twelve years, when he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 2, Downs Township in April, 1852, coming all the way in companv with Eber Hornor by team, the trip consuming eleven days; upon arriving here , he commenced farming upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he now owns 160 acres, all of which is under good cultivation. Of town and school offices, he has had his full share, having been elected the second Supervisor of Downs Township, which he held for two years ; he held the office of Town Collector some four years, and School Director seven years, and other petty offices ; he was the first Collector in Downs Township, and as Collector he has successfully handled the funds of Downs Township for four years. G. J. McGlNNIS, farmer, Sec. 26; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Lawrence Co., Penn.. April 14, 1842. He attended the common schools in his youth and assisted his father upon the farm until 18 years of age, when, on the 10th of September, 1861, he enlisted in Battery B, 1st P. V. A.; he served in the army of the Potomac under McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, McDowell, Meade, Pope, and lastly, Grant. He was in many hard battles, among which we mention Mechanicsvillle, June 26 and 27, 1862; Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862; New Market Cross Roads, June 30, 1862; the second battle of Bull Run, Aug. 28, 29 and 30, 1862; South Mountain, Md., Sept, 14, 1862; Antietam, Md.. Sept, 16 and 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va„ Dec. 13, 1862: Fredericksburg, April 30 and May 1, 1863, U. S. Ford, May 6, 1863; Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863; battles of the Wilderness, and the last one near Petersburg, in August, 1864. After serving his full time of three years, he reaeived his discharge on the 10th of September, 1864. Mr. McGinnis hal a brother in the same company, who died from sickness contracted while in the army. He personally was sick but one week during his whole term. Receiving his discharge, he returned home, and in the spring of 1865, emigrated to Illinois, and located in Woodford Co., where he purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he lived one year, when he sold out and purchased eighty acres in Marshall Co., and farmed eight years, and again sold and purchased his present place of 160 acres, in the winter of 1874, where he has since lived. His marriage with Nancy B. McCord, was celebrated Dec. 8, 1865; she was born in Lawrence Co., Penn., Aug. 7, 1840; they were the parents of six children, of whom two are deceased; the living are — William J., born June 23, 1867; John D., May 14, 1872; Bessie M., Oct. 28, 1876; Kobert S., Sept, 23, 1878. The deceased died in childhood. Mr McGinnis is a member of the M. E. Church, having become a member in 1859, his wife having been a member since 13 years of age JOSEPH MARSHALL, physician, Sec. 31 ; Heyworth ; born in Fayette Co., Ky., June 24, 1832. He attended the common school until he was 17 years of age, when he went to M. Louis and entered the St. Louis University, where he attended three years, and from which he gradu- ated in the spring of 1853, from both Medical and Literary Departments. He then returned to Kentucky, and engaged in the practice of medicine, in Fayette Co., until the fall of 1872, when he located in Bloomington, McLean Co., and practiced medicine until March, 1874, when he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived and followed his profession, having a good practice, which is yearly increasing. His marriage with Martha M. Goodwin, was cele- brated Sept, 25, 1855 ; she was born in Fayette Co., Ky., March 9, 1838. They have* six chil- dren by this union — Ella J.. Ida E., Rachel J., Robert, Sallie R., Edmund S. Mr. Marshall was a son of Robert Marshall, who was born in Fayette Co., Ky., Jan. 1, 1800. Has always success- fully followed farming, and is now living, in the 80th year of his age, in full possession of all his faculties, and able to attend to some light work. He was married to Elizabeth Evans ; she was born in the same county, in 1804, and she is still living, and daily performs her household duties. SOLOMON MASON, farmer, Sec. 18 : P. 0. Downs ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., 111.; born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Oct. 13, 1801 ; he removed with his parents to Ohio in 1805, and located in Montgomery Co., where he followed farming with his father until 19 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Fryer. August, 1820; she was born in Kentucky Nov. 25, 1799 ; she died Dec. 31, 1850, leaving eleven children, of whom six are now living, viz., George, John W., Eliza, Sarah, Daniel and Mary. His marriage with Elizabeth Brooks was celebrated in 1854 ; she was born in Indiana August 31, 1815; they had four chil- dren, of whom three are living — Samuel B., William H., Charles A. Upon the marriage of Mr. Mason, he farmed upon rented land for twelve years in Preble Co., Ohio, when he purchased eighty acres, upon which he lived until 1839, when he came West and located in McLean Co., 111.; he settled upon his present place in 1840, where he has since continued to live during a period of thirty-eight, years; Mr. Mason commenced in life without capital : he had $100 left him only ; he has raised a large family, and now owns 240 acres of land upon his home farm, with good farm buildings, and 200 acres in Cropsey Township, Sec. 31, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry ; he has suffered all the privations and DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 975 hardships of frontier life, and, although now in the 78th year of his age, is in possession of all his faculties, and daily attends to the chores about his place. He has been a member of the United Brethren for a period of thirty years. D W. MASON, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Preble Co., Ohio, April 15, 1833 ; he emigrated with his father, Solomon Mason, and located in what is now Downs Township, McLean Co., 111., in the fall of 1839; his father now lives upon the same place upon which he located upward of forty years ago ; his biography also appears among the sketches of this township in this work. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools in his youth, and assisted his father in farming until 23 years of age, since which time he has been engaged in carpentering and farming for himself. His marriage with Susan Richardson was celebrated Aug. 14, I860; she was born in this county July 28, 1843; they are the parents of five children, four of whom are now living, viz., Orville H., born Aug. 23, 1861 ; Cornelia, June 24, 1863 ; Mary E., June 13, 1865, and Stanley L., Sept. 12, 1876. Mr. Mason removed upon his present place in 1877, where he has since lived ; he owns 120 acres with good farm buildings. He is a Republican in politics ; his first vote was for Judge David Davis. Mrs. Mason is a daughter of S. P. Richardson, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., and is now making his home with his son-in-law, D. M. Funk, at Bloomington. SAMUEL MILLER, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Downs; born in Randolph Township, McLean Co., Nov. 17, 1845; he is the oldest living son of M. H. Miller, usually known as Hagar Miller, one of the early settlers, and whose sketch appears among the biographies of Randolph Township in another part of this work. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents and followed farming until February, 1864, when he enlisted in the 94th Regt. I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union. He joined the regiment at New Orleans, and went to Mobile Bay, where he was engaged in the siege and capture of Ft. Morgan, Blakely and Spanish Fort, by which Mobile fell into the hands of the Union army ; he was then forwarded to Galveston, Tex., where he was transferred to the 37th I. V. I., and was on detailed service until May, 1866, when he was mus- tered out of service at Houston, and received his discharge at Springfield in May, 1866, having served in the Union army two years and three months ; he then returned home and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed ; he removed upon his present place in 1872, where he has 160 acres of land upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Emma Passwater was celebrated March 9, 1871 ; she was born in Randolph Township, McLean Co., and is a daughter of Clement Passwater, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; they have three children by this union — Rebecca E., Cora C. and Franklin H. JAMES MONTGOMERY, physician and surgeon, Downs; born in County Tyrone, Ireland, Aug. 28, 1837, where he attended the subscription schools until 16 years of age, when he went to Manchester, England, and, after serving an apprenticeship of three years in a fancy grocery store, emigrated to America, landing in New York Nov. 1, 1856; after consuming the entire winter in New York and adjoining cities vainly seeking for employment, he purchased a drover's ticket, for $8, to Indianapolis, and upon arriving there continued his journey to Danville, 111., where he arrived with $3 and a good wardrobe ; the following day, he obtained employment with Dr. Fithian upon a farm, at $15 per month, and after working one year invested his earnings in young stock, calves and yearlings, which he held one year and sold at a profit of 100 per cent ; he then engaged in farming and stock-raising, until the spring of 1860, when he came to McLean Co. and purchased a farm near what is now Downs, and, after farming one year, commenced the study of medicine, and in August, 1862, enlisted as a private in Co. F, 94th Regt. I. V. I., and served as such through the campaigns of Missouri and Arkansas, siege and capture of Vicks- burg, capture of Yazoo City, after which he went to Port Hudson, where he was appointed Assist-. ant Hospital Steward, and upon arriving at Brownsville, Texas, in 1863, was appointed General Hospital Steward, and continued his study of medicine under Dr. E. A. Carothers until 1864, when he went to New Orleans and passed examination before the Examining Board of the Army; and was appointed Assistant to the Medical Purveyor of the Department of the Gulf, which position he held until the close of the war ; while located in New Orleans, he attended the lectures of the Medical College, and the practical experience received while here, in surgery, has proved of more value than years of study and practice in civil life. At the close of the war, he returned to McLean Co. and engaged in the practice of medicine, and for two years contin- ued his studies in medicine and dissecting under Dr. William Hill, of Bloomington ; he has con- tinued the practice of medicine in Downs and neighboring townships since 1865, during a period of fifteen years of constant increase in his practice. He is a member of the McLean County Medical Society, and is appointed a member of the State Medical Society at their Con- vention, to be held at Lincoln during the summer of 1879. His marriage with Mary J. Savidge was celebrated May 12. 1861; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Aug. 31, 1842; they had six children, of whom three are now living — James E., born Feb. 9, 1862; Margaret E., July 1, 1867; Matilda F., Nov. 14, 1871. Mrs. Montgomery is a daughter of James N. Savidge, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., who located here in 1834, and now lives in Old Town Township. THOMAS B. NULL, farmer. Sec. 14; P.O. LeRoy; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. 111. ; born in West Virginia Dec. 4, 1829. His father, Levi Null, was born in Lancaster City, 976 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Penn., April 26, 1794 ; he emigrated with his parents to West Virginia when six years of age, where he was raised, upon the Pan Handle, a name given a narrow strip of land Virginia reserved to her own territory ; in 1852, he removed to Licking Co., Ohio, where he died Jan. 4, 1875. The subject of this sketch attended school and assisted his father in farming until 23 years of age, when he emigrated to Ohio, and upon the 22d day of November, 1854, he was united in marriage to Anna Keith ; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 5, 1837 ; they were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living — William C, born Sept. 27, 1855 ; Levi A., Dec. 24, 1857 ; Mary 0., Nov. 8. 1860, died Nov. 24, 1862; Charles J., born July 17, 1864; Ella A., Dec. 6, 1866 : Gussie L., April 9, 1877. Upon the marriage of Mr. Null, he commenced farming for himself in Ohio, which business he followed until he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 7, Downs Township, McLean Co., in 1858, where he rented land of L. Downs for six years, and, in the spring of 1865, purchased his present place, upon which he then located and where he has since lived ; he now owns 160 acres in his home farm, with good buildings, all of which he has made by his own hard labor. When he first came to this State, he was entirely without capital ; he did his plowing with one horse ; he then purchased another horse upon time, and in this way obtained a team, and for three years he battled against poverty without making a dollar ; during the fall of 1858, money was very scarce, and to obtain cash for labor was impossible: he, with his team, worked thirty-five days for seventy bushels of frost- bitten corn. REV. SYLVESTER PEASLEY, farmer ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Grayson Co., Va., Aug. 31, 1823. His father, Isaac Peasley, was born Aug. 30, 1798, in North Carolina. He was married in Grayson Co., Va., to Rachel Holsey. She was born in Vir- ginia in 1803. They were the parents of eight children, of whom four are now living. Mr. Peas- ley died Oct. 16, 1851. His widow died in the spring of 1865. The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents to Illinois and located in McLean Co. in the fall of 1834. They lived in a log cabin with stick-and-mud chimney ; it had a puncheon floor and was in all respects a rude structure. They lived in this cabin for two years, when they built one of their own. Mr. Peas- ley lived with his parents several years, and upon the 3d of November, 1842, he was united in marriage with Mary Stillman. Six children were the fruit of this union, of whom one is deceased ; the living are— Granville, born Oct. 14, 1845; Rachel S., Oct. 29, 1848; Isaac, Oct. 24, 1851 ; John, July 16, 1854; Esther C, Oct. 13, 1859; and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Peasley died Oct. 2, 1863. His marriage with Mrs. Susan Crosby was celebrated April 6, 1864. One child was the fruit of this union, who died when upward of three years of age. Mr. Peasley has endured all the privations of frontier life ; he has made frequent trips to Chicago ; has been out twenty-six days in succession, exposed to the coldest of weather ; has waded the Kankakee River when his clothes were frozen as soon as he came out, and has slept on brush which he cut to protect him from the mud in the rainy weather. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having devoted a large part of his life to the cause, and has attended five churches. He has been an ardent worker in the cause of the Sabbath school, and still continues his good work. He was elected the first Supervisor of Downs, in 1858, which office he held for twelve years in succession. He was the first Postmaster in Downs Township, which office he held twelve years. He is now President of the McLean County Fire Insurance Company, of which he was a charter member. Mr. Peasley is a Republican in politics, having joined the party upon its organization, and has since labored in support of the same. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1840, of which he was an ordained minister, but was forced to discon- tinue preaching on account of weak lungs. He removed upon his present place in 1847, where he has since lived during a period of upward of thirty years. Mrs. Peasley remarks about the sudden change of 1836. The weather had been mild for some time ; rain had been falling, changing the snow to slush, when suddenly a cold wind-storm came and changed the tempera- ture nearly sixty degrees in a very short time ; the face of the country was changed from water to ice immediately, and, as Rev. Mr. Peasley remarked, appeared like a picture of the polar regions. JOHN PRICE, retired farmer; P. 0. Downs; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.: born in Mecklenberg Co., N. C, Jan. 23, 1802. His father was of Welsh descent, born in North Carolina Nov. 12. 1768. He removed to Kentucky at an early day, and to McLean Co., 111., in 1836, where he died Nov. 16, 1852. He was married in North Carolina to Sarah Beatty. She was born in Ireland in 1769, and died in this county in 1843. John Price emigrated with his parents to Kentucky in 1804, being then 2 years of age, and, with the exception of three years' residence in Tennessee, lived in Kentucky until 1830, when became to McLean Co., 111., and located eighty acres upon Sec. 4, Town 22, Range 3 east. From 1830 to 1836, he resided a part of the time upon his place here and a portion also in Kentucky, and, at the latter date, he located permanently with his family, and is admitted by all to be the oldest continuous resident of Downs Township. When he first came in here looking for a location, he rode from the place where J. E. Crumbaugh now lives to his present location, a distance often miles, at which time there was not a single white settler on the way, the country at that time being occupied by the Kickapoo Indians. Bloomington contained but a few log houses and one store, kept by James Allin, who kept a limited stock of goods, purchased at St. Louis. His voting-place was in DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 977 Bloomington until 1841, when he, with four others, petitioned the Court for a voting- place' which petition was granted, and was named, in honor of Mr. John Price, as Price's Precinct. Mr. Price entered land, as he was able, until he held patents from the Government to 1,000 acres, and a part of which he has lived upon for the past forty-four years. Of township offices he has held his full share, having held the offices of Town Treasurer and Justice of the Peace fourteen years, and other petty offices, and has taken a deep interest and has been looked upon as one of the prominent men of his township. The early settlers at Price's Precinct, unlike the pioneers of many localities, were religious people, and, like the ancient Israelites, experi- enced no trouble, in worshiping God even in the wilderness, and John Price generously donated the use of his house for a tabernacle. In this house, services were held by the Baptists, the Methodists and the Presbyterians, and was used as a place of worship some eight years. Upon Sept. 13, 1821, he was united in marriage with Matilda Rives. She was born in Franklin Co., Va., May 16, 1797. She was a daughter of Burwell Rives, who was one of the prominent men of Virginia, where he was born in 1772. He died in Kentucky in October, 1811. He was mar- ried in Virginia to Mary Gillum. She was born in Virginia in 1776, and died ten days previous to her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Price were the parents of eight children, of whom two now sur- vive, viz.: Peter B., whose biography appears amoDg the sketches of this township, and Mrs, Frederick Couden, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Old Town Township in another part of this work. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Price was celebrated Sept. 13, 1871, at which there were upward of one hundred present, among which were four who witnessed the marriage ceremony fifty years previous. The presents were numerous and expensive, among which we mention two solid, gold-headed ebony canes, two pairs gold-bowed spectacles, $20 in gold, gold-band China tea sets, and many other presents, all of which spoke volumes of respect and esteem in which these early pioneers are held by their neighbors, relatives and friends. PETER B. PRICE, farmer, grain and stock-dealer; P. 0. Downs. Mr. Price is one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., and is the only son now living of John Price, whose extended biography appears among the sketches of this township. Peter B. Price was born in Warren Co., Ky., May 29, 1830; when but a few months old, he was brought to McLean Co., and the first six years of his life, from 1830 to 1836, were passed about equally between McLean Co., 111., and Warren Co., Ky. He obtained a limited education in his youth, and assisted his father in farming until 21 years of age, and, on Nov. 13, 1851, was united in marriage with Mary A, Case; she was born in Huron Co., Ohio, March 24, 1833. She is a daughter of Lewis Case, whose biography will be found among the sketches of Old Town Township, in another part of this work. Upon the marriage of Mr. Price, he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and has lived upon the same section for nearly half a century. He followed farm-* ing and stock-raising until the completion of the I., B. & W. R. R., when he erected corn-cribs, scales, etc., and engaged in the business of buying and shipping grain and stock, which business he has since followed, in connection with farming. He has shipped as high as 125,000 bushels of corn alone, in a single season; his shipments of stock have been heavy; during two months of the season of 1874, he shipped to Indianapolis ninety cars of hogs or 5,000 head. To the energies and business management of Mr. Price, the village of Downs owes much, as he has perhaps done more for the place than all the other business men of the town combined, and is held in high respect by all for his sterling qualities. The children of Peter B. and Mary A, Price were six in number, of whom five are now living — Burwell O., Gipp T., Willie, Sarah Nettie and Cush. The anniversary of the silver wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Price was celebrated at their residence at Downs on the 13th of November, 1876, which was a complete surprise to the recipients. The train from Bloomington and Le Roy brought large numbers, and when they had all collected there were about four hundred, among whom were the parents of both Mr, and Mrs. Price. They came loaded with many and costly presents, and the choicest provisions which the market affords. The writer of this article secured a list of the presents and the donors, but having mislaid the same, is unable to do justice to either the donors or the value of the presents. Suffice it to say they were many and valuable, and are very highly appreciated by both Mr. and Mrs. Price. . FREDERICK RAZOR, farmer, Sec. 25; P. 0. Le Roy; is one of the old settlers; born in Owen Co., Ky., Jan. 30, 1827; at 19 years of age, he engaged in farming and working by the month, which occupation he followed until he emigrated to Illinois, in 1856. He first purchased 101 acres at Randolph Grove, upon which he lived until 1867, when he sold out and purchased 160 acres of his present place, where he has since lived. He now owns 300 acres of land, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Minerva Dyke was celebrated Aug. 4, 1845 ; she was born in Clark Co., Ky., Jan. 3, 1827. They have twelve children now living — Lurinda, born Aug. 7, 1846 ; Sarah J , Aug. 10, 1848 ; Julia A., April 4, 1850; James William, Sept. 13, 1851 ; Charles, April 3, 1853; Henry, Nov. 29, 1854; Alva, Dec. 4, 1856; John B., April 21, 1858 j Belle, Dec. 29, 1861 ; George, Oct. 2, 1863 ; Jacob, Oct. 3, 1865, and Katie, Jan. 26, 1872. Upon the marriage of Mr. Razor, he had no capital save a strong arm and willing hand. He commenced housekeeping in an old deserted lng cabin, with nothing but a straw bed and a few dishes. They made use of an old box for table and cupboard ; for chairs, he made use of stools of his own make. He rented land, and for a portion he paid $4 per acre rent. He had neither 978 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: money n>>r tools, and was obliged to obtain their provisions upon credit. After two years of toil and privations Mr. and Mrs. R., when they had obtained some few things of household fur- hiture, they lost their all by fire. Commencing in life again, with renewed energy, they have labored together for upward of thirty-four years; they have raised a large family of children, of whom all are now living, their family circle having never been broken by death. Mr. R. is now considered one of the large land-holders, and among the most prosperous farmers of Downs Township. His struggles against poverty and his perseverance to accomplish what he has attained are well worthy of imitation by the young men of the present day. HENRY REYNOLDS (deceased), farmer; one of the old setilers of McLean Co.; he was born in the State of Maryland upon the 29th day of January, 1778. He was united in marriage in Lancaster Co., Penn., witn Catherine Sheppard, upon the 4th day of February, 1808 ; she was born in Maryland Sept. 26, 1787, and died June 13, 1821. leaving six children, viz., Sheppard, born Feb. 8, 1809; Jesse, Jan. 20, 1810; Ann, March 30, 1812; Lewis, March 13, 1815; Law- son, July 10, 1817 ; William, Jan. 12, 1820. He married in Lancaster Co., Penn , for his second Wife, Amelia Wilson, Aug. 28, 1822; she was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 18, 1798; she died Sept. 29, 1846, leaving eleven children — Benjamin, Sarah A., Nov. 5, 1824; Henry, Aug. 11, 1826; Deborah A., Nov. 14, 1828; Elisha, Dec. 4, 1830; Amelia M. and Sarah S. (twins), Jan. 19, 1833 (Amelia died in infancy); Amelia Malinda, Jan. 16, 1835; J. C, Nov. 10, 1836; Mary E., Nov. 14, 1838, and William H., May 3, 1841. His marriage with Mrs. Mary Ann Robuck was celebrated in Champaign Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1846 ; her maiden name was Davis ; she was born in Woodford Co., Va., May 16, 1815; three children were the fruit of this union, viz., Charles S., born Oct. 6, 1847; Gould Johnson, Sept. 25, 1850, and Stanley D., Feb. 26, 1854; fifteen of the above of his descendants are now living. Mr. Reynolds removed from Maryland to Pennsylvania; from there to Ohio in 1835, and located in Champaign Co., and cleared the first farm in that neighborhood ; in 1851, he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 25, Downs Township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a member of the M. E. Church for fifty-eight years ; his third wife was a member of the Presbyterian Church Bince 1859; tney lived and died consistent Christians. Mr. Reynolds died May 8, 1860, aged 72 years 3 months and 9 days; Mrs. Reynolds died Jan. 14, 1873, 57 years 8 months and 28 days of age. Gould J. Reynolds was born Sept. 25, 1850, in Ohio; he emigrated with his parents to Illinois when 1 year of age; they came by team, bringing all their household goods and stock ; he was brought up on the farm, and, from 1866 to 1875, he, with his brother Charles S., farmed in partnership upon the home farm, and, at the latter date, Charles S. located upon Sec. 7, Empire Township, since which time Gould J. has farmed upon the old farm alone. His marriage with Adaline Dickerson was celebrated May 27, 1875 ; she was born in McLean Co. Jan. 22, 1856; they have two children by this union, viz., Ora E., born Aug. 22, 1877, and Clin- ton C, Dec. 18, 1878. Mrs. Reynolds is the daughter of C. P. Dickersoa, one of the oldest settlers of McLean Co., and whose biography will be found among the sketches of Empire Town- ship in another part of this work. J. H. ROBERTSON, blacksmith and wagon-maker, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, Downs; one of the old settlers; born in McLean Co., 111., May 29, 1842; he is a son of James O. P. Robertson, who was born in Warren Co., Ky., and emigrated to McLean Co. at a very early day, and located in Old Town Township, where he lived until his decease. The subject of this sketch was raised upon a farm until 18 years of age, when, in December, 1861, he enlisted as private in the 8th I. V. 1., and served in the Army of the Cumberland, Trans-Mississippi, and Department of the Gulf, and was in many severe battles — Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Jack- eon, Miss., Ft. Morgan, Spanish Fort and Ft. Blakely, and was mustered out of service May 4, 1866, at Baton Rouge, La., and received his discharge at Springfield upon the 16th of May, 1866, having served upward of four and a half years in the Union army ; at Ft. Blakely, he was wounded in the arm by a piece of shell and had many narrow escapes. Upon receiving his dis- charge, he returned to McLean Co. and followed blacksmithing until 1870, when he opened the first blacksmith-shop at Downs, where he has since lived. He is also Justice of the Peace and Notary Public Hs marriage with Elizabeth Beltzer was celebrated Oct. 11, 1866; she was born in Ohio May 8, 1847, and died Aug. 14, 1873, leaving two children — Eudora J., born Feb. 23, 1869, James O., born March 14, 1871. He was united in marriage with Isabel T. Lawdon Nov. 4, 1874; she was born in Zanesville, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1853 ; one child was born to them, and died in infancy. CHARLES H. RUTLEDGE, farmer, Sec. 23 ; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early settlers of McLean Co. ; born near Hillsboro, Montgomery Co., 111.. April I, 1828 ; his father, M. S. Rutledge, was born in Georgia April 2, 1800; he emigrated to Illinois and located in White Co., in 1812, then to Montgomery Co., in 1826. He was married in Henderson Co., Ky., to Nancy Bostick ; she was born in Kentucky May 19, 1799; she died in Illinois January, 1855 ; Mr. R. died Nov. 27, 1877 ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom four are now living. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until 18 years of age, when in June, 1846, he enlisted in the 3d I. V. I., and served one year in the war with Mexico, going down the River to New Orleans; thence by vessel to Brazos Santiago ; from there to Carmargo, Matamoras, Tampico ; thence to Vera Cruz ; engaged in several battles, among which were the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. In June, HUDSON TP DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 981 1847, his time having expired, he returned to New Orleans, where he received his discharge, having served a little upward of one year ; he then returned home and followed farming in Montgomery Co., until February, 1848, when he settled in McLean Co. upon his present place. At the time of locating here, there were but four houses from Buckles' to Randolph Grove, a dis- tance of six miles, where now upon every 'quarter-section stands one or more houses. His cap- ital, when settling here, was simply a land-warrant, and with this he secured his land, and pur- chased a farmhouse 16x16, in which he lived one year. The land was in its rough state ; neither a tree nor shrub appeared in view ; he has, by his own hard labor, brought it from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation. He owns 250 acres that he has accumulated by his own exertions in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife, to whom he was united in marriage upon the 14th of April, 1853 ; her maiden name was Martha A. Cnapin ; she was born March 21, 1831, in De Witt Co., 111.; she was a daughter of Hiram Chapin, who was born in North Carolina, and emigrated from Kentucky to Illinois in 1819 ; the children of Charles and Martha Rutledge were seven in number, of whom four are now living, viz. : Still- man IX, born May 16, 1867 ; Edgar H., born Aug. 14, 1861 ; Florence, born Aug. 26, 1864; Louisa J., born Aug. 22, 1867. Mr. Rutledge has been favored with his full share of township and school offices, having been third Supervisor of Downs Township, which office he held three years in succession ; as Town Collector, he successfully handled the funds of Downs Township for three years ; School Trustee, nine years, which office he now holds ; School Director nine years, and other petty offices. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been a member of the C. P. Church for upward of thirty years, of which he has been a Ruling Elder for twenty-eight years, his wife joining about the same time. JOHN SARGENT, farmer, Sec. 6; P. 0. Heyworth ; born in Pike Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1814; his father, Eli Sargent, was probably born in Virginia. He was married twice ; his first wife's maiden name was Wood; she was born in Kentucky, and died in Pike Co., Ohio ; his second wife was Christine Nesselle ; they were married in Ohio ; they were the parents of two chil- dren. Mr. Sargent died in Illinois in 1824; his wife died in 1817 in Ohio. The sub- ject of this sketch was left an orphan at 10 years of age, and lived out and worked upon different farms until Dec. 14, 1841, when he was united in marriage with Deborah Thomas, of Scioto Co., Ohio; she died Sept. 13, 1865, leaving one child — Mary E. Sargent, now Mrs. Thomas J. Sargent, living in Sumner Co , Kans. His marriage with Mrs. Margaret Miller was celebrated April 17, 1866; her maiden name was Glover ; she was born in Ohio in 1827 ; three children were the fruit of this union, all deceased. In the fall of 1843, Mr. Sargent located in Jersey Co., 111., where he followed farming nearly fourteen years, when he removed to Logan Co., where he resided twelve years, and, upon the 3d of March, 1868, located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and where he owns 153 acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings, all of which he accumulated by his own hard labor and exertions. Mr. S. was an old-time Whig, casting his first vote in 1836 for Harrison, and labored continuously for the Whig party until the organiza- tion of the Republican party, since which time he has been identified with the same ; he is a strong temperance man, and has never used tobacco in any form ; he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly half a century, his first and second wife and daughters being members of the same church. Mrs. Sargent was married April 30, 1859, to Madison L Miller ; he was born in New York, and died Dec. 20, 1862, while serving in the army for the protection of the Union during the late war of the rebellion ; they have one child, now living, by this union — Margaret V., born March 14, 1861, now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Sargent. JAMES H. SIMKINS, farmer, Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Heyworth ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; was born in Salem Co., N. J., Sept. 17, 1820; his father, Francis Simkins, was born in Salem Co., N. J., Sept. 14, 1792. He married Mary Harris Oct. 6, 1815; she was born in the same county July, 1798; she died April 12, 1868, in Highland Co., Ohio. Mr. Francis Sim- kins also died in Highland Co., Ohio, Aug. 15, 1843, killed by being thrown from a bridge while returning from church ; they now lie buried in the beautiful cemetery at Newmarket, Ohio ; their graves are marked by tombstones of Italian marble, placed there by their loving children ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom three are deceased ; the living are Hannah, born March 27, 1818; James H., Sept. 17, 1820; Jeremiah T., Jan. 22, 1823; Isaac H., April 22, 1828; Richard, in 1831 ; the deceased are Elizabeth, born Oct. 16, 1816, died in infancy : Jane, born Dec. 28, 1825, died in 1846; Mary Ann, born July 14, 1843, died March 15, 1873. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents upon the farm until 23 years of age, during which time he learned the brick-mason's trade. He was united in marriage with Nancy Roads March 22, 1843; she was born in Highland Co., Ohio, Jan. 13, 1823; she was a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Thomas) Roads, who were born in Virginia, and emigrated to Ohio at an early day, where they lived until their decease. Upon the marriage of the subject of this sketch, he engaged in farming for three years, after which he located in Hillsboro, Ohio, where he followed his trade until he emigrated and located in Bloomingten, McLean Co., Nov. 9, 1856 ; he then followed his trade at Bloomington six years, and, in 1862, purchased 100 acres of land upon Sec. 31, Downs Township, upon which he lived until 1866. In the spring of 1867, he purchased his present place of eighty acres, where he has since lived, and is engaged in farming. 982 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: The children of James and Nancy (Roads) Simkins were three in number, of whom two died in infancy ; the living — Isaac, born March 19, 1846, now living at home. FREDERICK SMITH (deceased), farmer, Downs; born in Richland Co., Ohio, June 7, 1836, where he attended the common schools in his youth and followed farming, until 26 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located at Funk's Grove, McLean Co., in the fall of 1863; he then came to Downs Township and purchased 160 acres upon Section 6, Town 21, where he lived two years, when he moved upon the north half of Section 6, where he purchased 80 acres, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred Nov. 3, 1868 ; he lies buried in the cemetery at Hey worth. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church for twelve years, and lived and died a consistent Christian ; he was held in high esteem, and died beloved by all who knew him. He was married to Mary Jane Baird, April 19, 1860; she was born in New Jersey Feb. 22, 1840; one child was the fruit of this union— Edmund W., born April 27, 1861. SAMUEL SNIFF, farmer and siock-raiser, Section 23 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Dec. 24, 1826; he is a son of John Sniff, who was born near Trenton, N. J., Feb. 22, 1795: he was a farmer and stock-raiser, also a manufacturer of stoneware ; he emigrated to Ohio in 1812, and is now living, at the ripe old age of 84 years : he was married to Ann Wood, in Ohio ; she was born in Virginia, May 20, 1799 ; she died in Ohio March 14,1878; they were the parents of twelve children, all of whom are now living, the oldest being 64 and the youngest 39 years of age. The subject of this sketch was brought up to heavy farm labor upon the farm of his father, until 23 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Mary E. Springer; she was born in Ohio May 20, 1827 ; she died March 21, 1866, leaving five children, having lost six by death; the living are Sarah E., Isaac B., Mary S., Cora and Nora, the last two being twins ; the deceased died in infancy ; of the above, three were born at one birth, and there were two pairs of twins. His marriage with Maria Cochrane was celebrated March 19, 1867 ; she was born Nov. 11, 1836, in Ohio; she died July 2, 1873, leaving three children — William A., Samuel C. and Francis M. He married for his third wife Anna S. Jackson, upon the 29th of April, 1374; she was born in Hancock Co., Va., Dec. 24, 1842; one child was the fruit of this union, Hettie J. ; Mrs. Sniff was a daughter of David Jackson, who was born in Washington Co , Penn.; he lost his life by being drowned in the Ohio River, in 1843 ; her mother was Elizabeth Campbell ; she was born in the same county ; she died in Ohio in 1865; Mrs. Sniff has a brother living in Vinton Co., Ohio, and a sister in Polk Co., Mo., now Mrs. David Allender. Mr. Sniff followed farming, in Ohio, until 1867, the last two years of which he was engaged in the stoneware business ; he purchased his present place in 1868, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived ; he has upon his home farm 240 acres, all under fence and in a good state of improvement. Mr. Sniff is Treasurer and Agent for the American Bible Society for Downs He has been a member of the M. E. Church for a period of thirty- eight vears, his wife and two of the children also being members of the Church. WILLIAM TURNER, farmer, Sec. 5; P. 0. Heyworth ; born in Indiana Co., Penn., April 28. 1836 ; his father, James Turner, was born in Washington Co., Penn., and followed farming and milling until 1839, when he emigrated to Ohio and located in Clermont Co., where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred Dec. 17, 1878. He was married in Pennsylvania to Margaret McKinney ; she was born in Pennsylvania, and is now living in Ohio ; they were the parents of twelve children, all of whom are now living. The subject of this sketch emigrated to Ohio, with his parents, when 3 years of age, where he was raised upon his father's farm, until 27 years of age, the last three of which he was in partnership with his father ; he then disposed of his interest in Ohio and emigrated to Illinois, and located in Randolph Township in the spring of 1864, where he rented land four years, and, in 1868, he purchased his present place of 160 acres, upon which he then located and where he has since lived. His marriage with Mary E Hill was celebrated in Ohio, March 3, 1864; she was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1841 ; they were the parents of five children, of whom two are deceased: the living are — Harvey H., Mary A., Frank M. ; the deceased died in infancy. Mr. Turner is a Democrat in politics, but has never run for office. D. F. VANDEVENTER, farmer and stock-raiser ; Sec. 12, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy; born in De Witt Co., Ill, July 29, 1845; he is the second son of Thomas Vandeventer, who emigrated from Virginia and located in De Witt Co. about the year 1820. He married in De Witt Co to Elizabeth Arbogast ; she was born in Ohio ; tbey were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living ; the parents now live in De Witt Co. The subject of this sketch attended the common school and assisted his father in farming until 17 years of age, when he went to Cali- fornia and followed teaming three years, driving a team of ten mules to a wagon itself weighing two tons and hauling from five to six tons of mining machinery and supplies, the trip consuming about six weeks ; in 1865, he returned to De Witt Co., 111., and engaged in farming and stock- raising until the spring of 1875, when he purchased 125 acres of land in Downs Township, upon which he then located and where he has since lived; he also owns forty-five acres in De Witt Co., all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry. His marriage with Sarah Nichols was celebrated Oct. 26, 1868; she was born in Brown Co., Ohio, July 7, 1849 ; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two are living — Lewis N., born April 20, 1870: Dick, born March 24, 1872, died Oct. 22, 1878, and Merritt E., born July 19, 1875. DOWNS TOWNSHIP. 983 Mrs. Vandeventer is a daughter of John and Lucinda (Teter) Nichols, who now live in Cham- paign Co., 111. ; Mr. Nichols was born in Germany and Mrs. Nichols in Virginia; they were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living. GEORGE WADDINGTON. farmer, deceased ; born in Yorkshire, England, upon the 9th of June, 1818: he was brought up on a farm until 14 years of age, when he was apprenticed to the trade of cloth-dressing, and, until 1841, followed the business of dressing the finest English broadcloth, of some of which his own wedding suit was made ; the coat is now held as an heirloom by the family ; in the fall of 1841, he emigrated to America and landed at New Orleans ; he then came up the Mississippi to Grand Tower and settled in Williamson Co., 111., where he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Kershaw ; she was born in Holdam, Lancashire, England, in 1826 ; she was a daughter of Joseph Kershaw, who now lives in Le Roy, and whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Township in another part of this work. In the fall of 1857, they removed to Downs Township, McLean Co., and, in the spring of 1859, located upon Section 27, where they lived until their decease ; Mrs. Waddington died March 10,1870; in the spring of 1874, Mr. Waddington returned to England, visiting Liverpool, Huddersfield, his native city, Sheffield and spent one week in London, returning home in August, of the same year; his death occurred June 19, 1876. They were both members of the Christian Church and lived and died consistent Christians. They now lie buried in the Gelmore graveyard, and over their grave stands a marble monument erected sacred to their memory by their loving children ; they were the parents of five sons and six daughters, of whom all are now living — Sarah A. (now Mrs. John Lott, living in Sumner Co., Kan.), Hannah (now Mrs. William Kinsey, whose sketch appears in this work), Mary J. (now Mrs. Harrison C. Lott, living in Blue Mound Township, McLean Co.), Joseph K. (now living upon the home farm), Martha E. (also living at home), George W. (telegraph operator upon the Illinois Central Railroad), William A. (living at home), Esther E. (now Mrs. A. Montgomery, living in Downs Township), Ida A., John F. and Walter S. Mr. Waddington commenced in Illinois with an ax and one lonesome penny ; he worked and cleared eighty a?res, which he afterward entered, and enduring all the hardships and privations of frontier life and battled against poverty, and, at the time of his decease, had accumulated a good farm of 160 acres and raised a family of eleven children. HENRY WAGNER, farmer, Sec. 17; P. 0. Downs; born in Centre Co., Penn., April 15, 1819. His grandfather, David Wagner, was a Revolutionary patriot and served during the Revo- lutionary struggle, for seven years. He was under Gen. Washington, and was an eye-witness to the shooting of several horses upon which that eminent chieftain was riding. He was in many engagements and served until the independence of the nation was established. His father, Will- iam Wagner, was a soldier in the army of 1812. He was born in Dauphin Co., Penn , April 24, 1788. He was married in Centre Co., Penn., to Ellen Long; she was born in Centre Co., July 24, 1790. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living. The parents both died in Centre Co , Penn. Mr. Wagner died Feb. 4, 1868; Mrs. Wagner died Oct. 10, 1869 ; The subject of this sketch attended the common school in his youth and assisted his father in farming until 22 years of age, when, on the 3d of February, 1842, he was married to Elizabeth Roop ; she was born in Centre Co., Penn., May 20, 1824. They were the parents of nine children, of whom three are deceased; the living are — Annie Maria, born Nov. 6, 1842, now Mrs. Thomas Rut- ledge; Emily J.. Feb. 13, 1846, now Mrs. W. W. Reser; Mary E., Aug. 25, 1853, now Mrs. Edward Stewart ; Charles C, Sept. 23, 1858; Henry H., Sept. 22, 1860; Frank E., Feb. 28, 1864. The deceased — Lydia C, was born Feb. 10, 1844, she married J. Darby, and died Nov. 30, 1870, and two died in infancy. Upon the marriage of Mr. Wagner, he emigrated to Indiana, where he farmed upon rented land until he emigrated to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 17. Downs Town- ship, McLean Co., in the fall of 1854, where he has since lived, during a period of one-fourth of a century. He first purchased 160 acres in 1854, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 195 acres upon his home farm, with the best of farm buildings. He has brought the same from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation by his own hard labor : he also owns 100 acres in other parts of the county. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been, with his wife, a member of the church of the United Brethren for a period of 18 years. He has been School Director for nine years, which office he now holds. JOSEPH B. WEAVER, farmer; P. 0. Downs; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Lee Co., Va. His grandfather, on both his father and mother's side, were patriots of the Revolutionary struggle and served under Gen. Greene until the close of the war. His father, William Weaver, was born in Virginia Feb. 10, 1783. He was a Baptist preacher, which pro- fession he followed in connection with farming, until his decease, which occurred in Downs Town- ship, Sept. 3, 1838. He was married in Virginia Dec. 12, 1805, to Mary Sims; she was born in Virginia, Nov. 15, 1787, and died Oct. 13, 1854. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom eight are now living. They emigrated from Virginia with their teams, and located in McLean Co., in the fall of 1832, and the following spring located upon Sec. 4, Downs Township, where he lived until his decease. He entered and purchased land until he had accumulated 600 acres. A part ef the village of Downs now stands upon his old farm. The subject of this sketch was the youngest member of the family, and now lives upon the old farm, where he has 984 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: lived nearly half a century, and is probably the oldest continuous resident of Downs Township. He now owns 112 acres of the old farm, with good buildings. He continued farming until Aug. 8, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th Regiment I. V. I. His first active service was in the cam- paign of Missouri and Arkansas, being engaged in the battle of Prairie Grove, Dec. 7, 1862 ; on the 3d of June, 1863, he was forwarded down the Mississippi River to Young's Point, thence across the country to Warrenton, where they crossed the Mississippi River, and, upoa the 14th of June, 1863, took their position upon the extreme left of the Union army, where they remained until the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. They were then sent up the Yazoo River, cap- turing Yazoo City, upon July 12, when they were sent to New Orleans, via Port Hudson. On the 26th of August, 1863, Mr. Weaver was sent to the hospital on account of sickness, and did not again join his regiment until Feb. 22, 1864, at Brownsville, Texas, where he remained until July 30, when they were forwarded to Mobile Bay, landing at Mobile Point upon the 9th of August, and upon the 23d instant, Ft. Morgan surrendered. He was then engaged upon the attack upon the Spanish Fort, which surrendered April 8, 1865; Ft. Blakely fell about the same date, among the rebel prisoners was the rebel Gen. Cockerell, now a U. S. Senator from Missouri. Mr. Weaver was then, with the 94th Regiment, sent to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and, in August, 1865, received his discharge at Springfield, 111., having served in the Union army three years. He then returned to farming, which business he has since followed. Of township and school offices, he has had his full share, having held the office of Supervisor, Township Collector, Justice of the Peace, School Director, and has been a member of the Board of Education for fourteen years. His marriage with Margaret A. Kimler was celebrated Sept. 30, 1855; she was born in McLean Co. Feb. 13, 1839. They were the parents of five children —Theodore F., born Sept. 28, 1856; Mary B., Dec. 6, 1858; Charles W., April 24, 1862; Edward L., Sept. 2, 1866, and Lillie M., Dec. 22, 1875. Mrs. Weaver was a daughter of Bailey Kimler, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. HENRY WELCH, farmer; P. 0. Downs; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. ; born born in Northampton Co., Penn., Nov. 14, 1816; his father was born in the same county, in 1791 ; he emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio the spring of 1817, and in December, 1822, emigrated to Vigo Co., Ind., where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred in Feb- ruary, 1835. He was married in Pennsylvania, to Susan A. Jacoby ; she was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1792 ; her grand-parents emigrated to America with William Penn, and settled in his colony; Mrs* Welch died in August, 1862; they were the parents of eight sons and three daughters, of whom four sons and one daughter are now living — William, born Jan. 25, 1815 ; Henry, Nov. 14, 1816; Albert, Oct. 22, 1822 ; Jeremiah, July, 1825, and Eliza Jane, about 1828. Henry Welch came to McLean Co. in the spring of 1835, a poor boy; he has suffered all the privations and hardships of frontier life, and has, by his hard labor and correct business habits, placed himself among the large land-holders and successful farmers and stock-raisers of McLean Co. ; to accomplish this has been a life of labor ; for many years, he followed the prairie-plow, drawn by five yoke of oxen ; he did not confine his breaking to Illinois, as hundreds of acres in Wisconsin have been broken by Lis labor ; he has driven his hogs to Chicago on foot, camping out by night ; he has also driven his teams to Chicago loaded with wheat, for which he realized 48 cents per bushel; in 1836, he hauled a load of goods from Pekin to Bloomington, then to Dixon ; he had two wagons, drawn by four yoke of cattle each ; one wagon carried a ton, the others one and a half tons. He has a vivid recollection of the sudden change in 1836 : the day had been mild, and the ground was covered with slush of snow and water, when, suddenly, a roar was heard in the west, and the change in the atmosphere was so great that everything froze up instantly ; Mr. Welch says that, when the wind-storm came, his pigs huddled together in the pen to keep warm, but several of them carelessly allowed their tails to drop into the slush, and were frozen fast ; the next morning, his attention was called to the sty by the squealing of the pigs, and, upon going there, found some half dozen in the above position ; he loosened them by cutting their tails with his knife. His marriage with Minerva Colwell was celebrated upon the 24th of November, 1842; they were the parents of eight children — Sarah J., born April 12, 1845, died Sept. 10, 1847; William Lee, Feb 11, 1847, died Jan. 9, 1871 ; James Adams, Jan. 6. 1849 ; Susan Ann, Sept. 24, 1850; Eliza M., Oct. 8, 1853 ; Alfred J., July 5, 1855 ; George H., June 13, 1858 ; Minerva E., June 6, 1866. Mr. Welch is among the large land-holders of McLean Co., being possessed of upward of fourteen hundred acres of land, with six sets of farm buildings. GEORGE M. WILSON, farmer Sec. 8, Town 21 ; P. 0. Heyworth ; born in Lewis Co.. Ky., Dec. 11, 1833. His father, George M. Wilson, was born in the same county, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred in 1838; he was married in Kentucky to Miss Rebecca Davis, who was also born and raised in the same county ; she now lives in Boone Co., Ky. The subject of this sketch lived with his mother until 11 years of age, when he lived with Joseph Givens until 16 years, of age ; he then emigrated to Illinois and followed farming until 1858, at which time he came to McLean Co., and was engaged in farming upon Sec. 10, Downs Township, until 1862, when he purchased his present place of 160 acres, upon which he located and where he has since lived ; he has added by purchase until he now owns 320 acres, all under improvement. His marriage with Harriet L. Bishop was celebrated March 22, 1860 ; she FUNK'S GROVE TQWNSHIP. 985 was born in McLean Co. June 7, 1838 ; she is a daughter of Jacob Bishop, one of the early set- tlers of McLean Co., who was born in Maryland, and emigrated from Ohio to Illinois in the fall of 1830. The children of George M. and Harriet Wilson were eleven in number, of whom seven are deceased ; the living are — Rebecca E., Minnie M., Narcissa A., Annie E.; the deceased died in infancy. UTHO YOUNG, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Downs ; born in Madison Co., Ohio, April 1, 1839 ; he is the son of Joseph Young, who was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, May 26, 1813 ; he married Julia A. Thomas April 15, 1832 ; she was born in Madison Co., Ohio, April 5, 1812. Mr. Young learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until his marriage, when he abandoned his trade and followed farming in Ohio until 1849, when he came to Illinois, and, after looking over the country, returned to Ohio and disposed of his property, and, the following year, came by team with his family, and in the fall of 1851 purchased 230 acres upon Sec. 4, Downs Township, upon which he then located and to which he afterward added 30 more and upon which he lived until his decease ; they were the parents of five children, of which three are now living, viz.: John, born Jan. 4, 1836, living in Miami Co., Kansas ; Otho, April 1, 1839 ; Emily, May 25, 1843. MrB. Young died in McLean Co., July 26, 1867. Mr. Young died Feb. 19, 1878. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years previous to their death, and lived and died consistent Christians. The subject of this sketch attended the common school and assisted his father in farming until 21 years of age, when, on the 16th of May, 1859, he was united in marriage with Susan Mannen ; she was born in McLean Co., 111., May 3, 1840 ; they were the parents of five children, of whom four are now living — Miles K., born Jan. 21, 1861 ; Charles J., May 11, 1863 ; William, Oct, 3, 1867 ; Belle, March 26, 1870, died May 7, 1877, and Harry L., born May 11, 1878. Upon the marriage of Mr. Young, he purchased his present place of eighty acres, upon which he located and where he has since lived. He and his wife have been members of the M. E. Church for a period of twenty years. Mrs. Young was a daughter of Henry and Susannah (Barnett) Mannen ; they were born in Kentucky, and emigrated to Illinois, and located in McLean Co. in 1830. r FUNK'S GROVE. JOHN M. BURKHOLDER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. McLean; was born in Rocking- ham Co., Va., May 26, 1830. He remained there until 1852, engaged in farming, when he then moved to Knox Co., Ohio, and stayed there some two years ; was engaged in teaching school during the winter at $18 per month, and farming in summer. In 1864, he came by himself to McLean Co., 111., and settled on a small farm of forty acres, which he has now increased to 240, every particle of which has been earned by their own labor and management. For some time subsequent to his settlement on this farm, he was engaged in teaching during the winter ; has taught two four-months' terms in De Witt Co. at $20, and three terms at Fremont, in Funk's Grove Township, at $28. In 1862, he was in service, enlisting in the 68th I. V. I. On his return, he began teaching in Funk's Grove at $30 per month. On April 9, 1863, he was married to Rebecca W. Bean, born in Connecticut, April 12, 1841. Immediately after marriage, they settled on his farm in Funk's Grove Township, which they have made a magnificent home. He has held offices connected with schools, as Trustee of Funk's Grove Township, for nine years ; was also Collector of Revenue for two terms. He received but a limited education from instruct- ors, but has improved every advantage of informing himself by securing valuable literature. They have had two children, viz.: Ira E., born Aug. 20, 1865 ; Bessie M., Oct. 19, 1878. 0: H. BUCK, farmer; P. 0. McLean; was born June 19, 1841. in Switzerland Co., Ind., and remained there until 1851, when he came to De Witt Co., 111., and settled on a farm, remain- ing there engaged in farming for his father until 21 years old, when he managed the farm for his father until 1876. In 1869, he was married to Hannah Hammitt, who was born in De Witt Co. In 1876, they settled on the present farm of eighty acres. Mr. Buck has traveled somewhat. He works more or less at carpentering. He has recently improved his farm by adding a cosy little cottage, and has put down tile-draining to some extent. They have two children — Oscar O. and Cora A. JOSEPH BAKER, farmer; P. 0. McLean; was born Feb. 21, 1834, in Morgan Co., Ohio. When 18 months old, he came with his father to what is now De Witt Co., and remained there, engaged in farming for his father, until about 22 years old. He worked three seasons, breaking prairie for the public by ox-team. In 1856, he was married to Margaret Taylor, of Ohio. They immediately settled in De Witt Co., 111. He rented for four years, and then bought a farm of eighty acres in De Witt Co., remaining for some time, and then moved to a farm in McLean Co., and remained some four years. He afterward sold out, and bought the present farm of 209 acres, and remained there five years. From there he moved to De Witt Co., and settled on a farm given him by his father. He soon bought out three heirs, making him 136 acres, which he sold a year afterward, and moved back to his beautiful improved farm in Funk's Grove. At his 986 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: marriage, his father offered him forty acres of land, but he refused until later, and thus, with the aid of his industrious wife, made his beginning. He worked one season on the railroad, with ox-teams, at $5 per day. He has been Pathmaster, and has held offices connected with school interests. They have ten children, viz. : Rhoda A., LethaE., George C , Mary E., John W., Samuel G., Benjamin, Hattie May, Robert A., Joseph H. JAMES COOPER, farmer; P. 0. Heyworth ; was born July 24, 1828, in Ross Co., Ohio, on a farm, and remained there until 2J years old, when he moved with his parents to Madison Co., Ohio, and settled on a farm, remaining there until 1837 ; he moved from there to Illinois, set- tling at Lexington, McLean Co., and engaging in farming, renting of A. ^. Gridley for three years ; from there they came to the head of Money Creek timber and engaged in farming, rent- ing of Isaac Funk ; he moved from there to mouth of Money Creek and settled on Stroud's farm, moving from there to Randolph Township, and engaged in working by the month, at $9, for Benjamin Slatten ; he worked next season on farm for John Low, after which he commenced farming for himself; was renting of Mortin Bishop for two years, renting next of George Stillmaa one year; he moved from there by wagon to Texas and settled in Burnett Co., and engaged in farming, remaining there four years; he then returned to McLean Co., and settled on Judge Davis' farm (the one now occupied by J. 0. Davis), remaining there until 1865 ; he next moved to Judge Davis' farm in Macon Co., and engaged in farming in partnership with Judge Davis and Lyman Betts in raising cattle and hogs ; was there seven years ; in 1872, he settled on the present farm of 300 acres which they have earned entirely by their own labor and manage- ment. He was married Jan. 23, 1865, to Frances Veatch, born in 1842 in McLean Co., III. He was in the civil war, enlisting in Co. C, 94th I. V. I., under James McFarland, Captain ; was in service eighteen months. Mr. Cooper has held offices connected with schools. In 1878, he met with quite a loss by his home burning down, but now has almost completed a beautiful mansion on his magnificent farm. NEWTON CLIFFORD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Shirley; was born May 20, 1851, in Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio, where he remained until he was 17 years old, attending school and clerking for D. B. Gardner in the wholesale and retail grocery business ; he then moved to Minonk, Woodford Co., 111., and engaged in building hedge fences for D. Mooney, working by the month at $40 and $50 for three years ; from there he went to L. H. Kerrick's farm in Funk's Grove, and engaged in farming until 1867, when he made a sale and moved on Mr. F. M. Funk's farm of 2,000 acres, which he mostly controlled ; he receives a salary from Mr. Funk for his care of some five hundred head of cattle. He also rents of Mr. Funk. He was married Jan. 5, 1876, to Miss Alice Norton, the daughter of Alexander Norton, of Champaign Co., 111.; she was born in 1858 ; they have one child, viz., Edith. Mr. Clifford superintends the Sunday school at the Mcllvaine Schoolhouse. V. R. DUK.GY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Blodmington ; was born Aug. 18, 1827, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and remained there engaged in carpentering until 1849, when he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Hutchinson, who was born on the same day her husband was — Aug. 18, 1827. After marriage, he continued his work at carpentering until 1861, at which time he moved to Iowa, settling in La Fayette Co., and engaging in farming for two years; in 1863, he moved to Heyworth, III., and engaged in farming, renting of Enos Passwater for one year ; he then moved to the present farm of forty acres, which they have earned entirely by their labor and manage- ment, and have brought to a high state of cultivation, with all the modern improvements. In 1865, he went to the war, enlisting in 150th I. V. I., and remained until the close. He has held offices connected with the schools for fourteen years, and has been Commissioner of Highways. He was inspector of cars in New York for three years at $35 per month. He follows carpenter- ing during winter and farming in summer. They have three children viz., Eveline, Charles and Addie. ABSALOM FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Shirley ; was born Aug. 4. 1828 (what was then election day), in Funk's Grove Township, 111., and remained there, being engaged in farming, until 1856, when he went to Missouri and engaged in farming and raising stock, remaining there for some four years, at which time he held that no treasure on earth was so dear as the old homestead, and, in 1859, he returned to Funk's Grove and settled on Mr. Dunk Funk's farm, engaging in farming until 1873, when he bought and settled the present little farm of sixteen acres, which, by his skill, he has made into a beautiful home that even the most opu- lent might covet. He rents ground, and thus enlists his son-in-law, Mr. Thomas J. Gates, who makes a home with him. He was married Feb 20, 1851, to Lidda Beaver, a native of Fountain Co., Ind., who was born in 1849. He has worked on the C. & A. R. R., grading and building, and has held offices connected with districts. He has five children, viz. 1 Albert, deceased; Maggie, deceased ; William, deceased ; Ellen, deceased ; and Sarah, the wife of Mr. Gates. ISAAC FUNK, farm and stock; P. 0. Shirley ; was born May 13, 1844. in McLean Co., Ill,, in what is Funk's Grove, and remained there, working for his father, , herding cattle, all the time, until 20 years old. He then worked with his brothers, Ben and Ab, as partners, for five years, farming and stock-raising. In 1869, he was married to Frances Correll, who was born in Sangamon Co., 111., Aug. 20, 1847, and, in 1870, they settled on the present farm of 2,240 acres given him by his father in 1865. This farm is the old homestead of Isaac Funk, Sr., FUNK'S GROVE TOWNSHIP. 987 who had made it a magnificent place before his death, which occurred in 1865 ; his wife died on the same day, four hours later. Mr Funk has taken great pains in continuing the improvements on his farm. He makes stock a specialty, and employs numbers of hands. He was in the State Regi- ment six months. Mr. Funk well remembers the departure of his father, in company with the older boys, James Biggs and others, to Chicago, driving herds of cattle for market, while he wa* left at home herding cattle. He has stock in the National Bank of Bloomington. They have three children, viz.: Arthur C, Mabel, deceased, and Lawrence. LA FAYETTE FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Shirley; was born on a farm in Funk's Grove Township in 1834, and remained there, working for his father (herding cattle and plowing prairie with ox-teams as was customary in those days) until 1860, when he began improv- ing his present farm of 2,000 acres, given him by his father. One remarkable feature connected with Mr. Funk's settlement is that on the 14th of May, 1824, his father settled in the Grove ; on the 14th of May, 1860, La Fayette began improvement, and on the 14th of May, 1864, he settled on it with his wife. As stated, he began work on this farm, which was then a " raw prairie," which they have improved, and made one of the most beautiful farms in the county. Mr. Funk's means, by which he improved his farm, was acquired by his rearing and marketing cattle. Many of his lonely hours of night were spent on the prairie herding cattle, while the distant howl of the wolves brought fe >r and uneasiness upon him. He was married in Clark Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1864, to Elizabeth Paullin ; born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 4, 1841 ; they have two children — Eugene D.; Edgar P., deceased. Mr. Funk has held office as Trustee six years; Commissioner of Highways, fourteen years ; Town Clerk, four years ; Supervisor of Funk's Grove Township, elected in 1874 and still holds that office. He owns stock in the National and National Stock Banks of Bloomington. F. M. FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington; was born Aug. 13, 1836, in Funk's Grove, McLean Co., 111., on farm, and remained there, working for his father, until 1865, when he began business for himself on his present farm of 2,200 acres, which was given him by his father. In October, 1865, he married Mary Houser, who was a native by birth of Kentucky ; immediately after marriage, they settled on his farm, and began improving and raising stock, and remained there until 1873, when they moved to Bloomington, 111., where they now reside ; but Mr. Funk is on his farm most of the time, buying and selling stock ; has on his farm now some 500 head of cattle ; he is a partner in the drug store known as the firm of Funk & Lackey, in Bloomington ; he has an interest in the Bloomington National Bank. Mr. Funk has held offices connected with schools ; is at present member of Board of Education ; was Supervisor of Funk's Grove Township four years ; was School Treasurer six years. They have three children — Gracy, Laura, Jesse D. MRS. ELMIRA JONES, farmer; P. 0. McLean; was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 12,1817 ; her father's name was McLaughlin ; she remained in Ohio until 16 years old, when she came with her sister, Mrs. Cantrell, with whom she had been making a home since her mother's death in 1827, to Sangamon Co., 111., staying there one winter; from there she again moved with her brother-in law and sister to McLean Co., now in De Witt Co., and settled on a farm ; there she remained until married, in 1831, to Isaac W. Jones, who was born in Clark Co., Ohio, in 1811, where he remained until 10 years old, when he moved to Indiana, and remained about eleven years, after which he came to Illinois by wagon, as was customary, and settled in McLean Co. The first summer after marriage, they settled on his father's farm, moving from there to what is now the "Frisby Farm," which they began improving; while building, they occupied an Indian's home, living in a little tent built out of poles. During the time Mr. Jones was on this farm, he had the brick made with which they built the present house that Mrs. Jones now occupies. In 1857, they moved to their present farm of 250 acres, earned entirely by their own labor and management. They began improvement by erecting a beautiful mansion and cultivating the soil, which was then a raw prairie. Sept. 18, 1868, Mr. Jone? died, and the management of affairs devolved upon Mrs. Jones. He held the office of Justice of the Peace up to the time of his death ; he worked at carpentering and sawing lumber. He was a member of the M: E. Church, and had spent many happy hours talking of the future with his companion, who had been an active member of the M. E. Church since she was 15 years old; he died in 1868, leaving a family of twelve children, viz., Jennie J. (deceased), Ann E., Cyrus H., Silvira, Louis S., Emma (deceased), Lucian W., Isaac A., William W., Ella, Eli (deceased), and Percival G.; four of the children have taught school, Lucian W. and Isaac A. are physicians ; they took a course in Louisville Medical College ; Lucian is practicing in this State. C. H. LAKE, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. 0. Shirley ; was bjrn Jan. 31, 1830, in Mont- gomery Co., N. Y.; he remained there until 14 years old, working in a woolen factory in Johns- town, N. Y. In 1853, he moved to Western, Orleans Co., N. Y.,and was there one year engaged in farming; he then went to Niagara Co., N. Y., settling at Lockport and engaging in the joiner's trade for some twelve years , after which, he moved to the West, settling in McLean Co., at Lex- ington, and remaining there engaged in farming, renting of Fulwiler for four years. In 1 861, he returned to Niagara Co., N. Y., remaining one year, and then returned to McLean Co., set- tling on a farm near Shirley, owned by Peleg Soule, which he rented for one year ; he then bought 40 acres of Soule, and owned it until February, 1879, when he traded for the Lewis 988 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Jones farm of 160 acres, which is known as one of the finest farms in the township ; was Com- missioner of Highways for six years. He was married, in 1857, to Roby Dye, a native of Niag- ara Co., N. Y.; they have three children, viz., Frank L., Charles H. and Cora. GEORGE A. ROSS, farmer; P. 0. Heyworth; was born April 19, 1828, in Saratoga Co., N. Y., and remained there until 15 years old ; when he was 10 years old, his mother died ; his father, some time afterward, married again. In 1843, he moved with his father to Western New York, settling in Middleport, Niagara Co., and attended school and worked for his father at smithing until 20 years old ; he then moved to Jeddo, N. Y., and engaged in blacksmithing for himself for fourteen months ; thence to Decatur, 111., and was boss of a company grading on the Illinois Central R. R., for one winter ; leaving there, he went to Hudson, 111., and began working on the Illinois Central R. R., as boss of section hands. Nov. 27, 1853, he was married to Ellen Jackson, who was born in 1838,in Genesee Co., N.Y.; immediately after marriage, they settled at Hudson, 111., where he con- tinued his work on the railroad. In January, 1854, they moved to what is now Heyworth, 111., and engaged in railroading until 1857, when he began farming; he rented of James McWhorter for a year, and next rented of Mrs. Joseph Wakefield for five years. When married, they had but $200 ; they now own a farm of 279 acres ; Mr. Ross has worked by the month at $4. In 1862, they settled on their present farm, which was then a raw prairie, but now, by their energy and labor, has been transformed into one of the most beautiful farms in Funk's Grove Township. He ha* held offices connected with the schools, and has been Supervisor of Funk's Grove Town- ship. JOHN STUBBLEFIELD, importer; P.O.Shirley. Of the business industries of Bloom- ington, the firm of Geo. W. Stubblefield & Co., importers of Percheron Norman horses, forms a conspicuous part ; the members of the firm are Geo. W. Stubblefield and his father, John Stubble- field, who is one among the early settlers of McLean Co., having been a resident of the county since 1824, he being at that time 4 \ years old, coming to this county, with his people, from Fayette Co., Ohio, and settling in what is now Funk's Grove Township, where he has since remained and where most of his property is located. G. W. is a'native of McLean Co.; he engaged in the importation of the Norman horses in 1874 ; since then they have become quite extensive importers; their barns are located on Madison street, south of Wait's Hotel, where can always be found some of the finest imported horses in the State ; they have, altogether, about eighty head of fine imported and graded stock ; their stock-farm, of four hundred and forty acres, is located near Shirley, though they have, in all, about nineteen hundred acres. The direct management of the business comes under the supervision of G. W., his father spending the principal part of his time on the farm; by their close attention to business, square and hon- orable dealing, they have established a reputation as importers that is largely conducive to their success. A. STUBBLEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Shirley: was born Nov. 27, 1815. in Ohio ; he remained there until 1824, when he came with his father, by ox-team, as was customary in those days, to what was then Fayette Co., 111. — afterward Tazewell Co. — and is now McLean Co., and settled on a farm — remaining there, working for his father until Feb. 23, 1840, when he was married to Eliza Pearson, of Indiana, and began farming for himself, on his father's farm, remaining four years; he then bought and settled on the present farm of 240 acres,, which, by his improvement, has become a beautiful home. His first wife died Sept. 11, 1851, by whom he had five children — M. H., T. T. (both of whom were in the civil war), J. P., R. W. and Sarah C. He took, for his second wife, Allie Wilson, of Perry Co., Ohio, by whom he had six children — Harriet, Asa, William J., La Fayette, Charlotte and Mary A. Mrs. Stub- blefield died April 18, 1869. He was again married Jan. 24, 1870 — his third wife being Mary A. Campbell, who had five children before her marriage to Mr. Stubblefield — Eliza, Jane, David (was in the war), Mary B. and William W. Mr. Stubblefield has held offices connected with the schools, and has been Highway Commissioner. JOHN STUBBLEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Shirley ; was born June 4, 1820, in Fayette Co., Ohio, and remained there until 1824, when he came to what was then Fayette Co., 111., and, in 1831, McLean Co., and engaged in farming for his father until 22 years old, at which time, Dec. 1, 1842, he was married to Elizannah Houser, and began working on his father's farm, settling in a small log cabin, owned by Isaac Funk; in 1845, he began making a home for himself, buying 40 acres of Government land, at $1.25 per acre ; he has added to this, until now he has a fine homestead of 440 acres; he has, in all, 1,900 acres, earned principally by their own exertions. He makes cattle and horses a specialty, and is in partnership with his son, P. M. Stubblefield, dealing in Norman horses ; he has held offices connected with the schools, as Treasurer twenty-five years ; Supervisor six years, and Director of schools six years ; he is engaged, to some extent, in raising bees; they have nine children — Sarah E., David R., G. W., P. M., Mary F., Henry B., Simon P., Eddy, Lincoln (deceased) and John W. P. M. STUBBLEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. McLean; was born Oct. 25, 1852, in Funk's Grove, on his father's farm; he remained there, working for his father until Feb. 27, 1879, when he was married to Miss Mattie Willerton, who was born March 24, 1853, in London, England, and came to New York in 1854, where she remained fourteen years, and moved from there to Bloomington, 111., remaining some four years, thence to a farm north of Danvers, until TOWANDA TOWNSHIP. 989 her mairiage. Immediately after marriage, they settled on the present farm of 160 acres, given them by his father, Mr. John Stubblefield. This is one of the most beautiful farms in McLean Co., and is well watered by a beautiful spring, which affords water during the most continued drouths. In 1874, he made a trip to Europe in company with G. W. and Robert Stubblefield for the purpose of buying Norman horses. He returned in May of the same year, with several fine horses, and still makes this stock a specialty. WILLIAM W. SMITH, farmer; P. 0. Hey worth ; was born Nov. 16, 1823, in Washington Co., Penn., remained there until about 3 years old, then he moved to Crawford Co., Ohio, and settled on a farm in the woods, which seemed very lonely, there being but two neighbors within seven miles. In 1848, he moved to Ashland Co., Ohio, and settled on a farm ; was there engaged in farming for twenty-one years, during which time (in 1845) he was married. In 1868, he moved, with his family, to the Far West, and made a home in McLean Co., 111., settling on the present farm of 240 acres. He has worked by the day at 50 cents, chopping and splitting rails, and by the month at $10, which receipts were managed with frugality. He has held offices connected with the schools as Director nine years, School Trustee two terms, and is now on the third term in Funk's Grove Township. He was Pathmaster ten years in Ohio, and three years in Illinois; is at present Superintendent of the Sabbath school at the Jones Schoolhouse. Has five children — Robert, Yeoman, Oliver, Teresa and Austin. JOHN VANORDSTRAND, farm and stock; P. 0. Heyworth ; was born June 11, 1830, in Washington Co., Penn., and remained there until 1849 ; was engaged in farming. He then came to McLean Co., 111., and settled in Randolph Township, engaging in selling goods at Independ- ence, now Heyworth ; was in partnership with Isaac Vanordstrand until 1855. In 1851, he was married to Elizabeth Oliver, born in Ireland in 1828 ; she came to Illinois in 1849. In 1855, he began farming, renting for one year ; in 1860, he came to his present farm of 384 acres, which he bought in 1851, every particle of which they have earned by their own labor and man- agement. When Mr. Vanordstrand came to Illinois, he had but $25 ; he began business by borrowing money, and by skillful contrivance has made himself a magnificent home. His farm was a raw prairie when he settled on it, but now is under fine improvement. He has held offices connected with schools sixteen years ; Highway Commissioner five years, is now on sixth ; was Collector one year, and Assessor one year. He makes a specialty of breeding fine cattle, hogs, sheep and horses ; especially noteworthy is his Norman horse, which is one of the finest in the State. They have seven children — W. P. and I. S. (twins), Belle, John. Ella, George and Arthur. TOWANDA TOWNSHIP. GOTTLIEB ARNOLD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 21; P. 0. Bloomington. Methodist; Republican. One of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in Wurtemberg, Germany, May 30, 1831, where he worked at farming, ditching and piking until he emigrated to America, landing in New York in 1854; coming West, he worked upon a farm in Pennsylvania eighteen months, and came to McLean Co. in 1856 ; after working in the brick-yard one year, in Bloomington, then two years as farm laborer, he rented land, upon which he farmed five years, when he bought eighty acres of land upon Sec. 21, Towanda Township, upon which he then located and where he has since lived. When Mr. Arnold came to this country, he was in debt $100 for money borrowed to come to America ; he paid the same from his first year's labor, and upon arriving in Bloomington, his capital consisted of 35 cents; he now owns 160 acres of land, with good farm buildings, which, with his stock, is valued at upward of $8,000, all of which he has made by his own hard labor and good business management His marriage with Katarina Bloom was celebrated in 1850 ; they have six children now living, having lost three by death ; the living are William, Charles, Katarina, George, Mary and Jacob. D. F. BIDDLE, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Nov. 3, 1836 ; he is a son of Noble Biddle, now living in Lex- ington, who emigrated from Ohio and located in McLean Co. in 1849. The subject of this sketch emigrated to this county in 1849, and remained with his father until he attained his majority; in the spring of 1858, he commenced farming, and, in March, 1862, removed upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he owns 160 acres upon Sec. 1, and 120 acres upon Sec. 2, Towanda Township, all under a good state of cultivation, and upon which he has the best of farm buildings, the above property being accumulated by his own hard labor and correct business habits ; he farms his 280 acres of land, and some rented land, the products of which he feeds to his stock, which consists mostly of cattle and hogs. He is now Justice of the Peace, which office he has held for three years. His marriage with Rebecca A. Lambert was celebrated Dec. 22, 1860 ; she was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Oct. 24, 1836 ; they have six children now living — Melissa E., born Sept. 23, 1861 ; Edna Iff-., Feb. 4, 1867 ; Noble M., Jan. 1, 1865 ; Elmer, May 30, 1869 ; John P., Feb. 23, 1871 ; Wilmer 0., July 5, 1875. Mrs. Biddle is a daughter of John 990 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: and Rachel Lambert, who emigrated to McLean Co. in 1850, and are now living in Money Creek Township. B. F. BALLARD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Bloomington. Baptist; Demo- crat. One of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in Jessamine Co., Ky., April 30, 1828 ; he was a son of Henry Ballard, who was born in Virginia in 1792, and emigrated to Kentucky in 1806, and to McLean Co. in 1856, and made his home with his children until his decease, which •occurred in 1871, at the advanced age of 79 years. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until he attained his majority ; the following six years, he was engaged in building fences, in Kentucky, and, in 1855, he came to Illinois and engaged in the wagon and pump busi- ness, in Bloomington, for four years, under the firm name of D. D. Haggard & Co. ; he then purchased 120 acres of land in Old Town Township, improved the same six years, when he pur- chased his present place of 160 acres, in 1865. where he has since lived. His marriage with Sarah F. Hardesty was celebrated in December, 1850; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky. ; they have nine children now living — Henry F., David W., Asa H., Charles, Herman E., Ida B., Mary A., Benjamin F. and Lucy C. JAMES H. BALLARD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 34; P. O. Bloomington. Baptist; Democrat. One of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in Garrard Co., Ky., Oct. 29, 1844 ; he was the oldest son of William L. Ballard, who was born in Kentucky, and emigrated to this county in 1856, and purchased Sec. 34, Towanda Township, and followed farming until his decease, which occurred in 1870. James H. Ballard lived with his father until the decease of the latter, since which time, with the exception of one year, he has followed farming upon the old place, where he has 160 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Almina Holcomb was celebrated in December, 1871 ; she was born in Ashtabula, Ohio ; they have three children by this union — Mary G., Arthur C. and Walter R. T. P. BARKALOW, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Towanda ; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Jan. V, 1830 ; he was brought up to farm labor, and, at 21 years of age, commenced farming for himself, continuing the same in Ohio until 1864, when he disposed of his property in Ohio and emigrated to McLean Co., 111., and purchased his present place of 160 acres upon Sec. 8, Towanda Township, where he has since lived. His marriage with Mary F. Lloyd was celebrated Feb. 7, 1855; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio, April 15, 1833; they were the parents of two children, of whom one died in infancy ; the living, James A., was born Dec. 17, 1855 ; he is now living at home, and is engaged in the study of medicine with Dr. Girtin, of Towanda. Mr. Barkalow has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been a member of the Presbyterian Church for the past twenty-five years. CALVIN BARNES, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 31 ; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the old- est settlers in McLean Co.; born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 13, 1805 ; at the age of 21, he commenced work for himself; after working upon a canal packet for one year, he then com- menced farming for himself, which business he pursued in New York until the fall of 1853, when he came to this county and purchased Sec 29, this township, and has since added by purchase until he now owns 990 acres of land, upon which he has three good sets of farm buildings, which, together with the large amount of stock which he owns, is valued at near $60,000, and all of which he has accumulated by his own labor and good business management. His marriage with Lucinda Keyser was celebrated Jan. 26, 1837 ; she was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., May 16, 1816 ; they have four sons and two daughters by this union, viz., Elizabeth, Franklin, Alden, Monroe. Lucy and Calvin, Jr. When Mr. Barnes first located here, there were but two houses from his place to Bloomington. FRANKLIN BARNES, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; was born in the State of New York Sept. 26, 1839 ; he is the oldest son of Calvin Barnes, whose biography appears in this work. Franklin Barnes was brought up to farm labor, obtaining a good common-school education. On the 24th of September, 1878, he was united in marriage with Nancy Duncan ; she was born in Clark Co., Ky., and was a daughter of W. R. Duncan, who emigrated to this county from Kentucky in 1863, and located on Sec. 7, Towanda Township, where his decease occurred in the fall of 1876. Mr. Barnes is engaged in farming 135 acres of land, and also raising blooded horses. JOSEPH P. BEDINGER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 18; P. 0. Normal; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Nicholas Co., Ky., July 6, 1841; in 1856, he emigrated to Illinois with his parents, and located in Towanda Township, before the organization of the town- ship. He located upon his present place in 1 858, at which time there were only two houses within a distance of seven miles ; he has 200 acres upon his home farm, which he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation, by his own hard labor. His mar- riage with Paulina Dimmitt was celebrated Dec. 16, 1864; she was born in McLean Co., 111., June 17, 1842 ; they have three children now living, having lost four by death ; the living are George, Rosa and Alice. Mrs. Bedinger was a daughter of William Dimmitt, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. JOHN E. CAMERON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23 ; P. O. Towanda ; born in Jefferson Co.. Va., Dec. 6, 1844. He was raised to farm labor in Virginia until 1857, when he emigrated TOWANDA TOWNSHIP. 991 with his parents to Missouri, and followed farming in Missouri until 1864, when he came to Woodford Co., and engaged in farming until 1867. He disposed of his property in Woodford Co. and removed to Texas, arriving in Jefferson, Texas, Jan. 1, 1868. He then went overland to Collins Co., 150 miles, horseback, where he remained eight months, then returned to McLean Co., and followed farming until 1875. He then went back to Texas with his family, and engaged in freighting and teaming until the fall of 1878, at which date he returned to McLean Co., and located upon Sec. 23, Towanda Township, where he is engaged in farming 300 acres. His mar- riage with Alice Jones was celebrated July 4, 1870 ; she was born in McLean Co., 111., May 8, 1851 ; she was a daughter of Abram R. Jones, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. He emigrated from Clark Co., Ohio, and entered land with land warrants, and purchased, until he had accumulated some 1,700 acres in Towanda, and afterward owned some 4,000 acres in Crop- sey Township, and, at the date of his death, he owned 740 acres in Towanda Township, and 240 acres in Cropsev Township. He died April 4, 1878. The children of J. E. and Alice (Jones) Cameron were five in number, of whom three are now living, viz. : Minnie L., born Feb. 19, 1874 ; Hattie M., April 8, 1876, and Maud, May 2, 1879. Mr. Jones has probably broken more prairie than any other man in Illinois, having broken as high as 30,000 acres, and has cultivated and improved more land than any other man in McLean Co. T. J. DJNAHUE, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Holder ; born in County Galway, Ireland, Nov. 10, 1829. At 18 years of age, he emigrated to America, landing in New York in June, 1847. Coming directly West, he followed farming in La Salle Co. five years. In 1853, he commenced the carpenter's trade in Bloomington, continuing the same until 1859, at which date he went to Colorado and followed mining three years. In 1862, he purchased an interest in a flouring-mill in New Mexico, which he run five years, and, in 1867, he came to McLean Co., 111., and pur- chased his present place of 240 acres upon Sec. 36, Towanda Township. He is, aside from farming, engaged in raising and feeding stock, feeding yearly from 100 to 150 hogs, 40 to 50 head of cattle, feeding the productions of 100 to 150 acres of corn, besides some 4,000 bushels purchased yearly. His marriage with Annie Garretson was celebrated July 9, 1867 ; she was born in Indiana, and emigrated with her parents to Bloomington when 1 year of age. JOHN T. DIDLAKE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 5 ; P. O. Towanda; Christian ; Demo- crat ; one of the oldest settlers of McLem Co. ; born in Clark Co., Ky., Oct. 29, 1833 ; at 18 years of age, he emigrated with his father to Illinois, and located in Bloomington in October, 1851 ; he then engaged in buying and shipping grain with his father, under the firm name of Didlake & Son, until 1868, when he erected an elevator at Stanford, which was consumed by fire the follow- ing year, and by which he suffered a loss of upward of $7,000 ; in 1868, he purchased his pres- ent place of 140 acres, and, in 1870, located upon the same, where he has since followed farming and stock-raising. He has had his full share of offices, having filled the offices of Supervisor, School Trustee and Town Collector in Towanda Township, and has been the Secretary of the McLean County Agricultural Society for a period of nearly twenty years. In 1856, he was united in marriage in Detroit, Mich., to Priscilla Parshall ; she was raised in Detroit ; they have three sons and three daughters, viz., William P., Mildred, Charles D., Julia B., Mary P., and John W , all of whom are now living at home with the exception of Mildred, who is attending the University at Normal. T. J. FORD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Towanda; born in Boston, Mass., upon the 6th of January, 1841, where he attended the public school until 12 years of age, when he emigrated with his father to Wisconsin and located in Milwaukee Co., where he was raised to farm labor until 21 years of age; when, upon Aug. 18, 1862, he enlisted as private in Co. H, 24th Wiscon- sin Vol. Infantry, and went forward to battle for the Union : he was forwarded to the army of the Cumberland under Gen. Rosecrans, and was engaged in the battle of Prairieville, Oct. 8, 1862; Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862; Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863 ; Mission Ridge, Nov. 24 and 25, 1863 : Rocky Face, May 9, 1864; Resaca, May 14, 1864; Calhoun, May 17, 1864 ; Adairsville, May 18, 1864; Spring Hill, Nov. 29, 1864; Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864; Nashville, Dec. 15 and 16, 1864 ; at the battle of Prairieville, he was promoted to Sergeant for meritorious conduct ; at the battle of Adairsville, he was wounded by a ball in the left breast, and which he yet carries in his breast, from the effects of which he is unable to perform much manual labor, especially that which causes much movement of the chest and muscles ; he nas been treated by physicians for the same for the last fourteen years ; he laid in the hospital some six months, when he again joined his regiment at Chattanooga, and remained with the regiment until he received his discharge, June 22, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly three years ; his father and brother also served in the Union army three years ; after receiving his discharge, he returned to Wisconsin and engaged in farming until 1867, when he came to McLean Co., and located upon his present place, where he has since lived. He owns eighty acres upon his home place, all under a high state of cultivation ; all of which he has made by his correct business habits. His marriage with Mary Finley was celebrated Aug. 8, 1868 ; they have no children. Mr. Ford has taken a deep interest in politics, being a strong Republican, and has always supported tlia above party since its organization ; he has taken an interest to such an extent that he was called upon to make speeches for the support of the Republican party, of which favorable men- tion was made by the Bloomington papers ; to use his own expression, he votes as he fought. 992 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : J. G. GEIGER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in Bavaria, Germany, April 9, 1833 ; he was employed in his youth at farm- ing and the lumber business until 19 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York May 18, 1852; coming West, he was employed upon a farm in Ohio until 1856, when he emigrated to Illinois, and after working as farm laborer three years west of Bloomington, he purchased eighty acres, in 1859, upon Sec. 4, where he removed and lived until 1866, when he sold his farm and purchased 125 acres upon the northeast quarter of Sec. 3, upon which he then located, and where he now lives. Mr. Geiger arrived in Cincinnati without a penny ; he has since received a legacy of $350, and now owns 285 acres of land in Towanda and Money Creek Townships, with two good sets of farm-buildings, all of which he has made by his own hard labor, energy and industry. His marriage with Anna Niese was celebrated in McLean Co., in September, 1859 j she was born in Bavaria in October, 1834 ; they were the parents of thirteen children, of whom seven are now living, viz., George H., Frank, Albert F., John W., Paul H., Magdalene and Minnie ; the deceased died in infancy. C. M. HELLER, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in Clark Co., Ohio. Oct. 2, 1839 ; he came to this county in 1856, and located upon Sec. 17, this township ; Mr. Heller first commenced farming for himself upon rented land, his capital at that time consisted of one team ; after farming upon rented land some five years, he purchased a $1,400 interest in his present place, and now owns 120 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation with good farm-buildings, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor and correct business management. Upon the 28th of November, 1861, he was united in mar- riage with Anna Fling ; she was born upon Sec. 9, this township, in 1841 ; she was a daughter of Richard Fling, one of the early pioneers of this county, and one of the Revolutionary patriots who emigrated from Ohio to McLean Co., at a very early day. He met his death by his team running away while in Bloomington, in the fall of 1855, at the advanced age of 70 years. FRANKLIN HENDERSON, farmer and grain-dealer; P. 0. Towanda; one of the old set- tlers of McLean Co.; born in Greene Co., 111., Sept. 15, 1828 ; in the spring of 1857, he came to McLean Co., and located at Towanda, where he has since been largely engaged in farming and buying and shipping stock to Chicago and Eastern markets, and buying and shipping grain to Chicago ; he held the office of School Treasurer for ten years ; has been Supervisor of his township for ten years, nine years in succession, and for four years was Chairman of the Board. Upon entering upon the duties of Supervisor, he was appointed Chair- man of the Committee on Railroad Assessments, and, being convinced from large observations that they were not paying tax upon their property at the rate individuals were, he at once com- menced to raise their assessments from their schedules ; to this the railroads took exceptions, and commenced litigation, which passed through all the courts, widening and deepening as it went, until nearly all the railroads in the State became involved in it, ending in a complete victory for the people, and against all railroad companies and corporations, and establishing by legislation and the courts the principles of equal taxation to all. While this was progressing in court, he was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to visit and confer with the State Board of Equaliza- tion, looking after the interest of the county, whose assessments had been raised by the State Board of Equalization upward of 32 per cent upon all real and personal property ; he succeeded in showing the State Board the injustice of such assessments, and succeeding in obtaining a reduction of upward of 15 per cent on the next year's assessments, instead of the 32 per cent, addition ; at the same time, he detected a clerical error the Clerk of the State Board had made the year before of $5,000 against the county. The State Board took the ground in this matter that they had no power to relieve the county only by recommending to the Legislature to refund the amount by legislative enactment, and proposed to do this, but, from some cause, failed to do so; but the error was so plain that our Senator, John Cusey, and Representatives John Cassedy, Dr. Rogers and Dr. E. A. Stuart, drew up the bill, and succeeded in battling it through, and recov- ered back $4,850 of the amount. Mr. Henderson now owns 240 acres of land, 160 of which is in this township. His marriage with Sarah A. Metcalf was celebrated Aug. 10, 1851 ; she was born in Morgan Co., 111., Dec. 25, 1829; they have five children now living, having lost two by death ; the living are — George, Frank, Effie, Edwin, Harry ; the deceased died in childhood. WILLIAM HEMSTREET, retired farmer ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Scoharie Co., N. Y., Nov. 15, 1807, where he obtained a common-school education by walking a distance of four miles to and from school ; he was brought up to farm labor until 15 years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade, which business he followed some three years in his native town, after which he removed to Syracuse and engaged in ihe same business a few years, when he engaged as partner in the carriage and general blacksmith business until 1855, when he emigrated West and located in La Salle Co., 111., until 1861, when he came lo McLean Co. and settled in Blue Mound Township, where he purchased 170 acres of land which at that time was perfectly wild, and which he brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation by his own hard labor. In 1875, Mr. Hemstreet sold his farm and retired from active labor, and purchased his present residence in Towanda, where he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Hemstreet are regular attendants of the churches, having been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of half a century. His marriage with TOWANDA TOWNSHIP. 993 Sophia Parker was celebrated in New York March 10, 1832; she was born in Wallingford, Conn., Sept. 22, 1808: they were the parents of four children — Elmira H. (now Mrs. Samuel Gardner, living in Chicago), William F., George W. (lost his life while defending his country at Jackson, Miss., in the summer of 1863 ; he was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Co. G, 53d I. V. I., which position he held until his death ; his widow and one daughter are now living in Pontiac); James S., now a blacksmith and carriage maker at Delavan, Tazewell Co., 111. FRANK M. JONES, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old set- tlers of McLean Co. He is a brother of Nelson Jones, whose sketch also appears in this work. F. M. Jones was born in Clark Co., Ohio, March 8, 1833. He is the youngest son of Abram R. Jones, Sr., who was born Oct. 17, 1791, in the State of New York, of Welsh descent; he emigrated to Ohio in 1808, and, during the war of 1812, was engaged in hauling provisions to the army. Upon the 13th of May, 1813, he was united in marriage with Matilda Noel. She was born in Kentucky July 29, 1795, and emigrated to Maryland and from there to the territory of Ohio in 1802. They came to this county in 1856, where Mr. Jones died Feb. 11, 1865. Mrs. Jones is now living in Towanda, in the 84th year of her age, in possession of all her faculties, and daily attends to the light duties of housekeeping, and is a regular attendant of the Methodist Church, of which she has been a member for the past seventy years. Upon her 83d birthday, a family reunion was held at the residence of her son, F. M. Jones, at which there were about one hun- dred present, most of whom were her direct descendants, of whom were present six of her seven living children, seventeen grandchildren, and one of thirteen great-grandchildren. The subject of this sketch came to this township in 1851, and, the following year, purchased eighty -five acres and entered one hundred and sixty acres with land warrants, and engaged in farming and stock- raising, which business he has since successfully followed. He feeds yearly some two hundred and fifty cattle, one hundred hogs, some horses and sheep, a part of the cattle being blooded short horns. He owns upward of three hundred acres of land and rents five hundred acres, which he makes use of for grazing, hay and corn. In 1866, Mr. Jones contracted to break one thousand acres of prairie for his brother, A. R. Jones, and went to Texas, where he pur- chased one hundred and sixty-five head of steers, which he brought up and made use of, fitting up thirteen ox-teams of five yoke in each team, supplying his own herders, blacksmith and cook, which he kept upon the ground. His marriage with Ann M. Hampleman was celebrated Jan. 28, 1858. She was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Oct. 18, 1839. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five are now living, viz., Price M., Edwin E., Maurice E., Cyrus G. and Stella. NELSON JONES, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1(3 : P. 0. Towanda; one of the pioneers of Towanda Township, McLean Co.; born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 5, 1826, where he was raised to farm labor. In the spring of 1848, he came to Smith's Grove, McLean Co., and, in 1849, he and his brother J. R. purchased 600 acres in Towanda Township In 1850, Cyrus Jones purchased a one-third interest, and the three brothers continued farming and stock-raising in partnership until 1854, since which time Mr. Jones has continued the same alone. His capital, upon arriv- ing here, consisted of $342 cash, and one horse and saddle. In 1854, he entered some two hundred acres of land. He now owns nearly one thousand acres, upon which he has three sets of good farm buildings, his large private brick residence being erected in 1869, at an expense of upward of $12,000; his main barn was built in 1873, at an expense of some $4,500, and, with the house, are second to no farm buildings in the county. He is one of the prominent men of the township, in which he has taken a deep interest since its organization, and is now the second oldest settler and voter of the township. Aside from farming, he is largely engaged in raising and feeding stock, making a specialty of blooded short-horn cattle, feeding yearly some two hun- dred head of cattle, one hundred hogs, two hundred sheep and some horses, some seasons pur- chasing as high as seven thousand bushels of corn for feeding, aside from the productions of one hundred acres or more which he raises upon his own farm. His marriage with Eliza A. White was celebrated March 4, 1857. She was born in La Fayette, Ind., Nov. 20, 1830. They have five children, viz.: Ward B., born June 17, 1858; Lottie G., April 5, 1863 ; Julia A., Sept. 7, 1866 ; Elmetta M., June 21, 1869 ; Mark O, Sept. 24, 1871. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of George C. White, of whom mention is male in the biography of George W. White in this work. Mr. Jones is a son of Abram R. Jones, Sr., who is mentioned in the biography of Frank M. Jones, in this work. HUGH LORMER, farmer, Sec. 3; P. 0. Towanda; one of old settlers of McLean Co., born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Jan. 1, 1834. At 2 years of age, he was placed under the care of a dis- tant relative, with whom he lived until 12 years of age, when he started out for himself and secured employment with Mr. D. J. Baker upon a farm in New York for the next seven years, then was employed as clerk in a hotel for two years, and, when 21 years of age, he emigrated West and landed in Bloomington in the spring of 1855. He then found employment with C. Bell for four years, when he rented land and followed farming for seven years, and, in the spring of 1862, he located upon his present place, under a five-years lease, and purchased the place after a residence of four years. Mr. Lormer arrived in Bloomington with a capital not exceeding $8. He has, by his hard labor and perseverance, secured 125 acres of land, with good farm buildings, valued at $5,000. He held the office of Commissioner of Highways for a period of 994 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: six years, and is now the present Supervisor of Towanda Township. His marriage with Caroline A. Burch was celebrated in New York March 10, 1858. She was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., April 1, 1834. They were the parents of five children, of whom two died in childhood. The living are— Frank B., born Nov. 14, 1860; Fred H., born Sept. 15, 1862; and Carr E., born Dec. 9, 1868. CHRISTIAN MECHERLE, farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Holder; born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Jan. 15, 1830; he emigrated to America, and landed in New York June 17, 1852; he followed farming five years in Ohio ; in 1857, he came to McLean Co., and, in 1863, he and his brother Fred purchased their present place of 160 acres, upon which ihey have lived since 1865. The marriage of Christian Mecherle and Susan Hall was celebrated in 1865 ; she was burn in Ohio ; they have five children — Frederick, Will, Lucy, Laura and George. Republican ; Protestant. WALTER NICHOLS, farmer, Sec. 28; P. 0. Bloomington ; born in Boyle Co., Ky., Dec. 29, 1805 ; his grandfather, Walter Nichols, emigrated and served in the American army during the Revolutionary struggle. The father of the subject of this sketch was born in Newport, R. I. He emigrated to Kentucky, and followed his trade of cabinet-maker until 1844, when he came to Illinois ; he died in Rushville, Schuyler Co. The subject of this sketch learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed until his marriage, when he purchased a farm of 800 acres, and followed farming and stock-raising in Kentucky until 1858; in the fall of 1860, he came to McLean Co., 111., and purchased Sec. 28, Towanda Township, where he has since lived ; he has since disposed of all, except eighty acres of the above, which he now rents to his son. His marriage with Elizabeth M. Thompson was celebrated Nov. 29, 1832 ; she was born in Virginia, and died Nov. 15, 1840, leaving three children — Mary H., Sarah T. and Nelson A. Upon the 16th of January, 1845, he was united in marriage with Martha Dunlap ; she was born in Fayette Co., Ky. ; they have six children now living by this union; having lost three by death, the living are Louisa, Nannie B., James M., Ella R., Mattie 0. and Walter; the deceased died in infancy. Presbyterian ; Democrat. GEORGE E. RUCKER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 34; P.O. Bloomington; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in McLean Co.. 111., Jan. 25, 1849; he is a son of L. E. Rucker, one of our early pioneers. George E. Rucker attended the public schools in Blooming- ton until 15 years of age, after which he was employed as clerk for two years in Bloomington in different branches of trade, and the following six years was employed as book-keeper; in 1872, he located upon his present place, where he has 160 acres of land, all under a high state of cul- tivation, with the best of farm buildings, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. His marriage with Lucy E. Ballard was celebrated Dec. 25, 1871; they have two children by this union — William B. and Mary Bell — twins, born Aug. 14, 1873. Mrs. Rucker was a daughter of William L. Ballard, who was born in Kentucky, and came to McLean Co. in 1856, where his decease occurred in 1870. Baptist; Republican. SMITH SAWYER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19; P. 0. Towanda; one of the old set- tlers ; born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Oct. 2, 1816, where he was raised to farm labor until 21 years of age ; he was then employed some four years buying and herding cattle, after which he engaged in the same business upon his own account, buying and driving to market in Ohio. About the year 1858, he located permanently in McLean Co., and for eight years was in the employ of Judge David Davis; in 1853, he purchased from the Government, eighty acres of his present place, at $2.50 per acre; a few years later, he purchased eighty acres more, and now owns 160 acres, with good buildings, all of which he has accumulated by his own exertion. His first wife was Eleanor Bunn ; she died without children. His second wife was Clarissa Misner; she died, leaving one child — Albert — who died in Douglas Co., Kan., of brain fever, at 22 years of age. His marriage with Mrs. Susan Whitty was celebrated in December, 1873 ; she was born in Clark Co., 111.; they have two children by this union — Theodore and Nellie. Repub- lican. ( G. W. WHITE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 10; P. 0. Towanda. One of the old settlers of McLean Co., 111.; born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Aug. 19, 1842. He was brought up to farm labor, obtaining a common-school education. At 8 years of age, he emigrated with his parents, to Illinois, and located at Smith's Grove, Towanda Township, in 1850, and worked with his father until 1868, when he commenced farming 160 acres of land deeded to him by his father, upon Sec. 10, where he has since lived. He now owns 400 acres in Sees. 3, 10 and 11, all of is under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings. Aside from farming, he is exten- sively engaged in stock-raising and feeding, confining his business mostly to cattle and hogs. He feeds from 60 to 100 head of cattle, and 100 to 150 hogs. His marriage with Flora Rariden was celebrated April 6, 1870; she was born in Indiana March 10, 1855. They have three children by this union — Warren T., Emma G. and Maud. Mr. White is a son of George C. White, who was born in the State of New York Feb. 1, 1804. He emigrated to Ohio, in 1812, where he lived four years, then went to Clark Co., Obio, remaining there several years, where he was united in marriage to Julia A. Noal, Jan. 18, 1827; she was born in Randolph Co., Ohio, in 1806. They emigrated to Indiana in 1828, and located in Tippecanoe Co., where they lived until 1850. at which date they came to McLean Co., 111., where he entered 160 acres of land, to which he afterward added by purchase, until he had 240 acres of prairie, and some 160 acres OLD TOWN TOWNSHIP. 995 of timber land. Mrs. White died March, 1864, leaving twelve children, all of whom are now living in McLean Co., with one exception. His marriage with Nancy Irvin was celebrated March 27,1868. Her maiden name was Nancy Pike ; she was a native of Virginia. Mr. White has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Baptist Church for nearly a quarter of a century. Upon arriving in Indiana, his capital consisted of one cow and 31 cents in money, and some cloth for a suit of clothes, which he exchanged for some corn. He erected a cabin, for which he hauled the logs three miles. His provisions became exhausted before he had completed his cabin, and he purchased a hog upon time, which he paid for by splitting rails at 50 cents per hundred, and during the winter worked at splitting and cutting rails. In the spring, he broke sod and put in eight acres of corn upon rented land, and after raising the second crop, he worked by the year for $140, and saved $100 out of his wages, with which he entered eighty acres of land, and which he afterward disposed of. Upon arriving in Illinois, he had twenty-five sheep, three horses and about twenty head of cattle, calves and year- lings, and $75 in cash. WILLIAM WILSON, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; he was born in Fayette Co., Penn., May 1, 1822. His father, Smith Wilson, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America with six brothers, when he was quite a young boy. He married in Virginia, Latta Corbitt; she was born in Virginia. They emigrated to Pennsylvania from Vir- ginia, in the early part of the present century. Mr. Wilson died in Pennsylvania when about 45 years of age. Mrs. Wilson died in Bloomington May 15, 1864, at the age of 72 years. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom five are living. The subject of this sketch assisted his father in farming until 19 years of age, when he learned the brickmason's trade, which he followed in Monongahela City for nine years, and continued the above business, with contracting and building, until he emigrated West and located in Bloomington in the fall of 1859, where he followed the same business until February, 1869, at which date he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and is engaged in farming 162 acres. He was married in 1849, to Eliza Curry. She died in Pennsylvania in 1857, leaving two children — James, born May 10, 1856, now living in Colorado; Belle, living in California. His marriage with Mrs. Louisa Kennedy was celebrated Nov. 23, 1864. Her maiden name was Newton ; she was born in Kentucky Sept. 30, 1835. She emigrated with her father, Henry Newton, to Illi- nois, in 1836, and to McLean Co., in 1844. They have two children by this union — Eddie, born Sept. 27, 1865; Gracie, Dec. 26, 1870. Mr. Wilson was elected Alderman of the Fourth Ward of Bloomington, for two years, and has held the office of School Trustee and some other petty offices in this township. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Presbyterian Church for the last quarter of a century, and is one of the Ruling Elders. Mrs. Wilson has been a church member for the same period. OLD TOWN TOWNSHIP. JACOB AMSTAD, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. O. Downs ; born in Underwelt, Switzerland, Feb- ruary, 1826, where he attended the common school until 18 years of age, when he engaged in freighting, driving a six-horse team until he emigrated to California, in 1856 ; here he followed mining six years. He then came to McLean Co., 111., and located upon Sec. 35, in Old Town Township, where he has since continued to live ; he owns 163 acres of land mostly under a good state of cultivation, which he has made by his own hard labor, energy and industry. He was married Sept. 1, 1862, to Catherine Plemsear ; she was born in Switzerland May 19, 1840. They have six children by this union — Bettie, born Dec. 5, 1864 ; Harmon, born April 12, 1867; Agnes, born Nov. 26, 1868; Adeline, born Oct. 2, 1870; Anna M., born May 11, 1874; Jacob, born Feb. 20, 1876, and one who died in infancy. WILLIAM BLUE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 34; P. 0. Downs ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co. : born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Feb. 11. 1836; he emigrated with his parents from Ohio, and located in McLean Co., 111., in the fall of 1836, being then 9 months old. His father, Zachariah Blue, upon his arrival located in Downs Township, one-half mile from where the town of Downs now stands, where he entered 160 acres of land, upon which he lived several years. He died in Downs Township, Oct. 9, 1858. Mrs. Blue died in the fall of 1871, upon the place now owned and occupied by her son. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until 23 years of age, until January, 1859. He then was united in marriage with Kate Wood ; sh# was born in Virginia June 17, 1841 . Upon his marriage, he purchased forty acres of his present place, all except five acres being timber and brush ; he then commenced improving his place, until he has brought it from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation. Upon locating here, he had but little means, purchasing his first forty acres, for which he paid $15 per acre, upon time. He has since added by purchase, until he now owns 256 acres of land, with good farm buildings, and which is now considered second in value to none in the township of its size ; 120 acres of the above being purchased at $50 per acre. The children of William and Kate 99(5 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Blue are seven in number, all of whom are now living; their names are: Bert, born Oct. 17, 1860; Hattie, born May 10, 1864; Katie, born Nov. 30,1866; Delia, born April 23, 1870 ; William, born Oct. 22, 1872 ; Harry, born Feb. 24, 1875, and Gracie, born April 7, 1878. Mrs. Blue was a daughter of Joshua Wood, who was born Nov. 6, 1804; he emigrated from Virginia to Illinois, and located in McLean Co. about the year 1850. He died in Old Town Township June 3, 1863. He was married in Virginia to Ann Hedrick ; she was born in Virginia ; she died April 1, 1875. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living — George, Ahaz, Ezra, John and Kate. S. W. BURKE, retired farmer and loan agent, Sec. 6 ; P. O. Bloomington. The subject of this sketch was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 20, 1824. He was brought up to farm labor until he attained his majority ; he then worked at the ship-carpenter's trade four years, and afterward followed the life of a sailor four years, most of the time upon the lakes. In the spring of 1850, he went to California, and followed mining one year, when he engaged in dealing in provisions and mining supplies four years, meeting with fair success. In the spring of 1855, he returned to Jefferson Co., N. Y , and purchased a farm, and engaged in farming for fifteen years, a portion of which time he resided in Watertown, N. Y. In the spring of H65, he emi- grated to Illinois, and purchased 500 acres of Section 3, Old Town Township, McLean Co., upon which he located, and engaged in farming and stock-raising for four years, when he disposed of his farm for $25,500 cash, and, with his family removed to Bloomington, and purchased a resi- dence on East Washington street, where he engaged in loaning money, and, in the spring of 1871, he purchased his present place of 300 acres, upon Sec. 6, where he has since lived and followed the business of farming, stock-raising and loaning money. His marriage with Hulda E. Burke was celebrated in New York March 13, 1856. She was born in Allen Co., Ind., April 6, 1834. They were the parents of seven children, of whom six are now living — Byron R., May E., Charles 0., Sada I., Reed and Clara A. : the deceased died at three years of age. The children all make their home with their parents. A. M..BEAL, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Bloomington ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 17, 1831, where he followed farming until 23 years of age, when he engaged in school teaching a short time, and then again resumed farming, which business he continued until 1868, at which date he came to Illinois, and, with J. W. Doner, purchased 160 acres upon Section 5, Old Town Township. After farming two years, he disposed of his interest to Mr. Doner, and returned to Butler Co., Ohio, and followed farming until 1876, when he returned to McLean Co., 111., and purchased his present place of eighty acres, upon Section 5, Old Town Township, where he has since lived. His marriage with Lydia Yeakle was celebrated Nov. 8, 1857 ; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 17, 1833. They have two children by this union — Ada L., now Mrs. Milton H. Young, of this township, and Daniel J., living at home. Republican ; United Brethren. IRA P. BEDELL, farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Holder. The subject of tnis memoir was born in Greene Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1834, where he followed farming until 1861, at which date he emi- grated to McLean Co., 111., and, with his father, followed farming in Padua Township until the decease of the latter, which occurred Dec. 10. 1863. In 1866, he purchased his present place of eighty acres upon Sec. 2, Old Town Township, upon which he then located, where he has since lived. His father, Richard Bedell, was boin Nov. 20, 1805, in Greene Co., N. Y., where he was married to Jane Searles ; she was born July 16, 1812. They were the parents of two sons; the youngest — John; he lost his life while serving in the 94th Regiment 1. V. I., upon the 29th of August, 1863. Mrs. Bedell died, May 24, 1866. The marriage of Ira P. Bedell with Sarah T. Bingham was celebrated Sept. 16, 1863. She was born in Lake Co., 111., May 19, 1842. They have four children now living, having lo a t two by death. The living are — John S., born Nov. 3, 1866 ; Homer, Nov. 13, 1867 ; George E., Oct. 30, 1874; and Melvin W., April 30, 1877. The deceased died in infancy. Mrs. Bedell was a daughter of G. J. Bingham, who located in Lake Co., 111., at an early day, and came to Padua Township, McLean Co., in 1855, where his decease occurred Feb. 21, 1879. Mrs. Bingham now lives upon the old place. DYER CO LAW, farmer; P. 0. Downs; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Highland Co., Va., Feb. 20, 1846. He is the son of William Colaw, who emigrated from Virginia and located in McLean Co. in 1854. His biography appears among the biographical sketches of Downs Township in this work The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents when 9 years of age, and located in McLean Co. He attended the common school until 19 years of age, during which time he was engaged in farming in summer. He remained with his father until he attained his majority, when, upon the 15th of September, 1867, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Garr; she was born in McLean Co. Dec. 31, 1841. They have two children — Alpha, born Sept. 19, 1868 ; Lillie, May 21, 1872. Upon the marriage of Mr. Colaw. he engaged in farming two years in McLean Co. and three years in De Witt Co., and located upon Sec. 34 *in Old Town Township, where he has since lived. He is engaged in farming some 150 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Colaw have been members of the M. E. Church for a period of fifteen years. Mrs. C. is a daughter of Joseph Garr, one of the early settlers, who emigrated from Kentucky and located upon Sec. 34, in Old Town Township, McLean Co., in 1836, where he lived until his decease, which occurred March 15, 1844. He married in Kentucky, in 1820, Margaret Galloway ; she was born in Kentucky, and died in McLean Co. March 9, 1876, aged 76 years. ^L^t^si O ^ HUDSON TP OLD TOWN TOWNSHIP. 999 FREDERICK R. COWDEN, retired farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the early pion- eers of McLean Co., and one of the oldest living of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Allen Co., Ky., Nov. 30, 1811 ; his father, James Cowden, was born in Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky at a very early day, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred about the year 1835. The subject of this sketch lived with his father and was brought up to heavy farm labor, until 21 years of age, and, in 1833, emigrated to Illinois and located in Greene Co., and, the following year, 1834, he entered eighty-one acres of land in this and Downs Town- ship, which he at once commenced to improve. He built a hewed-log cabin, cutting and hewing the logs himself; his cabin was at that time considered of a superior quality, as it had a brick chimney and plank floor, the boards of which he sawed by hand ; he afterward built a frame addition, and in the cabin lived thirty years, and a portion of it is now used as a kitchen to his present residence. He has driven stock to Galena, 111., and St. Louis, Mo. ; his milling was done at Mackinaw, and afterward at Bloomington, which he considered quite near. At the time Mr. Cowden settled here, there were but few settlers ; some few had settled upon the streams and timber, but not a single house was to be seen upon the prairie ; there were no roads at that time, nothing but deer-paths and Indian trails, and to go to Bloomington or any point, a direct line would be taken, with no fence to obstruct the way. Such has been the progress of improve- ment during the forty-five years' residence of Mr. Cowden, that the whole vast prairie has been improved to such an extent that upon nearly every quarter-section stands one or more houses ; there was not a single railroad in the State at that time, while now you can reach a railroad by going a distance of five miles in nearly every part of the county, and within a distance of seven miles from where Mr. Cowden now lives, center eight railroads, one of which passes by his door, the station of which is located upon his land, and is named Gillum, in honor of Mrs. Cowden. He has suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life ; he was his own carpenter in build- ing his first house, burning the bricks for the chimney ; he cut and split his own rails, broke his own prairie, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. His marriage with Polly (Gillum) Price was celebrated Aug. 17, 1842; she was horn in Kentucky Feb. 24, 1824; they had eight children, one died in infancy ; the living are — John J., born May 24, 1843 ; Amanda J., born Nov. 12, 1845; William R., born Dec. 19, 1847; Eliza A., born March 10,1850; Matilda B., born Aug. 16, 1852 ; Frank, born Dec. 22, 1854, and Elizabeth G., born Jan. 17, 1857 — all of whom are married and live within four miles of their parents. Of township and school offices, he has had his full share, having been Collector, Supervisor and School Trustee for most of the time of his residence here. Mr. Cowden had no capital when he located here, except one horse, which he rode from Greene Co. He borrowed the money to enter his first land, and paid it from the receipts of his wages, at $9 per month ; he has since, by his hard labor, accumulated about five hundred acres ; has given each of his children some $3,000 in land, and has reserved the old homestead for the support of himself and wife, who has nobly assisted him in accumulating all the above property. JOHN J. COWDEN, farmer, Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the pioneers of McLean Co.; born in what is now Downs Township, McLean Co., May 24, 1843 ; he is the oldest son of F. R. Cowden, one of the early settlers of Old Town Township, and whose sketch appears among the biographies'of this township, in this work. The subject of this skech obtained a limited edu- cation, in a log schoolhouse, and assisted his father in farming until 21 years of age, and, upon Nov. 19, 1864, was united in marriage with Nancy C. Craig ; she was born in McLean Co. May 29, 1844; she was a daughter of Porter Craig, one of the early settlers of this county; they have no children of their own, but adopted a neice of Mrs. Cowden's, when 2 days old, which they have raised to its present age and educated as their own child ; her name is Nancy E. Cowden, born June 9, 1870. Upon the marriage of Mr. Cowden, he located upon his present place, where he has 130 acres, with good farm buildings. He now holds the offices of Commis- sioner of Highways and School Director in the district in which he lives. JOHN COLEMAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington ; born in Perry Co., Ohio, April 28, 1833, where he attended the common schools and assisted his father in farming until 20 years of age ; in 1856, he went to Iowa, returning to McLean Co. in 1857, and, until 1864, followed farming upon rented land in Downs and Old Town Townships ; he then purchased his present place, upon which he then located and where he has since lived ; he has 159 acres upon his home farm, under a good state of cultivation, with the very best of farm buildings, which are finely located and of which the surroundings are very beautiful, showing that a large amount of labor, care and expense have been expended upon the beautifying of the same ; he has a large and extended variety of fruits, as well as numerous kinds of trees and shrubbery, of native and foreign growth. His marriage with Elizabeth Reddick was celebrated in May, 1855 ; she was born in Ohio Oct. 20, 1838, and died Oct. 8, 1875. Upon the 27th of December, 1877, he was united in marriage with Emma Bozarth ; she was born in this county May 9, 1856 ; she is a daughter of John Bozarth, who emigrated from Ohio, and located in McLean Co. in 1854, and now lives in Bloomington Township. LEWIS CASE, farmer, Sec. 25; P. 0. Holder; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Ontario, N. Y.. Feb. 27, 1809, where he was brought up to farm labor until 1824, and, at 13 years of age, emigrated to Huron Co., Ohio, from which place he emigrated to Illinois and TT 1000 BIuGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: located upon Sec. 25, Old Town Township, in 1833 ; his capital at that time consisted of one yoke- of oxen and wagon (with which he hauled his family and worldly goods from Ohio), two feather- beds and bedding, and $50 worth of leather, which he traded for a cow, one hog and seven pigs, and provisions for the winter ; he managed to get in a crop of corn, and, in the fall, he lost his cow, four pigs and one of his oxen, which left him in a worse condition than when he located ; the following summer, he made a short poke and plowed his corn with his single ox ; he built his first house of hewed logs, besides which he got out the rails and fenced forty acres the first year; about the year 1835, new settlers came in and gradually increased until school districts were formed and churches were held. The first religious meeting held in Old Town Township was in the log house of Mr. Case, and in this log house the early settlers assembled from a dis- tance of many miles, where they worshiped God some thirteen years. Mr. Case erected the first frame barn, in which were held two quarterly meetings, and where school was kept. Mr. Case first entered forty acres of land, upon which he erected a rude log cabin ; to this forty acres he has since added until he now owns upward of six hundred acres ; in the place of the log house stands the best of farm buildings, and his taxes have increased from 25 cents to $250. His marriage with Sarah Hendrix was celebrated Oct. 13, 1831, in Ohio: she was born in New York State Jan. 14, 1810 ; they were the parents of five daughters, of whom four are now living* viz , Mary A., Olive, Sarah and Hannah E. Mr. and Mrs. Case have taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been a member of the M. E. Church for about half a century, and their children all being members of the same Church. The writer of this article is inclined to give Mr. Case the credit of being the oldest continuous living settler of this town- ship, but not feeling perfectly satisfied in this matter, he feels safe in saying that the two oldest continuous residents of Old Town Township are Lewis Case and Frederick R. Cowden. ALEXANDER CRAIG, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 25; P. O. Holder; born in Carroll Co., Tnd., July 25, 1842 ; he was a son of Charles Craig, who was born in Ohio, and emigrated to Indiana at an early day, and then to Illinois in 1852; he located in McLean Co. in 1853 ; he died in 1855. The subject of this sketch followed farming until Aug. 5, 1862, when, at 20 years of age, he enlisted in Co. D, 94th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he served in the campaign of Missouri and Arkansas, and, in the spring of 1863, was sent down the river, landing at Milliken's Bend, and marched across the country to Warrenton, where they crossed the Mississippi, and in June took a position at the extreme left of Grant's army in rear of Vicksburg, remaining there until after the surrender of that place, which occurred July 4, 1863 : they then went up the Yazoo, and, after capturing Yazoo City, on July 13, went down the river to New Orleans, then to Brownsville, Tex., remaining there until August, 1864, when he was forwarded to Mobile Bay and was engaged in the battles of Ft. Morgan and Spanish Fort, and r after the capture of Mobile, was sent to Galveston, Tex., in June, 1865, and mustered out of service in July, and was discharged at Springfield in August, 1865, having served a little over three years ; he then came to Old Town Township and farmed upon rented land some five years, when he removed upon his present place in 1871, where he has since continued to live : he has 148 acres of land in Old Town Township, with good farm buildings, and forty acres in Downs Township. His marriage with Salhe B. Campbell was celebrated Nov. 9, 1871 ; she was born in McLean Co., October, 1843; she was a daughter of John Campbell, who emigrated to McLean Co. with his father, A. Campbell, in 1835, and was one of the early settlers. They have two children by this union — Elizabeth A., born July 21, 1872 ; Nettie B., born Sept. 23, 1875. A. CAMPBELL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 24; P. O. Holder; an old settler of McLean Co., 111., born in Ireland March 27, 1826; he emigrated to America with his parents when 1 year of age. landing in New York in 1827; coming West, they lived eighteen months in Pitts- burgh : then moved to Jessamine Co., Ky., where they lived eight years ; they then moved to McLean Co., 111., in 1835, and the following year located upon Sec. 26, in Old Town Township, where his father purchased eighty acres of land, and afterward entered and purchased some four hundred acres more ; here he lived until his decease, which occurred in August, 1873 ; Mrs. Campbell died June 12, 1869; they were the parents of four children, all of whom are now living, two in Padua and two in this township. The subject of this sketch made his home with his father until Feb. 26, 1852, when he was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Twining ; she was born in Pennsylvania June 2, 1833, and is a daughter of Thomas Twining, whose biography appears in this work ; they have seven children now living — Mary B., Thomas W., Elizabeth, Frank- lin E., Howard A., Charles C. and Nellie. Mrs. Campbell was a daughter of Thomas Twining, one of the early settlers and prominent men of Old Town Township, and whose biography appears among the sketches of Old Town Township in this work. Upon the marriage of Mr. Campbell, he settled upon his present place, where he has since lived during a period of a quarter of a century : he has 320 acres of well-improved land, upon which he has good farm buildings ; he also owns sixty acres, upon Sec. 26, 329 in other parts of the county, 106 in De Witt Co., 80 in Lee Co. and 80 in Kansas. A more extended mention of his parents is to be found in the biog- raphy of his brother, James A. Campbell, in this work. JAMES A. CAMPBELL, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Holder; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in County Londonderry, Ireland, Feb. 27, 1822. He was a son of Archibald Campbell, who was born in Ireland in June, 1792. He married in Ireland to Elizabeth Shield : OLD TOWN TOWNSHIP. 1001 she was also born iu the same place in 1790 ; they emigrated to America and landed at Quebec in the summer of 1827 ; they then came to Pittsburgh, and, after living there eighteen months, went to Kentucky, where they lived some seven years, from which place they traveled by team to McLean Co., 111., being fifteen days upon the road ; they located upon the spot where James A. Campbell now lives, in the fall of 1835 ; he had at that time $1,600 in specie, good teams and plenty of provisions ; he was the wealthiest early settler that ever came to this township ; he first entered eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added by purchase until he had acquired some 500 acres. He took an active interest in the affairs of the township, and held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years ; he was a brickmason and plasterer by trade, and worked at his trade for twenty-five years in connection with farming. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Baptist Church at the time of their decease, having been members previous to their marriage, lived and died consistent Christians. Mrs. Campbell died June 12, 1869, upon the old homestead. Mr. Campbell died Aug. 23, 1873, upon the same bed his wife died on. The subject of this memoir was raised to farm labor until quite a young man, when he commenced to work at the mason's trade with his father, often doing work for a distance of fifteen miles and upward from home, viz., Cheney's Grove, Blooming Grove, Le Roy and Bloomington. At upward of 20 years of age, he commenced for himself, and farmed in connection with his trade, continuing the same until about the year 1869, when he abandoned his trade, since which time he has given his attention to farming; he has, in his home place, 132 acres of land, which is the old homestead upon which he with his father located in 1835 ; he also owns 160 acres upon Sec. 24, making in all a farm of 292 acres. His marriage with Martha A. Shields was celebrated in Jessamine Co., Ky., Sept. 20, 1849; she was born in the same county April 24, 1820; they were the parents of seven children, of whom two are living — John T., born Dec. 5, 1854, and Mary Frances, Oct. 31, 1861 ; of the deceased, four died in infancy, and one, William R., was born Aug. 6, 1858, and died Feb. 25, 1875, in the 18th year of his age, from the effects of sunstroke. Mrs. Campbell was a daughter of James Shields, who was born in Londonderry, in Ireland, May 6, 1781. He married Sarah Blaclt in Kentucky; she was born in Kentucky Sept. 17, 1789. Mr. Shields died in Jessamine Co., Ky., June 20, 1865. aged 89 years. Mrs. Shields died June 14, 1867, at the age of 78 years. S. L. CHAPIN, physician and surgeon ; Holder. The subject of this memoir was born in Marion, DeWitt Co,, 111., June 16, 1851 ; he attended the common schools until 18 years of age, after which he engaged in farming with his father until 21 jears of age, when he commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Tyler & Chapin, at Marion, pursuing his studies two years ; he then entered the Rush Medical College at Chicago, attending one term, and, in March, 1875, he located at Downs and engaged in the practice of medicine, and, the following fall, associated with Dr. James Montgomery, and erected a store and engaged in the drug business in connection with the practice of medicine, which business they yet continue, and have since added a stock of paints, oils, glass, putty, notions, and a complete stock of such articles as is usually kept in a first-class drug store, as well as a complete stock of groceries, provisions, etc. Their business card is to be found in the business directory of Downs, in another part of this work. In Decem- ber, 1878, Dr. Chapin located at Holder, where he has a constantly increasing practice, and where he intends making his future home. His marriage with Ada P. Douthell was celebrated July 25, 1878 ; she was born in Jamestown, Penn., March 29, 1855. J. M. DOOLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22; P. O. Bloomington ; born in Clark Co.. Ky., Nov. 11, 1830. He is a son of William Dooley, who was born in the same county, and emigrated to Illinois and located in Old Town Township in the spring of 1852, where he pur- chased 1,500 acres of land upon which he engaged in farming and stock-raising until his decease, which occurred June 6, 1869. The subject of this memoir remained with his father and assisted in farming and stock-raising until Jan. 17, 1853, when he was united in marriage with Susan J. Nelson ; she was born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Oct. 25, 1834 ; they have eleven children now liv- ing, having lost one by death ; the living are Florence M., William L., Romulus W., Annie T., Henry S., Samuel C, Charles W., Emma C, Raymond, Edney and Bernice. Upon the marriage of Mr. Dooley, he commenced farming for himself, which business he has since followed, with the excep- tion of ten years he lived in Indiana. He settled upon his present place in 1864 ; he owns upon his home farm 373 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings, and 125 acres upon Sec. 20. Mr. Dooley is now Commissioner of Highways, and School Treasurer, and has also held the office of Assessor, and other petty offices. 0. G. DOOLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Downs ; born in Clark Co., Ky , Sept. 20, 1837. He is a son of William Dooley, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Old Town Township in the spring of 1852, where he purchased 1,500 acres of land and engaged in farming and stock-raising until his decease. The subject of this sketch attended the common school in Kentucky, and, after locating in McLean Co., he attended school at Bloomington one year, then, afterward, during the winter, in an old log schoolhouse in Old Town Township.' In 1859, he went with a party of twenty teams to Pike's Peak, being twenty days making the trip from Independence, Mo., to California Gulch, where he was clerk for J. H. Bean, from Kentucky, in selling merchandise and merchants' supplies, where he remained two years ; returning to McLean Co., he engaged in farming, which business he has since followed. He removed upon 1002 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: his present place in 1867, where has since lived ; he owns 290 acres of prairie and timber land, all of which is under improvement and upon which he has good farm buildings ; he is engaged feeding cattle and hogs, raising his own feed. His marriage with Amanda J. Cowden was cel- ebrated in December, 1864 ; she was born in McLean Co., 111.; she is a daughter of F. R. Cowden, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., whose biography appears in this work. The children of 0. G. and Amanda Dooley are four in number, viz., John C, William F., Charles A. and Dwight. Mr. Dooley is now Assessor of Old Town Township, which office he has held for four years. J. A. DAVIS, farmer. Sec. 34; P. 0. Downs; born in Greene Co., 111., Oct. 13, 1840 : he is a son of Ransom Davis, who was born near Salisbury, N. C, and emigrated to Greene Co., 111., when quite young, where he followed school-teaching, merchandising and farming until 1857, when he located in Bloomington, some two years, when he removed to Sec. 29, Old Town Town- ship, until the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in the 33d 111. Regt., and served three years in the Union army; he then returned to McLean Co., and, in 1865, removed to Minnesota, where he now lives. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents and attended the common schools in Greene Co., until 1857, when he located in McLean Co., where he followed farming until Decem- ber, 1861, at which date he enlisted in the 26th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was forwarded to the Army of Tennessee, and was in many severe battles, of which were Mission Bidge, siege and capture of Vicksburg, siege and capture of Atlanta, and with Sherman during his march through Georgia to the sea, arriving at Savannah to spend Christmas of 1864; he then marched north through the Carolinas and near Raleigh, N. C, Sherman received the surrender of Johnston ; he then marched through Petersburg and Richmond to Washington, where, after the grand review of the army, he was sent to Louisville, Ky., where he was mustered out of service, and received his discharge at Springfield in July, 1865, having served in the Union army three years and seven months ; he then returned to McLean Co., and farmed until 1871, when he engaged in the merchandise trade at Downs, and in 1872 was appointed agent of the I., B. & W. Railroad, at this place, which office he held some four years ; he then engaged in the merchandise trade some three years, during which time he was Post- master. In March, 1879, he sold out his store and removed upon his present place, where he is now engaged in farming. His marriage with Nancy Mickel was celebrated Feb. 18, 1863; she was born in Ohio June 30, 1843 ; they have two children — Carrie V. and Ralph J. ; Mrs. Davis is a daughter of William Mickel, one of the old settlers and prominent farmers of Old Town Township. NORVAL DIXON, farmer; P. 0. Holder; born in Clinton Co., Ohio, May 3, 1820; he was raised to farm labor, and worked upon the home farm until 22 years of age, when he engaged in boating, making trips from Ripley, Ohio, to New Orleans, taking down pork, flour, meal, pota- toes, etc., the above way at that time being the only route to the sea coast, stopping at different points from Memphis down the river and disposing of the cargo to merchants and planters upon the way, the trip consuming from sixty to ninety days ; after following the above business some three years, in connection with farming, he engaged in the merchandise trade at Ripley, some four years, after which he was Constable and collecting agent until 1853, and the following spring came to Illinois, arriving in Bloomington in April, 1854 ; he then followed clerking for Ward & Gallager eighteen months, when, on account of ill health, he withdrew, and, in 1856, was appointed Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Moore, and also engaged in the general collecting business, and, in 1862, was elected Sheriff of McLean Co. In 1864, he was appointed Rental Agent in the Treasury Department, with headquarters at Memphis, where he remained until the close of the war. In 1863, he associated with L. Burr in the real estate, general collecting and abstract business, under the firm name of Dixon & Burr, continuing the same until the fall of 1865. In the winter of 1867, he obtained from Springfield the charter for the Bloomington & Normal Horse Railroad ; was elected President, and contracted to build the same. In the spring of 1870, he superintended the grading and building of the L., B. & M. Railroad from Blooming- ton to the State line, and the following year superintended the laying of the track of the same line, building the roundhouse at Bloomington, the different depots, water-tanks, etc. In April, 1874, he purchased his present place, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived ; he owns 160 acres upon his home farm, with good farm buildings ; he also owns land in different places in McLean Co., Iowa and Kansas. He was Vice President of the People's Bank from its orgairization until his removal upon his farm. He was married in 1849, to Mary Knickerbocker; she was born in Ohio, and died in 1859, leaving two children — Emma L., now Mrs. John K. Wood, of Bloomington, and Frank, living at home. His marriage with Catherine Kline was cele- brated in 1861 ; they have one child by this union — Charles, living at home. M. DUFFY, farmer and stock-raiser Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Holder ; Republican ; born in Philadelphia, Penn., Aug. 22, 1820, where he attended the public schools until 14 years of age ; he then engaged in farming in Chester Co. for a period of twenty-four years. In the spring of 1858, he emigrated to McLean Co. and purchased 160 acres upon Sec. 12, Old Town Township, where he has since lived. In January, 1864, he sold eighty acres of his land, and has since followed stock- raising and farming upjn the balance. His marriage with Mrs. Lydia Rudd was celebrated March 25. 1858 ; she was born in Pennsylvania ; she has two children by her previous husband, OLD TOWN TOWNSHIP. 1003 John Iludd, who now make their home with Mr. Duffy. The maiden name of Mrs. Duffy wag Lydia Beaver. WILLIAM FLEMING, Postmaster, firm of Fleming Brothers, general merchants and dealers in grain, lumber and coal, and shippers of stock, Holder; born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., March 30, 1845; at 6 years of age, he emigrated with his parents to Fulton Co., 111., where he was raised upon a farm, obtaining a common-school education. In the spring of 1867, he removed to Old Town Township, McLean Co., and purchased 160 acres of land upon the spot where Holder now stands, when he engaged in farming until the completion of the L., B. & M. R. R., when he, with his brother, engaged in the above business, which they have since successfully followed. They are largely engaged in buying and shipping stock to Chicago, and also in buying and ship- ping grain to Toledo, Cleveland, Baltimore and Philadelphia, having purchased as high as 100,000 bushels of corn alone in a single season. His marriage with Helen Rudd was celebrated Oct. 10, 1873 : she was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 28, 1847 ; they have two children by this union — Harry, born July 6, 1875; Herbert, March 29, 1879. Mrs. Fleming was a daughter of John Rudd, who emigrated from Genesee Co., N. Y., and located upon Sec. 12, in what is now Old Town Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1855, where he lived until his decease, which occurred in the fall of 1856. JACOB FLEMING, firm of Fleming Brothers, general merchants and grain and stock dealers, also dealers in lumber and coal, etc., Holder; born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., June 2, 1841 ; his father, John Fleming, was born in Ireland in 1810, emigrated to America with his parents in 1820, and, in 1849, came to Fulton Co., 111., where he now lives. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until 20 years of age, when, in August, 1861, he enlisted in the 50th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he first served in the campaigns of Missouri and Arkansas, and was engaged in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, both battles of Corinth, Stone River, Altoona Pass, and marched with Sherman's army through Georgia to the sea, arriving in Savannah to spend the Christmas of 1864 ; he then marched North, participating in many engagements until the surrender of Johnston's army, after which he continued his march through to Washington, and, after the grand review of the army, was sent to Louisville, Ky., where he received his discharge in July, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly four years; he was promoted to Corporal, then to First Lieutenant of Co. G, of which he received the appointment and commission of Captain. After receiving his discharge, he returned to Fulton Co., where he followed farming and school-teaching two years, and in 1867 removed with his brother to his present place and purchased 160 acres of land and followed farming and stock- raising until 1871, when, upon the completion of the L., B. & M. R. R., he, with his brother, engaged in the above business, which they have since successfully followed. His marriage with Susan Hughes was celebrated in June, 1864; she was born in Fulton Co., 111., January, 1843 ; they have five children now living, having lost two by death; the living are Fred E., Joseph B., Mary E., Ida H. and John R. CHARLES FULLER, farmer and stock -raiser ; P.O. Bloomington; born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., March 16, 1816; his father, Oliver Fuller, was born in Vermont and emigrated to New York previous to 1812, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812 ; he married Sally Healey ; she was born in Rhode Island ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living; Mr. Fuller died in New York in 1858 or 1859, and Mrs. Fuller is now living at the advanced age of 92 years ; she now draws a pension for the services of Mr. F. in 1812. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farming until he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 4, where he purchased 653 acres of land, upon which he then settled, and has since followed farming and stock-raising. His marriage with Eliza A. Griffin was celebrated in 1836 ; she was a native of New York ; they have ten children now living, having lost one by death ; the living are Sidney C, Healey R., George O., Hiram, Charles, Edwin M., Lucinda, Alice, Amelia and Mattie. Mr. Fuller now lives upon the old farm, and has given each of his five sons that are married eighty acres, and all are living upon the home place within one mile of their parents ; although he is 64 years of age, is yet able to do a good day's work, and is engaged in farming 253 acres. All the above property he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife. ORRIN LOOMIS, Jr., farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Bloomington. The subject of this sketch was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Nov. 18, 1838; he was a son of Orrin Loomis, Sr., who was born in the State of Connecticut in the year 1791 ; he emigrated West and located in Ohio in 1816, and was the second settler of the township; at that time there was an abundance of game, and it was not an unusual occurrence for him to kill beat's and other game ; he commenced clearing the timber from the land for his own use and his neighbors. He was married in Ohio Jan. 14, 1823, to Mary Ann Eyler; she was born in Connecticut, March, 1805; they were the parents of nine children, of whom seven lived to grow up and six are now living; they lived in Ohio until 1866, when they removed to McLean Co., 111., and lived in Old Town Township until their decease. Mr*. Loomis died Nov. 22, 1874 ; Mr. Loomis died Dec. 9, 1876 ; they lie buried in the beautiful cemetery at Bloomington, their graves properly marked by a monument of Italian marble. The subject of this sketch followed farming in Ohio until the spring of 1865, when he emigrated West, remaining one year; he then returned to Ohio, and was employed two years as express 1004 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: messenger with the American Express Company, after which he returned to Illinois and lived some two years, when he removed to Michigan and followed farming one year ; then came back and located in Old Town Township, McLean Co., and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed ; he owns eighty acres upon his own farm, all under a good state of improve- ment. His marriage with Marinda E. Harrington was celebrated in Ohio May 18, 1838 ; they were the parents of three children, of whom one died in infancy ; the living are Anna V. and Saloma. EDWIN LOOMIS, farmer, Sec. 5; P. 0. Bloomington ; born in Medina Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1829 ; his father, Orrin Loomis, was born in 1791 ; he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1816, where he followed farming until he came to Illinois in 1866 ; he made his home with Edwin Loomis until his decease, which occurred Dec. 9, 1876. He married Mary Ann Eyler Jan 14, 1823, in Medina Co., Ohio ; she was born in Connecticut in March, 1805 ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom seven lived to grow up and of whom six are now living. Mrs. Loomis died Nov. 22, 1874. The subject of this memoir obtained a common-school education and was raised to farm labor and assisted his father until 1854 ; then he commenced farming for himself until the spring of 1865, when he emigrated to Illinois and settled upon Section 5, Old Town Township, McLean Co., where he purchased eighty acres, upon which he settled and where he has since lived. His marriage with Saloma A. Harrington was celebrated Aug. 14, 1854 ; she was born in Lake Co., Ohio, July 13, 1828; they have one child by this union, having lost one by death, named Gertrude C, born Aug. 14, 1856; she was married Oct. 28, 1875, to John J. Pearson, and died Sept. 26, 1876 ; the living — William P. — was born Oct. 3, 1865. Mrs. Loomis is a daughter of Otis Harrington; he was born in Berkshire Co., Mass., Feb. 14, 1803 ; he mar- ried Lyma Coming; she was born in New Hampshire in 1806; she died in 1831 in Lake Co., Ohio ; Mr. Harrington is now living in McLean Co. at the age of 76 years. D. McBARNES, farmer; Sec. 15; P. 0. Bloomington; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Oct 1, 1821 ; his father, Dennis McBarnes, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in the year 1759 ; he went to Ireland when he was a young man, and, after working several years at the trade of harness-making, emigrated to America and located first near Philadelphia ; from there to Harrison Co., Ohio, where he purchased land and engaged in farming until his decease, which occurred in April, 1844, at the advanced age of 85 years. He married in Pennsylvania to Mary Voden ; she was born in Pennsylvania and died a few years after the death of her husband ; they were the parents of seven children, of whom four are now living. The subject of this memoir was brought up to work upon his father's farm in Ohio until he attained his majority, when he commenced farming for himself, which business he followed iu Ohio until he came to Illinois and located on his present place in the spring of 1853, where he has since lived, during a period of twenty-six years, and is consequently classed as one of the old settlers ; he owns eighty acres of well-improved land upon his home farm with good farm build- ings and also eighty acres in Anchor Township, all of which he has, by good business manage- ment, accumulated. In politics he is a stanch Republican, having joined the above party upon its organization and has since labored for the success of the same ; he has taken a great interest in the cause of religion and education, having been a School Director many years and is now School Trustee ; he and his wife have been members of the Christian Church for a period of upward of twenty years ; the second oldest daughter being a member of the same church. His marriage with Mary Jane Dickey was celebrated in Harrison Co., Ohio, upon the 18th of Septem- ber, 1847; she was born in Harrison Co. March 4, 1826 ; they were the pai-ents of seven chil- dren — Sarah J., born June 18, 1848 (she died March 1, 1870) ; Maggie, born Oct. 3, 1849 (now Mrs. Joseph Brookbank, of Anchor Township) ; John, born July 24, 1851 ; Agnes, Feb. 22, 1853; Hannah M., June 18, 1855; Elizabeth, May 14, 1857, and Edward, Nov. 8, 1858; of the chil- dren, the two sons are farming in Anchor Township ; the four daughters attended the University of Bloomington, both the Normal and Wesleyan, three of whom are engaged in school-teaching in McLean Co., the oldest of whom has taught ten years ; John attended the Normal three years ; Edward is now attending the Wesleyan. JOHN J. PENN, farmer and stock-raiser; Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Holder ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co., born in Northamptonshire, England, Oct. 25, 1824; he emigrated with his parents to America, landing in New York when five years of age ; they lived in New York State five years, when they emigrated West and located in Harrison Co., Ohio ; his father, John Peim, was born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1777. He married in England to Hannah Watson; she was born in the same shire in 1787 ; she died in Ohio in the fall of 1845; Mr. Penn died at the residence of his son in McLean Co. v 111., in 1860, at the advanced age of 82 years ; they were the parents of thirteen children, of whom six are now living. The subject of this sketch engaged in teaming in Ohio until he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co. in the fall of 1851; he then farmed upon rented land until 1863; he first purchased ninety acres, for which he ran in debt $2,000, which he paid for in four years, and disposed of the same at a profit of upward of $2,000 ; he then purchased 160 acres of raw prairie, which he improved some four years and sold at a profit of $7,000 ; he purchased 157 acres of his present place in 1868, and settled upon the same in 1869, where he owns 238 acres with farm buildings, all of which lie has made by his exertions and perseverance. His marriage with Sarah J. Boyce was OLD TOWN TOWNSHIP. 1005 celebrated Sept. 12, 1844 ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Nov. 30, 1825 ; she was a daughter of William Boyce, who was born in New York State Oct. 14, 1797 ; he emigrated and settled in McLean Co., 111., in 1851, where he lived until his decease, which occurred May 7, 1879, in the 82d year of his age. He was married in Ohio to Sarah Reynolds ; she was born in Ohio in 1807, and is living upon Section 26, Old Town Township; they were the parents of twelve children, of whom six are now living. WILLIAM H. PORTER, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Downs; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Aug. 31, 1839, where he attended school in winter and assisted in farming until 15 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois with his parents in 1854, and located upon Section 8, Old Town Township, McLean Co. ; here his father purchased 240 acres of land and engaged in farming and stock-raising some five years, when he removed with his family to Bloomington, from which place he continued farming in Old Town Township until 1877, when he retired from active business. The subject of this sketch continued farming for his father until 1873, when he settled on his present place, on Section 21, in Old Town Township ; he has 160 acres of land, mostly under a good state of improvement. His marriage with Amanda Rodman was celebrated Jan. 16, 1865 ; they have four children by this union, having lost two by death ; the living are Ellen, Frank, Eliza, and Camilla. Mrs. Porter was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Sept. 4, 1842; she is a daughter of Scamon Rodman, who was born in Pennsylvania and located in McLean Co., III., in 1853, and whose sketch appears among the biographies of this township in this work. JAMES V. PORTER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17; P. O. Bloomington; was bom in Washington Co., Penn., Feb. 9, 1845 ; he is a son of James Porter, who was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Illinois : in the fall of 1854, he purchased land in Old Town Township, until he had secured 1,500 acres, and was extensively engaged in stock-raising, in connection with farming, and most of the time resided in Bloomington, to educate his children. The subject of this sketch attended the school mostly in Bloomington until 1870, when he attended the Wes- leyan University ; some two years after, he engaged in farming upon Sec. 17, where he has since lived ; he owns 400 acres upon Sees. 16 and 17, and is largely engaged in raising and feed- ing stock — mostly cattle and hogs — in connection with farming ; he plants largely — averaging from one hundred to one hundred and fifty acres of corn, most of which is fed to his stock ; he fed, last season, some 400 hundred hogs and 150 cattle. His marriage with Elizabeth Armstrong was celebrated in 1871; she was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1848 ; they have two children — William S. and Isabella W. SCAMON RODMAN, farmer, Sec. 23; P. 0. Holder; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; was born in Berks Co., Penn., Aug. 27, 1810; he was the second son of Joseph Rodman; was born in the same county and State, in the early part of the year of 1780. He married Mary Street ; she was a native of the same county, born in May, 1 785 ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living; they emigrated to Muskingum Co., Ohio, in 1821, where they lived until the decease of Mr. Rodman, which occurred in April, 1853; Mrs. Rodman died in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, in February, 1876, at 91 years of age. The subject of this sketch followed farming in Ohio until he emigrated to Illinois, reaching Bloom- ington Oct. 8, 1853 — driving by team from Ohio — being sixteen days upon the trip ; he rented land for two years near Bloomington, and, in the spring of 1856, he located upon his present place, where he purchased 120 acres of land, and upon which he now lives ; he afterward added, by purchase, until he had accumulated 320 acres ; he now owns 280 acres, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Eliza Woolf was celebrated Feb. 17, 1833 ; she was born in Fauquier Co., Ya., May 21, 1811; they were the parents of nine sons and one daughter, of whom one son is deceased; the living are — William. Francis A., James M., Samuel, Amanda (now Mrs. William Porter), Scamon C, Julius N., Winfield S., Oscar 0.; of the above, three served in the Union army, during the late war of rebellion — James, Samuel and Scamon. The eight sons, with their father, are all Republicans, and voted for Hayes. Mr. Rodman was formerly an Old Line Whig; and upon the organization of the Republican party, joined the same, and has labored for the support of the same. He has voted every general election, with two exceptions, since 1831 ; of township and school offices, Mr. Rodman has had his full share, having been first Supervisor of Old Town Township in 1858, which office he held five years ; Justice of the Peace twelve years: School Treasurer thirteen years, and other petty offices, having held one or more offices continually, since the organization of the township. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the M. P. Church since 1830 — a period of nearly one-half a century, and has held different offices in the church, for a period of forty-five years. Mrs. Rodman has been a member of the same church for forty years. ROBERT REID, sheep-raiser, Sec. 30;. P. 0. Downs; born in the Parish of Irvine, Ayr- shire, Scotland, Nov. 7, 1830, where be obtained a good, common-school education, and followed farming until he emigrated to America, landing in New York in the spring of 1852 ; coming directly to Illinois, he remained in Knox Co. several months, and, after seven months in San- gamon Co., he went to California, where he followed mining for eighteen months, when he returned to Illinois, and, in the spring of 1850, he hired out with Mr. H. Bishop, and worked 1006 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: with him until his decease, when he engaged in raising sheep, which business he has followed for nearly one-fourth of a century, and during which time he has made five trips to Scotland ; he now rents upward of four hundred acres of land, for which he pays cash, and then re-rents for grain, which he feeds his sheep, of which he has upward of seven hundred; he reserves some two hundred acres for sheep pasturage. JOHN RODMAN, farmer, Sec. 22 , P. 0. Holder ; one of the old settlers of Illinois, whose birthplace was Berks Co., Penn.; he was born Dec. 5, 1817 ; he emigrated to Ohio with his parents, when 1 year of age, and located at Muskingum Co., where he attended school in an old log schoolhouse, with mud-and-stick chimney, the fireplace extending nearly across one end, and would burn wood eight feet long; the seats were of split logs, extending across the room, and around the walls being a desk for writing ; in 1 838, he commenced farming for himself upon rented land for thirteen years, when he purchased eighty acres of timber land, and improved, until he came to Illinois and settled in Old Town Township, McLean Co., Dec. 13, 1854 ; he then purchased 110 acres of land on Sec. 22, where he has since lived, during a period of one-fourth of a century ; he has since added, by purchase, until he now owns 230 acres, with good buildings, all of which, with the exception of $400, he has made by his own efforts. His marriage with Mary Jane Gray was celebrated Feb. 15, 1838 ; she was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, May 1, 1819 ; they were the parents of seven children, of whom three are deceased ; the living are Joseph L., Eliza (now Mrs. Homer Boyce), Edmund L. and Lucinda W.; of the children, two sons and one daughter are living less than one-fourth of a mile from their parents — the others living within three miles. Mr. Rodman has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been a member of the M. E. Church for forty years, and all the children are members of the same church. JAMES RAYBURN, Jr., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the old set- tlers of McLean Co. ; born in Madison Co., Ohio, March 14, 1836. He emigrated with his parents to Illinois in 1851. He attended school and assisted his father in farming until 19 years of age, when, upon Dec. 19, 1855, he was united in marriage with Susan Bishop; she was born in McLean Co., June 20, 1836. They have two children now living, viz., Ida May. born May 1, 1858, and Eda Bell, April 10, 1860. He has 280 acres in his home farm, and, aside from farm- ing, is extensively engaged in feeding and shipping stock, feeding about 100 cattle, 150 to 200 hogs, 300 to 500 sheep, and some horses. Besides feeding the products of 250 acres of corn, he last season purchased some 3,000 bushels, which he also fed. He is now feeding sixty bushels of corn per day to his stock, which he ships over the C. & A. R. R. to the Chicago market. He and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian Church for a period of twenty-five years. Mr. Rayburn is the present Supervisor of Old Town Township, which office he has held for ten years in succession, the duties of which he has performed with credit to himself and satisfaction to his township. He is a son of James Rayburn, who was born in Virginia April 6, 1799. He emigrated with his parents to Ross Co., Ohio, at an early day, and followed farming until 1851, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 30, Old Town Township, where he has lived for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1850, he was a member of the State Legislature of Ohio. Upon the 24th of September, 1816, he was united in marriage with Jane McCoy: she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, July, 1799, and was the first white child born in that county. She died Aug. 15, 1876. Mr. Rayburn now lives upon the home farm with his son, James, Jr. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since his youth, and is now one of the Elders of the First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. SAMUEL SCOTT, farmer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in County Down, Ireland, March 28, 1836, where he attended the public school until 14 years of age, when he worked at farming and weaving in the linen mills for four years, and, in 1855, emigrated to America, landing in New York Jan. 15, 1856, having been ten weeks and five days making the voyage. Upon arriving in New York, his capital consisted of 7 oents. He then worked at farming in New Jersey two years, when he came to Illinois, arriving in Bloomington in the spring of 1858. He then worked as farm laborer for five years ; then he farmed upon rented land two years, and, in 1858, he purchased thirty acres of his present place, upon which he then located, and where he has lived since 1865. He owns ninety acres of well-improved land, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor. He married Maria Jamison in 1858 ; she was born in Ireland ; she died in Illinois Aug. 27, 1875, leaving one child — John — bom Sept. 15, 1860. His marriage with Mrs. Bridget Tulick was celebrated Sept. 22, 1876 ; she was born in Ireland. They have one child by this union — Mary J., born Aug. 21, 1877. PATRICK SAVAGE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Downs ; born in County Kerry, Ireland, March 17, 1827, where he attended the public school until 13 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in the spring of 1840. His father, Jeremiah Sav- age, had preceded him ten years, locating first in Canada, where he lived five years, when he came to Rochester, N. Y., where he followed his trade of mason and stone-cutter, in connection with farming, in Monroe Co., N. Y., until his decease, which occurred in the winter of 1872. His widow survived him, and died in Rochester in April, 1879. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools during the winter in New York until 23 years of age, during which time he was employed in farming and working upon the canal-boats, after which he had OLD TOWN TOWNSHIP. 1007 command of a boat for three years. In the spring of 1851, he emigrated West, and worked in Effingham, Coles and Champaign Cos., getting out timber for the 111. Cent. R. R., for nearly two years, when he returned to Rochester and remained some three months. He then came to McLean Co., and resided in Bloomington one winter, being employed in chopping wood. The following summer, he and his wife were employed upon a farm; then he returned to Blooming- ton and followed farming and teaming some ten years, and, in January, 1866, he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived. He owns, upon his home place, 146 acres of land, with the best of buildings, which he has made by his continued hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife, to whom he was united in marriage Oct. 1, 1854. Her maiden name was Susan Fagan ; she was born in County Down, Ireland, May, 1829 ; she came to America when quite young. They have seven children now living, having lost one by death. The names of the living are Mary A., born July 3, 1855; Ellen, Feb. 23, 1857; Morris S., Dec. 13, 1858 : Frances, Nov. 8, 1860, died June 13, 1866 ; John B., born Nov. 6, 1862 ; Thomas, Oct. 17, 1864 ; Susan, Oct. 13, 1866; Elizabeth, Oct. 5, 1868. Mr. Savage came to Illinois without capital; he had not the means to purchase a bed, and used a tick made by Mrs. Savage, filled with straw, and made upon the floor. They had neither table nor chairs, using for a table a trunk. He purchased his first bedstead with the proceeds of his labor, cutting cord-wood at 50 cents per cord. He has steadily kept at work, until he is now one of the responsible farmers of McLean Co., having nearly 100 acres under fence and a good state of cultivation, and upon which there is no incumbrance. JAMES SHIELDS, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Holder; born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Sept. 17 r 1816, ; his father, James Shields, Sr., was born in Londonderry, Ireland, May 6, 1781 ; he married Martha Paul in Kentucky ; she was born March 24, 1783 ; he emigrated to America the second year of the present century ; he first lived in Virginia, then came to Kentucky, where he was married, and followed farming until his decease, which occurred in Jessamine Co., Ky., June 20, 1865. Mrs. Shields died many years previous in the same State and county ; three of their children by this union are now living — John, Hugh and James. The subject of this sketch lived with his father in Kentucky until 24 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Martha E. Mahan, March 26, 1840; she was born in Jessamine Co., Sept. 29, 1822; they were the parents of five children, of whom four are now living — Archibald, born July 14, 1842; Sam- uel H., Oct. 3, 1844: Parilee M., March 19, 1846; Milton H., Dec. 1, 1847; the deceased, Martha Jane, was born Jan. 16, 1841; she was married to Henry Zeigler, and died Oct. 23, 1873, leaving nine children. Mrs. Shields was a daughter of Elijah Mahan, who was born in Woodford Co., Ky., in November, 1801, and is now living at the advanced age of 78 years. Mrs. Mahan was born in Jessamine Co., Ky.. in March, 1802; her maiden name was Jane Scott; she died in March, 1877. They were the parents of seven children, six now living. Milton H. Sheilds, the youngest son of James and Martha (Mahan) Shields was born in Montgomery Co., Ind., December, 1847 ; he married Sept. 17, 1874, and is now living at home. THOMAS TWINING, farmer and stock-raiser, deceased ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Berks Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1808; he attended the common schools, and completed his education by a collegiate course of five years, the last two years of which were devoted to medicine ; in the fall of 1836, he emigrated to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 32, Old Town Township, and entered some 300 acres of land, and engaged in farming and stock-raising; he took an active interest in politics, being an Old-Line Whig, until the organization of the Repub- lican party, after which he became an active and prominent member of the same ; he had no aspirations for office, but held some township and school offices, and was Justice of the Peace for many years ; he took a deep interest in the affairs of his township, and his influence with the County Court was of good effect; by his influence and labor the township saved $10,000 in the matter of voting assistance to the L., B. & M. Railroad ; upon his locating here, his capital con- sisted of less than $200 ; he borrowed money to enter his first land, and at the time of his death owned upward of 500 acres of land, besides his personal property. His marriage with Sarah A. Beam was celebrated March 8, 1832; she died July 17, 1845, leaving four children. He married for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth Randolph Jan. 28, 1849 ; she was a daughter of Benjamin Cundiff ; she was born in Virginia Oct. 15, 1816 ; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two are deceased. Mr. Twining died upon the old homestead Dec. 6, 1872. C. H. Twining, the only surviving child by the last marriage, was born upon the old farm Nov. 12, 1852, and has always lived upon the old place and in the same house in which he was born, a part of which is the original house erected by his father forty-two years ago. He owns upon his home farm 280 acres, and aside from farming is extensively engaged in stock-raising. Upon Jan. 6, 1873, he was united in marriage with Mary Savidge ; she was born in McLean Co. Jan. 26, 1854 ; they have three children now living by this union — Musetta, T. J. and Earl. JEREMIAH WHITCOMB, farmer, Sec. 22 ; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., 111. ; was born in Vermilion Co., 111., Jan. 10, 1839 ; his father, Francis, was born in Grafton Co., N. H., Jan. 28, 1786; he emigrated West and located in Indiana in 1814 or 1815, and came to the Territory of Illinois in 1816, and located near Danville, Vermilion Co., where he engaged in the manufacture of salt ; after which, he followed farming until 1849, when he located. in what is now Old Town Township, McLean Co., where he purchased 300 acres in Sec. 1008 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 21, upon which he settled ; he afterward added by purchase until he had accumulated upward of 700 acres in this and Padua Township. He married in Vermilion Co., 111., to Jane Evans ; she was born in Ohio in 1804; they were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living. Mr. W. died upon the home farm Jan. 16, 1872. Mrs. W. now lives with her son — Jeremiah, at the advanced age of 75 years. The subject of this sketch came to McLean Co. with his parents in 1849, and has lived upon the home farm for a period of thirty years, where he owns 160 acres with good buildings. He married upon the 27th of February, 1862, Lucinda Rodman ; she was born in Ohio ; they have four children now living — Sylvia A., Lillie M., William A. and Mary F. Mr. W. has had his full share of petty offices ; has held the office of School Trustee for seven years ; Town Clerk two years, and is now Justice of the Peace. GEORGE P. WOOD, farmer. Sec. 33 ; P. O. Downs ; born in Pendleton Co., Va., July 26, 1826 ; he is a son of Joshua Wood, who was born in Virginia Nov. 6, 1804. He married in Vir- ginia Anna Hedrick ; she was born in Virginia ; they emigrated from Virginia to Illinois and located in McLean Co., in 1850, where they lived until their decease. Mr. Wood died June 3. 1863; Mrs. Wood died March 28, 1865. The subject of this sketch made his home with his father in Virginia and emigrated to Illinois at the same time, where he remained with his father until 27 years of age, and, Aug. 31, 1854, he was united in marriage with Huldah Teter; she was born in Virginia, Nov. 14, 1831 ; they have six children now living, having buried three; the living are Charles A., born Dec. 22, 1855 ; Sarah R., born Aug. 18, 1857 : Permelia E., born March 2, 1861 ; Charlotte, born Jan. 30, 1863 ; Amanda S., born April 18, 1865 ; William D., born June 17, 1867 ; the deceased died in childhood. Upon the marriage of Mr. Wood, he rented land for two years, when he purchased land and improved the same, and sold, which business he repeated six times, when, in 1876, he purchased his present place, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived. He owns upward of 149 acres upon his home place, all of which is under fence and improvement. JOHN L. YOUNG, farmer, deceased ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., 111., born in Clark Co., Ky., Oct. 22, 1829 ; he was raised to farm labor in Kentucky until he emigrated to Illi- nois and located in McLean Co. in the spring of 1852 ; in 1859, he purchased some land in Sec. 28, Old Town Township, which he settled on and improved until 1864, when he purchased the present place of 240 acres, upon which he located and where he lived until his death ; he also owned eighty acres in Kentucky, and a house and lot in Bloomington. He took a great interest in the affairs of his township, and was one of the prominent men of the township, and Super- visor of Old Town Township, at the time of his decease, which was his fourth year in succession. His marriage with Martha A. Dooley was celebrated Oct. 9, 1851 ; she was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., Aug. 16, 1832 ; they were the parents of nine children — Milton H., born Oct. 11, 1852 ; Lee, Dec. 3, 1854 ; Mary E., Aug. 23, 1857 ; Clara N., April 27, 1859 ; William F., April 8, 1861 ; Robert L., May 16, 1863 ; Florence B., May 9, 1866 : Obadiah L., Aug. 21, 1869; Min- erva D., born May 2, 1871, died June 11, 1877. Mr. Young died Jan. 10, 1872; he lies buried in Bloomington Cemetery ; over his grave stands an Italian marble monument, erected sacred to his memory by his loving children. Mrs. Young was a daughter of William Dooley, who emi- grated to Illinois in 1851, and located in McLean Co., in 1852, and was largely engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising, owning some 1,500 acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred June 6, 1869 ; she lives upon the same place upon which she located in 1864. ALLIN TOWNSHIP. JOSIAH ARTER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Stanford; was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, April 24, 1834. He came to McLean Co., 111., Feb. 17, 1857, and to Dale Township in the spring following, went back to Ohio in December, but returned to Dale Township the next February, and, in the fall of 1858, to Allin Township. He married Martha Ann Van Gorder, Feb. 28, 1867 ; she was born in McLean Co. May 16, 1843. Her father, Abraham Van Gorder, and her mother, Amanda Disbrow, were born in the State of New York, and moved to Ohio, and from there to McLean Co. in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Arter have four children— Delilah, born Jan. 10, 1868 ; Cora, Feb. 25, 1871 ; John, March 16, 1875, and Ida, March 4, 1877. He owns a farm of eighty acres and a fine home, and in politics is a Democrat. MILTON BOZARTH, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Stanford ; was born in Christian Co., Ky., Jan. 15, 1832, and came to Brown's Grove, Allin Township, with his parents, Sept. 10, 1839, where he resided until he married. He married Anna Baker April 20, 1859; she was born in Rockingham Co., Va., Feb. 9, 1842. Her father, John Baker, was born in the same county ; also her mother, Sarah Richie. Mr. Bozarth's mother, Cynthia Bozarth, is living in Brown's Grove. Mr. Bozarth move! onto the farm where he now resides, in April, 1859. They have had five children, who all died in early infancy, except Franklin, who was born May 11, 1861, and died July 12, 1871. Mr. B. owns about 270 acres of land in Allin Township, and a fine residence. In politics is a Democrat. ALLIN TOWNSHIP. 1009 ABEL BROOKS, broker, Stanford ; was born in Allin Township (formerly Mosquito Grove Township), March 6, 1852. He is the second son of Predey T. Brooks. He married Miss Livonia Summers, daughter of Dr. Andrew Summers, April 2, 1874; she was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Oct. 10, 1851. They have had two children — Myrtle, born May 19, 1876 ; died April 9, 1878, and Lee, born Dec. 17, 1878. In addition to his brokerage business, Mr. Brooks is engaged in the lightning-rod business. MILES BROOKS, Police Justice; Stanford ; was born in Allin Township Oct. 8, 1845, and is the oldest son of Presley T. Brooks, who is the oldest living settler in Allin Township, and now resides in Eureka, Woodford Co., 111.; he was born in Hart Co., Ky., Nov. 9, 1821, and came here before the organization of the county of McLean, Dec. 29, 1842. He married Eliza Silvay Larrison. In the winter of 1829-30, he entered land now known as Brooks' Grove, and in March, 1830, moved into his log cabin. The Indians, wolves and deer had everything their own way, but the Indians were friendly. Miles Brooks, at the starting of Stanford village, went into the lumber and grain business, and has followed that with stock-buying and shipping ever since. In 1876, he was elected Police Justice, and re-elected in the spring of 1879. He married Miss Sarah R. Johnson, daughter of Caleb Johnson, of Danvers Township, May 13, 1869. They have two children living; — Alpha, born Sept. 27, 1874, and Pearl, July 17, 1877. The eldest died in early infancy, unnamed. MALVINA B. CAVETT, farming ; P. O. Stanford ; widow of John Cavett ; he was born in Posey Co., Ind., May 22, 1817, and was raised a farmer, and always followed the business. He married Miss Malvina McReynolds Jan. 11, 1838; she was born in the same county, May 17, 1817, and they moved to McLean Co., Allin Township, in October, 1854; he died Sept. 5, 1870. They have seven children living — Mary Ann, born Oct. 31, 1844; John A., born March 23, 1846; Thomas W., born April 22, 1848; Margaret J., born Oct. 24, 1850; William W., born Sept. 1, 1855; Josephine S., born Oct, 5, 1858; Charles H. C, born Dec. 26, 1862, and James, deceased; Nancy E., born Jan. 3, 1842, and died Dec. 31, 1842. They own a fine farm of 200 acres — rolling prairie. ROSETTA F1TZPATR1CK, farmer; P. O. Covel, Dale Township: was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, April 25,1841, and is the widow of James Fitzpatrick ; he was born in Boston, Mass., April 1, 1837. She came to this country with her uncle. John Cox ; landed in New York in 1845: they lived in New Jersey until the spring of I860, when they moved to Colorado. She married James Fitzpatrick in Denver City Aug. 22, 1860. They moved to Bloomington, McLean Co., 111., in the summer of 1865, and that fall bought the farm where she resides, in Allin Town- ship. He died Dec. 17, 1873, in Bloomington. They have six children — James F., born in Denver City July 15, 1861 ; Mary E., born in Denver City April 25, 1863 ; John C, born in St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 5, 1866 ; Martin H., born on their farm Aug. 1, 1868 ; Robert E., born in Bloomington Nov. 26, 1870, and Rosette, born in Bloomington Nov. 25, 1872. She owns a nice home of 160 acres in Allin Township, and a house and lot in Bloomington. AMOS W. HARRISON, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O.Stanford; was born in Andrew Co., Mo., July 28, 1844; went to Knox Co., Ohio, with his parents, in 1848, and to McLean Co., 111., in 1851. His father, Abraham Harrison, was born in Essex Co., N. J., Dec. 10, 1815, and married Nancy Kinkade in Knox Co., Ohio, Dec. 23, 1838; she was born in Maryland May 6, 1816. Amos W. Harrison married Miss Alice Ward in Macon Co., Mo., Oct. 20, 1867; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Feb. 1, 1850. They moved to Allin Township in March, 1878, where they now reside. They have three children — James A., born Aug. 10,1869; Ethel M., horn Nov. 12, 1873, and Bertrand 0., born Feb. 17, 1874. His brother-in-law, William Paul, and himself, own 238 acres of fine prairie, where he lives. In politics, he is a Democrat. WILLIAM HILLVARD, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Minier, Tazewell Co., 111. ; was born in Vermilion Co., 111., Sept. 25, 1842 ; his father, John Hillyard, was born in Northampton Co., Penn., in 1799, and died in Tazewell Co. March 11, 1862 ; his mother, Sarah (Hatfield), was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in February, 1809 ; she resides with William Hillyard, the subject of this sketch, who married Miss Susan J.Colville Nov. 12, 1868 ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ky., June 29, 1839. They have four children— Mary E., born Aug. 25, 1869; John W., May 11, 1873 ; Edward A., March 3, 1875, and Sarah Maud, Dec. 11, 1878. Mr. Hillyard is a Republican. CALEB JOHNSON, retired farmer, stock-raiser and dealer; P. 0. Stanford; was born in Monroe Co., W. Va., March 22, 1813. His school advantages were limited to a few months in a log cabin. He followed farming. Sept. 16, 1856, he started out with his family and household goods, all in four two-horse wagons, and eight horses, for his new home in Danvers Township, McLean Co., 111., where he had bought, the year previous, 560 acres of prairie and timber land. They reached their farm Oct. 13, following. He married Miss Eliza J. Beard June 27, 1839. She was born in Monroe Co., Va., Dec. 11, 1813. They have six children — Ward P., born June 8, 1840 (he married Elizabeth Deal); Madora E., born March 4, 1843 (she married George W. Holland); Sarah R., born April 11, 1845 (she married Miles Brooks, Esq.) : James W. was born Aug. 23, 1847 (he married Lois Rowel) ; John A. was born March 18, 1851 (he married Julia Lehmann) ; Louise S. was born March 7, 1855 (she married Frank P. Browning). One son lives in Kansas and two daughters in Missouri, the rest here. He now owns, altogether, 406 acres of land and, resides in Stanford. He is a Democrat in politics. 1010 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: JAMES JOHNSTON, farmer, stock -raiser and fruit-grower; P. 0. Danvers; was bom in Greene Co., Ohio, Nov. 15, 1828 ; with his parents, moved to Allen Co., Ind., in 1836 ; he then, as now, followed farming. His early advantages for an education were confined to a rude log building ; but his was one of those persevering spirits that overcome many obstacles that, to many others, appear insurmountable, and for awhile himself taught school, and farmed, and, as his work shows, is not an indifferent carpenter and builder. In 1853, he started with his wife and chattels, in a two-horse wagon, for McLean Co., 111., for the place or land he purchased in Allin Township in 1852. They were eleven days on the road, camping in their wagon every night. He engaged in farming, and otherwise, so that he did not reach his farm until the spring of 1855. He married Miss Eleanor Jane Marr3, of Allen Co.. Ind., Dec. 8> 1852. She was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, June 13, 1830, and went to Allen Co., Ind., with her parents in 1849. They have four boys, viz. : Lucian C, born July 12, 1854 (he married Ellen B. Dickinson Jan. 1, 1878, and lives in Nebraska); Alva E., born March 16, 1859; Milo D., born May 30, 1866; Virgil W., born March 15, 1871. The last three are living at home with their parents. They own 165 acres of fine, rolling prairie and a fine house. JOHN L. KAUFMAN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Stanford; was born in York Co., Penn., May 31, 1833 ; his father, John F. Kaufman, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Oct. 11, 1808, and married Elizabeth Legrone June 3, 1828 ; she was born in tho same county ; moved to McLean Co., 111., in 1854; in the mean time, spent two and a half years in Ohio, and from Richland Co., Ohio, drove their own team through ; after they reached Spring Creek, 111., found but one house in traveling thirty-two miles, to Indian Timber, on their way. For his second wife he married Elizabeth Swinehart, of Montgomery Co., Penn., Aug. 16, 1840; she was born in 1816. John L. Kaufman married Mary Eversole April 16, 1861; she was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1834 ; her father and mother moved to McLean Co. in 1857. Mr. Kaufman came with his parents in 1854 ; he had learned the wagon-making business, and worked at his trade in different places, and part of the time farming, until he moved to Allin Township in the win- ter of 1860, and at repairing for a long time after, for there were no blacksmiths or wagon-mak- ers nearer than Danvers or Bloomington ; has been School-Fund Treasurer three years, and is now Commissioner of Highways and Supervisor. They have four children — William R., born May 9, 1863; Cary B. F., born Dec. 15, 1866 ; Sarah E., born Dec. 30, 1868; Lillie Bell, born Sept. 19, 1872. He owns 400 acres of prairie land and a fine home near Stanford, and no waste land, owing to extensive tilling of all his low, marshy land. ELISHA S. KEARBY, wagon-maker and blacksmith ; P. 0. Stanford ; was born in Madi- son Co., Ky., April 10, 1829; his father, Jesse Kearby, in Woodford Co., Ky., in January, 1805, and his mother, Martha B. (Burnam), in Madison Co., Ky., in 1811 ; he died April 4, 1842, and she died in January, 1879. Elisha S. Kearby married Elizabeth Fletcher Sept. 19, 1850 ; she was born in Garrett Co., Ky., June 5, 1831 ; her father, Thomas Fletcher, was born in the same county in 1792, and died in 1835; her mother, Mary (Lear), was born in Culpeper Co., Va., June 10, 1799, and died Jan. 28, 1873 ; Mrs. Kearby's grandfather, David Lear, was born in 1765, and died August, 1841 ; her grandmother, Lucy (Lear), was born in 1767, and died Sept. 20, 1857, aged 90 years and 9 months. Mr. and Mrs. Kearby came to McLean Co., 111., Dec. 20, 1860, and to Stanford in March, 1867 ; they have had nine children — Mary M , born Oct. 16, 1851 (married Joseph N. Tyner Feb. 23, 1870); Lucy E. B., born April 18, 1854; Nancy A., born Aug. 18, 1856; John T., born Dec. 12, 1859; Sarah A., born Jan. 22, 1863; David F., born May 14, 1866, died March 11, 1870; Dora C, born Dec. 12, 1868; Jesse M., born Sept. 16, 1871 ; Ella May, born March 4, 1874. Mr. Kearby has worked at his trade, without inter- mission, over thirty-five years. HENRY M. KERBAUGH, farmer; P. Stanford; was born in Greene Co., Tenn., Jan. 14, 1823 ; there he followed farming In the fall of 1853, he moved to Allin Township, McLean Co., 111. He married Margaret Davis, daughter of Thomas Davis, of Tennessee; she was born Feb. 19, 1817; they have six children living, viz., Mary K., Joseph D., Martha A., Andrew J., Catherine E. and Lucy J. (twins) ; the first-born, Margaret M., died Aug. 23, 1869, aged 21 years and 1 month. He owns a fine farm of 80 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Kerbaugh and their family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, on Sec. 15, he being a char- ter member, and one of the main organizers and aiders in erecting the edifice ; the Church was organized in what was known as the Indiana Schoolhouse ; and the church was completed and dedicated Aug. 18, 1866. CHRISTOFER LEIBFRITZ, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Stanford : was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, Nov. 17, 1840; came to this country with his father in 1851, who settled in Erie Co., N. Y. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 116th N. Y. V. I. for three years' service ; was mustered in at Buffalo, N. Y. They went to Baltimore, and from there to New Orleans into Gen. Banks' command, and the next spring, the regiment was transferred to Gen. Phil Sheri- dan s command, on the Mississippi River ; he was in the siege of Port Hudson, and nine general engagements ; was mustered out in Washington, D. C, June 27, 1865; received an honorable discharge on their return to Buffalo. He then for awhile went to Monroe Co., N. Y., and in September to McLean Co., 111. He married Mary Springer, of Allin Township. Sept. 8, 1868; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Nov. 16, 1838, and came here with her parents in 1854; her ALLIN TOWNSHIP. 1011 father, Peter Springer, died Sept. 16, 1867, and her mother, Mary Springer, Sept. 5, 1870 ; they have three children — Kate, born Aug. 12, 1870; Emma, June 17, 1872; and Charles F., Dec. 12, 1874. He owns 160 acres of fine prairie land in Allin Township. HENRY LINEBARGER, grain-buyer and shipper, Stanlord ; was born in Jackson Town- ship, Will Co., 111., June 22, 1840 ; his father, Henry Linebarger, was born in Lincoln Co., N. C, Dec. 24, 1807, and emigrated to Will Co., III., in an early day, where he died in the latter part of 1842. Henry L., the subject of this sketch, moved to Stanford in October, 1869. He mar- ried Miss Jane Phillips June 4, 1862; she was born in Strasburg, Germany, Oct. 10, 1844, and^came to this county with her parents, who now reside near Bridgeport, Madison Co., N. Y., in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Linebarger have three children — Joseph O., born March 11, 1864; Ida May, July 4, 1866; Almond, Feb. 21, 1869. Mr. L. and two brothers own two grain-elevators in Stanford, at this time filled with corn His son, Joseph 0., is publishing the Stanford Tribune, a young weekly newspaper, established in February, 1879. JAMES P. McREYNOLDS", farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Posey Co., Ind., Aug. 11, 1828; his father, Leonard, was born in Kentucky ; his mother, Huldah, in Posey Co., Ind. James P. McReynolds married Susan W. Eaton Jan. 18, 1849 ; she was born in Posey Co., Ind., Oct. 4, 1828 ; they moved to Woodford Co., 111., in the fall of 1849, and to Allin Township in April, 1855, to the farm where they now reside ; they have six children — John F., born July 8, 1852; Sarah A., Nov. 25, 1857 ; William A., Aug. 26, 1859 ; Mary E., Aug. 21, 1861; Elmer A., Aug. 13, 1863; Cornelia A., Aug. 18, 1875; John F., the oldest, married Sarah F. Harter, of Brooks Grove, Sept. 26, 1872. Mr. McReynolds owns 165 acres of prairie and timber land. LEONARD A. McREYNOLDS, Justice of the Peace and carpenter and builder, Stan- ford ; was born in Posey Co., Ind., April 14, 1844; moved to Woodford Co., 111., in the fall of 1851, and, two years later, to Allin Township. He married Sarah J. McReynolds, of Posey Co., Ind., Sept. 19, 1865. They have two children, viz., Alcieona B., born Oct. 11, 1866; and Oliver A., born Oct. 13, 1876. In September, 1862, Mr. McReynolds enlisted in the 19th Regt. Iowa Volunteer Infantry, at Abingdon, Jefferson Co., Iowa, for three years. They were immediately mustered into service, and were engaged in action at Prairie Grove, Ark., with Price's rebel force. He was there wounded with a minie-ball through his thigh. His brother William was killed, and 196 others of his regiment. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., thirty days ; soon after, at the capture of Yazoo City, and at the siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, in April, 1865. On their return for discharge at Davenport, Iowa, in September, 1865, there were left out of their regiment only about one hundred of the original enlistment. He then returned to Allin Township (Stanford), and resumed his business of carpenter and builder, which he has since followed ; has been Tax Collector and Clerk of Village Trustees and Trustee, and in April, 1879, was elected Justice of the Peace. JAP. W. MORGAN, station agent and telegraph operator C. & A. R. R.; P. 0. Stanford ; sen of Gerard Morgan, who was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., May 16, 1806, and married Eliza A. Hamilton Jan. 1, 1832. She was born in the same county July 15, 1816. They moved to Deca- tur Co., Ind., in 1834, and to Coles Co., 111., April 11, 1857, and to McLean County in 1875. They have six children, viz., William H., John W., Louellie, Leonidas, James A. and Jap W., the subject of this sketch; he was born in Decatur Co., Ind., May 5, 1854 In September, 1872, went West on a visiting and prospecting tour to California and most of the Territories. Returning to Mattoon, 111., in October, 1874, he then made a tour through the Southern States, Texas and Indian Territory, returning to Bloomington May 5, 1875. He soon commenced study- ing telegraphy, in the employ of the C. & A. R. R. Co. April 18, 1878, he married Miss Emma R. Meagher, daughter of Capt. J. C. Meagher, of Cambridge, Ohio. She was born in Kimbolton, Guernsey Co., Ohio, Aug. 3, 1860, and came to Stanford in June, 1872. CHRISTIAN A. NAFZIGER, groceries, Stanford ; was born in Danvers Township, McLean Co., 111., Jan. 13, 1849 ; his father, Christian P., was born in Baden, Germany, in 1827, and came to this country, landing in New York City in the spring of 1848 ; that year, he moved to Danvers Township, and, in 1850, moved to Tazewell Co., and bought 320 acres of land ; in 1859, he moved to Peoria, and, in 1861, to Allin Township, and, in 1875, to Bloomington ; in 1875-76, he sold out his farms (1,040 acres) in Tazewell and McLean Cos., and bought 120 acres near Bloomington, paying $23,000. He had six children — Christian A., Lizzie, Frederick, Lena, Arthur and Emilie. Christian A., engaged in the business here of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries, etc., in March, 1874 ; sold out in September, 1877, and went to Bloomington and clerked for awhile, but bought back his old store in the spring and reduced it to groceries exclusively. He married Lizzie B. Gardiner, of Allin Township, Oct. 15, 1878 ; she was born there Aug. 26, 1857. He is an active, wide-awake Republican, taking a lively interest in town and county elections. They have one boy. born May 4, 1879. CR1STIAN W. NAFFZIGER, dealer in lumber, coal, Whitehall tile, salt, lime, cement, etc., Stanford ; was born in Hessen, Germany May 28, 1819 ; there he followed farming until he came to this country ; the 22d day of September, 1846, he landed in New York ; he went to Butler Co., Ohio, and from there to McLean Co., III., in the spring of 1854; in the fall, he bought a farm of 160 acres in Allin Township, and now owns 120 acres; this is worked by his three 1012 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: oldest sons. He married Elizabeth Eresmann March 15, 1849; she was born in (he same place in Germany in November, 1823, and came to this country with her parents in 1842 : they have six children — John H., Christian F., Eliza M., Gustave A., Lena E. and William H. John H. mar- ried Elmira Naffziger : Eliza M. married Henry Linkert. Mr. Naffziger has been in his present business a little more than a year, and is the only one in like business here. JEREMIAH NEFF, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O.Stanford; was born in Rockingham Co., Va„ Dec. 20, 1819; his father, Abraham Neff, and his mother, Catherine, were born in the same county. Jeremiah Neff married Catherine Riser Dec. 22, 1846 : she was born in Augusta Co., Va., June 20, 1823 ; her father, George Riser, and her mother, Susan Riser, were born in the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Neff have had seven children — John Edward, born Sept. 23, 1847 (he married Catherine Wright) : George Marion, born Sept. 6, 1850. died Oct. 18, 1862, of diphtheria (all the children were attacked with the same disease, and, but for timely discovery, all would, undoubtedly, have died); Lydia Jane, born Jan. 30, 1853 (married Silas Hains) ; Caroline Susan, born March 15,1855; Pleasant Harvey, born Feb. 7, 1858 ; William Henry, born May 26, 1860; Elizabeth Ann, born Jan. 10, 1863, and Philander Artemus, born Oct. 3, 1865. Mr. Neff came overland, direct to Allin Township, with his own team, and was five weeks and three days on the road ; arrived here in October, 1856 ; he owns 743 acres of land in this township and Ransas. In politics, is a Democrat. JACOB W. OSMUN, farmer and mechanic ; P. O. Stanford; was born in Bureau Co., 111., Feb. 22, 1844; came to Allin Township in March, 1861. He enlisted in the 94th Regt. 111. Inf. in August, 1862, for three years' service ; was mustered in August 17, and served out his full term ; was mustered out in Galveston, Tex., at the expiration of his term, but, with what was left of his regiment, was discharged at Springfield, 111.; he was in nine engagements, viz., Prai- rie Grove, Van Buren, siege of Vicksburg, Spanish Fort, Fort Morgan, Mobile and Brownsville, Tex., Morganzia and Yazoo City, and numerous skirmishes ; himself and Edward R. Stahl, of his regiment, were the first to enter Fort Morgan ; they captured a rebel flag and a tobacco-box. He married Luella Snodgrass Feb. 28, 1869 ; she was born in McLean Co., 111., May 10, 1851 ; they have had four children — Minnie May, born Dec. 21, 1869; Annie A , May 3, 1871 ; Lunna, born Oct. 3, 1873, and Milton X., born Jan. 17, 1875; Annie A. died in October, 1871. In pol- itics, he is a Democrat. NATHANIEL PERRY, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O.Stanford; was born in Jessamine Co., Ry., Sept. 24, 1817, and came to McLean Co., with his parents, in 1836; his father, John Perry, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., Feb. 22, 1790; he married Charity Pew July 25, 1815, in Mercer Co., Ry.; she was born in North Tarolina March 10, 1800 ; she died April 10, 1863, and he died Aug. 12, 1865. Mr. Nathaniel Perry married Polly Margaret McCullough July 30, 1846; she was born in Fleming Co., Ry., Jan. 10, 1825, and, with her parents, came to Dry Grove Township in 1826; her father, Peter McCullough, that year erected the first house built by a white man in Dry Grove Township, McLean Co. They have had twelve children — Mary E., born April 24, 1847 (she married Wm A. Shields) ; Mary F., born Dec. 4, 1848 (she mar- ried Abraham Crist) ; Edmond R., born June 18, 1851 (he married Sallie A. Harrison) ; William R., born March 22, 1853 ; Jessamine Y., born Jan. 15, 1855 (married Remp James) ; Milburn B., born Jan. 27, 1857; Nathaniel R., born Jan. 20, 1859; Charity M., born April 20, 1861; Hetty Ann, born Sept. 8, 1863, died Aug. 4, 1864; George O., born March 26, 1865, died March 21, 1866; Frank, born June 23, 1869, and Gabrilla, born May 19, 1871. He owns 642 acres prairie and timber land. Is a Democrat, politically. WILLIAM R. PERRY, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O.Stanford; was born in Danvers Township, Dry Grove, March 22, 1853; has always followed farming and stock-raising. He married Miss Lillie E. Briggs April 1, 1878; she was born in Tazewell Co., 111., April 14, 1859 ; her father, John S., was born in Rentucky May 31, 1818, and married Amanda N. Railsback Oct. 14, 1841; she was born in Tennessee Dec. 4, 1823; she now lives in Tazewell Co., 111. William R. Perry owns 160 acres in Ringamn Co., Ran. In politics, is a Democrat. ADDISON RITCHIE, farmer, stock-raiser and hunter: P. 0. Stanford ; was born in Rock- ingham Co., Va., Feb. 17, 1834; was raised on a farm and has followed the business, together with hunting wild game, a pursuit he has always been devoted to ; he moved to Brown's Grove, Allin Township, in November, 1857. He married Miss Isabelle Bozarth Feb. 16, 1860; she was born in Christian Co., Ry., Feb. 9, 1835, and came here with her parents in 1839. His father, John Ritchie, was born in Rockingham Co., Va., April 5, 1799, and died at Brown's Grove Oct. 3, 1860, and his mother, Magdalene, was born in the same county March 8, 1800, and died Nov. 1, 1854, in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. A. Ritchie have had five children— Robert F., born Sept. 16. 1861. and died Sept. 28, 1865 ; Leslie A. was born Sept, 20, 1866 ; Ira J., born March 8, 1868, died Feb. 20, 1869 ; George M. was born May 24, 1870 ; Addie Bell was born Jan. 24, 1874. He owns 265 acres of prairie and timber land in Sec. 14, Allin Township. WILLIAM C RUSMISELL, dry goods, notions, boots and shoes, etc., Stanford ; was born in Augusta Co., Va., July 18, 1835; he came to McLean Co. with his parents in 1848. His father, David R., was born in Augusta Co., Va., in 1808, and married Catherine Deal in 1833; she was born in the same county July 1, 1811; they had twelve children — five only are now living; he died in May, 1860 ; his death was hastened by his being accidentally thrown from his ALLIN TOWNSHIP. 1013 carriage. William C, the subject of this sketch, enlisted in the 94th I. V. I., Aug. 12, 1862, and served two years and nine months, participating in several engagements, and received an honorable discharge in April, 1865, on account of chronic (diarrhoea) disease, which he ha» not yet recovered from. He returned to Danvers Township. In August, 1869, engaged at clerking in Bloomington, and Oct. 20, 1871, came to Stanford and engaged in mercantile busi- ness on his own account. He married Miss Delia Johnston Dec. 15, 1870 ; she was born at Branch Hill, Clermont Co., Ohio, Aug. 31, 1843. He was appointed Postmaster at Stanford Jan. 26, 1874, and still holds the position in connection with his store. HENRY J. SCHULZ, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Stanford; was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 7, 1827 ; his father, Christopher, and his mother, Catharine Dorothea, were born in the same place; Mr. Schulz landed in New York City Oct. 18, 1856; came to Joliet, 111., in March, 1857. and to Tazewell Co. in June, 1860, where he remained about six years ; he moved to the farm, where he now resides, in Allin Township, in March, 1866. He married Miss Jane Bolton Dec. 8, 1870 ; she was born in Yorkshire, England ; her father, John Bolton, was born Dec. 15, 1816, and still lives in Yorkshire; her mother, Fanny (Carter), was born May 26, 1815,. and died March 5, 1871, in Yorkshire. Mrs. Jane Schulz came to New York June 17, and from there to Bloomington, 111., the 25th of June, 1868; they have had five children — John B., born Sept. 30, 1871 ; Dora, Jan. 14, 1873: Fannie born April 28, 1874, died Aug. 25, 1877; Henry H., born Oct. 17, 1876, died Aug. 19, 1877, and Frank, born March 4, 1878. They own a fine prairie farm of 120 acres. GEORGE SHUTT, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., Aug. 31, 1826 ; went to Berks Co. soon after, with his parents, and to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1842 ; there he obtained work on the canal at 75 cents a day, until he had a little over $20 — the most money he had ever possessed ; worked at whatever he could get to do until 1852, when he went to La Fayette, Ind. He married Elizabeth Waltz, daughter of Elias and Rachel Waltz, of Montgomery Co., Ohio, Oct. 25, 1849. In the fall of 1860, they moved to Shelby Co., Ind., and bought his father's farm; in September, 1864, they sold the farm and moved to Bloomington, 111. : in the meantime followed farming; in March, 1869, he bought 200 acres in Sec. 1, Allin Township, where they now reside ; they have had ten children — Cyrus W., born July 9, 1850 (he married Mary F. Rector Nov 1, 1877); William A., born Sept. 19, 1851 ; Elias B., Sept. 28, 1854 ; Sarah I., March 9, 1859; Oliver F., July 25, 1861 ;. John E., Jan. 27, 1865: Lucetta J., born June 9, 1853, and died Sept. 6, 1854; Joseph A., born .April 23, 1857, died Sept, 20, 1857 : George W., born Jan. 8, 1864, died Feb. 10, 1864 ; Richard R., born Jan. 27, 1872, died July 10, 1872. They now own 210 acres of prairie and timber in Allin Township and 160 in Nebraska. Mr. Shutt, in his youth, never had any school advant- ages ; never owned a slate until he bought one for his children, for whom he takes pleasure in providing the ways and means for a good education : nevertheless, he has applied himself in such ways as he could and made himself competent to transact all business that he is called upon to do. PETER D. SPRINGER, Justice of the Peace, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Stanford; was- born in Lorraine, France, Sept. 5, 1828 ; his father, Christian Springer, was born Oct. 15, 1792, and his mother, Magdalena (Engel), was born Feb. 2, 1796 ; both were born in Lorraine, France. From 1812 to 1815; he was in the service of, and member of the body guard of Napoleon the First. He came to the United States, and landed at New Orleans June 12, 1830 ; went to Hamil- ton, Butler Co., Ohio, July 5, the same year, and to Danvers, McLean Co., 111., Nov. 10, 1854, and to Allin Township, where he now resides in 1856. His wife, Magdalena, died Sept, 30, 1870 Peter D. Springer went into partnership with his brother, Joseph E., in general dry goods busL ness, in Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, in 1853; their store was destroyed by fire in.February- 1854, destroying nearly their entire stock; he then went to Peoria, 111., and engaged clerking in a wholesale and retail dry-goods house two years. He married Eliza Brenneman Nov. 13, 1856 ; she was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, Oct. 13, 1831 ; her father, Daniel Brenneman, was born March 16, 1804, and her mother, Elizabeth (Iutzi), was born Oct. 16, 1806 ; both were born in Hesse Cassel. Mr. and Mrs. Springer have had six children — Emelia P., born Sept, 17, 1857, died Oct. 17, 1857; Mary E., born Oct. 29, 1858; Edward D.. born June 24, 1861, died March 12, 1872 ; Emma A., born Aug. 13, 1863 ; George B., born April 14, 1866, died May 5, 1867, and William H., born July 12, 1868. Mr. Springer has held several offices in his town ; was elected Justice of the Peace, in 1873, and re-elected in 1878. He owns a fine farm and good home. In politics, is a Democrat. ANDREW SUMMERS, M. D., retired physician, Stanford ; was born in Pendleton Co., Va., about 1812; went to Franklin Co., Ohio, and to De Witt Co.. Ill , in 1856, where he resided about one year and a half; he then moved to Tazewell Co., where he resided about four years ; he then came to Allin Township, and bought a farm : he moved to Stanford in 1868. He com- menced the practice of medicine in 1836, and practiced with skill and success about forty years. He married Miss Elvila Dillow April 18, 1833 ; she was born in Jefferson Co., Va., June 20, 1814. They have had ten children, seven are now living — Valentine, Olive, Montraville, Calvin A , lchabod N., Livonia and Zelotes F. Alonzo De A., died Oct. 21, 1865, in the Indian Territory, aged 29 years 5 months 15 days ; Calvin A. died June 28, 1862, aged 22 years 4 months and 7 1014 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: days ; he was killed at Allatoona Pass, Ga., in the discharge of his duty in the Union service; only sixteen of Co. E, 7th Regt. I. V. I., came out alive; fifty-six went into action. Malvina died Dec. 19, 1850, aged 6 years 6 months and 27 days. Dr. Summers was elected Justice of the Peace in Ohio, and held the office three years ; but his life has been mainly devoted to his pro- fession. RICHARD A. WARLOW, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Stanford; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., March 20, 1822, and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Bond) Warlow, who were among the earliest settlers of McLean Co., settling on the "Bond Farm," in Dry Grove Town- ship, in the spring of 1837. He was born in New York City, and she in Massachusetts. In June, 1832, they moved to Painesville, Ohio, and, in September following, they reached Circle- ville, Ohio, and, in 1834, they moved to McLean Co., 111., and, as will be observed, to the " Bond Farm," in 1837. Early that year, they entered the quarter-section (Sec. 12) where Richard A. now resides, in Allin Township. Mr. Richard A. Warlow married Miss Lovina Bozarth, of Allin Township, April 29, 1849; she was born in Christian Co., Ky., April 3, 1829, and came here with her parents in 1839. They have seven children, viz.: Leslie, born March 31, 1851 (he married Georgie Taylor) ; John B., Sept. 26, 1853 (he married Frances Bower) ; Belle, March 13, 1856; Ellen F., May 3, 1858; Julia, July 31, 1860; Charles A., July 2, 1862, and Sarah A., Sept. 13, 1864. Their house was destroyed by fire, March 27, 1856. They saved very little furniture, and barely their lives. They rebuilt, and moved into their new house before it was finished, in November following. He owns about 870 acres — five fine farm houses, with out- buildings. In politics, is a Democrat. JAMES A. WALTER, farmer and mechanic ; P. 0. Stanford ; was born in Ohio May 14, 1820. When 3 years old, his parents moved to Richland Co., Ohio. When he was 17, he went to Franklin Co., Ohio, and worked eight years in grist and saw mills. He married Margaret Spangler in Franklin Co., Ohio (where she was born), May 28, 1842 ; she was born March 12, 1825. By her he had one child — Mary S.; she married David Bierbower, and lives in Martin Township, McLean Co. Mr. Walter moved to Harley's Grove, Dale Township, in September, 1856, and to Allin Township in the spring of 1858, and owns eighty-eight acres of excellent land and a fine house in Allin and Dale Townships. His house is in Allin Township. In politics, he is a Democrat. SAMUEL B. WRIGHT, M. D., physician and surgeon, and druggist, Stanford ; was born in Sumner Co., Tenn., June 18, 1850. He read medicine, and graduated at the University in Nashville, in 1875. He also was one of the first graduates of the Vanderbilt University, of Nashville, in the same year. In March, 1875, he came to Stanford and commenced practice, and the next year opened his drug store. He married Miss Brooks, a daughter of Presley T. Brooks, of Brooks' Grove, Allin Township, Dec. 23, 1875. They have two children — Homer, born Sept. 20, 1876, and John T., Sept. 30, 1877. BELLEFLOWER TOWNSHIP. CHARLES BAKER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Belleflower; was born in Massachusetts Dec. 14, 1828; came to this State and settled in Belleflower Township. McLean Co., in 1868. Since his residence here he has held the offices of School Trustee and Director six years. He was married in 1855, to Miss Eliza J. Nichols, who was born in Massachusetts Dec. 20, 1837. They have five children — Alvin L., Wilber I., Elmer E., Wallace F. and Carl L. The farm of Mr. Baker consists of eighty acres, valued at $3,500. W. T. BRADBURY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Belleflower; one of the early settlers of the township; was born in Clermont Co., Ohio," June 26, 1830;jcame to this State and settled in Belleflower, McLean Co., in 1860. Since his residence in the township, he has held the office of Supervisor one year, Treasurer and Collector twelve years each. His farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $6,000. In 1852, he was married to Miss Tempa E. Gibson, who was born in Indiana Dec. 11, 1834. They have seven children— John E., H. E., E. S. and E. S. (twins), Mertie M., Thomas W. and James M. J. H. BURNS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Belleflower; was born in Maryland Jan. 19, 1848. Came to this State and settled in Tazewell Co., in 1870, and in the same year removed to McLean Co., where he has since resided. His pursuits since his residence here have been that of a farmer and stock-raiser. He is now farming 160 acres. He has held the office of Road Commissioner three years. In 1871, he was married to Miss Rebecca A. Petry. They have four children — Annie May, Willie H., Cora I. and an infant. J. C. BUTCHER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Belleflower ; one of our first settlers ; was born in Indiana Oct. 7, 18i!9 ; came to this State in 1852, and settled in Buckles' Grove, McLean Co., in the same year; he removed to Belleflower in 1859, at that time called Prairie. He was married, in 1851, to Miss Jane E. Emmitt, now deceased, who was born in Indiana Aug. 21, 1834 ; they have had six children, four of whom are living — Sarah F., Emma L., John A. and BELLEFLOWER BELLEFLOWER TOWNSHIP. 1017 Ida A.; deceased — William T. and James M. Mr. Butcher's second marriage occurred Oct. 2, 1872 ; his second wife's name w; s Miss Susan Harris, who was born in Illinois July 27, 1838 ; they have two children — Jay S. and Myron H. The farm of Mr. Butcher consists of 165 acres, valued at $6,600. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and was a contributor to its con- struction. JOHN CARLYL, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Belleflower ; one of the first and most prominent settlers of the township ; was born at Srawns on Millbank, St. Mungo, Dumfries- shire, Scotland, Feb. 18, 1822; came to the United States in 1861, and settled in McLean Co., this State, in the same year. He was married at Linn Hall, Tundergarth, on the 6th day of March, 1855, to Miss Mary Smith, who was born at Linn Hall, Scotland, Feb. 18, 1827; they have had seven children, four of whom are living — Helen B., Walter, John Smith and Janet; deceased — Margaret J., died Oct. 10, 1864; Jemima A., died April 27, 1868; Mary Jane M., died June 12, 1877; the farm of Mr. Carlyl, which is named by him Pleasant Park, consists of 400 acres, valued at $10,000. MARTIN V. CLINE, farmer and stock -raiser ; P. O. Belleflower ; one of the early settlers; was born in Ohio April 15, 1837 ; came to this State with his father's family, and settled in Sangamon Co., in 1840. In 1863, he was married to Miss Annie Smith, who was born in Mich- igan June 28, 1841 ; they have three children — Jacob S., Silas and Edith. In 1861, he removed from Sangamon Co. to McLean Co. His farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $5,000. THOMAS DILLON, general merchant, Osman ; one of the first settlers, and owner of the entire village; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 13, 1843, came to this State in 1869, and to this county and settled at Osman, Belleflower Township, in 1874. In the same year, at Brook- lyn, N. Y - ., he was married to Miss Mary A. Hartigan. Since Mr. Dillon's residence in Osman, his occupation has been that of a general merchant, railroad and express agent and Postmaster. ISAAC E. FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Belleflower ; one of the natives of Illinois ; was born in McLean Co., 111., Feb. 10, 1843. He is the son of the late John Funk, deceased, who was one of the first settlers and pioneers of this county. Mr. Funk was married Dec. 24, 1867, to Miss Mary Jenkins, who was born in Virginia March 23, 1848; they have had four children, three of whom are living, viz., Bettie L., Guy J. and Lafayette; deceased — Julia Anne. Since Mr. Funk's residence in the township, he has held the offices of School Director and Road Commissioner several years. His farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $5,000. He was a participant in the late war ; he enlisted in the 117th I. V. I., served three years, and was dis- charged with honor at the close of the war. L. B. GRANT, collecting agent, Postmaster and Justice of the Peace, Belleflower ; was born in Ralls Co.. Mo., Feb. 10, 1825; came to this State and settled in Sangamon Co. in 1840, and removed from there to McLean Co. in 1865; in 1841, he entered on an apprenticeship as black- smith, served out his time, and his avocation has been such until the last few years of his resi- dence in this township. He was married Feb 4, 1850, to Miss Siren Rhea, who was born in San- gamon Co., 111., March 3, 1830; they have seven children, viz., Mary Alice, Peter, Susan, Ulysses S., Cora, Edward and Richard. Mr. Grant has held the office of Justice of the Peace in this township for six years, and, during his residence in Sangamon Co., held the office of Col- lector one term. GEORGE HELENA, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Belleflower; one of the early settlers of the county ; was born in Washington Co., Md., Aug. 31, 1829 ; came to this State in 1857, and settled in McLean Co. He has been a resident of Belleflower since 1871. In 1855, he was married to Miss Rachel Wendel, who was born in Virginia, Nov. 27, 1 827 ; they have had eight children, five of whom are living, viz., Martin L., Simon Francis, George J., Lee Wesley and William Milton ; deceased — John Henry, Mary C. and Franklin David. The farm of Mr. Helena 'consists of 160 acres, valued at $5,000. MRS. ELIZABETH INGLE, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Saybrook ; one of the first set- tlers of Belleflower Township ; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., July 14, 1844 ; came to this State with her parents when 7 years old, and settled in McLean Co. ; sbe is the widow of the late William Ingle, deceased, who was born in Tennessee Dec. 20, 1826, and who died March 5, 1877; they have had eleven children, five of whom are living, viz., Nettie, Sadie, Ella, Hilary and James ; deceased — Millie, Henry, Amos, Charles and two infants. The farm of Mrs. Ingle con- sists of 152 acres, valued at $6,000. L. S. JONES, farmer and stock-raiser ; P 0. Belleflower ; was born in De Witt Co. Sept. 1, 1845 ; came to McLean Co. in 1858, and settled in Belleflower Township in 1870. He was married to Miss Nellie F. Moore, who was born in McLean Co., 111., Aug, 29, 1844; they have had three children, two of whom are living, viz., Grace B. and Percival ; deceased, Willie J. The farm of Mr. Jones consists of 118J acres, valued at $4,200. He was a participant in the late war, enlisting in the 145th Regt. I. V. I. ; served five months under Governor's* call, at the expiration of which time he was discharged with honor. GEORGE KIRK, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Kumler ; was born in Kentucky Aug. 24, 1842. Came to this State and settled in McLean Co. in 1874. He has been a resident of Belle- flower Township since 1875. His farm consists of 100 acres, valued at $4,000. He was mar- ried Feb. 4, 1873, to Miss Euphrasia Reynolds, who was born in Kentucky Jan. 9, 1846. They uu 1018 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: have three children — Linden, Theodore H. and May F. Mr. Kirk was a participant in the late war, having enlisted in Co. L, 2d Regiment Ky. V. C, and serving three years and three months. His time of enlistment had more than expired when he was discharged with honor, Feb. 13, 1865. JOHN KISSACK, farmer and stock raiser ; P. 0. Kumler ; one of the early settlers of the township ; was born in England Feb. 12, 1844. Came to the United States in 1866, and to this State in 1867, and settled in Tazewell Co. In 1871, he removed to McLean Co., and settled in Belleflower Township. His farm consists of 241 £ acres, 160 of which are located in Piatt and De Witt Counties. The whole is valued at $8,000. NORRIS C. LA TEER. farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Belleflower; one of the early set- tlers; was born in Sussex Co., N J., Feb. 6, 1821. Came to this State in 1858, and settled in Belleflower Township, this county, in 1861. Then purchased the farm he now owns, which consists of eighty acres, valued at $2,500. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Cynthia Ann Jayne, who was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 16, 1827. They have had four children — Henry E., Lydia C, W. J. and Susie J. Since Mr. La Teer's residence in the township, he has held the office of Supervisor six years, and is at present Commissioner of Highways. ALBERT H. MARQUIS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Belleflower ; one of the early set- tlers of the county ; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1834 ; came to this State in 1853, but did not make a permanent settlement until 1865 ; having in his boyhood days a proclivity for traveling, he set out for this State in the employ of Clafflin & Co., of Ohio, manufacturers of paper ; while in their employ, he traveled principally through the eastern part of this State and Indiana with a team, as at that time there were no railroads in this section of the country. Since his residence in this county, he has held the office of Supervisor and other prominent offices. In 1861, he was married to Miss Martha J. Logan, who was born in New York ; they have six children, viz., Ross, George, Frank, Harry K., Ralph S. and Mabel. The farm of Mr. Marquis consists of 160 acres, valued at $6,500. JOHN H. MARSH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Kumler ; was born in Indiana April 27, 1853 ; came to this State and settled in McLean Co., in 1875; his farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $6,000. He was married Feb. 25, 1874, to Miss Lida Leming, who was born in Indiana April 6, 1857 ; they have one child, viz., Archie L. R. E. MORELAND, grain dealer, Belleflower: one of the early settlers of Belleflower Town- ship ; was born in Virginia April 7, 1833 : when he was four years old, he moved with his parents from his native State to Ohio, where he remained until 1850, when he came to Illinois and settled in Tazewell Co. ; in 1858, he removed to McLean Co., and settled in Belleflower Township, at which time he made some investments in land ; his present farm consists of 160 acres. He was married to Miss Margaret A. Davis, who was born in Illinois May 11, 1838; she is the daughter of Mr. H. Davis, who is one of the first settlers and pioneers of Tazewell Co. ; they have seven children, viz., Anna, Nellie, Jennie, Eddie, Albert B., Isabel and Thurman. Since Mr. More- land's residence in the township, he has held the office of Justice of the Peace fourteen years ; he has also held the office of Township Clerk, and nearly all the other township offices ; he is now Notary Public, which position he has held six years. BERNARD MORELAND, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Belleflower ; one of the early set- tlers in the southeastern part of McLean Co. ; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, May 7, 1837 ; came to this State and settled in Tazewell Co. in 1851, and, in 1858, removed to McLean Co. and settled in Belleflower Township ; his pursuits have been that of a farmer and stock-raiser from boyhood ; his present farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $6,400. He was married to Miss Elizabeth West, who was born in Indiana ; they have three children — Mason B., Ambrose and Walter. Mr. Moreland served in Quartermaster's Department about six months during the late war ; since his residence in this township he has held the office of Assessor three years. JOHN NICOL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Belleflower; one of the early settlers of the county: was born in Lochmaben, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, May 15, 1823; came to the United States, in 1852, and settled in McLean Co., this State, in the same year. In 1851, he was married to Miss Jane Wells, now deceased, who was born at Lochmaben, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, in 1833, and who died in 1863 : they have had eight children, six of whom are living — Andrew, Mary, Margaret, Jane, Helen and Janet : deceased, two infants. Since Mr. Nicol's residence in this township, he has held office of School Trustee six years ; he is now Highway Commissioner. His farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $6,400. T. L. PAULL1N, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Belleflower; was born in Ohio Sept. 8, 1849 ; came to this State with his father's family and settled in Logan Co., in 1851. Mr. Paullin was married, in 1871, to Miss Nannie J. Constant, who was born in Sangamon Co., 111., March 21, 1854; they have had three children, two of whom are living— Edna and Walker; deceased, Ernest. Since Mr. Paullin's residence in this township, which has been since 1873, he has held offices of Roadmaster and School Director. His farm consists of 200 acres, valued at $7,000. HUGH R. PORTER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Osman ; an early settler in the south- eastern portion of McLean Co.; was born in London, Eng., Jan. 14, 1845; came to the United States in 1854, and settled in McLean Co., 111., in 1863. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Eliza Walker, who was born in Liverpool, Eng., Sept. 1, 1853 ; his farm consists of 172 acres of land. BELLEFLOWER TOWNSHIP. 1019 valued at $6,000. He served a short time as teamster in the late war, in a pressed gang from Tennessee ; being a Union man, and loyal to the U. S. Government, this was forced upon him against his will. He is the first settler in this part of the county, coming here when transpor- tation was done with horse and mule teams, and his nearest post office was twelve miles distant ; game was plentiful in those days, consisting of deer, geese, etc., and, in the year 1867, he had 200 bushels of cribbed corn destroyed by them. Mr. P. has lived to see and take part in the construction of the public roads all over this vicinity: he has traveled nearly this whole world over, and this to him is the best of all countries. JOHN E. RAWLINGS, farmer and breeder of fine stock ; P. O. Kumler ; one of the early settlers of the State ; was born in Fleming Ca., Ky., Oct. 18, 1810 ; came to this State, in 1837, and settled in Sangamon Co. in the same year; he has been a resident of McLean Co. since 1859; his farm consists of 160 acres, valued at §6,000. Previous to his coming to this county, he resided in Menard and Sangamon Counties twenty-four years, during which time he held the office of Justice of the Peace in Menard eight years ; Constable in Sangamon three years, and Coroner in Menard two years. He was married, in 1834, to Miss Polly Scott, who was born in Tennessee ; they have had seven children — five of whom are living — Austin. Ella, Minnie, Francis A. and John F.; deceased — Louisa and Mary Jane. Austin, the eldest son of Mr. Raw- lings, served four years in the late war; he enlisted in the 1st Mo. Cav., which was afterward credited to this State, at the expiration of which time he re-enlisted as a veteran ; was promoted Sergeant, and later was elected 2d Lieutenant; he served until the close of the war, when he was discharged with honor by general order. ROBERT ROME, general merchant, Belletiower ; one of the most prominent settlers ; was born in Scotland Oct. 20, 1847 ; came to the United States and this State in 1871, and sett'ed in Belleflower, McLean Co., in the same year; his occupation, since residing here, has been that of a general merchant; he is the constructor and proprietor of the third oldest establishment in the township. In 1874, he was married to Miss Agnes Brown, who was born in Scotland Jan. 3, 1852 ; they have two children — Sarah Jane and Clara Agnes. J. W. SNYDER, farmer, stock-raiser and manufacturer of tile ; P. O. Belleflower ; one of the most prominent settlers ; was born in Indiana Jan. 29, 1829; he is the son of Mr Simon E. Snyder, who is one of the early settlers of that State. Mr. Snyder came to this State in 1873, and, in 1874, settled in Belleflower Township, McLean Co.; since his residence here, his pursuits have been that of a farmer, stock-raiser and manufacturer of tile. In 1850, he was married to Miss Mary A. Benner, who was born in Indiana ; they have had five children, three of whom are living, viz., Cyrus, Orville, and Charles; deceased — Simon and Dora A. The farm of Mr. Snyder consists of 300 acres, valued at $12,000. G. W. STOKES, druggist and grocer, Belleflower : was born at Huddersfield Bridge, England, April 28, 1849 ; came to the United States with his father's family in 1853, and settled in Chicago, this State, in the same year. He has been a resident of McLean Co. for the past four years, during which time his pursuits have been that of a druggist and grocer. In 1875, he was married to Miss Julia P. Winter, who was born in Bureau Co., 111., Feb. 4, 1856; they have two children — Arthur Winter and George Armitage. MARK M. SUTHERLAND, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Belleflower ; one of the natives of Illinois ; was born in Cook Co. March 14, 1845 ; came to McLean Co. in 1872, and then settled in Belleflower Township; his farm consists of eighty acres, valued at $4,000. He was married, in 1865, to Miss Beulah J. Foster, who was born in Canada Oct. 30, 1843 ; they have had five children, three of whom are living, viz., Silas S., Harriet E. and Richard W.; deceased — Lydia and an infant. Mr. Sutherland has held the office of School Director constantly since his resi- dence in this township. HENRY TOBIN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Osman ; was born in Tipperary Co., Ire- land, Jan. 27, 1842 ; came to the United States and to this State in 1857, and settled in McLean Co. in 1863. His farm consists of 120 acres, valued at $3,600. In 1865, he was married to Miss Lizzie Huston, now deceased ; in 1874, he married again, to Miss Lizzie Trainor, of Bloom- ington, 111.; they have one child — Nellie. MARTIN M. VREELAND, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Belleflower; was born in New Jersey Oct. 14, 1828; came to this State in 1860, and to this county and settled in Belleflower Township in 1870. In 1875, he was married to Miss Mary A. Hamilton, who was born in New Jersey Feb. 16, 1837; they have three children — Jane A., Charles McClellan and Mary E. The farm of Mr. Vreeland consists of 100 acres, valued at $4,000. PETER M. VREELAND, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Belleflower; was born in New Jersey April 8, 1831 ; came to this State, in 1867, and settled in McLean Co. in the same year. He has been a resident of Belleflower Township since 1870 ; his farm consists of eighty acres, valued at $3,000. He was married Nov. 28, 1867, to Miss Silvira Jones, who was born in DeWitt Co., 111., Sept. 8, 1843; they have three children— Elmira J., John M. and Lucian M. WILLARD D. WARNER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Osman; was born in the State of New York Sept. 22, 1835 ; came to this State with his father's family when he was 9 years old ; they settled in Tazewell Co. In 1859, he was married to Miss Sarah Anne Lawrence, who was born in Indiana Jan. 12, 1841 ; they have four children — Frank L., Edith A., Lemma M. and Adelia A. The farm of Mr. Warner consists of 124 acres, valued at $5,000. 1020 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: G. W. WHEELER, deceased, whose portrait appears in this work, was born near Bristol, Hartford Co., Conn., Aug. 29, 1820 ; his father's name was William, and was of English descent ; his mother's maiden name was Hila Curtis; his father died while he was still a child, after which he continued to reside with his mother until he was 18 years of age, when he went to New York State, and was engaged with his brother peddling goods for about two years ; in the year 1840, he went to Kalamazoo Co., Mich., and worked upon a farm for his brother for four years, and then went to Scioto, opposite the city of Portsmouth, and worked in a foundry ; there; on June 21, 1846, he married Miss Helen M. Wilson, daughter of John and Isabella Wilson, of Pennsylvania, and immediately afterward moved to Kalamazoo Co., Mich., and engaged in farming up to 1858, when he came to the State of Illinois, and first settled in Bureau Co., and from there, in the year 1858, came to Belleflower Township, in McLean Co., and settled upon the farm upon which his widow still resides, where he died Oct. 26, 1877. His estate con- tains 320 acres. His family consisted of ten children, nine of whom are living— Armina I. (now Mrs. John H. Dean, of Belleflower Township, married in April, 1865), Allie M. (now Mrs. Frank Dixen, of Bloomington, married July 9, 1874), John N. (who married Miss Jennie Conrad March 4, 1879, and lives in Belleflower Township) : the following still live at home — Thomas M. (who married March 7, 1879, Miss Laura Garst of Allin Township), Alida V., Nettie I., George W., Frank W., Nellie M., and one deceased, Lewis. MONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP. AUSTIN Y. BARNARD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20; P. O. Towanda ; born in Money Creek Township Feb. 19, 1841, which has been his home since, with the exception of a residence in Ford Co., 111., for four years. Enlisted' in August, 1862, in Co. I, 94th 1. V. I., and served until the close of the war; he was in the following engagements : Prairie Grove, Ark., siege of Vicksburg, and other battles and skirmishes about Vicksburg, Fort Morgan, Ala., Spanish Fort, same State, and Mobile ; was with the regiment in Texas, and during their stay they were for a short time on Mexican soil for the protection of the American Consul at Matamoras. Married, in 1866, Miss Tabitha A. Trimmer, who was born in Money Creek Township ; five children by this union, three living — Myron D., Ida C. and Ada A.; lost two — Allie, died in 1874 ; Ranson, died in 1870. Mr. B. is a member of Lodge, No. 206, I. O. O. F. LEVI BARNARD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Towanda ; born in Money Creek Township, this county, Sept. 1, 1843. His father, Melman N. Barnard, being one of the early settlers, having settled in this county nearly fifty years ago. The subject of this sketch now resides within one-half mile of his birth-place. Married, in 1868, Miss Caroline Morris, who was born in Ohio ; four children by this union, two living — Jesse H. and Melman N.; lost t W o — Edgar L., died in 1873 ; one died in infancy. SAMUEL F. BARNARD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Towanda ; born in Money Creek Township May 31, 1837; his father, Melman N. Barnard, settled in the township forty- eight years ago ; he came to the county about 1831. The subject of this sketch now resides on the land entered by his father, and within one-half mile of his birth-place; owns 151 acres of land in Money Creek Township ; served as Town Clerk two years, and School Director nine years. Married, in 1858, Miss Nancy J. Poulson, who was born in Ohio ; she died Feb. 28, 1872; four children by this union, three living — John M., Sherman E. and Ethel; lost one — Dora A. ; she died in 1861. Was again married, in November, 1872, to Ruth A. Wilson, who was born in Washington Co., Penn. ROBERT FINCHAM, farmer; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old settlers of Money Creek Township, McLean Co., 111. The subject of this sketch is known as Uncle Robert Fincham ; he was born in Culpeper Co., Va., May 7, 1811 ; at 10 years of age, he commenced to follow the plow, and from this time was constantly employed upon the farm. Upon the 25th of January, 1831, he was united in marriage with Emma Weakley ; she was born Jan. 11, 1815, in the above county. In September, 1831, their capital consisted of one bed, their clothes, three knives and forks, one skillet, two tin cups and $13 in cash ; with the above worldly goods, they started out in the world to seek their fortune, their destination being Ohio ; contracting for the bringing of their bed and clothes to Ohio, they crossed the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains, and arrived in what is now Licking Co., Ohio, upon Oct. 12, 1831, having traveled the whole distance upon foot. Upon arriving at their place of destination, and paying $7 for bringing his bed and clothes, his capital consisted of $1.50; they invested $1 in provisions, and in a short time paid their last 50 cents as double postage upon a letter ; he obtained permission to occupy a vacant cabin, into which he moved and lived the first winter ; he first obtained work at chopping cord-wood, at 25 cents per cord, which business he followed the first winter, in connection with making and hooping barrels and tubs in bad weather, and shoe-making during the evenings, by the light of a tallow candle ; their furniture consisted of some stools, and, for a table, a board was laid across two blocks. The spring found them in possession of a cow and an established MONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP. 1021 credit; he then hired out for six months, for $12 per month, and, the following year, had saved the means to purchase a horse, which he placed with one of his neighbors, and they put iu thirty acres of corn, selling their product at 18 cents per bushel he continued the struggle against poverty until 1842, when he purchased sixty-two acres of land and improved it, until 1851, when he disposed of the same, and, emigrating to Illinois, located in Money treek Township, where he has since lived, driving from Ohio by team, the trip consuming forty days ; he first secured 110 acres, to which he afterward added, until he had 320 acres, with buildings erected, at a cost of upward of $6,000, all of which he, with the assistance of his wife, had accumu- lated by their own hard labor, energy and industry. Mr. Fincham has held the office of Com- missioner of Highways for twelve years, and several other petty offices. In the spring of 1879, he, with his wife and two daughters, removed to Towanda, to look after the interest of some property he had there, but his residence will soon be upon his farm again. They were the parents of fifteen children, of whom thirteen are now living — Alexander T. William J., Henry M., Mary, Martha, Elizabeth, Margaret, Lemuel, Benjamin F., Rachel, Laura, Adeline and Nel- lie ; the deceased died in infancy. WESLEY P. FRANKLIN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1 ; P. O. Lexington ; born in Owen Co., Ind., March 15, 1837, where he resided until 13 years of age. In May, 1850, he came to Illinois, locating in Money Creek Township. During the first seven years, he followed herding cattle on the then universal pasture— the prairies ; then engaged in driving and shipping stock. Since 1872, he has followed farming and stock-raising. His farm of 390 acres, valued at $15,000, has a good supply of water, and is well adapted to stock-raising. He has served as Commissioner of Highways two terms ; Town Trustee and School Director several years. Mar- ried, in 1858, Miss Anna Puett, who was born in Indiana ; four children by this union — Stella, Herschel, Lillian and Daisy. WILLIAM GILMORE, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 22; P. 0. Lexington; born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1830, but removed in early childhood with his father's family to Dayton, Ohio. Came to Illinois in the fall of 1834, locating in Money Creek Township, this county. Elected Justice of the Peace in 1870, serving till 1873, when he was re-elected, and served until March, 1875, when he removed from the township. Served as Supervisor one term. Owns 120 acres of land in Money Creek Township. Married, in 1855, Miss Aladelphia A., daughter of Melman N. Barnard, who settled in the county nearly fifty years ago. She was born in Money Creek Township. Six children by this union, four living — Noah E., James N., Charles H. and Sinuia E. ; lost two — Martha E., died in 1855 ; Ira E. in 1864. Mr. G. served four terms as Col- lector in Gridley Township. His father, James Gilmore, who was a native of Ohio, settled in Towanda Township in 1834. JUHN A. HEFNER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Lexington; born in Money Creek Township, Sept. 16, 1844, his father, Peter Hefner, having settled in the township in the fall of 1830; owns 250 acres of farm lands in Money Creek Township, well watered and well adapted to the raising of stock ; served as Justice of the Peace since April, 1878 : enlisted in Co. K., 145th I. V. I., May 10, 1864; mustered out Sept. 23, 1864. Married Feb. 14, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Steward, who was born in Indiana; three children by this union — Joseph H., Ida and Andrew P. GEORGE HENLINE, deceased. Mr. Henline was born in Madison Co., Ky., June 6, 1796 ; he was married Dec. 17, 1817, to Miss Margaret Rayburn, who was born in Kentucky Oct. 31, 1798. Mr. H., with his family of seven children, removed to the then Far West in the fall of 1828, locating in what is now Lawndale Township, this county, and five years later he located in Money Creek Township, where he resided at the time of his death, which occurred Oct. 2, 1868, his wife surviving him until April 13, 1872 ; of their family of ten children, seven are now liv- ing — Almarine, wife of John Dawson; Sabra, wife of Jonathan Darnall; John; Mary A. L., wife of John Gregory; Louisa S., wife of J. B. Hopkins; Matilda J., wife of Matthew Adams; and William M. ; three deceased — Perry, died Nov. 5, 1818; Zarilda J., Feb. 5, 1825; George, March 3, 1855. WILLIAM M. HENLINE, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 10 : P. 0. Lexington ; born in Money Creek Township, this county, July 3, 1838, and now resides on the farm where he was born ; his father, George Henline, who was a native of Madison Co., Ky., removed to Illinois in the fall of 1828, and settled in Lawndale Township. The subject of this sketch has resided in Money Creek Township since birth, a period of over forty years ; he owns 405 acres of land in Money Creek Township ; served as Collector for four years. Married in 1858 to Miss Sarah C. Stew- ard, who was born in Indiana July 13, 1839 ; died April 10, 1872 ; two children by this union — Stephen A. D. and William A. R. ; was again married, Dec. 5, 1872, to Eliza A. Griffith, who was born in Fayette Co., Penn. ; two children by this union, one living — Noah 0. A. Mr. H. is a member of McLean Lodge, No. 206, I. 0. 0. F., and Lexington Encampment, No. 161. FRANCKE B. HOBART, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 16; P. 0. Lexington; born in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1854. but removed to Illinois in early childhood with his father's family, locating at Maroa, Macon Co.; came to this county in 1865, locating on the farm where he now resides ; owns 320 acres of farm lands. Married in 1876 to Miss Mary E., daughter of Jesse Trimmer, who was born in Money Creek Township : one child by this union — Frederick E. 1022 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: C. J. W. McNEMAR, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4: P. 0. Lexington; born in Hardy (now Grant) Co., W. Va., May 12, 1836, where he resided until the fall of 1857 ; then removed to Illinois, locating in McLean Co. at Lexington ; came to his present home in January, 1859 ; was engaged in farming in Gridley Township from 1863 to 1866 ; owns 270 acres of land in Money Creek and Gridley Townships. Married, in 1861, Miss Mary E. Pirtle, who was born in Indiana; her father's family removed to Illinois in 1849 : they have had eight children, seven of whom are living — Osceola, Estella, Hattie A., Ida E., Noah B., Eva and Christian E. ; lost one — John T., died April 5, 1877. Mr. Thomas J. Pirtle was born in Kentucky March 22, 1812 ; afterward removed to Owen Co., Ind., where he was married in 1837 to Miss Elizabeth McNaught, who was born in Owen Co., Ind., March 1, 1818. In the spring of 1849, the family removed to Illinois, locating on the farm where his widow, Mrs. Pirtle, now resides ; her husband died in 1865 ; they had seven children, five of whom are living — Sarah C. (wife of A. Ogden), Mary E. (wife of C. J. W. McNemar), Ezra S., James B. and Thomas M. CHARLES M. MOOTS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 30; P. 0. Towanda; born in Cham- paign Co., Ohio, Feb. 10, 1832, where he resided until 1852, then removed to Logan'Co., Ohio. In 1854, he came to Illinois, but returned to Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1856, then located in Towanda, this county, where he engaged in the boot and shoe business, and the following year removed to the farm where he now resides. Owns 195 acres of land in Money Creek Township. Served as Constable two years, School Director nine years. Was appointed Deputy Sheriff in fall of 1879. Married, in September, 1857, Miss Adaline Busic, who was born in McLean Co. Her father, Nathaniel Busic, was one of the early settlers of McLean Co. Nine children by this union, seven of whom are living — Mary A., Francis N., Ida D., Charles E., Bunyan C, Bertie and Sarah G.; lost two — Lincoln A. was born May 6, 1865, died Aug. 13, 1873 ; James W., was born May 25, 1871, died Aug. 21, 1872. Mr. M. is a member of the Money Creek U. B. Church. BENJAMIN OGDEN, deceased. Mr. Ogden was born in Ohio Feb. 7, 1803 ; he removed from Fayette Co., Ohio, to Illinois, in the fall of 1830, locating in what is now Money Creek Township, this county. In 1824, he was married to Miss Sarah Stretch, who was born in Pennsylvania July 18, 1806. They had a family of ten children, five of whom are living — Maria, wife of Dr. E. McAferty ; Amanda, widow of J. McAferty ; Margaret, wife of W. Haworth ; Elizabeth, wife of John W. Stover. They have lost five children, most of whom died in child- hood. Mr. Ogden's death occurred Sept. 27, 1873. JESSE OGDEN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33; P. 0. Towanda; born in Money Creek Township July 26, 1834, his father. Benjamin Ogden, a native of the State of Ohio, having settled in the township in October, 1830. The subject of this sketch now resides on the farm his father bought soon after he came to the State, and near the old homestead owns about 700 acres of land in Money Creek Township. Served as Supervisor two terms, Assessor two terms and has held other minor offices. CHALMERS RAYBURN, teacher and farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Towanda; born in Madison Co., Ohio March 26, 1848, but removed in early childhood with his father's family to Illinois, locating at Bloomington in the fall of 1851. The following March the family removed to Money Creek Township, where the subject of this sketch remained, working on his father's farm until 18 years of age. In 1866, he entered the State Normal University, at Bloomington, and graduated at that institution in 1872; since the above date, he has followed teaching in McLean and other counties in this Slate, and for a time was engaged in teaching in Iowa. He owns eighty acres of farm lands in Money Creek Township. In 1874, he was married to Miss Bell Hutton, who was born in Indiana. They have one child — James Q. MERLE H. RAYBURN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Towanda ; born in Madison Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1845, where he resided until 1851 , removing to Illinois in the fall of that year, stopping at Bloomington until the spring of 1852, then located in Money Creek Township. ' He served as Town Clerk one year. Enlisted in the 145th I. V. I., in 1864; mustered out in the fall of the same year. „ Married, in 1872, Miss Emma Overman, who was born in Fulton Co., 111.; two children by this union — Merle I. and David Q. Mr. R. owns eighty acres of farm lands in Money Creek Township. JOHN W. STOVER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Towanda ; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, May 15, 1833, where he resided until his removal to Illinois in about 1852, when he located in Money Creek Township, this county. Married, in 1857, Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Ogden, wbo was one of the early settlers in that township, locating there as early as the fall of 1830. Mrs. Stover was born in Money Creek Township. They have four children living — Sarah, Cora, Etta and Benjamin W. ; lost two — Ida, and one who died in infancy. Mr. S. owns 277 acres of farm lands in Money Creek Township. ENOS A. TRIMMER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17; P. 0. Towanda; born in Money Creek Township, this county, Oct. 13, 1856. His father, Jesse Trimmer, came to this county in the summer of 1826. Mr. Trimmer now resides on the old home place, and his farm consists 565 acres of land, valued at $17,000. A sketch of his father will be found in the Lexington Town- ship list of biographies, and, in the history of Money Creek Township, further mention in con- nection with settlement of the township. BLUE MOUND TOWNSHIP. 1023 JOHN F. TRIMMER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Towanda ; born in Money Creek Township Jan. 17, 1844, his father, Jesse Trimmer, having settled in the township in 1826; owns 785 acres of farm lands in Money Creek and Gridley Townships. Enlisted in Co. C, 94th Illinois Infantry, in January, 1864; transferred to the 37th Illinois Infantry in August, 1865 ; mustered out in May, 1866. During his term of service, he was in the following battles : Fort Morgan, and other engagements in the vicinity of Mobile, Ala. Married, in 1870, Miss Priscilla C. Surface, who was born in Illinois. Four children by this union — Artie G., Daisy D., Willie W. Mr. Trimmer owns what is known as the Thomas Mill, located on Sec. 20, Money Creek Township. He has recently put in one run of stone, and is now prepared to manufact- ure meal and feed for stock. BLUE MOUND TOWNSHIP. JEHU ALLEN, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Holder. The subject of this memoir was born in Shenandoah Co., Va., Nov. 15, 1804. There he resided until his parents' removal to Belmont Co., Ohio, which was in 1811. His parents were among the first settlers of that portion of Ohio. His union with Mary A. Garretson occurred in Flushing, Belmont Co., Ohio, April 2, 1835. She was born in Adams Co., Penn., Sept. 5, 1808. She is a daughter of Amos and Mary Gar- retson. Her mother's maiden name was Mary Talbott. They were married according to the rites of the Friends' Society, and have been exemplary members of the same all their lives, as have been all their children. From the union of John Allen and Mary A. Garretson there were five children, four of whom are now living, viz., Mary, Rebecca, Alcinda and Edward W. All the children are married and living in the county except Edward W., who lives in Lincoln, Neb. Mr. Allen has been a resident of Blue Mound Township since 1865 ; owns seventy acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation. ROBERT BARR, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Selma ; Presbyterian; Republican; one of the early settlers ; born in Allegheny Co., Penn., Nov. 9, 1831. He removed with his parents, when quite young, to Cass Co., Ind., where he was raised to farm labor. In 1856, he came to Lexington Township, McLean Co., where he lived one year, then one year in Knox Co., and, in the spring of 1858, located upon his present place, where he purchased eighty acres, to which he added, in 1864, by purchase, eighty acres more, making a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, with good buildings. He has resided upon his present place for a period of upward of twenty-one years, and is, consequently one of the oldest continuous residents of the township. He was married Aug. 16, 1860, to Nancy Williams. She was born in Ohio April 5, 1840. They have two children by this union, viz., Sarah E., born July 13, 1862; and Marietta, born May 4, 1867. GEORGE W. BINGHAM, farmer, Sec. 32; P. 0. Holder. The subject of this sketch was born in Johnston Co., N. Y., March 22, 1832; his parents came to Lake Co., 111., in 1834, where they lived until 1855, at which time they came to McLean Co. and located in Padua Township, where they have since resided. Mr. Bingham's father was a native of Connecticut, and his mother of New York ; the father died Feb. 21, 1879 ; the mother is still living, and is in posses- sion of all her faculties. The subject of this sketch has been a resident of McLean Co. twenty- four years, and of Blue Mound Township three years. Owns forty acres of nicely-improved land, which he has made by his economy and industry. He was united in marriage with Han- nah J. Bedell May 5, 1875 ; served three years in the war of the rebellion ; was in Co. D, 94th I. V. I., and served with distinction until his discharge. E. C. BLISS, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; Congregationalist ; Republican ; born in Bristol Co., Mass., Nov. 27, 1822. At the age of 22 years, he learned and worked at the carpenter trade until 1846, when he went to Havana, Cuba, and worked at his trade in the car-shops some eight months ; in 1851, he came to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., 111., and worked at his trade for ten years ; in 1861. he came to Blue Mound Township, and, in 1864, he purchased 100 acres of wild land, which he has since improved, and where he has since lived. His marriage with Lucy A. Harmon was celebrated in St. Louis April 20, 1852; she was born in Suffield. Conn., June 13, 1830 ; they were the parents of three children, of whom two are now living — Herbert E., born May 30, 1854, and Leonard H., May 4, 1865, and who weighed 210 pounds at 14 years of age, and is considered the largest boy of his age in the county. While in Cuba, Mr. Bliss became so impressed with the evil effects of slavery, that, upon his return home, he affiliated with the Abolitionists until he witnessed the extinction of slavery in this country, since which time he has labored for the success of the Republican party. JOSHUA BROWN, farmer and dealer in live stock, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Holder. The subject of this sketch was born in Lancaster Co., Penn.. Aug. 10. 1810, where he resided until 1830, at which time he came with his parents to Tazewell Co., 111. ; there he remained until his removal to McLean Co., which occurred in the fall of 1866 ; on first coming to the county, he located in the city of Normal, and engaged in the lumber trade, in which business he continued until his 1024 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: removal to Blue Mound Township, which was in 1874. Mr. Brown is one of the large farmers and stock-raisers in Central Illinois ; owns 460 acres of land in Blue Mound Township, 320 acres in Anchor Township, a nicely-improved property in the city of Normal, and tracts of land in Marion Co., 111., and in Missouri and California; he also owns "The Old Home Farm" (440 acres) in Tazewell Co., which is one of the best improved farms in that county; he has made, for most part, what he now has, by close attention to business, combined with industry and economy. His marriage with Hannah A. Russell was celebrated in 1832 ; from this union there were two children — William and Marshall. Mrs. Brown died in the spring of 1855. Mr. Brown was united in marriage with his present wife Feb. 28, 1876 ; her maiden name was Julia A. Cook, and she was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Oct. 5, 1821 ; there are four children from this marriage — Allen, Wilner, Charles and Susan. Mr. Brown is a consistent member of the Friends' Society, as are all his family. GRIFFITH E. CO ALE, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Holder. The subject of this sketch was born in Huntington Co., Ind., June 15, 1848, where he lived until 1867, at which time he came to Blue Mound Township, McLean Co., 111., where he has since resided. His father (Benjamin Coale) was born in Chester Co., Penn., Aug 17, 1821, and his mother in the city of Philadelphia, July 16, 1826; her maiden name was Elizabeth H. Edwards; their marriage occurred July 29, 1846 ; from this union there were six children, five of whom are now living — Mary, Griffith E. (the subject of this sketch), Vincent M., Joseph W. and Rebecca J.; the name of the one deceased was Robert H. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Mary E. Moore Dec. 15, 1869. Mr. Coale owns a nicely-improved farm of 120 acres, which he has made by his own exertions. A. H. COXGER, farmer, stock-raiser and shipper, Sec. 18; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the old settlers of Blue Mound Township. Baptist; Republican. Born in Licking Co., Ohio, March 19, 1830. In 1855, he emigrated to McLean Co., 111., and was employed as farm laborer until 1859, when he rented land one year, and,' in 1860, purchased eighty acres of his present place, locating upon the same the following year. Upon the 28th of April, 1861, he was united in marriage with Ellen J. White: she was born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Oct. 12, 1839; they have six children now living, having lost two by death ; the living are Clara A., Charlie C, Cora A.,. Bertice H., Pearl F. and Blanche E. Upon the marriage of Mr. Conger, he worked by the month to obtain means to put up his house, which was 12x16, in which he lived four years. Mr. Conger came to this county with a capital not to exceed $50 ; he now owns 195 acres, which he has improved by his own hard labor, with good farm buildings, all of which he has accumu- lated by his own exertions. In 1876, he engaged in the agricultural trade, in Towanda, since which time he has been engaged in buying and shipping stock to the Chicago market. Mr. Conger is now Town Collector of Blue Mound Township. Mrs. Conger is a daughter of George C. White, one of the old settlers of the county, and whose sketch appears in this work. JOHN 0. B. CRIST, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 35; P. 0. Ellsworth. The subject of this sketch was born in Brown Co., Ohio, March 22, 1835, and removed with his parents to Tazewell Co., 111., in 1845, where he remained till 1849, at which time he came to Danvers Town- ship, where he lived until four years ago. His father kept a hotel in Tremont, Tazewell Co., in an early day, he was a native of Ohio ; his mother, who is now living in Danvers, was born in New York ; there were eight children in his father's family, most of whom are now living in McLean Co. His union with Clarinda Johnson was celebrated March 1, 1860 ; she was born in Monroe Co., Va,, May 15, 1837 ; from this union there are four children, viz. : Cora, born May 2, 1862 ; Franklin, born Feb. 7. 1864; Lilly, born Oct. 5, 1866, and Mattie, born Sept. 2, 1875. Mr. Crist owns 160 acres of nicely-improved land, all of which is under a good state of cultivation. JESSE DRULEY, farmer and dealer in live-stock; P. 0. Normal. The subject of this sketch was born in Clermont Co., Ohio. Jan. 9, 1809, and, in 1815, when but a child, came with his parents to what is now known as Wayne Co., Ind ; his mother is still living in Wayne Co., on the place they first improved when they came to Indiana. The father had been a soldier in the war of 1812 ; had assisted in the organization of Wayne and adjoining counties, and was a very prominent and influential man in his life-time ; he died in 1874, at the advanced age of 92 years. The subject of this sketch came to Atlanta, Logan Co.. 111., Oct. 20, 1857, without any means whatever to support a family of eleven persons ; he not only managed to support his family, but, by hard work and economy, succeeded in accumulating considerable property. His removal to McLean Co. occurred in 1866, where he has since resided. His residence is on. North Lynden street, and it is one of the best improved properties in the city. He also owns 85 acres in Normal Township, and a nicely-improved farm of 210 acres in Blue Mound Township. His union with Jane Garthwait occurred Nov. 18, 1830; she was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., Dec. 24, 1811 ; from this union there were eleven children, eight of whom are now living, viz., Mary J., William M., Emma J., Edwin P., Mary A , Rufus A., Amanda E. and Albert A. On Nov. 18, 1880, they purpose celebrating their golden wedding, when they expect about two hundred friends and relatives to be with them. JAMES F. GOLDEN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Ellsworth ; one of the old set- tlers of Blue Mound Township; was born in Madison Co., Ky., April 4, 1837 ; he has been a resident of Blue Mound Township for most part since 1857 ; his parents are both dead, the BLUE MOUND TOWNSHIP. 1025 father dying in 1855, and the mother in 1865. In his father's family there were eleven children, three of whom are now living in McLean Co. He was united in marriage with Mary Spawr Oct. 9, 1864; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Feb. 6, 1839 ; from this union there are six children, viz. : Lizzie J., born Aug. 26, 1865 ; Alta R., born July 24, 1867 ; Gilbert F., born March 31, 1870 ; Lulu B., born June 30, 1872; John F., born Sept. 24, 1876 ; and Edna E., born Sept. 18,1878. Mr. Golden owns 120 acres of nicely-improved land in Blue Mound Town- ship, and 240 acres in Marion Co., Kan., located on Section 26, Town 17, Range 4 east of Third Principal Meridian ; all this Mr. Golden has made by hard work and economy. HAMILTON GREEN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 7; P. 0. Towanda; one of the old set- tlers of Blue Mound Township. Methodist; RepubUcan. Born in Herkimer Co.. N. Y., Jan. 4, 1829. He emigrated to McLean Co. in the spring of 1856, purchased his present place of 160 acres in July of the same year, and located upon the same the following September, at which time there were only fifty-two acres broken, and which he has brought from its wild prairie con- dition to its present high state of cultivation by his own hard labor ; there were no roads at that time, and to go to any point a direct line would be taken, with no fence to obstruct the way ; they first rented an unfinished house, in which they lived until they erected what is now a part of their present residence, which was 16x24 feet. The early settlers, like the ancient Israelites, experienced no trouble in worshiping God, and the first prayer-meeting of the district was held in Mr. Green's house, and in this house Mrs. Green taught the first school of the district, her scholars coming from three districts and two townships, and for several years singing-schools were also taught in the same house. His marriage with Elizabeth C. Ludwig was celebrated in 1855 : she was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Oct. 15, 1831, and was raised in Orleans Co., N. Y.; they are the parents of four children — Gertrude, born July 12, 1857 ; William F., Aug. 2, 1861 ; Thomas, May 2, 1864 ; John H., Aug. 30, 1869. Mr. Green has been Town Clerk four years, Town Trustee six years, and has held other petty offices. C. HOPT, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Towanda ; born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 28, 1830 ; in the fall of 1856, he came to America, and spent the winter in New York : in the spring of 1857, he came to Logan Co., 111., where he was employed as farm laborer seven years, and fol- lowed farming five years upon rented land ; in 1?69, he located upon his present place, where he has 160 acres, all under a good state of improvement, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage in 1865 ; her maiden name was Anna A. Alpter ; she was a native of Prussia : they have five children — Peter, Charlie, Sophia. Annie and Johnny. CHARLES E. KRAUSE. farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Bloomington. The sub- ject of this sketch was born in Prussia May 4, 1844, and came to the United States when a boy 10 years of age; resided in Bloomington until 1860, at which time he moved to Towanda Town- ship, where he remained for a period of ten years ; he was a soldier in the war of the rebellion, and served one year; was in Co. A, 150th I. V. I.; enlisted in 1864, and was discharged in 1865. He has been a resident of Blue Mound Township nine years : owns 160 acres of nicely- improved land. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Fletcher Dec. 24, 1867 ; from this union there were six children, four of whom are now living — Ida A., born Nov. 3, 1870 ; Charles F., June 25, 1872; Mary, Aug. 16, 1874; and Reinhold, July 29, 1878; the names of those deceased were Elizabeth E., born Sept. 1, 1868, and died Oct. 12, 1873; and Emil, born Feb. 9, 1877, and died March 1, 1877. Mrs. Krause was born in Hampshire, Eng., Dec. 28, 1850 ; her father, John Fletcher, is one of the large land-holders of Blue Mound Township. THOMAS H. NEWTON, farmer, Sec. 11; P O.Selma; one of the oldest settlers; born in Han- cock Co., 111., Feb 16, 1843 ; he was brought up to farm labor until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he served in the campaign of Missouri and Arkansas, siege and capture of Vicksburg and Yazoo City ; they then went to Brownsville, Tex., and, in August, 1864, returned to New Orleans, from thence to Baton Rouge, La., where he was detailed in the Quartermaster's Department, and, in October, joined his reg- iment at Ft. Morgan, Mobile Bay : he was engaged in the capture of Spanish Fort, and, in June, 1865, he was forwarded to Galveston, Tex.; mustered out of service in July, and received his discharge in August, 1865, having served in the Union army for three years, and was never off duty after the first two months of his enlistment ; he has since followed farming, with the exception of two years labor in Bloomington ; in 1869, he purchased his present place of eighty acres, where he has since lived. He was married Feb. 18, 1869, to Eliza Smith ; she was born in Indiana ; they have two children — William W. and Gracie. Mr. Newton is a Republican, and votes as he fought; he is the second son of W. H. Newton, who is one of the early settlers of this township; he was born in Trigg Co., Ky., Jan. 23, 1818; he came to Illinois in 1833, and to McLean Co. in 1844 ; in 1857-, he came to Blue Mound Township and purchased 160 acres upon Sec. 11, where he has since lived ; he assisted in the organization of the township ; voted at the first town meeting, and has voted at every town meeting since. He married Martha E. Routt May 26, 1840; she was born in Kentucky May 22, 1822; they have six children — John H., Thomas, Richard, Mary, Olive and Mattie. MILTON K. SMITH, farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Holder. The subject of this sketch is the son of Nathan and Rebecca L. Smith ; the father was born in Loudoun Co., Va., and his mother in 1026 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Belmont Co., Ohio ; her maiden name was Pickering; they came to Indiana in an early day, and settled in Henry Co.; after living there a time, they removed to Wayne Co.; there, on the 18th of August, 1835, the subject of this sketch was born. He was united in marriage with Mary G. Allen April 15, 1857 ; she is a daughter of Jehu and Mary A. Allen, whose sketch appears in this work ; from this union there were five children — Alva C, Edgar J., Elizabeth A., Nathan F. and Jehu W. Mr. Smith and his wife are members of the Friends' Society, as were their parents. He owns forty acres of nicely improved land, which he has made by his economy and industry. REV. JOHN S. STAGNER, Christian minister, Sec. 27; P. O. Ellsworth. The subject of 'this sketch was born in Madison Co., Ky., March 1, 1829, where he resided until his removal to McLean Co., which was Oct. 19, 1852; he has been a resident of Blue Mound Township since March 1, 1855, and is one of its oldest living settlers. He was united in marriage with Julia A. Golden April 10, 1848; she was born in Madison Co., Ky., March 25, 1K29, and died Nov. 10, 1873; from this union there are ten children — John F., born March 1, 1849; Nancy C, June 20, 1851 ; Mildred G.. June 21, 1853 ; Thomas R., April 2, 1857 ; Lytle W., Jan. 5, 1859; Ida A., July 16, 1860; Pattie L., Dec. 18, 1863; Allie J., Dec. 17, 1865; Benjamin F., Feb. 18, 1867; and Evalena, Aug. 7, 1870. Mr. Stagner has been a minister of the Christian Church eighteen years, and a member since 1854 ; he has held the offices of Commissioner of Highways and School Trustee ; owns 210 acres of land in Blue Mound Township, and 240 acres in Marion Co., Kan., all of which he has obtained by his economy and industry. SAMUEL A. STOOPS, farmer and manufacturer of all kinds of drain tile, Sec. 32 ; P. O. Padua. The subject of this sketch was born in Fayette Co., Ky., April 22, 1831 ; came, with his parents, to Marion Co., Ind., when a child, where he lived until 1850, at which time, he removed to Fulton Co., 111., a,nd engaged in the wagon manufacture, in which business he con- tinued for about twelve years ; in 1866, he sold his interest in the wagon-shop and bought a farm in the same county ; did not keep the farm he bought in Fulton Co. but a short time before he sold it and came to McLean Co., 111.; this was in 1867, and he has been a resident of Blue Mound Township ever since. He owns 160 acres of land, upon which are two beautiful resi- dences ; he is also senior partner in a large drain-tile manufactory ; from this manufactory come the best tiles in Central Illinois ; it was started about a year ago, and they now find it quite difficult to manufacture sufficiently fast to meet the demand ; this is owing to the superior qual- ity of tile they manufacture; it is located on the L., B. & M. R. R , Padua, McLean Co., 111. Mr. Stoops had no means to commence with, and he owes his success in life to his close atten- tion to business, combined with economy and industry. Mr. Stoops' father was born in West- moreland Co., Penn., in 1787, and died in Marion Co., Ind., in 1854; his mother's maiden name was Rosanna Kephart ; she was born in Maryland in 1802 ; she is still living, and is in possession of all her faculties. The union of Samuel A. Stoops and Eleanor Clanin was celebrated Sept. 21, 1854; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, April 9, 1834; from this union there are five children — Artha A., born June 22, 1856; Laselle, born Sept. 19, 1858; Elma A., born Aug. 31, 1862 ; Theodore, born Sept. 17, 1867, and Amy J., born July 5, 1871. MATTHIAS SUTTER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19; P. 0. Holder. The subject of this sketch was born in Baden, Germany, Sept. 7, 1821, where he lived until 1854, at which time he came to the United States ; lived in Albany, N. Y., for a short time previous to his removal to McLean Co., which occurred in 1855; he lived in Bloomington for twelve years, and was engaged in working for the Chicago & Alton R. R. He has been a resident of Blue Mound Township since the spring of 1868 ; owns 140 acres of well-improved land, which he has made by hard work and economy. He was united in marriage with Louisa Balshewel Feb. 2, 1856 ; they have six living children — Samuel, Joseph, Henry, Addie, William and Frank ; they have lost three children by the remorseless hand of death — Louisa, Mary and a babe, not named. Mr. Sutter and his family take a great interest in books and papers, and are among the most intelligent of their people in the county. JAMES M.VINCENT, farmer, Sec. 30; P.O. Holder; one of the old settlers of Blue Mound Township ; was born in Hampshire, England, Nov. 14, 1825 ; came to the United States July 6, 1854 ; at the time of his coming to the United States, he was a single man, and for quite a num- ber of years traveled in different parts of the United States and Canada, until, in the fall of 1856, he came to Bloomington, 111., where he has since resided. On the 11th of April, 1858, he was united in marriage with Maria Ward ; from this union there are six children, all of whom are living — Henry, Frank, William, Richard, James and John. Mr. Vincent has held a number of offices of profit and trust in the county, and is one of the influential men of the township in which he lives; owns 120 acres of land, all of which is under a good state of cultivation, which he has obtained by hard work and economy. ADAM WEBER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20; P. 0. Padua. The subject of this sketch was born in Prussia, July 8, 1826, where he lived until 1854, at which time he came to the United States, and settled in Muscatine Co., Iowa, where he lived five years ; he then returned to Prussia, where he married his present wife ; her maiden name being Anna M. Baker; they -came to the United States in the fall of 1859, and, in the spring of 1860, came to Blue Mound Township, where he has since resided ; they have eleven children, viz., Francis, John A., Mary, DALE TOWNSHIP. 1027 Frank, Elizabeth, Ida, Peter, Henry, Anna, Kate and Emma. Mr. Weber owns 160 acres of land all under cultivation, which he has made by hard work and economy. WILLIAM H. WHITE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17 ; P. 0. To wand a ; born in Tippe- canoe Co., Ind., Nov. 12, 1835 ; at 15 years of age, he emigrated with his father to Smith's Grove, Towanda Township, McLean Co., where they located in 1850; upon March 20, 1864, he located upon his present place, where he has since followed farming and stock-raising, where he owns 240 acres all under a good state of cultivation. His father, George C. White, as well as several of his brothers and sisters, is mentioned in this work. His marriage with Martha Donavan was celebrated Jan. 19, 1865 ; she was born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 12, 1840; four children were the fruit of this union— William E, born Oct. 4, 1873, died, July 31, 1875; Hattie E., born July 8, 1876, died Oct. 3, 1877 : George O, born Dec. 6, 1865 ; and Annie E , June » r 1869. DALE TOWNSHIP. JAMES ALLISON, farm and stock ; P. 0. Covell; was born, June 28, 1827, on a farm in Bedford Co., Penn.; remaining there with his father until 12 years old, when they moved to Miami Co., Ohio, remaining nine years, engaged in farming, renting of F. J. and J. Weddle four j ears, then of Johnson five years. In 1849, they came to McLean Co., 111., settling at Twin Grove, renting of Munsell & Beeler; he then began business on his present farm of 100 acres — earned entirely by his own labor. In April, 1847, he was married to Eliza J. Colebough, of Penn- sylvania. Mr. Allison remembers well the howl of the wolves and almost the shriek of the Indian. But little was known of the merits of the now rich soil of Dale Township when Mr. Allison set- tled his now most beautiful farm, which was then a raw prairie. They have three children, viz., Cordelia J., Alpherta and James A. H. G. BOMGARDNER, grocer and station agent and Postmaster, Covell ; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Nov. 4, 1840; remained there until 1856; was engaged in farming until 1853, when he engaged in dry-goods business, clerking for M. Weiler at $35 per year ; in 1856, he came with his aunt, Mrs. D. Gerberich, to Bloomington, 111., and engaged in clerking for R. Leach, for one year, at $25 per month ; he then went in partnership with H. Slope, in general notions, for six years. In 1861, he was married to Ellen E. Walcott, of New York: one year after marriage, they went to Chicago, and he engaged in managing business for K. R. Landon, at $125 per month, for nearly two years; moved from there to Danvers, 111., and engaged in business for three years, dealing in general notions; he moved from there to Bloom- ington, 111., and engaged as clerk in dry goods store, for J. E. Houtz, three and one-half years ; he then made his final settlement at Covell, where he is engaged in general notion store, and is also Postmaster, and railroad station agent on Jacksonville line ; also buys grain for Linebarger & Bro., of Stanford, at this place. They have six children, viz., Alice, Harry, Tillie, Charlie (deceased), Winnie and Clara. He and wife are members of the Congregational Church at Danvers. R. R. CAMPBELL, farm and stock ; P. 0. Covell ; was born Oct. 7, 1826, in Franklin Co., Penn.; remained there until 1849, in which year he was married to E. C. Harvey, a native of Pennsylvania; the first year after marriage, they managed his father's farm, and moved then to Indiana, settling in Clinton Co., on farm, renting of William Parrin for seven years ; he then moved to McLean Co., Ill , settling, in 1846, on the present farm of eighty acres, which he has increased to 240 acres, earned by their own labor; it was then a raw prairie, but now presents the view of a most magnificent farm. Mr. Campbell has not been forgotten by the voters of Dale ; he was Supervisor in 1863-64, and School Director three years. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell do not forget the Sabbath, but take an active part in the Sunday school at Covell Union Church, of which they are members, of Presbyterian denomination. They have four children, viz., Harriet E, J. N., William and E. C. A. D. BENJAMIN, Jr., farm and stock ; P. 0. Bloomington ; was born Sept. 26, 1852, in Dale Township, McLean Co., on present farm, which was given him by his father, and is the " old homestead," settled by A. D. Benjamin, Sr., now deceased. He came from Hinsdale, Mass., and entered this farm of forty acres, in 1849, which he increased to 314; at his death, it became the children's by will. He married Sarah E. Stiger, a native of Pennsylvania. He was a sailor on the Atlantic from 16 to 22. His son, A. D., was married January, 1875, to Esther E. Darrow, born in Pennsylvania, Schuylkill Co., Aug. 16, 1854; after marriage, they settled on their pres^ ent farm, his father remaining with him until death, which was Sept. 19, 1878. Has one child — Ira, born Dec. 13, 1877. A. C. Benjamin, his brother, was born in 1855, in Dale Town- ship, 111., on same farm; remained until 21, when he began working in a clothing store for Livingston & Co., Bloomington, six months, Heldmon, two months, Goldsmith, four months, worked next for Freeman by month, also for Sutton ; he then began working in a wagon fac- tory for T. H. Smith & Co., of Pekin. Was married Feb. 7, 1878, to Josephine Lovenguth. 1028 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: JAMES F. BOULWARE, farm and stock; P. 0. Shirley; was born Dec. 23,1818, on farm in Madison Co., Ky. ; was fifth son of John Boulware, born in Virginia about 1788. lie was married to Mary McClain, of Virginia. Mr. Boulware remained in Kentucky, engaged in farming until 1852, when he came to Illinois. In 1851, he was married to Mary Kelly, born in Madison Co., Ky.; in 1852, they made their final settlement in Dale Township, and improved three farms ; first, what is now the Boyd farm ; second, the Lane farm. In 1867, settled on present farm of 160 acres, earned principally by their own labor and management ; they have made this one of the finest farms in the county ; every convenience that could be desired is present Mr. Boulware has held the office of Supervisor of Dale Township ; is now Trustee ; Commissioner, two years. His mother died Feb. 16, 1879 ; she was one of those ambitious women who never ceased to be doing something, and when near 90 and 92 years old, she did some elegant crocheting, making spreads and napkins. Mrs. Boulware, wife of Mr. Boulware, was a grad- uate of the Richmond, Va., Female Academy; she takes great interest in literature; she writes often for the Democratic News, of Bloomington ; also contributes her own productions to American Christian Review, of Cincinnati, and Christian of St. Louis. She has also on hand many able manuscripts. They have one adopted daughter — Mary R. Mr. and Mrs. Boulware are members of the Christian Church, at Shirley. HAMILTON BOID, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Shirley ; was born in 1817, in Jefferson Co., Ohio, and remained there »nd in Coshocton Co. until 1855 ; was engaged in farming and running canal-boat, managing shipping wheat, wine and whisky. In 1842, he was married to Margaret Boyd, of same name, but no connection ; she was born in Keen Township, Coshocton Co , Ohio. After marriage, they settled on a farm, which they bought, for two years. In 1855, they came to Illinois by wagon, as was somewhat customary, and settled in Bloomington for some time ; afterward moving to I'azewell Co. In 1858, they settled the present little farm of eighty- three acres, which he has made a magnificent little home. He has worked by month, at $10 to $15. Mr. Boyd makes a specialty in breeding fine horses. He has now one fine horse. He has held the offices of School Director and Pathmaster. Have five children — John, Anderson, Mary E., Margaret, Sarah. J. L. DOUGLASS, grain merchant, of the firm of Funk & Douglass, grain, coal, lumber and salt merchants, Shirley, was born in York Co., Penn., Oct. 9, 1848. In 1868, he came West, looking for work, and first stopped at Chicago. Here he failed to find work, and then went to Bloomington, where he found that, by applying, he could get a place at Shirley as school teacher. He went there at once and accei ted the appointment which was offered him, and from that first step, he has gradually improved his condition in life. He was appointed station agent for the C. & A. R. R., then express agent, and then Postmaster; these offices he has filled for the last nine years. He entered the grain business, with Mr. Funk, in 1876; they handle some 40,000 bushels of grain in a year, and own a first-class el. vator, having a capacity of 12,000 bushels. Mr. Douglass married Miss Nancy Johnston, of Allegheny City, Penn., who is a graduate of the State Normal School, of Millersville, Penn. They have four children — three boys and one girl. Mr. Douglass has held several offices in connection with schools, and is, at present, School Treasurer. JOHN FREED, farm and stock; P. 0. Covell ; was born Nov. 25, 1815, on a farm in Fay- ette Co., Penn , and remained there until 45 years old ; was engaged in farming, working for his father until 24, when he began business for himself. Dec. 12, 1839, was married to Fan- nie hobinson, daughter of James Robinson, a distiller and farmer. After marriage, they settled in Fayette Co., renting of his father five years. He then bought a farm of 140 acres ; remained there until 1861, selling out in 1860. In 1861, they moved to Gridley ; remained eighteen months, farming, renting of the Railroad Company. From there, they came to Towanda, and bought eighty acres of Miller, paying $25 per acre ; some time after, buying eighty acres of Papunaw, making 160 acres. In 1865, he sold the farm to Bone, at $40 per acre, and then moved to his present farm of 180 acres, acquired by their own labors. Has also a house and lot in Bloomington. Their marriage blessed them with nine children, viz., Albert, Ann Eliza, Cyrus (was killed in the war, in Sherman's raid to Atlanta; died in 1864), Henry, George C, James, John, Clark, Smith. He has taken much interest in educating his children. Henry has taught school, in Illinois, five years ; is now in Pennsylvania, in the dry goods business. George is now practicing law at Leavenworth, Kan. ; he has been insurance agent for the California Insurance Company ; afterward took agency for the combined companies, California and Mis- souri Valley Company ; has also taught school. Albert has taught school, and has been Tax Collector, for seven years, of Dale. Mr. Freed has held offices connected with schools, and Pathmaster. He and wife belong to the Baptist Church of Bloomington. D. G. FORMAN, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Bloomington; was born in New Jersey Dec. 29, 1834 ; remained there until 25 years old. working for his father, when he began busi- ness for himself, working on a farm ; renting of Shougles for one year, and of Olden two years. He then came to Illinois, settling in McLean Co., and working for Bolusteer for one year at $40 per month ; was overseeing his farm. He soon bought a farm of eighty acres in Dale Townehip, which, by careful management, has become a beautiful farm, and has been increased to 325 acres which he has earned entirely by his own labor and management. He was married in DALE TOWNSHIP. 1029 1856, to Sarah Flock, born in New Jersey. They have three children — William, F. and Susie E. Mr. Forman and wife are members of the Baptist Church in Bloomington. He has held offices connected with schools. JOHN M.. HOLMES, farmer and stock-dealer; P.O. Bloomington; was born in 1806, in Kildare Co., Ireland; remained there until 24 years old ; was a soldier in the Royal Artillery for fourteen years. In 1831, he came to Halifax, and engaged in artillery for six years. From there he moved to Lower Canada, in 1837 ; engaged in soldiering; afterward taking a position in the British Government as soldier for twenty years. On the 1st day of May, 1860, he settled at Decatur, 111., and engaged in painting for six years. He next engaged in painting at Bloom- ington for seven years. After which he went to Ireland and received an inheritance of $ 40,000. In 1876, he returned and bought him a pleasant little home of eighty acres, which he has improved. Was married, first time, in 1829, to Susan Dunn; second time to Sarah West; both of whom were born in Ireland. J. M. HARVEY, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Covell; was born Feb. 6, 1837, on farm in Franklin Co., Penn., and remained there engaged in farming until the spring of 1855, when he came with his father to McLean Co., 111., settling in Dale Township, on what is now the T. A. Rogers farm. They bought a farm of eighty acres and owned it some eight years. In October, 1862, he was married to M. J. Witherow, of Franklin Co., Penn. After marriage, they settled in Shirley, one winter. Moved from there to Bloomington Township and engaged in gardening, renting a small piece of ground of J. Hessell. Rented next of W. G. Witherow, for one year. He then bought and settled the present farm of eighty acres, which he has made a beautiful home. He has held offices connected with schools ; a Director three terms ; Road Commissioner three terms; Town Clerk one term. Mr. Harvey has topped corn at 12 J cents per day ; has taught school at $30 per month ; worked by the month at $6. Mr. Harvey's life has been almost one of self-care, his mother having died when he was 12 years old. He has two children — Nellie F. and Mattie E. A. P. HEFNER, blacksmith, Covell ; was born Dec. 7, 1825, on a farm in Augusta Co , Va.; remained there with his father as a farmer, afterward moving to Frankfort, Ind., and engaging in smithing, working there two years, moving from there to Kirkland, Ind., and engaged with his father in smithing twelve years; they then moved to a farm in Clinton Co., which they bought, working at smithing two years; he then went to Frankfort, and engaged in working at gear work with Fenner for six months ; he then moved to Delphi and engaged in smithing, and at wagon and plow works for Dunkle & Killgore for four years. In 1852, was married to Levina Witherow, of Delphi, Ind.; born in Pennsylvania In 1837, he came to McLean Co., 111., settling at Shirley and engaged in smithing for six years, moving from there to El Paso, 111., engaging in smithing two years ; he then moved to Covell, 111., and began business with nothing; has now ten lots ; his present dwelling is one of fine improvements. Has four children, viz., W. G., Florence B , Libbie M., Nannie J. He has held offices connected with schools. JESSE HILL, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Bloomington; was born Nov. 24, 1809, in Pennsylvania, near Lexington, Ky.; remained there until about 9 years old, when he left the scenes of his childhood and moved with his father to Jefferson Co., Ind.; remained until 21, engaged in milling and d'stilling for his father ; when in his 21st year, he moved to Illinois, his only treasure a little knapsack, which he carried on his back, measuring the distance with much rapidity on foot. Mr. Hill settled and engaged in working by the month at $8 ; by day at 25 cents. He soon married Col. Buler's daughter, and settled on the farm where Jesse Enlow now lives, afterward settling the present farm of 220 acres, which he took from raw prairie, and has made one of much beauty and value. Mr. Hill has been married three times ; first wife had four children — John W., Polly Ann, Jane, Martha; by second wife, had four children, viz., Nancy A., Zerah, Polly M., James; by third wife, four children — Phoebe E., Jessie A., Charles, William. C. S. JARRETT, farm and stock ; P. 0. Bloomington ; was born in 1850, in Greenbrier Co., Va.; remained there until 21 years old ; was engaged principally in stock-raising — cattle, sheep and hogs. When Mr. Jarrett was 2 years old, his father died and left him as one of a family of five children — Johnson, Leonard, Clark, Kate. In 1871, he came with his mother to McLean Co., 111., and settled on the beautiful little farm of sixty-five acres, on which they now make themselves very comfortable. The situation of this farm and surroundings make it one much to be desired. Leonard and Johnson were in the civil war ; Johnson returned, but Leonard never more saw his old native home ; he died with brain fever. WILLIAM JOHNSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Bloomington; was one of fourteen children, and was born in West Virginia in 1829, on a farm, and remained there, engaged in farming and going to school, until 20 years old. In 1846, he came to Illinois, with a number of hands, to manage farming 1,260 acres, which his father bought ; they came to Illinois by team, stopping over Sunday and enjoying, perhaps, the company of some lone wanderer who had staked his tent along some beautiful brook. Mr. Johnson was on farm in Twin Grove three years before marriage, managing and improving this raw prairie. In 1851, he was married to Amanda Harris, daughter of A. C. Harris, of Kentucky, born in 1808; he was a minister in his younger days, and his father a minister all his life, and was the father of seventeen children — 1030 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: twelve boys and five girls ; six boys were ministers. Mr. and Mrs. Harris had five children ; one is professor in Lincoln (111.) schools ; immediately after marriage, they settled the present farm, then 160 acres, given him by his father, which he has increased to 300 acres ; he has, in all, 830 acres, and is a stock-holder in McLean County Agricultural Society ; he has held school offices twelve years ; hired a substitute for civil war at $900. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are active members of the M. E. Church at Twin Grove; they have taken quite an active part in moving and preparing this house of worship ; they have seven children, viz., Belle, Emma, Ida, Ellen, Willie, Amos and an infant; they are taking quite an interest in schooling their children; Emma and Belle are attending the Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Mr. Johnson makes a specialty in feeding stock and trading in same. The war whoops of the murdering Indians had scarcely ceased when Mr. Johnson settled this lonely prairie, and at his settlement yet remained many deer and wolves, which had narrowly escaped the flint-rock spears of these savage red men. Mr. Johnson, father of Wm. Johnson, was born in Virginia in 1794; died in 1877; his mother was born in Virginia in 1800, and died in 1861. Mr. Johnson's grandfather was a Cap- tain in the Mexican war, and was a great hunter and associate of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. Thus ends the sketch of lives which have been active every moment of their short career, and many of them have realized the full amount and even more of their allotted three score and ten. JAMES LUCAS, farm and stock ; P. O. Bloomington ; was born in White Co., 111., Dec. 25, 1812, and remained there working at farming and distillery until 22 years old. In 1833, he was married to Mary A. McFall, of Ohio. After marriage, they settled in White Co. until 1834; then moving to McLean Co., settling near Le Roy, on a farm which they bought of the Govern- ment ; was then engaged in farmiug twelve years; he then settled in Bloomington and engaged in a confectionery and bakery, in partnership with William Harvey ; closing out business there, he settled on a farm in Allin Township, which he bought, remaining some eight years, moving from there to Dale Township, buying a farm of 100 acres, earned entirely by his own labor and management, paying $9,000 for it; one time of note, when the Indians made way to his father's house, and, finding an opening through the log hut, they put their guns through and fired, luckily, killing no one. They have four children — S. Jane, John, Martha and Francis. JOHN LUCAS, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Bloomington ; was born Sept. 11, 1839, on a farm two miles east of Le Roy ; remained there engaged in farming for his father and teaching school — taught four years, winter and summer : in 1867, he began farming for himself on his farm in what is now Allin Township, for eight years ; he then sold out, and bought the present farm of eighty acres, forty of which was given him by his father, and the rest they have obtained by their own efforts. He managed this farm until married, which was in 1867 to Elizabeth Sill, of Penn- sylvania ; born in 1847. They settled on his farm immediately after marriage. He and wife are active members of the M. E. Church at Twin Grove ; he is teacher in the Sunday school at that place; has held school offices and Pathmaster. They have four children — Charlie E., Lillie D., Gracy and an infant. JAMES G. McCLELLAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Shirley ; was born March 28, 1824, on a farm in Mifflin Co , Penn.; remained there till 1851, when he came to McLean Co., 111., settling on his present farm of 109 acres, which he has obtained by his own efforts ; when he was 2 years old, his mother died, and he was left in care of Mr. and Mrs. McNiel. Mr. McClellan was married Dec. 23, 1873, to Mary Croft, born in 1851, in Somerset Co., Penn. After marriage, they began housekeeping on the present farm ; when Mr. McClellan settled in Illinois, the country was but little settled ; the farm he now lives on is one of fine quality, being intersected by the C. & A. R. R. ; he has made good improvements ; does his own carpentering and smithing. He was, by marriage with Mary Croft, blessed with three children — James, George B. and Alice May. SAMUEL MILLER, Shirley ; was born Jan. 12, 1826, on a farm in Kentucky ; remained there until 9 years old, when he came with his father to McLean Co., settling in Dale Township, renting of Henshaw for two years ; his father then bought land in Dale Township, settled, and engaged in farming ; Mr. Miller worked for his father until 21 years old, when, on Aug. 28, 1847, he was married to Priscilla Allison, of Pennsylvania ; after marriage, they settled on the present farm of eighty acres, which they have improved and made an elegant home. Mr. Miller was one of fifteen children, the blessings of the marriage of his father to Miss Lloyd ; all the family of children are now living, except one, who died in the army. Mr. Miller has held offices connected with schools as Director, and Pathmaster. They have eight children — Isabel, Annie, Priscilla, Thomas, Samuel, Rebecca, Elmira and Luella. JONATHAN PARK, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O Shirley ; the son of Eli Park, of North Carolina; was born on a farm in Madison Co., Ky., July 14, 1815, and remained there until 1853 ; engaged in farming for his father and teaching until 1836, when he married Borthana Quinn, who was born in Kentucky Oct. 27, 1818 ; they immediately began farming, renting of Moberly for one year ; he afterward bought 64 acres, paying for it by his own labor ; they set- tled on this farm and improved and increased it to 119 acres, when, in 1853, they sold out and came by team to McLean Co., 111., settling in Dale Township, on their present farm of 226 acres, which they have made and improved : the whole country was then mostly raw prairie. Mr. DALE TOWNSHIP. 1031 Park is very careful in business, keeps an account of every cent received and paid out,, not even the least item being left out ; he also keeps a diary of every day. Has held office in the militia, in Kentucky, for ten years; as Captain and Major; Township Trustee, Assessor five terms, Commissioner two terms, Justice of the Peace seven years, School Director ten years. He does his own carpentering. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, of which denomination he has served as a minister for twenty years ; has also auctioned goods. Their marriage blessed them with eight children, all of whom are church members — Minerva E., Sydney I., Alwilda J., William E., Hiram R., Rboda W., Sallie, Lucy, Mary. QUINN & QU1NN, merchants, Shirley. These gentlemen are the leading merchants of Shirley ; they carry a stock of general merchandise; commenced business in 1876, having pur- chased a stock from William B. Lane. They are natives of Kentucky, H. W. Quinn being the senior member ; B. F. Quinn was born Oct. 23, 1851, and is the son of S. M. and Sallie A.. (Boulware) Quinn, of Kentucky, having moved to McLean Co. in 1852. J. W. ROGERS, farm and stock ; P. 0. Covell ; was born March 9, 1835, on a farm in Perry Co., Penn., remained there engaged in farming, working for people by month and day; his father was a weaver by trade, was born in 1806 ; married, June 19, 1827, to Elizabeth Waterson, born in Terry Co., Penn. J. W. Rogers was third son of W. L. Rogers, and, in 1847, he came with his parents to Peoria, 111., settling there for four years, his father engaging in weaving and teaming, and thus employed his son ; they next moved to a farm near Peoria, renting of Charles Denton for four years ; he then came to Funk's Grove Township, remaining five years farming ; he then, with his father, bought the present farm of 160 acres, which they have earned by their own labor and management. Was married, in 1862, to Nancy A. Hull, born in Illinois in 1841 . Mr. Rogers has worked by the month at $10, the receipts of which he has frugally used, has grown from a poor boy to a manhood accompanied by plenty of the world's sustenance. He and his wife have not forgotten the eternity of life, and have been active members of M. E. Church sometime; have four children, viz., Lelia, Louis E., Jesse, Eddy; deceased — Ollie. His father and mother live with him. T. A. ROGERS, farm and stock ; P. 0. Covell ; was born July 1, 1828, in Perry Co., Penn., and remained there engaged in farming and working at barking for tanners until 20 years old u his parents were poor, and he was compelled to work by the month at $4 to $6 per month ; in 1847, they came to Peoria Co., 111. ; when the family landed at Peoria, they had not one cent ; Mr. Rogers was engaged for a time in rafting timber and managing a saw-mill at Peoria for four years ; the family moved to a farm in Peoria Co., renting of Charles Denton for four years. In 1855, was married to Elizabeth M. Shrade, born in Perry Co., Penn. ; after marriage, they settled on the Sholty farm for one winter; in spring of 1856, they settled the present farm of 160 acres, which they have obtained by their own efforts; has made improvements by tiling and buildings, making a most beautiful and productive farm. Has held held offices connected with schools, and Commissioner ; is now on his fifth term of the Patron's Fire Insurance Co., of Stanford, as Director and Treasurer. He and his wife belong to M. E. Church at Covell ; he is Trustee and Steward ; has five children, viz., Maggie, Mary B., Stephen A. D., Nettie, Arthur. W. H. ROGERS, farm and stock ; P. 0. Covell ; was born in February, 1833, in Perry Co., Penn., on a farm ; remained there engaged in farming and working by the month at $3 for three years, would drive four-horse teams; in 1847, he moved to Peoria, 111., and, settling there, engaged in rafting and saw-mill business for two years, for Capt. Moss, Bradley & Smith, at $12 per month ; in 1850, they moved to a farm in Peoria Co., renting of Charles Denton for five years. In 1855, he was married to Mary Hart of Kentucky, born in 1839 ; her parents were born in Kentucky ; after marriage, they settled on present farm of eighty acres, which was then raw prairie, but now by their management has become one of fine quality. Mr. Rogers is a brother of T. A. Rogers, whose family ancestiy has been referred to, noting the fact that at their land- ing in Peoria, they had not 1 cent. tie and his wife belong to the Presbyterian Church. He has held offices of school and Pathmaster ; they have had eight children, viz.. William (deceased), Carrie, Lottie, Fannie (deceased), Addie, Lucy, Mattie, W. C. D. H. SALISBURY, farmer and stock-raiser : P. 0. Covell ; was born in New York March 2, 1813 ; remained there until 1 year old, when he moved to Rhode Island ; his father died when he was quite young, leaving him in the care of his mother, who lived among her people for some time ; she then moved to Miami Co., Ohio, leaving D. H. with an uncle of his, where he made a home until 21 ; he then went to Miami Co., Ohio, where his mother and brother were; remained there until 1837, at which time they moved to South Bend, Ind., and engaged in farm- ing for one year; returned then to Miami Co., remaining until 1843, when they moved to Illi- nois, settling in McLean Co., and renting for five years; he then settled on the present farm of 125 acres, earned entirely by his own labor and management. Was married in 1850 to Irene Baker, of Indiana. JOSHUA SELLS, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Bloomington ; was born in 1827, in Franklin Co., Ohio, on the bank of Scioto River; remained there engaged in farming and teach- ing; taught six terms. Was married when 22 years old to Eliza J. Smith, a native of Water- town, N. Y., daughter of Col. Smith, of war of 1812 ; after marriage, they settled on a farm of thirty-three acres in Franklin Co., which he increased to 133 acres; they remained there until 1032 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 1864, and then came to McLean Co., 111., and engaged in farming his present farm of 247 acres, earned entirely by their labors, on which farm Mr. Sells takes much pains in raising stock and grain; he makes a specialty in seed-corn. Has held office of Justice of the Peace six years Director of Schools twenty-four years in Ohio and Illinois ; Commissioner of Highways. Was in the army in 1863, entering in the 95th and 133d Ohio V. I.; he takes the stump on the Green- back system ; was a delegate to Cleveland to inaugurate the Greenback party, and to Indianap- olis to nominate a ticket, which resulted for Cooper and Cary, and to Toledo to name the party. Has six children — Laura E., Charles S., Samuel, Sumner, Abram, 0. P. JACOB SHOLTEY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Shirley; was born Sept. 10, 1805, in Lancaster Co., Penn.; remained there thirty-three years, engaged in farming. In 1830, he married Mary Kauffman, born in 1810; after marriage, they settled on a farm, Mr. Sholtey working by the day at 40 cents, and at $4 per month ; in 1835, he moved to Juniata Co., Penn., and engaged in a flouring-mill for one year ; selling out, he settled three miles east of Dayton, Ohio, and engaged in working for Messrs. Monker and Williams for six months ; he moved from there to Indiana, settling in Delaware Co., on a farm of eighty acres, which they bought in green woods ; their only bedstead during seven years, was poles fastened to the wall and made to rest on a stool at the other end ; next bought mill property, owning it four years ; in 1849, he moved to Bloomington, 111., engaging in farming, renting of W. Wallace; in 1850, settled on his present farm of 125 acres, which they have increased to 630 acres, earning all by their own labor and management ; has made fine improvements ; the barn cost $4,000 ; has fine facilities for watering stock. Has had nine children — Christian (deceased), Henry C, Susan, Samuel B. F., Benjamin D., Levi W., Annie M., Sophia (deceased), John (deceased). FRANKLIN SPAULDING, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Bloomington; was born . ept. 6, 1799, on a farm in Windsor Co., Vt., and remained there until he was 27 years old, at which time he was married to Azubah H. Cole, of Vermont; after marriage, they settled in Weathers- field, Windsor Co., until 1849, then moving by team, as was customary, to Troy, taking canal, bound for Buffalo, and by steamer they glided over the foaming waves and anchored safely in harbor at Detroit, taking Michigan Central to New Buffalo, from thence to Chicago, and were soon seen gliding down the beautiful canal toward La Salle ; they finally settled in Sangamon Co., 111. In September, 1849, they settled on their present farm of 128 acres, earned entirely by their own labor and management. Have had three children, viz., Mary M., deceased in 1854; Amos C, deceased in 1857; Aunie E., deceased in 1857. Has held the office of Justice of the Peace in Vermont ; School Director, in Vermont, three terms, in Illinois two terms. Mr. Spaulding is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. DR. E. STRETCH, physician, Shirley; was born in McLean Co., 111., June 2, 1852, on a farm ; remained there on the farm, which was four miles north of Towanda, until 4 years old, when his father moved to Lexington and engaged in livery business until 1860, when he moved to a farm, renting of S. White for some four years ; moving from there to a farm near Towanda, remaining until 1870, at which time his father bought a store in Towanda and had Mr. Stretch take care of it for some seven years, during which time he was reading medicine with L»r. Ready of Towanda. In 1876-77-78 he attended the Rush Medical College at Chicago. He paid his own way through college. On his return from college, he began business in Shirley and is the only physician at that place. He was married in 1876 to Ella Rogers, a daughter of Dr. Rogers, of Heyworth ; they have no children. D. R. STUBBLEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser: P. 0. Covell ; was born April 13, 1846, in Funk's Grove Township, on a farm, remaining there some time ; then moved with his father to his present farm in Funk's Grove, and remained engaged in farming for his father until 24 years old, when, in December, 1870, he was married to Matilda Bower, born in Pennsylvania in 1844, and came to Illinois in 1846 ; immediately after marriage, they settled on their present farm of 160 acres, inherited by his father, which they have improved by building a beautiful house and barn, and have done a good deal of tiling on the farm. Mr. Stubblefield makes a specialty of breeding fine imported Norman horses ; is in partnership with P. M. Stubblefield. Has held the office of School Director five years, and is now of No. 6, Dale. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Covell ; he is Steward and Class Leader and Trustee ; has also been Recording Steward. Children — Lilly G., deceased, Nettie M.. Lawrence W. J. P. STUBBLEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Shirley; was born Feb. 28, 1845, on farm in Funk's Grove Township. He was third son of Abraham Stubblefield. He remained there until 1 year old, when he left the scene of his childhood, and moved with his father to the farm now occupied by him in Funk's Grove Township. He remained with his father until 28 years old, at which time, on Aug. 8, 1867, he was married to N. C. Thomas ; born in Fayette Co., Penn. Her father was from Pennsylvania; his mother, whose maiden name was Moore, was born in Maryland. Mrs. Stubblefield, wife of J. P., came to Illinois with her sister, Mrs. Bright. Immediately after marriage they settled on present farm of 225 acres ; 143 of which was given him by his father, the rest they have made by their own labor and management. It was then raw prairie, but now has become a fine farm, by being improved by building and tiling. He has held offices connected with schools. He and wife are members of United Brethren Church. Have one child — Cora. Mr. Stubblefield takes great interest in educating Cora, both in music and i# a^< WHITE OAK TP. DANVERS TOWNSHIP. 1035 literature. Rachel Horden, a sister of Mrs. Stubblefield, makes her home with them, and is one of fourteen children. Her father and mother are still living in Adams Co., Md. EDWARD WILSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington ; son of William Wilson, and brother of A. J. Wilson; was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Aug. 6, 1827, on farm ; remained there until 17 years old, engaged in farming. In 1844, he came with his father to McLean Co., 111., settling in Dale Township, in what is now Twin Grove. He remained with his father until 1854, and then began business for himself, on his present farm of 300 acres, which he has prin- cipally earned. Mr. William Wilson, father of A. J. and Edward, was born at Newcastle-upon- Tyne, England. He emigrated to America early [in this century, and stopped for a while at Schenectady, and afterward came up the Mohawk on a flatboat, and landed at what was then known as Bigg's Tavern, now the flourishing city of Utica. Mr. Ed. Wilson has been an active Republican, casting his first vote when 21, and has missed but one vote since in any election. In 1864, was married to Mrs. Louisa McWhorter, of Kentucky. Her father was from Philadelphia, Penn. In 1846, he joined the army to go to the Mexican war. Was rejected on account. of lameness. He has held office of schools nine years as Director. Is now Assessor of Dale Township. They have had four children — William L., Esther M., John P.; deceased— Walter C. Stephen A. McWhorter, step-son of Mr. Wilson. A. J. WILSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington; was born in 1829, Dec. 26, on farm in Madison Co., N. Y.; remained there, farming, until 21 ; when he was 14 years old, his father moved to Illinois, leaving A. J. with his uncle, Edward Wilson, with whom he made his home until 1850, when he came to Bloomington and engaged in clerking for Betts, Allen & Co., in dry goods, for twelve years. In 1860, he was married to Ellen Cornell, of Providence, R. I. After marriage, they settled in Springfield, 111., and he clerked for Benjamin & Co., in dry goods store for two years. He then returned to McLean Co., and engaged in farming on his present farm of eighty acres ; renting at that time of his father. Sometime afterward he bought, and by improvement has made a most beautiful home. Mr. Wilson, in connection with farming grain, makes a specialty of raising hedge plants. He has held office of School Director fourteen years, Supervisor of Dale Township two terms, is now on third term. They have eight children — Nellie, Charlie, Edward, Elizabeth, Abby, Mary, Robert and Frank. DANVERS TOWNSHIP. IRA ABBOTT, dry goods and groceries, Danvers ; was born in Bath, Grafton Co., N. H., Feb. 17, 1828. His early life was that of a farmer's son. In addition to his common-school education, he attended select schools of a high grade, at Newbury and St. Johnsbury, Vt. In 1851, he came West to Missouri, and engaged in farming, near the present town of Dalton. In the fall of 1853, he went south to Louisiana, and engaged in gardening, near the city of New Orleans. In May, 1854, he settled in Danvers, McLean Co.,. 111., where he has since resided. Here he engaged in merchandising, ant has been conducting the dry goods and grocery business longer than any other merchant in the village. He was married, in 1851, to Martha F. Stange, of Lynchburg, Va. Six children — five boys and one daughter — have been born to them — Rob- ert, George, Arthur, Frank, Mary, Walter. Of these, Frank and Walter are dead. Mr. Abbott was appointed Postmaster in 1861, under the administration of A. Lincoln. Under the reign of Andy Johnson, he was ousted, but re-appointed under the administration of U. S. Grant, and has since held the position. Mr. Abbott has always taken a deep interest in whatever tended' to the improvement and advancement of the interests of his village, and has always been liberal in furthering its various enterprises. S. W. BAKER, lumber merchant, Danvers; was born in Westfield, Essex (now Union) Co., N. J., May 11, 1830. His early life was spent in farm labor, and his education secured at the common schools. In 1832, his father moved to the immediate vicinity of Elizabeth City, N. J., and here S. W. grew up to manhood. At the age of 16, he went to New York City, to learn his trade — that of a mason. He served an apprenticeship of four years. At the age of 23, he returned to New Jersey, remaining till the spring of 1860, when he came West, and, Aug. 17, 1860, located in Danvers. He followed his trade nine years. In 1869, he bought out the gro- cery and hardware store of George Baun, and conducted the business till September, 1876. He then sold to J. S. Yoder. In January, 1875, he had purchased the lumber yard of Mr. Fordyce, and this he has since operated. He was married, March 17, 1853, to Elizabeth Cory, a native of New York City. Five children have been born to them — Aaron T., Henry, Mary, and two dying in infancy. Has held the office of Town Trustee five terms. Owns eighty-five acres of land, town property, lumber yard, and is financially solid. He has met with good success in his various business enterprises, and is a thorough-going business man. sGEORGE BUNN, dealer in groceries, real estate and loan agent, Danvers ; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, May 20. 1832. His early life was spent in attendance upon the graded schools of Adelphi, his native village At the age of 16 years, he attended upon his father's warerooms, W 1036 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: in the capacity of clerk and book-keeper. His father was a cabinet-maker by trade. In 1849, the family moved to Bloomington, 111. In 1851, he entered the employ of Newman & Co., as clerk in their dry goods store. In 1852, he went to Vermont, Fulton Co., in a like capacity, in the employ of Stevens & Wining. In 1854, he came to Danvers, and was connected with the general store of T. J. Bunn one and one-half years. He next formed a copartnership with Gen. E. N. Banks, and engaged in the sale of furniture in Petersburg, Menard Co., one and one-half years. In 1857, he returned to Vermont, Fulton Co., and, in company with a Mr. Swartz, engaged in the sale of furniture for the space of five years. In 1862, he went to Macomb, and was in the same business one year. In 1864, he returned to Danvers. Here he has since been engaged in active mercantile life. At one time, he operated a general store, was partner in a boot and shoe store, and also operated a grocery store. He has equipped and started more stores than any other citizen of the village, and has done more to advance the interests of the village than any other one man within her limits. In 1870, he engaged in the real estate and loan business. He was married, Aug. 1, 1854, to Ellen N. Reyburn, a native of Illinois. Has had six children — Adie, Etta, Harry, Eddie. Frank and Nellie. Of these, Adie is dead. He was commissioned a Notary Public, July 13, 1878, by Gov. S. M. Cullom. Has been a member of the Board of Village Trustees six or seven terms, and President of the Board four terms ; also Director of the Village Schools three terms. Since 1876, in connection with his merchandising, he has bought and shipped grain largely. He is a successful, active, energetic business man, and has given his best energies to further the interests of the village. JACOB COOPER; farmer, P. 0. Danvers; was born in Hardy Co., Va., Jan. 12, 1827. When 9 years of age, he came with his parents to Greene Co., Ohio. Here he grew to manhood, receiving rather a limited education at the common schools. At his majority, he began life for himself as a farmer. In 1849, he came West to Illinois, and settled near the site of his present residence. Soon after coming, he purchased forty acres. This he has increased by successive purchases, until he now owns three hundred and seventy acres. He was married Oct. 9, 1848, to Mary J. Pierce, a native of Indiana. The same minister officiated at his nuptials that performed the marriage ceremony for his bride's father and mother. He has five children — Charles W., Margaret E., Louisa B., Parizade D., Henry F. When Mr. Cooper landed at what was to be his future home, he had a cash capital of but $22 ; but, with a stout heart and willing hands, he set about the work of gaining a livelihood, and by industry and good management, he has acquired a desirable competency for himself and family. H. I. DEAL, farmer; P. O. Danvers; was born in Waynesboro, Augusta Co., Va., Oct. 13, 1817. He is the son of John and Ellen (Imboden) Deal. His father was a tanner by trade. Young Deal attended the village schools until 14 years of age. He worked upon the farm owned by his father for the space of four years. At the age of 18, he began the saddler's trade, and served an apprenticeship of three years in the village of Greenville. He followed his trade ab; ut twenty-five years. In the fall of 1849, he came to McLean Co., 111., and settled on the farm now owned by J. L. Shorthose, purchasing at that time 140 acres of land. In 1851, he sus- tained an injury in the fracture of his left leg, and was thereby rendered unable to follow farm- ing for some years. He rented his farm for some time, moved to Danvers (then Concord), and again worked at his trade. In 1857, he purchased a stock of dry goods and groceries and engaged in merchandising about two years. He purchased his present farm in 1861, improved it, and moved to it in 1864. He was married Jan. 2, 1841, to Catharine G. Swope, a native of Virginia. Four children have been born to them — John H., Elizabeth M., James H., Ella E. Of these, John H. and Elizabeth M. are deceased. Owns 171 acres, valued at $11,000. Has held the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years. His finely-improved farm is in perfect keeping with those of his surrounding neighbors. A. S. DU>LOP, farmer; P. O. Danvers; was born in Washington, Washington Co., Penn., Jan. 18, 1815. In the following March, his father moved to Ohio and settled in Fairfield Co. Here A. S. grew to manhood, a farmer's son, not receiving over six months' tuition at the com- mon schools. He remained at the homestead and contributed to the support of the family till 30 years of age. In October, 1861, he came West to Illinois, and first settled in Vermilion Co. In 1866, he moved to Tazewell Co., and, the following year, to McLean Co. In the spring of 1868, he purchased his present farm in Danvers Township, and began improving the same. He owns 130 acres, valued at $6 500. He was married June 25, 1846, to Sarah Bott, a native of York Co., Penn. Has had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters — Constantine H., William L., George W., Alexander L., Olfver P., John H., Charles F., Mary E, Caroline A.; two infant daughters and an infant son are deceased. He has kept a daily record of passing events for a period of thirty-six years past. This contains much interesting and useful information. _J0HN A. EWINS, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Danvers. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in the work, was born in Kingston, N. H., in November, 1825. He is the son of James P. and Mehitable (Clement) Ewins. His father and family came West in 1834, stopping a short time in Chicago. At that time, the present city of Chicago was a village of not more than 300 inhabitants. Here John A. attended school on what was known as the South Side. In October, 1834, he remembers seeing wolves chased over the very ground whereon now stand the finest portions of the city, many being pushed into the Lake near where the Exposition DANVERS TOWNSHIP. 1037 Building now stands. Indians, at that time, were numerous in Chicago, and on one occa- sion, as young Ewins was carrying home a bucket of water, he was accosted by a very large Indian, who, in broken English, said to him, " Gimme drink of water." He replied, '■ I have nothing from which you can drink ; ' whereupon the Indian took up the bucket and drank from it, and, with a grunt of satisfaction, passed on. Mr. Ewins, though but a boy, deemed this act rather cool on the part of the noble red man of the forest. He remembers to have seen a wed- ding celebrated, in which the contracting parties were a gentleman of 60 and a blooming and blushing lassie of sweet 16. In December, 1834, the family settled in La Salle Co., at Waupaun- sie Grove, his father pre-empting 200 acres of land. This was afterward purchased by an East- ern capitalist, and one-half, or 100 acres, given to his father in compensation for the information he had given him of the country. In the fall of 1836, the family came to McLean Co., and stopped a short time near the present village of Danvers. In the spring of 1837, his father purchased forty acres of what is now included in the homestead of his son. He died in November, 1846. Mr. Ewins lived with his parents till his majority. Starting in life for himself, he engaged in farming. In the spring of 1856, he moved to Danvers, and engaged in merchandising. In 1858, he returned to his farm, where he now resides ; now owns 600 acres in McLean Co. Most of his land is in pasture and meadow, and he deals largely in cattle and hogs. In 1869, he purchased one-half interest in the Danvers Mills ; this he sold in 1873. In 1865, he was chosen Supervisor of Danvers Township, and his efficiency in managing the interests of the township is best attested by the fact that he is now serving out his eleventh term in that capacity. He was married, in 1854, to Euphemia E. Blair, a native of Illinois ; she died ten days after marriage. He was mar- ried to his present wife, Malinda T. Franks, a native of Boone Co., Ky., in 1856 ; has three children — Jennie L., Frank P., Chester R. Mr. Ewins has been largely successful in his various enterprises, and is to-day one of the wealthy men of his township. B. J. FORBES, stock-shipping and butchering ; P. O. Danvers ; was born near Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio, A. D. 1834 : his early life was passed upon the farm, with the experience of a farmer's son ; his education was limited to attendance upon the common schools ; in the fall of 1852, he came to Illinois, with the family of his father, settling in what is now Dry Grove Township ; his father died in 1855 ; B. J. remained at home and superintended the farm interests for his mother and younger members of the family ; his older brothers were then waging the battle of life for themselves. He was married in 1865, to Maretta Dawson, a native of Illinois ; her grand- parents and parents were among the earliest settlers of McLean Co. Has had three children — Harry L., Annie B., Charlie ; of these, Annie B. is deceased. He at present owns eighty-six acres of the old homestead, in Dry Grove Township, and village property in Danvers. Was Collector of Dry Grove Township one term, and has held the office of School Director. In addition to buying and shipping stock, he operates a first-class meat market, in Bloomington. JAMES T. FRANKS, farmer, deceased ; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Virginia Dec. 1, 1795 ; he was raised a farmer's son, and received a limited education'at the common schools ; his early man- hood was spent in farming and various other pursuits. He was twice married, the first time to Malinda O'Rear, a native of Virginia; his second marriage was to Rebecca Walton, of Kentucky, who still survives him. In 1836, he came to Tazewell Co., 111., and settled in Pekin ; here he remained about nine years : in 1845, he came to McLean Co. and settled the farm now resided upon by his widow and youngest son; he died Dec. 31, 1872. Eleven children were the fruit of this union — Mary F (wife of James Rose), Elizabeth W. (wife of Heuson Richmond), Malinda T. (married John A. Ewins), William H., Amanda M. (married John Huffman, Louisa E., Rebecca A. (married Robert K. Jones), Jennie E. (married John S. Popple), James R., Lucilla W. (married James Wilson), Eugene L. Mr. Franks was an energetic business man, kind and obliging to his neighbors and friends. He never aspired to political preferment, and held no office save that of School Director. EUGENE L. FRANKS, farmer : P. 0. Danvers; was born in Danvers Township, McLean Co., 111., Nov. 26, 1854 ; he was reared on the farm where he nowlives, and is the youngest of a family of eleven children ; in addition to his common-school education, he attended Lincoln College one year, when, on account of ill-health, he relinquished his studies : he has always resided at home with his parents, and for the past four years has operated the farm, in the interests of himself and his widowed mother. He was married, Sept. 12, 1878, to Carrie E. Johnston, a native of Springfield, 111. In addition to his farming, he takes much interest in the breeding and rearing of fine stock. DR. D. C. GIDEON, physician and editor, Danvers ; was born Nov. 27, 1848, on Wolf Creek, Sangamon Co., 111., the first and only child of his parents, Alfred L. and Elizabeth Gideon ; in March, 1851, his parents moved to Mount Pulaski, 111., which town was then the county seat of Logan Co. : here he grew up to manhood, attending school ; he was 18 years old when he began the study of medicine, under the tutelage of his uncle, Dr. John Clark. The 1st day of August, 1867, in company with Daniel Morgan, he started on horseback for the West ; the fall was spent in traveling over Missouri and along the Kansas border ; returning home early in the winter, he continued his medical studies until the following spring, when, on the 1st of May, he again started for the West, driving a herd of cattle and mules for Milton Patterson, who had sold his farm to Jacob Row, who afterward became the father-in-law of Dr. Gideon ; arriving in Jasper 1038 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Co., Mo., about the 1st of June, he concluded to again look over the State of Missouri ; the sum- mer was spent in travel, and, in September, he returned to Mount Pulaski, and, on the 27th of that month, 1868, was married to Miss Sarah Row, youngest daughter of Jacob and Sarah Row, Dr. John Clark officiating; their first child, Alfred, was born June 4, 1869; during the sum- mer of 1870, he engaged in farming his land, one mile northeast of Mount Pulaski ; this not proving of sufficient interest to him, he again rented his farm the next spring and commenced the practice of medicine ; Feb. 4, 1873, he graduated with honor at the Eclectic Medical Insti- tute of Cincinnati, Ohio ; their second son, Clark, was born April 6, 1873 ; after his return home, he formed a partnership with his former preceptor, and continued his practice until November, 1873, when he again formed a partnership with Dr. W. H. Davis, of Springfield, where he removed, and, until the 1st of May, 1874, did a good business; the continued illness of his mother kept him by her side until her death, in August, at which time he came back to Mount Pulaski and settled up his business, when, selling his farm to his father, he removed to Watseka, Iroquois Co., III. ; here he lived for two years, but, not liking the swamps and sand ridges of Iroquois Co., he removed to Danvers, McLean Co., 111., March 14, 1877, where he pur- chased a comfortable residence, and has since that time had a very good practice. March 29, he, together with George Bunn, started a weekly paper, known as the Danvers Independent ; soon afterward, Mr. Bunn withdrew, leaving Dr. Gideon editor and proprietor; the paper promises to become one of the permanent things of Danvers. Dr. Gideon enjoys an extensive acquaint- ance with the professional men of Illinois, and, being yet a young man, has a good chance for promotion in his profession. J. T. GUNNELL, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Christian Co., Ky., May 9, 1830; in 1834, his father came West and located in Tazewell Co., 111., on a quarter- section of land, entered the fall previous to his removal; this he improved and sold, and, in 1837, the family moved to Stout's Grove (now Danvers Township), McLean Co., where he pur- chased and improved 200 acres of land ; this farm is still in the possession of the family and is managed by the eldest son, J. T. Guunell ; young Gunnell passed his early life upon the farm, and, in addition to his common-school education, attended, for a short time, a select school kept by Cyrus Haines, a Presbyterian minister in the church at Stout's Grove, and known as Stout's Grove Academy ; after his majority, he engaged in the rearing of sheep for some years handling from 1,500 to 2,000 head per annum ; he owns 160 acres in Tazewell Co., which he keeps mainly for a stock farm. Has held the office of Road Commissioner. So far through life, Mr. Gunnell has resisted Cupid's darts and bids fair to end his days in the enjoyment of single blessedness. O. T. HALL, farmer ; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Rockingham Co., N. H., April 3, 1828 ; in 1834, his parents came West to Illinois, stopping for a short time in Chicago ; his father first settled permanently where his son now lives, purchasing eighty acres, and, soon after, aD additional eighty, a part of which is now comprised in the limits of the village of Danvers ; he was reared a tiller of the soil, and obtained his education in the common or subscription schools of his boyhood ; he has always remained with his parents. He was married, in December, 1 870, to Eliza E. Wilson, a native, of Indiana; has one child — Gertie Wilson. Owns 240 acres and village property. Has held the office of School Trustee and that of Town Clerk four or five years. He is one of the substantial business men of his township. F. M. HALL, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Todd Co., Ky., March 25, 1833 ; his father. Young Hall, came with his family to Illinois in 1835, and first stopped in Washington, Tazewell Co. ; in 1836, he came to Stout's Grove, McLean Co., where he engaged in running a saw and corn mill ; his son secured to himself a good education for those days ; he attended some two or three winters the academy at Stout's Grove, under the direction of Rev. Cyrus Haines ; he received his first certificate from Prof. C. P. Merriman and taught school the winter he was 19 years of age; the following spring, he began breaking prairie with an ox- team ; before he was 20. he purchased 130 acres in Dry Grove Township, for which he paid $9 per acre ; this he might have purchased two years before at $1 and $1.25 per acre ; so successful was he in farming, that the first crop of wheat he raised paid for the land, the breaking and fencing included ; he now owns 600 acres in McLean Co., requiring some fifteen miles of fen- cing to inclose it ; Mr. Hall has been very successful in life, and attributes most of his money- getting to the successful handling of cattle ; his life has been largely devoted to this branch of business ; he was a personal friend and acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, having visited the latter at his home in Washington City; by an extended course of reading, he has kept himself posted on the leading topics of the day and is well versed in ancient and modern history ; he has made two trips to Mt. Vernon, Washington City, and spent a week at the late Centennial. He was married in 1855 to Jane E. Barnard, of Illinois ; has had eight children — James F., Lydia R. (wife of Bennett Swarely), Young M., Eva J., living; William, Eddie, Jesse, Ella, deceased. Has held the office of School Director. JAMES HAYS, farmer; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Knox Co. , Ohio, May 4, 1834; he obtained a good English education at the common schools, and spent his early life upon his father's farm; at the age of 25 years, he purchased a small farm of fifty-three acres, and engaged in farming for himself; in 1864, he came West, to Illinois, and settled in McLean Co., near the place where he at present resides. He is the eldest of a family of seven, and is the only DANVERS TOWNSHIP. 1039 member of the family living. He was married Dec. 15, 1858, to Isabel Murdock, a native of Ohio; has three children — Mary E., Sarah L., Bertha E. He is the son of William and Martha (Hood) Hays ; his father still lives, having reached an advanced age. He owns eighty acres, well improved, valued atjj>4,000 ; has held the office of School Director. Mr. Hays is a genial, affable gentleman, possessed of rare social qualities, a successful farmer and a kind and obliging neighbor. I. D. JAMES, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Danvers; was born in New London Co., Conn., A. D. 1812; when he was 16 years of age, his father moved to Western New York ; his early life was devoted to farming and the acquisition of an English education ; besides his com- mon school education, he attended a select school for some time, in Le Roy, N. Y.; after reaching manhood, he learned the carpenter's trade ; this he followed a few years, securing from hard labor at the bench the means with which to enter a quarter-section of land in Michigan. In the fall of 1837, he came West to prospect the country ; the broad expanse of the Prairie State capti- vated him, and he at once determined to make it his home. Returning to New York, he was married, Oct. 2, 1838, to Olive M. Hinsdale; soon after marriage, he came with his young bride, and, settling down where they now live, purchased eighty acres and began life in earnest. He now owns 570 acres, and deals extensively in stock. By industry and good management he has accumulated a vast amount of property ; no one more energetic and stirring can be found in the community to-day. ANDREW JARRETT, farmer; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Greenbrier Co., W. Va., Dec. 17, 1847 ; he was reared a farmer's boy, and secured only a common-school education; he lost his father when but 5 years of age ; at the age of 17 years, he took supervision of the farm for his mother ; at his majority, he began life for himself; he purchased the homestead as the heirs became of age, thus securing for himself a farm of 180 acres in the " Old Dominion." He sold out in January, 1877, and the following November came to Illinois, stopping for the winter With his mother, near Bloomington. March 1, 1878, he took possession of his present farm, south- west of the village of Danvers ; owns 200 acres, all in a fine state of improvement, valued at $12,000. He was married Oct. 5, 1871, to Alice M. Argabrite, a native of West Virginia ; has three children — Laura, Delta [., Ora J. He devotes himself mainly to the rearing of cattle and hogs, and has been very successful in his business enterprises. /""■■— 'J. WALLACE JOHNSON, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Monroe Co., W. Va , Aug. 27, 1847 : he is the son of Caleb and Louisa (Beard) Johnson ; in 1856, his father came West to Illinois, and settled upon the farm now owned and occupied by his son ; he purchased about 600 acres of land in Danvers Township, McLean Co. ; this he improved and brought to a fine state of cultivation ; Wallace was raised a farmer's son. In addition to his common-school education, he attended for the space of one year Lincoln College, but owing to ill health was obliged to relinquish his studies at the end of that time ; he returned to the farm and has since devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He now owns 440 acres of the old home- stead secured to him by his father-in-law, Richard Rowell. He was married Feb. 7, 1878, to Lois Rowell, a native of Illinois ; her father is a very prominent and highly-respected citizen of. McLean Co. ; they have one child — Homer. Mr. Johnson bids fair to became a very successful farmer, and will doubtless follow in the footsteps of both his father and father-in-law in becoming one of McLean Co.'s wealthy farmers at no distant day. H. M. KENNEDY, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Danvers : was born in Philadelphia, Penn., A. D. 1837 : his early life was spent in attendance upon the Military Academy, at Brandywine Springs, Del., and Jefferson College, Penn. ; at the age of 20 years, he engaged in farming in Maryland, and upon his farm the first regular skirmish of the late civil war occurred ; in 1870, he came West to Illinois and settled about one mile south of the village of Danvers, where he at present resides ; this land had been entered in 1837, and was yet unimproved ; the whole track of 480 acres is at present in a high state of cultivation, and, with his fine and substantial improve- ments, has been rendered second to none in this whole section : in addition to his extensive farming, he rears and deals largely in cattle and hogs, handling annually some $6,000 worth of stock. He was married in 1863, to Arabella Buck, a native of Wisconsin; has three children — Maxwell K., Sallie B., Sabilla M. Has held the office of School Director two terms. Mr. Ken- nedy is one of the financially solid men of the community ; his personal and real estate aggre- gating not less than $40,000. JACOB MUSSELMAN, blacksmith and wagon-shop, Danvers ; was born in Baden Baden, near the river Rhine, March 7, 1827; he emigrated to America in 1848, and first settled in Butler Co., Ohio ; soon after coming, he struck a job of harvesting at 25 cents per day ; he was thus employed fourteen days, working hard and living high on side-meat, cucumbers, molasses and biscuit ; this was served out faithfully every day without change ; he soon after engaged to work at his trade for a Mr. Fisher at $6 per month ; but Fisher failed after some six or eight months, and he lost all his wages : this financial disaster left him $16 in debt for a suit of clothes contracted : however, he soon found employment and cleared off the debt; in October, 1853, he came to Danvers, where he at present resides ; at that time, Bloomington was but a village, adorned by only two brick houses ; the surrounding country was but sparsely settled ; after buying his lots, erecting his house and shop, and laying in a small supply of material, he had but 1 cent left. He was married in 1853 to Melinda Erisman, a native of Hesse, Germany ; 1040 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: eight children have been born to them — Henry, William, John, Henry, Frederick, Louis, Charles, Mary ; these are all living excepting the first son named Henry. He has held the office of Road Commissioner one or two terms. •--HENRY NAFZIGER, farmer; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, A. D. 1832. His early life was that of a farmer's son, and his education was obtained at the common schools. In 1847, the family emigrated to America, his father settling in McLean Co., a short distance southwest of Danvers, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son. On reaching his majority, Henry left home, and labored as a farm-hand some two years. He then rented the homestead, and began farming for himself. In 1865, he purchased the homestead, containing 200 acres, and this he has increased by successive purchases, until he now owns 350 acres, valued at $18,000. He was married, in 1855, to Helen Nafziger, a native of Germany ; has six chil- dren — Robert, Erurua, John, Fred, Albert, Jacob ; three deceased. Has held the office of Com- missioner of Highways nine years, and that of School Director for the past eight years. His finely-improved farm exhibits the industry and enterprise so frequently noticed among that class of our foreign population. ^H. PARKHURST, physician and druggist, Danvers ; was born in Windsor Co., Vt., A. D. 1823. His early life was passed upon the farm, with such experiences as are common to farm- ers' boys. In addition to his common-school education, he was preparing for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., but did not enter college. In 1847, he began the study of medicine, and attended his first course at Pittsfield, Mass. ; his second at Woodstock, Vt., and, in 1851, graduated at Buffalo Medical University. Prior to graduating, he practiced some two years in Otsego, Mich., and, soon after completing his studies, located in Prairieville. Here he remained till July, 1853, when he located in Danvers, his present residence. In addition to his extensive practice, he owns and operates the only drug store in the village.' He was married, Jan. 1, 1854, to C. L. Skillman, a native of New Jersey. Three children have been born to them ; none are now living. By his own personal exertions, he has accumulated a competency, and is the lead- ing practitioner of the community. WILLIAM PAUL, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, April 29, 1827. He is the son of James and Sarah (Bain) Paul. He was reared a farmer's son, and secured his education at the common schools. When 19 years of age, he began life for himself as a farmer. In 1851, he came to Illinois. In company with Harrison and Hughes, he bought 1,600 head of sheep, Mr. Paul owning one-third interest in the flock. In the fall of 1852, he purchased 240 acres in Dry Grove Township. This he improved and resided upon until 1856. In 1858, he purchased 116 acres of his present homestead. He now owns 325 acres in Danvers Township, and an undivided half-interest in 238 acres in Allin Township. In April, 1858, he went to Texas, and sojourned in that State till March, 1861. He was first married, in 1846, to Elizabeth A. Bell, a native of Ohio. She died in March, 1847. His second marriage occurred in October, 1861, to M. L. Harrison, of Ohio. Had one child from first marriage. From second wedlock, three children — Mary B., Nannie E., Sadie R. Has held the office of Road Commis- sioner and that of School Director. He deals quite largely in cattle and hogs. For a number of years, he devoted himself largely to the rearing and improving of sheep. JOHN PERRY, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Nov. 13, 1825. His early life was passed upon the farm, and his education was limited to a a short attendance upon the common schools. His father came West to Illinois in 1836, and set- tled in what is now Dry Grove Township. John remained at home till he was 20 years of age, when he started in life for himself. He began working as a farm-hand at $10 per month, but soon rented and farmed for himself. In 1849, he purchased his first land, 160 acres, the south- east quarter of Sec. 36, Danvers Township ; here he made his farm and has since resided : this he has since increased by successive purchases, until he now owns 1,300 acres, valued at $70,000. He was married, in 1850. to Susanna Hiate, a native of Illinois ; she died in April, 1870. He was again married, in 1872, to Mrs. Sarah M. Bethel, a native of Illinois ; eight children were born from first wedlock, five daughters and three sons ; from second marriage, he has three daughters. He deals quite extensively in horses, cattle and hogs, and very largely in sheep of a high grade, fle has not sought political distinction, but has avoided office-holding. Has been School Director a number of terms. SAMUEL PERRY, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., April 24, 1834; he is the son of John and Charity (Hayes) Perry. In 1836, his father came West to Illinois, and settled in McLean Co. Here, Samuel grew to manhood, with such experiences as are common to a farmer's son ; his education was limited to the common schools. He remained at home until he reached his majorty, when he engaged to work for an older brother, at $20 per month. He has devote! his entire life, so far, to agricultural pursuits. He was married, in November, 1863, to Rebecca Hiatt, a native of Illinois ; two children have been born to them, but death has deprived them of both. He owns 220 acres of land in Dan- vers and Dry Grove Townships, valued at $11,000. He handles considerable stock, in the way of cattle and hogs. Mr. Terry has never been an aspirant for official honors, and though once elected to office, paid his fine rather than serve. He is noted for his strict integrity and upright- ness of life, and for his fair and honorable dealing with all men. DANVERS TOWNSHIP. 1041 — — JOHN S. POPPLE, hirdware merchant and insurance agent, Danvers ; was born in Boston, England, Jan. 24, 1841. He emigrated with his parents to America in August, 1851, the family first settling in Oswego, N. Y. His father, Samuel Popple, was a minister of the Method- ist Church, and died in Watertown, N. Y., in 1855. John S. attended school in Oswego, and secured to himself a good English education. The family came to Bloomington, 111., and in 1860, to Danvers. During the residence of the family in Bloomington, John worked in the Eagle Mills, and, on coming to Danvers, followed milling ten years in the Danvers Mills. In 1870, he went to Chicago and was a student in Prof. Palmer's Musical Academy two sessions, and, for five years, devoted himself to teaching both vocal and instrumental music. In 1875, ia connection with his brother, M. Luther Popple, he bought the hardware stock of William Estes, in Danvers, and the firm of Popple Bros., was established. They conduct the only hardware establishment in the village. He was married June 4, 1868, to Jennie E. Franks, a native of Danvers, 111. ; has one child — Edwin G. He is agent for the ^Etna, Underwriters,' Hartford, Phoenix and Rockford Insurance Companies ; also, Secretary of the Danvers Mutual Insurance Company, and the Rock Creek Fair Association. ED. L. PRICE, farmer and grain dealer ; P.O. Lilly, Tazewell Co.; was born in Urbana, Ohio, April 15, 1844. He is the son of Rev. Hugh R. and Ann (Thomas) Price. His father is a native of Wales, and a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Ed. L. spent his early life in attendance upon the schools of his native city. In 1859, the family moved to Bloomington, McLean Co., 111.; here his father was Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church about seven years ; here E. L. attended the public schools, and, later, was a student in the model department of the State Normal School. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 68th Regt. I. V. I. and was in the service five months. In 1864, he re-enlisted in Co. B, 145th Regt. I. V. I., and remained in the service till the close of the war. On his return from the war, he engaged with Krum & Robinson, of Bloomington, in purchasing grain, and as foreman in the lumber yard. In the fall of 1872, he moved to his farm in Danvers Township, and engaged in farming four years. In the fall of 1876, he formed a copartnership with I. R. Krum, under the firm name of Krum & Price, for the purchasing of grain and the sale of lumber, at Lilly, Tazewell Co. This, in connection with farming, he has since conducted. He was married in 1868 to Emma M. Mitchell, a native of Illinois ; has two children — Helen L., Hugh M. Owns 120 acres valued at $6,000 ; also one-half interest in the business at Lilly. R. ROBINSON, contractor and builder, Danvers; was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, Oct. 30, 1832; his early life was that of a farmer's son, and his education was obtained at the common schools ; he remained at home till 25 years of age, engaged in farming the homestead. In 1859, he went to Gentry Co., Mo., where he purchased a farm of forty acres, but, owing to the exigen- cies of the war, remained but a short time ; leaving Missouri, he came to Danvers, McLean Co., 111., and soon after coming engaged in carpentering with P. W. Rhodecap ; he continued as "jour" workman some eight or nine years; he then engaged in contracting and building on his own responsibility. He was married in 1854 to Sarah E. Cory, a native of Ohio ; has three children — Cory E., Frank L., Hattie Jean. Still owns his land in Missouri, and the best city property in the village of Danvers ; his property has been accumulated by his own personal exertions. He is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Sturm) Robinson ; his father was one of the early settlers of Shelby Co., Ohio, having settled there when the surrounding country was one unbroken wilderness. IRA ROWELL, farmer ; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Haverhill, N. H., May 20, 1831 ; his ''youth and early manhood was passed upon the farm ; his education was confined to the common schools, and was somewhat limited even in that respect. By an extended course of reading, however, he has accumulated a vast fund of knowledge, and but few men are more thoroughly posted in ancient and modern history than Mr. Rowell. In 1849, the family came to Illinois, and settled in Dry Grove Township, McLean Co. At the age of 18 years, he began life for him- self On the death of his father, he returned to (he old homestead, and cared for his widowed mother and the younger members of the family. He built his present residence in the spring of 1854 and it became at once headquarters for the family. He was married Nov. 10, 1869, to Lavinia Carlock, a native of Woodford Co., 111.; she is the daughter of Abraham W. Carlock, familiarly known as the " Old Democrat ; three daughters bless and enliven their household — Lilly E., Laura B., Lulu J. Owns 120 acres valued at $7,200. Has held the office of School Trustee for the past twelve years ; also those of Road Commissioner and School Director, each a number of terms. S* — C. C. ROWELL, merchant, Danvers ; was born in Haverhill, Grafton Co., N. H., Dec. 11, 1836 ; his early life was passed upon the farm ; at the age of six, ha went to live with an uncle, and remained with him until he was 14 years of age ; in the summer of 1849, he came with the family to Illinois, his father settling on the east side of Dry Grove, on what is now known as the John McCullough farm ; about two years after coming, his father died, and he, with his brothers, first sought to procure a home for their widowed mother ; in 1854, he began life for himself, working as a farm-hand for I. D. Janes, at $12.50 per month ; so faithful was he in the discharge of his duties, that at the close of the year Mr. Janes rewarded him with pay at $15 per month instead of $12.50 ; he next went to Iowa and spent some months clerking in a store ; returning to Danvers, he entered the employ of Ira Abbott, and clerked for him two years, not 1042 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: losing a day. In the spring of 1861, he was married to Margaret Rayburn, a native of Dan- vers, 111.; after marriage, he farmed two years, and then became a partner with George Bunn in the grocery trade; at the close of one year, his brother Frank bought out Bunn's interest, and the firm of C. C. Rowell & Co. was established ; in 1876, Seymour Case became his partner, and two years later, G. L. Johnson. Has three children — Katie, William S., Charles C, Jr. Has held the office of Commissioner of Highways three years, School Treasurer four years, City Clerk two years. THOMAS H. SHORTHOSE, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Stafford- shire, England, A. D. 1818; his early life was passed upon the farm, and his education derived from the common schools ; in 1849, he, with his brothers John L. and Herbert, emigrated to America and first settled near Zanesville, Ohio, and engaged in farming; in the spring of 1852, he came West to Illinois, and was a resident of the village of Danvers about six months ; in the fall of 1852, he purchased 136 acres of land about two and three-fourths miles southwest of the village ; here he has since resided, engaged in agricultural pursuits and the rearing of stock ; he at present owns 451 acres in McLean Co., finely improved, valued at $25,000; also 245 acres in Jasper Co., Mo. He was married, in 1852, to Rosanna Frazier, a native of Virginia ; she died in October, 1876; four children were the fruits of this union — Ann E, Emma, William, Bessie J.; of these, Ann E. and Bessie J. are deceased. He has held the office of Road Commissioner and School Director a number of terms. He deals quite extensively in fine cattle and a high grade of hogs ; he has been very successful as a farmer, and through industry and energy has accumulated a large competency. JOHN SLOAN, Roadmaster I. B. & W. R. R.; was born in Neury, County Down, Ireland, in December, 1840; his parents emigrated to America in 1842, and first settled in Canada; in 1852, the family came to Joliet, Will Co., 111.; after a residence of about twenty years, his parents moved to Pekin, Tazewell Co., where they at present reside ; he obtained his education at the common schools and has spent the greater portion of his life actively engaged in railroad- ing; during the years 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865, he was engaged in boating on the I. & M. Canal ; in 1872, he was first appointed Roadmaster of the I., B. & W. R. R., but by a subse- quent change in the officers of the road, lost his position ; he was re-appointed in 1878, and still holds the position ; in 1871, he moved to Danvers, where he has since resided. He was married in November, 1870, to Elizabeth Henry, a native of McLean Co.; has three children — Mary E., Bertha E., Theresa A. Has been a member of the Board of Village Trustees for the past six years, and is also a member of the present Board. JOSEPH STUCKEY, minister; P. O. Danvers; was born in Alsace, France, July, A. D. 1825; he was raised upon a farm, and his education was limited to the common schools. In 1830, his parents emigrated to America, and settled in Butler Co., Ohio; here he grew to man- hood ; in 1850, he came West, to Illinois, and, purchasing some two hundred acres of land in Danvers Township, McLean Co., settled, and began the labor of opening up a farm; here he remained until 1876, when he removed to the village of Danvers, where he now resides. Im 1860, under a sense of duty, he began the study of the Holy Scriptures, with a view to entering upon the work of the ministry ; in 1865, he entered regularly upon the work in which he has since been engaged ; he is a minister of far more than ordinary ability, and is Pastor of a large and influential Mennonite Church, some three miles north of Danvers, as well as of other churches in this and adjoining counties. He was married, Dec. 23, 1844, to Barbara Roth, born near Paris, France; has two children — Phoebe and Christian R. Owns 200 acres, valued at $6,000, besides village property and an interest in a boot and shoe store in Danvers, con- ducted by his son. Has held the office of School Director ten years, and that of Road Commis sioner six years. /T CHRISTIAN STRUBHAR, farmer; P. Danvers; was born in Danvers Township, McLean Co., 111., June 13, 1844; his father, John Strubhar, emigrated from France and settled in Dan- vers Township as early as 1839. He obtained a fair education at the common schools, and spent his early life upon his father's farm. At his majority, he began life for himself, farming land rented of his father j in 1874, he purchased forty acres of his present farm ; this he has since increased to one hundred and sixty. He was married Feb. 22, 1866, to Magdalena Ebrismaun, a native of Illinois ; has two children — Samuel, Lydia. Has held the offices of School Director, Commissioner of Highways, and at present holds the office of School Trustee for Danvers Town- ship. His finely-improved farm bespeaks for him a thrift and enterprise which is characteristic of our best class of well-to-do farmers. C. J. WHEELER, miller; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Salem, Rockingham Co., N. H., Nov. 15, 1828; he is the son of Abitha and Mary E. (Gordon) Wheeler; his early life was that of a farmer's son, and his education was limited to an attendance upon the common schools In 1837, he came, with the family, to Illinois, his father locating near the present village of Dan- vers ; four years after coming, the father died, and young Wheeler, the oldest son, labored for the support of his widowed mother and the rest of the family. At the age of 18 years, he went out from home and engaged in labor as a farm-hand, at $8 per month ; he followed farming in this manner until he reached the age of 28 years. In 1866, he purchased forty acres of land and engaged in improving it. In 1869, he traded his land for one-half interest in the Danvers LAWNDALE TOWNSHIP. 1043 Mills, now owned by Wheeler & Fanson. He was married in 1858, to Jane A. Boggs, a native of Illinois; has six children— Helen E., Frank, Harvey, Lizzie, Earl, Ora. Mr. Wheeler has never aspired to office, and has held only that of Roadmaster. CORODON W1NSLOW, retired farmer; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Rutland Co., Vt., July 1, 1817 ; he lost his mother when but 10 years of age, and his father two year* later. His father was a man addicted to the use of strong drink, and left, at his death, to his seven orphaned boys the patrimony of a beggar. After the death of the parents, the family was scattered about in such homes as each could procure for himself. His education was, as a matter of course,- very limited ; Mr. Winslow set about life with a determination to make the most out of it that was possible ; by industry and hard labor, he accumulated about $700 when he reached the age of 23 years ; in 1840, he came to Hartford, Licking Co., Ohio; here he purchased 100 acres of land and engaged in farming; hard times setting in upon him, he lost most of the money invested, as he could not meet the deferred payments as they fell due, and was obliged to give up his pur- chase ; in 1851, he came to Illinois, and, in 1852, he pre-empted the quarter-section now owned by him in Danvers Township ; this he improved and cultivated till April, 1874, when he built himself a residence and moved to the village of Danvers. He was married, in 1843, to Sarah Ann Wheaton, a native of New Jersey ; has had six children — Corintha A., William F., Mary E., living ; two daughters and one son died in infancy. Has held the office of Road Commissioner and School Director. He owns 160 acres, worth .18,000, and has ready money besides. -—PROF. JOHN P. YODER, Principal of Schools, Danvers; was born iu Juniata Co., Va., Sept. 4, 1845 ; he is the son of Elias and Lydia (Plank) Yoder. In 1848, the family came West to Illinois, and first settled in Woodford Co.; in 1850, his father moved into McLean Co., near Brown's Grove. Here young Yoder spent his early life upon the farm, and secured to himself a good English education at the common schools ; during his minority, he learned the carpenter's trade under the instruction of his father ; this he followed at different periods in life. Feb. 3, 1865, he enlisted in the United States service as a private in Co. A, 150th Regt. I. V. I., and served till January, 1866. In 1867, he entered the State Normal University at Normal, from which he graduated in 1871 ; during his attendance, he taught the winters of 1868, 1869 and 1870 in Danvers Township ; after completing the course, he became Principal of the Blue Island Schools, remaining one year ; the winter of 1873-74, he taught a session in Dry Grove Township ; in the fall of 1875, he was chosen Principal of the Danvers Schools, a position he still holds. Under his supervision, a course of study has been arranged, the schools graded, and the first class graduated April 9, 1879. He was married Dec. 28, 1875, to Rebecca Lautz, a native of Illinois ; has two children — Lydia J. and Arthur E. He is at present a member of the Board of Village Trustees, and a Director of the Danvers Library and Literary Association. Prof. Yoder has proved himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, both at the bench and in the schoolroom. LAWNDALE TOWNSHIP. JOHN W. ABBOTT, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Lexington ; the subject of this sketch was born in Culpeper Co., Va., Nov. 18, 1830 ; came to Licking Co., Ohio, with his parents in 1831, and, in 1852, he came to McLean Co., 111., where he has since resided; has been a resi- dent of Lawndale Township for thirteen years, and owns a beautiful farm in the township, which comprises 108 acres, all of which is under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Abbott has held the offices of Township Clerk, Assessor and Commissioner of Highways. His union with Melinda White was celebrated Sept. 4, 1856 ; Mrs. Abbott was born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., March 24, 1834 ; from this union there are nine children, all of whom are living, viz., Mary T., James C, Charles E., Elmer E., Julia A., Eliza E., Judson A., Lena M. and a babe, two weeks old. Mr. Abbott is son of A. and E. Abbott, both of whom are living in Towanda Township; they celebrated their golden wedding April 9, 1879 ; there were present nearly one hundred friends and relatives ; there were eight children, thirteen grandchildren and one great-grand- child present. The old people bid fair to live many years yet. MARTIN BATTERTON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Lexington ; one of the pioneers of Lawndale Township; born in Madison Co., Ky., Sept. 29, 1857; son of Abraham and Susanna Batterton, who came to Madison Co., Ky., during the Revolutionary war in 1783. Martin Batterton came to this township in January, 1834, and is now living upon the land the improvements of which he bought at that date; when he located here, there were only five families living in what is now Lawndale Township ; he and his wife are now the oldest residents of the township ; assisted in the organization of the same, and held offices of trust soon after. He was united in marriage with America Taylor Oct. 10, 1836 ; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two are now living — Mrs. T. B. Kilgore, whose sketch appears in this work, and Mrs. A. J. Moon, now living in Lexington, this county ; their only son, Ira A. Batterton, was assassinated in Vicksburg because he was a Union man, and nobly and fearlessly expressed his Union principles through the columns of the Vicksburg Herald, which at that time was ably 1044 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: edited by him. He served in Co. K, 8th I. V. I , until he was mustered out of service to accept the position of Adjutant. After the fall of Vicksburg, he started the above paper, which was the cause of his death, upon July 14, 1865. Mr. Batterton owns 280 acre3 of land, free from incumbrance and under a good state of improvement ; the above property being accumulated by his own hard labor, industry and economy, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife. CYRUS H. BENSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22 ; P. 0. Potosi. The subject of this sketch is one of the leading and prominent men of Lawndale Township ; was born in McLean Co., 111., Sept. 16, 1835 ; has been a resident of Lawndale Township ten years ; he has held the offices of Supervisor, Assessor and Commissioner of Highways, in all of which he faithfully dis- charged his duty. He was united in marriage with Lucy A. Rowell June 8, 1864 ; there were two children from this union — Edward M. and Lucy A. Served three years in the war of the rebellion; enlisted Sept. 1, 1861, and was discharged Sept. 1, 1864; was in the engagements of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and a number of lesser engagements. Mr. Benson was again married March 16, 1871, to Mary E. Denm^n, whose father now lives in White Oak Township, and who has been a resident of McLean Co. for over fifty years ; from this union, there are four children — Arthur D., Mary, James R. and Roy, all of whom are living. Mr. Benson owns 160 acres of land, which is nicely improved. JAMES P. BENSON, farmer and stock -raiser, Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Potosi ; one of the enterpris- ing young farmers of Lawndale Township, and son of James and Pollie A. Benson, who came to McLean Co. at an early day. The subject of this sketch was born in McLean Co., 111., Aug. 21, 1847 ; owns eighty acres of well improved land, which he has made by his own exertions. Mr. Benson is a single man, and one of the reading men of the township ; has a well-selected library, which he has bought from time to time, as his means would permit. JESSE M. BENSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 36; P. O. Lexington ; one of the prom- inent farmers of Lawndale Township ; was born in McLean Co., 111., Nov. 12, 1839, where he has since resided. Served three years in the army during the war of the rebellion, and was at engagements of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and a number of lesser engagements ; enlisted in the springof 1861, in Co. G, 17th I. V. I., and served with distinction until his discharge, which occurred in July, 1864. In 1869, Vlr. Benson bought 160 acres of wild prairie land, which he has improved until he now owns one of the prettiest places in Lawndale Township. He was married to Elizabeth W. Conger Sept. 22, 1864 ; from this marriage there are four chil- dren, all of whom are now living — Nancy, John F., Bruce and Franklin. Benjamin Conger, father of Mrs. Jesse Benson, is now living with his daughter; he is believed to be the oldest living inhabitant of McLean Co., having come to the county in 1821, where he has since resided. HENRY L. BOURQUIN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Potosi. The subject of this sketch was born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, Nov. 15, 1816; landed in America June 18, 1833; lived in Philadelphia a short time; then moved to Columbiana Co., Ohio, and from there to McLean Co., III., in 1840; lived in McLean Co. but a short time, when he moved to Peoria, where he lived twelve years ; since that time, Mr. Bourquin has lived in Kansas and the northern part of Peoria Co. ; he came to Lawndale Township in 1867, where he has since resided. He was united in marriage with Mary A. Grosjohn in 1836 ; they have six children — Peter, Charles, Francis, Susanna, Harriet and Mary. Mr. Bourquin owns 160 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation. HON. JOHN CASSEDY, farming and stock-raising, Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Lexington. The subject of this sketch is a native of New York, was born July 7, 1827 ; came to McLean County in 1851, and entered 200 acres of land, returning the same year to his native State. In August of 1855, he again came to McLean County, and settled on the land he had entered in 1851, where he has since resided. He has been adding from time to time to what he entered until he now owns 742 acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. Cassedy has held a great many positions of honor and trust. Among the local offices held by Mr. Cassedy might be mentioned those of Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee. Township Clerk, etc. He was the first and is the present Supervisor; in all of these offices he well and faithfully served his constituents. In 1872, the people of McLean County called upon him to represent them in their State Legislature, which be faithfully and honorably did. The following resolution was brought forward by Mr. Cassedy, which passed both Houses : Resolution. — Whereas, the Constitution of the United State3 makes it the duty of Congress to regulate commerce between the States; therefore, resolved, by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, that our Senators be instructed, and our Representatives in Congress be requested to use all lawful means to procure a law of Congress preventing railroads or transportation companies, doing business through or between the States, from making unjust charges or discriminations for such service. Mr. Cassedy assisted in the organization of Lawndale Township, and proposed the name the township now bears. He was united in marriage with Mary A. Brown February 2, 1857. Miss Brown was born in Sangamon Co., III., July 18,1838. By this union there are six children, all of whom are now living, viz. : John F., Annie M., Minnie F., Cora B., Iona M. and Ida L. LEWIS DECKER, farmer, Section 25; P. 0. Potosi. The subject of this sketch is son of George J. and Margaret Decker, who came from Bavaria to America in 1832 ; lived in Pennsyl- vania thirty-two years, and in New York City four years. In the last named place the subject of LAWNDALE TOWNSHIP. 1045 this sketch was born, November 5, 1844. He has been a resident of Lawndale Tp. six years; is one of the prominent men of the township, and takes a deep interest in education, books and papers ; has a complete library, which he has bought from time to time as his means would admit of his doing. JOHN HICKEY. 'armer and stock-raiser, Section 8 ; P. 0. Lexington. The subject of this sketch was born in Tipperary County, Parish of Holy Cross, Ireland, June 26, 1838 ; is son of Michael 0. and Catherine Hickey. Mr. Hickey came to America in 1856, lived in New Jersey for two and a half years, at which time he came to Lawndale Township, in 1868, where he has since resided. Mr. Hickey's farm is nicely improved, and consists of 320 acres. He deals in hogs and cattle, and is one of the enterprising men of Lawndale Township. GEORGE W. HISER, farmer, Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Lexington. The subject of this sketch is son of James and Elmira Hiser ; he was born in Wayne < o., Ind., Feb 7, 1854 ; the year his father came to McLean Co. ; they lived in Dry Grove Township until their removal to Lawndale Town- ship, which occurred in the spring of 1866. Mr. Hiser has four good horses, and deals largely in Poland, China and Berkshire hogs. THOMAS B. KILGORE. farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 26; P. 0. Lexington; born in Frank- lin Co., Ohio, March 23, 1840, where he resided until 1867, removing to Illinois in March of that year, locating in Lawndale Township, this county. Mr. Kiser has served as Supervisor three terms, and has held other minor offices ; owns 480 acres of farm lan'ds in Lawndale Town- ship. Married in April, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Batterton, who was born in Lawndale Township ; her father. Martin Batterton, was one of the early settlers ; three children by this union — John M., Lizzie M. and Maud B. Mr. Kilgore enlisted in Co. K, 1st Ohio C, in August, 1861, and served until the expiration of his term of service, and was mustered out in October, 1864; he participated in the following battles: Corinth, Perryville. Stone River, Chickamauga, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach-tree Creek, Atlanta and many other skirmishes. Member of Bethesda Lodge, No. 661, A., F. & A. M., at Potosi. FREDERICK W. KNIGHT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 27 ; P. O. Lexington. The subject of this sketch was born in Caledonia Co., Vt., Jan. 16, 1855; came to McLean Co. when a child 3 years of age, where he has since resided ; has been a resident of Lawndale Township for five years. He and his uncle, J. W. Arnold, own and farm 320 acres of land, and are engaged in raising Norman horses, they having quite a number of this valuable breed. He was united in marriage with Mary A. Arnold Feb 26, 1877; they have one child — Carl F.,born Dec. 19, 1877. WILLIAM B. KNIGHT, farmer. Sec. 36; P. O. Potosi; was born in McLean Co., 111., Feb. 22, 1855, and is the son of M. H. and E. D. Knight, who came to the county more than forty years ago. Mr. W. B. Knight is now living on part of the estate of the late M. H. Knight. Was married to Sarah J. Mitchell Feb. 10, 1878. Mr. Knight is an enterprising young man, and bids fair to become one of the first men of Lawndale Township. JAMES McNAB, farmer and dealer in stock, Sec. 11 ; P. O. Fairbury. The subject of this sketch was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, 1830, and came to Lawndale Township April 12, 1874; he is the son of John and Annie McNab, who came from Scotland to New York in 1800; they were the parents of thirteen children; James, the subject of this sketch, and his brother Malcom, being twins ; their mother's maiden name was Annie Mclntyre ; there are oleven of the children now living — Christian, Peter. John, Daniel, Malcom, James, Margaret, Allen, Isabel, Alexander B. and Joseph : the names of those deceased were Helen and Mary. Mr. James McNab owns 160 acres of land, which is well improved, and which he has earned by his own exertions. HARVEY MOON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Lexington. The subject of this sketch was born in Madison Co., Ohio, Nov. 20. 1822; came to McLean Co. in 1861, and to Lawndale Township in 1865; owns 240 acres of land all under cultivation. Mr. Moon deals largely in cattle and hogs. He was united in marriage with Sarah A. Stroup, Dec 31, 1843 ; there were twelve children from this union, eleven of whom are now living — Volney, Arthur, Harvey, Rosanna, Naomi. John, Albert, Jane, William, Jonathan and Jacob. Aaron (deceased) was in the 94th I. V. I.; died at Benton Barracks in 1864. GEORGE W. MYERS, farmer and stock -raiser ; P. 0. Fairbury ; one of the large land owners of Lawndale Township ; was born in LcLean Co., 111., Nov. 23, 1836, and where he has since lived ; owns 558 acres of land, and is the present Township Assessor. He was united in marriage, with Annie M. Woodard, in 1856; she was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, April 1, 1837 ; from this union there was one child — Franklin P. — born June 10, 1857, and died Sept. 10, 1857. SHELTON SMITH, farming and stock-raising, Sec. 19; P. 0. Lexington; one of the pio- neers of Lawndale Township; came, with his father, from Switzerland Co., Ind., in the fall of 1834, being then but nine years of age; he has since resided in the township; was Justice of the Peace previous to township organization ; assisted in the organization of the township, and has been Supervisor for seven years ; was also the first Township Collector. John Smith, f ither of the subject of this sketch, came from Maryland, and died upon, the farm now owned by Shelton Smith, in the 77th year of his age. Mr. Smith now owns 560 acres of land, all of which is under a good state of cultivation. There never has been a lien or mortgage on the land now 1046 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: owned by Mr. Smith, since it was entered by his father in 1839 — a fact of which Mr. Smith is justly proud. The subject of this sketch was born in Switzerland Co., Ind., in 1825. His union with Malinda Powell was celebrated Nov. 16, 1851, and it is greatly owing to this good woman's economy and advice, that the subject of this sketch owes his success in life. From the union of Shelton Smith and Mary Powell, there were seven children, five of whom are now living- Emma, Lou, Lottie, Shelton L. and Albert ; the names of those deceased were Harper and Cassandra. Mr. Smith's mother, aged 89, is now living; is a sprightly woman for her age, and is in possession of all her faculties. ROBERT M. VANCE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Lexington. The subject of this sketch is one of the old settlers of Lawndale Township ; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, June 9, 1821, where he lived until the fall of 1852, at which time he moved to McLean Co., Ill: ; lived near Pleasant Hill for four years, then came to Lawndale Township, where he has since resided. On first coming to the township, Mr. Vance bought eighty acres of wild prairie land, to which he has since added eighty acres, until at the present he owns 160 acres, all nicely improved. He was united in marriage with Melissa Jennings Nov. 19, 1845 ; she was born in Adams Co., Ohio, March 81, 1826. From this union there were nine children, all of whom are now living — Virginia, James M., Naomi, Salonia, Robert, Nora, Franklin, Ella and William M. SAMUEL A. VANCE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3; P. 0. Weston; one of the prominent Republicans of Lawndale Township ; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, July 9, 1818, where he resided until 1849 ; he then moved to Scioto Co., Ohio, in 1849, and lived there until his removal to Lawndale Township, which occurred in 1858. Mr. Vance owns 160 acres of nicely-improved land, which he has made by his own exertions His marriage with Sabra Stout occurred Jan. 23, 1844; she was bor-n in Adams Co., Ohio, April 23, 1825. From this union there were eight children, six of whom are now living — Albert B., John A., Cora A., Misha A., Charles D. and Avirda M. The names of those deceased were Monroe C. and Jamie S. EDWARD M. WHITE, farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. 0. Lexington. The subject of this sketch is a son of G. C. and J. A. White, whose biography appears in this work, and who were pioneers of McLean Co. ; was born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Sept. 17, 1845. Mr. White is one of the leading Republicans of Lawndale Township ; owns 160 acres of nicely-improved land. JOHN M. WHITE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11 ; P. 0. Lexington ; one of the large land- holders of Lawndale Township ;. was born in Tippecanoe Co.. Ind., Ang. 17, 1837; came to McLean Co. in 1850, and has been a resident of the county ever since ; moved to Lawndale Township March 20, 1862. The subject of this sketch is the son of George C. and Julia A. White. His mother died March 25, 1865. The father is still alive, and lives in Towanda Town- ship ; he is 76 yeirs old, in good health, and in possession of all his faculties. Mr. White owns one of the best improved farms in McLean Co., which consists of 252 acres. He was united in marriage with Theresa Hamilton April 18, 1868. There are two children from this union — Clarence M., born Dec. 30, 1868, and Morry H., born July 30, 1878. Mrs. White was born in Brown Co., Ohio, June 18, 1847. LYTLE R. WILEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Lexington. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest living settlers of McLean Co. ; was born in Garrard Co., Ky., Nov. 7, 1815, and came to Indiana with his father when but a child ; came to McLean Co., 111., with his parents, in the fall of 1835, where he has since lived ; assisted in the organization of Lawndale and Martin Townships. He now owns 1,020 acres of good, tillable land. There has never been a mortgage or lien on the land since in came into his possession, and he, at the age of 63, justly feels proud that he can leave such a financial record to his family. He was united in marriage with Sarah R. Wiley June 13, 1843. From this union there were eight children, six of whom are now living — Thomas R., Rhoda M., John J., Sarah L., Lytle R. and Mary C. ; the names of those deceased were Hannah E. and William S. DRY GROVE TOWNSHIP. ISAAC S. BARRETT, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Warrick Co., Ind., Feb. 12, 1850; came to this State in 1877, and then settled in McLean Co. His farm con- sists of 125 acres. He was married, in April, 1869, to Miss Louisa Corn, who was born in Pike Co., Ind., Aug. 20, 1855. They have five children, viz. .Euphrates, Rafa C, Ella, Pleva and Amos. S. H. BROWN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington ; one of the early and promi- nent settlers of the county ; was born in Windsor Co., Vt. Aug. 12, 1815. His early life was spent upon his father's farm in the East. In 1836, he came to Illinois, and located in Tazewell Co. In 1840, he was married to Fidelia Munsell, now deceased. They have had three children, one of whom is living, viz., Angeline; deceased — Sarah and George. George was a participant in the late war, and died at Vicksburg in 1863. Mr. Brown married again in 1850, on the 25th day of December, Miss Mary Henry, who was born in Ohio March 23, 1828. They have had six children, one of whom is living — Fred S. ; deceased — John J., Charles E., Norman E., DRY GROVE TOWNSHIP. 1047 Lincoln and Truman E. Since Mr. Brown's residence in McLean Co., he has held the offices of Justice of the Peace twelve years, and Assessor three years. His farm consists of 168£ acres, valued at $12,000. JAMES W. CAMPBELL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington ; one of the early and prominent settlers ; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, May 15, 1829 ; came to this State and settled in McLean Co. in 1852. Since his residence in the county, he has held the offices of Supervisor in Dry Grove Township three years, and Commissioner three terms. His farm con- sists of 240 acres, valued at $12,000. He was married in Ohio, in 1853, to Miss Sarah J. Kirk- patrick, now deceased. They have had six children, five of whom are living, viz., Elizabeth, Mary, Bryson M., Emma, Eva E. and Ollie A.; deceased — Annie K. Mr. Campbell was married again, in Illinois, to Mrs. Nancy Kirkpatrick, of Harrison Co., Ohio. SAMUEL C. DEAL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Bloomington; one of the early and most prominent settlers; was born in Augusta Co., Va., Oct. 28, 1814. In October, 1848, he removed from his native State to Illinois, with his father's family, who were in company with several other families. Mr. Deal settled in Dry Grove Township, McLean Co. His farm con- sists of 1,209 acres, valued at $55,000. He was married in Virginia Dec. 21, 1836, to Miss Per- cilla Brown, now deceased, who was born in Rockingham Co., Va., April 7, 1816, and who died June 6, 1874. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living — John B., Samuel A., Elizabeth E., Mary J., Sarah A., Emma P. and Virginia H. The deceased are James W. and Jane A. ISAAC DARST, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington : one of the early settlers of the county ; was born in Miami Co., Ohio, April 25, 1823; came to this State, and settled in Logan Co. in 1846, and, in 1848, he removed to McLean Co., where he has since resided. His farm consists of 100 acres, valued at $6,000. He was married, April 1, 1844, to Miss Matilda Decker, who was born in Athens Co., Ohio, Dec. 5, 1825. They have seven children, viz., Frank lin, Mary, George, John, Annie, Lizzie and Sarah. Since Mr. Darst's residence in this county, has held the offices of Overseer of the Poor in Dale Township two years, and School Director in Dale and Dry Grove Townships four years. WILLIAM D WIDSON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington; one of the early and prominent settlers of the county ; was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., June 22, 1818 : came to this State and settled in McLein Co. in April, 1854. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Mary Morton, of West Virginia ; they have had seven children, six of whom are living — Margaret, Jane, Alzinous Y., Lydia,' Lauretta, Robert and Cornelia Ann; deceased — Sarah I. The farm of Mr. Davidson consists of 240 acres, valued at $14,000. Alzinous, the eldest son of Mr. Davidson, was a participant in the late war : he served four years in I. V. C, and, at the close of the war. was discharged with honors. SAMUEL A. DEAL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Danvers; one of the early settlers of the county; was born in Augusta Co., Va., July 8, 1842; came to this State with his father's family, and settled in what is now Dry Grove Township, McLean Co., in 1848. He was married in McLean Co., 111., on March 27, 1873, to Miss Mary E. Harris, who was born in Kentucky, near Bowling Green, April 6. 1846; they have had four children, two of whom are living — Hattie E. and an infant ; deceased — James Newton and Mary P. The farm of Mr. Deal consists of 747£ acres, valued at $30,000. JACOB DONNER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Danvers : was born in Germany April 17, 1820; came to America with his father's family in 1826: they settled in Canada, and, shortly after, removed to Ohio ; in 1839. Mr. Donner came to Illinois and settled in McLean Co., where he married Miss Frances Schwartzer, who was born in Germany Oct. 23, 1831 ; they have nine children, all of whom are living — Barbara, Mary, Lizzie, Christian, Edward, Anna, Jacob, Valentine and George. Since Mr. Donner's residence in this county, he has held the office of School Director three terms. His farm consists of 110 acres, valued at $5,000. W. R. DOAK, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington ; was born in Ohio March 30, 1849 ; he is the son of Mr. Robert Doak, who was one of the early settlers of Ohio ; Mr. Doak came to this State and settled in McLean Co. in 1870; his farm consists of seventy -three acres. He was married in Bloomington, 111 , July 4, 1873, to Miss Mary Winklepleck, who was born in Ohio Oct. 25, 1847 ; they have three children — Anna 0., Robert D. and Thomas S. JACOB FINK, carpenter and builder; Oak Grove; was born in Virginia Dec. 1, 1827; went to Pennsylvania in 1851, and, in 1862, volunteered in the late war, enlisting in Co. H, 16th Penn. V. C, and serving seven months, when he was discharged on account of disabil- ities contracted in the service. In 1871, he was married to Louisa Mills, who was born in Harrisburg, Penn. Since his residence in Illinois, he has been a carpenter and builder. ANDREW FORBES, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington ; one of the early settlers ; was born in Wishington Co., Penn., March 8. 1825 ; came to Ohio with his parents when he was but a boy, and, in 1852. he came to Illinois and settled in McLean Co. His occupation since boy- hood has been that of a farmer, with the exception of one year spent in Iowa in the mercantile business; his farm consists of eighty acres, valued at $5,000. He was married. June 22, 1854, to Miss Christy Ann McMillan, who was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, Nov. 12, 1829 ; they 1048 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: have six children, viz., Cassius M. C, Agnes Belle, James M., John B., Frank J. and Adolphus B. Since Mr. Forbes' residence in this county, he has held the offices of Road Commissioner and School Director several years ; he is at present, for valuable services rendered as local agent, a. life member of the Dry Grove Branch of the McLean Bible Society. CLAUS F. GEORGE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington ; was born in Germany; came to the United States with his father's family in 1866; they settled in McLean Co., 111., in» the same year. His father is Mr. John George, of this township ; he was married in Holstein, Germany, to Miss Christina Hennes, who was born in Germany ; they have had eight children, two only of whom are living, viz., Claus F., the subject of this sketch, and Henry ; deceased — Frederick, Annie, Nicholas, Lena, William and William Nicholas. The farm of Mr. George con- sists of 128 acres, valued at $7,000. D. GERBERICH, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the early settlers of the township; born in Lebanon Co., Penn., Feb. 9, 1809; came to this State in 1851, and then settled in McLean Co., in what is now Dry Grove Township. He was married in his native State, to Miss Nancy Bender, who was born in Pennsylvania; they have had eight children, four of whom are living, viz., Allen D., Francis, Marcus and John C; deceased — Lyman T., Nathaniel, Sarah and Anna S. When Mr. Gerberich emigrated from his native State, he took his wife and family overland in wagons. Since his residence in Dry Grove Township, he has held the office of School Director several years. His farm consists of 180 acres, valued at $10,000. JACOB'*HARMAN, farmer; P. O. Bloomington; was born in Missouri March 20, 1840, and is the son of the late Nathan Harman, who was one of the early settlers of Davis Co., Mo. The farm of Mr. Harman consists of fifty-five acres. He was married, in 1874, to Mrs. Mary Stout, who was born in McLean Co., 111.; they have three children — Ellen Stout, Lydia Harman and Pay F. Harman. At the outbreak of the war, Mr. Harman went into the Government work on the frontier ; he served there until the close of the war, in 1865. JOHN W. HILTON, farmer and blacksmith ; P. 0. Bloomington; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Jan. 18, 1821 ; he moved from his native State to Ohio with his father's family when he was 11 years old, and at the age of 16 he entered an apprenticeship as smith; he served three years and six months, and, until his removal from Ohio to Illinois, in 1873, his pursuits were entirely in that capacity. He was married in Ohio to Miss Mary Vasbander, who was born in Washington Co.. Penn.; A. D. 1826; they have four children — Margaret Jane, Thomas Hamil- ton, Mary Agnes and Jacob Newton. The farm of Mr. Hilton consists of 160 acres, valued at $7,500. During his residence in Ohio, he held office of Justice of the Peace in Harrison Co. nine years, and was also a participant in the local militia of that State, and at different times held offices of Captain and Lieutenant. ELI HAMILTON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Oak Grove; was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, April 18, 1810 ; came to this State with his family and settled in Dry Grove Township, McLean Co., in 1873. His farm consists of 155 acres, valued at $7,500. He was married in Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1840, to Miss Mary Ann Hilton, who was born in Washington Co., Penn., Jan. 16, 1819; they have seven children living, one dead; Margaret Ann died in Ohio; the names of the living are Nancy Jane, William, Elizabeth, Thomas, John, Robert and Mattie. Since Mr. Hamilton's residence in this county, he has held office of School Director two years ; he also held the same office in Ohio for the same length of time. G. M. HINSHAW, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington ; one of the early settlers of the county; was born in Overton Co., Tenn., April 25, 1820; came to this State with his father's family and settled in McLean Co. in 1827 ; he has been a resident of Dry Grove Township since 1830. His farm consists of 200 acres, valued at $8,000. He was married Nov. 20, 1844, to Miss Martha Anne Ward, who was born in Ohio Sept. 20, 1822 ; they have had twelve children, six of whom are living. Mr. Hinshaw has been a member of the Christian Church since 1842 ; since that time he has been a prominent member of that society ; in 1848, he was ordained Deacon, which position he sustained for five or six years, when he was made Elder, in which office he now stands ; he was a supporter of and contributor to the V. C. building, erected in this township in 1848, and also to the new bui ding erected in 1864; his time, for fourteen years, after his becoming of age, was divided in carpentering and farming ; now that he is in the evening of life, he will finish it in the pursuits of a farmer. JAMES MONROE JAMESON, farmer ; P. 0. Bloomington ; was born in Jefferson Co., Ind., April 23, 1826 ; he received a liberal education in his native State, and upon arriving at the age of manhood was apprenticed to a saddler ; he followed this business for many years. At the outbreak of the war, he received a commission as Lieutenant, and, later, at his own request was ordered in post-regimental quarters : he remained in the service until 1864, when he came to Illinois and married Miss Mary J. Holcomb, of Indiana ; they then settled in Dry Grove Township, McLea nCo. ; they have two children — Thomas H. and Love H. Mr. Jameson is now Justice of the Peace, it is the only public office he holds ; he has retained the position since 1872. His- farm consists of forty acres, valued at $2,500. DANIEL D. KENT, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington. One of our early and prominent settlers ; was born in Brown Co., Ohio, Feb. 6, 1800. Came to Illinois with his father's family when he was 13 years old. He is the son of Mr. Nathaniel Kent, now of Dale Township, DRY GROVE TOWNSHIP. 1049 McLean Co. The farm of Mr. Kent consists of 194 acres, valued at $9,000. He was married in Illinois to Miss Jane M. Stiger, who was born in McLean Co., 111., and is the daughter of Mr. Abraham Stiger, now deceased, who was an early settler of the county. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Kent consists of two children — Eura A. and William B. Since Mr. Kent's residence in Dry Grove Township, he has served the township as Supervisor one term, and School Trustee three years. MARTIN KAUFMAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Germany Nov. 11, 1832; came to the United States with his father's family in 1853; they settled in Michigan, and, in 1857, Mr. Kaufman went to Illinois and settled in McLean Co. ; his farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $8,000. He was married in Illinois to Miss Catherine Dischler, now deceased ; they have had seven children, viz., Charley, Otline, Lewis, Martin, Susan, Christian and Chris- tena. CHRISTIAN KENNEL, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Danvers ; one of the early German settlers of the township ; was born in Germany Jan. 10, 1826 ; came to the United States in 1852, and settled in Ohio ; he removed from there to Illinois and settled in McLean Co. in 1854. He was married in Illinois to Miss Katie Nafeiger, who was born in Germany Aug. 17, 1831 ; they have two children, viz., Emma J. and John E. The farm of Mr. Kennel consists of 175 acres, valued at $9,000. Since his residence in the township, he has held the office of School Director several years. MRS. CATHARINE KING, farmer; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the early settlers ; was born in Pennsylvania Aug. 16, 1827 ; she is the widow of the late Nich. King; they have had four children, three of whom are living, viz., Susan C, Jacobine and Adam J. ; deceased — John. The farm of Mrs. King consists of 275 acres, valued at $11,000. DANIEL KING, farmer and stock-i*aiser ; P. O. Oak Grove; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, April 15, 1837; came to this State with his father's family, and settled in McLean Co. in 1847. He is the son of Mr. Christopher King, of Dry Grove Township. Mr. King was married, in this State, in 1860, to Miss Mary Hodler, who was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 5, 1840. They have three children, viz., Joseph, Lydia A. and Christopher. The farm of Mr. King con- sists of 160 acres, valued at $>■'■, 000. " JOSEPH W. KING, proprietor of Twin Grove Mills, Bloomington, one of the prominent settlers ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Jane 21, 1832. He is the son of Mr. Samuel King, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1805, and who was an early settler in Wayne Co., Ohio, and who is now a resident of Tazewell Co., 111. Mr. King came to this State, with his father's family, in 18 il. They first located in Marion Co. ; from there they removed to Tazewell Co., where the old gentleman still resides, at the advanced age of 74 years. Mr. Joseph King was married Jan. 12, 1854, in Tazewell Co., 111., to Miss Susannah Stutzman, who was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Jan. 1, 1833. J hey have six children, viz., Orphie E., Ida, Elizabeth, Franklin, Joseph and John. Mr. King located in McLean Co. in 1860, since which time, his occupation, with the exception of four years spent in farming at Lexington, 111., has been that of a miller. The probable value of his mill, etc., is $3,000. SIMEON LANTZ, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Oak Grove ; one of the early settlers of the county; was born in Mifflin Co., Penn., Sept. 16, 1829 ; came to this State in 1849, and settled in McLean Co., in 1853. In 1856, he married Miss Mary Plank, who was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 1833. They have had eight children, viz., Milo, Lyman, Nancy, Selina, Ellen, Lydia, bimon and John. Since Mr. Lantz's residence in this township, he has held the office of Supervisor three terms. His farm consists of 320 acres, valued at $14,000. JOSEPH K. MILLER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington; one of the early settlers of the county, was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Sept. 29, 1844. He is the son of Mr. Michael Miller (low deceased) and Magdalena King. They were married in Baden, Germany, and came to the United States in 1834. and settled in Ohio, where Joseph was born. He came to Illinois, from his native State, with his father's family, and settled in McLean Co. in 1852. His mother still resides with him, at the advanced age of 79 years. Their farm consists of 198 acres, valued at $10,000. Mr. Joseph Miller was married, in this State, June 24, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Mast, who was born in Holmes Co., Ohio, Oct. 2, 1854. They have two children, viz., William and Bertha. DICK McCULLOUGH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington; one of the natives of Illinois ; was born in McLean Co. Feb. 2, 1848 ; he is the son of Mr. Alexander McCullough, now deceased, who was an early settler of the county, and the grandson of Mr. Peter McCullough, also deceased, who it is said was the first permanent settler in Dry Grove. With the exception of fourteen years spent in Texas and New York, and elsewhere, Mr. McCullough, the subject of this sketch, has been a resident of McLean Co. : his principal pursuits since boyhood have been those of a farmer and stock-raiser ; in boyhood, he received a liberal education, and a part of his life has been spent in teaching. He was married in the State of Texas to Miss Emma C. Rogers, who was born in that State Feb. 1, 1858. His farm consists of 120 acres, valued at $7,000. ELEAZER MUNSELL, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington ; one of the very early and prominent settlers ; was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, July 28, 1824 ; he removed from his native 1050 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: State with his father's family to Indiana, in 1831, and, in 1837, they removed to Illinois, and settled in McLean Co. Mr. Munsell now owns and resides upon the farm his father, Roswell Munsell, now deceased, purchased partially from the Government, and the balance at second-hand ; it now consists af 280 acres, valued at $17,000. Since Mr. Munsell' s residence in this county he has served the township in filling a number of township offices ; he is at present writing Assessor for the township. He was married in this State to Miss Zerilda Perry, who was born in Kentucky, and removed to this State in 1836. Her father, Mr. John Perry, who was an early and prominent settler, is also deceased. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Munsell consists of seven children — Milan, Stephen A., Zerilda, John R., Josephine, Minnie W. and Eleazer Austin. JOHN A. MUSICK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the natives of Illi- nois; was born in Logan Co. Feb. 8, 1851 ; he is the son of Mr. John Music, now deceased, who was an early settler in Illinois. Mr. Musick came to McLean Co. and settled in Dry Grove Town- ship, in 1875. In 1875, he was married to Miss Belle Munsell, who was born in Dry Grove Township, McLean Co., 111., July 3, 1857. They have one child — George, born Sept. 1, 1876. Their farm consists of fifty-seven and one-half acres, valued at $4,000. Mr. Musick is now serv- ing the township as School Director in Dictrict No. 1 ; it is the only public office that he has yet held. JOSIAH MYERS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Bloomington; was born in Circleville, Ohio, June 7, 1839; came to this State with his father's family, and settled in Sangamon Co. in 1856 ; they removed to McLean Co. in 1859, and settled in Dale Township, where Mr. Myers was married to Miss Rebecca B. Freeman on the 8th of February, 1861 : she was born in McLean Co., 111., Sept. 26, 1840. They have had four children, three of whom are living — Hannibal Hamlin, Samuel L. and Daisie D. ; deceased — Jesse. The farm of Mr. Myers consists of sixty- seven and one-half acres, valued at $3,400. Since Mr. Myers' residence in McLean Co., he has held the office of Constable in Dry Grove Township seven years. JACOB W. NAFZIGER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington ; one of the early German settlers of the county : was born in Germany June 26, 1817 ; came to the United States in 1853, and to this State and settled in McLean Co. in the same year ; he resides and has resided on the farm of Mr. Gridley, of Bloomington, two and one-half years ; it consists of 400 acres. He was married in Germany to Miss Elizabeth Naffziger, who was born in Germany May 24, i822 ; they have had seven children, six of whom are living — Ferdinand, Gustav, Lewis, Edward, George and Bertha; deceased — Elizabeth. WILLIAM PATTON, farmer and stock-raiser: P. 0. Hudson; was born in Somerset Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1829; he is the son of the late Robert Patton, deceased ; Mr. Patton came to this State in 1877, and settled in McLean Co. in the same year. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Matilda Hutzel, who was born in Somerset Co., Penn., Dec. 4, 1837; they have seven children living and one dead : the names of the living are Adam, John W., Claretta, Robert, Harvey, George and Edward ; deceased — Nancy. FRED. SAGERT, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington ; was born in Germany Oct. 5, 1846 ; came to the United States in 1872, and to this State and settled in McLean Co., in the same year ; his farm consists of 100 acres. He was married, in 1872, on leaving his native country, to Miss Mary Damlov, who was born in Germany June 10, 1846 ; they have three chil- dren — Mena, Mary and Albert. Mr.- Sagert was a participant in the late war between Germany and France ; he was a volunteer and served one year, when the war ended and he was dis- charged with honor. JOHN SCHCENBECK farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Danvers : was born in Germany May 21, 1811 ; came to the United States in 1839, and to. this State in the same year, when he returned to Ohio ; he remained there and in Kentucky until 1858, when he removed to Illinois and settled in McLean Co. ; his farm consists of 362 k acres, valued at $16,000. He was married in Ohio Oct. 31, 1841, to Miss Barbara Schertz, who was born in France May 21, 1822 ; they have had seven children, five of whom are living — Anna, Mary, Lizzie, Barbara and Jacob ; deceased — John and Catharine. During Mr. Schcenbeck's residence in Kentucky, he held the office of School Director and Road Overseer. JOHN H. SHIRK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Danvers; was born in Pennsylvania May 3, 1828 ; came to this State and settled in McLean Co. in 1856. He was married in the same year to Miss Rebecca Miller, who was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 18, 1824 ; they have had three children, two of whom are living— John A. and Emma E.; deceased, an infant. The farm of Mr. Shirk consists of eighty acres, valued at $4,000 : since his residence in this county, he has held the office of School Director four years. J. L. SHORTHOSE, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Danvers ; was born in Staffordshire, Eng., A. D. 1827; his early life was passed upon the farm, and his education procured at the common schools. At the age of 16 years, he entered a wholesale crockery house in London as clerk, and served an apprenticeship for six years ; he emigrated to America in July, 1849, stop- ping for a season in Zanesville, Ohio ; in the fall of 1851, he came to Illinois, and was, for a short time, a resident of Peoria County; in the winter of 1852, he came to Danvers, McLean Co., and purchased a half-interest in the saw-mill ; bought lots and built a residence ; in the fall of 1853, BLOOMINGTON WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP. 1053 he moved to his present farm, having traded his village property for 145 acres of land, paying the difference in cash ; now owns 448 acres in Dry Grove and Dan vers Townships, worth $25,000. He was married Sept. 12, 1851, to Eleanor Frazier, a native of Ohio ; five sons amd three daugh- ters have been born to them — Alice, (now the wife of James Dickinson), Andrew R., Josie (widow of Thomas Sheridan), John L., Thomas H., Belle, Frank and Willie; John L. was drowned in the Mackinaw a few years ago, while in bathing. Mr. Shorthose deals quite exten- sively in blooded cattle, and a fine grade of hogs. He has held the office of Highway Commis sioner, and that of School Director some seven or eight terms. He has revisited his native land twice since coming to America. JONAS SILL, farmer and breeder of fine stock ; P. 0. Bloomington ; one of the early and prominent settlers ; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., April 10, 1819 ; came to this State and set- tled in McLean Co. in 1856. He was married in his native State, in 1842, to Miss Theresa Boyer, who was born in Somerset Co., Penn., Oct. 2, 1820; they have four children — William H., Elizabeth, Catherine and Daniel Martin. The farm of Mr. Sill consists of 266 acres, valued at $14,000 ; since his residence in this county, he has held office of Township Clerk two terms, and Road Commissioner five years. In 1875, he made a trip to Europe, for the purpose of importing horses to America ; while there, he visited London, Paris, Scotland, and all the prin- cipal countries of the old world ; on his departure for America, he brought with him four fine horses, three of which he still possesses. R. E. STRIMPLE, farmer ; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the early and prominent settlers of the township; was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1819; moved from his native place to Illinois, with his and his father's family, and settled in Pike Co. in 1849. He was married in 1841, to Miss Annie McCune, of Clermont Co., Ohio; they have six children — William 0., James A.. Charles J., Laura A., Samuel 0. and Emma F. Since Mr. Strimple's residence in this town- ship, he has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years ; Supervisor several years ; and is, at present, Township School Treasurer and Supervisor; during his residence in Pike Co., he served as Justice of the Peace three years ; he was also one of the Committee on the poor farm, and one of the special committee of the building for the insane of McLean Co. His farm, which consists of 300 acres, is valued at §15,000. He is, at present, Justice of the Peace. MRS. SUSIE H. STOUT, retired, Bloomington ; one of the first settlers of the township ; was born in Tennessee May 30, 1813 ; came to this State, and settled with her parents in McLean Co., in 1824, since which time both her parents have died; their names were Jacob and Mary Henshaw. Mrs. Stout was married in Illinois to Mr. Amasa Stout (now deceased), who was born in Tennessee March 1, 1799, and who died in 1872 ; they have had four children — George, Jacob, Mary and Eleck. Mrs. Stout is now one of the oldest living settlers in McLean Co. WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP. W. J. BALDRIDGE, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Oak Grove ; was born in Cherry Fork, Adams Co., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1839 ; in 1852, he came with his parents to this State, his father set- tling in Danvers Township, McLean Co.; he remained with his father till his majority, and then engaged in farming for himself. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 94th Regt. I. V. I., and served three years ; he participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., the raid to Van Buren, siege of Vicksburg, Ft. Morgan, Spanish Fort. On his return from the army, he again engaged in farm pursuits ; he purchased where he now lives in the fall of 1871, and occu- pied it in 1872. He was married Nov. 21, 1867, to Carrie Wright, a native of Ohio; has five children — Clarence, Myrta, Lucia I., Mary M. and William C. Owns 160 acres, finely improved, and deals largely in cattle and hogs. Has held the offices of Road Commissioner, Town Collector, and at present holds the office of Justice of the Peace. Mr. Baldridge is a thorough-going busi- ness man, and a very successful farmer and trader. E. J. BROWN, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Oak Grove; was born in McLean Co., 111., May 13, 1832; he is the son of L. and Elizabeth (Jones) Brown; he was reared to agricultural pursuits, and secured only a common-school education ; at his majority, he began life for him- self on the farm where he now lives, settling his homestead in the fall of 1853. He was married, in 1853, to M. A. Sandifer, a native of Illinois ; one child has been born to them — Francis M., deceased. Has held the office of Supervisor of White Oak Township three terms ; that of Assessor, several terms ; Commissioner of Highways, and that of School Director, eight years. No finer improved farm or more desirable location than Mr. Brown's can be found in the township ; he owns 230 acres, all in high state of cultivation, valued at not less than $15,000 ; he also devotes considerable attention to the breeding and rearing of Mambrino, Messenger and Morgan horses, and is the owner of a fine lot of roadsters. ABRAHAM W. CARLOCK, farmer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born April 7, 1800, in Hampshire Co., W. Va.; his paternal grandfather emigrated to this country from Ger- many and settled in Virginia shortly before the war of the Revolution ; while Abraham was an WW 1054 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: infant, his father moved to Overton Co., Tenn., about fifteen miles from Livingston, the county seat ; here he began farming on a small scale. On the I Oth day of April, 1825, the subject of this sketch, at the age of 24, married Mary Goodpasture, daughter of John and Margery Good- pasture, of Overton Co., Tenn.; she was born Jan. 24, 1804 ; in the spring of 1827, with his wife and two children, he moved to Dry Grove, McLean Co., and, in 1836, having sold his prop- erty, moved to White Oak Township, where he has since resided; he owns 1,200 acres of land, lying partly in Woodford and partly in McLean Co.; although his house stands about one hundred yards outside of the line of McLean Co., he considers himself a McLean Co. man, as nearly all his interests are connected with it. He and his wife have been blessed with a family of twelve children, eight of whom are now living, viz., John G. (living in White Oak Township), Madison P. (in Logan Co.), Sarah (now Mrs. George Cranston, of Normal), Mahala (now Mrs. Benjamin Gaddis, in Martinton, Iroquois Co.), Lavina (now Mrs. Ira Rowell, of Danver-i Town- ship), William B., Abraham H. and Margie; and four deceased — Martha, Reuben, Nancy J. (formerly Mrs. T. W. Brown, of White Oak Township) and Mary. Mr. Carlock is jovial, kind- hearted and hospitable by nature, and has a great many friends. In politics, he is an uncom- promising Democrat; he cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and his last for Horace Greeley, because Mr. Greeley was nominated at Baltimore ; he is such a stanch, uncompromising Demo- crat that many people who are unacquainted with his name, know him as the " Old Democrat," and his paper would pass current if signed with that soubriquet; in religion, he is a Universalist, and believes in the salvation of all mankind. He is full of eccentricities ; he was never known to make a visit, in the strict sense of the word. He is greatly attached to his home and never gets into debt. He has never ridden in a railroad car, a steamboat or even an omnibus. JOHN G. CARLOCK, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Oak Grove; was born in Overton Co., Tenn., Jan. 28, 1826; he is the son of A. W. and Mary (Goodpasture) Carlock ; his parents moved to v Morgan Co., 111., in 1829 ; the family came to Dry Grove Township, McLean Co., and was there during the winter of the deep snow ; John G. remained at home till he reached the age of 25 years ; his schooling was such only as the pioneer's boy usually obtained, but few men of his age in the county have performed more hard labor than the subject of this sketch ; being the eldest son of the family, he contributed much by his labor and management toward starting his father on the road to wealth. He was married Sept. 5, 1850, to Lucinda Musick, of Logan Co., 111. ; eight chil- dren have been born to them — Dillard H., George M., Mary L., Richard L., Hester E., S. Ger- trude, John G., Jr., Loran A. He owns a fine farm of 400 acres, backed up by a good bank account ; he took great pride in educating his children, and has expended a large amount of means for their education. Few men in McLean Co. have experienced more mental anguish than has fallen to the lot of Mr. Carlock to endure in the past few years. He has buried one- half of his family — Dillard H., a young man of great promise, a member of the Junior Class in Eureka College, was cut down suddenly in the very flush of manhood ; John G., Jr., and Loran A. followed in quick succession ; Hester E., a bright eyed girl of four summers, was first called away. Mr. Carlock deeply deplores the loss of his children ; he has erected tasteful monuments, with befitting inscriptions, to each one. R. L. CARLOCK, merchant ; Oak Grove ; was born in White Oak Township, McLean Co., III., Aug. 9, 1856 ; he was reared a farmer's son ; having acquired a good English education at the common schools ; in 1875, he entered Eureka College, and attended two sessions ; in Sep- tember, 1876,' he entered Eastman's National Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he graduated Feb. 20, 1877 ; on his return home, he engaged in farming till September, 1878, when he opened a general merchandise store in Oak Grove, in company with W. L. McNeil, under the firm name of McNeil & Carlock; Nov. 1, 1878, McNeil sold his interest to George M. Carlock, and the firm became that of Carlock Bros. ; March 1, 1879, George M. sold his interest to J. H. Swanly, and the present firm of Carlock & Swanly was formed. This is the second store established in the village. He was married, Dec. 19, 1878, to Sallie G. Dunlap, a native of Illinois. The firm of Carlock & Swanly is fast gaining the confidence of the people, and their range of patronage is on the increase. Both members of the firm are promising young business gentlemen, and bid fair to meet with deserved success. M. E. DENMAN, farmer and t tock-dealer ; P. 0. Oak Grove ; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, March 2, 1820; his early life was that of a farmer's son; excepting the summer of 1841, spent in Illinois, he remained with his parents till 23 jears of age; in the fall of 1843, he pur- chased a blacksmith's outfit and materials, and began the trade of smithing; this he followed ten years ; in the fall of 1852, he came to White Oak Township, McLean Co. ; in the spring of 1853, he pre-empted 265 acres in Hudson Township ; this he still owns ; in the fall of 1855, he moved to his land, and began improving it ; in 1867, he purchased where he now resides, and occupied it in the spring of 1868. He was married, in November, 1842, to Elizabeth B. Smith, a native of Muskingum Co., Ohio; have had twelve children— John H. (Thomas S., Sarah J., twins), Eunice A., Daniel E., Charles L., Belle, living; Martha F., Elizabeth, two infant daughters, and one infant son, deceased. Has held the office of Commissioner of Highways and School Director. Owns 580 acres, valued at $30,000. When he came West, he had one horse, some household goods and about $350 ; he has been very successful in accumulating property, and is now in the front rank of wealthy men in his township. WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP. 1055 ELISHA DIXON, farmer ; P. 0. Oak Grove; was born in Hampshire Co., Va., June 14. 1809 ; in 1815, his father moved with his family to Ohio, and settled in Harrison Co. ; here Mr. Dixon grew to manhood with the experiences of a pioneer farmer's boy ; his education was limited to the common schools, reading and spelling beiDg the chief studies : in 1828, he came West to prospect the country, and,, in 1829, his father came with the family and settled in Dry Grove Township, McLean Co., on the farm now cwned by Peter Downer; in the winter of 1830, Mr. Dixon came to White Oak Grove and made an improvement where James Johnson now resides ; here he lived nearly forty years ; he then sold his fine farm of 254 acres, and, in 1869, purchased where he now lives ; owns 120 acres, valued at $6,000. He was married in December, 1829, to Mary Brown, a native of Tennessee; she died in 1866; nine children were born to them — William and Eliza Ann (twins), Lucinda, Sarah, John ; four died in infancy. William and John are still living. He has held the offices of Constable, Road Commissioner, and was School Treasurer fourteen years in succession. In 1828, when only 19 years of age, Mr. Dixon voted for Gen. Jackson for President; there were only thirteen votes polled in a district of territory larger than two or three of the smaller New England States. CHARLES JOHNSTON, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Oak Grove ; was born in Sussex Co., N. J., July 31, 1814 ; his parents came to Ohio in an early day and settled in Greene Co. ; both parents died when he was quite a small boy ; his brother was a distiller, and much of the early life of Mr. Johnston was spent, in work in and about the distillery; on arriving at man- hood, he engaged in farming; in 1849, he came West to Illinois and purchased land in Danvers Township ; this he improved, and, in 1856, sold out and purchased the farm on which he now resides ; he has owned large tracts of land at different times, and has accumulated large amounts of money by trading in land and stock. He was married, in 1833, to Rebecca A. Stevenson, of Ohio ; nine children resulted from this union, six daughters and three sons — James S , Mary A., John S., Martha J., Joseph H., Catherine, Rebecca I., Amanda, Sarah. He now owns 385 acres, and has one of the best stock-farms in the county. He has held the office of Supervisor several terms. In 1865, he became afflicted with rheumatism, which has resulted in the partial destruc- tion of his powers of locomotion and speech ; from this, however, he suffers no piin. A. J. McWILLlAMS, farmer; P. 0. Oak Grove; was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, in November, 1827. His early life was spent upon his father s farm. At his majority, he engaged in agricubural pursuits for himself. In 1850, he purchased eighty acres of land, and farmed in Ohio till 1854, when he came to Illinois, stopping about two years in Bureau Co. Tn 1856, he came to McLean Co., and located on his present homestead. He was married, in 1851, to Jane Drennan, a native of Ohio ; has four children — Lou L., Mary E., Ann E., Melissa. Owns 160 acres, valued at, $8,000 ; has held the offices of Township Trustee, Township Clerk, Road Com- missioner, Assessor, etc. He is the son of John and Mary (Hogue) McWilliams. Mr. McWil- liams is a pleasant gentleman, affable in his manners, and has been very successful in his farm- ing enterprises. ALBERT WRIGHT, farmer; P. 0. Oak Grove; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, March 19, 1842. In the fall of 1853, his parents came West to Illinois, and settled in White Oak Town- ship, near where he now lives. He was reared a farmer, and received only a common-school education. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 94th Regt. I. V. I., and remained in the service three years. DuriDg his term of service, he was never absent from his command, nor missed a single day's duty. He participated in the following battles: Prairie Grove, Ark., siege of Vicksburg, campaigns in Missouri, Banks' Expedition to the Rio Grande, siege of Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort, etc. On his return from the army, he began the improvement of his present homestead. He was married, April 14, 1871, to Martha M. Eyer, a native of Butler Co., Ohio. Has two children — Ada L., Charles A. Has held the office of Supervisor of White Oak Township for the years 1872, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1878 and 1879. He is the son of Samuel and Mary (Bayless) Wright. His attention is given wholly to agricultural pursuits, and the rearing of stock. Owns 123 acres, finely improved valued at $7 000. W. H. WRIGHT, farmer ; P. 0. Bloomington ; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, May 19, 1839. In the fall of 1853, he came West with the family to Illinois. He remained with his parents till his majority engaged in farm labor, and receiving his education at the common sohools. On leaving home, he opened up his farm on Sec. 35, White Oak Township. Eighty acres of this was given him by his father. This he has increased to 120 acres. He entered the United States ser- vice as a member of Co. E, 94th Regt. I. V. I., in August, 1862. He was elected First Lieuten- ant of the Co., but on account of his ill health was forced to resign and quit the service, in April, 1863, Returning from the army, he again engaged in farming, and this he has since con- tinued. He was married, Feb. 25, 1864, to Kate Johnson, a native of Greene Co. Ohio. Has six children — Minnie II., Charles F., Floretta, Ida B., Lula, Ollie. Has held the office of School Trustee two terms, and that of Assessor four terms. 1056 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ANCHOR TOWNSHIP. W. H. ANDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Lexington ; was born July 26, 1840, in Jennings Co., Ind.; in 1855, he came with his father to McLean Co., 111., settling south of Bloomington, in what is now Randolph Township, remaining there two years ; in 1858, he settled on his father's farm, near the head of Mackinaw, staying there until 21 years old ; he then taught school for some ten years, teaching all that time in two places ; in his 21st year, he attended college at Eureka, 111.; he has been no office-seeker, but has been connected with schools. He was married, Dec. 25, 1863, to Charity Williams, a native of Ohio; they moved to Illinois, and engaged in farming ; in 1865, he settled on his beautiful farm of 170 acres, lying on the banks of the Mackinaw, which he obtained entirely by his own efforts. They have two . children — John M. and Nettie P. R. H. ARNOLD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Potosi ; was born Jan. 12, 1835, in Perry Co , Ohio ; when quite a child, his father removed to Licking Co., Ohio, remaining there until 17 years of age, when he came to McLean Co.; settling at White Oak, he engaged in farming ; he moved from there to Tazewell Co., remaining one year ; then removing to White Oak, where he remained until 1866-67, at which time he was engaged in a grist-mill in Tazewell Co., owned by his father ; was also in a mill at White Oak six years. In 1867, he moved to his present farm of eighty acres, given him by his father. He has been Pathmaster, and does his own carpen- tering, masonry and plastering. Mr. Arnold was married on Sept. 30, 1856, to Polly Benson, who is a native of McLean Co.; they have seven children, viz., Mary A., Charles E., Liddie A., Lucy M., Nancy J., Charity P. and Willie A. A. CLAYPOOL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. Gibson; was born Oct. 14, 1828, in Mus- kingum Co., Ohio ; he remained there until 1856, farming for his father until 1851, when he was married to Elizabeth Simpson, who is a native of Ohio. Immediately after marriage, he settled on his father's farm, remaining there five years ; he then came to McLean Co., 111., settling on Mr. Orendorff's farm, remaining there during the winter ; in the mean time, renting a farm of Mr. Colvin and remaining there eight years ; he moved from there to Blue Mound, remaining two years, at the expiration of which time he settled on his present farm of eighty acres. He has been connected with the schools for twenty years, and has been Collector two terms, and is now on his third term. Mr. Claypool is 50 years old, and never had a lawsuit. They have nine children, viz., Josephine, Austin, Ottawa, Ella, Ruth, James, Aletha and Blanche living, and Arl R., deceased. P. J. DECKER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Potosi ; was born Feb. 9, 1836, in Philadel- phia, Penn., and moved from there with his father to York Co., Penn., remaining there seven years, when he moved to New York City, staying there six years, moving thence to York Co., Penn., where he remained some time ; then emigrated to Livingston Co., 111., engaging in farming and working for Mr. B. Walton for two years. He was married, in 1866, to Mary E. Austin, who was born Dec. 28, 1849, in Richmond Co., Va.', after marriage, they managed the farm of Mr. Wal- ton, and then moved to Fairbury, remaining there one year ; from Fairbury, they came to the present farm of eighty acres, earned entirely by their own labor and management. He has held town offices, worked at stone and brick laying, and has taught five terms of school in Pennsyl- vania ; he ran a planing-mill one year in Jersey City, managed the packing department of a soap factory, and worked two years in a saw-mill in Wrightsville, Penn. They have five children — Charles H., born Oct. 26, 1868; Jennie, July 16, 1872; Philip J., Jan. 17, 1876 ; Edward L., Feb. 15, 1878; Albert, Jan. 16. 1874. J. A. ESPY, farmer and stock- raiser; P. 0. Garda ; was born in Pennsylvania July 6, 1829; he remained in Pennsylvania, working on a farm, until 20 years old, at which time he moved to Peoria, 111., engaging with his brother in the boot and shoe business for four years ; he then moved to Tazewell Co., engaging in farming for one year; from there to Peoria Co., farming there for fourteen years ; from there he located on his present farm, in Anchor Township, of eighty acres, which he earned entirely by his own labor and management. He was married the first time to Martha Fry, a native of Pennsylvania, Feb. 22, 1855 ; there were six children by this union — Mary E., Isabella F., Winfield S., William E., David E. and Charles E. His second marriage occurred Oct. 4, 1871 ; two children were the fruit of this union. He has been Path- master and connected with the schools as Director. He has followed chair-making and painting; was agent for State map of Pennsylvania and one of North America and Europe ; was also agent for a book entitled " Beyond the Mississippi." NATHAN HINSHAW, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Garda; was born March 19, 1831, in McLean Co., 111.; he remained there for some time, " working on the farm; thence to Mosquito Grove, and staid there some sixteen years ; in 1874, he settled on his present farm of 320 acres, earned principally by his own labor and management ; he has made good improve- ments in the way of building a handsome little cottage and barn. He has been no office- seeker, but has been connected with the schools as Director. He was married, Jan. 3, 1858, to ANCHOR TOWNSHIP. 1057 Philura J. Endecott, a native of Posey Co., Ind.; they have five children — Mary C, born Dec. 18, 1858 ; Malinda E., Jan. 4, 1861 ; Emma J., Feb. 16, 1864 ; Hannah F., July 13, 1869 ; James A., April 28, 1876. CAPT. S. P. HOWELL, farmer and stock-raiser : P 0. Saybrook ; was born Dec. 23, 1837, in Licking Co., Ohio ; remained there, working on a farm, until 1852, when he moved West, settling in McLean Co., near Bloomington ; worked for his father on a farm until 1869, when he settled on the present farm of three sections, equal to 1,920 acres, which is managed by himself and brothers. He was in the civil war, enlisting in Co. 1, 94th I. V. I ; was Second and First Lieutenant and Captain of Co. I. struggling for three long years for our noble land, saved by Washington and redeemed by Lincoln. Was married Feb. 8, 1872, to Mary L. Brooke, born in Pennsylvania Oct. 23, 1848 ; they have three children — Nellie, Brooke and Mannie. GEORGE HESTER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Saybrook ; was born May 28, 1842, in London, England. In 1845, he moved with his parents to Knox Co., 111., traveling by team from Chicago. In 1856, he moved to Galesburg, Knox Co., remaining there some time. He left home March 1, 1861, and enlisted in the 13th Regt. 111. Cav. ; remained over three years. He then engaged in the nursery business, working for $30 to $100 per month, and was engaged some ten years. On Dec. 24, 1875, he was married to Mary A. Pirkey, and Fettled on his pres- ent farm of 120 acres, earned entirely by his own labor and management. He has been Path- master, and was First Sergeant and Second Lieutenant by commission. He is a member of the Christian Church ; his wife also belonged to that denomination : she died, deeply lamented, April 10, 1878. JOHN N. KING, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Saybrook; was born Feb. 3, 1828, in Champaign Co., Ohio; emigrating to Illinois, he settled in Logan Co., remaining some time; moving from there to Sangamon Co., at which place his father died, leaving him in care of a widowed mother. Some time after, his mother married, and they moved to Logan Co., settling on a farm. He went from there to Havanna, 111., by ox-wagon, and took steamboat, bound for Cincinnati; went thence to Dayton, then to Champaign by wagon, and settled in Clark Co., remaining there until 21 years old, when he came West on horseback, stopping in Smith's Grove. Sept. 10, 1850, he began working by the month, at $13, for A. R. Jones. In 1851, he taught school, afterward working for Jones, and was married Nov. 9, 1851, to Mary White, of Ohio. His first winter after marriage, he made rails and farmed ; the next summer for himself; then taught three terms of school in succession: locating then on forty acres west of Smith's Grove, remaining some time. Afterward bought 160 acres in Anchor Township, paying cash, settling on it in 1868, which he has made into a magnificent home. The yard is most beautifully arranged with evergreens and mounds of well-selected rocks. He has been Supervisor, Commis- sioner, Justice of the Peace, Overseer of Poor, and is now in the sixth year as Trustee of Anchor Township, and has been connected with the schools. They have had six children — Olando, Scevolia R., George E., Effie ; deceased — Mary and John N. C. W. KINGSTON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Garda ; was born Sept. 9, 1836, in Woodford Co., Ill, remaining there until 1868, when he removed to his present farm, in Anchor Township, of 180 acres, which, through his energy and skillful management, has made an ele- gant and magnificent home. He started on the ocean of life, and unfurled his sails to an untried breeze, and as a shallop, which sailed out of harbor noiselessly and unnoticed, has anchored safely in port. He has held offices connected with schools, and has been Pathmaster. Was married, in 1865, to Miss Cameron, a native of Virginia. They have six children, viz., Elizabeth B., Jennie S., Alice B., Beecher L., Llewellyn, Clark C. Mr. Kingston, the father of C. W. Kingston, makes a home with his son, Mrs. Kingston having died in 1864. MRS. E. D. KNIGHT, farmer and stock-raiser : P. 0. Potosi ; was born Dec. 27, 1831, in McLean Co., 111. Moses H. Knight, her late husband, was born June 30, 1830, in Vermont, and when he was 20 years old, came to McLean Co., and soon after was married to Miss E. D. Ben- son, the present Mrs. E. D. Knight. They engaged in farming a tract of land eight miles north of Bloomington. From there they removed to East White Oak, remaining until October, 1865, when they settled on the present farm of 240 acres, which they earned by their own manage- ment. Mr. Knight was a patentee of a portable fence, a teacher of rare attainments, and had labored for 20 years as a minister of the Christian denomination. His services were generally free. Only a few months have passed since his generous soul took its eternal flight, and his death was greatly mourned by all his friends and acquaintances. Mrs. Knight has managed the affairs of the farm since his death, and it would be doing the deceased an injustice not to say that he was kind and generous to his family, and went through all his labors unostentatiously and with his best efforts. Thus passed away a noble man. They have had ten children, viz., Mary A. (deceased), William B., Samuel H. (deceased), Alice, Winton C, Hattie A., James P. (deceased), Orrin H., James B., and Lois E. R. H. MADDOX, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Saybrook; was born in Virginia April 30, 1823. When he was 5 years old, his father moved to Perry Co., Ohio, settling on a farm, and remaining there ten years. He then moved, with his father, to Licking Co., Ohio, and stayed there twenty years. From thence he came to McLean Co., engaging in farming, and renting of Martin Arnold and R. Brown. He moved from there to Peoria, and rented land for two years. 1058 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: In 1869, he settled on the beautiful little farm of eighty acres, which he now possesses, earned entirely by his own manual labor. He was married, in 1852, to Elizabeth Tobing, of Virginia j they have had four children, viz., John B., Mary E. and Margaret J. and Lucy A. (deceased). S. M. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Burr Oaks; was born Oct. 13, 1848, in Monongalia Co., Va. Lived there until 20 years old, when he came with his father to Woodford Co., III. Engaged in working on a farm for " Representative" J. Ranney, for four years, at|25 per month. On Dec. 24, 1871, he was married to Mary J. Mundell, a native of Woodford Co., who was born Oct. 8, 1850. Immediately after their marriage, they settled on Mr. Mundell's farm, remaining there six years. In 1877, he took a trip to the East, and, in 1878, made another tour for the purpose of making a home, when he made the wise choice of a very fine farm of 160 acres in Anchor Township, situated on the banks of the beautiful Macki- naw. They have three children — Charles A., born Dec 6, 1872; James A., Sept. 13 1874 ; Maudie M., Feb. 14, 1877. E. C. SUMMERS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Burr Oaks; was born Feb. 23, 1837, in Darke Co., Ohio, on a farm ; remained there until 8 years old, when he went with his father to Whiteside Co., 111. ; remaining there one year, he returned to Darke Co., Ohio, remaining there three years ; in 1846, he moved to Jasper Co., Ind., engaging in farming with his father for two years ; from thence to Shelby Co., 111., where he engaged in farming for one year ; his next move was to Tazewell Co., 111., and tilled the soil until 1861, when he moved to the southwestern part of McLean Co. ; he now lives on a beautiful farm in Anchor Township, of 280 acres. His first marriage to Mary J. Paugh occurred in 1858; they had four children — Harry, Lawson, Clara and Charles. On the 22d of March, 1872, his first wife died : he was married the second time to Maggie Perry, of Ohio. He has held offices connected with the schools, and is at present super- visor of Anchor Township. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 106th I. V. I., and was in the war three years. J. C. SWARTZLEY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Garda; was born Jan. 29, 1836, on a farm in Augusta Co., Va., remaining there twenty years; removing thence to Woodford Co., 111., engaging in farming and teaching, and has taught the winters and part of the summers of eighteen years ; he left Woodford Co. in 1858, and went to Missouri, remaining there until 1860, when he was married, Oct. 2, to Jennie L. Cameron, of Missouri, and returned to Woodford Co., and engaged in farming and teaching; in 1868, he moved to McLean Co. and settled on his present farm of eighty acres, situated in what is now Anchor Township. He has made this beautiful little home by his own skillful management. He has held the office of School Trustee nine years ; Assessor, five years ; Collector, two years ; Town Clerk, nine years, and is at present Clerk of Anchor Township ; he is an ornament to the community, honest and upright in all his dealings, and has made a host of friends; they have seven children — Willie H., Maggie D., Anna Belle, Ella V., Alice L., George L. and Jessie N. J. M. URBAN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Gibson; was born Oct. 11, 1838, in Lan- caster Co., Penn.; he was engaged, during his early years, as a farmer, and at an early date he begun teaching school, and taught several terms; in 1866, he came to McLean Co., settling west of Bloomington, and renting the farm of Henry Sholty ; leaving there, he bought and settled on the present farm of 160 acres, which he has converted into a very desirable farm, admired by all who see it. In August, 1862, he went at his country's call to war for the Union, entering as a Corporal and leaving as a Sergeant. He was married in 1866, to Fannie Stoner, a resident of Ohio ; he has been connected with schools, and is now in his third term as Commissioner. He made a profession of religion in 1867 ; has made quite a liberal donation for church building. They have five children— Levina M., born Dec. 16, 1866 ; Willie S., June 6, 1868 ; Samantha J., Jan. 12, 1870; Benjamin H., April 12, 1873; Charles C, April 12, 1876. T. J. WAKEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Gibson; was born Aug. 7, 1842, in Tazewell Co., 111.; lived there until the war broke out, when he entered as a private, enlisting in Co. B, 73d 111. Regt.; he was three years in service, and was engaged partly in Sherman's march ; after returning from the war, he engaged in farming in McLean Co., near Towanda, and remained there three years ; he then went to Blue Mound and engaged in farming ; in 1864, he bought the present farm of eighty acres, earned entirely by his own labor and management ; he has worked at carpentering and masonry, and sometimes works at plastering ; in the winter time, engages in public work, shelling corn. He was married, in 1869, to Mary E. Parr, a native of Ohio ; they have no children. Mr. Wakefield built his own cosy little cottage, and there enjoys a happy home. CROPSEY TOWNSHIP 1059 CROPSEY TOWNSHIP. J. C. ARNOLD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Potosi ; was born in 1839, in Licking Co., Ohio, and, in 1853, settled in McLean Co., 111.; remained there until 1857, then moved to Tazewell Co., aud there engaged in farming ; in 1859, he moved to White Oak, and remained until 1861, when he enlisted in Co. G, of the 17th I. V. L; he was in the service over three years, and became a Corporal. After returning from the war, he married Susanna Benson, who was born in 1844, and soon bought 120 acres — a farm, choice and well-improved, and watered by excellent springs ; the house is situated among thousands of beautiful forest and fruit trees ; he has held offices connected with the schools, and is, at present, Highway Commissioner; they have eight children— Ruth V., born Sept. 19, 1865; Ada J., March 18, 1867; Alta G., Oct, 20, 1868; John S., April 24, 1871 ; Jesse H., April 19, 1873 ; Moses E., Feb. 9, 1878; two deceased — James M. and Otis L. G. W. FRESHCORN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Potosi; was born Nov. 20, 1811, in Chester Co., Penn., and lived there until 18-56, when he came to McLean Co., buying and settling on his present farm of 155 acres, which he earned principally by his own labor and management ; he was a wagon-maker and worked under the supervision of his father in Chester Co., Penn. He has been no office-seeker, but has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Assessor, Commissioner and has been connected with the schools ; he is a minister of the M. E. Church, and was mar- ried, in 1847, to Catharine Gayman, a resident of Chester Co., Penn.; they have five children — Fannie, Mary, George F., Wesley J. and Clara; Clara is a teacher of rare attainments. This fine old gentleman has made home happy by the associations of literature and art. A. W. GREEN, M. D., physician and merchant, Potosi; was born Jan. 26, 1842, in Jef- ferson Co., Ind., where he remained until 16 years old, when he came to McLean Co., 111.; here he remained until 1861, when he moved to Clay Co., 111.; was there until 1864; he had been engaged in farming and teaching for two years, and was reading medicine ; in 1864, he was in the army, enlisting in the 136th I. V. I. ; was Orderly and First Duty Sergeant ; after his return from the war, he proceeded with the study of medicine ; attended Rush Medical College, at Chicago, in 1865-66 ; returned home and began business with a capital of 80 cents ; he lived with David Crum nearly three years ; he bought land, and began building the town of Potosi, laying it out in 1869 ; he began with a drug store, and his business now includes dry goods and general notions ; he is also Postmaster ; he has held town offices. He practices medicine in addition to his merchandising ; also, is in the ministry of the Christian denomination, with four regular places of appointment. He was married in 1869, to R. Sophia Luse, a native of Ohio; he has two children— Arthur L., born Oct. 15, 1870, and Effie A., Feb. 29, 1872. July 13, 1878, his wife met her death by an accident ; she was driving out in the city of Bloomington, when the horse becoming frightened, ran, throwing her out and injuring her so severely that she died the same day. W. A. KNIGHT, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Potosi ; was born March 15, 1832, in Ryf- gate, Caledonia Co., Vt., where he remained until 19 years old, engaged in farming; he then went to Massachusetts, worked in Lawrence, manufacturing cotton goods; he became a mechanic, and worked at making engines and cotton machinery. In 1854, he went on a farm, and engaged in farming and carpentering. In 1858, he moved to White Oak, McLean Co.; engaged in farm- ing with his brother, M. H. Knight, In 1868, he settled on his present farm of eighty acres, where he has been ever since. Was married May 6, 1853, to H. M. Moore, of Massachusetts; they have thirteen children — Fred W., Elizabeth J., Alfred T., Frank E., Clara J., Mary E., Ralph H., R. Ella, Eugene E., Bert. H., William E., Minnie A., Jesse L. He has not had a doc- tor for sixteen years, and has done his own practicing. The children are all living. He has been Collector, Town Clerk, Pathmaster, and connected with the schools. He now manages a large farm, and practices somewhat in medicine. D. B. MEEKER, farmer; P. 0. Potosi; was born Oct. 8, 1845, in Indiana, and moved, when young, to Tazewell Co., 111.; remained there until 21 years old, working on the farm for his father; In 1870, he settled on the present farm of 840 acres, owned by his father, Moses R. Meeker, which he and his brother, E. B. Meekc, manage and control. Mr. D. B. Meeker was married Feb. 18, 1873, to Sarah Jane Zumwalt, a native of Indiana. Immediately after marriage, they settled on his father's farm, which he has taken much pleasure in improving. He has two chil- dren — Arthur, born April 25, 1874, and Nellie Mav, born Nov. 27, 1877. E. MERRILL, farmer; P. 0. Potosi; was' born Sept. 7, 1830, in Wayne Co., N. Y.; remained there until 14 years old, then moved to Chautauqua, N. Y., and engaged in farming, remaining there until 1853 ; he then moved to McLean Co., 111., and worked a farm as renter, for ten years, and also worked five years at carpentering. In 1868, he bought and set- tled the present farm of 640 acres. He has held such town offices as Assessor and Commissioner. He was married, in 1852, to Fanny Brigham, of Chautauqua, N. Y. They have nine children — Alice, born Feb 20, 1856 ; Jay, Nov. 14, 1859 ; Rollan, Oct. 1, 1860 ; Delia, Dec. 2, 1362 ; Vina, 1060 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Nov. 17, 1864 ; Forest, April 21, 1866 ; Lee, May 3, 1868; Conwell, Aug. 10, 1870: Sanford, March 29, 1874. WILLIAM STICKLER, farmer and teacher ; P. 0. Potosi ; was born Sept. 13, 1847, in Lan- caster Co., Penn. ; when quite young, he moved with his parents to Champaign Co., Ohio, set- tling on a farm ; while there his father died. Soon afterward they moved to Livingston Co., 111., and settled on a farm; they remained there some years, and from there moved to McLean Co., settling on the present farm of eighty acres, which they have made a cheerful home. He is now Assessor. He is a carpenter by trade, and carries it on in connection with farming. He is a teacher of rare attainments, and has taught in three districts; in the first, for one term ; second, five terms; third, four terms ; he has taught the home school four terms, and is engaged for next year. He was married April 16, 1874, to Maria Crumbaker, a native- of Coshocton Co. r Ohio. They have one child — Maggie Ellen, born Jan. 16, 1875. JOHN STRAESSER, farmer; P. O. Potosi; was born in Blair Co., Penn... Dec. 18, 1843; when quite young, he moved, with his father, to Peoria Co., 111. ; remaining there, engaged in farming for twenty years ; in 1866, he left home and came to McLean Co., buying and settling the present farm of 160 acres. He has been no office-seeker, but has been Pathmaster and con- nected with the schools. His father was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1802, and served twelve years in the war. Mr. J. Straesser has never been married. L. TERPENING, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Potosi; was born, June 15, 1809, in Herkimer Co., N. Y. ; remained there until 1854, when he came to De Kalb Co., 111., settling on a farm which he bought, and where he remained eleven years ; he then sold out and moved to McLean Co., settling in Cropsey Township, where he has lived ever since. He was an overseer of workmen of the Erie Canal for eight years ; was also a manufacturer of powder for two years, in New York; he was also a distiller for some time, in Frankfort, N. Y. He was married, in 1825, to Elizabeth Clapsaddle, a native of New York. They have three children — Mary, born Sept. 2, 1829; Margaret, March 29, 1833; Henry L., April 30, 1836. J. B. VAN PETTEN, farmer ; P. 0. Potosi ; was born Jan. 1, 1855, in Peoria Co., 111., where he remained until 18t59, when he came to McLean Co., 111., and settled on his present farm. Thomas W. Van Petlen, his father, died in'1862, leaving a snug fortune with Mrs. E. Van Petten, who has managed it. They have 240 acres, excellently improved, the greater part of it now being under the management of J. B. Van Petten. They have had nine children — William, Veeder, Spencer, Lydia, Henry, Sabra, J. B. ; Archie and Ella (deceased). Mrs. E. Van Petten was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1824; Mr. Thomas W. Van Petten was born in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1819. E. H. WARD, farmer; P. 0. Potosi; was born Sept. 27, 1820, in New York ; he went from New York to Pennsylvania, and, when quite young, engaged in driving a team for a lumber dealer ; when 18 years old, he went to Ohio and engaged in farming ; in 1849, he moved to Ken- dall Co., 111., and began on farm, working by the month, at $10 to $14 per month. In 1850, he was married to Ruth Brown, of Ohio ; he remained with his father-in-law a year, raising tobacco ; in 1852, he moved to Kendall Co., 111., and was engaged in farming seven years, renting four years ; he then bought eighty acres, which he traded for 160 acres in McLean Co., remaining on that six years ; he then sold out and bought the present farm of 160 acres. He has been Com- missioner twelve terms. They have seven children — Benjamin, now a missionary in India ; Willie, born Dec. 16, 1855; Henry, March 16, 1858; Albert, Jan 14, 1861; Arthur, Jan. 19, 1863 ; John Logan, April 28, 1865 ; Nannie, Jan. 17, 1870. His wife's father, Charles Brown, was one of the first ciptains on Lake Erie. YATES TOWNSHIP. J. H. AMSLER, farmer; P. 0. Weston ; was born in York Co., Penn., Dec. 22, 1832 ; at the age of 3 years, he went with his parents to Peoria, 111., then consisting of about three frame houses ; his father, who was born in Switzerland, worked by the day in a brickyard at Peoria, but afterward entered a farm of eighty acres, ten miles north of Peoria, and the subject of this sketch helped him on the farm until the age of 21, at which age he left his home and rented a farm on shares in Woodford Co., conducting it with profit to himself and the owner for one year; from Woodford Co., he went to Tazewell Co.. farming for one year, and during the next year, he was confined through sickness; he then removed to Marshall Co., seven miles south of Lacon, where he continued farming ; from there he returned to Tazewell Co., living near Tremont, and from there he returned to Woodford Co., and continued farming for two years ; he afterward removed to within three miles south of Metamora, and farmed there for four years ; from there he removed to McLean Co., buying and breaking 160 acres of raw prairie, and built a house thereon, and afterward bought eighty acres in Sec. 23, Yates Township; his farm is all under cultivation, and valued at $40 an acre. He was elected to the office of School Director shortly after coming to Yates, and has held the office at intervals ever since. He was married to Miss Sarah A. Clifton, who was born in Woodford Co., 111., in YATES TOWNSHIP. 1061 1843 ; they have had a family of six children, two dead and four living, viz., Cora, Charles, Ida and Amber. Mr. Amsler's farm and residence are on Sec. 26, Yates Township, except eighty acres on Sec. 23. SIMON BAECHLER, farmer, Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Fairbury ; was born in Lorraine (near the city of Nancy), Northeastern France, in 1834; in France Simon followed farming with his father, commencing work at a very early age ; his father removed to America in the year 1855, settling in Tazewell Co., 111., to which place Simon had preceded him one year before ; in Tazewell, Mr. Baechler, Sr., continued the pursuit of farming, Simon working with him until the year 1859 ; then he returned to France, remaining there from the spring of 1859 until fall, when he married and returned to America, bringing his wife with him ; for two years, he and his wife remained with his father, and then settled on the Little Mackinaw in Tazewell Co., remaining there until their removal to Yates Township, McLean Co., where he purchased and broke 180 acres of raw prairie ; in the spring of 1879, he bought seventy acres more, making 250 acres, all of which is under cultivation, and valued at about $40 an acre ; the farm is a good one, and is considered one of the best improved in Yates Township. In the year 1874, he was elected to the office of Road Commissioner, serving three years, from 1874 until 1877. Himself and family are mem- bers of high standing in the Mennonite Church. In 1859, he was married in France to Miss Elizabeth Wenjer, born in 1842, in Alsace, France ; they have had a family of six children, twa of whom, Helene Ida and Simon Oliver, are dead ; the living are Anna M., Eliza A., Emma H. and Mary L. EDGAR BLAISDELL, grain-dealer and Postmaster, Weston; was born in Kingsbury, Washington Co., N. Y , in 1834; in 1855, he left Kingsbury, going to Madison, Dane Co., Wis., remaining there ten years ; in 1865, he left Madison, going to Chenoa, McLean Co., 111., remain- ing there one year ; he went to Chicago ; from Chicago, he returned to Chenoa and remained four years : in the spring of 1872, he removed to Weston, where he has resided ever since, deal- ing in grain. He also holds the office of Postmaster. In 1871, he was married to Miss Susan A. Armstrong, of Peoria, who was born in Peoria in 1849; they have three children — Fanny, Louisa and Edgar. He is a gentleman of culture and refinement, and an enterprising, wide- awake business man. WILLIAM CRAWFORD, farmer; P. 0. Chenoa; was born in Stirlingshire, ten miles from the city of Stirling, Scotland, February, 1819, where he lived and followed farming until Nov- ember, 1848, when he came to this country and settled in Jersey City, N. J., following vegetable gardening until the fall of 1871, when he moved to Illinois, settling upon his present location, where he has remained ever since, following the pursuit of farming. He was married in June, 1848, to Miss Mary Henderson, who was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, April, 1820; they have five children living, viz., James, William, Christina H., Robert A. and Mary J. Mr. Crawford owns a fine farm of 240 acres, located on Sec. 9, in a high state of improvement, valued at $50 an acre, and all under cultivation. He holds the office of School Director of District No. 5. He is a man of large views, generous and enterprising, and takes an interest in everything connected with the welfare and advancement of his township. JOHN GRAY, farmer; P. 0. Chenoa; was born in Meade Co., Ky., Feb. 9, 1826; in 1829, he went to Harrison Co., Ind., remaining there until the age of 25, when he removed to Illi- nois, and settled in Peoria Co., ten miles northwest of Peoria, where he engaged in farming until the year 1865, when he enlisted in the Federal army, serving one year; in 1867, he removed to McLean Co., 111., settling upon eighty acres on Sec. 29, Yates Township, which he had purchased and broken from raw prairie before removing there ; in 1875, he purchased eighty acres of land in Martin Township, Sec. 23, McLean Co., all of which, together with eighty acres on Sec. 29, Yates Township, is under cultivation, and valued at about $40 an acre. He was married Oct. 24, 1850, to Miss Nancy Hunter, who was born in Durbin, Ohio, in 1830; they have had a family of twelve children, three of whom, Francis, William Walker and Florence Cornelius, are dead ; nine are living — : Pinckney Calhoun, Sarah Catharine, Thomas Alamson, John Asbury Laura Virginia, Anna Mary, Ruth, Abner L. and Franklin H. > JOHN RUPP, farmer, Sec. 22; P. 0. Weston; formerly farmer, but now, and for five years past, retired ; was born near Sarrebourg, Lorraine, Northeastern France, in the year 1824, where he followed farming with his father until the year 1855, when he came to America, and went directly to Peoria City, and from thence immediately to Tazewell Co., where he followed farming until the year 1864, when he removed to his present home in McLean Co. In the year 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Rupp returned to France, and visited the scenes of his boyhood days, which he found almost without change ; lie then made an extensive tour through Europe, visit- ing Paris, Strasbourg, Colmars, Switzerland, Basle and Balfron (the locality of one of the great battles of the Franco-German war), Mr. Rupp is an observing traveler, and his tales of locali- ties made famous during the Franco-German war, are very interesting. They returned to America in October, 1874, after an absence of four months. His farm is one of the finest in Yates Township, consisting of a half section (320 acres), mostly under cultivation, and in a fine state of improvement ; he has purchased a residence in the town of Chenoa, and will remove there this fall, renting his farm in Yates. He was elected to the offices of Collector of Tazewell and Assessor of Yates Township, but declined serving. He was married, in 1853, to Miss Mary 1062 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Bacchler, born near Nancy, Lorraine, France : they have one child — Mary Valerie, born in France in 1854. JOHN WADE, farmer, Sec. 30; P. 0. Chenoa ; was born at Oberlin, Lorain Co, Ohio, Western Reserve, in September, 1840, where he followed agriculture with his father, and, at the age of 14 years, he entered Oberlin College, where he remained two and one-half years, and, at the end of that period, he returned to farming, which he followed until he left home, in the spring of 1861, in which year he enlisted in the 16th Ohio Battery (Capt. James A. Mitchell commanding), for three years, serving two years in Missouri and the Southwest, under Gen. Curtis, and participating in all actions under that General. In the spring of 1863, he returned from the army, and, after a trip to England, returned to this country, and, in the spring of 1864, went to McLean Co., 111., when he settled upon Sec. 19, where he had formerly purchased eighty acres. From Sec. 19, he removed to Sec. 30, Yates Township, and purchased 160 acres, all of which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and said to be as well-improved as any farm in Yates. Mr. Wade's land is all underdrained, and valued at $40 an acre. He contem- plates further improvements in the way of a new dwelling, barn, etc. He also uses the best agricultural implements, and believes in improvements in every way. In 1863, he married Miss Susan Squire, born at Oberlin, Lorain Co., Ohio. They had three children — Lydia, Eddy and Emma. Mrs. Wade died Aug. 9, 1871. Mr. Wade was married March 19, 1874, to Miss Mary Lewis, who was born near Washington, Tazewell Co., 111., in the year 1840. He dates his des- cent from the Pilgrim Fathers, who landed at Plymouth Rock in the winter of 1620, and bears the sturdy, large-hearted characteristics of that race. He is a thorough farmer, and works his farm upon true scientific principles, resulting in a high state of improvement thereof. JAMES E. WIKOFF, farmer, deceased; P. 0. Chenoa. Among the many self-made men of McLean Co., who have risen to eminence in the affairs of their own township by their enter- prise, intelligence and integrity, and who take rank among the best in their sphere, was James E. WikofF, who was born in Adams Co., Ohio, in 1828, where he followed farming, with the exception of four years previous to his leaving Adams Co., during which period he was superin- tendent of his brother's saw-mill. In 1854, he left Adams Co., and went directly to McLean Co., 111., settling upon Sec. 33, Yates Township, where he entered 20U acres of land, and bought (in Sec. 32) forty acres, all of which, except forty acres of pasture, is under cultivation. During the war, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, holding that office for several years. He was also elected Supervisor of Yates Township, holding office several terms. At the time of the organ- ization of the township, he was elected School Trustee, and held that office until the date of his death, Aug. 23, 1878. He was a prominent and respected citizen of McLean Co., and leaves a large circle of friends, who sincerely mourn their loss. On July 20, 1854, Mr. Wikoff married Miss Phoebe Holderness, who was born March 25, 1838, at New Marion, Ind., but was raised in Adams Co., Ohio, to which place she went with her father at the age of 1 year. She went to McLean Co., 111., with her husband, the year of their marriage. There are four children living — Orra, Sarah E., Hattie and James Grant. Mrs. Wikoff lives upon and conducts her late hus- band's farm, assisted by her sons, Orra and James. Their farm and residence is located on Sec. 33, with the exception of eighty acres on Sec. 32, and eighty acres in Sec. 10. MARTIN TOWNSHIP. W. G. ANDERSON, farmer; P. 0. Lexington; was born in 1818, in Jefferson Co., Ind. r and came to this State in the year 1855, settling in Randolph Township, this county, where he remained two years, when he removed -to the place he now occupies. His homestead consists of 350 acres, in a good state of cultivation, and worth about $35 per acre. WM. BENSON, farmer; P. 0. Lexington; was born in McLean Co. in 1830; he is the son of James Benson, who emigrated from Indiana and settled in Blooming Grove, this county, at a very early day. He received his education in what was known as the Bloomington Academy (Rev. G. W. Minier, Principal) ; he taught school some two years, after which he moved onto and improved a farm in White Oak Township; in the spring of 1867, he moved to his present location, and was among the first settlers on the open prairie in the northeastern part of the township ; his homestead consists of 160 acres, well situated and improved, and worth about $35 per acre. WILLIAM HURT, farmer ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; was born in Kentucky in 1841 ; came to this State in 1854, and resided in Bloomington for one year afterward. He was married, in 1863, to Miss Mary C. Rason, and settled in Dale Township, where he resided six years; he moved to his present location in 1869, and turned his attention exclusively to farming until five years ago, when he began the breeding of Norman horses, and has continued in the business, with success, ever since. He has one child — Charles W. Hurt, who was born in April, 1865. Mis farm is finely located, well improved, and worth about $40 per acre. MARTIN TOWNSHIP. 1063 JAMES KENNEDY, farmer ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; was born in 1803, in Jessamine Co., Ky., amoving to this State in April, 1852, and settled two miles west of Bloomington, remaining in that locality eight years, at which time his wife died, and, breaking up housekeeping, he spent several years in traveling, after which, he settled, in 1873, upon the place he now occupies. He has been thrice married, first, to Miss Leaner Freeman ; in 1827, to Miss Asenath Gentry, and, in 1871, to Miss Maggie Elkin. His homestead consists of 160 acres, finely located and being rapidly brought to a high state of improvement, and is worth about $35 per acre.^ JACOB H. RITCHIE, farmer; P. 0. Arrowsmith; was born in Rockingham Co., Va., in the year 1838, emigrating to Dale Township, this county, in 1855, where he remained ten years, when he removed to the place he now occupies in 1865. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Sallie Hurt. He has served the people in the capacity of School Trustee, Road Commissioner or Supervisor, almost continuously since his settlement in the township. His homestead consists of 160 acres, well improved and worth about $35 per acre, and which represents the accumula- tions only of the time which he has been in the State ; like others of that time, he braved the hardships and dangers of the Western wilds in search of a competence for his family and which he has secured by diligent application. He has seven children — Ida, George, Annie Bell, Emma, Addison, Jay and Mary Alice. JOHN W. RITTER, farmer ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; born in Ross Co., Ohio, in 1821, emigrating to this county in 1854, settling in the vicinity of Le Roy, where he remained one year, and then removed to the place which he now occupies ; he was the first settler in the southern part of Martin Township. He was married, in 1854, to Maria Dawson, daughter of Henry Dawson, one of the early settlers of Old Town, this county. His education was of necessity limited, as but few facilities existed for acquiring an education in the vicinity in which he lived at that early day, but by observation and diligence he has acquired business capacity suflicient to successfully conduct his present extensive business ; he is the owner of one section of land, well stocked and improved and worth about $40 per acre. SOLOMON K. WALDON, farmer ; P. 0. Ellsworth ; was born in Empire Township, this county, in 1835 ; he is the son of Thomas Waldon, a Virginian, who emigrated to Ohio, thence to this State, settling in this county as early as 1833 ; he first settled in Sangamon Co. in 1828, and was a soldier of the Black Hawk war ; in the early days of Empire Township, he was a prominent citizen of that locality, and one of the hardy and industrious pioneers who helped to pave the way to the better state of things now existing ; he remained a citizen of Empire Town- ship for forty years, when he removed to Downs Township, and thence to this township one year ago. He has been twice married; first in 1860, to Miss Mary Eddy, who died in 1870; and next, in 1873, to Miss Lydia A. Ingersol. Mr. Waldon has had five children, viz., Alfred T. (died in 1864;, George E., James H., Samuel M.and John L. JOSEPH M. WILSON, farmer ; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; was born in Posey Co.. Ind., in the year 1837, and was married in 1868, to Miss Eliza Popple ; he came to this State in 1854, settling in Stout's Grove, this county, where he remained seventeen years, removing to this township in ,1870, and to the farm he now occupies in 1877. He served three years in the army, enlisting as private in the 94th I. V. I., in August, 1862, and received an honorable discharge from the service in August, 1865. He has a homestead of 160 acres, where he resides, and which is being rapidly improved, and is now worth about $35 per acre. He was elected and served as Tax Collector in 1876. JAMES E. WOOD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Arrowsmith ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; was born in Monroe Co., Ind., June 6, 1831, and came to McLean Co., Oct. 30, 1854 ; he had about $500 of the wild-cat money of that time in his possession, when he came to McLean Co., but could not dispose of it for 30 cents on the $1, the consequence was, he had to commence in a new country without any means; but, by hard work and economy, he is now the owner of 324 acres of land all under a good state of cultivation. He was united in marriage with Nancy Puett Oct. 30, 1853 ; from this union there were eight children, six of whom are now living, viz., Robert P., William E., James E., Ellsworth, John A. and George W. ; the names of those deceased were Nancy E. and Sarah D. Vlrs. Nancy Wood died Nov. 23, 1872. On Nov. 12, 1873, Mr. Wood was married to Martha Horr, whose father was one of the pioneers of McLean Co. Mr. Wood is a strict temperance man ; a Republican in politics, and a great admirer of that party. 1064 POPULATION OF McLEAN COUNTY; POPULATION OF McLEAN COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS. TOWNSHIPS. Allin Stanford Arrowsmith Belleflower Bloomington ..... Bloomington Blue Mound Cheney's Grove... Saybrook.... Chenoa Cropsey Dale Shirley Danvers Danvers Downs Dry Grove Empire Le Roy Funk's Grove Gridley Hudson Lawndale Lexington Martin Money Creek Mount Hope McLean Normal Normal Old Town Padua Randolph Hey worth ... Towanda West White Oak Yates 1870. H 1224 274 927 659 1829 14590 1219 1164 389 2351 859 1188 163 1760 356 1196 1267 2133 862 818 1709 1392 835 2104 687 999 1550 600 3156 1116 1109 1249 1958 300 1235 9*1 532 1048 1050 249 870 584 1394 10692 1082 1130 375 2022 752 1128 155 1502 312 1167 1079 2061 826 736 1523 1187 786 2204 657 960 1438 547 2768 1021 995 1188 1850 294 947 909 487 878 m 174 25 57 75 435 3898 137 34 14 329 107 60 8 258 44 29 188 72 36 82 186 205 49 200 . 30 39 112 53 388 95 114 61 108 6 288 32 45 170 1224 274 927 659 1810 14355 1219 1164 389 2350 858 1162 163 1759 356 1196 1247 2129 858 818 1709 1392 835 2399 686 999 1549 600 3014 1081 1109 1249 1958 300 1235 940 532 1048 19 235 1 1 26 415 141 1355 6930 322 616 69 544 140 950 1375 20 4 4 1069 993 1684 653 486 793 841 361 1738 285 766 870 112 35 832 662 765 1386 751 309 541 4 145 23 16 T BUSINESS DIRECTORY. BLOOMINGTON. Adams, E. J., Staple and Fancy Gro- ceries, Canned Fruits, Cigars, &c, 112 North Main street. Agle & Sons, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Hides, Tallow, Leather and Shoe Findings, 205 South Center st. Aldrich, O. M., Attorney at Law. Aldrich Brothers & Co., Whole- sale and Retail Dealers in Provisions, Oysters, Flour, Fruits and Fancy Gro- ceries, 109 West Front street. Allin, Lee, Dentist; Rooms, 116 S. Main Street. Anderson, J. W., Manufacturer of Buggies, Spring and Platform Wagons, Track Sulkies, and all kinds, of job work, 305 West Washington street. Ator, J., County Sheriff of McLean County. Atkinson, C. W., County Clerk. Baker, S. D., & Son, Dealers in Staple and Fancy Groceries, 115 South Center street. Baird & Tuttle, Loan Agents.- Ball, Francis, Carriage and Wagon Manufacturer, 103 Fast Olive street. Bailer, P. A., Florist. Barnes, A. J., Butcher ; keeps con- stantly on hand all kinds of Fresh and Salt Meats, West Washington street. BarrOWS, C. C, & CO., Pawnbrokers, 213 West Washington street. Estab- lished 1875. (You'll see our signs.) A large stock of Forfeited Pledges for sale at half value. Cash paid for Gold and Silver. Fine Jewelry and Watches repaired in better manner and at lower rates than any house in city. Behr, Henry, Dealer in Groceries, Provisions, Fruits, Canned Goods, &c, 1009 West Chestnut street. Ball, A. H , & Bro., Photographers. ^Benjamin, Judge R. M., County Judge. ""Benson, H., Attorney at Law. Bishop, S., Physician and Surgeon, office corner of Main and Washington streets. Blanchard, E. H., Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Fine Toilet Soaps, Paints, Oils, Varnishes and Dye-Stuffs. Physicians' Prescriptions accurately compounded. ""BlOOmfield & Hughes, Attorneys at Law. Bloomington StOVe CO., Manu- facturers of 115 different styles of stoves. Grand Central Cook and the Royal Crown Base- Burner, specialties. "Bradshaw, C. G., Attorney at Law. -Brand, George, Manufacturer, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Furni- ture, 112 West Front street. Low rates given and satisfaction guaranteed. Patronage solicited. Brechbeller, John, Saloon, Whole- sale and Retail Liquors. 1066 BUSINESS DIRECTORY. BrOWD. & Gray, Grocers and Com- mission Merchants, Staple and Fancy Groceries, Canned Goods, Poultry, &c, 113 West Front street. — Brownell, W. J., & Co., Dealers in Boots and Shoes, 116 West Washing- ton Street, South of Court House. — JBryant, J. H., Contractor and Builder. Chrisman, P. W., Dealer in Family Groceries and Provisions, 507 West Market street. Cochrane, W. G., Manufacturing Confectioner, Foreign and Domestic Fruits and Nuts, Cigars and Tobaccos, 218 North Center street, West Side Square. Shop on East street, between Jefferson T*Condon, William, Dealer in Gro- and North. Buffinaw, K., Plain and Ornamental Painting, Graining, Paper-Hanging, Calcimining and Bronzing, corner Main and Washington streets. — Bunn, T. J., Banker. Burke, Jeff, Horse-shoeing and Job Work, corner Center and Olive streets. BuxtOD, W., Dealer in Staple and Fancy Groceries, 701 West Chestnut st. — -Caldwell, R. M., Dealer in Groceries, Provisions, Canned Fruits, &c. 1005] North Main street. Camp, Charles, Dealer in Staple and Fancy Groceries, Provisions, Canned *SDeniSOn, Joseph, County Treasurer Fruits, &c, 317 North Center street. -Carlock, W. B., Attorney at Law. Mouey to Loan. Agency for the Cu- nard Line of Steamships. Office over j Dias, E., Manufacturer of Cigars, To ceries, Provisions, &c. ; also Bread, Pies, Cakes, &c, 800 West Chestnut street. Cox, N. W., House and Sign Painter, 114 South Main street. COX, T. J., Proprietor Union and Eagle Mills, Dealer in Flour, Feed, Meal and Grain. Custom and merchant milling done to order. Creed, Dudley, Editor and Publisher of the Democrat News. Daniels & Logan, Dealers in Fresh and Salt Meats, Lard, Sausages, &c. 515 North Main street. of McLean Co. De Webber, Dr. P., 607 West Mar- ket street. People's Bank. Camp, C. L., Dealer in Furniture No- tions, Queensware, Glassware, Wood and Willow Ware, and a general assortment of House-Furnishing Goods, 106 East Front street. Carlton & Kerr, Livery, Feed and Sale Stable, 12, 14 and 16 East Wash- ington street. Carriages furnished for iunerals. Coultar, Thomas, Contractor and Builder. Shop corner Douglas and East streets. — Carr, Dr. C. R. Office 711 North- Main street. Residence, 707 North Main street. bacco and Pipes, Cigar-Cases, Tobacco- Pouches, Stems, &c, and sole manufac- turer of the Cyprus Cigar, 103 North Main street. Diedrich, N., Proprietor of the Union Foundry and Machine Shop. Iron Fronts, Fencings, Grating, Shutters, Window Caps and Sills, 407 and 409 South Center street. Dillingham, L. C, & CO., Manu- facturers of and Dealers in Plain, Stamped and Japanned Tin Ware, Glass and Wooden Ware, 3223 Main street. Dillon, E., & Co., the oldest and most extensive Importers and Breeders of Norman French Horses. BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 1067 Dunn, Imri, opposite Post Offic'a dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Paints, Oils, Fine Toilet Soaps, Brushes, Perfumery. Erwin, T., Dealer in Fresh and Cured Meats, Sausage, Lard, Ac., Front street, two doors west of Center street. ^- Evans, John W., Contractor and Builder, Planing-Mill and Lumber Yard, Stair Building, Doors, Sash, Blinds, Frames, Mouldings, Brackets, Turning, Planing, Matching and Saw- ing. Mill, office and yard, 511 North Center street. /~Evans, R. F., & Bro., Dealers in Groceries, Provisions, Canned Fruits, &c, and Commission Merchants, 401 North Main street. ,- Evans & Patrick, Grocers and Com- mission Merchants, 117 East Front st. .. — EverSOle, A., Dealer in Groceries, Provisions, Flour, Canned Fruit, &c, 229 East Front street. "Pell, Robert, Dealer in Staple and Fancy Groceries, Choice Teas, Fruits, Vegetables, Provisions, Queensware, Stoneware, &c, corner Center and Grove streets. '' Perre, Lyman, Carriage and Wagon Manufacturer. Fisher, John W., Dentist, 402 North f Main street. y Fitzwilliams & Sons, Dry Goods and Notions. Flagg, William P., Proprietor Em- pire Machine Works. FleiSChmaD, A., Butcher. <-r Polsom, Peter, Loan Agent. ^^"Fordice, J. M,, Dealer in Lumber and Building Materials, Lehigh Valley Coal, Salt and the Moline Wagon, 1001 West Market street. Foy, J. W., Dealer in Staple and Fancy Groceries, 508 East Jefferson street. \ Frink & Whittier, Dealers in Gro- ceries, Provisions, &c, 219 East Front st. j^Fulwiler, J. T., Attorney at Law. |-Funk, A., Stock-Dealer. J-Funk, D. M., President Bloomington- National Bank. i-Funk, B. F., Stock-Dealer. Funk & Lackey, Wholesale and Be- tail Druggists and Dealers in Perfu- mery, Paints, Oils, Fancy Articles, 110 West Washington street. t-FergUSOD, M. E., Deputy Circuit Clerk. Gaffron, P. W., Dealer in Staple and Fancy Groceries, Provisions, &c, 812 West Market Street. -Gapen & Ewing, Attorneys at Law. Gilman, W. D., Proprietor People's Drug Store, where there always can be found a complete line of Pure Drugs, 221 North Main street. ""Goodheart, James, Deputy United States Marshal. r-Graham, Hugh, Carriage and Wagon Manufacturer, 406 and 408 West Front street ; also, Job Work. Graff, R., Dealer in Groceries and Pro- visions, Glass, Wood and Willow Ware, 809 East Grove street. I Gregory, John A., Florist. -Gridley, Gen. A., Banker. -XsrUthrie, A., Cigars, Tobacco, Pipes, &c, corner of Main and Jefferson sts. ""Haering, T., & Co., Druggists and Chemists, 413 North Main street. Haggard, D. D., Dealer in Hardware, Agricultural Implements, Stoves, Pumps, 210 West Washington street. HHaker, Christian, Saloon. ; Haker, Louis, Saloon. | Hammond, F., Agent Genuine Singer Machines ; sold at as low prices as inferior machines, for cash or the 1068 BUSINESS DIRECTORY. installment plan, only at the office of the Singer Manufacturing Company, 106 West North street. Harlan, A. J., Manufacturer of fine Cigars, 120 South Main street. Hayes, S., Manufacturer of Carriages, Buggies, Wagons, Sulkies, &c, and Job Work, corner West and Front streets. Hegarty, D., Stoves and Tinware. Helbig, Oscar, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Pianos, Organs, Sheet Music and Musical Merchandise, German • Music Store, 316 North Main street. Hemmele, Barney, Dealer in Staple Groceries, Provisions, &c, 710 West Market street. Hennecke, Charles, Insurance and European Steamship Agent. Herrington, B. L., Dealer in Fresh and Cured Meats, Sausages, Lard, &c, 202 East Front street. Houtz, J. E., & Co., Dry Goods. Commenced business in Bloomington in April, 1873, at 210 Center street, at which place they did business until the 18th of March, 1879, when they re- moved to their new, elegant double store, 109 and 111 East Front street. Their present store is the largest, most attract- ive and convenient in Central Illinois, and their business has largely increased since occupying it. They have been obliged to increase their force of help, and judg- ing from present indications, still fur- ther additions will become necessary. The order trade from surrounding and even as far as the southern part of the State is immense, and have also recently had large orders from Missouri and Ne- braska. Eighteen persons are now in their employ. HutchinsOD!, E. T., Dentist, south- east corner Grove and Center streets. Herrington, M. D., Dealer in Fresh ^-E. C. Hyde, Merchant Tailor, 101 and Salt Meats, Lard, Sausages, &c, 615 North Main street. Hewitt, H. H, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Hardware, Stoves and Agri- cultural Implements ; Agent for the Schuttler Wagon, 309 North Main st. Hansen, M., Dry Goods and Notions. Higgins, H. J., & CO., Marble Works. Hoffman, Hermann, Saloon. Hofmann, Geo., Saloon and Board- ing-House. Hohmann, S„ Barber, Ashley Houserj^Kirkpatrick, A. D., Dealer in Dry Homuth, P. A.j Dealer in Fresh and Goods ' Notions, China, Glass and Salt Meats, Sausages, Lard, &c, 110 I Queensware, Furniture, Stoves and East Front street. Tinware, 502, 504 and 508 North Main -Hoopes, B. P., Wholesale and Retail j street - Dealer in Groceries, Fruits and Canned— ;^Kirkpatriek, J. H., Stock and Real Goods ; also Proprietor of the Blooming- \ Estate Auctioneer; office, 502 North ton Steam Coffee, Spice and Hominy ' Main street, opposite Brokaw's Plow Mills, 105 West North street. Shop. North Main street. Hyde & Martens, Manufacturers of Centennial and Victor Plows, Agricul- tural Implements, etc., 408 South Main street. "Kerrick, Thomas C, Attorney at Law. ' King, D. P., Manufacturer of and dealer in Harness, Saddles, Collars, Bri- dles, Whips, Halters, Combs, Brushes, etc., South Main street, opposite Post Office, Center street. BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 1069 -""Koch, C. P., Dealer in Groceries, Pro- visions, Fruits and Canned Goods, 810 West Front street. Koester, John, German Editor and Publisher. KreiS, Peter, Soda Water Manufac- turer. Kriim, I. R. (Successor to Krum & Robinson), Dealer in Lumber, Shingles, Lath, Building Paper, Doors, Sash, Blinds, Lime Cement. Plastering Hair, Grain, Coal and Salt ; office, 920 East Grove street, East Illinois Central Depot^ Branch business at Arrowsmith. Kummer, Henry, Dealer in New and Second Hand Furniture, Stoves and Tinware, 113 South Center Street. General Repairing of Tinware and Fur- niture. LartZ, Carl, Saloon. Laufer, AugUSt, Stone-cutter. Lawrence, A. T., General Collecting Agent, U. S. Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. Lawrence, E. B., Carpenter and« Builder, Shop North Main street. r- Leland, M. F., Proprietor of the Daily and Weekly Leader, 113, 115 and 117 East Washington street. Lipp & Pickweiler, Hotel Restau- rant and Saloon. —Livingston, A., & Co., Dry Goods and Notions. ^Loudon, Robert, Proprietor of Eagle Machine Works, Engines, Boilers, Mill Gearing, Shafting, Pulleys and Engine Supplies, also Plumbing and Steam Fit- ting, 610 and 612 North Main street. Lucas, B. L., Attorney at Law. McParland, J. C, Circuit Clerk, Bloomington, 111. McLean County Mills, Estab- lished in 1853 ; Beard & Johnson, Pro- prietors, Manufacturers of Winter Wheat Flour, northeast corner Taylor and Clinton streets. Mc Master, D., Dealer in Provisions, Staple and Fancy Groceries, &c, 506 North Main street. "Marquam & Baker, Evergreen City Business College. Marso, John N., Dry Goods and Notions. Madden, Daniel, Horseshoeing and Job Work, East street, between Grove and Front. Marmon, William W., Wholesale Druggist, 115 North Main street. MaSOn, B. W., Deputy Sheriff. Mayers, A., Undertaker, Carriages and Hearses, Shrouds of all kinds kept on hand, under Post Office Building. Merchant, John, City Engineer. Meyer, M., Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Fresh and Cured Meats, 1011 West Chestnut street. Miller, E. S., City Marshal. "'-Miller, John G., Blacksmi thing and General Job Work, 425 North Main street. Miner, H, A., Manufacturer of Mold- ings, Sash, Doors and Blinds, Scroll Work, Frames, House Finishing and Turning; shop with the Bloomington Furniture Works. Moore, E. J., Manufacturer of Lin- seed Oil. Moore, Dr. D. O., 40 1 East Grove street. Moore, M. L., Manufacturer and Dealer in Custom Work, Harness, Sad- dles, Collars, Whips, Nets, Robes, Trunks, Valises, &c, 114 South Main street. r~ Mueller, A., Dealer in Family Grocer- ies, Provisions, Flour and Feed of all kinds, &c, 802 West Front street. 1070 BUSINESS DIRECTORY. Mutual County Fire Insur-^-Probasco, W. B., Grain Dealer ; high- est cash price paid for all kinds of Grain ; orders for car lots promptly filled ; ele- vator on C. & A. R. R., between Chest- nut and Locust streets. Reed & Barger, Importers and Job- bers of Queensware, Glassware, Lamps, Lamp Goods, Mirrors, &c, also Ohio Stoneware, Britannia Ware, Table Cut- atice Company; Directors: S Peaoley, William Karr, C^JSarnard, S. H. West, C. E. Barclay, J. T. Martin, J. R.__jiaston, George Freeman, John McConnell. "** Myers & Stroud, Attorneys at Law. ~MyerS & Wochner, Brewers. Neff, J. C. S., Photographer. lerv "*> Atlanta, Jo^nesboro, Fort armV beS P a ) a ^ '•? r bm w S - S* * nd Bentonville - N - C The grand review of Sherman's army before the President, in Washington, at the end of the war, forms one of the proudest recollections of Capt Riebsame. The regimental colors, officer's swords and bayonet of th" me t W he r iin e o r ftL C r red Wlth fl0Wei ' 8 and T a ' hS by the l0yal ladies wh0 lined the walks aTong were auDrecinted A S T' Caus,n | f7 er ^ heart *« lea P with J^ that their services to the country were appreciated. At the clo.«e of the war, settled at Bloomington, engaging in the bakery busi- ness, but gave it up on account of ill health ; he is now the whole ale IgenTo? he PhilHp Be t McNulta ERRATA. On page 737, in history of Belleflower Township, for Gov. John McNulta read Gen. John RETURN TO the circulation desk ot any University of California Library or to the NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station University of California Richmond, CA 94804-4698 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS • 2-month loans may be renewed by calling (510)642-6753 • 1-year loans may be recharged by bringing books to NRLF • Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date. DUE AS STAMPED BELOW JUN 2 2001 (J6534* 12,000(11/95) (B6221sl0)476B ibrary Universe, „_ California Berkeley i ■ , mm m wrii