Iroquois County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1880 (part 8 of 20)

James H. Karr, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, was born in Brown county, Ohio, April 2, 1818, and lived there fifteen years. He received a limited common-school education, and remembers, among other classmates, U. S. Grant. He also worked in the tannery of Jesse R. Grant on Saturdays. They moved to Yermilion county, Illinois, and settled near Georgetown. In the spring of 1836 they came to Iroquois county, and settled on a farm which now adjoins Iroquois. He lived with his parents until he was thirty-two years of age. May 9, 1850, he married Miss Mary E. Pierce, who was born in Wood county, Ohio. After his marriage he began farming on his own account, and except two years' residence in Watseka has lived in this township since. They had seven children, three living : Ella, Jennie and Burt. He has held the office of sheriff of the county two years, also road commissioner and school director. He owns 270 acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor and management.

Ezekiel Whiteman, retired farmer, Iroquois, was born in Greene county, Ohio, February 26, 1814, and lived there nearly twenty-three years. He then came to Illinois and settled on his present place, which is located on both sides of the state line, about due east of Iroquois. At first he lived on the Illinois side, but at present he resides in Indiana. January 1, 1837, he was married to Miss Margaret Grimsley, who was born in Page county, Virginia. He owns about 300 acres in this neighborhood which he has earned by his own labor. He came to Illinois by ox-team and built a 14x16 log cabin and lived in it sixteen years, clearing a farm out of the timber. Most of his land was bought in Danville, Illinois, and Logansport, Indiana, the latter being the office of the canal lands commissioner.

B. F. Fry, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, is a native of Iroquois county, Illinois. He was born on his present place June 15, 1837, and has always lived on the same. November 18, 1851, he married Miss Carrie Pelton. After his marriage he began farming on his own account, renting part of his father's farm for two years. He then went into a partnership with his father, which continued until the death of his father, November 23, 1876. His mother died in 1847. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and with his parents, moved to Coshocton county, Ohio, when he was but three years of age. He moved to Indiana in the spring of 1830, and in the fall of the same year came to Iroquois county, Illinois. He worked for Gurdon S. Hubbard, and subsequently became the owner of the old Trading Post farm, and took a leading part in the early affairs of this neighborhood.

Amos O. Whiteman, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, was born in Greene county, Ohio, August 9, 1819, and lived there twenty years. He visited Illinois, in this neighborhood, in 1838, but returned home the same winter. In 1839 he assisted his brother to move to Newton county, Indiana. He put in a crop there for his father and hired a man to attend it. His father came in the July following and harvested the crop, returning east on August 24 of the same year. On the 27th of the same month he died. In the spring of 1840 Mr. A. O. Whiteman came west to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he worked on a farm, and in April, 1841, he went back to Ohio, returning November, 1842. January 1, 1843, he settled on his present place, and has lived here since, except two years in old Middleport. He held the office of county surveyor from 1843 to 1847 ; justice of the peace from 1848 to 1852, and several terms since. He was then elected to fill the unexpired term of J. F. "Wagner, county clerk. In 1847 he was commissioned by Gov. Ford as captain of Co. B, 9th Odd battalion of Illinois Militia, it being the first in the county. December 24, 1840, he married Miss Lydia Thomas, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and died March 16,1856. They had seven children, four living: Electa M., Louis K., Amos Lee, and Ora A. August 21, 1856, he married Margaret C. McCoy, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and died June 16, 1862. They had four children, one living, Harmon M. His present wife was Miss Barbara A. Strickler, who was born in Sullivan county, Tennessee. They have four children : Grace, Horace M., Blanche, and Cyrus R. He owns 498 acres in this county and 53 in Indiana, which he has earned by his own labor and management.

Martin Y. B. Fry, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, is a native of Iroquois county, Illinois. He was born on his present place August 13, 1841, and lived here until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. E, 76th 111. Vol., and wras in the service until June, 1865, taking part in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mobile, and the other engagements of the regiment. After the war he returned home and pursued his business of farming, - he and his brother being in partnership. April 3, 1879, he married Miss Laura A. Light, of Newton county, Indiana. He made his home in the old homestead residence until its destruction by fire, since which time he has been living with his brother.

Leander Hogle, farmer, Sheldon, is a native of Concord township, Iroquois county, Illinois. He was born September 19, 1843, and has always made his home in this county. In 1861 he enlisted in the 51st 111. Vol., and remained in service four years and twelve days. He was in the battles of Chickamagua, Mission Ridge, Franklin, Stone River, Atlanta campaign and the other battles of the regiment. November

6, 1867, he m'arried Miss Melissa Bowen, who was born in this county. They have two children : Almedia and George. After his marriage he began farming his father's farm. His parents, Leonard and Susanna (Bookless) Hogle, are natives of New York and Ohio. They were married January 4, 1 829. Of their eleven children five are living : William, Leander, Leonard, Jr., Margaret and Polly. All are married and live in this county, except Margaret, who lives at Earl Park, Indiana. He is living on the old homestead with his son. Mrs. Hogle died April 26, ,1868.

John B. Growl, farmer, Sheldon, was born in Xenia, Ohio, February 9, 1822, and lived there until 1839, when with his parents he moved west, and settled in Indiana, five miles east of Bunkum, Illinois, which was their post-office. At the age of twenty-one he moved over the line to Illinois, and engaged in farming, near Bunkum, on a farm that he bought of his father, and the following year he began improving his present place. December 29, 1845, he married Miss Mary Moore, who was born in Ohio, and came to Illinois at an early date. She died August 28, 1869. They had eight children, four living: George, Martha A., Ella and Frank F. He owns 363 acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor and management. His parents, Joseph and Aletha (Bishop) Growl, were natives of Maryland and Yirginia. They moved to Ohio when young and married there. They came west as stated, and died in February, 1852, and October, 1872, respectively.

Abram Hogle, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, June 4, 1831, and lived there until 1845, when with his parents he came to Illinois and settled in Iroquois county, on his present place. He has served as school director since he became of age, and has been road commissioner for fifteen years. He also served as supervisor and justice of the peace. May 13, 1853, he married Miss Mary Strickler, who was born in Page county, Virginia. They had seven children, five living : Henry S., Herbert IS"., Carrie, Flora and Mina J. He owns 160 acres in this county which he has earned by his own labor. His parents, Michael and Rebecca (Noble) Hogle, were natives of New York and Yirginia. They were married in Ohio, and came here as stated. He died in the spring of 1846. She is living here on the old homestead with her son.

Eli Hougland, farmer and stock-raiser, Sheldon, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, November 8, 1838, and lived there about seven years, when with his parents he came west and settled in Iroquois county, Illinois. He lived with his parents nearly twenty-four years. January 16, 1862, he married Miss Adela Mantor, who was born in

Hamilton county, Ohio, and died May 19, 1863. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 76th 111. Vol., and remained in service until March, 1863. On his return from the army he farmed on his father's place, and also ran a threshing machine. In 1867 he went to Missouri and engaged in improving a farm that he had previously bought. In 1874 he came back to Illinois and settled on his father's farm, where he raised two crops. He then traded his Missouri farm for his present place, and moved on it. November 8, 1866, he married Miss Helen M. Barnes, who was born in Indiana. They have five children : Ira, Edgar, Charles, James O. and Silas. He owns nearly a quarter-section in this county, which he has earned by his own labor.

Marion Karr, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, was born on his father's farm in Concord township, Iroquois county, Illinois, October 20, 1846, and lived there until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 113th 111. Inf., and remained in the service until July 1, 1865. He served one year as corporal, and also as orderly the greater part of the time. He was in the battles of Arkansas Post, Yicksburg, and most of the other engagements of the regiment. After the war he returned home, and December 23, 1866, he was married to Miss Ann Hill, who was born in England, and came to the United States at the age of six. They have six children, five living: Sidnejr, Ernest, William, Harry and Nellie. After his marriage he rented his father's farm one year. He then moved to his father-in-law's, and has managed his farm since. His wife's parents, John B. and Ann (Ellis) Hill were natives of England. She died November 8, 1861 ; present wife was Mrs. Jackson, formerly Miss Ann Gedling, a native of England. He settled here in 1860.

Jacob H. Murray, farmer and stock-raiser, Sheldon, is a native of Ooncord township, Iroquois county, Illinois. He was born November 6, 1848, on his father's farm, and has always lived at home. In 1871 he began working on his own account, farming the old homestead farm. March 31, 1878, he was married to Miss Sarah C. McCarty, who was born in Greene county, Ohio. They have one child, James S. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Whiteman) Murray, were natives of Yirginia. He came to this county in 1836. She also came at an early date. He died December 2, 1870. She is living on the old homestead. They were among the early settlers, and participated in the trials and privations of the early times.

J. W. Young, retired farmer, Iroquois, was born in Huntington county, New Jersey, June 6, 1817, and lived there seventeen years. He then moved to Coshocton county, Ohio, where he worked on a farm and clerked in a store until 1846. He then came to Iroquois and worked on a farm and drove stock to Milwaukee and Chicago. He lived here about nine months, and then moved to Ohio, and in 1848 moved to Indiana, and in 1849 he again came to Iroquois county and moved into the old trading-house of Hubbard & Yasseur, and lived there four years, working the old Hubbard farm. He then came to his present place. November 9, 1848, he married Miss Sarah C. McCay, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and died May 8, 1878. Of their five children two are living : Joseph McC. and Robert. Joseph married Miss Ella A. Karr, October 9, 1872. They have three children living : Edith, Blanche and Clyde. He and his brother, Robert, are farming the old homestead, their father making his home with them. He owns 302 acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor. His capital, on coming here, was an old team and $1.50. He has held no office in the county, except connected with the school and road.

Samuel Warrick, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, was born in "Warren county, Ohio, June 17, 1811, and lived there until 1839, when he moved to Fountain county, Indiana, following his trade of a carpenter, which he learned at the age of twenty-two. In 1853 he came to his present place, and has lived here since. He served as supervisor of this township in 1866, and has also served as road commissioner, school director and township trustee. He owns 840 acres in this county, which he has earned mostly by his own labor. In March, 1835, he married Miss Delila Jenkins, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, and died in 1846. Of their five children one is living, Absalom. In February, 1848, he married Miss Eleanor Clawson, who was born in Fountain county, Indiana, and died in November, 1869. They had seven children : Alice, John, Daniel, Winona, George, Samuel C. and Eleanor. In March, 1873, he married Mrs. Short (formerly Miss Lizzie Jenner), who was born in New York city. They have three children : Pearl, Nita and James M.

L. H. Hickman, farmer and stock-raiser, Sheldon, was born in Kent county, Delaware, May 10, 1821, and lived there until the fall of 1833. He then came to Warren county, Indiana, with his brother-in-law, his parents having died. In 1837 he went to live with his brother, who bought out his brother-in-law. April 21, 1842, he married Miss Elizabeth J. Chenowith, who was born in Warren county, Ohio. After his marriage he began working for himself, renting a farm several years, but subsequently buying a place. In 1854 he moved to Ash Grove, Iroquois county, Illinois, and has lived in this county since. He came to his present place in 1869. In 1872 he lost his wife. They had fourteen children, nine of whom are living : Charlotte Ann, Mary E.r

James F., E^iza E., Sarah J., Elmer C.3 George A., Martha C., and Francis R. June 3, 1873, he married Miss Polly L. Hogle, who was born in this county. They have three children : Arthur, Melissa and Susan. He owns 82 acres in this county. He has not been an office seeker, and has held no office except connected with the school and road.

J. H. McOlain, M. D., physician, Iroquois, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 5, 1825, and the following October his parents moved to Fountain county in the same state. He lived at home nineteen years. January 11, 1844, he married Miss Catheron Henry, who was born in Scott county, West Virginia. After his marriage he engaged in farming. In 1846 he began studying medicine, and began the practice in Fountain county in 1856. In^l859 he came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and settled nearMiltbrd. In 1861 he came to Iroquois and practiced until 1864, when he moved to Kentland, Indiana. In 1868 he moved to Morocco, and in 1874 he came back to Iroquois, and has practiced here since. The doctor has been a member of the M. E. church since 1840. There are five children in his family : Hiram H., Sarah E., William H., Eebecca E., and Charles W.

Arthur T. Crozier, physician, Iroquois, is a native of Washington county, Arkansas. He was born on his father's farm August 9, 1833. During his infancy his father died. His mother married Mr. John Shirley, and Arthur T. lived with them until he was twenty-four years of age, when he began studying medicine under Drs. Stewart and Rose, of Jackson, Mississippi, and remained with them two years. He then attended school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, for ten months, and in 1857 he graduated from the Berkshire Medical College of Massachusetts. He then practiced seven years in Arkansas, and in 1864 he came to Iroquois county, and has practiced here since. In 1858 he married Miss Elizabeth Wright, of Arkansas. They had three children, two living: Minnie W. and Arthur M. From 1862 to 1864 the doctor had charge of the hospital at Washita, Indian territory.

Scott A. King, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, was born in Rensselaer, Indiana, October 24, 1838, and lived there about one year. He then went to Parrish Grove, Indiana, and in 1840 came to Iroquois, and in 1841 went to New York, where he lived until 1863. He then came to Sheldon, Illinois, where, in 1864, he began wagon-making. He lived there until 1870, and then went to New York, and in 1874 he settled on his present place. In March, 1875, he was married to Miss Lorette M. Hill, who was born in New York. Mr. King owns 240 acres in this county, which he has earned mostly by his own labor. His parents, George and Harriet (Nichols) King, were natives of Gen-

S. K. Clarke, fanner and stock-raiser, Sheldon, is a native of Coshocton county, Ohio. He was born September 25, 1833, and lived with his parents until he was six years of age, when they died. He then lived with a relative about nine years. He worked on a farm until he was eighteen. October 13, 1851, he was married to Miss Susan Burrell, who was born in the same locality, arid died in March, 1852. He continued working by the month until February 1, 1856, when he was married to Miss Mary Darling, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. He then rented a farm until 1867, when he came to Iroquois, Illinois, and rented a farm of Dr. Fowler for three years, during which time, July 5, 1870, he lost his wife. They had four children, three living: Celia, Susan and Franklin. October 15, 1872, he married Miss Louisa Baird, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. In the spring of 1876 he moved to his present place, which consists of 200 acres, which he has earned by his own labor and management. By his present marriage he had four children, three living : May Belle, Ira and Leroy.

Daniel Spitler, physician, Iroquois, was born in Page county, Virginia, July 2, 1843, and came to Newton county, Indiana, with his parents in 1845, where he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. He then read medicine two years at Sheldon with Dr. Barry, and afterward one year at Rensselaer, Indiana, with Dr. Loughridge. While with Dr. Barry he also attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating there while with Dr. Loughridge, with whom he formed a partnership for one year. He then went to Kentland, and owing to the ill health of his wife, discontinued practice. In 1871 he came to Iroquois, and has lived here since. March 21, 1877, he married Miss Irene Strickler, his present wife. She was born in this county. They have one child, Ellen E.

W. B. Simonds, justice of the peace and insurance agent, was born in Hillsboro county, New Hampshire, December 3, 1841, and lived there until 1864, when he. moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, and worked in a wire factory. In the winter of 1865 he moved to Manteno, Kankakee county, Illinois, and farmed. In 1871 he came to Iroquois county and farmed until 1873, when he moved to the village and has lived there since. He has held the office of town clerk a number of years, justice of the peace since 1873, and supervisor since 1878. December 29, 1870, he married Miss Ellen Young, who was born in Indiana. They had three children, one living, Clarence W. His parents, Asa and Emily (Knight) Simonds, were natives of New

Hampshire. They were married there and always lived there. Mr. Simonds served as representative of his district to the state legislature in 1861 and 1862, and is now living on- the old homestead. His wife, Mrs. Simonds, died July 10, 1854.

J. B. Strickler, farmer and stock-raiser, Iroquois, is a native of Concord township. He was born March 28, 1841, and lived with his parents until November 10, 1872, when he married Miss Josie Mc- Kinstry, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts. After his marriage he moved to his present residence, and a year later, on completion of the improvement, his parents came and have lived with him since. He has four children : Henry E., Joseph, Edna and Arthur. In June, 1859, he went to Missouri and returned in November, 1860. He enlisted in the 155th 111. Yol., and remained in service eight months. He was corporal in Company F, and was mustered out at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He owns 303 acres of land in this county. His father, Henry, was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, July 12, 1796. He married Miss Catharine Brubaker, May 13, 1819, in Hagerstown, Maryland. She was born in Virginia. They came to Iroquois county, Illinois, in 1835, and settled on the present farm and have lived here since. Of their fifteen children, nine are living.

"W. H. McClain, druggist, Iroquois, is a native of Fountain county, Indiana. He was born April 6, 1850, and lived there until 1859, when with his parents he came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and settled near Milford. In 1861 they moved to Iroquois and in 1865 to Newton county, Indiana, where he lived until the spring of 1874, when he came to Iroquois and engaged in his present business, the firm being Warren & McClain ; and in 1875 Mr. Warren sold out to Mr. McClain, who has since conducted the business. January 20, 1876, he married Miss Victoria Hawle}r, who was born in Kankakee county, Illinois. They have one child, W. H., Jr. In 1871 and 1872, while in Newton county, Indiana, he served as deputy sheriff.

M. "W. Jones, dealer in general merchandise, Iroquois, is a native of Marshall county, Illinois. He was born October 9, 1850, and lived there twenty-five years. Twenty-two years of this time he spent on his father's farm, and the remaining three years clerked in a general merchandise store in the village of Henry, in his native county. He then moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, and engaged in farming near Oilman, and lived there four years, when he moved to Loda ; and March 15, 1879, he came to Iroquois and engaged in his present business. December 1*3, 1875, he married Miss Hettie B. Culver, who was born in Henry, Illinois. They have one child, Alice M. The business of the new firm is by no means small, and the large stock of goods they display is second to none in the county, invoicing as high as $10,000. They occupy two store-rooms equal to 35x50, and have a large and increasing trade.

James H. Smith, dealer in general merchandise, Iroquois, was born in Cass county, Indiana, May 16, 1844. His father died when he was but two years of age, and he lived in the neighborhood until 1861, when he enlisted in the 46th reg. Ind. Inf. He was in service three years and three months. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Champion Hill. He also took part in the battles of Yicksburg, Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and most of the engagements of the regiment. June 5, 1869, he married Miss Rebecca McClain, of Fountain county, Indiana. They had four children, three living: Samuel, Kitty and Leroy. In 1875 Mr. Smith came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and in 1877 he engaged in his present business, where he has constantly on hand all goods pertaining to a general store.

Douglas township received its name from the great senator, who was the originator of the plan, so far as official action was concerned, by which the grand prairie was made habitable. It has become popular to decry the system of land grants to railroads, and there is no doubt the system has been overdone, and has given rise to much official corruption ; but it was only through some such plan as the one Senator Douglas urged through congress that this vast prairie region could be profitably farmed.

The township lies in the western part of the center of the county, and as originally constituted, and up to 1878, embraced twice the amount of territory that it does now. It now embraces a tier and a half of sections off the north end of townships 26 north, range 10 and 11 east of the 3d principal meridian, and 14 west of the 2d principal meridian, and two tiers of sections off the south end of town 27, same ranges, being nearly thirteen miles long east and west, by three and a half miles wide north and south. The division seems an inconvenient one, but is really one which accommodates the people very well. The Illinois Central railroad divides it exactly in the center, and the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroad runs almost through the center from east to west. The Springfield division of the Illinois Central starts here, and for twenty years 'all the trains which belong to the Central road (passing over the Peoria road) from its main line to its Chicago branch have been transferred here.

Spring creek runs across the southeastern corner of the township, having on it a fine growth of timber. The surface of the land is generally level, with sufficient fall for good drainage. Early in its history the township suffered greatly rainy years in consequence of surface water, but the system of drainage which has been more recently perfected offers sufficient exit for the water in any ordinary year.

There were very few early settlers in this town. Mrs. Harwood, now a resident of Gilmaii, a sketch of whose pioneer life on Sugar creek and on Spring creek will be found in the sketch of Iroquois township, was one of the very first in the county, but did not reside in this township. Jacob O' Feather came from Indiana, and settled on section 25, near Spring creek, in 1836. He was a man of fair education, and was, according to Mr. Flesher's remembrance, the first one who taught school in the lower Spring creek settlement. The Darby family, who joined in that neighborhood, had land, if Mr. Kirby's recollection is correct, in both townships. David Wright lived in the same neighborhood in 1836. Henry Alexander, who came from Yermilion county in 1851, took up about half a section in section 1 (26-14), and remained there until his death, which occurred soon after his return from service in the army during the rebellion. His step-son, Mr. A. C. Cast, who resides at Crescent City, has the place yet, and has devoted a great deal of attention to raising fruit, having one of the finest apple orchards in the county. Mr. Alexander had a "breaking team," according to the parlance of the time, which was in those days four or five yoke of oxen. It was supposed at that time that the prairie could not be broken with a horse-team, and men who were handy with ox-teams were in great demand in the decade between 1850 and 1860 for breaking prairie. Along the timber, Daniel "Wright, Elijah Barton, "William Scott, Lewis Hunt, Mr. Graves, Thomas and S. R. Clinkinbeard settled ; George and Edward Clark and Mr. McCormick lived near by. Mrs. Eoff lived on the east side of the creek. Martin "Wright came in a few years later. Mr. Moyer lived south of the railroad, near Mr. Alexander's, and Mr. Noyes in the same vicinity. C. C. Wells and R. S. Johnson lived early on farms west of Gilman, and south of the railroad, and Lewis J. Bennett on a farm in the southwest corner of the township, and Mr. Baldwin near him. Mr. Parker lived north of the railroad, in the western part of the township, and Sherman Dayton lived near there, north of La Hogue. Andrew Bradner took up a farm in the same vicinity in the spring of 1857. Joseph Robinson lived just west of them, and Mr. Baldruft' and John Kuhn near by. In the spring of 1858, W. E. Knibloe and E. Silver, brothers-in-law, came to the farm now owned by John Shule, three miles northwest of Gilman. Two brothers Hartley lived west of Knibloe' s that spring, and two brothers named Cook had farms farther east. Mr. Seary lived one mile northeast of Gilman. Peter, Joseph, Edwin and Abraham La Bounty lived farther east. There was fine hunting in those days, and in fact, as late as 1867 deer hunting was, though not common, an occasional sport. In the fall of that year three deer were driven out of the rush slough in Mr. Danforth's corn-field, and "the boys" followed them three days before they brought them down, and it is believed would have been after them yet rather than to have given up the job. Such a chance as that was not to be lightly esteemed.

The Sturgis farm, which is just southwest of Gilman, was one of the first brought into cultivation in this part of the township. It embraces a section of land, and a great deal of money has been expended on it by the owner to make it one of the best farms in the county. The buildings have been erected with a view to carrying on dairying. The brick milk-house is supplied with artesian water, which keeps the milk at nearly a uniform temperature winter and summer. Mr. Knibloe has had charge of the farm for several years, and is running a butter dairy of about forty cows, finding market for the product in Chicago. When the reader recalls the fact that during the summer months butter has the widest range of quotation of any known article of manufacture, ranging from four to forty cents, he will readily see what such dairymen as Mr. Knibloe have known all the while, - that for a good article there is always a good paying price.

The Gilman nursery was put into operation by Capt. W. H. Mann about 1866. For some years the hedge-plant branch of the business largely occupied his attention, while the stock in other branches of trade was becoming ready for the trade. To Mr. Mann is largely due the popularizing of hedging in this portion of the state. As the demand in that direction became well supplied, he gave his attention more to the tree raising. Bringing to his aid a thorough knowledge of the business, and great energy and care in the management of it, the Gilman nursery, with its branches at Chenoa and Fairbury, became one of the important interests of the county. It embraces 500 acres of land just east of Gilman.

Though Douglas has from the beginning been alive to the political strifes and partisan combats of the day, and has, by caucus and election, aided to shake the political bush, few of her citizens have gathered the fruits of victory. Mr. George Wilson, one of her citizens, served this district in the state legislature, and after his very acceptable service removed to Hyde Park, where he now resides. Mr. David Kerr has served one term as county superintendent of schools, and is now serving a second term. He is a gentleman of excellent attainments, and has by general consent faithfully and energetically strengthened the cause of common-school education in the county, though continually hampered by limited regulations, which have restrained him from doing all that a superintendent in so large a county should do. The time allowed him has varied from fifty to one hundred days each year. Hon. Almen S. Palmer, long a resident of the township, and for many years its efficient supervisor, was, after his removal to Onarga, elected in 1872 to represent the sixteenth senatorial district, composed of Iroquois and Kankakee counties, in the state senate. He was a strong temperance man, never using either strong drink or tobacco in any form, and is still an honored resident of Onarga.

City Of Gilman

The town of Gilman, eighty-one miles from Chicago, was not laid out until the railroad, then known as the eastern extension of the Peoria and Oquaka road, was built to the crossing of the Illinois Central in 1857. Onarga had been the point of trade for this region of the country for some years, but the ra'ilroad junction here made it evident that this must be a point of considerable importance. E. E. Hundley, a resident of Virginia, owned the S.E. ^ of S.E. £ of Sec. 31, T. 27, 11 E. 3d principal meridian ; John Chamberlain, the S.W. \ of S.W. i of Sec. 31, T. 27, K. 14 W. 2d principal meridian, and three Methodist ministers (Walter C. Palmer, John Dempster and Joseph Hartwell) had, through the good will of Mr. Cassady, of Danville, then a large land speculator in this part of the state, become joint proprietors of the forty acres next east of Chamberlain's, the S.E. \ of the S.W. \ of this section. Judge Chamberlain took Joseph Thomas, of Onarga, as a partner, and all these proprietors gave Cruger, Secor & Co. (one of whose partners was Mr. Gilmau), a half interest in their various lands, in consideration of their running their road to this point and making their town here, they having the right also to name the town. Mr. Thomas came on with Mr. Doolittle, and with the assistance of Mr. Edward Rumley, a young man whom Gilman will always hold in remembrance, surveyed out the town and began the work of making a city. By this Mr. Rumley became one of the fathers of this place, and has continued, after all the others have either passed away or have long since disposed of their interests here, to be one of the most active in promoting all that is of permanent interest to the place, or encourage a healthy public sentiment. The sudden death of Mr. Thomas, who was in charge of the interests of the different proprietors, was a severe blow to the vital interests of Oilman, and with the financial storm which struck the country at about the time the town was laid out, retarded for nearly ten years the active growth of the new town. Cruger, Secor & Co. gave a trust-deed to Octave Chanute, the engineer of the Peoria road, of all their interest, and he soon after sold the property on the trust, and Col. A. J. Cropsey, then of Fairbury, but more recently of Lincoln, Nebraska, became the purchaser, but soon after sold his interest to Chanute. Mr. Cassady had entered all of this eastern section 31 but that forty which Chamberlain owned. He was a man of large business enterprises, and many are the stories, which are well remembered by old residents of this and Yermilion counties, in regard to his smartness in land speculations, some of which probably were not strictly true ; but this is remembered of him, that he always remembered the clergy with kindness. It was this trait which induced him to give the three ministers above alluded to, who were poor as the ordinary run of their co-laborers in that ministry, a deed of that forty acres at little if anything beyond what it cost him. To follow the history of the proprietary interests of Oilman further : Cyrus R. Brown took an assignment of the interest of Mr. Thomas just previous to his (Thomas') death, and continued to act in the capacity of proprietor until 1864, when Dr. Wenger purchased the entire interests of Chamberlain & Brown. In 1865 Dr. Wenger and E. S. Caughey purchased all of Chanute' s interest up to Fifth street, and the following year A. W. Beery purchased the remainder of Chanute' s interest. Mr. Hundley sold his interest to Mr. Feagin, taking a mortgage to secure the deferred payments, and returned to Virginia about the breaking out of armed rebellion, and, as Oen. Lane would say, "in common with the rest of the South, seseshed." He neglected to put his mortgage on record, a fact which seems to have been unknown to the mortgagor, so that there appeared to be no way to convey title of the lots in question except to permit them to be sold for taxes and then perfect the title under the revenue laws. After the cruel war was over, Mr. Hundley came back here and found for the first time that his mortgage was not on record, but hunted around and found it, and proceeded to foreclose with all that that word implies. There were sundry additions of out-lots around the original town. About 1867 or 1868,

Messrs. Dent, Moslier and Baker laid out the N. £ of N.W. £ of Sec. 6 (26-14); Scott's addition is west of the original town; Mann's 1st, 2d and 3d additions are east and southeast of the town ; Compton's southwest. The original town-plat embraced seventy-seven blocks, and all lay north of the Peoria railroad.

"W. P. Gardner came here from Pennsylvania in the fall of 1857, and had to wait several days for the survey to be made before he could secure lots to build on. There was no house here then but the section house. There was a shanty half a mile west where the hands who were working on the railroad were boarded. Matthew Lyons was proprietor of the boarding house. C. C. Wells was living on the Sturgis farm, and was entertaining a lot of boarders. Thither Mr. Gardner went -to secure the necessaries for healthy digestion, and found that Mrs. Wells was sick, and that the two hired girls had been that day called home by sickness in their respective families. Mr. Wells submitted the question to the good judgment of Mr. Gardner, whether he could, under the existing circumstances, contract to take any more boarders. Gardner, with the proverbial characteristic of a " Philadelphia lawyer, ' ' calculated that it could not be done. By the first of September the survey had been completed, and Mr. Gardner commenced to build the first residence in Gilman, the one now occupied by Dr. Wenger. He got it completed, and on the first, of January went east to bring his family here, arriving with them on the twentieth. The same fall, James Wright built the house which Mr. Cross lives in. Daniel Dugan built the house north of Mr. Gardner's, and Matthew Lynch built the one just opposite the old hotel, which was burned last fall. The three brothers Esty (George, MOSQS and Warren E. ), built the - hotel that same fall. It was a magnificent building for the time, 35x44, three stories and basement, and must have cost at least $4,000. The upper story was, following the custom of the times, a ball-room, and thither, on the twenty-second of February, all the elite of the various grand prairie settlements, at least those who were not under good religious restraint, went to celebrate the birthday of the Father of his Country, and inaugurate the grand hotel by a grand ball. The Esty boys were at that time all unmarried, and they secured the services of Mr. and Mrs. Cross to manage their hotel. The ball was a great success, but "certain fellows of the baser sort" considered the affair rather "high toned," and being filled with something rather stronger than new wine, made night hideous outside, with a determination to flax out the ladies, who were engaged in frivolous amusement. There was no system of police in Gilman at that time, and the Estys were not very forehanded in physical traits, but they had for a backer one Lawrence, who was the builder of the house, and as such undertook to defend it. He secured a u shillalah," which brought down one of the enemy every swing right and left. Victory rested with the defenders, and on went the dance. The hotel was a great success for a time. Trains from the west ran up on the Y just in front of it, and out-going trains made up at its door. Later the hotels at the crossing of the two roads were built, and this fell into disuse. Its windows are now boarded up, and its days as a hotel are numbered.

The first train over the Peoria road, from Gilman, was made up here to run to the state fair in Peoria, the latter part of September, 1857. Mr. Thomas had interested the people along down the Illinois Central railroad in this route. They came here at an early homyand stood out on the prairie in the piercing west wind three hours waiting for the train, and many were the curses loud and deep from those who had been induced to take the Gilman route.

John Mulvaney built his house early in 1858 ; and in May of the same year the Roman Catholic church was commenced. The frame was blown down in the terrible tornado which swept over this part of the country, May 13. This storm was the most severe ever known in this vicinity. It swept across the state from west to east, blowing down buildings, unrooting houses, uprooting trees and doing great havoc.

The Peoria and Oquaka railroad was extended east during the next two years, and then became known as the Peoria & Logansport, and afterwards, when it was extended to the Mississippi, became known as the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw. In 1880 it was sold out, and again the name was changed. The Gilman, Clinton & Springfield road was built in 1870 and 1871, largely by the system of local aid voted by townships along the line. In 1868 it became a part of the Illinois Central, and is known as the Springfield division.

During 1858 a good many houses and buildings were put up, and business was fairly active, but the depression in business, followed closely by the war, kept back the growth, and Gilman was almost at a stand for several years.

The first service of the Roman Catholics was held in the railroad house, in December, 1857. The work on the railroad had called together a number of families of that faith, and Father Lambert came here to look after their welfare, and urge on them the importance of providing a house of worship. There were present at the first meet- ing, John Mulvaney, Daniel Dugan, Patrick Dobbins, John Gleason, Michael Egan, Matthew Lynch, James Matthews, Thomas Querk, Patrick Dorsey and Thomas Soran, and members of the families of most of them. The first five are still residing here. At that meeting it was determined to raise a subscription for a church, and $150 was pledged that day, those giving pledging more when the building should be completed. Messrs. Thomas & Chamberlain donated a lot to build on, arid the railroad companies granted liberal assistance. Citizens of all denominations here and at Onarga gave liberally of their means, and May 1 work was commenced on the first house of worship in Gilman. The frame was up and was destroyed by the tornado, May 13. The work was again commenced, and the building was completed in 1869. The building was 24x40, and cost about $2,000. The mission was in charge of the resident priest at Champaign at first, and afterward services were conducted by the resident priests at L'Erable : Fathers Buzard, Coute, Yanderpool and Perner. In 1870 Father Fanning, of Fairbury, had charge of this mission, and found it necessary to build a new church, owing to the crowded condition of the congregation. The old house was sold to Mr. D. Dailey, and a new frame house built, 40x80, at a cost of $6,000. This fine edifice was burned, October, 1878. It was supposed to have been fired by an incendiary. The present beautiful brick edifice was begun in three weeks after the other was burned, services being in the mean time conducted in Wenger's hall. The church is incomplete, and has cost $3,500. Father Bloome was the first resident priest, having charge also of the missions at Crescent and Loda, in addition to the work here.- Father Yan Schwadler followed him. The present priest is Father McGar. The priest's residence was purchased several years since. About 120 families worship here.

The Presbyterian church was organized May 9, 1858, by a committee of the Peoria presbytery. The original members were : C. C. Wells and wife, R. S. Johnson, Miss Mary Johnson, Sherman Dayton, Mrs. R. L. Beyea, Mrs. P. A. M. Dickerson, J. A. Cultra, E. W. Burrows and Mrs. Ada Cross. C. C. Wells was elected elder. In 1860 R. S. Johnson and Sherman Dayton were elected elders. Meetings were held occasionally in the school-house. Rev. Isaac B. Moore was pastor in 1860, J. A. E. Simpson in 1863, P. D. Young in 1868, S. Y. McKee in 1872 for four years. Rev. Mr. Magner supplied the church half a day each Sabbath in 1877, and Mr. Fahs, of the seminary, a portion of the year 1878. The present pastor, Rev. M. JSToer, commenced his labors December, 1878. In 1866 R.

S. Johnson, A. Dickerson and Dr. E. Wenger were chosen trustees, and under their administration the present church was built. It is 32 x 46, and cost about $1, 500. The present membership is forty-seven. The first Sabbath school was held a portion of the time in W. B. Flagg's blacksmith shop, and a portion of the time in the depot. C. C. Wells, R. S. Johnson and S. Dayton were interested in carrying on the work. David Kerr acted as superintendent for one year, about 1870, and Mr. Joseph Armstrong one year, Rev. Mr. McKee during the time of his pastorate, and Mr. A. Crooks since that time, for four years. These gentlemen, together with Mr. Harris, Thomas A. Crooks, Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Snyder, Mrs. West and Miss Jennie Kerr, have been active in Sabbath school work. The school averages about seventy-five.

There were, as in all places, members of the Methodist persuasion here, and meetings were irregularly held for some years before the appointment of Mr. Havermale to this circuit in 1869. Rev. Mr. Stubbles is believed to have been the earliest preacher here, and was followed by Rev. Messrs. Hill and Gray. Rev. George R. Palmer also preached, but the society was in an unorganized condition until Mr. Havermale' s appointment. The first services were held in the school-house near Mr. Peck's, and later in Mann's hall. March 19, 1872, A. J. Alexander, James Tobias, F. P. Van Yalkenburg, J. H. Allen and A. J. Ross were elected trustees, and May 13, W. M. Scott, J. P. Bassett and H. A. M'Caughey were added to the board of trustees, and they proceeded to build the church. It is brick, 40 x 70, two stories, and yet unfinished in the upper story. In 1877 the roof was partially blown off during a severe gale, but. was replaced with no damage to the walls. The building cost about $8,000. Each attempt made to dedicate the building has been interfered with by severe storms on the day appointed. Rev. M. F. Havermale was appointed to this charge in 1869, and served here three years ; Rev. J. I. Webb in 1872, one year; Rev. G. W. Burns in 1873, two years ; Rev. C. O. McCulloch in 1875, three years ; Rev. F. H. Gumming in 1878, one year. Rev. M. C. Eignus is the present preacher. The church numbers about eighty members. Mr. Parsons and wife and Miss Walker collected the children together in a Sabbath school in Mr. Feagin's house as early as 1858. For a time and down probably to about 1869, the school was conducted irregularly. Sometimes it was known as the Mission school, under the superintendency of H. C. Bushnell ; but about that date took the distinctive name of the Methodist school. James Tobias, H. Houghton and Dr. Van Yalkenburg served successively as superin- tendent. D. L. Parker, J. H. Allen, William Scott, Miss Scott, Mrs. George Leaf and Mrs. J. R. Capron have aided actively in the work. Isaac Bailey is the present superintendent ; the membership is 130, with an average attendance of about 110.

The Lutheran church was organized in 1867, by the election of Charles Layer, Fred. Laub and Charles Meyer, trustees. Rev. Mr. Johnson of Danforth, preached here two years, and Rev. Mr. Hunzinger and Mr. Hartman of Ash Grove, served the church for a while. The edifice was erected in 1873. It is 24x46, with spire, and cost $1,800. Rev. Robert Falke served the church for a year arid a half, and Rev. Carl Schuchard is the present pastor. In addition to those above named, Albert Olms, Mr. Rosenburg, Conrad Scharpf and John Klaefft have served as trustees. The church numbers about 40. A Sabbath school has been maintained for ten. years, the preacher usually acting as leader. Charles Meyer is superintendent. The average attendance is from 50 to 70.

The Evangelical church was organized about 1865. The first preaching services were held in a school-house at John Shule's farm. Afterward services were held in Wenger's hall and at other places in town. This is known as Gilman circuit, and embraces appointments at Danforth, Wilson's Settlement and Ash Grove. It formerly embraced Chatsworth and Roberts. The church was built in 1875, is 24X.46, and cost about $3,000. Mr. John Shule was the largest contributor to the cause. The church here numbers 38. Rev. Mr. Musselmann, Mr. Knight, Mr. Wagner, Mr. Eigelout, John Cutts, John Webner, Mr. Wingert and Mr. Lintner have in turn ministered to this people. Louis Eppelsheimer is superintendent of the Sabbath school.

The Baptist church was organized in 1871 with 15 members. Rev. J. M. Whitehead of Kankakee was present to aid by his advice and counsel. The church has not had regular pastors, and has no church edifice. Elder Palmer, Elder Knapp and Elder Jordan have preached here. Rev. Mr. Barker of Watseka preached here a portion of the time during the year 1868, and Elder Beebe of Chatsworth is supplying the pulpit in the same way this year. The church now numbers 18 members. G. N. Hawley is clerk, and W. P. Gardner has been chosen since its organization. Meetings are held regularly on the Sabbath in Mann's hall, and prayer and missionary meetings in the same place Friday evenings. Sabbath school has been maintained irregularly. H. C. Bushnell was one of the first promotors of the cause, and was early the superintendent. Mr. Hawley is the present superintendent.

Gilman Lodge, A.F. and A.M., was instituted October 6, 1868, with the following charter members : A. J. Alexander, W.M. ; Elias Wenger, S.W. ; F. P. Van Yalkenburg, J.W. ; James Hamilton, J. D. Leland, M. J. Henry, T. J. Laney, Albert Dickerson, B. F. Brown, Isaac Hills, I. B. Calder, L. G. Kemer, George C. Coxshall, John C. Knecht and "W. H. Otis, Secretary. J. S. Forsythe acted as master one year, and Dr. "Wenger the remainder of the time. He also built the lodge and furnished it, giving the rent free the first year. It was dedicated by the late William Rounsville. The lodge meets the second and fourth Saturdays in each month. The present officers are : E. Wenger, W.M. ; O. R. Morey, S.W. ; R. H. Miller, J.W. ; F. G. Schrnedt, S.D. ; Charles Meyer, secretary ; W. H. Cassady, treasurer ; Thomas Fitton, tiler.

The Gilman Grove, No. 50, of the Ancient Order of Druids, was organized January 20, 1875, with the following charter members and original officers: Albert Olms, A. A. ; Paul Meyer, W. A. ; H. Barkmeyer, secretary; Anton Nagel, warden; Joseph Schalkle, treasurer; and Guenther Rosenburg. It numbers twenty-one, and meets in Masonic Hall Tuesday nights. The family of each member dying receives from its fund $500. It is in a flourishing condition. The present officers are : J. Schalkle, A.A. ; George Althans, W.A. ; C. Layer, secretary ; R. Sheable, treasurer ; John Shule, warden.

The Gilman Library Association was organized February 8, 1870. It is organized under the laws of the state as a joint-stock association, the stock being 100 shares at a par value of $10 each. The first officers were D. L. Parker, president ; A. Dickerson and H. C. Bushnell, vice-presidents ; L. A. Chase, secretary ; Ed Rumley, librarian ; Dr. E. Wenger, treasurer; W. H. Mann, S. S. Cone and Isaac Beyea, directors. The interest in the society is kept up and its funds improved by entertainments of different kinds, lectures, plays by home talent, etc. On the 22d of February each year the society has its annual dinner, which is an enjoyable feature. No officer receives any salary but the librarian. The association owns its building, and 1,256 volumes, embracing many of the standard works in all the departments of literature, and is out of debt. The shares of stock are now worth $30. Non-stockholders are charged $2 per annum for the use of the books. The present officers are : Mrs. W. H. Mann, president; Mrs. Fannie Potter, secretary and librarian ; George H. Potter, treasurer.

The first school building was put up by Isaac Beyea, two blocks north of Wenger's Block, in 1860. Previous to this, school was held in a building which stood north of where Harwood lives. The schoolhouse was 22 x 48, and was used until 1869, when it was moved to the center of town, and is occupied by S. Y. West as a drug store. In 1869 the main part of the present school-house was built. It is 55x75, two stories high. The west wing was built in 1879, 30x40, two stories. The school is graded to four departments, primary, second primary, intermediate and senior, and is in charge of Mr. E. Brumaghin, a graduate of the Albany (New York) High School, with Miss Annie R. Brumback in charge of the intermediate, Miss Phillips of the second primary, and Miss Mattie Beach, primary. The average attendance is 275. Misses Crooks, De Land and Mosher are the directors. The " Model " series of arithmetics are used ; independent readers, Montieth's geographies, and Green's grammars.

City Organization

Gilman was incorporated as a town in 1867. At the first election the following officers were elected : T. Spalding, president ; Dr. E. "Wenger, D. Harwood, Mr. Layer and J. Mulvaney, trustees ; Joseph

Armstrong, clerk ; E. Wenger, treasurer. The limits, as fixed by the incorporating act, included the S.W. ^ and S. % of N.W. ^ of Sec. 31 (27-14), the E. i of the S.E. \ Sec. 31 (27-11), and the N. i of the N.W. \ of Sec. 6 (26-14), and permission was given the trustees to extend the limits a half mile each way ; afterward the limits were enlarged by being extended half a mile each way. This organization was under a special charter, as was the custom before the act of 1872 took effect. Under the latter, city organization was effected, March 11, 1874, by the election of Thomas Spalding, mayor; C. Howard, E. Wenger, J. D. Watkins, G. H. Potter, Isaac Beyea and L. W. Kennedy, aldermen ; J. Armstrong, clerk ; S. S. Cone, attorney. These officers served until the regular election under the general act, April 21, when the following were elected : J. D. Watkins, mayor ; T. Spalding, treasurer ; S. S» Cone, attorney; J. Armstrong, clerk. Aldermen: first ward, A. W, Beery, Thomas Fitten ; second ward, John Mulvaney, L. L. Reams ; third ward, J. H. Allen, L. W. Kennedy. At present writing the officers are : C. P. Kinney, mayor ; J. Armstrong, clerk ; D. L. Parker, treasurer ; J. D. LeLand, attorney ; W. M. Scott, J. Mulvaney and A. J. DeLong, aldermen.

License for the sale of strong drink has been the rule in the city until the present year, i.e. under the election of 1879, when the antilicense policy prevailed. License has usually been $300 per annum. The city's protection against fire consists of six Babcock extinguishers and an efficient hook and ladder company.

The cemetery is owned by the city. It consisted of ten acres which was laid out into eight blocks, containing in all about 600 lots. A portion of the ground was transferred to the Catholic church, as under the rule and custom of that faith, grounds for burial are sacred to the use of their own people, and are under the charge of the church. Considerable has been done in the way of beautifying the grounds, by the authorities and by individual purchasers, making the grounds pleasant, according to the taste of the modern idea in regard to places of burial, which marks the higher civilization of the age.

The first newspaper established in Oilman was the " Journal," a local six-column folio, by Matthias Custer, in 1868. It was independent in politics, and fairly represented the local interests of the young town. Its publication continued two years.

On May 21, 1870, Mr. Ed. Rumley began the publication of the "Oilman Star," which has brightly twinkled during ten years of prosperous existence. Mr. Rumley had acquired, by a considerable experi- ence in newspaper publishing an education, which, coupled with a native aptitude in that line, peculiarly fitted him for managing a local paper. As early as 1864 he had published the "Advertiser" at Onarga, which in 1865 was changed to the " Review." He had also published the "Fruit Grower," a publication which, as its name indicated, was devoted to the important fruit interests of this locality. The "Star" was started as a six-column folio, and has grown into a triple sheet, or twelve pages, now the largest paper in this part of the state. It has always been successful financially, independent in politics, but radically in earnest as an advocate of temperance, and has a large circulation all over the county. Patronage was scant at first. The first number contained advertisements of J. H. Allen, dealer in dry-goods ; D. L. Parker & Co. and J. Wilson & Son, bankers; W. H. Mann & Co., nursery ; A. Dickerson, insurance ; H. Bushnell & Son, lumber, and a flaming advertisement of Cyrus Shinn, the redoubtable real-estate and excursion agent. A single number of the "Star" lately has contained thirty columns of advertisements.

Mr. D. Harwood was the first to enter into any business enterprise in Gilman, and Mr. D. L. Parker was the first to open a full stock of goods, in the store now occupied by Charles Layer, in the spring of 1858. It was supposed at first that business would not be drawn to the railroad crossing, and it seemed more comfortable to be away from the smoke and noise of trains. Mr. Parker continued to carry on the mercantile business until 1861, when he went into the railroad office for six years, after which he engaged in banking business. J. F. Wright engaged in mercantile business the same year. Isaac Beyea was one of the first here. He lived just north of the town and carried on his trade, that of mason, and did his full share to build up the town. He divided the time between the pressing duties of his vocation and the more exciting duties of the chase. It was beautiful hunting here for at least ten years after the railroad was built, and Beyea's education, on the hillsides of southern New York fitted him for the joys of the chase. He has, however, steadied down and become a justice of the peace. It is supposed to require a good hunter to make an acceptable peace officer. Jonathan, David and Aaron Wright were early here, carrying on the carpenter trade. Matthew Lynch opened the saloon business early in 1858. The town is the most diffusely scattered, probably, "of any town of like population in the state. It would be very difficult to tell which is the center of the town. Dr. Wenger's endeavor to centralize the business on the high ground west of the railroad was a worthy one, and the buildings he put up there would necessarily have tended to that result, but other interests were drawing in other directions. With railroad facilities of the very best and a fair start in manufacturing, Gilman can hardly fail to draw to it the men of capital and enterprise, together with the energetic and liberal men who have her interests in charge, to make it a point of commercial and business importance.

An attempt was made by the citizens to call the town Douglas, but the railroad seems to have got the start in naming, and would not consent to change. It seems strange in this particular case that there was an unwillingness to make the change, for if there is any honor in having a town named after a man whose public acts have been devoted to the interests of a great public enterprise, no one was more entitled to such remembrance than Stephen A. Douglas, whose enterprise, skill and great tact originated and carried through congress the wise and statesman-like measure, which made it possible to reduce this grand prairie from wilderness to magnificent farms and thriving cities.

The brick block west of the railroad, known as Wenger's Block, was built by Dr. E. Wenger and A. W. Beery in 1870. It includes six two-story and basement brick stores, four of which were built by the former and two by the latter. The block is 129 feet long and 70 feet deep, and cost $18,000. Dent & Mosher built the two stores south of the railroad in 1867. A joint-stock company, composed of men who had business interests in that portion of the town, built the two-story brick store south of the railroad in 1870. D. L. Parker built the onestory brick block just north of the railroad, occupied by the bank and stores, and the building where the post-office is, in 1872. The Crooks Brothers built the one-story and basement brick store occupied by them in 1878. It is a very neat one, 25x85, and cost about $3,000. E. H. David & Son built the planing-mill in 1871, and run it as such four years, when they renewed the machinery and put in three runs of stone for a grist-mill. They do custom work only. It cost about $3,500. Mr. C. Cross built the small custom mill west of the railroad in 1877.

La Hogueis a station on the Peoria road, four miles west of Gilman, where considerable business is done in buying and shipping corn. Miles Brothers of Peoria, Durham & Doe of Onarga, and G. C. Beckwith are engaged in buying grain. John Zea has a store and is postmaster. .The hay business at La Hogue is an important one. The ground here is well adapted to raising grass, and large quantities are cut and pressed for the Peoria market. The work is done by the recently introduced steam-power press. The population of Douglas, which then included Danforth, in 1870 was: native whites, 1,801; foreign-born, 598 ; total, 2,399.

David C. Wright (deceased), was one of the first settlers of this part of Iroquois county. He was born in Green count}7, Pennsylvania, and was a soldier of the war of 1812, belonging to the Light Horse Cavalry. He was married, about 1818 or 1819, to Ede McCowen, who was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1801. Her father, James Mc- Cowen, was a soldier of the revolutionary war. Mrs. Wright is one of a family of eleven children ; she is the only one living of the family. In about 1829, David C. Wright, with his wife and six children started for the Far West, and arrived in Terre Haute, Indiana, where they remained about two or three years. From there they came to Iroquois county, and located on a farm four miles from Gilman, on Spring creek. They were among the first families in this part of the county. He engaged in farming. David C. Wright (^ied October 27, 1852, and thus passed away one of the old and honored settlers of Iroquois county. After the death of Mr. Wright, Mrs. Wright moved to Gilman, where she has remained ever since. They had eleven children. One son, Jonathan Wright, was in the late war and did good service.

Matthew Lynch (deceased), was one of the first settlers of Gilman. He was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America with his brothers and sisters when he was very young. His mother and father both died in Ireland before they started for America. Mr. Lynch came direct west to Illinois, and first located in Naperville, and from there he went to St. Charles, and in 1850 was married to Margaret C. Ponsevy, who was born in Ireland, and came to America when young. From St. Charles, Mr. Lynch and wife moved to Chicago, where they remained about five years. From there they moved to Galesburg, where they remained until 1847. During his residence in Illinois Mr. Lynch was a railroad engineer. He engineered on the Galena, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroads, and was known as a good engineer, always performing his duty faithfully. In 1847 Mr. Lynch and wife moved to Gilman, and there were but two houses in the place. The first house was occupied by Matthew Lyon, and the other, a shanty, was used as a section house, consequently Mr. Lynch built the third house in Gilman, which stood in the rear of the Park Hotel. Their house was used as a hotel, and was known as the Railroad House. Matthew Lynch took an active part in organizing the Catholic church, and the first meetings of this church were held at his house. He was a faithful member of the church, and a friend to the schools of Gilman. He was made school director. Matthew Lynch died June 9, 1870, at thirty-nine years of age, and thus passed away one of the old and highly respected citizens of Gilman, leaving a wife to mourn his loss. Mrs. Lynch was married to her present husband, Christopher Ennis, July 31, 1876, by the Rev. Father Fanning. Mr. Ennis was born in Ireland. Some twenty-four years ago he was employed with the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroad as a section-boss. From that he gradually built his way up, and to-day is road-master of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroad. He is a man that is well thought of from one end of the road to the other.

D. L. Parker, banker, Gilman, was born in Orleans county, New York, April 29, 1836. He remained a resident of his native county until he was about fifteen years of age, when he came west to Illinois and located in Chicago. Here his father, Warren Parker, was engaged in running an omnibus line in Chicago. Mr. Parker, the subject of this sketch, was engaged in the omnibus business with his father, and remained a resident of Chicago about five years. He then came to Iroquois county and was farming one year near Gilman, and in 1857 moved to Gilman, where he has been a resident ever since. He entered the real-estate business, and the general merchandise business, he being the first grocer and general merchant of Gilman. From that he was employed by the railroads as general agent at Gilman. In 1869 he entered the banking business, the firm being D. L. Parker & Co. In 1873 he formed a partnership with J. H. Allen, the firm becoming Parker & Allen.

William P. Gardner is u the pioneer furniture man "and one of the first settlers of Gilman. He was born in New London county, Vermont, December 27, 1812, and is the son of Isaac Gardner, who was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and who was born on the same ground on which the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. Gardner's ancestors were among the Mayflower pilgrims. Mr. Gardner was raised on the farm, where he remained until he was about twenty-four years of age, with the exception of two years when he was a resident of New York. In 1836 he was married to Sarah E. James, of Rhode Island, and they moved to Pennsylvania and located in Gibson, Susquehanna county. He engaged in farming and remained there until 1857, when he came west to Illinois and located in Gilman. He commenced the erection of his residence, the first in Gilman, which is now owned and occupied by Dr. E. Wenger. In 1858 Mr. Gardner moved his family to Gilman, and engaged in farming. In 1865 he moved to Kankakee county, Illinois, and remained until 1870, when he returned to Gilman, where he has been a resident ever since. In 1872 he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business. This business he has gradually built up until to-day he is doing a leading business. He occupies two buildings, one size 18x40 feet and one 20x36 feet. He keeps constantly on hand a full line of goods. Mr. Gardner has held the office of constable of Gilman for four years with honor and credit. He had one son in the late war. Bur Gardner was a soldier in the 113th 111. Yol. He was a brave soldier and did good duty, and was honorably mustered out on account of sickness. Mr. Gardner lost his first wife. She died in 1872 and was buried in the Gilman cemetery. He subsequently married Mrs. Hunt. Mr. Gardner is a member of the Baptist church, having been a member of this church since he was eighteen years of age.

William E. Knibloe, farmer, Gilman, was born in the town of Sharon, Connecticut, February 17, 1820. His parents, soon after his birth, removed to Dutchess county, New York, where he learned the trade of cabinet-maker. In April, 1842, he married Miss Mary A. Dakin, of North East, who was born December 22, 1821. In 1843 Mr. Knibloe removed with his family to Chicago, where he continued to follow his trade until 1858, when he removed to Douglas township, Iroquois county, and commenced farming. This business he has since successfully prosecuted. They have had three children, two of them now living. The daughter, Harriet, is married and living in Gilman. The son, Walter E., is teaching in the public schools of Champaign. The family are directly descended from a distinguished Scotch ancestry, some of whom were employed in translating King James' version of the Bible, and one of whom assisted in founding Yale College. Mrs. Knibloe is a member of the M. E. church.

Isaac Beyea, justice of the peace, is one of the few original settlers of Gilman. He was born January 25, 1822, in Orange county, New York, and is the son of Peter Beyea, who was a soldier of the war of 1812. He learned the trade of stone mason in Orange County, New York. In 1857 he started for Illinois, and located in Kaneville, Kane county, where he remained until 1859. He came to Gilman in February of the same year. The first work he did at his trade was in 1859, in building the foundation for a business block, which was the first stone or brick foundation built in Gilman. This house was used for a grocery store, and was the first regular grocery store in Gilman. It is now owned and occupied by Mr. Charles Layer. Since Mr. Beyea has been a resident of Gilman he has been engaged in building some of the leading business blocks in Gilman. He helped to build the Wenger Block, and erected the first school-house in Gilman, which at that time was located three blocks north of the Wenger Block. This school-house is now used as a drug store, know as the City Drug Store. Mr. Beyea states that the first plaster is still on the ceiling. He helped to build the present M. E. church, and erected the brick building now occupied by Joseph Armstrong, as a real estate office. Mr. Beyea retired from the stone-mason's trade in about 1873. He has held several offices of public trust. He was the first assessor of Douglas township. He filled the office of supervisor of Douglas township three terms, and township collector two terms. He is now holding his second term of office as justice of the peace. In all of these offices Mr. Beyea has acquitted himself in an honorable and creditable manner. His politics are republican, and he is one of the eight republicans who have worked so hard for the success of the party in Gilman.

Wright Brothers, hardware merchants, are among the leading hardware men of Gilman, which firm is composed of George D. and Charles M., both natives of Kane county, Illinois, who moved to Gilman at an early day. The firm of Wright Brothers commenced business in Gilman in its present room, in 1876, located in the Wenger Block. They occupy three floors : basement, first and second floors, size 20 feet front by 70 deep. They keep a large stock of hardware and stoves on hand. The second floor is used for the tin-shop, where they employ steadily a regular tinner. The Wright Brothers are the sons of John F. Wright, who was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1812. John F. Wright remained in Oneida county until he was about five years of age, and then moved with his parents to Genesee county, New York. From this county, in 1839, he made a trip west to Illinois and visited the present county of Iroquois, then a wild country. He returned to Genesee county and married Abigail McWayne, of New York. In 1844 Mr. Wright and wife came west to Illinois, and located in St. Charles, Kane county, where he engaged in the mercantile business, and remained until 1859, when he came to Gilman with his family. Here he engaged in the mercantile business, being the second merchant to sell goods in Gilman. He continued in business about two years, when he went to Watseka, and sold goods some three years. From there he moved his family to a farm in Iroquois township, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising some four years, when he returned to Gilman, and has been a honored resident ever since. He has been engaged in the real-estate business. Mr. Wright has held several offices of public trust. He was supervisor of Iroquois township two terms, and supervisor of Douglas tow'nship one term. He was mayor of Gilman two years. In this office Mr. Wright acquitted himself in a very creditable manner. He is a demo-

Nelson Eldred, proprietor of the Gilman creamery, was born in Herkimer county, New York, September 13, 1816, and there he remained until he was about twenty-one years of age. He then came west to Illinois, and located in Morgan county, where he was engaged in raising the silk-worm. This not proving a success, he retired from this business after trying for some three years. He is satisfied that the silk-worm cannot be successfully cultivated in this part of the United States. From Morgan county he moved to Greene county, where he remained some four years. Here he was engaged in teaching school. He then moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he farmed some eleven years, when he went to Davenport, Iowa, and embarked in the lumber business, which was very profitable to him. From there he returned to Illinois and located in Kankakee city, where he commenced the lumber business. While a resident there he attempted lumber manufacturing in the pineries of Michigan. He invested $16,000 in erecting a mill and buying land. He was not very successful, as he lost most of his capital invested. In 1860 he came to Iroquois county and farmed here some three years. He went to Iowa Falls, Iowa, where he was in the mercantile business four years; then in the dairy business five years. There he did a very good business in the manufacture of cheese, making as high as 600 pounds a day. In 1875 he came to Gilman and commenced the erection of his present creamery, a brick building, size 36x40 feet, two stories high. He has two vats, each holding 600 gallons ; four churns, with a capacity of 60 gallons each, run by steam. He makes, in the summer months, about 1,000 pounds per week, and in the winter months about 300 pounds per week. He finds sale for his butter in the New Orleans markets. This creamery was the first regular creamery built in Iroquois county.

- John Shule, agricultural dealer and harness-maker, Gilman, was born near Darmstadt, Prussia, in 1832. With his parents he emigrated to America, and landed in New York city in 1847. He came direct to Illinois, and commenced work on a farm in Cook county at $3 per month. He remained a resident of Cook county about five years, and then went to Kane county and engaged working on a farm three years. He then moved to DeKalb county, where he purchased a farm of 120 acres of land. Mr. Shule gave to his father all the money he made up to the time he was nineteen years of age. From that on he worked and accumulated money for himself. He remained in DeKalb county about twelve years, when, in 1861, he came to Gilman, then in its infancy. Here he commenced farming and dealing in stock, and was very successful for the first few years. Mr. Shule has followed farming ever since he has been a resident here. In 1867 he built his present business block. In 1874 he embarked in the agricultural business and engaged in the harness business. To-day he is the oldest agricultural dealer in Gilman. His son-in-law, Mr. Lewis Eppelsheimer, is the book-keeper in the agricultural department. In both departments, in busy times, Mr. Shule employs six hands. The store used for his agricultural department is 20x60 feet. The harness shop is 20x50. When Mr. Shule first came to Gilman it was a town of some eight or ten houses. He has held the offices of alderman and street commissioner. Mr. Shule was married to Miss Margaret Hammel, of Germany, who came to America when she was two years of age. By this marriage they have seven children.

Andrew J.Alexander, supervisor of Douglas township, Gilman, is one of the prominent men of Iroquois county. He was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, January 25, 1821, and is the son of Jerard and Elizabeth (Henry) Alexander. When he was about six years of age, with his parents, he moved to Kentucky and located in Meade county. From there they moved to.Breckinridge county, where his father died July 2, 1834, at fifty years of age. Mr. Alexander remained in Breckinridge county, where he received a common-school education, and graduated from the Georgetown College about 1840. Soon afterward he made a trip, on a keel-boat, down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and up the Red river to Shreveport. He returned to Breckinridge county, then to Davis county, near Owensboro, Kentucky, on a farm. In 1843 he was married to Miss Lucy A. Washington, a distant relative of Gen. George Washington. From Davis county Mr. Alexander returned to Meade county, and in 1864 came to Iroquois county and purchased his present farm. In 1865 he moved his family. Mr. Alexander is a democrat in politics. He has been supervisor of Douglas township for the last ten years.

Charles Layer, grocer, Gilman, is one of the leading business men of Gilman. He was born in Germany, in 1836, where he learned the trade of a baker. In 1854 he emigrated to America, and landed in Quebec, financially a poor man. From Quebec he went to New York city, and worked at his trade about two years. He then came west to Illinois, and worked at his trade in Peoria, and about 1858, having saved a little money working at his trade, went to Washington, Tazewell county, Illinois, and set up a little bakery. Here he met with good success, and "married Miss Katherine Ringeisen, of Germany. They remained in Washington until 1864, when Mr. Layer came to Gilman and em- barked first in the restaurant business, his being the first restaurant in Oilman. This he followed until 1865, when he entered the grocery business, being among the first of this place. He commenced the business in his present stand, and is to-day the oldest grocery merchant in Gilman. Since Mr. Layer has been engaged in the mercantile business in Gilman he has associated himself as a business partner with G. Holliday, John Burkee and Charles Meyer. Mr. Layer has been engaged in business in Gilman ever since he came here, except in 1872, when he made a trip to his native countrv, Germany, to see his mother, brothers, sisters and friends. He made a pleasant visit and returned to Gilman, where he has been recognized as one of the honorable citizens of the place, holding the office of city trustee for two terms, and refusing the third term. By his marriage Mr. Layer has four children. William, his son, is clerk in the store. He was born in "Washington. When Mr. Layer first came to Gilman he did not engage in the bakery business, because the village was too small. After several years he commenced the bakery business. Mr. Layer's parents are both dead.

John D. Leland, attorney-at-law, Gilman, is one of the leading attorneys of the Iroquois county bar. He was born in Rose township, Wayne county, 'New York, January 20, 1835, and is the son of Gail and Polly (Phelps) Leland, both natives of the state of New York. Mr. Leland's grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812. In 1836, when Mr. Leland was a babe, with his parents he moved to Ohio, and located in Geauga county, then very wild, they being among the early settlers of that county. Here the subject of this sketch remained until he was about twenty-one years of age, engaged in farming and attending the district schools of the period "in a little red schoolhouse." From that he attended schools and seminaries in different parts of Ohio. From Geauga county Mr. Leland, with his parents, moved to Ashtabula county. Here, when he was about twenty-three years of age, he was married to Miss Cornelia Alderman, of Ohio. In May, 1864, Mr. Leland moved to Illinois, and first located in Onarga. From there he came to Gilman, where he began teaching school, which profession he followed while in Ohio. He taught the school in Gilman located about three blocks from the Wenger Block, - his first term here. He had about forty pupils, they coming from a distance of six miles. The school improved rapidly, so that at the end of two years he had some 120 scholars in attendance. During Mr. Leland's school teaching he would teach school in the daytime and study law at night. In 1867 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he filled for ten years, and was recognized as one of the leading justices of Iroquois county. In 1869 he was admitted to practice law at the Illinois bar, and to-day is the oldest practicing attorney located at Gilman. Perhaps Mr. Leland is one of the best known men in Gilman. He has taken a very active part in politics, representing Gilman at almost all the republican conventions for the last ten years. He has held several offices of public trust in Gilman : city clerk, township clerk and supervisor. In these offices he has acquitted himself in a very creditable manner. Mr. Leland's first wife died, and he married his present wife, Mrs. Mary Shultz. She has one child, a daughter. Mr. Leland had one child by his first wife.

Columbus Cross, proprietor of marble and granite works, Gilman, was born in Utica, New York, in 1825, and is the son of Erastus Cross, who was a resident of Utica when it was known as Fort Schuyler. This was some time before the building of the Erie canal. Erastus Cross was a large marble dealer in Utica, and here the subject of this sketch commenced business. He remained a resident of Utica until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1848 he came west to Ohio and was made manager of some large marble works at Zanesville, owned by a firm of Vermont. Here Mr. Cross remained about four years, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and formed the firm of Smith & Cross, who were proprietors of one of the largest marble works at that time in Cincinnati, Ohio, employing over sixty agents and collectors to do the business. They did a business in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and the Southern States. Mr. Cross continued in Cincinnati about five years, when he returned to Utica, New York. At the breaking out of the late civil war he enlisted in Co. E, 2d N. Y. Cavalry. He remained in service until 1865. He participated in some of the most severe battles during the war, fighting under that gallant leader, Phil. Sheridan. Mr. Cross was wounded at the battle of Burk's Station in the left knee by a musket ball. He served as captain in Co. E. He was a brave soldier, and was honorably mustered out in July, 1865, at the close of the war. He returned to Utica, and in the fall of 1865 came west to Illinois. He remained in Chicago a short time, and from ^there came to Iroquois county and commenced the marble business at Onarga in 1869. He came to Gilman on account of the railroad facilities being better. Here he is doing a very extensive business in the manufacture of monuments and tombstones. He sells his work in Momence, Onarga, Rensselaer, Odell, Pontiac and Watseka. At the latter place he erected a fine monument for the late Dr. Fowler. In Onarga cemetery he erected a monument to the memory of George W. Marshal, which is the largest monument in Iroquois county. Mr. Cross employs some fifteen men. He has in connection a steam stone saw-mill. He buys most of his marble and granite from first hands, importing marble and granite. His business amounts to as high as $25,000 per year.

H. C. Mosher, merchant, Oilman, was born in La Salle county, Illinois, February 15, 1836, and is the son of Ira and Louisa (Pease) Mosher. Ira Mosher was a native of Saratoga county, New York. He married in New York, and about 1830, with his wife and one child, emigrated west to Illinois and located in La Salle, then a wild county, inhabited by the Indian and the wolf. Here they commenced farming, being among the first settlers of the county. Ira Mosher participated in the Black Hawk war of 1832. He died March 1, 1874:, respected and honored. The subject of this sketch remained on his father's farm, engaged in farming, and in the winter months attending the district schools of the period. When very young he helped his father to haul grain, etc., to the Chicago market. In 1862 Mr. Mosher enlisted in the late civil war in Co. K, 107th 111. Yol. Inf. After serving one year in the 107th he was transferred to Battery K, 1st 111. Light Art., where he served until the expiration of three years, doing good duty. Here we may state that Mr. Mosher had three brothers in the late war, and the four brothers together saw fifteen years of active service, participating in some of the most severe battles of the war. Charles Mosher enlisted in 1861 in Co. A, 8th 111. Yol. Inf. He participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson (where he received a scalp wound), Shiloh, siege of Yicksburg, Champion Hill, Jackson, and the last battle fought during the war - battle of the Blakeleys, or siege of Mobile. He was honorably mustered out, and is now engaged in the mercantile business in Gilman. E. W. Mosher enlisted in 1862 in the 104th 111. Yol. Inf. He was captured by the guerilla, John Morgan, in Tennessee, but was soon after paroled, and was in Sherman's march to the sea through the Carolinas and to Washington, where he participated in the grand review at the close of the war. George I. Mosher enlisted in the 53d 111. Yol. Inf. He did good service, and was honorably mustered out. When H. C. Mosher returned from the army he embarked in the dry-goods business in Marshall county. In 1866 he came to Gilman, and was largely engaged in the real-estate business. The firm of Dent & Mosher purchased 360 acres of land which laid on the south side of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroad track. Since Mr. Mosher's residence in Gilman he has been engaged in the lumber and grain business. At present he is engaged in the dry-goods business, also farming. Mr. Mosher was married to Miss Elizabeth Baker, of New York state.

among the pioneer business men of Oilman: He was born in Pomerania, Germany, in 1839. In 1859 he emigrated to America, and landed in Quebec. From there he went to Michigan, where he worked in the lumber business a short time, and then, in 1859, the same year of his emigration to America, he came to Illinois, and worked on a farm in Iroquois county. He afterward went to Livingston county, where he remained until the late civil war. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. K, 129th 111. Yol. Inf., for three years as private. He did good service, participating in some of the most severe battles of the war : Resaca, Dallas, Lost Mountain, and Kenesaw Mountain. During the battle of Dallas he was captured. He and two of his comrades were carrying a log to build breastworks, when his two comrades were shot, and the whole of the log fell on him. He was then taken to the Nashville hospital, where he remained for a number of days. He was honorably mustered out, and he returned to Livingston county, where he remained until 1866. He then came to Oilman, where he has been a worthy citizen ever since. He first embarked in the butcher business, and from this he entered the general grocery business with Mr. Charles Layer, who is one of the pioneer grocery men of Oilman. From the grocery business, Mr. Meyer, in 1875, entered the furniture business in company with Daniel Althan. This firm continued about one year. Mr. Meyer is now engaged in the business alone. He occupies a store on Central street, size 25 X 53 feet, two stories high. He is doing a good business in his line. In 1877 Mr. Meyer was made justice of the peace. He was alderman of Oilman two terms. He is at present school trustee. He has given entire satisfaction in all of his offices.

Elias Wenger, physician, Oilman, is perhaps one of the best known and most highly respected business men of Oilman. To write a history of Oilman without mentioning Dr. Wenger would be very incomplete. He was born in Rockingham county, Yirginia, April 16', 1821, and is the son of Abraham and Mary (Orove) Wenger, both natives of Yirginia. The subject of this sketch remained in his native county until he was about thirteen years of age, when he moved to Augusta, Yirginia. Here he received his principal education, and at eighteen he began the study of medicine. He was also engaged in teaching the district schools. At twenty-one years of age Dr. Wenger was married to Miss Eliza J. Smith. At twenty-seven years of age, in 1848, with his wife and three children, he came to Illinois, and located in Washington, Tazewell county, where he began in the drug business, starting and owning the first drug store at that place. In 1855 he graduated from the Rush Medical College of Chicago, and began the practice of medicine in Washington, where he associated himself as a business partner with Dr. E. F. Wood. While Dr. Wenger was a resident of Washington the people kept him continually in some public office. He served them well. He was justice of the peace twelve years ; supervisor three years ; and in 1863 he was nominated and elected to the legislature, which office he filled for one term, proving himself a man of acknowledged ability. In 1865 Dr. Wenger moved to Oilman, then a small town of thirty-one buildings, and here he invested largely in real estate, first purchasing the estate of Chamberlain & Brown, afterward purchasing largely from O. Chanute. In 1870 and 1871 Dr. Wenger erected the Wenger Block, a fine brick business block, size 129 feet front by 70 feet deep, two stories high, and perhaps the best business block in Iroquois county. Since Dr. Wenger's residence in Gilman he has been engaged in his profession. In 1875 he embarked in the mercantile business, but not meeting with good success, he retired after two years. Since his residence in Gilman he has held the offices of school treasurer, police justice, alderman and trustee, giving entire satisfaction. He drafted the first charter in the incorporation of Gilman in 1867. Dr. Wenger's political opinions are democratic, and in religion he is a Universalist. He is the parent of seven children.

Joseph Armstrong, real-estate and insurance agent, Gilman, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1838, and is the son of John and Nancy (Meanes) Armstrong. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and his father was a native of Ireland, who came to America when he was about twenty-one years of age. Mr. Armstrong remained a resident of Washington county until he was about twentyfive years of age, receiving his principal education there. In 1867 he came west to Illinois, and located in Gilman, where he entered the drug business, and remained in this business until 1872, when he retired and embarked in the real-estate business, in which he has continued ever since. Besides his real-estate business, Mr. Armstrong is engaged in the loan and insurance business, representing some of the leading insurance companies of America. Mr. Armstrong is city clerk of Gilman. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Miss Nancy J. Sturgeon, of Washington county, Pennsylvania.