Ford County, Illinois - The whole text, 1884 (part 6 of 7)

Harmon Strayer, son of Jaoob and Elizabeth Strayer, was bom in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 20, 1820. He came with his parents to Fountain County, Ind., in 1824. He came here in the fall of 1851. In 1858, he assessed all the lands in Ford County, then Patton Township, Vermilion County. In 1858, he married Mias Martha McClure, daughter of Samuel McClure, an early settler of Cass County, Ind. She was bom in Ohio. They had a family of four children, two now living.

Joseph Harris'was born in Germany March 25,1838. When nineteen years old, he came to America, and in 1857 located in Ford County. In 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Strayer, daughter of Jacob and Elisabeth Stayer. She was bom in Fountain County, Ind. They had nine chil¬ dren, eight are now living. Mr. Harris, for five years, worked by the month. In 1865, he bought land of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. He has now 239 acres of excellent land, and is one of the successful farmers of Ford County.

J. C. Kirkpatrick was bora in Adams County, Ohio. He came to Button Township in 1861, settling on Section 17. Mr. Kirkpatrick was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. White, of Oak Grove, McLean County. They had eight children, seven of whom are now living. Several years ago he engaged in the hardware business in Clarenoe; he also deals in grain, coal, lum¬ ber and agricultural implements. He owns a fine farm of 480 acres of land in this township, and is one of the leading business men of this part of the oounty.

William A. Hutchison was bora in Wayne County, Ohio. He came to Ford County in 1868. He was married to Miss Margaret Ghormley, of Ohio. His father, Samuel Hutchison, helped lay out the village of Clarence. Tho subject of our sketch is Postmaster of Clarence and also runs a grocery store.

David A. Frederick' was bora in Middlesex County, Mass., and came to Ford County in 1857. Mr. Frederick is in the grain business in Clarence, owning a large and most convenient elevator on the L. E. & W. R. R. In oonnection with this he keeps a general store, doing an extensive business.

Hugh McCormick was horn in Allegheny County, Penn. He came to Ford County in April, 1866, settling on Section 9. He owns the east half of this section, whioh is a fine body of land. In 1880, Mr. McCormick was elected Supervisor of Button Town¬ ship, which office he has filled with entire satisfaction, as is shown by his continued election to this office.

William Phebus is a prominent farmer of Button Township. He was bora in Fountain County, Ind., and settled in Ford County in 1865. His farm of 200 acres is one of the best in the township.

William T. Patton is the son of David Patton, and resides on Section 83. He was bora in Fountain County, Ind., and came to Button Township in 1854. William owns 480 acres and is one of the leading farmers in this part of the county.

James H. ana Arthur F. Flagg, brothers, are natives of the State of Maine. James H. came West and settled in Button Township in 1859. He lives on the southeast quarter of Section 80, and has erected pleasant, commodious buildings, equal to any in the township. Mr. Flagg was Supervisor of Button Township for four years. Arthur F. came to this township in 1861. He now owns a splendid farm of 280 acres, with good improvements.

Mitohel A. Karr, son of John Karr, lives on the southeast quarter of Seotion 14. He was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, and came West to Illinois and settled in Button with his father in 1864. He is one of the active farmers of the township.

William T. Morrison lives close to the village of Clarenoe in one of the finest houses in Button Township. He is a native of Adams County, Ohio, and settled in this township in 1868.

Albert J. Pool is one of the leading younjg fanners of the county. He is a native of La Salle County, HI., and settled in Button Township in 1878. He haa erected on Section 6 one of the neatest and most attractive houses to be found in the town¬ ship.

William Montgomery resides on a splendid farm of 820 acres on Section 29. He is a native of Shelby County, Ind., and settled in Ford County in 1857. He has a pleasant home and is well situated to eqjoy lif*

William Walker, farmer, lives on Seotion 85, Range 10, But¬ ton Township. He is a native ef Wayne County, Ind., and settled in this county in 1859. He owns a fine body of farming land and is one of the active pioneer settlers of this township.

J. E. Walker, or Elmer Walker, as he is more generally known, is a son of William Walker, an old settler of this township. El¬ mer was born in Fountain County, Ind., in 1858, and that year came with his parents to this township. His residence is on Section 86.

All that part of Ford County lying in Range 7 and 8 east, was originally called Drummer Grove. In 1864, steps were taken by the citisens to have the name changed to Dix, in honor of Gen. Dix, of New York. The petition was granted bj the Board of Supervisors. Afterward toe following townships were ereated or set off from Dix, viz.: Drummer, Sullivant and Peach Orchard, leaving the present township of Dix, as shown by the maps in this work.

Among the early settlers of this township were John Wag¬ goner, John D. Bell, David Metcalf, Ephraim and James A. Black¬ ford, Samuel Todd, George Waggoner, Asa Trickel, John Wal¬ lace, Jackson Pitser, R. Stephen Chamberlin, Joseph .Kendall, John Brown, James Reed, Levi Foutz, Leonard Pierpont, David Pollock, John Schoonmacher, Jonathan Bedell, Charles Wilcox, and Peter Beatty.

The first schoolhouse built in this township was in District No. 2, built in the spring of 1859. Miss Cynthia Newlin, daughter of William Newlin, of Patton Township, taught the first school in this district and in the township.

The first religious service held in Dix Township was at the house of John 8. Waggoner, by Rev. Mr. Wenner, who was a United Brethren minister.

The land where Elliott stands was donated by S. P. Bushnell, Samuel Elliott and Gustave Punke. It was the undivided half of forty acres. Mr. Elliott contributed twenty acres, Mr. Bushnell ten acres and Mr. Punke ten acres. It was surveyed and laid out by County Surveyor H. J. Howe. The village contains four general stores, one hardware store, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, two drug stores, one meat market, two elevators, one flax mill and two agricultural warehouses. John Richardson built the first elevator in Elliott. J. J. Crawford was the first Postmaster, and JIugh Lambert was the first station agent. The village was named after Samuel Elliott. The vil¬ lage is surrounded by a fine farming country and is a good trading point.

The first town meeting was held at the Oregon Schoolhouse, on the 4th day of April, 1865. The meeting was called to order by A. M. Smith, the Town Clerk. J. S. Brown was appointed Moderator. At this meeting, the following township officers were elected: Supervisor, Ephraim M. Blackford; Town Clerk, A. M. Smith; Assessor, William B. Holmes ; Collector of Taxes, Benjamin Smith; Justices of the Peace, Leonard Pierpont and John S. Waggoner; Highway Commissioners, John Bell, Joseph Kendall andDavid Pollock.

John S. Waggoner ranks as one of the representative old set¬ tlers and business men of Dix Township. Born in Lewis Coun¬ ty, Va., June 28, 1822, where he lived several years; then moved to Boone County, Ind.; he made his home there for about twenty years. He came to Ford County in the fall of 1855, and settled on Section 88, where he still resides. Mr. Waggoner was the first Justice of the Peace of the township; he has held the same office many years. Was also Postmaster at East Bend several years. 1

Job* D. Bell was born in England November 22, 1819, where he remained until twenty-two years of age. He came to America and settled in Providence* R. L, where he worked at his trade in the print works for five years. He came to the place where he at present resides in 1857. In 1868, he enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile Battery, and served with it for three years. Mr. Bell was the first Town Clerk of this township, and has also held the office of Assessor and Collector. He takes a deep inter¬ est in the public schools; was the first Trustee of the schools in Dix, and still holds the office.

David Metcalf is a native of England, county of Westmore¬ land. Here he was born November 26,1828, and*4ived at his home, working at the cooperage trade, for twenty-eight years. Emigrating to America, he settled in Ford County. In May, 1851, he was married to Miss Sarah Bell. Four children have been born to them, three now living.' He is interested in the ad¬ vancement of all works tending, toward the good of his fellow-men.

John Richardson is a native of Liverpool, England. He emi¬ grated to Ain«rica in 1849, and landed in Canada; he moved to BuflUo, N. Y., learned the mason's trade,!and worked at it in Detroit, Mich. In 1856, he moved to Iowa, and prospected around until his funds ran short. He came to Paxton, and worked at his trade several years. He then rented a farm, and in time, by his frugality and industry, he was able to purchase eighty acres of land; to this he added year by year until he had accumulated 500 acres. This farm he exchanged with Judge Patton, of this county, for 1,000 acres lying in ration and Dix To^Hships. In 1878, he oame to Elliott, where he has sinoe re¬ sided, engaged in the grain business. In 1855, he married Miss 8arah Simons, of Michigan. Seven children have been given them, five now living.

Cyrus JR. Marshall was born in Windsor County, Vt., in 1887, where he lived until 1850, working on a farm. He then moved to Woodford County, Ill. In 18 1 8, he came to Dix Township and bought 160 acres in Section 3, where he still resides. In October, 1857, he was united in matrimony to Elvira Johnson, of Peoria County, HI. They have five children living.

Abel Hanson was the first Norwegian who moved into Dix Township. He came here thirteen years ago, and rented a farm for three years. He then purchased eighty acres in Section 14 t where he now resides. He also has eighty acres in Section 22 .

Robert Jardine came from Logan County, Ill. He was born in Scotland, and has been in this State twenty-seven years. He came to Dix Township* in 1867, and owns a neat farm in Sec¬ tion 4.

Andrew Hamilton *as born in Fairview Township, York Co., Penn., November 6, 1886. He lived there, working on a farm aod at the oarpenter's trade, over twenty-eight years. . He came to Hlinois, first settling in Livingston County, where he remained nine years, then moved to Dix Township, where he has sinoe resided. He was married, September 14, 1862, to Mrs. Martha E. Carothers. They have three children. Mr. Hamil¬ ton has a fine farm of 240 acres.

A. A. Barrow was born in Virginia July 8, 1848, where he remained until 1867, when he removed to Bloomington, Ill., with his father, who came to Ford County and bought several hundred acres of land. Mr. Barrow was married, December 25, 1872, to Miss Martha E. Barrow. They have two children.

George Henry Trailor was born in Illinois October 20, 1886. He lived in Bureau County for thirty years, engaged in farming. He then sold out and came to Livingston County, where he bought a farm and lived for six years. In 1859, he crossed the plains, and went into the gold mines of the far West, meeting with good success. He was united in marriage with Miss Elisa J. Swisher in 1861, who died in three years, by whom he had twin daughters. For his second wife he married Miss Mary Butts. He has a good farm and is well fixed to enjoy life.

Jesse Todd was born in Indiana in 1834, where he lived sev¬ enteen years. He then moved to Vermilion County, HI. Sooft after, he came with his father to Dix Township, where he has since resided. He married Miss Rosanna Hagin March 18, 1858, in Urbana, Champaign County, HI. The fruit of this union is eight children. In the many years he has lived in this State, he has never been further from home than Chicago. He has been Road Commissioner and School Director for nine years.

John M. Miner came to Hlinois in 1858, and settled in Homer Township, Champaign* County. He moved into Ford County* in 1868 and was superintendent of the greet Sullivant farm for several years. He has been Town Collector, Town Treasurer and School Director for many years. Mr. Miner is a very popular man in this part of the county, having the confi¬ dence of all, by his strict attention to business. He has an ex¬ cellent farm and beautiful home in Section 19.

Andrew M. Speedie, farmer, P. O. Gibson City, resides on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 17. He is a son of Matthew Speedie, who lives on Section 8.

Samuel W. Wade has a well-improved farm of eighty acres, and comfortable and commodious buildings on Section 4, Dix Township. He rqpides in Elliott.

G. W. Preston'owna the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 8, in this township. He- is a thrifty, industrious farmer, and a good citizen.

J. C. Thornton-was born in Virginia, in 1885. He was mar¬ ried to Miss Ann* M. Johnson in 1868. They have five children. He moved to Fet'd. County in 1864. Here he has held various town officers, being at present Treasurer of the schools and Presi¬ dent of the Towns/dp Sunday School Association.

Matthew Speed a farmer, came from Scotland in 1856, set¬ tled first in Fill Aver, Mass., where he pursued his trade of millwright for sixteen years. He came to Dix in 1866. He was married, June, 184 y, to Isabella Colston, of Scotland. They have five children. Mr. Speedie has a nice farm and a pleasant home.

Hemw Harrison Atwood was mart .«u, February 28, 1862, to Miss L. M. Daniels, of Woodbury, Vt. They have five children. He was born in Lamoille County, Vt, in 1886, and came West in 1850, locating in Ohio. He came to Dix Township in 1866, and now owns a farm of 480 acres. He makes a specialty of raising fine stock.

Samuel Elliott was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1887 ; lived there thirty-five years, then came to Dix Township. In 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Crawford of Co¬ shocton County, Ohio, and the fruit of this union has been five children; four of whom are now living. Mr. Elliott was instru¬ mental in laying out the village in this township that bears his name.

John W. Edwards, hardware merchant of Elliott, was born in Morganfield, Ky., in ,1842. In 1868, he moved to La Salle County, HI. j from there he went to Marshall County. He came to Dix Township in 1877. He married Miss Chrises L. Long, of Marshall County, in 186$. He has three children..

Aaron Q. Bullington, thepreeent Supervisor of Dix Township, was born in Quincy, HI., in 1844. His parents moved to* Jfeffereon County, Mo., soon after he was born, living there several years; they oame to Woodford County, HI. In 1862, the subject of this sketch enlisted in the Eighty-sixth Hlinois Infantry, and served in the war for three years. Mr. Bullington has been twice married, first in 1869 to Miss Mary C. Leonard, by whom he had two children. For his second wife he married Atlanta V. Blake of this township, this union has been blessed by three chil¬ dren. Mr. Bullington settled in this township in lo76, and has taken a prominent part in all public enterprises. In 1882, was elected Sup**risor. Mr. Bullington is a carpenter by trade, and is at present dealing in agricultural implements.

J. E. Hagin, farmer, P. O. Elliott, came to Ford Count? in an airly day. He was born in Cape May Codnty, N. J., in lo86: In 1859, he married Miss Barbara R. Crothera. She died several

John Hollen, importer and breeder of fine horses, lives on Section 8. One of the principal business interests of this State, and one in which persistent efforts, sound judgment and ability of a high order are requisite to ultimate success, is that of fine stock-raising. His favorite horse, " Scotland's Glory," is a bright bay, imported by himself in the winter of 1879, at a cost of $1,800. He owns " Capt. Connaught," whioh name was given him by the reoords on the French books of the pedigree of blooded horses. Mr. Hollen devotes much of his time to the improve¬ ment of his stock.

C. Riarson was born in Norway in 1832, emigrating to America in 1857. He settled first in La Salle County, then camo to Ford County, locating on Section 28, where he now lives. In 1861, he was married to v Miss Knutson, a native of Norway. They have eight children living.

Henry Shields was born in Ireland in 1885. He came to America and settled in New York State in 1841. He came to Ford County about sixteen years ago. He was married to Miss Almira Sharp in January, 1865. He was again married, to Ann Elisa Spencer, in 1675. He had four children by his first wife, and one by his present wife.

Joseph Richmond is the leading druggist of Elliott. He has a good trade, and lives in a pleasant home place, surrounded by a family of three children, all girls.

A. T. Blake was bom in Virginia March 28, 1824. His parents moved to Ohio, where he lived until twenty-two years old, helping his father in cultivating hems. In 1847, he left Ohio and moved to Wayne County, Ill., where he lived on a farm for seven years; then went to Logan County and fanned for sixteen years; then settled in Ford County, where he has since resided. He was Postmaster at East Bend for eleven years; keeper of th'e poor house for six years; Road Commissioner for nine years, and held various other trusts in the gift of the people. In 1847, he married Cyntha Statts. They have had six children.

John Keesey was bora in Maryland in 1814, where he lived for seven years; then emigrated to Ohio, where he lived about thirty years. He then came to Ford County, first settling in Patton Township, where he lived on a farm for eighteen years; then moved to Elliott and opened a meat market. He has been twice married - first in Ohio in April, 1837, to Saloma Crise. They had ten children. Inr 1880, Mr. Keesey was married to Mrs. Jane Culbertson.

John Shilts, P. O. Melvin, is a native of Wertemberg, Ger¬ many, came to the United States in 1858, and to this county in 1868. Residence on Section 24.

Wall Township was otwanized out of the original town¬ ship of Patton in 1867. It is bounded on the north by Lyman Township; east by Iroauois County; south by Patton Township, and west by the townships of Dix and Peach Orchard. It was named after Abraham Wall, the first settler who came to this'township from Marshall County, Ill., in 1854. Among other early settlers were Fred Dienelt, James Simpson, Christian Sny¬ der, Samuel Bell, William Noel, William Ken ward, J. Bonsel, Paul Cooley, John Travis, Levi Miller, Agrippa Wells, Seth Lytle,William Liggett, James Barnes, John Morris, John Richard¬ son, John BayneTKdgar Sharp.

The first town meeting was held at the Stringtown Schoolhouse District No. 2, when the following were elected the first township officers: William Liggett, Supervisor; Steven Fry, Town Clerk; John Morris, Assessor; John Richardson and John Morris, Justices of the Peaoe.

The first, schoolhouse erected in Wall wss the Noel Schoolhouse, and William Noel's wife was the first teacher. The Stringtown Schoolhouse was the next one built, and Miss Emma Si¬ mons, daughter of the first County Clerk, taught the school for two yean. James Barnes' son Walter was the first child born in the township. There is no churoh in this township. Religious servioes are held every two weeks in the Centre Schoolhouse, by a Methodist minister from Loda. There is no village or poqt office in the township. It oontains only a small per cent of un¬ improved land, and its inhabitants are mostly well-to-do farmers.

John F. Kenney was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1885. He came to this township from Putnam County in 1872, settling on Section 14. He married Miss Mary E. Phelps, of Putnam County, in 1860. Mr. Kenney is one of the many men who came to this oountry from the East without capital. That Mr. Kenney has been successful is evinced by his fine fhrm of $60 acres. Mr. Kenney may be classed among the progressive farm¬ ers of this county.

William Kenward is a native of Sussex County, Eng., and came to Hlinois in 1851. He has been twice married, first to Elisabeth McConaty, a native of Lake County, HI., who died in 1871. In 1878, he married Rhoda Snelling, a native of Harri¬ son County, Ohio. Mr. Kenward came here poor, but by hard work, economy and strict integrity has to-day a fine farm of 282

Frod Dienelt, born in Brunswick, Germany, in 1828. In 1848, he went to sea, sailing around the world before he was seventeen years old, and there are few places in either hemisphere he has not visited. He came to Ford County in 1858, being the second settler in this township. He has been twice married, first to Mary Kaminsky, of Germany, she died in 1872, and the fol¬ lowing year he married Mattie Wells. Mr. Dienelt .has the largest and most valuable library of any person - excepting pro¬ fessional men - in the county, and passes much of his time in reading scientific works and studying astronomy. He has a fine farm of 130 acres.

Levi Miller was born in Berks County, Penn., in 1881. He moved to Illinois from Ohio in 1854, and to Wall Township from La Salle County in 1864. In 1852, he was united in marriage to Maria Werts, of Preble County, Ohio, and the result of the union has been ten children. Mr. Miller is a carpenter by trade, but has pursued farming mostly while in this State. He laid out the road districts in Wall Township, and has always been honored by the voters of the town to some position of trust.

William Kenney, the present Supervisor of the township, was born in Washington County, Penn. He came to this township in 1875. He was married in 1850 to Mary McVane, of his native place, and six children have been born to them. Mr. Kenney is a whole souled man, ready to help with his influence any enterprise likely to further the interests of his county.

Richard Trigger was born in Devonshire, England, in 1832. lie came to America in 1859, settling in Peoria County. He came to Ford County in 1869, purchasing the north half of Sec¬ tion 11. He was married to Elisabeth A. Stoves, of England, in 1855. They have, nine children. Mr. Trigger has been Highway Commissioner for a number of years.

Saonders McCormick was born in La Salle County, Ill., 1886. He taught in the public schools of his native county for several years. He spent two years in the gold mines of the Western Territories, and also was book-keeper for a cotton merchant in Texas. He came to Ford County in 1868, settling on the northwest quarter pf Section 9, where he still lives. He has been Justice of the Peace for many-years.

William A. Campbell was born in Northumberland County, Penn., in 1848. He moved to Fountain County, Ind., where he resided a short time; then came to Ford County, settling in Trinket's Grove, Button Township. He was married to Elisa¬ beth C. Irwin in 18d8, and four children have been the fruit of that union. Mr. Campbell now lives on the southwest quarter of Section 35, Wall Township. His father, 0. H. Campbell, was one of the early settlers of Ford County.

Robert M. Karr was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1834. In 1869, he came to Ford County. He has a fine farm of 320 acres and a pleasant home on Section 84. He was married in 1858, and has a family of five children. He enlisted in the One Hun¬ dred and Forty-third hundred-day service and served one year.

Worth McCormick was born in La Salle County, Ill., in 1858, living there till nine years of age, then came to Drummer Township, where he lived until he moved to Wall Township. In 1877, he married Miss Samantha English, of Pickaway County, Ohio. They live in a nice home on Section 5.

John Hamlon is a native of Albany, N. Y. He came to Chicago in 1848, and was bound out to a farmer in Kendall County for eleven years. He was united in marriage to Mary Baxter in 1861. He owns 280 acres of fine farming land and a pleasant home. He has been Road Commissioner and School Director for several years.

Charles Spellmeyer was born in Prussia, in 1831. He emi¬ grated to the United States in 1853, settling in Putnam County. He moved to this township in 1875, settling on Section 16, where he has 820 acres of land under fine cultivation. He was married in 1857 to Louisa Kottkamp, by whom he has seven children - George, Mary, Henry, Frank;, Charlie, Millie and Lillie. His residence and buildings are among the best in the township.

George Minch, former, P* 0. Roberts, was born in Taxwell County, Ill., 1847, where he lived until 1881, when he moved to this township. He owns the northeast quarter of Sec¬ tion 8, and 240 acres in Section 22, Lyman Township, where he now resides. He was married in 1869 and has five children.

Charles Phillips is of English extraction, being born in Lan¬ cashire, England, in 1814. He came to Philadelphia when quite young, where he remained a short time, then moved to the State of Delaware. In 1854, he came to Putnam County, HI., where he lived for etehteenyeare, then came to Ford County, where he has since resided. He was married in 1848, and is the father of four children.

Edgar G. Sharp was horn in New York in 1838. In 1855, he went to Wisconsin, living there three years, then came to Wall Township, settling on Section 30. He was married in 1853 and has a family of eight children. He owns a good form of 160

James H. Snelling is a native of Illinois. He came to Ford County in 1877, and settled on Section 11. Mr. Snelling was teacher of penmanship for many years, he being one of the finest penman in this part of the State. He has filled the office of Supervisor one year, and has been elected to many other offioes.

This township was organised September 9, 1867. It origi¬ nally formed a part of Dix Township, and upon a petition being presented to the Board of Supervisors at their September meet¬ ing in 1867, "to create a new town out of that part of Dix, to be known as Sullivant," they granted the petition, and Sullivant Township was formed. This township is six miles north and south and nine miles east and west. The land is the highost in the State between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, as will be seen by the map, showing that many streams have their source in this part of the State. The soil is of a good quality.

The history of this township can bo nothing else but the his¬ tory of a farm, for that is what it was. Most of the land in this township * was entered or purchased by Michael L. Sulli¬ vant during 1854, who improved the land and operated it as an immense corn farm up to 1876, when he disposed of it to Mr. Hiram Sibley, of Rochester, N. Y. This was undoubtedly the largest corn farm in the world under one man's management. He was a leading man in the township, and lived in a beautiful grove called " Burr Oaks," near the center of the township. Since Mr. Sibley took possession of the form he has rented out most of the land, and for the accommodation of his ronters has erected substantial dwelling houses on nearly every quarter sec¬ tion.

There are eight schoolhouses in the township, all situated on Mr. Sibley's land. They are good, substantial buildings, fitted up with improved furniture.

This beautiful village, originally named Burr Oaks, is situated on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad. The original town of Burr Oaks was surveyed and laid out by John R. Lewis, in February, 1877, for M. L. Sullivant, in the northwest quarter of Section 32. In 1880, Sibley's Addition was laid off, and the name changed to Sibley, to conform with the railroad station and post office. But few buildings had been erected here previous to 1878, when Mr. Sibley organized a system of improvements, and a number of dwelling houses were erected, a hotel, the largest and best in the county, a large seed barn, flax mill, stores, offices and numerous other buildings. A large, commodious grain elevator was erected by Mr. Sullivant.

The general business of the town is carried on by three gro¬ cery stores, two dry goods stores, one hardware and one drug store, tlyee blacksmitn and one wagon shop, one tin shop, one harness maker, one lumber yard and one elevator. The public hall is nicely furnished. Although a town of but few years' growth, the enterprise of its people is shown by the graded streets, good sidewalks, a park, and hundreds of trees that have been set out.

At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors held SsDtember 9, 1867, a petition was presented them for the purpose of having a new township erected out of that part of the township of Brenton described as Town 25 north, Range 9 east, of the Third Principal Meridian. The board, finding that petitioners had complied with the requirements of the law, grafted the petition. The township took its name, or was named after its first resident settler, Samuel Lyman, who settled in the northeast corner of the township, on Section 2, in the year 1856. The township is bounded on the north by Brenton Township, on the east by lro-

? uois County, south by Wall Township, and on the west by 'each Orchard Township and the oounty of Livingston. The first town meeting was held in School District No. 2 on the 7th day |if April, and at this meeting the following township officers were elected : Samuel Woodward, Supervisor ; A. M. Haling, Town Clerk; Daniel Woodward, Collector; A. V. Burcham, Assessor; A. Y. Burcham, James Roberts and P. 8. Gose, Highway Commissioners; Samuel Woodward and T. A. Ire¬ land, Justices of the Peace; Daniel Woodward and Daniel Althen, Constables.

In 1857, a colony of Connecticut people settled in this town¬ ship, takiug up 7,000 acres. The following men composed the colony: R. A. Hungerford, S. K. Marston, Dr. Babcock, B. Marston, Edmond Havens, William S. Rossey, William Bentley, Daniel Hutchinson, Enoch Morgan, Moses Morgan, Theophilus Morgan, A. C. Maxon, Henry Dennis, Robert Eggleston, Sam¬ uel Birdsley, I. N. Newton, N. C. Ball, James Sellick, W. S. Larkin, Lyman Peok, Reuben R. Pearson. The first child born in the township was Rosa Bushor. The first marriage celebrat¬ ed was in the spring of 1860. James Crow and Kate Birdsley were the contracting parties. The first death was Mrs. Henry Dennis, who was bnned on the A. M. Peck farm, Section 4.

The first teacher m School District No. 4 was Effie Maxson. In District 5, William W. Graham was first teacher, and Mrs. S. K. Marston in SchoA No. 1.

The village of Rffiffirts u situated on the Springfield Branch of the Illinois Centum Railroad. It was located and surveyed during the foil of 1871, by F. A. Roberts, after whom the town

Roberts has among its business houses, four dry goods and five grocery stores, one bank, one hotel, the u Glencoe," two liveries, one drug store, two Macksmith shops, two grain elevat¬ ors, one lumber yard, a tile factory, two meat markets, one hard¬ ware and furniture store, three churches - Congregational, Meth¬ odist, and German Methodist, and two schoolhouses.

In 1878, the village suffered a severe loss by fire, but with true American enterprise the injured firms rebuilt, and now tho town is one of the most flourishing in the county.

The number of car loads of grain, stock and merchandise shipped the past year, was corn, 196 ; hogs, 65; cattle, 12 ; flax seed, 81, oats, 24.

- The Methodist Church was first started by a Mr. Pierce, a Welshman, who livqd near Oliver's Grove' and preached all over this section of the country in private houses and schoolhouses, at an early day. The first preacher sent here by the conference, was a Mr. Henry in 1871. He preached in the Graham Schoolhouse. A Sunday school was organized, with Mr. Yan Steenburg, Superintendent. Meetings were held in the sohoolhouse in Roberts the following year, and until the hall was built in 1875 services were held in the hall until the new Methodist Epis¬ copal Church was dedicated, January 22, 1882, by G. W. Gue, Presiding Elder.

The Congregational Church was organized in 1875, under the name of tne " First Congregational Church of Roberts." A Congregational Church organization existed in this township as early as 1867 ; in 1875, two separate bodies grew out of the old one, one locating in Thawville, Iroquois County, and the other at Roberts.

Services were held in the schoolhouse and town hall until 1879, when steps were taken to erfect a house of worship, which was completed and 'dedicated during the summer of 1880. The church has at present sixty-one members, and is in a prosperous condition.

Samuel Lyman, the first settler was born in Southampton, Mass., July 16,1811, and moved to Ford County, Ill., in 1856 ; he bought 280 acres on Section 2, where he lived until 1869. He moved to Onarga, Iroquois Connty, and lived there until his wife died. He then came to Paxton, and made his home with his son, Samuel B. Lyman, or " Burt '' as he was familiarly called, who was Sheriff of Ford Connty for eight years.

James Roberts, former, was bom in Sussex County, England, 1816. His father died when he was eight years old, leatfng James to shift for himself, and earn a penny at anything he could do. In 1843, he married Elisabeth Gilbert, of England, by whom he has three children. Mr. Roberts came to this country in 1851, and to Lyman Township, Section 32, in 1858. He owns 200 acres of fine forming land, has a comfortable home where he resides.

Albert M. Haling was bora in Hartford County, Conn., Sep¬ tember 80, 1820. He came to Lyman Township in 1866, pur¬ chasing-1,200 acres of land in Fractional Section 8, at $8 per acre. He made a re-survey of the section, calling it " Haling's Subdivision." He sold it in 1870, and bought 480 aores m Sections 10 and 11, where he erected the finest house in the town¬ ship, which now belongs to J. L. Shorthose Mr. Haling was married to Lucy A. Droves, of Ellington, Conn., by whom he had five children*, vix., E. S., Frank W., Kate A., Clarenoe A. and Lnoy A., all bora in Connecticut. Mr. Haling was first Town Clerk and second Supervisor of the township, and in 1874 was elected Representative of the Eighteenth Congressional Dis¬ trict of Illinois.

Edward Yan Steenbergh is one of the most extensive formers of this township. Bora in Ulster County, N. Y., in 1814, he oame to this township in 1871, settling on Section 2$. He owns a splendid form of 640 acres, and annually ships large quantities of hay to Chicago.

» The Hurst family is among the earliest settlers of Ly¬ man Township, Joseph and Mary Hurst came to this country from England in 1847, settling in New Jersey, where Mr. Hurst died in 1849. Mrs. Mary Hurst came West, and settled on Section 80, this township. She died in 1875. Retea and Hannah (maiden ladies) now own and live on the old homestead. One of the children, Ann, is living in Gloucester, N. J. Tim rest of the children are in this State.

William Hurst was bora in 1888, and came to Ford County in 1855. He is a former, and now resides on Section 30. Ho married Mary, daughter of James Roberts.

Joseph Hurst was bora July 8, 1884, in Edgerton, England. Coming to this Western country, he settled in Bureau County, where he lived for several years, and married Miss Harriett Har¬ vey, by whom he had ten children. Coming to Lyman Town¬ ship in 1858, he bought two sections of land from the Illinois Central Railroad Company, but poor crops and hard times came, and Mr. Hurst became very poor. His main dependence was a shot-gun, which was taken from him on execution; the officer re- penting the act, returned the gun. Mr. Hurst often speaks of this, to show the contrast with his present circumstances, now owning a fine farm of 820 acres, one mile from Roberts, under excellent cultivation.

Amos C. Maxon was born in the town of Lyme, State of Connecticut, in 1821. At the age of fourteen years, he went on board ship with Capt. Chadwick, making three voyages a year for seven years. He came to Ford County in 185o, settling on Section 14, where he now lives. He was married te Phoebe E. Pierson, of Connecticut, in 1851, and six children have been born to them. Mr. Maxon was one of the colony that came to this county from Connecticut.

M. Cassingham, M. D., was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1841. In 1845, he came to Kendall County, HI., liv¬ ing there several years. He moved to Grundy County, and later to Ford County, settling at Roberts in 1871. He gradu¬ ated from the Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1874. He was united in marriage in 1862 to Miss Ellen Cullen, of Canada. To them have been born four children.

Since Dr. Cassingham settled in Roberts, he has been very successful in his practice, and has won the respect and confidence of all. He is a hard worker, and is at present doing as much or more than at 4ny other time in his life.

1854. He is a brother of Dr. Cassingham, and came to Roberts to engage in the drug business with bis brother in 1881. For several years he had followed the map publishing business, meet¬ ing with good success. September 26,1883, he married Elmira, daughter of Lycurgus Burns, of Roberts.

1855, he came to Kendall County, Ill., where he lived until 1861, then moved to McLean County. He came to Roberts and opened the Glencoe Hotel in 1881. He keeps a good hotel and obtains his share of the traveling public. He was married, in 1859, to Lusina Alford, of Clinton County, N. Y. They have four children.

Chris Anderson is a native of Scotland. He bought a farm in this county in 1865; he farmed until 1872; then went into partnership with J. A. Moutelius and George Campbell. In 1874, Mr. Moutelius sold out to the other partners who continued do¬ ing a general merchandise and grain business at Roberts. In 1876, George Campbell went to Piper City and engaged in the banking business, and Mr. Anderson remained in Roberts. In 1881, he bought out the banking business of J. B. Meserve and has been connected with this and the tile works since. He was married to Mary Martin, of Marshall County, Ill., and they have seven children, all girls.

William B. Flora was born in Campbell County, Ky., in 1844. In 1868, he settled in Iroquois County, 111.; he opened a store in this place in 1872, and, in company with Mr. Newman, is doing a good mercantile business. In 1874, he married Mary Jane Newman, of Kentucky. They have four children.

E. B. Beighle was born in Butler County, Penn., February 14, 1886, and came to his present home in Section 8, Lyman Township, in November, 1869.

William Hough Bond and James Bond were born in Manches¬ ter, England. William was born February 4, 1841, and James, February 11,1844. William came to Lyman Township in 1866, and is a brick-maker by trade, but has been engaged in farming since living in this county. James is a veterinary sur¬ geon and farmer. They both have excellent farms.

Charles Ringeisen was born in Germany July 25, 1844; he came to Ford County in 1881, and is now one of the active Ger¬ man farmers of Lyman Township.

Arthur Swanick was born in the county of Mayo, Ireland, September 16, 1832; he came to New York State in 1855, to Illinois in 1862, and to this township in 1872; he has eighty acres of land in Section 6.

John Hummel was born in Germany August 7, 1834. He emigrated to America and settled in Hlinois in 185 4; he settled in Lyman Township in 1869, and has been engaged in farming since.

George E. Reynolds, farmer, P. 0. Roberts, was born in Knox County, HI., November 12, 1859. He moved to Lyman Township in the spring of 1881, and has been engaged in agri¬ cultural pursuits since.

Samuel Shute was born in Gloucester County, N. J., October 19, 1821. He moved to his present home in 1868. He owns 820 acres of fine land in this township.

John Roberts was born March 23, 1835, in Sussex Couqty, England. He came to this county in 1859, and settled on Section 32, Lyman Township. He was one of the earliest settlers of the township.

I. C. Newman is a native of Madison County, Ohio. He came to Illinois in 1852, and to this township in 1867. He owns <* farm in Section 8, where he is engaged in farming and stockraising.

Robert H. Gresham was born in Christian County, Ky., Sep¬ tember 6, 1848. He came to this State in 1850, and to Ford County in 1882. His business is a farmer, P. O. Roberts.

John Crawford, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Albany County, N. Y., in 1841. IJe came to the State of Hlinois in 1865, and to Ford County in 1871. He owns a good farm in Section 2, Lyman Township.

John Cook was born in Germany in 1848. He emigrated to America in 1867, and settled in Hlinois in 1879. He lives on his fine farm in Section 13.

Charles Fellwock is v a German, who came to this country in 1861 # to better his condition. He settled in Ford County, iu 1867. He owns a good farm on Section 35.

George Minch, farmer, P. 0. Roberts, was born in Taxewell County, Ill., in 1847, where he lived till 1881, when he moved to Wall Township, where he owns the northeast quarter of Section 3. He owns 240 acres in Section 22, this township, where he resides. He was married in 1869, and has five children.

September 15, 1868, a petition was presented the Board of Supervisors, asking their aid in creating a new township out of the township of Dix, composed and described as the east twothirds of the north half of Town 24 north, and the south half of Town 25 north, in Range 8 east, " and on motion of Supervisor Davis it was ordered by the board that said territory be and is hereby set off in accordance with the prayer of said petition ; and it is further ordered that the territory set off shall be known and designated as the township of Peach Orchard."

In 1855, Joshua T. Nicholson planted 1,000 peach trees on the southwest quarter of Section 21, Town 25 north, Range 8 east. This large orchard was cultivated for about twelve years, when the trees died and were never replaced. This is how the township come to be named Peach Orchard.

William B. Holmes, Joshua T. Nicholson, Elick Nicholson, Alexander Nicholson and David Spencer, were the early settlers of the township until the fall of 1867, when the township was rapidly settled up. Among those coming were John Iehl, the Hunt family, G. and J. Dixon, John Wilson, Joshua Umbarger, John Conniff, W. B. Knight, George and William Foster, G. and O. Defriese, A. Heilman, Joseph Fletcher, John and William Boundy, Robert Ashley, P. Brady, William Underwood, Michael Siphilts, Ed McKanna, Henry Rowcliff, George and T. Arends, Charles Gardner, Isaac C. Day, T. D. Thompson, William Frasius, William Lackey, George Phillips, Lot Robb, T. and J. Mc¬ Laughlin and John Thacfcery.

The first school building in this township was the " Grand Prairie" (No 8), although a year or so before this was built, an old building was moved into the township from Wall, and used for school purposes; it was called the "Black College." The first teacher was Robert Hutchinson.

The first marriage in this township occurred in 1857, the con¬ tracting parties being Elick Nicholson and Miss Margaret Scott. Charles Rodenhour was the first person that died. He was buried on Section 8 in the fall of 1858.

On the 29th of May, 1857, Miss Fanny A. Holmes, daughter of Squire Holmee, was bom, the first child in Peach Orchard. She is now the wife of Paul Keostner, and lives on the same farm where she was boro.

This township has a railroad running diagonally across it, orig¬ inally known as the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield, now the Springfield Division of the Hinois Central. The township took $23,000 of stock, issuing bonds therefor for twenty years, draw¬ ing ten per cent interest. The road was completed in 1871, and trains were running that winter.

D. K. Pearson, of Chicago, owned the east tier of sections in this township, and one day in November, 1866, he came down here and sold the entire tier of sections ; the average price paid was $8.50 per acre. Melvin, named afler the President of the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad, is the only village in the township. It was surveyed and laid out at the request of Enoch Hunt, and includes about sixty* five acres. It is situated on the south half of the northwest quarter of Section 1, and contains a fine school building, four churches, two elevators, one lumber yard, six dry goods and grocery stores, one agricultural ware¬ house, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, a drug store, a hardware and furniture store and a hotel.

William B. Holmes was boro in England in 1820. He em¬ igrated to America in 1849, landing in New York. He came to Fond du Lac County, Wis., where he remained about three years. He then moved to Georgetown, Vermilion Co., Ill., and worked at the carpenter's trade for several years, then moved to what is now Peach Orchard Township in April, 1855, settling on the farm he now owns. He built the firet house, and turned the first furrow in this township. In 1860, the Prince of Wales' suite - Capt. Carter, Hon. C. A. Ellis, now Duke of Rutland, and a

German connected with the Royal family- 1 - with their servants, were in this part of the coantry hunting, and spent several days with Mr. Holmes. He was married, December 26, 1844, to Miss Elisa Wren, of Yorkshire, England. Mr. Holmes had held the office of Supervisor, Assessor and Justice of the Peace.

Thomas D. Thompson was borrf in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1847, where he resided until 1864. He then moved to Illinois, and in 1868 settled in Ford County, and was the first station agent at Melvin. He now is engaged in the grocery and dry goods business and is Postmaster of Melvin. Mr. Thompson has always taken a lively interest in the building-up of the churches and schools of this place.

Enoch S. Hunt was bora in Marshall County, Ill., in 1833. He moved to La Salle County in 1847, and lived there until 1868, when he moved to Ford County, settling on the same farm where he now lives. In 1854, he was married to Miss Mary Griffen. Mr. Hunt was instrumental in starting the village of Melvin and in securing the railroad across the township. He has a fine farm and excellent buildings, only a short distance from the village, where he resides.

William S. Larkin was boro in Rhode Island March 5,1826. He came to Ford County from Connecticut, in 1857, settling in Lyman Township. He is now in business with his son-in-law in Melvin. They are running a creamery, shipping their butter to New Orleans.

4, 1842. He moved to Marshall County, Ill., in 1849, where he lived on a farm until the breaking out of the war. He en¬ listed in the Ninth Illinois Infantry, remaining in the service until the war closed, when he was honorably discharged and re¬ turned to his farm. He married Miss Sarah Robinson, of Canada, and moved to Peach Orchard Township. After farming for several years, he moved to Melvin and opened a meat market, and is still engaged in this business.

5, 1848, he lived there until 1858, when he moved to Dwight, Livingston County, fanning, attending school, and clerking in a store, until eighteen years passed away, when he moved to Melvin, Ford Co., Ill., and built and opened a store of general merchan¬ dise, which business he is at present engaged in. He was married, October 16, 1878, to Maggie E. Wolverton, of Pontiac. They have been blessed with three children.

Edward G. Collins, born in Herkimer County, N. Y., Sep¬ tember 22, 1851. His parents died when he was a young man. Afler learning the harness maker's trade, and being anxious to establish himself in business, came West, and settled in Melvin, where he has carried on his business with sucoess. In 1876, he was married to Martha M. Shute. This union has been blessed with two children.

John S. Hunt came to the place where he now lives in the fall of 1867. He has a splendid farm of about 600 acres. He was first Collector of the township, also served two terms as Super¬ visor and was School Director for many years; is one of the trust¬ ees of the Methodist Church, to which he contributed largely. He always takes an active part in all the affairs of school, church or township.

John Iehl was born in the Province of Alsace, France, in 1839. When eleven years old, he, with his parents, came to America and settled in Lake County, Ill., and engaged in farm¬ ing. When he became of age, he started in life for himself, go¬ ing to Marshall County, Ill., and working on a farm. In 1867, he bought the northwest quarter of Section 28 in Peach Orchard, and farmed it until 1873, when he bought out the grain elevator in Melvin, and has carried on the grain business with success since. In 1871, he married Miss Mary Arends. They have had four children, two now living. In 1881, Mr. Iehl was elected Supervisor of the township, which office he still continues to hold.

W. T. Gash was born in England June 8, 1837, where he lived until he was twenty-one years old, then came to America and began farming in Henry County, Ill. In 1869, he came to Peach Orchard and located in Section 23, where he still resides. In 1874, he married Miss Sarah A. Bevins. They have three children.

Josiah Umbarger is a native of Pennsylvania; he was born in 1834, and at the age of ten years came West with his parents to Putnam County, Hi. In 1860, he married Miss Jane Allen. Mr. Umbarger has a fine farm of 240 acres, with substantial im¬ provements.

Gerhard Defries was born in Germany in 1827. At the age of twenty-seven years he came to America aod lauded in New Orleans. He bought his present form in Peach Orchard in the spring of 1868. In 1857, he was married to Mias Hissky Hilmere. They have a family of eight children.

Henry Rowcliffe was born in England in 1843; he settled in Ford County in 1869, and still lives on his farm in Section 83. In 1859, he was united in marriage to Martha Dunn, of Enland. For his second wife he married Sarah Bell. They have ve children.

William Cooper was boro in England in 1880. He came to America in 1862. He is a tailor by trade. He came to Peach Orchard Township from Fairbury, Ill., and went to farming. In 1855, he was married to Miss Elisabeth Cole. They have a family of seven children.

William Boundy was born in England October 30, 1832. He emigrated to America in 1857, first settling in New York State. He came to Peach Orchard Township from Peoria Coun¬ ty, Ill., in 1871. He was mairied to Elisabeth Hill, of England, March 27, 1853. They have six children.

John Karsten is a native of Germany, where he worked on a farm for twenty-four years. He came to America in 1866, and settled in Marshall County, HI. In 1876, he came to Peach Or¬ chard Township. In 1867, he was married to Sophia Hose. They have four children. He owns 200 acres of land with good improvements.

A. Buckhols is a native of Germany, who came to this country in 1852, working at various places for a number of years. He finally settled on his present farm in Section 1 in 1867. He was married in 1855 to Miss Caroline Fnnte, and the fruit of this union has been a family of eight children. . He now owns 720 acres of land in this township, with excellent improvements.

Henry Spellmeyer was born in Germany, 1840; he emi¬ grated to America with his sister in 1858, first settling in Mar¬ shall County; then, in 1868, came to Peach Orohard Township. In 1868, he married Miss Louisa Steinman. They have five children.

John Thackary was born in England, 1834, where ho lived till 1865; then came to this country and settled in Putnam County, Ill., where he lived for several years. He then came to Ford County and located in this township. March, 1865, he married Catharine Phillips, and six children have been bom to them. Mr. Thackary now owns 480 acres of good land in Peach Orchard.

William D. Spencer is the son of David W. Spencer, who was bora in Vermont in 1811, and came to Vermilion Coun r ty, Ill., in 1841, and bought 400 acres of land, which he worked several years, then moved to Georgetown, same county, and engaged in stock-raising, which he followed for a time. In the spring of 1855, settled in Peach Orchard; he died in 1857. Our subject was born in 1855 in Georgetown, Vermilion County,

111., and came with his parents to this township. Ho was mar¬ ried to Miss Emma J. Terry, of St. Louis. They have three children. Mr. Spencer is preparing hjmself for the ministry.

Thomas McLaughlin was bora in the North of Ireland in 1829; emigrated to America in 1848, when he settled on a farm in La Salle County, Ill.; lived there for six years, then came to this township. He now owns the southeast quarter of Section 36, one*half mile from Melvin.

George F. Forney, farmer, P. O. Melvin, was bora in Putnam County, Ill., 1845. At the age of twenty-two years, he married Elisa S. Allen, of Pennsylvania. They have four chil¬ dren. He settled in Peach Orchard Township in 1870; he was Town Clerk for three yean.

Peter Conniff was bora in Ireland; at the age of six yean, he came to America with his mother and settled on a farm in New Jersey. He remained in that State about twenty years, then came to Henry County, III. He settled in this township in 1857, and still lives on the same farm he first purchased. In 1861, he enlisted in the Fourth New Jersey Regiment, and was in the service until the war closed.

David Thompson was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1841. In 1863, he enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Volunteers. He settled in Ford County in 1869, on the place he now owns in Seotion 23. He married Margaret C. Fraser in 1865.

James Dixon, farmer, P. O. Melvin, u a native of Manchester, England, where he was bora, 1836. In 1861, he enlisted in the Seventeenth Illinois Volunteers, and remained in the service until 1868, when he was honorably discharged and returned to Manhall County, 111. In 1867, he settled in Ford County, and has lived here since. In 1865, he married Miss Jane E. Hunt. They have seven children.

Patrick Goggins is a native of the " Emerald Isle. M He came to America in 1846, and first settled in La Salle County, HI. After living there twelve years, he moved to Ford County. He married Miss Catharine Clark in 1868, and three children have been born to them.

W. J. Hunt is a native of Marshall County, Ill., where he was bora 1841. He remained there twenty-one years, working on his father's farm, then moved to La Salle County, Ill. In 1861, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Regiment, and was in the service several years; then returned to his old home in La Salle County, where he remained until 1872, when he moved to Peach Orchard Township, and has Binee resided here.

John M. Thompson was bora in Noble County, Ohio, April, 1887. He lived there several years, then settled in Belmont County, and taught school for four years; also attended the academy at Belmont. In 1864, he settled in Grundy County,

111., staid there a short time, then moved to Marshall County, and after living there three years he went to Woodford County and bought a form and worked it for four years, then sold out and came to Peach Orchard Township in the fiill of 1872, and engaged in general merchandising; he soon sold out to his brother and engaged in the sale of agricultural implements and lumber. In 1861, he was married to Miss Jane Day, of Bel¬ mont County, Ohio. They have two children. Mr. Thompson takes a deep interest in the church and schools of Melvin.

The territory now organised into Pella Township, originally formed a part of Stockton, and from 1861, when Brenton was organised, up to 1870, it formed a part of that township.

This township was the youngest of the sisterhood of townships in Ford County, and was unfavorably located for early settle¬ ments, on account of its being mostly a low, level prairie, and exceedingly wet, except in the driest times of the year. The

Vermilion swamps extend across the northern part of the township, the South Fork of the North Vermilion River, a slow, sluggish stream, flows across the center, and various marshes and sloughs are scattered over the township, and much of the land was long regarded as irreclaimable. But of late years many Irish families have moved in and bought the wet lands, and at once began the work of ditching ana tile draining, and such other changes made as warrants the belief that Pella will soon rank as one of the best townships in the county.

The first settler of this township was Robert Hall, who bought land in Sections 16 and 28; he came in 1857. The next settler was Henry Atwood, who settled on southwest quarter of Section 22. Henry Mitchinson came the same year and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 22. Lyne Starling, a cousin of M.

The first man to locate in Pella after the war was John Bales; the same year James McCarty and James Taggart came. In 1868, Edward Doran. The McTier family, Robert Wells, An¬ drew Hickman, Hugh Rice, Abraham Fadden, M. C. Kice, Dan¬ iel Marble, William Andrews and Owen Murtaugh, settled in this township, and about the same time Charles Yates, James Sheldon. The Reed boys - Charles - Arby - Thomas - Butler and Ed, Thomas Correll, J. S. Ruff, ratrick McNoughton, Andrew Stuart, William Michael and John Ward. Lyne Starling, who came from New York, built the house in Section 35, known as the " Old Brenton House." This house was built of the best material and in a very substantial manner. The building of this large house and the extensive preparations for forming on a large scale by Mr. Starling were quite an enoouragement to the set¬ tlors. The Starling property was all of* Sections 1 and 8, east half of 17 and northwest quarter of 5 in Brenton and 31, 83 and 35 in Pella.

The first marriage in Pella was between Henry Atwood and Miss Mary Wylie. They were married by W. P. Pearsons, of Onarga, November 16, 1859.

The first school taught in Pella was at the house of Henry Atwood in 1863, his wife being the first teacher. The first schoolhouse built was the " Reed Schoolhouse," in District No. 1, But¬ ler Reed being the first teacher.

There is no village, post office or church in this township, the trading point for most of the citisens being Piper City, which lies close to the south line of the township.

Some of the leading citizens of this township live in the southern part of the township among whom may be mentioned Joseph Mitchinson, a farmer, who was bora in England in June, 1838. His parents ^rere formers, and Joseph worked on the form for several years then left there and came to America. He settled in this township in 1858 on Section 22. He has 120 acres of rich forming land, and a comfortable home. In 1860, he married Elisabeth Agnew, of England, and the fruit of this union is six children, four of whom are now living.

Among the leading formers and stock-raisers of Pella may be mentioned William P. Moore, who was bora in Perry County, Ohio, 1884. He left there in 1866, and settled in Warren County, Ill.; after living there two years, he moved on to his pres¬ ent form in Section 32. In 1862, he enlisted in the One Hun¬ dred and Fourteenth Ohio Regiment and served in the war until its dose. He was married to Eliza Hickman of Pennsylvania, in 1857. They have six children. Mr. Moore has been Road Commissioner for many years, and may be classed among the leading and successful formers of the county.

Charles A. Cook was bora in London, Ontario, November 8, 1845. He left Canada and settled in La Salle County in 1857, and came to Ford County, Pella Township, in 1870. He has a fine rich farm on Section 30, with pleasant and commodious buildings. Mr. Cook has been twice married, first to Angelina Dean in 1870 ; she died in 1877. In 1879, be married Miss Carrie Montelius; she died in 1883. He has two children. Mr. Cook is one of the leading and active men of the township.

The township of Mona was set off from Rogers March 2, 1870, being the last township organized in the county. When first created, it was call Delhi, at the suggestion of Supervisor Bishop, of Brenton Township, but several months after was changed to Mona, at the request of the citisens of the township.

It was so named because many of the inhabitants of said township are natives of the Isle of Man. Through the kindness of Mr. David Keighin, we will give a brief sketch of that lonely island:

The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea, nearly equi¬ distant from the three surrounding countries. Its area is about 220 square miles. Two-thirds consists of arable and meadow land, and the remainder of heath and moor. The climate is high¬ ly salubrious, being exempt from oppressive heats in summer and frosts in winter. The commerce is not great; the chief article of export is fish - herrings - bringing in a clear revenue of £40,000 a year. The language of the island is one of the three dialects of Celtic, which still continues to be spoken there. It is similar to the Irish ; therefore, the natives of Ireland, the highlanders of Scotland and the Manksman have little difficulty in understand¬ ing each other. The island is divided into six Manors, and these subdivided into seventeen Parishes. The Isle obtained its name from the original founder and legislator of the islaind, Mannanan MacLer; the name being contracted to Mannin, and in later years to Mann. Mona, with which Mann is often con¬ founded, is rather a description of the island, than a name. Mona signifies isolated or lonely, and was doubtless applied to the isle by the inhabitants of surrounding countries.

Mona Township is bounded on the north by Rogers Town¬ ship, on the east by Iroquois County, south by the township of Pella and west by Livingston County. It is a Congressional township, being six miles square. The north half is a fine body of undulating prairie land, settled by an excellent class of intel¬ ligent formers.

The southwest part of the township is low, level land with deep soil, and in djry seasons capable of raising large crops of corn, while the remainder of the township is covered over with a lai^e marsh, called the Vermilion Swamps, now in process of drainage.

The first settler in Mona was Matthew Faddling, who came here twenty*five years ago, and settled on Section 5 where he now resides. Among the early settlers may be mentioned Jacob Rolderman, Louis Falter, Sr., Wright Kemp, M. C. Lewis, Daniel Morrical, Thomas Kelly, John Looney, Thomas Heqvysides, Robert Lewin, Samuel Dowse, William Cowley, George Sherman, John and William Dancer, Henry Benson.

The first schoolhouse was built on the northwest quarter of Section 32, Belle Hose boing the first teacher. Schools No. 3 and 5 were started about the samo time.

The first religious services in the township were held in School No. 3. The Sunday school was started by George Sherman, who was the Superintendent for seven years.

The town hall on the southeast quarter of Section 8, was built for the purpose of holding religious, political, social and lit¬ erary meetings. In 1876, a literary society was organized with John A. Scott, President; David Keighin, Vice President; A. Anderson, Secretary ; and M. A. Dinsmore, Treasurer, the cen¬ tral object being to cultivate a taste for literature among the resi¬ dents of the township. The exercises of the Mona Literary So¬ ciety were somewhat varied; the main object being the improve¬ ment of the social condition of the oommunity. Their efforts were ably seconded by other districts of Ford and adjoining coun¬ ties and liberal donations were received from Paxton, Piper City, Clifton and other towns.

The society flourished until the village of Kempton was started in the northwest corner of the township, which drew away some of the citizens and much of the interest that centered at the hall.

There are eight district schoolhouses in this township, two of them, the "Keighin" and "Kelly" Schoolhouses, are the hand¬ somest buildings, outside the villages, in Ford County.

The first preaching in the township was at the Bute Schoolhouse, by Rev. M. C. Lewis, a Methodist preacher. The society then numbered fourteen members.

In 1881, the society erected a church in Kempton, under the supervision of Rev. Joe Bell, pastor, and A. Stuart, R. F. Bell and James Kemp, Trustees. The new church was dedicated the 28th of April, 1882, by Rev. B. F. Tallman. R. F. Bell was ap¬ pointed the first Superintendent of the Sunday sohool.

Kempton is the only village in the township, a station on the Kankakee A Southwestern Railroad. It was laid out in 1878, by Wright Kemp. The railroad company called their station Kempton, in honor of Mr. Kemp, who rendered them excellent service in securing the right-of-way for the railroad across the township. The village contains two general stores, one hard¬ ware store, one drug store, one lumber yard, two elevators, and a hotel. The population is about 200. J. W. Brown built the first frame house in the village. J. E. Seyster was the first sta¬ tion agent

David Keighin is a native of the Isle of Man. He came to Tennessee in 1848, and to this township from Peoria in 1869. He has a fine farm of 480 acres, and a pleasant home on Sec¬ tion 11. In connection with his farm, he, with his son Charles, are engaged in the grain business in Kempton. Mr. Keighin was elected the first Supervisor of Mona, which office he ably filled for seven years. In the community and in all public en¬ terprises he takes a lively interest His warm heart and genial ways have made him an abundance of friends, and by his indus¬ try, honesty and integrity, is justly entitled to the respect of all.

Thomas Kelly came from the Isle of Man in the spring of 1849, in the same ship with David Keighin. He moved to this township in 1867, coming from Galva, Henry County, Ill. In reviewing the lives of successful men, how true do we find in nearly every instance, that hard work, economy and industry have laid the foundation of future prosperity. Mr. Kelly is no exception to this rule, and his large farm of 640 acres, suitable and substantial buildings, have Men acquired only by a life's lqbor, and constant application.

i Joseph McKinney is a son of Archibald McKinney, one of the early settlers of Brenton Township. Mr. McKinney came to Kempton in 1880, and bought out the hardware store and lumber yard of John McKinney, now in business in Piper City.

Samuel Dowse came to this township in 1868, settling on Seotion 8 . He now owns 860 acres of .fine land with good im¬ provements. He was Assessor for six years, and at present is Justioe of the Peaoe. He is a native of England.

Louis Falter, Jr., was bom in Ohio. He came to Mona Township in 1869. He now owns 820 acres in Section 4. Mr. Falter is one of the active, progressive farmers of Ford County. He has a beautiful home, and is in the prime of life.

John Looney is a native of the Isle of Man. Mr. Looney owns 240 acres of excellent land in this township. He is a shrewd man, well read on all principal topics.

John A. Scott is a native of Washington County, Penn. He came to this township in 1870. He now owns all of Section 9, where he has erected a comfortable home, large and convenient bams and other buildings. He is the present Supervisor of the township.

Henry Benson left England in 1854, and came to Kendall County, Ill., then to this township in 1867, settling on Section 1. He owns a fine farm of 240 acres, with handsome improve¬ ments.

The largest stock-dealers in the township are the Dancers - John and William. They came from Will County before the township was settled, with large droves of cattle to herd on the . Vermilion Swamps during the summer. They have herded as many as a thousand head that were placed under their care, in a season. In 1873, they came here to live, and now own 480 acres of land. John is married, and has a fine house on Section 14. They keep about 200 head of cattle on hand all the time, buying as fast as they sell. Johu Dancer is one of the Drainage Commissioners of the special Vermilion Ditch that is being con¬ structed across the swamps.

Robert Lewin, farmer, is a native of the Isle of Man. He oame here in I 860 . He owns a well-regulated farm of 480 acres, with handsome buildings. He is a thorough, successful man, and has accumulated by hard labor and shrewd management a goodly share of this world's goods.

Daniel Morn cal was bom in Laurel Hill, Va., 1886. He moved to Ohio, then lived in Indiana twenty-two years, and finally settled in Ford County in 1869. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace since the township was organised, and has been School Director several years. He is a farmer, and owns 160 acres of land.

George Essington, farmer, is a native of England. He came to this township in 1871, settling on Section 1. He %wns a good, well-improved farm of eighty acres.

John Sutton was bom in England in 1885. He left there in 1858, settling first in New York State, and then moved to Grundy County, HI., where he remained some ten years. He enlisted in the Ninety-first Illinois Regiment, and was in the service three years. He moved to Section 8 , .Mona Township, in township from Grandy County in 1882 . He owns the north¬ west quarter of Section 81. Himself and wife are the parents of seventeen children, twelve of whom are now living.

James E. Farley is the present Assessor.' He was bora in Pennsylvania, and came here in 1875, and now owns 240 acres in Seotion 5. Mr. Farley is a carpenter by trade, but most of the time is actively engaged in farming.

James Kemp was bora in Kendall County, HI., 1858, and is the son of Wright Kemp, who now resides in Kankakee City. Mr. Kemp, the subject of this sketch takes a deep interest in all improvements, and is himself a natural mechanic. He has a beautiful home one-half mile west of Kempton.

Personal Sketches

CHRIS. ANDERSON, Roberts, was born April 28,1842, at Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and came to Hlinois in the fall of 1866. In the winter of 1866-67, he bought the southeast quarter of Section 4, Township 25, Range 9, and farmed until 1872. In the fall of that year our subject asso¬ ciated %ith John A. Montelius and George Campbell, of Piper City, under the firm name of Montelius & Co., as general store¬ keepers and grain merchants. In 1875, Mr. Montelius sold out, when the business was carried on under the firm name of Ander¬ son A Campbell, until 1878, in which year Mr. Campbell sold out and went to Piper City to commence his banking business. Mr. Anderson continued tne store keeping up to the fall of 1881, when he sold out to James Smith & Son, and took possession of the Roberts Exchange Bank in 1882. In the spring of 1888, he started the Roberts Brick and Tile Works.

SWEN ANDERSON, Justice of the Peaoe, Sibley, was bora in Sweden, January 6 , 1844, and is a son of O. and Cary Anderson. He came to this country with his parents, and settled in Knox County, HI. In 1868, he settled in this county. Our subject was united in marriage with Latha Swenson, of Fairbury. HI. They have four children - Carry C., Albert F., George Theodor and James L. In addition to his official position, Mr. Anderson is a Notary Public, insurance and land agent

HON. HUGH P. BEACH, Piper City. Judge Beach trapes his paternal ancestry back to the Hon. Daniel D. Tomp¬ kins, one of the early Governors of New York State, and subse¬ quently Vioe President of the United States for two terms conse¬ cutively under James Monroe as President; his ancestry on his mother's side is traoeable to certain high official positions in Con¬ necticut The eyes of our subject first opened to the light of day, about forty years ago, in a humble log cabin in the then wildorness of Northern Ohio, near what is now the beautiful city of Cleveland. He received such education as the scant facilities of that early day offered to farmer boys, until about the age of fourteen, when, upon the death of his mother, he started oat to confront the fortunes of life and carve out a career for himself, unaided and alone. His first venture was in a printing offioe, which he entered as " printer's devil," and in and from that position, through all the intermediate grades up to the writer of locals for a country journal, he served for several years, during which period he received his first substantial scholarship in the history of the political affairs of his country and the world. Time and an increase of knowledge awakened within him a desire to enter the legal profession, ana k favorable opportunity presenting itself, he changed his occupation, and spent the next succeeding years in the offices of two prominent lawyers. Hero he was found at the breaking-out of the late rebellion. At the firing on Fort Sum¬ ter, he at once volunteered for three years, or " during the war." The first company he joined (such was the patriotic rush to the defense of the country) failed to be accepted by the authorities ; he did not have to wait long, however, for the call for " 300,000 more" gave him an opportunity of entering the service as a pri¬ vate ; he remained for over four years and a half in oonstant serv¬ ice, and though but comparatively a boy, he served through all the various grades up to the command of a company, both in¬ fantry and artillery, holding his commissions about half the en¬ tire term of service. This took him through campaigns and en-

S agements from the Ohio River to the Gulf, the Red River expeition, and the movement against Mobile and the attendant con¬ flicts, which resulted in its capture, in which latter operations in the field he was in command of his own company; he also after¬ ward rendered service in the Gulf Coast defense at the mouth of the Mississippi. Daring his term of service, he was from time to time under Gens. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Banks, Canby Smith and other distinguished commanders. Two slight wounds, only, attested to the many perils of this long and arduous service. After the assassination of President Linooln, he raised a contri¬ bution in his company of over $700 for the National Lincoln Monument at Springfield, and received an autograph letter of thanks from Gov. Oglesby, President of the Monument Associa¬ tion. Toward the close of his term' of service, he married the daughter of the late Captv Henry Lyon Smith, of the Engineer Corps of the old regular army, who was a graduate of West Point, and subsequently a Professor at that post. Capt. Smith was of New England birth, and after he graduated at West Point he was sent by the United States Government to Louisiana, where he married the sister of a classmate, and thus became connected with one of the firot families of Louisiana, among whom were a Governor of the State and several Generals and distinguished political leaders. One member (aunt to the wife of our subject) has, since the close of the war, filled the position of Librarian, first at the patent offioe, and next at the agricultural department at Washington. On returning from the army, Judge Beach with his young wife came direct to Ford County, HI., where he has since resided. Here he at once resumed the study of law in con¬ nection with other branches of professional business, and was ad¬ mitted to the bar about 1870, aud during the three succeeding years was engaged in private practice. In the spring of 1878, his fellow-townsmen elected him to the County Board of Supervisors, where, by his vigilance and advocacy of economy, retrenchment and reform in the management of the affairs of the county, he immediately attracted general attention and, very unexpectedly to himself, was taken up by the people and by an overwhelming majority elected, the same fall, to the offioe of County Judge of Ford County, to which position he has been re¬ elected for three successive terms. He is a Knight Templar, St. Paul's Commandery, No. 84, Fairbury, HI.; he is also a member of the I. O. O. F., both Suborainate and Encamp¬ ment, and has been a Representative to the Grand Lodge of the State. He has also been President of the Board of Trustees of the village where he resides, and has held numerous o£her subordinate offioes. In politics, he is a Republican. In religion, he believes God reigns supreme. Judge Beach is counted one of the best orators of Eastern Illinois, and is pronounced by those who know him most intimately, to be a faithral, upright and just Judge.

HENRY BENSON, farmer, P. O. Kempton, was bora May 2,1839, aud is a son of Henry and Ann Benson, natives of North Lancashire, England, who had a family of nine children, six girls and three boys, Henry being the youngest son. The family emigrated to America landing in Philadriphia January 6 , 1855, and came at once to Kendall County, HI., and settled on a farm near Lisbon where they -remained three years when a farm was purchased near Yorkviue, where the family lived nine years. In the spring of 1865, the mother died; the following year the farm was sold and the family separated, to find homes for themselves. Henry located in Mona Township, on his present place of residence, in the spring of 1867, when it was a wild prairie. On December 31, 1868, he was united in mar¬ riage with Hannah, daughter 6f Wright and Elisabeth Kemp, natives of Lancashire, England, who emigrated to the United States in 1849.. 'The issue of this union is a family of six chil¬ dren - Mary Alice, Horace Kemp, Henry Wright, Wilbur Jphn,

Walter Elliott and Arthur Heap. The father of our subjeet died May 9, 1877. Our subject is a progressive man and keeps well up with the times, as is shown in the surroundings of his beautiful home and finely improved farm.

W. A. BICKET, Sibley, resident agent and general man¬ ager for Hiram Sibley's " Burr Oaks farm," war born in Can¬ ada in 1842. When but thirteen years old, he entered a store as clerk, and before he was fourteen became book-keeper of the establishment. In 1860, he oame to Chioago, Ill., where he entered a commission store as clerk and afterward became book¬ keeper. In 1868, he went to Minnesota, and enlisted in Uncle Sam's service, remaining until the close of the war. He after¬ ward became head manager of a large manufacturing establish¬ ment which employed a quarter of a million dollars investment. In 1872, he came to the Burr Oaks farm, and has since been resident agent. t He has a vast amount of business to perform, looking after $1,000,000 worth of Mr. Sibley's property at Sib¬ ley, and over the form. He is Supervisor of Sullivant Town¬ ship, a position he has held for six years, one year as chairman of that body. He has been a member of the village board three years, and has held all the township offices from Constable to Supervisor. He was married to Ellen Pratt, a native of Fari¬ bault, Minn., February 11 , 1867. They had eight children, six of whom are now living. Mr. Bicket is one of Ford County's prominent and valued citizens, widely known and honored by! all.

COL. CHARLES BOGARDUS, a man in the prime of life, is one of the most widely known and prominent business men of the county. He has at the early age of forty-two, a his¬ tory as a military officer, a reputation as a business man, and a fortune of his own accumulation, surpassed by few who stand at the close of life's allotted span. Charles Bogardus was bora in Cayuga County, N. Y., March 28, 1841. Daring an epi¬ demic in 1847, almost his entire family, including father and mother, were sWept away by death. He was taken by an un¬ cle, W. H. Bogardus, who gave him the advantages of the com¬ mon school until the age of twelve years, when he secured a place in a grocery store at $1.50 per week, his uncle famish* ing him wiSi board and clothes. This place he held for four years, receiving advances in pay from time to time. All of his wages had been paid over to his uncle as received every Saturday night On the expiration of his term ofservioe, he borrowed money to take him to Ridgeway, in Western New York, and commenced clerking and earning his first money at $8 per month. He continued hero until 1862, receiving an advance in salary each year. The benevolent uncle, although a poor man, had without the knowlndge of his nephew invested the small earnings of his first engagement, and without any charges for board or clothes, offered to turn over to him the whole amount, whioh was firmly and justly declined with thanks. In ,1862, he was married to Hannah W. Pells, and in August of the same year enlisted as and was sworn in a private in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Volun¬ teers. Here began, for one so ypung, a most active and suc¬ cessful military career. At the organization of the company, he was elected First Lieutenant, ana was promoted to the Cap¬ taincy of Company I December 12, 1862, to Lieutenant Colonel December 10, 1864, and brevetted Colonel by order of the Pres¬ ident of the .United States for gallant and meritorious services in one of the charges in front of Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865. The Governor of New York forwarded the President's commission to him with the following autograph letter: u Colonel: I have the pleasure to transmit herewith a brevet commission con¬ ferred by the President, in recognition of your faithful and dis¬ tinguished services in the war. I feel a just pride in this ac¬ knowledgment of the gallantry and devotion of an offioer of this State, which serves to heighten the reputation won by the valor and oonstanoy of the soldiers of New York. Very truly yours, R. E. Fenton." He participated in all the marches, skirmishes and battles, many of the hardest fought of the war, in whioh his regiment was engaged, which belonged to the Sixth Army Corns. He was wounded at Monocaoy, Md., July 9, 1864, oaptured and escaped Richmond and Libby Prisons; by the severity of his wound, not being able to endure the transfer by ambulance, he was carried three miles on a stretcher to the Confederate hospital at Frederick City, Md. In a few days the Union troops captured that plaoe, and he was then sent to the offioers* hospital at Annapolis, Md. From thence, on crutches, home to cast his first vote for Lincolr and back again to his regiment, though not able to walk without his cane, and finished his military qareer With his old command, having been mustered out June 26,1865. After the dose of the war, he returned to Ridgeway, N. Y., and entered into partnership with his old em¬ ployer, with whom he remained a full partner until failing health from his wound received in 1864 compelled him to give up bus¬ iness. In March, 1872, he came to Paxton to make it his per¬ manent home, having found, by visiting, the climate favorable to his health, since which time he has been identified permanently with all worthy enterprises of the city and community. He and his estimable wife have a place in the hearts of our people, -es¬ pecially in those of the poor and needy, whose wants are diligent* iy and unostentatiously searched out and alleviated.

S. P. BUSHNELL, President of the First National Bank, organised May 5,1888, Paxton, HI., was bora in Oneida County, N. Y., March 24, 1827, son of Rev. Calvin and Polly (Williams) Bushnell, former a native of Saybrook, Conn., latter reared in that State. She died at Roseville, Vermilion Co., Ill., at the age of nearly ninety years. Rev. Calvin Bushnell came West in 1886, and located in Kendall County, Ill. He died at Lisbon, HI., in 1862, aged eighty years. Our subject came West to Kendall County, III., with his parents, and here ho obtained but a common school education. He was married, April 28, 1850, to Adeline McEwen, who bore him three children, two now Ur¬ ine - Emily J., wife of Dr. S. M. Wylie, residing in Paxton, ana A. S., assistant oashier of the First National Bank, Paxton. One child died in infancy. Mr. Bushnell bps been engaged in various enterprises, from tyne to time, with marked degree of success, having accumulated a competency, and is at present in active business, dealing in grain ; he owns several valuable tracts of .excellent farm land in Central Illinois. Our subject is cer¬ tainly one of the exemplary citisens of Paxton, and one of Ford County's most successful business men.

RENSSELAER BOWKER, contractor and builder, Gibson, son of Cubing and Abigal (Rider) Bowker, was born April 6, 1829, in Shefford, Shefford Co., Canada East. On the 28d of April, 1855, he was united in marriage with Mary Batchelder Spaulding. They have seven children - Albert Rensselaer, born September 6, 1859; Chellis Irwin, November 1, 1860, in Mem-

JAMES PORTER BUTTON (deceased) was born in Jefferson County, Ky., Jan. 29, 1822. Came to Ford County in 1852. Mr. Button was married to Mias Sarah R< Hock, in Fountain County, Ind., February 8, 1845. They have had a family of eight children, seven .of whom are now living. Mr. Button en¬ tered land in Section 25, Town 23, Range 10, in the township which now bears his .name. The present home farm was pur¬ chased of Joseph Coonts, who was an early settler of this county. Mr.Button filled many positions of trust with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He was the Treasurer of Ford County at the time of his death* which occurred at Paxton March 22, 1866. Sarah R., his widow, is a daughter of J&oob Hock, an early pioneer of Fountain County, Ind. W. J. Button, the second son, has bought out the heirs of the old homestead, comprising 820 acres, where his mother still resides.

GEORGE CAMPBELL, banker, Piper City, was bom in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1844. He received his education at the High School in Glasgow, and at the age of thirteen years began work in the cashiers office of the North British Railway Com¬ pany, where he remained two and a half years, being promoted to the Passenger Superintendent's Department, and afterward to be Superintendent of freight trains on the system, which position he held until 1872, when he left Scotland and oame to America, settling in Piper City. He engaged in business with Chris. An¬ derson, at Rooerts, until 1878, when he suoceeded to the bank¬ ing business of Messrs. Montelius A Son, in Piper City, which he still continues to ran with excellent success. Mr. Uampbell was married to Miss Jeanie Anderson in 1866.

OBADIAH H. CAMPBELL is a son of James Campbell, a native of New Jersey, who moved to, Northumberland County, Penn., when about fifteen years old, where he died at an advanced age. Our subject was born in Pennsylvania Deoember 17,1811. In 1855, he oame to Indiana, where he lived one year, -and in the spring of 1856, he purchased the property of the heirs of Joshua Trrckel, at TriokeTs Grove, Button Township, Ford Co., Ill. He is one of the. oldest living settlers of this county, and owns and resides on -one of the first settled places in the county or Eastern Illinois. Mrs. Campliell was a native of Pennsylva-. nia, where she was born in 1817. She died February 2,1867. They had a family o£ nine children, eight now living.

LYMAN D. V. CASTLE, livery, Kempton, a son of Londo and . Emeline Castle, was bora in Camden, Oneida County, N. Y., March 4, 1855. On April 25, 1878, he was united in mar¬ riage with Ada W. Brown, at Sannemin, Livingston Co., Ill. They have two children - Iva Adella and Judson. Mr. Castle settled here in November, 1882.

REMEMBRANCE CLARK, Paxton, is a native of New Hampshire. He was bora in Stafford County in 1810, and brought up on a farm among the. Granite Hills. In 1884, he went to Frankfort, Me., where he remained until 1847; then settied in Bangor, Me., being engaged in mercantile business. In I860, he oame to Dlinois, settling in Paxton. He built a house that year, on the east side of Market street He opened a store in this house, which he kept up for several years, and in 1867 built the largest brick business house in Paxton, known as Clark's block. Here he opened his store which he, in company with his son-in-law, Mr. R. Crusen, carried op with good suooees, until he sold out to Mr. Crusen,who is now engaged in the hardware trade. Mr. Clark was married, in 1884, to Henrietta A. Durgin, a native of New Hampshire. They have been blessed with six children, two of whom are now living- - Elisa Ann, wife of R, Crusen, and Mary, wife of H. R. Daggett, of Petoskey, Mich. The business career of Mr. Clark has been that of an exemplary man, and although retired, on account of declining years, with an abundanoe of this world's goods, he bids fair to enjoy many years more the position of honor and respect which is universally given him and his excellent wife by the people of this place.