Iroquois County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1880 (part 16 of 20)

Martinton occupies a position in the center of the northeast quarter of the county, having Papineau on its northern boundary, Beaver on its eastern, Middleport and Iroquois townships on its southern, and the Iroquois river on its western boundary, and contains all of town 28, range 12 west of the 2d principal meridian, and all lying east of the river, (being about one-half) of town 28, range 13. The Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad passes from north to south nearly through its center, having the station of Martinton on it ; and the Cincinnati, La Fayette & Chicago railroad runs by the northeastern corner of the town, giving to its citizens the benefit of Chicago, Cincinnati and eastern markets by two railroads, which in their very nature cannot combine and "pool" their earnings from- this vicinity. The soil is chiefly the fertile sandy loam common along the Iroquois river. Originally nearly one-third of its surface was covered with timber. Along its western portion the timber along the river, extending about two miles back* from the stream and along Pike creek, was heavy, and was drawn on for fencing, building and fuel, as it still is. For several miles along its eastern side, Bean's Grove stretched out, affording hospitable shelter for those pioneers who there made their homes. Until the building of the two roads referred to the farms here were distant from market, and this distance was a serious drawback to the cultivation of the land, but it was a favorite grazing-ground for those who were looking to the raising of cattle. With the increased railroad facilities, however, the land came rapidly into more complete cultivation, and the free system of drainage adopted is fast reclaiming even those portions which were supposed to be impossible to cultivate.

The first settlers in the township are believed to have been those who came to Bean's Grove and put up their cabins along from 1833 to 1840. As they are nearly all gone now and their places supplied by others, the dates of their coming and going can only be approximately determined. The writer is under obligations for such information to Mr. Bean, of Donovan. Aaron Rush is believed to have been the first of these, and must have arrived here about 1833. He resided here nearly forty years. He removed to Wisconsin about 1873, and died there. A son lives at Watseka, and a daughter, Mrs. Green, lives here yet.' Mr. Cottrel, who came soon after, removed to near Watseka, twentyfive years ago, and his family went to Iowa and Kansas. Benjamin King, who came here soon after, returned to Indiana and died there. James Williams was another early settler. He went to Wisconsin with his family many years ago.

E. M. Hammond, who came about 1836, died here some fifteen years since. His son, Charles, resides on the place yet. Jones Green died on the place which he early took up, about 1854. His widow lives on the place. His son, Sidney, lives near, and daughters, Mrs. Gillaspie and Mrs. Sherill, in Watseka. Mr. Gillaspie, who was another of the pioneers, died on the place where his family still lives. John Merrily still lives on the farm which he early reduced from its wild condition, though his family, except one son, have all died. Mr. Edwards moved many years ago to Momence, and from there to Bourbonnais, where he followed the occupation of milling. Further west from the Bean's Grove settlement, and just on the south line of the township, old man Floyd, as he is still called, built a shanty near where the Van Meeter house now stands, about 1845, and lived in it some years. Thomas Yates, known all over this end of the state of Illinois as one of the cattle kings of the west, was one of the first settlers in the western portion of Martinton. He and his father had subdued the land lying south of L'Erable, over on "the west side of the Iroquois, and covered it over with good graded cattle and sheep, early in the forties. Becoming crowded there (John Wilson on the south, Thomes Stump on the west, and Peter Spink on the north, each two miles away) he sold to Mr. Ayres, and crossed over the Jordan (Iroquois), where he could have room to spread and keep a few hundred head of cattle. With a constitutional tendency to scatter, he ranged all over this side of the river, and is now in Iroquois township. John Scoon settled where he now lives, a few years later. He had a large family of children.

For a long time these three pioneers, Yates, Bryant and Scoon, were the only residents in this part of Martinton. They had no school except as they sent their children across the river on the ice or in small boats, and so far as roads, bridges, and other conveniences of civilization were concerned, they might as well have been the only settlers in the county. They held out bravely, however, and finally saw this region, which, had so long been terra incognita filled up with a teeming population. A neat school-house stands on the road near by, and every evidence of civilization appears where so long the wilderness was untouched.

In the olden time, before the railroad was known, the old stageroute from Bourbonnais to Middleport traversed this township, but there was no post-office within its present boundaries. The old Democrat post-office, a relic of our early congressman, John Wentworth, the long-time editor and proprietor of the Chicago " Democrat," was down on Beaver creek. At the time the Martins came here to live, and began business at Old Martinton, Mr. Beckett was appointed postmaster of Democrat and received his commission, but all endeavors to get a post-route to that place failed, and it was. not until the railroad was built in 1871, that a post-office was established in the township.

Porter Martin, - from whom the township received its name, - removed here about the time the Central railroad was built through the county, and with his family has been largely identified with the interests of the township since that time. They were originally from Vermont, and were imbued with the "green mountain " spirit of enterprise and " push." He had four sons : James, John, Warren and Barney ; and two daughters: Mrs. Stearns and Mrs. Burnham. James commenced mercantile business with Mr. Beckett, at Old Martinton, in 1856. A town was laid out and lots were sold, but no record of the plat was ever made. Martin & Beckett sold the store to John L., he to Porter, who in turn sold to S. J. Martin, and she to J. "W. Stearns & Co., who moved the stock when New Martinton was laid out on the railroad, to that place. The point was a famous trading point, and it is known that as high as $24,000 worth of goods were sold some years. Mr. Carreau had a blacksmith shop there, and that prince of good fellows, A. O. Edison, after having helped build the Central railroad as far south as Spring creek, settled here and opened up a wagon-shop, and followed the trade of carpenter and house-builder. Mr. Edison is a cousin of the genius of Menlo Park, who has recently made his name famous by those wonderful inventions, wherein he has shown that human ingenuity can counterfeit nature in matters pertaining to sound and light.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin, and their sons John and James, are dead. "Warren lives on a farm in this township, and Barney is the station agent and lightning-dispenser at Martinton station, and shows that it does not spoil a Vermont Yankee boy for general usefulness, by being brought up in the Iroquois timber.

Considerable land in the township is owned by non-residents. Mason Ayers, who was among the early settlers in this county, and now in his old age residing in West Virginia, owns 1,041 acres in sections 26, 27 and 28, along Little Beaver creek, which is mostly in pasture, and is occupied by Mr. Thomas Stump, of Ashkum township, who keeps a lot of cattle on it. Mr. W. N. Coney, a merchant in Watseka, owns six improved farms in different portions of the town, and several other tracts, and Donovan & Vennum have half a section. Peter Enos, who resides in Chebanse, owns the south half of 26 and north half of 35, range 13, half of which is in cultivation and half in pasture.

The earlier settlers were mostly from Indiana or Ohio, and a few came in later from the eastern states. There are scattered here and there representatives from most foreign countries. Of late years the French Canadians from the settlements in Ashkum and Papineau have spread into this town, and many of the citizens of the township are of that nativity.

There is no church in Martinton. Most, if not all, of the French residents are members of the Roman Catholic church, and attend worship regularly either at L'Erable, Papineau or St. Mary's. The Martin family were Universalists in belief, and had occasional preaching by clergymen of that denomination at Old Martinton. Many of the residents are Spiritualists in belief. The Christian denomination had some years since an organization at Bean's Grove, and kept up services with more or less regularity. When Donovan became a town the organization was moved there.

Politically, the town was strongly republican until the " farmers' movement " which swept over this and adjoining counties in 1873, since which it has been usually in opposition to the republican party, but never democratic. At the September meeting of the board of supervisors, in 1857, the present town of Martinton was set off and named Buchanan, from the then president of the United States. The first town meeting was held at the store of Martin & Beckett, for years the place of holding all public meetings. In 1858 Thomas Maggee was the first supervisor, as up to this time the last. Two years later the election of Mr. Martin, one of the family which during more than a quarter of a century has been a central figure in the business, official and social life of the township, suggested a change to the appropriate name of Martinton. At the first election which occurred, in 1858, Thomas Maggee was chosen supervisor ; N". M. Bancroft, clerk ; J. P. Martin, assessor ; J. Matzenbaugh, collector ; J. P. Martin and E. M. Hammond, justices of the peace. With the exception of two years (1872-3), Messrs. Martin and Maggee have held the office of supervisor all the time since the organization of the township. Victor Pettier has acted as collector for the last sixteen years. At the election in 1858, 66 votes were cast. At the present writing the voting population is nearly 200, indicating a population of about 1,000. The present officers of the township are : Thomas Maggee, supervisor ; S. Lottinville, clerk ; A. O. Edison, assessor ; Victor Peltier, collector ; and J. L. Martin and Victor Peltier, justices of the peace.

January 13, 1868, at a special town meeting, the town voted by fiftyfive to forty-two in favor of a tax of $10,000 to the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railroad Company. At a later day the town, at a special town meeting, voted by a large majority, which .amounted to almost unanimity, against issuing $12,000 in bonds for the same railroad company. Soon after this the officers of the township issued to the company $11,000 in bonds in lieu of the money which was to have been raised by the tax voted in January, 1868, under the belief that bonds to the amount of $11,000 would be equivalent, to the company and to the township, to the tax voted. There seems to be no charge that the officers acted otherwise than in the utmost good faith toward the company and the township. Still, as the township never voted to issue bonds, - indeed, voted almost unanimously not to do so, - there is said to be a disposition shown, however, on the part of the company or its successors, to attempt to enforce by law their claim against the town under the vote of January 13, 1868.

Maktinton Village

Martinton, a hamlet of twenty-five houses and the usual warehouses, stores and shops, was laid out when the railroad was built on land of Adarn Wamba ; but following the custom in such cases he had to convey it to the railroad company before a depot could be secured. The company conveyed it to John L. Donovan, who platted the town, and through whom title of all lots was received. J. W. Stearnes was the first to commence mercantile business here, by bringing his stock of goods from Old Martinton in the spring of 1872. Thomas Maggee, Jr., commenced buying grain for Simon & Runyan during that winter. Mr. Comstock put up the warehouse, and still owns it. Dr. Collins was the first physician, and was succeeded by Dr. Tascher, and he by Dr. B. L. Ewans, the present one. Mr. Stearnes sold his mercantile business to Bowman, who a few months later moved the goods to Watseka. Savoie & Lottinville engaged in mercantile business, and, after Mr. Bowman retired, took in Mr. Massy as a partner, and carried on two stores until 1877, when the firm dissolved, Mr. Lottinville retaining the hardware trade, which lie still carries on. The other store was sold to E. T. Frechette & Son, who continue it yet. Massy, Pilotte & Co. bought grain here from 1871 to 1877. Laveau & Legaree carry on the grain trade, and sell lumber, coal, etc. Mr. Fosbender also has an agent buying grain here, and Mr. Wamba deals in hay. Henry G. Stearnes was the first postmaster; Victor Peltier was appointed in February, 1875, and continues in office yet. The village was incorporated in 1875. September 24 the county court ordered an election to be held, on petition duly presented, and the election was held October 23. Isaac Pilotte, Peter Gamache, Barney Martin, Samuel Lottinville, Levi Case and A. Belgard were elected trustees; Pilotte was elected president ; V. Peltier, clerk ; and A. Belgard police magistrate. Mr. Peltier has continued to act as clerk the entire time, and he and Mr. Lottinville are now the oldest business men in town.

William Lyman, farmer and stock-raiser, Pittwood, was born in Pennsylvania, July 21, 1811. When six years of age with his parents he moved to Stark county, Ohio, where he spent his youth with his parents engaged in farming till he came to Illinois in May, 1837. He at once entered government land in Iroquois county, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, the country at that time being well fitted for the latter business. At the time he settled in this county there were scarcely any improvements of any kind, and his nearest market was Chicago, where he hauled grain with ox teams, fording the streams, a bridge then being a thing unknown. Many times during his pioneer life, when the rivers and creeks were unfordable, he was compelled to grind corn for bread in a coffee-mill, or pound it in a mortar made in the top of an oak log or stump, and so live for weeks till the roads, or rather prairies, rivers, creeks and sloughs became passable, and he has, after going to mill, had his return delayed by bad weather for weeks. In 1831 he married Mrs. Shipman, who is a native of New Jersey, and was born November 15, 1796, and with whom he is still living. They lived for many weeks after their arrival in this county under the protecting branches of an oak tree, having no material with which to build. He now has 290 acres of land, and his patent is signed by President Martin Yan Buren. He has two children living: Hannah, wife of John L. Barley; and Andrew W., with whom he now lives. His home farm is on section 6, town 27, range 13, in the old Lyman settlement.

was born July 7, 1836. His father, he thinks, built the fourth house in old Middleport, formerly the county-seat of Iroquois count}', but he soon after died, and Andrew's mother married again and removed north about four miles, to the place known as the Lyman settlement. Here he lived with his mother till the age of fifteen years. His mother then died, and he then began for himself by working out at breaking prairie. His school advantages were very limited, only going to school about six months. His teacher was Miss Eliza Gardner, who taught the first school in the Lyman settlement. November 19, 1861, he married Miss Elmira Brandenburg, who was born in Fountain county, Indiana, November 29, 1843 ; and August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B. 113th reg. 111. Yol. Inf., and was honorably discharged February 17, 1863, by reason of disability. He now owns 120 acres of land, all earned by his own industry, hard labor and close attention to business. He has lived here to see this county pass through a great change. Deer and other wild animals occupied undisturbed all the surrounding country when he first came, and now it is thickly settled and well improved with railroads and villages in every direction. His nearest market formerly was Chicago, where he has hauled grain with ox teams, requiring at times eight yoke of oxen to haul through the Calumet swamps. He has six children : Frank A., Cora J., Alta S., Mary, Kittie and Ida P.

Russel B. Weygandt, farmer and stock-raiser, Martinton, is a native of Ohio, and was born March 21, 1834. His early youth, till about the age of fifteen years, was spent with his parents in Ohio attending school. In October, 1849, he came in company with his parents to Iroquois county, Illinois, and settled with them near where he now lives, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, the latter business being engaged in to great advantage at that time. The townships of Papineau and Martinton derived their first name from his father's name. His nearest market then was Chicago by team, a distance of about seventy miles, via the old Hubbard trail. September 15, 1859, he married Miss Mary A. Murphy, a native of Indiana. August 8, 1862, he volunteered his services to his country, and became a member of company I, 113th 111. Inf., and was severely wounded June 10, 1864, and after a month's treatment by the regimental surgeon was sent home. He remained at home five months, and then returned to his regiment before his wound was healed and actively engaged until discharged June 29, 1865, having risen to the position of orderly-sergeant of his company. January 25, 1877, his wife died, and October 12, 1879, he married Miss Adelia Phillips, a native of North Carolina, and born October 5, 1844. He now has four children living: Silas J., Francis M., Annie May and

James A. He owns 160 acres of land two miles east of Martinton station, very highly improved. He has filled the position of school treasurer two terms, commissioner of highways three years, school trustee three years, and school director many years.

Samuel Lottinville, hardware merchant, Martinton, was born May 19, 1843, at Riviere du Lonp, Canada. At the age of eight years, with his parents, he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Iroquois county. He was one of the many on board the ill-fated steamer Atlantic, that was wrecked and sunk on Lake Erie, August 19, 1851. He was rescued from the sinking vessel the last minute before she went down.' His parents and family were all saved, but lost everything they had except their night clothing. He lived with his parents, engaged in farming, till the time of his father's death in October, 1865. He was then by the county court appointed administrator of his father's estate. He continued in the business of farming and stock raising till 1874, when he removed to Martinton station and engaged in the mercantile business, in which business he is still employed. March 3, 1867, he married Miss Lucy Savoi. She is a native of Canada, and was born September 11, 1843. They have four children living as follows: Frederick E. A., George H. L. C., Nelda Celina and Joseph Ezra. In September, 1862, he enlisted in company K, 4th 111. Cav. At the battle of Coffeeville, Tennessee, he was wounded, but remained with his regiment in all its active movements. He has filled the position of township clerk four years, and clerk of Martinton village board three years.

Winfield S. Yates, dealer in general merchandise, Pittwood, was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, April 11, 1852, and is a son of Thomas Yates, one of this county's early pioneers. His early youth was spent with his parents in this county, engaged in stock-raising and farming. His educational advantages, owing to the newness of the country, were very poor, but by a determined will and close application to his studies he acquired a fair education. January 30, 1872, he married Miss Nellie C. Lindsey, who was born at South Bridgewater, Massachusetts, October 2, 1852, and in early childhood came to what is now Kankakee, Illinois. Her father was one of the first to settle in that place, but soon after he removed to Iroquois county, Illinois. After Mr. Yates' marriage he at once engaged in farming and stock-raising for himself, which business he followed till March 7, 1879, when he removed to the village of Pittwood, in this county, and engaged in the general mercantile trade. Besides attending to his store he is acting agent for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company and the American Express Company. He has one child,

Thomas Maggee (deceased), was born near Columbia, in the state of South Carolina, October 7, 1818. He lived with his parents until seventeen years of age, and assisted them as becomes a dutiful son. His father was a cotton-planter, and having acquired a thorough knowledge of this branch of agriculture, Thomas went to Alabama and for two years superintended there a cotton plantation. He then spent a year in traveling through the south with a view of finding a suitable place for settling permanently, but not being satisfied with the outlook went north, and finally concluded to try Champaign county, Illinois. Here he became interested in a stage line running from Danville to Pekin, and for three years devoted himself to staging. He next went into the stock business and continued at this for two years. This brings us up to the year 1842, when he married Miss Mary E. Brewer, of Champaign, and removed to Ottawa. -The Illinois & Michigan canal was in course of construction at that time, and he engaged in building locks and darns, but he only spent one year at this, when he moved to Chicago, where he lived four years. He next located at Georgetown, Vermilion county, and in 1854 came to Iroquois and settled upon the land which he occupied at the time of his death. His first wife died in 1848. He was married the second time to Miss Mary A. Douglass, of Indiana, December 31, 1851. He has been treasurer of his township for twenty-five years, and for ten years has represented his town upon the board of supervisors ; he has also been assessor and held other minor offices. He was the agent of George C. Tallrnan, of Brooklyn, New York, up to the time that Mr. Tallman sold his lands to Dr. R. B. M. Wilson, and has probably sold more land to actual settlers than any other man that ever lived in the county. Politically Mr. Maggee was a democrat, and for many years was a member of the county central committee. He was not an aspirant for office or honors, but a plain, straightforward gentleman, always ready to do his duty wherever placed. These peculiar habits and qualities pointed him out as a leading citizen, and while he was averse to putting himself forward for official trust or honor, he was frequently called upon to serve the people in a public capacity. He was really the organizer of Martinton township, and was the first supervisor for four years in succession from 1855 to 1860. He was again elected supervisor in 1874, and continued to hold the office up to the time of his death. He was put forward by his friends as democratic candidate for county treasurer in the fall of 1867, when the republican majority ran all the way from 1,500 to 2,000 ; and though he did not make any canvass of the county, yet he came within 450 votes of being elected, or, in other words, ran ahead of his ticket about 1,000 votes. A change of only 225 ballots would have placed him in the responsible position of county treasurer, an office that he would have filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people of both parties. The death of this excellent man, which occurred at his residence, in Martinton township, Friday evening, February 6, 1880, is most keenly felt by the people of Martinton, where he was best known ; but not alone by these is his sudden demise lamented, but by everybody in the county whose sympathy is worth having, - the intelligent people who have known of his public services to the county. His confreres upon the board of supervisors especially will miss him, and deplore the decrees of nature which made it necessary for him to be taken from their midst. He was a model man and citizen, honest and conscientious, faithful to his trusts, charitable to the faults of others, one that commanded the respect and esteem of his fellow men. It is indeed a sad task to chronicle the death of such an one, and yet what a blessing the memory of such a man is ! By his death a wife was deprived of an honored and faithful husband and protector, and seven children (five sons and two daughters) of a worthy parent. He was buried on Sunday, February 8, in the private family cemetery, about a quarter of a mile distant from his late residence. The funeral was a very large one. The services were conducted by Eev. J. M. Hoober, of Waldron. Mr. Maggee's estate comprises 600 acres.

Jacob Lyman, farmer and stock-raiser, Pittwood, son of Samuel Lyman, came to this county in 1837 from Stark county, Ohio, where he was born, January 24, 1832. His father settled in Middleport township, but afterward bought a farm in Sec. 25, T. 28, R. 13, in Martinton township. Jacob lived with his parents as long as they both lived, taking care of them as became a dutiful son. He is now living on and owns the old homestead, a farm of 182 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He lived here and grew up with the country, witnessing its change from a habitation of deer and other wild animals to the highly improved state we find it in now, with railroads and towns, pastures and fields of golden grain. September 26, 1867, he married Miss Catherine A. Gibson, of Indiana, born January 1, 1846. They had two children : Mary E. and Martha May.

Souverian P. Frigon, farmer and stock-raiser, Beaverville, is a son of Simon Frigon, and was born December 25. 1850, near Montreal, Canada. At about five years of age, with his parents he came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and settled in Beaver township, where he lived with his parents, engaged in farming and going to school in early youth. In his seventeenth year he began teaching school, which he followed four years. September 19, 1871, he married Miss Hercelia Dionne, who was born in Iroquois county, January 24, 1855. He has three children: Neld A., Melissa M. and Lucian J. April 11, 1872, he bought the farm on which he now lives, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which business he is still engaged. He now owns 235 acres of land, all earned by his own industry and close attention to business, managing his farm in a way that reflects credit on its proprietor.

Absalom O. Edison, farmer, Martinton, is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born November 25, 1830. In 1839, with his parents he went to Chicago, where they remained two years, he, in the meantime, attending school. He then went to McHenry county, where he remained until 1850 going to school, and served an apprenticeship in a machine-shop. He was then two years engaged on the Mississippi river as an engineer and pilot. Afterward he went to Sparta, Wisconsin, and engaged in building and the manufacture of building material until 1856. He then removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, and after a short stay went to Nebraska, where he engaged to Major & Russell as wagon-master, carrying supplies to western forts, making one trip to Fort Laramie. He however soon returned to Iroquois county, Illinois, and permanently located in Martinton (Old Martinburg) and engaged in farming. In November, 1862, he married Miss Emily J. Homes, a native of New York. He has two children : Cyrus H. and Libbie S. He has filled the position of justice of the peace since 1868, and township assessor since 1873 ; highway commissioner since 1873 ; constable since 1875 ; school director since 1867 ; and school trustee since 1874.

Yictor Peltier, postmaster, collector and justice of the peace, Martinton, is a native of Canada, and was born January 9, 1832. He lived with his parents till 1846, and in the same parish till 1850, engaged in farming in early youth. In 1850 he came to Illinois, and engaged in farming as a day laborer till 1853, when he went to Australia, and after an absence of three years, returned to Illinois, and settled in Iroquois county. He bought an interest in a farm, and engaged in farming till 1862. He then sold his interest in the farm and again bought land in Martinton, Iroquois county, Illinois. March 12, 1862, he married Miss Flora Faucher, a native of Canada. They have eight children living: Victor E., Peter S., Adonis E., MadozaD., Eglantine F., Joseph H., Orton S. and Norris J. He has filled the position of justice of the peace since 1866; township collector since 1864; school treasurer since 1862 ; notary public since 1874 ; postmaster since 1875 ; and village clerk since the village has been organized. In 1861 he went to Pike's Peak in search of gold, and not being successful in that enterprise, he returned the same year. He now lives at his neat little 'home in Martinton.

Selden S. Peebles, farmer and stock-raiser, Martinton, was born in Lewis county, New York, February 18, 1832, and lived there with his parents till twelve years of age. He then, in company with his parents, came to Illinois, and settled in McHenry county, where he lived at home engaged in farming. and attending school till eighteen years old. In 1852, with an ox team, he started from McHenry county for California via the plains, stopping one week in Salt Lake City to visit the Mormons, and arrived in Hangtown, California, September 17, of the same year, and at once engaged in mining. During his stay in California he engaged in mercantile business, as well as mining, making it a success, and at one time sent money enough back to his father (as a present) in Illinois to buy 160 acres of land, and in the spring of 1857 returned home by the way of the Isthmus, crossing the same by railroad, from Panama to Aspinwall, and arrived in Iroquois county, Illinois, April 19, of the same year, and engaged in farming and stockraising in Martinton township, where he now lives following the same business. November 14, 1863, he married Miss Sarah J. Arnie, who was born in Winchester county, Indiana, May 24, 1840. He has six children living : Thomas W., Mabel, Florence, Chillus G., Earl and Reuben. He has filled the office of school trustee the last twenty years, highway commissioner six years, and school director many years. He owns 120 acres of land all earned by his own industry and close attention to business.

Charles F. Peirce, farmer and stock-raiser, Martinton, was born March 2, 1857, and is the son of Abial and Mary E. Peirce. His home is now at the old homestead farm, a place of 280 acres, which is now under his management. His taste is, however, rather for a mercantile life, for which his ability and education well fit him. He was married, April 12, 1879, to Miss Clara E. Goodfellow, who was born January 13, 1864, and is a native of Iroquois county. In his possession is the genealogical history of his family, from which the following quotation is made. We quote only from his father's birth, though the genealogy is complete as far back as the year 1623. Abial Peirce, No. 1,448, was born February 12, 1826 ; was married, April 15, 1856, to Mary E. Peirce, cousin, No.l, 451. He enlisted in the late war, August 21, 1862, as a private in Co. B, 32d reg. Iowa Inf. ; appointed corporal, April- 8, 1863, and sergeant, July 26, 1864. He participated in

Joseph Johnson, farmer and stock-raiser, Beaverville, is a native of Ohio, and was born December 5, 1819. He lived with his parents, farming and attending school, till about the age of twenty-one. December 24, 1840, he married Mi^s Mary A. Cranston, who was born August 13, 1824, and is a native of Ohio. In the autumn of 1849 he went to Bloornington, Illinois, and in the spring of 1850 removed to Clinton, DeWitt county, Illinois, where he purchased the Union Hotel, and followed that business four years. At the same time he aided in the construction of the Illinois Central - railroad. He then returned to his old home in Ohio, and engaged in farming and stock-raising till April, 1858, when he removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, and bought a farm on section 11, town 28, range 12, in Martinton township, and actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which business he is now engaged. He owns 480 acres of land, with the finest residence in Martinton township, all earned by his own industry and close application to business. He has eight children living : John B., Peleg P., Lewis C., Lydia E., Charles L., Adelia L., Mary A. and Joseph "W.

John Scoon, farmer, Watseka, was born at Roxburghshire, on the Tweed, Scotland, in 1812, where his younger days were spent. He came to Allegany county, thence to Livingston county, New York, where he was engaged in farming. He removed to Illinois in 1856, remaining a few years at Twelve-mile Grove, and then came to his present residence. Of twelve children only four survive : James, lives in Iroquois township; William and Walter, reside in Kansas; and Lemuel, resides at home with his parents. John served three years in the 113th regiment, after which he returned home and married Miss Lucy Buchanan, and died soon after. Ira, who was also a soldier, during the war died from the effects of a disease contracted while in the service. Mary married Jonathan Lyman, and is dead. Eleanor (Mrs. Jones), Euphemy J. and Minerva are also dead. Mr. Scoon has always been a farmer.

George Schroder, farmer and stock-raiser, Papineau, is a son of Frederick Schroder, and was born December 13, 1829, in Prussia. At the age of fourteen he began for himself, hiring out as a farm hand by the year, and so continued till the age of twenty-five. At .that time his mind was turned toward the new world, and in 1854 he came to America and worked on a farm in Cook county, Illinois, till the spring of 1860, when he came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and engaged in farming, renting land for five years, after which he bought a farm of 120 acres in section 1, town 28, range 13, and permanently located in Martinton township, Iroquois county, Illinois, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. October 12, 1858, he married Miss Dorothy Schultz, who is a native of Prussia. They have three children : Minnie, Mary E. and George. His farm is well improved, well stocked and a sure evidence of his thrift and industry, and all earned by himself.

Warren Martin, farmer and stock-raiser, Martinton, son of Porter Martin, was born March 19, 1844, in Orange county, Vermont, where he lived with his parents, engaged in farming and attending school till the spring of 1861, when he came with them to Iroquois county, Illinois, and settled in Martinton township, and here engaged in farming and stock-raising. April 1, 1865, he enlisted in Co. H., 58th 111. Inf. Vol., and remained with his regiment till honorably discharged March 31, 1866. He was married to Miss Hattie L. Adams July 21, 1866. She is a native of New Hampshire, and was born July 14, 1850. They have six children : Hattie M., Helen A., Cora A., Lottie A., John L. and Warren Leroy. He is now actively engaged in stockraising, dairying and farming. He owns 105 acres of land, but occupies a larger farm.

Barna Martin, station and express agent, Martinton, is a native of Vermont and son of Porter Martin. He was born June 11, 1842. His early youth was spent with his parents attending school. In the spring of 1861 he removed to Iroqnois county, Illinois, and engaged in farming. September 11, 1864, he married Miss Alice A. Dutcher, who was born in McIIenry countj', Illinois, July 15, 1847. He removed to Chebanse in 1869 and engaged in the harness and saddle* business, which he followed four years. He then removed to Martinton station and continued in the harness business for some time, but on account of his health being poor he gave that up and took the position of station and express agent on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad at Martinton station. The station and township derived their names from his family name. He has four children living: Eva May, Abbie S., Guy M. and Frank E.

Frederick Schroder, farmer and stock-raiser, Papineati, was born in Prussia, May 8, 1842. His early youth was spent at school, three years of which was at college. In April, 1857, he left his native country and sailed for America, arriving in New York in May of the same year. He at once came to Cook county, and engaged as a farm hand to his brother, near Chicago, for four years. He then came to Martinton, where he continued in the same brother's employ for eight years. At that time he bought a farm, and fitted up a home for himself, and became engaged in farming and stock-raising. April 17, 1870, he married Miss Catharine Landsman. She is a native of Germany, and was born July 16, 1851. They have five children living: John W., Louise M., Frank C., Emma F. and Hulda Matilda. He has now 290 acres of land in Sec. 1, T. 28, R. 13, all earned by his own industry and close application to business. He is now turning his attention to the raising of fine stock.

Joachim F. Schroder, farmer and stock-raiser, Papineau, is a son of Joachim Schroder, and is a native of Prussia. He was born October 10, 1825. His early youth was spent at home with his parents. In 1854, a more than ordinary business and enterprising turn of mind led him to America, and after a stay of about two and a half years, he returned to his old home in Prussia, and was married, on January 16, 1857, to Miss Mary Zeggel, a native of Prussia, and the following April returned to the United States, and settled in Cook county, Illinois, where he rented a farm and engaged in fanning, and so continued three years. He then came to Martinton, Iroquois county, Illinois, and again rented land ; continued farming and engaged in stock-raising to great advantage, a great part of the country being unoccupied for some years following. In 1868 he bought the farm he had rented the last eight years, and has made his permanent home here, and is still actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, making graded short-horns a specialty. He is turning his attention to stall-feeding stock on an improved plan that is somewhat after the old country principle. He now owns 260 acres of land in Sec. 1, T. 28, E,. 13, all earned by his own industry and close attention to business. He has ^x children : Joachim H., Frederick William, Mary C., Amelia C. S., Caroline and Emma K.

Emilia (Marquis) Shaw, farmer and stock-raiser, Donovan, was born in Darke county, Ohio, January 7, 1821, where she lived with her parents till the age of fourteen years. She then removed with her parents to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and there remained with them till January 4, 1838, when she was married to Mr. Alfred Shaw, a native of Indiana. She then lived in "Warren county, Indiana, till in 1866, when she removed to Martinton township, Iroquois county, Illinois, her husband having died April 22, 1864. Here she bought a farm and engaged in farming and stock-raising. She was raised on a farm, and is thereby well posted in its management. She now owns 140 acres of land, and has eight children living : Moses F.,

James W. Kennedy, fanner and stock-raiser, Donovan, was born in White county, Indiana, June 5, 1845. At the age of twelve years, his parents both having died, he was obliged to take care of himself by working out and attending school till the spring of 1863. He then participated in the movement against the memorable Morgan raid, and August 8, 1863, enlisted in the 116th Ind. Inf. He was cut off from supplies in the winter of 1864, in east Tennessee, and suffered much hunger and hardship. He was discharged March 1, 1864, and again enlisted, October 18, 1864, in the 16th Ind. Light Artillery, and was stationed at Fort Corcoran, near Washington, and was discharged July 5, 1865, at Indianapolis, Indiana. February 28,1867, he married Miss Edna A. Shaw. She was born in Indiana, October 1, 1845. In the autumn of 1867 he removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, and bought a farm in Martinton township, and permanently located and engaged in fanning and stock-raising, which business he now follows. He owns now 100 acres of land, and has three children : Grace J., Theresa Cora and Bertha M.

Andrew Micholson, farmer and stock-raiser, Beaverville, was born in Denmark, January 8, 1830. His early youth was spent with his parents, engaged in farming and attending school till the age of twenty-two years, when he entered the Denmark Agricultural College, an institution under the authority of the king of that nation, lie remained three years. He passed the examination after being there two years, and received the premium of $600 for good character, integrity and honor, which placed him in a standing in his country to be trusted with any amount of money, his premium certificate bearing the king's seal. January 5, 1855, he entered the Danish army, and was discharged June 15, 1856. He then engaged as superintendent on a large farm two and a half years, and afterward engaged in the dairy and mercantile business, and finally bought a farm for $3,200, and farmed till the war broke out between Prussia and Denmark, in April, 1864, when he was drafted in his country's service. After being discharged from service he was appointed by the king to fill a responsible office connected with the army, but he soon after sold his farm, and March 19, 1867, sailed for America, and settled in Iroquois county, Illinois. He engaged in farming in Chebanse township till 1874, when he removed to Beaver township, Iroquois county, Illinois. He bought 160 acres of land, and engaged there in farming and stockraising. His farm is well improved, and reflects credit on its proprietor. February 24, 1859, he married Miss Mary F. L. Koed, who is a

Peter S. DeWitt, farmer and stock-raiser, Martinton, came from the state of New York, at about the age of thirteen years. He was born September 11, 1849. His first business in Illinois was that of weighmaster and book-keeper for the Chicago & Wilmington Coal Company, at Braidwood, Illinois, where he continued till the age of nineteen. He then went to Iowa and there contracted to furnish ties for a portion of the Iowa Central railroad, and after completing his contract returned to Illinois, and in 1870 (having previously, in company with his brother, bought a farm) engaged in farming and stockraising. February 16, 1875, he married Miss Sarah M. Gray, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, October 9, 1855. In March, 1877, he removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, and bought a farm in Martinton township, and actively engaged in farming and breeding, and raising full-blooded Hereford cattle, having now the finest herd of that celebrated stock in this county. He owns 280 acres of land, well improved. He has two children : Helen E. and Perry K.

Beaver forms the northeastern corner of the county, and embraces all of town 28, range 11 west of the 2d principal meridian, the fractional town range 10 west, and all there is in Iroquois county town 29, same ranges, making a parallelogram six and one-half miles wide along the Kankakee county line, and ten miles long along the Indiana line. The soil is fertile and deep along the southern and central portions, but that in the northern portion is much of it thin and rather flat. Nearly the entire township was originally prairie. The Beaver creek, here an inconsiderable stream, dry a greater portion of the year, had a narrow belt of oak timber along its northern bank half way across the town, and Bean Grove, near its southwestern corner, extended over into this town a little. The " Hubbard trace," known to all the inhabitants of eastern Illinois and western Indiana at an early day as the great highway of travel from Vincennes and all the Wabash valley to Chicago, ran nearly through the center of the township. It afterward became known as the state road, which gave the name to State street when it got to Chicago. Along this route, up to the building of railroads, travel passed between the southern settlements and Chicago. Thither the early pioneer hauled his wheat and oats, returning loaded with salt and the few commodities which could then be found in the city of the lake. At first return loads were not expected, as the salt was procured at the Danville salt-works ; but very soon that was superseded by the product of Syracuse. ISTot much in the way of goods came from Chicago in those early days. Sugar was made at home, or its substitute, honey, was on nearly every pioneer table ; ready-made clothing and boots and shoes were unknown. The farmer took his slaughtered hides to the local tan-yard, and made up the leather over home-made lasts, and the farmer' s wife and daughters made up the cloth from wool of their own shearing. Furniture and coffins were made up in eacli village ,by the local cabinet-maker, while such things as brooms, baskets and all wooden-ware were made in the cabin ; tobacco was home grown. Thither, along this trace, the local dealers drove their hogs, cattle and turkeys to market. Along this road every few miles were taverns for the entertainment of man and beast. The tavern in this township, long famous as the "Buckhorn," was the first one north of old Bunkum, and was built by James Heanan and Fred. Woods, probably in 1834. Heanan soon after went away, and Lewis Gumphrey came in and kept it until Joseph Donovan bought it in 1847. This stood near the present village of Donovan, and where Mr. James Donovan now resides. Just north of this the Joliet road forked off, and going in a northwestern direction, crossed the Beaver at Rakestraw's. Yau Kirk kept the tavern where the Chicago road crossed the Beaver, about six miles north of the " Buckhorn," arid Heanan had one in the sand ridges beyond. John Bean kept the house at Bean Grove, on the Joliet road. His tavern was not an extensive one, and was built about 1832. It consisted of three log houses, each 16x18, one story high, standing in the shape of an L. They were roofed with rived clapboards, and the chimneys, standing outside of course, made of sticks well overlaid with mud mixed with cut straw. The same material served to fill up the holes between the logs. The business of keeping public-house grew into monstrous dimensions until railroad building ; and even up to 1860, it was not uncommon to count hundreds of teams a day in the fall. ISTot a tithe of them sought entertainment, however, for most of them went prepared to camp out. The township took its name from Beaver creek, and that from Beaver lake near by.

John Bean was the first settler. He came from Vermilion county in 1832, where he had lived a few years, and took up a claim on or near section 19, in the edge of Bean Grove. He was born in Virginia, and was brought up in Kentucky. He worked a farm and kept tavern. The nearest mill was at Sugar creek, over in the edge of Indiana, and the only store known around here was at Bunkum. He was before coming here a member of the United Brethren church ; and though there was no church of that connection here, and in fact for a long time none whatever, he maintained his faith to the last. He died here in 1857, and his wife two years later. They had nine children.

There were very few, if any, settlers in this township, except those mentioned as engaged in tavern-keeping, until about 1850. Of course no schools or churches were known. When Mr. Donovan came here to live in 1847, he taught school at Bean's Grove one or more terms, but the rising generation in Bean's Grove were forced to get along with very scant educational advantages.

Joseph Donovan bought the Buckhorn tavern in 1847. He came here from Rockville, Kankakee county, and continued to keep it as a. public-house until his death in 1860. He had some boys who were early inured to work, and with the farm and the stand, business was plenty and they were prospered. Joseph Donovan left three sons : James, who purchased the homestead and tavern stand, and still remains on the place ; and Thomas, who lives on a farm near by. John L. has been largely engaged in business enterprises of various kinds, and now resides in Watseka. He was engaged in mercantile business at Bunkum for some years, and carried on a considerable trade in cattle at the same time. He was thus engaged when the financial crash of 1857 made so many wrecks in business. John L. Donovan laid out the town of Donovan when the railroad was built, and the town of Martinton on the Danville road, and is now engaged in banking at Milford.

Quite a number of Swedes have settled in this township ; have made farms ; built two churches, and are now supplied [with preachers in their own language. Most of them are farmers, but some have proved successful business men. The Swede population of Beaver are an educated and industrious class of people ; are alive to all that tends to better their condition, and make excellent citizens. Mr. John Nelson is a representative man of that nativity. He has lived here fifteen years ; is well posted ; and has been repeatedly elected to important official positions. He is engaged in buying grain at Donovan. Before this portion of the country was settled up, John White used to keep a large herd of cattle on the prairies here. His practice was to gather up three- and four-year-olds ; stall-feed them all winter, and then bring them out here when the grass was well up in the spring, and grass-feed till "fly time."

While this practice is entirely discontinued now, he made a success of it, and sent east some of the finest cattle that ever left the Iroquois.

M. G. Potter, from Orleans county,; New York, came here in 1853, coming as far as Kankakee by rail. He had entered the land in section 28 (town 28) before. He now has 400 acres in this farm and two other farms.

Mr. Potter commenced raising cattle, and for several years followed raising winter wheat, which at first did very well, but soon had to be abandoned, though late years it has been fairly successful again. Great flocks of cranes used to come down on the growing crops and almost destroy them at times. Mr. Potter kept and grazed a considerable herd of cattle, and then commenced breeding and raising Norman horses. He met some he'avy losses in this by a singular disease which carried off a number of them.

Mr. Bbusher, Mr. Beiseeker and Mr. Young came into the eastern part of the town the same year, and have all been largely identified with the interests of the town. Baldwin Lyman came here to live two years later. He was a stage proprietor in the east, and from the first took great interest in raising horses. He went to Onarga and formed the Importing Company, and went to France to secure the very best Norman horses he could find. He now lives at Onarga.

Artemus Perigo came from Ohio in 1855, and settled just north of Mr. Potter's. He is dead, and his son lives on the place yet. Matthew Shanor came about the same time and settled east. He and all his family are dead.

Foster Moore came into this portion of the country at a very early date. He says he has been assessor here, when his beat covered all eastern Illinois and a part of Indiana, though just how much of Indiana he had, the books do not show. His experience in husking corn down on the Wabash during the years of high water was fearful. "Shucking" ten feet under the ice is a "feat" which no one but a very old settler could successfully accomplish, and calls to mind the experiences of Jonah when he first settled in Nineveh. This was known as Union precinct before township organization. A post-office was established at the "Buckhorn" in 1858, called Donovan. Joseph Donovan was postmaster until he died, then James held the appointment two years ; then M. G. Potter held it for about six years. After that a post-office was established at Beaverville, which was afterward transferred to St. Mary.

The Christian church was organized about 1859, at Bean Grove, by Silas Johnson and Nathan Calcanberry. Services were held there with more or less regularity from that time until Donovan was laid out. Mr. Thomas Askew, the Weygandts, Mr. Hobbs and others were interested in maintaining the services. Elder J. P. Holloway, of Morocco, preached for a long time, and others occasionally. In 1875 the church was built at Donovan, 30x50, at a cost of about $1,800, with a baptistry. It is incomplete yet. The membership is 75. A Sabbath school was organized in 1876, with Elder Poole as superintendent ; E. F. Harris is the present superintendent. The average attendance is about 50.

The Methodist church was organized in 1875. It belongs to the Iroquois circuit. "W. H. Smith is present pastor. Meetings were held first in the hall, but latterly in school-house. T. J. Donovan is class leader ; preaching every alternate week ; about 20 members. Sabbath school is maintained ; average attendance about 40.

The Beaver Swedish M. E. church was built in 1860 and 1861, on the northeast corner of section 12, at a cost of $1,600. It is 36 X 50, a plain, neat structure. It was afterward removed to southeast corner of section 14, to make it more central. Jonas Grant has been trustee and class leader for many years. There are about 100 members. A Sabbath school was organized in 1865.

The St. Mary Roman Catholic church was built about 1857 or 1858. A deed had been given, about 1850. to the Bishop of Yincennes, who then held clerical jurisdiction here, of 10 acres of land in the northeast quarter of section 5, for the purpose of building a church there, but it was never used for that purpose, and was deeded back. Services were held for a time in the residence of E. W. Myers, who lived a mile east of St. Mary. The building is 40 x 60, surmounted by an iron cross. Father Cota was the first priest. Until the building of the church at Papineau, all on this side of the Iroquois river attended here. Now there are about 60 families who are in the habit of worshiping here.

The Temperance League, a joint-stock company for the purpose, as its title indicates, of operating against intemperance and illegal selling of liquor, was organized October, 1879 ; C. A. Searight, president; E. F. Harris, vice-president; L. T. Hutchins, secretary; R. G. Campbell, treasurer, with an executive committee of five, through which the league institutes all prosecutions. Their mode of action is to enforce the law, and assessments are made upon members for the "sinews of war." It has been largely successful.

The land in this town sheds in all directions from an elevation through its center. A large portion of land in town 28 is in the hands of Swedes, who came here in large numbers some years ago,, and appear to be still coming, and nearly all of it is owned by residents here. In town 29 considerable is owned by non-residents. Mr. Hogue, of Morris, Grundy county, has three sections, which is being used largely for pasture. The Messrs. Barton & Peck, of Kankakee, large cattle-dealers, own 1,000 acres in sections 25 and 26, upon which they keep cattle.

The Cincinnati, La Fayette & Chicago railroad was built across the township in 1872, by which route good connections are made with the Ohio river country, and with Chicago. Through rates east are secured, giving to the citizens of Beaver the best markets in the country. Grain is sent in either direction, and low freights are given on hay to the Ohio.

Beaver has never had a "ferry war" on hand to arouse its fighting propensities, or railroad bonds to litigate so that it is not popular browsing grounds for the lawyers; but a little "special act" in 1865 stirred up a firm protest. Under the loose system of legislation in vogue before the constitution of 1870 was adopted, nearly all law making was by special act, i.e. laws were passed to apply to only this or that county, township or school district, or some individual. As by the theory of our state government a legislature may do anything which is not prohibited in the constitution, our law-makers found warrant for many fearful freaks. In 1865 an act was actually passed requiring Beaver and Papineau townships to lay a tax to help build a bridge in Kankakee county. This act was certified to the board of supervisors. They consulted their attorney and promptly enjoined the levy of the tax, and our Kankakee neighbors have never attempted to enforce it thus far. The township was organized in 1857, by the election of W. B. Lyman, supervisor; M. G. Potter, clerk ; Stephen Jessup, assessor ; J. Beiseeker, collector ; L. Bousher and Thomas Barnes, justices of the peace. The pres- ent officers are E.. G. Campbell, supervisor ; L. T. Hutchins, clerk ; John Nelson, assessor ; E. J. Barnland, collector ; and E. Clark and Charles Lamb, justices of the peace. The voting population has increased from 35 in 1857 to about 250 in 1880.

The voting aid to railroads appears from the record to have been as follows : Three special town meetings, held in 1868, voted on various projects. May 28 : The proposition voted for was to give £20,000 to the Chicago, Danville & Yincennes Railroad Company, and a like 'amount :to the Muscatine, Kewanee & Eastern railroad. The vote resulted in 4 for, to 111 against the scheme. At the meeting August 6, to vote on a proposed donation of $15,000 to the Muscatine, Kewanee & Eastern railroad, on condition that the road be built within three years, and be built through on a line within half a mile of the center of the township, the vote was 43 for, to 24 against the proposed donation. September 12 : The vote at a special meeting in regard to donating §6,000 to the Chicago, Danville & Yincennes railroad, on condition the road should pass through the township, and a depot be built and maintained on either sections 27,

28, 33 or 34, resulted affirmatively. As neither one of these three separate propositions was ever consummated, Beaver township was neyer called on to issue any bonds, and has no railroad debt.

Donovan

29, about 40 acres in all, and later an addition on the east. Robb & Morton began buying grain ; J. W. Johnson and E. J. Barnland began the mercantile business ; John Nelson began the grain trade and mercantile trade in 1873 with Johnson ; Thomas Detrick also engaged in buying grain ; and J. M. Kinney engaged in keeping store. Mr. Johnson built the first dwelling. The first fire was the Barnland store, occupied by Gillaspie in the spring of 1875. A. Marshall built the elevator in 1874. It' is now occupied by Capen & Co., who are also engaged in the grain trade in other places in the county. Kisser & Daggett built an elevator in 1879. Thomas Hutchins was the first postmaster ; then J. W. Johnson for several years ; and L. T. Hutchins is now postmaster and express agent. The location of Donovan is beautiful as well as historical. It stands on the high ground where the great highway of travel divided : one road leading direct to Chicago, and the other was traveled by that great and increasing line of " movers," who were seeking homes in Wisconsin, northern Illinois and Iowa. The buildings of the little village are neat and pleasant. The business men, as the writer is ready to acknowledge, are affable, courteous, and exceedingly busy. An utter stranger, he was accorded most generous attention and assistance from all to whom he applied for information.

St. Mary

St. Mary is located on the township line, between Beaver and Papineau townships, being a portion of it, including its post-office, church and depot, on section 31 of the former and a portion of section 36 of the latter. As has been previously stated, the old Beaverville post-office had been in this vicinity for some years, and the locating of the French church here naturally made it a center ; and Heliadore Du Faut started a store here, which induced the transfer of the post-office in 186T, and called in some other business. The post-office has since been held by Edward Urch, W. PI. Godfrey, Paul E. Gros, Levi Matthews and Godfrey Caillouette. Joseph Caillouette built the house (now occupied by his son Godfrey) in 1857, which was the first one built in the village. Joseph Gorman also built a log house on lot 5, block 4, where the store now stands. Mr. Ducharme had erected the two houses before alluded to on his farms ; and two or three years later E. W. Myers commenced keeping store. Mr. W. H. Godfrey, for many years a justice of the peace of this township, opened up a grocery and notion store, where he now resides. For some years past he has carried on the undertaker's business. The railroad was built in 1871, and new business enterprises begin to take form. Oscar Kinney commenced the grain trade and continued it some years.

The town was platted that year on the land of Charles Arceneau, in section 31. He was required to deed each alternate lotto the railroad company's president, Adams Earl, in order to secure a depot. Since that the railroad addition has been laid out on the same section, and Du Faut's and Gorman's addition in section 36. F. X. Frasier's store was burned in 1872. As there seemed to be no way to stop the illegal sale of spirituous liquors, and no way to license such sale, it was decided in 1872 to incorporate the village. The records are not very complete, but from them it would seem that the incorporation was previous to July 1, 1872, as there are of record no minutes to show that the incorporation- was under the authority of the county court. H. Du Faut was the first president ; F. X. Frasier, treasurer ; and Godfrey Caillouette, J. M. Kinney and Oscar Kinney, with them, the trustees. The present board is : O. Gorman, president ; H. Lambert, treasurer ; J. H. Gorman, clerk ; and E. Francoeur, B. Regnier and F. Besse the other trustees.

Vermillion Bean, retired farmer, Donovan, is a son of John Bean, and was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1829. At about three years of age, he came with his parents to what is now Beaver township, Iroquois county, Illinois. At the time he came here there were but two houses in this part of the county, one where Kankakee city now is, and the trading house of Hubbard & LeVasseur at Bunkum. He has witnessed the county pass through a great change, as it is now all under cultivation, a railroad passing within three-quarters of a mile of his farm. Growing up in this county when there were no schools, his education was of a necessity entirely neglected in his youth. He was engaged in teaming from Chicago to Bunkum. He was in Chicago when there were but a few business houses there, it being little larger than Bunkum, and not so old. August 9, 1856, he married Miss Lutheria M. Lee, a native of New York ; she died January 26, 1876. He again married, this time Mrs. Diantha (Shaw) Merley, who was born in Indiana. He has two children: Charles E., by his first wife ; and Olla Arnetta, by his last wife. He owns 300 acres of land in sections 29 and 30, T. 28, R. 11, and his home residence in Donovan, where he now lives. His farm is managed by his son.

George "W. Moore, farmer and stock-raiser, Beaverville, is a son of Foster Moore, one of Iroquois county's early pioneers, and was born January 7, 1839, in Iroquois county, Illinois. His early youth till the age of twenty was spent with his parents ; he then engaged in working out at farm labor till July 24, 1862. He then volunteered his service to his country, and joined Co. A, 76th 111. Yol. Inf. He was at the siege of Yicksburg, and other hard-fought battles, and was severely wounded at the charge on Fort Blakeley, near Mobile, Alabama. He was then sent to the hospital, where he remained under surgical treatment until August 18, 1865, when he was discharged and returned home, where he suffered very severely with his wound for thirteen years. The government is rewarding him for his misfortune with $18 per month pension. October 21,- 1866, he married Miss Hester A. Decker, who was a native of Indiana, and died August 5, 1868. April 18, 1869, he married his second wife, Miss Emily Denton, who is a native of Indiana, and was born August 23, 1849. He has three children living: Minnie A., by his first wife; and Henry L. and George B. by his last wife. He now owns 160 acres of land, three and a half miles east of St. Mary, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising.

Donovan. He was born in Mason county, Kentucky, February 1, 1827. When eight years of age he came with his parents to Illinois, and they settled in Vermilion county. There and in Clark and Will counties he lived till 1847, when he came with his parents to Iroquois county, and settled in Beaver township, being among the very first settlers in that part of the county, where he has since lived, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He says that when he came to Beaver township immense herds of deer and other wild animals roamed over the vast unbroken prairies, there being but one other settler's cabin in that part of the country, about four miles distant from where his father settled. October 24, 1856, he married Miss Mary Lyons, who was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, and died February 14, 1866. He has two children living : John L. and Charles W. October 26, 1868, he married for his second wife Miss Emma Hall, a native of North Carolina. She was born January 2, 1848. They have one child : Joseph A. On August 11, 1862, he volunteered his services to his country, and became a member of Co. E, 76th 111. Vol. Inf., where he served three years, participating in all the movements of his regiment, except while in hospital three months at Jackson, Tennessee. He was honorably discharged. He has witnessed a great improvement in the county. His farm, containing 120 acres of land, is adjoining the village of Donovan.

James H. Sweeney, farmer and stock-raiser, Donovan, came from Putnam county, Indiana, where he was born January 24, 1840. He lived with his parents till about the age of eighteen years, engaged in farming. He began for himself by working out at farming till June 4, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. F, 25th 111. Inf. He participated in all the movements of his regiment till honorably discharged, September 5, 1864. Having bought a farm while in the army, he now engaged in farming and stock-raising, which business he now successfully carries on. November 16, 1867, he married Harriet Richardson, who was born in Indiana. She died August 7, 1875 ; and April 19, 1877, he married for his second wife Mrs. Rachel M. (Lyman) Calkins. She is a native of Ohio ; born December 11, 1843. He now owns 154 acres of land three miles southwest of Donovan station, all earned by his own industry and close attention to business. He has three children : John H. and Luther G. by his first wife ; and Peter A. by his present wife. At the time he came to this township it was a vast unsettled wilderness, and deer and other wild animals roamed undisturbed. He now sees the fields of golden grain, the cars passing every day, and several towns in sight of his home.

Evlan Clark, farmer and stock-raiser, Beaverville, is a son ot Quartus Clark, one of the early settlers in Beaver township, and its first school-teacher, and was born August 18, 1838, near Niles, Michigan. In 1850, with his parents, he came to what is now Beaver township, Iroquois county, Illinois, at that time there being but four families living in the township. His early education was of a necessity very much neglected, but he has by the aid of his parents acquired a fair education. In 1851 his [father died, and on him devolved the responsibility of taking care of the family, which he did till he reached the age of twenty-two. December 9, 1860, he married Miss Clarissa E. Watkins, a native of Indiana, and born August 9, 1843. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E, t6th 111. Inf., and was engaged at the siege of Vicksburg and many other battles, including the charge on Fort Blakeley, near Mobile, Alabama. During his service he was appointed first sergeant, and was honorably discharged August 5, 1865. He then returned home and engaged in farming on. section 10, town 28, range 11, and the carpenter business. In the spring of 1868 he moved to the farm he had previously bought, and actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, which business he still follows. He now owns 240 acres of laud, all earned by his own careful management and industry. He has three children : Albert, Charles R. and Mary. He has filled the position of collector of taxes seven years, assessor two years, township school treasurer five years, justice of the peace one term, and school director many years.

Ephraim Pray, farmer and stock-raiser, Beaverville, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, July 20, 1825, where he lived till the age of twenty-two years with his parents. He came to Illinois in 1847, traveled in this state and Wisconsin and Michigan, working in the three states till on July 14, 1850, he married Miss Mary D. Franceour, a native of Canada, and in 1852 came to Iroquois county, and permanently located in Beaver township, on section 32, town 29, range 11, and engaged in farming and stock-raising^ in which business he is now engaged. At the time he settled here the country was a vast unsettled wilderness, his nearest market then being Chicago, by team over the old Hubbard trace, which passed within a few rods of his house. He has lived here to see a great change The railroad passes over an adjoining section, and a town lies about two miles from his place. He has ten children, all living : WiJliam, Charles, Apollien, Mary, Alexander, Albert, Thomas, Emily, Liddie and Lucy. He has filled the position of school trustee for many years, and is now highway commissioner.

Jonas Grant, farmer and stock-raiser, Donovan, was born in Sweden, November 29, 1811. His early youth, till the age of fifteen, was spent at home with his parents, engaged in farming. He then begun for himself, by working out as a farm hand, and so continued till September 29, 1837, when he married Miss Johanna Johnson, who is also a native of Sweden, and was born April 23, 1812. He then engaged in farming, renting a farm at first, but finally bought a farm on which he lived till August 30, 1852, and on that day sailed from Sweden for Boston, where he arrived all safe after thirty-days sail, and the following October he went to La Fayette, Indiana, but in the spring of 1853 came to his present home, in what is now Beaver township. He permanently located on section 12, town 28, range 11, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which business he is now successfully employed. At the time he came here the country was unsettled but by two families. Deer and other wild animals roamed undisturbed formerly, where now are vast fields of golden grain, and where the whistle of the locomotive can now be heard daily. He aided largely in building the M. E. church, and has done much in the way of education and improvement, being the safe counselor and adviser of the people. He has now five children living: John H., Swan W., Charlotte, Charles J. and Sophia. His two oldest sons served their adopted country in the late war, both being members of Indiana regiments. The daughters both married ministers.

Maltby G. Potter, farmer and stock-raiser, Donovan, was born December 11, 1827, in Genesee, New York. His early youth was spent with his parents, attending school and farming. November 15, 1849, he sailed from Boston on board the schooner Ruby around Cape Horn for California, arriving in San Francisco May 6, 1850. After a stay of eight months in California he went to Central America and Cuba, where he traveled for some time and then returned to New York, after an absence of two years. May 2, 1852, he married Miss Mahala Griswold, who was born in Rochester, New York, April 4, 1831. In the^spring of 1853 he came to Illinois, Iroquois county, and at once entered the farm on which he now lives, on section 28, town 28, range 11, in Beaver township, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. At the time he settled on this wild prairie, there were but three cabins in sight, and the whole country was inhabited by deer and other wild animals. He has lived here to see the country all settled, a railroad passing over his farm, the village of Donovan built on part of it, and several towns in sight of his residence. He owns 520 acres of land, all earned by his own in- dustry and close application to business. He has ten children living: Frederick A., George B., Inez A., Effie L., Jessie A., Minnie G., Lodema, Gertrude, Samuel M. and Edgar C. He has filled the offices of supervisor, four terms ; township clerk, for many years ; and school director since the school district was organized.

Orren G. Smith, dealer in general merchandise, Donovan, was born January 9, 1854, in Iroquois county, Illinois, and is a son of William Smith, one of this county's first settlers and business men. He has lived in this county since his birth, in early youth attending school, finishing his education by a term of one year at Cole's Commercial College, at Peoria. He then entered the railroad company's employ at Sheldon, Iroquois county, and remained in their service six years and three months as brakeman. He then engaged as clerk in a store at Watseka for eight months, and afterward traveled in Michigan and Kansas for a short time, and then bought out R. G. Campbell, and located in the village of Donovan and engaged in a general mercantile business. October 16, 1879, he married Miss Inez A. Potter, who was born in Iroquois county, October 1, 1857. He now owns, besides his store, a farm of 80 acres of land adjoining the incorporation of Sheldon.

Thomas Askew, farmer and stock-raiser, Donovan, was born in "Westmoreland, England, in January, 1822. His early youth was spent with his parents, engaged in farming and attending school till May 6, 1846, when he married Miss Isabella Taylor, who was born in Westmoreland, England, November 24, 1825. He then farmed for himself till the fall of 1849, when he left his native country and came to America, and in the spring of 1850 engaged at farm labor in Kankakee county till about 1856, when he removed to what is now Beaver township, Iroquois county, Illinois, and there rented a farm and engaged in farming and stock-raising till March 9, 1859. He then moved into the first house he ever owned, having bought the farm and built the house a short time previous. He is now actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. April 9, 1879, his wife died on the place on which she so long lived and raised most of her family. He has eight children living: Richard G., John T., Dion A., Wellington C., Thomas E., Agnes E., Maud I. and George C. He owns 280 acres of land all earned by his own industry and close application to business. He has filled the office of justice of the peace since 1867, supervisor three years, highway commissioner and school trustee twelve years. He has lived here to see this part of the county pass through a great change. The Cincinnati, Chicago & La Fayette railroad passes within one mile of his house.

Asa F. Perrigo, farmer and stock-raiser, Donovan, is a native of Seneca county, Ohio, and was born April 16, 1838, and lived there engaged in farming and attending school till the summer of 1856. He then with his parents came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and permanently located in Beaver township, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, liis nearest market for many years being Kankakee city. May 6, 1863, he married Miss Elmira, daughter of Aaron Hill, who is a native of Vermont, and was born December IT, 1848. He has two children : Eugene G. and Sidney L. He now owns 200 acres of land near Donovan station, and a house and four lots in the village of Donovan. His farm is well improved, and reflects credit on its proprietor. He has lived here and grown up with the country.

Mathew Haigh, farmer, Beaverville, is a native of England, and was born December 3, 1836. His youth, till about the age of twenty years, was spent with his parents attending school. His father was a weaver by occupation, and Mathew learned the trade, which he followed until he came to America. Soon after coming to this country he joined the army, and became a member of Co. H, 113th 111. Vol. Inf., and served his adopted country three years in the war of the rebellion. After being discharged he returned to Iroquois county, Illinois, bought a farm of 160 acres in Sec. 9, T. 28, R. 11, in Beaver township, and engaged in farming and stockraising. His farm is well improved, reflecting much credit 011 its proprietor, and is the result of his own hard labor, industry and close attention to business.

Andrew Johnson, farmer and stock-raiser, Donovan, was born in Sweden, October 22, 1821. Till about the age of eighteen years his time was spent at home with his parents, engaged in farming and attending school. Being of a mechanical turn of mind, he engaged at the carpenter and wheelwright business, and continued in that till about the age of thirty-two. He then came to America and settled in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he remained four years. On June 10, 1857, he removed to Beaver township, Iroquois county, Illinois. He bought a farm, and permanently located and engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which business he still remains, having been very successful. He now owns 540 acres of land, all earned by his own industry and careful management. June 23, 1853, he married Miss Sophia Johnson, who is a native of Sweden. He has three children: Emma M., John W. and Ida C. His son is now attending college. "When Mr. Johnson came to his present home the country was very new and unimproved. He has lived

William McMahon, fanner and stock-raiser, Beaverville, was born in Warren county, Ohio, April 21, 1821. He lived with his parents till about the age of twenty-three years, engaged in farming and attending school. He then went into the clock trade for himself in the state of Indiana, and followed the business about fifteen years, and was very successful. On February 12, 1851, he married Miss Mary J. Rinker, a native of Indiana. He bought a farm of 320 acres, and farmed and raised stock about seven years. He then rented his farm and removed to Beaver township, Iroquois county, Illinois, where he bought his present home-farm, and actively engaged in farming ands tock-raising, making it a success not equaled by many in the county. He now owns 1,192 acres of land, all except $500 earned by his own industry and close attention to business. He is now raising and dealing largely in stock. He has five children living : Warren L., Lua Ellen, Ross, Franklin and Cora. He has never taken any interest in politics, and has been strictly temperate from youth.

William H. Godfrey, Esq., justice and collection agent, Beaverville, is a native of Connecticut, and was born August 7, 1827. His early youth was spent with his parents, farming and attending school till the age of sixteen years. He then began the carpenter business as an apprentice in 'New York, but completed his apprenticeship in -Reading, Connecticut, and continued the business there till the age of twenty-five years, - the last two years being at the head of a gang of carpenters as superintendent. He then went to South JSTorwalk, Connecticut, and engaged in carpenter work for about three years ; and then went west and worked at Cold Water, Michigan, Joliet and other places in Illinois. February 6, 1860, he married Miss Octavia Dubuque, who is a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, and was born July 5, 1831. August 2, 1862, he abandoned the carpenter business, and enlisted as private in Co. A, 129th reg. 111. Yol. Inf.; January 13, 1863, he was appointed first sergeant. He participated in many battles and skirmishes, the most important of which was at Peach Tree creek, where he was hotly engaged about five hours. He was with Gen. Sherman on his memorable march to the sea in the fall of 1864, and was honorably discharged, June 8, 1865, at Washington, D. C. He thenreturned to Illinois, and located at St. Mary, Iroquois county, and engaged again at his trade of carpenter. He has four children living: Ada Ann, James H., Edmarica O., and May F. He has filled the office of school trustee six years ; school

Papineau is situated in the northern part of the county, having Kankakee county for its northern, Beaver its eastern, Martinton the southern and Iroquois river for its western boundary. It is four miles wide by eight and a half long, containing all of town 29, range 12 which lies in this county, and that portion of town 29, range 13, which is in this county and east of the Iroquois river. Beaver creek, here a considerable stream, runs through its center from east to west, affording an abundance of water. Like all the towns in the northern portion of the county artesian water is reached, but the wells are seldom flowing ones. It was originally either covered with timber or had groves scattered over it, so that there was no scarcit}' of timber for all purposes which the early settler stood in need of. The soil is sandy, and is not so strong generally as that found in the western and southern portions of the county. The Chicago & Eastern Illinois, and the Cincinnati, La Fayette & Chicago railroads run across its eastern half, having the station of Papineau on the former, and St. Mary, upon its eastern border, on the latter. The peculiar advantage in reference to freight rates, with two such routes which cannot combine against the farmer's interests, is apparent. The former road gives direct communication to- Chicago, and the latter to Cincinnati, Philadelphia and the east. Though grain purchasers are careful not to put up the price on one another, there must frequently be times when the demands of trade at the different great centers will offer to producers so situated advantages superior to others.

Points along Beaver creek early attracted the attention of the pioneer looking for a western home, where the grateful shelter of timber should protect him and his herds from the fearful wintry wiricls which now seem almost to have gone out of date in this region, or have migrated with the popular wave to Kansas. George Roush, though not the first settler in the western part of the town, was the first to establish any business there. About 1840 he began " keeping store " on section 26, just north of the Beaver. The store was one of the kind known to the early settler, and the only kind known where " dry-goods" and "wet groceries" were kept in magnificent confusion, solely for the convenience of the neighbors. The display of " store goods" was not very grand, but such staple articles of prime necessity, as tobacco, molasses, codfish, hickory, shirting, powder and lead, Kentucky jeans, knitting needles, Godfrey's cordial, nails and Brandreth's pills were always in stock. It was a famous place for "' the boys'" to collect on Saturdays to try the speed of their horses and the effects of the only anti-rattle-snake-bite specific then known in this neck of timber.

A little incident is remembered, which it is surmised that Frank Brady was partially responsible for. It was before false faces of papier mache were so well known in the woods as to be readily recognized at a distance, that some one brought one from Chicago, and taking Mr. Goupil into training, turning his coat wrong-side-out, and fixing a good sized hump under it, with bells on his feet instead of spurs, it only required a steeple hat above the false face to convert the innocent Goupil into a hideous circus clown. When the crowd was in good cheer at the store the " stranger " made his appearance, marching up the road by zig-zags, evidently uncertain whether to come to the " meeting." Tom Wilson, an African by descent, but at that day contraband as to citizenship, rolled his eyes in wonder, and was sent out by the boys as an advance guard to find out who the stranger was. With true African superstition running through him, he failed to get near enough to the stranger to learn anything more than that he looked like a fellow he had once seen in a circus, and he reported accordingly. He was sent back, and this time learned that his view of the matter was correct, and that it was none other than Brown, whose wonderful feats had moved the African's mind to wonder, and that his visit here was to buy a horse. The boys told Tom to sell him his. Acting on the suggestion he led out his prancer, and, bragging every minute of his wonderful properties, helped the stranger to mount, and keeping up his continual boasting sent him on the road to try him. As soon as "the clown " was seated he took " French leave," and the idea soon penetrated the thick brain of Tom Wilson that a horse-thief had outwitted him. It now became necessary to let the crowd around the store into the secret to keep them from shooting Goupil, and they all united in urging Tom to rescue his horse before it was everlastingly too late. Every fellow had a fresh suggestion to make, and Wilson, who from that time went by the name of Tom Brown, found that the divided counsels of his neighbors did not help him much about overtaking the " thief." After the fun and chase had gone far enough, and the darkey had been led a fearful chase, Goupil returned and uncovered, but Wilson never heard the last of Tom Brown.

The sports of those days were such as were peculiar to the age and surroundings. Hunting, of course, - which has come to be known as sport, in name at least, - was as much an occupation as a sport in those

William Rakestraw, who lived on section 10, north of the Beaver, was long postmaster of the Democrat office. For some reason, which is not easily explained, the office was not kept at Roush's store, the most natural place for it. It is the suggestion of a neighbor that Roush did not like the name, which was understood to have been conferred on the office by Mr. Wentworth, who at that time was not only a democrat politically, but editor and proprietor of the Chicago " Democrat " newspaper. Allen Rakestraw (his brother) kept the tavern winch stood on the Joliet road where it crossed the Beaver creek. When William sold out, about 1850, and removed to Aroma, Peter Lowe was appointed postmaster and kept the office some years, when he sold to Mr. Benjamin and moved away. About 1857 or 1858 Ezra David kept the store and the post-office, when the name was changed, and Democrat as a post-office name disappeared.

Henry Jones was the earliest permanent settler in this part of the township. He must have settled here about 1837. He had quite a large family. Four of his sons live in the town yet : William, Philip, Henry and H. 0. W. H. Griffin lived, at an early date, on the creek in the northeast part of the town. His father, who was one of the pioneers, died there about 1851. His family now lives in Martinton. During the year 1855 occurred the terrible scourge of cholera which swept over this part of the country with fearful fatality. In this township nearly half of the settlers were taken away. Henry Jones' family suffered the most severely. Mr. Jones was obliged to make the coffins and bury part of his own family. Bradford Clark came to Beaver Creek in the eastern part of the town, where he still resides, about 1850." His brother (William P.) came at the same time, and Abram Otis settled on section 22 about the same time.

There was nothing like a general settlement of the township until the French Canadians began coming in, about 1850. The old settlement at Bourbonnais Grove, started under the pioneer, Noel LeVassenr, twenty years earlier, began to spread into this county before the Central railroad had given " Kankakee city " a local habitation. Peter Spink was pushing his land and emigration enterprises, which seemed to him so profitable for a time, and which really resulted in success to his followers, into the rich country where L'Erable now is; and others, attracted from their Canadian home, came in on this side of the river in considerable numbers. Immigration was stimulated by the building of the Central, and still more by the building of the roads which pass through Papineau. From this fact came the naming of the township.

These French people did not like the name of Weygandt. It was too decided!}7 Dutchy. The pronunciation of words ending in ndt was impossible to French lips. Papinean was a leader of the rebellion in Canada against the English government in 1837, and asxsuch is looked upon by the French citizens as a hero not unlike old John Brown. That he was not successful does not deprive him of the veneration of those he attempted to lead. It is remembered of him that he rode through some of the principal towns of Canada, carrying a flag and calling on those who would be free from the English yoke to follow his flag. For this treason he barely escaped the gallows. Papineau was born October, 1786, and died September 23, 1871. The people who reside here, some of whom were admirers of the leader, decided to name this town after him. This rebellion in 1837 and 1838, through being aided by certain citizens of the United States, became the source of belligerent talk between the governments of Great Britain and this country. The destruction of the Caroline, by the murder of her passengers and firing, and sending over Niagara Falls, followed by the arrest of McLeod for the crime, his defense by the attorney-general of the United States, and his acquittal, make one of the most exciting chapters in our country's history. (See Benton's " Thirty-Years View.")