Lee County, Illinois - The whole text, 1881 (part 14 of 24)

William McGaffey, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of Sandwich, New Hampshire, where he was born June 24, 1828. The first of the family to settle in America was a native of Ireland, who participated in the siege of Londonderry, and was a firm supporter of the Protestant cause. He afterward came to this country and settled near Dover, New Hampshire. He left two sons, one of whom was the great- grandfather of Mr. McGaffey. His grandfather Samuel was married in 1783 to Miss Lydia Sanborn, and they had a family of seven children, one of whom, Mrs. Rachel Fellows, widow of Stephen N. Fellows, one of the early settlers of Leo connty, is still living in Iowa at the ripe age of eighty-four years. The parents of Mr. Gaffey were Eliphalet and Apliie (Chase) McGaffey, both of whom lived and died in the State of New Hampshire. The early years of Mr. McGaffey were spent upon a farm, and in the fall of 1854 he came to the State of Ohio, where he taught school during the winter months. In the spring of 1855 he paid his Urst visit to Lee county, but soon returned to the east. In February, 1863, he again came west and purchased a farm in Palmyra township, on which he has since resided. He was married May 31, 1862, at Sandwich, to Miss Margaretta F. Davis, a daughter of Bradford C. and Margaretta (Farrell) Davis. They have three children: William D., born August 24, 1863; Samuel A., born December 10, 1866, and Anson, born September 21, 1875.

Simeon T. Maktin, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, on May 6, 1813. His parents were Jacob and Mary (Tyler) Martin. His early youth was spent in assisting his father on the farm. When about eighteen years of age he removed to Massachusetts, where he remained for several years engaged in various vocations. In June 1836, having come west, he located in Bureau county, Illinois, purchasing a claim and designing to settle there permanently, but after having been there for more than a year his claim was jumped, and he removed to Lee county and purchased a farm in Palmyra township, and which still forms a portion of his present property, which now consists of more than three hundred acres of valuable and fertile land. Mr. Martin was married in 1842, to Miss Catherine Montgomery, a resident of Palmyra township. They have been sadly afflicted, having had three children born to them, all of wliom they have lost by death. Mr. Martin is a brother of James T., and also of the late Jacob Martin, and the brothers were pioneers in the settlement of tiie township.

Harvey E. Johnson, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York, on February 11, 1819. His parents were Seth and Mary (Hougii) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. Until he was twenty-six years of age Mr. Johnson resided in Chenango county, having acquired his education there, and having assisted his father in carrying on the farm. In 1845, however, he came west, and purchased a farm in Palmyra township, which he still owns, and on which he resides. He was married December 31, 1848, to Miss Mary J. Wiieat, a daughter of-Josiah Wheat, one of the earliest settlers of what is now China township. They have four children living, the eldest being De Forest J., who was born April 13, 1S50. He married

Miss Emma Bovej on December 24, 1872, and resides in Palmyra township. Florence R., born Octobers, 1851, married to Jacob Baker, December 25, 1873, and resides in Ogle county; Franklin F., born December 19, 1855, and married to Miss Ida Rand, December 1, 1876 ; he is a resident of Palmyra township. Addie A., born December 25, 1866, and resides with her parents. Mr. Johnson's political affiliations are with the republican part}', and he is a member of the Baptist church.

Chakles Lawton, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of Lincolnshire, England, and was born December 9, 1813. His parents were Edward and Mary (Roe) Lawton. Mr. Lawton lived in his native land until his twenty-third year, when he came to America and settled in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, where he farmed for seventeen years. Li the spring of 1853 he came to Illinois and located near Elgin, but a year later he removed to Palm3'ra township, wliere he has since resided. Mr. Lawton was first married in England, in 1835, to Miss Sarah Tuck, who died in Palmyra about 1857. Four children survive from this marriage, onlj' one of whom, Mrs. A. A. Beede, is a resident of Leo county. On August 22, 1858, Mr. Lawton was again married, to Mrs. Ann M. (Tuck) Clark, and they have four children living: Carrie L., born in 1859. is the wife of William F. Swigart, and resides in Dixon township; Charles H., born April 20, 1861 ; John W., born December 18, 1862, and Fred A., born August 29, 1865, reside with their parents. Mr. Lawton is a republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

James P. Goodkich, farmer, Palmyra, was born in the State of Vermont, on October 14, 1849, and is the son of Samuel and Charlotte (Perry) Goodrich. His father is a farmer and is now a resident of the State of New York. Mr. Goodrich received his early education in Vermont, and when seventeen years of age came to Illinois and lived for two years in the vicinity of Grand Detour, after which he purchased the farm in Palmyra township on which he now resides. He is largely engaged in the dairy business, in which line he has met with much success. Mr. Goodrich was married. May 2, 1872, to Miss C. M. Williams, daughter of George Williams, Esq., an old resident of Palmyra. They have only one child, Eddie, aged eight years. Mr. Goodrich is a stalwart republican and an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Chakles a. Glyot, farmer, Palmyra, was born in August 1820, in the island of Guadaloupe, West Indies, and is the son of John F. and Augustine (Lions) Guyot. His grandfather was an officer in the Frencli army sent to this country during the revolutionary struggle to assist the colonies, and served under the Count De Rochambeau. At the end of the war the regiment to which he belonged was sent to garrison the island of Gaudaloupe, and soon after lie married there and engaged in planting. Upon the emancipation of the slaves in the West India islands the family removed to the United States. Mr. Gajot landed in New Orleans, but after a few months' residence, having become imbued with the gold fever, he determined to go to California, which he accordingly did in the spring of 1849, and remained there until 1852, when lie returned to New York. Soon after he came to Lee county and located in Palmyra. In 1856 he returned to Guadaloupe, but sickness in his family compelled his departure in 1861, since which time he has resided on his farm in Paluiyra township. Mr. Guyot was married February 20, 1854, to Miss Sarah Ann Graham, a daughter of Capt. Hugh Graham. Their children are Mary B., born in February 1859; Charles L., born in May 1860; Ermine O., born in July 1863; Hugh G., born in October 1865, and George R. E., born in November 1869. Mr. Guyot is a member of the republican party.

S. R. RriT, farmer. Palmyra, is the son of John W. and Barbara (Rutt) Rutt, and was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1845. His parents came west and settled in Lee county in 1864, and are now residing upon a farm in the county of Whitesides. Mr. Rutt was brought up and educated in Dauphin county, and came with his parents and located in Palmyra township, where he is now engaged in farming. He was married October 18, 1869, to Miss Catharine Andrews, a resident of Whitesides county. They have five children : Elam, aged eleven; Edwin, aged nine; Solomon, aged seven; Maggie, aged five ; and Archie, aged two years. In his political views Mr. Rutt is a republican.

Bexjamin Stauffer, carpenter, Prairieville, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1819. His parents were John and Barbara (Eby) Stauffer. His father was a miller and also carried on a farm. He died in Pennsylvania on December 2, 1871. Mr. Stauffer obtained a common school education in his native town, and while a boy commenced working in his father's mill, and a few years later engaged in the milling business for himself, which he carreid on until 1852, in whicli year he came west and settled in Whitesides county, only a short distance from the boundary line of Lee county, and engaged in farming, which he continued until 1875, when he removed to Prairieville and for some time followed the trade of carpenter, but of late years has been principally working at wagon-making. Mr. Stauffer was married February 29, 1839, to Miss Catherine Bookwalter, a resident of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. They have nine children living: Esther, born July 18, 1840, is the wife of B. F. Rohrer and resides in Whitesides county ; John, born November 10, 1842. He enlisted in

1862, in Co. D, 7oth 111. Vols, and served until the end of the war. He is a farmer and lives in Kansas. Abraham L., born June 7, 18-t5, is a farmer and resides in Nebraska; IIenr_v, born Juh- 12, 1847, resides in Palnnra township; Barbara A., born Januar\- 11, 1852, is married to Eli R. Ebersoleand lives in Wliitesides county ; Emma C, born March 27, 18.54, is the wife of Henry El)ersole, and also resides in Wliitesides county ; Benjamin F.,born January '27, 18.57, resides in Nebraska ; Eliza, born August 11. ISfiO, and Amos, born Marcii 12, 186.3, are now residing with their parents. Mr. Stauffer is a repul)lican and has been a justice of the peace for the town of Palmyra since 1877. He is a member of the Mennonite church.

Herjiaxn S. Fischer, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Hamburg, Germany, on tlie 21st of July, 1845, and was the son of Carl and Bertha (Schroeder) Fischer. His father is a lawyer by profession, and is still a resident of Flamburg, where his mother died in 1845. Mr. Fischer was educated in Germany, having been a student at the University of Bonn-on-the-Rliine, and also that of Halle in Prussia. A few months after leaving the university he came to America and located at once in Palmyra townsiiip, where he has since resided with the exception of a ihw months' absence in Europe. He was married on September 10, 1878. to Miss Kate Thummel, daughter of the late C. B. Thunimcl, of Palmyra township. Mr. Fischer is a young man of excellent education and line attainments, and is universally esteemed and respected.

Ei.Lwoon HrcHEs, farmer, Palmyra, is a native of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on the 4th of November, 1818. His parents were Benjamin and Mary S. (Stokes) Hughes. His tather for many years followed the trade of a shoemaker, but engaged in farming in Columbia county in 1830, and died there in May ISoO, at the age of seventy. Mr. Hughes received a conimon school education, and at the age of seventeen engageil in teaching, wiiich occupation he followed for several winters, assisting upon the farm during the summer months. He then engaged in farming on his own account, in Columbia countv, where he continued until 1869, when he removed to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He remained there until February 1871, when he came to Lee county and purchased the farm where he now resides. He was married at Hughesvillc, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of January, 1S40, to Miss Elizabeth Hill. Seven children resulted from this marriage, five of whom are still living, as follows: Mary C, born January 20, 1841, and married to Janies Hill, Esq., who is a resident of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania; Benjamin F., born April 6, 1844, now practicing law in Pliila(lcl[)hia ; Charles H., born April 13, 1846, and a member of the tirm of Hughes & Mellick, at Di.xon ; Ellwood C, born August 25, 1S55, is a graduate of Carthage College ami also of the Theological Seminar}' of Springfield, Ohio, and is now practicing law at Storm Lake, Iowa; Edward A., born March 2ti, 1857, and is a residetit of Palmyra. The eldest son, Joiin M. Hughes, who was born in 1842, was a captain in the 210th Penn. Vols., and was fatally wounded on the 31st of March, 1865. at Gravelly Run, Virginia, and died May 6, 1805. Mr. Hughes held the positions of deputy marshal and justice of the peace in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and since his removal to Palmyra has served two terms as supervisor and is now town clerk. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Palmyra. Mr. llugiies is an ardent republican and a member of the Lutheran church.

Henry T)k(m<i:k, farmer, Palmyra, was born in New Jersey, in 1835, and was the son of Elijali and Ciiristina (Ivintner) Decker. Both his parents are still living, in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. They removed to that section in 1837, and there Mr. Decker was raised and educated. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 143d Penn. reg., and served for one year and a half, and was then transferred to the signal corps, wliere he remained until the close of the war. After leaving the service Mr. Decker removed to Illinois, and located in Palmyra township, where he has since resided. He was married Septetnber 26, 1867, to Miss Imogene Bunnell, of Palmyra, and they have four children : Charles E., aged thirteen ; Eddie, aged ten ; Nellie, aged seven, and Bessie, aged four years. In political sentiment Mr. Decker is a thorough republican and attends the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mrs. Diana Warn, Palmyra, was born in the State of New York, on the 24th of September, 1835. She was the daughter of Alanson B. and Mary (Benjamin) Campbell. She was brought up and educated in her native state, and when nineteen years of age came to Lee count}' with her parents and lived for some time in Di.xon township, afterward removing into the city, where they remained for about five years. On the 15th of July, 1860. she. was married to Israel P. Warn, a resident of Palmyra township, where she has since resided. Mr. Warn died on the 9th of October, 1871, leaving a widow and four children to mourn his loss. The latter are all daughters, the eldest being Elizabeth, aged twenty ; Ella M., aged eighteen ; Lena B., aged thirteen, and Gerty S., aged ten years, all of whom reside with their mother.

John H. McWkthy, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Wyoming county. New York, on Marcli 2, 1836, and was the son of Henry and Olive (Hale) McWethy. His father was a farmer and a resident of the State of New York until bis death, which occurred about twenty years since. Mr. McWuthv after leavinir school assisted his father on the farm, and when twenty-five years of age came vest and located upon a farm in tlie township of South Dixon. After remaining there three years he removed to Pahuyra townsliip and purchased the farm on which he now resides. He was married in Livingston county, New York, in December 1860, to Miss Harriet E. Sheldon, a resident of that county, and they have three children living, the eldest of whom is Charles E., aged nineteen ; George P., aged seventeen, and Willie C, aged nine years. Politically Mr. McWethy is a republican, and a member of the Presbyterian church.

David A. Holly, deceased, for many years engaged in farming in Lee county, was born in Paradise township, York county, Pennsylvania, in 1804. His parents were Jesse and Anna (Sherer) Holly. Mr. Holly removed, when a young man, to Ohio and engaged in farming there until 183.5, at which time he removed to Franklin Grove, in Lee count}^ where he remained for ten years. He then came to Palmyra and purchased 720 acres of land in that township, of Smith Gilbraith, a considerable portion of which he retained and continued to I'eside upon until his death, in June 1875. He was married in Knox county, Ohio, January 1, 1830, to Miss Eva Hoke, who survives him. There are also seven children living, the eldest of whom is William D. F. Holly, born in Belleville, Richland county, Ohio, September 1, 1834, and now a resident of Iowa ; Amos H. Holly, born in Lee county, April 9, 1836, now living in California; Cornelia A. Holly, born in Lee county on the 12th of February 1840, and married to Frank Biddie, also residing in Iowa; David C. Holly, born in Lee county, January 1, 1843, who intends to remove to Iowa within a short time; George W. Holly, born in April 1845, and James F. Holly, born in June 1851, have also resided in Iowa several years ; Emily Holly, born in Lee county in August 1849, and married to Orville Fort, lives in Iowa.

Eben H. Johnson, farmer. Palmyra, one of the oldest settlers of the township, was born in Chenango county, New York, July 3, 1810, and was the son of Seth and Mary (Hough) Johnson. His fether was engaged in farming and died in Chenango county. Mr. Johnson resided in his native county until he was twenty-eight years of age, but in the fall of 1838, having just been married, he started for Illinois, conveying his wife and household goods in wagons and occupying five weeks in the journey. He located in Palmyra township, buying a squatter's claim for $1,000 in addition to the government price of $1 per acre. He soon after purchased another claim, paying §10 per acre for it. He has been a continuous resident of the township from the time of his arrival. Mr. Johnson was married August 13, 1838, to Miss Sarah Johnson, a resident of Broome county. New York, and the result of this union has been seven children, live of whom are still living, as follows: Tiionias H., born in Lee county May 23, 1839, now residing in Colorado and a member of the legislature of that state; Jane A., born in Lee county December 5, 1814, residing with her parents; Ralph E., born January 22, 1840, residing in Palmyra; William H., born August 27, 1851, residing in Palmyra; Marcus M., born August 15, 1855, also residing in Palmyra; Mary J., born March 20, 1841, married William Swigart, of Palmyra, and died June 3, 1875 ; Theodore, born May 27, 1848, was murdered in Nebraska, in August 1870. Mr. Johnson has always been an active and earnest republican since the formation of that party ; has held the office of supervisor and several other local positions; and he and his wife, who has been for nearly half a century his faithful companion and friend, are enjoying in a serene old age the esteem and afl'ection of their many neighbors and friends. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Charles A. Martin, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, August 11, 1830, and was the son of William and Elizabeth (Hill) Martin. His father was a farmer and removed to Pal myra township in 1836 and engaged in farming upon the land which liis son now occupies, where he died in 1844. Mr. Martin was brought up and educated in Palmyra township, and when he grew to manhood he engaged in farming, which he still continues. He was married in October 1852, to Miss Anna Tilton, daughter of Lorenzo and Rutii (Brown) Tilton, and the}' have si.x children living: William M., aged twenty-eight, residing in Nebraska; Edward E., aged twenty-six, also living in Nebraska; George C, aged twenty-four; Fannie R., aged twenty-one; Adelaide, aged seventeen; and Winifred, aged eight, all of whom reside at home. Mr. Martin is a republican in political sentiment and attends the Congregational church.

Amos Goodwin, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Oswego county, New York, August 29, 1827, and was the son of Benjamin C. and Rosanna (Shoemaker) Goodwin. His parents removed to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, when he was about four 3'ears of age, and followed the occupation of a farmer until the fall of 1852, at which time the family moved to Lee county, Illinois, and purchased a farm in the vicinit}' of Di.xon, but resided in the town for a number of years. Li 1873 Mr. Goodwin removed to Grand Detour and remained there about four 3'ears, after which he purchased a farm in Palmyra township, upon which he still resides. Mr. Goodwin was first married in the fall of 1861, to Miss Susan G. Di.xon, a granddaughter of Father Dixon. She died September 15, 1878, leaving two children : James P. Goodwin, born February 18, 1863, and Isaac B. Goodwin, borti September

13, 1865. He was again married in November 1879, to Mrs. Mar}' C. Huston, of Dixon, and tliey have one child, Mary, aged one 3'ear. Mr. Goodwin is a republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Jacob Martin, deceased, Palmyra, was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, December 29, 1806. His parents were Jacob and Mary (Tyler) Martin. He was brought up and educated and carried on a farm near Sandwich until 1836, when he moved to Lee county and settled on the farm in Palmyra township which he occupied at the time of his death, which occurred quite suddenly on Monday, August 29, 1881, in his seventy-fifth year. Mr. Martin was one of the earliest settlers of Palmj'ra, and his death makes still another gap in the fast thinning ranks of those brave and hardy pioneers who have made this fertile and beautiful section to "blossom like the rose," but who are rapidly passing away, and all of whom will soon, in the course of nature, be numbered with the dead, leaving behind them, however, many affectionate remembrances and fragrant memories. He was first married April 26, 1844, to Miss Margaret Curtis. As the result of this union there are three children living : Helen, aged twenty-nine, and Howard, aged twent^'-seven, residing at the old homestead, and Josephine, aged twenty-eight, who is married to Thomas Morgan, and now resides in Missouri. The second marriage of Mr. Martin occurred May 5, 1856, when he was united to Miss Belle Drynan, who survives him, and by whom he had six children : Lillian, aged twenty-four; Emretta, aged twenty-two ; Lizzie, aged eighteen ; Franklin P., aged sixteen ; Charles L., aged eleven, and Tyler E., aged six ; all of whom reside at home.

Matthias Schick, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Bavaria, Germany, on November 9, 1813, and was the son of John and Salma (Prout) Schick. He was educated in Germany, where he also learned the blacksmith's trade. When he was eighteen years of age he came to America and worked at his trade for several years in Berks county, Pennsylvania. From there he went to Philadelphia, where he remained until 1842, when he moved to Palmyra township and settled on the farm which he at present occupies. Mr. Schick was married at Philadelphia on July 10, to Miss Elizabeth Obrist, who died April 18, 1875. Seven children were the result of this union, of whom five survive: Matthias A., aged forty-one; Charles P., aged thirtj-, and George W., aged twenty-seven, all of whom reside in Whitesides county, Illinois; Anna E., aged thirtj'-nine, married to J. J. Burger, and a resident of Palmyra township ; William H., aged 24, and resides in Chicago. Emanuel, born in Lee county, Octol)er 26, 1845, enlisted in the 34th reg. 111. Vols, on February 28, 1864, and died at Vining Station, Georgia, August 7, 1864, from disease contracted in the service.

Tlieodore L. was born in Lee county, May 20, 1849. He graduated from the law department of Ann Arbor University in the class of 1871, after which he moved to Brownsville, Nebraska, and engaged in the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1880 he was elected a member of the legislature of his state, and died of fever on August !>, 1S81, after a lingering illness. He was a young man of much promise, and had just started on a career which gave every indication of being prosperous and honorable. On August 20, 1877, Mr. Schick was united in marriage to Mrs. Rachel Hotchkiss. In political sentiment Mr. Schick is a thorough republican, and is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church.

John L. Loki), uianufacturer and farmer. Palmyra, was born at Hopkinton, New Hampsiiire, June 10, and is the son of John and Achseh (Gary) Lord. His father was a blacksmith, and removed to Lee county in 1838, where he died February 7, 1874. Mr. Lord came to the State of Ulinois with his parents, and received his education at the schools of Dixon and vicinity. His father at tirst settled in Dixon in 1838, and followed his trade there, but three years later he removed to Palmyra and engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. After leaving school Mr. Lord learned the blacksmith's trade and worked for his father until 1850, at which time he purchased the property, and has since carried on the business with much success. He has also been engaged in farming for many years, commencing with seven acres of land, which he has now increased to about 250. Mr. Lord was married June 17, 1851, to Miss Mary L. Warriner, a daughter of Moses M. and Oriel (Smith) Warriner, who also settled in Lee county in 1838. They have six surviving children, the eldest being Augustus W., born March 3, 1852, and now residing in Iowa ; Paul G., born December 81, 1853 ; John P., born April 17, 1860 ; Mary E., born December 18, 1863; Fredrick, born February 12, 1869; Grace, born September 26, 1872, all of whom reside at home. In his political views Mr. Lord is strongly republican, and has twice been elected to the office of supervisor.

Chaklks a. Beckkk, deceased, Palmyra, was born in Prussia in 1810. He was educated in that country and also learned the watchmaking trade, but when twenty years of age came to America to avoid serving in the Prussian army. After working at his trade in various cities for a number of years he finally located at Dixon in 1839, where he remained for several years. Having purchased a farm in Palmyra township he gave u)> business and engaged in farming, which he continued until his death in 1859. Mr. Becker was married at Reading, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of December 1833, to Miss Mary Kessler, who still survives him. Twelve children resulted from the marriage, eight of whom are still living. Mary B., born August 28, 1834, is the wife of James L. McGinnis, of Palmj'ra; Sarah, born May 7, 1839, is married to William Bryner, and resides in Pennsylvania; Julia, born May 10, is married to C. A. Kaufman, and resides in Nebraska ; Cecilia, born October 10, 1844, is married to Patrick Hall, and also resides in Nebraska; Francis, born November 19, 1846; Fanny, born April 4, 1851 ; Paulina, born November 1, 1853, and Lizzie, born August 21, 1856, reside at the old homestead at Palmyra. Charles, who is the eldest son, and who was born September 20, 1837, enlisted in 1861 in the 13th 111. Vols., and was mortally wounded at Vicksburg on the 28th of December 1862, and died January 8, 1863.

WiLLiAJi Myers, fkrtner, Palmyra, was born in Ohio, September 9, 1809, and is the sou of John and Nancy (Hopkins) Myers. When he was eight years of age his father removed to Philadelphia and remained there about nine years, after which they located near Cincinnati, and lived there for three years. They then came to Illinois, and settled near Pekin, Tazewell county, in 1830, and in 1836 came to Lee county and engaged in farming in Palmyra township. At the time of the Black Hawk war Mr. Myers enlisted as a volunteer under Col. Strain, of Marshall county, and served until the close of the war. With this exception Mr. Myers has been continuously engaged in farming ever since he grew to manhood. Mr. Myers was married in 1826, to Miss Phebe Hull, daughter of Capt. Hull, of Buffalo Grove, who died October 25, 1873. Eight children resulted from this union, three sons and five daughters. Two sons and two daughters are residents of Iowa, two more daughters live in Nebraska, and the remaining daughter resides at Buffalo Grove, Ogle county, Illinois. The third son, Andrew Jackson Myers, now lives upon the old homestead. He is a native of Palmyra township, having been born there March 11, 1842, and acquired his education at the neighboring schools. When arrived at maturity he engaged in farming, and has continued to follow that occupation up to the present time. He was married December 25, 1865, to Miss Jnlia Kintner, daughter of the late William Kintner, of Palmyra, and they have three children living : Minnie, aged fourteen ; Phebe, aged eleven, and Hattie, aged five years. Mr. Myers' political proclivities are with the democratic party.

Edwin B. Chase, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Columbia county. New York, November 26, 1810, and is the son of Benjamin and Phebe (Barnard) Chase. His father was a farmer and a native of Massachusetts, and died in the fall of 1871. When Mr. Chase was seven years of age his parents removed to western New York, where his father purchased a farm, and here Mr. Chase was brought up and acquired his education. When grown to manhood he engaged in farming, and followed this vocation until 1856, when he removed to Palmyra townsliip, Lee county, where he piircliased a farm, and with the exception of some three or four years has since continued to reside. Mr. Chase was married in Wayne county. New York, in 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Rushmore, a native of Westchester county, Xew York. Thev have iive children living, the eldest of whom, Reuben B., was born in 1836, and has resided in California since 1860; Adeline S., born in 183'.l, was married in 1804, to II. C. Peek, now sheriff of Ogle county ; William D., born in ISio, resides in Palmyra and is by profession a teacher; Edwin B., jr., born in 1855, is a resident of Seward, Nebraska ; John R., born in 1850, resides with his parents. The second son of Mr. Chase, Arthur W., born in 1842, enlisted in August, 1862, in the 92d 111. Vols., and during his term of service contracted a lung complaint, which finally terminated in his death June 5, 1879. Mr. Chase has been an active member of the republican party from the time of its organization.

George L. Klostekmann, farmer, Palmyra, is a native of German}-, where he was horn March 29, 1845. He is the son of Ernest II. and Alma Kiostcrmann, both of whom are still living in Palmyra. They came to America when Mr. Klostermann was but a few months old, and coming directly to Lee county they located near Prairieville, and have ever since resided in that vicinity. For the past fourteen years Mr. Klostermann lias been engaged in farming on his own account, and now owns a tine property near the line of Whitesides county. He was married March 12, 1869, to Miss Rebecca C. Lamken, a resident of Palmyra, and they have four children living : Ernest H., aged eleven ; Julia F., aged nine; Eddie G., aged four, and Herbert, aged near! 3' two years. Mr. Klostermann is a republican, and a member of the Lutheran church.

Geokgk Rickert, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Dutchess county. New York, on July 20, 1822. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Plattner) Rickert. Both of his parents were born, lived and died in the State of New York. Mr. Rickert in his early youth removed to Delaware county, New York, and when old enough engaged in farming, which he continued until 1852, when he went to lister county. New York, and followed steamboating for about a year, after which he returned to Delaware county. In 1855 he came west, and settled in Palmyra township, where he resided for eight years, with the exception of a few months spent in Colorado. In 1863 he removed to Whitesides cotmty, but in 1871 returned to Lee county, and has since resided on his farm in the town of Palmyra. Mr. Rickert was married in the State of New York on January 1, 1844, to Miss Phebe Bennett, a resident of Greene county, that state, and they have two children : Emma, born in

1851, and the wife of F. F. Klosteimann, of Palmyra townsliip, and Matliias, born in 1853, and now a resident of Iowa. In his political views Mr. Rickert is in full accord with the republican party, and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church.

John F. Stager, farmer, Palmyra, was born in the State of Pennsylvania, on July 21, 1832, and is the son of John and Sarah (Fensler) Stager. His father is a farmer, and still lives in Pennsylvania, and follows that occupation. His mother died about a year since. Mr. Stager was nineteen years of age when he left his native state, and having learned the trade of a carpenter he came to Stephenson county, Illinois, and for the next five years worked at his trade most of the time in that county. About 1866 he came to Dixon, and about a year later settled in Palmyra, and since that time has built most of the first-class buildings erected in the township. For the past seventeen years he has also been engaged in farming, and for the past few years has followed that pursuit exclusively. He was married on December 27, 1859, to Miss Harriet A. Seavey, the daughter of Jesse and Sarah J. (Norris) Seavey. Mr. Stager has three children : Lillian G., born February 5, 1862; John G., born September 16, 1868, and Lloyd, born March 28, 1880. Politically Mr. Stager is a member of the republican party.

JouN T. Lawrence, farmer. Palmyra, is a native of the island of Jamaica, West Indies, where he was born September 25, 1819, his parents being John T. and Julia (Ricketts) Lawrence. The first of the family to settle in America was Sir Henry Lawrence, who was president of Cromwell's council. After the death of the latter and the restoration of the Stuarts he came to this country and settled on Long Island. Some years later he removed to Jamaica and engaged in planting, but died soon after. Mr. Lawrence's father in his early life was an officer in the English navy, but on the death of his elder brothel- he succeeded to the estates in the "West Indies. Upon the abolition of slavery in the British colonies he removed to the United States and died in the city of New York in 1847, leaving five children, three of whom are still living : James P. Lawrence, of New York city ; Mrs. General Ricketts, of Washington, D.C., and the subject of our sketch. The latter was educated at Columbia College grammar school, and also passed one year at West Point military academy. After leaving school he engaged in civil engineering for a short time, but in 1839 he came west and located upon the same farm where he now resides and where he has lived continuously for moi'e than fort}- years. He was marred in 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Graham, a daughter of Capt. Hugh Graham, a very early settler. This union has rusulted in six children, all of whom are living: Julia, the eldest, is the wifeof Harry Eldred and resides at Beardstown, Illinois; John T., jr., Elizabeth,

Re\". Christian B. Tiiimmkl, D.D. (deceased), Palmyra, was born in Germany in 1802, and after attending preliminary schools he entered the T^uiversity of Halle in Prussia, in 1S20, afterward graduating from tlie University of Tubingen in Wurtemburg. He was licensed to preach the gospel in the spring of 1824, and ordained in 1826, soon after wliich he came to America. For about a year he was employed as a missionary, and in 1S27 he was chosen professor of languages in Hartwick Seminary, which position he occupied until 1838, when he accepted a professorship in the Lutheran seminary- at Lexington, South Carolina. In 1845 he removed to Prairieville, Illinois, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 24, 1881. For fifteen years before his death he held the position of secretary and treasurer of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Palmyra, and was universally esteemed and respected by all with whom he came in contact. Mr. Thummel was married May 17, 1837, in New York, to Miss Cathrine Lattin, who is still a resident of Palmyra. Tiiey had live children : Anson E., residing in Palmyra; Charles, residing in Kansas; George, practicing law in Nebraska; Warren, also a lawyer in Iowa; and Catiirine, married to H. S. Fischer and living in Palmyra.

Anson E. Thummel, eldest son of the above, was born in Lexington, South Carolina, September 22, 1841, but removed with his parents when very young to Prairieville, Lee county, where he was brought up and educated. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the 34th III. Vols., and served with them for more than four years. He returned home in 1865 and soon after went to Iowa, where he engaged in farming, but in about three years he returned to Palmyra township, where he has since been pursuing the same vocation. He was married December 25, 1868, to Miss Helen C. Powers, a daughter of lion. Abijah Powers, of Palmyra. Tliey have had six children, four of whom survive, the eldest being Laura, aged twelve years; then Bertha, aged ten ; Blanche, aged eight, and Lloyd, aged two yeai's. Mr. Thummel is a republican and a member of the Lutheran church.

Alfred A. Beede, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Carroll county, New Hampshire, in July 1834, and is the son of Noah and Harriet (Fellows) Beede. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and in his youth learned the trade of a shoemaker. He moved to Lee county in 1836 and settled in Palmyra township, and combined the occupations of farming and shoemaking until his death in Februar}' 1854. He married Harriet, daughter of Stephen N. Fellows, in Carroll count}', New Hampshire, in 1827. She is still living and resides with her son ill Palmyra. The latter was only two years of age at the time of his parents' removal to the west, and received his education in the iieighlioring schools, and when old enough engaged in farming, wliicli pursuit he still follows. Mr. Beede was married in October 1870, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Lawton) Diblenbeck, a resident of Palmyra, and they have a famil}' of si.x children : Bertie, aged fourteen ; Hattie, aged t«ii ; Edward A., aged eigiit ; Frank A., aged six ; Charles, aged four, and Mary, aged two years. Mr. Beede is, and always has been, an earnest supporter of the republican party and its policy.

Fletcher Hutton, deceased. Palmyra, was born August 10, 1820, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Bowman) Hutton. His father was a firmer, and moved to Illinois in 1838, and died in Whitesides county. Mr. Hutton acquired a common school education in the east, and after coming to Illinois commenced operations for himself by cutting wood and breaking prairie, and as his small savings accumulated he invested them in land. He finall}' settled upon a farm in Carroll county, Illinois, where he resided for about twenty j'cars. He then moved to Lee county and bought a farm in Palmyra township, where he resided until his death on May 20, 1879. Mr. Hutton was married in 1866, to Mrs. Sarah J. (Drynan) Hutton, the widow of his younger brother Maurice Hutton, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1831, and who enlisted in the 21th Iowa Vols, in 1862; was taken prisoner at the battle of Cedar Creek ill October 1863 ; was confined at Audersonville and other rebel prisons for nearly two years, and finally died, in March 1865, from exposure and starvation. He left two childron : Ernest L., born in 1859, and Bert M., born in 185-1. Fletcher Hutton left the following children : Alice A., aged fourteen ; William D., aged twelve ; Earl F., aged ten ; Leon E., aged eight; Walter C. aged six; and Lulu M., aged three years. Mrs. Hutton still resides in Palmyra, and manages her large tarm besides looking after the physical and moral well-being of her children.

David G. Book, farmer, Palnij'ra, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in March 1832, and is the son of John and Anna (Geist) Book. His mother died in the spring of the present year, but his father is still living and is a resident of Pennsylvania. He was brought up and educated in his native county, and when twenty-two years of age became west and settled near Sterling, in Whitesides county, where he remained until about 1870, when he purchased his present farm, on which he has since resided. Mr. Book was married October 27, 1856, to Miss Mary A. Weaver, a resident of Whitesides county. They have nine children living, the eldest of whom is Aaron, born August 7, 1859 ; Leander, born May 13, 1861 ; Ann E., born December 6, 1862 ; Frank-

Antox Harms (deceased), Palmyra, born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1800, was the son of Frank and Helena (^Strenganj Harms. He came to America in 1848, and settled in Palmyra township, Lee county, on the same farm on which his family now resides. He was first married in Germany, to Miss Anna H. Wieting, who died in 1848. Three children survive this marriage, none of whom now reside in Lee county. He was again married in the fall of 1851, to Miss Anna Hector, who is still living. This union resulted in a family of three boys and two girls: George A., aged twenty-nine, resides with his mother on the old homestead ; Anton W., aged twentv-seven, is married and lives in Palmyra township, and is a farmer ; Theresa S., aged twenty -five, is married to Fred Jurgens, and is a resident of Sterling, Illinois; Augusta C, aged twent^'-three, and Herman F., aged twenty-one, reside with their mother.

Ralph E. Johnson, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Palmyra township on January 22, 1847, and is the son of Eben H. and Sarah (Johnson") Johnson, of Palmyra. Mr. Johnson's whole life has been spent and his education received in his native town, and for a good many years he was engaged in farming, having a joint interest with his fatiier and brothers, but about a year ago came into po.esession of the farm on which he now resides, and has since then farmed on his own account. Mr. Johnson was married March 10, 1875, to Miss Abbie Knox, and they have two cluldren : Anna, born May 25, 1876, and Rena, born December 31, 1878. In his party afSliations Mr. Johnson has been a steadfast republican.

IIicNRV MiLi.EK, farmer, Palmyra, was born in the Province of Oldenburg, Germany, November 13, 1822, and is the son of Pope E. and Theda (^Remmers) Miller. His father during his youth was engaged in milling, but after his marriage became a farmer, and in 1837 came to America and settled in Cass county, Illinois, where he died a few months later, leaving a widow and five sons, Sibald, Emke D., Anthony F., Becker and Henry, all of whom survive, with the exception of Mrs. Miller, who returned to Germnny in 1850, and died there in 1850, and Emke D., who died of consMni[)tion in the fall of 1848. The eldest son, Sibald, returned to Gerinany, and is still living, and Anthony and Becker are residents of Whitesides county, Illinois. In 1838, soon after the death of the husband and father, the family removed to Palmyra township, Lee county, and settled on the property which is now solely owned and occupied by Henry Miller, and which he has farmed for forty-three year?. Mr. Miller was married on September 29, 1850, to Miss Fredrika A. Klostermann, of Palmyra, and there are nine children living, of whom the eldest is Charles E., aged thirty, who resides at Detroit, Michigan, and is an attorney-at-law ; Mary E., aged twentyeight, wife of Warren F. Powers, and residing in Whitesides county; Rena H., aged twenty-six, and wife of Mathias Rikert, now of Palmyra, but soon to remove to Iowa ; Lucy, aged twenty-four, married to Henry Lemken, and residing in Gruntly count}^ Iowa; Nellie G., aged seventeen, is engaged in teaching school in Iowa; .Alma, aged twentyone ; Frank S., aged nineteen ; Kate, aged fifteen, and Minnie, aged thirteen, reside with their parents. Mr. Miller is a republican, and is a member of the Lutheran church.

Becker Millee, brother of the above, and now residing near the boundary line of Lee and Whitesides counties, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on April 6, 1820, and his iiistory up to the time of their residence in Lee county is comprised in that of his brother Henry. He sold his interest in the farm in Palmyra township to the latter in 1854, and removed just across the line of Lee county into Whitesides, where he has since resided, largel}' engaged in farming. He was married on September 19, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth M. Thummel, a daughter of Rev. C. B. Thummel, of Palmyra. They have six children: Emma C, born August 12, 1855, and married in December, 1876, to Henry MontilloD, a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Adeline E., born January 26, 1857; Ella M., born May 18,1860; George W., born April 2, 1862; Frederick L., born September 15, 1861, and Jessie L., born September 14, 1872, all of whom reside with their parents.

Abram R. Rutt, farmer. Palmyra, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1853, and is the son of Samuel W. and Maggie (Rutt) Rutt, and the grandson of Samuel Rutt, an old settler of Lancaster county. His father was born there in 1822, and after receiving his education engaged in farming in his native county, and continued there until 185-, when he removed to Franklin county, in the same state. He removed to Lee county and located in Palmyra township early in 1865. His property in Pennsylvania was valuable and well improved, but he had endured many losses during the civil war from tiie incursions of both the Union and confederate armies, and at the time of the burning of Chambersburg by the rebels he resided within two miles of that town and suffered greatly from their depredations. He accordingly sold his property considerably below its value and moved west. In 1879 he returned to Sterling, Whitesides county, and is now engaged in the ice business there in company with two of his sons, Levi and Henry. Abram R. came west with his parents in 1865, and when old enough engaged in farming in Palmyra township, where he still resides. He was mari-ied on the IGtli of December 1874, to Miss Maria Landis, a resident of Whitesides county, and they have two children : Clarence, born September 23, 1876, and Anna, born March 6, 187S. Mr. Rutt is, and always has been, a thorough republican.

EicHAKD C. Peck (deceased). Palmyra, was born in Bethany, Genesee county, New York, in 1821, and was the son of Richard and Catharine H. (Comstock) Peck. His father was a farmer, whose whole life was passed in the State of Xew York. Mr. Peck grew up and was educated in his native county, and when grown to manhood became engaged in farming there, which he continued until 1S56, at which time he came to Illinois, and settled in Whitesides county, until 186:', when he purchased a farm in Palmyra, on which he resided until his death, January 12, 1877, and where his widow and children are still living. Mr. Peck was married in December 1852, to Miss Sylvia A. Giilett, at Byron, Genesee county, Xew York. Five children resulted from this union, the eldest being Charles D., born March 25, 1854; Mary Hope, born October 21, 1861; Kate L., born March 10, 1864; "William J., born February 3, 1866, and Frank H., born January 31, 1873. Mr. Peck was universal!}' esteemed and respected, and left to his family a legacy more precious tlian gold or silver, that of an unsullied reputation and untarnished name.

"WiNTHKOP Seavey (deceased). Palmyra, was born in Rye, New Hampshire, January 26, 1802, and was the son of Joshua and Betsey (Webster) Seavey. In his early manhood Mr. Seavey was engaged in the mercantile business in his native state, and remained in that line until 1839, when he removed to Illinois, and settled in Palmyra township and became engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed until his death, which took place in the month of November 1864. He was married January 10, 1863, to Miss Elizabeth Curtis, of Washington county. New York, who died June 25, 1853. There are two children surviving this union, William W. and Gideon W., the latter of whom is engaged in business at Fort Wayne, Indiana. William W. Seavey, the eldest son, was born in Palmyra township October IS, 1840, and has ever since resided in his native town, and has for many years been engaged in farming. He was married November 17, 1870, to Miss Augusta O. Moses, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and they have but one child living, Albion M., born January 27, 1872. Mr. Seavey is a member of the republican party.

T. A. Butler, farmer, Palm^-ra, is a native of Huntington, Long Island, where he was born March 2, 1814, and is the son of John and Nancy (^Abbott) Butler. His father was a stone-mason in his youth, but soon became a farmer and followed that calling until his death, which took place in Delaware county. New York, in 1836. Mr. But- ler acquired his education in Delaware county, but in 1839 removed to Illinois, and soon after located on his present farm in Palmyra township, where he has ever since resided. He was married February li, 1850, to Miss Roxana Stewart, a native of Illinois, and they have had seven children, live of whom are still living : Lilian H., born June 7, 185-1, is married to Anton Brauer, and resides in Whitesides county, Illinois; Otho J., born November 20, 1857; Perdita A., born July 10, 1860 ; Katie, born November 30, 1867, and Nora M., born May 9, 1872. In his political views Mr. Butler is entirely independent, belonging to neither of the existing parties.

Edward A. Hughes, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of March 1857, and is the son of Elwood and Elizabeth (Hill) Hughes, who are now residents of Palmj-ra township. When thirteen years of age Mr. Hughes came to Lee county with his parents, and for six years was engaged in attending school and assisting his father in farming. In 1876 he commenced to farm on his own account, and still follows that vocation. He was married on the 12th of February 1878, to Miss Vernia Champlin, then residing in Mount Pleasant township, Whitesides county, Illinois. Mr. Hughes is a republican in political sentiment, and has a well-deserved reputation for ability and enterprise, of which so young a man may justly be proud.

The present town of Nachusa was organized in 1871. The territory embraced within its limits once constituted parts of the original towns of Dixon and China.

On November 10, 1870, Col. A. P. Dysart presented to the board of supervisors a petition praying that the board create a new township, called Nachusa, comprising the W. ^ of T. 21, R. 10, and the W. ^ of T. 22, R. 10. At the same time a remonstrance was presented by Robert L. Irwin against the creation of said new township. Whereupon the petition and remonstrance were laid on the table until the next session of the board. On Tuesday, February 7, 1871, on motion of supervisor Viele, the petition was ordered to be taken from the table, and the board having heard said petition and the remonstrance thereto read, and being sufficiently advised touching the same, it was, on motion, ordered that the prayer of the petition be granted and that a new town called Nachusa be created, comprising the territory before described. The name was conferred upon the township in honor of

The southern portion of the town is flat, and until a system of drainage is inaugurated it will be inferior to the surrounding country. In the central part the land is gently rolling and the soil excellent. Northward the township extends to Rock river, which describes all sorts of serpentine crooks and bends along the northern border of the county. Along its shores in this locality great masses of rock, vine-covered and green with the moss of a century's growth, pile themselves one upon the other to the height of many feet, and here and there jut far out into the water. Great grim bluffs, whose summits are crowned by lofty pines that sigh in the breath of May and roar in the blast of winter, tower skyward like huge billows on the sea. From one of these bluffs one can see far up and down the river, whose silvery sheen is visible for many miles, now gliding behind hills and now leaping into the sunshine and rippling along at j-our leet. Here, tradition tells us, the Indian maiden once bathed and prepared her simple toilet and saw mirrored in the crystal waters her dusky cheeks and raven hair. Here, listening to the murmuring waters, the sighing pines and mournful cooing of the turtle-dove, she waited the coming of her swarthy lover. Surely this is a charming spot, - wild, weird and

The first permanent settlers in what is now Nachusa township were Messrs. Bennet and Brown, who came from Xew England and located on Sec. 14. Xext came the Eldrige brothers, who entered claims on Sec. 19. About the same time Squire Chamberlain located on the same section ; Mr. Hollingshead came soon after and also located on Sec. 19. In 1835 Hon. Joseph Crawford came and lived one year with Mr. Hollingshead and then located in Dixon township. In the summer of that year Mrs. Hollingshead ci^me from Louisville, Kentucky, and joined her husband in his frontier home. Having been raised amid the luxuries of civilization, one may easily imagine her feelings on being suddenly ushered into the wild life of the pioneer. She bad never done any washing or performed any household labor, but Mr. Crawford states that she entered cheerfully upon her duties and seemed quite contented in her rude home. Solomon Shelhamer was also one of the earlv settlers of Nachusa. He first located in the town of Dixon in 1837, and after remaining a short time removed to what is now Nachusa.

In 18;')6 John Chamberlain bought Mr. Hollingshead's farm. In the same year Mr. Fisk came from Pennsylvania, bringing with him a stock of goods, with which he began business in the house formerly owned by Mr. Hollingshead. This building is still standing, a relic of early times. At that time all goods and supplies were drawn by ox teams from Hennepin, on the Illinois river. Barclay Smith came in 1836, and bought what was known as the lower ferry farm, on Sec. 14. Mr. Crandall, Jerry Murphy and Josiah Moores also came at an early daj'.

The tirst settler in the southern part of the township was Mi'. Jones, who located on Sec. 20. Dr. Charles Gardner located on the same section. Rev. Erastus Dewolf came from Rhode Island as an Episcopalian minister. He bought Jones' claim, which he extended to such proportions that after being surveyed it was found to comprise several sections. He evidently desired to become " monarch of all he surveyed." Alvah Hale came at an early day, and entered a claim on Sec. 33. In 1839 John Leake came from England, and located on Sec. 28. In 1841 his brother Daniel came, bringing both families.

Mr. Crawford states that the early settlers did not turn as much of their attention to religious matters as people of the present da}', but that they worshiped God without a creed. Their religion did not consist in rearing costly churches with lofty spires, but in doing right by their fellow men, in imitating the "meek and lowly Nazarene " in word and in deed. Mr. Crawford states that during the years of 1839-40 malarial and bilious fevers were quite prevalent among the inhabitants of this portion of tiie county. This was supposed to result from the poisonous vapors arising from the newly-broken prairies.

The modes of traveling in early days were quite diflerent from those of the present. Then if a man wished to go to Chicago he paid his fare on the stage and took up his march beiiind that vehicle, carrying a rail on his shoulder to aid in extricating it from gulleys and mud-holes, with which the prairies then abounded.

Previous to the establishment of a cemetery the settlers buried their dead on their farms. About the first public cemetery in the township was on the farm of John Hetler on Sec. 22. This, however, was soon abandoned and the present one established on land given for the purpose by Josiah Moores. This one is located on the S.E. J Sec. 23. The remains of Mr. Moores were the first laid to rest in this " quiet city of the dead."

Mr. Brierton states that he once packed 4,500 pounds of pork, out of which he realized nothing; what was not consumed by the family was ffed to the dogs. The price of meat was too low to pay for transporting it to market. It might be well to mention here the difiiculties incident to transporting produce to market. An incident related by Mr. Brierton may give the reader an idea of hardships encountered by the early pioneers. In July, 1845, he and a neighbor named Brandon started for Chicago, each with a two-horse wagou loaded with wheat and oats. After traveling two days thej' arrived at Johnston's Grove, thirty-five miles distant from their starting-point. In traveling that distance they " doubled teams " nineteen times in order to get across mud-holes. On the second night a terrible storm of rain set in, which was so severe they knew it would be impossible for them to reach their destination, and they accordingly abandoned the trip, sold their loads and started homeward across the prairie, which was almost a sheet of water, sometimes reaching their wagon-boxes. At one place they saw parties with eleven yoke of oxen hitched to' one wagon, and even then were unable to extricate it. In making these trips to Chicago it was no unfrequent occurrence for the settlers (they always went in parties'^ to form a bridge across a stream with their wagons, in order to get their grain across. This was accomplished by imloading them and placing one after the other until the stream was spanned. This done, they would take out all the end boards and carry the produce across to the other side; after which the wagons were drawn out, reloaded, and the party again resumed its laborious journey only to repeat the operation at the next stream.

John Leake, sr., was also among the early settlers, having come in a ver}' early day. For man}- years his only conveyance was an ox team and a lumber wagon. With this outfit he drew his produce to market and also took his pleasure rides in it. In the fall of 1847 his entire family were prostrated with the chills and fever.

In 1842 there was a settlement started on what is now called the Franklin Grove road. Ludlum Ayers, Levi Green, Thomas Hopkins, William Parker, William Richardson, James Goddard and Don Cooper took up claims and erected rude huts, the palace of the emigrant of that day.

They mostly belonged to that class of people who are best at home among the society that follows closely upon the footprints of the red man. Most of them disposed of their claims in a few j-ears, immigrating farther west to.bear further hardships in opening and developing some newer country, glorying in the name of the hardy pioneer.

In the year 1845 quite a number located lands near the present village of Nachusa and some at the west end of Franklin Grove. At the latter place Joseph Emmert, from Maryland, bought the claim of Don Cooper.

in that and in the succeeding year a two-story dwelling and a large barn ; the latter was said to have been the first erected in Lee county. In the year 1850 he erected quite a large flonring-mill on Franklin creek at a very heavy expense, it being the first one of the kind built in the northern portion, and said to be the first in the county. It stands yet as a monument to energy and enterprise. About the same year he erected what is known as the Dunkard church, he being a minister of the gospel of that persuasion. This building was occupied for several years as a school-house as well as a church. Since that time it has given place to a more stately edifice.

Like all surrounding towns, the facilities for opening up and improving the country was necessarily slow, and the outlet for its surplus cereals being so far to reach they were almost valueless. The dawn of the day of its prosperity had to await public improvements.

In the year 1854 the Chicago & Northwestern railway (formerly the Dixon Air-line) was completed, passing through nearly the center of the township north and south, and having located a depot at first named Taylor and since named Nachusa. At that time all the freighting for Grand Detour was done there.

What can be said of the early settlements of the greater part of the state can be said of Nachusa ; a greater portion of the emigrants were from the eastern part of the states where timber was abundant. It was natural for them to select for their homes places as convenient to timber as possible, and very many of them had doubts at that time that they would ever live to see the day when this broad and almost treeless expanse, which lay off from the timber, would be dotted all over with the rural homes of the husbandmen. And the planted forests that loom up, turned in any direction, demonstrates it as a fact that it is easier to raise a forest than to remove one.

The Village Of Nachusa

"Was laid out in the fall of 1853 on land owned by Col. Dysart and George Baugh. The following in regard to it was taken from the records: "I, Joseph Crawford, surveyor of Lee county, do hereby cer- . tify that the town of Nachusa is situated and laid out as follows, towit: upon the E. i of S.W. I and upon the W. * of S.E. J of Sec. 6, T. 21 K, and E. 10 E.

" The streets are sixty-six feet wide, and the alleys eighteen feet wide. The quarter-section line passes through the center of State street, north and south, and all the streets south of the railroad line are run parallel to the quarter-section line, and at right angles thereto; and the streets north of the railroad are laid out parallel to the railroad. For the size of lots and blocks reference may be had to the plat, where they are marked on the line in feet. At the southeast corner of block two, at the northeast corner of block thirteen, and at the southwest corner of the plat) are placed permanently in the ground good sufficient stones from which to make future surveys. The surveys done for A. P. Dysart and George Eaugh. Done at Dixon, March 1, 1855.

The first to embark in trade in the new-created town was Col. A. P. Dysart, who built a warehouse and began buying and shipping grain. In addition to his grain trade he also kept on hand a good supply of coal and lumber, for which he found a ready sale, and good buildings and other improvements began to spring up all over the country.

In 1855 or 1856 Mr. Dysart, in company with a man by the name of Cunninham, engaged in the mercantile trade. Having ])ut up a suitable building for the jjurpose he kept what might be called a general store. In 1860 this firm was succeeded by John Dysart & Riley, who built the large elevator which is now in use in the present extensive grain trade carried on by Join Dysart & Israel Slothower. The store they sold out to Mr. Wni. C. Dysart, who is now carrying on an extensive mercantile trade in the village and surrounding country.

The first postmaster here was A. I'. Dysart, appointed by President Pierce. The office has, till the present, remained in the Dysart family, W. C. Dysart being the present incumbent.

The school-house was built in 1868, and was first occu]>ied by John A. D. Barnes as teacher. The building is a neat little frame structure, and does credit to the place.

Thefirst blacksmith shop opened in the village was in 1855 or 1856, by Mr. Farwell. The jtresent projtrictor is Mr. John S. Eicholtz, who is also engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages.

The first school-house in the township was built and given to the pioneers by Cyrus Chamberlain, Esq. This building was located on .Sec. 19. Mr. C. Herrington was the first teacher. Prior to the building of this school-house schools wore taught in j)rivate houses by a man named Sheldon, and it is said he was the first teacher in this part of the county.

C3'rns Cliamberlain was tlie first justice of the peace. He was also count}' commissioner when Ogle and Lee counties were one. Mr. Chamberlain also built the first savv-niill in this part of the county.

The German Baptist church (more familiarly known by the name of Dunkard) was organized in what is now Nacluisa township, by Rev. Joseph Emmert, who built a house of worship on Sec. 5, T. 21, R. 10, as early as about 1850. This structure was superseded by a more stately edifice several years ago, in size 34: X 54, with basement, kitchen and sleeping-room above the audience-room. This same organization existed prior to Mr. Emmert's coming to Lee county, but was located just across the river in Ogle county. To them Mr. Emmert first preached, but for the convenience of himself, his many friends and members who were settled around him Lee county, organized as above stated, with the following members : himself and family, Christopher Lahman and wife, Jacob Riddlesberger and wife, Samuel Riddlesberger and M-ife, Oliver Edmonds and wife, Isaac Siets and wife, Andrew Dierdorf and wife, Benjamin Kesler and family, with a few others. With a will and determination this little band of disciples held together and kept the faith through the pioneer period, and like the star in the east, guided many good men from Pennsylvania and other eastern states who came later and joined this little company, whose members are now counted bj' scores, and to whose tair dealings and honest industry' may be credited the prosperit}' of the community in which they live. Their present preacher is Rev. Levi Ralfensberger, who has been prominently connected with the church for many years. Mr. Benjamin Kesler has been an elder for about twentj'-eight years, and has been a pillar to the church ever since his residence in the county. In connection with this church is a beautiful cemetery, where now sleep a number of the earl}' pioneers, the first of whom was Debbie Beever. This burial-place is free to all, and all the surrounding country bury here.

Vevy early in the settlement of Nachusa township a Methodist minister by the name of Benjamin preached to the pioneer settlers in their cabin homes. Another minister, by the name of Reed, an Englishman by birth, who has since returned to England, preached to the early settlers near Mr. Brierton's in the little stone school-house, spoken of elsewhere. Religious services are still kept up by this denomination.

born of poor but honest parents, in Lnzerne county, in the old hilly State of Pennsylvania, reared on a farm, and educated to bard toil and industry. July 5, 1838, he married Miss Sallie A., daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth (Moore) Klintob, also a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. After his marriage Mr. Depuy began life himself with just what nature provided him with, a pair of strong hands and a determined will. His first work was to secure a team and wagon and a small amount of money. This obtained, in the spring of 184:2 he started for Lee county, Illinois, where he arrived June 2, three dollars in debt to a friend in Chicago from whom he borrowed that amount. After his arrival here Mr. Depuy at once went to work, and when he could not succeed in getting $1 a day he took 50 cents, and so persevered until he became independent. He now owns one of the most desirable homes in Nachusa township, besides 21:0 acres in Iowa. His wife died at her home, where she so long lived and where she reared her family, November 30, ISfiG. The issue of this union was eight children, six of whom are living: Alexander, Rosana, Maranda, Fidelia, Sarah J. and Mariam. The two deceased are Francis, aged two years, and Charles, who died in the winter of 1863, aged eighteen years. Mr. Depuy's second marriage was with Miss Tenia Bowman, who was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1828. Mr. Depuy was born October 2, 1816, and is the son of Jonathan and Rachel Winner Depuy, who were also natives of Pennsylvania.

James A. Heaton, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Jphn and Sarah (Weed) Heaton, and a brother to the late Judge Heaton, of the appellate court. He was born in Oneida county. New York, August 17, 1822. His early labor was farming, but he served an apprenticeship to the cooper's trade. His education was quite liberal for his day. He attended the common schools, then spent parts of three years at Clinton Liberal Institute, where he studied all branches taught in that institution except the classics. He taught ten years in New York state. April 1, 181:'l, he started for the west. He landed first in Wisconsin, then made his way to Illinois. He arrived in Lee county in August of the same year, and engaged as a farm hand to James Campbell, then sheriff of Lee county. In winters he taught school. On April 18, 1847, he enlisted in Co. A, 16th reg. U. S. Inf., for the Mexican war, and served till its close. He then returned to Lee county. He was married June 1, 1851, to Anna M. Hetaler, daughter of Nathan and Katharine Hetler. She was born September 1, 1832. They have seven children living: William H., Katharine H., wife of BF. Miller; Andrew J., Charles C, Jessie, and twins, Nellie and Georgia. Mr. Heaton has owned many different tracts of land, but

Zachaeia T. Stover, farmer and stock raiser, Dixon, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1849, and was reared on a farm, with but a limited means of obtaining an education, as his mother died when he was but a small boy ; yet, by a determined will, and application to study, he gained a fair business education. In 1870, in view of bettering his condition, he came to Lee county, Illinois, where he decided to make his future] home ; decidedly preferring the prairie State of Illinois to the hilly State of Pennsylvania. October 6, 1875, he married Miss Anna L. Seitz ; she was born in Lee county, n^-nois, December 16, 1854. They have two children : Charles T. and Mary F. Mrs. Stover's father, Isaac Seitz, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1809. Early in life Mr. Seitz learned the trade of cooper, which he followed till he came to Illinois, in 1846. He then bought a farm in Sec. 2, T. 21, K. 10, and engaged in farming. September 8, 1850, he married Miss Frances, daughter of Charles Philip and Elizabeth (Moore) Klintob ; she was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1826, and came to Lee county in 1848 or 1849. By this marriage he reared four children, two of whom are living, Mrs. Anna L. Stover, and Jacob E., born May 24, 1862 ; by a former marriage he reared six children, three of whom are living: Mary A., wife of John W. Courtright, and Isaac and Abraham (twins). Mr. Seitz is still living on the old home farm with his daughter.

DoLLivER Johnson, retired, Amboy. After a long life of useful labor, combined with a high order of mechanical genius and intelligence, Mr. Johnson retired to his farm in the southeast of !Nachusa township, where himself and his excellent wife are now spending their declining years, sxirrounded with the blessings of a pleasant home. Mr. Johnson was born in Bradford, Orange county, Vermont, July 16, 1800. He was reared on the farm, but at the age of eighteen, being a natural mechanic, turned his attention to learning the trade of blacksmith. This he followed till the age of thirty-four, when, seeking a broader Held of labor, he entered a foundry at Boston, where he bored and finished the first brass cannon ever produced in the United States. About this time came the demand for railroad engines, and he engaged in the manufacture of these great iron horses, which were then not only the wonder, but consternation, of the world. He subsequently became master mechanic for five different railroad companies, viz, the Erie, the Pittsburg, the Calais & Baron in the United States, and the St. Lawrence & Atlantic and Grand Trunk of Canada. In 1855 he came to Amboy, Lee county, Illinois, wliere he received the appointment by the Illinois Central Railroad Company of foreman of their machine shops at Diinleith, where he remained till 1870, when he retired to the farm, which his noble wife had been superintending from the time of their advent into Illinois, thus bringing into ])ractice those rare talents for which her family are characteristic. On March 20, 1827, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Fnderwood. She died April 20, 1S35, aged twenty-nine years and live months. Of this marriage are two children : Alonzo and James, both living in Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Johnson's next marriage was on October 17, 1837, with Miss Lucretia, daughter of Mr. Thomas and Anna (Eaton) Abbott. She was born in Concord, New Hampshire, March 6, 1812, and is a descendant of the historic Abbott family, whose ancestors (two brothers) came to America in the early Puritan days in the ne.xt ship following the immortal Mayflower.

WiLLiAj[ W. Darker, farmer and stock raiser, Amboj', is a natiN o of Leicestershire, England, and came to Lee county, Illinois, in 1S45. During his earl}' youth he was engaged in a mixed business of farming, brewing, butchering, and attending school. Soon after he came to Lee county he entered land in Sec. 21, T. 21, R. 10, and at once began to make himself a home, which to an Englishman is of great importance. He very early entertained the idea that to make a home on the prairie it must be surrounded with a thick growtii of a large variety of timber, hence his residence is now almost hid from view in the tall timber that surround it. On January 26, 1853, he married Miss Caroline Gould, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. She was born January 24, 1824, and died July 26, 1863, leaving one child, Elizabeth, born October 25, 1853, who is now cheering her father's home with the pleasant sunshine of her countenance. Though she was early in life deprived of the tender care and instructions of a mother, she has those very essential qualities which are so much required to make a pleasant home - industrj', perseverance and good taste Mr. Darker is engaged in stock raising as well as farming.

Samuel Crawford, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1823. Like his father he was reared a farmer, and educated in the common schools of his boyhood days (^that of the old subscription plan). February 10, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Wilson) Burket, also a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania. She was born April 21, 1827. In April following his marriage Mr. Crawford started for Lee count}', Illinois, by the way of the rivers Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois. On his arrival in this county he at once began improving his prairie home, which he had two years previously entered in Sec. 9, T. 21, R. 10, and has since transformed it from a state of nature, inliabited by deer and wolves, into one of the finest farms in Nachusa township. It comprises -tOO acres of excellent farming land. This has about all been earned by a close application to business, and is an evidence of what pluck and industry will accomplish. "When he first had wheat to sell be hauled it by team to Chicago over the unbroken prairie, without roads or bridges, but he worked and waited for the railroad, and now it passes in sight of his home. Himself and his noble wife are now enjoying tlie fruits of their labor. They have five children living: William J., Wilson, Fannie M., Calvin B. and Lucinda A. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are members of the Presbyterian church and hold their membership at Dixon.

William H. Fiscel, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1842, and came to Illinois with his parents, David and Mary A. (Herbst) Fiscel, in 1848. They were natives of Pennsylvania, but of German ancestry. Soon after coming to Lee county they settled near Franklin Grove, but two years later bought land in Sec. 32, T. 22, R. 10, in what is now Nachnsa township. They made the trip from their native state to Lee county with a team, being six weeks on the road. At the tiuie they came the country was quite new and unimproved ; grain bad to be hauled to Chicago to find a market, and then sold for from 30 to 50 cents per bushel. Passengers were but poorly accommodated by the old stage coach, which is now replaced by the lightning express, and passes several times daily in sight of their home. Mr. Fiscel lived to see a great change in this county. He died in November 18fi5, leaving a wife and seven children to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father. William H., the subject of this sketch, coming as he did to Illinois wiien quite young, was deprived of the advantages of anything more than a limited education. Young as he was at the outbreak of the late rebellion, he became a member of Co. G, 75th 111. Vol. Inf, and did about three years' service for his country. He was honorably discharged with his regiment at the close of the war. February 27, 1868, he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. George Stambaugh. She was born in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1846. They have one child, Frank, born January 24, 1876. The very pleasing appearance of their home shows its proprietor's good taste.

John P. Brdbaker, farmer, Nachusa. Tiie Brubaker family in this country descended from two brothers who came to America from Germany, in 1771, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from whom sprang a numerous posterity. One of the two brothers, as above, was Christley Brubaker, from whom descended Jonathan Brubaker, who was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was the father of Jonas Brubaker, who was born in the same county. May 5, 1801. The latter moved with his parents, when seven years of age, to Virginia, settling near Lynchburg, tliat state. Three years later the family removed to Preble county, Ohio, where Jonas still lives at the advanced asje of eighty years. John P. Brubaker, the subject of this sketch, was born July 30, 18'26, in Preble county, Ohio, and is the son of Jonas and Rebecca (Phillips) Brubaker. His mother was the daughter of Simon Phillips, of Tennessee, who lived near Blue Ridge, that state. When twenty-three ^-ears of age he left his father's house in Ohio, and coming to Illinois he purchased a farm on Sees. 5 and 6, T. 21, R. 10 E. of the 4th P. M., Lee county, where lie still lives. On September 7, 18i0, he was married to Miss Hannah Wright, daughter of William and Eva Wright, of Preble county, Ohio. Resulting from this union were four children: William E., now residing in Iowa; Marcus C. died December 11, 1875, in Cincinnati ; and Laura A., now wife of Ruben W. Eiclioltze, of Nachusa township. Mrs. Brubaker died October 15, 18G5. On February 31, 1867, Mr. Brubaker was united in marriage to Miss Ann Sunday, daughter of Henry and Susan (Trostle) Sunday, of York county, Pennsylvania, her parents both dying when she was but a child. From the above marriage union resulted two children : Minnie May, born May 21, 1868, and Ozra J., October 5, 1873. Mr. Brubaker has served as commissioner of highway's for a number of years, as school trustee for the last fifteen years, and as justice of the peace for the past ten years, and sustains the last two official relations at the present time. He gives special attention to fruit-growing, of whicii he has many choice varieties, his home being well shaded with thrifty fruit and forest trees. He has one brother living, Ephraim Brubaker, of Chicago, and one sister, Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Baker, Preble county, Ohio. Mrs. Brubaker has two brothers living: Solomon Sunday, of Frederick county, Maryland, and two sisters : Rebecca, wife of John Peters, of Dickinson county, Kansas, and Abigail, wife of Abraham King, of Lee county.

Benjamin Kesler, farmer, Nachusa, was born April 12, 1807, in Ash county, North Carolina, and is the son of Joseph Kesler, born in Pennsylvania, February 17, 1767, and removed to Ash county, North Carolina, about 1791. His grandfather, Unrich Kesler, emigrated from Switzerland when a lad, between 1740 and 1750. When the subject of our sketch was but a child he removed with his father to Montgomery county, Ohio, where the latter died September 1840. He remained on the farm until November 1836, when he removed to Darke county, where he continued the occupation of farming until 1850, when he removed to Illinois and settled in Sec. 6, T. 21, R. 10, Lee county, where he resided until the autumn of 1880, when he removed to his daughter's home in Nachusa township. On September 21, 1827, Mr. Kesler was united in marriage to Miss Sally Burket, daughter of John and Mary Burket, of Miami county, Ohio. To them were born se%'en children ; four now living, two dying in infanc}', and Miss Anna at the age of twenty years. After a companionship of fifty-three years Mr. Kesler was bereaved of his wife and devoted mother of his children, she dying May 2, 1S80. Mr. Kesler has been identified with the German Baptist church for about forty years, thirty of which time he has held the office of deacon.

Mks. Maey (Keslee) Emmert, of Nachusa, was born April 1, 1831, in Montgomery county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Sail}' (Burket) Kesler, given above. At the age of nineteen she removed with her parents to Illinois. She was united in marriage March 11, 1852, to Henry Emmert, son of Eev. Joseph Emmert, of Lee county. After marriage they settled on a farm in Sees. 4 and 5, T. 21, R. 10. They have eight children : Sarah Catharine, Joseph (deceased), Anna Elizabeth, Alora Priacilla, George Rufus, Eva Jane, Carrie Hewet, Frank Winfred, and Jesse Theadore.

George Washington Kesler is the eldest son of Benjamin and Sally (Burket) Kesler, and was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, October 21, 1836. He removed with his parents to Lee county, Illinois, in June 1850. In October, 1862, he enlisted in the army and entered Co. C, 34th reg. 111. Vols. ; was wounded in the battle of Murfreesboro, being disabled from further service, and was honorably discharged. December 29, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa M. Hunt, daughter of Otis and Louisa (Fluent) Hunt, of Steuben county. New York. She was born November 6, 1840, and removed with her parents to Lee county, Illinois, in 1861. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Bradford township, where they resided until March 1879, when the}' removed to Collyer, Trego county, Kansas, where they still reside. They have a family of four children : Otis B., Perlie, Jesse L. and Nettie F.

Mrs. Eva (Kesler) Lichty was born April 22, 1841, in Darke county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Sally (Burket) Kesler. She removed with her parents to Lee county, Illinois, in June 1850. In August, 1865, she was united in marriage to Daniel A. Lichty, who was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania, came to Illinois about 1863, and devoted some time to school teaching. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Lee county, where they resided until March 1873, when they removed to Brown county, Kansas, where they are now living. They have four children : Bernice M., Olive Mary, Mahlon, and Ida Anna.

removed with his parents to Lee county, Illinois. After acquiring a fair common school education he spent a tliree-months term in a commercial college. In 1803 he enlisted in the service of his country and become a member of the 75th reg. 111. Vols., remaining in the service until the close of the war. Besides other severe battles in which he took part he participated in the bloody battle of Perrysville, where most of his regiment fell. In the fall of 1870 he married Mrs. Frances Graves, of Chicago, daughter of Mr. George Robinson. He made Chicago his home until 187S, when he removed to Collyer, Trego county, Kansas, where he took a soldier's claim of 100 acres and a timber claim of the same amount, and is engaged in farming and stock raising.

Jacob Hill, farmer, Dixon, Lee county, Illinois. Jacob Hill, farmer and stock raiser, son of Jacob and Catherine Hill, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, December 24:, 1821. In about the year 1837 he went to Livingston county, New York, -where he resided for nearly twenty years. In 1858 he came to Lee county, where his father had settled two years previous. He had si.x brothers and two sisters, but is now the eldest living, three brothers and one sister having died. His father died about 1870, and his mother survived until 1879, when she too passed away. Mr. Hill has one brother in this county. In about 1842 he was married in New York, the issue of this marriage being two children, and he was afterward bereaved of wife and children. About one year after his removal to this county he was united in marriage to his present wife, Miss Balinda Marteeney, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Corke) Marteeney, of this county. They had by this union four children. Their eldest daughter married Daniel Linzey, of South Di.\on. Mr. Hill, the subject of this sketch, resides upon the home farm, and is an enterprising and successful farmer and an esteemed citizen.

Col. Alex. P. Dysakt, farmer, Nachusa, was born February 3, 1826, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of James and Elizabeth Dysart, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but of Scotch and Irish ancestry. When a boy of eighteen or nineteen he located land in Lee county, embracing the present village of Xachusa, and in 1847 settled where he has since resided, and improved one of the finest farms in Lee county. His ferra embraces 288 acres of prairie land on Sees. 6 and 7, T. 21 N., R. 10. In 1848 the colonel returned to Pennsylvania and was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Grazier, of Huntington county, that state, and daughter of Henry and Nancy Grazier, and returned to his farm in Lee county in May of the same spring. He was elected justice of the peace for two successive terms, also served on the board of supervisors for a number of years, as well- as commissioner of highways, town clerk, etc. In the fall of 1861 he entered the United States service, being commissioned captain September 13, 1861, and mastered in as captain of Co. C, of the Slth reg. 111. Vols. After the battle of Shiloh, he was promoted major and received his commission April IS, 1862. On November 29 of the same year he was commissioned colonel, and took command of the Sith reg. At the expiration of the regiment's service he returned to Springfield, and was tendered the command of a new regiment by Gov. Bates, but which he declined, and returned home. In 1878 he was elected representative to the Illinois state legislature, and reelected in 1880. He is of decided republican principles in politics. The colonel suffered the bereavement of his wife, who died December 11, 1878, leaving seven children, four sons and three daughters. The eldest son, James W. Dysart, M.D., is living in Laramie City, Wyoming ; two sons, James 11. and Alison A., and one daughter, Mrs. Miller, reside in Chicago ; one daughter, Mrs. Jessee E. Whitney, resides south of Franklin Grove.

William C. Dysaet, merchant, Nachusa, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1837. His early life was spent at farming on the old homestead. During this time, however, he received a liberal education at Mountain Seminary, Birmingham, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1866 he moved to Lee county, and engaged in the grain business at Nachusa, in company with his brother, Capt. Jolm Dysart, and erected the first grain elevator at that place. After engaging one year in this pursuit he returned to his native state and engaged in the wholesale grocer^' trade at Altoona, at which business he continued until in 1879, when he again came to Nachusa, and established himself in the general merchandise and lumber business, which he still pursues. For this business he first occupied a small frame building, which now forms a wing to his present commodious store, erected in 1«678. On January 1, 1872, he was married to Sophia Barlow, daughter of Augustus Barlow, Esq., a prominent citizen of Lee county. They have had by this union one child, a daughter, Anna May, born in 1875. In 1869 Mr. Dysart was appointed postmaster at Nachusa, and has held the office continuously ever since, and is the present incumbent. Mr. Dysart, together with his estimable wife, enjoy the confidence and esteem of the entire community in which they live.

Wilson Dysaet, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born November 27, 1829, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Joseph and Mary A. (Davison) Dysart. He was reared on a farm, receiving a fair education, also a good practical education in the art of intelligent farming. January 18, 1853, he married Miss Frances M., daughter of Mr. Samuel P. and Susan (Rathbon) Wallace, who was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1833. After his marriage Mr. Dysart engaged in farming on the old home witli his father, till 1857. In the spring of that year he came to Lee county, Illinois, and commenced improving land previously entered by his father, and in the fall of the same year liis family joined him here, and he at once settled permanently on Sec. 17, T. 21, R. 10, which he has since by industry and good taste transformed from a state of nature into one of the beautiful prairie homes of the south part of this town. Mr. Dysart is now (1881) actively engaged in stock raising as well as farming. This farm contains 440 acres of excellent land, highly improved. His famih- consists of nine children : Warren P., Joseph W., Anna M., Clarinda, Ernest S., Edith, Marian L., Edward E. and Frances E.

John Leake was born in Leicestershire, England, November 27, 1807. He was the elder son of John and Miss (Snow) Leake. Educational advantages were meager, but he acquired learning sufficient to enable him to do business, and when about tifteen years of age was apprenticed to a butcher. After acquiring the trade he and his father bought a small farm and carried it on, together with the butchering business. After a time this business was disposed of and other enterprises undertaken, but business did not prove successful, and Mr. Leake determined to seek his fortune in America. In December, 1832, he was married to Mary A. Jarvis. To them, while they remained in England, were born three sons and one daughter, the latter dying when a child. In 1840 Mr. Leake bade adieu to his family and, without a tear, set sail for New York, where he arrived in the latter part of May. Immediately he pushed on to the frontier, up the Hudson to Albany via tiie Erie canal to Buffalo, via lakes to Chicago, thence by stage to Di.xon's Ferry, Lee county, Illinois. He reached this place June 10, in company with "William Moodey and Isaac Means, whose acquaintance he had formed en route from New York. Mr. Means proposed going farther, at least to Galena, but Mr. Leake said " Stay here and look about." He shortly bought a claim, for which lie said he would not take a thousand dollars, the other men found employment, and so farther explorations ceased. And now commenced the struggle for a home and competency. Having little or no money, Mr. Leake worked at any emj)loyment within his reach, often for 25 cents or less per day, and taking for payment anything that could be made available toward securing the home or sustenance for tlie family. In 1841 a business trip took him to New Orleans. Here he lived " three days on three 10-cent pieces;" then came employment and success. Returning to Dixon, he was there in time to meet his family, who arrived in August of that year. Mr. Leake sold his coat to buy a cow ; built a shanty, which was only partly covered with floor, and here, without table or chairs.