Coles County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 19 of 21)

A. T. STEELE, M. D., physician and surgeon, Ashmore, is a native of Illinois ; he was born in Clark Co. June 28, 1844 ; he is a son of Oliver P. Steele, a native of the city of Philadelphia, who came to Clark Co. in 1837, where he resided till his death, which occurred Oct. 2, 1872 ; his mother was Nancy K. Twilley, who was bora in Kentucky, and came to Illinois with her in 1832. Dr. Steele was raised on the farm ; in 1863, he enlisted in Co. C, 62d 111. Vols., serving till Feb. 1865 ; he participated in the battles of Little Rock, Pine Bluffs and Fort Smith, Ark., and Fort Gibson, Indian Territory ; returning from the war, he spent one year in farming, and, in 1867, entered Westfield College, where he remained two years; during the winter of 1869-70, he attended lectures in Rush Medical College, Chicago, reading medicine the following summer in the ofl&ce of Dr. Van Dyke, in Ashmore; in the fall of 1871, he returned to the college in Chicago, but the buildings of that institution being destroyed in the great fire in that city, he went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and there pursued his second course in medicine ; he began practice as a physician in Ashmore, in 1872, and, in the fall of 1874, returned to Rush Medical College, where he graduated and received the degree of M. D. in February 1875 ; as a physician, he has been successful, having a large and steadily-increasing practice. He was married May 14, 1872, to Miss Anna M. Duncan, of Westfield, 111., and has three children - Perry L., Binnie A. and Clifford B.

Ladoga, Montgomery Co., Ind., July 22, 1836; his father, Jonathan M. Shaver, a native of Virginia, was an early settler in Montgomery Co., having come thereabout the year 1830, his mother, Susan Shaver, being also a native of Virginia ; Mr. Shaver was raised on a farm. He was married Sept. 30, 1856, to Miss Mary J. Stratton, of Greene Co., Ohio ; she died Jan. 8, 1860, leaving two children - Rosella and Emma J. Mr. Shaver was then poor ; he worked at the time of the war for $12 per month during half of the year, and the balance of the year for his board ; to illustrate the habits of economy which he practiced, after supporting his two children, he had something left. He was married again Aug. 1, 1865, to Miss Sarah A. Trickey, a daughter of George W. and Hannah Trickey; she was born in Boone Co., Ind., Sept. 5, 1842; they have five children - Laura V., John E., Herbert I., Gracie M. and Ralph. In 1867, he removed to Coles Co., and settled on his present farm ; he has worked hard, and now owns 140 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, a barn costing nearly a thousand dollars, and no incumbrance on any of it. He is a man of the strictest integrity, and a prosperous citizen.

FOUNTAIN TURNER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; one of the pioneers of Coles Co. ; was born in Madison Co., Ky., Feb. 3, 1795, being the son of Thomas and Anna Turner, and the second in age of a family of three children ; his father was from South Carolina, and his mother from Virginia ; he was but 3 years of age when his father died. He was married Dec. 7, 1818, to Miss Elizabeth Phelps, a daughter of Jarrot and Millie Phelps ; she was born in Madison Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 1803 ; her parents were both natives of Virginia. Mr. Turner settled on a farm in Madison Co., and there resided until 1834, when he sold out, and his wife and four children started in an emigrant-wagon for the wilds of Illinois, arriving in Coles Co. after a journey of fifteen days ; he settled on the very spot where he now resides, and bought about 300 acres of land ; he now owns a fine farm of 400 acres ; they have had nine children, as follows : Samuel, who died July 13, 18G5 ; Jarrot, who died Nov. 28, 1875 ; Thomas, who now resides on the home farm just in the edge of Button Tp ; George A. C, who died Oct. 26, 1854 ; Mary E., wife of S. C. Ashmore, of Ashmore ; Ann, wife of Riley Davis, of Hutton Tp. ; Mildred A., who died Aug. 2f!, 1828 ; Oliver S., who died Feb. 1, 1853 ; and Martin, who was a soldier of the 123d 111. Vols., and was killed in his first battle, that of Perryville, Ky. Mr. Turner and wife have lived together over 60 years, and are both hale and strong for persons of their age ; they are members of the Christian Church, and have the respect and esteem of all who know them.

FRANCIS M. WATERS, Ashmore; dealer in dry goods and notions, boots and shoes, hats, caps and clothing ; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, March 16, 1838, and is a son of Baker and Mary Waters ; in 1847, his parents removed to Coles Co., and settled in Charleston, where his father carried on the wagon and carriage making business about ten years ; he then removed to a farm in Ashmore Tp., where he lived till his death, in 1875 ; Mr. W^aters' mother died the year before ; the family consisted of eight sons and one daughter, all residents of Coles Co. ; when he was 12 years old, Mr. Waters entered his father's shop to learn the wagon-maker's trade. He was married Feb. 14, 1861, to Miss Edith Austin, a daughter of John and Susan Austin, of Ashmore; she died Jan. 4, 1862, leaving one child - Edith E. ; in 1862, he entered the 123d 111. Vols, as principal musician, and on the re-organization of his regiment as mounted infantry, he was made regimental bugler ; he served with his regiment till the close of the war, participating in all of its engagements - numbering over one hundred and twenty ; among them, Perryville, Ky. ; Milton, Tenn. ; Hoover's Gap, Chattanooga ; Chickaraauga, Farmiugton, Peach-Tree Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca, siege of Atlanta, Selma, Ala., Columbus and Macon. Returning, he carried on the carriage-making business one year, and at the same time started his present business. He was married a second time Aug. 12, 1869, to Miss Eliza O'Brien, of Ashmore ; she died March 6, 1877, leaving one child - George H.

NATHANIEL WICKER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; was born in Pike Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1820 ;. he is a son of James and Elizabeth Wicker, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky; in 1838, the family came to Illinois, spending a part of the winter in Indiana, and arriving in Edgar Co., in February, 1839 ; they (^settled at the Walnut Grove, where his parents resided till their death ; in 1848, Mr. Wicker, taking the younger members of his father's family, removed to Coles Co., and settled in Ashmore Tp. ; his first occurred March 31, 1851, to Miss Hannah E. Law, a native of Madison Co., Ohio ; she came to Edgar Co., at the age of 9 years ; she died Feb. 9, 1878, leaving three children - Lydia V., now wife of James A. Wright, of Ashmore Township, George A., and Albert H. ; he was married again, Dec. 24, 1878, to Miss Sarah H. Wright, a daughter of Robert and- Catharine Wright ; she was born in Campbell Co., Kentucky, Sept. 28, 1840; Mr. Wicker settled on his present farm in 1851, where he owns 94 acres of land.

THOMAS WOODS, farmer and stockraiser; P. O. Westfield, Clark Co., was born in Coles Co., on the homestead, where he now resides, July 12, 1848 ; his father, William Woods, one of the pioneers of the county, was born in Madison Co., Ky., Nov. 28, 1808, and settled in Coles Co. in the year 1834, with the family of his mother, Mrs. Mary Woods ; like most of the early settlers, he came here a poor man, to build him a home in the then wilderness ; he purchased at first forty acres of land ; he was an energetic, hard- working man, who commanded the respect and confidence of his neighbors ; to his farm of forty acres he added at various times, until he owned at one time 240 acres of land situated in Coles and Clark Cos., which amount he left at the time of his death ; Thomas Woods, the only son, has always remained on the old homestead. He was married oq the 17th of February, 1876, to Miss Mollie A. Arterburn, a dauo;hter of William Arterbura, of Edgar Co., 111. ; she was born in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 11, 1846, and came to Illinois with her parents in infancy ; they have one child - Alta.

JACOB ZIMMERMAN, of the firm of Zimmerman & Monroe, dealers in dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, etc., Ashmore; was born in , Augusta County, Va., Sept. 19, 1836; in 1837, his father, Martin Zimmerman, removed with his family to Edgar Co., 111., where he resided one year, and then settled in the edge of what is now Oakland Township, in 1838; in common with most of the pioneers, he began life in the West with an empty pocket, but with that unconquerable determination to succeed before which all obstacles recede and vanish away ; he entered some land from the Government, to which he added until he owned a fine fiirm of 400 acres, and was regarded as one of the most reliable and substantial farmers in the vicinity ; he died in 1852, leaving a family of eight children. Jacob Zimmerman remained on the home farm about two years after his father's death, and then engaged in farming for himself ; a few years later, he started in the mercantile business in Ashmore ; he has been the agent of the American Express Co., for the past eighteen years ; he served about two years on the Board of Supervisors, and a term or two as Assessor ; he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the village of Ashmore seven terms, and several years, of the Board of School Directors. He was married in September, 1855, to Miss Sarah C. Ashmore, a daughter of the late Hezekiah

JAMES ZIMMERMAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ashmore ; a son of Martin and Sarah Zimmerman ; was born in Augusta Co., Va., Dec. 8, 1827, and came to the State of Illinois with his parents in 1837, at the age of 10 years; his father, after spending one year in Edgar Co., removed to Coles Co., in 1838, and settled on a farm in the edaie of Oakland Tp.; this farm is now owned and occupied by John B. Zimmerman, one of his sons. On the 12th of January, 1854, the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Mary A. McDavitt, a daughter of Nortley McDavitt, of Edgar Co., 111. ; she was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Jan. 13, 1830, and came to Edgar Co. with her parents in 1832 ; of seven children of this marriage five are living - William R., Roley 0., Mary I., Ella E. and Cora N. Mr. Zimmerman began life for himself by workingout by the month, and, in 1853, began improving his present home, which was then raw prairie ; he first ennothing but the this he has added at various times, until he now owns some 400 acres of as fine land as is to be found in Illinois, with good improvements and well-stocked, etc. ; he has made a specialty of stockraising, raising what grain was necessary to feed his stock, thus consuming the products of the land upon the farm ; he has never been an office-seeker, nor an ofiice-holder, but has devoted himself to his business of farming.

ELIJAH ADAMS, farmer; P. 0. Diona ; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Oct. 23, 1824; in the year 1838, his parents, John Adams, who was a native of New York, and Susanna Adams, a native of Maryland, moved to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 17, where the son now resides, having entered the land ; both died there, his mother in October, 1877, and his father, June, 1878. The subject of this sketch has always resided in this county with the exception of the years 1850 and 1851, when he was mining and prospecting in California. He has held the office of School Trustee and Director for fifteen years, and is such at the present time ; was also Supervisor five years. Assessor four years, and is at present Commissioner of Highways. He owns 200 acres of land. He married Miss Louisa Ander- son, daughter of James Anderson ; her parents were natives of Virginia, and moved to Ohio, and from there came to Coles Co. in the year 1839 ; they both died on the farm adjoining that of Mr. Adams, upon whicli they had settled Aug. 21, 1843 ; Mr. Adams was born May 15, 1822 ; they had eight children, five living - John, born Aug. 17 1847 (and who married twice, his first wife being Miss Henrietta Irwin, whom he married in November, 1868, and who died April 25, 1873 ; his second wife was Miss Martha E. ^ Walters, whom he was married to Jan. 16, 1874; they have three children - Wesley E., Mary E. and Dora E.), Rachel E., (now Mrs. Levi Moore), born March 11, 1850; James W., born Dec. 10, 1852, who married Miss Emily Goodman ; Anor L., born July 25, 1860, and David E., born Oct. 17, 1862, and three died - Susanna (formerly Mrs. Reily Irwin), born July 21, 1844, died Oct. 28, 1877; Mary A.,' born April 11, 1857, died May 7, 1858; and Seth D., born Jan. 18, 1855, and died April 29, 1858.

ELIAS ANDERSON, former; P. 0. Diona ; is a native of Ohio, and was born in Champaign Co. June 16, 1807 ; he remained with his parents until he was 32 years ot age, his father having died about the year 1833; he remained with his mother until her removal to Michigan, where she died in the year 1844 ; Mr. Anderson, before his removal to this county, married, Sept. 20, 1835, Miss Hannah Place, her parents being natives of Pennsylvania ; in the year 1839, they came to this county and settled where he has ever since resided ; they had five children, four living - Thomas, born Sept. 6, 1839, Clarinda, Aug. 14, 1841, Eunice, March 6, 1843, and Jasper, Dec. 28, 1847, and one deceased - Elias, who died Sept. 25, 1868 ; his wife died March 19, 1851 ; he married his second wife (the widow of Isaac Clark), April, 1852; they had four children, all living - Louisa, born Feb. 26, 1853, Bartholomew, March 7, 1855, Rachel, Sept. 25, 1857, and James. Jan. 30, 1862; his wife died Sept. 25, 1865, and on Dec. 13, 1866, he was married to the widow of Henry Brant, who was formerly Miss Margaret Tombs, of New Jersey.

June 6, 1823 ; his parents, William and Nancy, came to Clay Co., Ind., while he was an infant, and settled near Bowling Green, and after remaining there some six or seven years, came to Clark Co., and lived in the " Rich Woods," near Westfield, and about the year 1833, came to Coles Co. Mr. Beavers remained with his parents up to the age of 21, when he married Miss Elizabeth Endsley, daughter of Andrew Endsley, of Hutton Tp., on Jan. 2, 1845 ; shortly after, he came to his present farm on Sec. 13, where he at present resides; he owns 180 acres, mostly improved. Mr. Beavers remembers well when the Indians were encamped near the cabins of the settlers, and was present when they took up their march at the call of Black Hawk. His wife was born Oct, 8, 1820 ; they had nine children, sis living - Albert, born Oct. 15, 1845 ; Matilda J. (^now Mrs. R. Bennett, of Clark Co.), born Sept. 7, 1848 ; Isabel (now Mrs. Andrew Lee, of Clark Co.), born Av%. 28, 1850 ; Nancy E., born April 24, 1854; Sarah C (now Mrs. Owen Lee, of Hutton Tp.), born Oct. 15, 1856, and Louis R.,born May 1,1860, and three boys, who died in infancy. His son Albert enlisted in the 54th Regt. 111. Vols., aud was discharged on account of disability.

WILLIAM BEAVERS, farmer; P. 0. Hutton ; is one of the pioneers of this county, and was born in Loudoun Co., Va., on 23d day of July, 1797 ; at the age of 17, he left home, driving a team to Barren Co., Ky,, remaining there for four or five years. In the year 1818, he married Miss Nancy Bradenburg (daughter of Henry Bradenburg), and after remaining at the home of her parents one year, rented a farm for one year, and, in 1820, went to Clay Co., Ind., remaining there for seven years ; in 1827, he came to Clark Co., 111., near Westfield, and lived there for three years, and, in the year 1830, entered and moved upon the land upon which he now resides, on Sec. 10, near the village of Salisbury ; he owns eighty acres. ^ Mr. Beavers first built a log cabin, with a " puncheon floor." The Kickapoo Indians at that time owned this land and lived all around him ; while cutting some " beetrees " in Long Point, this county, he saw the "runners" that had been sent by Black Hawk calling the Indians together.

Mr. Beavers is remarkably active at his time of life, now being in his 82d year ; his mother died in Virginia while he was an infant, and his father in Locust Grove, Adams Co., Ohio, where he had moved some years before. His wife was born in the year 1803 ; they had seventeen children, seven boys living - Matthias, Henry, Solomon, William, Barnett, John and Joseph ; three girls - Sallie Ann (now Mrs. William Ashby), Nancy (now Mrs. Joseph Dyer) and Martha J. (now Mrs. Andrew StraderJ ; seven deceased - Rebecca M., J. Calvin, Polly, Elizabeth and Fannie, and two who died in inflmcy.

HENRY BELL, farmer; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in Randolph Co., N. C, in the year 1819; his parents Pierce and Rebecca moved to Preble Co., Ohio., in the year 1820, and after remaining about fifteen years, moved to Rush Co., Ind., where they lived for about fifteen or twenty years ; in 1850, they came to Coles Co. and settled on Sec? 16, where his father died at the age of 88, his mother dying the year afterward. Mr. Bell moved to his present farm on Sec. 15 Feb. 14, 1856, containing 80 acres. In 1848, he married in Indiana Miss Sarah Cox (daughter of Isaac Cox, of North Carolina) ; she died in the year 1853 ; they had five children ; one living, Mary (now Mrs. N. Dunbar, of Charleston), born March, 1866; and four died - Jane E., Sarah E., Eh and one that died in infancy. He married his second wife Mrs. Nancy Brewer (widow of Jesse Bell), Feb. 12, 1853; she died Aug. 5, 1875 ; they had eleven children, all living - Jonas v., born Nov. 10, 1854; Jesse^B., Nov. 19, 1856 ; Lucretia, March 17, 1858 ; William H., June 10, 1859 ; Alman, Oct. 14, 1860 ; Louisa, June 23, 1862; John, Oct. 22, 1863; Margaret D., May 14, 1865; Charles M., Oct. 28, 1866; Susanna, August 23, 18()8, and James E., born March 4, 1871.

JAMES BRANDENBURG, farmer; P. 0. Diona ; was born in Hardin Co., Ky., April 20, 1820 ; when he was about 3 years of age, his parents moved to Clay Co., Ind., and from there, in the year 1829, came to this county. Mr. Brandenbursr lived at home, working in the neighborhood, until he was 18 years of age, when he went to Wisconsin and was engaged in teaming for two years ; in 1844, he settled southeast of Salisbury, in this township, and lived there for twelve or thirteen years, when he purchased a farm on Sec. 32, and after being there thirteen years, moved to his present farm on Sec. 7, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Brandenburg is the eldest son of Solomon Brandenburg. He married Jan. 29, 1843, Miss Neety Cooper, daughter of Jeremiah Cooper, a native of North Carolina, who settled in Coles Co. in the year 1839 ; they had seven children ; four living - William, born Jan. 22, 1847,who married Miss Angeline Buley in 1865 ; Lucinda (now Mrs. Isaiah Murphy), born June 19, 1849; Henry L., born Nov. 13, 1854, who married Miss Amanda Gilbert July, 1877 ; Neety (now Mrs. Wm. H. Goodman), born Sept. 26, 1857; three deceased - Milton, born Dec. 2, 1844, died Jan. 8, 1848; Nancy, born Oct. 10, 1851, died April 2, 1852, and Amanda, born Feb. 9, 1853, died March 2, 1853.

William H. Brandenburg

WILLIAM H. BRANDENBURG, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in Clay Co., Ind., Oct. 19, 1824, and came to this county with his parents at 4 years of age, and remained with them up to the age of 17, when he went to Wisconsin, working upon a farm for two years, then returned to his parents' home, and, making up a team, returned to Wisconsin, and was engaged in hauling lead for nine years; in 1852, he returned to Hutton Tp. and worked out for two years, when he settled upon the farm on Sec. 13, which he had purchased ; he owns 150 acres of land. He enlisted in Co. H, 10th I. V. C, and served until the close of our late civil war, being mustered out at San Antonio, Tex. He married Miss Elizabeth J. Tucker, of Indiana, in July, 1849 ; she was born in 1828; they had nine children, six living - Sarah J. (now Mrs. John Jenkins, of Hutton Tp.) ; Mary Ann (now Mrs. Irvin Morris, of Cumberland Co., 111.), born June 14, 1850; Zobeda A. (now Mrs. Charles Franklin, of Cumberland Co., 111.), born March 10, 1853; Williard A., July 12, 1858 ; Amanda M., Aug. 30, 1861 ; Almorinda, April 7, 1868 ; three dead - Lydia E., John W. and Alazan.

Solomon Brandenburg

early settlers of this couuty, and was born j in Hutton Tp. Sept. 3, 1830 ; at the age of 19 he went to Wisconsin and engaged in hauling lead with his brothers C. P. and Wm. H., during the summer, for nine years ; in the year 1858, he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, on Sec. i 13. He married Mrs. Sallie Smith (daughter of James Cox and widow of George Smith), Feb. 5, 1850 ; they had seven children, five livins; - Ford, born Dec. 27, 1850; Polly, June 23, 1855; Hester A., Aug. 26, 1860 ; Ulysses G., Nov. 2, 1863, and Ilose, born June 30, 1866, and two deceased - James and Barthena. His son Ford married Miss Louisa A. Cooper Nov. 17, 1873 ; he has two children - Marion 0., born Oct. 11, 1874, and Sallie M., born Jan. 4, 1876.

C. P. BRANDENBURG, farmer ; P. O. Hutton; was born in Clay Co., lad., Aug. 24, 1828 ; his parents, Solomon O. and Alezan, were among the first settlers of this county, having settled in the year 1829, on Sec. 14 of Hutton Tp.; his father died in 1861, and his mother went to reside with his brother William H., and died in May, 1875 ; Mr. Brandenburg lived with his parents up to the age of 17, when he went to Wisconsin and engaged in hauling lead during the summer for eleven seasons, returning to his father's during the winter months ; his journey back and forth was through a total wilderness, where for miles not a farmhouse was to be seen, encamping at night; in 1856, he settled on Sec. 14, in this township, having purchased a farm and improved it, there being only a log cabin upon it, which is still standing, now occupied by John Jenkins, on Sec. 14; he owns 210 acres of land. He married his first wife. Miss Mary Cox, of Hutton Tp., on Feb. 28, 1850 ; she died July 5, 1875 ; they had twelve children, seven living - Almorinda, born Sept. 11, 1856; Charles P., born Jan. 13, 1858 ; Theodore, Nov. 25, 1860; William N., Aug. 25, 1862 ; George E., Jan. 11, 1864; Clayborn, Dec. 13, 1866, and Edward, born Oct. 13, 1872, and five deceased - John, born July 18, 1855, died Oct. 16, 1855 ; Thomas J., born July 29, 1852, died Oct. 8, 1870, and three died in infancy. Ho married his second wife, Wisi Nancy J. Baker, of Hutton Tp., July 22, 1877 ; she was born in April,

ABRAHAM BENNETT, minister of United Brethren Church, Westfield ; was born in Meade Co. Ky., Nov. 15, 1828; after remaining at home until the age of 18, he started out in life for himself, flatboating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for some five or six years ; in the year 1852, he commenced traveling in the ministry of the United Brethren Church, having from his youth been connected with that Church ; in the same year, leaving his family in Kentucky, he traveled circuit for some six years in Indiana, when, having returned to Kentucky, was engaged in missionary work through that State for three successive years ; having sold his farm, he moved his family to Harrison Co., Ind., in what is widely known as the " Rippidan Valley," and continued traveling circuit up to the fall of 1864, when he moved to Hutton Tp., Coles Co., and settled upon his present farm when it was a dense wood ; at first, before the establishment of a circuit in Hutton Tp., Mr. Bennett engaged in missionary work until it became a circuit, when he filled the position of a local minister, and was greatly instrumental in building the " West Liberty Chapel " of the tj. B. Church, and also "Weaver Chapel" on the edge of " Park Prairie." He married Miss Martha Jane Chism (daughter of John Chism, of Meade Co., Ky.), on July 4, 1850 ; she was born Jan. 5, 1831; they had eight children, four boj's, three living - John J., James Hand, David S. ; one died - George W. ; and four girls, two living - Laura A. and Martha "j., and two died - Mary E. and Purva C.

GEORGE BIDLE, farmer and .stockraiser ; P. 0. Westfield ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Sept. 25, 1833 ; he remained there until he was 17 years of age ; his parents having died in Germany Mr. Bidle emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City in April, 1852, and first went to New Jersey, remaining there four months working upon a farm, after which he went to Louisville, Ky., and worked at the wagon-maker's trade for two years, when he came to Westfield. Clark Co., 111., and from there, in the fall of 1865, moved to Coles Co., and settled upon the farm upon which he now resides, farming

250 acres, all but twenty acres inclosed ; has been Justice of the Peace for nine years, and at present School Director. He married Christiana Airey, of Perry Co., Ohio, in Hutton Tp. of this county, Jan. 17, 1856 ; they have three children - Henry, born April 22, 1857 ; Richard A., Sept. 2, 1858 ; and Charles, Oct, 20, 1860.

MRS. SARAH ANN BRYANT ; P.O. Westfield, Clark Co.; was the daughter of Sanjuel Jack, of Ohio, who was a native of Virginia ; she came to Coles Co. with her parents when she was 19 years of age, where they both died. She married James Parker May 26, 1842 ; he was the son of George Parker, and died May 7, 1864; they had ten children, two only living - Matilda J., now Mrs. John Anderson, of Hutton Tp. ; Harriet R., now Mrs. Wm. Mars, of Johnson Co., Mo. ; eight deceased - Jonathan, who enlisted in Co. "F," 123d Regt. 111. Vols., was killed at the battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862; William J., Jeptha, Samuel, Emeline, Sarah (who married Ashbury Lemaster, of Jasper Co., 111., January, 1869), Melissa A., and one that died in infancy. She married her second husband, Mr. John Bryant, of Indiana, August, 1866 ; he died Dec. 9, 1869. Mr. Parker was a Deacon of Good Hope Baptist Church for many years ; Mr. Bryant was a Methodist and Mrs. Bryant a Baptist.

E. R. CONNELY, farmer ; P. 0. Westfield; was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., March 6, 1829 ; his parents, Joel and Effie Connely, came to this county in the spring of 1832, and were among its earliest pioneers ; having raised one crop, they returned to Indiana, and, in the fall of same year, brought out their family, consisting of six boys and five girls accompanied also by their grandfather and grandmother Pennington ; they made the journey the whole distance in wagons, driving their stock, composed both of sheep and cattle, with them. His grandfather Pennington was a Baptist minister, and among the first in this township. The subject of this sketch was the youngest of the boys, being only 4 years of age at the time of their removal to this county ; he continued to reside with his parents up to the time of their death, his father dying June 8, 1853, and his mother, Oct. 14, 1875, at the ripe old age of 88 ; Mr. Connely has resided upon the homestead ever since, containing at the present time 380 acres; his father's estate consisted of 1,500 acres, and was divided among his children prior to his decease. Mr. Connely has held the position of Supervisor of this county and is at the present time School Director, and has been such since 1856. He has been married twice, his first wife being Miss Rebecca Piatt, daughter of John Piatt ; thev were married near Salisbury (now Hutton P. 0.), Hutton Tp., Oct. 24, 1850 ; she died Sept. 29, 1875 ; they had eleven children, six boys, all living - Emory P., Maiden T., Oscar v., Ellis J. and Willis J. (twins) and Eddie A., and five girls, four living - Addie B. (now Mrs. W. Pentzer, of Iroquois Co., 111.), Ollie M., lona and Beppie ; his second wife was Miss Susan Rebecca McConnell, daughter of Michael McConnell, of Harrison Co., Ohio ; they were married at Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio, Aug. 24. 1876 ; they have one child - Sarah. His parents were both zealous members of the Baptist Church, having connected themselves with that Church shortly after their marriage ; his mother, however, embraced religion at the early age of 11, and lived the exemplary life of a Christian to the day of her death. His father held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, in Lawrence Co., Ind., and continued the same in Coles Co. for a number of years after his removal here.

JEREMIAH C. COOPER, farmer; P. 0. Hutton; was born in Franklin Co., N. C, April 25, 1786, being now 93 years of age, hale and hearty ; he remained with his parents up to the age of 21, working upon farms in the neighborhood, when he purchased a farm in Randolph Co., N. C., and lived there until 1841, when he came to Coles Co., and on April 22 of same year purchased the farm on Sec. 24, upon which he has ever since resided. While living in Randolph Co. he was elected Sergeant of the 1st Regt. of North Carolina Militia, and was promoted to Orderly Sergeant of the regiment, then Ensign or 2d Lieutenant, and then elected Captain, and from that to Colonel, which position he however would not accept on account of the expense attached to it ; he was Justice of the Peace for fifteen years (appointed by both

F. E. COTTINGHAM, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in this township March 17, 1849 ; his father, John J., was born in Kentucky Nov. 23, 1816, and his mother, Sarah J., in Harrison Co., Ind., in 1821 ; his father first went to New Albany, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., working at brickmaking and as a brickmason, and, in the year 1836, came to this county and first settled near Westfield, Clark Co., and from there to this township ; in the year 1859, he moved to Charleston, Coles Co., and died on Oct. 9, 1863; his mother is still living, and is at the present time married to John Moore; the subject of this sketch lived with his parents, and at present resides upon the homestead. He married Miss Emza H. Cox (daughter of Wm. R. Cox, of Hutton Tp.) March 27, 1873 ; they have three children - Emma B., born June 2, 1874 ; Hannah 0., Sept. 24, 1875, and Elzada, born Dec. 17, 1877. Mr. Cottingham learned the trade of a brickmason with his father, and works at that trade in connection with his farming; he has held the office of Town Clerk for four consecutive years, and is such at the present time ; he also taught school for five terms, three in Hutton Tp., and two in Union Tp., Cumberland Co., 111. His paternal grandparents lived with his parents until their death, his grandfather dying August, 1859, and his grandmother May 16, 1867, and his grandfather on his mother's side died Nov. 9, 1863 ; a crippled uncle, Anthony, lived also with the parents of Mr. Cottingham, and still resides with their sons.

JAMES A. COX, farmer ; P. 0. Westfield, Clark Co. ; was born in Hutton Tp. Oct. 26, 1846 ; his parents came to this county about the year 1829, and were among the first settlers ; his mother died Feb. 2, 1877; his father is still living in Cumberland Co. , 111. ; the subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was 25 years of age, when he married Miss Lucinda R. Morris (daughter of James Morris, of Clark Co.) March 21, 1872 ; shortly after his marriage, he moved to a farm on Sec. 11, remaining there until the fall of 1872, when he moved from there, in the month of March, 1877, and came to where he now resides, on Sec. 12, farming seven tv acres. His wife was born Oct. 1, 1855; they had three children, two living - Lillie M. (born May, 3 5, 1873), Eva J. ^boru Aug. 16, 1877), and one deceased - Ella (born Jan. 31, 1875 ; died June 27, 1876). His brother Anthony, was born in August, 1837, and lived with his parents up to 1862, when he enlisted in Co. K. 123d I. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862, and lies buried in Parker Grave-yard, Hutton Tp. Mr. Cox's father was a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Alabama; his father settled on Sec. 1 of this township, and, after his marriage, moved to Sec. 2, and from there to Cumberland Co., in 1878, near Prairie City, and is still living at the age of 65. His family consisted of six girls - Martha J. (now Mrs. J. Strader), Lucinda (now Mrs. William Rhoden), Phoebe (now Mrs. Wm. L. Lenan), Jemima (now Mrs. Daniel Lee), Ella and Dovey, and three boys, one living, the subject of this sketch, as above.

ADAM COX, farmer; P. 0. Westfield ; was born in Hutton Tp. July 26, 1840. His father, Anthony, was one of the first settlers of this county, a native of Virginia ; he was married twice, his first wife being Miss Gilbert, and his second wife Miss Eliza Fuqua ; his father died when the subject of this sketch was quite an infant; his mother still lives near her son, between 65 and 70 years old ; at the age of 21, Mr. Cox married Miss Mary Garrison (daughter of Peter Garrison, another of the early settlers), on Dec. 5, 1861, and soon after moved upon a farm, on Sec. 2, and, two years afterward, moved on to Sec. 1, and in March, 1878, came to where he now resides, on same section ; he owns 294 acres, 224 of which is improved. His wife was born Dec. 26, 1842; they had seven children, six living - Charles W., born Sept. 28, 1862 ; Orval, April 3, 1867 ; Luella M., Sept. 16, 1868; Claudius C, Nov. 4, 1871 ; Azaro, Oct. 28, 1872, and Almorinda, Nov. 10, 1875, and one deceased, Bartliena, born Feb. 12, 1864; died, June 28, 1864.

WM. R. COX, farmer; P. 0. Hutton; was born in Bedford Co., Virginia, Feb. 25, 1832; when he was 16 years of age, his parents, Joel and Margaret Cox, moved to Ross Co., Ohio, living there eight years ; they came to Coles Co. in 1856, and, three years afterward moved to Independence, Warren Co., where they died, his mother in 1874, and his father in March, 1876. While living in Ohio, Mr. Cox married Miss Hannah C Thompson, April 28, 1853 ; she was a daughter of Nathan Thompson, who was a native of Virginia, and moved to Ross Co., Ohio, at an early day ; he remained there three years ; engaged in farming and milling, and in the year 1856, moved to Coles Co., Hutton Tp., and in September, 1870, purchased and moved upon his present farm on Sees. 22 and 23, containing 129 acres. For twelve years, before coming to his present home, he carried on the " Blakeman Flouring- Mill," three and one-half miles southeast of Charleston in this county. Soon after the organization of the townships, he was elected Commissioner of Highways, serving three years ; he was elected Supervisor in 1877, -for two terms. His wife was born Oct. 19, 1834 ; they had six children, five living - Emza H. (now Mrs. Fred. Cottingham), born June 28, 1854; Mary C. (now Mrs. Daniel Pipher ), born March 9, 1856; Joel F., born Feb. 25, 1858; Elizabeth T. (now Mrs. Flavins Boyd), born April 26, 1860, William A., born Aug. 14, 1872, and one deceased, Emma H., born July 14, 1862, died April 17, 1868.

C. P. DAVIS, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was the eldest of nine boys, and was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Sept. 13, 1829. In 1829, while he was still an infant, his parents, John C. and Elizabeth Davis, moved to what was then Clark Co., and settled in what is now Hutton Tp., of Coles Co., and first having lived in different localities in the township, about the year 1840, settled on Sec. 34, where they lived up to the time of their death, Mr. Davis dying Nov. 30, 1871, Mrs. Davis' death having occurred January, 1862. Mr. Davis was among the first settlers of this county, at that time an unbroken wilderness inhabited by the red man. He entered 80 acres of land, and made a farm, improving the same, and enduring all the hardships and privations incident to the pioneers of this Western wild. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents ud to the time of his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Conley, Dec. 28, 1850; in the spring of 1852, Mr. Davis moved to his farm, on Sec. 27, where he has ever since resided. His wife was a daughter of John Conley, of Hutton Tp., now residing in Butler Co., Mo.; she was born Dec. 15, 1832; they had seven children, five boys, all living - John W., Henry, James N., Charles N., and David E. ; two girls - Nancy, living, and one that died in infancy.

J. W. DALLAS, farmer ; P. 0. Westfield ; was born in Hutton Tp., Coles Co., ..Jan. 16, 1849; his parents, Hiram and Sarah, were natives of Ohio, and, in the year 1839, came to Coles Co. ; in the spring of 1840, they moved to Clark Co., where, after remaining five years, again returned to Hutton Tp., of this county, and settled on Sec. 35, where they lived up to the time of the death of Mr. Dallas, which occurred March 5, 1878; the subject of this sketch was born on the homestead, where he still resides, containing 120 acres, his mother living with him. He married Miss Elizabeth J. Bishop (daughter of Amos Bishop, of Hutton Tp.) June 6, 1867; she was born Feb. 26, 1851 ; they had four children - three boys, one living - William E. ; two deceased - Charles and Joseph, and one girl - Rosella, living.

T. L. ENDSLEY, merchant, Salisbury ; was born in Coshocton Co.. Ohio, Nov. 21, 1842; his parents, Thomas and Matilda, were natives of Harrison Co., Ohio ; his father was bora in August, 1801, and is still living in Coshocton Co., Ohio, having lost his eyesight in the year 187G ; his mother died about the year 1854 ; the subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was 25 years of age, when he came to Hutton Tp. in the fall of 1866, and, the first winter, taught school ; in the spring of 1867, he went to Westfield, Clark Co., 111., and carried on a general merchandise business until late in the fall. He then married Miss Mary J. Endsley (daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Endsley, of Hutton Tp.) Oct. 24, 1867 ; directly after his marriage, he came to Salisbury, in this township, and lived upon his farm for three years, when he moved to Charleston, and for nearly five years clerked for Frommel & Weiss and J. F. Neal ; in the year 1875, he came back to Salisbury and opened a general merchandise store, in which he is still engaged ; his wife was born Oct. 20, 1844, and died Jan. 31, 1876, leaving two children - Elizabeth (born Oct. 16, 1868) and Clarence (born Nov. 25, 1870), both residing with their grandparents, Endslev.

DANIEL EVINGER, farmW, carpenter and millwright ; P. 0. Westfield ; is a native of Ohio, having been born in Hamilton Co., of that State, Sept. 10, 1820. In November, 1831, when he was 11 years of age, his parents moved to Coles Co., and settled upon Sec. 19, Hutton Tp., where Mr. Daniel Evinger now resides. His parents died upon the homestead, his father in the year 1835, his mother in the year 1855. His father carried on the business of carpenter and millwright, and was also a minister of the United Brethren Church in Hamilton Co., Ohio. After coming to this county, he was mostly engaged in farming, although he turned his experience in his trade of carpenter to good advantage in putting up the frame of his residence and barn ; the barn still standing, its frame apparently as strong as ever, and is one of the few buildings of that day now standing in Hutton Tp. ; he also filled regular appointments of a minister up to the time of his death, and formed the nucleus of the United Brethren Church of this county, and the first class was organized in the year 1832 in his house ; he also established the first Sabbath school in Hutton Tp., in the spring of 1832, near Otterbein Cemetery. The object of this sketch, with the exception ot five years, when he resided in Clark Co., 111., has resided upon the homestead. From the year 1853 to 1858, he was a partner in a steam-flouring and saw mill in Westfield, Clark Co., HI. ; having sold out his interest he was engaged in merchandising for five or six years, since which time he has been engaged in farming and carpentering. Mr. Evinger, with his brother and his son, built all the bridges and culverts from Westfield to Kansas, for the D., 0. & M. Narrow- Gauge Railroad ; he also superintended the building of the Westfield College ; has been School Treasurer for a num^ ber of years. He married Miss Mary Jones, near Hitesville, March 11, 1841; she was the daughter of William Jones, of Jefiierson Co., Ky., who moved to Coles Co., in 1831, and settled one mile south of Hitesville. They had a family of eleven children, five boys, all living, viz., William H., John F., Frederick A., Benjamin H. and David M., and six girls, but one living, Catharine J. (now Mrs. A. G. Brown, of Westfield, Clark Co., 111.), and five dead, Sarah E. (formerly Mrs. Ezra Shuey, of Cumberland, Co., 111. J, Mary E. and Ora S., the remaining two dying in infancy.

J. B. FLENNER, farmer and stockraiser ; P. 0. Westfield ; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Nov. 18, 1829 ; up to the age of 24, he remained engaged in farming with his parents ; in 1853, they started West, stopping in Clark Co. for five years, when th^y moved to Coles Co., reaching here in August, 1858, and settled on a farm in Sec. 30, Hutton Tp., near "Otterbein Cemetery," where his mother died Aug. 1, 1859 ; shortly after, Mr. Flenner settled upon the farm where he now resides, his father, since the death of his mother, residing with him ; his farm contains 570 acres, all improved, upon which he has built what is considered the finest residence in this section of the county ; has been School Director for three or four terms. He married Miss Ursula 3Ioore (daughter of Levi D. Moore, of Butler Co., Ohio), Feb. 17, 1853 ; they had five childi;en - three boys and two girls ; two boys living - Wilbur F. and Charles B., one dying in infancy ; and two girls both living - Alice F. (now Mrs. Albert Connelly, of Hoopeston, Vermilion Co. HI.), and Ella. Mr. Flenner has been engaged in breeding Poland-China hogs for nearly forty years, and was instrumental in developing and establishing this breed of hogs in Coles Co ; he raises on an average 250 hogs of this breed each year; one year the average weight was 598 pounds, and average age 18 months. Mr. Flenner's parents connected themselves early in life with the Methodist Church, and were always consistent and upright members of that denomination. -

J. S. GARNER, M. D., Salisbury; was born in Russell Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 1831 ; at the age of 18, he went to Lancaster, Garrard Co., Ky., where he studied medicine in the office of J. S. Pierce, M. D., for three years ; after which, he attended a course of lectures in Louisville, Ky., and commenced the practice of medicine in Wayne Co., Ky., and continued there up to the year 18G3, when, having recruited Co. K, 48th Regt. Ky. Vols., was elected its First Lieutenant, and, having served for eighteen months in our late civil war, moved to Salisbury, Coles Co., and has been practicing medicine there ever since. He has held the office of Postmaster for ten years, and holds it at the present time. He married in Wayne Co., Ky., April 24, 1854, Miss Minnie E. Roberts, daughter of 'Squire Roberts ; they have seven children - Mary E., Emma A., John P. L., Minnie M., Viola B., Edwin M. S. and Lulu M.

EZEKIEL GILBERT, farmer ; P. 0. Charleston; was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Nov. 20, 1828; in the year 1830, his parents, Simon and Elizabeth Gilbert, who were natives of Kentucky, moved to Vermilion Co., 111., and, in 1838, came to Coles Co., and settled on the farm now occupied by Joshua Johns, on Sec. 9, and six years afterward moved to the farm on Sec. 7, where their son Ezekiel now resides ; Mr. Gilbert lived with them up to the time of their death. He married Oct. 28, 1847, Miss Nancy, H. Stone, daughter of Stephen Stone, a native of Kentucky, who settled in Coles Co. in 1832 ; she was born Dec. 26, 1831; they had thirteen children, nine living - Coleman, born Jan. 28, 1851 ; Edward H., born Jan. 24, 1853, who married Miss Emeline Strader, of Hutton Tp., March 19, 1871 ; Sarah E. (now Mrs. H. Bennett), born Jan. 10, 1858 ; Amanda

ANDREW GOSSETT, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, Aug. 8, 1836 ; when he was 4 years of age, his parents, Luke and Jane, moved to Coles Co. and settled on Sec. 15, Hutton Tp., where they have resided ever since. Mr. Gossett married Miss Polly Kiser (daughter of William Kiser, of Hutton Tp.) Nov. 1, 1860. The March following, they moved to his farm on Sec. 23, where he now resides, upon which he has made all its present improvements ; he has been School Director five years ; he owns 190 acres of land. His wife was born July 4, 1842; they had seven children, five living - Jane, born March 18, 1864; Emery S., Dec. 21, 1867 ; Clara, Dec. 29, 1872 ; Henry L., Nov. 13, 1875, and Edwin, June 14, 1878, and two deceased - William, born March 10, 1862, died June 14, 1868 ; Mary, born March 7, 1870, died Jan. 2, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Gossett are members of the United Brethren Church.

WILLIAM GOSSETT, farmer; P.O. Hutton ; was born in this township June 3, 1850 ; he lived with his parents up to the age of 24, assisting them in farming, and teaching school for four winter terms, two of them in the northeast part of the township on Sec. 22, and two on Sec. 14. While at home, he married Miss Martha Ingram (daughter of Arthur Ingram, of Hutton Tp.), April 16, 1874; she was born Jan. 9, 1855; they had two children, one living - Elizabeth J., born Aug. 11, 1875, and one deceased - Jesse L., born Aug. 8, 1877, and died Aug. 18, 1878. Mr. Gossett owns 80 acres of land.

JOHN HUTTON, farmer ; P.O. Diona ; is one of the pioneers of this county, and after whom this township was named ; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Jan. 20, 1801 ; in the year 1816, his parents moved to Crawford Co., 111., where his father died January, 1819 ; his mother and family remained there until the year 1834, when they came to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 20, where his mother died Nov., 1853, at the age of 77 ; Mr. Hutton still resides upon the homestead ; he held the office of Supervisor the three first terms after the organization of the township ; in the year 1824, Mr. Hutton was upon the spot upon which the city of Charleston, in this county, now stands ; at that time not another white man was to be found in the neighborhood, inhabited only by the Kickapoo Indians, who were owners of the soil. He married the widow of Isaac Baker April 18, 1843; she was a daughter of George Cottingham, a native of Kentucky, who came to Coles Co. in the year 1837 ; she was born Oct. 27, 1813 ; she had one child by Mr. Baker - Levi H., now living in California, and nine children by Mr. Hutton - six boys, all living - George W., born April 18, 1844 ; James Alexander, Nov. 19, 1847 ; Isaac Y., Jan. 6, 1850 ; John A., March 13,1852 ; and Alfred and Albert (twins), born March 24, 1855, and three girls, one living - Martha E., born Sept. 30, 1860 ; two died ; Sarah E. died when four months old, and Mary Jane, (formerly Mrs. Wm. M. Sanders), born May 15, 1846, died Nov. 27, 1878, leaving five children - David C, Oscar, Laura E., Annie and Willie.

JOHN INGRAM, farmer and schoolteacher ; P. 0. Charleston ; was born in Vermilion Co., III., Oct. 16, 1836; his parents moved to Coles Co., when he was 18 months old, and settled on Sec. 33 ; his mother died there in February, 1855 ; his father is still living on Sec. 34, at the age of 65 ; the subject of this sketch still resides upon the homestead ; he has taught school ever since he was 22 years of age. Married Miss Almorinda Garrison of Hutton Tp. (daughter of Peter Garrison ) Oct. 1, 1857 ; she was born Jan. 9, 1839 ; her father, Peter Garrison, was born near Syracuse, State of New York, May 4, 1804, and went to Lawrence Co., Ind., and from there to Crawford Co., 111., and, in the year 1835, moved to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 11, where he died November, 1858; her mother still lives at the age of 65 ; Mr. Ingram's family consisted of six children - five boys, four living - Maiden S., born Feb. 2, 1862 ; Alva C, April 12, 1864; Arthur S., April 3, 1866; and

JOSHUA JOHNS, farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; was born in Pendleton Co., Va.,June 6, 1821. When he was 18 years of age, he went to Bath Co., Virginia, working on the farm of William Friel, whose daughter Isabel he married, Sept. 14, 1840, and after living there for three years moved to Pleasant Grove Tp. in this county, remaining there for twelve years when he came to Hutton Tp., and after settling on Sec. 33 remained there fourteen years, and in March, 1867, came to his present farm on Sec. 9 ; he owns 692 acres ; has held the office of Supervisor one term, and School Director for many years, and is so at the present time. His wife was born Aug. 19, 1824; they bad fourteen children - seven boys, four living - George A., born March 19, 1848; James H., July 13, 1851; Leander, Dec. 21, 1853, and Edwin S., born Sept. 23, 1867 ; three deceased - James W., born Jan. 27, 1844, died Sept. 28, 1846; Seton, born Oct. 11, 1858, died Nov. 28, 1859, and one that died in infancy ; and seven girls, five living - Jemima (now Mrs. Wm. Bishop), born April 12, 1855; Virginia, (now Mrs. Frederick Thompson), born Aug. 27, 1857 ; Sarah Ann, born Sept. 13,1860; Mary E., Dec. 19, 1863; and Emily A., born Nov. 18, 1869, and two deceased - Martha E., born June 16, 1841, died March 10, 1865 ; Minerva, born April 27, 1849, died Sept. 28, 1849. Mr. Johns' parents, James and Jane, came to Coles Co., in November, 1844, and settled on Sec. 33 in this township, where they both died, his father, March 24, 1859, his mother, Sept. 13, 1872; they had three sons - James and William, deceased, and Joshua, the subject of this sketch.

FRANKLIN JOHNS, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in Pendleton Co., Va., June 6, 1828 ; when he was 7 years old, his parents moved to Gallia Co., Ohio, and remained there three years, and in the year 1838, came to Coles Co., and the first winter settled on Sec. 33, where they lived up to the time of their death, his mother dying May 2, 1854, and his father but three days after. The subject of this sketch was married Nov. 22, 1849, to Miss Nancy Connely, daughter of John Connely, of Hutton Tp., on the homestead, and a few days afterward removed to his present farm, where he has ever since resided, now containing 140 acres. He has held the office of Supervisor of the County for one year. He had a family of ten children, six boys, five living - Edmund R., Jeremiah S., James W., Joseph M. and Emery A., and one deceased - Silas L.; and four girls - Sarah J., Armilda, Mary E. and Harriot Ann. Mr. Johns' father was one of the pioneers of this county, and endured the many hardships and pri vations of that early day.

SETON JOHNS, farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; was born in Augusta Co. Va., Nov. 22, 1832 ; he is the second son, and came with his parents to Gallia Co., Ohio, when he was 2 years of age, and from there to Hutton Tp. in the year 1838, and lived with them up to the time of their death, which occurred in May, 1854, his parents dying within three days of each other. The same fall Mr. Johns married Miss Armilda Rennels (daughter of Wm. Rennels, of Hutton Tp.), and immediately after moved to his farm, one-fourth mile east of his present location, moving to his present home on Sec. 33 in the year 1 858, where he has resided ever since ; his farm contains 160 acres, all but 40 of which are improved. He has held the office of Assessor one term. His wife was born April 9, 1837 ; they had eleven children, nine living ; two boys, one living - Philip S. - and one that died in infancy ; nine girls, eight living - Martha E. (now Mrs. C. H. Gwin, of Hutton Tp.), Elizabeth, Delilah, Mary J., Alberta, Lilian B., and Nora and Flora, twins ; one deceased - Rebecca J. His family are members of the United Brethren Church. His brother, Silas Johns, was the youngest of the three boys, being born Aug.l 8, 1834, and came also with his father's family to Coles Co.; in 1855, he went to Kansas and Missouri, living there three years ; being taken sick, his brother Seton went to Kansas and brought him back to Hutton Tp., where died he of consumption in the year 1860, and lies buried in Whetstone Creek Cemetery, in Hutton Tp..

Va., March 11, 1814; the same year, his parents moved to Ross Co., Ohio, remaining there until 1842. Mr. Kiser lived with his parents up to the time of his marriage with Miss Mary Ann Coon, of Ross Co., Ohio, which occurred Aug. 22, 1841 ; in October, 1846, they moved to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 31, living there until the year 1851, when they came to the farm upon which he at present resides, on Sec. 33 ; his wife was born in Washington Co., Md., near Harper's Ferry, Dec. 7, 1823 ; they had nine children, two boys - Adam L. (born Dec. 4, 1849), and William H. (boi'n Dec. 30, 1864), and seven girls, five living - Polly (born July 4, 1842), Hannah C. (Nov. 3, 1844), Virginia (Feb. 10, 1847), Margaret E. (June 8, 1853 - now Mrs. C. Stone, of Ashmore Tp.), Alice M. (Feb. 12,1862 - now Mrs. Richard Bidle), and two deceased - Zema E. (born Nov. 26, 1857 ; died Nov. 12, 1873), and one died in infancy; Polly is also married to Mr. Andrew Gossett, of Hutton Tp.; Hannah C. to L. Cooper, of Ashmore Tp.; and Virginia to B. F. McMorris, of Hutton Tp.

BENJAMIN McMORRIS, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., March 25, 1813; his parents moved to Frederick Co., Va., when he was a year old; his father died in the year 1818, and Mr. McMorris lived with his mother until he was 21 years of age, when they moved to Coshocton Co., Ohio ; six years after, his mother returned to Virginia and died there in the year 1852. In the spring of 1836, Mr. McMorris married Rachel McLaughlin, and, three years afterward, moved to Coles Co., and settled in Sec. 9, Hutton Township, where he at present resides. His wife died Dec. 17, 1851, leaving six children, all living - Nancy (born Aug. 14, 1837), Margaret (July 7, 1839), Benjamin F. (May 16, 1842), Mary J. Nov. 11, 1847), William H. (Aug. 18, 1849), and Rachel (Dec. 5, 1851). He married his second wife. Miss Sarah J. Johns, daughter of James and Jane Johns, in February, 1852 ; she was born in Virginia, Pendleton Co., Aug. 11, 1825, and was the widow of Wm. Cartright ; they had eight children, six living - Elizabeth J. (born Nov. 26, 1854 - now Mrs. David T. French, at present residing in Kansas ; married Nov. 14, 1870), John V. (born

D. A. PARKER, farmer ; P. 0. Westfield, Clark Co. ; is one of the pioneers of this county, and was born in Butler Co., Ohio, April 27, 1815 ; in the year 1817, his parents moved to Crawford Co., 111., ten miles south of Palestine, and, after remaining there eight years, moved to Hutton Tp., Coles Co., and settled on what was afterward known as " Parker Prairie," in the year 1825, where his parents died,, his mother on the 11th day of December, 1830, and his father on the 18th day of March, 1862 ; they were among the first settlers, and entered the first land in this county. Mr. Parker remained with his parents until he was 21 years of age, when he went to farming for himself, and, on the 29th day of March, 1837, married Miss Mary J. Flint, daughter of Thomas Flint, of Kentucky ; she was born in Virginia March 30, 1819. Mr. Parker settled on his present farm in the year 1840, having entered the land, and has resided there ever since, now containing sixty-four acres. His family consisted of nine children, five living - two boys, George W., born Feb. 8, 1839, and Allen D.. born May 17, 1852, and one deceased - Leroy, born April 19, 1850, died in 1854; six girls, three living - Sallie M. (now Mrs. J. B. Redmon, of Hutton Tp.),born Oct. 15, 1844; Ellen, Sept. 5, 1854, and Emma, born March 20, 1860, and three do-, ceased - Elizabeth, born July 8, 1841, died Aug. 11, 1852; Martha J., born May 27, 1846, died in the fall of 1855, and Frances A., born Sept. 20, 1856, and died May 20, 1860.

JEPHTHAH PARKER, farmer; P.O. Westfield, Clark Co.; was born in Crawford Co., 111., Feb. 13, 1823 ; he was 3 years of age when he came with his parents to Coles Co., and remained with them until his marriage with Miss Sarah J. Green, daughter of James Green, of Ohio, on the 11th day of Jlay, 1842 ; she was born in Miami Co., Ohio, July 3, 1818. About nine months after their marriage, Mr. Parker moved to his farm on Sec. 6, the greater portion of which he improved, putting upon it its present buildings, and where he has ever since resided, containing 108 acres. They have eight children - John G., born May 17, 1843, and married Miss Irena Bennett in September, 1864; Nathaniel L., born Oct. 8, 1845, and married Miss Emma Granger, of Waukesha, Wis., Oct. 26, 1873; William T., born Aug. 8, 1847, and married Miss' Mary A. Thornton, March 10, 1869; Charles L., born Sept. 8, 1849 ; Nelson R., born Jan. 12, 1851, and married Miss Alta A. White Jan. 28, 1875 ; Annie E., born March 10, 1854 ; James A., born July 2, 1857, and married Miss Nevada Smith in February, 1877, and George C, born June 11, 1859. Of the sons, John G. and Nathaniel L. were in our late civil war, having both enlisted in Co. F, 123d Regt. I. V. I.

JAMES RENNELS, farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; one of the pioneers of this county ; was born in Madison Co.. Ky., Feb. 12, 1807 ; when he was 17 years of age, his parents moved to Lawrence Co., Ind., within ten miles of Little Orleans. While living there the subject of this sketch married Nov. 17, 1825, Miss Polly Connely (daughter of Joel Connely, of North Carolina) ; she was born Feb. 14, 1807 ; her parents were early settlers of this county, having moved from Lawrence Co., Ind., to Coles Co. in the year 1832. In 1832, Mr. Rennels came to Coles Co. and settled on Sec. 32, where he has ever since resided, known as the "Rennels Settlement;" his parents also moved from Lawrence Co., Ind., to near Rockville, about sixteen miles north of Terre Haute, Ind., and in the year 1837 came to Coles Co. and settled in Hutton Tp., about one mile from Salisbury, where his father died ; his mother made her home among her children, and died at the house of her sonin-law, John Connely, within two years after the death of his father. Mr. James Rennels had a family of nine children - five boys, all living, viz., Henry L., Edmund, John P., William R. and Joel J.; four girls, one living - Mahala (now Mrs. Wm. P. Level, of Hutton, Tp.), and three deceased - Rebecca A., Martha J. and Sarah E. Mr. Rennels, as one of the earliest settlers of this county, has experienced the many vicissitudes and hardships common to the pioneers of a new country, and at a good old age, in connection with his good wife, is resting from their labors, surrounded by their children and grandchildren, ministering to their wants and comforts in their declining years. EDMUND RENNELS, farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; is the second son of James Rennels, and was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Dec. 13, 1829. He came with his parents to Coles Co., when he was only 8 years of age, and remained with them up to his marriage with Miss Martha Waltrip, of Hutton Tp., Feb. 21,1849, when he moved to his farm on Sec. 31, where he has resided ever since. His wife died in September, 1854. They had three children, one living Mary Ann (now Mrs. James Stephens, of Charleston Tp.), and two deceased - Sarah E. and Melvina J. He married his second wife. Miss Angeiine Davis, of Hutton Tp., Sept. 9, 1858. They had ten children, nine living, three boys living - Henry L., Rama S., and Telia, and one deceased - Riley S. ; and six girls, all living - Viola, Lua J., Sarah E., Lilly B., Efa and Ida P. Mrs. Rennels and her eldest daughter, Viola, are members of the Baptist Church.

JOHN SARGENT, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in this township March 20, 1846 ; his father, Stephen, was born in Candia, N. H., July, 1, 1797, and at the age of 13 went to New Jersey, remaining there three years, and from there traveled on foot to Ohio, working one year upon a farm in that State ; he then went to Kentucky, near the city of Louisville, working at the trade of stone-mason, and while there made a trip upon a flatboat from Louisville to New Orleans and back. In the year 1836 he came to New Richmond (now Westfield), Clark Co., and carried on a general merchandise store, and two years afterward purchased and moved upon a farm on Sec. 11, in this county, where he remained up to the time of his death, Nov. 30, 1878. His farm contained over 600 acres. He married Miss Nancy Chenoweth, widow of Jacob Harlan, Oct. 18, 1842 ; she is still living on the homestead, and was born March 25, 1805. They had two children - the subject of this sketch and Maggie (now Mrs. Charles H. Rice, of Vermont), born June 22, 1844, and now living in Denver, Colo. They have four children - Carrie E.,

Henry C, Benjamin P. and Genevieve. Mr. Sargent's mother was born in Kentucky, and journeyed on a packsaddle to Vincennes, Ind., with her parents, who afterward came to Clark Co., where she resided after her first marriage and death of her husband, Jacob Harlan. ! The subject of this sketch was born ou the homestead, where he has resided ever since the death of his father. At the age of 15, he enlisted in Co. C, 68th Regt. 111. Vol. for three months. He married Miss Maria A. Turner (daughter of Samuel Turner, of Kentucky), March 24, 1870 Q^hey have four children - Maggie P. born Jan. 28, 1871 ; Jesse R., April 23 1872; Ada 0., Sept. 15, 1875, and Carl born Jan. 25, 1878. Mr. Sargent owns 400 acres of land.

G. W. SMITH, farmer ; P. 0. Westfield ; was born in Pulaski Co., Ky,, April 17, 1813 ; when he was ten years of age his parents moved to Lawrence Co., Ind., and remained there about six years engaged in farming ; from there they moved to Vigo Co., Ind., where his parents died. In 1839, Mr. Smith came to Coles Co., and first settled on Sec. 27, in this township, living there until 1863, when he moved to his present farm on Sec. 26, containing 87 acres. He held the oflBce of School Director several terms. He married Miss Eliza Boland (her parents being natives of Virginia), in Vigo Co., Ind., August, 1840 ; they had nine children, six girls and three boys, five girls living - Sarah Jane (now Mrs. Preston Walker, of Texas), Leanner, Louisa, Polly (now Mrs. Samuel Merritt, of Charleston, Coles Co., 111.), and Rosetta (now Mrs. Cornelius King, of Clark Co., 111.), and one deceased, Filinda, and two boys living, George W. and Benjamin T., one deceased, David. The brother of Mr. Smith, Anthony, was born in the same county in the year 1815, and came with his parents also to Vigo Co., Ind.. and engaged in farming up to the time of his death, 1857. He was married to Miss Hannah Sparks, of Ind., who died in the year 1855 ; he left three sons, two living, one of whom William R., Mr. G. W. Smith brought with him to Coles Co. when only 4 years old, who has made his home with him ever since.

Dec. 29, 1809 ; he remained there with his parents until he was 25 years of age assisting on the farm ; his father died there in the year 1835 ; his mother surviving him until the year 186U. Mr. Wells, while at home in Kentucky was married August, 1831, to Miss Jenette Boston (daughter of William Boston of Kentucky) ; she was born July 15, 1815 ; shortly after his marriage, he moved upon a farm near that of his father's, where he lived until his removal to Clark Co., in 1837; the next year he moved to Coles Co. and settled on Sec. 6, where he lived three years, and then returned to Clark Co. and from there, in 1843, moved back to Kentucky and after remaining ten years, in the year 1853, came to Coles Co. and settled upon Sec. 7, where he has since resided. He owns 111 acres; has been School Director one term. They had twelve children, seven boys, three living - Richard J., born May 29, 1849; Kobert L., August 11, 1853, and Charles M., born Jan. 22, 1856, and four deceased - Preston, born Oct. 22, 1832. died in 1842 ; James F. M., born April 1, 1836, died in 1865 ; William H., born July 17, 1840, died in 1850 ; and Leroy B., born April 6, 1851, died in February, 1852 ; five girls, two living - Leah, (now Mrs. Beily Lee), born Feb. 10, 1838 ; Leomia (now Mrs. M. Connely), born Sept. 15, 1842; and three deceased - Mary

E., born Nov. 29, 1844, died in 1850; Louisa A., born March 6, 18*1:6, died also in 1850; one died in infancy. His son, James F. M., enlisted in Co. "H," 21st Regt. 111. Vols., and was taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga, and confined in Libby and Andersonville Prisons for nineteen months and died at Annapolis, Md., in 1865 on his way home, from disease contracted while a prisoner. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Baptist Church and have been connected with it for a number of years.

MRS. JOSEPH WALTRIP ; P. 0. Westfield ; is a daughter of Daniel Goble of Hutton Tp. She was first married to Nathaniel Lee Aug. 14, 1853, who died in the year 1856 ; they had one child, Cynthia (now Mrs. Reason Wiley, of Hutton Tp.) ; she was again married July 18, 1858, to Joseph Waltrip, who was born in Kentucky in 1819, and after remaining there until the age of 16, moved to Coles Co., and settled in Charleston Tp. on Sec. 25, engaged in farming ; he had been previously married to Miss Eliza Jane Hall, daughter of Michael Hall ; she died in November, 1857. Mrs. Waltrip had four children - two girls, Cynthia J. and Eliza, and two boys, one living, Wm. J., and one deceased - Daniel. She at present farms 70 acres, part of her husband's estate of 250 acres. Mr. Waltrip died Feb. 16, 1872.

JAMES H. BUSBEY, former, Sec. 22 ; P. 0. Oakland ; one of the pioneers of Coles ; born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 22, 1823, where he attended school and engaged in farming, until 16 years of age, when he emigrated to Coles Co., 111., and located in what is now the south part of Douglas Co., in the fall of 1839. He is son of Hamilton Busbey, who was born July 5, 1792, in Virginia; he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1815, where he lived until he emigrated to Illinois, where be died Dec. 16, 1847 ; Mrs. Busbey, whose maiden name was Sophia Lewis, was born in Virginia, March 31, 1796 ; she died April 1, 1855, leaving eleven children now living - Thomas C, Susan

M., Elmira M., William D., James H., Harriet E., Ann L., John H., Maria, George W., Henry C. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until their decease, which occurred as stated above ; he remained upon the old farm until 1856, when he rented land, and engaged in farming until 1861, when he purchased his present place, where he has since continued to live ; he owns upward of eighty acres of prairie and timber lands. He married, Oct. 12, 1856, to Sarah J. Naphew ; she was born in Ohio Oct. 19, 1831 ; they have six children now living by this union, viz. : Nancy E., born June 29, 1858; Sophia R., born Jan. 21, 1860; Orrin U., born Nov. 16, 1861;

A. J. CLARK, farmer, Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Charleston; born in Coles Co., 111., April 22, 1834, within one-half a mile of where he has since lived ; he is the youngest son of Benjamin and Sarah Clark, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Coles Co., 111., about the year 1829, where his father lived until his death, which occurred April 18, 1856, while on a visit to Indiana ; he was born in Kentucky in the year 1798; his mother, who still lives within one-half mile of where she has lived for nearly one-half of a century, was born Jan. 1, 1800. Mr. Clark remained with his father until 1856, when he commenced farming for himself, upon the old homestead, where he has since continued to live, and where he owns 120 acres of land, mostly under cultivation, and 90 acres mostly timber, in Sees. 16 and 21. His marriage with Christina V. Robinson was celebrated June 1, 1865 ; she was born in Clark Co., Ind., Jan. 11, 1850; her parents located in Illinois when she was 2 years of age ; five children were the fruit of this union, two of whom are deoeased ; the names of the living are - Lillie May, born Jan. 24, 1867 ; Willis P., born Dec. 9, 1868; Clarence V., born July 17, 1875. Mr. Clark met with a severe loss by the failure of the proposed Charleston & Danville R. R., having contracted to furnish 5,000 ties, and the failure to complete the railroad left the ties upon his hands, by which he suffered to the extent of $1,500.

WATSON COLLINS, farmer deceased ; one of the early pioneers of Coles Co. ; born in North Carolina May 12, 1813, where he was raised to farming until 1831, when he emigrated with his father, Aaron Collins, and located upon Greasy Creek, Morgan Tp.; like most pioneers, the family were poor, and the subject of this sketch turned his attention to do what was in his power to the support of his father's family ; one occupation was getting out fence-rails at 25 cents per hundred ; one season he worked at Vincennes, Ind., at $6 per month, the earnings being used for the support of the family and to procure stock; breaking prairie with five or six yoke of oxen was another occupation : his milling was done at Terre Haute, Freeport, Eugene and Palestine, this trip consuming from four to eight days, made with three or four yoke of oxen ; his furniture was homemade ; for chairs he made stools, and bedsteads were made by boring a hole in the side and end logs of his house, in which poles were inserted, entering a post where the ends met ; this was known as the raccoon bedstead ; there is now in the family a cupboard made by Mr. Collins, which is put together by wooden pins, not a nail being in use - a relic valued highly ; he commenced the stock business by first buying a single calf, which business he increased until he became a large stock-dealer, feeding from 150 to 200 head of cattle for several years previous to his death, at which time he owned upward of 500 acres of land, and had 500 rented for his stock, etc. His marriage with Minerva McAlister was celebrated in 1836 ; she was born in Alabama April 13, 1815 ; she died March 21, 1857, leaving four children now living, viz., Mary Jane (born March 24, 1841), Margaret E. (born March 6, 1845 - now Mrs. William Reynolds), Martha V. (born Oct. 26, 1850 - now Mrs. W. E. Worsham), and Eliza A. (born June 29, 1856 - now Mrs. Andrew Walton.) Mr. Collins died March 25, 1877, mourned and respected by all who knew him.

SOLOMON COLLINS, farmer, deceased ; the subject of this sketch was one of the early pioneers of Morgan Tp. ; he was a native of North Carolina, and emigrated to Illinois with his father, Aaron Collins, and located upon Greasy Creek, Morgan Tp., about the year 1831 ; he suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life, but was known as a hard-working, industrious and successful farmer, and at the time of his death was held in high esteem in the township in which he lived. He married Theney Carter ; she was born in Kentucky, and, at the time of her death was the mother of three children, viz., John J., William A. and Elizabeth B. His second wife was Mary Taylor, by whom he had two children - Hiram and Thomas. John J. Collins, the oldest son, was born in Morgan Tp., Feb. 7, 1850, where he attended the common schools and assisted his father in farming until 12 years of age, since which time he has made his home with Joseph Carter, whom he assisted in farming in summer and attended the common school in the winter, until 1871, when he entered the Westfield College, where he attended two years, since which time he has been engaged in schoolteaching during the M\ and winter and farming in summer.

LAFAYETTE CRAIG, farmer. Sec. 18; P.O.Charleston ; born in Clark Co., 111., Mar! 27, 1832 ; he emigrated with his parents when 3 years of age, and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in December, 1835, in which township he has since continued to live for a period of upward of forty-three years ; he is a son of Isaac N. Craig, and with his father is one of the earliest pioneers of Morgan Tp. ; the subject of this sketch was employed in his early days in watching sheep during the day to protect them from the wolves, and at night would drive the sheep in close pens near the house, for safety during the night ; there were no roads in those days, and to go to Charleston and other points, they would ibllow by-paths, taking a direct line to whatever point they wished to go ; he remained with his father and assisted him in farming until 21 years of age, when he was employed by his father for two years, at $100 per year, when he, with his brother farmed upon the old farm for six years, receiving half of the crops for their labor ; he then continued farming alone on the same conditions, for a period of three years longer ; he removed upon his present place in the spring of 1864, where he has since continued to live; he owns 161 acres of land in his home farm, and 110 in other parts of the county. He married Jan. 3, 1856, to Jemima Fowler ; she was born in Coles Co., Oct. 14, 1836 ; she died March 26, 1862, leaving no children ; his marriage with Margaret J. Woodfull was celebrated Feb. 12, 1863; they have six children now living by this union - Willis N. Ida May, Alma L.. Robert H., Oscar A., and Thomas D. Mr. Craig was the first Collector of Morgan Tp., which oflSce he held for two years, when he was elected ^ Supervisor for ten years in succession ; took the census in 1865, and served for two years as School Director.

THOMAS H. CRISPIN, farmer; P. 0. Rardin ; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, May 5, 1833, where he attended school and assisted his father in the mason trade until 14 years of age, when he went to Bellefontaine, Logan Co., Ohio, where he learned and worked at the trade of mason and plasterer until 1852, when he emigrated to Carlinville, 111., and followed his trade for six years ; he located in Coles Co. in the spring of 1859, on Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he engaged in farming one year, then six years upon Sec 9 ; he located upon his present place in 1864, where he has since continued to live, and where he owns 110 acres of prairie and timber land. His marriage with Susannah J. Painter was celebrated in 1852 ; she was born in Macoupin Co., III., Nov. 15, 1833 ; they have seven children now liv- . ing, having lost one by death ; the names of the living are Nancy C.,born Jan. 19, 1853; Isabel J., born July 27,' 1854; Jacob J., May 2, 1856 ; Thomas J., Feb. 16,1858; William H., Dec. 15, 1860; Geo. B. McClellan, Oct. 1,1863; Mary H., Dec. 16, 1868 ; Jesse, March 21, 1875 ; the deceased is Alonzo G., born Sept. 10, 1866, died April 19, 1868 ; Mrs. Crispin died Aug. 18, 1871. He married for his second wife Agnes McKiney Aug. 24, 1873 ; she was born June 7, 1855.

WESLEY DAUGHERTY, farmer, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Charleston ; born in Coles Co., 111., Jan. 18, 1834; he is the youngest son of John B. Daugherty, who emigrated with his family from Indiana and located in Coles Co., 111., about the year 1833, where he lived until his decease, which occurred July 10, 1857, being then 60 years of age. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and assisted in farming until 19 years of age, when he was employed as farm laborer for about four years, when he engaged in farming upon rented land, which he followed two years ; he located upon his present place in the spring of 1857, where he has since continued to live during a period of upward of 22 years ; he owns 120 acres in his home farm, upon which he has good buildings and about 20 acres of timber upon the Embarrass River. His marriage with Phoebe Clark was celebrated Feb. 18, 1856; she was born in Coles Co. May 25, 1836. They have five children now living, viz. : Paulina, Albert, Joseph, Charles W. and Hetta J. Mrs. Daugherty was the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Clark, who emigrated from Kentucky, and located in Coles Co., 111., about the year 1828 or 1829; Mr. Clark lived here until the spring of 1856, when he went to Indiana upon a visit, where he died April 18, 1856 ; his birth occurred in Kentucky, in the year 1798. Mrs. Clark now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Daugherty, within one-half mile of where she first located, and where she has continued to reside for nearly half a century ; she was born Jan. 1, 3 800, and although now in her 80th year, is in po.ssession of all her faculties, and voluntarily devotes a large part of her time to sewing and knitting. Mr. Daugherty has filled the office of School Director several years during his residence here, and which office he now holds.

SHEP FLORER, farmer ; P. O. Oakland ; born in Newport, Vermilion Co., Ind., March 29, 1839 ; he was the son of Alexander B. Florer, of the early pioneers of that county, and who was elected Second County Clerk, which office he held fourteen years ; was elected Recorder of the county several times, which office he held for many years ; he was also an eminent lawyer of that part of the State of Indiana until his death, which occurred Aug. 9, 1863; Shep Florer was raised in the above county, at the age of 14, he commenced clerking for Jones, Culbertson & Co., and at 17 he was appointed Deputy Auditor of the county under Henry D. Washburn, and afterward as Deputy Clerk and Recorder at 20 years of age ; he did a heavy grocery trade in that town ; at the beginning of the war, he enlisted in Co. C. 18th Ind. Vols., and served his country three years as private messenger for Col. Tom Patterson and Gen. H. D. Washburn. On Sept. 23, 1864:, he located with his mother, A. A. Florer, at Milton Station, Coles Co., 111., where he sold general merchandise for five years, and on the 11th day of October, 1870, he moved to his mother's farm of 529 acres, situated in Morgan Tp., Coles Co., where he now resides. He married June 24, 1866, to Louisa A. Hawkins; she was born in Rush Co., Ind., March 7, 1848 ; she removed with her parents to Coles Co., 111., in 1850,wbereher fiither and stepmother now reside ; five children were the fruit of this union, two of whom are deceased, the names of the living are Mary Elizabeth, born May 13, 1876, and Katie and Clara, twins, born June 11, 1878.

ARIS GALBRKATH, farmer ; P. 0. Rardin ; was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., Jan. 20, 1812. His parents removed to Scott Co., Ind., when he was 2 years of age, where he lived until 18 years of age, when he emigrated with his mother to Illinois and located in Edgar Co., in the Fall of 1830, where he engaged as farm laborer for two years at $8 per month ; in 1832, he located in Ashmore Tp., Coles Co., 111., working one year for $100, out of which he saved money to enter 40 acres of land, which he improved one year, when he sold out and purchased 240 acres, which he improved for ten years, which he then sold and entered 160 acres of prairie and purchased 40 acres of timber in Morgan Tp., upon which he Uved until 1875, when he removed upon his present place, after renting his old homestead; he now owns 300 acres of land with three sets of buildings. When Mr. G. located here, wolves and Indians were plenty, and to obtain quail, prairie chickens or other game, was only necessary to shoot from your door or window. He married Dec. 8, 1835, to Jane Reed ; she was born in Spencer Co., Ky., Oct. 9, 1817 ; they have three children, now living by this union - James T., born Oct. 9, 1836; William R., Nov. 4, 1838 ; Ann Eliza, born Jan. 5, 1841, Mrs. G. was a daughter of Thos. Reed, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Illinois in 1829; he died in Ashmore Tp., in the winter of 1845. Mr. Galbreath has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, havinij been a member of the C. P. Church for fifteen years: his wife having been a member for twenty-five years. He has held the offices of Assessor, Town Clerk and School Director ; the latter office he now holds.

JACKSON GERARD, farmer ; P. 0. Hinesborough ; was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 28, 1828 ; his grandfather was one of the early settlers of Ohio, locating in the above county about the year 1784, where he lived until his decease, which occurred about the year 1838. The father of the subject of this sketch, William Gerard, was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the year 1785, and lived there until his death, which occurred in the year 1836 ; he served through the war of 1812, with the Frontier Rangers, being stationed during the winter of 1813 near Vincennes, Ind., guarding the frontier from the attacks of the Indians. His mother was born in New Jersey, July, 1792, and emigrated with her parents to Ohio, in the year 1794; they did their trading in Cincinnati, when the building occupied as the P. 0. was the only frame building there; Mrs Gerard died July 7, 1874, in Butler Co.. Ohio. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until 7 years of age, when he made his home with an older brother until 21 years of age, when he located upon a farm in Butler Co., Ohio, where he lived twenty-four years ; he emigrated to Illinois in 1874, and located upon Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he now resides ; he owns 102 acres in his home farm, upon which he has erected good buildings ; he also owns 140 acres in other parts of the county. He married Nov. 3, 1850, to Emily Stites; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1834 ; they have four children now living, having lost two by death. The names of the living are: Eli, born July 4, 1854; Mary A., now wife of Dr. J. T. Montgomery, Feb. 18, 1856; Charles W., born April 11, 1859; Anna M., born Oct. 15. 1861.

ELI GERRARD, farmer ; P.O. Charleston ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, July 4, 1854, where he attended school and engaged in farming until he emigrated West and located in Coles Co., in the fall of 1 874 ; here he engaged in farming with his father until the spring of 1876, when he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived. He is the oldest son of Jackson Gerard, whose biography appears in this work. His marriage with Laura B. Smith was celebrated Aug. 31, 1875; she was born in Ohio Oct. 10, 1856 ; they have two children now living by this union, viz., Clara L., born June 8, 1876, and Elizabeth A., born Dec. 29, 1877.

JESSE HUDSON, farmer and Justice of the Peace ; P. 0. Charleston ; born in Jessamine Co., Ky., June 27, 1840, where he attended school until 11 years of age, when he emigrated to IlUnois and located in East Oakland Tp. in October, 1851 ; here he remained and assisted his father in forming until upward of 20 years of age, when he raised one crop upon his father's farm, of which he gave one-third

I for the use of the land ; the following year he farmed upon rented land, and in 1864, he removed to Morgan Tp., where he rented land four years, and, in 1868, purchased his present place, where he has since continued to live ; he first purchased eighty acres of land, mostly upon time, giving his notes for $2,180, which he met promptly, and has since added, by purchase, forty acres more, for which he paid $1,200 cash ; he built a brick addition to his house in 1872, and, in 1877, erected the finest barn in Morgan Tp. The above property he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and good business management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife, to whom he was married Oct. 10, 1861 ; her maiden name was Harriet Stark ; she was born in Indiana Nov. 15, 1842; they have two children now living, viz., Laura B., born Dec. 12, 1869, and Emma May, born Nov. 8, 1871. Mr. Hudson has held difierent township offices, and has been elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for the second term, which office he now holds.