Lee County, Illinois - The whole text, 1881 (part 13 of 24)

Daniel Brown, farmer, Eldena, the son of John and Nancy ("Westcott) Brown, of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, was born November 6, 1820, in "Windsor, of the same county and state. "When eight years old his father moved to Aurora, Erie county. Now York, where he attended school for about six j'ears. In the spring of 1834 his father settled in Du Page county, Illinois, where Daniel availed himself of the means of education till he reached the age of twentythree, when he entered Belvidere Seminary, near Rock river, and attended there for one year, when, his father dying, he left the seminary and took charge of his father's farm, which he shortly afterward purchased from the heirs; it consisted of 300 acres of very choice land. In tiie year 1854 he sold the above farm and moved to Lee county, Sec. 31, in the township of Nachusa, at that time Chinatown, where he remained till 1871, when he disposed of his farm, but had to retake it, the purchaser being unable to pay ; he then rented it till the spring of 1880, in the interim residing in Dixon; since that time Mr. Brown has occupied the farm. In Novembei", 1842, he married Miss Adelaide J. Cheney, eldest daughter of Reuben and Sarah Cheney, of Du Page county, near Naperville, and they have a family of six children, five boys and one girl. Clara, the eldest, has married, and resides in Iowa; Frank, the eldest boy.Jwas in the Union army in the war of the rebellion, and at its termination went with the command into Dakota to the Indian territorj^, where he conducted himself creditably, and located a claim at Ellsworth county, Kansas ; Eugene M., the second son, is engineer on the Texas Pacific railroad ; Walter B. tills the post of clerk in Parsons, southeast Kansas, and Harry E. and Edwin are at home.

Jacob Guoh, farmer, Dixon, was born in Berks count}', Pennsylvania, in 1806, where he spent his youth and received a limited education. At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to learn the potter's trade, but because of bronchial affections he could not continue in it. In 1828 he was married to Miss Kathrine Hoffman, and for some years lived at Catawissa, Pennsylvania. In ISiS they moved to Lee county, Illinois, and a little later entered 160 acres of land near his present home, with a Mexican land warrant. He is the father of ten children, only two of whom are now living: Mrs. Susan Statlsmith, of Eldora, Iowa, and Ephram H. Groh, Esq., a justice of the peace and prominent citizen of South Dixon township, Lee count}'. He has a beautiful farm home two and three quarters miles from the city of Dixon, on the Chicago road. Politically Mr. Groh is a republican, but has led a quiet, private life all his days, holding no office save that he was the first overseer of the poor in South Dixon township. He has been a member of the Lutheran church for many years, and was one of the prime movers in the establishment and building of the St. James church, located a few miles from Dixon, on the Chicago road. He helped to build the present school-house in his district, a brick structure, which at that time was the finest in Lee county.

Oliver E. Fellows, farmer, Dixon, the son of Simon and Elizabeth (Deyo) Fellows, was born June 12, 1837, in Cherry Grove, Jo Daviess county, Illinois. His father was from New Hampshire and his mother from Xew York state. From Cherry Grove his father moved into Palmyra township, Lee county, to Sugar Grove, where his father rented a farm and where the subject of this sketch attended school for a short time. On March 25, 18G0, Mr. Fellows was married to Miss Mary E. Boyer, daughter of Abram and Elizabeth Boyer, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He has a fine family of ten children, five boys and five girls, all living under the parental roof The census taker said he had the premium family in the township. On March 11, 1878, Mr. Fellows moved from Sugar Grove to South Dixon, Sec. 29, and rented a large farm from Col. Noble. The land is most suitable for pasturage and agriculture. It is intersected by the Five-mile

William J. Fritz, farmer, Dixon, the son of John and Eve (Mowrj') Fritz, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born there July 1, 1825, and attended school with much difficulty on account of the absence of roads. At the age of twenty years he commenced working on his father's farm, which he continued till his marriage with Miss Eliza Phillippi, eldest daughter of John and Rebecca Phillippi, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, which event took place October 16, 1819. After this he went on his own farm in that place. In April, 1853, he moved to Lee county, Illinois, South Dixon, Sec. 24. Mr. Fritz, sr., had previously' bought land in this section and gave eighty acres of such property to his son, who subsequently bought from his father eighty acres more. Mr. Fritz has now in this township, in different sections, 390 acres of as good land as can be found in Lee county. He has also eight and a half acres of timber lands, owns besides 758 acres in Kansas, and is an example of what industry, integrity and perseverance can accomplish. Mr. Fritz had ten children : the eldest boy, Peter Freeman, died at the age of eleven years, and rest, seven boys and two girls, are living, and with the exception of one boy who has gone east are all at home. Mr. Fritz spares no expense in the education of his family, sending them to the best colleges. Noah, the third son, is at Carthage College, Hancock county. Mr. Fritz is most anxious that a superior education should be imparted in the district school.

Hiram Uhl, farmer, Dixon, is the offspring of Daniel and Mary (Long) Uhl, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and was born in the same county and state September 21, 1828. He was educated at the district school till he arrived at the age of eighteen years. He followed the occupation of teaming and farming for a considerable number of years, when he moved west and bought a farm in Sec. 13, at that time Dixon township, which he farmed till the year 1860, when he moved into Dixon and engaged in the milling business for two years. On September 12, 1850, he married Miss Margaret Wilhelm, daughter of Philip Wilhelm, of Mar3'land, by whom he had four children, two of whom are dead ; the other two are comfortably married. Mrs. Uhl died July 8, 1858, aged twenty-eight years, ten months and twenty-five days. March 20, 1862, Mr. Uhl married Miss Nancy Hughes, daughter of Joseph Hughes, of Cumberland, Alleghany county, of whom the issue is four children, all girls : Ida May, Bertha Almeda, Eva Olive, and Grace Guthrie, all of whom are attending school. Mr. Uhl's farm is a good one of 300 acres, watered by a tributary of the Three-mile branch.

Epubam Fritz, fanner, Dixon, son of Ananias and Harriet Fritz, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 18i< His parents migrated to South Dixon, Lee county, m April lb52, and bought a farm of 135 acres in S.E. i Sec. 13. It has a southern aspect and is well adapted for agriculture and pasturage. His mother died in 18Gi and his father has removed to Kansas, where at present he tarms 140 acres. The subject of this sketch, July 10, 1873, was united in marria-e to Miss A. C. Seibert, daughter of Rev. James L. W. Seibert, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. They have three children two girls and one bov, named Flora Amelia, Harry Seibert, and Ida May, aged respectiveh' seven, five and four years. Mr. Fritz was for three years in the Illinois Central railroad othce at Eldena. ., ,

DuASF W. Bailey, farmer, Dixon, son of Capt. Hiram Bailey and grandson of Mai-Gen. William Bailey, was born in Rupert, Bennington countv, Vermont, December 10, 1838. He came from Michigan to Illinois in the spring of 1866 and engaged in the dry-goods business in Polo for some years, when he came to Dixon and bought a farm m the vicinitv of the town. Mr. Bailey has honorably tilled the position ot town clerk of South Dixon and now occupies the position of supervisor He returned to Vermont and married Miss Jul ia E. Graves, the youngest dau.^hter of Francis Graves, of Rupert, Bennington county. They have had'live children, but tWo have been removed by death, and two girls

J MosTOLi.ER, grain, stock and coal dealer, Eldena, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1836, and came to this county in 1855 and engaged in farming till 1861. He entered the army in Capt. Cheney's battery, of Dixon, in which he remained tor three years, having discharged his duties efficiently and having enjoyed the esteem of his comrades'. He passed unscathed through thirteen battles Alter leavin- the armv he returned to farming for two years, when he embarked in the dry-goods, lumber, coal and grain business, and now owns the only elevator in the village, from which l;.^/^"""''^^'^"^' about 300,000 bushels. This elevator is capable ot handling 5,000 bushels per day. In 1877 he married Miss Rachel Morris, ot Lee county. I.AAC Seitz. farmer, Dixon, was born near Dayton, Ohio, November 18 1843 His parents were Isaac and Elizabeth (Flora) Seitz, the former born in Lancaster county, and the latter in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and both removing to Ohio in an early day. During life the elder Mr. Seitz was a farmer and cooper, and died ot apoplexv about Februarv 20, 1877, in Lee county, aged sixty-seven years, and Mrs. Seitz died about 1848, also in Lee county, in the same house that her husband died in. Mr. Seitz, jr., came to this county when about the age of two and a half years, and has resided here ever since.

His education was of a limited cliaracter, and his occupation through life lias been that of a farmer, having under cultivation some eiglUy acres in excellent condition, all amassed by hard labor. He was married to Miss Susan Landers December 2, 1869, in Sterling, Whitesides county, Illinois. She was born March 17, 1850, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, her parents also being natives of the same state. They have five children: Cora A., born September 11, 1870; L-vino- o' December 17, 1874; Isaac H., March 10, 1876 ; William A., February 12, 1878; and Agnes May, March 27, 1880; Ollive Frances, born July 9, 1872, and died March 27, 1873, aged eight months. Frederick Glessner, genera! merchant, Eldena, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1817. His parents were Jeremiah and Amy Ann (Laub) Glessner, both natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, the father still living, and the mother dying February 1868, in this township. Frederick, with his parents, came to this country in 1864, locating near Eldena. He received the usual winter schooling, and during the summer season he worked on the farm. In September, 1877, he opened a store in Eldena, carrying a general stock of merchandise, in which, bv perseverance, industry and integrity he has built himself up a tine business. He was married to Miss Luphema Hill March 31, 1868, she having been born February 11, 1848, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Her parents, both deceased, were natives of the same state. Mr. Glessner has a family of five children: Jeremiah, born January 28. 1869; Frank October 1, 1871 ; Percy, February 9, 1874 ; Esther, March' 30 1876' and Arthur, August 26, 1880. Georgiana was born October 28 1879^ and died February 25, 1880. ' '

Jacob Senxeff, farmer, Eldena, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1836. His parents were William and Phojb'e (Barnedt) Senneti; the former being born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania June 1795, and died in Carroll county, Illinois, in June 1875, in his eightieth year. The latter was born in the same county in 1797 and died in 1842, aged forty-five years. Mr. Sennefl-'s father and grandfather were born in the same house, and he was born not a half mile distant. Our subject's great-grandfather was a genei'al in the German army during the twenty-one years' war, but resigned and came to America, settling in Pennsylvania, his nearest neighbor being sixty miles distant. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Sennefl' mo^ved to Di.xon township (1854), and to Carroll county in 1859, returning in 1861 to Dixon. In the latter year he enlisted in the 34th III. Vol Inf., Col. Edwin M. Kirk commanding. His first engagement was at Shiloh, followed by the battles of Stone Eiver, Chattanooga, Mission Eidge, Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's march to the sea, as well as the campaign of the Carolinas in 1865. He was wounded in both anus at Bentonville, North Carolina, March 19, 1865, having his right arm amputated above the elbow, liis left being still in a crippled condition. He received his discharge July 24, 1865, and returned to his home, moving to Carroll countj' the same year and returned to Lee county in 1874, where he has since resided, following the occupation of a farmer. He was married to Miss Sarah Fritz November 15, 1855. Her parents were John and Eve (^Mowry) Fritz. Mrs. Sennefi' was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1831. They have four children living: Mary Ann (wife of E. AI. June), Harvey M., Ellen A. and Susan V. Mr. Senneff has never been the recipient of any office, nor has he ever sought for one, having always been content with the position of "high private."

This township derives its name from a military officer. by that name, who fell in the l)iittle of Palo Alto. It is known as T. 19, R. 10 of the 4:th P.M. Tiic first settler to cast his lot in this township was Joseph Bay, who located on Sec. 13, south of Palestine Grove. The next settler was Ira A.xtle, who came in the same year, and located on Sec. 6.

In 1840 "William Dolan settled on Sec. 14. Mr. Dolan is one of the most prominent citizens in the township, and has always since the organization of the township held some position of trust. He served twelve years as supervisor, was justice of the peace fourteen years, and also held the office of town clerk and commissioner of highways for a number of terms.

Martin McGowan, J. Moran and John Darcy also came in 1S40, and took claims in Sees. 14 and 23. Of these early settlers, Dolan, McGowan and Darcy are the only ones who are at jiresent residents of the township.

Mav and Sublette towns were once a part of what was known as Inlet voting precinct, and the voters were obliged to go to Inlet to cast their votes. Elections were for a number of years held at the residence of Joseph Sawyer at that place. The citizens of May were led to expect the Illinois Central railroad to run through the town, but were disappointed.

A post-office was established in the town at the residence of Mr. Morrison, known as'May Hill post-office. Through the efforts of some interested parties the stage route was changed and a post-office established at the residence of Daniel Beard, which office was known as Brooklield.

In 1850 William Dolan wrote to the Postmaster-General in regard to the removal of the office, and three months afterward the mail route was again ehansred and the office restored to its former location, and a Mr. Hnbbard appointed postmaster, which position he held until the railroad had been completed, when the office was removed to Sublette.

An organization existed known as the Palestine Grove minute men, which had been organized for the purpose of protecting the rights of tlie settlers in i-egard to tlieir claims. In 18-15 the land was surveyed and the market opened, after which the minute men were kept bus}'. The first claim jumped and entered in the township was that of Hiram Anderson, which was deeded by a man named Bull, who drove stage between Peru and Dixon. This difficulty called the minute men together from all directions. They met in the barn of a Mr. Fessenden and passed resohitions which gave Mr. Bull some uneasiness. He afterward deeded the land back to its former owner, and gave him one 3'ear in which to pay the entrance fees.

In 184:3 the township was made a voting precinct. In 1860 the township east but 120 votes, yet furnished forty-seven men to aid in tiie suppression of the rebellion. Co. F, of the 75th 111. Inf., was composed mostl}' of men from May.

Shortly after the war the German Catholics erected a church, wliich was named St. Mary's. The Irish Catholics also erected a church on the west side of the town, which surpassed &x\y building of the kind in the vicinity. This building cost about $9,000.

Among the other institutions in the town of May the academy stands prominent. For this educational advantage the citizens are indebted to Mr. Patrick Riley, who on his death bequeathed his propert}- to his wife until her death, after which it was to be used for the purpose of establishing an academy in May township.

Mr. Riley emigrated from the city of Philadelphia in 1848, and settled on Sec. 23. By economy and hard labor he accumulated a considerable amount of the world's goods. In 1860 Mr. Riley's health began to fail him, and in spite of the efforts of the most skillful physicians, grew rapidly worse, and in 1868 he passed through the dark valley, leaving his property to be used in the establishment of an institution of learning accordingly. The property, consisting of 120 acres of land, was sold by the trustees, Martin McGowan and Patrick

MeCann, and tlie work of constructing the acadein)- was at once entered upon. It was decided to erect it on a piece of land belonging to the estate, on the Rocky Ford and La Moille road, eight miles south from Amboy. The main building is 30x4S. The L is 16x18 feet, and the whole is twenty feet in lieight. Tlie institution is divided into* several different compartments. On the first floor are the school-rooms, music-rooni, parlor, sitting-room, dining-room and kitchen. On the second floor is the chapel, which is nicely liiiishcd and has a vaulted roof. The rest of the upper floor is divided into sleeping-rooms, occn])icd by pnjiils who board at the academy. The building is surmounted by an observatory, from which a view of the surrounding country may be had. The seminar}* was dedicated early in September 1880, and is now occupied by si.\ sisters of the order of Benedictine nuns, who are teaching, in addition to the common branches, German, French, music, and drawing. They receive none but young ladies as boarding scholars, but will admit boys as day pupils. The fact that the school is crowded, together with the universal satisfaction expressed by all whose children attend, is a sufficient guarantee of the success of the institution, and of the great benefit which will undoubtedly be derived from it in years to come.

John McGinn, farmer, Amboy, was born in Ireland about 1811. He is the son of William and I'ridget (McGnirk) McGinn, and second in a famil}' of seven. About forty years ago he came to Canada and lived a few years. Returning to Ireland, he was married to Mary Jane Montague (deceased 1S66\ by whom he has had eleven children, eight of whom are living: James F., Marianne (Mrs Millard, widowed and living in New York city), Michael M., Patrick Henr^', Joseph, Dilia, Catherine, Margaret. James and Michael McGinn, clergymen in the Catholic church, are living in Philadelphia. In 1860 Mr. McGinn came to the city of New York and engaged in mercantile business till 1876, when he removed to this township and bought the S.E. J of Sec. 16, where he has since resided. All but two of his family were born in Ireland. In the old country Mr. McGinn owned forty acres in Ulster, county of Tyrone, besides other property ir the same county. He was in a general dry -goods and grocery business in the town of Carrick More, near which his jjroperty was situated.

Peter Lannen, farmer, Amboy, was born in the county of Louth, Leinster province, Ireland, March 182.5. He came to New York in 18i7, being the first of his family in America. Thence he went to

Berkshire county, Massacliusetts, where he worked several years for a farmer. He next came to Prophetstown,Whitesides county, Illinois, and worked two years for a farmer. From there he went to Bureau county and staid five years, thence to Ma}' township. He first bought eighty acres in Sec. 19, where he is now living, and built upon it. He now owns the north half of this section. While in Massachusetts he married Mary Smith. Their issue are nine children : Thomas, Bernard, James, Mary Jane, Rose, Peter, Maggie (deceased), Theresa, and Lizzie. Bernard is married and living with his wife and three children in May township. The family belong to the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Lannen is an enterprising man and is devoting his large farm chiefly to dairying. In 1865 he built a good dwelling, at a cost of about $1,800. His father died when he was only about two years old. His mother was a hundred years old when she died, iu 1879, having come to America with her son, Owen, a few years after Peter came. Two of his brothers died in Savannah, Georgia, of the yellow fever, about 1859, having gone there about five years previous.

John Daecy, farmer, Amboy, was. born in Cavan county, Ulster, Ireland, in the year 1818; son of Bernard and Mary (Lee) Darcy. His father was a farmer, and died when John was quite young. In 1837 Mr. Darcy came to Canada, landing in Quebec June 15. In the fall of 1838 he started for Cincinnati, but wintered in Toledo, and went the next spring to Chicago. While here he was working most of the time on the canal. In the fall of 1840 he settled in May township, Lee county, and claimed the N.E. J Sec. 23. He built a house the same fall. There were then but two or three dwellings between his and La Moille, Bureau county, and none between his place and East Grove. About this time Mr. Darcy worked a few weeks on the old State railroad, then being graded througli May. Mr. Darcy, like many others, received nothing for his labor but some worthless paper issued by a certain A. H. Bongs, of La Salle, who had started a bank there. Mr. Darcy now owns a farm of 280 acres. He was naarried in 1850, to Margaret Curran, by whom he had two children : John, born in 1851, and Catherine born in 1853. He is now living with his second wife, by whom he has had five children. He is a Catholic; in politics a democrat. He is not ambitious for office, having been once elected justice of the peace and would not have the office.

Patrick McCann, farmer. La Moille, was born in the county of Tyrone, Ulster, Ireland, in February 1825. His parents, Arthur and Mary (Hackett) McCann, had four children, of whom he was the youngest, and the only one in the family that left the old country. In June, 1843, he landed in New York ; thence he went to Connecticut, working on a farm during the summer, and in the fall came to Peru,

Illinois, and worked for a farmer till December 1844, when he entered the regular army at ^7 per month. He was first sent to Fort Jessup to join his regiment, the 3d Inf. In about three months he was sent to Corpus Cliristi, where he remained till he was sent to Fort Brown, which he iielped to build. He was in Co. F, Capt. Bainbridge, Don Carlos Buell being his first lieutenant. He was with Gen. Taylor in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma May 8 and 9, 1846. After the latter he was made a sergeant in Co. C, of the same regiment. He was in the battle of Monterey in the following September, after which, with the best of Taylor's forces, he was sent to augment Scott's army, then about to begin its march to the city of Me.xico. He was at the taking of Vera Cruz, in the fierce fighting at Cerro Gordo, and in all the engagements till the fall of the city of Me.xico. He was at El Paso, New Mexico, when his term of five j^ears expired, December 2, 1849. From here he came back to Philadelphia via San Antonio, New Orleans, Wlieeling and Baltimore, and went to work on Petty's Island in the Delaware river, between Camden and Philadelphia. In 18.52 Mr. McCann came to Illinois to near Blooniington, and began work on the Chicago ife Alton railroad, having been married in 1850 to Mar}' Burns. In thesumnicrof IS.'tS he worked on the Illinois Central, north and south of Sublette. After this he went to farming; bought the E. i of N.W. J Sec. 35, and built a small frame house. He also owns forty acres in Sec. 26, and half a section in Shelby county, Iowa. Mr. McCann has a family of seven living: James, who is married and living in Iowa; Arthur, also in Iowa; Peter F., at school at Niagara, New York; Felix, Mary, Rose Ann, and Kate (one deceased, aged nine months"). Mr. McCann and his family are Catholics, and a pleasanter man it has never been our fortune to meet.

Andrew Kesslee, farmer, Van Grin, Bureau county, was born in Saxe Cobnrg, Germany, April 1815. He is the second child of John and Dorothea Kessler, whose family consisted of two sons and six daughters. In 1850 Mr. Kessler, with his wife and four children, came to Lee county and settled on Sec. 13. in May township. He owns 120 on the S.E. J and 70 acres in Bureau county, nearly opposite. It is all highly valuable land. In 1870 Mr. Kessler put up a fine dwelling at a cost of more than $2,000. He has an interesting and intelligent family: Kasper, the eldest, is living with his family in Bureau county ; Nicholas, Edward with his wife and two children, and Conrad, are all in Nebraska ; George is in Bureau county, and John and Sarah are living at home. Margaret, second in the family, died in 1872 or 1873, having about a year before become the wife of Jacob Betz. Julia died in 1870, aged twenty-one years. Besides these, one son died aged eleven years. Mr. Kessler, with his family, belongs to the church

Joseph G. Hall, farmer, Aniboy, was born near Birmingham, England, March 1843. His parents were Joseph and Eliza (Haden) Hall. His father, a tanner, came to Philadelphia in 1844, the rest of the family in 1846. The family came in 1857 to May township and settled where "Squire" James Fitzpatrick is now living. In 1862 they moved to Clinton, Illinois, and lived there 'thirteen years, going from there to Nebraska, where Mr. Hall, sr., died in 1876. He was twice married ; he had six children by his first wife and two by the second. Joseph G. Hall enlisted November, 1861, in the 57th 111. Vols., Co. A. The regiment was mustered at Camp Douglas, and in February, 1862, went to Cairo, Illinois, and from there to Fort Henr\', arriving two hours after its surrender. Thej' were at Fort Donelson, at the battle of Shiloh, and the siege of Corinth ; at Inka and around Corinth till the fall of 1863. Mr. Hall was also in the battles of La Grange and Pound Creek, and wintered at Linnville in the winter of 1863-4. From here he went with his regiment to Athens, Alabama, and thence to Chattanooga, and subsequently with Sherman to the sea. He was mustered out at Savannah in December 1864, having been engaged in many heavy battles and weary marches. He was married in October 1867, to Mary E. Ash, only daughter of Geo. Ash. Their issue are Maria Elizabeth, Georgeanna, and Joseph. Since his marriage Mr. Hall has lived on the old Roger Place (also known by other names), in Sec 3, having previously rented in Bureau county.

Geoege Ash, farmer, Ambo)', was born in Devonshire, England, June 1814. He received but little schooling, and this in a night school, though most of his father's large family were quite well educated. His father died on the day of the coronation of Victoria, queen of England. In 1844 he was married to Maria Elliott, of Devonshire, and in 1847 came with his wife and one child to Pennsylvania; worked several years in Phienixville, Chester county, as an iron-puddler ; came to Lee count}' in 1857, and settled on Sec. 10 of this town, buying tifty acres from Henry Keeling, of Amboy. He has since bought eighty acres in Sec. 9. Mr. Ash has had three children, only one of whom is living. George, the eldest, enlisted in the 46th III. Vols., Co. D, Captain Wilder. He was in the battle of Donelson and in the first volley of the first day's fight at Shiloh. In this battle he was killed, not then nineteen years old. William H. died in Pennsylvania, aged eight years ; Mary Elizabeth (now Mrs. Hall) was born in 1852. One of Mr. Ash's brothers came to this country two or three years before him, and after living in the State of New York moved to Canada, where he died. Another died in Sublette about the time George Ash came west. He has one brother living in California and a sister in New York.

Silas W. Avery, farmer, Ambo}', was born in Orleans county, New York, March 1827. He was the eldest cliild of William and Rachel (Bishop) Aver}-. He had one brother and two sisters. The former, with his parents, is dead. His sisters are living in New York. When thirteen years of age Mr. Avery began work on the Erie canal at -slO a month. Ho continnedjin this business till he was twentythree years old, having learned the whole business and received wages ranging from §10 to 8130 per month. While at this work he saved mone}' enough to buy a home for his parents. This was thirty acres of land in Niagara county. New York, purchased from Governor Hunt. When he had got a deed of this property and settled his parents upon it he spent a considerable time in traveling. He went the entire length of the Ohio and twice down the Mississippi to New Orleans. While coming up the river from that city the second time he was taken sick and went to Cincinnati for treatment. Upon his recovery he started with a companion afoot to Peoria, Illinois. While hunting and fishing along the Illinois river he was taken with the ague and went back to New York, where he spent the winter of 1851. In the following spring he came with Mr. Acker in a carriage, by way of Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio, to Fayette county, Indiana, where in February, 1856, he vvas married to Caroline Acker, by whom he has a family of nine, living: Adella, born September 1857; Frank, October 1858; Ella V. (wife of Wm. Boyd), March 1860; Mary Jane, July 1862 (deceased June 1880); Sarah, May 1865; Willie F., September 1867; Alice. March 1872; Clara and Carrie (twins), August 1874. In 1857 Mr. Avery came to Maytown and bought the N.E. J of Sec. 7 from John Dement. He since bought 200 acres from Ambrose Andrews, on the S. ^ of Sec. 5, forty acres of which he has sold. He and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Aniboy. For many years Mr. Avery has been prominently identified with Sundayschool work. He is in his second term as justice of the peace. In politics he is a greenback republican. He has been twice married, the first time in the State of New York. By tliis marriage he had one child. Theodore, born June 14. 1848. This son early evinced a desire to enter the military service, and having obtained the consent of his father, in 1864 lie enlisted in the 7th lii. Cav. as a recruit. He died of the measles the same fall at Springfield, Illinois, while his regiment were still encamped there.

Thomas Boyd, farmer, Amboy, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, about 1813. His father's name was Robert, and his mother died when he was young. There were four in the family, he being the eldest. He received a limited education, chiefiy in night schools, and worked liard during his boyhood in factories, serving an apprenticeship of five years to learn the weaver's trade, whicli he followed for a short time. In 18-42 he was married to Mary Stuart. About that time he came to New Yoi'k city and worked for several years there and in Brooklyn at the molding business, which he had followed but little before. From the east he came to Ogle county and worked about ten years in the Grand Detour plow factory. In 1863 he moved to May township, Lee county, and bought 130 acres in Sec. 8, a part of it from the Illinois Central Railroad Company. Mr. Boyd has had a family of nine children : Robert, John, Mar}^ Elizabeth (deceased, aged nine years), George (deceased infant), Thomas, Joseph G., William, and Ellen. John enlisted in the 34th 111. Vols, in the fall of 1862, and was with his regiment till March 1864, when he was taken sick near Rome, Georgia. After being in the hospital for a time he died at home of consumption in the fall of 1864. Robert enlisted in the same regiment when it was organized, and after serving three years came home and spent the winter of 1864-5. He reenlisted in the spring of 1865, and was mustered out at the close of the war. Mary, wife of Hugh Roy, is living in Ogle county; Thomas is living in Wyoming territory, and Joseph in Kansas. Both are married. Mr. Boyd and his family are Methodists, and in politics be is a republican. His father, Robert Boyd, came to New York in 1845. After living there two years he came to Ogle county and bought a farm near Grand Detour, and here he died. He married his second wife about four years before he left the old country.

Hugh Fitzpatkick, farmer, Van Orin, Bureau county, was born in the province of Ulster, Ireland, April 1823. He was the eldest of three children. His parents were James and Mary (McBride) Fitzpatrick. The former died in 1848, the latter in 1835. His sister Ann came to New York in 1845 with some neio-hbors. She was married in

Pennsylvania to John Keefer, who is dead. She is now living in Chicago. The subject of this article landed in New Orleans January 8, 1847. He remained there a few months, and then went to the State of New York. He was three years there and seven in Pennsylvania engaged in railroad construction. Mostof tliis time he was a foreman. He next appeared in May township. He first buuglit eighty acres from John Dement, on Sec. 19. He now owns the south half of this section. The east half of his farm he bought in 1875, from C. H. Chandler, an early settler, who obtained this land from tiie government. Mr. Fitzpatrick was married in the fall of 1850 to Ann DeLacy. Of their two sons, James, born October 1850, is living ; Bernard, born January 1857, died an infant. The only brother of Hugh came to New York in 1848, and lived there and in Pennsylvania till 1862, when he enlisted in the 16th N. Y. Heavv Art. He died about three months later at or near Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, from sickness. Mr. Fitzpatrick has held several oflBces in the town of May. He is a Roman Catholic, and a greenbacker in polities.

Patrick McMaiion, farmer, Amboy, was born in the county of Limerick, province of Mniister, Ireland, in 1818. His fatlier, Thomas McMahon, was a farmer, and for many years iield a very respectable position as collector of certain public charges. His wife was Mary O'Brien, by whom he had three ciiildren. He died when they were young. Patrick McMalion obtained a good common school education. In July, 1841, he came to Rochester, New York, and worked in a tobacco factory till October 1846. He then went to St. Louis, and lived there till 1849, doing the same work. From St. Louis lie went overland to California, returning in 1852 by way of Aspinwall. While west he engaged in mining. In 1853 he came to La Salle, and began a grocery business. In 1856 he removed to Amboy and continued in the same till 1866. At this latter date Mr. McMahon bought from A. G. Moore, of New York, for .$2,000, 12(i acres of land, the E. |- of N.W. i and the N.W. ^ of N.W. J Sec. 2, town of May, and began farming. This farm has been much improved since he came onto it. He was married while in St. Louis, in 1847, to Ann Clancey. Of their issue eight are living: Charles, born November 1848; Mary Jane, October 1853; Thomas, March 1855; William, January 1861; Alice, October 1862; Joseph, November 1866; James, November 1868; Maurice, October 1870. Charles and Thomas arc living in Marshalltown, Iowa, the former married; and Mary is the wife of William Edwards, Amboy township. Mr. McMahon is a Roman Catholic. He has assessed the town of May since 1875, and previously sers-ed two terms as commissioner of highways. He is well educated, and possesses good business qualifications; to this he adds a manner and bearing singularly pleasing and courteous.

William Cullen, farmer, Amboy, was born in We.xford county, province of Leinster, Ireland. His parents were Francis and Mar\' (Lawlass) Cullen, whoso family consisted of six children, all of whom have come at different times to this country to live. In 1S68 two sisters and a brother came to Utica, Oneida county. New York. Tiie ne.\t year the father and William came out to them, and in 1870 the mother and eldest eon came. In 1876 William Cullen came to the town of May, Lee county, and bought the E. A of N.W. J Sec. 16. It was unimproved land, there being a fence only on two sides of it. He was married in 1855, to Ellen Converse. Their family are: Mary, Ellen, Delia, Maggie, Johanna, Sarah, and Francis. Kate died about seven years ago, aged thirteen years. Mr. Cullen is sjiaring no pains to educate his family, and seems fully to realize the importance of such a course. He used to vote tlie whig ticket, but is now a democrat, though non-partisan in his views of public matters. The family are Catholics. The mother and father of William Cullen both died in Maytown.

Michael Baebon, farmer, Ambo}', was born in Ireland about 1825. He was the youngest but one in a family of nine children. Early in 1865 he came to the citj' of New York, where he lived about two years. From there he came to Lee county and worked around in May and Amboy townships till 1875. He then bought the IST. i of N.W. J See. 16 from John Cullen. On this place he is now living. He was never married, and belongs to tiie Catholic church. Mr. Barron is a remarkably good-natured man. His parents were Michael and Margaret (Wlialen) Barron.

William Dolan, farmer, Amboy, was born in the count}' of Longford, Leinster province, Ireland, April 27, ISIO. His parents were Michael and Ellen (Fenny) Dolan, of whose family of six he was the eldest. His £-reat-grandfather's property was coiitiscated and turned over to a Scotchman named Fatherston, who allowed the Dolans to retain the use of twenty acres of the estate as a freehold. William Dolan received a common school education. In 1828 he was a signer of the British emancipation bill. In' April, 1832, he landed in New York, having left his native country on a charge of disloj'alty that greater trouble might not befall his father's family. In September he went to Boston, and thence to Lowell, and bound himself out to learn wool spinning. While here he was married to Mary McKenna ; he also obtained his naturalization papers through the agency of Ben Butler, then a 3'OLing legal student in Lowell. In September, 1837, Mr. Dolan s-rrived in Chicago with nearly $1,000. He went to laying stone en the canal, and taught school in the winter. In 1840 he came to Lee county and claimed a 160 aci'es on the E. ^ of See. 14, Maytown. He built on Sandy Hill, Sec. 3, and boarded laborers on the Old Illinois Central road. In 1846 he rented his farm and went to work as foreman in a woolen factory at Lockport, under his previous employer, Mr. Madison, afterward governor of Illinois. In 1850 he returned to his farm, where he has since lived. He has held the office of justice of the peace for man}' years ; was supervisor of May twenty terms. Mr. Dolan is a man of wide information and is known by many eminent men in the State of Illinois. His family are: Edward A., born October 1840; John, October 1842; Mary, April 16, 1847 (wife of Mr. McGuire, died April 1875, in May township) ; Micheal, September 1849; besides two children who died young. John enlished in Co. F, 75th III. Inf., as 2d sergeant. In the battle of Perryville he became greatly fatigued and was mustered out April

Ill 1854 a petition was presented to the board of supervisors of Lee county to organize a new township, which at tiiat time composed a part of Amboy and Hamilton. The petition, to which a large number of names was attached, was voted upon and carried, and upon tiie new towiisliip was conferred the historic name of Marion.

The iirst supervisor was Alford Wolcott; first assessor Sherman W. Caldwell ; first justices, Abram Morrison and A. S. Phillips; first town clerk, Simon Dykmaii ; first collector, David Morrison.

The first permanent settler in Marion township was David Welty, who had formerly been a merchant in Buffalo, New York. Being in poor health, his physicians advised him to come west, and in 1838 he came to Lee county and located on See. 31-, in what was then Hamilton township, and now Marion.

When the (piestiun of voting bonds to the railroad came before tiie people of Marion, it was carried in the negative by an almost unanimous vote.

In 1876, through the efforts of Messrs. Conilerman, Jones and McCrystal, a station was located in the central part of the town, which is now known as Walton. This station is composed of one large elevator, one store, one blacksmith and wagon shop.

In the early part of January, 1870, one Spangler shot and killed Timothy Kane. Both were farmers and residents of Marion. The trouble between them arose from a dispute about some cattle. Kane's cattle had broken into Spangler's field, and the latter had shut tliem up in a lot, where they had been but a short time when Kane came and demanded their release. High words passed between the men, and Kane finally attempted to drive the cattle out of the lot, whereupon Spangler seized a gun secreted near at hand and shot and killed him. Spangler was afterward tried in Di.xon, and acquitted on the ground of self defense.

GEOKtfE Keith, farmer, Dixon, was bora in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, May 7, 1818. His parents were George and Mary (Mills) Keith. Young George came to America and landed in Halifax, May 1841, on his birthday, which event he inaugurated by getting " how-come-youso," through the machinations of some of the sailors on board. He worked in Halifax some three years at gardening, and was married to Miss Ann Eddie April 18-1:4. She was also a native of Scotland, and died in this township in 1875, at about sixty years of age. Mr. Keith moved to York state from Halifax, then to Michigan, and to Illinois in 1845, working a number of years in the nursery business at Rockford, when, after losing several thousand dollars by an unscrupulous party, he left and finally located in Marion township in the winter of 1861-2, and after paying his board to Mr. Brooks he had the magnificent sum of four cents in his pocket with which to support a wife and eight children. To cap his misfortunes, the second day after his arrival his children were taken sick with intermittent fever, lasting several weeks, he having been their attending physician. By his ministering care he landed them safely from the sick bed to health, and they are all living and well to-day. By his indomitable energy he has come out of his misfortunes and now has under cultivation a 240- acre tract. The children are as follows : Mary Ann, George, William, Margaret, Ellen, Frank, Fred, and Jemima.

Arthur McCetstal, Walton, son of William and Ann McCrystal, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1837. In 1843 he came with his father to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, district of Richmond, and there received his education. In 1855 he came with his father to Lee county. His father bought land in N.E. J of Sec. 22, in Marion township. Arthur was supervisor two years, and in 1877 was the greenback candidate for sheriff, and received 890 votes. Mr. McCrystal was married in 18f)8, to Miss Bridget Sheridan, also a native of Ireland. He is a prosperous farmer and also quite a pi'ominent politician.

Ben.ta>iix Brooks, Dixon, son of Asa and Dorcas Brooks, was born in Tolland county, Connecticut, where he resided until forty-five years of age. During his residence there he was engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1840 Mr. Brooks was elected to the legislature from his district, which position he held for one year. In the spring of 1856 he came to Lee county and bought W. i of N.W. ^ of Sec. 9. Since that time he has been a prominent citizen of Marion township. He served several terras as supervisor, and during the rebellion took an active part in raising troops to aid in the suppression of the rebellion, besides contributing largely out of his private funds. Mr. Brooks was married in 1S29, to Miss Martha Wilbur, bv whom he had eight children, of which two only are living.

CnAKLES E. Abell, Walton. The subject of tliis sketch is the son of Jabez L. and Sarah Abell, and was born in Middlesex county, Connecticut, in 18i9. He resided there until seven years of age, when he moved with his father's family to De Kalb county, Illinois, and remained ten years. At the end of that time he came to Marion township and bought land in Sec. 11. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Abell moved to the village of Harmon, where he spent three years in teaching school. In 1877 he returned to Marion township and engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business at Walton Station, and is also buying grain at that place. He was married in 1873, to Miss Lvdia A. Rathburn, a native of Lee county.

James R. Hawkins, Ainboy, son of John R. and Lucretia Hawkins, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, in 1840. He remained there until eight years of age, when he came with his father to Lee eountj'. His father purchased land in Sees. 8 and 10, in East Grove township, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1855. On March 3, 18(35, Mr. Hawkins enlisted in Co. E, 7th 111. Cav., and was discharged November 7 of the same year, and since that time has been engaged in farming in East Grove township.

Franklin H. Church, Walton, son of Elisha and Rhoda Church, was born in Broome count}'. New York, in 1825. He resided in his native county until twenty-nine j-ears of age. In 1854 he came to Dixon and engaged in a store as clerk, in which position he continued for eight months, and afterward engaged at various pursuits during his residence of two years in Dixon. In 1856 he came to Marion township and bought land in Sec. 2, where he has since that time resided. Mr. Church was married in 1852, to Miss Hannah Waters, also a native of New York.

This township is situated in the extreme northwest of Lee county, being bounded on the west by Wliitesides county, on the north by Ogle county, on the east by Dixon township, and on the south by Rock river. It embraces the southern ^ of T. 22 N., and the N. W. i of T. 21 N., R. 8 E. of the 4th P. M. Beginning at the northwest corner of the county the boundary line runs east on the county line between Ogle and Lee counties, to the line between ranges 8 and 9 east ; and thence south on said line to its junction with Rock river; thence down said river, southwest to the county line between Whitesides and Lee counties; thence north on said line to the place of beginning; making the townsliip six miles wide from west to east, while the irregularity of the southern boundary- on the river, from the northeast to the southwest, contracts the eastern boundary to four and a half miles, and extends the western line to near nine miles in length; embracing an area of about 4,640 acres.

A topographical description of this township is introduced by one of her citizens, who daslies off like a laughing school- boy on a cold December morning, as follows : " Connect not the name with visions of shady groves of waving palms, with bubbling fountains and breezes laden with the scent of the myrtle and orange, the lime and the almond ; none such are to be found in the place whose history 1 am recording, and such visions would soon fade before the furious blasts of our northern winters, with the air filled with snowflakes, and the leafless trees swaying under fierce assaults of Boreas. No warlike Zenobia leads us on to victory, but in her sttad we follow the milder divinities, Ceres, Pomona, and Flora. Think not, however, because we can boast of none of these things in which lie the beauty of ancient Palmyra, the modern has no charms of her own. These are to be found in her broad, fertile plains, once covered with a profusion of juic^^ grasses and flowers of every brilliant hue, in her stately groves of maple and walnut, of ash and oak, in the impetuous rush of the crystal Rock river, rolling her tide to join the Father of Waters, her surface broken with the sportive gambols of bass and perch, the leaping sturgeon and rushing pike - and even in the silver thread of Sugar creek, which once could boast of turning a saw-mill."

The physical geography of the township is not of special interest, apart from its attractions to the agriculturist who seeks a liome on fertile soil and in a salubrious atmosphere. The face of the country is gently rolling, and in places presents to the eye the appearance of the swelling and receding of the great waves of the ocean. Along the Rock river it becomes blufty, and in places rugged ; but not so grand and precipitous as on the Ohio river, or the streams of the northwest.

The drainage is good, presenting the land in the most favorable condition for cultivation, embracing almost every acre of her soil. The greatest portion of the township is drained by Sugar creek, which enters on the north, meandering southward to the central portion of the township, passing through Sugar Grove, then westward emerging from the township three miles south of the northwest corner of the county. This stream drains the northern, central, and western portion of the township, and supplies running water to the many cattle that graze upon its banks on the beautiful farms through which it flows.

The eastern and southern portion of the township is drained b\' Rock river and small tributaries that mingle their waters with those of that stream.

Palmyra township was well supplied with timber, maple, sugar and soft wood, oak of different species, black walnut, ash and poplar. The southeast quarter of the township bordering on the river is covered with forest, while Sugar Grove covers three or four sections northwest of the township. The timber supply in the days of pioneer history of the country was of much importance; indeed, it was a necessity, as there was no means of access to coal supply as fuel or means of transportation of lumber but by teams across the prairie from Chicago, as it was conveyed for some of the first frame buildings in Dixon. The first settlements were along the borders of the forest groves. This natural provision in Palmyra induced many of the first emigrants to the county to settle within her borders in preference to the prairie townships. The soil of Palmyra is adapted to a variety of agricultural products, wheat, corn, rye, oats, among the staple grains; clover and timothy grasses furnishing good pasturage and fodder. Garden products grow lu.xuriantly and of the finest quality. The geological deposits of the townsiiip are valuable to the mechanics and arts of the countr}'. The finest building-stones are found along the river, those most valued being in the neighborhood of" Hazel wood Farm," formerly owned by "' Gov." Charters, three miles above Di.xon. Besides the valuable quarries which furnish stone for building purposes and quicklime manufacture are found gravel-pits along the river, most valuable for macadamizing improvements. The attractions of Palmyra are many to lovers of a rural home. The broad, rolling prairies, shady groves and running brooks of her interior, and her rounded hills and forestcovered blutfs along river borders, furnish great attractions for a country home.

In a letter to the "Dixon Sun," afterward published in the "History of Dixon and Palmyra," the writer says: "The first settlers in the town of Palmyra were the Morgan family, old Mr. Morgan and his sons Harvey and John, with whom came Benjamin Stewart. This was in the spring of 1834, two years after the war with the Sacs and Foxes. The only white man in this part of the county was Mr. John Dixon, settled at Dixon's Ferry. Numbers of Indians, principally Winnebagoes, still remained here, hunting in bands through the country, having their headquarters at Prophetstown and Frecport. They were, however, quite peaceable, though occasionally stealing a few potatoes or some corn. The Morgans and Stewart settled on the south side of Sugar Grove, and in the autumn of the same year and early in 1835 several others eanie in, Wriglit and Tomlin, of tlie present Myers' farm; Capt. Oliver Hubbard; John H. Page and Fellows; Absalom Fender with a large family, and W. W. Bethea ; Daniel Obrist and Mr. Thummel, a brother of the C. B. Thnmmel ; Harris; Keplinger; Nathan Morehouse ; Sales ; Thomas, with his two sons, Enoch and Noah, who settled in the southwest corner of the town, in Walnut Grove; two brothers, Sandy and Elkanah Bush, and Martin Richardson. Of all these early settlers there only remain at present, living in the town, Mrs. Tilton, the widow of Capt. Hubbard, and W. W. Bethea. E. B. Bush and Tomlin were the first justices of the peace. Bush, however, never qualified. They were succeeded by Harvey Morgan and W. W. Bethea. 'Squire Morgan remained for many years the factotum of the town, serving as justice of the peace, probate justice and town clerk. The first teaching of the young idea, not how to shoot, for that was learned readily enough, but of the mysteries of the alphabet, was given by Mrs. Hubbard, but no regular school was established until 1838, wlien a frame building, never finished, was put up. In order to accommodate the greater number this was built in the center of Sugar Grove, about a mile and a half from any dwelling. Here for two winters 'Squire Bethea birched the boys and coaxed the girls.

" E. B. Bush was the first postmaster. I suppose his duties in the wilderness were not very onerous. He had, however, a deputy by the name of Kellogg at Buffalo Grove. Martin Richardson told me that on one occasion Bush was going to settle with his deput}', and, said he, 'As he thought old man Kellogg was kind of ugly and might cut up rough, he would have me go 'long with him, and said I must carr\- a pistol. I never felt so mean in my life. I kept a raminin' the thing into my pocket, but it would keep a pokin' out, and I thought everyone I met would see what I was carrying.' However, old man Kellogg did not cut up rough, and they had no occasion to use the pistol. This Richardson was a most favorable specimen of the western pioneer, an excellent farmer, the best of neighbors, and the most liberal of men, yet he dearly loved a free fight, where everyone was at liberty to ' go in.' I remember on one occasion, when he was no longer j'oung, a young fellow by the name of Heickus commenced blackguarding him while he was engaged in pulling a ferry-boat, thinking himself safe, as Richardson was some distance from the shore. The old man jumped into the river, waded ashore, ran down Heickus, and seizing him by his flowing hair administered several hearty kicks. Sued before the squire he was fined §5. 'This,' said Heickus, as he put the money in his pocket, 'will buy my wife a new dress.' 'Yes,' said Richardson, 'and, by ginger! the next time I tell you 1 will clothe the whole family."

greatest cordiality prevailed among the few inhabitants of the town. Old settlers always look back with fondness to the good old times when such universal friendly feeling existed. The prairie once broken, the crops grew almost without labor, as there were so few weeds and the land so fertile. What few supplies they needed, or could atford, such as flour or groceries, were hauled b}' ox teams from Peoria, and their own produce brought a high price among the miners in Galena. Some of the new-comers brought nothing with them but mouths to feed. Of such was Sales, of Sales' Spring. To buy a bushel of corn he had to split one hundred rails. Taking his corn home he cut a hole in a log, over which he fastened a spring pole with an iron wedge inserted in the end of it. Working the pole up and down, he mashed the corn ; then sifting it, the finer portions he used for meal and the coarser for hominy. He was a great hunter, and as game was very abundant, the river full of fish and covered with ducks and geese, he and his family suffered no lack. There was no grist-mill nearer than Peoria, until Joseph Wilson, an old Brandy wine miller, came to settle on the Elkhorn creek, when the settlers turned out in a body and put up a log mill on the Elkhorn a short distance above the present mill. It was a rough looking structure, but I have never tasted finer flour than Joe Wilson made from the splendid winter wheat of those daj's. Until flouring-mills were erected in Dixon, however, owing to the dryness of tlie creeks in summer we were often obliged to go as far as Aurora, on the Fox river, to get wheat ground.

"Dan. Obrist was drowned while seining in Elkhorn creek, and was succeeded by his brother, Abram, who put up a saw-mill on Sugar creek. This was a great accoiinnodation to the settlers, who could thus get flooring and door and window frames for their log houses, instead of having to hew them. They could even build frame barns, the flrst, I believe, being built and is still standing on the Seavey place, then owned by Ben Stewart. On these occasions the whole settlement would be called upon to help raise. There would be lots of hog and hominy washed down by copious libations of Fred. Dutchers pure corn whisky, and the barn would be duly raised and then christened by breaking a bottle over the purlin plate, Abner Moon or Ruben Eastwood being generally chosen to perform this ceremony on account of their stentorian voices."

The flrst attempt at manufacturing was made by Mr. E. B. P>usli, mentioned above, who built a saw-mill, and also an oil-mill for the manufacture of castor and linseed oil. To obtain grist for his oil-mill he induced a number of the neighboring farmers to devote a large portion of their lands to raising flaxseed and castor-oil beans, promising them a dollar a bushel for either of these products. This, in those days of moneyed scarcity, seemed a sure road to fortune, and we went at it with a will. The crop was a splendid one, but in the absence of threshing machines, how to separate the seed from the flax was the query. We tried tramping it out with horses, as we did the wheat and oats, but the flax was soon trodden into ropes which entangled the horses' feet, and we had finally to abandon it altogether. Nor were we more successful with the castor beans ; some small quantity was gathered in baskets, and as they were pleasant to the eye and the palate, manj^ children required no more castor oil that season. About the time of harvesting the beans Bush's mone^' gave out, and the bulk of the crop rotted on the ground. He had taken in as a partner a young man whose contribution to the joint stock was a colt valued at thirty dollars and muscle for the hard work. When the business failed tliis partner sued him for wages, and the case being referred " to three men," as was the custom of the day, they awarded him half wages. This was in 1841, and was, I believe, the first attem])tat manufacturing in our neighborhood.

"A man bearing the name of Smith was the first blacksmith in the settlement. He soon left and was followed by James Carley, who for many years shod the horses, sharpened the ploughs, sighted the rifles, and did all the thousand and one jobs of tinkering that the people could not do for themselves. He was a most skillful workman and a great power in the settlement, for on the approach of winter there would be such a demand for his services in shoeing horses that turns would be engaged sometimes a week in advance, and woe betide the man that did not stand high in his good graces. Carley took his pay in kind - wheat, corn, pork, etc. - and consequently, though burning his own charcoal, he furnished no iron, and it exercised all his ingenuity to convert the various scraps that were brought to him into the required shoe, etc. I remember on one occasion his usual blasphemy found unusual vent at being required to forge a horseshoe out of a broken monkey-wrench. A curious attachment existed between Carley and a poor slave of the bottle bj' the name of Beach. This Beach belonged to a highly respectable familj' in the east, and had received an excellent business education. He kept Carley's books, which were models of neatness. He also blew the bellows and fetched the whisky from Dixon. Old settlers will ever remember this mass of rags and pimples, his head crowned with a dilapidated old stove-pipe, always filled with greasy newspapers, which he greedily devoured when he had leisure.

" By the spring of 1840 the settlement had gained considerable accession to its members and contained about sixty voters. In addition to those I have already named, there were four families of Martins, two of Powers (distinguished as Yankee and Kentuck), two of Law-

"The failure of the United States Bank had caused numbers of local banks to spring into existence, which flooded the country with their worthless paper, and gave great apparent prosperity to the country : but by the year 1840 all of these, together with the State Bank of Illinois, had passed out of existence, and hard times set in. Emigration was checked, and tliere being no longer any demand nearer than Chicago for the surplus produce the price of wheat fell from 82 per bushel to 25 and 30 cents, corn from a dollar to 10 cents, beef and pork to 1^ and 2 cents per pound, and even these prices were nominal, wheat being: the onlv article that would sell for cash. This was hauled to Chicago in loads of thirty and forty bushels, and sold for 63 to 75 cents. The farmer generally took with him his own provisions, grain for his horses, scythe, axe and auger; slept under his wagon ; and calculated that the tri]), which generally required a week, should cost him nothing but his time. Some were fortunate enougii to secure a return load from the store-keeper, at the rate of 40 cents per hundred pounds, for a distance of 116 miles. The proceeds of the trip were carefully hoarded for the land sale. But if proHts were small, expenses were equall}' small. Few had a hundred dollars invested in farm machinery. Beyond the iron in the plowshare, the steel in the hoe, axe, scythe, and blade of the "turkey-wing cradle," all was of wood, and generally home-made. Taxes were merely nominal, three commissioners, an assessor and collector doing all the business of the county. 1 have an old tax receipt for $1.50 in full on a farm of 420 acres, fairly stocked for that day.

" A man dressed as his fancy dictated, some entirely in buckskin of their own tanning. Tiie appearance of one figure I shall never forget as he went about dressed in the remains of what had been a brightcolored dressing-gown, the srift of a city friend ; on his head a coonskin cap, witli the tail hanging down between his shoulders ; moccasins, and a long rifle, with spotted fawnskin pouch.

"But enough of the old days; Palmyra has her full share of the prosperity of the country which she has aided so largely to develop. The log houses of the early settlers have given place to numerous tasty dwellings and commodious barns. Tlie many neatly painted school-houses show the regard paid to education. Among them is a fine brick building, intended as a graded school, put up at a cost of $3,000. On the grounds in front of this stands the monument erected to the memory of those sons of Palmyra whose blood enriched the southern battle-fields - sons who Palmyra has always freely given when her country called for them. In addition to the usual country shops, Mr. John Lord, a son of one of the early settlers, has built up from small beginnings an extensive wagon and carriage shop, which from the excellence of the material and workmanship has attained a great reputation as well outside as in the town. Mr. Al)ijah Powers, a settler of '38, has not only added many fair acres to the original claim, but he was the first to introduce tiie fine short-horn cattle into the countjr, and has now a numerous herd. For nuiny years the farmers were a rich source of plunder to the numerous tire insurance comjjanies, but in 1865 the Palmyra Fire Insurance Company was originated by an association of a few farmers. This company, which insures nothing but farm property and country school buildings, is managed by a president, secretary and treasurer and thirteen managers. It has- insurance on $065,175 worth of property. Insures for §-3 per $1,000, with membership fee of $1. The insurance is perpetual and there is no further demand on the insured except in case of loss b}^ fire, when a pro rata assessment is laid. How slight this tax is maj' be judged from the fact that in the eleven years of its existence the total assessments have not yet reached one per cent.

" In these western towns, settled by persons from so many foreign countries and parts of the Union, the effects of our form of government and institutions are seen in the most favorable light. Here the poor emigrant, finding no bar to the acquisition of propert}' and pursuit of happiness, rapidly develops into the well-to-do American citizen. The New Englander losing his narrowness, while retaining his thrift and intelligence, finds here a wider field for their exercise, and the Southerner, still liberal, acquires industry, economy and education."

This village is located about seven miles north of west of the city of Dixon, in the western part of Palmyra township, on the N.W. \ of N.W. I Sec. 5, in T. 21 N., R. 8 E., of the 4th P.M., at the intersection of the Dixon and Sterlino; road by the Sterling and Polo road. It was located by Messrs. Abijah Powers, Phillip Schock, Samuel Shaw, and Windthrop Seavey, and surveyed b}' Milton Santee, April 10, 1855.

There was located on this site a smith-shop by Mathias Schick as early as 1843. The present smith-shop is conducted by Fnrley Brothers. The first store was opened by Elisha Ryder seven or eight years ago, which was followed in a year or two later by another, opened by Charles Fnrley, both of which arc still in operation. The village school-house is a two-story brick structure surrounded by a belfry. The interior is divided into four apartments for the accommodation of the several school departments. It is a beautiful edifice, reflecting credit upon the intelligence of the community in which it stands. It is located in a pleasant, shady lawn. In the front of the school-grounds stands the soldier monument, erected to tlic honor of the sons of Palmyra who died in the service of their country during the war of the rebellion, and on which their names are engraved. It is of marble, and was built at a cost of $800 or $900, which was met by voluntary subscriptions from the citizens of I'almyra township.

There is a new church edifice, which is occupied alternately by the Congregational and Lutheran denominations. Tiie first Congregational preaching in the neighborhood was in 1846, by Rev. Amnon Gaston, brother trj Levi Gaston, now residing in Palmyra. Mr. Gaston preached for the congregation at this place and at the Gap for seven or eight years, and has since deceased.

John C. Jacobs. Great events in ever}' career are those that stand as landmarks to point the route of the traveler as he has made his way slowly but surely from iucipiency to manhood's ripest years. There is no completely written life. But grasping here and there a fact and adjusting them as a continuous set of lenses, one can look through them and see the smaller acts, the liner threads of principle that have made the life what it is or what it has been. In bainess, as in wai-, there are constant promotions of the successful operator, and each promotion is a victory won, for " Peace hatii her victories no less than war." The parents of John C. Jacobs were Corbin and Mary (Rice) Jacobs, botli natives of Fredericktown, Maryland, and of English descent. Corbin Jacobs was a contractor and builder. He was a superior workman, having superintended the erection of many buildings around Harper's Ferrj', handsome residences and large church edifices. In the early days of Ohio he moved from Mar^-land and settled near Chillicothe, Ohio, but later returned to his native state, where lie died September 17, 1832, aged forty-four years. He was a very prominent member of the Episcopal church. He served in the war of 1812. His brothers were John, who died in 1869 near Dayton, Ohio, his home, and Lenox Compton (a half brother), who died in 1879, also at his home near Dayton. Mrs. Corbin Jacobs was spared to aid her son, John C, in rearing the family of six children: Benjamin L., John C, Oliver C, Maria, Ann Virginia and William F. She died November -1, 1844, in Maryland. Betijamin L. became military director of railroads in the south, and died in 1863. William F. graduated at William and Mary's College, became an Episcopal minister and died in 1867. Ann V. died in 1877, and Maria died in 1878, leaving as survivors John C. and Oliver C, the latter of whom is now a thrifty farmer near Palmyra, Missouri. The principal character in this sketch is John C. Jacobs, whose birth happened November 15, 1819, near Chillicothe, Ohio. He was three years of age when his parents returned to Maryland. The death of his father left John at the age of thirteen j'ears as the chief support of the family ; reverses in building contracts having proved serious to the fortune of the elder Jacobs. John immediately applied himself to such labor as came within his ability. He worked one year on a farm for $15 and clothes, at the end of which year he received as his savings $2.50, which he expended in five bushels of potatoes at fifty cents a bushel. He continued his labors on the farm for a time, and when not fanning earned what he could with his ax chopping wood by the cord, or doing other job work. In 1S63 he cared for a team of horses for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Packet Company till the canal froze, when he resumed his wood chopping. It was about this time tliat a circninstance iiappcned that probably shaped the beginning of a successful career for young Jacobs. His Uncle, Lenox Compton, then of Ohio, offered the lad IfiO acres of land and promised to aid him in starting. Friends and mother advised the boy to accept his uncle's offer, and to start immediately overland and on foot 400 miles to Dayton. The day approached for his departure from home. He weighed every hope and doubt. How would his mother and children live without his help, although meager as it was ? How could he get aid to his mother if he should be successful ? for there were no railroads then. Suddenly he resolved not to go Ohio but to stay with his mother, brothers and sisters, earn what he could and care for them as far as possible, let come what would. He made known his resolve to his mother, began his labors afresh and with renewed determination. April 3, 1837, he began work on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad between Point of Rocks and Harper's Ferry, at eighty-seven and a half cents a day. Flour at that time was §13 a barrel, so that a month's work barely provided necessaries. Death (by accident) of a brakeman, November 10 following, made a vacancy, and young Jacobs was promoted to the position with a slight advance in wages. In June following the removal of the train deprived him of this place, and his work was such as supplying engines with fuel etc. In the fall of 1838 he became fireman on an engine at $45 per month, when each montii seemed a harvest to him. As times were good or bad his wages were somewhat changed. After one year's service on the main line he was sent to the Washington branch between Washington and Baltimore. In the fall of 1842 he became a locomotive engineer at §2 a day, running also west of Harper's Ferry to Cumberland hauling iron for construction. After five years in that position he controlled an engine employed in assisting passenger trains and heavily loaded engines over grades etc. between Hancock and Harper's Ferry till 1850, his wages having reached §;2.25 per day. Mr. Jacobs next became supervisor of engines between Baltimore and Cumberland, the companj' having at that time 207 locomotives. In 1853 he was sent to Kingwood tunnel to hasten the business of construction of the road and cutting of the tunnel, receiving now $130 per month. He was then kept mostly west of Cumberland, and aided in the construction of the road at Board Tree tunnel. After the completion of the road he became train-master and supervisor of engines on the same road between Piedmont and Wheeling, continuing till

September 1856, when tlie Illinois Central Railroad Company offered him his present position. He severed his connection with the Baltimore & Ohio Company September 30, and starting west arrived at Amboy, Illinois, October 8, 1856, and assumed the superintendency of the north division from Centralia to Dubuque, including 347 miles of road. A successful career of nearly a half century from penurj' to very comfortable circumstances, a career in whieli many incidents have happened that cannot be recorded here, finds Mr. Jacobs yet able, apparently, for many years' useful labor. A quarter of a century's residence in Amboy and Lee county has made him many warm friends, especially among the employes of the Illinois Central railroad. Mr. Jacobs was married November 4, 1846, to Harriet A. Hough, daughter of Samuel H. Hough, of Middletown, Connecticut. She was born January 21, 1821. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are Molly H., who died September 27, 1868, aged twenty years ; John C. (died when young) ; William F. and Charles C, both of whom have positions on the road.

One of the earliest as well as one of the most esteemed and distinguished names which is met with in the search for biographical data in Palmyra township is that of Page ; and although no direct representative of the family now resides within the township, yet the respect and confidence which all who bore the name won and merited from their fellow-townsman will not fade for many a year. John H. Page, now deceased, was one of several natives of Strafford county, New Hampshire, who came to Palmyra at a very early day and took up a residence there. Stephen Fellows and James T., William and Jacob Martin were also members of this colony, all coming within a year or two of each other. Mr. Page was born at Rochester, New Hampshire, in 1806, and

Page. His mother was descended from a family who located at Bangor, Maine, at an early period. Mr. Page was brought up and received a common school education at Sandwich, New Hampshire, and following in the footsteps of his father, on arriving at manhood he became a farmer : but being ambitious and energetic, he decided to abandon the sterile and rocky soil of the Granite State and seek a more fruitful reward of his labors upon the fertile prairies of Illinois. He reached Lee county in the fall of 1834 and located upon government land in the townsliip of Palmyra. He built himself a log house, it being the second or third erected in the town, and engaged in farming, and continued on the same farm until 1868, when he sold out and removed to Menlo, Iowa, where he died in 1870. Mr. Page was first married at Sandwich, New Hampshire, in 1833, to Miss Julia M. Fellows, daughter of Stephen Fellows, who removed to Lee county at the same time with liis daughter and son-in-law. Mrs. Page died at Palmyra in 1856, and in 1858 Mr. Page was again married, to Mrs. Sarah B. (Jenness^Wiggin. The result of the union of John 11. and Julia (Fellows) Page was eight children, four of whom are still living, three sons and one daughter. The former, George H., David S. and William B., all reside in Europe, and the daughter, Julia M., is the widow of the late James W. Harris, of Lee county. George H., eldest son of John H. Page, was the first child born in the town of Palmyra, tliat event occurring on May 16, 1836. He acquired a common school education in his native town and was then sent to the seminary at Mount Yernon, Iowa, (now known as Cornell College,) of which his uncle, Samuel Fellows, was one of the founders and the first principal. Another uncle, Stephen K. Fellows, was a teacher in the same institution. After leaving school Mr. Page engaged in farming for a short time, hut soon after the outbreak of the rebellion obtained a clerkship in the war department at Washington, where he remained for three years. In 1866 he went to Switzerland, and in company with his brotliers Charles A. and David S. he embarked in the business of condensing milk, which was the first undertaking of the kind in Europe, and which has proved an immense success. The business has grown from almost nothing to a trade of over §3,000,000 per year, and is now carried on by a joint stock company having a capital of $2,000,000, with six factories in Switzerland and England, and offices at London and Paris. Geo. H. Page is the general manager of the company, and his brother David S. is assistant general tnanager, both residing at Cham, Switzerland. The youngest brother, William B., also holds a position under the company. During some years of his residence in that country Mr. Geo. H. Page held the position of vice-consul at Zurich, Switzerland. He was married in 1875, to Miss Adelheid Swerzmann, of Zoug, Switzerland, and has one son, Fred H. Page, aged five years. At the time of this writing Mr. Page is in Di.xon visiting relatives and friends and renewing the associations of his youth. After a few months' sojourn in the United States he intends returning to Switzerland, but with no intention of residing permanently outside of his native country. It is proper in this connection that mention should be made of the career of Charles A. Page, the second son of John H. Page. He was born in Palmyra, May 22, 1838, and his early career was like that of his brother George. After graduating from Cornell College, he was for a year editor of a newspaper pul)lished at Mount Vernon, Iowa ; he then obtained a clerkship in tlie fifth auditor's office of the treasury department, Washington, where he remained some three or four years, when he became attached to the New York "Tribune" as a correspondent. During the war he accompanied the army of the Potomac as a field correspondent for the " Tribune," and the vivid descriptions and graphic delineations of the marclies and battles, the defeats and trinmphs of that heroic army published in the "Tribune" over the initials "C. A. P." will be well remembered by the older readers of that paper. He also was one of the party accompanying the remains of President Lincoln to their last resting-place at Springfield. During the summer of 1865 he was appointed consul at Zurich, Switzerland, and held this office four years, when he became the manager of the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company's London office, which company he had been instrumental in forming, and held that position until his death on May 26, 1873. He was married in 1868, to Miss Grace D. Coues, of Washington, D. C, and his widow and four surviving children now reside in that city. The career of these brothers is anotiier illustration of the business energy and pluck which characterizes the young men of this country. Reared on a farm in what was then the Far West they struck out conrageousl}^ and have succeeded in establishing by their ability and enterprise an immense business in the heart of over-crowded Europe, and which not only brings fortune and reputation to themselves, but is the source from wliich hundreds of others derive a comfortable existence.

Fkederick N. Parks, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of tiie township, being born there on September 22, 1849, and is a son of Hiram P. and Martha (Moon) Parks, and both on his lather's and mother's side is related to some of tiie earliest settlers of the township, both families having located in Palmyra some forty-five years ago. All of Mr. Parks' life has been spent in Palmyra, and ever since he was able to be of assistance on the farm he has followed that calling. For the past ten years he has been engaged in farming for liimself. He was married on Februar}- 7, 1872, to Miss Maria N. Sheeley, a resident of Guthrie, Iowa. Last winter Mr. and Mrs. Parks met with a severe blow in the death of their beloved and only child at the age of four years. Politically Mr. Parks is a republican.

William Miller, deceased. Palmyra, was a native of Germany, and was born there in 1801. His parents were Frederick J. and Cecilia Miller. His youth was passed in his native country, and in 1832 he came to America and settled at Philadelphia, where he remained until 1841, when he moved to Lee county, and purchased a farm in Palmyra township, where he died May 1, 1871. He married Miss Anna Obrist, whose death occurred December 26, 1872. Henry E. Miller, son of the. above, is a native of Palmyra, having been born there on December 22, 1844. His whole life has been spent in his native town, and on the death of his father he took charge of the farm, and has since carried it on. He was married on December 25, 1869, to Miss Margaret Levan, of South Dixon, and has four children living : Charles M., aged seven ; Martha F., aged live; Edward H., aged tliree years, and John F., an infant son. Mr. Miller is a steadfast republican, and a nnember of the Lutheran church.

Geokge a. Tl'cker, farmer, Palin^'ra, was born in Otsego county, New York, on May 7, lS-t9, and is the son of Hervey and Catharine E. (Arnold) Tucker. His father was a fanner, and died in the State of New York in the spring of 1865. His mother is now a resident of Palmyra. After completing his education Mr. Tucker engaged in farming in Otsego county, but when twentj'-two years of age removed to Lee county, and settled in Palmyra township, where he has since re" sided. Mr. Tucker was married in Otsego county in the fall of 1S74, to Miss Mary M. Windsor, a resident of tiiat county, and they liave one cliild, Hervey, who was born September 13, 1875. Mr. Tucker is a democrat, is a school director in the township, and a member of the Episcopal church.

William A. Kintnek, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of January, 1843, and is the son of William and Susanna (Heller) Kiutner. His father was a farmer, and in 1850 removed to Lee county and purchased the farm on which his son now resides, and there liis death took place, in 1857. Mr. Kintner received a common school education, but the death of his father occurring when he was 3'et a lad, threw the care and responsibility of conducting the farm upon his shoulders, and he proved himself fully equal to the emergency. He was married first in January 18C8, to Miss Lizzie Stuart, a resident of Nelson township, who died shortly after lier marriage. On March 19, 1872, he was again married, to Miss Fanny Clark, a daughter of George and Ann M. (Tuck) Clark. Mr. Kintner has one child by his first marriage, James E., aged tiiirteen 3'ears. By the second marriage there are two children : Georgie, aged eight, and Nellie, aged si.\ years. In political sentiment Mr. Kintner is a republican.

Walter L. Rogers, farmer, Palmyra, is a native of Upper Canada, where he was born in 1815. He is the son of Gilbert and Nancy (^Lockwood) Rogers. His father followed the occupation of a farmer, but died when the subject of this sketch was but two years old. After spending his youth and receiving his education in Canada Mr. Rogers removed to Monroe county. New York, and after residing there for three years came west and located in Palmyra township, in 1839, and a few years later purchased the farm on which he now resides. He was married in 1S44, to Miss Hannah Fellows, the daughter of Stephen and Rachel (McGaft'ey) Fellows. Mr. Fellows was a luitive of Stratford county, New Hampshire, where he was born November 18, 1786. He came to Palmyra township in 1834, and kept a tavern for several years where the residence of Mrs. R. C. Peck now stands. He was first married to Miss Pegg3' McGatfcy, in 1808, wlio died in 1823, and he then married the sister of iiis first wife, Miss Rachel McGaft'ey, who is still living and is a resident of Iowa. Mr. Fellows was the Either of fifteen children, ten of wliom are still living. Mr. Fellows' death occurred in ISiO. The familj^ of Mr. Rogers consists of six children, the eldest of whom, Lewis G., was born November 20, 1S46. He is a farmer and resides in Palmyra. Eliza M., born June 27, 1848, is the wife of Thomas H. Johnson and resides in Colorado; Alice A., born Febrnary 27, 1853, is married to Howard Johnson, a resident of Palm^'ra; Mary E., born December 16, 1854, married to James P. Wilson, of Woosnng, Ogle county ; Anna, born July 14, 1856, and Flora A., born December 11, 1858, reside at home. Mr. Rogers is a thorough-going republican. He has been supervisor of his town and held various other local offices, and attends the Methodist Episcopal church.

M. D. Hubbard, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Palmyra township, November 18, 1837, and is the son of Oliver A. and Eliza A. (Martin) Hubbard, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire. Tliey removed to Illinois in 1836, and located in Palmyra township, where 0. A. Hubbard died a few years later. Mrs. Hubbard is still living and is the wife of W. W. Tilton, Esq., of Palmyra. M. D. Hubbard was the third child born in the town. He received his education at the neighboring schools, and when old enough engaged in farming. On May 10, 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 13th 111. Vols., and after serving some two 3'ears was honorabl}' discharged on account of disability. After coming home he resumed farming, and in 1867 purchased the farm upon which he now resides. Mr. Hubbard was married February 17, 1864, to Miss Blanche Coe, a resident of Palmyra, and they have four children. Winona, the eldest, is si.xteen 3'ears old ; Henr^' A., thirteen; Bert, eight ; and Ollie, four years. In his political views Mr. Hubbard is a supporter of the principles and policy of the democratic party.

Charles F. Furley, farmer, Prairieville, was born in Maryland, February 14, 1852, and is the son of James and Mar^' J. (Black) Furley, both of whom are still living and have been residents of Maryland for many years, but are expecting soon to take up their abode in Palmyra township. His father has been principally engaged in fiirming and stock dealing during his business career. Mr. Furley received his early education in his native state, and while still a boy learged the trade of chairmaking and general blacksmithing. For a number of years after serving his time he worked at his trade in various places both in the east and west, and Some seven or eight years ago he located at Prairieville, in Palmyra township, where he has since resided.

Besides carr^'ing on a blacksnntli shop Mr. Furley is engaged in farming, buys and sells horses, and conducts a general store. Principally through the exertions of Mr. Furley a post-otKce was established at Prairievilie, in June 1878, and be was appointed postmaster, which office he still holds. He was married in Whitesides county, Illinois, April 21, 1873, to Miss Sarah H. Harvey, a niece of W. W. Bethea, Esq., well known throughout Lee county as one of the oldest settlers. One child has resulted from the marriage, Guy L. Furley, born November 19, 1874. Mr. Furley is an active and stirring member of the republican party and is a young man uf much ability and enterprise.

Theodore Wilson, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on May 8, 1847. He is the son of Franklin and Susannah (Bridenbaiigh) Wilson, wiio moved to Lee county in 1856, and located in Di.xon township, but moved about three years later to Palmyra township, where his father died in 1870. Mr. Wilson was brought up and acquired his education in Lee count}', and when old enough assisted his father in carrying on the farm, and after the death of the latter he continued farming on his own account. He was married. on August 1, 1871, to Miss Cassie M. Lovell, a native of the State of New York, and they have one child, Angier W., who was born January 23, 1880. Mr. Wilson is an earnest and active democrat, and his ability and devotion to principle command the respect of his fellow citizens without regard to party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Martix Wir.r.iAM Bkai kk, larmur, Palmyra, was born in Germany, in March 1815, and was the son of Jacob and Katrina (Schween) Brauer. He was educated in Germany, and while a lad shipped upon a merchant vessel as a sailor and followed the sea for about nine years. In 1840 he emigrated to America, coining directly to Lee count}-, and after working for his brother-in-law for the space of a year he engaged in farming for himself, having owned and resided on the same property for over forty years. Mr. Brauer was married April 16, 1848, to Miss Helena Harms, in Germany, whither he had gone for that purpose. They have two children living, the eldest being Anton, who is farming in Whitesides county, Illinois, and Frank was living at the old homestead. Mr. Brauer is a republican in political sentiment, and a member of the Lutheran church.