Ford County, Illinois - The whole text, 1884 (part 3 of 7)

John Pollock, the oldest member of the Ford County bar was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1817, where he was reared on the farm, and received his education in the oommon and select schools of his neighborhood. In 1835, he removed with his parents to Logan County, Ohio; here he worked on the farm in the summer season, and taught district school and pursued his preparatory study of the law in the winter season. Soon after his admission to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio iu 1851, he began the practice of his profession at Bellfontaine. Some years later, he, in company with two others, conducted for two years a private bank in that city, Mr. Pollock acting as attorney and cashier. When the firm dissolved, the business was carried on for two years longer on his own account. Having now been elected Prosecuting Attorney for his county, he gave up the banking business to attend to the duties of his office. In 1865, in com¬ pany with his son J. E. Pollock, now a prominent lawyer of the Bloomington, Ill., bar, he opened a law office in Winchester, Va., where they enjoyed an extensive practice until the fall of 1866, when the father made a business trip to Illinois, intending to re¬ turn to Winchester, but in the meantime the Legislature of Vir¬ ginia had enacted such liberal exemption and stay laws as to render collection of debts tedious and in some cases impossible. This induced him to take up his residence and open an office in Paxton. In 1872, he was elocted a member of the Lower House of the Legislature of this State in the district composed of the counties of Livingston and Ford, and as such discharged the sev¬ eral duties there imposed upon him with that conscientious faith fulness that has ever characterized his action, whether in public or private life. Among other valuable services rendered his con¬ stituency, especially the people of Ford County, he procured the passage of the law placing McLean and Ford Counties in one judicial ci' juit. In 1872, he formed a law partnership with Al¬ fred Sample, which was dissolved by mutual consent in 1877, and for one year thereafter, the firm of Pollock k McLean was one of the leading law firms in this oounty. But now his professional career drew rapidly to its close, his over-taxed nervous system oould endure the strain no longer, and its prostration ensued to such an extent that he was compelled to relinquish his law busi¬ ness entirely and retire to private life. In his practice, he was a careful, painstaking lawyer, always aiming to secure all legal rights of his client in every emergency, while his naturally sym¬ pathetic disposition impelled him to extra effort in behalf of the poor or unfortunate who entrusted their cases to his management.

Alfred Sample was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 27,1846. He came to Illinois in 1857, lived and labored on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he enlisted in Com¬ pany G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and fought resolutely for his country until May, 1864. He received severe wounds in both arms and breast in the battle at Resaca, Ga., and on account of which he was discharged in De¬ cember, 1864. In January, 1865, he entered Eureka College, where, and at Monmouth College, he pursued a course for four years with a view of the study of law. Afterward taught school a short time. He read law with Col. R. G. Ingersoll at Peoria, III., and was admitted to the bar in December, 1870; came immediately to Paxton and formed a partnership with M. H. Cloud, under the firm name of Cloud A Sample, which lasted until the fall of 1872, when the firm of Pollock k Sample was formed, and was dissolved in 1877. In 1872, he was elected State's Atttorney for this county, and was re elected to the same office in 1876, by a large majority. In 1880, he was chose i Elector on the Republican ticket, and cast his vote in the Elect¬ oral College for James A. Garfield for President, and Chester A. Arthur for Vice President. From the beginning, he has been a remarkably successful lawyer, and has been employed in several of the most important suits ever tried in the county, among which may be mentioned his employment by the railroad and warehouse Commissioners to prosecute the Wabash Company for making unjust discriminations in their ratei for carriage of freight between Peoria, Ill., an 1 New York, and between Gilman and New York. By nature adapted to the profession of the law, possessing tact, energy, industry and invincible determination, he allows no oessation of hostilities until he is completely victorious or utterly vanquished. A more extended biography of Mr. Sample appears elsewhere in this work.

Milton H. Cloud, the present Master in Chancery of this oounty, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, July 24, 1812, came to Illinois in 1850, and settled on a firm in Tazewell County, where he lived until ho was twenty years old, when he enlisted in the Eighty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served his county valiantly for three years as color bearer. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he received two severe woumls. After the close of bis military service he ontered Eureka College for a time, then read law at Pekin, III, and during the winter of 1866 was a student at the Chicago law school, after which he oompleted his preparatory study of the law at Metamora,

111., in the office of R. T. Cassell k Son. He was admitted to practioe in 1867, and commenced practice at El Paso, Ill.; came to Paxton in January, 1869, and soon acquired a fkir practice. In 1871, the partnership of Cloud k Sam¬ ple was begun and continued until 1872. Mr. Cloud was also State's Attorney for tho county during the partnership. For the year 1875, he was City Attorney for the city of Paxton. In 1876, he became a moraber of the loan and real estate firm of Hanly, Sutton, Cloud k Day, Mr. Cloud being principally en¬ gaged in the examination of titles, and in this respect is proba¬ bly as proficient as any attorney in this part of tne State. In 1882, he was appointed Master in Chancery for the county by O. T. Reeves, Circuit Judge.

John R. Kinnear, formerly an attorney of Paxton, and now residing in Seattle, W. T., was born July 26, 1843, at West Poijit, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. He removed with his parents to Kingston, Ross Co., Ohio, in 1844, and thence to Bloomington,

111., in the fall of 1849, and again to Walnut Grove, Woodford Co., III., in the spring of 1850, where his parents still reside; young Kinnear was reared on the farm, lie attended Eureka College, Ijl., from 1854 to 1859. In 1859, ho entered Knox College at Galesburg, Ill., and remained there until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, August 22, 1862. His regiment was mustered into the service August 27, at Peoria, Ill., and, on September 7, was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and immediately began active service. The regiment, belonging to the Army of the Cumberland has an excellent reoord for fighting qualities, having been engaged in twenty-two pitched battles, besides numerous skirmishes. Mr. Kinnear was constantly with his regiment, except one month of sickness at Nashville, and kept a daily reoord of its operations. After having faithfully served his oountry for four years, lacking two months and twenty-two days, he was mustered out with his regiment at Washington, D. 0., June 6, 1865. On his return to his home he was solicited by his comrades to prepare a history of the regiment from his notes, which he did in 1866. How well he performed his work is best shown by the fact that more than 2,000 volumes have been published and sold at $1.50 per volume. Soon after he reached home he began the study of the law in the offioe of Judge Charles H. Chitty, at Metamora, III. After reading two years in the office, he attended the Chicago Law School, during the winter of 1867-68, and located in Pax¬ ton in March of the latter year. Here he formed a partnership with Hon. C. II. Frew, which was dissolved July 20, 1871; he served as City Attorney for the city of Paxton during the years 1869-70-71, and as Master in Chancery for Ford County four years, from August 28, 1878. In January, 1881, he formed a law partnership with John H. Moffett, which lasted until his re¬ moval to his present home. During his residence in Paxton he successfully conducted a large and lucrative practice, and was engaged in many of the most important suits tried in this county. Among them he was of counsel for Gen. Hendrix, indicted for murder in McLean County, who was acquitted. He was married to Rebeoca Means, of Bloomington, Ill., June 2, 1868, and by whom he has two ohildren living - Ritchoy and Zeta, aged re¬ spectively fourteen and seven years.

Hon. Calvin H. Frow is the son of Robert and Anna S. Frew, and a native of Cleveland, Ohio. Ho was raised on a farm, and devoted much of his time to reading, when not en¬ gaged in farm or other labor. When seventeen years old, he began teaching school, paying a share of his wages to his father, ana using tbe remainder to pay his own expenses at the high school, and at Beaver Academy in Pennsylvania, and later, at the Vermilion Institute in Ohio. In 1862, he became the Prin¬ cipal of the high school at Kalida, Ohio, and occupied a similar osition in the high school at Young America, Ill., in 1863-64. n this way he paid indebtedness incurred in obtaining his edu¬ cation, and at same time pursued his preparatory study of law. In the spring of 1865, he settled in Paxton, and there pursued his study in the law until the following December, whon he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Illinois. In 1868, less than three years after his admission to the bar, he was elect¬ ed to the General Assembly from Ford and Iroquois Counties. During h : s first term as a member of that body, he* became distinguished on account of his, then supposed, unconstitutional and radical views touching the power of the State to regulate the charges of the railway companies for the carriage of passengers and freight. On January 19, 1869, he introduced and supported bv an able argument the following resolution: " Resolved, that all privileges, powers or prerogatives acquired by railroad com¬ panies of the State Government are subordinate to the general welfare of the people or community where constructed, and that the right of the State to exercise a reasonable control over such companies is one of which no power can divest the people." The doctrine embodied in this resolution has since become the settled law of the land, having been declared such by the Supreme Court of Illinois, as well as by the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1870, he was re elected by a large majority from the counties of Ford and Kankakee. During this term also, he took an active part in securing amendments to and the pnssage of some of the most beneficial statutes of the State now in force. In 1878, he was elected a third time to the Legislature, this time representing the counties of Ford and Livingston; one of the most important laws passed by the Legislature at this session was that requiring the foreclosure of trust deeds and mortgages in court instead of by advertisement, the passage of which Mr. Frew urged with his usual zeal and force. In public life Mr. Frew has always been diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving his constituency with that earnestness and fearlessness characteristic of men of bold, independent mind. And although his professional business has necessarily been much neglected, on account of his time and labors in the public service, he still holds a very handsome practice.

F. L. Cook, our present State's Attorney, is a native of New York, but has been a resident of Illinois for more than thirty years. Besides having a good common school education, he at¬ tended Eureka College in Woodford County and Knox College at Galesburg, Ill., for more than five years. His father having enlisted in the Union army, his son had to quit college to oversee his business affairs, that of grain buyer and railway agent at Kappa, Woodford County, Ill. This he did from 1862 to 1866. In the fall of the latter year he went to the National Capital as an employe of the State, to collect soldiere' claims, where he was engaged for three years. He then acted as private secretary for Senator Cullom, then a member of the lower house of Con¬ gress from Illinois, afterward as Clerk of the two House Committies on Territories and Foreign Affairs during the years 1869, 1870, 1871, as well as having charge of the payment of U. S. Marshals in the census office. In June, 1871, he gradu¬ ated from the Columbia Law School, D. C., but had been admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of the Dis¬ trict in the May preceding. In March, 1872, he was ad¬ mitted to practice in Illinois, and located at Paxton as a law¬ yer, soon thereafter. The City Council appointed him its attorney to fill the unexpired term of J. C. Patton, deceased, and in 1877, he was appointed Master in Chancery for this county by Judge 0. T. Reeves. At the general election in 1880, he was elected State's Attorney for Ford County. In the dis¬ charge of his professional and official duties, he has shown himself intelligent, competent, fearless and faithful. Possessing a cool, deliberate judgment, guided by a liberal education and a thorough knowledge of his profession, his theory and practice is to let no guilty man escape.

Charles H. Yeomans, one of the first settled and most suc¬ cessful attorneys in Gibson City, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., December 2, 1846, and came to Illinois iu 1850. In July, 1871, he graduated from Ripon College, Wisconsin, and received the degree of A. B., and in 1879 the degree of A. M. from the same institution. While pursuing his classical course at Ripon, he also read law under the supervision of Hon. Jesse Dobbs, at Ripon, and during vacations in the office of Hon. C. II. Wood, at Onarga, Ill. In October, 1870, he was admitted to the Wisconsin bar, and to the Illinois bar in 1872 at Ottawa, Ills., having located at Gibson the preceding July. By close at¬ tention to his professional business and untiring fidelity to his clients' interests, he has secured a full share of law business, as well as the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He has held the office of City Attorney for his adopted city, and mem¬ ber of the Board of Education. He is public-spirited and enter¬ prising. taking an active part in whatever movements are inaugu¬ rated for the social or commercial advancement of the young and flourishing city of his adoption so fortunately located in tho fer¬ tile valley of the Sangamon River.

J. Rheese Patrick, fourth son of Mr. A. C. and Mrs. C. II. Patrick, was born March 4, 1858, at Rural Valley, in Arm¬ strong County, Penn. During his boyhood days, until ho was fifteen years old, ho attended the common schools of his neighbor¬ hood in winter time, and worked at the carpenter's trade during his vacations. Subsequently he took the full classical course of study at the Glnde Run Academy, located at Dayton, Penn., and in the spring of 1879, completed the post-graduate course in that institution, which entitled him to enter the sophomoro class in college. In the fall of 1879, he engaged to teach the public school at Pellsville, Vermilion Co., Ill., as Principal, which po¬ sition he occupied for three successive years, and in the mean¬ time began and completed his preparatory study of the law under the supervision of Messrs. Kinnear k Moffett, attorneys, in Pax¬ ton. In May, 1882, he was admitted to the bar by the Appel¬ late Court at Springfield, Ill. For six months thereafter he studied and worked in his profession in the office of lion. Calvin II. Frew, of Paxton. He then opened an office and practiced on his own account. At the spring election of 1883, he had the honor to be elected to the office of City Attorney for the city of Paxton, after a close contest, Milton H. Cloud, an older and more experienced lawyer, being his opponent. Messrs. J. II. k J. B. Patrick, older brothers of Mr. Patrick, are prominent at¬ torneys at Clarion, Penn. Both of his paronts are yet alive, and reside at the old homestead in their native State, both having been born in Westmoreland County, Penn. He has three broth¬ ers and one sister living. He has succeeded to his present posi¬ tion by his own individual effort, and therefore is entitled to whatever credit belongs to those who work their way up from what is generally termed the lower walks in life.

Dr. Lockhart Brooks Farrar was born at Langdon, Cheshire County, N. H., August 29, 1822. The death of his father oc¬ curred when the subject of this sketch was about four years old. Ilia mother then removed with her family to Walpole, N. H., where his boyhood and early manhood years were passed. After attending tho common schools and different academies in his na¬ tive State, he taught school for some years in various towns in New Hampshire and Vermont. He began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. George Smith, of Walpole, and completed his preliminary course in his profession with the late Dr. Hubbard Groves, of Nashua, N. H. His first course of lectures was taken at Woodstock,Vt., but he received his diploma from the Berkshire Medical College, of Massachusetts, commencing in 1848. He practiced his profession for three years at Hollis, N. II., then moved to Manchester, Mass. The winter of 1854-55 he spent at the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and at the Col¬ lege of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, and in the hospitals of those cities. In tho spring of 1856, he came to Illi¬ nois, and to Paxton in the full of 1858. In 1868, he began the study of law, and in 1871, took the law diploma from the Michi¬ gan University, and was admitted to the Illinois bar the same year. He opened a law office at Paxton and practiced that pro¬ fession for about four years, and then returned to the practice of medicine, which he still pursues at this point. In law, as well as medicine, the Doctor is well read, and possesses a much larger fund of information on other scientific subjects than is commonly found among professional men.

S. P. McLean, now associate editor of the Kankakee Timet, was born May 9, 1852, in Hancock County, Va. He resided in Carrollton, Ohio, half a dozen years, and then removed to Ver¬ mont, Ill., in 1860. He was taught the harness-maker's trade by his father, and thereby earned the money to give him a good college education. He read law with Gest k Pooks, of Rock Isl¬ and, Ill., was licensed to practice on examination by the Supreme Court of Illinois, at Ottawa, in September, 1877, and in the fall of the same year came to Paxton and formed a law partnership with Hon. John Pollock, under the firm name of Pollock i McLean. A year later, Pollock retired from the practice of the profession, and McLean continued the business. At the spring election, in 1879, he was elected City Attorney for the city of Paxton, which position he held, in addition to a good general practice, until May, 1880, when he resigned the City Attorney's office, boxed his law library and entered journalism, beginning as reporter on the Bloomington, III., Daily Mail. As a news¬ paper man he is a " Bohemian," having been engaged in reportorial and editorial work in the last three years, on the Sedalia (Mo.) Bazoo , the Great Southwest , of St. Louis, the Decatur Herald , Bloomington Mail, Lincoln Timet , and other sheets, and as before stated is at present employed as editor of the Kankakee Timet,tnd. where his friends jokingly say he was put under bonds to stay for at least a year as a condition precedent to his employ¬ ment. He is quite spicy and versatile as a writer, and holds the usual adjustable political notions of newspaper reporters. He is a hard worker and liable to earn all the cash he carols from news¬ paper labors. On July 13, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Nealy Bruyn, eldest daughter of W. H. Bruyn, of Paxton, HI.

S. P. Rady, attorney at law, at Gibson, Ill., was born in Floyd County, Ind., in 1853. Until he was fifteen years old he worked on his father's farm in the summer season aud attended the district school of his neighborhood during the winter. At the age of fifteen he became an assistant teacher in the High School in Galena, under his brother, William Rady. For the next nine years he taught school a part of the time and attended school the remainder of the time. While so engaged he went to Iicartsville University, Ind., and the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and graduated there in the scientific course in 1877. For three years thereafter he was Principal of the High School at Lonadeser, Ky. Some time afterward he accepted the Principalship of the Gibson City Public School, which he held for one year. He has now been practicing law over two years, and has now quite a respectable business for a beginner.

James Henry Lott, who is the latest accession to the Ford County bar, was born May 7, 1855. at Charleston, in the State of South Carolina. His father is of mixed blood, being equally Indian and African, and was a free man, and carpenterby trade. His mother is a quadroon, and was a slave, and by descent a granddaughter of the late Gov. Pickens, of that State. Henry went to Boston in 1865, as valet to Col. Nutt, of the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Colored Volunteers, and in the fall of the same year came to Tuscola, Ill., where he attended the public schools until 1873, and in the meantime learned the barber's trade. In

1878, he went to Terre Haute, Ind., where he read law in the office of Doris k Doris, for eighteen months, and in 1881 came to Paxton, III., and resumed his law studies in October of the latter year, under the supervision of A. Sample. On the 23d day of November, 1863, he was admitted to the bar, after a rigid examination by a committee of three eminent lawyers, appointed by tho Appelate Court of the Third District, then in session at the State Capitol, to examine applicants for admission. Ilia knowledge of his chosen profession in thoroughness and extent is undoubtedly equal to if not above the average of beginners. He certainly deserves much credit for the determination he has shown tosucceod, for it must be remembered that during most of the time he has been engaged in preparation for the law practice, he has earned a livelihood for hitnself and family at the barber's chair, and only acquired his present knowledge of law and other subjects while others slept.

John II. Moffett, one of tho youngest and most successful members of our bar, was born in Clayton, Adams County, Ill., February 25, 1857. In 1859, he emigrated with his parents, to Bloomington, Ind, and in the spring of 18G5, to Paxton, III.; here he graduated from the public school, standing at the head of his classes, in 1875. Desiring more extended education, he repaired to Monmouth College in the fall of the same year, and there studiously applied nimself until the spring of 1877, during which time the late Dr. David A. Wallace, was President of that flourishing and popular institution of learning. In May, 1877, ho began his investigations of the intricacies of the law in the office of John R. Kinnear, then one of tho leading lawyers of the Ford County bar, and in January, 1880, admitted to prac¬ tice. He immediately formed a partnership with his preceptor under the firm name of Kinnear i Moffett, which lasted until May, 1883, when Mr. Kinnear took his departure for Seattle, W. T. Since then he hns conducted as resident partner the law business of the firm of Tipton k Moffett. During the years 1881 - 82, he held the office of City Attorney for the city of Pax¬ ton. Studious in his habits, prompt and accurate in business transactions, methodical and thorough in the preparation of his cases, he enjoys a very respectable share of the law and collection business in Ford and surrounding counties, and is by no means a briefless lawyer.

Biographies of Hugh P. Beach, County Judgo; Merton Dunlap, County Clerk; and Alexander McElroy, Esq., mem¬ bers of the Ford County bar, appear elaewhere in this work.

The history of the newspapers of Ford County, and especially those of Paxton, has been one of successes and roverses, of hard, struggle for existence, and brilliant victory in the face of defiant opposition. The newspaper business is an occupation in which is brought into play some of the best and keenest qualities of a roan's nature, and in which may also be displayed, on occasion, some of his lowest characteristics. It, in fact, may be represent¬ ed as a battle, in which the cohorts arc brought face to face with one another in a war of words, and in which he who holds the best command of himself and his forces is sure to prevail. The hosts of sin are encamped on one side and the forces of good upon the other, and the weal or woe, the destiny of a town or city, or it may be of a nation, may rest upon the conduct of a single newspaper. It is a potent factor for good or ill in any commu¬ nity, which is an all important reason that it should be in the hands of men of brain, who have the good and not tho ill of the community at heart, and who will work for its upbuilding and best interests.

The first paper established in Ford County of which we have any record was the Ford County Union , started in the year 1864, and which had a precarious existence of only a few months, when it was purchased by N. E. Stevens, in February, 1865. He changed the name to tho Paxton Record, and has continued its publication ever since. The policy of the paper has been un¬ compromisingly Republican from its very foundation, even from the time when the country was closing a war that threatened its very life blood. Through nineteen yean> of changing life, through seasons of adversity, of bitter strife and debate, as well as in the more pleasant times of peace, it has steadily pressed forward un¬ til the present time, and now stands on a firm basis of assured prosperity, demonstrating the fact that a continuous policy is the best for a country newspaper. In 1881, Mr. Stevens associated with him his son, Edgar N. Stevens, and the paper has been con¬ tinued since under the firm name of N. E. Stevens k Son, with no change in the policy of the paper. The paper now occupies a building of its own on North Market street, a good location, and is enjoying a season of unwonted prosperity.

The Ford County Liberal , conducted by Charles D. Sibley, was the next paper issued in Paxton. The first number was pub¬ lished on the 17th day of August, 1872. It was an eight-column folio, neatly printed and ably edited. In October of the same year, Thomas Wolfe became associated with Mr. Sibley in the editorial management of the paper, and in the following month took full possession. The aim of this sheet is to furnish a live, local paper, that should chronicle all tho news of the day, and at the same time furnish its Liberal and Greenback friends with arguments for their cause. The office wiis on a paying basis, when, in October, 1874, under the management of Messrs. Wolfe

The Ford County Blade was the child of a day, started by Messrs. Creed k Doxsey, of Bloomington, on the 1st day of July, 187*5, upon the supposition that Paxton needed another local paper and to awaken a deeper interest in politics among the Dem¬ ocratic fraternity in this immediate vicinity. This firm published a newsy local paper for the brief term of twenty-four weeks, but was finally obliged to succumb to the inevitable. On the 9th day of December, of the same year, the last paper was issued*. The failure to establish a paper was ascribed to the fact that the bus¬ iness was not here to support two live papers - evidently a sensi¬ ble conclusion. Among others to whom credit was given by this firm for favors shown, was Mr. Stevens, of the Record.

Nearly a year elapsed before the next paper appeared, when another firm from Bloomington put in the material for a job and newspaper office. Messrs. Holmes k Colvin christened their paper the Ford County News, and on the 3d of November, 1877, started out from a Republican standpoint to publish a paper well tinged with that doctrine, and also to make it replete with general local matter. The last issue appeared on the lOth of January, 1878, these parties having found that the field of Republicanism in the county was well occupied.

The Weekly Standard, by the same publishers, appeared on the 26th of January, 1878. Like the two other papers last mentioned, it was a five-column quarto, and, in reality, a contin¬ uance of the News, but espoused the Greenback cause. The Standard was longer lived than its immediate predecessors, and hung on with a pertinacity worthy of a better cause until 1879, when it succumbed to the inevitable, the field not being broad enough for its proper support.

The first edition of the Appeal was published on the 26th of November, 1879. The main reason for its appearance was based upon the supposition of its editor that we had entered upon seven years of prosperity, an hypothesis which has long since been proven a fallacy. It was an organ of the Greenback party, with Thomas Wolfe as editor, and B. F. Hill, publisher. After an ephemeral existence of forty-one weeks, about the 1st of Sep¬ tember, 1880, the property was purchased by J. C. Dunham, who, in January, 1881, changed the name of the paper to the Eastern Illinois Register , and has since continued its publication in this city. The policy of the paper was announced as Greenback, although its editor and proprietor is said to be a Bourbon of the old school, and has strong leanings in that direction when elec¬ tion time is near at hand, although at other times his views are not so pronounced.

The Gibson Enterprise is now in its second volume. P. A. Coal is editor and proprietor. The Enterprise is a thorough Republican paper, and is devoted to the best interests of the city and county. Its success is assured. Having a desire to furnish a newspaper that not only gives the general news of the day, but the home news ob well, Mr. Coal is applying himself earnestly to the work before him. His experience in establishing the Sibley Index on a substantial basis has been of much practical use to him in his newspaper work at Gibson City. His province is to build up whatever he has to do with, and to further the prosperity of his city, county and political party, the Enterprise is apply¬ ing all honorable means.

The Pan Handle Advocate was started April 20, 1883, by F. H. Robertson. During the succeeding summer, Judge Beach succeeded Mr. Robertson in the proprietorship of the paper, and in less than one year has increased its circulation to about 600. It is a six-column quarto. It has been an independent journal, a paper expressly for the people, clean, straightforward and thor¬ oughly representative, social, religious, political, industrial, etc. In short, it aspires to be the family paper per se. Published at Piper City, Ill.

Burt E. Burroughs, of Cabery, is publishing the Cabery En¬ quirer, which is now approaching the completion of the first vol¬ ume. Mr. Burroughs publishes a newsy, local paper at Cabery, and the advertisers of tnat village make good use of his columns to show forth the value of their goods. Mr. Burroughs publishes a very creditable paper, which is an honor to the place.

The first number of the Sibley Index was published about January 1, 1880, and the paper is now in its fifth volume. P. A. Coal was and still is the proprietor. H. W. Rodman is now the editor. The paper is a neat, five-column quarto, and well up with the demands of the day for a good local paper. The cit¬ izens of Sibley furnish a good advertising patronage, and the paper is well supported. Since writing the above, the Index has passed into the hands of M. T. Hyer, who is proving himself to be fully competent to successfully conduct an excellent paper.

The Gibson Enterprise was the first paper ever published in Gibson. It was started by N. E. Stevens in the month of May, 1872, to supply the needs of the town for a local paper. The printing was done at the Record office in Paxton. On the 1st of November, 1873, the Enterprise was purchased by Walter Hoge, who changed the name to the Gibson Courier. In size it was a seven column folio; in politics, independent. Mr. Hoge ran the paper until February, 1875, when the property was pur¬ chased by E. Lowry, who took possession Marcn 1,1875, and has managed the paper ever since. In politics, it has always been Independent, though generally favoring the Republican party and candidates. November 1, 1878, it was changed to a fivecolumn quarto, and in November, 1882, to a six-column quarto, and has remained such to this day. Mr. Lowry furnishes a good local paper, aiming to keep the people apprised of what is going on at home.

This paper was founded by Henry Allnutt, the present editor and proprietor, who had located in Ford County in 1870, on a Pella Township farm. Removing to Piper City in 1873, he pur¬ chased a quarto novelty press, twenty-five pounds of brevier, twenty-five pounds of long primer type, a few fonts of job typo and other material, and opened a job office. In June, 1876, the Advertiser, a four-column folio, was first issued. The subscrip¬ tion list, starting with 193, rapidly increased. January, 1877, the paper was enlarged to a four-column quarto. In 1879, a larger press and more material were added, and the paper printed as a six-column folio.

In 1883, the paper became a five-column quarto. The first printing room was McElhiney k Davis' scale office; thenefe it passed to more commodious quarters in Culbertson's building. Afterward, it occupied rooms over the bank, where a bindery department was added. The present office is on Main street, in a building first erected for a schoolhouse, afterward used as a Methodist Church until the present church was built. The present weekly circulation is 675, with a good job printing and book-binding business.

It holds decided opinions upon all matters of public interest, and is fearless and original in expressing them. It is the result of a consolidation of the Loda Register , Gilman Sun , Paxton Appeal and Gibson Press , the first of which was established in 1875 by the present editor and proprietor, J. C. Dunham.

Its circulation and standing has steadily improved from the first, in face of the most unscrupulous and ungenerous opposition of those who dislike its truthful way of stating unvarnished facts.

It asks no favor of politicians and caucus managers of any party, and gives thieves and demagogues no quarter. Subscrip¬ tion price $1.50 per year in advance.

People always enjoy the contemplation of that portion of their history which has been subject to severe struggles and hard¬ ships, because all things valuable are acquired by exertion, selfsacrifice and cost, and amid great vicissitudes.

What is true of individual history is equally true of the his¬ tories of communities and nations. Even the histories of enter¬ prises of all kinds are subject to the same general law.

It is a lamentable fact, however, that those incidents, in which we feel so keen and lively an interest, are largely wrapped in the obscurity of tradition. This is owing to the small, almost insignificant, beginning of all enterprises, and the little importance attached to the necessity of preserving the early records. We are apt to forget that, however insignificant the beginning of anything may be, it may, in course of time, nssumo vast ana paramount importance.

In the collection of data for this chapter, wo are much in¬ debted to Rev. W. W. Blanchard, Hon. David Patton, C. Mc- Keever, J. R. Lewis, George II. Thompson and others.

Near the close of October, A. D. 1853, David Patton re¬ moved from La Fayette, Ind., to that portion of the present Ford County, popularly known as Ten Mile Grove, about two and a half miles west of Paxton. Here Mr. Patton found about a dozen families, who had located along this belt of timber, not venturing far out on the prairie lest they should lack for fuel and shelter, which the timber so gratuitously provided.

The schoolhouses nearest to this point were located atUrbana and Middleport, a distance of about twenty-five miles. The de¬ sire to give their children an elementary education existed in the heads of these families, but no effort had been mado to secure the benefits to which all looked forward with an intense longing.

Under the direction of David Patton, a meeting was called, at which it was decided to erect a log schoolhouse. This resolu¬ tion whs not formed to be speedily forgotten, but was acted upon at once.

There was no plethoric treasury, there were no selfish con¬ tractors, there were no expensive mechanics to employ, so tho men shouldered their axes, and in the most primitive manner constructed the most primitive schoolhouse. One week from the day of the meeting, the new schoolhouse was ready for use.

A difficulty at this point, however, presented itself. The schoolhouse was in place, and about thirty-five pupils waiting, eager to slake their thirst for knowledge at the spring from which they had been so long debarred. But teachers were scarce, and none oould be found to lead the young minds.

In this extremity, Mr. Patton himself assumed the responsi¬ bility of teacher, opened the school about the middle of Novem¬ ber, 1853, and taught till the following spring.

In the spring of 1854, Mr. Patton went to La Fayette, Ind., to buy his supply of groceries, and while there employed a Miss Eulala Lewis, who taught for six months and then married.

During the winter of 1854-55, David Patton was again em¬ ployed to teach, which he did with much credit to himself and great benefit to the school.

Miss Polly Dops, daughter of one of the earliest settlers, a family of the Button neighborhood, six miles southeast of Paxton, and favorably known by everyone, was engaged to teach for six months during the summer of 1855.

A Mr. Smith, from Montgomery County, Ind., was engaged to teach the school in the Patton district, as it was now called, during the winter of 1855-56. The pupils, some of whom oould attend school only a short time during the year, manifested great interest in their work, and pursued their studies with a wonderful seal.

Prospect City, now Paxton, on the Illinois Central Rail¬ road, at this time gave promise of becoming an impor¬ tant business center, and many new families came in to share in the profits that often arise from the rapid building up and im* proving of new frontier towns.

Among the new comers was a Rev. W. W. Blanchard, of Urbana. Mr. Blanchard was engaged to teach the first school in the Upper Ten Mile, a place two miles further up the stream than the Patton School. This school was taught during the winter of 1855-56.

The people here had not yet built a schoolhouse, but the school was taught in the lean-to of the log house of the late Dan¬ iel C. Stoner, extensively and favorably known throughout the entire southern part of the county.

An incident worthy of notice, and one that will long be re¬ membered in that locality; an incident that varied the humdrum monotony of everyday life, and fixed the beginning of a new era in that neighborhood, was the marriage of one of tho pupils, Miss Barbara Stoner, to N. B., Day, one of the leading citizens of the young but enterprising city of Paxton. The teacher, Rev. Blanchard, solemnised the important event. A marriage is always of interest, but in a new country and a young com¬ munity, it becomes an event of paramount importance. In this case the bride, Mrs. N. B. Day, continued an earnest student till tho close of the term, which made the event doubly impor¬ tant, for not every school has the honor to have on its roll a full blown bride.

Other pupils of this school were the Rev. Franklin Stoner, now occupying the old homestead; Jessie Todd, now an old and respected citizen, who still lives near the same place he occupied when a pupil; Edmund and Oliver Hagin, worthy citizens, now living near Elliott.

We cannot stop to trace the history of the individual, nor give even a brief biography of each pupil. It is sufficient to state that nearly every member of these early schools lives at tho resent time, and fills an honorable place in the community where e now resides.

In the summer of 1856, Mr. Blanchard was engagod to teach in the now three-year-old log schoolhouse in the Patton district, District No. 1. During the following winter of 1856-57, Mr. Blanchard taught in tho parlor of Mr. Patton, District No. 1, the old schoolhouse, which had been built in 1853, and at the ( time of building was intended for a makeshift only, having be- j come old and useless.

At this time the population increased so rapidly that it be¬ came nccossary to organise now school districts. This was especially truo of Paxton, now a growing young city, but still without a sehoolhouso.

Ford County did not yet exist, but the territory now consti¬ tuting it was still a part of Vermilion County. Applicants for teachers' certificates, therefore, wore obliged to go a distance of fifty miles or more to Danville, in order to pass an examination and secure certificates. The journey across the country was not only very fatiguing and expensive, but at times quite impossible, and few could afford to make the long journey.

In order to obviate so long a journey, Mr. Blanchard wrote to the Superintendent at Danville, stating the circumstances, and requested him to appoint Mr. Patton an Examining Committee for the north part of Vermilion County. The Superintendent returned an appointment of Messrs. Blanchard and Patton as such committee. This facilitated the work very much and was hailed with delight by all aspirants for teachers' positions. Mr. Blanchard, being the scholar of this committee, did the examin¬ ing. while David Patton, who was a live business roan, attended somewhat to the general business connected with the office.

Among the first applicants for certificate under the new dis¬ pensation was Mrs. Salina Allen, an old and experienced teacher of Whiteside County, and sister of the Rev. Blanchard and President Blanchard, of Knox College.

Mrs. Allen was employed to teach the first school taught in Paxton. Among her pupils were the children of Mr. ana Mrs. Stites, 0. B. Tall, now in Chicago, momber of the firm of Pear¬ sons & Taft. Mrs. Allen taught at different times with much success in the Patton and Stoner districts.

About this time, June, 1859, Ford County was organised, and the Rev. Blanchard was elected the first County Superintend¬ ent of schools in the new county.

New districts were now rapidly organized, one near the place where Elliott is now located in Dix Township, and Mrs. Allen, who had been teaching with such marked success in nearly all the schools in the new county, was employed to teach.

In 1860, a district was organized in the western part of Dix Township. A portion of the territory forming this school dis¬ trict was taken from the eastern part of Drummer Grove Town¬ ship, and was therefore called Union District. Mr. Harvey Nash wus the first teacher in this school, and was followed by Mr. Peirpont, who finished his term, Mr. Nash having enlisted and gone to Washington to take up arms in the defense of his country.

The country lying northwest of Paxton, and now known as Wall Township, early attracted settlers to its fertile, rolling prairies. But the settlers were so much scattered that no united effort was made to secure educational advantages till the year 1861. In this year, a small schoolhouse was built on the north¬ east corner of Section 26, in the Noel neighborhood, and is still known as the Noel School, although it has been moved south one mile, and is now located on the northeast corner of Section 85. Mr. William Noel was the first Township Treasurer of Wall Township. Miss Smith, from McLean County, was the first teacher to officiate in the Noel School.

After Mrs. Allen had closed her term of school in Dix Town¬ ship, she was ongaged to teach during the year 1861 in a new dis¬ trict in the western part of Wall Township, organised by Mr. Lytle, now an old and respected citizen of Paxton. This school was taught in a log house belonging to Mr. Lytle. Mrs. D. Denman, of Paxton, was one of the first pupils* In the summer of 1862, a school was taught in this district in the house of John Morris, by Miss Katy Bonesell. No schoolhouse was built in this district till 1863, when a small schoolhouse was erected, and euphoniously christened " String Town School," and is known by that name to the present time. The members of the first Board of Trustees of this. Wall, township were Abraham Wall, Will¬ iam McClelland and Samuel Lytle. At the first meeting of this hoard, Wil iam Noel was appointed Township Treasurer.

Mrs. Allen was an earnestly religious woman, and in addition to her school duties found time to organize the first Sabbath school in Paxton, being also the first in Ford County.

During the summer of 1859, Miss Loretta Goodrich taught the first school in the Trickle Grove Schoolhouse, about five miles southeast of Paxton.

A small schoolhouse was built about 1859, in Paxton, and Miss Jennie Lyon, now Mrs. Samuel L. Day, was the first teacher. This schoolhouse was soon outgrown, sold for a dwelling-house, and a larger one, now the Baptist Church, was built. Mr. and Mrs. Amyx were the teachors hero for some time. Soon this schoolhouse also becamo too small, and was sold to the First Swedish Lutheran Congregation, and was, in 1872, sold to the Baptist body. The nucleus of the present schoolhouse was then erected, and has been added to from time to time, as the occasion required.

The following is a list of names of the Principals employed in the Paxton Schools from its earliest date to the present time: Mrs. Salima Allen, Mias Jennie Lyon, Mr. Amyx, William Newlin, J. M. Hanley, W. J. Button, J. M. Spinning, W. J. Button, J. M. Hanley, J. S. Wilson, Charles Edwards, E. T. Evans,

Of the teachers mentioned in connection with the history of this portion of the county, Messrs. Patton and Blanchard and Mrs. Allen deserve the honor of doing the pioneer work.

We havo dwelt upon the details of the work done in this locality, not because it is of greater importance than that done j elsewhere, but because the first school work was done here, and gradually spread over the entire county from this point.

The western portion of the county, consisting of Drummer Grove, Sullivant and Peach Orchard Townships, early gave atten¬ tion to educational work. In the winter of 1854-55, Dr. Davis removed from Cheeney's Grove, McLean County, to the western j portion of Ford County, and was for several years the only set¬ tler. That country in time attracted its share of new comers, and in 1862 Dr. Davis found several families, neighbors to him¬ self, with no educational advantages. Dr. Davis employed a teacher in the winter of 1863-64, to give instruction to his chil¬ dren, and, being withal a generous man, he invited the neighbors' children in to be educated with his family.

The first schoolhouse in this portion of the county was built in 1863, in the southeast part of Drummer Grove Township, and is popularly known as the Wantwood School.

In the summer of 1865, two new school districts wore organ¬ ized, the Powers Farm School and the Drummer Grove School. The schoolhouse known as the Powers Farm School answered the threefold purpose of schoolhouse, church and public hall for several years. In 1870, the Powers Farm Schoolhouse was removed and still Berves as a dwelling-house. The following year, 1871, a new and larger building was erected in its place, and the name was changed to Union School District No. 4.

Before either of the above mentioned htuses were built, Miss Jennie Frew, of Paxton, taught in a small farm house on the farm of Mr. Asa Canterbury, 1865.

The first school officers elected were Asa Canterbury, Treas¬ urer ; L. Lavett, C. Palmer and J. Warner, Trustees; Thomas Green, Lewis Weakman and Caleb McKeever, Directors.

The first teacher in the Union District was a Miss Emma Clark, a lady without a finger or thumb on either hand, but by means of an elastic band around her wrist, under which she slipped a penholder or pencil, was able to writo a very good hand. By securing a switch in the same unique manner, she was enabled to give the obstreperous youths as much of the birch as was thought necessary to aid an elementary education.

The Drummer Grove Schoolhouse was erected in 1866, and in 1872 was removed to Gibson City, and has since then grown into the present efficient graded school. Of the early teachers in the DrumAer Grove Schoolhouse, we will mention only a few: Arabella M. Davis, daughter of Dr. Davis, before mentioned, and now Mrs. Weaver White, wife of the present Circuit Clerk ; A. F. Irwin and Weaver White.

The original Drummer Grove Schoolhouse, which had been moved to Gibson City in 1872, soon became too small to accom modate the rapidly increasing school population of the enterpris¬ ing young city, and it was found necessary to provide a larger building. The people of Gibson City, therefore, who, by the way, were never known to do anything in a half-way manner, erected, in 1874, a large and substantial brick building, at a cost of over $8,000, with four elegant rooms. But so rapid was the increaso in population that it became necessary to provide more room. Another schoolhouse was erected in 1882, and Gibson City is now provided with school buildings second to none in Eastern Illinois.

The following is a list of names of Principals of the Gibson Schools: Jesse Hubbard, E. G. Walker, J. W. Mercer, W. A. Wetzell, S. P. Rady, H. J. Clark and the present incumbent, I. 0. Jones.

The entire Pan Handle, consisting of Lyman, Brenton, Pella, Mona and Rogers Townships, was known by the name of Town of Stockton until the year 1858.

In 1858, a petition was sent to John C. Short, County Clerk of Vermilion County, asking that notices be issued and forwarded to John R. Lewis, to set off Town 26, Range 9. This was done, and the town of Brenton dates its organization from this time. About the same time, 1858, efforts were made to have the terri¬ tory lying south of Brenton and north of WaII set apart as a distinct township, forming what is now Lyman Township.

A meeting to elect Township Trustees was held at tho resi¬ dence of John R. Lewis, January 1, 1859, and J. E. Davis, A. J. Bartlett and Saul C. Burt were elected Township Trustees. This was the first step toward popular education in the Pan Han¬ dle, and from this nucleus the work has spread over the entire northern part of the country. The trustees met for tho purpose of organizing, February 9, 1859, at the house of A. J. Bartlett. After the organization had been completed, the township of Bren¬ ton was divided into two school districts, the south half forming District No. 1, and the north half District No. 2. John R. Lewis was appointed Township Treasurer for Brenton Township, and also received a commission from Superintendent Blanchard to ex¬ amine applicants for teachers' certificates. Mr. Lewis filled the latter office until the election of James Brown, 1869. It was further provided at this meeting, that election notices for a school election in District No. 1 be posted, and an election held in or¬ der that something tangible might be done in securing school privileges. This election was held at the house of Jacob Titus, Monday, February 21, 1859, but was adjourned to February 28. At this adjourned meeting, John R. Lewis, Mark Par¬ sons and Ira Z. Congdon were elected the first Board of Di¬ rectors in District No. 1, Brenton Township. Nothing more, however, was dono in Recuring a school at this time. There

J. E. Davis and A. J. Bartlett, Trustees, had moved from the township shortly aftor their election in the summer of 1859, and it became necessary to elect other Trustees in their place. Accordingly a meeting for the election of Trustocs was called for February 1,1860. At this election L. T. Bishop and T. \V. Pope wero elected. Mr. Bishop has been a member of the Board of Trustees over since his election in 1860, a term of twenty-four years, a remarkable case of tenure of office. So far schools ex¬ isted here in theory only, and as no education was diffused in this way, great efforts wero now made to have a school in reality. To further this end. John R. Lewis offered his shed lean-to for a schoolhouse, which was gladly accepted.

A Miss Annie E. llobbis, afterward Mrs. Conrow, wife of County Superintendent Conrow, was the first teachor in the Pan Handle, beginning the school the first Monday in December, 1859, and continued four months. Mr. Lewis, in addition to giving his lean to for school purposes, furnished tho fuel to keop the pupils warm, and board for the teacher for tho four months. For this he received tho very liber.il compensation of $24.

The following summer, 1860, the first schoolhouse in the Pan Handle wns built on the farm of Mr. Wagner, and is to this day known as the Jacob Wagner School. This was a small building, 16x20 feet, but answered the purpose quite woll. Miss llobbis, who had made a record as a good teacher the winter before, was engaged to teach the pupils that gathored at this diminutivo col¬ lege.

A small village, Piper City, had sprung up in District No. 2, in the northern part of Brenton Township, and it became neces¬ sary to provide means for education there. A small schoolhouse, probably the smallest ever built, 12x12 feet, was erected in 1865. This house was several years afterward displaced by a larger and more convenient school building, and is now used by Mr. J. A. Montelius as a scale office. The first teacher here was a Miss Mary Thompson. After the close of Miss Thompson's term, a Miss Brown, now Mrs. McElhiney, taught in the little village school. From this small beginning has grown the present effi¬ cient graded school of Piper City.

Lyman Township was not far behind her sister township, Brenton, in educational work. About tho time when Brenton Township was organized, Mr- S. K. Marston sent in a petition to have Lyman Township organized, and the organization of the two townships was consummated about the same time. In tho north¬ eastern part of Lyman Township are several sections of broken, rolling land, which were early settled by people from Con¬ necticut. They chose this because it stood in such a decided contrast to the surrounding prairie, which to them looked more like a groat expanse of marsh than land fit for agricultural pur¬ poses, and was more in conformity with the nature of the country in their Connecticut homes. These persons, eager for education¬ al advantages, organized a school district in 1859, and Mrs. S. K. Marston was engaged to give tho necessary instruction. This first school was taught in an upper room of Mr. Marston's dwelling. Among the pupils was G. P. Lyman, brother of S. B. Lyman, ex-Sheriff of Ford County. A schoolhouse was built m this settlement in the summer of 1860, and was named District No. 1. Soon after this, a district was organized two milos south. This was christened District No. 2, and is popu¬ larly known as the Larkin's District. No schoolhouse was built in this district for some time, but Mr. W. S. Larkins came to the rescue by giving the use of one of his rooms for school purposes. Here Miss Alice J. Jewell scattered the jewels of an elementary education among the rising generation. The second term of school in this district was taught in a small stable, con¬ verted into a school room, and Miss Jewell again presided as teacher. In 1863 or 1864, a schoolhouse was built, and one of the early teachers was the congenial George U. Thompson ex¬ tensively known throughout the entire central part of the coun¬ ty, and now a resident of Kansas.

The educational work having now fairly begun, rapidly spread over the entire northern portion of the county. Indeed, the country schools in the Pan Handle are at this time better provided with good schoolhouses and apparatus than any other part of Ford County. It is impossible in the brief space allotted us to make mention of all townships, and furthermore, the early his¬ tory of some of the townships is so intimately interwoven with the history of adjoining townships that to separate them would rob them of much of their interest.

Gradkd Schools

Ford County has at the present time three graded schools. One at the county scat, Paxton, one at Gibson And one at Piper City. The schools at Paxton and Gibson have for a number of years ranked among the best graded schools in Eastern Illinois. These two schools have in addition to their regula eight-grade graded course, a two years' high school course. Tho work of these schools has been so thorough and broad as to fit their graduates sufficiently to participate in the practical affairs of life with great efficiency. But few schools of this kind are better pro¬ vided with reference libraries and apparatus. The physiological models, chemical laboratory, zoological and geological specimens of the Paxton Graded School are probably more complete than those of any school of like grade. The Piper City School, which was organized as an eight-grade graded school in the suinmor of A. D. 1883, is doing very efficient work, and in a short time will be equal to any school of its kind.

Country Schools

There are ninety-nine district schools in Ford County, in¬ cluding the village schools, with two teachers. Although Ford was the last county organized in the State, her district schools, in the efficiency of the work done, are fully equal to the schools of some counties much older. With but very few exceptions, the school buildings arc well fitted for the purpose they are intended to serve, and where the schoolhouses are small and old, strenuous efforts are being made to effect the needed im¬ provements. There is no doubt, that in course of time, the district schools of Ford County will be equal to the best dis¬ trict schools in the State. Mr. D. H. Armstrong, County Su¬ perintendent, made an effort in 1878 to grade the country schools, but his death in 1879 frustrated the plan which had not yet had time to become popular. Efforts are now being made by the present incumbent, F. G. Lohman, to complete the grading that was so unfortunately stopped, and it is hoped that the plan will be carried to a successful issue.

Teachers' institutes were a thing unknown in Ford County till 1878. It is true that Col. Brown, who was Superintendent in 1869 and 1870, held an institute for the benefit of teachers, but this did not result in much good, hence did not become a perma¬ nent fixture. In 1878, D. H. Armstrong made a very vigorous effort to hold a teachers' institute, and have such institutes a part of the educational work of the county. These institutes have been continued ever since, and have been a source of groat benefit to the teachers. It is true that teachers' institutes in Ford County have been greatly hindered by a lack of means, and, therefore, have not been as efficient as they should be. This our legislators recognised, and to aid educational work throughout the State, passed a bill that every applicant for certificate, and every appli¬ cant for renewal of certificate, shall pay a fee of $1. The fees that are thus paid constitute an institute fund, and will place our teachers' institutes on a firm financial basis.

The Paxton High School was organized in the fall of 1874, with T. L. Evans as Principal. Mr. Evans had been the Princi¬ pal of the public school for several years, and having brought a class to the end of the common school course, which was anxious and ready to pursue higher studies, he advocated and obtained the introduction into the schools of a higher course, which in¬ cluded three years Latin, the natural sciences, higher mathematics and the study of English and American literature. The School Board under which this advance was obtained was composed of S. P. Bushnell, W. B. Travis and S. D. Cooper. The experi¬ ment proved a success. The course was made very complete and thorough. Mr. Evans was systematic and energetic in his work, and with the able assistance of Miss Sarah J. Shields the first high school class graduated in the spring of 1877, with honor to themselves and the school. The class contained, at graduation, five members - Misses Jennie W. Harper and L. Jennie Moffett, Messrs. F. L. Cooper, Harry C. Buell and Edgar N. Stevens. The graduating exercises were held at Clark's Hall June 15th, 1877, and attracted a very large audience. The exercises in¬ cluded orations and essays from the graduates that were said by competent judges to be fully up to the standard of such produc¬ tions. On June 7, 187*, the second class graduated. The exercises were held at Clark's Hall, and again the audience was entertained with a choice programme of essays, declamations and orations by the graduates and under graduates. Misses Julia D. Bicket and Florence Moffett received diplomas as the reward of their labor. The practice of giving flowers as tokens of esteem and approbation was begun at this time.

The high school department was discontinued under the di¬ rectorship of Messrs. C. Bogardus, G. W. Cruxen and W. B. Travis, with Prof. C. M. Taylor as Principal, and there were no graduates in the spring of 1879.

Under the professorship of P. K. MoMinn, there were no high school graduates in 1880, but a class completed the public school course and held graduating exercises from the public school. The commencement was held in Clark's Hall, Thursday evening, May 27, 1880. The class was composed of five mem¬ bers - Misses Ollie Reed, Annie Morris, Kate Dwyer and Lettie Evans, and Mr. Charles Mead. - The entertainment was excel¬ lently conducted, and the graduates acquitted themselves with honor.

Prof. McMinn continued with the school another year, and at the end of that time the following were the graduates: Misses Nora McQuisten, Julia Moffett and Mr. William H. Ramsey, and the usual closing exercises were held.

The interest in the high school was revived with the advent of Prof. W. A. Wetzell. He commenced* work in the fall of 1881, and in the spring of 1882 was able to make a very encouraging report. A class of five had finished the first year's work, and was prepared to complete the high school course the following year.

A large audience again assembled at Clark's Hall on Tuesday evening, June 12,1888, to hear what these young people had to say for themselves. A splendid programme of orations and es says had been prepared by the graduates, and the various exer¬ cises were given with an ease and finish which showed much care in the preparation. Diplomas were awarded to Misses Minnie Bush, Grace Ide, Edith Huston and Addie Wilson, Messrs Orvie Wilson and Walter Hill.

ber, 1883. During his residence here his wife did much to ele¬ vate the study of music and to placo it among the regular studies of the common and high schools.

He was succeeded by Prof. F. W. Gove, of Normal, in Jan- j uarj, 1884. Mr. Gove remained with the school until June fol- | lowing, and graduated one of the finest classes ever sent out from | our high school. Their names are familiar to our ears, as they are all well-known in this community: John II. McElroy, Charles 0. Shephardson, Clare E. Me harry, Harry L. Dunlap, Raymond* V. Smith and Allie B. Meharry. The exercises in their entirety were among the best ever given by the high school graduates. Mrs. F. W. Gove continued teaching the study of music in the school, and left it in good shape for grading.

The young people who havo graduated from the high school are doing good work in their respective vocations. We wish for thorn the greatest success in their future life.

The names of the present members of the School Board are John M. Hanley, Merton Dunlap and George J. Shepardson. The corps of teachers for 1884 is as follows : Prof. Austin C. Rishol, Principal, Misses Sue E. Banghart, J. Esther Johnson, Kate Dwyer, Flora Garrotte, Laura Bruce, Minnie Bush, Mrs. Helen A. Lewis and Mrs. Shepardson, teacher of music.

Secret Societies

Paxton - Paxton Lodge, No. 416, A., F. k A. M.; Ford Chapter, No. 118, R. A. M.; Mt. Olivet Commandery, No. 88, K. T.; Post of Grand Army of the Republic; Independent Or¬ der of Mutual Aid; Royal Templars of Temperance.

Bt Qbokqb A. Hall

A public meeting was held at the court house in Paxton, April 9, 1864, for the purpose of organizings Fair Association. J. H. Dungan was chosen Chairman of the meeting, and William A. Goodrich, Secretary. A constitution for an association, to be known as " The Ford County Agricultural Society," was unan¬ imously adopted, in which the object was stated to be " The pro¬ motion of agricultural, horticultural, mechanical and household arts," and the following officers were elected:

Under the above organization, county fairs were held in Pax¬ ton in 1864 and in 1865. After this no fair was held for sev¬ eral years. On the 10th of February, 1872, a public meeting oonvened at the oourt house to re-organise under a new constitu¬ tion and the by laws of the State Board of Agriculture. Of this meeting Benjamin F. Dye was Chairman, and N. E. Stevens, Secretary. This object, however, was not accomplished until an adjourned meeting, held April 6, 1872, when a constitution and by laws were adopted, and the following officers elected:

On the 14th of January, 1873, having ascertained that, by a clerical error the name of the society did not conform to the rea uirements of the State Board, a resolution was adopted declaring le name to be 44 The Ford County Agricultural Board."

President, William Noel; Vice Presidents, F. T. Putt, Will¬ iam Walker; Secretary, John J. Simons; Treasurer, George Wright; Corresponding Secretary, C. H. Frew; Executive Com¬ mittee, John Bodley, W. B. Holmes, Samuel Lefever, B. F. Dye, John Richardson, W. T. Patton, R. Cruxen, C. W. Mehsrry, A. H. Hanley. The second annual fair was held at Paxton Sep¬ tember 2 to 5, 1873.

The next annual f;iir was held at the same place, September 21 to 24, 1875. Officers, President, William Noel; Vice Pres¬ ident, J. II. Flagg; Secretary, Merton Dunlap; Treasurer, J. P. Day; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. Stevens ; Executive Committee, F. T. Putt, H. J. Schaeffer, John Karr. John Bayne, P. V. Ileaiey, John Bodley, B. F. Hill, N. B. Day, R. Cruzen.

The fair of 1877, was held September 11 to 14. Officers - President, F. T. Putt: Vice President, William Noel ; Secre¬ tary, John J. Simons; Treasurer, John M. Hall; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. S:ovens; Executive Committee, II. J. Schaef fer, G. W. Cruzen, George Arnott, A. L. Clark, N. B. Day, Charles Bogardus, C. M. Bodley, Daniel Moudy, J. H. Flagg,

In 1879, the fair was held September 16 to 19. Offioers - President, Abram Croft; Vice President, A. L. Clark ; Secre¬ tary, G. W. Cruzen ; Treasurer, John M. Hall ; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. Stevens; Directors, J. P. Day, J. C. Kirk¬ patrick, J. B. Loose, William Noel, F. T. Putt, W. E. Sawyer.

The fsir of 1880 was held August 31 and September 1 to 3. Officers - President, Abram Croft; Vice Presidents, J. P. Day, A. Goodell, H. J. Schaeffer; Secretary, W. McTaggart; Treas¬ urer, John M. Hall; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. Stevens; Directors, N. B. Day, 0. A. Swanson, T. M. King, A. M. Dag¬ gett, John Karr, J. W. Axline, J. R. Kinnear, William Noel, E. F. Earl.

The tenth annual fair was held in Paxton, August 30 and 81, and September 1 and 2, 1881. Officers - President, Charles Bogardus; Vice Presidents, E. F. Earl, N. B. Day, W. E. Sawyer; Secretary, George A. Hall; Treasurer, George Grove ; Corresponding Secretary, D. E. Stoner; Directors, A. Crolt, W. McTaggart, William Noel, A. M. Daggett, T. M. King, William Kenney, Nels Dahlgren, R. S. Hall,T W. Axline.

Brbnton And Pella

At a meeting hold in John Clark's hall at Piper City, Novem¬ ber 5,1881, by some of the citizens of Brenton and Pella Town¬ ships, for the purpose of organizing a farmers' club, the follow¬ ing business was transacted:

On motion of Thomas McDermott, of Pella, James Arnold, of Pella, was chosen President. On motion. James R. Rezner, of Brenton, T. J. Sowers, of Pella, was chosen Secretary, and on motion of Peter Gallahue, of Pella, James R. Rezner, of Bren¬ ton, was elected Treasurer. On motion, tho club was named The Brenton and Pella Farmers' Club.

This was the first of a number of most interesting meetings daring the winter of 1881-82. They were all well attended, and many farmers gave some valuable information on matters of interest to agriculturists.

During this rear it was decided to bold a fair for the exhibi¬ tion of live stock, and the 23d day of September, 1882, was se¬ lected for the occasion

The blueaud red ribbons were awarded in each class. There were seventy nine entries. Three span of horses afterward sold for $500 for each span. R. Dunn of Brenton, took the Western Rural and Advertiser premium.

This fair was such s decided success that it was decided to hold one every year, and in 1883 money premiums were offered, an entrance fee charged, and more extensive arrangements made.

At the election of officers for the year ending November, 1884, James Arnold, of Pella, was re-elected President; C. Jen¬ nings, of Brenton, First Vice President; T. J. Sowers, of Pella, Second Vice President. Henry Allnutt, of Piper City, Secre¬ tary, and Joseph Burger, of Brenton, Treasurer.

Gibbon

This society was organised in 1872, and the first fair was held in September of that year. The first officers were J. E. Davis, President; W. H. Simms, Secretary; John H. Collier, Treas¬ urer. The society continued in successful operation until 1879, the last fair being in September of the latter year. The last officers were J. B. Lott, President; R. M. Smith, Secretary; M. T. Burwell, Treasurer.

It is well to remember in connection with this question of lo¬ cal fairs that great exhibitions and fairs at large cities,*together with very low excursion rates on railroads, have turned the atten¬ tion of the people away from home fairs. The spirit of sight¬ seeing is abroad in the land.

A book called "Svenskarne i Illinois" (the Swedes in Illinois), was compiled and written in 1880 by Capt. Eric Johnson, of Galva, ill., and C. F. Peterson, one of the managing editors of Stceruka Tribunen (the Swedieh Tribune). Chicago, and from it the following translations are made by John F. Q. Ilelmer, the present Deputy Circuit Clerk of Ford County.

This part of Illinois has a very peculiar geographical shape, and is similar to Rock Island County. It is forty one miles long and twenty-eight miles wide, located between Iroquois and Living¬ ston Counties. In one place it is twenty-eight miles, and in an¬ other again eighteen miles wide, but only to again contract itself into a narrow strip only six miles wide. The county was organ¬ ised in 1859, and had in 1870 a population of 10,000 people. The land is nearly level and in many places very level and flat, so that a system of ditches is and will be necessary to carry off the surplus water in wet seasons. Paxton is the leading town and county seat, and has a population of about 2,500.

Thb Swbdbs In And About Paxton

The Swedes in Paxton and* the immediate vicinity have in Swen Iledenskog their earliest pioneer. He hod in Sweden been overseer of a large plantation in the province of Holland, and emigrated with his family in 1857, and settled about nine miles west of Paxton. Here, poor as he was, he experienced many privations, but came out victorious, and prospered, and was considered to be well-off when he, a few years ago, moved to Nebraska, where he has since died. In 1859, Carl Anderson, who was a sailor by occupation, and another man by the name of Andrew Olson (both from the Province of Uelsingland, Sweden), faceted in the neighborhood. Anderson has since removed to Colorado, leaving a daughter, still residing here. Mr. Olson lives with his family on a farm three miles southwest of town, well fixed.

v When in 1863 it became an assured fact to locate the Swedish Augustana College at Paxton, the Swedish emigration became lively to these parts, and in that year an agreement was made with the Illinois Central Railroad Company that the Swedes should settle on lands the company had for sale, in consider¬ ation of which the company should pay the college a commission of $1 per acre on every acre sold to the Swedish settlers. Con¬ sul P. L. Hawkinson, of Chicago, was the company's agent in Paxton. Among others who arrived at that time was Erix Ras¬ mus, from Gammalstorp Blekinge. He had then been in the country ten years, having emigrated in 1853, and settled at Galesburg. He is still to be found on a well-improved farm of 129 acres, east of Paxton. In the same year (1863), came to the Paxton Colony Carl Larson, Erik Carlson, John Anderson and A. M. Hanson, all still in life and in vigorous health, and owners of pretty farms that yield them abundantly all they need.

The following year brought to Paxton J. H. Wistrand, who was the first Swedish merchant in Paxton, and kept a grocery till 1875, when the oollege remove^ to Rock Island; he also re¬ moved there and at once engaged in mercantile business. Peter Hedburg appeared in Paxton the same year, and kept a lumber yard at tint, and afterward in various other occupations, and held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Collector. Poor health made it necessary for him to seek a different clime, and in the spring of 1873 he removed to Colorado and located at Denver, where he is now the Swedish Consul.

Emigration to the Ford County Colony continued brisk, and in 1865, the following additions from Attica, Ind., same place as Mr. Hedberg, who all had lived there for some years. Among them we find Fredrik Bjorklund, Carl Fager, John Swan, John Johnson, Carl Peterson, Peter Larson, Carl Johnson, Adolph Johnson and John Nelson, who are all with their families still living and farming, also Peter Larson and John Nelson, who are prosperous merchants. Emigration to the place continued con¬ stantly till 1870. Since then nearly as many have moved out West to other Western States and Territories, as have come here from Sweden. About them can be said that they have fought all difficulties with heroic courage, and acquired an independence where their American brethren and neighbors very often have failed. The secret hero is their persevering hard labor, and strict economy. Land in this part of the State has always been cheaper than in the northwestern part of the State. So called improved farms can be bought for $25 and $35 per acre. The number of Swedes in the town of Paxton and immediate vicinity is estimated at 1,000. In no place, with the exception of New Boston, can be found as many business men (merchants) in pro¬ portion to the population, and nowhere do the Swedes a better business than here. It is natural that they would not sue- ceed as well, did not the Americans support them as well as their Swedish patrons. One of the most successful Swedish enterrises is Nels Dahlgren's plow and machine shops. Mr. D. ad before been engaged with John Deers k Co., in Moline, Ill. Came to Paxton in 1865, and began on a small scale the same year. His productions, especially bis plows, soon earned him a reputation as the best in the market, and the demand for them increased, and the shops were enlarged so that he 'was able to manufacture 300 plows and 40 cultivators in 1871. If the shops were better locatod so his plows could be shipped and compete with other makes, it would be an easy matter to treble the pro¬ duction, but Mr. D. is a man of the few who are wise to engage in a slower and surer road to wealth, and he is satisfied with the encouragement he has received, and his profits have been propor¬ tionately greater than larger manufacturers, because he nas re¬ tailed his plows directly to his customers from his shops, when others have to be handled through commissioned dealers. Al¬ though the capacity of his shops could turn out 500 plows a year, the output is only about 80 plows, which is at present sufficient for local demand. We continue further, and find Gustaf Sand¬ berg, who is running an important wagon and blacksmith shop; Swenning Anderson, blacksmith ; J. r. Lindstrom, dealer and manufacturer in furniture and cabinet goods (N. G. Egnell has succeeded to Mr. Lindstrom in business); Kjellstrand k Melby, painters; A. J. Lawrence, dry goods; John F. G. Helmer, drug clerk; Peter Larson, the only merchant tailor; John Nel¬ son, dealer in ready-made clothing; Fred Telander, groceries and hardware; N. G. Egnell, furniture; Nels Younggren, John Crantz, Andrew Anderson, Perry A. Berggren and Lars II. Rodeen, all in groceries ; Sheldon k Swanson, dealers and manu¬ facturers of boots and shoes; P. A. Berggren, photographer, and Swen Lundberg, brick and tile maker, three miles out of town, with a yearly production of 500,000 brick. In the matter of churches, they are here as well provided for as their countrymen elsewhere. The Swedish Lutheran Congregation was organised by Prof. Hasselguist in 1863.

The first services were held in the old schoolhouse which belonged to the college, and served as a house of worship till 1872, when a good and substantial church was built. Its dimen¬ sions are eighty feet long, forty feet wide, twenty high, whereto is added the 100 feet high spire. The cost of same finished amounted to $11,000. The pulpjt may be noted as very pretty and costly, and is regarded as second to none in the State, when speaking of the Scandinavian Churches.

The congregation has 365 communicants, and in all 600 members. The Sunday school ie attended by 150 children. Rev. A. Edgren is pastor of the church, and was born in Nedra Ulleryd, in the Province of Verraland, the 3d day of January, 1844. He came to America in 1870, and graduated in Paxton the 29th of June, 1873. The Swedish, Lutheran Mission Church was, in November, 1878, organized with a membership of seventyfive, with Rev. A. P. Palmquist as its pastor. The following ear a neat and pleasant church was built at an expense of 1,500. The membership has since increased to 135 persons. Society Swea has existed since 1877, and is at present in a very prosperous condition, although the membership never exceeded a higher figure than twenty-five. Its principal object is to fur¬ nish its members social benefits and mutual assistance. Swea has already paid out considerable sum as help to sick members, and has laid a good foundation for a library fund. The present officers of Society Swea are: Henry Pearson, President; John A. Nelson, Vice President; John F. G. Helmer, Secretary; Gust Sandburg, Treasurer; and Aug Smith, Librarian.

The Swedish Cornet Band was organized by the musically inclined Swedes, in October, 1877, with A. G. Palrablnd as leader, and members of same are John A. Nelson, C. A. Larson, George Hanson, A. E. Sheldon, G. Swenson, G. A. Lundberg, A. Hegstrom, A. J. Anderson and Gust Sandburg. In the political field has John F. G. Helmer held the office of Coroner four years, the office of the Justice of the Peace has been held by Peter Ileadburg, and also Andrew Lindstrom, now residing in Chicago; and he was elected collector of taxes. Peter Hedberg, Swen Peterson, and A. J. Anderson is the present incumbent.

Farm Br8Villb

This is a settlement of Swedes, nine miles west of Paxton, and is the center of a large prosperous settlement, dating back to 1863 and 1864, or at about the same time the- college was located at Paxton. About the countrymen here is not much of a general interest to relate, because they live scattered on farms, and we have no other history than that of their church.

A Swedish Lutheran Church was organized here in the year 1863, and in 1867 a church was erected at a cost of $4,000, and a parsonage costing $2,000 - membership about 225. This colony stretches Car away in the north and west, to the stations of Elliott and Gibson, and in each of them are a number of Swedes. Frank W. Johnson runs a blacksmith shop.

At Gibson reside twenty Swedish families, who have organ¬ ized a church, and is visited by the Rev. J. E. Nystrom, from Farmersville. Nystrom was born the 24th of May, 1851, at Motala, Sweden; he emigrated in 1877, and graduated as minister, from Augustana College, at Rock Island, in the spring of 1879. The Swedes here about Gibson are day-laborers ana renters. N. E. Eklund and John F. Johnson run shoe shops.

The Paxton settlement branches out south along the Illinois Central Railroad into Champaign County, and at Rantoul we find the firm of Swedberg k Dahlgren, who conduct a wagon shop and do general blacksmithing, and John Lindeboef, maker of boots and shoes. East of Paxton we have Rankin, where a Swedish Lutheran Congregation has existed since 1865. The

Biographical

A. J. Anderson, bom January 25, 1850, in Gronwa, came witn his parents to Ia Fayette, Ind., in 1852, where he lived five years and moved afterward to Attica, Ind., but removed to Pax¬ ton, in 1869. They farmed in the neighborhood. He wai married, in 1877, to Miss C. J. Peterson, and to them has been born a child. He is a Lutheran, and a Republican.

P. A. Berggren was born on the 7th of July, 1842. He em¬ igrated in 1853, and lived in Milford, Ind., where his father re¬ sided, and went afterward with him to Attica, where his father lived till 1875, when he moved to Cannon Falls, Minn., where he still lives. Berggren enlisted in 1864, in one of the Indiana regiments, and served ten months in the war, and went to rail¬ roading as brakoman for one and one half years. He learned photography and ran an art gallery in Paxton, until February, 1880, when he opened a grocery store. He was married in 1872, to Emma S. Johnson; they have two daughters. Affiliates with the Lutheran Church, and he is Republican.

Carl Fredrick Carlson, farmer on Section 18, Pattoh Town¬ ship (Farmersville), and owner of 240 acres. He was bom in Myrlunda, Kalmarian. He emigrated in 1857, and lived near Henry in Marshall County, where he left his wife and went to Kansas to establish his home for the future, and came back in three months with the intention of removing his family there, but soon learned that the Indians had made a raid on the then very new Kansas colonies and murdered the settlers, which made him abandon the idea, and he concluded to remain in Illinois. He struggled hard and had many difficulties to experience, and he and his wife toiled for others. In 1865, they had saved enough money to buy eighty acres in Ford County, whence they re¬ moved and have sifice prospered. His wife was Lovisa Nelson, from Kristdala. They had seven children. Lutheran and Re¬ publican. Post office, Elliott, 111.

E. Collin, of Farmersville, owns 117 acres; bom at Verum Skane, the 5th of March, 1828, emigrated 1852 and located first at Knoxville and afterward at Galesburg, where he worked on the railroad and carpentering; moved, 1863, to Paxton and bought eighty acres, which he has since improved and resided on. Mar¬ ried, 1855, with Elsa Randum ; seven children. Lutheran and a Republican.

Nils Dahlgren, bom the 26th of February, 1832, in Orsjo Malmohus Lan ; he learned blacksmithing in Swedon and emigrated 1854. Stopped and worked in Boston one year, and came to Moline, Ill., in April, 1856, and was employed in Deere k Co.'s plow shops till 1866, when he moved to Paxton and started to manufacture plows. Married for the third time the 2d day of October, 1869, with Cocilia Olson, from Swenstorp in Kristianstads Liln. Has with his first wife a daughter, who is married to Fred Telander, and also a daughter with his present wife. D. has made money and is still as industrious as in former days. Does not belong to any church, is a strong Republican. Mrs. Dahlgren is a member of the Mission Church.

N. G. Egnell, born in Norrkbping the 1st day of June, 1818, learned cabinet-making in Sweden, and went, in 1845, to Russia where he worked in St. Petersburg at his trade till 1852, when he emigrated to America and landed in Boston, where he remained two years; moved to Moline, Ill., 1854, stopped there until 1864 when he came to Paxton to open a furniture store; and was married, in 1855, to Johanna Emanuelson, from Odeshbg in Ostergbthland, from whence she emigrated 1855. Has two daughters and one son. Is a Lutheran and a Republican.

John F. G. Helmer, boro 14th November, 1849, at Hjcrtabo, Vestergbthland ; attended the college at Jbnkbping before he emi¬ grated in 1867. Here he did not expect to find it very easy, and went to work on the farm at first. During the past ten years has held the position as drug clerk in S. D. Cooper's drug store in Paxton, and is agent for all the leading ocean steamship lines. Of Helmer may be said that he is one of the most prominent Swedes in the Paxton colony. He is, among his countrymen, as well as among the Americans, well thought of and respected for his good character and business ability.

Peter Johnson, furmer on Section 30 of Patton Township, owns fifty-one acres; born at Hjers&s Skane the 6th of April, 1835; emigrated 1853, and his first residence was Princeton, III.; found afterward other locations, and came to Bishop Hill 1863, where ho rented land and was murried to Anna Ersdotter, from Alfta, one of that colony's first pioneers ; moved in 1867 to Ford County and bought the land he now owns. Lutheran and Republican. Post office, Paxton.

Gustaf Johnson, farmer on Section 29, near Farmersville in Dix Township, owns 280 acres; bom at Stockaryd, Stnoland, the 11th of September, 1823; emigrated 1853, entered on forty acres Government land, near Andover, III., where he lived until 1865, when he sold the farm and moved to Paxton, where ho at once bought eighty acres, which he has since gradually increased until he is at this time the largest Swedish land-holder in Ford County. Married, in 1848, with Kairo Danielson, who died 1854; remarried in 1856 with Anna Sund from Lymsga, Smoland, who died 1875. Seven children. A Lutheran and Republican. Post office Elliott.

C. M. Johnson, farmer on Section 32, near Farmersville, bom the 6th day of April, 1826, at Hessleby Jbnkopingelan, and emigrated 1846, on the ship Virginia, before mentioned on page 74, on which ship were, besides those enumerated, the following persons: Mr. Jonnson's brother, Fredrik Johnson, with wife and children ; an old soldier by name of Norman, from Horn in Os¬ tergbthland : Germond Johnson and wife and two children, from

Kisa; Carl Johnson with wife and one child, from Sund Ostergothland, and also Samuel Dahl and his sister Carolina. All these remained near Buffalo until 1848, when their number was increased by the arrival of C. M. Johnson's brother, Anders P., and his sister, Johanna Lovisa Peterson and the two sisters Lisa and Lena Anderson. All of them were very poor, and when some of the party went West, Germond Johnson was compelled to leave two young daughters in a home of charity from whence they were taken by some ladies who resided in Warren, County, Penn. When Johnson heard of this, he at once started for War¬ ren and found his children and settled there, and persuaded the friends in Buffalo remaining to .also move to Warren, and here was C. M. Johnson, the 26th of December, 1851, married to Karolina Dahl. Germond Johnson and his family moved to Minnesota in 1857. Samuel Dahl died at Warren. Fred John¬ son bought land near Warren and still resides there if he is yet living. Anders P. Johnson moved to Minnesota where he has since died. His sister Johanna, was married to one Frank Peterson and resides now at Jamestown, where Lisa and Lena Anderson live and are married. C. M. Johnson moved to Pax¬ ton in 1868, served in the Union army during the war from the 4th day of October, 1864, until the 21st day of July, 1865. Moved in 1866, on the farm he now occupies, consisting of 228 acres. He h'as five sons and three daughters to assist him in old days. Is a carpenter by profession, and built the Swedish Lu¬ theran Church at Farmereville. A Lutheran and Republican.

Jan Johnson was born at Grenna, on the 22d of June, 1815. He emigrated in 1858, and passed his first five years in this country, in the neighborhood of La Fayette, Ind., laboring around among farmers, and moved afterward to Attica, of same State, and bought there forty acres and began farming on his own hook, and continued until 1865, when he bought a farm near Paxton, Ford Co., Ill., of 160 acres, which is being farmed by his son, Mr. Johnson having retired from active operations. He married, in 1889, with Johanna Anderson, from tne same place as himself in Sweden, and who died in 1866, leaving two Sons, one of them living in Kansas, at Mariedahl. He is a Lutheran and a Republican.

Peter Larson was born on the 12th of December, 1838, at Olmstad Jftnkopings Lin. He emigrated in 1854, and lived at Attica, Ind., until 1865, when he moved to Paxton, where he has since been engaged in the merchant tailoring business, at first as a partner but since 1870 as sole proprietor. He married, in 1857, Lavisa Jacobson, from Linder&s, and four children have been born to them. They are members of the New Mission Church. He is a Republican.

A. J. Laurence was born at Grenna December 12, 1849, and came to America in 1869, and made Paxton his new home. He commenced with farming, but abandoned it to become a merchant, and is running a large dry goods business. He was married to Jennie Egnell, who was born in Moline, III., and they have one child. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and a Republican.

John Nelson was born in October, 1821, at Roberga, in Jonkopings Lin. He emigrated in the year 1852, and landed in Bos¬ ton. He arrived in La Fayette, Ind., on the 18th day of October, same year, and wont to work for a farmer, and afterward rented a farm. He engaged in the tailoring business, in 1865, under the firm of Lindbcrg, Larson k Nelson, whioh afterward changed to Larson & Nelson. He has been in business alone since 1871. He married, Johanna Swenson, from Odestaga Jonkopings L&n, and had two children, when he emigrated from Sweden, and they are now'in Paxton, where two othere have been born to them. Ho is a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican.