Ford County, Illinois - The whole text, 1908 (part 4 of 9)

Saunders McCormick was born in La Salle county, Illinois, in 1836. He taught in the public schools of his native comity for several years. He spent two years in the gold mines of the western territories, and also was bookkeeper for a cotton merchant of Texas. He came to Ford county in 1868, settling on the northwest quarter of section 9. He was justice of the peace for many years.

William A. Campbell was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1843. He moved to Fountain county, Indiana, where he resided for a short time; then came to Ford county, settling in Trickel's Grove, Button township. He was married to Elizabeth C. Irwin in 1868, by whom he had four children. 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, becoming the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in section 34. He was married in 1858. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-third Hundred Day service, and served one year.

Worth IMcCormick was born in La Salle county, Illinois? in 1853, living there until 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 Picpia county, Ohio.

John IIamlon was a native of All)any, New York. lie came to Chicago in 18-43 and was bound out to a farmer in Kendall county for eleven years, lie married i\Iary Baxter in 1861. lie became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land. He was road commissioner and school director for several years.

Charles Spellmeyer was born in Prussia, in 1831. He emigrated to the United States in 1853, settling in Putnam county. He moved to this township in 1875, settling on section 16, where he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He was married in 1857 to Louisa Kottkamp, by whom he had seven children.

George ]\Iincii was l)()rn in Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1847. where he lived until 1881, when he moved to this township. He became the owner of the northeast quarter of section 3, and two hundred and forty acres in section 22, Lyman township. He was married in 1869.

Charles Phillips was b(n'n in Lancashire, England, in 1814. He came to Philadelphia when ([uite young, where he remained for a short time, then moved to the state of Delaware. In 1854 he came to Putnam county, Illinois, where he lived for eighteen years, then came to Ford county. He was married in 1843.

Edgar G. Sharp was born in New York in 1833. 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 was the father of eight children.

James H. Snelling was a native of Illinois. He came to Ford county in 1877, and settled on section 11. INIr. Snelling was teacher of penmanship for many years, he being the finest penman in this part of the state.

At a meeting of the 1)oai-d of supervisors held September 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 noi-lh, i-ange 9 east of the thinl i)riii("ipal meridian. The board finding that the commissioners had complied with the nHiuirements of the law, granted the petition. The township took its name, or was named after its first resident settler, Samuel Lyman, who settled in tlic northeast corner of" the townshij). <m section 2, in the year 1856. The townshi]) is bounded on the nortli l)y Brenton townshi]). on the east by li-o(|uois county, south by Wall township, and on the west by Peach Orchard township and the county of Livingston. The first town meeting was held iii school district No. 2, on the 7th day of April, and at this meeting the following township officers were elected: Samnel Woodward, snpervisor; A. M. Haling, town clerk; Daniel Woodward, collector; A. V. Burcham, assessor; A. V. Burcham, James Roberts and P. S. Gose, highway commissioners; Samuel Woodward and T. A. Ireland, justices of the peace; Daniel Woodward and Daniel Althen, constables.

In 1857 a colony of Connecticut people settled in this township, taking seven thousand acres. The following men composed the colony: R. A. Hungerford, S. K. Marston, Dr. Babcock, B. IMarston, Edmond Havens, William S. Rossey, William Bentley, Daniel Hutchinson, Enoch Morgan, Moses Morgan, Theophilus Morgan, A. C. Maxon, Henry Dennis, Robert Eggleston, Samuel Birdsley, I. N. Newton, N. C. Ball, James Sellick, W. S. Larkin, Lyman Peck, Reuben R. Pearson. The first child born in the township was Rosa Bushor. The first marriage celebrated was in the spring of 1860. James Crow and Kate Birdsley were the contracting parties. The first death was Mrs. Henry Dennis, who was buried on the A. ]\I. Peck farm, section 4.

The first teacher in school district No. 4 was Effie Maxon. In district 5, William W. Graham was the first teacher, and IMrs. S. K. Marston in school

In 1873 the village suffered a severe loss by fire, but with true American enterprise the injured firms rebuilt and now the town is one of the most flourishing in the county.

The Methodist church was first started by a Mr. Pierce, a Welshman, who lived 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 conference was a Mr. Henry in 1871. He preached in the Graham schoolhouse. A Sunday school was organized, with Mr. Van Steenbergh superintendent. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse in Roberts the following year. When the hall was built in 1875 services were held there until the

The Congregational chiiroh was organized in 1875 under the name of the First Congregational church of Rolx'rts. A Congregational church organization existed in this township as early as 18(J7. In 1875 two separate bodies grew out of the old oiu\ one locating at Thawvillc. Ircuiuois county, aiul the other at Roberts. Services wi-re held in the schoolhouse and town hall until 1879, when stei)s were taken to erect a house of worship, which was completed and dedicated tluring tlie summer of 1880.

Samuel Lym.vn, the first settler, was born in Southampton, IMassaehusetts, July 16, 1811, and moved to Ford county, Illinois, in 1856. He bought two hundred and thirty acres on section 2. Avhere he lived until 1869. He moved to Onarga, Inxiuois county, 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 sheritf of Ford county for eight years.

James Roberts, farmer, was born in Sussex county, England, 1816. His father died when he was eight years old. leaving James to shift for himself and earn a penny at anything he could do. In 1843 he married Elizabeth (lilbert, of England, by whom he had three children. Mv. Robert came to this country in 1851, and to Lyman township, section 32, in 1858, becoming the owaier of two hundred acres of land.

Albert M. Haling was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, September 30, 1820. He came to Lyman township in 1866, purchasing twelve hundred acres of land in fractional scftion ;>, at eight dollars per acre. II(> made a resurvey of the section, calling it "Ilaling's Subdivision." He sold it in 1870 and bought four hundred and eighty acres in sections 10 aiul 11. w'here he erected the tinest house in tlie township, which afterward belonged to J. L. Shorthose. ]\Ir. Haling was married to Lucy A. Groves, of Ellington, Connecticut, b\' whom he had live childreiL namely: E. S., Frank W., Kate A., Clarence A. and Lucy A., all l)()i-n in Connecticut. Mr. Haling was first town clerk and second suix'i-visor of the townshi]), and in 1874, was elected representative of the eighteenth congressional district of Illinois.

Edward Van Steenbergh, one of the most oxtensive farmers of tliis township, was born in Ulster county, New York, in 1814. He came to this township in 1871, settling on section 28, ownin": six hnndrod and forty acres, and annually shipped large quantities of hay to Chicago.

The IIurst Family is among the earliest settlers of Lyman township. Joseph and Mary Hurst came to this country from England in 1847, settling in New Jersey, where IMr. Hurst died in 1849. ]\Irs-. Mary Hurst came west and settled on section 30, this township. She died in 1875. Helen and Hannali (maiden ladies) afterward owned the old homestead. One of the children, Ann, lived in Gloucester, New Jersey.

William Hurst was l)orn in 1838 and canie to Ford county in 1855, becoming the owner of land in section 30. He married IMary, daughter of James Roberts.

Joseph Hurst was l)orn July 8. 1834, in Edgerton, England. Coming to this western country, he settled in Bureau county, Avliere he lived for several years and married IMiss Harriett Harvey, by whom he had ten children. Coming to Lyman township in 1858, he bought two sections of land from the Illinois Central Railroad Company, but j^oor 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, repenting the act, returned the gun. ]Mr. Hurst often spoke of this, to show the contrast from that day to the day when he owned three hundred and twenty acres, one mile from Roberts, under excellent cultivation.

Amos C. IMaxon was born in the town of Lyme, state of Connecticut, in 1821. At the age of fourteen years, he went on board ship with Captain Chadwick, making three voyages a year for seven years He came to Ford i.'ounty in 1858, settling on section 14. He was married to Phoebe E. Pierson, of Connecticut, in 1851, and six children were b(»rn to them. ]\Ir. ]\Iaxon was one of the colony that came to this county from Connecticut.

M. Cassingham, M. D., was born in JNIuskingum county, Ohio, in 1841. In 1845, he came to Kendall county. Illinois, living there several years. He moved to Grundy county, and later to Ford county, settling at Roberts in 1871. He graduated from the Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1874. In 1862 he married Miss Ellen Cullen, of Canada.

Ora W. Cassingham was born in (irundy count\-, Illinois, in 1854. He came to Roberts in 1880, to engage in the drug Inisiness with liis 1)rother. Dr. Cassingham. For several years he followed the map publishing lousiness, meet-

Charles 0. Hayes, a native of Clinton county, New York, came to Kendall county, Illinois, in 1855, where he lived until 1861, then moved to McLean county. He came to Roberts and opened the Glencoe Hotel in 1881. He kept a good hotel and obtained a full share of the traveling public. In 1859 he was married to Lusina Alford, of Clinton county. New York, by whom he had four children.

Chris Anderson, a native of Scotland, bought a farm in this county in 1865. He farmed until 1872 and then went into partnership with J. A. Montelius and George Campbell. In 1874 Mr. Montelius sold out to the other partners, who continued doing a general merchandise and grain business. 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. IMeserve. He was married to INIary jMartin, of ^larshall county, Illinois, by whom he had seven children, all girls.

William B. Flora was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, in 1841. In 1868 he settled in Iroquois county, Illinois. He opened a store in this place in 1872 and, in company with E. O. Newman, carried on a good mercantile business. In 1874 he married ]\Iary Jane Newman, of Kentucky. They had five children. Later lie moved to Paxton, where he is and has been county clerk for several years.

William Hough Bond and James Bond were born in ]\Ianchester, England. William was born February 14, 1841, and James, February 11, 1844. William came to Lj'^man township in 1866, and soon afterward engaged in farming. They both became the owners of tine farms.

George E. Reynolds was horn in Knox county, Illinois, November 12, 1859. He moved to Lyman township in the sprin<? of 1881 and engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Samuel Shute was born in Gloucester county, New Jersey, October 19, 1821. He moved to this township in 1868 and became the owner of eight hundred and twenty acres.

John Roberts was born ]\Iarch 23, 1885, in Sussex county, England. He came to this county in 1859 and settled on section 32, Lyman township.

I. C. Newman, a native of Madison county, Ohio, came to Illinois in 1852, and to this township in 1867, becoming the owner of a farm in section 8, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising.

John Crawford was born in Albany county. New York, in 1841. He came to the state of Illinois in 1865, and to Ford county in 1871, where ho became the owner of a good farm in section 2, Lyman township.

H. ]\r. Wilcox was born in Stockbridge, Oneida county, New York. He left the state and came to Illinois in 1868, becoming the owner of a large farm and carrying on a dairy business.

John Cook was born in Germany in 1843. He emigrated to America in 1867, and settled in Illinois in 1879, becoming the owner of a fine farm in section 13.

Charles Fellwock, a native of Germany, came to this country to better his condition. He settled in Ford county in 1867, becoming the owner of a good farm in section 35.

George Minch was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1847, where he lived until 1881, when he moved to Wall to\vnship, where he became the owmer of the northeast quarter of section 3 ; also two hundred and forty acres on section 22, this township. He was married in 1869.

Tlie townsliip of ^Foiia was set off from Roo-ers ]\Iareh 2, 1870, being the last township organized in the eounty. When first created, it was called Delhi, at the suggestion of Supervisor Bishop, of Brenton township^ hut several months after was changed to IMona, at the request of the citizens of the township.

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

The Isle of ]\Ian is situated in the Irish sea. nearly equi-distant from the three surrounding countries. Its area is about two lumdred and twenty square miles. Two-thirds of the island consists of arable and meadow land, and the remainder of heath and moor. The climate is highly salubrious, being exempt from oppressive heats in sunnuer and frosts in winter. The eonnnerce is not great; the chief article of export is fish (herring) bringing in a clever revenue of forty thousand pounds 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 IManksman have little difficulty in understanding each other. The island is divided into six manors, and these subdivided into seventeen parishes. The island obtained its name from the original founder and legislator of the island. Mannanan IMacLer; the name being contracted to IMannin, and in later years to Mann. Mona, wath which Mann is often confounded, 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 ])ounded on the north hy Rogers township, on the east by Iroquois county, south by the township of Fella, and west by Livingston county. It is a congressional township, being six miles square. The north half is a tine body of undulating prairie land, settled by an excellent class of intelligent farmers.

The southwest part of the township is low, level land wilh deep soil, and in dry seasons capable of raising large croi)s of corn, while the ri'nuiimler of the township is covered over with a large marsli, called the Vermilion swamps. A great part of this has been drained.

The first settler in jMona was Matthew Faddling. who came here a great many years ago, and settled on section 5. Among the early settlers may be mentioned Jacob Ilolderman, Louis Falter, Sr., Wright Kemp, M. C. Lewis, Daniel Morrical, Thomas Kelly, John Looney, Thomas Ileavysides, Robert

The first schoolhouse was built on the northwest quarter of section 32, Belle Hose being the first teacher. Schools Nos. 3 and 5 were started abovit the same time.

The first religious services in the township were held in school No. 3. The Sunday school Avas started by George Sherman, who was the superintendent for seven j^ears.

The town hall on the southeast corner of section 8 was built for the purpose of holding religious, political, social and literary meetings. In 1876, a literary society w^as organized with John A. Scott, president ; David Keighin, vice president; A. Anderson, secretary; and M. A. Dinsmore, treasurer, the central object being to cultivate a taste for literature among the residents of the township. The exercises of the ^lona Literary Society were somewhat varied; the main object being the improvement of the social condition of the community. Their efforts were ably seconded by other districts of Ford and adjoining counties, and liberal donations were received from Paxton, Piper City, Clift(m 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.

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

In 1881 the society erected a churcli 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 appointed the first superintendent of the Sunday school.

Kempton is the only village in the township, a station on the Kankakee & Southwestern Railroad. It was laid out in 1878 by Wright Kemj). The rail- road company called their station Kempton, in honoi- of ]\Ir. Kemp, who rendered them excellent service in securing the right of way for the railroad across the township.

David Keighin, a native of the Isle of ^lan. came to Tennessee in 1848. and to this township from Peoria in 18G9. He became the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres on section 11. In connection with his farm, he, with his son Charles, engaged in the grain business in Kempton. Mr. Keighin was elected the first supervisor of Mona, which office he held for several years.

Thomas Kelly came from the Isle of Man in the spring of ISIO, in the same ship with David Keighin. He moved to this township in 1867, coming from Galva, Henry county. In reviewing the lives of successful men, how true do we find in nearly every instance, that hard work, economy and industry have biid the foundation of future prosperity. ]\Ir. Kelly was no exception to tliis rule, and after hard work, acquired six hundred and forty acres of land.

Joseph McKinney, a son of Archibald McKinney, is one of the early settlers of Brenton towaiship. Mr. IMcKinney came to Kempton in 1880, and bought out the hardware store and lumberyard of John IMcKinney, who afterward engaged in business in Piper City.

Samuel Dowse came to this township in 1868, settling on section 8. He became tlie ownin- of three liundred and sixty acres of fine land, with good improvements. He was assessor for six years, and also held the office of justice of the peace.

John and William Dancer came from Will county before the township was settled- with large droves of cattle to hertl on the Vermilion swamps during the siininier. Tliey herded as many as a thousand head that were placed under their care in a season. In 1873 they came here to live and became the owners of four hundred and eighty acres of land. John Dancer was one of the drainage commissioners of the special Vermilion ditch.

Daniel Morrical Avas l)orn in Laurel Hill, Virginia, in 1836. He moved to Ohio, then lived in Indiana twenty-two years, and finally settled in Ford county in 1869. He held the office of justice of the peace, and was school director for several years.

John Sutton was born in England in 1835. He left there in 1858, settling first in New York state, then moved to Grundy county, Illinois, 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 3, Mona township, in 1869.

John Thorndyke was born in England. He came to this township from Grundy county, in 1882, becoming the owner of the northwest cpiarter in section 31.

James E. Farley was born in Pennsylvania, and came here in 1875, becoming the owner of two hunderd and forty acres on section 5. At one time he was assessor.

Rogers township is the extreme north township of the county, bounded on the north by Kankakee county, on the east by Iroquois, on the south by Mona township and on the west by Livingston county.

It derived its name from Jeremy W. Rogers, its first supervisor. This township was originally called Grant, and when organized composed the present townships of Mona and Rogers.

This is considered the ])est township in the county, with at least seventyfive per cent of the area, suitabh' and adapted to fanning purposes, that can l)e made to produce excellent crops.

The first postoffice was at Eldridgeville. with John Eldridge as postmaster, although at an early date the farmers took turns in bringing the mail from Dwight, which was left at Jared Williams' house.

The first schoolhouse was built on the farm owned by George Riggs and i\Iiss Laura Cook, who afterward liecame ]Mrs. Charles Bouk, was the first teacher.

Cabery is the principal village in Rogers township, situated on tlie middle division of the Illinois Central or Kankakee & South Western Railroad. It lies on the county line, the largest half in Rogers to^^^^ship. which was first laid out. It was incorporated as a village in the fall of 1881 and contains stores of various kinds and a newspaper called the Cabery Enterprise. There is a public hall and one ]\Iasonic hall. The place is a wide-awake, go-ahead one, containing a class of good cili/.ciis, who heartily niiile ui)on any cnter])rise or iiiipi'ovciiiciit for flic public good.

James Clayton, a native of Chester, England, came to this country in 18-I-9. and to Rogers township in 1868, settling on a fine farm in section 31. lie laid out a part of the village of Kempton, called Clayton's Addition.

David Huntley, a native of NewYork, came to this township in 1859. and became the owner of two hundred and forty acres in Ford county, and eighty acres, the home place, just over the line in Livingston county.

George Hargreaves was born in England, coming to America in 1854; he first settled in Kendall county, Illinois. In 1867 he moved to this township, settling on section 36.

Andrew^ Stuart, a farmer, native of Canada, settled in Grundv countv. Illinois in 1843. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteers in 1862, remaining in the field until the war was over.

JosHi'A Henthron came to this county from England in 1856. He settled on section 28. Rogers township. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of good land from the Illinois Central Railroad Company.

Frank ]\IcLaughlin was born in Grundy county in 1853. He came to this township in 1880. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Clayton, in 1874.

John and Alfred Clayton, sons of Henry Clayton, were born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. John came to this township in 1865, and Alfred in 1868, ])oth owning homes on section 25.

In 1865, Mrs. Priscilla Taylor, widow of James Taylor, deceased, together with Samuel and Edward Clayton, Peter Taylor and others, came from Ohio to Rogers township, Mrs. Taylor with her children, residing on section 35.

IMrs. Elizabeth Clayton, widow of William Clayton, an early settler, came to Rogers township from Noble county, Ohio, residing in a beautiful home on their farm on section 27.

Fire At Cabery In 1885

On Sunday morning, May 3, 1885, Cabery was visited by a disastrous fire, and the town was almost obliterated by the flames. Twenty-four business houses and fourteen dwellings went up in smoke. The total loss was estimated at one hundred thousand dollars, with about twenty-five thousand dollars insurance. The village was without fire protection, and no aid from other towr.s could l)e secured in time to stay the devouring flames. The fire originated in a millinery store at 3 o'clock in the morning. Several guests w^ere in the Commercial Hotel, which was destroyed, and barely escaped with their lives.

September 15, 1868, a petition was presented to the board of supervisors, asking their aid in creating a new township out of the township of Di\. composed and described as the east two-thirds 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 hereb}^ set off in accordance with the prayer of said petition ; and it is further ordered that the territory set oft" shall l)e known and designated as Peach Orchard."

In 1855 Joshua T. Nicholson planted one thousand 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 came to be named Peach Orchard.

William 1>. Holmes, Joshua T. Nicholson, Elick Nicholson, Alexander Nicholson and David Spencer were the early settlers of this township until the fall of 1867, when the township was rapidly settled up. Among those coming were John lelil, the Hunt family, G. and J. Dixon, John Wilson, Joshua TTmbarger, John Coiiiiift', W. B. Knight, George and William Foster, G. and O. Defriese, A. IlcUmaii, Joseph Fletcher, John and William Boiiiidy. Roliei'l. Ashley, P. Brady. Williaiti Underwood, Michael Sdiills, Ed McKaiin.i. Henry

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 occurred in this township in 1857, the contracting parties being Elick Nicholson and INIiss Margaret Scott. Charles Rodenhour was the first person wlio died. He was buried on section 'A. in the fall of 1858.

On ]\Iay 20th, 1857, ]\Iiss Fanny A. Holmes, daughter of Squire Holmes, was born, the first child in Peach Orchard. She became the wife of Paul Keostner.

This toAvnship has a railroad diagonally across it, originally known as the Oilman, Clinton & Springfield, now the Springfield Division of the Illinois Central. The township took twenty-three thousand dollars of stock, issuing bonds therefor for twenty years, drawing 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 he came down here and sold the entire tier of sections ; the average price paid was eight dollars and fifty cents per acre.

Melvin, named after the president of the (Jilman, 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.

William B. Holmes was born in England in 1820. He emigrated to America in 1849, landing in New York. He went to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he remained about three years. He then moved to Georgetown, Vermilion county, Illinois, and worked at the carpenter's trade for several years, then moved to what is now Peach Orchard township in April, ]855, settling on a farm which he afterward owned. He built the first house and turned the first furrow in this township. In 1860 the Prince of Wales' suite - Captain Carter, Hon. C. A. Ellis, now Duke of Rutland, and a German connected with the Royal family, with their servants, - were in this part of the country hunting and spent several days with ]\Ir. Holmes. He was married December 2G, 181:4, to Miss Eliza Wren, of Yorkshire, England. Mr. Holmes had the office of supervisor, assessor and justice of the peace.

Thomas D. Thompson was born 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 IMelvin. He engaged in the grocery and dry-goods business and was postmaster of Melvin. Mr. Tlionipson always took a lively interest in the liuilding up of the churches and schools in this place. Later, he moved to Paxton, where he is and has been circuit clerk for a number of years.

Enoch S. Hunt was born in ]\Iarshall county, Illinois, in 1833. He moved to La Salle county in 1847, and lived there until 1868, when he moved to Ford county. In 1854 he was married to ]\Iiss Mary Griffen. ]\Ir. Hunt was instrumental in starting the village of Melvin and in securing the railroad across the township.

William S. Larkin was born in Rhode Island, March 5, 1826. He came to Ford county from Connecticut in 1857, settling in Lyman township. After- Avard he engaged in business with his son-in-law in Melvin.

Edw^vrd S. Jenkins was born in Chester county, Pennsylv;ini;i, July 4, 1842. He moved to INIarshall county, Illinois, in 1849, where he lived on a farm until the breaking out of the Civil war. He enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Infantry, remaining in the service until the war closed, when he was lionorably discharged and returned to his farm. He married Miss Sarali Robinson, of Canada, and moved to Peach Orchard township. After farming for several years, he moved to Melvin and opened a meat mai'ket.

Augustus P. Gould was l)orn in KciHhiil county, Illinois, OctobiM- 5. 1848. He lived there until 1858, when he moved lo Dwight, Livingston county, farming, attending sclio<tl and clerking in a store until eighteen yeai's passed away, when he moved to JMelvin and built and opened a .store of <?eneral merchandise. He was married, October 16, 1878, to IMaggie E. Wolverton, of Pontiac.

Edward G. Collins, born in Herkimer county, New York, September 22, 1851. His i)arents died when he \vas a young man. After learning the harnessmaker's trade and being anxious to establish himself in business, came west and settled in Melvin, where he carried on business with success. In 1876 he was married to Martha M. Shute.

John S. Hunt came to this place in 1867. becoming the owner of a fine farm of six hundred acres. He was first collector of the township, also served two terms as supervisor and was school director for many years. He was one of the trustees of the IMethodist church, to which he contributed largely. He always took an active part in all 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, Illinois, and engaged in farming. When he became of age he started in life for himself, going to INIarshall county, Illinois, and working on a farm. In 1867 he bought the northwest quarter of section 28, Peach Orchard, and farmed it until 1873, when he bought the grain elevator in IMelvin and carried on the grain business with great success. In 1871 he married Miss Mary Arends. In 1881 Mr. Iehl was elected supervisor of the township, which office he held for several years.

W. T. Gash was born in England, June 3, 1837, where he lived until he was t\venty-one years old, then came to America and began farming in Henry county, Illinois. In 1869 he came to Peach Orchard and located in section 23. In 1874 he married Miss Sarah A. Bevins.

JosiAH Umbarger, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1834. and at the age of ten years came west with his parents to Putnam county, Illinois. In 1860 he married Miss Jane Allen.

Gerhard Depries was born in Germany in 1827. At the age of twentyseven years he came to America and landed in New Orleans. He bought a farm in Peach Orchard in the spring if 1868. In 1857 he married Miss Ilissky Hilmers, by whom he had eight children.

Henry Rowclippe was born in England in 1843. He settled in Ford county in 1869, on section 33. In 1859 he married Martha Dunn, of England. His second wife was Sarah Bell.

WiLLizVM BouNDY WHS 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 county, Illinois, in 1871. He was married to Elizabeth Hill, of England, March 27, 1853, by whom he has six children.

William Foster was ])orn in Rochester eonnty. New York, in 1833. He came west and settled in Ford county in 1865. He was married in 1859 to Miss Sarah Gill.

John Karsten, a native of Germany, where he worked on a farm for twentyfour years, came to America in 1866 and settled in jMarshall county, Illinois. In 1876 he came to Peach Orchard township. In 1867 he was married to Sophia Hose. He became the owner of two hundred acres of land, finely improved.

A. BucKHOLZ. a native of Germany, who came to this country in 1852. working at various places for a number of years. He finally settled in section 1, in 1867. In 1855 he married Miss Caroline Funte, by whom he had eight children. He became the owner of seven liundred and twenty acres of land in this townshi]i, with excellent improvements.

Henry Spellmeyer was born in Germany, 1840. He emigrated to America with his sister in 1858, first settling in ]\Iarshall county; then, in 1868, came to Peach Orchard township. In 1868 he married ]\Iiss Louisa Steinman, by whom he had five children.

John Tiiackery was born in England, 1834, where he lived until 1865. When he came to this country and settled in Putnam coiuity, Illinois, when^ he lived for several years. He then came to Ford county and located in this township. In March, 1865, he married Catharine Pliillii)s, by whom he had six children. Mr Thackery became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of good land in Peach Orchard.

William D. Spencer, son of David Spencer, who was born in Vei'mont in 1811 and came to Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1841, and bought four huiulred 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 he settled in Peach Orchard. He died in 1857. Our subject was born in 1855, in Georgetown, Vermilion county, Illinois, and came with his parents to this township. He was nuirried to Miss Emma J. Tei-ry, of St. Louis. Aft('i'\vni-d ]\lr. Spencer prepared himself for the ministry.

Thomas IVIcLaughlin was born in the north of Ireland in 1829. He emigrated to America in 1848, when he settled on a farm in La Salle connty, Illinois, and lived there for six years, then came to this township. lie became the owner of the southeast quarter of section 86, one-half mile from Melvin.

George F. Forney was born in Putnam county, Illinois, in 1845. At the; age of twenty-two years he married Eliza S. Allen, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had four children. lie settled in Peach Orchard township in 1870. He was town clerk for three years.

Peter Conniff was born in Ireland. At the age of six years 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, Illinois. He settled in this township in 1857. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fourth New Jersey Regiment and was in the service until the close of the war.

David Thompson was l)orn in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1841. In 1868 he enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Volunteers. He settled in Ford count.y in 1869, on section 23. He married Margaret Frazer in 1865.

James Dixon was born in ]\Ianchester, England, in 1836. In 1861 he enlisted in the Seventeenth Illinois Volunteers and remained in the service until 1863, when he was honorably discharged and returned to Marshall county, Illinois. In 1867 he married Miss Jane E. Hunt, by whom he had seven children. Patrick Goggins, a native of the Emerald isle, came to America in 1846 antl first settled in La Salle county, Illinois. After living there twelve years, he moved to Ford county. He married IMiss Catharine Clark in 1863, and to them were born three children.

W. J. Hunt was born in IMarshall county, Illinois, in 1841. He remained there twenty-one years, working on his father's farm, then moved to La Salle county, Illinois. In 1861 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Regiment and was in the service several years. He then returned to his old home in La Salle county, where he remained until 1872, when he moved to Peach Orchard township.

John M. Thompson was born in Noble county, Ohio, April, 1837. 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, Illinois, remaining there a short time, then moved to IMarshall county, and after living there three years he went to Woodford county and bought a farm and worked it for four years. He then sold out and came to Peach Orchard township in the fall of 1872, and engaged in general merchandising. He soon sold out to his brother and engaged in the sale of agricultural

This township was organized September 9, 1867. It originally formed a part of Dix township, and upon a petition being presented to the board of supervisors at their September meeting, 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 soulli and nine miles east and west. The land is the highest in the state between Lake iMiehigan 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 good quality.

The history of this township can be nothing else but the history of a farm, for that is what it was. ]\Iost of the land in this township was entered or i)urchased by ^Michael L. Sullivant during 1854. who improved the laud and operated it as an innnense corn farm up to 1876, when he disposed of it to Mr. Iliram Sibley, of Rochester, New York. This was undoul)tedly 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 townshi]). Afti^r ]\Ir. Sililev took possession of the farm he rented out most of the land, and for the accommodation of his renters, erected substantial dwelling houses on nearly every c^uarter section.

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 I'ailroad station and llie postoffice. But few buildings had been erected here previous to 1878. when iNIr. Si])ley organized a system of improvt'ments, and a nuiiiher of dwelling houses were erected, a hotel, the largest and best iu the county at that time, a large seed barn, flax mill, stores, offices and numerous other buildings. A large commodious grain elevator was erected by Mr. Sullivant.

Although a town of but a few years' growth, the enterprise of its people is shown by the graded streets, good sidewalks, a park and hundreds of trees.

This township was at one time a part of Stockton townshij), the latter being organized when Ford was a part of Vermilion county, and at that time comprised the present townships of Rogers, Mona. Pella, Brenton and Lyman.

The name of Stockton was changed to Brenton March 7, 1864, and embraced the townships of Lyman, Brenton and Pella. As the country became more thickly settled, Lyman and Pella were set off, leaving the present township of Brenton, which comprises thirty-six sections of land.

In 1856, John R. Lewis, IMark Parsons and S. Standish were the first permanent settlers of the township. ]Mr. Lewis built the first house in the township, on the northwest corner of section 22. In the fall of 1856, Peter Van Antwerp, George Benford. W. T. Reed, John E. Davis, T. W. Pope, Frederick Chambers, the Jeifreys and A. J. Bartlett came. In 1857, came the Cross and IMcKinney families. Ira Z. Condon, W. W. Wicks, Aaron Sehofield and Conrad Volp. In 1858, Joseph Davis, L. T. Bishop, Thomas Hahn, Jacob Titus, IMerritt Free, Peter Rouse and Benjamin Ilobbis, settled here. In 1860 came William L. Conrow. "SI. P. Sherwood, James Free, T. Jones, and in 1863, Jacob Lippeneott, W. S. Thompson, Henry Patterson, Robert Wilson, D. E. ^liddleton and Joseph Carpenter.

The first birth in Brenton was Hattie B.. daughter of A. J. Bartlett, on the 1-lth of June, 1857. The second birth was a son of John R. Lewis, August 4; and, August 26, Mark Parsons was blessed with a son.

The first death was Captain ]\Iack, wlio, with his young wife, came to Illinois from the east in search of a better climate for his health, but, growing worse instead of better, he sold out his property to W. W. Wicks and started for his eastern home. He got as far as Onarga, where he died and was buried. The first marriage in the new settlement was in 1859, between Charles Phelps and Miss ]\Iary A. Davis.

The first school was started by John R. Lewis, and taught by IMiss Annie E. Ilobbis, of Onaraga, who remained a teacher for a number of years.

There were regular religious meetings held at settlers' houses every Sunda\', being conducted principally by A. IMcKinney, Robert Hall and Henry Atwood.

The following are the names of those who went from the Pan Handle to the Civil war and returned safely: A. S. Bavouse. Fred Foot, Henry Phelps, R. A. Pope, Robert Ferris, Jacob Brown, Ed Kent, INIr. Stoneback, James Feeley, H. Eccleston, D. Kingsley, Morris Burt, John Haven, Ed Haven, Albert Holmes, B. Lyman.

The railroad through this township was built in 1857, first called the eastern extension of the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad, afterward the Logansport, Peoria & Burlington, then shortly after changed to the Toleda, Peoria & Warsaw, and now the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad. It runs in an east and west direction across the north tier of sections of this township.

Piper City

Piper City is the principal village in the Pan Handle, and the third village in population in Ford county. It was laid out in section 4, Brenton township, by H. J. Howe, county surveyor, for Dr. William A. Piper, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Samuel Cross, of Chicago, in 1867. The village lies on both sides of the Wabash Railroad.

Soon after Dr. Piper and J. A. IMontelius opened a general store. The postoffice was established in John R. Lewis' house, and he was appointed first postmaster. The first station agent was John Allen. The station was then called New Brenton. The United Presbyterian church was l)uilt in 1869. The next one erected was the Presbyterian in 1872. The Catholic church was built in 1880, and the Methodist in 1881.

The Piper City Dairy Association was incorporated in 1881, with Joseph liiu'gcr, i)resident; J. A. Montelius, secretary and treasurer; E. II. Brooks, manager; and Joseph Burger, J. A. Montelius, E. II. Brooks, John McKinney, Columbus Jennings, John Clark and B. F. Church, directors.

John R. Lewis was born in Herkimer county, New York, June 6, 1828, where he lived until April 16, 1850. He spent his childhood years upon a farm and attending school. One of his schoolmates was the Hon. A. H. Pres- (ott, at one time judge of Herkimer county. New York. Mr. Lewis taught school several winters, and then came west in 1856, and settled in this township, being the first permanent settler. INIark Parsons came one day later. ]Mr. Lewis practically sold most of the lands in Brenton and Pella townships as agent for the Illinois Central Railroad lands. He was the first justice of the

The second permanent settler of Brenton was Mark Parsons, who was l)()rn in Bennington, Vermont, May 13, 1823, where he lived until seventeen years of age, working on a farm in the summer, and attending school during the winter. When al)out twenty-three years old, he married Miss Jane E. Crossett, and with his young wife, moved to Will county, Illinois. In 1856, he came to Ford county and settled in this township. He built his house on the southwest r(uarter of section 3-4.

Archibald McKinney was liorn in Ireland Mny 2, 1802, where he lived until 1848, when he emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. He worked in a factory there for ten years. In 1858, he came to Ford county, settling on section 20 of this township. Mr. McKinney was married in 1832.

- John INIcKinney, son of Archibald McKinney, was born in Ireland in 1833. He came to this country with his parents in 1848. Mr. IMcKinney learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it for many years. When Piper City was started, he moved from his home in Brenton township and went into the lumber business, and in course of time started a hardware store.

William Carpenter was born in Rhode Island February 22, 1811- where he lived continuously for fifteen years ; then moved to Herkimer county. New York. Here he lived until 1867 ; then moved to Ford county, and settled in Brenton township. In 1833 he married Ann Eliza Randall, a native of Rhode Island.

Abner McLaughlin came to this township in 1861, and settled on section 5, In 1865 he was united in marriage to ]\Iiss IMargaret IMcKinney, daughter of Archibald McKinney, an old settler of this township. I\Ir. McLaughlin used to teach school in winter and work on his farm in the sunnner. He was school treasurer for many years, and always took an active interest in all ])ublic enterprises.

Samuel D. Culbertson, physician and surfreon. was born in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania. September 5. 1839. Here he lived for twelve years, attending- school and helping on a farm. When eighteen years old. he began teaching school, and taught until the Civil war broke out. when he joined the army. After the war, he began the stud^' of medicine, and in 1866 graduated from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadeljihia. He came to Piper City in 1867, and began the practice of his chosen profession, in which he met with success. He also engaged in the drug business. Dr. Cul])ertson was married in 1866 to ]\Iiss Clara Kate Culver.

John C. Culver was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in May, 184:8. In 1865, he went to Cincinnati, thence to Leavenworth, Kansas, and to the Indian territory, riding pony express from Fort Wallis to Denver; then was government scout through southern Kansas, Indian Territory and New Mexico. He served under William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) he being the chief scout. After being there several years, he came back and settled in Piper City, and went into the drug business. In 1880 he sold out and engaged in the grain business in this village. ]Mr. Culver was coroner of Ford county for two years. In 1872, he married Clara D. Fairley. of Lyman township.

James P. ]\IcDanel was born in Butler county, Ohio, where he lived until ten years old; then he came with his parents to Illinois. In 1862. he married Miss Kate Huddleson, of Randolph county. Illinois. When he came to Piper City, he engaged in the hardware and furniture business. He soon sold out, and began farming and teaching. He was town clerk for many years.

Henry Allnutt, a native of England, was publisher and proprietor of the Piper City Advertiser. He came to Ford county, and located on a farm in Pella township in 1869. In 1873 he moved to town, and soon started the Advertiser. He married Adda, daughter of Joseph Carpenter.

Ephrlvm H. Brooks was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1837, where he lived for eleven years; then moved to Livingston county. New York, where he attended school and helped in his father's store until 1857, when he came to Woodford county. Illinois. In the spring of 1861 he settled in Brenton township, section 6, and began farming. When lie came to Pipci- City he began work in the creamery, and afterwartl was manager. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Russell in 1868.

Conrad Rohrback, a native of Germany, where he was born February 27» 1821. He lived there until thirteen vears old. then came to this countrv and settled in Tazewell county, Illinois, where he remained for about fifteen years. In 1859, ho located on section 26, Brenton township. In 1843 he married Annie M-dv Dinuledine.

James McBride, farmer, was horn in Ireland in 1842; soon after, he came with his parents to Belmont county, Ohio, where he lived until the breaking out of the Civil war. when he enlisted and served until its close. He was honorably discharged at Washington, District of Columbia, and returned to the peaceful pursuits of a farmer's life. In the spring of 1869 he came to Ford county, and settled on section 31, on a fine farm of four hundred acres. In 1869 he married Miss Clara Strank.

Michael Cross was l)orn in England in 1830. He remained there for twenty-four years, working at the blacksmith trade. In 1854 he came to America, and two years later settled in this township, residing on section 18. lie was married in 1867 to Catharine Mitchinson.

AViLLiAM Corey, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Washington county, Rhode Island, in 1824. He came to La Salle county in 1865, and to Brenton township in 1867, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 17. In 1859 he married ]\Iiss Ruth Wilcox.

Thomas Cue, a native of England, where he was born August 12, 1836. In 1853 he came to America, and settled in Woodford county, Illinois. He lived there until 1870, when he came and settled in Brenton township. In 1871 he was united in marriage with Victoria Arrowsmith.

John C. Steen was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1837. In 1863 he "moved to La Salle county, Illinois, where he remained several years ; then moved to Chatsworth, and in 1873 came to Brenton township, and settled on section 15.

John Goodman w^as born in Huntingshire, England, July, 1818. He came to this country in 1852? and settled in Erie county, Ohio ; after living there four years, he moved to Ford county, Illinois, and settled on section 30. In 1852, he married Sarah Bellamy, of England.

John A. Montelius established his bank in Piper City in 1870. The personnel of the bank's directory was as follows, with no change up to this time: John A. Montelius, John IMcKinney, J. K. Montelius, R. A. Jennings, James McBride, J. A. Cook, D. A. Boal, Abner IMcLaughlin, W. 0. IMcKinney. Capital, fifty thousand dollars ; surplus, ten thousand dollars.

The Piper City Telephone and Telegraph Company got its start from a private line. It now covers the county, and has connections with the county seat.

-loliii II. Lewis, in liis History of tlie I'an Handle of Ford County, has recoi'ded nnich of interest, and we make room for scn'eral extracts:

On or about tlie 1st of September, 1856, a prairie fire was started in tlie south part of what is now known as Ford county, and tlie wind being from the south drove the fire ovei- the count I'v at a frightful speed, ])urning all the prairie lying west of the Illinois Central Railroad track to what was known as Indian Timber, and as far north as the Kankakee river before it could be stopped. As I said, the season was very dry, and the low sloughs that grew a very fair ({uality of grass that year, continued to burn for fully three months, or until the ground froze up in the fall. The lands that were so badly burned still show the effects of the fire. Some of these places came directly under the writer's observation, and were he in the northern part of the county now, he could show places in swamps on the north half of section 7, south half of section 6, in township 25 north, range 9 east, and in a small slough in the south half of southwest quarter of section 21, township 26 north, also in sloughs that lie south and west of Oliver's Grove, and near what was called Corn Grove, wliicli before the fire was smooth, even sloughs, but are now ponds and lakes of water. The cause of this is that the tall grass, that at that time grew in the sloughs, took fire, and having so much body, burned into the ground in such a manner that it settled into basins. Among these may be mentioned Turtle pond, lying south of Oliver's Grove, and Corn Grove pond, lying west of Turtle pond. The timber in Oliver's Grove, especially the down timber, was nearly all destroyed, and it was considered that the loss in wood that ]\Ir. Oliver sustained must have run into the thousands of cords. Going farther north to what is now known as Vermilion swamp, the effects of the fire may still be found. Before the fire, all that country from the county line of Ford and Iro(iuois counties, in township 28 north, range 9 and 10 east, was a large slough, which grew coarse but good grass, not canebrake as it does now. In this place the fire burned holes into the ground fully three feet deep and for several years after no grass or anything green grew there.

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

The presidential election in the fall of 1856 caused very little excitement in our settlement. The voting place was full twenty-five miles distant at Prairie City, now Paxton, and the few settlers who were eligible to vote did not take the trouble to go to the polls. At that time the only voters in the Pan Handle were M. Parsons, Dr. Marshall, John R. Lewis, T. W. Pope, ]\I. Faddling, Dr. DeNormandy.

This spring was noted for the large influx of new settlers, and carpenters who came on to build their homes for them, among the latter I remember Elisha and Nathaniel Sherman, of Onarga, and Mr. Needham. These three had others helping them, and it was with difficulty that they found boarding places. Among the first of the new settlers who came were ]\Iessrs. Samuel and Michael

Cross. These beyan i)nttinu' up a lioiise on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 4, township 26, "Sir. Needham superintending the work. They boarded with John R. Lewis and traveled four miles morning and evening to and from their work. Soon after these came, wliicli ^\-as in April, it was discovered that a liouse was being bnilt on the northeast quarter of the northeast ciuarter of section 20 for a family from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, named JMcKinney. The next house to be bnilt was for Ira Z. Congdon on the northeast corner of section 32. ]\Ir. Congdon came from near New London, Connecticut, along M^ith what was known as the Connecticut settlers, mention of whom will be made hereafter. A little to the west of Mr. Congdon, on the same section, Wallace W. Wicks commenced improving a farm, but did not build on it. Aaron Scofield built on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 30, and at the same time Conrad Volp put up a house on the southeast quarter of section 10. lie came from near Albany, New York, and brought with him his three youngest sons, Horace, George and Christopher, the oldest son, Charles, having come out the summer before and taken up his abode with A. J. Bartlett.

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

During the winter of 1855-56 an organization was effected by a few citizens in and around New Loiulon in the state of Connecticut, under tlie name of the Woi'king Man's Settlement Association, Avith the following named persons as members :

Ill September, 1856, the first permanent settlers belonging to the colony arrived, among them being S. K. Marston, E. F. Havens, George Clark, M. E. Morgan, S. P. Averj^, T. and A. Morgan, D. T. Hutchinson, R. Eccleston and R. R. Piersons. While passing through Chicago, they purchased one hundred thousand feet of lumber for building purposes, and had it shipped to Onarga, to which place they were all bound.

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

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

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

In the summer of this year, the T. P. & W. railroad was built through the Pan Handle, the line being located near the north edge of township 26, running almost due east and west, and a long side track was laid on the north half of section 2. At this time, there were no settlers near the railroad, and a little to the west of the side track there was a big slough that completely cut ofl:' all communication from the west. East of the side track, there were no settlers within the boundary of the Pan Handle. The motive of the railway compan}^ in building the side track in such a place was beyond the comprehension of any of the settlers, but it was soon learned that there was to bo a town there called Brenton, now Piper City.

There were regular meetings and Sabbath schools at the residence of some one of the settlers in town 26 during the summer and fall of this year. These meetings were principally conducted by Mr. McKinney, Robert Hall and Henry Atwood. ]\Ir. Hall was sui)erintendent of the Sabbath school, and was a faith- fill worker. The houses where services were held were A. IMcKinney 's, R. Hall's, J. E. Davis', Dr. Elias T. Hahn's and A. J. Bartlett's. The singing was led by M. Cross, with a flute. The meetings were well attended, and I believe much good was done by them.

In township 25, meetings were held at the homes of F. M. Wyman, S. K. ]\rarston and ]\Ir. Lyman, until the new sehoolhouse was built, of which I shall speak hereafter. These meetings were noted for the excellent singing, in which ^Ir. and Mrs. ]\Iarston took an active interest, both being fine musicians.

At all these meetings no sect or ism was recognized. The people assembled to worship God, and few eared what particular denomination his neighbor belonged to.

At this time the early settlers were nuich concerned about money matters. The money in circulation was in the shape of bank bills, or notes, as they were called. Many of the banks had no money with which to redeem their notes and when this fact became known, of course the notes depreciated in value, and many persons lost considerable sums of money from this cause. In fact, no one knew whether the notes he held were good for anything or not.

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

At this time tea and coffee were almost unknown among the settlers. In fact the only coffee used was made out of browned corn, sweetened with a kind of rough molasses made from sorghum. This w^as first introduced bv Mark Parsons in the spring of 1857, at which time he received from Mr. J. O. Norton, of Washington, District of Columbia, two or three packages of the seed. This he sowed, carefully harvesting the seeds produced from it, and making the juice from the stalk into molasses.

The Pan Handle was at this time infested with wolves and badgers. They abounded mostly in township 27, where they seemed to make their headquartei's. The badgers were most frefpiently found on section 11, where there is a long sand ridge known as ]\Iount Thunder, and to this point hunters fre- ([uently went, and a number of these animals were killed.

The winter of 1859-60 was dry and cold, not much snow fell, ami the ct)rn which was light, was gathered before the ground froze, and a ((uantity of fall ph)wing was done.

This winter surprise parties became <|uit(' fashionnl)]e, and notwithstanding the fact that the settlers lived long distances apart, were well attended. Socia-

Spring commenced early, and the small grain was mostly in by the end of March. Fine rains set in in April, and everything was lovely. It will be remembered by the first settlers that the ground s(iuirrels were very annoying this year. They would follow the planter, and i-oot tiu' corn out of the hills from one end of the field to tlie other.

Regular religious services were held in the IVIarston schoolhouse, in town 25, every Sabbath, conducted by ]\Ir. Foster and Mr. Needham, one on one Sunday and the other on the next. The Sabbath school was conducted with Saul C. Bnrt as superintendent, and G. B. Winters as teacher of the Bible class, and S. K. I^Iarston of the other scholars. This school was noted for its Bible discussions, conducted principally by Messrs. Winters, and Wyman, and sometimes by S. C. Burt.

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

This year, 1860, the money in the county began to fail. The collectors of the different townships had been taking the Illinois bank's shinplaster bills, and when they came to settle with the auditor, they found that nothing but gold would be accepted, and the consequence was that the school funds were greatly reduced. Before the collectors began their work, the Ijoard of supervisors had ordered that the moneys of certain l)anks named should be accepted in payment, but before the day of settlement arrived, these banlcs had suspended, and the money was worthless.

Upon the settlement of the collectors, the board of supervisors convened and caused the deficiency to be properly proportioned among the different funds as fairly as possible.

This fall, the price of all kinds of country produce went away down. Oats sold for seven or eight cents per l)ushel, spring wheat for from thirty to forty cents, good dressed hogs for from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars per

The following is a list of names of those who went from the Pan Handle to fight for the preservation of the Union and returned safely: A. S. Bavwse, Fred Foot, Henry Phelps, R. A. Pope, Rob Ferris, Jacob Brown, Ed Kent, JNFr. Stoneback, James Feeley, H. Eccleston, D. Kingsley, j\Iorris Burt, John Havens, Ed Havens, Albert Holmes and S. B. Lyman.

Some of those enlisted in Company F. Twenty-fifth Regiment Infantry, under Captain R. W. Andrews, others went into the cavalry in Comjoany ]\I, Ninth Regiment, Captain E. R. Knight. All who went from the Pan Handle in these companies, were credited to Iroquois county, as residents from that point.

About four hundred people were present, and we had a grand good time. Addresses Avere delivered by E. L. Gibson. G. B. Winter, G. II. Thompson and other local talent. The Prairie Glee Club, led by S. K. INIarston. discoursed excellent music, and Seth Turner, the captain of S. K. IMarston 's ox team, helped to enthuse us with his rhymes.

This season (1864) the price of corn and other products ran up pretty high. Corn was sold for sixty cents per bushel, and some farmers who held theirs over, got as much as eighty-five cents. Oats sold for from forty to fifty cents per bushel, and barley ran up to two and a half dollars. This year, Peter Van Antwerp had sowed quite a large patch of barley, and raised sixty bushels to the acre. This he sold for two and a half dollars per l)ushel.

Rev. Charles Granger, of Button township, writes: "The writer and a few others organized what is now called the Congregational Church of Christ at Paxton, a few months after its organization, at a village called Prospect City. The church was named the Union Church of Christ of the Middle Fork of the Vermilion river. With that name the church assisted in organizing and joined the Illinois Central East A.ssociation of Congregational INIinisters. AYithin a year after its organization, the writer (the first minister of the church) instituted a series of religious meetings, which llic h(»a(l of the church approved by a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. After laboring about four yeai-s, the writer gave up the charge because of ill health. Sliortly thereafter, the church changed its name to Congregational. Although the Methodists liad a

Rev. George Schlasser, Pioneer, Paxtox

111 IMay, 1854, Robei't Blaekstock, journeying from his home in Indiana westward, passed through what* is now Ford county, and found a IMethodist Episcopal society at Trickel Grove.

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

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

It has been said that in 1862 tlie first Sunday school convention for Ford and Iroquois counties was held on a Sabbath day in the freight depot at Loda. The active participants were the resident ministers of Paxton and Loda, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Search and others.

The first numl)er of the Paxton Record was published February 9, 1865, by N. E. Stevens, with D. S. Crandall associate editor. The office was in a building which was a part of the residence of John McMurray, just south of the old Patton block. The building was small and the office unpretentious, but of ample size to meet the demands of the town. It has grown steadily ever since, keeping pace with the demand for good work and experienced workmen.

Among the first items of interest we notice was this: About the first of ]\Iarch, 1865, the legi.slature passed an act incorporating the town of Paxton.

Oh Thursday, May 4, of the same year, the mammoth grain warehouse of Buck & Hall was destroyed by fire. The loss was fourteen thousand dollars; insurance seven thousand eight hundred dollars.

In the spring of 1865 the town was in a prosperous condition and many new buildings were erected, among them the Methodist Episcopal church, the basement of which was used for a young ladies' seminary, conducted b.y Mrs. Buckland. In June of that year, there were the following number of business houses in the town : Five dry goods and groceries, three grocery stores, one warehouse, one liouringmill, two lumberyards, two drug stores, one printing office, one dentist, five physicians, four lawyers, one hardware store, one land agency, one furniture warehouse, one seeding machine manufactory, two hotels, one agricultural warehouse, one express office, one watchmaker, one meat market, one photograph gallery, one nursery, two shoe, four blacksmitli. two wagons, one gunsmith, two carpenter and one paint shops, one saddler\', one millinery, one sulky cultivator works, one real-estate agency, two tobacconists, one furniture store, one bakery and one plow factory.

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

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

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

On the 6tli of November, 1867, the citizens, legal voters of Ford county, gave an overwhelming majority in favor of taking one Inuidred and twelve thousand dollars stock in the Lafayette, Bloomington & Mississipi)i Railway.

The fall of 1867 was remarkable for the heavy sales of real estate made by local dealers. One firm in Paxton sold nine thousand acres within thirty days. The sales of the same firm, for the five weeks ending December 5, aggregated fourteen thousand six hundred and three acres.

The first seven days of May, 1868, will long l)e remembered on account of the unprecedented amount of rain. The meteorological report shows that the amount was three and fifty-seven hundredths inches, almost as much as for any month during the preceding four months. The storms were accompanied by thunder aiul lightning, the pyrotechnic display l)eing most beautiful and magnificent.

A hurricane passed over Paxton Tuesday, May 26, 1868, stripping the steeple from the United Presbyterian church. This was the finest church edifice in the city, and the spire was beautifully proportioned to the building. The damage resulting therefrom was estimated at about eleven hundred dollars.

Paxton was visited by a heavy fire on INIonday, January 18, 1869. The fire broke out in a building occupied by Travis, Hall & Company, as a hardware store, the second story being occupied by L. A. Dodd as a dwelling. Tlie losers were Travis, Hall & Company, hardware dealers, eleven hundred dollars ; interest in building, fourteen hundred dollars ; no insurance ; L. A. Dodd, household goods, five hundred dollars, insured; interest in building, one thousand dollars; uninsured; S. L. Day, interest in building, one thousand dollars, uninsured; J. McCormick, druggist, loss on ])ui](ling, three thousand dollars, insured for fifteen hundred dollars ; loss on stock, five hundred dollars ; N. A. Hall, restaurant, damage on stock, two hundred dollars; Mrs. S. S. Lantz, daguerreotype gallery, loss on stock, three hundred dollars, insured; h)ss on household goods, two Inmdred dollars; Scott & McDaniel, dry goods, loss on building, two thousand dollars; insured for fifteen hundred dollars; IMasonic lodge, on furniture, two hundred dollars; C. II. Wyman, on building, two tliousand dollars, with no insurance. Tlie origin of the fire was unknowai. The advantage of brick over wood as a building material was demonstrated in the case of Pells' block, which escaped comparatively unscathed, though suljjected to an intense heat.

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

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

The assessment returns of Ford county, for the year 1870, amounted to two million thirty-seven thousand seven hundred and sixty-two dollars. The number of acres under cultivation were, of wheat, eight thousand six hundred and forty-five ; corn, fifty thousand two hundred and two ; other field products, twelve thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine.

Enterprise was the name of a village platted in township 27 (Drummer) at the crossing of the L. B. & ]\I. and G. C. & S. Railroads, by J. B. Lott, in November, 1870. The location was favorable as to commercial facilities and the name of the village has since been changed to Gibson City. It is now one of the most flourishing towns of the county. As its original name implies, Gibson City is remarkable for its enterprise and thrift. It is the second town in the county in size and population, is provided with gaslight, has good sidewalks, telephone connection with Saybrook and Bloomington, and other modern improvements.

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

]\r. L. SuUivant finished husking his corn for 1871 on the 29th day of February, 1872. His crop aggregated four hundred and fifty thousand bushels. Mr. Sullivant was at that time proprietor of Burr Oaks farm comprising some forty-two thousand acres.

A terrible railroad accident was the cause of much sorrow in Paxton and vicinity, June, 1872. On the 17th of that month, a construction train ran from the track and four men were instantly killed and twenty-one injured. Two of the latter died soon thereafter. The coroner's j\iry returned a verdict iji accordance with these facts.

Independence Day, 1872, Avas celebrated in the courthouse park. There was a laro'e concourse of people present, and the usual oration, toasts, music, etc., were indulged in. There was a display of fireworks in the evening.

The first annual fair of the Ford County Agricultural Association was held, commencing September 24, 1872. The officers were William Noel, president; ]\r. L. Sullivant and F. T. Putt, vice presidents; George Wright, treasurer; J. J. Simons, recording secretary ; N. E. Stevens, corresponding secretary ; John Bodley, superintendent.

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

The work of drilling an artesian well was begun in 1873. Diiring the progress of the work many curious bits of wood were drawn up which were, no doubt, buried in these strata ages upon ages ago. The well proved a failure, and after boring over twenty-seven hundred feet, the work was abandoned ; not. however, until it had burdened the city with a debt of some eighteen thousand dollars.

The Presbyterian church in 1884 was a frame building, forty-two by sixtyeight feet, with vestibiUe, and was of the gothic order of architecture. The main audience room was twenty-eight feet high, and frescoed in Corinthian style. The interior presented a very pleasing appearance. The cost of the edifice was about seven thousand five hundred dollars. The dedication took place on the 13th day of July, 1873. Rev. Dr. Bailey preached the dedicatory sermon, and at the services some twenty-five hundred dollars was subscribed toward li<iuidating a debt of al)out two thcnisand seven hundred and fifty dollars which rested on the building.

A book called "Svenskarne in Illinois" (the Swedes in Illinois) was compiled and written in 1880 by Captain Eric Johnson, of Galva, Illinois, and C.

F. Peterson, one of the mana«;in<2r editors of Swenska Tribiinen (the Swedish Tribune) Chicago, and from it the following translations are made by John F.

This part of Illinois has a very peculiar geographical shape, and is siiiiil;ii' to Rock Island county. It is forty-one miles long and twenty-eiglit miles wide, located between Iroquois and Livingston counties. In one place it is twenty-eight miles, and in another again, eighteen miles wide, but only to again contract itself into a narrow strip only six miles wide. The county was organized in 1859, and had in 1870 a population of ten thousand people. The land is nearly level and in many places very level and flat, so that the system of ditches are necessary to carry off the surplus water in wet seasons. Paxton is the leading town and county seat, and has a population of three thousand six hundred.

The Swedes In And About Paxton

The Swedes in Paxton and the immediate vicinity have in Swen Hedenskog their earliest pioneer. He had 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 w^ell-off Avhen he moved to' Nebraska a number of years ago, at which place he 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 HeLsingland, Sweden) located in the neighborhood. Anderson has since removed to Colorado.

"Wlien 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 Avas made Avith the Illinois Central Railroad Company that the Swedes should settle on lands the company had for sale, in consideration of which the company should pay tlie college a conunission of oiu^ dollar per acre on every acre sold to the Swedish settlers. Consul P. L. liawkinson, of Chicago, was the company's agent in Paxton. Among others who arrived at that time was Erik Rasmus, from Ganunelstorp Blekinge. He had then been in the country ten years, having emigrated in 1853. aiul settled at Galesburg. In the same year (1^63) came to the Paxton colony, Carl Larson, Erik Carlson, John Anderson and A. ]\I. Hanson.

The following year brought to Paxton J. II. Wistrand, who was the first Swedisli merchant in Paxton, and kept a grocery store until 1875, w^hen the col- lege removed to Rock Island; he also removed there and engaged in mercantile business. Peter Hedburg appeared in Paxton the same year, and kept a lumberyard at first, and afterward in various other occupations, and held the ofifices 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 became the Swedish consul.

Emigration to the Ford county colony continued brisk, and in 1865, the following additons from Attica, Indiana, where all had lived for many years: Fredrik Bjorklund, Carl Fager, John Swan, John Johnson, Carl Peterson, Peter Larson, Carl Johnson, Adolph Johnson and John Nelson. Emigration to the place continued constantly till 1870. Since then nearly as many have moved out west to the 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 Amrican brethren and neighbors very often have failed. The secret here is their persevering hard labor, and strict economy.

The number of Swedes in Paxton is estimated at fifteen hundred. In no place, with the exception of New Boston, can be found as many business men (merchants) in proportion to the population, and no where do the Swedes do a better business than here. It is natural that they would not succeed as well, did not the Americans support them as well as their Swedish patrons. One of tlic most successful Swedish enterprises Avas Nels Dahlgren's plow and machine shops. ]\Ir. Dahlgren had before been engaged with John Deere & Co. in INIoline. He came to Paxton in 1865, and began on a small scale the same year. His productions, especially his 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 al^le to manufacture three hundred plows and forty cultivators in 1871.

We continue further, and find Gustaf Sandberg, who runs an important wagon and blacksmith shop ; Swenning Anderson, blacksmith ; J. P. Lindstrom, dealer and manufacturer in furniture and cabinet goods; Kjellstrand & INIelby, painters ; A. J. Laurence, dry goods ; John F. G. Helmer, druggist ; Peter Larson, merchant tailor; John Nelson, dealer in ready made clothing; Fred Telander, groceries and hardware ; N. G. Egnall, furniture ; Nels Younggreen, John Crantz, Andrew Anderson, Perry A. Berggren and Lars H. Rodeen, grocers ; Sheldon & Swanson, dealers and manufacturers of boots and shoes; P. A. Berggren, photographer, and Swen Lundberg, brick and tile maker, with a yearly production of five hundred thousand brick. In the matter of churches, they are here as well

The first service was held in the old sehoolhouse which belonged to the college, and served as a house of worshi}) till 1872, when a good and substantial church was built.

The congregation is a large one, and the Sunday school is equally so. In 1884 Rev. A. Edgren was pastor of the church, and was born in Nedra Ulleryd, in the Province of Vermland, the 3d day of January, 1844. He came to America in 1870, and graduated in Paxton the 2!)th of June, 1873. The Swedish Lutheran ]\Iission church was, in November, 1878, organized with a membership of seventy-five, with Rev. A. P. Palmc^uist as its pastor. The following year a neat and pleasant church was liuilt at an expense of fifteen hundred dollars. The membership has since largely increased. Society Swea has existed since 1877, and is at present in a very prosperous condition. Its principal object is to furnish its members social benefits and mutual assistance. Swea has already paid out a considerable sum as help to sick members, and has laid a good foundation for a library fund.

The Swedish cornet band was organized by the musically inclined Swedes, in October, 1877, with G. A. Palmblad as leader, and members of same were 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 J^n F. G. Helmer held the office of coroner four years, the office of the justice of the peace has been held by Peter Iledburg, and also Andrew Lindstrom, now residing in Chicago ; and he was elected collector of taxes. David Swanson is the present postmaster of Paxton.

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 aI)out the same time the college was located in Paxton. About the countrymen there 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 four thousand tlpHars and a parsonage costing two thousand dollars - membership about two hundred and twenty-five. This colony stretches far away in the north and west, to the stations of Elliott and Gibson, and in each of them are a number of Swedes.

Sibi.Ey Elevator, Sibley

The Paxton settlement branches out south along the Illinois Central Railroad into Campaign county, and at Rantoul. East of Paxton we have Rankin, where a Swedish Lutheran congregation has existed since 1865.

Taxes For 1860

In the early days inuch of the farming in Ford county was done uj)()n low; wet and swampy lands. During those days it was no uncommon occurrence in the springtime to see a large number of acres of the very best land in the state under from one to two feet of water. For this reason nuicli of llic most valuable land in the county was at that time considered of litllc \;ilue on account of the lack of drainage. In recent years however. Ix'giniiing ;is early as 1884 the farmers of Foi'd connt\' have oi'g.uiizcd draiiiiige districts and now, practically, all of the lands of Ford county, formerly low and swani})y, have l)een I'cclaimed foi* ;igricultur;d ])ui'[)oses.

It is well known niuoiig agi'icultui'ists that low swampy lands when once properly drained become the richest and most productive of lands. Whereas, formerly, when the far-mer sowed his grain in the springtime with no assurance

The above items of cost are estimated, and Avhile not exactly correct, they are still very close to the exact figures. It will be observed that the public drainage work among the farmers of Ford county has reached or will reach approximately the sum of six hundred thousand .dollars, when all the drainage districts now in process of construction are paid for. These drainage districts have reclaimed thousands of acres of land, which, before their construction, were either entirely non-productive or the crops growing thereon were largely lessened as a result of improper drainage. These districts have afforded sufficient and proper outlets for the lands within the boundaries of each district and the farmers have taken the opportunity to lay a great number of tile, so that, taking all and all Ford county has been reclaimed from numerous low, wet swamps to high grade, productive agricultural lands.

It is generally conceded that the farming lands of Ford county in productions, are far above the average of the farms throughout the state. And one of the main causes of this has been the result of public spirit among the farmers, resulting in the large expenditure of money in drainage.

The law firms that have been connected with this work are, Cloud & Thpmpson, Schneider & Schneider and A. L. Phillips. As a result of drainage litigation two very important cases have been taken from Ford county to the higher courts.

The case of Big Four Drainage District vs Perdue et al was taken to the appellate court by the 'firm of Schneider & Schneider, representing the objectors and Cloud & Thompson representing the drainage district. The question Avhich arose in that case was, "To what extent miLst lands be benefited before they can be annexed to a drainage district and assessed?" The court held that it was necessary for the drainage commissioners to show that direct benefits accrue by giving the proposed annexed laud, a better system of drainage, so as to enhance its market value.

Another case entitled Trigger vs Lyman and Wall Drainage District was taken to the supreme court by the attorneys heretofore mentioned, and the court in that case held that the commissioners could levy au assessment of benefits against the lands and that objectors to the assessment were not entitled to a hearing by a jury.

The supreme court has, however, held recently that drainage commissioners who own land in a drainage district are not competent to levy an assessment, and in at least three cases they have held such assessments unconstitutional and void.

Farm drainage and the law connected therewith is a science in itself and the farmers of Ford county have given the matter a great deal of attention. They know that Ford county is an agricultural section and that the wealth of the county lies chiefly in its farms and they have determined to do all in their power to increase the value of their lands by drainage and otherwise. They are a rugged, sterling set and have caused "two blades of grass to grow where one grew before." Generations to come will reap the reward of their industry and frugality.

A public meeting \\as held at the courthouse in Paxtoii, A{)i-il !), 1S()4. for the purpose of organizing a fair association. J. II. Dungan was chosen ciiairman of tlie meeting and William A. Ooodrich, secretary. A constitution for au association, to be known as "The Ford County Agricultural Society," Avas unanimously adopted, in \vlii( h Ihc ohjcd was stated to be "The ])romotion of agricultural, horticultural, niccliaiiical and household arts," and Ihc following officers were elected :

Under the above organization eouut.>' fairs were held in Paxton in 1864 and 1865. After tliis no fair was held for several years. On the 10th of February, 1872, a pu])lic meeting;- convened at the courthouse to reorganize under a new constitution and the by-laws of the state board of agriculture. Of this meeting, Benjamin P. 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 requirements of the state board, a resolution was adopted declaring the name to be "The Ford County Agricultural Board."

President, William Noel; vice presidents, F. T. Putt, William Walker; secretary, John J. Simons; treasurer, George Wright; corresponding secretary, C. H. Frew; executive committee, John Bodley, W. B. Holmes, Samuel Lefever, B. J. Dye, John Richardson, W. T. Patton, R. Cruzen, C. W. Meharry, A. H. Hanley. The second annual fair was held at Paxton, September 2 to 5, 1873.

Tlie next annual fair was held at the same place, September 21 to 24, 1875. Officers: President, William Noel; vice president, J. H. Flagg; secretary-, JMerton Diuilap; treasurer, J. P. Day; corresponding secretary, N. E.

The fair in 1877 was held September 11 to IJ:. Officers: president. F. T. Putt ; vice president, William Noel ; secretary, John J. Simons ; treasurer, John M. Hall ; corresponding secretary, N. E. Stevens ; executive committee, H. J. Sehaeffer, G. W. Cruzen, George Arnott, A. L. Clark, N. B. Day, Charles Bogardus, C. M. Bodley, Daniel Moudy, J. H. Flagg.

The date of the next fair was September 10 to 13, 1878. Officers: president, Abram Croft; vice president, H. J. Sehaeffer; secretary, G. W. Cruzen; treasurer, John ]\I. Hall ; corresponding secretary, N. E. Stevens ; executive committee, J. P. Day, Stacey Daniels, Daniel Moudy, W. E. Sawyer, J. B. Loose, R. Cruzen, George Arnott, C. W. Meharry, Lindsey Corbley.

In 1879 the fair was held September 16 to 19. Officers: president, Abram Croft ; vice president, A. L. Clark ; secretary, G. W. Cruzen ; treasurer, John M. Hall; corresponding secretary, N. E. Stevens; directors, J. P. Day, J. C. Kirkpatrick, J. B. Loose, William Noel, F. T. Putt, W. E. Sawyer.

The fair of 1880 was held August 31 and September 1 to 3. Officers: president, Abram Croft; vice presidents, J. P. Day, A. Goodell, II. J. Sehaeffer; secretary, W. McTaggart; treasurer, John M. Hall; corresponding secretary, N. E. Stevens; directors, N. B. Day, 0. A. Swanson, T. jM. King, A. M. Daggett, John Karr, J. W. Axline, J. R. Kinnear, William Noel, E. F. Earl.

The last fair was held in Paxtou, August 30 and 31, 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. Croft, W. McTaggart, William Noel, A. M. Daggett, T. ]\I. King, William Kenney, Nels Dahlgren, R. S. Hall, J. W. Axline.