DeKalb County, Illinois - The whole text, 1885 (part 18 of 28)

Mr. Corson was a farmer in his native county until the spring of 1864, when he removed with his family, consisting of his wife and four children, to De Kalb County. He bought 140 acres of land in Genoa Township, on section 3, immediately after his removal hither, on which he prosecuted his agricultural work until 1877, about which time he rented the place to a tenant and bought 40 acres on section 28 - since constituting his homestead. In the spring of 1878 he went with his family to Colorado and

New Mexico, and spent about nine months, returning to his home in Genoa Township. In political principle and preference he is identified with the Democrats.

The marriage of Mr. Corson to Eliza A. F. Hewlett took place Oct. 31, 1850, in Lycoming Co., Pa. Mrs. Corson is one of 12 children, - Edward, Caroline, Charlotte, Sophia, Drusilla, Eliza A. F., Thomas, Angeline, Charles, Catherine, William E. and Henry C. Mrs. Corson was born Feb. 5, 1831, in Lycoming County, and is the daughter of Charles and Martha (Croft) Hewlett, the former a native of England, the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Corson have had four children born to them, - Horton H., Angeline, Mary D. and Carrie E. The youngest child died when 16 months old.

ohn Ray, farmer, residing at Shabbona, was born in Nassau, Germany, Jan. 10, 1820, and is a son of John J. and Catharine Ray, natives of that country. He received a good common-school education in his native country, and prior to majority had mastered the stone-mason's trade. In 1849 he emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York city July 15 of that year. He proceeded from that place to Monroe County, that State, where he resided for about four years and then came to this State, locating at Piano, Kendall County. He followed the vocation of a farmer in that county for five years, when he removed to Victor Township, this county, and continued in the same occupation until 1864. During the latter year he moved to Shabbona Township and on Feb. 9, of that year, purchased 160 acres of land located on section 15, that township.

On the construction of the railroad through Shabbona Township, Mr. Ray gave the right of way through his farm, and also donated an undivided half interest in 17 acres to secure the establishment of a station at Shabbona. He aided by his liberality and public-spiritedness very materially in establishing the village of Shabbona.

Mr. Ray was married in his native country Jan. 10, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Enders. She is a daughter of George and Mary Enders, and was born in Nassau, Germany. They have been blessed with nine chil- A_Q 5%»JK__ dren, three of whom were born in Germany, namely : William H., the present editor and publisher of the Shabbona Express ; John Ferdinand died in this country, aged 12 years and 8 months; Lissette H. is the wife of George Hochstrasser and resides at Willow Creek, Lee Co., 111. The remaining six children were born in this -country. "They are : John P., married Lotta Heun ; Benjamin F. married Laura Linthicum ; George A. married Miss Sarah J. Houghtby ; John A. died in infancy ; Emma A. is unmarried and lives at home ; Esther H. is the wife of M. L. Stevens and resides in Shabbona.

ichael Zeigler, a farmer on section 22, Pierce Township, was born Sept. 20, 1820, in Wurtemburg, Germany. His father, Michael Zeigler, was a native of Baden and married Elizabeth Steinle, who was born in Wurtemburg. He was a land-holder five miles from the chief city of his province, and his residence £, was in the village of Pfahlbash.

Mr. Zeigler was sent to school eight years and obtained a good education. In 1847, accompanied by his brother, he set out in a sail vessel for America, and in 28 days landed at New York. He proceeded from that city to Pennsylvania and spent a few months as a clerk. He came next to Chicago, where . he prospected for a couple of weeks, and went thence to Michigan. He spent a few months as a saw-mill assistant, but he contracted the ague and returned to

'health. He next made his way to Du Page County, and during the summer following worked on a farm in Kane County. In 1850 he contracted the California gold " fever," and in company with five men and six teams set out for an overland journey to the land of promise, carrying with them their supplies. The journey consumed four months. Mr. Zeigler passed

0 ^ the route across the Isthmus and by steamer, thence to New York, coming from there to De Kalb County. He bought 160 acres of land on section 22, Pierce

Township, which included 20 acres of broken prairie and a log house. At date of writing, 32 years after making his purchase, Mr. Zeigler has his farm all improved and excellent farm buildings. His marriage to Laura Ramer took place in 1853. Their children are - Ferdinand, Edward, Reuben and Melinda.

Imon W. Lake, farmer and stock-grower, section 25, Paw Paw Township ; . postoffice, Leland. He was born in Sterling, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 13, 1829, and is the son of John and Catharine (Van Tassel) Lake, of English descent on the father's side, and of German on the mother's. When 10 years of age he emigrated to Hancock Co., 111., arriving May 31, 1840. In the spring of 1845, he came to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb County, and purchased a part of his present farm, of the Government, in 1849. He worked out at $i i a month to earn money to pay for it, and subsequently purchased another tract of 80 acres, making 160 in all. He was married in Paw Paw Township, Jan. 5, 1860, to Mary E. Dennis, daughter of John and Margaret (McFarland) Dennis. Mrs. Lake was born in the township of Argyle, Washington Co., N. Y., April 16, 1842. They have one child, a son, Myron E., born Jan. 15, 1863.

le Jorgensen Prestegard, of the firm of Christopher & Jorgens, dealers in grain, lumber, coal and live stock, in the village of Lee, was born in Norway, April 23, 1841, the son of Jorgen and Gruenelda Prestegard. He emigrated from his native land to America in 1864, coming directly to Illinois and settling in the township of Alto, Lee County, where he engaged in farming. He purchased 320 acres of land, situated on sections 35 and 36, which he still owns and on which he still resides.

In 1871 he formed the existing partnership with C. Christopher, in the business above mentioned. He moved to the village of Lee in September, 1874, where he resided till the spring of 1885, and he then removed to the farm in Alto, still continuing his business at Lee. As a business man he has a reputation for enterprise and fair dealing of which any man might be proud.

He was married in Alto Township Dec. 24, 1868, to Gorend Pedersen, daughter of Lars and Segeri Pedersen. She was born in Norway. They have had a family of eight children, namely: Gruelda, Lars, Gorgen, Sarah (ist) deceased, Sarah (2d), Peder O., deceased, and Olaf G.

^dward Molitor, M. D., practicing physican and surgeon at Somonauk, is the son of Dr. Nicholas and Rosa (Salmon) Molitor and was born in Somonauk, Dec. 31, 1862. His father was a native of Bavaria and was graduated at Rush Medical College in Chicago. He came to Somonauk in 1860. He was for 23 years a practicing physician and surgeon at Somonauk. He died March 12, 1883, at Somonauk, aged 58 years.

He educated his son in his profession, and the latter was graduated Feb. 20, 1883, at Rush Medical College, and on his father's decease a month later succeeded to his office and practice, and is doing an extensive and prosperous business. Dr. Molitor was a student at Notre Dame, Ind., two terms, 1879-80, previous to his matriculation at Rush College, and received a medical certificate from that University, dated June 23, 1880.

ussell B,. Brown, deceased, formerly a farmer on section 36, Clinton Township, was born in the State of New York, in September, 1816. In the family of his parents, James and Fanny (Scott) Brown, were five children, - Russell R., Morris P., Adelia, Abi and Emma.

Mr. Brown came to De Kalb County with his parents in 1846 and entered a quarter-section of land in Clinton Township, where he followed agriculture until his death, which was a most distressing circumstance. He was driving a team of spirited horses near his home, when they became frightened and ran, throwing him out and breaking his back. He died ten days afterwards, from the result, July 3, 1864.

Mr. Brown was married Dec. 19, 1850, to Miss Nancy Warner, daughter of Ralph and Clara Warner. She came to Henry Co., 111., with her parents in 1845 and to De Kalb in 1850. In her father's family were ji children, namely : Wilson, Amos, Hester, Rhoda, Nancy, Calvin, John, Marrilla, Orman, David and Mary A. The deceased are Rhoda, Marrilla and Mary A. Mrs. Brown was born in Elizabethtown, Canada, March 10, 1826. She is the mother of five children, namely: Fred A., born Sept. 16, 1851; Ralph R., born Oct. 7, 1853, married Anna M. Beveridge Feb. 18, 1880, and resides in Clinton Township; Grace was born March 27, 1855, and married A. G. Case, July 14, 1878 ; he is a hardware merchant at Aurora; Sarah, was born July 13, 1860, and died Nov. 4, 1862 ; Grant, born March 14, 1864.

mma Stevens, deceased, formerly a citizen of Shabbona, was born in Connecticut, Sept. 21, 1788, and was a son of Daniel Stevens. He was seven years of age when his parents moved with him to Vermont. In 1836 he moved to Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y., and in 1840 to Cook Co., 111., where he resided three years ; next, in Du Page Co., 111., for a time, and finally, in 1848, he settled in Shabbona, where he lived until his death, which occurred Feb. 9, 1870.

He was married Nov. 24, 1814, in West Haven, Vt., to Miss Polly, daughter of Wm. Talmadge, and a native of the Green Mountain State. They had a family of five children, namely : Edwin F., born May 3, 1821, was drowned in Lake Michigan Oct. 23, 1841 ; Demmon D., born June 2, 1823, married Charlotte E. Smith and lives in the township of Shabbona; William H. O., born Jan. 30, 1827, married Elnora Waters and resides in Shabbona; Enoch W., born Nov. 15, 1830, married first Elizabeth Park and afterward Hannah Kittle, and is now living in Shabbona Township ; and Franklin O., born Sept. 14, 1832, was also twice married, first

In his life-time, Mr. Stevens was a Jackson Democrat, and since the organization of the Republican .-£, party he was a member of that body. Mrs. S., his widow, who was born June 17, r793, departed this life July 4, 1873.

'ohn H. Larson, farmer, section 3, Paw Paw Township, has 216 acres in this township and 83 acres in Shabbona township. He was born in the town of Adams, La Salle Co., 111., Feb. 14, 1847, and is the son of Lars and Caroline (Holverson) Larson. His parents were born in Norway and came to America in childhood.

John H. was brought up on a farm, and was married in Dodge Co., Minn., Jan. 8, 1868, to Miss Sarah Stevenson, daughter of Sjure and Annie (Seeverts) Stevenson. Mrs. Larson was born in the town of Rutland, La Salle Co., 111., July 18, 1847. They have had seven children, - five boys and .two girls: Edward L., born Oct. 7, 1868; Frank S., Jujy 16, 1870; Albert O., Oct. 3, 1872; Nellie A., May 10, r876; Emma C., Sept. 9, r878; John C., Nov. 13, 1 88 1 ; and one child died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. Larson was engaged in farming in La Salle County till the fall of 1875, when he purchased his present farm upon which he moved in January, 1876, and has made his home here continuously since. Mr. Larson is one of the most successful farmers arid stock-growers in Paw Paw Township. Politically he is a Republican.

plbert Hinds, farmer and tile manufacturer, section 29, Clinton Township, is a native of the Empire State. His parents, Thomas and Phebe (Bent) Hinds, were natives of Massachusetts, married in Vermont and settled in New York State, where they finally died. They had a family of 13 children.

March 29, 1818. He lived in his native State until his emigration westward, with the exception of about three years, which he spent in Canada. In 1849 he settled in Clinton Township, this county, purchasing a farm of 65 acres, which he afterwards sold. He then bought 300 acres on sections 29 and 30, most of which is tillable, where he now resides.

In public affairs Mr. Hinds holds the principles of the Republican party, has been School Director about 30 years, and held other positions of public trust.

He was married in Canada August 20, 1843, to Fanny Richardson, a daughter of William and Jane (Schermerhorn) Richardson, who was born in Canada, March T4, 1824. Mr. and Mrs. H. have become the parents of six children, four of whom survive, namely: Albert, Jr., William R., Carlos W., and Orvis. The deceased are Emily and Gilbert L.

euben Allen, deceased, formerly a farmer of Shabbona Township, was one of the early pioneers of that section of the county. He was born in the town of Ira, Rutland Co., Vt., July 30, 1787, and was married Feb. 1 1, r8r3, to Miss Nancy Andrews, who was born in the town of Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn., Dec. 25, 1792. He removed in early manhood, with his family, to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he was one of the first pioneers, and where he engaged in farming a number of years. He next removed to Jefferson County in the same State, where he carried on the dairy business. In his younger days he had been brought up to both farming and dairying.

In the spring of 1845 he emigrated to the West, settling at Shabbona, this county, where he entered land at Government price, on section 24 of town 38, range 3 east, and on section 19, town 38, range 4 east, - 320 acres in all. Here he continued his agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred Sept. 20, 1850. He was a Justice of the Peace several years, and also held other offices. In politics he was a Free-Soil Democrat. He was an honorable, upright man, who commanded the respect and esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens.

By his death, Mr. Allen left a widow, four sons and two daughters. The children were Benjamin F.; Harvey E.; Almira M., wife of Earl B. Hines, of

Jefferson Co., N. Y.; Hiram P.; Laura E., wife of William Bowers, of Clinton, 111.; and Martin V., of Shabbona. Mrs. Allen, an estimable lady, survived her husband about 16 years, dying in 1866, at the old omestead.

appan R. Elliott, farmer, residing on sec. 4 (and owning the west half of lots i and 2 of the northeast quarter), Afton Township, is a son of Ephraim and Mary (Robie) Elliott, natives of Chester, Rockingham Co., N. H. His father was a young man at the date of the Revolutionary War, and, sympathizing with the " sons of freedom " in their battle for liberty and country, enlisted as a privateer on board an American vessel. He was captured and sent to the " Old Mill " prison, Ireland, and was kept there until the end of the war. The prison was said to be haunted, and the fact was so thoroughly impressed on the minds of the prisoners that it added twofold to the misery of their confinement. He had the small-pox, as the result of vaccination. Mr. Elliott also had an uncle who was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary Army. He participated in the battle of Bennington, and during that memorable engagement received a gunshot wound, the ball entering one side and was extracted at the other; but he recovered from its effect. At the close of the war the father of Mr. Elliott was exchanged and returned to New Hampshire, where he engaged in farming, and where he resided until his death. He was appointed Ensign of the Militia in 1793, and Lieutenant in 1795, by Gov. Bartlett, and in 1800 he was appointed Captain of a company by Gov. J. T. Gilman ; he was also a member of the New Hampshire Legislature.

From the foregoing history, we see that Mr. Elliott of this sketch comes from the old " Revolutionary stock," of which an American of this generation may justly feel proud. He was born in the town of Thornton, Grafton Co., N. H., Nov. 18, 1809. He was an inmate of the family household and assisted on the farm until he attained the age of manhood. In addition to the education he received at the common schools he was, through the generosity of an uncle, an attendant at an academy for a year.

He came to Kane County, this State, in 1839, and remained at the residence of a married sister for about six months, and then returned to New Hampshire. Previous to coming his patents died, and Mr. Elliott sold the old homestead. On returning to his native State, he purchased a farm in Merrimac County, four miles from Manchester in the same State, on which he lived and which he cultivated for several years and then sold. In the spring of 1855 he again came to this State, accompanied by his wife and son, and on June 27 of that year purchased the farm on which he at present resides. It was a wild piece of land, in the natural condition, and Mr. Elliott, having faith in the future development of the country, and a desire to establish a home, entered at once upon the laborious task of its improvement. He has planted about six acres of timber.

When he first came to the State he made the trip overland with a horse and buggy, with others who were seeking a home in the West. - Mr. Elliott has been twice married. His first matrimonial alliance was with Miss Elmira, daughter of Nathan and Mary (Basford) Carr, and occurred Dec. 14, 1837. She accompanied him to this county on his second trip, and lived on the farm until her death, Oct. 6, 1855. She was the mother of one child by Mr. Elliott, Wm. Francis, born Nov. 17, 1840, and at present living on the old homestead.

He was married a second time at Dixville, Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 28, 1858, to Mrs. Hannah J. Kelley, widow of William C. Kelley, who died at the age of 33 years, in Westchester Co., N. Y. He was the father of one child, T. Augustus Kelley, born in Westchester County, March i, 1849. He is now living inCalhoun Co., lowra, near Lake City, at which place Mr. Elliott has a farm of 160 acres adjoining that on which the son resides. The maiden name of Mrs. Elliott was Hannah J. Parker.

Mr. Elliott has been Highway Commissioner and School Director, the latter of which offices he held for nine years. Politically he is a Republican.

The portrait of Mr. Elliott appears in this work, and, in company with this brief sketch, will stand for ages to come, as portraying and representing a man respected and esteemed by the community in which he lived.

.rederick Clapsaddle, farmer, section 24, Paw Paw Township, postoffice, Leland, La Salle County, has 175^ acres, a portion of which lies in Victor Townsjiip, and two and one-half acres in Ross Grove. He was born in Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 827, a son of George A. and Nancy (Bellinger) Clapsaddle, was brought up a farmer, came to Paw Paw in the spring of 1851, settled on his present farm, and has made this his home continually since. Was married in Frankfort, Will Co., 111., Nov. to, 1853, to Marenda Hare, a daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Rice) Hare. She was born in Houghton, Canada, Nov. 6, 1836, and came to Ohio with her parents in 1849. Their children were: Dan, born March 29, 1855 ; Myron H., Oct. 30, 1859, lives in Iowa; Omer, born Dec. 3, 1861 ; Harry B., June 26, 1869; Hattie M., Sept. 23, 1871 ; Andrew F., March 12,1874; Neva M , June 28, 1879. Dan married Mrs. Ida Everson and lives in East Paw Paw, Lee County ; Omer married Mary C. Cox and lives in Paw Paw Township.

Tohn B. Fulle, farmer, section 16, Clinton |{j- Township, is a son of Peter and Mary A. (Enderle) Fulle, who were. natives of Ger- £" many and spent their entire lives in their native land. They had 16 children, all of whom are deceased, excepting the subject of this sketch, the youngest of the family.

Mr. Fulle was born in Germany, Aug. 26, 1836, and when 1 8 years of age he emigrated to the "land of the free." After a year's residence in New York city he was employed about six months in New Jersey on a farm, then about four months on Long Island, next about ten months in a machine-shop at Buffalo, N. Y., one year in Chicago at various occupations, a few months in a woolen mill at Aurora, 111., and finally, in the summer of 1856, he came to De Kalb County and purchased 80 acres -of section 16, Clinton Township, where he resided until about 1871. He then built the " Clinton House," a hotel, which he conducted about five years, when he rented and afterward sold the property, returning to his farm, where he has since lived, in the successful prosecution of agriculture. In political matters he generally votes the Republican ticket.

He was married in Kane Co., 111., April 14, 1862, to Margaret Jones, daughter of Joseph and Mary Jones, and they have had three children - Ida M., Mary E. and Henry F. They also have an adopted daughter, named Mabel E. Cutler. Mrs. Fulle was born in Wales, May 27, 1840. Her brothers and sister are William, Walter, Henry and Anna.

euben Challand, retired farmer, residing at Shabbona, was born in East Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire, England, Feb. 7, 1821, nd is a son of Charles and Ann (Freeman) Challand, natives of that country. Reuben Challand received a good common-school education in his native country. Early in life he engaged to learn the blacksmith's tr.ade, which he mastered and followed in his native country until 1851. During that year he emigrated to the United States, arriving at New York city May 30. He spent three months in Genesee County, that State, then came to Aurora, this State, remained nine months and then removed to Shabbona Grove, this county. On arriving at the latter place, he opened a shop and worked at his trade for three years. He had meanwhile purchased a farm on section 8, Shabbona Township, on which, after disposing of his shop at Shabbona Grove, he moved his family. He subsequently increased his original purchase to 253^ acres, and continued to reside on the farm until 1875. He then retired from farming and removed to Aurora, and the following year (1876) sold his farm. He lived at Aurora two years,' until 1877, and then moved to Shabbona, where he has resided since, and where he has a fine residence and six lots.

Mr. Challand was married May 15. 1843, to Miss Rebecca Brownlow. She was a daughter of Thomas Brownlow, and was born in England, March 8, 1820. They had seven children, four born in England, namely: Charles, Feb. n, 1844; Elizabeth, Aug. n, 1845; George, Oct. 12, 1846; and Reuben, March 5, 1849. Sarah N., born May 2, 1854 ; Esther R., Oct. 14, 1856; and Emily M., June

1859, are natives of this country. Charles is a physician at Charlotte, Iowa, and married Annie Markham. Elizabeth is the wife of Charles Hallam, of Shabbona. George married Alice Greenfield and resides in Iowa. Reuben married Mary Cults and lives on the old homestead in Shabbona Township. Sarah N. is the wife of Weekman Stimpson, of Shabbona. Esther is the wife of George Cults, resident in La Salle Co., 111. Emily M. is the wife of Wm. Van Velzor, resident of Shabbona.

Mrs. Challand died March 24, 1873, and Mr. Challand was again married Dec. 30, 1874, at Naperville, 111., to Mrs. Ann Ashland, widow of John Ashland and daughter of William and Nancy (Hurt) Wells. She was born in Northscar, Lincolnshire, Eng., Oct. 1 6, 1818, and came to the United States in 1850. By her first marriage she had four children, one son and three daughters, namely : Jennie, born June r, 1848; Helen, Nov. 24, 1850; Annie, Nov. 4, 1853; and William W. A., Jan. i, 1856. Jennie was the wife of William North and died June 8, 1876, in Du Page County. Helen is the wife of Wallie Jones, a resident of Du Page County, and they have one son, Frank J. Annie was the wife of Hiram Davis and died Sept. 22, 1881, leaving one child, Gracie. William W. A. is single and resides on a farm in Du Page County.

D. Weddell, a pioneer farmer of Paw Paw Township, section 21, has 517 acres of land. He was born in Westmoreland, Pa., March 8, 1824, and is the son of Jesse and Nancy Weddell. He removed to Indiana in childhood with his parents. He was brought up on a farm and subsequently learned the carpenter's trade. In 1849 he went to Iowa, where he bought land, but did not become a resident. He came to Paw Paw the same year and purchased his land on section 21, where he engaged in farming and stock-growing on a large scale, till the spring of 1883, when he retired from active farming. He was married in Indiana to Agnes G. Vail, daughter of Charles C. and Ann (Jeffries) Vail. Mrs.

Weddell was born in Fayette Co., Pa., April 9, 1829. They had three children - one son and two daughters : Nancy A., born March 22, 185 1, wife of E. B. Powers, of Paw Paw Township; Charles V., born Aug. 9, 1853, married Mary Nisbet and lives in Paw Paw Township ; the youngest, Elma A., was born Nov. 6, 1866, and is unmarried. Mrs. Weddell died Dec. 16, 1881, and Mr. Weddell was married again in June, 1883, to Mrs. Priscilla M. Upton, sister of his former wife.

-artin L. Posson, Treasurer of Pierce Township, was born July 8j 1833, in the town of Knox, Albany Co., N. Y. His parents, John and Betsey (Partridge) Pqsson, were both natives of the State of New York, and reared their son to a knowledge of agricultural pursuits, meanwhile giving him a fair education in the common schools.

When he was 21 years of age he went to Tama Co., Iowa, for the purpose of buying land, and after accomplishing his purpose he went back to the State of New York. He was married Feb. 5, 1857, to Sophia E. West. She was born May 28, 1837, in the town of Berne, Albany Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Benjamin C. and Eunice (June) West. A few weeks after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Posson went to Iowa City by rail and then by stage to Tama County. But they made only a short stay there, returning to Joliet, 111. There Mr. Posson was employed as an assistant in the construction of the State prison. He acted in the capacity of teamster and drew some of the first stone used in the building. In the fall of the same year he negotiated for the management of a farm adjoining Joliet and conducted its affairs one year, after which ~he spent another year on a rented farm and in the spring of 1860 came to De Kalb County and exchanged his land in Tama County, Iowa, for 80 acres of land on section 35, on which he commenced the work of improvement. He plowed the land, set out an orchard, dug a well and after adding to the buildings sold the place, and bought 160 acres of land on section 34. This was in a backward state, and he has placed it under advanced improvements and has it well stocked. He is showing some valuable grades of cattle. Mr. Posson has been a member of the School Board some time and has officiated as Treasurer of the township 1 1 years.

Mrs. Posson died July 14, 1869, leaving four children - Wallace S., Myron J., Leah M. and Martin Luther, jr. Mr. Posson formed a second matrimonial alliance Dec. 6, 1870, with Phebe, daughter of Cyrus B. and Fanny (Larkin) Hopkins. Her parents were pioneer settlers in Cortland Township, where she was born Aug. 14, 1848. She is the mother of two children - John H. and Chester G.

^.enry Grim, farmer, section 27, Pierce Township, was born July 24, 1831, in what was designated the Armstrong Valley, in Dauphin Co., Pa., and is the son of John and Catherine Grim. His father and mother were both born, in Pennsylvania' and settled in Dauphin County soon after marriage. His father bought timbered land and cleared a large farm, assisted in the labor of improvement by his children. He is still its occupant and is 90 years of age. He was a soldier in the second war with Great Britain.

The first 20 years of life Mr. Grim passed on the paternal homestead, and after arriving at a suitable age joined in the work of making a homestead in the Pennsylvania forest. He became the maker of his own fortunes when he reached the year preceding his majority, and left home to try a different portion of the world. He first came to Kane County and spent a season in farming. In the fall he went to Kaneville and worked a year with a carpenter, with the intention of learning the business, but his employer failed and he was forced to seek another situation. He returned to his native State at the expiration of two years, and on the second day of February, 1853, he was married to Abby Laudermilch. She was born in Jackson Township, Dauphin Co., Pa., and is the daughter of Adam and Mary (Kreiner) Laudermilch, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. In March following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Grim came to Illinois and settled in the township of Mayfield. The husband rented a farm, which he managed three years. He saved his earnigs, and in 1856 bought 80 acres of land on section

27, Pierce Township, at the rate of $24 per acre. The land had been improved to some extent, a frame house had been built and a grove set out. He brought all his energies to bear on the final payment, and in a few years he had cleared himself from debt and had become the owner of 1,400 acres of valuable land, all in the highest state of cultivation. In 1882 he commenced buying farms in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, and has now 1,200 acres there and other tracts in adjoining counties.

Following is the record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Grim : Charles M. was born April 29, 1856, in Mayfield Township, and married Alida Shoop, daughter of Solomon and Catherine Shoop, who was born in Pierce Township. They live in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. George W. was born Sept. 25, 1858, and married Henrietta Callanan, a native of Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, where they reside. Aaron was born Aug. 27, 1863, and married Isola Bartmess, born in Kane Co., 111. They live on the Grim homestead in Pierce Township. Alice M. was born Aug. 26, 1867 ; Elmer S., Nov, 24, 1872; Eugene, Jan. 19, 1875. All the children of Mr. and Mrs. Grim, except the oldest son, were born in the township of Pierce.

Mr. Grim is one of the most prominent and successful farmers in De Kalb County. He began his agricultural operations by raising stock and grain. In 1860 he harvested 3,200 bushels of small grain, among which was barley, which he sold at $2.18 per bushel. He sold his entire grain crop in De Kalb County. The family attend the assemblies of the Evangelical Association, of which Mrs. Grim is a member. Mr. Grim is a Republican in political sentiment.

pencer Griflfeth, farmer, section 8, Paw Paw Township; postoffice, East Paw Paw ; he was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Jan. 21, 1847, and is the son of Wright and Susan (Smith) Griffeth. His parents were of American birth and of Welsh descent. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1854, and settled in the township of Paw Paw. He was educated at Clark's Seminary, of Aurora, 111., and at Humboldt College in Iowa. Mr. Griffeth has made farming his business, and resides on the old homestead. He owns 300 acres of land. He was married in Paw Paw Township, Jan. 15, 1879, to Miss Mary Adams, daughter of James L. and Martha J. (Barnes) Adams. Mrs. Griffeth was born in East Paw Paw, 111., Feb. 10, 1854. They have two children, a girl and a boy ; Edith, born Sept. 22, 1881, and Howard, June 28, 1884.

Mr. Griffeth is the present Township Treasurer, and is also the secretary, solicitor and surveyor of the Paw Paw Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and politically a Republican.

dwin R. Zellar, farmer, section 6, De ;Kalb Township, was born Sept, i 14, 1836, in Herkimer Co., N. Y! His father and; mother, Jacob and Fanny Zeilar, .were nativesof the State of New York, and settled in 1864; in the township of De Kalb. The mother died- Nov. 21, 1883. The- father still survives; ' Their fam-1 ily comprised five children, as follows: Edwin R.,; William W., George W.,Charles;and Ruth. - ,: -

Mr. Zellar came to Illinois in 1857', and' located in' Piano, Kendall County. To birfi, as to million^, the1 call of his country came : with unmistakable importy and he responded as did the millions,1 placing his1 young life and the strength and energies' of his open-' ing manhood at her service. - He enlisted in 1861,' in the 36th 111. Vol. Inf., and during the time he was in the army saw much arduous service. He was under fire at Pea Ridge, Perrysvilte, Stone River, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. At Mission Ridge he received a shot in the elbow of his right arm, necessitating amputation just above the joint. He was wounded Nov. 25, 1863, and was confined to the hospital six months. On recovery he was discharged, and on leaving the army went to Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he remained six months, coming thence to De Kalb. He is now a successful and substantial farmer, owning 176 acres of land, constituting a valuable estate, all the acreage being cultivated and improved. Mr. Zellar is a Republican in political faith and connection.

parents of one child - Marvin, born Sept. 22, 1880. Mrs. Zellar was born May 18, 1838, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Luther and Alvira (Gardner) Ferguson. Her father was born in Canada and died March 15, 1852, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. The mother came with her two children, Samuel and Mercy A., to Illinois, in September, 1860, and settled in Malta Township, where she died Nov. 21, 1871. The first marriage of the daughter occurred in De Kalb, June 27, 1862, when she became th'e 'wife of Charles Chappell. He was a native of the State of New York and settled in Malta Township, where he deserted her, leaving one child, Olive A., who was born May 18, 1863.

: As-one pf the leading and representative agriculturists of De Kalb County, we place Mr. Zellar's portrait in this work. It is engraved from a photograph taken in March, 1885.

enry Ramer, deceased, formerly a farmer, resident of Pierce Township, was a pioneer . settler .of De Kalb County. He was bom in Dauphin Co., Pa., Aug. 8, 1804, and was there brought up and instructed in agricultural pursuits. His marriage to Susannah Troup occurred April i, 1826. She was born Nov. 2, 1808, in Dauphin County. In 1833 they emigrated to Ohio, moving there in what was then known as an emigrant wagon, but is called in Illinois a " prairie schooner." Mr. Ramer purchased a tract of timber land in Richland County, made a clearing, built a log house and lived on the place until 1846, clearing and improving 65 acres. In that year he bought another place near by which he sold a year later and came to Illinois. The journey thither was accomplished by the aid of three horses, a pair of oxen and two wagons, and they brought with them their household goods and provisions. They were 17 days on the road. They rented a farm in Du Page County, where they operated until 1849, when they settled in township No. 39, range 5 east, which afterwards became Pierce Township. Mr. Ramer purchased 160 acres of land in its original condition on section 27. He built a frame house upon it, for which he drew the, lumber from Du Page County. On this he lived until his death. His first wife died Jan. 9, 1877. He married Catherine Smith, who lived but five months after marriage. Mr. Ramer died in April, 1881. He was the father of 10 children by his first wife, - Maria, Catherine, Peter, Levi, Lavina, John, Henry, Philip, Anthony and George.

Peter, oldest son and third child, was born Aug. 4; r83o, in Dauphin Co., Pa., and was but three years of age when his parents went to Ohio. He came with them in their journey to Illinois and helped to drive their one cow. He was married July 2, 1853, to Elizabeth, daughter of David and Wilhelmina (Hoover) Gerlach. Her parents were natives of Germany. In 1850 Peter Ramer had bought 80 acres of land on section 29, and built a frame house, with a car-shaped roof. The year subsequent to his marriage he, with his wife, lived on the farm of Moses Hill, after which he took possession of his own property. In 1862 he erected a commodious frame house, drawing the required material from Chicago with horse teams. In 1872 he built a fine frame barn, 36 x 46 feet in dimensions, and has since erected another adjoining, 38x50 feet in size. His farm contains 320 acres and is supplied with modern farm machinery and well stocked. The family includes five children, - Mina S., Elihu B., Frankie C., Grant A. and Ella E.

.dward B. Powers, farmer, section 33, Paw Paw Township, postoffice Earl, La Salle Co., 111., was horn in La Salle Co., 111., Sept. 1 6, 1841, and is the son of Norman H. and Catharine (Hart) Powers. He came to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb County, with his parents, in June, 1849, and spent his boyhood on his father's farm. He enlisted in the late war Aug. 13, 1862, as a private of Co. I. 4th 111. Cav. He was captured by the enemy during a skirmish at Chestnut Bluffs, Tenn., in November, 1862, but was paroled the same day. He was soon afterward exchanged and resumed his connection with his company, and served till the last of June, 1865, or till the close of the war.

He was married in Paw Paw Township Dec. i, 1867, to Miss Nancy A. Weddell, daughter of William B. and Agnes (Vail) Weddell. Mrs. Powers was born in Paw Paw Township, March 22, 1851. They have two children (daughters) : Katie C., born in Paw Paw Township, Sept 29, 1868; and Agnes G., Jan. 2, 1873.

Mr. Powers is the present Assessor of Paw Paw Township. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Powers are members of the Congregational Church of Ross Grove.

tborn in Suffolkshire, England, about 1824, and was the son of Christopher and Mary (Hutton) Till, also of English birth and parentage. The mother died when her son was in childhood. The latter was reared by his father, who gave him a fair common-school education, and when he grew to manhood he followed the customs of the class to which he belonged, and became a laborer on the farms of his native shire. He was thus engaged until his marriage Aug. 27, 1848, in Dorsetshire, England, to Sarah Coombs, and afterwards continued in the same line of employmenfin his native country eight years. In 1856 they came to America, and with little delay at the port of landing came to De Kalb County. They located in the township of the same name, where Mr. Till engaged in farming on shares. In 1868 he purchased 80 acres of land, where he pursued the vocation of farming, with success, until his death, and doubled his landed estate, owning 160 acres, all of which was well improved and stocked. He died Jan. 17, 1881, aged about 57 years. He was a Republican in political opinions, and was much respected for his excellent traits of character. Since his death the management of the farm has been conducted by Mrs. Till.

She was born June 10, 1819, in Burton Bradstock, County of Dorsetshire, England, and is the daughter of Giles and Mary (Wills) Coombs. Her parents were of English origin -and lineage and belonged to the yeomanry of their native land, tracing their name and line of descent back to ancestry of the earlier days of England. The father of Mrs. Till died in 1831, the mother in July, 1848. Mrs. Till passed ^ '^tgjx&jar' MJLygvV^/gf) her life previous to her marriage near the place of her birth, and attended the public schools. She has one child, - Sarah J., - born Aug. 20, 1858. She was married Oct. 29, 1881, to Herman Sandgren, a native of Sweden. He came thence when 2 1 years of age, and has since resided in Illinois. To him and his wife one child, Agnes J., has been born. The family of Mr. Sandgren reside on the estate of Mr. Till.

i illiam Gibbons is a representative farmer of Victor Township, where he owns a valuable estate on section 10. Henry Gibbons, his father, was a native of England and emigrated thence to Potsdam, N. Y., where he married Betsey Ames. He was a farmer and trafficked in real estate, buying timber land, and after improving it selling it again, in which manner he operated 21 years. In 1864 he sold his interests in the State of New York and removed to Waupaca, Wis., where he bought 140 acres of land and was occupied 10 years in farming. In 1874 he sold tiis farm preparatory to retiring to private life in the village of Waupaca, where he died in 1880. The mother is still living.

Mr. Gibbons was born Dec. 22, 1827, in Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. He received a commonschool education, and on attaining his majority came to Illinois, where he spent three years in farm labor, obtaining $10 a month as a remuneration for his services. In 1851 he went to Minnesota and passed a winter in the lumber woods, after which he came to the township of Clinton, in De Kalb County, and became by purchase the owner of 1 20 acres of land.

Jan. 5, 1857, he was married to Emily Warren, by whom he had three children, - Warren H., Oscar S. and Rachel O. The oldest son is married and lives at Stratton Station, Hitchcock Co., Neb. The mother was born in the State of New York, and died in De Kalb County March 13, 1863. In 1864 Mr. Gibbons married Araminta Willey, a native of Illinois, and they have had seven children : George W. died when he was five years old ; Dora, at the age of seven months; Ernest O., Alice B., Mary E., Clara R. and Ray E. are still living.

subsequently in the township of Victor, on a rented farm. He then purchased his present homestead of 1 60 acres, and has since made an addition of 160 acres more. He at first built a small house, 1 6 by 24 feet in extent, and later erected .a valuable residence and a fine barn.

Mr. Gibbons is a farmer of the pattern that has made the State of Illinois what it is, - peerless among the Western States earliest settled. Besides the improvements named, he has planted a fine grove on his farm, has about 300 hickory trees, natural growth, and 800 black-walnut trees which were planted. He has made a specialty of Durham cattle for the past 12 years, and his herd has always included registered stock of acknowledged standard.

illiam H. Ray, editor and publisher of the Shabbona Express and President of the Village Board, residing at Shabbona, was born in Nassau, Germany, Nov. 13, 1843. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Enders) f' Ray, natives of Germany, and who emigrated to this country in the spring of 1849. His parents located near Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., where they remained until 1851 and then removed to Little Rock, Kendall County, this State. Two years later they came to Somonauk, this county, and in the spring of 1864 moved to Shabbona.

William H. Ray, subject of this notice, grew to manhood under the parental roof-tree. He received his education in the common schools and at Clark's Seminary, Aurora, spending two years in the last named institution. After leaving the seminary, he engaged in farming, and alternated his labors on the farm by teaching during winter seasons.

In 1871, when the Chicago & Iowa Railroad was completed through Shabbona Township, he was appointed station agent at a station called CorntOn. He was also American Express agent at the same place. He held the former position one year and the latter some 14 years, being Express agent at Shabbona at the present time.

In 1876 he purchased a half interest in the Shabbona Express and in May, 1878, bought his partner's interest, since which time he has conducted the pub- lication of the paper alone. The Express is a fivecolumn quarto with patent inside. It is Republican in politics and is issued weekly. The paper's popularity is due to the energy of its editor, who fears not to give to the reading public facts as they transpire and condemn vice wherever it is found. Fair dealing with all and an earnest and persistent effort to sustain the principles which it believes to be right, is constantly increasing the subscription of the paper, and its future will place it the peer of any in the county.

Mr. Ray has held various local offices in the township. He is present Town Clerk and has held the office for 12 years in succession. He - also served as School Director of District No. 3 for 1 1 years. He has been a Trustee of the village for four years, and is at present serving his second term as President of the Village Board.

He was married at Aurora, Dec. 22, 1870, to Miss Emmagene, daughter of Hon. Hiram Loucks, of Sandwich. She was born in Oneida Co., N. Y.,Feb. 27, 1850. Her mother's maiden name was Vosburg. Mr. and Mrs. Ray have one child, Lizzie A., born Nov. 13, 1871, at Shabbona.

| athew Parks, a retired farmer, resident at Leland, La Salle County, a settler on section 28, Victor Township, in 1856, was born Feb. 25, 1827, in Ireland. His parents, Edward and Sarah (Davidson) Parks, came thence with their family in 1832 to Montreal, reaching that city at a time when the cholera was raging. After a residence of a year in the Dominion they went to the State of New York.

Mr. Parks came to the State of Illinois in the fall of 1856 and purchased 53 acres of land in the township of Victor. To this he has added by subsequent purchase until he is the owner of a quarter-section. On this he pursued mixed husbandry, with satisfactory results, until 1882. In that year he purchased his residence at Leland and relinquished the management of his farm, of which he still retains the ownership. He is a Republican and is justly considered a substantial and reliable citizen. He held the office of Road Commissioner 10 years.

the daughter of John Parks, of Niagara Co., N. Y. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Parks, three are living, - Nettie M., Lizzie B. and Emma G.

"oseph B. Lyons, farmer and stock-grower, section 14, Paw Paw Township, has 206 acres of land. He was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, Nov. 12, 1834, and is the son of Joseph and (Mary) Lyons. He emigrated to America in r856, and came directly to Illinois and made his home in Paw Paw Township. He bought a farm in r864, on section 23, and occupied it in May, 1866.

He was married in Sterling, Cayuga. Co., N. Y., March 2, 1866, to Elizabeth McFadden, daughter.of Benjamin and Eleanor (Harper) McFadden. Mrs. Lyons was born in Sterling, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. 17, 1841. They had one child, Benjamin, born June 1 8, 1869, and died aged three months. Mrs. Lyons is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Lyons is a Democrat. Mr. Lyons takes a warm interest in local history, and has by intelligent research arrived at a better knowledge of the history of his township than many earlier settlers. The publisher takes pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of valuable information from him.

illiam Lang, farmer, section 28, Malta Township, was born Nov. 27, 1849, in ^p Devonshire, England. William Lang, sen- P ior, his father, was a native of the same county and married Mary A. Boiles. Both are now living in the place of their nativity. Mr. Lang is next the youngest in birth of six children, and he remained with his parents until he was 20 years old, receiving as good an education as could be obtained in the public schools of his native land. In 1870 he accompanied neighbors and relatives to America, and the entire party came to the county of De Kalb, where he operated for a time as a farm la- borer, to which calling he had been bred in England. - He pursued that means of obtaining a livelihood until his marriage, previous to which he purchased 1 60 acres of land, where he established his homestead, and the place is now in valuable and creditable condition and finely located. His marriage to Mary C. Lang occurred July 28, 1882, at Sycamore. She was born Oct. 3, [859, in the north of Devonshire, England, where her parents, Thomas and Ann (Huxtable) Lang, now reside. She was reared at home and educated at Oxford, England, becoming, after finishing her studies, a teacher in the public schools of her native land, and was occupied in that calling eight years. She taught in both the primary and grammar-school grades. In July, 1882, she set out alone for America in order to fulfill a pre-arranged project and respond to an obligation she had entered into to become the wife of William Lang. She joined him in Malta Township, and a week later the pair were united in matrimony, at Sycamore, in the Episcopal Church, in whose cherishing arms she had been reared. The farm house in Malta had been made ready for the advent of a mistress, and the wedded pair at once took possession of their home. One child - Albert C. - has been born to them, who died when six months old. Mr. Lang is a substantial and enthusiastic Republican, and is at present a School Director.

ichard L. Divine (deceased), a former resident of Sycamore, where he was a prominent attorney for more than 20 years, was born Sept. .27, 1832, in Fallsburg, Sullivan Co., N. Y., and was the son of James and Mehitable (Hall) Divine. His grandfather, Joseph Divine, who is his earliest ancestor now traceable, removed with his family from Plattekill, Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1794, to Sullivan County and located in the western part of the township of Fallsburg, the place where he settled soon afterward taking the name of Divine's Corners. At the time of his removal there he was the first white settler, his nearest neighbor being four miles distant. His demise occurred in 1802. James Divine, born June 14, 1781, in Fallsburg, was his youngest son and was a man of conspicuous ability and became prominent. He was for many years a Justice of the Peace and was the occupant of other positions of trust and responsibility. He spent his entire life on the homestead at Divine's Corners and died there Feb. i, 1846. The descendants of Joseph Divine still resident in Fallsburg sustain the honorable prestige of the family name and are recorded as prominent and valuable citizens of Sullivan County. The wife of James Divine, known in the records of Sullivan County as " Hetty " Divine, was a member of the denomination of Friends or Quakers, and was a "preacher." She was a woman of decided character and opinions, and so uncompromising a foe to slavery that she sacrificed her peace principles in her opposition to the "divine institution." The quality of esteem in which she was held and that of the influence she exerted is manifest from the fact that a spirited controversy with a male member of the society in which she was the aggressor, is preserved in the history of Sullivan County. She was born Jan. 15, 1789, was married July 1 6, 1803, when she was 14 years and six months old, and died in the town of Fallsburg, March 14, 1866. She was the daughter of John Hall, one of the first white settlers in the town of Neversink, in Sullivan County. Her mother's maiden name was Stone, and of her marriage to John Hall five children were born, of whom " Hettie " was the second in order of birth.

One of the most suggestive thoughts arising from examination of the personal records of the closing years of the i8th century and the opening period of the century following, concerns the women of those days; and if it were possible to trace their influence in forming the characters of their sons, there is no question but the development would present a most interesting study.

The ancestral stock of Mr. Divine in the paternal line of descent were Huguenots, and he was the youngest child in order of birth of 10 children - seven sons and three daughters - born to his parents. He was a boy of studious, reflective character, and he acquired a comprehensive knowledge of all the branches taught in common schools. He afterwards attended a select school taught by Henry R. Low at Fallsburg, and spent eight years in teaching in the county where he was born and in the counties adjoining, and also studied law with George W. Lord, an attorney of prominence at Monticello, Sullivan Co., N. Y. His interest in educational matters was recognized in his native county by his election in 1857 to the position of School Commissioner. In the fall of that year he came to Michigan and engaged in teaching at Allegan.

In the spring of 1858 he settled at Sycamore and completed his preparation for a professional life in the office of Hon. E. L. Mayo. In the winter of the same year he taught a term of school at Cortland, and in March, 1860, was admitted to practice. He entered into a business association with Judge Mayo and rapidly rose to pre-eminence as a counselor and advocate. He held his position unassailed and was recognized as one of the leaders of the Bar of De Kalb County for many years, and justly ranked and estimated in all the Courts in which he practiced, which included the local tribunals, the Supreme and Apellate Courts of Illinois and of other States, and the United States Courts. His knowledge of law was commensurate with his abilities, his memory, his industry, his powers as a logician, his skill in legal adaptation and his intrepidity in the interests of his clients. Under the pressure of his indomitable energy and ambition .to crowd the greatest possible amount of labor into his life, he met his Waterloo, dying a few days before reaching his soth birthday, at the period when his splendid powers should have been at the zenith.

In social life Mr. Divine was on occasion the rarest of companions ; and in conversation the powers of mind he displayed differed essentially from those he exercised in his professional relations. The field of imagination was, so to speak, his ground of recrea tion, and he reveled in the beauties of practical and classical literature, his obedient memory storing the pictures of imagery painted in glowing words, which he was in the habit of reproducing under the influence of the social hours in which he endeared himself to his friends and built an enduring monument to his life and genius.

Mr. Divine was a Republican in his political connections. In 1872 he was elected Presidential Elector, and in 1875 was made Mayor of Sycamore. In 1867 he embarked in a private banking enterprise in company with Moses Dean and Daniel Pierce, which relation was in existence until 1871. In the latter year he withdrew and erected a building for banking purposes, and, associated with C. O. Boynton, conducted business in that avenue under the firm style of Divine & Boynton. Their relations continued until the withdrawal of Mr. Boynton, when the firm became Divine & Co., and the business was prosecuted until the failing health of Mr. Divine compelled his surrender of active business life.

He died Aug. 22, 1882, of typhoid fever. His marriage to Susan S. Smith occurred Aug. u, 1862, at Sycamore. Mrs. Divine was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and is the daughter of James M. and Martha (Lowell) Smith. The children born of her marriage are all living. They are named Henry, Mary Beatrice, Richard L., Gertrude A., James Joseph and Charles A.

The portrait of Mr. Divine on a preceding page is given by the publishers with unusual pleasure, confident of its value to his numerous friends, who cherish a warm remembrancevof his genius and abileorge Ashelford, farmer, section 25, South Grove Township, De Kalb County, was born April 12, 1834, in Somersetshire, Eng., and is the son of George and Sarah (Blackmore) Ashelford. The father removed with a part of his family to America in 1858, but soon after returned to his native land, and died in his native shire in 1876, aged about 74 years. The mother is 80 years of age and still resides in the shire where she was born.

Mr. Ashelford is the third of six children born to his parents, five of whom are living. Two are in America and are residents of this township and county. He came with his father and one sister to the United States in 1858, and settled at once in Illinois. After his father's return to England, Mr. Ashelford began to work as a farm laborer, working on shares. He operated in that method until he had accumulated sufficient money to buy 80 acres of land, situated on section 36, in the township where he is now a resident. He is now the owner of 320 acres of valuable and well improved land, in loca- - tion and merit second to none in the county. His herds of stock are of excellent grade, and all the belongings of the place afford a fine testimonial to the character and quality of the energy and effort expended upon them.

more, in the Episcopal Church, to Faith Gathercoal. She was born March 3, 1844, in Cambridgeshire, Eng., of English parentage. Her parents came to the United States when the daughter was a child of nine years, and are now residents of Malta Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ashelford have eight children, all of whom are living but one. They are named George E., Ida M. (Mrs. Lock, of Malta Township), William H., Albert, Joseph, Frank and Grace M. The family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which the mother belongs.

tries Atherton, farmer, residing on section 31, Shabbona Township, postoffice Paw Paw, Lee County, was born in Luzerne Co., Pa., Nov. 20, 1832, and is a son of Joseph and Phebe (Vosburg) Atherton. He was brought up and resided in Pennsylvania until 23 years of age ('855), receiving the advantages afforded by the common schools of that State. During the year named he came to this county and settled in Shabbona Township, where, in company with a brother, B. F. Atherton, he engaged in farming and in which vocation he has continued to the present time.

Politically, Mr. Atherton is a Republican. He is a single man, and for a period of 30 years has followed the occupation in which he is at present engaged.

lames Baxter, farmer, section 17, Malta [£- Township, was born about 1819, in Devonshire, England. John and Elizabeth (Richards) Baxter, his parents, lived all their lives in their native country, the former dying when the son was 13 years of age, about 1832. The latter was a little past his majority when his mother died.

Mr. Baxter was married while yet an inhabitant of his native country, to Mary A. Daracot, the daughter _pf an English farmer. Eight years later Mr. and

Mrs. Baxter came to America and sought a home in the township of Malta. At that date (1856) the section was in a comparatively unsettled state, and for a time Mr. Baxter worked as a common laborer. He was industrious and frugal, and was soon in circumstances to become a. land-holder, a privilege he could never enjoy on the " tight little island." He entered a claim of 320 acres of land and put in a crop of wheat in 1857. This was entirely destroyed by thunder-storms in that year; but instead of becoming disheartened he began anew, and has since accomplished signal success. He is now the proprietor of 540 acres of land, all within the limits of the same section and well improved.

The wife and mother died about 1874,^ Chicago. She was 53 years of age. Charles, the first-born child, is deceased; Eskat married Hattie Griswold and is a farmer on section 20, Malta Township; William is a citizen of the far West ; Mary E. married William Letheby, a farmer in Malta Township ; John is a deaf-mute ; Emma is the wife of Lant Griswold, and they live on the homestead ; Mary A. married John Letheby, who is engaged in farming in Malta. Mr. Baxter is an inflexible Republican. His name was originally Baxtaer, but has become Americanized by custom.

illiam W. McDonald, farmer, section 10, Kingston Towship, is the son of Daniel and Catherine (Penny) McDonald. His father was a native of Scotland, and his mother was bom in Maine. The former died n 1843, in Ohio, aged 73 years; the latter died in 1882, aged 84 years.

Mr. McDonald was born March 17, 1820, in Washington Co., Ohio, and lived there until the fall of 1852, the date of his removal and location in Kingston Township, his home since that period, and where he owns 138 acres of partly improved land. His first marriage, to Susan Heckman, took place in Ohio. She died in April, 1855, after becoming the mother of four children, - John, who married Lettie Johnson in Wisconsin, and now resides in Kansas ; George, Daniel and Wallace. The latter married Ann Percell, a native of Ohio, and resides in De Kalb. George, the second son, was first married to Carrie

Stowe, a native of Kane Co., 111. They were the parents of two children, Edna G. and Eddie. After the death of their mother, which occurred March 30, 1881, they were brought to the home of their grandparents to live. Edna died of scarlet fever April 27, 1884; and Eddie died three days later, from scarlet fever also. Mrs. McDonald, wife of William W., subject of this sketch, died in April, 1855. Mr. Mc- Donald was again married in October, 1856, to Sarah E., daughter of Jacob and Joanna (Blacklidge) Stephens, and they have three children, Susie A., H. Edwin and Lizzie M. Mrs. McDonald was born April 8, 1831, in Morgan Co., Ohio; her mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1807, and her father in Ohio and died in the same State when the daughter was two years old.

^ohn P. 'Newhall, farmer, living in retirement at Malta, was born Feb. 20, 1817, at Athol, Mass. His father, William Newhall, is a descendant from the family of that name who came to America with Governor Winthrop in 1630, and settled in Lynn, Mass. The mother, Clarissa (Phillips) Newhall, was a descendant of a family conspicuous in the early history of the Colonies, and who were afterwards distinguished for wealth and position. William Newhall was a farmer in early life, and afterwards devoted his attention to mechanics. He died June 6, 1858, in New Hampshire, aged 75 years. His mother died in the same State, when she was 83 years of age.

Mr. Newhall was the youngest but one of a family of six children. His brother, Cyrus Newhall, is a noted mechanic and inventor, and has acquired a wide reputation as a manufacturer of lawn and meadow mowers, and John P. became at 20 years of age an employee in his shops, where he remained until 1856.

Nov. 7, 1841, he was united in marriage in Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., N. H., to Emmeline L., daughter of Richard and Emmeline (Lewis) Hopkins. Her father and mother passed their entire lives in their native county and State, and died in the same county in New Hampshire, respectively in April, 1864, and

\ March, 1877, aged 7r and 81 years. Mrs. Newhall I was born July 25, 1819, in Colerain, Mass. She is the second of four children, and was reared under the care of her parents. She is the mother of one child, J. Frank, who is a resident on the homestead estate in Afton Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Newhall came to Illinois in 1856, and after a short residence in the township of De Kalb they located on section 6, Afton Township, where Mr. Newhall purchased 50 acres of farming land. In 1877 they retired from active life to the village of Malta, where they are residing in quiet comfort after busy and honorable lives of useful effort.

oscph B. Stephens, State's Attorney, resident at Sycamore, is a native of De Kalb County, and was born Aug; 25, r849, in Genoa. His father, Samuel Stephens, was born in Pennsylvania and removed early from the Key- Stone State to Indiana, where he resided a number of years. In the fall of 1836, while yet unmarried, he came to the township of Genoa and pre-empted a large tract of land. He is a resident of Genoa, and nearly one-half of the village is built on his original homestead. About 30 acres was first platted and portions of the town are known as "Stephens' First and Second Additions." The senior Stephens married Rebecca Patterson for his first wife, and she died before her son was two years old. The father was afterward married to Philena Crocker.

Mr. Stephens is the only child of the first marriage, and was brought up on his father's farm. At 14, he was placed at the seminary at Woodstock, where he was a pupil a year, and was sent thence to the Warren Institute. He studied there two years and went next to De Kalb, where he remained about the same time. After leaving school he worked on the farm summers and taught school winters until 1877. In April of that year he entered the law office of Kellum & Carnes, of Sycamore, and studied law under the supervision of the former two years. April 19, 1879, he was admitted to the Bar, and in October of the same year he opened a law office at De Kalb and conducted a legal business there until February, 1881, when he came to Sycamore.

He was elected State's Attorney for De Kalb County in the fall of 1880, and was re-elected in November, 1884. While a resident of Genoa he served four years as Township Clerk, and discharged the duties of other minor local official positions. He is at present (1885) an Alderman at Sycamore.

Mr. Stephens was married in Sycamore, Jan. 4, 1881, to Martha M., daughter of Coles and Jane L. Cook. She was born in Monkton, Vt., April 26, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have one child, Herbert C., born Sept. 14, 1883, at Sycamore.

- iram Kirkpatrick, farmer, section 27, Clinton Township, is a son of Jesse and Ruth (Smiley) Kirkpatrick. (See sketch of Jesse Kirkpatrick.) Hiram was born in Perry Co., Pa., July 23, 1827. He received a common- | school education and lived on the parental homestead until 1845. He then apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith trade and worked three years in Cumberland Co., Pa., under his indentures. After mastering his trade, he worked for his old employer two years, and then entered into partnership with him. The partnership existed for one year, when it was dissolved by mutual consent,

In the spring of 1852 Mr. K. moved to Dayton, Ohio, and was there employed in a machine shop for about one and a half years. In the summer of 1853 he removed to Hagerstown, Ind., and for a year was foreman in a car shop, and also worked at his trade one year.

In 1856 Mr. K. came to this county with his wife and child, and purchased 85 acres of land on sections 22 and 27, Clinton Township, on which he settled and continuously resided until the present time. He is at present the owner of 400 acres of land, all situated in Clinton Township, 350 of which is in a good tillable condition. After coming to this county he followed his-trade at his home until 1862.

Mr. Kirkpatrick was united in marriage to Mary M. Thomas, in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., Nov. 1 6, 1854. She was a daughter of William and Susanna (A ply) Thomas, natives of Vermont and Pennsylvania. They were married and resided in that State until the date of her father's death, March 9,1839. After her father's death her mother came to this county and made her residence with her daughter, Mrs. K., until her death, June 8, 1874. They were the parents of four children, namely : Samuel, Caroline, William B. and Mary M.

Mary M., wife of Mr. K., was born in Gettysburg, Pa., March 9, 1831, and is the mother of five children by Mr. K. The livingare : Arestes J., Ira T., Niles H. and Minnie M. One child died in infancy.

Mr. Kirkpatrick has held the office of Highway Commissioner for several years, that of School Director and other offices of minor import. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. K. united with the Methodist Church in York Co., Pa., when she was 15 years of age, and has been a communicant .of that Church and the Presbyterian ever since.

Mr. Kirkpatrick has been a resident of this county for nearly 30 years, and during that period has won the esteem and respect of a large circle of friends extending throughout the county. As a worthy gentleman and representative citizen of De Kalb County, we insert his portrait in this volume.

ames Hunt, retired farmer at Malta, is a native of county Waterford, Ireland, where he was born April 15, 1825. His parents were natives of Ireland, and spent their lives on the soil where they were born. They died about the year 1864. Mr. Hunt was reared a farmer, like his father before him, and obtained such education as the common schools of his native land afforded. When he reached man's estate he came to America. He was the youngest of four children - two boys and two girls - and is the only one of his family who left their native land. On his arrival in the United States he went to Charlemont, Mass., and was occupied there as a common laborer on various farms. He was married in that vicinity, to Mary Phipps. She was born Aug. 23, 1832, where she was afterward married, and where she spent her youth and girlhood. After the event of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hunt continued to reside for a. time there on a farm, coming West to locate about 1854. They made their first settlement in Sugar Grove Township, Kane Co., 111., but decided on another transfer three years later, and came to De Kalb County to make a permanent residence. Mr. Hunt purchased 160 acres of land on section 34, Malta Township, on which he located and entered at once upon its improvement. It is now in an advanced agricultural condition, and its value is materially increased by the addition of excellent farm buildings. In 1881 Mr. Hunt leased the place and settled in Malta, where he purchased a house and lot.

. son of fine mind, and exercised a wide influence in her social circle previous to the loss of her reason, some time before her decease. Every possible

\ means was used for her restoration, but to no avail, and her life terminated at Elgin, where she was taken for treatment. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunt. They adopted a daughter, Ida M., who was born May 23, 1862. Mr. Hunt is an adherent of the Democratic' element in politics.

orman H. Powers, deceased, was born in Vergennes, Vt, Aug. 20, 18:9. He accompanied his parents in childhood to Canada, and resided there from 1832 to 1839. In August of the latter year he moved to this State and located in La Salle County, where he was engaged in farming until 1849. At that date he came to this county and located on section 33, Paw Paw Township. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, and spent about a year and a half in the gold regions. Although he took a mining claim which subsequently proved to be very rich, he did not work it, as he preferred the slower and safer course, and engaged in getting out cord-wood and ship timber. This work proved profitable, and he returned to the "States " well satisfied with his venture.

He carried on his farm till the breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted as a private of Co. I, Fourth 111. Cav.,in August, 1861. He was promoted as Sergeant, and was seriously wounded by a bursting shell at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862. The serious nature of his wound disabled him for further duty, and he was given an honorable discharge in the following August. Within three days after his return to his home, his son Edward B, enlisted in the same company and regiment to which his father had belonged, and served till the close of the war.

Mr. Powers removed to Earl in 1875, and six years later he removed to Scranton, Greene Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1882, where he died suddenly while talking to his horse in the barn, June 7, r882.' His wife survives him and continues to reside at Scranton. Mr. Powers was married to Catharine Hart, daughter of James and Elizabeth Hart. Mrs. Powers was born in England, Oct. n, 1816. They had a a family of five children, two boys and three girls : Edward B., born Sept. 16, 1841, married Nancy A. Weddell, and lives on the old homestead in Paw Paw Township; Christianna, born Feb. 22, 1846, is the wife of Hon. H. M. Boardman, of Paw Paw Township; Susan A., born July 29, 1847, is the wife of James E. Moss, of Greene Co., Iowa; Elizabeth, born April 3, 1849, died April 13, 1861; Horace E., born Sept. 21, 1850, married Nettie B. Porter, and lives at Blair, Neb.

Mr. Powers returned from Canada to Illinois, and was engaged in farming in La Salle County till 1849, when he moved to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb County, and settled on section 33. He served in various official capacities in Paw Paw Township, having been Township Supervisor. Assessor and Justice of the Peace several years each. He was a consistent Christian from early life, and was an influential member of the Congregational Church. In early life he was a Whig in politics, but on the organization of the Republican party he espoused that cause, and always afterward voted that ticket.

.ewell F. Butler, farmer and breeder of stock, residing at Malta, was born Aug. 5, 1845, in Du Page Co., 111. Joseph Butler, his father, was born and reared in the State of New York and there followed the vocation farmer. He married Abigail West and soon f^) after removed to Illinois, settling in Du Page County at a period when the State was in its pioneer condition, and where he was among the first to locate in the township of Bloomingdale. He is the owner of 320 acres of land where he first settled, and is one of the foremost citizens of the county. The mother died

Mr. Butler continued to reside in his native county until he was 28 years of age. In 1873 he went to Buchanan Co., Iowa, where he was married March n, 1874, to Sarah, daughter of Andrew and Abigail (Peck) Payne. She was born March 15, 1849, in Delaware Co., N. Y., which was also the native place of her parents. The family went to Iowa when the daughter was seven years of age, and she was the youngest of ten children. Her father died -a short time before her marriage. Her mother is 75 years of age, and is still a resident of the homestead in Buchanan County.

Mr. and Mrs. Butler came to Malta immediately after their marriage and located in section 24, where they owned 135 acres, on which they carried on agricultural operations until May, 1882. In that month the farm was leased and the family removed to the village of Malta. Mr. Butler purchased two acres of land within the village corporation, including an improved lot and available buildings. He is also the owner of 40 acres of land on section 23, onehalf of which is within the incorporated limits of Malta. Mr. Butler is a Republican of decided stamp.

LOlomon V. Butterfleld, farmer, section 20, Paw Paw Township, has 240 acres of land. The subject of this sketch is the oldest living representative of the pioneers of 1835 of this township. He was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. 26, 1826, and is the son of Edward and Polly (Harris) Butterfield. He went to Michigan in 1830 with his parents, and came to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb Co., 111., in July, 1835. He was brought up on a farm, and has made this township .his home for 50 years. He was married in Paw Paw Township, Dec. 20, 1847, to Miss Polly Burch, daughter of Zebulon Burch. Mrs. Butterfield was born in Washington Co., N. Y., about 1826. They had two children, Mary Belle, born April 5, 1852, wife of John Spier, of Earlville, 111. The youngest died in infancy. Mrs. Butterfield died in 1855. Mr. Butterfield was married again May 8, 1856, at Earlville, 111., to Miss Helen M., daughter of Levi S. and Loretta (Brewer) Wales. Mrs. Butterfield was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., June 21, 1834, and came West in 1855. They have had three children: Charles E., born March 31, 1858, died May n, 1858; Sidney E., born Oct. 30, 1859, married Ida Braithwaite, and lives at the old homestead ; John H., born July 25, 1865, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. B. is a Democrat.

"ainos Lock, farmer, section 33, Malta Township, was born May 28, 1831, in Somersetshire, England. His father, James Lock, ^P* senior, was a farmer in England and died there when his son was but four years of age. The latter was for some years under the care of his mother, Mary (Norman) Lock, supporting him. self after arriving at a suitable age. She died in 1859. In 1857, in company with Robert Willis, who now lives in the township of South Grove, they left England for America, and pressed forward in their journey until they reached South Grove Township.

Mr. Lock passed two years in farm labor, and in 1859 purchased 80 acres of land in Mayfield Township. On this he operated three years, then selling out and removing to South Grove Township, where he bought 160 acres of land. He was there resident until February, 1869, when he came to Malta. He purchased 248 acres of land where he has since pursued his agricultural operations, improved the place and erected good farm buildings. He has yet 140 acres, all under cultivation. He is a practical and prosperous stockman and farmer. He is a Republiin political principles, and has held most of the township offices.

His marriage to Nancy Safford took place Sept. 15, 1859. She was born in Pittsburg, Mass., Dec. 4, 1842, and her parents, Oliver and Nancy (Andrews) Safford, were of New England origin and ancestry. Her father was a carpenter, and both her parents died in South Grove Township, whither they had removed in the pioneer days of that township. Mrs. Lock -auaS^Sto was four years of age when they became residents of South Grove. She has been the mother of 13 children, two of whom are deceased. They were born in the following order : Thomas, James, Clara, (5; Oliver, Nancy, William, Mary, Charles, Alice, John and Robert. Frank and George died in infancy. The parents were reared under the regulations of the Church of England.

'aeob Morsch, farmer, section 29, Squaw Grove Township, was born Oct. 29, 1833, in Germany. He has been a resident of the State of Illinois since he came to the United States in 1847, when he was but 14 years old. He lived in La Salle County until 1869, when he bought 440 acres of land in Squaw Grove Township, of which he took immediate possession and commenced the work of improving a farm. He has prospered by his industry and good judgment, and is now the owner of 600 acres of land in Squaw Grove Township.

Mr. Morsch was married Nov. 25, 1860, in Ottawa, 111., to Elizabeth Smith, a lady who, like himself, is a native of Germany, and they have had 1 2 children, five of whom are still living, namely : Henry, J. William, John, Emma and Lizzie. The deceased are H. Hammond, Julia. Anna, and four who died unnamed in extreme infancy.

liel D. Hunt, farmer, section 34, and Supervisor of De Kalb Township (1885), was born Sept. 19, 1835, in Wyoming Co., N. Y., and is the son of Isaac and Martha (Ludington) Hunt. His parents were natives of Herkimer Co., N. Y., and became residents of De Kalb Township in 1857, where his father died within a year. The mother died April 12, 1865.

Mr. Hunt accompanied his parents to De Kalb County, and he has continued to reside therein without intermission since. He is the owner of 160 acres of land in a creditable state of cultivation, and slocked with 125 swine, 26 head of cattle and eight horses. He is a Republican in political sentiment and has been an occupant of responsible local positions of trust for many years. He officiated 16 years as School Trustee, and was elected Supervisor of his township in the spring of 1884. Mr. Hunt is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to Lodge No. 144, De Kalb Chapter, No. 52, and Sycamore Commandery, K. T., No. 15.

His marriage to Evaline L. Preston occurred Oct. 28, 1856, in Wyoming Co., N. Y. She was born in that county Nov. 12, 1837. Earl H., only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, was bom July 24, 1857, and was married Feb. 9, 1885, to Lena Mixer, at Leslie, Mich. She was born at Machias, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., March 17, 1863.

acob Deily, farmer, section 5, Malta Township, has lived in De Kalb County since about the year 1850, when he came with his widowed mother to Pierce Township. He was born Nov. 22, 1845, in what is now Niles, Cook Co., 111. John Deily, his father, was born in Germany and married Elizabeth B. Lipp after he came to America. The mother was a German by birth and came to Ohio with her patents from the "fatherland" when n years of age. They settled in Columbiana County, where they were married, and came thence to Chicago, where the father died, in 1849, of cholera, which was then epidemic in that city. He was 33 years of age. The children born of this marriage included two daughters and two sons, Mr. Deily being the third child ; and he was four years of age when his father died. His mother married Jacob F. Plapp, a farmer of Pierce Township, and is yet living. Mr. Deily entered the army of the United States to fight for the Union, enlisting before he was of age, March 4, 1864, as a recruit of Company K, I5th 111. Vol. Infantry. He was in constant warfare . to the collapse of the rebellion, his regiment being assigned to the command of Sherman and accompanying him to the sea, marching with his legions of war through the Carolinas and to Alexandria. Mr. Deily was honorably discharged Sept. 16, 1865, at

University Of Illmkrs

Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was mustered out of service at Springfield, 111., and on returning to Pierce Township he began to work at the trade of a mason, and pursued that business at odd intervals for several years. After that he operated somewhat as a farmer, and in January, 1869, located on his farm in Malta Township. He had made his claim three years previous, which included 80 acres on section 5 and now contains 40 acres additional. The place is all under excellent improvements, well cultivated, stocked with good grades of cattle and supplied with a creditable class of farm buildings. In his political convictions Mr. Deily is an inflexible and uncompromising Republican.

His wife, to whom he was married June 16, 1867, was formerly Miss Caroline Buerer. She was the daugher of Gotlieb and Henrietta (Garlach) Buerer, who were born respectively in Baden and Wurtemburg. After coming to America they located at Geneva, 111., where Mrs. Deily was born March 6, 1849. Her parents removed when she was six weeks old to Pierce Township, De Kalb County, where she grew to womanhood on her father's farm and was taught in the common school. She has been the mother of six children, one of whom (John) is deceased. Those yet surviving (1885) are named Sarah M., David H., Mary E., Carrie A. and Frank E.

saac Leonard Ellwood, of De Kalb, is one of the most prominent business men in the entire West, and his name is a synonym for one of the most important industries in the country. He was born at Salt Springville, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1833. Mr. E. is the seventh son of Abraham and Sarah (Delong) Ellwood (see biography of C. Ellwood for sketch of parents), and received from his parents a common-school education of the limited character of the times. Upon quitting his studies he commenced life for himself by driving a team on the Erie Canal at jjjtto per month. Afterwards he became a clerk in a store where he was occupied until he reached the age of 18 years. In 1851 he went to California, where he remained between three and four years. He passed the first year in mining, after which he became a clerk in a store in Sacramento. He had simple, unostentatious tastes and habits, and he saved his accumulations and returned East in 1855 with the means to start a hardware enterprise of moderate dimensions, in the village of De Kalb. He gave his attention to his business, managed its relations to accommodate his patrons, and while he won general esteem he gradually placed his affairs on a substantial basis of prosperity, which he continued for about 20 years. During this time that he was engaged in the hardware business, he was extensively employed as auctioneer, locally at first ; but after a few years his success as a salesman became so great that his services were frequently in demand in distant portions of the State, and for the time he was inteTested in this line nq one ever achieved greater success than he. He had long considered the necessity which depressed the hopes of Western farmers, - that of the want of suitable fencing material; and it is impossible to consider the subject without a feeling of wonder that 40 years of active agricultural exertions, with always the same need impending, elapsed before the simple device that solved the difficulty entered the mind of man.

In the year 1874 Mr. Ellwood invented and obtained one of the earliest patents on. barbed fencing, since which time he has been engaged in the manufacture, improvement and building up of the barbed-wire industry. Through his influence and by his foresight all of the underlying and first patents on barbed wire and machinery for making the same were combined together, enabling him with the assistance of others to build up one of the largest and most successful business enterprises in the history of this country. For a time he was associated in the manufacture of barbed wire with Mr. J. F. Glidden, and later with the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company, of Worcester, Mass., but at present he is exclusive owner and proprietor of the large manufacturing establishment at De Kalb doing business under the firm name of I. L. Ellwood & Co. The capacity of these works at this time is nearly 12 car-loads of finished fencing each ten hours. While there have been a great many different persons engaged in the barbed-wire business, and manufactories are scattered all through the western country, Mr. Ellwood has been a recognized leader in the conduct of the business, and there is no question with those who are acquainted with its details, (

It is but justice to Mr. Ellwood to say that no man ever pushed a meritorious enterprise to great success with fewer motives of selfishness than he. Generations to come must know that no more unpretentious man ever lived than he; and in all the prosperity that has fallen to his lot, his chief delight and satisfaction is in having been the instrument - of good to his fellow-men. A warm welcome will be accorded to the portrait of him which appears on a preceding page, and it is presented with a double satisfaction, for reasons which have direct reference to the fraternal relations of Mr. Ellwood, five of whose brothers resident in the county are similarly presented, and to his business relations, which render him in a certain sense the property of his country and generation.

The subject of this sketch, with limited education, inheriting little save integrity and ambition to achieve something in the world's work, conscientious, humble, he met and recognized a great opportunity ; and it is eminently true of him that the prosperity which has resulted is looked upon as having fallen into deserving hands, and therefore awakens no jealousy. Reading and observation, coupled with reflection and judgment, have furnished and disciplined a mind of uncommonly fine faculties, and he is in no rate the inferior of men who have spent their lives among books and in scholarly associations. He is self-reliant, self-poised, self-respecting, and is esteemed accordingly. An undeviating Republican in political sentiment, he has never sought or held a local office, save being elected for one or two terms to the City Council of De Kalb. No deserving man or woman has ever applied to Mr. Ellwood without receiving liberal aid, and his greatest pleasure is in doing substantial acts of kindness for the poor in their vicinity.

He was married to Harriet A. Miller, only daughter of William A. Miller, at her father's residence in the village, now city, of De Kalb, Jan. 27,' 1859. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellwood, - three daughters and four sons, - of whom three daughters and two sons are still living.

and attending to the purchase of his stock in person ; and during this year (1885) he expects to import from 75 to 100 head. He also has entire charge of his father's stock farms in the vicinity of De Kalb, containing some 3,400 acres, all under a high state of cultivation,and with all modern improvements for stock-raising.

homas J. Tindall, stock-raiser and farmer, residing on section 15, Malta Township, was born in Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mich., June 29, 1840. When Thomas was one year old his parents moved to Buffalo Grove, Ogle C6unty, this State, and one year later came to this county and located on a farm in South Grove Township. Here, Thomas assisted his father on the farm and attended the common schools until he attained the age of 17 years. At this age he entered the college at Wheaton, the county seat of Du Page County, this State, and pursued his studies in that institute for four years. From Wheaton College he went to college at Beloit, Wis., and there completed his course of study. Soon after leaving college, in October, 1864, Mr. Tindall enlisted in Co. K, 4zd 111. Vol. Inf., Capt. J. N. McClellan, to serve in the late Civil War. His company was, in the Army of the Cumberland, and was in the Division commanded by Gen. Thomas. Mr. Tindall participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, prominent among which were Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn.; and after faithfully serving his country for 14 months he received an honorable discharge at Lavaca, Texas, in December, 1865, and returned to the home of his father in South Grove Township, this county.