Effingham County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1883 (part 9 of 13)

He was educated in Ohio and attended lectures in Cincinnati at ttie American Medical College. He began liis practice in 1854, commencing practice in Millersburg, Iowa, remaining tliere till 1858, and then returned to Ohio and practiced at Bladensburg, Knox County, for six years, and then came to EtBngham Count}-, in 1865, and has been here ever since, with the exception of two years he was in Missouri, going for his wife's health. Dr. Jones belongs to the eclectic school. He was married in Holmes County, Ohio, to Elizabeth Johnston, in 1850. His wife died in January, 1873. He was married in Effingham Count}-, III, in 1876, to Tena Piper. He had seven children b}- his first wife (five are now living) and has one child by his present wife. He has always been Republican in his politics. He is a member of the Masonic fraternitj'. He is the son of William Jones, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1850. Dr. Jones' mother died about 1840.

JOHN H. LUHRMAX, farmer, P. 0. Blue Point, was born iu Hanover, German \-, April 19, 1S20. He is the son of Herman H. and Mary (Myers) Luhrman. His father was born in Hanover, German}-, 1790, and emigrated to America, 1844, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained till his death, about 1855. He followed his trade of shoe-maker. The mother of our subject was also born in Hanover, Germany, and died in Cincinnati, 1877, at fortyeight years of age. Tiiey were the parents of seven children, of whom John H. was the oldest. He received his education in the common schools of his native countrj*. When he was twenty-three years old, he left home and emigrated to America, coming on a sailing vessel from Bremen to New Orleans, and landed there December 19, 1843. On account of the ice in the river, he could not make St. Louis, the point of his destination, till January, 1844. For fifteen years he remained in St. Louis, working the first nine years for George P. Plant, in a flouring mill. He then worked six years for Joseph Powell, also in a flouring mill. In 1859, he located in Weunide, 111., where, in company with J. F. Brocksmith , he built a large flouring mill at a cost of $40,000. A few years after this, his daughter was killed in the mill, and that caused him to sell out his interest, and remove to a farm. His daughter had gone into the mill to call the miller to dinner, and in passing up stairs to where he was, her dress caught in an upright shaft that was making sixty revolutions per minute. She was immediately killed. After selling the mill, he bought a farm of 160 acres near Wennide, and remained there till 1869, when he sold out and came to Effingham County, and bought 320 acres in Moccasin Township, and has added to it till now he has a farm of above 500 acres of well-improved land, except forty, which is timber land. January 6, 1845, in St. Louis, he married Mary Foldenfeld, a native of Hanover, Germany. They have four children living, Louisa (wife of W. F. Lange), Charles, William and August (at home). He and familj- are members of the German Lutheran Church - his son, William, being organist. He is Democratic in politics. While farming in Washington County, he was appointed Postmaster at Lively Grove, and held that till he left the county. July, 1871, while driving a reaper, the seat broke and he was thrown down in front of the knives and had his right hand cut so badly that he lost the use of it. His head was also badly bruised.

W. B. METHAM, farmer, P. 0. Altamont, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, 1825. He remained in Ohio till 1855 ; he came to Illinois, and the first winter stayed in Fayette County, and in the spring of 1 856 came back into Effingham County, and has made this his home ever since. He is the son of Pren Metham, who was born in P^ngland. In his j-outh, he was a sailor, but came to America before he was married. Eliza (Boman) Metham, Mr. W. B.'s mother, was the second wife of Pren Met- ham, and was born in Pennsjlvauia, and was of the Pennsylvania-Dutch origin. H is father was one of the early- settlers in that part of Ohio. His place was thirty miles from Zanesville, and as they had no roads at first, everjthing had to be done on horseback. His parents both died in Coshocton County, Ohio. When Mr. Metham came to Effingham County in 1856, he bought his present farm of Pricket Doty, paying $10 per acre for what he bought of Doty, and is now one of the best improved and most valuable farms in this part of the township. His farm consists of about 600 acres, mostly Ij-ing along Big Moccasin Creek. Mr. Metham has always voted the Republican ticket, voting first for Fremont, and has never missed an election since his first vote, and has been one of the leading Republicans iu Moccasin Township. When Mr. Metham came to his present farm, there was not a settleroutin the prairie; it was allgrown up to prairie grass. John H. C. Smith put up the second house in the prairie, and Peter Campbell the first, but soon after the Germans came in and began settling it. Mr. iMetham was married in Coshocton County, Ohio, 1851, to Rebecca Anderson. She was born in Irehind. ,^ She is the daughter of John and Mary Anderson. Her father died in the old country, but her mother came to Coshocton County, Ohio. Thes- have two children living and six dead - Mary E., Artiucy, Alvira, Anderson, Clara, Alice, and an infant, all dead ; Adda and Laura are the onl}- two living. Mr. Metham is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM OWENS, farmer, P. 0. Altamont, was born in Wayne Count}', Ohio, 1819. From Wayne County he moved to Knox County, Ohio, about 1844. He remained in Knox County till about 1858, when he came to his present farm in Effingham County, 111. He is the son of John and Pha?be (Spake) Owens. His father was a native of New Jersej-, and his mother of Pennsylvania. His father died and left six children, four boys and two girls. Mr. Owens is the oldest of the sons ; the daughters are both dead, but the boys living. He was only a small boy when his father died, and his mother being fooled out of what property was left to the family, the four oldest children were bound out, and the result was, their chances for an education were very limited. He was married in Wayne County, Ohio, 1842, to Catharine Stahl. She was born in Ohio, Wayne County, but her parents had come from Pennsylvania. She died in Knox County in 1846 or 1847. By this wife he had four children, all living. About 1848, he was again married, to Rebecca Jane Grant, born in Harrison County, Ohio. Her parents were from Virginia. By this wife he has five children, three boys and two girls. His children are Elizabeth, Frederick, Salome, Catharine, Anthony, Rebecca, John, Sarah and William. Mr. Owens' occupation has been that of farming most all of his life, but he started with nothing. His farm now consists of 460 acres. He has always been Democratic in politics.

PHILIP PETZING, P. 0. Moccasin, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, December 24, 1823, to Peter and Kathrina (Machemer) Petzing ; both were born in the same place as our subject. In 1853, thej- came to America, taking passage at Havre, France, making the trip to New York in a sailing vessel in twenty-seven days. They settled in Buffalo, N. Y., and his father lived there till his death, iu 1S03. In the old country he was a farmer, but after coming to America he invested his money in city property, and lived on the rents. Mrs. Petzing, the mother of our subject, died when he was onl}- four years old, in the old country. Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native country. In 1847, he first came to America, and settled in Bufialo, where he remained for seven years, and where he followed ship-carpentering. He learned his trade after comina; to Buffalo. Before coming to

America, he had been at work on the farm with his father. In 1852, he retiirncrl to German}-, and came bacic in 1853, as his father was coming. In 1854, he left Buffalo, and came to Chicago, where he remained till 1863. During the nine years at Chicago, he followed various kinds of business ; first working at his trade awhile, then went into a brewer}-, but sold that out after three 3-ears, and then went into the I. C. R. R. car shops for some time, but on account of sore eyes he quit the shops and went into a butcher shop, and the last two years while there he was farming southwest of Chicago, in Cook County, but in 1863 he came to Effingham County, and has been farming here ever since. When first coming here, he bought railroad land, buying 220 acres at first, but has since added to it till now he has 620 acres, all but 80 of wiiich are in the prairie. In 1861, he was married, at Chicago, to Mine Henning. She was born in Prussia, in 1834, to William and Caroline Henniug. Mrs. Petzing came to America in 1854, but her parents did not come till 1858. Her father is dead, but her mother is still living. Mr. Petzing has seven children - William, Philip, Julia, Hermon, Anna, Edward and Ida. He and family belong to the Lutheran Church. He is Democratic in politics. He has held various township offices, being Justice of the Peace. School Trustee, and now is Road Commissioner, and also has been Supervisor for two terms.

DAVID RUDY, farmer, P. 0. Moccasin, was born near Harrisburg, Penn., 1846. His parents moved from Pennsylvania, when he was small, to Indiana, where they remained for seven years, and then came to Illinois, settling in Shelb}^ County. His father, William A. Rudy, is still living in Shelby County, but his mother died February, 1878. He received his education in Shelby County, and was married in Fayette County, 111., 1870, to Harriet A. Musser. She was born in Ohio, Knox Count}-. Her father, William Musser, is now living in Shelby County. February, 1874, they moved to Effingham County, to their present place, and improved it. It was all timber and thickets when moving here. His farm consists of forty acres here and eighty acres in Faj-ette County. Mr. Rudy and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is Democratic in politics. Most of his life he has followed farming, and has run a threshing machine for a number of years, and when a young man was engineer in a saw-mill for quite a time.

J. H. C. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Altamont, was born in Franklin Couut}^ Ind., April 26, 1831, to Summers G-. and Sally (Bulkley) Smith. He was born in Kentucky. He was a cooper by trade, and moved to Cincinnati at an early date, and was one of the first coopers that ever made a barrel in Cincinnati. He died in Effingham County, 1872, at the age of eightyfour. He was for over fifty j'ears a citizen of Indiana. She was a n.ative of Connecticut. She died in 1876, at the age of sixty-four. Our subject was educated in Franklin County, Ind., in tlie common schools. He was raised on a farm, and tliat has been his occupation through life, although he has done considerable work at the carpenter trade. In 1853, he came to Effingham County, 111., settling in Summit Township first. In spring of 1862, he came to Moccasin Township, and bought a f:arm of eighty acres, but has since added to it till he has 216 acres - all but ten acres under fence. In 1851, he was married, in this county, to Mary Ann Devore. She was born in Ohio, in 1832, to James and Elizabeth Devore. Both her parents are dead. He was Judge of the County Court of Effingham County for some time, and was one of the first Methodist preachers in this part of the country. Mr. Smith has four children, all living - William H., Elizabeth R., Nathan A., and David M. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Dexter. Mr. Smith has been class-leader for about twent}--five j'ears. He is Republican in politics, and has been since the part}' started ; is a member of the A. 0. U. W. He has held different township offices.

HENRY SOLTWEDEL, Blue Point, was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin,German3',i\Iarch 20, 1848, to Christian and Louisa (Bruhn) Soltwedel. He was born February 5, 1805, in the same place as his son. He was a cow-herder in the old counlr}-, being main overseer of the herd of cattle on one of the ranches of the Dobberton circuit. In 1856, they came to America, settling first to make a permanent home in Effingham County, 111., in Bishop Township. The three years previous to this settlement, they had lived at different places, first at Buffalo, N. Y., then in Indiana, in La Porte County, where they lived for a time, but this county was their first permanent settlement. August 28, 1882, Mr. Soltvvedel's mother died here, and his father is still living with him. Mr. Soltwedel received most of his education in this county ; was raised on a farm, and that has alwaj-s been his occupation. He is the only son living, but has two sisters living. He was married in this county, 1876, to Louisa Ziegler. She was born in Baden, Germany, 1849, to Jacob and Christina Ziegler. He is living, but she died May 26, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Soltwedel have three children living - Louis, William and Emma. He and family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Paul congregation. The principles of the Democratic party are his. He has held different township offices - Township Clerk, Constable, and now is serving second term as As.sessor. His farm consists of eighty acres, all in prairie. March 28, 1873, he moved to this place, but had purchased the farm iu 1871.

W. H. ST. CLAIR, M. D., Moccasin, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 23, 1828, in the Governor's mansion. He is the son of John St. Clair and Ann (Crooker) St. Clair. John

St. Clair was born in Cincinnati, and died in Peoria, III. Mrs. John St. Clair died in this county. She was a woman well versed in history, that being her main study. The house in which Dr. St. Clair was born is said to be the first brick house built west of the AUeghanj' Mountains. The glass for it was carried in pack-saddles across the mountains. It is now part of the Methodist Book Concern. Dr. St. Clair and famil}', and Mrs. Dr. Charles Paddock, of Richmond, Ind., are the onlj- descendants of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, who was appointed Governor of the Northwest Territory by Gen. Washington. Dr. St. Clair, the great-grandson of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, still has a letter written by George Washington, 1798, to '' His Excellency, Gov. St. Clair," soliciting his influence in behalf of Edward Tiffin, who was afterward Governor of Ohio. In 1856, the Cincinnati papers stated that there were, including interest at six per cent from date, S3,000,000 due the St. Clair familj- from the Government of the United States for mone}' loaned to it by Arthur St. Clair during the Revolutionary war, but they never have received a cent. In 1839, Dr. St. Clair moved to Effingham County, with his parents, located at Ewington. His life till he was nineteen was spent in Effingham County. In 1847 - 48, he attended the Asbury University, at Greeucastlc, Ind., taking the scientific course. In 1849, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. In May, 1850, he was married to Mary Jane Jackson, daughter of Mrs. T. J. Gillenwaters, of Effingham. The only child bj- this marriage is now Mrs. W. T. Pope. August, 1856, his wife died. In 1857, he was married to Eliza Ann Jackson. By this marriage he had four sons and four daughters; two sons are dead. For eight years he traveled in the Southern Illinois Conference, beginning in 1851, and six years he traveled in the Minnesota Conference. In Richland County, III., he commenced the practice of medicine in 1864. In 1865, he located at Effingham, and practiced till April, 1871, and then came to

Moccasin Township, and Las been liere ever since. William and Charles are the Doctor's sous; May, Laura, Carrie aud Bellfore are the daughters. Gov. Arthur St. Clair landed at Cincinnati when coming to the Northwest, and as there was a kind of village there he asked the name of it, aud was told it was " La Canterville," a French name meaning the " ville ' on the opposite side, or the " ville " opposite Covington. He asked them why in h - 11 they did not call It by some Christian name, and said, " let us call it Cincinnati," and so it went b}- that name from that on.

(Niwenir) Stoppelmaun. They were both natives of Hanover, German}-. She died about 1842, in Germany. He is still living in the old country, and is over seventy years old. His occupation has alwaj-s been that of a merchant and trader. Our subject was educated in the schools of his native countr}-. At the age of nineteen, he left home and came to America. He settled in Washington County, 111., when first coming. While there, he followed farming, first two years working for a farmer, aud then rented land and farmed for himself He remained in Washington Count}' for seven j'ears, and then came to Effingham County in 1863. When first coming, he bought eighty acres of improved laud, paying .$12 per acre. His farm now consists of lUO acres prairie and twelve acres timber land. His farm is well improved. In 1880, he built a large and handsome residence, 18x38, and two stories high, and the kitchen 16x18, one story. He was married in Washington County, in 1858, to Wilhelmina MoUinbrock, born in Prussia, June 15, 1834, to William MoUinbrock. He died in the old country in 18S0. Our subject has two children dead and three living - Caroline, William and Charlotta. He and family are members of the German Lutheran Church. Blue Point. He is a Republican in politics. He is Township Supervisor at present. He has made his own way since coming to America, and his success has been made by his own energ}' and perseverance.

GRIFFIN TIPSWORD, farmer, P. 0. Moccasin, was born just across the line in Shelby County, III, 1831. He is the grandson of old Griffin Tipsword, and the son of John Tipsword. Mr. Tipsword's life has been spent mostly in Effingham County, and being raised in this country before there was scarcel}' any civilization, he knows what pioneer life is. His early training was that of a pioneer, and took his first lessons in hunting and trapping under his grandfather's care. His first schooling was obtained in a five cornered schoolhouse, the house being built so that the fifth corner was open, and used as a fire-place, aud poles and logs could be burned without chopping. He was married, 1853, to Elizabeth Banning, in Shelby County. She was born and raised in Shelby County ; she is the daughter of Machac Banning, a native of South Carolina, but her mother's people were from Tennessee. The}' have nine children, si.x boys and three girls - John, Merida, Hester, Sarah Ann, Isaac Christopher, Joseph, Walter, Minda. In 1855, Mr. Tipsword moved to the prairie, there being only one house in the prairie at the time; the others were all in and around the woods. In 1876, he sold out and went to Kansas, but remained only for the one season and then came back, and bought his present farm, which consists of 140 acres. He is Democratic in politics, as all by the name are.

ISAAC TIPSWORD, farmer, P. 0. Moccasin, was born across the line in Fayette County, 111., in 1835. He is the grandson of old Griffin Tipsword, and the son of Thomas, and the only one of the sons now living in this county. His fiither was killed accidentally in Kansas in 1857. Mr. Tipsword's opportunities for an education were verj^ limited, going two and a half to three miles, and then had to sit on a bench in a log house, which did not have a floor in it part of the time, and the window was an opening made by cutting out part of a log, and then stretching a greased paper over the hole. He was married in Shelby County, 1854, to Agnes Dowty, a daughter of J. P. Dowty; she was born in Wayne County, Ohio, 1833, and were early settlers in Effingham County, coming about 1840. The3' have nine children living and two dead - Thomas P., Breckenridge, David M., Mar}' Ann, Valandingham, Ida May, Margaret Viola, Isaac W., Columbia Agnes. Mr. Tipsword has been on his present farm since 18f)5. His farm consists of 223 acres, about 140 in cultivation. He has always been Democratic in politics. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South ; he is a member of the Masonic fraternity ; farming has always been his occupation ; Mr. Tipsword's mother is still living, and is about seventy years old ; her name before marriage was Annie Waller ; she was born in Tennessee but was married on the Okaw, to Thomas Tipsword about 1839. One incident that Mr. Tipsword remembers of his father's hunting, was, that he went out one day and killed seven deer, and that night came home with six of them all on one old horse, and Mr. Tipsword also riding.

G. W. TIPSWORD, farmer, P. 0. Moccasin, born in Moccasin Township, in 1849, is a son of Ashbj- Tipsword, an old settler of this county. He was born in Coles County, 111., in 1827, and then came to this county, with his parents, when three years old, and lived here till his death, in 1877. After he was married, he bought a squatter's claim, and afterward pre-empted the land, and this old homestead was his residence till his death. Mrs. Tipsword still lives on the old place. She was born in Tennessee, daughter of S. R. Powell. Mr. G. W. Tipsword is one of nine children.

seven of whom are living, and all but one in Effingham County. Mr. Tipsword was educated in the common schools of the township. He was married, in January, 1873, to Mary Ellen Hotz. She was born in Ohio, and is a daughter of J. W. Hotz, Sr., also an old settler here. They have four children, all girls - Lillian A., Sedalia M., Sarah J., Bertha G. His farm consists of eighty acres, but he is farming part of the old homestead also. He has been Town Treasurer of Schools since April, 1877. He is Democratic in politics, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity'. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Griffin Tipsword, his great grandfather, was the first white settler in Effingham County. (See sketch of Griffin Tipsword in the General Historv of the County.) Ashby Tipsword was the son of Isaac, and Isaac Tipsword was the son of Griffin. Ashby Tipsword, the father of G. W., was the first Supervisor after the township was organized, and was elected a number of times in succession. He was one of tiie foremost men in the organization of the township and was one of the leading men in the township. Although his education was quite limited, he was often called on to write wills, administer on estates, and was the referee in many cases of litigation, but never got into lawsuits himself For a number of j'ears he was School Treasurer of tlie township, and was succeeded at his dcatli by his son, G. W. Mr. Tipsword started in life with nothing, but at his death had about 550 acres of land besides personal and town propertj'. He was a veterinarj- surgeon, and was called in all directions and at all times, and with his love of hunting he became known to all the settlers for many miles around. He was a man with manj' peculiarities, but the friend of all. He was a great lover of fun, but not such as would injure any one. He was married, in March, 1849, to Sarah J. Powell. He was buried with Masonic honors in the

W. F. WOHLFOIID, farmer, P. O. Altamont, was born in Knox County, Ohio, May 15, 1848, to John and Catharine (Kremer) Wohlford. He was born in Center Count}-, Penn.; she, also, in the same county. They were married in Wayne County, Ohio, May 19, 1865. They landed in Freeport, 111., and lived in Stephenson County, within four miles of the State line, until the time of their death. He died in Stephenson County in the winter of 1872. His occupation was that of a farmer. She died in 1876, in Richland County, Ohio. Our subject was raised on a form and was educated in the common schools of Ohio. November 25, 1868, he came from Stephenson County to Effingham County, and since that time Effingham County has been his home. He was married here, October 30, 1870, to Elizabeth Perry. She was born in Effingham County, 111., January 21, 1853, to Thomas and Emeline (Balch) Perr}'. He was born in Kentucky' and she in Indiana. Both died in this county. Mr. Wohlford has two children living - John F. and Olive Alma. Mr. and Mrs. Wohlford's home now is the old home of her parents. The farm consists of seventy-five acres, all under fence. Mr. and Mrs. Wohlford are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Crum's Chapel. He is Republican in politics and is the onlj- one by the name that holds to that party. Mrs. Wohlford's parents were among the earliest settlers here, but Mrs. Wohlford is the only one of the family now living in this county.

JOSEPH YARNALL, firmer, P. 0. Moccasin. Mr. Yarnall was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, October 18, 1830. He lived in his native county till October, 1851, when he came from his old home and spent the first winter in Fayette County, 111. ; but in March, 1852, he moved to this county and lived for two years on Wolf Creek, and then came to his present farm, which he entered from the Government. Almost the entire prairie was vacant land when he first came, and the land office was closed for about two years, waiting for a division of the railroad lands from the Government lands. Mr. Yarnall's parents moved here at the same time, and lived in this township till their death. His father, Mordecai Yarnall, was born near Brownsville Penn., March 3, 1790, and died January 22, 1871. His mother. Providence (Walraven) Yarnall, was also born at Brownsville, Penn., September 15, 1798, and died August 12, 1877. Mr. Yarnall received his education in the early schools of Ohio. His father had moved there in 1822. Mr. Yarnall has always followed farming. That was also the occupation of his father. He wag married, August 11, 1851, in Ohio, to IMary McNeelj'. She was born in Greene County, Penn., but her parents had moved to Ohio when she was seven years old. She died December 9, 1881. In his family there were eight children, seven still living - Harriet Zelma, Mordecai, Emma Elizabeth, Provy Victoria, Joseph James and Mary Jane (twins), William Thomas, John Benton (deceased). Mr. Yarnall has always been a Democrat. His farm consists of 100 acres, 80 in the prairie, and adjoining the village of Moccasin. Mr. Yarnall has always been an active worker for the good of schools, and also for the township. On his father's side, Mr. Yarnall's ancestors were English, they having come to America with William Penn, and his father was a Quaker till th'rty years old, when he became a Methodist. Mr. Yarnall's ancestors on his mother's side were Welsh.

Bishop

BISHOP T JAMES C. BEARD, farmer, P. 0. Dieterich, 111., was born in Vigo County, Ind., November 2, 1829, near the State line. Hi.s mother dj'ing when he was two 3ears old, he spent the greater part of his 3-outh in the family of an unole, going to school when he could, yet applying himself so industriously to his studies that, despite his meager opportunities, he acquired a better education than was common among his coteraporaries. He was early interested in public and national affixirs, and became a close analyzer of political issues, identifying himself with the Whig - afterward the Piepublican - party. In 1858, he came West to Illinois, and bought 120 acres of wild prairie land in Bishop Township, this county, where he has since resided. This was several years before the township was organized, and there were only four or five families living in what is now School District 2. Wild deer roamed over the prairie in herds of fifty or a hundred, or lay hid under the tall grass, which was in places ten or twelve feet high. But Mr. Beard, then young and strong, was equal to the situation, and he soon had his farm fenced and a part under cultivation. He has since added to this fiirm fort}- acres, making in all 160 acres of prairie land, beside fifty acres in the Island Grove, which furnishes fuel, fences, etc. He served two terms as Supervisor of Township and is serving a third term as School Trustee, and has served, also, a great number of terms as School Director. Mr. Beard is a man who loves a good joke, and can tell one admirably. For acute penetration and wisdom on points of law, many of our lawyers have found it to their advantage to get his opinion and counsel, which is seldom wrong and always logical. Mr. Beard was married, in the spring of 1860, to Miss Rebecca Layton, of Bishop Township, Effingham Co., 111. They have two sons and one daughter living - John, James and Clara. James Beard, father of James C. Beard, was born in Blount County, E. Tenn., in 1799. He was engaged in farming and teaching school until 1822. when he went to Indiana, to look at the country with a view to moving there. He returned to Tennessee, where he soon after married Miss Jane Ewing, of Blount County, October 14, 1823. In the same j'ear, he took his young wife to live in Vigo Count}', Ind., where he purchased land and engaged in farming on the Wabash River until 1858, when he moved to Bishop Township, 111., and bought land, which he farmed until his death. Before coming to Illinois, his wife died in Vigo County, 1831. Of his first marriage there were four children - Margaret I., William H., John and James C, the latter being the only one now living. Mr. James Beard was married a second time in 1835, to Mrs. Jane Caldwell, of Vigo County, Ind. For many years Mr. Beard filled the office of Justice of the Peace, also that of Township Supervisor. He died on his farm, in Bishop Township, March 3, 186-1.

HERMAN CRBMER, farmer, P. 0. Teutopolis, was born in Bishop Township, this county, March 10, 1852, son of John D. and A. M. (Zurliene) Cremer, natives of Hanover, Germany, he, born in 1811, was a farmer, and died in Bishop Township, December 29, 1870 ; she, born in 1821, and Is living with our subject. They were the parents of two children, both boys. Our subject received his early education in District No. 2, Bishop Township, and commenced life at the plow. He was married in Bishop Township April 27, 1880, to

Elizabeth Hoelshcr, born July 28, 1860, in St. Francis Township, this count}-, daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Fechtrup) Hoelsher, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Cremer have one sou, Joseph, born October 5, 1881. Our subject lives on the old homestead, and has a farm of 190 acres, about sixtj- acres of which are in timber. Fie carries on general farming. He has filled the office of Justice of the Peace, is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

MICHAEL DIETERICH, farmer, P. 0. Dieterich, the founder of Dieterich, now a prosperous town on the S. E. & S. E. K. R., was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 23, 1826. When fifteen years old, he came to the United States with his parents, and settled on the Muscooten, in St. Clair County, 111., where he helped to clear and subdue the wild lands which his father had settled upon ; but that father was not destined to long survive the labor and hardships incident to pioneer life, and young Michael was, at the early age of sixteen years, left fatherless and dependent in a new unsettled country. Yet undaunted and with strong hope, he hired out to work upon a farm, and continued to work b}- the month and j-ear until 1849, when he went to Clinton County, HI., and with the money he had saved while working as a farm hand, entered 280 acres of land, the greater part of which he put in cultivation. Upon this farm Mr. Dieterich built all the necessary buildings, and otherwise improved it. At one time while living upon this farm, he engaged in the culture of grapes, having a vineyard of about seven acres, and making, -some years, 4,000 gallons of native wines. In July of 1853, BIr. Dieterich was married to Miss Barbara AVingard, of Clinton County, 111., but a native of Bavaria, Germany. In 1870, Mr. Dieterich sold his Clinton Count}- farm at $65 per acre, and came to Jjffiiigham Countj', when he at first bought one half section of prairie land in Section 13,

Bishop Township. He has since acquired the remainder of the section, and also owns forty acres of timber land. This section of land was wild and unshorn, and had never known a plowshare, yet Mr. Dieterich, by his great industry, has fenced, and has under cultivation every foot of this land at this time. Blr. Dieterich's buildings and farm accommodations are all first-class. He is extensively engaged in stockraising, and the baling and shipping of ha}-, besides raising vast crops of wheat, corn, oats, etc. He gave the right of way for the S. E. & S. E. R. R., which crosses diagonally the north half of his section. At the completion of this road, in 1880, a station was located on his land, and named in his honor, Dieterich, which was surveyed by County Surveyor A. S. Motfitt, in the fall of 1880. The town is platted in nine blocks, of twelve lots each, 50x100 feet. There is, at present, ten residences, one store, two groceries, two saloons, two blacksmith shops and three warehouses. Mr. Dieterich was appointed first Postmaster of Dieterich, b}^ Postmaster General James, April 9, 1881. He has served three years as Road Commissioner, and has filled other public trusts at different times, all of which have proven him to be a man of great integritj- and good ability. He has a large warehouse, and buys and ships grain, in which business he has been ver}- successful. Mr. Dieterich has seven children living, and one dead. Those living are Henry, Lizzie, Minnie, Barbara, Michael, Caroline and John.

L. J. FIELD, M. D., Elliottstown, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Kentucky, on the 12th day of August, 1821, son of Ambrose and Elizabeth (Reedor) Field, he a native of Virginia, and died in this county, in 1855, of the cholera; she a native of Maryland, and died in 1874; they were the parents of twelve children. Our subject was taken b}- his father to Edgar County. Ill, when ten years old. He worked for his father on the farm in the summer time, and in the winter attended school until seventeen years old, when he engaged in school teaching, teaching one term in Edgar County, then went back to Kentuck}-, and taught one term of school there. In 1840, he returned to Edgar Count3' and engaged in school teaching until 1849, when he came to Effingham Count}', and taught three terms of school here; during the time he was teaching in Edgar County, he was also engaged in the studj' of medicine, having commenced the study of medicine when seventeen \-ears old, and he made it a special study; he came to this county for the purpose of practicing medicine, and in 1852 he gave up teaching and went to practicing ; when he first came here the people were ver}- few and there was no other doctor in the vicinity for some time afterward. He has an extensive practice extending over the greater part of Effingham County. In the fall of 1861 (about the 1st of November), he enlisted in Company D, Fiftyfourth Illinois Volunteers, and was Hospital Steward until about the 1st of July, 1862, when he resigned and came home on a furlough ; went back about the 1st of October, remained there until about the last of November, 1862, when he was discharged for disability; he came back to Elliottstown and continued his practice. He was married, Febru.ary 3, ' 184.3, to -Frances T. Conroy, of Edgar County, 111., born February 14, 1825 (same age as Gen. Hancock), in Kentucky, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Riley) Conrej-, he of New York, she of North Carolina. The parents had nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Field are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living - Melinda, wife of Cicero Quillin; Mary F., wife of T. J. Dunn, of Elliottstown; Susan, wife of B. B. Williams, living in Elliottstown, 111.; Abraham A., living in Collinsville, Madison Count}-; William D., lives in Effingham, 111.; Heury, at home; John, at home. Our subject owns a nice residence in Elliottstown, and is comfortably situated; he has been Township Clerk and School Trustee. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is a member of the Elliottstown Lodge, A., F. & A. M. Mrs. Field is a member of the Baptist Church.

SAMUEL FIELD, farmer, P. 0. Veni, was born March 1, 1833, in Edgar County, 111.; he lived on the farm until he was eleven years old, when his parents moved to Effingham County, and settled in Bishop Township, near Elliottstown. In 1844, his father bought a small improvement of a man by the name of Thomas Walls, but afterward entered 180 acres of Government land. The first school taught in this section of the county was taught by his brother. Dr. Louis Field, on John L. Batty's place; Samuel attended this school two terms, after which he went several terms to a school south of Elliottstown. When he became of age, he bought land of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and began farming on a part of his present farm. He nows owns 180 acres, 160 of which are prairie, all in cultivation; he has lived upon this farm for twentyfive years, and raises both grain and stock; he also has a large saw mill. Mr. Field has held various township offices for nine j-ears; he was Justice of the Peace, being elected before the township organization. He has served eight terms as Supervisor of Bishop Townsliip, being chosen by the Democratic party, with which he has always acted. He has been prominently named for the first office in the county. He was married in 1856 to Miss Matilda Lay ton, of Bishop Township, this county. They have living seven sons and three daughters ; the sons are William P., John R., Clark, Edward, Charles, Layton and Frank ; the daughters are Mary, Rebecca and Ella; three of their children died while young.

his parents when be was less than a j-ear old. He settled with his parents on a farm near Teutopolis, where he grew up working on the farm and attending school until his twent}'- fifth year, when he began buying produce and continued in business in Teutopolis until 1881, when he went to Dieterich, buyingfour lots and erecting the first business house built in that new town. He opened his store at that place, consisting of a well-selected stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., the 14th da3- of Januar3-, 1881, where he has since done a good business. He is also engaged in buying grain and burning brick. He is the first and only Station Agent of the S. E. & S. E. R. R. Co., and is also agent for the Pacific Express Company. He was married in 1S72, to Miss Mary Taphorn, of St. Louis. Two children of this marriage are living, Jolin and Frank. His wife died in

1879. Married third wife, in 1881, Sophia Meyer, of Jasper County, III. John G. Habing, tlie fatlier of our suliject, was born in Oldenburg, Germany ; lived there as a farmer until 1849, wiien he came to the United States and settled in Illinois, in Efflngham County, near Teutopolis. He was married to Engle Rohe, of Oldenburg, by whom he had a familv of four sons and tliree daughters. He died November 12, 1865; his wife is still living.

HENRY HELMBRECHT, farmer, P. 0. Elliottstown. Henry Ilelmbrocht is a native of the Stale of Hanover, Germany, born in 1834, and resided in his native country, working on a farm and attending public schools until 1853, when he emigrated to the United States. Landing at New Orleans, he then went to Louisville, Kj-., via the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. At Louisville, he stopped but a few months, when he went to Jaclison County^, Ind., and bought a farm near Seymour, which he farmed three j'cars, and then, in 1856, came to Jasper County, III. For the next three years he worked as a common farm hand in Jasper, Coles and Cumberland Counties. In 1862, he came to Bishop Township, Efflngham County, and bought eighty acres of prairie land, upon which he has since resided and farmed. As a farmer, Mr. Helmbrecht has, by his industry and attention to business, been very successful. His early education was thorough and practical, and has been greatly enlarged by extensive reading and by an interchange of thought with leading men upon the various issues and questions of the day. He was married, in 1862. to Miss Mary Diesler, of Efflngham County. Seven children have blessed their wedded life, whose names are Caroline, Anna, Mary, William, August, Henry and George.

Such seem to have been the actuating principles with Thomas A. Jackson, in a verj- marked degree, for he has roamed about nearly all his life seeking blessings, yet never stopping lone enough to receive them. He was born in Kent County, Del., in the year 1824, where he lived until he was sixteen years old, workino' on a farm and attending to school. In 1840, in company with his uncle, George W. Jackson, he went to Logan County, Ohio, where he worked three years at the wagon-maker's trade. In 1843, he went to Maryland, and from thence went in company with his father to Philadelphia, where he finished his trade, working there sixteen months. In 1844, he went back to Logan County, Ohio, and worked at his trade there until 1850, when he went to Clay County, Ind., and remained there three j-ears. He came to Cumberland County, 111., in 1853, and engaged in farming, working at his trade only at intervals. In 1866, he was burnt out and came to Efflngham, where he lived six months, then traded town property for a farm in Watson Township, whore he farmed with good success for several years. He next moved to Lucas Township, where he farmed about three years. In 1874, he moved near Montrose, in St. Francis Township, where he owned a farm of sixty acres, and lived until 1876. In that year, he moved to Montgomer3' County, Mo. Again, in 1878, he went back to his native State of Delaware, wh#re he remained about one year, worliing at his trade, when he again returned to Effingham County, 111. At the close of the year 1878, he went to Kentucky and worked at his trade three months ; then returned to Illinois, moving on a farm in Bishop Township, Effingham Countj', where he has since resided. He was married in 1849 to Miss L. J. Westfall, of Ohio. Of this marriage he had twelve children. His wife died in 1876, and he was married a second time in 1877 to Mrs. Martha Tenny. They have two children. PETER T. JOHANSEN, farmer, P. 0. Veni, 111. But few men hav« had a more remarkable life, so full of dangers and hardships, as Peler T. Johan-sen, who was born in the eastern part of Denmark, on the Island of Zealand, of the Baltic Sea, November 21, 1833. His father was a farmer, but Peter loved better the wild, venturesome life of the sea, and when a mere lad learned to steer a boat and hoist and trim the sail. His uncle was harbor master and pilot, and Peter would often accompany him on short coasting voj'ages to trade with the people farther up the Baltic. His very childhood was thus spent on the sea, and it is no wonder he grew up to like it better than the land. At the age of fourteen, he shipped on a coaster which was to trade with Norwaj^ and Sweden, and liis education being better than that of the rest of the crew, he did the clearing of the vessel at each port. One year later, 1848, he made a trip to Iceland as sailor -'before the mast," and was wrecked on the coast of Iceland. After buffeting with the waves for several hours, he managed to float ashore, and was soon after carried back to Denmark in the main vessel. Again, in 1849, during the German war, we find him super-cargo of several grain vessels bound for Loudon, England. While in the North Sea, fifty miles out from the mouth of the Thames, he fell from the topsail-yard, a distance of fifty or sixty feet, breaking his right leg in three places, and crushing his right ankle and breaking his left leg, and causing the removal of a section of iiis spinal column. After lying several weeks on board ship without medical treatment, he was taken to London and recovered. He returned home and studied navigation with a view of becoming teacher in a m.iratime school. When the Australian gold excitement broke out in 1853, he abandoned his studies and went as passenger to the new El Dorado. He passed around Cape of Good Hope and returned five years later by Cape Horn, thus circumnavigating the globe. He worked five years in the mines of Australia with varying fortune, and returned to Europe on Christmas, in 1858. Tired of sea-faring and discouraged at his failure to realize a fortune in the gold mines of Australia, he took passage for the United States in the spring of 1859. Landiug in New York, he pushed on west to Illinois, first stopping in Old Ewington, Effiingham County, where he took out his papers of naturalization and signed for the county paper. In the spring of 1859, he bought lands in Bishop Township of the I. C. K. R. Co., which he improved and still lives upon. He establishedthe Veni Post Office during Lincoln's first administration, and has been the first and only Postmaster. Besides being Postmaster at Veni, he is Town Clerk and Township Treasurer; the latter office he has held for twenty years. Mr. Johansen is a man of good business capacity and has been prominently named for County Treasurer, He is now in his fort3--ninth year, and the early liardships of his sea-faring life have left but few traces upon him, except to render him a little lame in one leg and slightly stiff ill the baclj from the terrible fall he received in tlie North Sea. Our subject was married in 1870 to Miss Mary J. Layton, of this county They have five children, all living.

WILLIAM T. MARRS, farmer, P. O. Dieterich, was born in Vigo County, Ind., in the year 1834. At the age of three 3-ears, he moved with his father to Edgar Count3-, 111., where he worked on a farm and attended tlie public school until the spring of 1847, when he moved with his parents to Effingham County-. Here his father settled on Government land in Bishop Township, and William continued to attend school and work on the farm. Mr. Man's has since bought laud adjoining this purchase which, with his father's estate, constitutes his present farm. Mr. Marrs was married in Jul}-, 1857, to Miss Elizaljcth Taylor, of Franklin. They have five children living - one daughter, Isabell, a school teacher, and four sous, Edgar, William, Frank and Archer. Edgar, the oldest, is engaged in the profession of school-teaching. William Marrs, the father of our subject, was horn in Virginia in 1796, and came to Terrc Haute, Ind., in the year 1808, where he farmed until 1837, wlien he came to Illinois. He died in Effingham County, in February, 1848. He was married to Miss Anna Ussery, in 1817, a native of Tennessee, born in 1798. They had eleven children, two boys and one daughter yet living.

JOHN HENRY METTE, farmer, P. O. Teutopolis, was born in Hanover, Gcrmanj', December 1, 1807. He came to the United States in 1840, and lived seven j-ears in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a farmer in his native country, and that has been bis occupation all of his life. He purchased the place where he now resides while still in Cincinnati. It consisted then of forty -acres, having a log house upon it, which can still be seen, it having been joined onto the new house which was erected in 1860. Our subject made subsequent purchases until now the firm consists of 284:^ acres. He has been twice married, his first wife dying in Cincinnati. He has six children living. (See names in sketch of Joseph Herman Mette.) One of the boys is in Colorado, and Joseph runs the home farm. Our subject is the oldest living settler in his neighljorhood, and though past seventyfive years of age is still enjoying good health, and looks well for his years; though as one of the old pioneers, he has been through the many trials' incident to pioneer life. When he first came here, the country abounded in game of all kinds, and he has shot many a deer while standing in his own dooryard.

JOSEPH HERMAN METTE, farmer, P. O. Teutopolis, was born in Bishop Township, tliis county, March IS, 1850, son of John Henry and Maria Katharina (Ossenbeck) Mette, fiirmersin Bishop Township, she born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1816. (See sketch of the father elsewhere.) Our subject received his early education in District No. 2, Bishop Township, and started in life as a farmer, which occupation he has followed all his life. He was born and raised on the home farm which he now manages. It consists of 284^ acres of good land, containing good buildings and an unfailing supply of water. Mr. Jlette engages in general farming. He has two brothers and three sisters - Mary, Frank, Henry, Kate, Barney and Anna. Mary and Kate are married. Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat. He has filled the oflBce of Overseer of Highways. He is unmarried.

D. W. RICHARD, blacksmith, Dieterich, was born in Brown Count}', Ind., April 26, 1838. He lived in Indiana for sixteen j-ears working on a farm, and attended public school during the time but three months. In 1854, he came to Jasper County, 111., with his father^ where he lived and worked on a farm four years, when he married Miss Margaret Gibson, of Brown County, Ind., and removed to Richland County, 111., where he worked at the carpenter trade for one year. In 1 859, he came to Effing- ham County and remained there until December, 1860, when he joined his fortunes with those of the Union and went as a volunteer in Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, Company K. He was sent to Missouri and served in the First Division of the Western Department, under Gen. W. P. Carlin, until the summer of 1861, when his company became a part of Gen. Steele's army, and marched into Kansas. His company was again put under the command of Gen. Carlin, with whom he marched to Pittsburg Landing, reaching that place a few days after Grant's victory. He afterward took part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Perryville and Chickamauga, and the last day's fight at Nashville, at which place, after having served his country three years, he was honorably discharged, Dogember 8, 1864, and returned home. He then engaged in farming, which was abandoned two years later for the business of saw milling, in which he engaged with his father, on the Little Wabash River. In 1876, he worked at the blacksmith trade, then moved into Christian County, 111., and farmed two years. He came back to Jasper County in 1879 and opened a blacksmith shop at Latona, where he worked until 1880, when he moved to Effingham Countj' and set up a shop at Dieterich, where he has since worked at his trade. He now has his second wife, to whom he was married in 1880. His first wife died in 1878. He has three children.

DR. C. A. VANDRE, Dieterich, son of Carl and Mary (Gensch) Vandre, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., September 30, 1849. When he was twelve years old, his parents came to Effingham County, 111., and settled in Mound Township. He was educated in the common and churcli schools of New York and Illinois. In the year 1879, he entered the office of Dr. Y''arletz, of Altamont, and began the study of medicine. He had, previous to this time, been reading while working upon the farm. During 1880 and 1881, he attended the Bennett Medical College of Chicago. In the fall of 1881, he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in January, 1882, and located in Dieterich, in August of the same year, for practice. Dr. Vandre is a man who has energy and ability, and although but recently located at Dieterich he has made many warm friends and is growing into a fine practice.

ARNOLD J. BUSSMANN, farmer, P. O. Tcutopolis, was born in Teutopolis Township, this county, August 17, 1847, son of A. Joseph and Elizabeth (Buchhorst) Bussmann. (See sketch of Barney Bussmann elsewhere.) Our subject received his earlj' education in Teutopolis, this county, and commenced life as a farmer. He was married February 8, 1876, in Teutopolis, this county, to Mary Shlepcr, born in Teutopolis September 3, 1854, daughter of Frank and Kate (Neuhause) Shleper, natives of Germany, he born September 18, 1818 ; she April 1, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Bussmann have four children - Anna, born January 13, 1877 ; Joseph F., born January 12, 1879; Mary F., born February 4, 1881, and Clemens John, born December 10, 1882. Our subject enlisted in 1865 in the Sixth Illinois Calvary, Company C, Capt. Robert Bradley, and was engaged in many skirmishes, receiving an honorable discharge. He now has 145 acres of well-improved land, part of which is in timber. The farm is situated two miles from Teutopolis. He engages in general farming. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Republican.

BARNEY BUSSMANN, farmer, P. 0. Teutopolis, was born in Teutopolis Township, this county, April 27, 1853, son of A. Joseph and Elizabeth (Buchhorst) Bussraann, both natives of Oldenburg, Germany, he, a farmer, born October 13, 1801, and died December 3, 1855, in Teutopolis Township, this county ; she, born in 1817, and died in the same place as her husband, April 25, 1873. They were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter. Our subject received his education in Teutopolis, this county, and started in life as a farmer. He has lived in this county all of his life, and now has a good farm of 105 acres in St. Francis Township, and forty acres of timber in Teutopolis Township. He carries on farming in its most important branches. He was married in Teutopolis, this county, April 29, 1 879, to Sophia Frichtel, born July 12, 1861, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Handelraeir) Frichtel, natives of Bavaria. Germany, he, born December 25, 1835 ; she, January 20, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Bussmann have two children - William Barnc}-, born September 18, 1880, and Mary Josephine, born April 14, 1882. Our subject is" a member of the Catholic Cliurch, and in politics is a Democrat.

GEORGE W. EBBERT, farmer, P. 0. Montrose, was born in Perry Count3-, Ohio. July 20, 1841, son of Edward and Sena (Willdns) Ebbert ; he, a carpenter, born in 1807, in Maryland, and died July 3, 18G7, in Center Point, Clay Count}-, Ind.; she, a native of Ohio, born in 1811, and is living in Jasper County, this State, with L. M. Ebbert. The parents had seven children - three sons and four daughters. Our subject received his education in Clay County, Ind., and at Center Point, same county, he engaged in the saw-mill business, which was his first occupation in life. He was married in the same countj', March 19, 1863, to Nancy J. Gibbens, born in Clay County, Ind., February 19, 1846, daughter of Nathan A. and Mary (Hicks) Gibbens ; he, a native of Virginia, she of Clay Countj', Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Ebbert had one daughter, Minnie Ida, born February 8, 1868, in Clay County, Ind. Our subject was married a second time, November 28, 1878, in this county, to Mary Frances Gibbens, born in Clay County, Ind., November 11, 1852, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Gibbens, of this county. Mr. Ebbert ran a saw-mill for many years, since which he has been engaged in farming pursuits. He served three months in the United States Armj'. He came to this county in 1875, iiaving purchased, in 1872, eighty acres of prairie land, at $18.75 per acre. He has made manj' substantial improvements on tiie place, and engages in farming in its various branches. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and is a Republican in politics.

HERMAN ENGELBARTS, farmer, P. O. Teutopolis, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, January 30, 1837. son of Folkers and Gretke (Peks) Engelbarts ; he, a farmer, born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1794, and died in the same place in 1851; she, born in Hanover, Germany, in 1800 and is still living in her native country, with Mr. Henry Engelbarts. The parents had four children, two suns and two daughters. Our subject received his education in Schortens, Germanj-. Ho came to the United States May 21, 1863, landing in New York City, thence to Indiana, in which State he lived a year, and was then for six 3'ears engineer in a mill west of Effingham. Having purchased, in 1865, fifty-six acres of land, he moved on to it in 1870; improved it, and has made subsequent purchases. He now lias a farm of ninetysix acres, and he engages in farming in the various branches. In 1870, he donated the land on which the Lutheran Church now stands, this being the first action in the movement seeking the erection of a church of that faith Our subject has been married three times ; his first wife died, the second was accidentally killed by a tree falling upon her. His tliird marriage occurred February 26, 1871, in Island Grove, this county. He wedded Mina Diekel, a native of Mecklenburg, Germany, born in 1848, a daughter of John and Maria (Steinaker) Diekel, natives also of Mecklenburg, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Engelbarts have had six children, of whom three are living - Louisa Carolina, born November 18, 1877; Johan Fritz, born December 29, 1880 ; and Herman Bernliard, born October 8, 1882. Mr. Engelbarts has filled the office of School Director. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics has alwaj-s been a Republican.

NEWTON W. GIBBENS, farmer and stockman, P. 0. Montrose, was iwrn in Winchester, Frederick Co., Va., May 2, 1833, son of Jacob and 5Iarj' A. (Pierce) Gibbens, he a farmer born in Frederick County, Va., in 1782, and died in Clay County, lud., in 1846; she born in Harrison County, Va., in 1790, and is still living in this county. The parents had seven children - -five sons and two daughters. Our subject received bis education in Cla}- and Vigo Counties, Ind., and was a farmer in earlj' life. He lived in his native State but three 3'ears, having removed with his father to Wayne County, Ind., where the family resided for five 3'ears. They then moved to Clay County, Ind., where they lived for the following sixteen years. Our subject came to this county iri 1852, and entered 120 acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre. In 1857, he came here to live, and he rented a farm for two years, afterward moving on to his own place and improving it. From time to time he added more laud, and now has over 1,000 acres, the bulk of which, about 800 acres, lies in this county, the balance being in Cumberland County. He also has property in Effingham City. Mr. Gibbens was one of the incorporators of the Vandalia Railroad. He is now one of the commissioners in this count}'. Our subject was married in St. Francis Township, this county, March 15, 1857, to Julia A. Rolph, born in Logan County, Ohio. October 21, 1838, daughter of James M. and Anna M. (Jump) Rolph, both natives of Kent Countj', Md., he born on Independence Day, 1814, and she, on Christmas of the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbens have six children - Maria Isabel, Newton Edgar, Albert S., Percy and Earl and Pearl twins, born August 3, 1878. Our subject has served his county many times in an official capacitj-, having been Township Clerk, Road Commissioner, Justice of the Peace for about fourteen years. Supervisor, School Treasurer eighteen years, and also a Trustee and a Director. He was also enrolling officer and Provost Marshal in this county. He is at present engaged in the various branches of farming, and handles and feeds stock in the winter. He is an A., F. & A. M., Effingham Lodge, No. 149. In politics, he is a Democrat. THOMAS GILES, farmer, P. 0. Montrose, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in the month of June, 1819, son of James and Sarah (Maser) Giles, natives also of Englaud; he was a farmer and died in Indiana; she died in her native country. They were the parents of two children, both boys. Our subject received his early education in Little Downam, Cambridgeshire, Eng. He came to the United States May 1, 1852, landing in New York City, and lived five months in Niagara County, N. Y., where he worked on a farm. Shortly afterward he became a section boss on the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad, in Indiana, and was thus engaged for twelve years. He was married the first time in 1855 to Ann Storton, and by her had one boy - Joseph, born June 30, 1856. His second marriage occurred in 1864, in Terre Haute, Ind. He married Mrs. Nancy Ryland, born May 2, U19, in Bullitt County, Ky., daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Brown) Clark, he born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1796, she in Bullitt County. Ky., in October, 1799. Our subject has three children deceased. Mr. Giles came to St. Francis Township, this county, in 1875, and purchased 200 acres of uniiu proved land for $2,000. He has made substantial improvements upon the place and engages in general farming. In politics, is a Democrat. FERDINAND HATTRUP, farmer, P. O. Teutopolis, was born in Westphalia, German}', January 2J:, 1832, a son of B. H. and Katharina (Tuenskamper) Hattrup, natives also of Westphalia, German}', he, a farmer, born April 8, 1801, and died in 1877, in St. Francis Township, this county ; she was barn in 1805, and died in 1872, in this county. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living. Our subject received his schooling in his native town, and carpentering was his first occupation, afterward giving his attention to agricultural pursuits. He came with his father to the Uuitel States in 1852, coming to St- Francis Township, where his father purchased IGO acres of laud, remaining on it five years. Our subject then purchased eighty acres for $385, the land nearest the timber being the best. All kinds of game were plentiful at this time, and Terrc Haute, Ind., contained the nearest mill. Mr. Hattrup afterward added three more eightie?, a:i,l n }W has a farm of 320 acres of good land, containing an orchard and a substantial frame house, two-story, 3fix36, with cellar. Mr. Hattrup eng.ages in farming in its various branches. He was married, February 11, 1857, at Teutopolis, this county, to Anna Mary Beste, born in Germany March 5, 1835) daughter of Bernhard and Katharina L. (Bochtrup) Beste, natives also of Germany ; he was born in 1803. Mr. and Mrs. Hattrup have six children - Henry. Katharinaj Ferdinand, Hubert, John and George. Our subject has been Township Treasurer for four years, and is now Township Tax Collector, and has filled several other offices. Ho is a member of the Catholic Church, and in polities is a Democrat.

H. B. HEICKEN, farmer, P. 0. Montrose, was born in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, on Christmas Day. 1817, son of H. B. and Talke Maria (Pierstick) Heicken ; he, a farmer, born in 1763, in Oldenburg, Germany, and died in the same place ; she, born in Hanover, Germany, in 1778, and died in Schoost, Oldenburg, Germany, in 1858. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three are now living. Our subject received his education in Schortens, Oldenburg, Germany, and carpentering was the occupation in which he was first engaged. He was united in marriage, March 24, 1842, in Schoost, Germany, to Rexte Margareta Willras, born February 10, 1819, in Sangewarden, Germany, daughter of Johan and Hieme M. (Heicken) Willms, natives of Oldenburg, Germany ; he was born in 1789, she in 1793. Mr. and Mrs. Heicken have had seven children, of whom there are four living - Talke Maria, Johan Willms. Herman Behrens, who are in Washington, and Henry Jurgens Harms, who resides in Kansas. Our subject was in the Oldenburg army for six years, but was not actively engaged. He came to the United States in June, 1875, landing in Baltimore, Md. During the first year, he visited his friends and relatives, and three years following he lived in Green Garden, Will Co., 111., and then removed to St. Francis Township, this county, where he purchased sixty acres of prairie and ten acres of timber land for $1,300, on which he carries on general farming. He is a Lutheran in religion, and a Republican in politics. Mr. Heicken's grandson - Eilert Jansen Reents - is living with him. He was born February 27, 1867, in Wiefels, Oldenburg, Germany, a son of Lubbe and Hieme C. (Heicken) Reents natives also of Oldenburg, Germany, where the father still lives. He was born March 5,1836 ; the mother was born June 14, 1847, and died in her native country August 22, 1877. They were the parents of two cliildren - Herman Behrens, and our subject. Herman was born

June 11, 1873. Our subject went to school in his native town, and also in Jever and Schorteus. He has also attended school since coming to America. He arrived in this country in October, 1881, landing in New York City. He learned to read the English language in four months. He is a bright and promising young man, and belongs to the Lutheran Church.

GERHARD SIEFKEN, farmer, P. 0. Teutopolis, is a native of Hanover, Germany, born March 28, 1835, a son of Tobias and Marguerette (Pierstiek) Siefken, natives also of Hanover, German}', where thej' also died. They were farmers, and the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Our subject received his education in the old country, going to school at Etzer, Hanover, Germany. He came to the United States in 1854, landing in. New York City, and thence to Michigan, where he was foreman on the Michigan Central R. R. for ten years. He returned to his native country in 1860, via New York and Bremen, and, after visiting his friends and relatives, he came back to this country in the following year. In 1863, he came to this oounty, and purchased 160 acres of land, at $10 per acre, in St. Francis Township. His subsequent purchases have increased his place to 200 acres, which contains good buildings, etc., and he carries on general farming. Mr. Siefken was married in Chicago, III, in June, 1863, to Mary Heicken, born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1842, daughter of H. B. and Rexte Margareta (Willms) Heicken, he a native of Oldenburg, and she of Sangewarden, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Siefken have seven children - Henry, John, Johanne, Helena, Margareta, Friederich and Gerhard. Mr. Siefken has filled many offices in his county. He has been Commissioner of Highways six years, Tax Collector a j-car, and is at present filling the oflBce of Township Supervisor. lie is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is an Independent.

DAVID SPITLER, farmer, P. 0. Montrose, was born in Jasper Count}-, Ind., October 22, 1843, son of Wesley and Ann (Varner) Spitler, both natives of Page County, Va., he, a farmer, born October 19, 1811, and is now living in Jackson Township, this count}", where he has resided for the past two years ; she, born in March, 1811, and died January 29, 1879, in St. Francis Township, this county. The parents had five children, three boys and two girls. Our subject received his early schooling in his native county, and began life on his own responsibility at farming. He lived in Jasper County, Ind., until 1865, when his father came to Effingham, lived there three years, when he purchased 200 acres of land, near Montrose, at $13 per acre, which has since been improved. In October, 1867, our subject went to Missouri, returning in a year, and has since resided near Montrose. His farm now consists of 300 acres, which is under systematic cultivation and is given to farming in its general branches. Mr. Spitler was married in Jasper County, Ind., May 30, 1877, to Mary E. Crews, born in the latter county, April 29, 1853, daughter of J. L. and Mary A. (Green) Crews, he born November 14, 1825, in Terre Haute, Ind. ; she near Dayton, Ohio, July 2, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Sniller have two children - Cora Ann, born February 4, 1878, and a boy, not named, born October 5, 1882. Our subject is a member of the Board of School Trustees, and in politics is a Democrat.

J. J. TKOELE, farmer, P. 0. Teutopolis, was born in Kentucky November 17, 1841, son of Andrew and Angelina (Hacklaga) Thoele, both natives of Germany, he, a farmer, died in this county, she still living in St. Francis Township, this county. They have two boys now living. Our subject received his early schooling in Teutopolis, this county, and began in life as a tiller of the soil. He was married in Teutopolis, October 23, 1867, to Miss M. Fulle, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 20, 1846, daughter of Jacob and Antoinette (Grove) Fulle, natives of Germanj-, both born in the same j'ear, 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Thoele have six children, Joseph, Henr}', John, Gus, Frank and Lizzie. Our subject has a farm of 300 acres of good land, and buildings, a good share of the land being in timber. The farm is situated about one mile from the center of Teutopolis. Mr. Thoele engages in farming in its general branches. He has filled township olBces, is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

JOHN THOELE, farmer, P. 0. Teutopolis, was born in Douglas Township, this county, December 24, 1843, son of Peter and Marianna (Stauberman) Thoele, natives of Germany; he was a farmer, and died in this county; she is at present living in Teutopolis. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are living. Our subject received his early schooling in Teutopolis, this count3-, and was afterward engaged in various occupations, farming, carpentering and wagon-making, etc. He was united in marriage, January 30, 1865, in Douglas Township, this county, to Katharina Korfage, born in Watson Township, this count}-, November 6, 1845, daughter of G. and Franeiska (Dinggrave) Korfage, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Thoele have three children, John, born May 24, 1867, George, born April 22, 1878, and Mary, born November 17, ISSO. Our subject lived in Teutopolis for fourteen years, when, in 1879, he purchased eighty acres of land at $17.50 per acre, which he has improved. Mr. Thoele has good buildings on the place, and he carries on fiirming in its general branches. He is a man whose all represents the result of his own labors. He has been Township. Clerk, School Trustee and Director and Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the Catholic Church and votes the Democratic ticket.

Ulhorn, natives also of Germany, he born in 1806, and died in 1876, in St. Francis Township, this county; she, born in 1808, and iu living with her only son, our subject. He received his early educatioii in Teutopolis, this county, and made farming his occupation for a start in life. He was married in Teutopolis, May 29, 1869, to Mary Thoele, born in this county' in 1S46. Her mother, Mary Stauberman, was born in Germany. The father is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Ulhorn have three children - Mary, born July 20, 1868; Katy, born February 23, 1874, and Lizzie, born December 21, 1882. Our subject at one time learned the carpenter's trade, but has been mostly occupied at farming. He was brought to this country when but two j'eara old, and has resided in this county ever since. He owns a fine farm of 240 acres, well improved, and contains good buildings and a healthy orchard. He carries on general farming. He is a member of the Catholic Church, aud in politics is a Democrat.

H. G. VAN SANDT, physician, Jlontrose, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, February 18, 1843, son of J. and Nancy Jane (Bo wen) Van Sandt, natives of Kentucky, he, a farmer and millwright, born September 23, 1791, and died May 25, 1847, in Hamilton County, Ohio ; she, born April 3, 1804, and died in Danville, Hendricks County, Ind., July 18, 1871. The fother was twice married, and had eight children, six sons and two daughters, our sulijcct being his youngest. He received his early education in Bloomingdale, Parke County, Ind., under Prof Hobbs, and afterward attended the St. Louis Medical College, where he received his diploma. He began life as a physician and a merchant. He was married February 8, 1871, in Jacksonville, Morgan County, 111., to Henrietta Morton, born July 15, 1849, in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa, daughter of G. and Caroline (Barton) Morton, he, born in Mt. Sterling, Ky., in 1810; she, in Overton County, Tenn., June 20, 1822.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Sandt have had five children, two of whom are living, Guy and John Arthur, three boys being dead. Our subject responded to the ' Nation's first call for troops, enlisting in the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantr\-. Company I, Captain J. Deodufl', serving the three months, re-enlisting in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and fought with that regiment at Perryville and other engagements, and was also with Sherman in his " march to the sea," and served his country till the close of the war, after which he came to this State, afterward going to St. Louis, where he graduated, and then practiced five j-ears in Missouri. In December, 1870, he came to St. Francis Township, where he practiced medicine, and also kept a drug store, and afterward a general merchandise store. He owns 160 acres of land in this county, all of which is in cultivation, and is put to general farming. Our subject's father has a verj' interesting history. He owned a large plantation in Kentucky, but, being a strong Abolitionist, he liberated his slaves, and afterward became a member of the famous " Undergi-ound Kailroad," on account of which he was prosecuted in 1842 at Washington, D. C., Messrs. Salmon P. Chase and William H. Seward pleading his case, which, in 1846, was decided against him. This case was mentioned in a popular work entitled, " The Ferry Boy and the Financier." He is also the person mentioned bj* Harriet Beecher Stowe in her famous " Uncle Tom's Cabin," on page 137, under the title of " Honest John Van Trompe." Our subject has filled the office of

Township Trustee to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a Master Mason, and an Odd Fellow, and also a member of the Encampment of the latter. He is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Van Sandt is a member of the Presbjtorian Church.

HENRY VORMOR, farmer, P. 0. Teutopolis, was born in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, October 28, 1809, son of Joseph and Engel (Busse) Vormor, natives also of Oldenburg, Germany, and both died in St. Francis Township, this county. They were farmers, and the parents of eight children, of whom our subject is the only living representative. He received his education in his native country, and farming has been his life occupation. He came to the United States in 1831, and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, for six years, where he was married to Agnes Lot, born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1814, daughter of Wilhelm and Agnes (Dates) Lot, natives also of Oldenburg, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Vormor have six children - John, Elizabeth, IMary, Sophia, Catharine and Caroline. After leaving Cincinnati, our subject came to what is now St. Francis Township, this county, and purchased 120 acres of land for $150, making subsequent additions, including one of 360 acres, which he has divided among his children. He still has 300 acres left on the home place. At one time, Mr. Vormor could have secured many hundred acres near his present place, at the extreme!}' low price of 12^ cents per acre, which is now worth $15 per acre and upward. Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics, is a Democrat.

Union Townshtp

CxEOEGE V. ELLISTON, former, P. 0. Eberle, is an industrious and enterprising farmer of Union Townsliip. He was born in Carroll Countj', K}-., August 1, 1836. He was brought by his parents to J eflcrson County, 111., in 1842, when six years old. They remained there until 1866. Suljject was reared on his father's farm, and attended school in all about one year. He was married in March, 1857, to Keturah Knox, a native of JcfTersou County, III. In 1866, he came to Effingham County, Union Township, and purchased a farm, where he now resides, of 100 acres, in Section 14, of which fifty acres were in cultivation. He paid $1,400 cash for the farm. His main productions are grain and grass. In April, 1S65, he was drafted, and joined Company G, Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; was in no battles. He was mustered out at Paducah, Ky., September, 1865. He has always been a Democrat, and has served in various township offices; as Assessor two terms and as Supervisor two terms. Mr. Elliston belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, organized at Mason. His father, Benjamin S., is a native of Kentucky, and is farming in Jasper County, 111. His mother, Susan, is a native of Kentucky, and is living in Jasper County, HI. They had ten children, namely - Mary Catharine (deceased); George V. (subject); Robert, living in Marion County, 111.; Newton, Jasper and Thomas (deceased); Franklin, living in Jasper Countj', III.; Harvey M., living in Jasper Count}-, 111., with his father; Parmelia Ann, wife of Willis Shamhart, living in Jasper County, III.; Eliza, wife of Henry Cross, living in Effingham County, Bishop Township. Subject has three children living and five dead, namely: Nancy Jane, Diamie and John William are living; Mary Catharine, Allen Olin, Samuel

J. Tilden, are deceased, and two died in infancy. Miss Nancy Jane is a school teacher, and was born in Jefferson County, III, November 30, 1858. She was brought by her parents to Effingham County, in 1866. She then commenced attending school at what is known as the Trapp Schoolhouse. She attended school there until sixteen years old, when she began teaching. She taught her first school in District 5, Union Township. In 1875, she attended the County Normal, held at Effingham, and has attended there successively six terms. She has been teaching for eight years, and during that time has taught only in three different districts, in Union Township, namely: Districts 5, 1 and 2. She is now teaching in District 2, called the Hill Schoolhouse. By her economy she has saved considerable money.

WILLIAM EVANS, farmer, P. 0. Elliottstown. Among the oldest settlers in this township is Mr. Evans, who was born in Lawrence County, Ind., July 23, 1835, eldest son of Hansom and Anna (Morris) Evans, who emigrated to this township about the year 1841, settling' on a piece of land that he entered on the east part of Section 24. He remained on the land eight years, when he returned to Indiana, and stayed three years and then returned to this township, making his settlement on Section 25, and remained here until his death, January 1, 1862 ;his wife survived him until October, 1864. To this couple were born six children who grew up - William, Ruhamey, Louisa J., Joshua H., Robert C, Amanda. Ruhamey resides in this township, wife of James Rentfrow; Louisa, resides in Clay County, wife of Henry McGhee; Joshua, resides in Keokuk Countj^, Iowa; Robert C, resides in Lucas Township; Amanda, resides in Clay County, wife of John McEnelly; parents were members of the Christian Church. He was a member of the Democratic party; William, our subject, was raised in this township, being a lad of about six years when his parents came here ; what schooling he obtained was what he got when back in Indiana three j-ears; his early boyhood was spent on the farm, and remained at home until he became of age; he was married at the age of twentytwo, to Minerva, born in this county, daughter of John and Mary (Broekett) Trapp. After Mr. Evans was married, he settled on Section 11, where he bought forty acres at $12.50 an acre ; remained here about fifteen years ; then came to this place on Section 14, where he traded for eighty acres, and has since lived' and been engaged in farming, and at the carpenter's trade, which he took up himself. His wife died, leaving three children - Sylvanius, Louisa F. and John H. Our subject's second marriage occurred in June, 1866, to Fannie Simmerman, a daughter of Joseph Simmermau, and he has six children - Amanda, Charles^ Joseph E., Anna, Mary F. and Jes.sie. He is Democratic ; elected Township Assessor 1882; been Town Collector three terms, and one term Supervisor; member of the Christian Church. NELSON MARSHALL, farmer, P. 0. EUiottstown, is an enterprising farmer of Union Township; he was born in Pike County, Ohio; his father, Oliver Marshall, was a native of Maryland, was a physician and died about the year 1848; his mother, Harriet Durham, is a native of Virginia, born in the j-ear 1817, and is living in Madison County, 111. Neleon is one of a family of seven children - Nelson, subject; John, living in Union Township; Isaac, deceased; Mary, deceased; Martha Jane, wife of 0. D. Oberlin, living in Madison County, 111.; Thomas, living in Madison County, 111. Mr. Marshall was reared in the town of Waverly, Ohio, until fourteen years of age; and during that time attended school there about six months in the year; after that time he went to work in a flour mill for Emmitt & Davis ; remained in the mill two years, which time he still worked for the same firm, but as canal boatman in summer, and in the winter drove team; continued in that business until 1857, which time he was married February 27, to Rebecca Davis, of Pike County, Ohio; he then engaged in farming. In November, 1859, he removed to Missouri, and engaged in chopping and clearing up timber land for Dr. Birch, and later worked some as drayman; in October, 1861, he removed to Madison County, 111., and engaged in fanning; in 1868, he came to Effingham County, Union Township, and farmed in different places in the township. In 1870, he purchased a farm in Union Township, and removed there in 1871; he raises grain, principally wheat, corn and oats. He has nine children living, and two dead - Madora, deceased; Henry, Jane and AVilliam, are living; Lilian, deceased; James, Clemmeutious, Hally Ann, Mattie Bell, Eva, Buhama and Nellie are living.

WILLIAM T. MILLS, farmer, P. O. Eberle, was born in Madison County, 111., Blarch 6, 1835, the fourth son of a family of children born to James Miils, a Virginian, who came West to Illinois, locating in Madison County about the year 1828, where he remained until his death in March, 1848. His wife survived him until October, 1873. Of the children born to them nine grew to maturity, of whom four are living. Our subject's mother's maiden name was Elsie Watts, born in Kentucky, daughter of Gabriel Watts. Mr. Mills had eight own brothers and sisters, of whom there are but two living, Rachel and Sarah, both living in Madison. Rachel, Mrs. Jonathan M. Harris; Sarah, relict of Madison Kersey. William was left fatherless at an early age. He lived with his mother until grown. At twentytwo, he was married to Missouri McDaniel, born in Trigg County, KJ^, daughter of Jacob McDaniel and Rebecca Hensberger. After marriage, located there in Madison County, aud farmed there until November, 1863, when he located where he now resides, and bought 120 acres at a cost or average of $13 per acre, and has since added 120 acres more, making 240 in all. He has been twice married. First wife died in August, 1875. By her he has nine children, six living - Emma R., Lillie E., Laura, Julia A., Anna R. and Clara. Deceased are Mary J., died aged twentythree; James L., died aged two years; Sarah, died aged nearly two years. In June, 1877, our subject married Mrs. Hulda (Evans) Holt, born in this county, daughter of Younger aud Mary (Witzman) Evans, aud by her has three children - Nellie, Charles and William. Mr. Mills is one of the self-made men of the township. When he began for himself, he began with one horse, aud commenced by renting, and continued until he came to this county. There were but little improvements on the place at the time of his purchase. He is a Republican in politics.

H. N. RUFFNER, farmer, P. O. Mason. Among the solid farmers and prominent men of this township is Harrison Ruffner. He was born January IG, 1834, in Fairfield County, Ohio, eldest son of Andrew and Betsey (Leith) Ruffner. Andrew Ruffner was born in Virginia about the year 1805, and removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, with his f:\thcr, who was one of the first settlers in that locality. He died in that county in 1842. His wife survived him until "1868, having had five children born them that grew up - Harrison N., Lucas, Andrew, Margaret and Dorothea, who are variously located. Lucas is an attorney at law and resides in Arkansas. Andrew, in Prescott, Arizona. Margaret resides in Mason Township, this county, wife of Charles Wilson. Dorothea resides in Washington Territor}-, wife of Ralph Warren. Harrison was left fatherless at the age of eight years, and lived with his mother until fourteen years of age.

when he came to this State with his uncle, David Leith, and lived with him in this county until he became twenty j'cars of age. He then hired out b}' the mouth, continuing four years, commencing at $18 per month. July 19, 1859, he married Catharine White, a native of Bond County, and a descendant of one of the early settlers there. She was for several years employed as a teacher in that county. After his marriage, he located on the farm he now owns, his first purchase being fiftj'-seven acres, at a cost of $13 per acre, upon which there were no buildings and but little improvements. He has since added to his first purchase, until he now has 340 acres of land as the result of his labor and good management. Of seven children born him six are living, viz.. Alma, George, Andrew, Edward, Walter and Florence. Ella died, aged seven. Mr. Ruffner is a thorough aud progressive farmer ; not a member of any church. Is a prominent local worker and officer in the IMasonic order. Is a member of A., F. & A. M., No. 217, and R. A. M., No. 76 ; has served as W. M. three years in the former, and ten years as High Priest in the Chapter.

JOSEPH SIMMERMAN, fiirmer, P. 0. Elliottstown, was born in Virginia January 11, 1824. He was reared on his fathers farm in Virginia, and attended school some little in the winter season. In the spring of 1841, he and his parents removed to Effingham Countj^ and settled in Mason Prairie on wild prairie land. In 1844, at the age of twenty, he was mai'ried to Delia J. Wallace, a native of Kentucky. He entered a piece of land adjoining his father's farm and remained there twelve years, until 1856, which time he sold out and removed to Flemsburg, a place on the little Wabash River. He worked some at farming there and also in a mill for about two years, until 1SG8, which time he sold out and came to Trapp Prairie. He purchased a farm and remained on it about ten j-oars. In 1868, he sold out and came to the farm he now occupies. His father, Ahart Siramcrman, was a native of Virginia. His mother, Mahala Ramsey, was also a native of Virginia. Tliey had six children, namely : Oldest died in infanc}-; Joseph, subject; Mary Jane, Thomas, Susan, Calvin, all deceased. Subject's wife died in 1854, on Mason Prairie. He has three children living and two dead, namely: Fannie, wife of William Evans, living in Union Township; Susan, deceased ; Mahala J,, wife of George Mcrrj', living in Lucas Township ; Amanda, deceased ; Ahart, living in Union Township.