Ford County, Illinois - The whole text, 1884 (part 2 of 7)

Briefly stated - after considerable agitation and correspondence between tho railway managers, Chairman Smith and Mr. Sample, the leading roads concluded to comply with the law a9 to passenger and freight rates. Subsequently another serious question arose regarding freights from within and without tho State, the com¬ panies claiming this to be a matter to bo regulated by Congress. East and west lines charged, for example, more on freight from Gilman to New York City than from Peoria, a distance of eightyfive miles further.

Tho matter was finally determined in favor of tho State law bv a suit brought in tho Ford County Circuit Court by Mr. Sam¬ ple in 1882. The case was strongly contested by the railroads, but tho Supremo Court decided adversely to them, setting forth the reasons in one of the most elaborate opinions filed for years.

Military

Ford County, at the breaking-out of the war of 1861, being so recently formed and having a population of less than 2,000, did not organize any company of soldiers. However, many of our patriotic citizens enlisted in commands organized in adjoining counties and elsewhere in tho State. It would give us pleasure to publish their names in this work, but the difficulty of obtain¬ ing a complete list is insurmountable, and a partial list would bo very unsatisfactory. In addition to the soldiers who enlisted from Ford, a great number of those who have since the war set¬ tled among us were members of the "great army of Freedom." Desiring to have these " soldier boys " recorded whero their names can be referred to by the future historian, the writer has arranged with the Board of Supervisors for a suitable book to be kept in the County Clerk's office, where the name, company, reg¬ iment, and other matters of interest can be entered.

Already a number of soldiers have furnished the necessary data regarding themselves, and it is hoped that before long a com¬ plete list will be made.

At a meeting of ths Supervisors, August, 1862, a resolution was introduced by Supervisor Button, and duly adopted, provid¬ ing for a county tax of five mills on tho dollar, for tho purpose of

April, 1864, a draft having been ordered to fill the quota of this county for seventy-eight men, an order was adopted by the Supervisors offering a bounty of $1,000 to each man drafted, and who should be accepted by the Government.

However, it transpired that bounties by counties exceeding the sum of $300 were illegal, and efforts were mado to legalize this $1,000 bounty by a special act of the General Assembly. It did not succeed, and consequently but $300 could be paid to each man. February, 1865, the sum of $15,000 was appropriated by the Supervisors to procure volunteers to fill the county quota, the amount for each volunteer not to exceed $300.

Prior To Dbcrnrf.R 31, 1804

On page 276 of said report is tho following, showing "ex¬ penditures and liabilities incurred by Ford County in aid of the suppression of the late rebellion, as reportod to tlio Adjutant General's office:

The following is the membership to February 28, 188 4: Capt¬ ains, J. U. Collier, Austin Crahhs, Willard Proctor. First Lieu¬ tenants, J. N. McVickcr, Samuel, Johnston, J. J. McCormack, Russel Puntnev. Second Lieutenant, S. A. Armstrong. Ser¬ vants, R. M. Smith, J. T. McClure, II. J. Ring. A. J. Ham,

Piper City Guards

Company C, Ninth Battalion Illinois National Guards, was organized March 27, 1876. The list of original members has been furnished, and is us follows, viz.:

The company was re-organized September 1, 1877, in accord¬ ance with tho new military code, and under the consolidation of the different regiments and battalions May 4, I8s2, was assigned to the Fourth Regiment, and is now known as Company H.

"Memory eeiiet the piuwing moment, fixes it upon lliecnnvas, and hanjn flit picture in (be soul's inner clminl>eni for her lo look upon when she will." - liavtn.

" Look noi mournfully into (he pist; it comer not back njpiin. Wisely im¬ prove the present ; it is thine. Go forth lo meet the shadowy future without fear, and with a manly heart." - Longfellow.

There are recollections as pleasant as they are sacred. There are words and faces and places that never lose their hold upon the heart. These words, faces and places have had a controlling in¬ fluence in training our aspirations and in shaping our destinies, and they can never be forgotten. They remain invested with a fadeless beauty, sacred in their exemptions from oblivion and decay.

The heart of the early settler in a community renews its youth and the whole man is cheered and invigorated by the con¬ templation of those earlier days. As you talk with him, you recognize the facts of his gray hairs; his shoulders are bent, and you realize that he is on the sunset slopo or life.

Years ago, when in the prime of life, he said "good-by " to the family at home and came to "Little Ford." Hope, a pleas¬ ant acquaintance, an enjoyable traveling companion, bat an un¬ safe guide, was chiefly in charge of his affairs. Her picture of a new country usually shows only the pleasant days, the gentle showers, warm sunshine, bountiful harvests, maximum prices and general prosperity. As a consequence, an unusual buoyancy of spirit, neighborly feeling and general good-will manifested them¬ selves in the disposition of our " oldest inhabitant." It is quite possible that Hope has this panorama still on exhibition, and at this time beyond Hhe great rivers to the West, and rumor says that the crowds of " early settlers " still follow her, thus endeavor¬ ing to reach the still undiscovered land of "milk and honey."

There is scarcely a man, his years having reached threescore and ten, whose life, if written in detail, would not be of great in¬ terest. But in this chapter, we shall only mention a few hap¬ penings as related to us by the early comers to this county.

The line of travel, at the earliest date of which we have any account, was from Danville, Vermilion County, of which Ford once formed a part; thence to Sugar Grove, on the south line of the present Button Township; thence to Trickel Grove, in the same township ; thence to Ten Mile Grove, in Patton Township, crossing the present line of the Illinois Central Railroad in the southern limits of Paxton, a short distance south of Ottawa street, and over the handsome knoll, the present site of A. C. Thomp¬ son's residence; thence from Ten Mile Grove, passing south of where Henderson Station now stands; afterward this part of the route was changed when D. C. Stoner settled on tho present Stoner farm, passing by his residence *, thence in a northerly di¬ rection past the home of Mr. Wall in tho present Wall Township ; thence to Oliver's Grove, Livingston County ; thence to Pontiac and Ottawa. From the latter place communication was had with Chicago. Latterly the route to Chicago from Ford County was more direct, crossing the Kankakee River near the present city of the same name.

Afterward, a mail route was established, and the mail was carried, generally on horseback, over the above-described route. Henry Tuttle was one of the first mail carriers. William Har¬ ris carried the mail from Danville to Pontiac, making the round trip once each week.

About 1850, as near as can be ascertained, a post office was provided for on the William Walker farm, Button Township, then occupied by John Dops, who became the Postmaster. This post office was called Point Pleasant

About 1852, Thomas Lyon, afterward a resident of Paxton, was appointed Postmaster, and continued to discharge the duties of the office for seven years. This line of travel was the great route for Westerly-bound emigrants, at least as far as Ten Mile Grove, where the lines diverged. A reliable citizen informs us that he has seen as many as forty emigrant wagons settled for the night in Sugar Grove. This was a favorite camping place, hav¬ ing an abundant supply of fuel and good water. It is said that in 1855 the number of emigrants far exceeded those of preceding or subsequent years.

William R. Trickel, came to Trickel Grove with his father's family about 1836, and settled on the present Button homestead in the township of the same name. The house was built of logs, the family camping in the grove during its construc¬ tion. A portion of the logs were cut into lumber with a "whip" saw at an expense of $1.25 per 1,000 feet, by men who made this their business. This was considered good wages, as laborers without trades received but 50 cents Der day. The best horses brought but $50, and ordinary ones $40. The very best cows sold for $10, the usual price being $8. Land was $1.25 per acre, and could be had in abundance. When living at Trickel Grove, they traded at Danville, thirty-one miles distant, and every autumn they hauled a load of wheat to Chicago, and exchanged it for a barrel of salt, a side of sole leather, a side of upper leather, bolt of sheeting, twenty-five pounds of coffee, and other necessaries. The father made the shoes for the family. The price of wheat was then 60 to 75 cents per bushel.

Game was abundant in those days. Wild deer could be readily obtained, and prairie chickens were so numerous that there was no market for them. " Saddle" venison was taken by the load to Danville, and was slow sale at 50 cents each. Prairie wolves made night ring with their yells. On one occasion, in a two weeks' hunt, two of the Trickel boys killed twenty-two wild tur¬ keys in addition to other game secured. Wild turkeys came in flocks or droves only occasionally, being far more numerous nearer Danville.

Harmon Strayer came to Ford County in 1851 and settled near Sugar Grove, afterward removing a few miles north to his present residence. His early neighbors were Thomas Lyon, John Dops, Simeon Alkire, Matthew Elliott, James P. Button. Their trading points were Danville, Higginsville and Myersville. Their custom was to feed out their grain to live stock, and the latter was bought up by buyers from La Fayette and other cities. In 1857, the schoolhouse in Range 11 was built. First directors were Hannon Strayer, T. B. Strayer and Charles Mullen. First teacher was James Edgar.

Previous to this, Simon Mitchell taught school in the cabin of Jacob Tanners. W. Jesse Button, when but sixteen years of nge, taught in this sehoolhouse; and the old settlers still say, " it was the best school we have ever bad."

A society of the Christian Church was organized at an early day, and held their services in the Range 11 or Strayer Schoolhouse until the present brick church was erected. The names of some of the ministers were Rev. Elisha Scott, Rev. Holloway, Rev. Rolla Martin.

After the Illinois Central Railroad was built, the farmers in the Strayer neighborhood dealt principally at Loda, Iroquois County, until a station was provided where Paxton now stands.

Harmon Strayer assessed Patton Township in 1858, which at that time comprised what is now Ford County. After the new county of Ford was formed, D. C. Stoner was the first Assessor. Mr. Strayer received $00 for his services as Asses¬ sor.

Mr. Strayer relates that when ho first came to this county, deer were frequently seen on the prairies; one of their watering places was at a slough on the Strayer farm.

Thomas Lyon settled at Sugar Grove in 1850, and his son, now a resident of Paxton, states that their early neighbors were Elihu Daniels, Samuel Kerr, William Chenoweth, Daniel All¬ hands, Hiram Driscol, John Wilson and others, whose names are already mentioned.

When John Dops lived in the log cabin on the William Walker farm, his home was the gathering place of the people, and here were held spelling, singing and writing schools and church services. This time was as early as 1851. Singing schools were carried on without regular teacher. "We would meet and have a general sing and practice new pieces." When Elim Bales moved into the settlement, he, being an excellent singer, took charge of tho singing class.

Rev. Henry Gunn was one of the oarly preachers (1853), and was of the Christian Church. Rev. John Emily came in 1855, and organized the New-Light society at John Bales'.

About 1852, Thomas Lyon was made Postmaster, and held the office seven years, as previously mentioned. Some eighteen years after he had given up the office, the post office department at Washington sent Mr. Lyon $96 balance due him on account.

During their early settlement at Sugar Grove, the farmers found it necessary to have persons care for the growing crops to prevent depredation from the herds of deer.

Dr. J. E. Davis located at Drummer Grove in 1854, and at that time there was no house to be seen as far as the eye could reach across the prairie. Wild ducks and geese were numerous. Prairie wolves infested this locality in great numbers. This part of the county being sparsely timbered was settled slowly, and re¬ mained as a herding ground for many years. Dr. Davis says: " I have with the aid of my field-glass counted herds which ag¬ gregated 17,000 head of cattle. The winter he came to this locality, he could count herds of deer of from twenty to seventyfive quite often. His first crop of sixty acres was eaten by them, assisted by the ducks, brants and geese. A choice fat saddle of venison, weighing thirty to thirty-five pounds, would sell for 75 cents. In the winter of 1865, there came a heavy sleet. A hunting party was organized, and secured fourteen deer the first day and seven the day following.

The spring of 1858 opened beautifully, and thus remained until April 16, when it began raining, and rained, more or less, every day until June 10. This was known as the " wet year." The year 1800 was remarkably favorable from early spring until winter. The winter of 1862-63 was remarkably warm and open. There were only four days during the winter when the ground was frozen hard enough to bear up a team. Frost killed the corn on the 28th of August, 1863, and tho next winter many hogs died from starvation. On New Year's Day, 1864, we had a nota¬ ble snow storm and blizzard, which caused great suffering to the people of Central Illinois and to the live stock. Railroad trains were snow blockaded for many day3.

Stacy Daniels, who settled here in 1856, assisted in build¬ ing the Stites House or City Hotel, R. Clark's, A. C. Thom¬ son's, ^eorge Wright's, the Sheriff's residence and jail, besides many other residences and business houses. He states that in 1856 there were in what is now the original town of Paxton, the following buildings: On Ottawa street, just west of the rail¬ road, the residence of William Goodrich, where elections were held at an early day ; the Stites homostead, east of the railroad; Shilling's boarding house, next east of Stites', which was after¬ ward moved up town; the Thomas Daniels' residence adjoining Shilling's on the east, now used by the Stiteses for carriage house; on the north side of Ottawa street opposite the Stites residence, was the general store building of Dryden Donnelly, and next east was Mr. Donnelly's residence. Then came a small octagon building built and used as a meeting place for the "Spiritual Circle." The latter building now stands just west of the south¬ west corner of the old cemetery. The Goodrich residence has since been destroyed by fire. The Donnelly store and residence have been moved north into the business part of tho town.

At an early day, the meetings of the Spiritualists gave to this locality the name of " Spiritual Hollow." Mr. Goodrich con¬ ducted a small store at his residence. The first business house in Paxton, west of the railroad, was the Cloyes Bros, store, now owned and occupied by S. D. Cooper.

Remembrance Clark erected the first building west of the railroad and on the east side of Market street, Paxton, which he occupied as a residence and store. This is now his large and commodious home. This building was completed in 1859, Mr. Clark removing his family here the year following. Cloyes Bros, and Mr. Barnhouse were conducting general stores in Pax¬ ton when Mr. Clark began his very successful business career in our city. At the deep cut, where Orleans street crosses the rail¬ road, was once a bridge over the railroad for public travel. The money paid by Mr. Clark for his lots was applied in the con¬ struction of this bridge.

John Hanley came to Illinois in 1855, and at an early date opened a lumber yard and grain office west of the I. C. R. R. depot, Paxton. As there was no side track here then, ho re¬ ceived permission from the railway company to put in a short siding with old irons and ties to be gathered from along the rail¬ road track. This was accordingly dono by the citizens, and Paxton was provided with the necessary sido track for freight cars. Previous to this the unloading of freight was done at Loda, four miles north, or on special occasions the train was halted long enough on the main track at Paxton to hurriedly unload heavy freights.

B. F. Stites, now of Iloopeston, says, in regard to the pio¬ neers of Prairie City, then Prospect City, now Paxton, that B. F. and J. N. Stites arrived at that place December, 1855. In the summer of 1854, they improved the forty acres on College Hill, known as the Ilassclquist place, and now occupied by the Glen Cemetery. The same autumn they built the Donnelly House on the north side of Ottawa street, previously mentioned. Stites homestead, on Ottawa street, and William Goodrich's house were erected in 1854.

The winter of 1854-55 occurred tho " snow blockade," when B. F. Stites hauled passengers from the train (which had become snowbound in the "cut" just north of Ottowa street) to his house on the Hasselquist place. The house stood in the north¬ west corner of the cemetery near the potter's field. Mr. Stites says he transported the passengers with sled and ox team. At one time he had sixty persons in his house, a building 18x22 feet. There were probably upper rooms. The supply of biead was exhausted, and he went to Loda for provisions. He says seven locomotive engines were at this time "snowed up" in the cut as stated.

James Sheldon, of Pella, who came to Ford County in 1865, relates that, February 14, 1866, there was a very severe storm of snow. Sheep and hogs were smothered and frozen to death in great numbers. On the day after the storm, Mr. Sheldon, assisted by Mr. Conrow and Mr. Hobbis, took 200 head of live sheep from under the snow and thirty-six dead ones. He also states that Mr. Bennett, just over the line in Livingston County, lost 900 sheep during this storm.

George H. Thompson, formerly of Lyman and now a resi¬ dent of Kansas, writes: " The years of 1857-58-59 were hard times for the new settlers on the Illinois Central Railroad lands. Crops were short, and the people all pretty poor. They often received relief from their 1 wives' relatives in the East, but the yearly interest on the lands purchased from the railroad company could not be met, and many fearing they would lose their little homes were troubled. S. K. Marston, the only man who had a respectable suit of clothes to wear to Chicago, was sent to inter¬ view the land officials of the company. Arrangements were made to get the payments extended, and some seed wheat was forwarded and loaned to those who needed, and by economizing in all things, using peas and rye for coffee, red root for tea, sorghum for sweetening, snd then patching up tho old clothes, they bridged over these bad years. July 4, 1859, the settlers of the township collected their best garments for use on the great Independence day, and held a picnic at ' School Section * Grove, near Roberts'. Although shy of each other at first, the ice was broken and the foundation laid for many happy, social times in the years that followed, which will ever be remembered by your correspondent from the grasshopper State."

Henry R. Daggett, one of the early settlers of Paxton, now of Petoakcy, Mich., favors us with the following : " In 1859, R. Clark and mvself arrived in Prospect City. The day following our arrival, I bought a farm just west of town, and during the summer built a house and small barn. The house is the present residence of A. Croft, Esq. I take the following from my jour¬ nal : April 8, 1859 - This morning the ground is covered with snow. A cannon arrived in town and was fired a few times. April 9, we had a celebration for the new countv. The cannon was fired and the few people tl#ere were rejoiced - this same old cannon you now have in Paxton. The first Sabbath I spent in Paxton, a number of us started for Sabbath school. We were stopping at the Shilling House (now Occidental), and our route was across the railroad by footpath in a straight line to the Barnhouse corner (southeast corner Vermilion and Orleans streets), thence to the little building on the southeast comer of Franklin and Union streets. Since then this house has had a small addi¬ tion built on the east side of it. This was the public school house and church. Miss Lyon, now Mrs. S. L. Day, was the teacher. We entered the Sabbath school and joined the Bible class, of which Mr. Edgar was teacher. Following the session of tho Sahbath school came preaching services by Rev. E. Dunham. The building was too small to accommo¬ date all who came, so the men stood outside. Rev. Charles Granger, Congregationalist, and Rev. Edwards, Baptist, also held services at the same place at stated times. Rev. Brown, Baptist, also officiated in Paxton at a later date. Following the services at the little schoolhouse as mentioned, came Sabbath school and preaching in the upper story of the Rice warehouse, which was recently destroyed by fire. Mr. Hurd was Superin¬ tendent. Then we went to the new schoolhouse, which after¬ ward became the Swedish Lutheran Church, and now the Baptist Church. This schoolhouse stood on Block D, 1 original town, east.' Here I became Superintendent of the Union Sabbath School.

went to the present public school building. Here Mr. Schlosscr commenced his preaching. From here we went to the court house, and about this time (1865) the Methodists and Congregationalists built their churches, and then each held its own Sabbath school.

" While I was Superintendent, I missed but three Sabbaths for three years, and many times I had to provide wood or coal, build fires and sweep the room. But this has to be done in a new country.

" While living in the Croft house, John Hendrickson was as¬ sisting me in improving the farm. Just before the 4th of July, 1859, he proposed to make a flag if I would provide the material. This was done, and on the morning of Independence Day, the flag was flying from a fine flag-stuff just in front of the house. When Fort Sumter was fired on, this flag was run up and there it remained until it was worn out."

Samuel L. Day came with his father's family to Ford County, then Vermilion, in 1853. His recollectiou is that tho voting place for all of Ford and part of Vermilion was then at Marys¬ ville. His father, went there to vote. At the time of their ar¬ rival, there were no houses between Trickcl Grove and Ten Mile Grove, and none between the latter and Oliver's Grove. At one time (1854) he joined a party of neighbors to search for a man who had set out to drive some cattle from Ten Milo to Oliver's Grove. He was found some two weeks afterward about midway between the two groves frozen to death. The wind at that time had full sweep, and came sharp eud foremost over the prairies. Mr. Day relates that he has had many unexciting deer and wolf chase. lie has seen as many as one hundred deer in one herd in this vicinity. lie assisted in putting the roof on the first building erected in Paxton. This was the William Goodrich house previously mentioned.

N. B. Day relates that while out on the search for tho man mentioned by his brother Samuel, that an eagle of great size was discovered. It had been injured in some manner, and after a spirited chase was captured. One of the company riding a young horse proposed to take charge of the bird and convey it home. Accordingly, placing it upon the saddle before him, the company pursued their search. Very soon a wail of anguish from the rider with the eagle in charge startled every one. The flapping of the eagle's wings frightened the horse and away he went over the prairie. The secret of the trouble was that the eagle with won¬ derful strength and precision had fixed his talons in his keepers thigh. The result was that before his grip could be loosened the eagle's life had to be taken. This incident created much merri¬ ment, although a very painful affair to the chief actor, and for years afterward was related with much spirit to the new comers. In the autumn of 1853, while Mr. Day, Mr. Hock and Mr. Newlin were driving about 300 head of cattle to tho Chicago market, they took the more direct route by way of Kankakee. The old trail was by way of Ottawa. Arriving at the Kankakee River, they undertook to ford it. A mile up the river was a bridge, but the owners of the cattle, with an eye to business, had directed these young men to avoid crossing at the bridge, thus saving the toll. The cattle plunged into the river and soon the entire drove was swimming in a circle in the middle of the river. In a short time they would certainly have drowned, horns be¬ ing the principal things in sight. Dashing in on horseback, they separated a large ox from the drove and swimming their horses they directed this leader of the herd across the river. Looking back, they discovered the rest swimming after them, and soon the entire lot were grazing on the north bank of the river.

Arriving in the city of Chicago, they found they had over¬ stocked the market by such a large drove, and they were obliged to bring 100 head back again.

Mr. McClure resided for forty-one years on one farm, ten miles west of Bloomington. He states, that in the spring of 1868 the neighbors organized two Sabbath schools in Drummer Township. Mr. McClure was chosen Superintendent of the school which met at the Drummer Grove Schoolhouse, and Thomas Crigler of the Sabbath school two miles farther west. In June of the same year was held the first Sabbath school picnic at Drummer Grove.

Mr. McClure is now an honored citizen of Gibson. IJis large family of sons and daughters have grown up to do himself and wife great credit. We question if anywhere can be found a family more uniformly respected than this one. The writer has often noted their attention to their parents, and the brotherly and sisterly feclipg toward each other. May the same kindly regard extend to the succeeding generations.

This house was raised July 4, 1856. There were several temporary or pre emption shanties built the year previous. He thinks his father's was the only house at that time between Spring Creek and Oliver's Grove, the only road or trail running through his farm. Land seekers and travelers came in great numbers, stopping over night at the Lyman homestead. This same year, a colony from Connecticut took up several thousands of acres in this immediate vicinity. This event was hailed with great joy by the Lyman family. Among these colonists were S. K. Mars ton, who afterward taught the first singing school, and his estima¬ ble wife was the first public school teacher in that township; E. L. Havens, Capt. A. C. Maxon, S. C: Burt, John T. Forbes, Lyman Peck, J. M. Wyman ; later came G. II. Thompson, G. B. Winter, II. J. Gamble and others. The first Sunday school was held at the house of Mr. Peck. First preaching was by Rev. Bishop Hall, Methodist,and Rev. Lemuel Foster, Congregationalist, and then Rev. Mr. Needham. These services were held at the various homes of the farmers. A aeries of meetings were held a year or two later, by Revs. Foster and Needham, and many, including nearly all the young people, united with the church. A Union Church was organized and continued several years, but finally merged into a Congregational Church.

Dr. L. B. Farrar came to the vicinity of Paxton in 1858, and settled on a farm, afterward becoming a resident of Paxton. The first physician he remembers was Dr. John Mills. Ilis office was in the Stites House, or City Hotel, as it was subse¬ quently called. There was another physician here before Dr. Farrar's arrival. Ilis name wo3 Spencer, and ho was the leader of the "Spiritual Circle." Shortly after that came Dr. S. II. Birncy, now a prominent physician at Urbana, III. In 1859, Dr. Philip Myers settled at Paxton, and remained several years. Dr. Mills staid here but a few months. Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Way are also named as early physicians in this vicinity. Dr. J. B. Randolph came {about 1862, and built up quite an extensivo practice. lie died in December, 1867. Dr. II. A. Kelso be¬ came a partner of Dr. Randolph. Their office was in a small - building on the lot where now stands Egnell's cabinet shop. After Dr. Randolph's death, came Dr. J. D. Wylie, who entered into partnership with Dr. Kelso. The firm of Kelso k Wylie became extensively known as successful physicians. Dr. Wylie died, March, 1876. Dr. S. M. Wylie, one of the leading physi¬ cians of Paxton, is his son. Dr. J. Y. Campbell, who settled in the South after the close of the war, returned to Pax ion, whero he is favored with a good practice.

The Emery brothers were here for a time, about 1872 and 1873, but remained but a brief period. Among the other physi¬ cians of Paxton, who have come and gone may be mentioned Drs. J. E. Morrison, J. F. Heritage and M. Crane. An early physi¬ cian and druggist was Dr. Glasner, who died at an early period of his usefulness. A list of the physicians of the county will be found elsewhere in this work.

On or about the 1st of September, 1856, a prairie fire was started in the south part of what is now known as Ford County, and the wind being from the south drove the fire over the country at a frightful speed, burning all tho prairie lying west of the Illi¬ nois Central Railroad track to what was known as Indian Tim¬ ber, and as far north as the Kankakee River before it could bo stopped. As I said, the season was very dry, and the low sloughs that grew a very fair quality of grass that year, con¬ tinued to burn for fully three months, or until the ground froze up in the fall. The lauds that were so badly burnt still show the effects of the fire. Some of these places came directly under the writer's observation, and were he in the northern part of tho county now, ho could show places in swamps on the north half of Section 7, south half of Section 6, in Township 25 north. Range 9 east, and in a small slough in the south half of south¬ west quarter of Section 21, Township 26 # north, also in sloughs, that lie south and west of Oliver's Grove, and near what was called Corn Grove, which before the fire were smooth, even sloughs, but are now ponds and lakes of water. The cause of this is that the tall grass, that at that time grew in the sloughs, took fire, and having so much body, burnt into the ground in such a manner that it settled into basins. Among these may bo mentioned Turtle Pond, lying south of Oliver's Grove, and Corn Grove Pond, lying west of Turtle Pond. The timber in Oliver's Grove, especially the down timber, was nearly all destroyed, and it was considered that the loss in wood that Mr. Oliver sustained must have run into the thousands of cords. Going further north to what is now known as the Vermilion Swamp, the effects of the fire may still be found. Before the fire, all that country from the county line of Ford and Iroquois Counties, in Township 28 north, Ranges 9 and 10 east, was a large slough, which grew coarse but good grass, not canebrake-as it does now. In this place the fire burnt holes in the ground fully threo feet deep and for several years after no grass or anything green grew there.

Before the fire, large herds of deer could be seen grazing quietly on tho prairies, but these beautiful animals wero now driven to other localities, and deer meat was scarce.

The Presidential election in the fall of 1856 caused very little excitement in our settlement. The voting place was full twenty-five miles distant at Prairie City, now Paxton, and the few settlers who were eligible to vote did uot take the trouble to go to the polls. At that time tho only voters in the Pan Handle were M. Parsons, Dr. Marshall, John R. Lewis, T. W. Pope, M. Faddling, Dr. DeNorinandy.

This spring was noted for the large influx of new settlers, and carpenters who came on to build their houses for them, among the latter I remember Elisha and Nathaniel Sherman, of Onarga, and Mr. Needham. These three had others helping them, and it was with difficulty that they found boarding places. Among the first of the new settlers who camo were Messrs. Samuel and Michael Cross. These began putting up a house on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 4, Town¬ ship 26, Mr. Needham superintending the work. They boarded with John R. Lewis and traveled four miles morning and evening to and from their work. Soon after theso came, which was in April, it was discovered that a house was being built on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 20, for a family from Philadelphia, Penn., named McKinney. The next house to be built was for Mr. Ira Z. Congdon on the northeast corner of Section 32. Mr. Congdon came from near New Lon¬ don, Conn., along with what was known as the " Connecticut settlers," mention of whom will be made hereafter. A little to the west of Mr. Congdon, on the same section, Mr. Wallace W. Wicks commenced improving a farm, but did not build on it Mr. Aaron Scofield built on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 30, and at the same time Mr. Conrad Volp put up a house on the southeast quarter of Section 10. 11c came from near Albany, N. Y., amt brought with him his three youngest sons, George, Henry and Christopher, the oldest son, Charles, having come out tho summer before and tuken up his abode with A. J. Bartlett.

All these settlers were near each other, but a few began to arrive and take up land in the northern townships, which seemed to us at that time quite a long way off. The first of these was Mr. Robert Hall, who came from New York State. He had purchased a large tract of land from the I. C. Railroad Company, aud built his house on the southwest corner of Section 28, Town¬ ship 27, and soon after a young man from near Boston, Mass., put in an appearance, anil commenced to build a small house on Section 22. He had no family and "kept bach." Ilis name was Henry Atwood. A little later in the summer, Mr. Joseph Davis, from Ohio, settled on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 6, in Township 26. Most of these settlors arrived in time to break up some land and put it into corn.

During tho winter of 1855-56, an organization was effected by a few citizens in and around New London in the State of Con¬ necticut, under the namo of the Working Man's Settlement As¬ sociation, with the following-named persons as members:

In September, 1856, the first permanent settlers belonging to the colony arrived, among them being S. K. Marston, K. F. Havens, Georgo Clark, M. E. Morgan, S. P. Avery, T. and A. Morgan, D. T. Hutchinson, R. Eccleston and R. R. Pearsons. While passing through Chicago, they purchased 100,000 foot of lumber for building purposes, and had it shipped to Onarga, to which place they were all bound.

Some time in June, it was suggested by E. F. Havens that we all take baskets on the Fourth of July, go to School Section Grove, have & good timo, ami properly celebrate the birthday of our national liberty. All were pleased with the idea, and each one did his or her best to make it a success.

The eventful day at last arrived, ami we all assembled at the grove. When the baskets wore opened, Mrs. M. F. Chenney created quite a sensation by producing an immense pan of baked pork ami boans. Others brought roast turkey, chickens, frosted cakes and other delicacies, but all these fine dishes wero given the cold shoulder, each one longing for a dish of the dear old familiar, homely, baked beans.

There wore 110 persons present, men women and children, and every one seemed surprised that there were so many people near them, and rejoiced in the feeling that they were not alone in the boundless wilderness.

In the summer of this year, tho T. P. k W. railroad was built through the Pan Handle, the line being located near the north edge of Township 26, running almost due cost and west, and a long side track was laid on the north half of Section 2. At this time, there were no settlers near the railroad, and a little to the west of the side track there was a big slough that completely cut off all communication from the west. East of the side track, there were no settlers within the boundary of the Pan Handle. The motive of the railway company in building the side track in such a place was beyond the comprehension of any of the settlers, but it was soon learned that there was to be a town there called Brcnton - now Piper City.

There were regular meetings and Sabbath schools at the res¬ idence of some one of the settlers in Town 26, during the sum¬ mer and fall of this year. These meetings were principally con¬ ducted by Mr. A. McKinney, Robert Hail and Henry Atwood. Mr. Hall was Superintendent of the Sabbath school, and was a faithful worker. The bouses where services wore held wero A. McKinney's, R. Hall's, J. E. Davis', Dr. Elias T. Hahn's and A. J. Bartlett's. The singing was led by Mr. M. Cross, with a flute. The meetings were well attended, and I believe much good was done by them.

In Township 25, meetings were held at the homes of F. M. Wyman, S. K. Marston and Mr. Lyman, until the new schoolhouse was built, of which I shall speak hereafter. These meet¬ ings wero noted for the excellent singing, in which Mr. aud Mrs. Marston took an active interest, both being fine musicians.

At these meetings no sect or isin was recognized. The peo¬ ple assembled to worship God, anil few cared what particular de¬ nomination his neighbor belonged to.

At this time, the early settlers wero much concerned about money matters. The money in circulation was in the shape of bank hills, or notes, as they were called. Many of tho hanks had no money with which to redeem their nous, and when this hi«*f.

became known, of course the notes depreciated in value, and many persons lost considerable sums of money from this cause. In fact, no one knew whether the notes he held were good for anything or not.

The winter of 1857-58 was rather unsteady. There was not much frost, and the snow that occasionally fell in great quanti¬ ties soon thawed off. The roads were about half frozen, which made hauling wood for fuel an impossibility, and many of the settlers got badly discouraged.

At this time tea and coffee were almost unknown among the 8611101*8. In fact the only coffee used was made out of browned corn, sweetened with a kind of rough molasses made from sorghum. This was first introduced by Mark Parsons in the spring of 1857, at which time he received from Mr. J. 0. Norton, of Wash¬ ington, D. C.. two or three packages of the seed. This he sowed, carefully harvesting the seeds produced from it, and making the juice from the stalk into molasses.

The Pan Handle was at this time infested with wolves and badgers. They abounded mostly in Township 27, where they seemed to make their headquarters. The badgers were most fre¬ quently found on Section 11, where there is a long sand ridge known as " Mount Thunder," and to this point hunters frequent¬ ly went, and a number of these animals were killed.

The winter of 1859-60 was dry and cold, not much snow fell, and the com which was light, was gathered before the ground froze, and a quantity of fall plowing was done.

This winter surprise parties became quite fashionable, and notwithstanding the fact that the settlers lived long distances apart, were well attended. Sociables were also in order, and a company often came over from Onarga, bringing good music with them.

Spring commenced early, and the small grain was mostly in by the end of March. Fine rains set in in April, and everything was lovely. It will be remembered by the first settlers that the ground squirrels were very annoying this year. They would Follow the planter, and root the com out of the hills from one end of the field to the other.

Regular religious services were had in the Marston Schoolhouse, in Town 25, every Sabbath, conducted by Mr. Foster and Mr. Needham, one on one Sunday and the other on the next. The Sabbath school was conducted with Saul C. Burt as Super¬ intendent, and G. B. Winters as teacher of the Bible class, and S.

K. Marston of the other scholars. This school was noted for its Bible discussions, conducted principally by Messrs. Winters and Wyman, and sometimes by S. C. Burt.

The Sunday school in the northern township was held at the homes of A. McKinney, Robert Hall and a few other houses. Mr. Hall was Superintendent and A. McKinney teacher of the Bible class. Mr. Hall was an active worker in the Sabbath school, and taught one of the younger classes.

This year, 1860, the money in the county began to fail. The Collectors of the different townships had been taking the Illinois bank's shin-plaster bills, and when they came to settle with the Auditor, they found that nothing but gold would bo accepted, and the consequence was that the school funds were greatly reduced. Before the Collectors began their work, the Board of Supervisors had ordered that the moneys of certain banks named should be accepted in payment, but before the day of settlement arrived, these banks had suspended then money was worthless.

Upon the settlement of tho Collectors, the Board of Super¬ visors convened and caused the deficiency to be properly propor¬ tioned among the different funds as fairly as possible.

This fall, the price of all kinds of country produce went away down. Oats sold for 7 or 8 'cents per bushel, spring wheat for from 80 to 40 cents, good dressed hogs for from $1.50 to $2 per 100 pounds, and everything else that farmers had to sell was down in the same way.

Some of those enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fifth Regiment Infantry, under Capt. R. VV. Andrews, others went into the Cavalry in Company M, Ninth Regiment, Capt. E. R. Knight. All who went from the Pan Handle in these companies, were credited to Iroquois County, as residents from that point.

About 400 people were present, and wc had a grand good time. Addresses were delivered by E. L. Gibson, G. B. Winter, G. II. Thompson and other local talent. The Prairie Glee Club, led by S. K. Marston, discoursed excellent music, and Seth Tur¬ ner, the Captain of S. Iv. Marston's ox team, helped to enthuse us with his rhymes.

This season (1864), the price of com and other products ran up pretty high. Corn was sold for 60 cents per bushel, and some farmers who held theirs over, got as much as 85 cents. Oats sold for from 40 to 50 cents per bushel, and barley ran up to I $2.50. This year, Peter Van Antwerp had sowed quite a large patch of barley, and raised sixty bushels to the acre. This he sold for $2.50 per bushel.

writer and a few others organized what is now called the Con¬ gregational Church of Christ at Paxton, a few months after its organization at a village called Prospect City. The church was named the Union Church of Christ of the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River. With that name the church assisted in organ¬ izing and joined the Illinois Central East Association of Congre¬ gational ministers. Within a year after its organization, the writer (the first minister of the church) instituted a series of re¬ ligious meetings, which the Head of the church approved by a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. After laboring about four years, the writer gave up the charge because of ill health. Shortly thereafter, the church changed its name to Congrega¬ tional. Although the Methodists had a class and week-day preaching, the Union Church instituted the first regular Sabbath preaching."

In May, 1854, Robert Blackstock, journeying from his home in Indiana westward, passed through what is now Ford County, and found a Methodist Episcopal society at Trickel Grove.

Services were held in John Dops' log cabin, which afterward became the William Walker homestead, in Button Township. On careful inquiry, he found this to be the first and at that time the only Methodist Episcopal society in the present county of Ford. It was organized in 1848, being the northwest appointment of the Danville Circuit. A history of the Methodist Church appears elsewhere in this work. Many of the facts, especially as to early events, were furnished by Mr. Blackstock.

It is related of Rev. W. H. H. Moore, who was on this cir¬ cuit in 1855, that a Yankee clock-peddler, passing through this new settlement, had stopped over night at a house at Trickel Grove, where religious services were to be held on the following day. Having displayed his clocks in the largest room, and, to show their time-keeping qualities, had carefully wound and set them. When the preacher was in the midst of his sermon, the services being held in the "clock-room," these clocks began their work of noting the hour of twelve. All the fervor and eloquence of the frontier itinerant were not sufficient to hold the attention of his congregation, and it is feared that the labors of that day were in vain.

Mr. Blackstock says that in 1862 was held the first Sunday school convention for Ford and Iroquois Counties. This conven¬ tion was held on a Sabbath day in the freight depot at Loda. The active participants were tho resident ministers of Paxton and Loda, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Search and others.

The first number of the Paxton Record was published Feb¬ ruary 9, 1865, by N. E. Stevens, with D. S. Crandall associate editor. The office was in a building which is now a part of the residence of John McMurray, just south of the old Patton Block. The building was small and the office unpretentious, but of ample size to meet the demands of tho town. It has grown steadily ever since, keeping pace with the demand for good work and ex¬ perienced workmen.

Among the first items of interest we notice was this : About the first of March, 1865, the Legislature passed an act incorpor¬ ating the town of Paxton.

On Thursday, May 4, of the same year, the mammoth grain warehouse of Buck k Hall, was destroyed by fire. The loss was $14,000; insurance, $7,800.

In the spring of 1865, the town was in a prosperous condition and many new buildings were erected, among them the Methodist Episcopal Church, tho basement of which was used for a Young Ladies' Seminary, conducted by Mrs. Buckland. In June, of that year, there were the following number of business houses in the town: Five dry goods and groceries, three grocery stores, one warehouse, one flouring mill, two lumber yards, two drug stores, one printing office, one dentist, five physicians, four lawera, one hardware store, one land agency, one furniture wareouse, one seeding machine manufactory, two hotels, one agricultural warehouse, one express office, one watch-maker, one meat market, one photograph gallery,' one nursery, two shoe, four blacksmith, two wagon, one gunsmith, two carpenter and one paint shops, one saddlery, one millinery, one sulky cultivator works, one real estate agency, two tobacconists, one furniture store, one bakery and one plow factory.

The 4th of July, 1865, was celebrated at Ten Mile Grove, by a large concourse of citizens and Sunday school children. There was also a celebration at Trickel Grove.

R. S. Buckland, while on a tour of observation in Missouri, June 18, 1865, accidentally shot himself. His remains were buried in the old cemetery. He was a prominent and enterpris¬ ing citizen of Paxton.

Pells* block, a three-story brick building with fifty feet front, was completed in the summer of 1867. It was built by W. H. Pells, and was destroyed by fire in the year 1874.

On tho 6th of November, 1867, the citizens, legal voters of Ford County, gave an overwhelming majority in favor of taking $112,000 stock in the Lafayette, Bloomington k Mississippi Railway.

Clark's block, an elegant three-story brick building, 50x80 feet, and 45 feet in height, was finished in the fall of 1867. R. Clark, of Paxton, was and is the owner.

The fall of 1867 was remarkable for the heavy sales of real estate made by local dealers. One firm in Paxton sold 9,000 acres within thirty days. The sales of the same firm, for the five weeks ending'December 5, aggregated 14,603 acres.

The first seven days of May, 1868, will long be remembered on account of the unprecedented amount of rain. The meteor¬ ological report shows that amount was 3.57 inches, almost as much as for any month during the preceding four months. The storms were accompanied by thunder and lightning, the pyro¬ technic display being most beautiful and magnificent.

A hurricane passed over Paxton Tuesday, May 26, 1868, stripping the steeple from the United Presbyterian Church. This was the finest church edifice in the citv, and the spire was beauti¬ fully proportioned to the building, 'fhe damage resulting there¬ from was estimated at about $1,100.

Paxton was visited by a heavy fire on Monday, January 18, 1869. The fire broke out in a building occupied by Travis, Hall k Co., as a hardware store, the second story being occupied by

L. A. Dodd os a dwelling. The losers were Travis Hall k Co., hardware dealers, $1,100; interest in building, $1,400; no insur¬ ance ; L. A. Dodd, household goods, $500, insured; interest in building, $1,000, uninsured; 5. L. Day, interest in building, $1 ,000, uninsured; J. McCormick, druggist, loss on building, $3,000, insured fpr $1,500; loss on stock, $500; N. A. Hall, restaurant, damage on stock, $200; Mrs. S. S. Lantz, daguerreotype gallery, loss on stock, $300, insured; loss on household goods, $200; Scott k McDaniel, dry goods, loss on building, $2,000; insured for $1 ,500; Masonic Lodge, on furniture, $200 ; C. H. Wyman, on building, $2,000, with no insurance. The origin of the fire was unknown. The advantage of brick over wood as a building material was demonstrated in the case of Polls' block, which escaped comparatively unscathed, though subjected to an intense heat.

On the 27th of March, excavations had been commenced for the foundations of five brick buildings to occupy the site of those destroyed by fire.

The engineer corps, engaged in running the line of tho L., B. k M. Railroad through Paxton, arrived March 23, 1870, under charge of Col. Morgan.

The assessment returns of Ford County, for the year 1870, amount to $2,037,762. The number of acres under cultivation were, of wheat, 8,645; com, 50,202; other field products, 12,969.

Enterprise was the name of a village platted in Township 27 (Drummer), at the crossing of the L.. B. k M. and G., C. k S. Railroads, by J. B. Lott, in November, 1870. The location was favorable as to commercial facilities and the name of the village has since been changed to Gibson City. It is now ono of the most flourishing towns of the county. As its original name im¬ plies, Gibson City is remarkable for its enterprise and thrift. It is the second town in the county in size and population, is pro¬ vided with gas-light, has good sidewalks, telephone connection with Saybrook and Bloomington, and other modern improve¬ ments.

A destructive storm of sleet visited Paxton and vicinity from the 12th to the 14th of January, 1871. Every building, fence and tree was encased in an icy coat of mail nearly an inch in thickness. Scarcely a building escaped damage from leakage to a greater or less extent. The greatest loss sustained was to fruit and shade trees, some of those from four to five inches in diame¬ ter being either broken off entirely or stripped of their limbs.

M. L. Sullivant finished husking his corn for 1871 on the 29th day of February, 1872. His crop aggregated 450,000 bushels. Mr. Sullivant was at that time proprietor of Burr Oaks farm, comprising some 42,000 acres.

A terrible railroad accident was the cause of much sorrow in Paxton and vicinity June, 1872. On the 17th of that month, a construction train ran from the track and four men were instantly killed and twenty-two injured. Two of the latter died

Independence Day, 1872, was celebrated in the Court House park. There was a large concourse of people present, and the usual oration, toasts, music, etc., were indulged in. There was a display of fireworks at night.

The first annual fair of the Ford County Agricultural Asso¬ ciation was held, commencing September 24,1872. The officers were William Noel, President; M. L. Sullivant and F. T* Putt, Vice Presidents ; George Wright, Treasurer; J. J. Simons, Re¬ cording Secretary; N. E. Stevens, Corresponding Secretary; John Bodley, Superintendent

October 29, 1872, the Paxton Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated, the sermon being delivered by Rev. A. P. Mead. The church had been occupied for a number of years, but at this time extensive repairs and improvements had been completed.

The work of drilling an artesian well was begun in 1878. During the progress of the work many curious bits of wood were drawn up which were, no doubt, buried in these strata sges upon ages ago. The well proved a failure, and after boring over 2,700 feet, tho work was abandoned; not, however, until it had bur¬ dened the city with a debt of some $18,000.

The Presbyterian Church is a frame building, 42x68 feet, with vestibule, and is of the gothic order of architecture. The main audience room is twenty-eight feet high, and frescoed in Corinth¬ ian style. The interior presents a very pleasing appearance. The cost of the edifice was about $7,500. The dedication took place on the 13th of July, 1873. Rev. Dr. Bailey preached the dedicatory sermon, and at the services some $2,500 was sub¬ scribed toward liquidating a debt of about $2,750 which rested on the building.

Statistics

Population of incorporated cities and villages which are in eluded in the above table : Paxton, 1,725 ; Gibson City, 1,260 ; Piper City, 428. Since the date of said census, the following towns have been incorporated: Cabery, Kemp ton and Sibley. Since 1882, an unusual season of prosperity and growth has vis¬ ited the county, and especially in the principal towns, there has been a largo increase in population.

Bt Wsavkh Whits

The Legislature of the State of Illinois in the act organising Ford County placed it in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and pro¬ vided that the Judge of said circuit should hold a term of court, on the organization of the county, at a place to be designated by the County Court.

February 4, 1801, an act was passed, organizing the Twentyseventh Judicial Circuit, in which were placed the counties of Vermilion, Champaign, Douglas and Ford. Our county re¬ mained in this circuit until 1867, when, on January 29, by an act of the Legislature, the counties of Moultrie, Shelby, Macon, Piatt, Fayette, Champaign and Ford were united in the Seven¬ teenth Circuit

In April, 187*2, the Legislature again changed the circuit, placing us in the Twentieth, with the counties of Kankakee, Iro¬ quois and Livingston.

Under act of the Legislature approved and in force March 28, 1873, the State was again divided into circuits, McLean and Ford constituting the Fourteenth. By act June 2, 1877, in force July 1, 1877, the State, exclusive of Cook County, was divided into thirteen circuits. The counties of McLean, Ford, Kankakee, Iroquois and Livingston forming the Eleventh.

The arrangement of counties under this act, together with tho additional Judge elected under its provisions, modo the num-' her of Judges in each of said circuits three.

lions. David Davis, Charles Emerson, 0. L. Davis, James Steel, A. J. Gallagher, Charles II. Wood, Thomas F. Tipton, J. W. Cochran, 0. T. Reeves, N. J. Pillsbury, Franklin Blades, the three last named being the present Judges of this circuit.

The Hon. David Davis, of Bloomington, was the Presiding Judge, Samuel L. Day, Clerk, Howard Case, Sheriff, and Ward II. Lamon, State's Attorney. The first grand jurors were James

" The charge to the grand jury was made by the Judgo him¬ self, who also administered the oaths. In his charge, the Judge urged them to do their whole duty as men and jurors, and as they were just starting in a new county to be careful and sec that all depredations committed in their neighborhood were pre¬ sented to the jury and returned to the court. The Judge said, 'rid your neighborhood of all petty thieves and law-breakers, and return them to this court.'

" Hon. David Brier, of Bloomington, defended the location selected by the County Commissioners for the court house, and his arguments were so good that the writer fully believed ho would carry the day. After carefully listening to both sides, the court gave his opinion in the matter. In doing so, he compli¬ mented County Judge David Patton, saying he had been acquainted with him a number of years, and that his opinions as a lawyer were considered carefully made and well taken, but in this case the court must differ with him.

44 One criminal case was tried at this term of court. It was on a change of venue from Vermilion County, where a man had stolon a kit of fish weighing fifty pounds from the railway depot at Dan¬ ville. In this trial, three of the jury were from the Pan Handle. The prisoner was very ably defended by an attorney from Dan¬ ville. The defense set up was that the value of the fish stolen was lcss than $5, and introduced witnesses to prove that this was the fact. One of these, Mr. Barnhouse, of Prairie City, swore that a kit of fish, such as the one stolen, was sold in hi9 town for from $1-50 to $4.75. In the cross examination, State's Attorney W. H. Lamon brought out that the witness knew nothing of the value of fish in Danville, and as Danville was the place from which the fish was stolen, the Danville prico must be that at which it was valued. In his charge to the jury. Judge Davis said if they found that the prisoner was guilty, and that the fish stolen was valued at $5 or over, the penalty was not less than one nor more than five years in the penitentiary.

" The whole business of the court was carried on more like a general school of instruction to a class of students than anything else that the writer can compare it to. A local attorney, Mr. Morse, who had a client, and wished to get a continuance of his case, had prepared an affidavit setting forth the reasons for not being ready for trial. In tho affidavit there was some very strong language used in behalf of his client, to which Judge Davis lis¬ tened as long as he could, but, after a little, exclaimed, 4 Tut, tut, tut, young man, you should never got your client to swear to any such thing as that. Never allow your clients to perjure themselves. It is the duty of an attorney to keep his client out of trouble, and not get him into it.' "

Prior to the formation of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, in 1874, the district had been so large that the Judges could not give the necossary time to our county to dispose of the business. Since said date, the business has been kept well in hand, it being the frequent custom when cases could not otherwise be dis¬ posed of, to hold night sessions.

Judge Tipton, of Bloomington, at one time, to clear the docket of long-pending cases, made a custom of holding court until near midnight, and sometimes even later, or rather earlier.

As an illustration of the confidence of the bar and litigants in the court, the writer recalls one term when a full week passed in the trial of causes, and in only one case was a jury called ; in all the others by agreement, jury was waived, and trial had before the court.

The most aggravated murder committed thus far in the his¬ tory* of our county was that of Robert A. Miller. He was a farmer, well advanced in life, of quiet, kindly disposition, loved by his neighbors, respected by all and without a single enemy as far as he knew. For many years he had lived on bis farm in the north part of Wall Township, some seven miles northwest of Paxton.

On the early morning of October 7, 1875, he took his cows to water to a well, some little distance from the house by the edge of a corn-field.

A nephew of Miller, Willis Conn, a single man some twenty years of age, who lived near Rnntoul, had the afternoon of the day before came to Paxton and bought a revolver. After testing it, he procured a sufficient lunch for his supper and breakfast, and then went to a vacant house in the neighborhood of Robert A. Miller, where he spent the night. Very early in the morning, he had come down to his uncle's, and had concealed himself in the corn just near this well, close to where he knew his victim would pass in watering his stock. When bis uncle had come near enough to gratify his murderous desire, he fired the shot with deadly certainty, tho ball entering the right side and penetrating near the heart.

llis uncle fell mortally wounded ; but not satisfied with this Conn rushed up to the fallen body, and, putting the weapon close to the head of his victim, fired the second shot, and immediately disappeared. As soon as the neighbors received the alarm, and gathered in sufficient numbers, search w'as at once begun for the murderer, and a messenger sent to the Sheriff at Paxton.

he was the party he was looking for, and that he had shot Uncle Bobby Miller, and gave himself up. Conn was at onoe taken in custody, put in jad, and held to await his trial.

Circuit Court sat in December, when he was indicted and his trial began December 9,1875, and lasted four days. A. Sample, State's Attorney, was assisted by M. H. Cloud in the prosecu¬ tion, and the prisoner was represented by M. B. Thomson, of Urbana, Ill. No trouble was experienced in impaneling a jury. The ground of defense was insanity, which was most persistently presented by defendant's counsel. The fact and circumstances of the killing were not disputed. A number of physicians of reputation testified as to the mental condition of the prisoner. Some to tho effect that he was wholly irresponsible for his acts, and others that, while at times this might be true, yet that he had the power to distinguish between right and wrong, and if so, was responsible.

" The' court instructs tho jury for the people that the complete possession of reason is not essential to constitute the legal re¬ sponsibility of the offender, and although the jury may believe from the evidence that at the time of the act the person was not of sound mind; yet, if the jury believe from the evidence be¬ yond a reasonable doubt that the prisoner had the power to dis- I tinguish right from wrong, and to adhere to the right and avoid I the wrong as applied to tho particular act charged, then he is responsible to tho law for his act.

" The jury are instructed for the defendant, that if they be¬ lieve from the evidence in the case that at the time of the killing that said defendant was insane, and that though they may believe he had some idea of right and wrong; yet, if the jury believe from all the evidence that the defendant was driven to said act by an irresistible insane impulse which he was on account of such insanity unable to control, then, and in that case, there would be no such intent to commit crime a9 charged, and in that case the jury should find tho defendant not guilty."

Tho prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to tho Peniten¬ tiary for twenty years. His conduct and appearance during tho trial tended strongly to prove that he was not in his right mind. He sat heedless during the investigation, showing neither concern or fear, and save when the verdict was read in open court, did he seem to realize tho terrible punishment before him. He was promptly sentenced and taken to Joliet, but only lived to servo j about two years of his time.

On December 19, 1878, Joseph Borowick, living in the south¬ ern part of Sullivant Township, the head of a family of Polanders, was shot and mortally wounded.

Investigation developed the fact that they had procured a large quantity of liquor and taken it home, when himself and family had indulged very freely in its use.

The old gentleman, while in this condition, as was his wont, undertook the task of whipping his wife. In the progress of the trouble, his step-son, Maik Borowick, became involved, and, as was supposed, in defense of his mother, fired the shot which caused the killing.

Maik was at once arrested, sent to jail, indicted at the April and tried at the August term of Circuit Court, 1879, his Honor, Judge Reeves, presiding.

The trial was beset with many difficulties. The chief wit¬ nesses were Poles and Bohemians, and being unable to speak our language, had to be questioned through an interpreter. The best interpreter that could be obtained was, in many instances, unable to mako the witness fully understand the questions of the lawyers, or obtain an intelligent answer. The evidence was entirely cir¬ cumstantial, and that not of the strongest class. The weather was extremely hot, the defendant and his mother appeared large¬ ly indifferent to the progress of the trial, and the public took but little interest in the cose.

The trial lasted three days, and a verdict of guilty of man¬ slaughter was rendered, and Maik Borowick was sentenced to the penitentiary for a terra of five years - five days to be spent in solitary confinement and tho residue at hard labor. While the prisoner manifested no great anxiety in his trial, when it was over and he understood that his punishment was imprisonment and not hanging, he seemed very highly pleased.

On April 26, 1880, in Padua Township, McLean Co.. Ill., Henry Stovenour and Frank Bailey were killed, and Hendryx was on May 5 indicted by the grand jury of McLean County for committing the offense. On the petition of the defendant, change of venue was granted to Ford County, where trial was had at the December term of Circuit Court, 1880, his Honor, Judge Reeves, presiding.

The case was very notly contested, the people being repre¬ sented by State's Attorneys Porter, of McLean, and Cook, ofFord, County, and Gen. Schenck, of Indiana. Messrs. Tipton & Ryan, of Bloomington, and John R. Kinnear, of Paxton, appearing for the defendant.

The trial lasted eleven days, while over two hundred wit¬ nesses were in attendance from McLean County. Great in¬ terest was manifested by the public, and crowds filled the court room during the progress of the trial. The plea relied on by prisoner's counsel to secure acquittal was that of self-defense, which was urged with great ingenuity and persistency in the se¬ lection of the jury and during the progress of the trial. An entire day was occupied by counsel in presenting the case to the jury.

The trial was concluded late in the afternoon, and the jary then retired. After being oat about three hours, a verdict of " not guilty " was retained, and the prisoner was discharged. The costs in this case to McLean County were several thousand dollars, and to Ford not a few hundred.

The following gentlemen sat on the jury in this case: Ira W. Hand, James Boyd, Charles A. Cook, Joseph Bushnell, Will¬ iam II. Crowe, Fred Potts, Frank P. Newhart, James F. Ellis, Jacob Snider, John Clayton, Isaac Palmer and E. Atwood.

The last homicide which our Circuit Court has been called upon to investigate is that of Abram Thorp. He was a young man and unmarried. He had lived in the vicinity of Paxton, near Trickel's Grove. On Sabbath morning, September 30, 1883, hia dead body was found lying on the sawdust in Larkin's ice-house, located in the alley in rear of the St. Elmo Restaurant. He had apparently been killed by a severe blow on his head.

James Ryan was at once suspected and arrested. At the Coroner's inauest, it was shown that Ryan and Thorp had a diffi¬ culty the night previous, during which Thorp had severely bitten Ryan's lip; that both men were more or less intoxicated, and that early Sabbath morning Ryan had said in substance that " he had got even with Abe."

On this and other evidence, he was held for the grand jury, and was indicted in December, but obtained a continuance until the April term, 1884, when his trial was hot). Tho case was called and jury selected on Tuesday tho 8th, and verdict was rendered on the following Saturday. Some thirty witnesses were sworn on behalf the people and about the same number for the defense.

The prisoner being unable to employ counsel, his Honor, Judge Reeves, at the term at which indictment was found, assigned ns his attorneys E. C. Gray and Judge Tipton, who were assist¬ ed on the trial by J. II. Moffett. The plea of Ryan was " not guilty." The evidence, though wholly circumstantial, satisfied the jury beyond doubt of the defendant's guilt. The jury retired on Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning returned their ver¬ dict, which was: "We the jury find the defendant guilty, and fix the term of his imprisonment in tho penitentiary at thirtythree years."

Great local interest was shown in the trial, and when the ar¬ guments of counsel were made the court room was filled to its utmost capacity.

This was the severest penalty ever inflicted in the history of our county, and a majority of the jury wore in favor ot inflicting the death penalty.

Biographical Sketches

Ex-County Judge David Patton was the pioneer lawyer of Ford County, having located at Ten Mile Grove, about three mites southwest of Paxton, in the latter part of October, 1853, while Ford was yet a part of Vermilion County. He was born in Clark County, Ky., in 1806, and emigrated to Butler County, Ohio, with his parents in 1810. At the age of eighteen, he began the study of law in the office of Oliver H. Smith, at Connersvillc, Ind., and while so engaged in his studies, taught dis¬ trict school in the winter season to earn money to pay his current expenses. In October, 1828, he was admitted to tho bar, and soon after commenced the active practice of his profession at La Fayette, Ind., where, by his natural tact and close attention to business, he secured ana held for ten years a large and lucra¬ tive practice. Frank, upright and generous in disposition, he was held in high esteem by tho people, and regarded ns a leading lawyer by his professional brethren. His ungunrded liberality, however, ultimately proved a snare to him financially. His earnings for the ten years were soon swept away in the payment of debts for his friends, and he was compelled to start anew in life. With this object in view, he turned his face and steps westward, and located on a choice truU of 400 acres of land at the Grove obove referred to. Population in his new home was too sparse to afford much profitable law business, and hence he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, but his reputa¬ tion as a lawyer soon came to the ears of his new neighbors and friends, and he was frequently called to maintain or defend their rights before the local magistrates. This he did with his former zeal and success. Not a few of the regulars in the pro¬ fession could truthfully say they were completely auprised and often outgeneraled in these contests by this unassuming Hoosier farmer. To his efforts, the passage of the act of the Legislature creating the county of Ford, and its subsequent organization, was largely due. At a special election, held in June, 1859, he was elected Judge of the County Court by a large majority over his opponent Gideon Camp. William Swinford, of Trickles Grove, and Andrew J. Bartlett, of the Pan Handle, were chosen his Associate Justices. At the general elections in 1860. 1864 and 1868, the people called him to serve them in the same responsible office. Before the close of bis fourth official term, the growing weight of years and his extensive real estate interests in Illinois ana other Wcstern States, convinced him that the remainder of his days

Banner-Roberts

M. L. Sullivant, second son of Lucas and Sarah (Starling) Sul¬ livant. was born In Franklinton, now West Columbus, Ohio, Au¬ gust 6,18'J7. His parents were Virginians, who, residing a short time in Kentucky, removed to Ohio, and were prominent in the early settlement of Franklin County. In 1888, Lucas Sullivan t died, leaving a very large estate, to be divided among his three sons.

Michael L. Sulllvant was educated at Ohio University, and Centre College, Ky. At an early age he manifested a great pref¬ erence for rural affairs, and after completing his education, set¬ tled upon the fine estate he had inherited at Columbus, Ohio, and became a stock-grower and grazer. He was one of the originators of the Ohio Stock Importing Company; also one of the movers in organizing the Ohio State Board of Agriculture; was twioe its President, and as long as he resided in Ohio! was active in pro¬ moting its agricultural interests.

In October, 1858, Mr. Sulllvant first visited Illinois, and at once appreciating the value of its rich prairie lands, pur¬ chased within a period of three or four years, about 30,000 acres, located principally in what are now the counties of Cham¬ paign, Ford and Livingston. In 1855, he began his first improve¬ ment in Illinois at Broadlands, Champaign County, and to this place removed his family from Columbus, Ohio, in April, 1881. Meeting with reverses, he sold the remainder of his property in Ohio, and in 1866 the farm at Broadlands, containing 88,000 acres, and retired to his larger estate of Burr Oaks In Ford County, con¬ taining 40,000 acres in the spring of 1887.

After some preliminary improvements that year, he began work in 1888, with 1,000 acres of ooro. The year following 5,000 were planted, and the acreage was yearly increased until in 1878, he had under cultivation 18,000 acres of corn, besides extensive fields of oa ts and hay. At this time, much other work had been done - 850 miles of Osage Orange hedge had been set out and cultivated, over 100 miles of ditching done, extensive farm buildings and shops erected, roads laid out and graded, a nursery of fruit and ornamen¬ tal trees started, etc. Mr. Sullivant systematized a comprehensive plan for the management of his labor, and strict and elaborate ac¬ counts were kept of every expenditure, and showing each day's work, whether done by man or beast

An account published of a visit to Burr Oaks in the autumn of 1878, says: * Here, often under great discouragement, but with an indomitable will and untiring energy, Mr. Sullivant has been work¬ ing out his great schemes on the prairies of Illinois, noted there, as in Ohio, for broad views and a genial and generous hospitality.

I took a ride of twenty miles through the corn-fields, and was sur¬ prised to see the great improvements made since my former visit in 1868, and stood almost in admiration alongside the huge ricks of hay containing 8,500 tons.

" With a herd of the finest blooded, Durham cattle, 500 mules and horses, wagons, farming implements and machinery in proportion, and employing on an average 800 men. Mr. Sullivant has estab¬ lished the claim of being the most extensive and enterprising farmer in the United States. His operations have attracted atten¬ tion as well in Europe, as America."

An article published in Harper's Weekly, September, 1871, gave a number of sketches, and a long and interesting description of " Burr Oaks Farm."

The financial crisis of 1878 rained many, and was the begin¬ ning of a series of embarrassments that culminated five yean later In the complete blotting- out' of Mr. Sullivant's great un¬ dertaking. In addition to $100,000 of his own capital, he had bor¬ rowed from time to time additional sums, expecting that the land brought under cultivation would, in three years, pay expenses and repay portions of these loans, but the crops failed, only one out of several realizing an average yield.

Still sanguine of success in the end, Mr. Sullivant continued cultivating the land, and making improvements, and upon the com¬ pletion of the railroad through the farm, built large hay barns at the station for pressing and storing hay, and the summer of 1874, erected an elevator, at a ooet of $80,000, furnishing it with a fifty horse-power engine, and shelters of large capacity, which is yet ranked one of the best between Chicago and St. Louis. The very promising crop of 1874, was a failure from a severe drought; 1875 was disastrous, while 10 per cent semi-annual interest had added largely to the original loans. In 1878, Mr. Sullivant offered the entire farm for sale, and laid obt the town at the station. A few farms were sold and a few lots, but real estate was at its lowest point in value, and the few sales made, availed nothing to relieve the situation.

In January, 1878, Mr. Sullivant became dangerously ill, and though better at times, never recovered; the summer of this year was one of hopeless anxiety for himself and family, and in October there was a public sale of all its property. Mr. Hiram Sibley, of Rochester, N. Y., was his largest creditor, and by this sale became the possessor of 17,641 sores of Burr Oaks Farm, the personal pro¬ perty, the town with its elevator and several other buildings, and the homestead, the Equitable Trust Company and others taking the balance of the estate, comprising 14£00 acres. With sorrow no words can express, Mr. Sullivant saw the utter wreck of his life¬ long labors and cherished plana, himself left without an acre of his once princely domain. He remained at Burr Oaks during No¬ vember and December, but left to visit his daughters residing in Kentucky, in January, never to return. He died suddenly, Jan¬ uary 88,1878; his remains were taken to Columbus, and buried at Green Lawn Cemetery, January 81. The Cincinnati GhuvtU, after referring to a previous notice of his death, said: " Mr. Sullivant be¬ longed to a family of considerable distinction. He acquired distinction long ago, by his broad views on agriculture, for his re¬ markable enterprise, and for ideas and plans which have effected so much to the cause of agriculture in this State. Had he chosen some other occupation, his enterprise, strength of character, intel¬ lect and tenacity of purpose would have made him one of the moot prominent men of his time. As it is, he is known as a fanner who operated on the moot gigantic scale, as a man who sought to make farming a business rather than an occupation, and who sought to introduce into farming the same business principles that control ail large enterprises in the commercial world. He bore the same relation to farming that Stewart did to the dry goods trade."

In politics, Mr. Sulllvant was a Republican, but took no active interest, not even when his name was proposed by his friends in the county as a candidate for nomination to the Illinois Legis¬ lature. While stool lege, he united with the Presbyterian Church, and remained connected with that church up to the time of his death. He was not given to effusive profession of religion of charity, but was well known for continued acts of benevolenoe wherever he resided. In manner he was kind and oordlal, and in many ways contributed to the pleasures of his employes. To his family, Mr. Sulkivant was affectionate and indulgent, and to his latest moment possessed their enthusiastic devotion. He was twioe . married, in 1887, to Mias Sarah McDowell, daughter of Joseph Mc¬ Dowell, of Danville, Ky, who died December 10,1844, leaving one son and three daughters; and in 1854, to Miss Fanny Trilles, daughter of Luther Triiles,of Bedford, Ohio. Mrs. Fanny-Sul¬ livant with her son and two daughters continue to reside upon what was once a part of the Burr Oaks estate.

* We cloee this brief history of a long and evefitful life, the last years of which were passed in Ford Count,. Mr. Sullivanfs la¬ bors will perhaps be more filly appreciated years henoe than now, when its inhabitants consider how, as a pioneer, be bravely met and conquered great difficulties.

His old township still bears his name, though the name of the station has been changed, but the visitor who rides for miles along the highways of the old estate bordered by hedges, and sees long lines of trees planted by his direction around many forty-acre tracts, and others for shade and ornament along the streets of the station and prominent points at the place, will not tail to realise that he did much for his successors.

His whole lift was devoted to agriculture, first in Ohio, his na¬ tive State, after in Illinois, the State of his adoption, in whose rapid growth and progress he took a jut and enthusiastic pride, and lastly in Ford County, where he was known in the early days of its history, as well by his prosperity as later by his mis¬ fortunes.

We8Tern And Pacifio

Cotton doth, not bleached, dred or t Cotton laoe. embroideries and inaertii Cotton stockings, hose and half hose. Earthenware, brown, not ornamented.

should be devoted to his private affairs, after having served the public so long and faithfully. The monetary panic of 1875, in connection with his losses as surety for some of nis friends, again stripped him of nearly all his earthly possessions. But, notwith¬ standing his misfortune in this particular, he has the higher and better consolation of having justly merited the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens by an active and useful life in their midst for more than thirty years. After a personal acquaint¬ ance of over twenty years, the writer can cheerfully bear witness that the pioneer lawyer of Ford County in his younger years was a good lawyer, a quaint and entertaining speaker, and at all times a kind and indulgent parent, a friend of the poor and needy, an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and above all, a steadfast lover of justice and humanity.

In February, 1860, J. B. Burrows, a native of the Empire State, and a graduate of one of the leading colleges and law schools of the State of Pennsylvania, located in Paxton as a law¬ yer. Being a man of pleasing address, an uncommonly graceful and eloquent speaker, possessing a liberal education, able to write and speak fluently in the French and German languages as well as in the mother tongue, he soon became known as a popular public speaker. His law practice grew rapidly from the start, and in a few months after his arrival he was employed in sev¬ eral important suits in Ford and adjoining counties. On the 4th day of July, I860, he delivered to a large and attentive audi¬ ence, on the grounds where the public school building now stands in Paxton, the first oration ever made on Independence Day in this city, and I doubt if its power and eloquence have ever been surpassed on a similar occasion in the county since then. Soon after this, he was employed by the order of Good Templars as State Lecturer for the State of Illinois, which position he held. until the spring of 1861. From the spring of 1855 until the autumn of 1858, he was editor-in-chief of an independent news¬ paper published in the city of New Orleans, one side of which was printed in the French language, and the other in the English, and in the Presidential campaign of 1860, supported Bell and Everett for President and Vioe President. In that campaign, Mr. Burrows made a number of political speeches at prominent points in the south in their behalf. In the meantime, he had beoome well acquainted with the political ideas and revolutionary designs entertained by her political leaders and the unanimity with which the masses of her people would support any attempt they might make to dissolve the Union, and hence when the roar of her hostile guns resounded over the North at the bombardment of Sumter, he at once insisted that a tremendous struggle for nation¬ al existence wa9 upon us. Soon after this, at the first meeting of the citizens of Paxton and vicinity to raise volunteers held in the schoolhouse (now the Baptist Church), he made an eloquent appeal to his audience to forget past party affiliations, to " sink the partisan in the patriot," and rally as one man to the support of the National flag. In 1861 or 1862, he removed to Bloom¬ ington, III., where he assisted in enlisting some volunteers in that locality, and where he died in 1868.

In the summer of 1860, Kennedy Price, a native of Hagers¬ town, Md., removed from Palo, Ill., to Paxton, where he entered into copartnership with Henry Barnhouse, an old resident of the latter place, and at the time a Justice of the Peace, under the firm name of Price k Barnhouse, attorneys at law. Mr. Price was a descendant of one of the leading families of his native State. He was well educated in his profession, liberal, jovial and courteous among his friends, and in that sense a true Southern f entleman. In his address to the jury, he was of the fervent, ery order, to the court he was deliberate and concise. His res¬ idence in Paxton was short. A firm believer in the Calhoun doctrine of State rights, he naturally drifted into supporting the Southern Confederacy, and in the fall of 1861 bade adieu to Paxton, and returned to his native place to take charge of the large property interests of his aged widowed mother, where, I am informed, he became a Captain in the Confederate army in 1862.

Daniel S. Morse, a native of New Hampshire, and James A. Briggs, a native of Rochester, N. Y., having heard in their Eastern homes that Prospect City, Ford Co., Ill., would soon prove a paradise for young lawyers, formed a copartnership under the firm name of Morse s Briggs, lawyers, and came to that noted city of the " grand prairie " in the summer of 1860, and tendered their services to whomsoever it might concern. Their anticipated rich harvest, however, yielded rather meager returns, and hence their stay was brief. In the latter part of the year 1861, Mr. Morse went to Chicago, and Mr. Briggs to Eureka, Woodford Co., 111., where he resumed the practice of his pro¬ fession in partnership with Judge Meek, of that place, and where he still unfolds the mysteries of that ancient science to any who wish his services in that direction.

During the years 1859-60, there strode into Prospect City at odd times an ungainly verdant-looking country lad, measuring fully six feet four and one-half inches in height with broad angu¬ lar frame, having a large head thickly covered with short cut, black, bushy hair, rather small black eyes, high cheek bones, square prominent chin, wide mouth and swarthy complexion, and unusual size, and whose abrupt manners and speech, attracted the attention of nearly evory one, such is an imperfect description of the personal appearance of Martin Y. Ross one of the prominent lawyers of the Paxton bar in bygone days. He was bom near Greencastlo, Ind., and emigrated to East Central Illinois about 1855, where he was mainly engaged as a farm laborer and school teacher until his admission to toe bar in 1862. After which for some time he was Assistant Editor of the Ford County Journal, one of the first newspapers published in the county. David Crondall of Champaign City being Editor. In 1864, he associated with himself ns a partner in law, E. C. Gray, under the firm name of Voss k Gray, which continued until the fall of 1865 when Mr. Voss located at Fort Scott, Kan., and where he successfully conducted an extensive law business, mostly in criminal cases, before the District and Supreme Courts of that State, for about two years. He was twice elcctod a mem¬ ber of the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, and served with much distinction. At the close of his last term, he was elected Judge of the District Court composed of Bourbon and ad¬ joining counties, which position he held at the time of his death, which occurred in 1870, on the Pacific Slope whither he had g one for bis health. In the management of his cases in court, e manifested great tenacity and no little adroitness. Before the jury he urged his clients' cause with much earnestness and vigor in a kind of " rough and ready " style peculiar to himself. Be¬ fore the oourt he was deliberate, fearless and self-assured, gener¬ ally argumentative, though at times quite illogical. In politics he was a zealous radical Republican, and daring tho late war labored for tbe cause of the union effectively. His educational acquirements were small, yet by nature he was endowed with physical and mental capacities broad and strong.

Edward C. Gray, the oldest settled lawyer, now in active practice at Ford County bar, was born and raised in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio. His earlier years were spent on the farm, and as a railroader in his native State. When the Southern re¬ bellion broke out, he shouldered his musket and moved to the front to take a hand in the preservation of the Union. After having served his country faithfully in that memorable struggle until 1864, he received an honorable discharge, and located in Paxton as a partner of Martin V. Voss, in the law practice under the firm name of Voes k Gray. The firm continued until the former went to Fort Scott, Kan., in 1865. Mr. Gray then be come the resident partner of the firm of Smith k Gray. This partnership was dissolved when Mr. Smith was elected Circuit Judge of the Seventeenth Circuit in 1873. The firm enjoyed an extensive and successful law business in Ford and adjoining counties, as well as in the higher courts of this State. Mr. Gray, soon after Judge Smith's election, associated with himself as a partner, Capt. Z. S. Swan of Champaign, Ill., under the firm name of Gray k Swan, and so continued until the death of the latter at Champaign in 1882, since when he has practiced alone. He was at the December term, 1883, of the Circuit Court, ap¬ pointed by Hon. O. T. Rems, Presiding Judge, as an associate counsel, with Hon. Thomas T. Tipton of Bloomington, Ill., to defend James Ryan, now under indictment for the murder of Abram Thorpe, in Paxton on the 80th day of September, 1883. His judgement of the law and practice is comprehensive and ac¬ curate, and in the trial of a cause his opponent need not expect a victory, without confronting every point of merit involved in the case.