Effingham County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1883 (part 5 of 13)

GEORGE STRONG, farmer, P. 0. Eborle, is one of the substantial farmers of Lucas Township. His parents were natives of Vermont, where his father, Emory F., was born in 1811, and his mother, Harriet, in 1807. Our subject was born in York State November 24, 1837. Here he resided until eight years old. In 1845, ills father removed to Michigan, where he resided until 1858, in which year he removed to Bureau County, 111. In the fall of 1861, returned to Michigan, where he remained until the fall of 1874, at which time he moved to the place he now occupies. He bought a farm of 100 acres, fifty of which had been cultivated. Here he has industriously labored until his farm is now one of the best in the township. He is a man of good education and of most excellent social qualities, and is full of original thought and intelligence. This is shown in his thoroughgoing business habits as well as in his social relations. Whether among the hills of his native State%the logings of Michigan, the classic shades of Cleveland School, or the prairie of Illinois, he has ever been the same free-thinking, generous man, hail fellow well met, to all who use common politeness. The writer has known him for years, and bears cheerful testimony to his integrity and true manliness. His education though liberal, far above that which is ordinary, was obtained under many embarrassments. He worked on his father's farm during the summers and attended school in winter until he attained his majority. After that he attended the Graded School at Plainfleld, Mich., the High School at Grand Rapids, Mich., and the High School of Cleveland, Ohio, in all of which he sustained a good standing. He was a teacher for several years, but quit that for his chosen work, farming, which he has followed the greater part of his life. He usually handles considerable stock and thus finding use for his coarse grain and other farm products that are unmarketable, and thus receives hand- some returns. In 1859, he was married to Miss Martha M. Beach, of Kent County, Mich., They have four fine, healthy children - Hattie, a teacher ; Miua, now married to Mr. H. Barron, so that Mr. Strong is already a grandfather though but in the prime of life ; Junia and Georgia, the baby and papa's pet. Benjamin Beach and wife, the parents of Mrs. Strong, are still living in Kent County, Mich. Mr. Strong was one of a family of six children, three of whom are living - Phila, deceased; Return, living Jerome, deceased; George, subject; Laura, living; Horace, deceased. Mr. Strong, blessed with health, a good farm, a fine family, bright prospects and much mental vigor, is one our representative men.

NBR STROUD, farmer, P. 0. EUiottstown, was born in Orange Count}-, lud., July 4, 1840. Was brought by his parents to this count}' when one year old. They settled on the farm where James Adams now lives in Section 3, Lucas T#vnship. His father settled on wild prairie land, which he entered about 1848. Subject was raised on a farm, and for several years no school existed in that part of the township, and the first school he attended he was about the age of eight years, in an old log schoolliouse about one mile and a half south of EUiottstown, and for several winters went there until he learned the three "R's." In June, 1861, he enlisted at the first call for three years' men in Company L, of Fifth Illinois Cavalry, and served until October, 1865, in the same regiment and company. The last three years he served as Quartermaster Sergeant, and was always on dut}', and was in forty battles and skirmishes, the principal of which were : Cotton Plant, July 6, 1862; Rock Roe, Ark., Aug. 16, 1862; McAlpiu's farm, October 22, 1862; siege and capture of Vicksburg, which lasted forty-three days, ending July 4, 1863; Clinton, Miss., July 8, 1863 ; Canton, Miss., July 12, 1863 - city taken by Fifth Cavalry; Coldwater, Miss., August 20, 1863; Robinson's Mills, October 17, 1863, and near there on the 18th day of October occurred an all-day fight ; in the rear of infantry, they fought back to Clinton, Miss.; in rear of Natchez, Miss., December 8, 1863; Champion and Dalton, Miss., February

5. 1864, and eight miles north of Jackson, February 6, 1864; .Morton, Miss., February 8, 1864; Februar}' 11, 1864, skirmished and drove the enemy all day; Decatur, Miss., February 12, 1864 ; Meridian, Miss., February 14, 1864 ; Black River, Miss., May 12, 1864; Port Gibson, Miss., September 30, 1864; city of Monroe, La., February 12, 1865; city of Harrisburg, La., February 16, 1865. The company was organized at Effingham, Ills., September, 1861, bj' Capt. H. I). Caldwell, and mustered out at Camp Butler, in October, 1865. After the war he came home, and November 5, 1865, was married to Mary F. Merry, of Decatur, 111. The}' have four children - Eliza, Hattie, Prettyman, W. Mc. and William Ura. He purchased his present farm in the fall of 1865, Situated in Section 1, Luca^ Township, where he owns 200 acres. It was unbroken when he bought it; now he has it all under cultivation and raises grain, principally corn, oats and wheat; he plows about one hundred acres per year. Mr. Stroud is a Republican, and has served in various township offices, being at present Supervisor of Lucas Township; he is serving his second year. His father, Thomas Stroud, was born in South Carolina; came with his parents to Orange Count}', Ind., in boyhood, and there married Eliza Aston, a native of North Carolina, and after marriage, engaged in farming until 1840, when he moved to different points in Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri until 1841, when he settled in Lucas Township, where he lived until 1860, when he moved to Union Township, Effingham County, and there died in 1874. He had fifteen children, of which thirteen grew up - names are: Joseph, deceased; Ura, lives in Union Township; Eliza, married

N. B. Tilton, of Iowa; Lucretia, wife of James Cooper, of Qiiincy, 111.; Lj'dia M., deceased; Siduej', deceased; Ner, subject; Samuel J., farmer, of Lucas Township; Ephraim Joy, resides in Kansas; Nathaniel S., killed in battle of Brownsville, Ark.; Richard Nails, farmer in Union Township; Austin R., lives in Washington Territory. Subject's father married a second wife and have two daughters living of last marriage, names are Helena and Angeline; they reside in Union Township.

WILLIAM TATE, farmer, P. O. Winterrowd, was bora in County Down, Ireland, January 10, 1828; he lived tliere with his parents until twenty-four years of age. On the 10th of April, 1852. he embarked for this country, was twenty-one days on the water, and had a most pleasant trip. He arrived at New York May 1, 1S52. He went to work in a lnmber-3-ard, remaining there until the spring of 185-t; he then went to Canada and engaged in farming, and in the spring of 185G, came back to New York State, where he remained until the fall of 1857, when he went back to Canada and engaged in farming until the spring of 18G4; he then went to Wisconsin, and remained there until the fall of 1874, when he moved to Lucas Township, Effingham County, and settled on a farm in Section 36 of 240 acres, the greater part of which was uncultivated land. Now he has about 200 acres in cultivation, his main productions being <vheat, corn and oats. This year he has raised about 500 bushels of wheat, 2,000 bushels of corn, and about 2,000 bushels of oats, lie received his education in his nativ(! count3% and was married in the year 1857, to Susanna Sweazey, a native of Canada. Thej' have three children - Andrew R., Maggie Jane and Robert Henry. Our subject's father, Robert Tate, was born in Count}' Down, Ireland, in the year 1801, and was a farmer. He died in August, 1846. Margaret McElroy, his wife, was born in the same place and year, as her husband, and is now living in Albany, N. Y.

They had eight children - William, Robert, living in Michigan; Margaret, living in Albany, N. Y.; Jane, deceased wife of llob(!rt McHafy; Mary, (deceased); Bessie, wife of Joseph Doran, living in Albany, N. Y.; Anna, wife of James Doran, living also in Albany, N. Y., and John, died when seven years old. Our subject's wife's father, Andrew Sweazey, was born in New Jersey about the year 1795, and died Canada, 1878. His wife, Hannah Dennis, was also born in New Jersey. Tliey have five children - John, William, Andrew, Susan and Joel.

JACOB WINTERROWD, farmer, P. O. Winterrowd, one of the enterprising farmers of Lucas Township, was born in Shelby County, Ind., September 14, 18.32. His f-vther was a native of Washington County, Penn., born in the year 1802. He was taken by his parents to Warren County, Ohio, when two months old; I'esided there about twenty-five years up to 1827. In the same year he removed to Shelby County, Ind., and resided there until the fall of 1860, when he removed to Jasper County, III., and bought a farm two miles from Newton, and there died in 1869. Our subject's mother was ' a native of Ohio, born in Warren County, of 1 that State, and died in Shelby County, Ind., j February 2, 1836. Our subject is one of a family of five children, of which four are living - Washington, living in Ellis County, Texas; Nancy, living with Jacob Winterrowd, in Lucas Township; Kirkwood, died in Shelby County, Ind., when thirteen months old; Jacob, subject; S. J. WinterrowH, living in Livingston County, , Mo. His father was married again on the 8tli day of June, 1835, to Dorathy Cookson, a native of Shelby County, Ind. Tliey had five children also - S. F., living in Ellis County, Texas; Elizabeth, wife of B. F. Moulden, living in Newton, Jasper Co., Ill; J. Z., lives on the old farm, two miles from Newton; M. F., died in Shelby County, Ind., when seventeen months old, and the other died in infancy.

Jacob Wititerrowd received his education in tlic siibscriptioa schools of Slielby County, Ind., although in the latter part of his school years he attended free schools, which had then been organized. He began life as a farmer; he was around looking for a location, and came to Effingham County, 111., on the 23d of March, 1859, but not purchasing a farm, he returned to Indiana in June, the same year, well pleased with the country, and came back on September 14, 1859, and j'et did not make a permanent location, and went back to Indiana November 29, 1859. He remained there until Februarj' 2, 1860, at which time he removed to Jasper County, 111. He lived there until April 9th of the same year, then he resolved to come to Effingham County, which he did, and settled on a farm of eight}- acres in Lucas Township where he is now living. When he came here it was all wild land, with no improvements whatever, but by his diligence and energj' he has made (juite extensive improvements, and put it all in cultivation. He added eighty acres to It in 1875; it was also wild land, but now has it all in cultivation, and raises wheat, corn, oats and rye. He also takes a great deal of interest in the raising of thoroughbred cattle, of which he has several on his farm. He was married, in the latter part of 1853, to Avis

Goodwin, a native of Shelby County, Ind., and on Januar}' 30, 1881, his beloved wife was called home to the better world, leaving him with four little children - Millard P., W. N., Ida . C. and Lily E.; Matia and Dora deceased. He was married again, on the 18th of October, 1881, to Sarah Thomas, of Jasper County, 111. They have one charming little girl, Nancy.

GRANVILLE G. WOODY, farmer, P. O. Eberle. Mr. Woody is one of Lucas Township's most respected and enterprising young farmers. He was born in Indiana March 13, 1853; was brought by his parents to Union Township in the fall of 1862, and settled on a farm there. He received his education in Union Township, by helping his father on the farm in summer and in winter, attending school until twenty-one years of age. He was married, on the 4th of July, 1873, to Lucy Merry, of Lucas Township. She was born October 30, 1856. After he was married, he settled on a farm of 160 acres, about seventj^-flve acres being in cultivation, and the remaining eighty-five acres was raw laud; his main productions are wheat, corn and oats. They have four blooming children living and one dead ; Alva Eldridge, deceased ; Dencie p]lieu, Charles, Kearney and Burgess, living.

HERMAN D. ELLMANN, shoemaker, Teutopolis, was born in the precinct of Tenstedte, Parish of Cappeln, in County of Cloppenburg, Dukedom of Aldenburg, January 15, 1815. He commenced learning the trade of shoemaker with his father, D. Henry Ellmann, in his native place in his sixteenth year. He worked with him until he was twenty-five years old. In 1840, he married Catharine Elizabeth Angelbeke, and after his marriage started a shoe shop of his own in township of Dinklage, in a country place called Wulfenuau, [and run it for five j'ears with fair success. He came to the United States in 1845, landing at New Orleans in December, came via river to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked one j'ear as a journeyman, when he came to Teutopolis, III. He only remembers five settlers here in the town when he came. He bought two lots, where he now lives, of John F. Waschefort, and bought a partly finished house of Mr. Waschefort for $120; as soon as he finished a room, opened shop and became the first regular shoe-maker in the place, and has worked at his trade since the winter of 1846^7, setting on his bench from early morning until 12, 1 and 2 o'clock at night for many years. For some 3-ears he was the only shoe-maker here. He went in debt for his house and lot, and soon paid all his indebtedness, although mone}' was very scarce, and barter was jiaid for work, so that it was difficult to get money enough to buy leather. He kept one journeyman for man\' years. He can still put in a full day's work. His first wife died August 21, 1852, leaving no children. In March, 1853, he married to Bernandina Catharine Pundsack, she was boru in Vcchta, Oldenburg, in October, 1832, and came to this country in about 1841 with her parents. They have one daughter living, Marj- Anna Ellmann, born November 18, 1869. One son died in infancy. DR. FRANCIS F. BVERSMAN, physician, Teutopolis. Francis Frederic Eversman, M. D., was born October 20, 1807, at Osnabruck in the Province of Hanover (now Prussia). Here, also, he received the first rudiments of liis education. In 1837. he came to Baltimore, where he finished his education, He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended the medical college there. During his collegiate course he worked in the drug department of a commercial hospital. At the end of three j-ears, in 1850, he i-eceived the degree of doctor of medicine. In 184S), at the breaking-out of the cholera, though not as yet a licensed physician, he had volunteered his services, and was thus prematurely initiated into the practice of medicine. But, in the following year, 1850, having received his degrees he entered on the regular practice of his profession at Cincinnati, Ohio, wiierc he remained three j-ears. From Cincin nati he came directly to Teutopolis (1853), here he continued to practice his profession. In 1865, in addition to his professional labors as a ph3sician, he opened a drug store. His son, Charles Eversman, has relieved him of the care of the drug store, but he still continues his professional labors at the advanced age of seventy-five (1882). Subject is connected with the Cincinnati Medical Society. He married Charlotta Fier, and had three sons - Henry John and Charles.

CHARLES EVERSMANN, druggist, Teutopolis, was born in Alfhausen, near Osnabruck, Hanover, Germany, August 31, 1843. He came to the United States with his parents in 1845. They settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining in that city seven years. In 1852, the parents came to Teutopolis, this county, where our subject has lived ever since. He was educated in St. Joseph's College, and spent two years in the college of Notre Dame, at South Bend, Ind. He left school in 1865. At eighteen, he went to work on the farm, and conducted it for three years. In 1 866, his father went into the drug business here, and he assisted his father in the store for ten years, and in 1876 he became tlie proprietor, and has since conducted the drug store with good success. He has also been Assistant Postmaster for twelve years. He has been Justice of the Peace for eight years, also Supervisor throe years, and Town Clerk. He takes a deep interest in both county and State politics. He was married in October, 1871, to Miss Catherine Basse, daughter of George Busse, of Teutopolis Townsliip, and has four children - Frank, Leo, Dorothea and Katie.

JUDGE HERMAN II. HUELS, farmer, P. O. Effingham, was born near the city of Osnabruck, Hanover, January 30, 1824. He left the college of his native place and went to Paris, France, where he remained for two and a half j'ears in tlie Le Seminaire, Du Saint Esprit, where he studied rhetoric and philosophy, and then went to Italy, and visited in Genoa, Milan, Florence, Rome and Naples. This was during the reign of Pope Gregory XVI. Spent six months in Italy, for the most part in Rome, intending tu study for the pi'iesthood. From there he went with an English family to Bedfordshire, Eogland, where he taught the French, German, Latin and Greek languages in an academy belonging to the Baptist Church, for two and a half years. He came to the United States in 1846, and became Professor of Languages in the seminary at the Barrens, near Perryville, Mo., a small institution established there by the followers of St. Vincent De Paul, where young men were prepared for the priesthood. He remained there about one year, and in Washington, Mo., married in 1848, to 3Iiss Clara Schwegmau, and afterward was clerk in the law office of Thomas Allen, then President of the Pacific Railroad, now President of Iron Mountain Railroad. He was a large landed proprietor in St. Louis. Subject had charge of his real estate and general business until coming here in 1851. He became a teacher of the parochial school at Teutopolis, this county, where he remained until elected Justice of the Peace in the fall of 1853. when he gave up teaching. He served as Justice and Associate Judge of the county until they adopted township organization. He is still Justice of the Peace. He lived in Teutopolis until ISfil, when he moved to his present place near Bfflngham, where he owns about 200 acres of farm lands, and has since engaged in fiirming. For many years he did a large amount of public business for the people of Teutopolis. He also bought and sold considerable real estate. He had two children, both deceased.

FERDINAND KOLLMEYER, farmer, P. 0. Teutopolis, was born in January, 1830, in Goldenstedt, Amt Pechte, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg, Germany. He is a son of Bernhard Kollmeyer, born and died in tlie same place. He was a farmer by occupation. The maiden name of Mr. Ferdinand's mother was Maria Grave, who was born in Oldenburg, Germany, where she died, leaving three boys and two girls. Our subject went to school in EUenstedt, Germany, and in 1850 he came to the United States, via New Orleans and St. Louis, and settled near Teutopolis, Bfflngham Co., 111., in which village he was married October 28, 1856, to Miss Josephine Puntsack, who was born in 1830, near Fechte, Oldenburg, Germany. She is the daughter of Anthon and Mary Anna Puntsack, who were born in Germam-, but who died in Teutopolis Township. Mr. Kollmever has three children, two boys and one girl. The names of the boys are Frank and John, who have attended the college at Teutopolis. Mr. Kollmeyer is identified with the Democratic party. Through his economy and industry he has acquired a nice farm of 200 acres. Is the artificer of his own fortune, having labored hard for the means by which to defraj' the expense of his passage across the restless, billowy sea. Is a Catholic. FATHER P. MICHAEL RICHARDT, O. S. F., rector St. Joseph's Diocesan College, Teutopolis, was born in the province of Saxony, Prussia, September 25. 1844. He was educated in the Gj'mnasium Heiligenstadt, which he leftat the age of seventeen, and joined the Franciscan Order in Westphalia, and studied philosophy at Duesseldorf on the Rhine, spending six yeai-s at the two places. He spent his novitiate of one year at Warendorf, Westphalia. He came to the United States in 1867, and entered the Franciscan monastery at Teutopolis, where he pursued the study of theology two years, and was ordained priest at St. Louis, by Bishop Kenrick, and after his ordination he was Professorof Classics and Modern Languages in St. Joseph's College for two and a half years, and was at the same time sub-rector or Vice President of college. He was then transferred to same position in St. Francis Solauus College at Quincy, 111., for five years. He then conducted the department of philosophy in the monastery for four years at Quincy, 111. He was made President or rector of this college in July, 1882. He was working in the

JOHN H. RUNDE, merchant tailor, Teutopolis, was born in the kingdom of Hanover, village Lathen, county of Ashendorf, x\ugust 18, 1826. He left school at fifteen to learn tailoring in his native town, serving a three years' apprenticeship, and worked three 3-ears as a hand and went to Bremen, and sailed for New York City May 3, 1849, and arrived June 18, and worked in New York City about one and a half years, and in the fall of 1850, came to Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked at his trade there until 1854, on custom work. He was married in May, 1851, to Anna Margarettha Brinker. She was born in Oldenburg in 1822; came to the United States in the fall ot 1818, coming to Cincinnati, Ohio. In April, 1854, our subject came to Teutopolis with his family. He worked about two years for John F. Waschefort. Then formed a partnership with J. F. Waschefort & Co., which lasted one year in the merchant tailoring business. At the end of a year, Mr. llunde bought the stock of his partners, and on April 1, 1857, he opened a merchant tailoring establishment on the same site he now occupies and has done business for a quarter of a century. He bought a fresh stock of piece goods from Cincinnati, Ohio. His was at this time the onl3' merchant tailoring house in the county, and he made four suits for parties who bet on the Buchanan and Fremont election. He did a good business before the war, and kept at times four hands. He drew his custom from a long distance in every direction. He held this large custom for man}' years, and still docs a good business in merchant tailoring, clothing, and furnishing goods. He takes an active part in politics and religion, and has been Town and Church Trustee. He is Democrat of the old t^-pe. Mr. Runde has one son living, John L. Runde, born in Teutopolis August 13, 1861, and five children dead, the oldest dying in his eighth year.

JOHN G. SCHUBTTE, teacher and physican, Teutopolis, was born at Mettingen, in the Province of Westphalia, on the 23d of May, 1847. He attended school at Mettingen till the age of thirteen. He next went to the Gymnasium of Rheine, where lie graduated in 1868. After graduating, he went successively to the universities of Wurzburg, Marburg and Greifswold. He studied medicine for two j'ears, while pursuing his philosophical course. After finishing his course in 1872, he served a a short while in the Prussian Armj- during the Franco- Prussian war. Sulyect came to America in 1872. He landed at New York and came almost directly to Teutopolis. He there studied English for a year and a half, and obtained (1873) a position as Professor of Languages and Mathematics at St. Joseph's College. He has taught there ever since. He married Catharine, daughter of Mathias Mette, of Effingham. His wife died in 1877. Subject is a Roman Catholic ; politically, he is a Democrat.

REV, P. PAULUS TEROERDE, priest, Teutopolis, is a native of the Bishop seat of Paderborn, in the Province of Westphalia. While quite young he removed to Bocholt, where he commenced his education. He afterward went to Miinster, the capital of Westphalia, to pursue his studies, and then to Warendorf, where, in 1869, he joined the Order of Franciscans. He here finished his novitiate. In 1870, he removed to Wiedenbruck, and soon after to Dusseldorf, At both these places he studied philosophy, and on the completion of his course in that science, he returned to Paderborn, where, for the next two years of his life, he was engaged in the study of theology. At this time, the Franciscans being expelled from Germany, the Rev. Father went to the seat of the Franco-Prussian war, just then breaking out. During the early part of this war, he followed the contending armies, bearing Christian succor to the sick, the wounded and the dying. But sickness forced him to relinquish this hazardous tasli. In 1875, he left Germany and came to Teutopolis. He remained in this township but two days when he left for St. Louis to tinisli his studies tliere. He spent a year and a half at St. Louis, at the expiration of which time, having completed his theological course, he came back to Teutopolis to attend a mission. He was shortly afterward appointed Guardian of St. Francis Convent and Director of the St. Francis Congregation, which joint offices he still fills.

WILLIAM TOLCH, harness-maker, Teutopolis, was born on the 27th of November, 1823, at Strelitz-Mecklenburg, in North Germany- Here he attended school and learned the trade of harness and saddle maker. Emigrating to America in 1851, he worked at his trade for a short while in New Jersey. He then went to St. Louis and fiaallj- came to Teutopolis (1852). He settled on the National road, at the place where his harness and saddle shop now stands. He married on the 28th of April, 1856, Rebecca, daughter of John McLiney. Subject is an Evangelical Lutheran. He is a Democrat, but takes no interest in politics beyond exercising the right of suffrage. Has nine children living - John Henry, Charles Willliam, Samuel Frederic, Mary Catharine, Nancy Emilia, Lizzie, Caroline Jane, Rebecca Ann, Alice Clery.

CLEMENS UPTMOR, Sr., merchant, Teutopolis. Awaj' back in Fatherland, now nearly seventy-seven years ago, on the 19th day of January, 1806, Clemens TJptmor, Sr., was born in the Dukedom of Oldenburg, in the village of Lohme. His parents were in the middle classes, neither rich nor pinched with poverty, 3'et the childhood of the boy practically ended when he was ten years of age, as he then went as sailor boy on a fishing vessel on which his father was mate. These expeditions for herring were made into the North Sea, and to Amsterdam and other points. In the winters, when his father's vessel could not sail for fish, the boy went to the parochial schools of his native village. He thus got a fair education, and a good knowledge of sailing the waters, as well as the geography of Europe. When old enough he was drafted into the arm}-, and here he served five years in the infantry command.

In company with his brother, and a few of his neighbors, he sailed for America, and in September, 1834, landed in Cincinnati. Here, for the next five j'ears, he worked early and late at his trade of carpentering - having received instructions in the old coa.intry as ship carpenter. He prospered at his work in Cincinnati, but it was slow, and, in connection with two or three others, looked up the subject of the great West, the land of rich soil and cheap homes, and this trio of humble workmen conceived the great idea of forming a colony and emigrating West. Did they, any of them, think you, in their warmest fancies, ever prolong the vision to this day, and in the emigration foresee the present flourishing town of Teutopolis, with its happ3' population, its magnificent manufactories, its stupendous church, college, convent, its many houses, from its grand mansions to its many neat and tasty cottages, and all surrounded by elegant farms and improved highways ? One of the nine and chief movers that brought us all this Valuable population, including the entire town of Teutopolis and the rich farming country surrounding it, together with many others throughout the whole county, was Clemens Uptmor, Sr.

So great and far reaching in its good effects to its beneliciaries, and of so much value was it to the county of Effingham that we feel it just and proper to repeat in outline this colonization scheme :

It was organized in Cincinnati, and at first only nine members ; it soon grew to a society of one hundred and fort3'-two. Each member paid $50, and this entitled him to forty acres of land ; he paid also $10 toward the society ex- penses, and this entitled him to four town lots. Messrs. Uptmor and Waschefort, in the interest and for the societj-, made an extended tour of observation, entering the State near Vincennes, passing through into Missouri to near Jefferson City, but seeing slavery there, they returned and again entered Illinois at Quincy, and from Quincy to Vandalia, the land office, was their general route. At Vandalia they examined the land books, and rode many miles in all directions, and finally settled upon the spot where Teutopolis now stands as the chosen one for their colony. When this conclusion was arrived at, Mr. Upmor returned to Cincinnati and called the society together and reported fully what he had done. Everything was told except the place selected. He then asked the society to appoint a committee and he would take them to tlie place and they could enter the land. This was done, and Thomas Bergfelt, George Meyer and Henrj- Roenbaum were added to Waschefort and Uptmor, and were appointed to accompany Mr. Uptmor. and $16,000 was placed in their hands to invest for the society. These committeemen did not know even to what State they were going until they were well on the way to Illinois. This secrecy was observed in order that the strictest justice might be done to all members, and further, to prevent any member from taking advantage of his knowledge and slipping away and making a choice entry of land in the very heart of the colony's location. They came on to Vandalia, entered the land, and laid off the town of Teutopolis, and returned to Cincinnati, and in the fall of 1838, in the old engine house, between Sixth and Seventh streets, the land and town lots were distributed bj- a dravving among the members, each one taking the land» and lots marked on the slip he drew out of the hat.

Such was the outline of this wise and just scheme, and the result stands there to-day, the proudest monument to the integrity, far-sightedness and faithfulness of its founders of anv similar instance in modern times. The minds that mapped out and carried through, from beginning to completion, this beneficent scheme - a scheme ever growing in the good, the liberty, the happy prosperous homes of so many people, that transcends in importance all the battles of Napoleon, or the Csesars, should not be left to careless neglect, nor shall they be, for The past U but a base whereon These ashlars, well hewu, may be laid."

In September, 1839, Mr. Uptmor was married to Mary Elizabeth Niehaus, of Cincinnati. This wedding occurred on one of his three different trips between the new colony settlement and Cincinnati ; one of these trips he made wholly on foot and another one chiefly so, as his horse was taken sick in Vincennes, and he pushed on without it. Immediately after the marriage, preparations to move to the new home commenced, and December 21, 1839, they landed at Teutopolis, and occupied a little log hut built by J. Henry Uptmor, one room, sixteen feet square. The next year he built a frame, 16x26, on the corner lot where his present large brick residence stands. Here he opened a little store, his stock of goods amounting to about $100, and from this little beginning has grown his present large and extensive establishment. At the same time he farmed, did carpenter work, and found time to build an immense wind grist mill, which was completed in 1842. In its day it was a tremendous event in the count}'. It was a big venture to make at that time, but it, like everything else he touched, brought him success and the bread of life for the whole county around, in fact, extending into the surrounding counties. More curious and glad people visited this wonder of its day, by far, than do now go to see the magnificent four stor}' grist mill - the finest structure and machinery in the State perhaps, as it contains all the very latest improvements and invention in milling known, and is capable of turning out 150 barrels of perfect flour daily. This mill is the most valuable improvement yet erected in our count}'. It is estimated that it will require all the wheat that can be raised on a territory of nearly the entire county to supply it during any year that it is run to its full capacity.

In the erection of the college, the female convent, the extensive Franciscan monaster}', and the magnificent church, one of the largest and containing the finest organ in Southern Illinois, were all aided and much assisted by the good sense and liberal purse of Mr. Uptmor at the time of building.

In 1865, he built his present fine brick store, where he has since kept a large general stock of dry goods and groceries, in the name of the firm of C. Uptmor & Sou. In the same year, he commenced his pork -packing establishment ; the first year he slaughtered over 1,800 liogs. The partnership, constituting the proprietors of the new grist mill, was formed in 1882, and consists of his son, Clemens, and Joseph Siemer, and its title is Uptmor & Siemer.

For more than twenty j-ears he was Postmaster of Teutopolis, entering upon the duties of the office in 1842, and continuing without interruption during all these years and without an official error or a complaint from an}- source. Mr. Uptmor is the father of fcjoirteen children, eight of whom are living.

This is the briefest outline of the life work of Clemens Uptmor, Sr. Certainly one of the brightest examples in our country's whole history of what is possible for one man to do for himself and his fellow-man. A man born to command, control, guide and provide for his fellow-man, and has filled that grand mission of life so abl}' and so well, and that, too, without the aid of wealth, titles, or great and powerful friends at court ; indeed, without a knowledge of the language of his adopted country, until past middle life, is a great consummation - pleasant to see, profitable to behold.

SISTER VEREN A, D. N. D., of Notre Dame Convent, Teutopolis, 111., is a native of Herzogen Aurach, in the province of Bavaria, being bora in that city on the 28th of November, 1841. At the age of three years, she was taken from her native countrj' and brought to Baltimore. She there attended the St. James' Sisters' School till the age of seventeen. In 1859, she was sent to Milwaukee, where she became a candidatej for admission into the Order of Notre Dame. In the following year, 1860, she became a member of the order. She taught school for one year after her admission, in the city of Milwaukee. She then went to Rochester, N. Y., where she also taught in the St. Joseph's Sisters' School. She remained there seven years (to 1868). Having returned to Milwaukee for a few weeks, she then went to Kenosha, Wis., where she taught for six years, till 1874. She also taught three years in Chicago. In 1877, she came to Teutopolis, where she was appointed Sister Superior of the Convent of Notre Dame, which position she is now filling.

JOHN F. WASCHEFORT (deceased), was born in Essen, Oldenburg, Germany. He emigrated to America in 1832. After prospecting for some months over various parts of Ohio, he finally located at Cincinnati. He devoted himself to learning the trade of rope and twine making, and in 1835, formed a partnership with John H. Hakman and George Venneman, for the purpose of manufacturing rope and cordage. Soon this young firm began to prosper, their business assuming larger proportions from day to day. A few years of success at Cincinnati induced them to establish two branch houses; one at Evausville, Ind., under the management of George Venneman, which, in addition to a well-selected stock of ropes and twines, h«id a large stock of groceries added, which, in a few years after its establishment, ranked as one of the largest jobbing houses of that cit}-. The other house was established at Teutopolis, 111., under the control of J. F. Waschefort. The original partnership, formed in 1835, continued until 1857, wlion the same was dissolved hy mutual eonsent. During the existence of this partnership, which continued during twentj'-two years, Mr. Hakman managed the Cincinnati house, Mr. Venneman the Evansville branch, and Mr. Waschefort the one at Teutopolis. At the final dissolution and in the division of property, each partner retained the business under his respective management. To the Teutopolis house Mr. W. lent all his energy and business ability, starting with a small stock of goods usually kept in country stores, he soon enlarged the same and made it the trading place of the surrounding country. He soon added the pork packing business, making a market for fat hogs. The product was in those early days transported by wagon to Evansville and St. Louis, finding a market at New Orleans. In 1856, he built at Teutopolis a large steam flouring mill, to which he added a complete saw-mill. In 1860, he opened a branch store at Effingham, that city having been made the county seat. All these various enterprises, which tended so much to develop this neighborhood, were kept under his immediate supervisons up to the time of death, which occurred in January, 1879, he then being sixty-eight years of age. He was of a quiet and reserved disposition, assisted the needy, and to all who were willing to work he extended a helping hand. Man}- remember him as having received through his generous assistance their first start in life. His wife, Mary, to whom he was married in 1839, was a noble-hearted lad3-. She died in Januar}-, 1873. The have four children now living - two daughters residing at Cincinnati, one daughter lives at Teutopolis, the wife of Dr. H. Eversman; and an only son, Ferdinand, who succeeded his father's business at the old homestead. Mr. W., being one of the original organizers of the colony of Germans who settled at Teutopolis, was intimately' associated with its development and progress. All public enterprises received from him substantial support and aid. Their fine brick church, large college for higher education, a fine sisters' academy and parochial school attest the regard he paid to education in that small village.

JOHN F. WASCHEFORT, Jr., Teutopolis son of John F, Waschefort, was born in Teutopolis Township, March 4, 1857, here he was also raised and educated, attending suct'essively the Notre Dame Sisters' School and St. Joseph's College, At the age of sixteen, he left college and engaged in business, helping' his father in the flour mill and general store keeping. In 1879, on the death of his father, he succeeded him in the same business, which he still carries on quite successfully. The fatherof subject was born in Oldenburg, Germany, about 1810. He came alone to America when he was not more than sixteen years old. After stopping at various places, he reached Cincinnati in 1832. In 1841 he came to Teutopolis, where ho opened a o-eneral country store, dealing, also, in live-stock, and conducting, at the same time, a large farm. He started a combined flour and saw-mill in 1856. This was afterward converted into a flour mill. He died in January, 1879.

JOHN H. WEKNSING. Sr., Justice of the Peace, Teutopolis, was born in the old Kingdom of Hanover (now Prussia) in the year 1832. In 1840, he came to America with his parents, being only eight years old. They settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, where John attended a " common school." Subject afterward went to Indiana where he received instructions in the higher branches, from Prof. Thomas Smith. Leaving Indiana, he went back to Cincinnati, where he learned the trade of " coach and car ornamentation." tlavin"- finished his apprenticeship, he was engaged as a foreman in a coach and car manufactory for fifteen years. Forced to leave Cincinnati on account of sickness, he came to Teutopolis in 1865, where he has since resided. For the last fourteen years, he has exercised the office of Justice of the Peace, and for the last six years the additional office of Notary Public. Soon after his arrival at Teutopolis, he tooli charge of John F. Waschefort's combined steam flour and saw mill. Subject has alwa^vs taken an active part in politics. He has been, successively, member of the Board of Supervisors, member of the Board of Trustees, Collector of Taxes (for the last three years), and is at present Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. Subject was twice married. First wife - Mary, daughter of John Wessel, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, among the first settlers of that place. Second wife - Catharine, daughter of Henry Lepper. Subject bad by his first wife, tliree sons and two daughters - Henry, Benjamin, Edward, Mary and Catharine. By his second wife he had two sous and three daughters - Frank, Joseph, Theresa, Elizabeth and Anna.

JOHN H.WERNSING, Jr., dealer in liquors, Teutopolis, son of John H. Wernsing, Sr., was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, November 29, 1852. He attended a Catholic Brothers' school till the age of twelve, when he left Cincinnati and came to Teutopolis. At Teutopolis he attended St. Joseph's College for two years. Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he worked as a farm hand for the next three years of his life. He then undertook to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he abandoned at the end of three months. After this he made a livelihood by painting, which he continued doing till the year 1879. He then opened a saloon on the National road, which he still keeps. He is a Democrat, and has occupied the position of Village Clerk. He married Kate, daughter of H. B. Bruver. Has two children - John Henry and Mathilda.

Mason

THOMAS A. ANDREWS, Justice of the Peace, Mason, was born in Macon, Tenn., September 7, 1829. He was married April 3, 1851, to Miss Arena Jackson, daughter of Irwin Jackson, of Marion County, 111. Our subject located in Effingham County, 111., and followed the avocation of farming, at which he met with good success. Purchased and paid for 120 acres of laud in Mason Township. In 1857, he purchased a store in Brownsburg, of this county, and embarked in merchandising. This proving rather disastrous, he continued the business little over one year, sold out on credit, and never received the promised stipulation. He then returned to farming with good success, paid the debts contracted in the store business, and gained considerable property. lu 1877, he removed to Mason, and worked for some time in a stave fiictory. Politically, Mr. Andrews is a stanch Democrat. He has repeatedly held the office of Justice of the Peace, a position he at present fills. Has a family of seven children living - John W., born iu 1854 ; Sarah E., born in 1858 ; Mary T., wife of Harvey Leatherman, was born in 1860 ; Thomas N., born in 1862 ; Charles F., born in 1871 ; Jesse A., born in 1869 ; and two dead - Miss Emma Andrews was born in 1864, and died in 1881 ; William F., was born in 1856, and died in 1858. The subject's father, Drewry Andrews, was born in Chatham County, N. C, February 14, 1783, and resided there till 1805, when he went with his parents to Smith County, Tenn. Soon after his arrival there he was married to Rebecca Parker, and settled in that county. In 1811, his wife died, mother of three children, who survived her - John, born in 1806, is a resident of Macon County, Tenn.; Callen W., born in 1808 ; Mrs. Martha Young, who removed in 1838 to Macon Township. After the death of his wife, went into the Indian war, which was raging at that time, and served two j'ears. Returned from the war, and soon after married a young lady by name of Miss Elizabeth Gammon. In ISSS, they removed to Fayette County, III., and located at farming about nine miles west of Vandalia. Mr. Andrews was a farmer, a tanner and a shoemaker, farming during the summer. He tanned and dressed his leather during fall, and worked it into shoes in winter. By his last wife he raised a family of nine children, as follows : Mary, born in 1816, wife of John Barton, the well-known Baptist minister of this county; he died February 25, 1865 ; Susan, wife of John Minton ; Elizabeth, wife of Richard Jones ; Nancy, wife of William Dodsou ; the next is the subject of our sketch. There were three younger daughters, who married and raised families. The first five of this family between the year 1838 and 1840, removed with their families to EtBngham County. Drewry Andrews died December 3, 1845. In 1850, his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Andrews, was married to Benjamin Campbell, with whom she lived till May 20, 1856, when she died.

A. BARBKE, tavern, Edgewood, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., October 12, 1828, and removed with his parents to Franklin Count}', 111., in 1842. He remained there till of age, and was married in that county in 1850. For some time after, he engaged in running a saw and grist mill; afterward ran a flour mill in Jefferson Count}', and, later, a flour and saw mill combined, in Franklin County, and then a flouring mill in !McLeansboro, 111. He removed to Effingham County in 1867, and settled a half mile west of Edgewood and engaged in farming, which he followed till 1879, when he removed to Edgewood and began tavern-keeping, his present avocation. He has a family of eight children - W. F., W.'T., H. W., Jlrs. Ezora Robottom, Mrs. Luella Jackaway, Schuyler, Emma and Dora. Subject is a member of the Odd Fellow fraternity, and politically is a Republican.

JOHN BARTON, farmer, P. 0. Edgewood, son of Solomon Barton, was born in England in 1825. He came to America in 1857, and settled in Kane County, 111., and engaged in farming. In 1860, he removed to Effingham County, 111., and bought a farm of eighty acres. It was all wild prairie, but Mr. Barton fenced and put it under cultivation. Politically, he is a Republican. He was married, in 1866, in Chicago, to Miss Maria Hills, of England. She died about three years afterward, leaving one child - Hattie Maria Barton. Mr. Barton was married in 1873 to Miss Rachel Wilson, of England. Mr. Barton removed to Chicago in 1867, and engaged in gardening business. He purchased ten acres just outside the city limits, which he still owns.

OLIVER BEARE, farmer, P. 0. Edgewood, was born in Perry County, Ohio, May 7, 1852 ; removed with his parents when quite young to this county. On the death of his father, he took charge of the farm, which he has continued to run since. 3Ir. Beare is a good business man, a hard-working and enterprising farmer, and an estimable citizen. He owns farming lands to the extent of 524 acres. Subject's father, Jacob Beare, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., August 9, 1809. He was married in Perry County, Ohio, October 30, 1836, to Miss Mary Strawn, daughter of Thomas Strawn. Remained in that county till 1854, when he removed to Effingham County, 111., locating on a tract of 207 acres of wild land near Edgewood, and began the work of opening up a farm. Long before he came to this county, in the year 1836, he met a great misfortune in the loss of his eyesight, occasioned by a mishap in blasting in a limestone quarry. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, he was persevering, enterprising and successful. He not only succeeded in making a farm, but added to his first purchase a considerable amount of land. He was a great worker even after lie became blind, being able to work in the harvest fickl. He woukl cut down trees, cut oft" saw-logs, load them, and drive to the saw-mill, without any assistance or company whatever. He died April 16, 1878, leaving a large amount of propertj-, and a family of seven children, uamel}' : Mrs. Sarah Broraley, Mrs. Amanda Goodnight, David Bearc, Mrs. Catharine Lewis, Charles Beare, Oliver Beare, the subject of this sketch, and Joseph Beare - all useful and enterprising citizens. 'The mother, widow of Jacob Beare, still remains on the home tarm and is quite aged.

WILLIAM E. BEAIRD, merchant, Edgewood. William E. Beaird, son of Jacob Beaird, was born January 4, 1846, in Nashville, Ohio. In 1855, he removed to Olney, 111. He had good educational opportunities. He attended the Bvansville, lud., Commercial College, in 1867. Subject was married in March 1873, to Miss Flora Johns, of Olney, Richland, Co., III.; kept tavern about two j'ears, and was then engaged as traveling salesman by a wholesale grocery firm by name of Dyas, Hewitt & Stone, of St. Louis, Mo. He worked as traveling salesman for said firm about two years, when he engaged in mercantile business in Cleremont, Richland Co., 111., continuing until 1879, when he closed out and moved to Edgewood, Effingham Co., 111., put up a store - dry goods and groceries, and general merchandising. Subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically he is a Republican. Has a familj- of two children - Robert and William.

R. R. BILLINGSLY, grocer, Mason. R. R. Billingsly was born November 16| 1842, in Ohio Count3-, Ind., where he remained until he was nineteen j'ears old, when he enlisted in the war in 1862, Company D, Fifty-second Indiana Infantry, and was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps for a term of three years, at the end of which time he re-enlisted till the close of the war ; was in Fort Donelson, Nashville, at Spanish Fort near Mobile, Fort Blakely and at siege of Corinth, Tupelo, and many other battles; was discharged from the array in 1865, at the close of the war, after a service of four j-ears and seven months. Returned home soon after; settled at Mason, III., where he engaged in farming for a short time. Mr. Billingsly engaged in running a grocery store, at the same time ran an establishment of the same kind at Kdgewood, also purchased a livery stable at Kinmundy, which soon after burned, horses and all being lost in the fire. He is now engaged in running a grocerj- store; has a family of two children - Jessie May and James R.

GEORGE BOLTON, merchant, Edgewood, was Ijorn in Dublin in 1832; came to New York Citj- in 1854. Subject was compositor for the Brooklj'n and New York Journal company, Albion Inquirer and other offices of rank. April 21, 1861, he enlisted in the war. He was wounded at the battle of Bull Run, and taken prisoner, and forwarded to Libby Prison; was exchanged June, 1862; re-enlisted in September, 1862. He was married in Pittsburgh, Pean., in 1864, to Miss Angelina Johnson. After several years' emploj-ment at his profession, he embarked in mercantile business in 1875 in Edgewood, III.

TURNER J. BOWLING, Police Magistrate, Mason, was born in Carroll County, Ky., Januarj^ 30, 1843; remained there until 1863, when he came to Mason, 111., and engaged in cooper's trade, following said trade off and on till 1860, and then began clerking for Thistlewood Bros., in drj- goods and grocery store, continuing till 1871, when he was elected to the office of Police Magistrate of Mason. He attended the duties of Police Magistrate, and at same time engaged in clerking for Pulham & Co. till 1875, when on the death of Mr. Pulham the store was closed. He then engaged in clerking for Ruffner & Leith, afterward Wade & Leith, until 1879, when he was elected Police Magistrate, a position he still fills. Mr. Bowling was married in Effingham County,

December 31, 1863, to Miss Rosama Brocket, who died August, 1871. Oue cliild survives her, Florence Eveline. Mr. Bowling was married to his second wife, Miss Allie Weston, daughter of George M. Weston, July 9, 187.S, having an issue of one child - Jessie 0. Subject's father, George W., was born in Carrollton, Ky., August 30, 1804; was a tinner, and lived in Carrollton, Ky., until his death, which occurred in August 1857. His widow still lives in Carrollton, Ky.

E. W. BRIGGS, grain dealer, Edgewood, was born June 1, 1848, in Bangor, Penobscot Co., Maine, where he grew to manhood with good facilities for education ; came to Effingham County, III, in 1870, and engaged in deriving in Mason, 111. In 1 872, engaged in grain buying in Edgewood, 111. He was married, in 1876, in Mason, 111., to Miss Adella Tyner. To them has been born one child - Frederic Felton Briggs, Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

JUDGE JOHN BROOM, retired. Mason, whose portrait appears in this work, is the second son of Miles and Edith (Vincent) Broom, both natives of North Carolina. The parents had four children - William, John, Dicy and Samuel. Our subject was born October 16, 1809, on the Boiling Fork of Elk River, in the newly settled portion afterward called New Virginia, in the Old Dominion, near the Tennessee line. While an infant his parents moved into Tennessee, Jackson Count}^, from which place they, in a short time, moved to Smith County, same State, on Barren River, near the Kentucky line - an unbroken canebrake wilderness. In 1814, their house and its contents were burned, and the family were literally turned " out of doors;" the fatiier, as soon as he could, erected a log hut, but before he could put on a roof, his country's call for soldiers in the warof 1812- 15 took him into the army, and this helpless family were literally left in an uncovered railpen, with a few shucks for bed, bedding and and household furniture. The neighbors eventually put a roof over their heads. The father (Miles Broom) served his country during the war, and was distinguished by the personal notice and friendship of Gen. Jackson, for his bravery. As in after years. Gen. Jackson, in making a 4th of July oration, noticed Judge Broom, the son of his old soldier friend in the audience, placed his hand on the bov's head and stated that he had seen that boy's father in battle, when he was so sick that he had to lean against a wall to load and fire his gun, yet he fought the fight like a hero. Miles Broom, when discharged at New Orleans, started home, but when only thirtj- miles on the way sickened and died, in the year 1815.

Judge Broom's mother was then a widow, with four small children, three boys and a girl, and, at the tender age of seven years, John Broom was pretty much the family dependence in their struggle for existence. At the age of seven, he attended an orphan school three mouths, and this constituted his educational privileges. His mother had secured ten acres of land, and here he toiled and struggled for the family's scanty existence until seventeen years old.

February 11, 1828, being less than nineteen years old, he married Mary Allen, of Smith County, born June 4, 1806, near Salisbury, on the Yadkin River, N. C, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Allen, natives also of North Carolina. The young wife was the possessor of a bed, and the youthful benedict owned a pony and a saddle, and this was the only freight in th«s connubial bark when launched upon the matrimonial sea. The young couple rented a farm and mill and worked the happy hours away. In August, 1820, their first child, William, was born, and in the October following, the now little family of wife and child were loaded into a " carry-all," with all their other goods, and started westward. He joined his father-in-law, Benjamin Allen, and drove his four-horse team to their new home in Illinois, j on Fulfer Creek, where the two families landed | on the Gth of November, 1829. On the banks of this classic stream, if he took an inventory | of his possessions, preparator}' to a new start in a strange land, it would have resulted about as follows: A pioneer, a husband, a father, not yet a voter, $5 in debt, and nothing else in the j world. No, not a pauper, for as his long and i useful life has shown, he was rich in health, j energy, resolution, industry, and that Western vim and pluck that wins its way and triumphs over every obstacle.

Judge Broom and his father-in-law purchased the improvement of John McCoy. The Judge had to go to Vandalia and buy on a year's credit such things as he was compelled to have. He thus secured, among other things, a few shoe-maker's tools, and for years he made all the family shoes, and his wife could cook nearly everything in the kettle. Like all pioneers, their meat was wild game. The first three years he had to carry his plow, sometimes on horseback and sometimes on foot, forty-five miles, to get it sharpened, often occupying three days on a trip of this kind. In 1835, he secured employment at 37 cents a day in the rock quarry, getting rock for the national road; the second year, he had become so expert that he got 70 cents a day. This was the foundation of his prosperity and fortune, and, in 1834, he entered his first forty acres of land, and bought a voke of oxen. In company with others, he plowed the first furrow on the National road to a point near Vandalia. Farming, cattle-raising, contracting, teaming and working by the day or by the contract, he prospered, and, although he reared a large family of children, he provided enough to give each son 100 acres and each daughter forty acres, and retain over 400 acres of land for himself.

filled this office for forty-one years; was five years Associate Judge, and in 1862 was elected County Judge, and served four years ; was nominated for the Legislature, but declined on account of ill health, and designated Hon. Stephen Hardin to take his place. Here are fifty-nine years of life in our count}-. Looking backward over this long history of public trusts and labors well and faithfully discharggd, must cheer with sincere joy the evening of a long and well-spent life.

Judge Broom's was a useful, busy life, as full of hard work as it was of variet}'. He farmed, made shoes, contracted on the National road and other work; teamed to St. Louis and Terre Haute, married people, tried their law suits, arbitrated and adjusted the difficulties of neighbors; administered on estates; gave gratuitous legal advice; cried all the auction sales; hunted bee- trees and paid his first debt with honej', wax, and skins and venison hams, and read the Declaration of Independence, standing on a Cottonwood log, at the first 4th of July celebration ever held in the county, when Burke Berry and Aikin Evans, of Vandalia, were the orators; has been foreman of more grand juries than any other ten men of the count}-, and that he drew around him always troops of friends is evidenced by the confidence of his neighbors in the long lease of official life they have so generously forced upon hira.

His beloved wife and help-meet, the mother of- his nine children, died February 8, 1870. The children were as follows : William, born in Tennessee; Benjamin, born in this county September 16, 1831, is a farmer in Chase County, Kan.; Sarah Ann and Elizabeth Jane, (twins), born March 8, 1833; the former married Croft Grider, now a prosperous farmer in West Township, this county, the latter married James Osman, of Chase County. Kan.; Dicy, born May 27, 1837, married Thomas Peterson, a farmer of Mason Township; Martha Caroline, born August 1. 1839, married John

W. Smith, both dead, and left six children; Marinda Effie, born July 12, 1843, died in infancy; Rebecca Adeline, born August 6, 1845, married Thomas Allen, both dead, and left two children; and Mary Rachel, born July 12, 1848, died August 19, 1863. Our subject was re-married July 18, 1880, to Mrs. Arminda J. Newman.

IRA CANNON, larmer, P. O. Mason, was born in Crawford County, Ind., April 12, 1824, and removed with his parents, in his youth, to Parke County, Ind., where he grew to manhood. Mr. Cannon was married in Parke County, August 31, 1845, to Miss Sarah Swaim, daughter of J. B. Swaim. He made his home in Parke County till 18.56, when he removed to Effingham County, 111., and located on a farm of 120 acres, in Section 6, Mason Township. In 1872, he sold his farm and removed to Mason ; took up tavern-keeping for several years, then moved into his private residence, and has since followed farming. He has lately purch.ased a farm of twelve acres within the corporation of Mason, on which there are good buildings and a first class orchard. Our subject has nine children living, three sons and six daughters - John H., of Effingham; George H., resides in Norwalk, Iowa; Surrilda J. Siddens, resides in Alton, Iowa; Mary E. Deits, of Mason; Linna Bell Hawley, lives in Jacksonville, 111.; Eliza A. Core, resides in Philadelphia; Ada, Laura iA.d Tillman A. Our subject's father was born in Ireland; he came to America, with his ^rents, when seven years old. He was married in Kentucky, in 1800, to Miss Margaret Hayes. He died in 1832, in Parke County, Ind. His widow remained on the home farm in Parke County' till her death, which occurred in 1857. Of a famil}' of nine children, only four all living - James, Thomas R., Ira and Mrs. Ilariet Davis.

AMOS CONAWAY, merchant. Mason, 111., was born April 11, 1829, in Bourbon County, Ry. In 1830, his parents removed to McLean County, 111., and settled on a farm. Here he grew to manhood. He first engaged in sawmill and lumbering business, which he pursued about ten years. Mr. Conaway was married in Champaign County, "III, June 2, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Boyd, daughter of Stephen Boyd. For some time, he followed farming. In 1864, he engaged in merchandising in Monticello, Piatt Co., 111.; soon after sold, and returned to his farm. In 1878, again embarked in merchandising at Monticello, and in 1882 he removed his store to Mason, III. Subject is member of the Knights of Honor, is a Democrat. Has nine children, all living - James C, Byron B., Hortense, Amos C, Lizzie, Nancy, James B., Mary E. and Allen R.

G. W. CORNWELL, physician. Mason, son of G. H. Cornwell, was born in Fleming County, Ky., removed with his parents, at the age of ten, to Monroe Count}-, Ind., soon after to Mount Meridian, near Greencastle, lud. Afterward to Cloverdale, Putnam Co., Ind., where his father died in 1851, and he began the study of medicine in Stylesville, Hendricks Co., Ind., under J. N. Green, M. D. During his time of study, he also attended school at Asbury Universit}' two years. After three years' study in an office, he, in 1854-55, attended Rush Medical College at Chicago. August 20, 1855, he landed in Mason, and selected that place to win his fame and fortune, and embarked in the pursuit of his chosen profession. The Doctor is a stanch Democrat. He was elected Representative in the State Legislature from Fayette and Effingham Counties, for the terra of 1867- 68. Subject is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 217, of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Cornwell was married in Hendricks Count}', Ind., in June, 1855, to Miss Amanda Baldwin, daughter of Eli Baldwin, and they have had five children living - Lucian M., William 0., Eva Etta. Effie May, Lillie Prances; and three dead - Viola E., Mary A. and Albin C.

was born July 27, 1838, in Putnam County, Ind. At the age of sixteen years, he removed with his parents to Effln;rham County, 111.; was raised on a farm. Subject was married, September 6, 1S65, to Miss Mollie Campbell, daughter of William Campbell, of this county. Subject enlisted for the war in July, 1862, Company C, Ninety-eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry ; was forwarded to Louisville, Ky. Subject was in the following battles : Hoover's Gap, Tenn., Kenesaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta, Chickamauga, Selma, Mission Ridge. Was discharged June 26, 1865. Returned home and engaged in farming, and took up the responsibility of taking care of his father and mother, whicii continued till their death. Subject has a farm of eighty acres. Subject is a Republican ; has a family of five children - Homer, Emma Leola, Carrie Alice, Flora, Mirtie. Subject's father, John Graver, was born July 24, 1794, in Monroe County, N. C. Was married to Miss Mollie Todd in North Carolina ; removed to Indiana in 1837, and followed the avocation of farming. Removed to Illinois in 1853, and located on a farm of 120 acres, two and one-half miles northeast of Mason, before the Illinois Central was built. Had a family of ten children, of whom seven are living - Alexander, John, Mrs. Nancy Eggers, Elizabeth Cartright, Mrs. Mary Hunter, Elmina Kellar, and the subject of our sketch.

N. H. CURTIS, farmer, P. 0. Mason, is a son of P. H. Curtis; was born in Jennings County, Ind., February 1, 1843. In 1861, he enlisted in the war, Companj' C, Thirty-seventh Indiana. Was in the battle of Stone River, and manj- oth er light engagements, as well as a great many hard marches. Subject was married in 1876, in Effingham County, 111., to Mary, daughter of Henry Tucker. Subject engaged in farming in 1882. He purchased a farm of sixty acres in Section 3, Mason Township, mostly in cultivation and partly in the creek bottom. Has two children - Nancy and Jonathan.

' HENRY T. DAMON, farmer, P. 0. Mason, j son of Theo. Damon ; was born December 1, 1834, in Hampshire Count}-, Mass.; here he remained till 1857, when he located in Effingham County in Januar}-, 1858. His father purchased a farm of eighty acres in Section 21, Mason Township, and he owns the same piece of land, on which he farmed since his arrival in this country. He produces mostly grass and a fair amount of wheat, oats, etc. Our subject's father, Theo. Damon, was born May 15, 1805, in Massachusetts. He was married in January, 1831, to Miss Mercy Willcutt, daughter of Enoch Willcutt. He settled on a farm, and followed farming and lumbering till April, 1858, when he removed to Mason, 111., and settled on a farm of eighty acres near that place. March 1, 1873, his wife died, and he was married Februar}- 19, 1874. He made his home in this county till his death, which occurred April 25, 1875. He was a Republican. He left a family of four children ; three by his first wife and one by his last - Martha E. died when quite young ; Henry, the subject of our sketch ; Martha E., the second, and Frank R.

MICAJAH C. DAVIDSON, farmer, P. 0. Mason, was born December 18, 1808, in Buckingham Co.,Va. Moved to Smith Co., Tenn., with his parents at the age of two years. Here he was raised on a farm with unfiivorable facilities for education, but he improved his opportunit}' and gained a fair education. He was married in 1828, in Smith County, Tenn., to Miss Mary Fry, daughter of Henry Fry, engaged in farming. Shortly after removed to Faj'ette Countj-, now Effingham Count}*, 111., and settled on tract of land in Jackson Township ; here he remained several years. As he could not have good health, he purchased a tract of land in Section five, Mason Township, which he afterward entered of Congress, to the amount of 239 acres, on which he has made a farm, and has about JOO acres under cultivation, mostly in the creek bottom, and is consequently very fertile. He raises most^ corn, some wbeat. Subject is a member of the Baptist Cburcli. He cast liis first vote for Gea. Jackson. He voted the Whig ticket till the party went down; then he want into the Democratic part)' and remained with them. Subject's wife, ilary Davidson, died July 8, 13K, leaving a family of nine children, four of whom are living - Mrs. Eley Williams, Henry Davidson, John Davidson, Mrs. Martha Prater. Mr. Davidson was married, February 29, 1852, to Sarah Astin, by whom he has four children - William P., Charles W., Franklin P.-, Eli P. When he raised his house, he had to go to Blue Point to get hands to help him. In those days, they had no mills and thej- grated their corn and sometimes ground with hand mills. In 1835, he bought a horse mill, brought to the county b}' Jonathan Parkhurst ; by this means he and his neighbors could get their meal. In 1878, he built a first-class house, and has good buildings.

WILLIAM H. DIETS, teacher, P. 0. Mason, is a native of Carroll County, Md. He was born January 2, 1848. His father was a native of Germany, and his mother a native of Maryland. His father came to America at the age of ten, and located in JIaryland, where, in 1845, he was united in marriage to Luc.y A. Heiser. Two children, a son and a daughter, both of whom are now living, were the result of that union. In 1856, the family came to the West and located in Whitley County ; there, the father, Philip J. Diets, died in 1865. Two years after the father's death, his mother married again, and soon after the family came to Illinois, locating first at Madison County, then in Klflngham County, where the mother still resides, her husband having died some time since. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of Indiana and Illinois, and was for some time a student in the State Normal School of lUiuois. In 1870, he began life as a teapher in the public schools of Effingham

County, and excepting about fifteen months spent in teaching in Central Iowa, has been engaged in the schools of this county ever since, making teaching a specialt}^ He taught thirteen terms in the West Union School near Mason. From 1878 to 1881, he had charge of the Mason Public Schools; at present has charge of the public schools of Watson. Prof Diets is a man of indomitable energ}', tact and skill in the profession of teaching, and hence is invaluable in that avocation. He has been for some time engaged in writing a work on biography, embracing the lives of the leading men, and has the work nearly ready for publication. This promises to be of unique value and interest. In 1872, he was married to Miss Marj' E. Cannon, of Mason, III. One child has blessed tliis union, a daughter - llochelle E. Diets, who was born June 1, 1878, at Des Moines, Iowa. WILLIAM DONALDSON, farmer, P. 0. Mason, was born in Brown County, Ohio, August 9, 1821. At the age of seven years, he removed with his parents to Boone County, Ky., where he learned the trade of cooper under his father. Mr. Donaldson was married Jul}' 2, 1846, to Sarah Wingat, daughter of William Wingat. He pursued his trade in Petersburg, Boone County, till 1849, when he removed to Carrollton, Carroll Co., Kj-., and continued his trade in that place fourteen years, the last two j-ears of which he engaged in the distilling and flouring business also ; turning out sixty barrels of whiskj- and sixty-four barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. In 1861, he sold out all his interest there, and removed to Mason, III. The following year, moved on to his farm, near town, of 160 acres in prairie and eight)- acres in timber. He afterward purchased 160 acres adjoining his farm and fifty acres more in timber. He also has several other tracts of farming lands in the county. Mr. Donaldson makes a specialty of grass-raising ; he usually cuts from 150 to 200 acres, and ships from his own farms about fifteen cars of pressed hay annually. He also produces a fair amount of other farm products ; for instance, in 1882, he thrashed 1,800 bushels of oats, 500 bushels of rye, and cribbed 2,-100 bushels of corn. For the past twelve years Mr. Donaldson has engaged in buying and shipping grain; excepting a few years of crop failure, he shipped an average of fifty car loads annually. Mr. Donaldson turns out about 100 head of fat hogs per year. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities, and is a strong advocate of Democracy. He has a family of seven children living, and two dead. Josephine Thistlewood, resides in Cairo ; Catharine Condon, living in Iowa ; Lue, Charles, Henry, Cora, Thomas ; Annie Vista, wife of I. B. Keed, deceased September, 1872 ; Willie, died in 1859, aged six years. Mr. D.'s father, Andrew Donaldson, was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1795. Mr. Donaldson was a Government Surveyor for several years. He purchased a tract of 120 acres near Georgetown, Ohio, forty acres ^ of which he laid out and sold rn town lots. Mr. Donaldson, Sr., married in 182-1 in Virginia, to Miss Catharine Baxter. After some years' residence in Georgetown he removed and settled in CarroUton, Carroll Co., Ky., where he remained till 1855, when he removed to Perry County, 111, where he died in 1858. His widow died three days after her husband's death. The following are the children who survive them, including the subject of our sketch and Allen : Jane Hobbs, Caroline Hobbs, Alexander, John, Joseph and Minerva Williams.

JOSEPH DONALDSON, cooper. Mason, son of Andrew Donaldson, was born in Boone County, Ky., July 19, 1831. He was raised in the town of Petersburg. During the gold excitement Mr, Donaldson spent six years in California and British America, in the mining business. Subject was married in Carroll County, Ky., in 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Bowling, daughter of William Bowling. He located in CarroUton in pursuit of his trade, coopering, wiiich continued there till 1863, when he removed to Effingham County ; returned the following 3'ear to Kentucky and enlisted in the United States Army. Company C, One Hundred and Fifty Indiana Volunteers. He served in the First Brigade and First Division of Hancock's army corps. He was in many hard marches and skirmishes. He was discharged August 5, 1865. In March, 1868, he removed with his family to Mason, 111. He soon afterward engaged in farming and stock-dealing in Union Township. In 1875. he sold his farm and moved to Mason, where he resided since in pursuit of his trade, coopering, at which he is an expert. Few men can turn out more barrels per day than Joseph Donaldson. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat, and zealous worker in the interest of his party. Mr. Donaldson has one child living, Jennie, born March 8, 1864, and two deceased. Andrew J. died (when very young) 1862, and Catharine W. died in 1880, aged eighteen years and nine months.

JUDGE JOHN C. FAULK, deceased, boru in January, 1799, in Albany County, N. Y. He was educated at the Greenville Academy, in Albany, N. Y., a renowned institution under the principalship of Prof Parker, father of Judge Amasa J. Parker, of Albany. Among the classmates of Mr. Faulk in this academy, were Hon. Amasa J, Parker, Hon. Hiram Gardner and Hon. Mitchell Sandford. After graduating, Mr. Faulk entered the law office of Hon. John Adams, of Catskill, after serving as a student seven years, was at the cit^' of Utica, at the age of twenty-two, admitted to practice, and after practicing in his profession for many years in Broome County, N. Y., he was married in Bainbridge, N. Y., February 21, 1837, to Miss Fannie A, Nichols; removed toEdgewood, 111,, in 1869, where he remained till his death, which occurred March 25, 1876, He died in the hope of a glorious immortality, surrounded by his family, consisting of his wife and three sons and one daughter. Thus peacefully has passed away another of our old citizens. He in early life chose law for his profession. With a laudable ambition to excel, with a retentive memory and an indomitable energy, he rapidly rose in his profession, and stood a peer among the galaxy of legal lights that graced the bar of New York a quarter of a century ago. No case was so simple but he gave it his attention. No case so intricate, but he unraveled it. With a knowledge of almost all the decisions of the higher courts of our countrj', and even ability to elucidate any point necessary to success, made him a safe counselor and a successful lawyer. He was affectionate and kind as a husband and father, genial in social relations with his neighbors, and ever a gentleman and friend among his associates.

JAY N. FAULK, liveryman, Edgewood, son of John C. Faulk, was born April 4, 1840, in Chenango County, N. Y., and had the chances of a common school education. He came to Illinois in 1857, and located at Edgewood; engaged in clerking in a store; followed that till 1861. In 1863, he engaged in merchandising in Edgewood; followed that to great extent off and on probably fifteen years, in connection with trading land and horses, and kept livery stable business. At present owns a livery stable and dwelling and propertj* in Edgewood, as well as several pieces of land Subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Republican. Subject was married in Tecuraseh, Midi., March 30, 1804, to Miss Sofronia A. Miller, daughter of George W. Miller, of EfHngham; has one child - W. J. Faulk.

JOHN L. FAULK, liveryman, Edgewood, son of John C. Faulk; was born on October 15, 1844, in Chenango County, N. Y. Left there at the age of fifteen, and went to Pennsylvania ; remained clerking in a 'store for four years; ran a harness shop for two years. In 1865. he came to Edgewood, 111.; clerked in a store for his brother for some time, and purchased an interest in the store, which he followed with farming, also livery business for the past seven years, and has also bought and shipped horses.

JOSEPH FENDER, farmer, P. 0. Edgewood, son of John Fender, was born in 1842, in i Clay County, 111. He was raised on a farm. He engaged in the occupation of farming. Was married in 1876 to Miss Nancy Baker, daughter of James Baker, and settled on a farm in the southern part of Effingham County, 111. In 1881, he sold his farm of 180 acres in Effingham, and moved into Clay County, 111. Subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity-, Edgewood Lodge, No. 486. Subject has a family of four children - Joseph H., Louis, Daisj-, John B. Subject's father John Fender was born Jan. 7, 1817, in North Carolina. Left that State at the age of twelve with his parents, and removed to Lawrence County, lud. He was married May 18, 1836, in Lawrence County, Ind. to Miss Matilda Sheeks. He engaged in farming and trading in stock until 1850, when he removed to Effingham County, 111. Laid a warrant for 1 60 acres, which he laid on Section 34, Mason Township. To this he added probably as much as 700 acres of land in Effingham and Clay Counties. Remained in this county until his death, which occurred November 16, 1866. Of a family of nine children, five are living - Melinda G. Brown, born February 15, 1837 ; Isaac, born December 24, 1838 ; Daniel, born in September, 1842 ; Joseph ; Henry D., born September 16, 1862.

ROBERT G. GIBSON, merchant. Mason, was born in Ohio County, Ind., Jlay 10, 1841. He learned the cooper's trade, but never followed it. In 1861, he came to Mason, III., where he began quarrying rock, and worked until he enlisted August 12, 1861, in tiie Thirty-Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He was in many bloody battles, and at Chickamaiiga he was captured, September 19, 1863, and was held until May 6, 1865, when he was paroled. He was held at Richmond two months, Danville, Va., five months, and lay in Andersonville four and one-half months, then in Charleston, S. C, thirty days, then at Florence, N. C, balance of time. He was reduced to a skeleton, and suffered more than words can tell. He was mustered out in Springfield, 111., in May, 1865, and came back to jVIason, where he engaged in the milling business, buying a third interest in the firm of D. W. Sisson & Co. Ran Mason Mills twelve months, when he traded for a farm, which he conducted in the fall of 1867, when he bought a stock of goods of Isaac Baker, and has conducted a general merchandise business ever since, with good success. In addition to the store interests, he buys and ships grain and hoop poles and ties, employing in all departments from twelve to fifteen hands ; and he also conducts three farms. His parents died when he was nine j'ears old. and he had to shift for himself He was married in Mason, 111., in 1866, to Miss Ellen White, a native of Massachusetts, and has four children living.

WILLIAM 0. aiNTER, carpenter. Mason, was born May 2, 1835, in Bath County-, K^'. At the age of seventeen he took up the carpenter's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of three 3'ears at Owingsville, Kj\ He came to Effingham County, 111., in 1855, and began carpentering. Mr. Ginter was married Februar3- 27, 1846, to Mrs. Julia Morphew. In 1868, he purchased a farm about two miles north of Mason and moved on it. He farmed a short time during the summer and worked the remainder of the 3'ear at his trade. In 1881, he removed to Mason. Subject has a family of three children living - Nanna M., Zuanna and Ursula ; and two dead - John H., died October 1877, age eleven years; Samuel

A. GRANGER, farmer, P. O. Edgewood, Mason Township, son of John Granger, was born in 1819, in Waj'ne County, N. Y., where he was married June 7, 1842, to Miss Sarah Cass. Removed to Lake Countj', 111., bought ' a farm and engaged in farming, which he continued till 1862, when he sold his farm and moved to Effingham County, and engaged in farming in West Township, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres. In 1875, he removed to Edgewood, 111. In April, 1882, Mr. Granger's wife died, leaving the following children, viz., James C, Lucy H., Mary (wife of W. E. Wisner), J. M., Clarence, Elmer ..E., Imogen, Edwin, Elizabeth. In 1852, Mr. Granger was elected Sheriff of Lake County, 111., and filled the position of Deputy Surveyor one term.

SOLOMON HAINES, farmer. Mason P. 0., Mason Township, son of Richard Haines, was born April 20, 1826, in Orange County, Ind. He grew to manhood in that county. Had fair opportunitj' for education; subscription schools. Subject was married January 11, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Martin, who died in 1860, leaving three children, John A.. Sarah Ann, Hattie. In 1866, he was married in Effingham Count}', 111., to Mary MeCuUey. Removed to Effingham Count}" in 1850, and reengaged in farming, on a farm of fifty acreS, Section 13, to which he added forty acres of river bottom. In 1865, he enlisted in the war, Companj' H, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Illinois. Was sent to Nashville, Tenn.; remained in service till the close of the war, a term of eight months. By his second marriage has one child, viz., Eva D.

DR. JOSEPH HALL, Postmaster, physician and druggist, Edgewood, is a son of Dr. Joseph Hall, was born July 14, 1840, in Ontario County, N. Y., whence he came to Edgewood in the year 1859, and remained a short time. Studied medicine under his father, who was at Bloomfield, N. Y. Our subject was married to Miss Laura O. Tourge, Februar}- 4, 18(54, in Wayne County, Mich. Settled in Edgewood, 111., in spring of 1864, where he has since practiced medicine with success, and run a drug store. He is a man of sterling worth to the communitj- in which he lives. He is politically a Republican. Was appointed Postmaster in 1870, and resigned in 1873, and was re-appointed Postmaster in 1881, which otfice he continues to fill. He has two children - Seacheus L., born September 1 1 , 1868, and Lawrence L., born July 17, 1871. Subject's father, Dr. Joseph Hall, was born September 12, 1805, in Westchester County, N. Y. Studied medicine under Dr. Beech and Dr. Smith, of New York Cit3-. He was also an ordained minister of Christian conviction. Mr. Hall practiced medicine in State of New York several years, till 1859, when he immigrated to Rfflngham County, 111., settling in West Township. He died February 14, 1861, at his residence in West Township. He had a family of four children, three sons and one daughter - Edwin, Sarah M., Joseph and Asa H.

CHRISTIAN HANSON, railroad man, son of H. P. Hanson, was born in Denmark February 22, 1843, where he remained till 1862. when came to America. He landed at New York City, pushed westward to Chicago, and secured a situation in the employ of Illinois Central Railway. He was placed in charge of the railroad tank two miles north of Mason, which position he has filled since. In connection with this for the last few years, he has also run a tank near Neoga on the same road. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. He has held all of the offices of his lodge from the lowest to the highest, and is also a member of the R. A. Chapter. Mr. Hanson was married in this county in 1865, to Miss Caroline Johanson, daughter of Peter Johanson, a highly respected citizen of the county. They have a family of fnur

STEPHEN HARDIN, farmer, P. 0. Mason, son of John and Ellen (Colclasure) Hardin, was born in Washington County, Ind., September 18, 1818, and was raised on form with advantages for an education limited to a few terms of winter school. He came to Clay County, III, in 1843, having been married, in 1841, to Miss Mary Stalcup, of Orange County, Ind., by whom he had five sons and three daughters, who grew up ; Elizabeth B., wife of Andrew Nelson, of Mason; John S., died in army at Pilot Knob, Mo., in October, 1861, aged eighteen years ; Jane Adeline, unmarried; Peter B., farmer in Mason; Leander Madison, of Mason Township; Sarah Evaline, wife of John C. Martin, of this town; Levi C, of this township, farmer; John S. (No. 2), on the old homestead. Our subject came by team to what is now Georgetown, 111., settling at the edge of timber skirting a tributary of Little Muddy- Creek, on unimproved land, when he opened a farm of eighty acres, part prairie and part timber; building a cabin, he went to work, and added from his earnings several other tracts, working on it for ten years. In November, 1850, he was elected Sheriflf of Clay County, and serve a term of two years, and in 1853 he engaged in merchandising at Georgetown, III., continuing there two years. Mr. Hardin and his partner, William McCracken, divided the stock of goods, and subject with a portion of the stock, came to Mason in 1855, and in 1856 moved his family here, and has resided here ever since. He closed out his stock in the spring of 1858. and in November, of that year, he was elected Representative from the counties of Fayette and Effingham by the Democracy. He served in the session of 1858-59, and during this time he introduced the bill which provided for the removal of the county seat from Ewington to Effingham. Durini: 1860-61. he again engaged in mer- chandisiug at Mason, with a branch store at Winterrowd. He has since devoted his entire attention to farming and stock-raising, and almost ever\- year since coming here has bought and shipped stock, principally hogs and cattle. His farm, with the exception of a small lot and cabin, has been made by his own labors, and it consists of seventj-five acres in this tract, and sixteen acres were platted by him, and is known as Hardin's Addition to Mason. He has various other bodies of farming lands. His father was born in North Carolina, Jul}^, 1795, and came to Washington County, Ind., when about twenty years old, and farmed there until 1864, when he came to this county, and is now living with subject, aged eighty-seven j^ears. He married a lad3' of German parentage, and raised a family of eleven children, all of whom became heads of families. The mother died here about 1871.

HENRY C. HENRY, Postmaster, Mason, son of Joseph Henry, was born in Effingham County, 111., December 15, 1847. Here he remained till 18G1, when he enlisted in the war. Company B, Thirtj-eighth Illinois. His command was first forwarded to Missouri, afterward to Corinth, Miss., and was in that siege, battle of Chaplain Hills, Ky. He was wounded at Stone River; a ball passed through his chest and lungs. He was discharged March 2, 1863, and he returned home. He re-enlisted in May. 1864, Company F, One Hundred and Fortythird Illinois; this time in the one-hundred-daj' service. Was sent to Helena, Ark., in the Cyprus swamps, and his command was disabled for duty bj- malaria, so prevalent in that section. Subject was married, August 17, 1868, in Cass County, Mich., to Miss Mattie L. Wheeler, daughter of S. H. Wheeler. He engaged in nursery business in Mason. Has for many years served as Government Detective. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, and is a Republican. In 1882, was appointed Postmaster at Mason, 111. Has one child - Willie.

ANDREW J. HOBBS, farmer, P. 0. Mason, was born February 10, 1828, in Franklin County, Ind. Removed with his parents to Missouri at the age of nine j-ears. Remained there till he was eighteen years old, when he when to Kentucky. He was married in Boone County, Ky., May 8, 1851, to Miss Caroline Donaldson, daughter of Andrew Donaldson. He removed soon after to Switzerland County, Ind. He learned the distiller's business, which, at that time, was very pacing and which he followed with great success till 1860, when he engaged in the mercantile business in Patriot, Ind.. for six j'ears; then sold his store and moved onto his farm. In 1868, he sold his farm and emigrated to Effingham County, 111., and located on an improved farm of sevent}' acres in Section 33, Mason Township, which he afterward purchased, on which he has made his home since. Mr. Hobbs is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mason Lodge, No. 217. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. He has ever clung to the principles of the Democratic partj', and rejoiceth hugelj* over the victories of 1882. Mr. Hobbs is a genial, accommodating old gentleman, who never loses an opportunity to assist a neighbor or friend; has won many warm friends in Mason and vicinit3-. He has been repeated 13- elected to the office of Township Assessor. Of a famil3' of nine children, six are living - Emery Hobbs, Andi'ew J. Hobbs, Ida M. Hobbs, Minerva Hobbs, Anna Hobbs and Grace Hobbs; and three dead - Robert S., died March 23, 1881, aged nineteen 3-ears eleven months and twent3'-flve days; Mrs. Ella Hinkle was born October 26, 1856, and died July 19, 1881; Alexander D., was born March 25, 1870, died Qctober 8, 1871.