Cass County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1882 (part 1 of 6)

Biographical sketches

THE BLACK FAMILY. - William Black. The grandfather of our subject was William Black, a militia captain, during the approach of the Revolutionary War. He was one of the first officers of the country who refused allegiance to the British crown. He died about the time the war commenced. ^His wife's maiden name was Beard. Thomas G. Black, one of his sons was born in January, 1772, in Mecklenburg County, N. C. He married Miss Polly, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Shepherd) Callahan, Feb. 26, 1795. She was born April 7, 1773. Her father was of Irish, and her mother of German, descent. Thomas G. departed this life Nov. 20, 1823, and his wife, Polly, died March 20, 1853. William, who still lives in Virginia, in Cass County, is one of the offspring of this union, and was born in Georgia, Jan. 3, 1796. He married in Tennessee, Dec. 4, 1823, Miss Mary S., daughter of Dixon and Susan Vaughn. She was born Nov. 1, 1803, and as a result of this union, they have born to them ten children. Six of their oldest were born in Tennessee, and the remaining four in Morgan, now Scott, County, HI. Thomas G., the eldest of these, was born .fune 15, 1828. He served as a colonel of the Third Missouri Cavalry, in the late about three years, and is now practicing medicine at Clayton, Adams County, this State.

Joseph F., was born Feb. 23, 1828. Was six years of age when the family moved to Illinois, and consequently received his rudiraental schooling in Scott County. His father came to Cass County in 1846, and Joseph commenced business for himself as a farmer, and followed it for several years. Being of a mechanical turn of mind, he became engrossed in the invention of a self-raking reaper. With years of experimenting, and the expenditure of some money, he developed a successfully working machine, upon which he secured a patent in 1856, and the binding attachment he sold to the Wood Reaper Manufacturing Company, and the same is now in use on their machines. Mr. Black is an architect of several years' successful experience. Has erected on contract many of the best buildings of Virginia, Jacksonville, and also built the Christian Church at Springfield, 111., in 1880-81. Since 1876, he has been a resident of Virginia. He has been twice married; first to Miss Mary F. Wilmott, daughter of Charles R. Wilmott, a resident of Morgan County. She died Jan. 26, 1879, leaving five children, Charles W., Mary B., now Mrs. Armsted Mains, a farmer of Cass County, Eva L., or Mrs. Win. G. Payne, of Virginia. Robert W. and Joseph F.. jr., reside at home. May 2, 1882,

Mr. Black again married, Mrs. Mary J. Skiles, of Virginia, widow of Ignatius Skiles (deceased). Mr. Black is a member of the Christian Church, and of the I. O. O. F., and K. of H.

William L., was born June 8, 1829. He commenced life as a farmer in Cass County. and continued in that business until the fall of 1878, and in 187J entered mercantile business with his brother, John, under firm name of Black Brothers, in Virginia. March 3ith, 1837, he married Miss Adromcha, daughter of Alexander and Martha (Clark) Naylor, natives of Kentucky. She died Jan. ifl, 1879, leaving three daughters: Alice, Carrie and Fannie. Mrs. Black was a member of the Christian Church, as is also Mr. Black. He is a life-long Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F., Virginia Lodge.

Richard v., was born October 27, 1S31; moved to Nebraska about 1860, and located near Nebraska City, where he is engaged in farming. He served three years in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He entered as a Sergeant, and was soon advanced to a Captain.

Green V., was born on the 3d day of August, 1830. He is a resident of Jacksonville, and a successful dentist. He served a short time as a volunteer soldier in the late war, but was discharged on account of disability.

.Iames B., is the seventh son of his father, and was born Oct. 9, 1839, in Scott County; he attended the common schools of Cass County, and later, the Cumberland Presbyterian Academy, in Virginia. At the age of 19, he cothmenced teaching school in Cass County, and in the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Third 111. Vol. Cavalry, in which he served about two years. While in service, he was engaged in several battles, among which was Pea Ridge; was with Sherman at Vicksburg. He entered as a private and was promoted to First Lieutenant of his company. He was compelled to resign his commission in 1863, on account of ill health; returned home, and resumed teaching. He served as instructor in the State Institution for the Blind, at Jacksonville, in 1864, '05 and '60, and afterward became principal in the public schools of Jacksonville. After farming four years, he was in 1873 elected clerk of Cass County, which office he has continuously held. Since July, 1878, he has also been the cashier of the Centennial National Bank, of Virginia. July 1, 1867, he married Miss Eliza J. Ewing, daughter of William Ewing (deceased), of Jacksonville. They have one daughter, May.

Maky J., was born Dec. 13, 1840. She was married in 1857, to George A. Beard, a prominent farmer of Cass County. She died Feb. 26, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Black are members of the Christian Church, and he of the A. O. U. W. and K. of H. John, the youngest of the family, was born Dec. 21, 1844, in Scott. He entered the mercantile business in Virginia in 1876. He married Maggie Blair, March 15, 1866, and they have five (laughters: Emma L., CoraE., Ida F., Jessie G., and Maggie E. Mr. and Mrs. Black are both members of the Christian Church. Ho is a Republican, and a member of the K. of H. of Virginia.

Charles W., was born in Princeton Precinct, Sept. 19, 1850; is the oldest son of Joseph F. Black, of whom an extended mention is made in the foregoing sketch of the Black family. He received his education at the Washington School House, near Philadelphia, this county, except a si.x months commercial course in the Business College in Jacksonville, this State. Nov. 34, 1870, he married Miss Elsie E. Buckley, daughter of Mark and Cornelia Job Buckley, in Philadelphia Precinct. Mark Buckley is a native of England, and his wife was born at

Virginia-City And Precinct

Sylvan Grove, this county, Dec. 30,1823, and is daughter of Archibald and Jane (Brierly) Job, of whom see Historical Sketch elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Black engaged in farming for three years, and in 1873 was appointed Deputy Clerk of Cass County, and has since that time filled the position with such efficiency, that he has received the nomination on the Republican ticket to succeed his uncle, .James B. Black, Clerk elect. Mr. and Mrs. Black have three children: Mabel Ora, Roy Lcstie, and Mary Lora. Since 18G7 they have been members of the Christian Church of Virginia, and Mr. Black is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W.

HENRY BEVIS, Virginia City, one of the respected and thrifty citizens of Cass County, is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born near the city of Cincinnati, Oct. 23, 1836. He is the oldest son of David and Achsah (Stout) Bevis. David Bevis was also a native of Ohio, his father Jesse having come to Hamilton County about the year 1800; Jesse, his father, was the third son of a family of six sons and si.x daughters, and was for about forty years U. S. Postmaster at Bevis Postoffice, which took its name from the family. Our subject received his education at the Farmers' College, about six miles north of Cincinnati. After leaving school he taught one winter. April 20, 1854, he married Miss Sarah J. Stout, daughter of Philemon Stout, a native of New Jersey, and came with his parents to Hamilton County, O., when a small boy, and in 1831 to Cass County. Mr. Bevis came to Illinois in October, 1857; he has since that time followed his trade as a carpenter and builder, except about five years, spent in the mercantile business at Philadelphia. He served as surveyor of Cass County one term of four years from 1867. Mr. Bevis is a Democrat. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and they have four children: Flora, Albon, Philemon, and Grace.

LEVI CONOVER, deceased. Among the sturdy pioneers who converted the wild prairie into productive £arms, and built up the little commonwealth of Cass County, was the lamented Levi Conover. His grandfather, Dominions Conover, emigrated from Holland about 1830, and settled in New Jersey. He had five sons : William, John, Garrett, Levi, and Peter. The least of the five brothers when of middle age, weighed 250 pounds, and the largest 295. The fourth of the sons of Dorainicus (Levi) was the father of the subject of this sketch, and was born in 1760. He entered the Federal Cavalry service in 1776, being in his seventeenth year. He served five years, as did his brother Garrett. In the year 1785, being twenty-five years of age, he married Catharine Dye, and in 1790 he and his brother Garrett, with their families, removed to the State of Kentucky, and settled near Lexington. In 1795 both brothers removed to Adair County, Ky., and purchased farms near Columbia. Their brother Peter followed them from New Jersey in 1800, and settled near Lexington, their two older brothers, William and John, remaining in New Jersey. In 1801 Levi's wife died, leaving him seven children. In 1802 he married Mrs. Jane Gelbirth Turnbow; she had by her former husband two sons, John and Hugh, who were brought up by their uncle, Hugh Gelbirth. They were with General Jackson in 1S12, at the battle of New Orleans. Five children, two daughters and three sons, were the fruits of this second marriage: Peter, James, Matilda, Levi, and Jackson. Levi was born Jan. 14, 1808; his brother Peter, in the year 1825, came to Illinois, and entered the Gilmore farm, two miles south of Princeton, then in Sangamon, now in Morgan County. In 1827 he sold his first purchase, and entered 240 acres just east of the Jeff Crum farm, in this county, where he remained until 1860. He then moved to

Mason County, this State, where he still lives, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. In the year 1833, the subject of this sketch, and his sister Matilda, with her husband, Asa B. Lane, came to Illinois. He was then twenty-two years of age. His outfit upon leaving Kentucky consisted of a good horse, a fine mare and colt, and a small amount of money. After having traveled three days, he awoke one morning to find that his mare and colt had been stolen, and a week was spent by the entire party in a fruitless search for the missing property. On reaching Illinois with one horse, his money was all spent, and he was in debt to his brother Peter and Mr. Lane. Thus, one of Cass County's most successful pioneers commenced his career without means, except that most valuable capital, health, honesty, industry, and economy. He purchased another horse of his brother Peter, for $35, paying for the same by splitting rails at fifty cents per hundred. After paying this debt he continued rail splitting until he had accumulated $105 in silver. This he loaned to a man who moved to Iowa, and he never collected a cent of the debt. In the spring of 1834, he went to Galena and worked in the lead mines at Mineral Point, until fall, when he returned and emigrated to Iowa. There he bought a claim for $75, and divided it with a friend. They returned to Illinois, purchased oxen and wagons, and then returned to Iowa, and spent the next summer in breaking and improving their farms. During the spring of 1835, he, Mr. Conover, built for himself a substantial hewed log house, 16x18, a smoke-house, and a stable. Unable to obtain plank, a quilt was hung up at the opening left for a door, to keep the wolves out. Finally the door and floor were made of puncheon. In November, 1836, he married Miss Elizabeth Petefish, of Cass County, sister of S. H. and Jacob Petefish, and they soon after proceeded to their

Iowa home. They returned to Illinois in August, 1837, on a visit. Mr. Conover returned to Iowa after a two weeks stay, leaving his wife to complete her visit. She was soon taken sick and died the latter part of that same month. So imperfect were the mail facilities at that time, that he did not learn of her death until two weeks after her burial. This sore bereavement unsettled his plans, and he sold his claim of 560 acres for $3,000 in silver, with which he returned to Cass County, and loaned it to his friends, Jacob Epler, Capt. Charles Beggs, and J. Bradley Thompson. In January, 18-41, he purchased the old homestead of the family, from his cousin John, son of Peter Conover, which was settled in 1823. His experience on first settling in this county was not unlike that of many of the energetic and resolute class of men who were the pioneers of the West, and to whom the public are indebted for the orderly and intelligent character of the society we now enjoy. His second marriage was to Miss Phebe A. Rosenberger, who with three children, George, Charles W., and Ellen, now survives him. Mrs. Conover's father, .lohn Rosenberger, and her mother, were both of German parentage, and came to Illinois and settled at Princeton, in 1836. They raised a large family, of which Phebe A., was the oldest; George, the oldest living son of the Conover family, was born Sept. 11, 1846, at the Conover homestead near Princeton. He is the fourtti of the family, two older sisters tiaving died, and one, Mrs. William Epler, still survives. He received his rudimental schooling at Zion school-house, and afterwards attended theWesleyan University at Bloomington, 111., and took a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Chicago. At twenty-one years of age he commenced farming, in which business he remained from 18^0 to 1876, when he became connected as a partner in the bank- ing firm of Petefish, Skiles & Co., and since that time has acted as assistant cashier and book-keeper. Feb. 23, 1871, he married Virginia Bone, a daughter of William Bone, of Sangamon County, later of Lincoln, 111. Mr. Conover was the fourth of a family of five children, and was born Sept. 11, 1846. They have two children, William B. and Earnest B. Mr. Conover is Secretary of and a stockholder in the Importers and Breeders' Association of Cass County, and also a member of the Buildintj Association of Virgrinia. Charles W., is the fifth youngest of the family, and was born April 1, 1849, on the homestead; he was educated and brought up a farmer, and has steadily adhered to his calling. He owns and lives on the Conover homestead, which he has successfully managed since it came into his possession. He married Miss Louise Dever, April 1, 1875; she is a daughter of John Dever (deceased), a farmer and native of Ohio. They have three children: Millie, Dasie L., and an infant not named. Mr. Conover is a thrifty farmer,'*a Democrat, and much respected in the community.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL, one of the most enterprising, energetic and prosperous pioneers of Cass County, was born in Ireland, April 15, 1818. His father, Archibald, had four daughters and three sons. Our subject emigrated to America and to Cass County in the spring of 1840. His sister Mary preceded him, and another sister, Catharine, came afterward. He located upon his present homestead, and commenced laying the foundation of a success, seldom enjoyed by any who commenced in so humble a manner. Mr. Campbell brought with him only a small amount of money, all of which was expended in starting him on his first piece of land. He is now owner of about nineteen hundred acres of Cass County soil; also holds a considerable amount of Virginia City property, and is a member of the well known banking firm of

Petefish, Skiles & Company. October 10, 1845, he married Miss Mary Studbrank, a native of Germany. Her father, Fredric Studbrank, emigrated from Germany when she was small, and located in Cass County. Mrs. Campbell died May 33, 1872, in the fortyseventh year of her age, leaving three sons and one daughter, Henry J., Alfred, Edwin, and Emma J. Ann L., William E., Charles, and an infant, are deceased. Mr. Campbell has held the office of County Commissioner several years, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Henry J. was born Nov. 25, 1850. He received his schooling in Virginia, and entered farming in 1875. March 1, 1877, he married Miss Maggie Taylor, daughter of Robert and Jenette (Cunningham) Taylor, of the Sangamon Bottom, Cass County, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Campbell is the third of a family of seven daughters and five sons, and was born Dec. 2, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have one son, William V. Mr. Campbell owns a farm of 200 acres; being a practical farmer, seldom fails of a profitable year's business.

J. B. CRAFT, proprietor Virginia House, is a native of Fayette County, Pa., and was born at Brownsville, July 30, 183S. His father, William B. Craft, was a manufacturer of grain-cleaning machines, and was also a native of the Key-stone State. He married Evaline White, a native of Ohio. They raised a family of seven children, and our subject was their second child. J. B. received his schooling in Brownsville, and there learned the carriage maker's trade, which he followed about eight years. He came to Cass County in 1864. In 1871 he took charge of his present hotel, and from that time until the present, except one j'ear (1874) spent in the grocery trade, has been its proprietor. William B., his father, died in the year 1855, and his mother is still living, a resident of Fulton County. Our sub- ject was married Oct. 9, 1862, to Miss Phoebe L. Dunaway, daughter of James Dunaway, a farmer of Fayette County, Pa., where she was born March 5, 1845. They have six children, four sons and two daughters, viz.: Annie E., W. Earnest, Edward, Thomas, Bertha and George. Mr. Craft has been from time to time identified with the public interests and growth of Virginia, aside from providing the city with an all important adjunct, " a first-class hotel;" has served as a member of the City Council about six years. He has been for several years a member of the School Board, Police Magistrate, and is at present the City Treasurer, which position he has filled about eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Craft are both members of the Christian church.

DR. S. M. COLLADAY, for several years a successful practicing physician of Virginia, is a native of the city of New York; was born Aug. 27, 18i2. His father, Charles H. Colladaj-, was a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and was by occupation a last manufacturer, and carried on business in New York for about twenty-one years. He was from German and French Huguenot descent; married Miss Sarah Jane Lutes, a native of Orange County, N.Y., who was of German and of Puritan stock. He died in 1856; whereupon, our subject came west to Fulton County, 111. In 1861, he entered the army, enlisting in the 5th Michigan Vol. Infty., from Macomb County. His regiment was assigned to Gen. Kearney's division of the 3d corps, in which division he served until his discharge on account of disability, in November, 1862. Dr. Colladay studied medicine in Fulton County, 111., and afterward entered the medical department of the Michigan State University, and graduated from that institution in the class of 187-3. He spent two years practicing his profession, at Kansas City, Mo., and in 1875 came to Virginia and entered the drug bnsiness with Mr. J. W. Wilkinson, under the firm name of Colladay & Wilkinson. In 1819, Mr. C. B. Gatton purchased Mr. Wilkinson's interest, and the firm of Colladay & Gatton continued the business until January, 1881, when Dr. Colladay withdrew, to devote his time to the practice of his profession. October, 1874, he married Miss Cornelia H. Wilkinson, of Vermont, Fulton County, 111. Mrs. Colladay is a native of Pennsylvania, and from childhood has lived in Fulton county. They have two sons, Charles and Edward. Mrs. Charles Colladay, the doctor's mother, is still living at Lincoln, Neb. Of her six children, three are still living: our subject; Frank, a hardware merchant, of Waterloo, Iowa; and Louise, now Mrs. Dr. E. P. Hemer, of Lincoln.

DAVID M. CRUM; farmer, P. O. Virginia; was born in Arenzville Precinct, Dec. 25, 1853, and is a son of Christian Crura. He received a good education, having attended the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, Ills., for some time, and engaged in farming, which occupation he still pursues. In Virginia, this county, Nov. 24, 1875, he married Henrietta B. Payne, a native of Missouri, born Sept. 21, 1856, daughter of W. B. and Elizabeth Payne of Virginia, this county; by this union they have been blessed with three children: Bessie L., Vida v., and Mabel A. Mr. Crum is a member of the M. E. Church and is Secretary of Lodge No. 68, I. O. O. F. of Virginia, this county; he is a Democrat.

FINIS E. DOWNING, Circuit Clerk of Cass County; is a native of the city of Virginia, Cass Co., and was born Aug. 24, 1846. His father, Nathan H. Downing, was a Cumberland Presbyterian Clergyman, a native of Kentucky, and a son of John Downing, who was a native of Bedford County, Va., and married Susannah Hall, a native of same place. John Downing had a family of twelve children, nine of whom lived to maturity. He removed from Virginia to Kentucky with his parents in early life, and from thence to Marion County, Mo., in 1837, and pursued farming until his death, in June, 1833. His wife survived him until March 3, 1861. Nathan H. Downing came to Cass County in 1843. He married Miss Eliza Head, a native of Howard County, Mo., and a daughter of John Head, a farmer and surveyor. He died in Virginia, Nov. 30, 1853. They had five children, two sons and three daughters, viz.: John C, Finis E., Lucy J., now Mrs. Green Middleton, of York County, Neb. John C, who died in a hospital at Memphis, Miss., April 10, 1863. He enlisted in the 1 l-tth 111. Vol. Inf ty. August 13, 1863, a historical sketch of which appears elsewhere in this book. Finis married Jan. 15, 1868, to Miss Sue H. Payne, daughter of William B. Payne, of Virginia. They have one son, Harry. Mr. Downing was elected to the oflSce of Circuit Clerk of Cass Countj- in November, 1880. He first entered business as clerk for William B. Payne, and continued with him about five years, and after the first year was his partner. He removed to Missouri in 1869, and there remained until 1875, and then returned to Virginia and clerked for Mr. Payne until his election. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., and A. F. and A. M., of Virginia.

JOHN M. DIRREEN, Deputy Sheriff of Cass County, Virginia, is a native of Cass County, and was born in Virginia, July 39, ISiO. His father, Edward, was a farmer, a native of Ireland, and came to Cass County in April, 1837. His mother was formerly Miss Jane Himphey, and also a native of the Emerald Isle; came to Cass County in 1835, and is still living. She has nine children, three of whom are deceased; the remaining six are still living, viz.: Catharine, Eliza, Alice, Michael, Edward, and our subject, who was brought up a farmer, and followed that business until February, 1878. In 1871, he married to Miss Nancy Cunningham, a native of

Cass County. She died February 33, 1878, leaving one daughter, Josephine. 3*Ir. Dirreen is a Democrat in politics, and since Aug. 33, 1878, has held his present responsible position, which he has thus far filled with satisfaction to the people of his county. ELI M. DALE, one of the thrifty farmers of Cass County, was born at Bedford, Lawrence County, Ind., Jan. 1, 1844, and is a son of Eli and Elizabeth (Waugh) Dale. The former a native of Cumberland County, Pa., born Feb. 3, 1816, and the latter 1831, in North Carolina. Mrs. Dale died, leaving four sons and two daughters, namely: Samuel, a lawyer for five years in Beardstown, now in Colorado; Eli M., our subject, Emily M., William W., Mary A., George A. Eli Dale's grandfather on his mother's side, McCracken, was an Irishman; he came to America in time to serve eight years in the Revolutionary war, and fought on the American side. His grandfather on his father's side (Dale) was a German. Eli M., our subject, received his schooling in his native county; came to Cass County in 1865, and engaged in the manufacture of brick, and in building, in company with his father, Eli, and his brother, under the firm name of Eli Dale & Sons. The firm continued in this business successfully until 1876, and since that time he has been farming in Virginia Precinct. Our subject entered the army for the suppression of the Rebellion in 1863, from Indiana, in the Sixty-seventh Volunteer Infantry, in which regiment he served about nine months, as a private, and was discharged on account of disability. Upon sufiSciently recovering, he again entered the army in the One Hundred and Thirty- Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which be served one hundred days, the full time for which he enlisted, and received his discharge, and a third time enlisted; this time in the One Hundred and Fortieth Indiana Infantry, and served until the war closed. This record speaks 'for itself, and shows that the patriotic zeal of our subject must have been inherited, or he would, on general principles, have got enough of the war on first trial, after having lost his health. Durins his term of service he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant of his company, and participated in several severe engagements. Ho was discharged in 18G5, and came to Illinois, as before mentioned. Dec. 20, 1860, he married Miss Lida E. Tureman, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Glover) Tureman, who was born Dec. 21, 1851. Mr. Tureman is a native of North Carolina, and Mrs. Tureman of Morgan County. They have two children: Stella M. and Cora T.

WILLIAM DOWDALL, a thrifty farmer of Cass County, Virginia precinct, came to Cass County in 1851, via New Orleans, having landed there direct from Ireland, where he was born, Sept. 10, 1830 ; his native home was within sixteen miles of the renowned city of Belfast, the pride of the Emerald Isle. His father, Hugh Dowdall, was a farmer, brought up his sons as farmers, and our subject shows, in his methods of directing his farm, the thoroughness that characterized his father's labors. Mr. Dovs'dall located on his present place of 176 acres, soon after his arrival in Cass County, and in Dec. 18, 1853, was married to Miss Jane Havern, also a native of Ireland, who came to America on the same ship with Mr. Dowdall. Thev have four children: Hugh H., William J., S imuel W. and Mary Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Dowdall are members of the Presbyterian Church, of Virginia, and he belongs to the Republican party.

THE EPLER FAMILY is of German origin. Abeam Eplee, was born in Lancaster (now Dauphin) County, Penn., Feb. 28, 1709. He was married in 1791, to Miss Anna Oldweiler. She was born Oct. 26, 1768. In 1798 he emigrated to Kentucky, and settled n^ar the falls of the Ohio, from whence he removed across the Ohio river, into what is now Clarke County, Ind. He was a man of commendable enterprise and industry, a miller, distiller and farmer, and disposed of the products of his varied business in southern markets, principally New Orleans, transportation being by flat boats, steamboats not yet having been introduced on Western waters. In 1832, Abram Epler removed to Illinois, settling on Indian Creek, in Morgan County, Ills., on section two, township sixteen north, range nine west, of the third principal meridian, where he died Jan. 22, 1837. Abram Epler was the father of a family of six sons and five daughters, who widely scattered, settling in various parts of the West. John, Jacob, David and Isaac preceded him to Illinois, and settled on farms now embraced within the limits of Cass County. George, the youngest son, remaining with his parents, attending them in their removal to Illinois, resided at the old homestead until his removal to Sangamon County, near Farmingdale, where he died Sept. 5, 1867. John and David are deceased, Jacob resides at Pleasant Plains, Sangamon County, 111., which prosperous village he settled and founded about the year 1848. Isaac resides in Otoe County, Neb., near Nebraska City. The above named, John, Jacob, David, Isaac and George, were enterprising and eminently successful farmers, and were among the leaders of that noble class of men, who by their industry, morality and exemplary citizenship, laid the foundations of our social and civil institutions, with credit to themselves, and with honor to their country. Anna, the mother of this family, died May 3, 1817.

John Epler, the oldest son of Abram, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., April 15, 1795, being about four years of age when his parents settled in Clark County, Ind., and being the oldest son, was ahvays his father's right hand business man. Early in youth he assumed the more weighty responsibilities of his father's heavy river transportation, and often made long and profitable trips down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with the cargoes of the product of his father's business. Closing out, perhaps, at New Orleans, he would purchase a saddle horse, and return home across the country. He married Miss Sarah Beggs, a daughter of Captain Charles Beggs, a pioneer of 1829, of Morgan County. She was born at the falls of the Ohio, April 38, 1800. John Eplor came to Cass County, located at Little Indian, in 1831, and up to the time of his death, which occurred in Cass County, May 26, 1876, was one of the most active citizens, and enterprising farmers of that county. He was no scholar, yet his reading took a wide range, and but few in busy life possessed the historical information which he did. In Biblical, Ancient and Modern History he was considered an authority by all who interested themselves in such studies. He raised a family of twelve children: Charles B., who married to Miss Mary Lurton, daughter of Dr. Lurton, of Jacksonville, 111.; died 1855, leaving no offspring. Abram, the second, died Aug. 7, 1847, unmarried. Cyrus is a resident of .lacksonville, and Judge of the judicial district, of which Morgan County is a part. Mary, and the fourth child, married Richard Barnett, of Sangamon County. She died in 1859. Sarah is now Mrs. D. W. Fairbank, a merchant of Jacksonville; Elizabeth the sixth child, married H. H. Hall, now of Jacksonville. She died at Faribault, Minn., in 1869, leaving five children- John M., one of the prominent farmers of Cass County, was in early life one of the main stays of his father's family. He attended the common schools of the county, and at twenty-one years of age, purchased a portion of the land now comprising his estate of 200 acres. He has for years past devoted much time to the breeding and raising of short-horn cattle, of which he has a fine herd. Has been twice chosen a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and has for twenty years been connected with Cass County Agricultural Society, and for five years a presiding officer of the organization. March 29, 1855, he married Miss Nancy A., daughter of Hon. David and ( Eachael R. Johnson ) Epler. She was born Oct. 27, 1833, and is mother of seven children, viz.: Edward E., Laura, Marv A., John W., Frankie, Charles and Frank, who died in infancy. Mr. Epler is one of the charter members of the Knights of Honor of Virginia, and is identified with the Democratic party.

William, the eighth of the family, now a prominent citizen of Virginia, is a grain dealer and shipper. At the age of twenty-eight was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of the State of Nevada, held at Carson City in 1863, in which State he was for eight years engaged as Civil Engineer and Deputy U. S. Land and Mineral Surveyor and during a part of that time connected with the engineering department of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, of California. In 1869, he returned to Cass County and settled on his farm near Little Indian. In 187-1:, was elected Sheriff of Cass County, where he has since resided. He married Miss Jennie Woodman of Paw Paw, Van Buren Co., Mich. The ceremony took place April 12, 1859, at Duluth, Minn., and was the first marriage of white persons pronounced in that city. Mrs. Epler died at Star City, Humboldt Co., Nevada, Oct. 2, 1863, leaving one daughter, Miss Nellie W. Mr. Epler again married. Miss Ellen Conover July 5, 1870. Ellen is daughter of Levi Conover ( of whom see sketch elsewhere in this volume ), and they have two children, Florence and Myron.

Myrox, the tenth child, lived to acquire an excellent education, and a thorough knowledge of the law, and located in Chicago. Hard study had shattered his constitution, and in spite of much travel and most strenuous efforts to regain his healtli, he died at Helena City, Montana, Se|)t. 5, 1866.

Albert, the youngest of the family and the present Mayor of Virginia, was born Jan. 22, 1845 at the Epler homestead. After receiving his rudimental schooling at home, he took a course of study at the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, finishing in 1864:. He then engaged in farming until 1871, when he entered the livery business for two years. Since that time he has been engaged in the sale of agricultural implements and farm hardware, and dealing in grain. In 1880-81, he served as alderman of his ward, and in the fall of 1881 was elected to the city Mayorship. He married Miss Martha J. Vance, daughter of Samuel S. Vance (deceased), who was a prominent farmer and stock man of Cass County. Mrs. Epler was born in Morgan County, Aug. 9, 1845. Thev have seven children, viz.: Nellie, Edgar, Lizzie, Ada L., Frederick, Jessie, and Ralph, of whom Frederick is deceased.

. JACOB A. EPLER, farmer; P. O. Virginia City; for many years one of the thrifty agriculturists of his county; is a son of David Epler, who was the son of Abraham, of whom we find more particular mention in a sketch of the Epler family, elsewhere in this work. David Epler was the second son of his father, a successful teamster, and later, a farmer of the early-day type. He came to Cass County a short time previous to the deep snow of 1830, located in North Prairie, on Section 35, Tp. 17, Range 11, where he improved a farm of about 640 acres. He married Mis-n Rachel R. Johnson, of Louisville, Ky., and a native of that State. They raised a family of eight children, viz.: Joseph A., John T. (deceased), Nancy A., now Mrs. John Milton Epler (see sketch), Mary A., James M., an able lawyer of Jacksonville, William F., Assistant Cashier in the First National Bank of Jacksonville, Jacob A, and Rachel L., now Mrs. John McHenry, a farmer of Cass County and a resident of Virginia. Jacob A., our subject, spent his latter school-days in the Illinois College at Jacksonville, and from that time has been a successful farmer. He lives in Virginia, and has for several years Ijeen connected with the banking interests of his town. Nov. 13, 1861, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Oswell Thompson, a native of Ohio, and one of the earliest pioneers of Cass County. Mr. and Mrs. Epler have three children: Fannie M., Nancy J., and Albert E. J. N. GRIDLEY, attorney, of Virginia City, and one of the most successful in the prcfession in Cass County, is a native of Manchester, N. H. His father, John J. Gridley, was for many years a Methodist preacher, and preached throughout the States of New York, Michigan, and Northern Illinois. He is of English descent, and married Miss Elizabeth Mitchell, a native of Portsmouth, N. H., and is of English and Scotch ancestry. He now resides at Greenville, Mercer County, Penn.; Mrs. G. died in August, 1865. James N., our subject, is the oldest of the family, and was born June 15, 1842. He has two sisters younger, Miss Kate, and Elizabeth, who is now Mrs. William Bennett, at Beardstown. The youngest of the family was Albert, a farmer and teacher of Cass County. He went to Minnesota to recover his lost health, and there died Aug. 18, 1874. Our subject, in the year 1861, entered the Michigan State Agricultural College at Lansing, as a Freshman. He remained there about seven months, and then went to Ypsllanti, same State, where he spent two years in a Seminary, under Prof. Estabrook. In 18C3, Mr. Gridley came to Oregon Precinct, Cass Co., and began farming. He taught during the winter season in the puljlic schools of Virginia, and devoted a portion of his time to the study of law, and in August, 1868, was admitted to the bar of the State. Since then his time has been given mostly to the j)ractico of his profession. He commenced the practice of law alone, and in 1871 he formed a partnership with I. J. Ketcham, of .lacksonville, wiiich arrangement still exists. Since its organization, the firm has done a profitable business, their practice being principally in criminal, chancery and real estate. Further mention of the firm and of Mr. Gridley's abstract business, will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Gridley married Oct. 11,

1871, Miss Frances A. Hill, daughter of Ebenezer Hill (deceased), and Maiy B irden Hill (also deceased). Mr. Hill was a native of New York, and Mrs. H. a native of Connecticut. Mr. and Mis. Gridley have lour children: Charles, Nellie, Burton, and Harry. In politics, Mr. Gridley is a Democrat; he is a member of the Knights of Honor, Virginia Lodge.

MORRISON GRAVES, one of the oldest natives of Cass County, and for many years a business man of Virginia, was born in Monroe Precinct, Aug. 39, 1835. His father, Richard, was a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois in the year IS'^8; loeTated in the above named precinct, on the fai m now occupied by Mr. James M. Graves, one of his sons. He married Miss Nancy Martin, also a native of Kentucky, and they raised a family of three sons and two daughters. Our subject received his schooling entirely in Cass County, and made farming his occupation up to the year the firm name of Graves & Epler. Mr. Graves, this same year, 18(io, also engaged in buying and shipping stock and since that time has followed the business. The firm of Graves & Epler continued until about 1876, and in 1878, Mr. Reuben Lancaster bought one-half interest in the stock, and the present firm of Gr^ives & Lancaster has continued up to the present time. Mr. Graves was married, Nov. ]'J, 18.57, to Miss Julia C. Nail, daughter of Charles Nail, then a farmer of Cass County, now in Macon County, Mo. Mr. Nail is a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois about 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have three children: Willis S., Appeline and Nellie May. They are both members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Graves is a Republican, a member of tlie Knights of Honor, A. O. U. W., and the I. O. O. F. of Virginia Lodo-e. JOHN GORE, for nine years a resident of Virginia, is a native of Taylorsvill^, Kv., and was born Jan. 14, 18M. His father, R'ctor Gore, was a farmer by occupation, a native of the same State, and was born in the year 1809. He married Miss Amanda, daughter of David anil Susan (Willet) Gratf, also natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Gore died in the year 1834, having borne three children, viz.: Joshua, now a farmer of Menard County, this State, Evaline, who died when small, and our subject, the youngest. Mr. Gore survived until 1859. John, being an infant when his mother died, was consigned to the care and protection of his grandparents, the Graffs, and they, in that same year (1834), came to Illinois, and settled on a farm in Morgan county. He remained with them until he had reached years of discretion, and was able to care for himself. He attended the common schools of their neighborhood, and later, the Illinois College at Jacksonville; graduated from that institution in 1854, and received the degree of B. S. He commenced teaching school at sixteen years of age, and followed it, as a profession, for about twenty -five years, in the counties of Morgan, Adams, and Cass. As an instructor he has been successful, to the extent of having acquired some means, which he has mostly invested in Cass County farming land, and was called by the people to serve as the Superintendent of the Public Schools of Cass county in 1872, for four years, or one term. March 3^d, 1859, he married Miss Mattie Easum, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Swope) Easum, he of Maryland, she of Kentucky. They came to Illinois in 1854, and located on a farm in Adams county; raised a family of ten children, of whom Mrs. Gore was the second born. Mr. Easum died Aug. 21, 1871, and Mrs. Easum Jan. 8, 1865. Mr. Gore has recently become proprietor of the City Hotel, which he conducts with the same degree of success that has thus far characterized his life. He and Mrs. Gore are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Gore is a member of the I. O. O. F., Virginia Lodge.

Z. W. GATTON, banker; Virginia City. Among those of the early and sturdy pioneers of Cass County, was Thomas Gatton, a native of the State of Maryland, and father of the subject of this brief sketch. He lived in Maryland until January, 1779, when he emigrated to Kentucky, settled in Allen County, and engaged in merchandising. There he remained until he came to Illinois in 1824, and located about one quarter of a mile east of where Little Indian Station is now located. At this point he opened the first store in what was then Morgan County, but now Cass. Thomas Gatton raised a family of six sons and four daughters. All but one, the youngest, were born in Kentucky. Zachariah W. was the fourth son, and was born Nov. 13, 1812, being about twelve years of age when they came to Morgan County. It is wellknown what the school advantages of those days were, and the young Gattons shared the common lot of other young pioneers, studied such books as were within their reach, and from stern experience learned the common every-day lessons not found in books, of how to earn a living, and get a start in the world. Our subject has, from the time of his advent into Illinois, been closely identified with the agricultural interests of his county. In 1847 he married Miss Sarah C, daughter of Arthur Saint Claire Miller, a speculator, of Covington, Ky., and they have had six children, all born in Virginia Precinct, of whom four are now living: Emma K., Kate A., Charles B., and William R. Charles B., the second of the family, is a resident merchant of Virginia; was born April 14, 1850. After attending the public schools of his native town, he entered the grocery business, being at that time nineteen years of age. He continued in that business until 1879, and then entered the drug and hardware business, in which he is still successl'ully employed. He married Nov. 13, 1879, Miss Mary Kemper, daughter of Thomas J. Kemper, now of Springfield; and they have one daughter, Floy, and a son, Roscoe B.

CHARLES M. HUBBARD, physician, Virginia City. Doctor Charles M. Hubbard, one of the most successful physicians of Cass County, was born July 25, 1848, at Lempster, New Hampshire. His father, George N. Hubbard, a native of Vermont, and for more than thirty years a merchant of Providence, R. I., came West, located in Chicago, and engaged in the tin ware and stove business, until he retired in 1855. He died from the efi^ects of a stroke of lightning, in Menard County, 111., in March, 1871. He married Miss Sarah Vance, who became the mother of five sons and one dauarhter. Mrs. Hubbard survives her husband and resides with one of her sons, Thomas, in Chicago, at the age of fifty-four years. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of the family. He received his rudiment- al education in the common schools of Chicago, and later, attended in Jacksonville, 111., and Springfield, and graduated from the high school of the latter place. At Terre Haute, Ind., he gained a knowledge of dentistry, and in 1871 came to Virginia and opened a dental office. He had during 18G9 and 1870 read medicine with Dr. J. B. Stevenson, of Springfield, and during his practice of dentistry he prosecuted his medical studies. He attended medical lectures at both the Ohio Medical College, and the Eclectic Medical School of Cincinnati, and received diplomas from those institutions, in May, 1871. May 20, 1871, he married Miss Charlotte L. StoU, daughter of H. B. and Susan (Hall) StoU, both natives of New .lersey. Mrs. Hubbard was the oldest of a family of six children, and was born July 35, 1848. Her father died in March, 1865, and Mrs. Stoll resides at Terre Haute, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have two sons, Henry C. and Frank L.

HENRY F. KORS, Deputy Circuit Clerk of Cass County, Virginia City ; was born at Beardstown, Cass Co., Dec. 2, 1846. H. Frederick Kors, his father, was born Sept. 25, 1804, and Maria (Herainghouse) Kors, his mother, were natives of the Kingdom of Hanover, which was formerly a portion of northwestern Germany. Mr. Kors was a plasterer by trade, which business he followed until his death, in 1865. Mrs. Kors died in 1846, leaving two children: Catharine, now Mrs. Boy, of Hickory, and our subject. He received his schooling in the public schools of Beardstown ; learned the harness makers and carriage trimmers trade, which he followed for a time, and in 1868 entered the business for himself. He sold out in 1869. After making a trip to Missouri, he followed merchandising, as salesman, until December, 1876, when he was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk of Cass County, by Thomas V. Finney, and has since that time held that position. January 13, 1869, he married

Miss Laura Finney, daughter of Thomas V. Finney, Sr., an early resident of Cass County. They have three sons: Martin L., Tad S., and Preston V. Addie and Ida, two older daughters, are deceased. Laura Davis has been a member of the family about six years. She is their niece, and a daughter of F. M. Davis, formerly of Beardstown, a farmer, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kors are members of tlie Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kors is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F., of Virginia.

JOSEPH S. LYNCH, Virginia City, County Surveyor ; is a native of Lancaster County, Penn.; was born Aug. 13, 1838, at a town of the same name. His father, James Lynch, now deceased, was of Irish descent, born in the same town; he was a merchant by occupation, and married Miss Elizabeth Schmaling, of German extraction. Joseph S. received his schooling in the schools of Lancaster, and renuiined at home until about eighteen years of age. In 1861 he entered the Union Army, enlisting at Freeport, Stevenson Co., 111., in the 11th III. Vol. Infantry ; Feb. 16, 1863, he was taken prisoner at Fort Donelson. He was held by the enemy about eight months, at Macon, Ga., and then exchanged. He immediately returned to his regiment, served in the forty days campaign before Vicksburg ; July 7, 1864, he received a severe musket Ijall wound, in both thighs, at the battle of Jackson Crossroads, Miss., was left on the field as mortally wounded, picked up by the enemy, and was again imprisoned in a rebel hospital at Clinton, Miss., for about two months, whereupon he was again exchanged. He then reported to his regiment in Arkansas. His time having expired, he received his discharge, Sept. 13, 1864, and returned to Illinois. He soon entered farming in Stevenson County. Still suffering from the effects of his wound, he was after two years' trial obliged to abandon the farm, and in 1866 came to Cass

County, and commenced tcachinw school, which he continued for about five years. He then took up the profession of surveying, and has from that time on made it his principal business. He was elected to the office of Surveyor of Cass County, in 1872, and served one term, with satisfaction to the citizens of the county, anil was again elected in 1879, since which time he has held the office. May 30, 1872, he married Miss Matilda J. Martin, daughter of Joel and Eliza Martin, now living in Nebraska. Mr. Lynch is a life-long Republican, and a member of the A. O. U. W., of Virginia City.

JOHN MARTIN, (ileceased); was born in Pennsylvania, in 1829, and was a son o*' William and Mary (Anderson) Martin, the former of Irish descent, and his wife of American ancestry, so far as known. John was the oldest of their family of five sons and one daughter, and the only one that ever came West. He was a guiismitli by trade, and made it the jjrincipal occupation of his life. He left his native State and came to Ohio in 1853, located at Gil more, Tuscarawas Co., where he married Miss Rose Ann Turner, daughter of James and Julia (Romig) Turner. James Turner is of English descent, and a native of Maryland, and Mrs. Turner is a daughter of Jacob Romig, of German descent, a native of the Keystone State, and by occupation a farmer, and a saddler by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Turner came to Illinois from Ohio in 1853, lived for a time at Decatur, in Macon County, and in 185G came to Cass County, Hickory precinct (then Virginia), located on a farm, where they still live, surrounded with a family of grown-up children, and the comforts of a well regulated country home. Mrs. Martin was the second child of the family, and was born Feb. 7, 1835. Mr. Martin pursued his calling, in Virginia, coming directly from Ohio in 1853. In 1358 he went with his familv to Paris, Edgar

County, and there followed his trade, until'the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 18G1, when he enlisted, in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers. He was enrolled from Edgar County, but the 14th 111. Vol. Cav. being full, his entire Co. I was mustered into the first Mo. Vol. Cav. He was soon promoted from a private to first lieutenant, but died of sickness at Rolla, Mo., just before his commission reached him. The sad news of his death reached his bereaved widow, left with six fatherless little ones, all too young to fully understand the loss of their nearest and most valuable earthly friend. Mrs. Martin's experiences, for the years that have now passed, were only a repetition of what many a brave and widowed mother was in those days called upon to withstand. Left upon her own resources, she kept her little family together, afforded them every advantage within her reach, to gain an education, and a clear understanding of what was right and wrong; and her faithfulness is duly rewardcMl by living to see her boys all settled in life, and each prospered in his adopted calling. She died May 23, 1878, in Virginia.

J. A. Martin, the well known merchant tailor, of Virginia, was born May 9, 1853, in Ohio, and is the oldest living son of the family. He attended the common schools of Cass and Edgar Counties, this State, and later the Illinois College at Fulton, Whiteside Co., 111. He learned the tailor's trade with Mr. H. W. Leach, of Bloomington, at fourteen years of age, and has from that time followed it. He engaged permanently in business in Virginia in 1876, and most of the time at his present location. No. 10, West Beardstown St. Mr. Martin conducts a first class tailoring establishment, in every respect, and always has on hand a complete stock of goods in the latest patterns. He was married March 4, 1874, to Miss Ida C. Herr, daughter of H. S. and Rebecca (Myers) Herr, of

The second living son is John S., a marble cutter, born in Cass County, this State, June 35, 1854. He received his schooling in the pioneer schools of his native county, and came to Virginia in 1ST6. He attended the Illinois College at Fulton, and in 1870 entered a marble shop as an apprentice; served eight years in the business, with marked success. In 1876 he visited Philadelphia, and other eastern cities, making his trip a valuable one, in observing much pertaining to his chosen profession. As a sculptor, Mr. Martin has displayed talent, having produced several very creilitabl}' wrought pieces of statuary. As a monumental designer, his ability is shown by by some extensive plans of a monument to be submitted to the Garfield Monument Association, of Cleveland, Ohio. His plans contemplate an expenditure of $250,000. Mr. Martin married Miss Alice L., daughter of William L., and Andromache B. (Naylor), Black of Virginia. George W. was the next born, his birthday being January 4, 1856, in Virginia, and is the third of the family now living. He received his education at the State Normal School, of Normal, 111., and graduated at the Wesleyan University, from the law department, with the class of 1876, and was admitted to the bar in June of that year. He practiced his profession, in Bloomington, in company with Messrs. Straight and Coy, and continued with them until he came to Virginia, in 1877. Since that time his practice has been steadily increasing, with bright prospects for the future. He married Oct. 5, 1881, Miss Quintella D., daughter of John Sallie (deceased), formerly a farmer of Virginia. Charles ^jSOP, the fourth of the family, was born Nov. 4, 1857, in Virginia, Cass Co. His people, about this tim? moved to Edgar County, and he reriMvcd his early schooling there. Later, he attended the High School at Bloomington. At sixteen years of age he learned the painter's trade, and developed a taste and talent as scenic painter. He followed his trade in Bloomington, St. Louis, and other large cities, with success. He entered the law office of W. S. Coy, of Bloomington, and continued with him as a student until 1877, when lie came to Virginia, taught school, and prosecuted his law studies, and was admitted to the bar at Springfield, in 1880, and since that time has practiced in Virginia. Sept. 8,

1881, he married Miss Sallie R., daughter of James M. Beadles, of Virginia. Jex.vie R., is the sixth child of the family, and now Mrs. George W. Berris, of Sedalia, Mo. William R., the youngest, was born at Paris, Edgar County, III., May 5, 1861. He attended school about three months in Virginia, and later, at the Soldiers' and Orphans' home at Bloomington. He learned the tailor's trade of his brother James A., and is now associated with him in business. He married Feb. 22,

HENDERSON E. MASSEY, of Virginia Precinct, was born July 27, 1810, at Horseshoe Bend, Culpepper Co., Old Virginia. Samuel Massey, his father, was a native of Halifax, Md., of German descent, and was a soldier in the war of 1812; served as a Captain at the battle of New Orleans, 1813, and died soon after his return home, in 1815, of fever, contracted in the service. He was married to Miss Olive, daughter of Mordecai Choplain, who was of French descent. They had a family of eight children, all of whom lived to maturity, but our subject is the only one now living, and was the sixth child. Henderson E. was raised a farmer, although his father was a school teacher, and a man of excellent education. Mr. Massey first came to Morgan Countv, in 1820, but remained only a short time, wlu-n he made a trip to Wisconsin, and fiom tliat State entered the Black Hawk war, in 1833, in which he served about six raonths, liaviiig been attached to the Mining Battalion, and served as keeper of the peace, after the hottest of the conflict was over. He permanently settled in Illinois in 1833, near Mount Sterling, Brown Co., where he remained about four years. He then came to North Prairie, his present home, in the southern part of Virginia Precinct, near Little Indian. His first purchase of land here, was 250 acres, to which he has added, until he now owns about 800 acres. He married Miss Martha, daughter of James Marshall, an early pioneer of North Prairie, and a native of Glasgow, Scotland. He was a merchant in Scotland, and emigrated to Kentucky, where he lived until he came to Cass County. He had a family of eight children, and Mrs. Massey was the fifth. Mrs. Massey died March 29, 1874, leaving the following children: James F., Elizabeth A., Mary J., Henry C, Samuel, Henderson R., John H., Esther M., Harriet M., Bell H., George, and Emma L. Four sons are married, two are located in Cass County, one in California, and one at Litchfield, Montgomery Co. Mary is now Mrs. George Laurie, of Morgan County; Elizabeth married Mr. William Nisbet, of Cass County, and the other daughters are still at home. Mr. Massey is not a partisan in politics, but votes for the best candidate.

T. L. MATHEWS. The subject of this brief sketch is a native of the Keystone State, and was born in the town of Florence, Washington County, Penn., March 1, 1849. When quite young his parents moved to Kentucky, where the early years of his life were spent, the exception of about three years spent in Rushville, Schuyler County, 111. When the war broke out the family returned to the East, and there remained until the spring of 1805, when Mr. Mathews again came West, stopping at Rushville a few months, and then located at Vermont, Fulton County, 111. Here he started in as an apprentice and learned the trade of a carriagebuilder, and became an expert workman. In the spring of 1809 he removed to Beardstown, where he pursued his trade two years, and was promoted to the position of collector and salesman for the firm that employed him. In the winter of 18T2 he entered the New York Store, in that city, as a salesman. In the spring of 1873 Mr. Mathews was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Cass County, by George Volkmar, then Sheriff and Collector, and was placed in charge of the revenue department of the office. He served through Mr. Volkniar's term, and was re-appointed by Sheriff elect, William Epler. He served in this capacity about four years, with satisfaction to the citizens of Cass County, and credit to himself. In 1870, Mr. Mathews was nominated by his party as their candidate for Circuit Clerk of Cass Co.; and tiiough receiving more than his party vote, was swept aside by the Tilden and Reform tidal wave, and failed of an election. In August, 1877, he, in company with William H. Thacker, purchased the Virginia Gazette. The following December Mr. Mathews bought Mr. Thacker's interest, and successfully continued the publication alone al>out one year. Jan. 1, 1879, lie sold out to Mr. Cad. Allard, and returned to the service of his county, receiving the appointment of deputy, by .James B. Black, County Clerk, and served four years in that office. In 1882, Mr. Mathews was elected member of the Board of Education of Virginia City, and upon organization of the Board, became its Secretary. At the date of writing Mr. Mathews is the Republican candidate of the Thirty-fourth Senatorial District for Representative in the State Legislature, and as a minority candidate his election is certain. Mr. Mathews was married at Beaids- town, Sept. 26, 1872, to Miss Lou. E. Thoriibur}', daughter of J. A. Thornbury, an early resident of Cass County. They have two children: Earl and Ruse. Florence died Aug. 17, ISSO.

WIIXIAM MOORE, deceased, one of the respected pioneers of Cass County, vvas a native of Maryland; was born March 8, 1799. He had four brothers: George, Robert, Thomas and John, and three sisters: Martha, Sarah and Nancy. In early manhood Mr. Jfoore was a boatman on the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers. Oct. 4, 1831, he married Miss Keziah Moore (not a relative), daughter of Isaac Moore, who was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Moore's mother, whose maiden name was Rachael Lewis, died when she was about four years of age, and she was left to the care of an uncle and aunt, who gave her school advantages, and made for her a comfortable home. Mr. Moore first came to Cass County in 1834, and landed at Boardstown in April. He made purchase of the present Moore homestead, and moved on to it the following August. The place formerly comprised 204 acres, but parcels have been sold from it, until it now contains about 44 acres. Mr. Moore was an honest, conscientious citizen, and a thrifty farmer. He died April 26, 1865, leaving his wife surrounded by a famiiv of thirteen children, viz.: Manilious, now Mrs. Carle Pond, of Morgan County ; James N., now at home, once married, and has one son; Nancy F., now Mrs. J. A. Bond, of Menard County; Robert B., at home; Thomas S., of Washington County, Kan.; Amanda M., now Mrs. Robert MoNeal, of Cass County; William A., in Montgomery County, Iowa; John I., of Cass County; Charles B.; Ulysses S., a farmer of Cass County; Lorinda A., now Mrs. George Wubker, of Virginia, Cass County; George C, died an infant, and Alma A., is at home. Mrs. Moore has now forty-three grandchildren.

was born in Wilmington, Jan. 29, 1855. His father, H. T. Mann, was a carriage trimmer, and a native of London, England. Emigrated to America at about twenty-five j-ears of age. His mother was, before marriage, Matilda Stevens, and married Mr. Mann, in London, and Robert H. was the oldest of their two sons. Our subject received his primary education in his native town, afterward attended Lockport, 111., High School, and later in Bloominorton. Mr. Mann grained his first experience as a photographer in Faribault, Minn., where he continued work for about four years. He then went to St. Paul, same State, where he made the art of re-touch. ing a specialty for the best establishments of that city. He next came to Jacksonville, 111., and there spent two years with A. W. Cadman, and July 29, 1879, came to Virginia, bought out C. H. Cummings, and since that time has successfully conducted the business, making for himself the reputation of producing as good work as any artist in Central or Southern Illinois. Aside from the fact that Mr. Mann is a thorough and practical artist, he has a commodious gallery, constructed especially for his business, which is well stocked with all the latest modern appliances for producing first-class work. He married Mrs. Maggie Hickox of Virginia, Feb. 28, 1882.

LACHLAN McNeill, one of the early comers to Cass County, vras born in Argvle, Scotland, Jan. 25, 1809. He received his education in Scotland, and was a shepherd and a fsrmer previous to coming to America, as was also his father, Charles McNeill. He left his native home to seek his fortune in a strange land. May 6, 1837; brought with him his wife, whose maiden name was Flora Taytor, and his first born child. They terminated their long and tedious sea voyage at Montreal, Canada, where they remained about six weeks, and there a second child was born to them. They soon proceeded on their journcv westward, and spent one year in Clark County, 111., one year in Champaign County, and in 1839 came to Cass County and located on a farm near his present home. His faithful and devoted wife died Sept. 3, 1859, having blessed him with seven children, four of whom are now living: Robert, a farmer of Cas; County, Flora, Margaret (now Mrs. Daniel Carr, of Sangamon Bottoms), and Charles. Mary, Paschal and Elizabeth are deceased. Mr. Mc- Niell has ever been an industrious and a frugal farmer, a good and enterprising citizen, is one of the oldest living members of the Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Virginia Precinct, and is truly one of Cass County's pioneers.

WILLIAM T. MELONE is a son of .John and Elizabeth Ann (Morrow) Melone; the former came to Virginia in 1837, and settled five miles southeast of Arenzville, then in Sangamon County, but now Cass, being in the three mile strip taken from Morgan County. .lohn Melone was an early school teacher of Scotch descent, and came to Illinois about 1842-3. His wife was a native of Kentucky. They had eight children born to them, four of whom are still living: William T. (our subject), Jennie H., Oscar, and Lulu B. Mary C, Lucy A., Ida L., and George W., are deceased. William T., our subject, was born November 24, 1844, in Cass County, and educated in the schools of his neighborhood. Farmingr has been his business. He was married February 2, 1876, to Lucy A. Conover, a daughter of -John and Nancy (Bennett) Conover. (See sketch.) She was the ninth child, and one of twins. Have three children: Edgar, born Feb. 7, 1877; Nettie, born March 23, 1879; and Mary L., born Nov. 21, 1880. Mr. Melone is a resident of Virginia since- December, 1871; a member of the Methodist Church, and Mrs. Melone of the Christian Church.

County, 111. His father, Chesley Mills, a native of North Carolina, was a mason and builder by trade, and came to Illinois in the year 1813, with his father, Charles Mills, who was a farmer by occupation, a native, and in early days, a slave holder of the above named State. He located at Hannibal, Mo., where he died. Chesley learned his trade in St. Louis, and followed it in Edwardsville, .Jacksonville, Quincy, and finally located at Lynnville, Morgan Co. He married Miss Harriet, daughter of Dr. George Cadwell, and granddaughter of General Mathew Lyon. Chesley Mills had three sons and two daughters. All are living, and but two, beside our subject, are residents of Illinois. Thomas is a miner, of Wyoming Territory; George a stock broker, of San Francisco, Cal.; Emily, now Mrs. T. W. Jones, of Wilmington, 111.; Maria is now widow Demorest, and lives with her mother, in Morgan County. Our subject, the youngest, attended the public schools of Jacksonville, and later, the Illinois College. He studied law with Judge Epler, of that city, and was admitted to the bar of the State, at Springfield, in

1871, having formed a partnership with Mr. Epler, his former law tutor. Their partnership lasted until January, 1873, when Mr. Epler was elected to the bench of Morgan County. Mr. Mills married Feb. 4, 1873, to Miss Matilda, daughter of Dr. Harvey Tate, one of the oldest and most respected physicians of Cass County. A sketch of Dr. Tate may be seen elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Mills served as Master in Chancery, during the years of 1874 to 1880, City Attorney of Virginia, 18T2-'3, also in 1881 and 1882. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and K. of H. Mr. Mills enlisted at fifteen years of age, in Company B, Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three months; but was not accepted, on account of age and size. He made a second trial in Chicago the following month of May, and passed muster for three years, in Company F. Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Participated in battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and was mustered out July 11, lSi34.

WILLIAM L MITCHELL, one of the most energetic and enterprising farmers of Ashland Precinct, is a native of Cass County, and was born in the above Precinct, March 6, 1848. His father, Washington A. Mitchell, of whom a sketch appears in this volume, is a native of Kentucky, and married Miss Rebecca W. Crow, daughter of William Crow, an early pioneer of Cass County, and they had five sons and two daughters; of these our subject is the second oldest. He received his schooling in the common schools of his native precinct, and later, attended the Wesleyan University, at Blooraington. He taught school in southern Cass County, and some in Morgan, for about seven years, doing farming between school terms. He purchased a farm in Ashland Precinct, but sold it in 1878. He married, on Oct. 21, 1879, to Miss Reasie A. Skiles, daughter of Ignatius Skiles, deceased, of whom a sketch and full page portrait appears in this volume. They have one daughter, Mabel S., born Aug. 1, 1880. Mr. Mitchell is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising, on a portion of the Skiles estate, comprising about 640 acres of valuable land, lying about two and one-half miles east of Virginia.

EDWARD T. OLIVER, banker, Virginia; was born in the city of Virginia, Cass County, April 23, 1849. His father, Charles Oliver, was one of the pioneers of Cass County, and in the year 1835, in company with Dr. Hall, came to Virginia. Dr. Hall was o;:e of the first merchants of Virginia, and Charles Oliver for a time his clerk, and in time following entered the mercantile business for himself, in which he continued with success until his death, which occurred Sept. 5, 187 i*, he at that time being sixty-three years of age. He married Lydia Ann Job, second child of Archibald and Jane (Bricrly) Job, one of the earliest settlers of Southern Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver had five sons and one daughter, viz.: William A., Charles R., Morrison J., Rudolph B., Edward T., and Harriet, deceased at two years of age. Thus it will be seen, that Edward T. was the fifth son. He received a thorough common school education, and gained a thorough and practical business exoerience while in the employ of his father as salesman in his store. In 1866 he entered the Farmer's National Bank, as a book-keeper. In 1872, the management of this house practically had a change, and as Mr. Oliver's position in the concern was wanted by another, he was retired. His ability as a rising young business man was very generally recognized in business circles, and his talents found a ready market, as he was immediately called to assume a more responsible position in the well known banking firm of Petefish, Skiles & Co. Since his connection with this institution, he has been the cashier, and a partner in the business. Oct. 20, 1870, Mr. Oliver married Miss Maggie S. Vance, daughter of Samuel S. and Martha (Stevenson) Vance. Mr. Vance was one of the old settlers of Morgan County. He died in 18G8. They have had four children, viz.: Edward C, Bertha L., George W., and Rena, who died in 1873, when three months old. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are, since 1874, members of the Presbyterian Church of Virginia. Mr. Oliver is regarded as one of the most substantial and enterprising business men of his city; is alive to any and all business enterprises tending to the prosperity of his town, or the general public good. He was active as a member of the City Council, when it authorized the building of their present commodious court-house, and afterward became a member of the Build- ing Committee. A sketch of the banking house of Petefish, Skiles & Co., with which Mr. Oliver is connected, appears elsewhere in this volume.

SAMUEL H. PETEFISH, banker. Very few of the present citizens of Cass County have been and are more closely identified with the business interests of their prosperous little city, than has been and is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Petefish came to Cass County at a time when men of pith and energy were most needed to develop its unseen resources, and establish its growth upon the foundations of solid business principles; and the success of this work, done by the pioneers of his and earlier days, stands out in bold relief as a monument to their industry and perseverance. Mr. Petefish's parents were natives of Old Virginia. They emigrated from that State and settled in Morgan County in 1835, upon the three-mile strip, finally attached to Cass County and about five miles south of the present location of the city of Virginia. His father, Jacob, died in ISiO, on the homestead, and his mother was formerly Elizabeth Price. They raised a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters: ^Yilliam, Jacob, Samuel H., John A., Andrew J., and Thomas B. Besides our subject, Jacob and John are residents of Cass County; William and Thomas reside in Douglas County, Kan.; Andrew fell a soldier in the late war. Mrs. Sarah (Robert) Maxfield is the only surviving daughter. She and her husband reside in Macoupin County, in which locality died her sister, Mrs. Ellen (Joseph) Crum. Mrs. Dinah (Rev. Daniel) Short died in Sangamon County. Christian Petefish, our sul)ject's grandfather, came to this country as a Hessian soldier. He deserted the English army soon after the battle of Princeton, and joining the patriot forces, fought nobly for the independence of America. He settled in Old Virginia after the close of the conflict, where he raised a family of children, viz.: John, Christian, Georg j, Jacob, and Mrs. Catharine Chamberlain, who now lives in Nebraska. March 18, 1848, Mr. Petefish married Miss Nancy M., daughter of Peter and Melinda (Huffman) Hudson. Mrs. Petefish is a native of the State of Virginia. Her father removed from that State to Kentucky, and then to Cass County, in the year 18ii7, loing in township seventeen, range eleven, on section fourteen. He was twice married, Melinda being his first wife,wUo left him two sons and three daughters. Mrs. Petefish was the elder, and was born May 'Z, 1827, soon after her parents arrived in Cass County. With the exception of five years spent in Mc- Donough County, he lived in Cass County. Mrs. Hudson died in June, 1853, and in 1855 Mr. Hudson married Mrs. Mathias. Mr. and Mrs. Petefish have been blessed with eight children, of whom three only are living: Miss Mary E., married Joseph Chamberlain, Louis, and Miss Ada L. Mr. Chamberlain died in Missouri about 1870, and Mrs. Chamberlain is living with her parents. Henry T., a lad about twelve years of age, was lost during the burning of the steamer Ocean Spray, which sad catastrophe occurred on the Mississippi river, about five miles above St. Louis. Mr. Petefish is known through Central Illinois as being one of the most enterprising and successful business men of Cass County, and at the head of three successful banking houses, sketches of which appear elsewhere in this work, and also a lull page portrait of our subject.

JACOB PETEFISH was born in Rockingham County, Va., and came with his father and family into the present limits of Cass County in 1835. A settlement was made in Tp. 17 north, range 10 west, where his parents continued to reside until taken away by death. His father departed this life in 1849, and his mother in 1853. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and had the reputation of being devout Christian people. They raised the following family: Mrs. Mary (Reuben) Faltz, and William (twins), Dinah, Mrs. (Rev. Daniel) Short, Elizabeth, Mrs. Sarah (Robert) Maxfield, and Mrs. Helen (Joseph) Crum, Jacob, Samuel H., and John A. Of these, Andrew was in the Union service during the late rebellion, and was mortally wounded at the battle of Look Out Mountain. Thomas, the youngest, resided in Kansas. In May, 1855, our subject married Miss Nancy C, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Strickler, of Rockingham, Coutity, Va., by whom he had the following children: Benjamin S., Berryman S., Edward E., Joseph H., Andrew J., Marcellus C, Nellie, Frank, and Lizzie L. Mr. Petefish's paternal grandfather. Christian, was one of the Hessians, hired, or rather sold, into the English service against the Infant Colonies, confederated against British oppression. True to the native instincts of a noble manhood, he deserted the English army and espoused the cause of patriotism. After the close of the war, he settled in Virginia, where he died. In this State his son Jacob, father of our subject, was born and resided, and there married Miss Elizabeth Price, the mother of the children previously mentioned. Mr. Petefish, when about of age, purchased on his own responsibility, about 200 acres of land and commenced farming. W^ith industry and perseverance he has added to his estate until he now owns about GOO acres of finely improved land, which includes his father's old homestead. It may justly be said of Mr. Petefish and his family, that they form one of the honest and trustworthy elements of Cass County. Mr. Petefish, besides being a successful agriculturist, has done something in the way of grazing and stock feeding.

and Elizabeth (Miller) Price, and was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, in Rockingham County, in August, 1803. Here he lived until about thirty-t.vo years of age. In 1833 he married Miss Susan Rosenberger, and came to Cass County the same year. He was the first emigrant, direct to Cass County, from the Old Dominion State. He first located in Morgan County, near Arcadia, and remained there until his removal to Virginia Precinct, in 1853, settling on section 28. He raised a family of three sons and four daughters; five of his oifspring having died in infancy. Of these, William T., and Adam C, are still residents of Cass County. William T. was born Nov. 6, 1839. In 1861, he entered the Union army, and was mustered in at Springfield, and assigned to the 114th 111. Vol. Infantry Co. D. The regiment did valiant service in the department of the lower Mississippi, and was engaged in several lively battles, including the forty days' campaign before Vicksburg. Mr. Price was taken prisoner at Grand Tower, Miss., June 10, 1864, and confined at Andersonville, Millen, and Florence prisons, for about eight months, and finally paroled in February, 1865. He was then furloughed for thirty days, reported again to his regiment, and received his discharge at the expiration of his term of enlistment, Aug. 13, 1865. Mr. Price was married Dec. 29, 1800, to Miss Rachel Augusta Marshall, daughter of William Marshall {deceased). Mr. Marshall was also one of the early pioneers of Cass County, and located and owned at one time a laro;e landed estate, a portion of which Mr. Price now owns and lives upon. James Marshall, Sen., and father of William Marshall, came to Cass County as early as 1825, from Kentucky, and was a native of Woodford County. Mrs. Price is the eldest of her father's family; Miss Jennie M. was next, and Louise W. (deceased 1863), was the third. William T. Price is an active, industrious, and successful farmer, as is his next younger brother, Adam C. Price, who was born in May IG, 1844, in Morgan County. He was the third child of the family, attended the common schools of Cass, and commenced farming for himself at twenty years of age. He married Miss Ruth Bacon, daughter of Ira Bacon, a farmer of Arcadia, Morgan Co., in November, 1864. Mr. Bacon is a native of Connecticut, married Ann Christie, a native of the Empire State. Mrs. Price is the oldest of the family of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Adam Price have eleven children, as follows: Ann, Thomis, Edwin, Harry, Minnie, Delia, Adam, Frederick, Bertie, Archie, and Mary.

WILLIAM B. PAYNE, the leading drygoods merchant of Virginia, was born at Nicholasville, in Jessamine Co., Ky., August 24, 1824. His father, Flemming Payne, was a native of the same State, Todd County, Green River Country; was a tailor by trade, and made it the occupation of his life. He married Miss Susan Hightower, daughter of Captain Richard Hightower, a native of Old Virginia, a farmer and hotel-keeper. Flemming Payne's father was Charles Payne, who raised a family of eleven, the youngest of which lived to be thirty years of age, and the oldest ninety-three, and two are still living at an advanced age. They all settled in Kentucky, but the two now liying are residents of Missouri. Flemming was the seventh of the family, and raised two sons and one daughter. Charles F. (deceased 1860) was a farmer of Cass County, Mo.; Miranda H. is now widow of Charles F. Lowery, a merchant of Lexington, later Circuit Clerk of Fayette County. She still resides there at fifty -five years of age. William, our subject, attended school at Nicholasville, and left home at sixteen years of age. He clerked in a store for a time in his native town, and then went to Lexington and clerked about five years. At twentythree years of age he entered the dry-goods business at Oxford, Scott County, Ky. In 1853 he went to Cass County, ilo., and followed farming successfully for about eight years. He came to Virginia, Cass Co., in 1SG4, and re-entered the mercantile business, and has since that time continued in trade. Mr. Page has spent about thirty years as a merchant, and eighteen years in Virginia. He was married February 24, 1848, to Miss Hannah E. Allender, daughter of Edward Allcnder, of Lexington, Ky. They have nine children living: Sue, now Mrs. Finis E. Downing, present Circuit Clerk of Cass County; Charles F., a merchant of Ashland, Cass Co., this State; Miranda H., wife of A. M. Thompson, farmer, Cass County; Henrietta, B., or Mrs. D. M. Crum, farmer, of this county; Wm. G., who married Miss Eva L. Black, of Virginia; Richard H., James S., Eva L., and John S. are still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are members of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Payne is a member of the I. O. O. F., of 36 years' standing.

HENRY QUIGG, of Virginia Precinct, a native of Wilmington, Delaware; was born May 22, 1827. His father, William Quigg, was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to America in the year 1822, and brought with him his wife and one child. Mrs. Quigg was also born in Ireland, and her maiden name was Sarah Rogers. William Quigg was by occupation a contractor, and did quite a successful business in this country, especially in the East. In 1832, he superintended the construction of Pennsylvania avenue, Washington, D. C, the famous street, one mile in length, that connects the United States Capitol building with the White House. This was in its day a very important job, as was all the work that pertained to the permanent laying out of our Nation's Capital. Mr. Quigg afterward became a contractor on the Baltimore and Ohio R. R., and in 1834 came to Cass County. He brought with him his family, including wife and one son, our subject. A second son, Mathew, was born to him after his arrival here, who is now a wholesale merchant of Atchison, Kansas. Mr. Quigg was a prosperous and thrifty farmer, and a shrewd business man. He died in 1867, his wife having preceded hin to the land of eternal rest about ten years. Henry Quigg, our subject, received his schooling almost entirely in Cass County, attending at last in Beardstown. He commenced farming for himself in the year 1853, on the old homestead, and removed on to his present place in April, 1856. February 22, 1852, he married Miss Margaret Cotney, daughter of Thomas Cotney, of Kent County, Mich., who was of Irish nativity. This union has been blessed with seven children, five sons and two daughters. James F., a farmer of Virginia Precinct, who married Catharine Treadway, William, Thomas John M., Henry C, Steven A., Sarah A., and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Quigg are members of the Catholic Church of Virginia.

JUDGE J. W. REARICK, Judge elect, of Cass County; was born in Prussia, on March 17, 1833, and is the fifth of seven children. In 1837, his father emigrated with his family from Prussia to this country, settling first in Franklin County, Pa. Here he engaged in work at his trade, that of a tinner. About the year 1856, he came West in quest of a location, and fixed upon Beardstown, 111., as his future home, to which town he soon removed. Here he commenced work at his trade, which he prosecuted with s-uccess, until his death, which occurred in 1868. He was known as a workman of more than ordinary skill, a substantial and fair minded citizen. It is scarcely necessary to add, that the father was careful that his sons each acquired a trade, to the end that they might be more useful men, and independent citizens, Jacob W. accordingly received instructions in tin-smithing of his father. Ho also acquired a fair schooling. He preceded his father to Beardstown, having located there in 1854, and commenced work as a tinner with his brother, Francis H., who was at that time established in business there. With the latter Jacob W. soon formed a partnership, which lasted for nineteen years. During this time he also formed a partnership with another brother, Frederick, and the firm erected, and for about five years conducted, a steam flour mill. Mr. Rearick at the same time continuing with Francis H., in this business, which had merged into a general hardware and agricultural implement trade. Judge Rearick was married April 29, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth Kuhl, daughter of George Kuhl, of Beardstown. Mrs. Rearick died April 17, 18G3, leaving an infant son, George EVancis. Judge Rearick again married on April 3, 1866, to Miss Amanda, daughter of William L. Sargent, Esq., of Morgan County. By this union they have eight children, all of whom are living, viz.: Elsie, Ann, Lydia, John H., Susan A., Frederic, Elizabeth and Jennie. In November, 1877, Judge Rearick was elected to the Judgeship of Cass County, and since that time has filled the responsible position with entire satisfaction to the citizens of the county. His re-nomination was strongly urged by many of his friends, but the demands of business and other duties made upon his time, was his excuse for declining further honors, and at the expiration of his present term of office he intends to retire from politics. The success of Judge Rearick in rising from comparative obscurity to the prominent position he now occupies as a citizen, standing at the head of the public affairs of his county, is worthy of note, as showing what uprightness, and increasing energy, worked with a purpose, will accomplish in our country of free thought, free speech, and free institutions.

Virginia; Mr. Rawlings was born Dec. 23, 1834, in Cecil County, Marj'land, and is the oldest son, and third child of Greenberry Rawlings and Elizabeth Dobler Rawlings, who raised a family of four sons and three daughters, having lost one son and one daughter. Greenberry Rawlings was also a native of Maryland, and a hatter by trade, which occupation he followed until 1837, the year that he came West, and located about four miles west of Virginia in Cass County. He was of Scotch and English extraction, a thrifty and enterprising citizen, and a most successful farmer, which business he followed until his death, in 1864. His family all located in Cass County, except one son in Kansas, and a daughter in Jacksonville, Morgan County. Our subject received his schooling in the common schools of Cass County; was brought up a farmer; has been engaged in that occupation and stock feeding up to the present time. Nov. 18, 18G0, he married Miss Martha E. Robertson, daughter of Charles Robertson, an early resident of Cass and Morgan Counties. She was born Feb. 18, IS-l-l, and was the fifth of a familv often children. Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings have had nine children, seven of whom are living, viz.: Charles W., Franklin E., Greenberry A., William E., George E., John T., Samuel J., Harry, and Mary C. George died at four years of age, and Harry at the age of three. Mr. Rawlings \vas a life-long Republican; voted first for John C. Fremont. He cast the first Republican vote in his precinct, and at a time when there were but two Republican voters in his voting precinct. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and of the A. O. U. W. of Virginia.

OSWELL SKILES, one of the substantial citizens of Cass County and most enterprising business men of Virginia ; was born Oct. 18, 1828. He is son of Harmon and Polly (Thompson) Skiles, who was twice married. Polly was his first wife, and was mother of Ignatius, and died leaving Oswell an infant. They were natives of the State of Pennsylvania, Ross Co., where their children were both born; Mr. Skiles was a fanner, in humble circumstances. Our subject, incident to the death of his mother, was adopted by one George Smith, a farmer of Ross County, and he soon removed to Washington County. Here Oswell grew up, and was the youngest in a family of ten children. He worked three years in a harness shop, learned the trade, and in the fall of 1851 came to Cass County and worked for an uncle, Oswell Thompson, near Arenzville, about one year. In 1853 he made an overland trip to California. There he worked for a farmer one year in the Sacramento Valley, and up to 1861 followed mining. He saved about one thousand dollars, returned home, and entered stock dealing with his brother, Ignatius, doing a shipping business. This he followed with marked success until the year 1870, and since that time he has been engaged in farming and banking. Mr. Skiles married Miss Anna Conover, daughter of Levi Conover (deceased). She died March 31, 1877, leaving one son, Lee Harmon. In 1879 he was married to Miss Eliza Epler, daughter of George Epler, of Sangamon County. Mr. Skiles is a member of the well known banking house of Petefish, Skiles and Co., Virginia; Skiles, Rearick & Co., of Ashland, and also of Petefish, Skiles, Mertz & Co., of Chandlerville; is a member of the Building Association of Virginia, the A. O. U. W., I. O. O. F., and he and Mrs. Skiles are members of the Presbyterian Church.

IGNATIUS SKILES, deceased, whose portrait appears in this volume, was born in Ohio, August 10, 1827, and was a son of Harmon and Mary (Thompson) Skiles, the former of whom was born in Pennsj'lvania and the latter in Ohio. The elder Skiles followed farming, and died in Ohio. Our subject left home when a small boy, and came to Indiana, where he lived with a man named Kirkpatrick, until he was twenty-one years old, receiving as compensation, when he became of age, a good suit of clothes, a pony, and forty dollars in money. With this he came to Cass County, Ills., in 1848, and commenced the battle of life on his own account. He was a man of but little education; leaving home early in life, as he did, deprived him of opportunities to attend school, and he was compelled to make his way with what little knowledge he could pick up at odd times. Upon his arrival in Cass County he began farming and stock-dealing, a business he followed successfully, becoming one of the largest stock-dealers in the county, and amassina: considerable wealth. At the time of his death ho was the largest stockholder in the banking house of Petefish, Skiles & Co., a bank wliich is still in existence. He married Mary .1. Thompson, in 1853, a daughter of Oswell and Elizabeth (Henderson) Thompson, natives of Ohio, but who came to Cass County in an early day; he was a farmer, and died in 1864, at the age of fifty-six years; his wife is now living in the City of Virginia, at the age of sixty-seven years. Both were members of the Protestant Methodist Church. He took an active part in the Mormon war at Nauvoo, Ills. Mr. and Mrs. Skiles had five children born to them, three of whom are living, viz.: Ressie A., wife of Wm. T. Mitchell; Hattie L., and Jessie E.; two died in infancy. Mr. Skiles died in 1873, and his widow afterward married Mr. Joseph F. Black, whose sketch appears in another page of this work.