De Witt County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1882 (part 3 of 8)

John Walker entered the west half of the N. W. quarter of section 13 on the loth of October, 1S29. On the same date John Fruit entered the west half of the Jf. E. quarter, and the east half of the N. W. quarter of section 13. On the same date and same section, Elizabeth Fruit entered the east half of the S. W. quarter. Thomas Fruit, at the same time entered the east half of the S E. quarter, and the east half of the N. E. quarter of section 14. On the 17th. of October 1><29, .Jacob Coppenbarger entered the'east half of the S. E. quarter of section o. At the same date John Coppenbarger entered the west half of the S. E. quarter of section S, Hugh Bowles entered on the Uih of November, 1830, the S. W. quarter of section -1. On the same date, Baron T. Lowrey enteretl the N. W. quarter of section 9 Same date and same section, VVilliam Newcomb entered the west half of S. E quarter. Elisha Butler entered the west half of the N. \V. quarter of section 7th, November 7th, 1S30. Same date Mahlon Hall entered SlSjVj in section 4 had to undergo untold hardships even to obtain the most meagre enjoyments of life. Their nearest grist-mill was situated at Springfield, and after having taken the then long and tedious journey, they were often obliged to remain three or four days to get a sack-full of corn ground ; for it must be remembered that in those days the now capital of the state had but one mill, and that run by horse power. Often the roads and weather were such that they were forced to crush their corn for meal in the old-time mortar. This was constructed by hollowing out a stump, and using an iron wedge for a pestle. Another method was to boil the corn to a soft consistency, and grate it from the cob by means of a tin pan punched with holes. AVhat little merchandise was used was mainly obtained at Pekin, the goods being boated up the river from St. Louis. To make the trip to Pekin and return took several days and nights, hence they were obliged to camp out ; and in the language of one of the old pioneers, "when they lay down at night to sleep their slumber was fanned by the howling of wolves, and the whooping of Indians." John Branson, sen., who is S8 years of age, and resides in Kenney, informed the writer that in the spring of lb2G, he crossed Salt Creek timber, coming out on what is now the old Joseph Howard fiirm near Kenney, and that there was not a sign of a white man or of his habitation, but that the timber was lined with Indan wigwams. They were principally the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. Large herds of deer ami hundreds of wolves were then running through the timber or skulking through the prairie grass. Mr. Branson believed he was alone in this vast expanse so far as any white man was concerned, but in this he was mistaken ; had he crossed what is now section 7, instead of section 4, he would have found signs of civilization. Here it was that the first blow was struck, where the first settlement was made, not only in this township, but in De Witt county.

On the 29th, of October 1824, there might have been seen two wagons drawn by oxen, plodding their way wearily through the tall prairie grass, and finally lost to sight in the timbers of Salt Creek. It was near night when they selected a place to stop, and when they stepped from their wagons, there was nothing but the forest for a home. They soon threw together a rude brush tent and moved into it. These hardy few consisted of two families, Elisha Butler and his wife, and Mrs. Shugart and her two sons, Zion and Edom. They had emigrated from Sangamon county, brought their all with them, and heroically decided to brave the adversities of the pioneer. The moon shining brightly, the next morning, long before daylight they were out cutting logs preparatory to the building of a comfortable cabin. Within a reasonable time they had completed it, the women helping the men, and they joyfully moved into their new house. As it was October, and too late to raise a crcp they were obliged to undergo the inconvenience for nearly a year of going to Springfield for breadstuffs.

These are among some of the hardships that our forefathers have undergone that the present generation may enjoy what has been so bounteously prepared for them. Of these five pioneers, but one is now living ; the others passed away years ago. The surviving one, Edom Shugart, now resides in Nebraska, a very old man, yet he likes to write and talk about " ye olden times." Section 7, where the wilderness first resounded to the woodman's ax is now, mainly, under good cultivation, "and fine farms please the eye of tlnise who pass.

The second to aid in the settlement of this township was John Coppenbarger, a brother-in-law of Zion and Edmon Shugart. He was a native of Virginia, and moved to Illinois in an early day and settled in Sangamon county. In the spring of 1828, he emigrated to this township and located on section 8, and raised a small crop that year. He died in 1869, and at this writing has but one direct repre£entative living, Sylvester P. Coppenbarger, who resides here.

Jacob Coppenbarger, father of John, made the first land entry in the township. This was in the fall of 1828, at the time of his coming. He died many years ago. One son is yet living ht re, Joseph, who is upwards of 70 years of age.

John Walker, an emigrant from Ohio, came in the fall of 1S29, and settled on section 13. He had a wife and two children ; the names of the children were John and Sidney. 5Ir. ^Valker moved to California, about 1848. None of the family are living in the county at this time.

Another prominent old settler was William Randolph, who was a native of North Carolina. He moved with his father to Virginia when he was a mere lad, where he remained until he grew to manhood. In the fall of 1830 he moved with his family to this township. His family consisted of his wife and eight children, Levi, Love, Polly, Willoughby, Sarah, William, Josiah, and J. H. His mode of transit was the Southern style fourhorse crooked bed wagon, which was driven by one of the parties who rode the wheel horse using one line. The first house he occupied was a pole cabin with stick chimney, and the ground for a floor. The spring following he traded one of his horses and the wagon for eighty acres of land of Elisha Butler. This was the west half of the north-west quarter of section 7. The same spring he built a comfortable log house, and used the pole cabin for a kitchen. This was the spring following the winter of the " deep snow." This year Mr. Randolph ploughed and planted a few acres of corn, but the spring being late, and the summer cold, the early frosts cut the crop so severely that it did not mature. It was in such a sappy condition when it was gathered, and, being frozen solid, it actually had to be placed before the fire and thawed before it could be fed to the stock. From the fact that there was no sound corn in Central and Northern Illinois, the few people of this part of the state were obliged to go to the more southern portion to obtain seed corn the following spring, hence the name given to that part of the state, " Egypt." Five other children were born to the family after coming to this section, making thirteen in all. Mrs. Randolph died in 1863, at the age of 63 years. Mr. Randolph lived to the good old age of 74, and died four years after his wife. The only direct representative of the family living in the county is J. H. Randolph, one of the prominent and substantial farmers of De Witt County. He was the youngest of the family, when his father moved to the state. He is now living on section 7, the old homestead. He married Miss Margaret Wallace, in the fall of 1853. His wife was the daughter of Colonel Andrew Wallace, another old settler who located on section 6 in 1830, and who was a native of Bourbon County, Kentucky. From this marriage there have been eight children born, Alice, Andrew W., Charles C, Laura, Grace, Moses W., Ivan Lee, and one infant son that died without name. Mr. Randolph is one of the leading stock growers in the county. He has some of the finest blooded sheep in the state, and is said to be the heaviest wool grower in Tunbridge.

Hugh Bowles came to this part of the county in the fall of 1830. On the 6th of November of the same year he entered the south-west quarter of section 4. His family was very large, consisting of six boys and five girls. He died many years ago. Anderson Bowles, the eldest son, is living in Barnett township, and the only one of the family now in the county. William Newcomb migrated here in the fall of 1830, and located on section 9. He was a native of Virginia, moved from there to Kentucky, and subsequently to Indiana, and from thence to Illinois as above stated. Prior to his advent here his wife died, but he brought his children with him, eight in all. Their names were as follows : Juda, Susan A., Daniel, Jane L., Polly, Hannah, Ruth, and Elizabeth. The first four were then married, but came along as part of the family. The conveyances were the usual emigrant teams, oxen yoked before heavy lumber wagons. Mr. Newcomb bought out the pre-emption right of a widow in section 9, and moved into the little cabin that was situated on the premises. He lived to become a prominent farmer of the times, and died in 1851, the day he was 76 years of age. There are but three of the family living, Aunt Hannah Watson and Susan Alsop, who reside in this township, and Mrs. Jane Knight, who lives in an adjoining county.

Darius Hall came here in 1831, and located in the Coppenbarger settlement. He was a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and came to this state in 1829, and stopped two years near Springfield. He was married in Kentucky in 1819, to Mary Jones. When they came here they had five children. Mr. Hall moved to Clinton a few years ago where be died. He was elected constable in 1S31, and afterwards served two years as deputy sheriff.

Thomas Fruit was born in North Carolina and afterwards emigrated to Kentucky. In the fall of 1829, he came to Illinois and entered land in section 14, Tunbridge township, when he returned to his home in Kentucky. In the fall of 1834, he moved with his family to his possessions here. The family consisted of a wife and nine children, Susan W., William L., Mary R., Sabilla

M., Siduey C, Edmund W., Martha J., Enoch A., and John D. Two of the children were Irft in Kentucky, James S , and Thompson C, there being eleven children in all belonging to the family. Mr. Fruit lived to amass and enjoy a good property, and died the 8th of December, 1871, at the advanced age of 8S years. Mrs. Fruit died a few years before her husband. James Fruit, the father of Thomas, made a settlement prior to the latter, coming in 1831. No one but his wife was with him when he made his advent here. He settled on section 13, but soon died, his death occurring in the fall of 1834. Edmund W. Fruit, son of Thomas, is now a man considerably advanced in years. He is living in section 26, and one of the wealthy and substantial farmers of Tunbridge. He is living with his fourth wife. There are five children James A., j\Iary E , Arthur W., Laura B., and Sidney J-, all of whom are living in the township except the latter, who resides in ilissouri. John D Fruit, a younger brother of Edmund W,, also resides here on section '?A. He is a native of the township, being born in 183.5. He has a wife and four children, one son and three daughters.

Another old settler, John Kenney, came from Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1834, and settled in what was called the Bowles and Hall neighborhood. He came with his father's family, which consisted of father, step-mother, and si.K children, three sons, and three daughters. Xone of the family are living at this time. John died only a few years ago. The village of Kenney was named in honor of him, and it now occupies the ground on which his father first settled. Their pioneer log cabin was situated but a short distance north of the town.

Joseph Howard was a native of Kentucky, and emigrated to Ohio in 1826. He remained there ten years, when he moved to this part of the county, and settled on section 14. His mode of conveyance was what is called in these days the" prairie schooner." He had two wagons, drawn bj' three yoke of cattle, and the other by a four-horse team. It took one month to make the trip. The roads were new, and in places almost impassable; sometimes ten miles a day was considered a heavy drive. He brought his family, consisting of a wife and six children with him. The names of the children were Benjamin, Kachel, Ellen, Peter, William, and Reuben. Four other children were born in the township, Francis M., John, Jane, and Annie. Mr Howard lived to improve a large farm and enjoy the fi-uits of his labor. He died at the age of <81 years in the summer of 1878. ilrs. Howard died many years ago. Four of the children, Benjamin, Peter, Francis, and Annie are residents of Tunbridge ; others of the family are liviug in the county.

Among other old settlers are the following : John Morrison, who resides in section 11 ; Xathan Cooper, in section 26 ; D. \V. Hickman, section 6 ; James R. Turner, and James C. Scott, both residents of Kenney.

The first frame building of any kind built in the township was constructed by .John Walker on section 13, in 1838. It was a small affair, and attached to his log house for the purpose of enlarging his dwelling. Luther Newcomb was the carpenter. The second frame was built some two years afterwards. It was a dwelling constructed for Thomas Hutchin, and situated in section 16, near Salt Creek. A Mr. Hoover was the carpenter, and James R. Turner did the plastering. It is yet standing, and is owned and occupied by Stephen W. Hutchin, a grandson of Thomas.

The first marriage ceremony took place in 1829. James K. Scott was the officiating clergyman of what was then called the New Light persuasion, Elisha Butler and Mary Coppenbarger.

Tradition says, that Trink Alsop was the first born. He was the son of the pioneer Thomas Alsop, who then lived on section 10. As to the date of the birth, tradition is silent. The first death was that of a girl twelve years of age, the daughter of Nathan Vestal. This occurred in 182-5. In those days there was no lumber to be had only as it was hewn out l)y the ax. Eilom and Zion Shugart shouldered their axes, and sought a tree that would answer their purpose. A basswood was selected, and from this they procured slabs which they smoothed down as well as they could and constructed a rude coffin. The remains were placed in it and taken to a hill in section 7, where she was buried.

The first school was taught by Edom Shugart, in a little pole cabin, situated on the farm now owned by John Morrison. This, was in the winter of 18211-30 ; in fact it was the first school taught in the county. There were but a handful in attendance, and the few came when the weather was not too cold for inconvenience, for it must be remembered that the cabin was not lathed and plastered, not even chinked.

James K. Scott preached the first sermon in the township. Huge Bowles and Levi Pitner were also pioneer preachers. At a later date Peter Cartwright preached in the neighborhood. Mrs. Watson, daughter of the pioneer, William Newcomb, says, "she has heard him preach many a time at her father's house." In those times there were no church houses ; services were held in the private houses of the settlers.

The first church built was situated on the land of Wm Bowles in about 1840. It was a frame building, and known as " The Old Union." It received its name from the fact of its being built by donations from all denominations, and was used in common.

One of the first physicians was William Laughlan ; he moved to the far west in an early day. William Lowrey was probably the first justice of the peace.

The first blacksmith was a man by the name of Jack Henderson. He came from Kentucky in a very early day, and was one of the oldest settlers. His shop was a pole cabin, and situated in section 7. He remained here but a short time, when he moved back to Kentucky.

The first mill was built by John Coppenbarger, and was situated on section 7. Jack Henderson, the blacksmith, was the master mechanic. It was the rudest kind of a horse mill, capable of grinding only three or four bushels of corn per day- It was built in 1828. Prior to this the settlers were obliged to go 40 or .50 miles to get their milling done, as this was the first mill constructed in this section of country.

The first water mill was built on Salt Creek, in section 1 1 , by Melville and AVilliara Lowrey in 183S. It was constructed for a saw mill only, but afterwards a grist mill was attached. It had the turbine or horizontal wheel for a power. A freshet carried it away in 1844. It was afterwards re-built and re-modeled, and is now owned and operated by John Jlorrison.

Thomas Hutchin, introduced the first blooded stock iu the township. He imported from Ohio some Hue short-horn Durham cattle, and several Berkshire hogs ; he was alsn the first to introduce blooded horses.

The first bridge was constructed across Salt Creek about two and one half miles south-east of Kenney, and it is said that from the name of the bridge the township took its name ; that Is, for some reason the bridge took the name of Tunbridge. It was at this point where the first town was laid ofi" and called Franklin.

Jiistoe Y Of Le Witt Co Unty, Illinois

It was here that the fir^t pnst-office was established. Mr. Barbaree laid out and platted a small village, on paper. He built a small house, aud utilized it for both a dwelling aud store-room. This was about 1860. The goods sold here were the first sold in the township. James W. Armstrong afterwards bought out Mr Barbaree, and soon afterwards closed out the business, as it did not prove to be a commercial point. The would be village is now under cultivation, constituting part of a good farm. All the busine.ss there at this time is the mill owned by John Morrison.

The roads and bridges of Tunbridge are in very good condition. The former cuuld be improved somewhat by turnpiking, and leaving ditches of sufficient depth and width so as too readily carry ort'all surface water. There arc two e.-ccellent bridges across Salt Creek, costing in the neighborhood of 81,000 each.

The following are the supervisors aud the time of their elections since township organization: John D. Hutchin elected in 1859. and served two terms. James B. Turner elected in 1861, served one term. Benjamin Howard elected in 1862, and served until 1866. M. B. Spicer elected in 1866, aud served two terms James A. Kirby elected in 1868, and served two terms. Benjamin Howard re-elected in 1870, and served until 1873. John H. Randolph elected in 1873, and served until 1878. He was chairman of the board the last term. J. R. Turner elected in 1878, and has served each year since, and has been elected chairman for the past two terms.

This thriving little village is situated at the junction of the Springfield Division of the Illinois Central, and Illinois Midland railways. The original town plat contained forty acres, and it was laid out by Moses Kenney in 1871. The first lot sold was bought in August of that year by J. F. Di-x. The ground is situated in section 1 5. Later additions have been made, so that the corporate limit of the village is just one-half mile sijuare. The first building was erected in October 1871, and situated in block 3 on Kenney street. It was a small one-story frame building, and occupied by A. Milmine, for a grocery store, who sold the first goods in the town. The building has since been moved to Johnston (Main ) street, and is used by William Haines for a butcher shop. Harrison Maltby sold the first dry goods. The business was located on the corner of Henderson and Crossley streets. The first hardware store was situated on the corner of Benjamin and Henderson streets, aud the business was conducted by H. P. Rucker. The first private residence was built by Josiah Luttrell in the fell of 1871, and it was situated in block 6, lot 1. It was a two .story frame building, and is yet standing, and now occupied by J. B. Runyon. The first hotel was situated on Kenney street, and kept by James (^. Burgett. It was a frame, two stories and an L. It is now used for a dwelling. The business part of the town was at first situated on Kenney street, two streets east of Johnston, which is now the main street. This change was wrought mainly from the fact of the high prices for lots on the former street, and the Midland I'ailway crossing established near the foot of Johnston street. In making the change excitement ran high between the two factious, some desirous to retain the business where it was, others to take it where it now is ; hence Johnston received the cognomen of " Wall " street, and Kenney that of " Broadway;" and at this time they are known by many of the townsmen as such. The Wall street faction succeeded in carrying the day, and the business houses were all moved over to Johnston street. This was in 1873.

The village at this writing contains about 500 inhabitants, and has a live class of business men. The sidewalks are kept in good condition, and the main business street is graded and graveled- In the very center of this street, in the north part of the town, stands a large and thrifty apple-tree. It stands alone, and looks as though it might exclaim : " I am monarch of all I survey ! " It is said that the school-boys generally gather the harvest. Xo inland town in the state, probably, has better privileges for obtaining good water - it is said to be inexhaustible. At a depth of about eight feet a gravel strata is reached which averages twelve feet in thickness. After passing through this strata, a lake of pure water is found, which underlies the whole village. In the driest seasons there is a bountiful supply of water. It is believed that an ordinary engine could not pump a well dry that is sunk to the depth of twenty-five feet. The live little town is already talking of erecting some kind of waterworks. Several public meetings have been held preliminary to such an improvement.

The village school was organized in 1874, with H. P. Rucker and Miss Milmine as teachers. In 1875 a fine school building was erected at a cost of between four and five thousand dollars. The house is situated on Howard street, in the north-east part of the town. It is a frame structure, two stories high, and contains four rooms, three of which are occupied, and are furnished with the latest improved furniture and other belongings to match. The building has a bell and belfry, besides being surrounded by an acre of ground, giving ample play-ground to the pupils. The number in attendance is about 150, and is well graded, suitable for this number of scholars.

The town contains but one church building, and is of the Methodist denomination. It is a medium-sized frame structure, having a bell and belfry, and is conveniently arranged otherwise for the accommodation of its members and for church service. It was moved here from Pleasant Valley, two miles west of town, in 1876. It is situated in the north part of the village on Johnston street.

Present Business

Rush Elevator. - This industry is owned and operated by Fred. P. Rush & Co. It was built by S. J. Metland in the spring of 1875, and passed into the hands of the present firm but recently (1881 I. The main building is 36x98 feet, and four stories in height, including basement. The foundation consists of stone, and the building complete, with the grounds, cost 86,000. It is situated on the "Y " of the Central and Midland railways, convenient for the transaction of all business. The capacity for elevating is 5,000 bushel.s daily, with storage facilities for 7,000 bushels of grain. It has five dumps, and a 25-horse power engine to run the works, and gives employment to eight men. Besides the elevator proper, it has a quarter of a mile of cribs, capable of holding 100,000 bushels of corn. This was the first elevator or steam-power in Kenney.

J. (). Peckham & Co.'s Elecaior is situated ou the right of way of the Springfield division of the Illinois Central railroad. It was built by said company in the spring of 1877, and pas.seJ into the hands of E. Kent A Co. Sept. 1, 1881. It is a frame, with stone foundation ; the main building is '28x20 feet on the ground and four stories high, besides an engine-room 20x28 feet, and one story in height. The crib-room is 24x60, and will store 20,000 bushels. It has a capacity of elevating, daily, 6,000 bushels of grain, and gives emploj'ment to four men. The estimated value of the elevator, machinery and grounds is $.j,.500.

Kenney Tile Works. - These works are located south of the Rush Elevator, and near the foot of Johnston street. They were established in 1877 by Traver & Reeser, and passed into the hands of the present owners, Bruaw iV: Quigley, early in 1881. The works cover four acres of ground, and the estimated value of machinery, .sheds, grounds, etc., is S4,400. There are two kilns for burning the tile, with shed-room .30x200 feet. The operators manufacture tile of the size from two and a-half to eight inches. The annual value of manufactured product is estimated at S5,000. Eight men are given employment when the works are in operation.

The Kenney Gazette is under the efficient management of R. T. Spencer. It is a spicy weekly paper, and justly deserves the patronage of the people of Kenney and vicinity. The paper here was established first by J. W. Wolf, and was entitled the Kenney Record : for some reason it ceased to exist, hence the Gazette has taken the field, and from every appearance it will live, grow and prosper.

Rucker Hall is situated on Johnston street, over the store now crwned by V. Thompson. It is 22x80 feet in size, and capable of accommodating 200 persons. It has a stage, a set of scenery, and is seated with hall chairs.

The present officers are B. B. Ives, W. C. T.; Mrs. Hubbell, W. v.; Ella Ives, W. S.; F. M. Hubbell, W. F. S.; J. Bateman, W. M.; H. F. Byerly, W. T.; J. Stewart, I. G.; H. Ely, (3. G.; Minnie Howard, D. M.; .John Byerly, Chaplain ; C. E. Howard, P. W. C. T. Present membership is 35. The Lodge meets every Saturday evening in Red Front Hall. There is much interest manifested among the fraternity, and the lodge is in excellent condition financially.

We have thus sketched the history of the oldest settled territory in De Witt county. It is easy to compare then and now. A little more than a half century ago there were but five white persons in the whole county. The official census of 1880, in Tunbridge alone, was 1605 ; and in the county nearly 22,000. With this progress, the historian, fifty years hence, will have volumes to chronicle.

The siibjeot of this sketch is the eighth in a family of thirteen chiklren of WiHiain and Matilda Randolph. He was born in Lee county, Virginia, Jan. 7th, 1828, and was in his third year when the family came west, and settled on Salt creek, in what is now known as De Witt county, and is therefore one of the early pioneers of the county. He was reared upon his father's farm, and received his education, which was limited, in the early pioneer schools of the county. The log school-houses, dirt floors and puncheon seats of those days were as crude as the then undeveloped system of educational training. Jehu grew to manhood and remained at home until 1853, when he married, and moved to Logan county, where he commenced farming for himself, upon a small tract of land that he had purchased. Two years later he purchased the homestead of his father, and there he has remained to the present. In 1870 he built the large and commodious farm and dwelling-hou.se, which ornaments the place - a view of which can be seen by reference to another page. As a farmer and stock raiser, Mr. Randolph has been more than ordinarily successful. As a sheep raiser he is well known throughout the state, and is among the most extensive woolgrowers in Illinois. His flocks of fine graded sheep, which are of the best blooded Spanish Merino, are well known among sheep raisers, and at the State fairs and other exhibitions of live stock, have taken many valuable prizes. His flocks for the past fifteen years, have averaged in numbers from fifteen hundred to two thousand.

In matters of religion Mr. Randolph is inclined to a liberal belief, and might be classed as a Universalist. His religious creed consists in doing unto others as he would have others do unto him ; and he believes that in that practice he will secure happiness in this and the life to come.

Politically, he was a democrat until 1870, when he supported the principles of the National Greenback party, and voted for Peter Cooper. He is a member of the ancient and honorable order of A. F. and A. M-, and belongs to De Witt Lodge, No. 84, at Clinton, Illinois. In 1867 he was elected Justice of the

Peace, and held the scales of justice impartially for one term. He was also elected to represent his township in the Board of Supervisors, and held that office for five terms ; the last of which he was elected Chairman of the Board : he has also held minor offices in his township, and has been School Trustee for the last twenty years.

On the 8th of September, 185-3, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret, youngest daughter of Col. Andrew and Esther Wallace. She was born in Tuubridge township, De Witt county, Illinois, February 10th, 1833 Her father was born in Virginia, February 2d, 1787. He emigrated with his parents to Kentucky in 1790, and there married Esther Campbell in 1810, who yet survives him, and is now in her ninetieth year. In 1812, Col. Wallace was a soldier in the war of that period. The Wallace family came to Illinois, and settled in the county in 1831.

There have been born to .Jehu H. and Margaret Randolph eight children, five of whom are living. The names of those living in the order of their birth are ; M. Alice, wife of Alfred R. Sumner, a farmer of Tuubridge Township; Charles C, a merchant in Wellington, Kansas; he married Miss Ida Larison ; Laura R., wife of F. R. Robbins, druggist and postmaster, Keuney, Illinois ; E. Grace and !Moses W are yet at home.

This in brief is a sketch of Jehu H. Randolph and family. He is recognized as one of the successful and leading farmers and stock-raisers of De Witt county. His success in life, for he started poor, is attributed to his industry, energy, and practical business sense, backed by a just regard for the rights of others, and a promptness in meeting every business obligation. Those principles are the true source of every success. In his home he is a kind, courteous and hospitable gentleman, vieing with his estimable wife in making all who come beneath their roof at home and comfortable. It is with genuine pleasure that the writer of this sketch hiis the opportunity of paying this tribute of respect and kindly feeling to Jlr. Randolph and wife, for he has been the recipient of their bounteous hospitality, and knows whereof he speaks.

The Randolph family of De Witt county are the lineal descendant* of the noted Randolph family of Virginia. They are of English descent. They were residents of Norfolk, Virginia, and near the close of the last century moved to Surrey county, North Carolina. There the grandfather of Jehu married Frances Thornton, after which he removed back to Virginia, and settled in Lee county, where he died. By the union with Frances Thornton, there were five sons and three daughters. William, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Surrey county, North Carolina, November -ith, 1T92. He grew to manhood in Lee county, Virginia, and there married JIatilda Kearns. During the war of 1812 he volunteered, and was a soldier of the South, under Gen. Coffee. After the war he remained in Virginia until 18.30, when he removed west to Illinois, landing in Macon county, now De Witt, November 1st, 1S30. He purchased eighty acres of laud, of Elisha Butler, who upon the same tract made the first permanent settlement in the now county of De Witt, in 1824. Mr. Randolph gave in exchange for the land a horse and wagon, and a small sum of money. In 1856 he sold his farm, and moved to Atlanta, in Logan county. In 1862 he lived in Bloomington, where his wife died the following year. He died in Lincoln, the same county, February the 26th, 1867. In his life he was a man of much native force of mind, of strict integrity, and scrupulously honest. He was particularly noted for his generous hospitality. Both the friend and stranger were made welcome when they came beneath his roof. In religious faith, he and his wife were Baptists; his house was the place of holding worship, until such time as churches and school-houses were built. By his marriage with Matilda Kearns, there were thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters; six of the children have survived the parents, and are still living.

Edmund W. Fruit

The Fruit family were among the early settlers and pioueers of De Witt county- Ou the paternal side they are of Welsh ancestry, and on the maternal Scotch-Irish. Two brothers, bearing the name, left Wales, and emigrated to America prior to the old French war. Both were soldiers in that struggle, and were with Braddock in his disastrous defeat by the French and their Indian allies. In the battle the brothers were separated, and one was never heard of afterward. John Fruit, the survivor, from whom the present family have sprung after the war, settled in the Carolinas. Thomas Fruit, the father of Edmund W., was born in North Carolina, October the 5th, 1784. In 1802 he went with his father to Kentucky, and settled in Christian county, where he remained until 18.34, when he came to Illinois, and settled in what is now known as De Witt, then a part of Macon. They landed here November 15th, of that year. In 1827, in company with some friends and land explorers, they came to the State and entered land. When he came here to reside permanently, he settled on section 14, in what is now known as Tunbridge township. There he remained until his death, which occurred December the 15th, 1871. While a resident of Christian county, Kentucky, he married Elizabeth Thompson, the date of which marriage was July the Sl.st, 1806. She died March 28th, 18G6. By that marriage they had six sons and six daughters. Edmund W. is the eighth in the family. He was born in Christian county, Kentucky, September the 21st, 182.3. His education was limited to the common school's, and was of a meagre character, and confined to three months tuition, all told. When the family came to Illinois he was eleven years old. From that time forward he was compelled to do a man's work, and help provide for himself and other members of the family. He remained his father's principal support, until he passed his twentieth year. He then purchased forty acres of land and broke it, and in the following winter made rails and fenced it. The next year he broke prairie, and did general work. In the fall of 1844, he went back to Kentucky to see an elder brother, and while there made the ac(juaintance of Miss Elizabeth Boyd, whom he married ou the 6th of March, 184.5. He remained in Kentucky eighteen months, which time was occupied in farming and working for his brother. In the fall of 1846, he returned to De Witt county, settled ou his land, and built a log cabin, a view of which may be seen on another page. There he lived for several years, then built a frame-house, and in 1858 built and removed to his present residence. His wife died August the 8th, 1856. By that marriage there were five children - three of whom are living, whose names are Sydney Jane, wlio is the wife of John Barnett, a resident of Atchison county. Mo. ; James A., who married Sarah Jane Stoughtonborough, and Mary Elizabeth, wife of Franklin Barnett On the 5th of November, 1857, Mr. Fruit married Sarah E , daughter of Uriah and Jemima Blue. She died April the 28th, 1873. Two children living by that marriage. Their names are Arthur W., and Laura B. Fruit. After the death of his second wife he married Susan E. Blue. She died January the 16th, 1880, without issue. On the 4th of November, 1880, he married Miss Isabel, daughter of Garrett and Sarah Ann Blue. She was born in Hampshire county, Virginia. Politically, Mr. Fruit was originally a Henry Clay Whig. In 1864 he joined the Democratic party, and is still a member of that political organization. In his religious belief he is a Universalist.

Mr. Fruit has been the architect of his own fortune. He started in life poor, but by the practice of industry and economy he has succeeded to a handsome competency. He is the undisputable possessor of nearly fifteen hundred acres of as fine land as can be found in Central Illinois. AUofitiswell improved and under cultivation. His occupation and highest aim in life was to be a successful and independent farmer, and he has succeeded to that proud position. In stock-raising, particularly in sheep, he has been very successful. . Wherever known, Mr. Fruit enjoys the reputation of a good farmer and successful man ; honorable in all his dealings, and strictly honest in every business transaction.

Esther Wallace

The subject of the following sketch was iu hia life one of the prominent and honored citizens of De Witt county, as well as one of its very early settlers. He was a native of Virginia, and was born February 2, 1787. In 1790 - three years later - his father removed the family to Bourbon county, Kentucky. There Andrew grew to manhood, and in the year 1810 was united in marriage to Esther Campbell, who was born March 12, 1792. In the war of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States, Mr. Wallace entered into the service, and was a soldier and one of those brave men who fought the battle of the Thames. He was exceedingly fond of martial display, and iu the general musterings and annual parades of the militia, he took a leading part, and his was a conspicuous figure upon the field when the hardy yeomanry were marshalled in mimic array. He was well and familiarly known as "Colonel " Wallace, having held that rank in the militia service. He remained in Kentucky until 1831, when he came to what is now known as De Witt county, and settled in the north-west part of Tunbridge township. There he followed agricultural pursuits until his death. His excellent and amiable wife still survives him, although she has long passed the allotted time of life, and is now in her ninetieth year, and is in the full possession of all her mental faculties. Col, Wallace in his day, as intimated above, was more than an ordinary man, and under more favorable circumstances would have become a marked and prominent character. He was possessed of a strong, vigorous mind, united with a large share of strong, hard common sense, and all who came into his presence were to a greater or less extent impressed with that fact. He had a fine, large physique, well formed, and carried himself with a dignified air that well became him. In others, it might be regarded as pride or hauteur, but with him it was the natural, uuassumed bearing of a true-born gentleman. To his intimate friends he was a most genial and companiable man, of warm and generous impulses, and the very soul of truth and honor. His house was the general resort of the neighborhood for miles around, and of it may truly be said, that the latch-string of the door always hung on the outside, and he who wished could enter and was made genuinelv welcome.

DAVID W. HICKMAN. Lewis Hickman, the paternal grandfather of the present Hickman family, was born March 8, 1770. He married Sarah F. Thompson, who was born December 5, 1782. He came west to Illinois, and died here in June, 1841 ; his wife died a fewyears later. His son, Rodney Hickman, father of David W., was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, June 19, 1809. He came to Illinois and settled about one mile south-west of Clinton, in De Witt couut_y, where he purchased a tract of land, on which he lived until his death, which occurred October 11, 1842. On the loth of June, 1837. he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Ann Wallace, daughter of Col. Andrew and Esther (Campbell) Wallace. Col. Wallace was born in Virginia February 2, 1787 ; he emigrated with his parents to Kentucky in 1790, and there married Esther Campbell in 1810. In 1812 he was a soldier in the war between the United States and Great Britain, and was in the battle of the Thames. He emigrated to Illinois in 1831, and settled in what is now known as Tunbridge township, in De Witt county, on the same place where Mr. Hickman now lives. His wife, ihe grandmother of Mr. Hickman, still survives, and is now in her ninetieth year. Mrs. Hickman was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky. By her marriage with Mr. Rodney Hickman there were three children, two of whom are living. John T., the other sou, was born October 5, 1839. He at present is engaged in the loan agency business, in Wellington, Kansas. David Wallace Hickman, the subject of this sketch, was born in De Witt county, Illinois, May 3, 1838 ; his early education was obtained in the pioneer schools of De Witt county of thirty-five years ago. After the death of his father, he was taken and reared by his maternal grandfather, with whom he remained until 18.")8, when he went ba< k to the Hickman place, near Clinton. In 1864 he went to the gold fields of ^Montana, and soon after went to Grand Round Valley, iu Oregon, east of the Cascade mountains, where he remained through the winter of 1864-65. From there he went to Willamette Valley; he remained in the west until 1867, when he returned, via New York, home, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. In March, 1876, he moved on the old Col. Wallace place, where he still resides. On the 27th of November, 1872, he married Miss Emily Jane, daughter of Henry and Margaret Litsenberger. She was born iu Hancock county, Ohio, March 7, 1846. Her parents came to Clinton county in 1856. Her mother died in March, 1874. 5Ir. and Mrs. Hickman have five children. Their names, in the order of their births, are : Anna Margaret, Hattie May, Henry Thomas, Grace and Rodney Elmer Hickman. Politically, he was a Democrat until 1876, when he joined the National Greenback party. In 1872 ilr. Hickman commenced the business of trading short-horned Durham cattle. His herd now embraces fifty head of fine, thorough-bred cattle. He has been very successful so far in the business, and we have no doubt will in time become one of the extensive cattle breeders of the State.

Caft. JAJIES R. turner, The subject of the following biographical sketch, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1822. His father, William Turner, was a native of Virginia ; he emigrated with his father to Pennsylvania, and settled in Penn's Valley, and afterwards moyed to Juniata county. The grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He married a Beatty, whose mother was closely related to Governor Curtin's family, of Pennsylvania. One of the offspring of that marriage was William Turner, father <ifCapt. James R. He marrie<l Jane Elizabeth McGill ; she died iu Juniata county. Mr. Turner afterwards married again, and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there died in \^iZ. There were three sons and eight daughters by the first marriage. Capt. Turner is the eighth in the family; he was rai.^ed to habits of industry upon the farm. He went to Cincinnati, and there for a short time clerked in a gnjcery store. In the fall of 1841 he came west to Illinois, and stopped at Decatur, where he learned the trade of plasterer, and worked at the business in different parts of the country, always, however, claiming Decatur as his home. In 1846, when the Mexican war broke out, he enlisted in Co. C of the 4th Illinois Regiment, of which company I. C. Pugh was captain, R. J. Oglesby 1st lieutenant, Alexander Froman 2d lieutenant, John Post 3d lieutenant. Mr. Turner participated with his regiment in the battles in which it took part, and at the expiration of his term of service returned home to Decatur, and remained there until 1851, when he married Miss Rachel J. Hutchen, of Butler county, Ohio. In 1852 he moved to Salt creek, and commenced farming, in which he continued until 1871, W'hen he removed to Kenney and engaged in general merchandising, in which he still continues. In August, 1862, he recruited a company of men, numbering one hundred and thirty, for three years' service. Upon the organization of the company Mr. Turner was elected captain. The company became a part of the 107th Regt. of Illinois Vols., and was known as Co. C. The 1 07th was a part of the 2d Brigade of the 2d Division of the 23d Army Corps. Capt. Turner ]iarticipated with his command in all the skirmishes and battles in which it was engaged up to and including the battle of Lost Mountain and the capture of Kenesaw, then, owing to physical disability, he was sent to the hospital at Knoxville, Tenn., and there remained for six weeks. His di.sability continuing, he was compelled to resign his position; his resignation was accepted and he returned home. The history of the 107th Regiment is well known to the student of American history. It was a gallant organization, and Co. C. was made of men who contributed to it much of its glory and renown. It passed through the entire war from the time it was enlisted until the conflict closed. Capt. Turner returned home and resumed his labors upon the farm. Politically, Capt. Turner has always since casting his first vote been a Democrat, and takes an active interest in sustaining the principles of that political organization. He enjoys the confidence of his party, who have frequently honored him with offices of trust in his locality. In 1861 he was elected supervisor of his township; in 1878 he was again elected, and re-elected four successive terms. He has twice held the position of chairman of the board, and is occupying that position at present. In all the offices held by him he has given complete and unusual satisfaction, and has earned the reputation of an honest servant of the people, and an efficient and careful official ; he looks carefully after the wants of his constituents and the interests of the entire county. By his marriage with Rachel J. Hutchen there were eight children, seven of whom are living ; the eldest, a son, died in infancy. The names of those living are: Laura May, Sallie A., Manford E., Charles Lee, Isophina, William Thomas and John W. Capt. Turner is not a member of any church organization, but is liberal upon religious matters, and believes that in doing unto your neighbor as you would have him do unto you that in that practice you come near fulfilling the whole law, and render yourself fit to sit in the circle of the saints. He is a

Capt. Turner is an old and respected citizen of Tunbridge township ; his frequent election to offices of honor and trust shows in the strongest manner possible his standing and reputation in the community. He is a plain, unassuming man, with decided convictions as to what is his duty, and fearless in it« performance.

Koswell T. Spencer

The present editor and pro]irietor of the Kenney Ouzette, is a native of Bluft'dale, Greene county, Illinois, where he was born August 7th, 1850. Gideon Spencer, his great-grandfather, came from England about 1770, and settled in Vermont. He and his wife Elizabeth, and his son Stephen Winchell Spencer, Mary Smith Spencer, the latter's wife, and Marshall Smith Spencer, the father of Roswell T., moved to Greene county. Ills., in 1820. Marshall S. was then a lad of four years of age. The greatgrandfather was a soldier of the AVar of the Revolution, and was with Ethan Allen at the capture of Ticonderoga. The grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812.

Marshall S. married Sarah A-, daughter of John and Nancy Simmons, who came to Greene county. Ills., from Athens, Ohio, in 1830, while Sarah A. was yet in her childhood. Both the parents are yet living, and are residents of Marion county, Ills. There were ten children, the offspring of Marshall S. and Sarah A. Spencer, of whom there are five sons and three daughters living.

Roswell T. received his education in the common schools and spent one term in the high school of Tamaroa, in Perry county. When he attained his majority he engaged in the drug business in McLean, McLean county, Illinois, in which he remained three years; then sold out and served one year in the printing business ; then resumed the drug trade in Vernon, Ills. One year later he abandoned the business and engaged in the profession of teaching, in which he continued with slight interruption until 1881. The last four years spent in teaching were in Logan county, Illinois.

On the ISth of March, 1881, he established the A'cH/iej/ Gazette, and from that time to the present has conducted that journal. Mr. Spencer is well adapted for the newspaper business, and is a fluent, easy and graceful writer. Prior to his engaging in the printing business he wrote considerable for the press. He is the author of a biography of Edgar Allen Poe ; also of the sketches " In the Streets," " Charter Oak," " The Grave of Little Paul," and others that received the commendation of the press. He has a decided taste for literary work, which was his chief reason for engaging in the printing business. Politically, he is a Republican, and an advocate of temperance.

On the 4th of July, 18G9, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna E., daughter of John and Mary Wells, of Logan county, Ills. By that marriage there have been four children, one of whom is living, a daughter, named May L. Spencer.

Jacob Trowbridge

The subject of the following sketch is among the substantial and enterprising farmers of De Witt county. He is a native of Warren county, Ohio, and was born July 15, ISiti. His grandfather, Abraham Locey Trowbridge, was a native of New Jersey. His son was also of the same name, and was born in the same .state, and was a mere youth when the ftimily moved to Pennsylvania. They settled in Dauphin county, near Harrisburg, and there remained until about the year 1820, when they moved to Warren county, Ohio, which was their home until 1855, when the femily came west to Illinois, and landed in De Witt county, in October of that year. Here Abraham Trowbridge and his son bought a piece of railroad land from the Illinois Central. The tract was located in section twenty of this township. It was raw, unimproved land. They built a house, broke the prairie, and improved it, and continued its cultivation until 1S61; then his youngest son and the subject of this sketch rented a piece of laud near where the village of Kenney now stands, and with them their parents made their home. Afterwards they lived with their son-in-law, Mr. Kirly. Mr. Trowbridge died Oct. 22, 1877. He married Rachel Wampole, a native of Pennsylvania. She died Feb. IS, 1869. There were ten children by that marriage, six sons and four daughters ; - seven of the children have survived the parents. Jacob, the subject of this sketch, remained at home with his father until his marriage. In 1856 he came west to Tunbridge township, where his father and family had preceded him. In September of the same year he returned to Warren county, Ohio, and while there his wife died. In 1861 he came back to Illinois, and engaged in farming near where the village of Kenney now stands. In 1865 he removed to the place where he now lives. While yet a resident of Ohio, and on the 4th April, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss .Mary Gustou, a native of Warren county. She was the daughter of Benage and Lydia Guston. She died in '58. By that union there were two children, named Alice Jane, who is the wife of Howard Rucker, (at present principal of the schools in Mattoon, Ills.); and James A. Trowbridge, a farmer of this township. James A. married Jliss Rachel Jane Griner. On the 9th of September, 1865, Mr. Trowbridge married Mrs. Lydia Ann Wallace, nee Stout. She is a native of Ohio, and was born Jan. 15, 1834. Her parents came west as early as 1840, and settled in Barnett township, in DeWitt county. Her former husband, A. J. Wallace, was a soldier in the 107th regiment during the late war, and died in the service. By her marriage with Mr. Wallace there were four children. By her union with Jacob Trowbridge there are two children living, named .Seymour and Anna Trowbridge ; both are yet beneath the parental roof In his religious faith Mr. Trowbridge is a Universalist. Politically, he was originally an old line whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor in '48 He remained a whig as long as that party existed. In 186 4 he became a democrat, and so continued until 1876, when he voted for Peter Cooper ; but in 1880 he returned to the democratic party, and is now a staunch member of that political organization. Mr. Trowbridge belongs to the class of self-made men. What he has, is the accumulation of his own toil and energy. He started in life poor ; in fact, about all he had was health and strength, and with these he has succeeded in carving out for himself a competency, and at the same time making and maintaining for himself a name for strict honesty and integrity, which, after all, is the best heritage to leave to his posterity.

W. W. Graham

The Graham family on the paternal side came originally from the west of Ireland, and are of Scotch-Irish ancestry. William Graham, the grandfather of W. W., emigrated with his parents to America while yet young and at a period prior to the Revolutionary war. He was a soldier in that memorable struggle. He lived to the great age of one hundred and one years, and died in Warren county, Ohio. His son, Samuel Graham, father of the present Graham family, was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1806. His mother's name was Elizabeth Frazier. He remained there until 1849, when he came west, to- Illinois, and settled three miles east of Waynesville, in De Witt county, where he purchased an old log school-house, and converted it into a dwelling. It was then the fixrthest house out on the prairie, and away from the timber. Dire were the predictions of the old settlers at Mr. Oraham's temerity in venturing so far out on the prairie. He, nevertheless, remained there farming until 1864, when he sold out, and improved another place. In 1865 he was elected County Judge. He was for many years Justice of the Peace in Barnett township. At present he has practically retired to private life. He married Hannah Kirby, a native of Warren county, Ohio. Her parents were natives of New Jersey. The subject of this sketch is the fourth in a family of nine sons and four daughters. He was born in Union county, Ohio, November 2.5, 1837, where his parents moved and lived for four years, after which they returned to Warren county. He was in his twelfth year when the family came to Illinois. His education was limited and confined to the log school-houses of the primitive days of Illinois. He remained at home, at work upon the farm, until his twenty-fifth year ; he then engaged in farming for himself in Barnett township, where he continued until 1873, when he removed to Clinton to take fharge of the office of County Clerk, a position he had been elected to by the people. After his term of office expired he moved back to the farm ; then back to Clinton, and engaged in livery business. In October, 1879, he removed to Kenney, and opened a livery, feed, and sale stable, in which he continued until April, 1881, when he sold out ; since which time he has dealt a little in stock, but more particularly has given his attention to in duties as Police Magistrate, a position he had been elected to November, 1880.

On the 11th of December, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet C. Cushman, a native of Champaign county, Ohio. She died July 21st, 1876. By that marriage there are three children. Their names in the order of their births are, Clavton L., who is book-keeper in a wholesale house in Chicago; Frank W. is a resident and clerk in Wellington, Kansas ; and H. O. Graham, who is yet at home.

On the 31st of .January, 1878, he married Mi.ss Rosa E. Edminston, a native of Bellefontaine, Ohio. One child, a daughter, named Jessie, is the fruit of the latter marriage. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. On the subject of religion he is liberal in his beliefs; politically he is a Republican. In 1873 he was nominated for the office of County Clerk by the party in Convention assembled. The office was not of his own seeking. He was not even present at the convention, but at home on the farm. He was elected by a greater majority than any man on either ticket. In 1880, notwithstanding the town of Kenney was largly Democratic, he was elected Police Magistrate, which is evidence that he stands well in the estimation of the people.

Dr. J. J. Lake

The subject of this sketch is credited with being the third child born in Hancock county, Ohio. The date of his birth was June 16th, ISSl). The Lake family are of Irish ancestry. Three brothers of that name eruigrated to America, and during the war for the independence of the American colonies espoused the patriot's cause and became soldiers in that memorable struggle.

They fought with Washington from Bunker Hill to Yorktown. Asa M. Lake was a native of Vermont. He removed to Kentucky soon after the Revolutionary war, in which struggle he also participated. Some few years later he moved to the Slate of Ohio, which was shortly before admitted to the LInion. He settled in Jackson county, and subsecjuently moved to Hancock county, and there lived until his death, which occurred about 1S.54. He married Charlotte Greer, by whom there were seven children, six of whom lived to maturity; and five are now living. Dr. .J. J. is the second in the family. He received his early education in the schools of his native county, and at the age of eighteen years he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and remained in that institution for two years. In June, 1852, he came west, and stopped in Clinton, De Witt county, Illinois, where he taught school ; and among his pupils there were many of the present middle-aged men of all classes, who now reside in Clinton. He had prior to this time determined to adopt the profession of medicine as the business of his life, and with that idea in view, in 1855, he entered the office of Dr. Goodbrake, then and yet a practising physician of Clinton. He pursued his studies diligently through the years 1855 and 1856, and in the fall of the first year named he entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago ; and graduated, from that institution with the degree of M. D., February 18th, 1857. He returned to the county and commenced the practice of his profession in the town of De Witt in this county, and remained there doing a large and successful practice until 1872. He then removed to Kenney, and there followed his profession until a few years ago, when he practically abandoned it, and engaged in farming. Whether he will continue out of the practice it is difficult to say. Our observation is, that a man who has been so long in the practice can only quit it when compelled to do so from reason of physical disability or other equally controlling causes. He belongs to the progressive school of medicine, and keeps pace with and is well posted in all the discoveries that are daily made in the science of medicine. He is a member of the American Medical Association ; State and De Witt County Medical Societies. In the summer of 1855 he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Cottingham. She died in 1S7-. By that union there are four children living ; their names are, William, Frank, Charles, and Frederick. On the 8th of September, 1876, he married Mrs. Rebecca Wallace, nee Farris, a native of De Witt county, Illinois. By the second marriage there are the following children Fanny Fern, Lillian, and Alitta Beulah. In religious matters Dr. Lake is what might be termed upon the broad-gauge ; that is to say, he is liberal in his belief and is in sympathy with the advanced thought of the day on that question. Politically he is most soundly indoctrinated in the principles and theories of the Republican party; he is one of the pioneers of that political organization. He was the secretary of the first Republican meeting ever held in De Witt county. In 1856 he with a few others had the boldness to cast his vote for the Anti-Slavery candidate - John C. Fremont, and from that time to the present he has on all occasions and at all general elections voted the ticket of his first choice. He is a respected member of I. O. O P. As before intimated, Dr Lake has abandoned the practice of medicine, and is now giving ;dl of his attention to farming and stock-raising, in which he has been quite successful. A view of his residence and grounds can be seen by reference to another page of this work. Dr. Lake in his manners and address is a quiet, unassuming gentleman of good conversational powers, and of varied and extensive reading and information.

iPIIS township received its name from the village of Wapella situated on the Illinois Central railway in the southern part of the township. There is probably no body of land in that county that surpasses it for fertility of soil and general productiveness. It contains a variety of soil ; the central and southern portion being a deep, rich, black loam, specially adapted to the raising of corn, though other grains oan be cultivated with good success. In the last fewyears tiling has been introduced to a considerable extent, and at this writing there are but few acres of the land that are not under good cultivation. The township contains over 28 sections of laud, about one- third of which originally was timber. There is at this time plenty of good timber to supply the wants of the people for fuel, lumber and fencing purposes. The timber belt is mainly in the north, along Lone Brush Creek and its tributaries. This land is somewhat broken, but well adapted to the raising of wheat, blue-grass, fruits, and vegetables. It is of a light yellowish color, and rather shallow in depth. Lone Brush Creek enters the township in the north-east part of section 13, taking mainly a westerly course, and passes out in section 19^ when it discharges its waters into Rock Creek, and from thence into the Kickapoo. Several good springs may be found along the timber not far from the creek banks. The Illinois Central railroad enters the township in the western portion of section 1-5, and passes entirely through it from north to south, and crosses the line of Clintonia and Wapella in section 3. The township is bounded on the north by McLean county, on the east by Wilson and Harp townships, ou the south by Clintonia, and west by Waynesville and Barnett.

Early .Settlements

The first settlements were made in this township in 1S29, by John P. Glenn, William Vinson, and John Young. The former was a native of Virginia, but subsequently went to Kentucky, and moved here and settled in section 1-i, in the spring of 1829. He had a wife and several children, but moved with his family to Iowa, in au early day. None of his representatives are now residing in the county. Mr. Vinson also came from Kentncky about the same time and located in section 23. He had a wife, but no children, and migrated to Iowa about the same time as Mr. Glenn. .John Young came from Kentucky in IS'29, and settled in section 25. He was a man of family, and had a wife and seven children, Polly, Larkin, Bryant, John, Sarah, Nancy, and Kate A. Mr. Young and his wife died several years ago. None of the family reside in the county.

he grew to manhood. Here he married his first wife, Elizabeth Lowe, in the year 1816. Ten years afterwards he moved to Illinois, and stopped for a few years in Vermillion county. In the spring of 1830, he came to this township and settled in section 1.5, entering the E. of the S. E. i of said section. At this time he had a family of seven children, Daniel, George W., Lydia, John H., Elijah W., David P., and Samuel R. The following were born in the township: Elizabeth, Lemuel A., Sarah E., Zilpah, Jemima, Abraham, and Mary J. The foregoing are all children of the first marriage, six of whom are yet living. John H. resides in the township in section 22, and is a successful farmer. Mrs. Swearingen died many years ago, when W. .S. married his second wife, Amy Crum, in 1843. From this union two children have been born, Isaac S., and Jacob W., both of whom are living. Mr. Swearingen is now in his 86th year of age, hale and hearty for one of his years, and is now with his second wife, residing at the old homestead in section 1.5. He has been here 51 years, lived in three diflferent counties, Tazewell, McLean, and De Witt, and yet never moved from section 1.5 since his settlement. We will leave the old settlers to explain this seeming anomaly to their grand-children. Mr. S. represents 100 grand children, 1.50 great grand-children, and 2 great-great grand-children, being 252 decendants in all.

Samuel Spencer came here in 1830, from Kentucky, in the spring of the above year and entered the W. ' of the N. W. J of section 26, when he returned home. In the fall of the same year he moved to the township, bringing his family with him, consisting of his wife, and seven children, William, Lettia, Ann, Lorinda, Joseph, John, and Sarilda. Other children were born to them after coming to the county. Mrs. Spencer died in 1867, and Mr. S lived until about five years ago. None of the family now reside in the con nty.

John Troxell located here in the spring of the same year as Mr. Spencer. He was also from Kentucky, and had a wife and several children. He settled in section 28, but moved to Iowa in an early day. Frederick Troxell, a brother of the former, came from Kentucky and settled here in the same year, in section 32. He also had a family, and remained for several years, when his wife died. He again married and shortly afterward migrated to ^Missouri. None of the family are living in the county-

Another pioneer was Jonathan Harrold. He was born in Virginia, but moved to the state of Indiana in an early day, and migrated to Illinois in 1833, and settled a little north-east of Waynesville, where he remained until his death, which occured in 1836. He brought seven children with him to the state, James M., Isam, jNIitchell, Eli, Mary, Naomi, and Sophronia. Their mode of conveyance was the old four-horse wagon, crooked bed, and sometimes in that day called a steam- boat. In 1842, three children, Isam, Mitchell, and Eli came to this township, procured 200 acres of land lying in section 32 and 33 and settled thereon. Mitchell died in 1873. Isam and Eli are both yet living in section 32. Heniy and David Trosell, Joseph Nelson, and Jonathan Atherton are among the old settlers. David Troxell settled on the farm now owned by Eli Harrold in section 32, and died many years ago. Henry died about 1874. Joseph Nelson is yet living a little north of Wapella, and is one of the oldest men in the county. Jonathan Atherton came from Sangamon county, and settled in section 29. He is yet living at the old homestead. His wife was born in the county in 1829. They have four children living, three sons and one daughter. Mr. Atherton is a substantial farmer, and one of the prominent citizen of the township.

The following are the first land entries made : June 6th, 1829, John P. Glenn entered the W. of the S. E. i of section 14. On the same day, John Young entered the E. » of the S. E. \ of section lo. William Vinson, also at the same date, entered the E. 5 of the N. E. \ of section 23. January 19th, 1830, Frederick Troxell entered the E. i of the N. E. \ of section 32. Abraham Swearingen, on the 26th of May of the same year, entered the E 5 of the S. E. 4 of .section 15. June 1st, 1830, Samuel Spencer entered the W S of the N. W. } of section 26. At the same date John Troxell entered the AV. I of the S W. 1 of section 28.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the first to strike a blow toward the settlement of this township were the pioneers Glenn, Young, and Vinson, as they entered their land on the same day, and were all living here in the spring of 1830, to the personal knowledge of one party who is now living, and has been kind enough to furnish a good deal of the data of the early history of this township. Their houses were all small log cabins, as they had not the means or facilities to build better. The fire-places were constructed very wide, and the winter backlogs were hauled into the house by a horse. The crops raised consisted of a small patch of corn, with a few garden vegetables. At this time the nearest markets were at Peoria and Chicago. Milling was sometimes done at Springfield, then a town of only > two or three hundred inhabitants. Wild game was plenty, and "Uncle" Abraham Swearingen tells of the killing of seven deer while standing on the same log.

The first child born was Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham Swearingen, in July, 1830 ; she is now living in the township, and is the wife of Peter C. Somers. The first death occurred in the same year : the deceased was Melinda, a daughter of John Troxell - she was buried on the laud occupied by Mr. Troxell, in section 22. This finally became a neighborhood place of interment, and subsequently dedicated to public nee as such, and is now known as the " Crum burial-ground."

The first school was taught by Edom Shugart in the winter of ; 1831. The school-house was a pole cabin without any chimney, merely a hole in the roof for the smoke to escape. It was situated in section 27, on the farm now owned by George Hume. It was constructed for a school-house, but was such a miserable excuse for this purpose, that only one term of school was taught in it. James K. Scott was the pioneer preacher, and held the services in the cabins of the settlers. William Ryan and John Montgomery. were also early preachers. i

The first church house was built fay the Christian denomination in 1856. It is a plain frame building, and situated in the little hamlet of Zabriska, in section 22. The church is yet stand- | ing and in a fair state of preservation, and the passer-by would

The first justice of the peace elected was John Montgomery, Sen. He died only two years ago, a citizen of the township, and was nearly a centenarian at his death.

The first post-office was established in 1845, and was kept by Abraham Swearingen at his private residence in section 15. In 1849 it was moved to the hamlet of Zabriska, and subsequently to Wapella.

The first mill was built by Samuel Spencer in 1832, and situated in section 22, on the land now owned by J. L. Barrick. It was a fair mill for that day, and run by a single horse, and had the capacity of grinding about twenty-five bushels of corn per day. The mill with all its belongings disappeared long ago.

The first saw-mill was located at Zabriska, and constructed by AVilliara Rolefson in 1843. It had a small circular saw, and was run by horse-power. Nothing of it remains at this time.

Isam Harrold was the first blacksmith, and the shop was situated on his premises in sec. 32. It was a log cabin constructed for the purpose of a shop in the year 1845. He then had but a meagre set of tools, just enough to shoe a horse or mend a kingbolt. The shop is yet standing, and is conducted by Mr. Harrold for his own and his neighbors' smithing purposes.

At this writing the township abounds in fine farms and improvements of all kinds, its inhabitants not being obliged to undergo a single privation or hardship in order to enjoy the conveniences of what this day and age afford. Good, substantial school-houses are located all through its territory, and thus the best advantages to obtain a common-school education are given to all alike, rich or poor. The roads and bridges are kept in a fair condition, and reasonably passable, except in the wet season of the year. This will be remedied in time by the general system of tiling, which improvement is being pushed forward so rapidly. The old State Highway passes through the township from north to south, along which is located one of the telegraph lines of the State. A novice, at a distance, would conclude that it was another line of railroad.

The following are the supervisors who have represented the township since its organization : - George A. Hume was elected 1859, and selected chairman of the board for that j-ear. Thomas Loer, elected in 1860. Walter Karr, elected in 1861, served one term. Thomas Loer, re-elected in 1862, and served until 1865. W. R. Carle was elected in 1865, and served one term. T. L. Grofl', elected for the year 1866. W. R. Carle, re-elected in 1867. H D. Watson, elected in 1868 ; and William Wright in 1869. E. B. Harrold was elected in 1870, and served until 1875. Jacob Parlier, elected in 1875, and served four terms. F. L. Harpster, elected in 1881, and is the present incumbent.

Village Of Wapella

This town was laid out by David A. Neal in the fall of 1854, and the first lots were sold in the spring of 1855. Neal was in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and was then the vice-president of the road. He it was that gave it a name, and it was first spelled Wapellah. The first survey was made by the civil engineer of the railroad company, the then county surveyor of De Witt being Alexander Barnett, who simply recognized said survey without certifying to it officially. For this reason and some little dispute with regard to some of the corners it was again surveyed in 1861, by Oliver Lakin, then county surveyor. The lines, streets, and all were left intact, no change being made from the original platting. The following is the official description of its boundaries. : Commencing at the Dorth-east corner of the south-east quarter of the south-east quarter of section 34, town 21, range 2 east the 3rd principal meridian ; thence running west one-half mile, thence south one mile, lacking fifteen rods ; thence east one-half mile ; thence north one mile, lacking fifteen rods to the place of beginning. At onetime, soon after the railroad was built, in 1854, '5, it looked as though Wapella might be the leading town in De Witt county. The Central Railroad built an immense brick hotel here, and located the machine-.shops and round-house at this point, expecting to make this the central objective point between the northern and southern termini of the road. The question of moving the County Seat from Clinton to Wapella was mooted in 1S57, and the battle between the two places wa.xed warm, but the effort proved a failure. In 1879, another eflbrt was made to the same end, but proved abortive as before. In this effort it was proposed to change the boundaries of the county Hue, the petition ai-king for a p irtion of the southern part of McLean county to be joined to De Witt; thereby making Wapella more central. The machine shops were subsequently moved to Clinton, and the question of changing the county seat was abandoned.

The first to settle in what is now the village of AVapella was Gibson Coy, in the summer of 1853, at the time of the grading of the Central Railroad. His house was a board shanty, 16x40, situated in the middle of what is now called East and West Centre street. The shanty had bunks arranged one above the other, extending along on either side of the building, and were filled with straw for sleeping purposes- Samuel Rounds was the architect, and by trade a ma,son and bricklayer. He afterwards made the brick for the machine shops and hotel for the Railroad Company, aud aided in their construction. The second inhabitant was Philip Donnigan. He built a small shanty for a dwelling, 12x16, and it was situated on Xorth Main street. This was the same year as the above. Daniel Thompson sold the first goods. The store-house was a little shanty, and located in the lot now occupied by A. D. Metz's business house on South First street. This was in the fall of 1854. He continued here in business until 1878, when he moved to Lead City. .Mr. Thompson was also the first postmaster, and the office was established in 1855. He kept the mail matter in his store, and every person helped himself to his own mail. The second frame house constructed in the place was a story-and-a-half building, 18x26, and situated on South First street. It was built in the fall of 1854, and utilized for a hotel, and kept liy A. J. Foster. The sleeping rooms were in the upper story. The beds were eight in number, and so closely packed together that one could scarcely pass between them. It was no uncommon occurrence to stow away the guests with three in a bed. At that time it was neither lathed nor plastered. It is yet standing and occupied by Isaac Bolin for a dwelling. The large brick hotel built by the railroad company was commenced in 1854, and completed the following year at an expense of about §20,000. It is now utilized by the company for a general freight-house and ticket-office.

William Ciraves was the first blacksmith in the town. His shop was a board shanty, and situated on Locust street, between South First aud South Second streets. This was in 1854. The shop was torn away long ago.

The first brick edifice constructed, except the railroad buildings, was built by John.son and Rigg for a store-house in 1855. It is situated on the corner of North First and Oak streets, and is now occupied by J. il. Green for a grocery, boot and shoe store. Father O'Harry held the first church services in 1854, in the shanty of Philip Donnigan. Dr. John Wright was the first to practice medicine, about the same year as the above. He then lived with Joseph Spencer, a mile north of town. The first teacher was J. C. House, who taught in the summer of 1857. The school-house was a board shanty, 16x20 feet, and situated in lot 5, block 7, corner of Locust and North First streets. It was built by Lewis Celeskia, and is yet standing. It was last used for a barber-shop on Locust street. Gibson Coy was the first elected Justice of the Peace, in 1856. He soon afterwards resigned, and Thomas Loer was elected to fill the vacancy. The first church building was constructed by the M. E. Church in 1858, and located on the corner of Locust and South Third streets. It is a frame building, 35x45 feet iu size, and cost about 81,500. It has a cupoli aud bell, and is still in good condition for holding church services- The town now contains three other churches - Catholic, Christian, and Presbyterian, - -a full history of which will be found in the Ecclesiastical chapter. The first fruit tree and the first fence-post was set by J. D. Metz in 1855. The latter was placed at the corner of South First aud Locust streets. It was removed only two years ago.

Incui-poi-dtiim. - The preliminary meeting for incorporating the town was held on the 9th of February, 1867- Daniel Thompson was chosen president of the meeting, and F- M. Vanlue, secretary. A vote being taken for and against incorporating, resulted in 37 ayes and 17 uays. The first election for officers was held on the 16th of February following. Daniel Thompson, T. Green, E. Swift, F. M. Vanlue, and J- D- Metz were elected trustees. At the meeting of the board, Daniel Thompson was chosen president, and F. M. Vanlue secretary, for the ensuing year.

The present village officers are, President, W- R. Carle; other members of the board, (}. R. Davis, H. B. Ives, A. H. Lighthall, James Buttcrworth and A- D- Metz. Village Clerk, Edward Norvell.

The town now comprises about 400 inhabitants, principally of American aud Irish nationality. It is strictly a temperance town, and it is said by the inhabitants that it is prospering under this regime, there not having been an inmate of the calaboose for more than two years, and business being good for a country town- It has had its ups and downs in various ways, by first losing the hope of making it at some time the future county seat, and subsequently the removal of the machine shops and round house of the Central Railroad. In the winter of 1867, the smallpox prevailed in the town to an alarming extent. It is said that there were not less than a hundred cases of this dread disease and varioloid, only five of which, however, proved fatal. And yet with all its drawbacks, it is a growing and thrifty little village, with fair side-walks, business houses and other improvements to make it a pleasant place in which to reside.

Girle & ISatterwortli's Warehouse. - This is one of the largest grain houses in the county, and is situated on the west side of the railroad and south of south First street- The building is a brick, and was formerly used by the Illinois Central Railroad Company for their car shops. It is two stories, and 41x160 feet in size. It contains 5 dumps and a storing capacity of 50,000 bushels of grain, besides cribs sufficient to contain 25,000 bushels of corn. The dumps including approaches are 320 feet in length. This firm is composed of experienced grain dealers, and was established August 1st, 1881-

Warehouse of E. Kent & Co., is located just west of the railroad and north of south First street. The business was established in 1877, and the building of the firm is leased from the Central Railway Company. It was originally a part of the car shops of the company, and is a brick building, 32 feet high, and 40x100 feet on the ground. It contains three dumps, and a capacity of storing 2.^,000 bushels of grain ; also, 400 feet of cribs which will hold 20,000 bushels of corn.

Corn Grist Mill, owned and operated by A. A. & W. Alexander. This was the first and only enterprise of the kind established in the town. It was built in 1875, and is situated west of the railroad track in the northern part of the town. The building is a frame, one story, and 22x84 feet in size. It has an engine power of 2.5 horses, and has the capacity of grinding 1.50 bushels of meal daily. Three men are given employment, The proprietors propose to enlarge their mill, and make many new improvements, suitable to a first-class flouring mill.

A tile factory and saw mill are also situated about two miles north of the village near the Central Railroad. The former is owned and conducted by Karr & Downing, the latter by John Marker. The engine of the tile works also runs the saw mill.

The present school-house was built in 1868, at a cost of S7,000 including furniture and ground. It is a neat frame building, two stories high, and 34x50 feet on the ground. It also contains an L 14x18 feet, and of the same height as the main building. Three teachers are employed, and therefore the school is fairly graded. The house has a cupola and bell, and is surrounded by one acre of ground. Maximum attendance 150 pupils. Carle's Hall is situated in the building over the store-room of A. .1. Latimer. The hall is 22x48 feet, and is conveniently seated with chairs, and can accommodate an audience of 100 persons. It has a stage 10x22 feet.

Society

Fore.it Lodge, No. 255, I. O. 0. F. was chartered October 15, 1858. The charter members were, I. N. Frost, W. T. Sherr, George Harrington, William Green, and Lewis Carey. The following are the present officers : I. S. Swearingen, N. G. ; C. W. Short, V. G. ; E. J. Caddy, Seo: ; A. A. Alexander, Treas. ; E. J. Caddy, " Rep." Present membership 35. The Lodge meets in Woy's Hall every Saturday night. The Lodge financially is in a good condition, having monevs, notes, and property valued at SI ,000.

The little hamlet of Zabriska is situated on the old state road three miles north of Wapella, and from its general appearance would strike the observer as having its origin as early as 1800 ; but this is a mistake, as it dates back only to about 1850. A mill was erected here at this time, and as it was situated on the public thoroughfare of the township (there then being no railroad) a nucleus was formed, which under favorable circumstances would have finally developed into a town. The hamlet now contains seven houses with a population of about thirty inhabitants, and is one of the landmarks peculiar to the state road of ye olden times, prior to the screeching of the iron horse through the prairies of central Illinois.

Biographecal Sketches

The world loves to honor those who through their own exertions and by virtue of native ability acquire enviable positions in life. Success is largely measured by one's acquisition of property, and he who begins in poverty and unaided works his way to wealth, is looked upon as successful in life. To this class belongs William R. Carle, who was born in Wellsburg, West Virginia, INIarch 24th, 1832. His parents were John Carle and Rebecca Carle, (nee Miller) natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Ephraim P. Carle, who lived in New Jersey, was a Hollander, his wife, Nancy Clark, was of .Scotch origin. AVilliam R., was the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children. His father was a carpenter by trade but forsook its following for the more lucrative business of manufacturing cotton cloth. He erected a factory in Williamsburg, and in company with others opened a store in connection therewith. In 1857 the company failed, so that William, whose advantages had been good for the acquisition of knowledge found himself confronting a cold world, jienniless. Although poor in means he was rich in energy, in tact and talent. He left his native home for the west ; reaching St. Louis he found cholera reaping its harvest of death, and so made his way north-ward to Bloomingtou. Here he took charge of a public school just outside the limits of the city. For this work his attainments, commanding presence and excellent judgment well fitted him. His success is attested by many patrons, and further by the fact that his services were in demand. He taught in Major's Grove without interruption, summer and winter for three years, when having saved some means he formed a co-partnership with David S. Hord, in the grain business. The new firm bought a warehouse just being constructed, and had the misfortune to lose it by fire when it was ready for occupancy. With commendable energy they built upon its ruins and within thirty days were in occujjation. In 18.59 he disposed of his interest to his partner. As indicative of the fact that his a b c in the grain trade was dearly bought experience, he found himself barely square with the world financially ujjon closing out his share in the business. In April, 1859, he formed a co-partnership with Sabin Taylor, to prosecute the grain trade in Clinton, which they did in the place now occupied by Emmett Kent. Disposed of his interest in July, and in August located in Wapella, where he worked for an old Englishman named Dixon, for $1.25 per day. At the expiration of two months service Dixon proposed a partnership if he would raise one hundred dollars. He at once went to Bloomington, where he was well known, and borrowed the amount on thirty days time. This business move, proved eminently successful and through its means was laid the foundation of a competency enjoyed by the subject of this sketch. Mr. Carle continued in the grain trade until the fall of 1862, when he disposed of it to E. Kent & Co., and bought a stock of general merchandise. In the dry goods trade he continued until 1865, when he again entered the grain trade, combining with it, dealing in lumber, this time in connection with E. B. Harrold. This arrangement was continued a year when he pursued the business alone until 1869, when he went to California on account of failing health, returned after a single seasons [sojourn in the Golden State, and resumed the general merchandise business here. In the fall of 1870, he was elected a member of the 27th General Assembly, by a majority of two hundred and forty votes. As a member, the same business tact, integrity acd ' earnestness that have ever followed him through life, gave him a reputation as an able legislator. The same year, 1870, he was elected President of the Clinton National Bank, a position he held for three years. Mr. Carle has continued in the grain trade since his return from his California trip, and also for part of the time in general merchandising. Politically Mr. Carle is an active outspoken Democrat, as undeviating in his devotion as the needle to the pole. In religion he is just as firm and faithful to the Disciple's faith, contending earnestly for the restoration of the primitive order of things. Possessed of rare social qualities, unquestioned integrity of character, he enjoys the respect and esteem of hosts of friends. His tall, athletic figure, being six feet four inches in height, and proportionally built, commands attention among his fellows. His business career, so uniformly successful since he gained his' first foothold in 1869, calls for admiration and emulation.