Logan County, Illinois - Chapter 17: ^tna Township, 1886

Chapter 17: ^tna Township

iEtna Township lies southeast of Lincoln and northeast of Mt. Pulaski. It is in the eastern tier of townships and is bounded as follows: On the north by Oran Township, on the east by De "Witt County, on the south by Laenna Township and on the west by Chester Township. It contains nearly thirty-six square miles, all the sections being full except the western tier. It is drained by Salt Creek, flowing southwest and then west. Following are the officers of the township each year since organization:

1867 - Supervisor, Joshua Dunnock;, Clerk, Henry A. Hough; Assessor, S. B. Squires; Collector, M. R. Hall; Highway Commissioners, J. H. Regan, S. F. Safly and T. Fletcher; Justices, J. H. Regan and R. D. Perry; Constables, A. T. Blake and "William Stewart.

1870 - Supervisor, I. R. Braucher; Clerk, James Parks; Assessor, D. M. Lincoln; Collector, T. H. Douglas; Highway.Commissioners, Andrew Johnston and Marsh Lincoln; Justices, "W. H. Daniels and Andrew Johnston; Constables, J. C. Clark and John Evans.

1873 - Supervisor, Richard F. Ayers; Clerk, G. A. Lakin; Assessor, D. M. Lincoln; Collector, J. H. Keys; Highway Commissioner, Andrew Johnston; Justices, W. H. Daniels and S. F. Safly; Constables, Noah P. Hall and Edward Gibson.

1885 - Supervisor, James Armstrong, Clerk, Louis A. Githens; Assessor, Noah P. Hall; Collector, John W. Keys; Highway Commissioners, John Safly, T. F. Whitaker and William Johnston; Justices, Noah P. Hall and N. Keirn; Constables, James Thompson and Levi Kose.

Statistics

^tna is slowly increasing in population. It had 920 inhabitants in 1870, and 990 ten years later. Now, in 1885, it is probably a little over 1,000. For purpose of comparison, we give here the valuation and taxation of property in 1875, and also for 1885:

In political sentiment the people of ^tna Township are Republican about three to one, and have been in about that proportion since the organization of the township. Following is the vote for President at each election: is a station on the Springfield branch of the Illinois Central Eailroad, about seven miles northeast of Mt. Pulaski. Two attempts to found a town were made here before it was accomplished. The third attempt succeeded. Chestnut was laid out by David W. Clark, on the land of his brother, Isaac Clark, in April, 1872. It was liamed in honor of one of the directors of the railroad (first known as the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield). Lakin & Britton moved a store from Yankeetown, or Hurricane Point, where they had been in business some time. Dement & Clark erected the second store. The station is a good shipping point, and much grain leaves Chestnut on the cars. The Methodist Episcopal church was started in Yankeetown in the early days of the settlement, being organized in the house of Henry Dement. They met in private houses, generally at Mr. Dement' s, until about 1849 or '50, when they built a brick church. Here they met until Chestnut was platted, when they erected a neat frame house of worship there.

Methodist Episcopal Chueoh On Section 7

The place of worship known as " Harmony Church " is located on the north part of section 7, and was built in 1871. It is a white frame structure, costing $3,000. This is a station on the Lincoln Circuit. The society numbers about sixty members, and it is in a prosperous condition. The class was formed in 1861, and services were held for many years in the school-house. The church was all paid for when dedicated. At the time of building, William Johnston, A. M. Dafi", James Johnston and Andrew Johnston were trustees.

Andrew Arm,strong is one of the large and successful farmers of ^tna Township, and is one of those who began at the beginning, no improvements having been made on his farm when he purchased it in January, 1867. He has 335 acres of as good land as there is in Logan County, all under good cultivation and thoroughly tiled, having laid about $1,100 worth of tile. He was born in County Fermanagh, in the north of Ireland, in March, 1831. He is the eldest child of James and Sally (Johnston) Armstrong. Mr. James Armstrong died in Ireland, and in 1856 Mrs. Armstrong, with her family, came to America, settling in Pike County, where they lived two years, coming then to Logan County.

The first land owned by Mr. Armstrong was eighty-six acres of the homestead now owned by his brothers, William and James. Mr. Armstrong married Sarah Johnson, born in the same county as her husband. Six children have been born to them - John James, William Henry, Catherine Margaret, Sarah Eosanna, Edward Andrew and Hugh Wallace. Mr. Armstrong and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Season. In politics he is a Republican, his first presidential vote being for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Mr. Armstrong makes a specialty of the raising of fine horses, short-horn cattle and Poland China swine. Among his fine horses may be mentioned "Abdallah, Jr.," which is a half brother of the noted queen of the turf, Goldsmith Maid. This is a beautiful horse, now twenty years old, sixteen hands high and ways 1,250 pounds. His Hambletonian horse, " Thornton" and his Clydesdales "Justice" and '- Donald Donnie, Jr.,'" are fine specimens of the equine race.

James Armstrong and brother, William Armstrong, are among the most prominent farmers and stock-raisers in ^etna Township, where they reside on section 6. Their farm contains 588 acres of first-class farming land, well tiled and otherwise improved. They also own a half interest in a farm in East Lincoln Township. James Armstrong attends directly to the superintendence of the farm while his brother William is engaged in grain and stock buying at Beason. The Armstrong brothers are natives of the Emerald Isle, having been born in County Fermanagh, near the line of County Tyrone. Their father died in Ireland when James, who is the youngest son, was but a child. In 1856 their mother, Mrs. Sarah Armstrong, came to America with her family of five sons and three daughters and settled in Pike County, where they lived two years. They then came to ^tna Township and settled where William and James now live. The mother and six of the children are now living - Andrew, a resident of this township; William and James, Hugh, Mrs. Sarah Yardner, residing in JEtna Township, and Mrs. Frances Keys. The deceased are John, and Eosa, wife of Mr. William Johnston. William is unmarried. James married Miss Sarah E. Keys, born in Pike County, Illinois, daughter of Francis Keys, Sr. One child was born to them, who died in infancy. The Armstrong brothers are among the enterprising citizens of Logan County. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of JEtna Township. Politically they are Eepublicans.

tucky, October 5, 1829. His father was Hugh Bowles, a native of Virginia, born in 1786. While he was quite a youth his father moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky, and settled on what was known as Cane Hidge. It was here, hundreds of miles from civilization and where the ferocious Indian freely roamed, that he assisted in raising his father's cabin, and in clearing away the forest for a house. He continued to live and labor on the farm with his father until he arrived at manhood and was married to Miss Euth Prather, by whom he had seven children - Anderson, of Clinton, Illinois; Walter P., died 1863; Joseph, died 1874; Henry, died in 1884; Elizabeth, widow of Henry Hall, of Armington, Illinois; Verlinda and Ellen, deceased. Mrs. Bowles died after quite a number of years of married life. For his second wife "Father Bowles " (as he was known) married Elizabeth Payne, by whom he had six children - David, of Logan County, Illinois; Jessie P., of Sedgwick County, Kansas; William F., of Logan County, Illinois; Rebecca R., widow of Chas. Wallace, of Sumner County, Kansas; Julia, wife of Peter J. Haws, of Bntler County, Kansas, and Sarah A., deceased. In early life he became deeply concerned in religion, and uniting with the Baptist church was licensed by them to preach. In the early part of the century he became convinced that religious denominational names built on human creeds or opinions of men were wrong and tended to the dividing of the lovers of Christ and a hindrance to the conversion of sinners. That God had revealed to every man his whole duty in plain, unmistakable terms, and that the Bible contained rules sufficient for every good work. He spent his early life in Kentucky, and in 1830 he removed with his family to De Witt County, Illinois, and was one of the most prominent and well-known pioneers, and did much to mold the moral and religious interests of this part of the then new State. Although his early educational advantages had been limited, he was a great reader and well versed in both ancient and modern history. After coming to De Witt County Mr. Bowles bought a farm in what is now Tumbridge Township. There he made a permanent home, where he resided till his death, his wife surviving him but a few months. While engaged in the cultivation of his farm, Mr. Bowles was a minister of the Christian church for nearly forty years. He organized many Christian churches, starting the first church in this part of Illinois, which has ever since been known as "The Old Union Christian Church," in October, 1832. Among others he organized, "Sugar Creek

Christian Church," " Eock Creek " and " Long Point " Postville - now Lincoln - and many others, and was assisted in his work by Eev. James Scott and Abner Pealer. He was a truly Christian man, devoting all his life to the cause of Christianity, often riding fifty miles to meet an appointment to preacli, never receiving any compensation of importance for his services. He stated, just before his decease, that the greatest money compensation he had ever received at one time was $10 for his services at a protracted meeting of two weeks, at Lake Fork, and this he gave to a poor widow, who had been thrown from her horse and injured while on her way to the meeting. Before his death Father Bowles had the pleasure of seeing all of his children active members in the church, and all happily married and settled in life, save the youngest, Wm. F., our subject. He was but one year old when he came to Illinois with his father. The outfit for his first day's rural training in plowing corn consisted of an old runaway horse, hemp harness, hemp bridle, hemp lines, shuck collar, hatnes hewn from a white oak stump, and a single shovel wooden plow pointed with tin. The bridle bit was all the iron that belonged to the harness. His educational advantages were very limited. His schooling did not exceed twelve months up to the age of sixteen, the time of his father's death. Then he had to work by the month for a living. Fortunately he fell into the kind and paternal care of the well-known Paul A. Wallace, who gave him employment for about two years. Then he had the care of a widowed sister and four small children for six years. He then married Eebecca Frances Martin, born in De Witt County, daughter of Kev. Isaac Martin, a pioneer of Sangamon County. Mr. and Mrs. Bowles have lived in Logan County for about thirty years, within three miles of his father's old home. They have one son - Charles D., born in ^tna Township, April 30, 1858, married Anna B. McCleman, a native of De Witt County. They are now living on the farm with our subject; have three children - William D., Myra F. and Ella May. Who can describe the changes for the next fifty-six years!

Daniel dark, one of the pioneers of Illinois, was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1812, and is the son of John W. and Ann Clark, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Maryland. Daniel Clark lived in Ohio till 1832, when he came to Logan County. His brother, David W., also a sister, Margaret Clark, wife of Richard W. Clark, had previously settled in Sanga- men County, Illinois. The fiist land that Mr. Clark owned was a quarter-section where he now lives. He pre-empted his land in 1837, and purchased it from the Government when it came into the market. In 1838 Mr. Clark married, in what was then Macon County, but is now a part of De Witt County, Illinois, Eliza Lowry, born in Kentucky, April 7, 1815, coming to Illinois with her parents when a young woman. In 1836 Mr. Clark put up his first residence, a frame house, southwest of his present residence, but on the same quarter-section. His brother-in-law, JR. "W". Clark, settled two or three years later on section 33, where he purchased a saw-mill and a grist-mill in company with Dr. John Clark, his brother, and David Clark, his father. John W. Clark, the father of our subject, and his wife, came here in 1837, and settled on a part of Daniel Clark's land. Here they resided till their decease, the father dying in March, 1859, in his eighty-second year, the wife surviving her husband for several years. But few are now living in Logan County whose coming dates back to 1832, and Mr. Clark has seen this county, then in a state of wildness, become one of the most prosperous counties in the State. His wife accompanied him in the journey of life till September 15, 1858; when she passed away. Of the five children born to them only two are now living - Michael, now at the homestead, and William, living in Bates County, Missouri. Mary, the eldest child, died in her nineteenth year; Cecelia died at the age of about two years, and Catherine died aged seven years. Mr. Clark was a Whig in politics till 1856, and ever since has voted the Republican ticket. It is worth recording that he has voted at every presidential election since 1836. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since before his marriage, as was his wife. Michael Clark, the eldest son, was born at the homestead in 18il. He enlisted in August, 1861, in the Thirty-second Illinois Infantry, and served four years and three months, remaining in the service some time after the war was over. He took part at Shiloh, siege of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg and battle of Hatchie Eiver, was in the Atlanta and Chattanooga campaigns, and marched with Sherman to the sea. After the war the brigade went west to Fort Kearney, serving till September, 1865. He was married Lo Sarah Sheridan, by whom he has had four children, only two of whom are living- Asa, the second child, and Minnie, the youngest. Eliza died at about the age of one year, and Benjamin aged thirteen months. William Donnan was born December 25, 1797, in what was then called Boss, but is now Pike County, Ohio. His father, Peter Donnan, a native of Scotland, came to America when a young man, settling in Virginia, where he was married to Sidney McNeal, a native of that State. He then removed to Ohio, and was one of the pioneers of Ross County, serving for many years as county surveyor. He resided in Ohio till his decease. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Donnan, there are now living - Juliet, who married Samuel Keys, is now a widow, aged ninety years, and lives with her brother William, our subject ; William is the second one in age, now living; Benjamin resides in Williamsville, Sangamon County. William Donnan married Priscilla Moore, a native of North Carolina. In 1836 he, with his wife and four children, came to Logan County. After living one year in Elkhart Township, raising one crop on the farm now owned by Mrs. Lawrence, he settled in .^Etna Township, and entered and bought a large amount of land. Here he has lived for nearly fifty years, being not only one of the oldest settlers of JEtna Township, but also the oldest man. There were still some Indians here at the time of his settlement, and game was abundant. He has seen Logan County advance from a state of wildness to be one of the most flourishing counties in Illinois. His farm now comprises 540 acres. Mr. Donnan has five living children - Peter, a resident of Sangamon County ; Alexander, living in this township; John, bom in 1832, is unmarried, and lives on the homestead with his parents; Benjamin, residing in this township; and Sarah E., wife of William Williams.

Andrew M. Z^t*^ (deceased) settled on section 6, where his family now live, in 1854. He was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1830, where he lived till about twenty-six years of age, when he came to Logan County. His father, Ebenezer Duff, a wellknown early settler of ^tna Township, came to Logan County in 1866, settling in ^tna Township. It was soon after that date that Andrew M. Duff purchased a part of the farm now occupied by his family. His first land purchase was from the Government. Ebenezer Duff had five sons, all of whom settled in this vicinity, which is therefore known as the Duff settlement. Andrew M. Duff was married in 1860 to Miss Belle Johnson, born in Monroe County, West Virginia, in 1841. She came to Illinois with her parents, Jacob and Jennie Johnson, when she was fourteen years of age. The family settled in McLean County, near Bloomington, where Mrs. Duff grew to womanhood and where she was married.

Here her parents resided until their death. In 1881 Mr. Duff was stricken down with that dreaded disease, small-pox, and died December 14 of that year. He was a man of sterling qualities, highly respected in the community in which he lived. He was a publicspirited, Christian gentleman, contributing freely of his money and influence in the promotion of the public good. His contribution to the building of Harmony Methodist Episcopal Church, of his township, was $500. He was not connected with any church. Politically he was a Republican. He was a successful business man and increased his original quarter-section to 480 acres of valuable land. At his death he left a wife and ten children, all of whom are living except Gertie M., the youngest child. The children, most of whom reside on the homestead with their mother, are Mrs. Marietta Pritchett ; James W., who married Miss Edith Pegram; John J., who married Miss Alice Bever; Ella, Leonard A., Elmer D., Andrew E., Bertie and Carrie I.

Richard and John Farris reside on the northeast quarter of section 2. They settled on their farm which contains 173 acres of land, now all under cultivation, in April, 1857. This was formally railroad land, and no improvements had been made on it when it was purchased by Mr. Farris. They have about 450 rods of tiling on the farm. Their first house on the place was frame, and was built early in 1857. They erected their present commodious residence in the spring of 1881. They are engaged in general farming and stock raising. Richard Farris was born in Fleming County, Kentack}'', in 1818, and John was born in the same county in 1833. Their parents, Thomas and Esther (Hultz) Farris, removed with their family to Marion County, Indiana, in 1836, where the father died. The family consisted of five sons and three daughters. The first of the family to come to Logan County was Mrs. Elizabeth Bayly, wife of John Bayly, now residents of Kansas. Richard and John came in 1854, accompanied by their mother, who died at their home in 1857. Richard Farris is unmarried. John Farris has been twice married, his first wife being Mary Alice Foley, who died in 1870. By her he had five children, three of whom are living - Fannie, Franklin and Alice. Those deceased are - Annie and Willie. His present wife was Louisa Harrold, born in De Witt County in 1840, daughter of Isam and Mary Ann (Lisenby) Harrold, the former born in North Carolina, and the latter in Kentucky. They were early settlers of De Witt County, where they are still living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs.

SU Fletcher, son of Zachariah Fletcher, was born in ^tna Township, December 2, 1836, being one of the first now living who was born in this township. He has always lived on the homestead, situated on section 30, ^tna Township, which his father claimed in 1834:. He owns eighty acres of the original homestead. He has been twice married. His first wife, Jemima Bradley, died in 1858. His present wife was Naomi C. Hershey. By his first wife he had one son - Lafayette, and by his present wife he has two children - Emma and Arthur.

Eli Fletcher (deceased) was born in Madison County, Kentucky, in 1800. His father dying when he was a child, he was reared in the family of William White in what is now Trimble County, but then was part of Carroll County, Kentucky. In 1828 he married Marion McKay, born February 19, 1808, in Shenandoah County, Virginia. At the age of five years she removed with her parents to Jefi'erson County, Indiana, where she was married. Shortly after marriage Mr. Eli Fletcher came to Logan County for the purpose of selecting land for a homestead, coming all the way from Kentucky on horseback and alone. He made a location on sections 30 and 29, ^tna Township, and returned to Kentucky, becoming a permanent settler of Logan County the following year. His first land was a quarter-section on section 30. This was the claim of a man named Brady, which he purchased. He afterward increased his quartersection to about 900 acres. The first winter that Mr. Fletcher and his wife passed here was in a small, unfinished cabin that had been begun by Brady, but not completed, as he agreed to have done, before Mr. Fletcher should arrive with his wife. They managed to pass the winter quite comfortably, but were compelled to do much of their cooking, during the winter, in a skillet, over a fire built between two logs, on the outside of their cabin. This cabin is still standing. In 1830 he erected a comfortable hewed log house, which his family occupied until 1876, when it was burned. Mr. Fletcher died early in 1858, his wife surviving till January 16, 1878. Politically Mr. Fletcher was a Democrat of the Jackson school, and possessed much influence in the councils of his party in the early days. In religious faith he was a Methodist. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher six grew to maturity and five are now living - Mrs. Ann E. Alexander, Moses H., Mar- tin v., now living in Barton County, Mo.; Mrs. Mary O'Connor, of Chester Township; Mrs. Sarah Randolph, wife of J. S. Eandolph, of Lincoln. Moses H. resides on and owns a part of the claim that his father bought of Brady. He was born at the homestead, February 22, 1S33, and has always lived in Chester and ^tna townships. Mr. Moses H. Fletcher has been twice married. His first wife, Nancy E. Warrick, whom he married August 1, 1861, was born in Broadwell Township, Logan County, July 6, 1842, and died December 22, 1879. His second and present wife was Miss Fannie Rockhill, a daughter of "William and Elizabeth Rockhill. Mrs. Fletcher was born in Lexington, Kentucky, but, when a child removed with her parents to St. Joseph County, Indiana, where the latter lived till their decease. By his first marriage Mr. Fletcher has two daughters - Ophelia, wife of John M. Jackson, of York County, Nebraska, and Ella.

Thomas G. Fletcher is a son of Zachariah and Margaret (Campbell) Fletcher, pioneers of 1834. Zachariah Fletcher was a native of Kentucky, where he was reared, married and lived until 1834, when he came to Illinois with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, one son and four daughters. The eldest, Martha, married Joseph Teft, and died many years ago; the second is Thomas C, our subject; Nancy married William Powell and died after the decease of Martha; Margaret married William Powell, after the death of her sister, and is now living in Clay County, Nebraska; Sarah was an infant at the time of the removal to Illinois. She grew to womanhood, married John Trond, and died about 1854. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher after coming to Logan County - Eli, who resides in this township, and Adeline, wife of James Ogden, a resident of Chestnut, in this township. Zachariah Fletcher settled on Government land on section 30, in JEtna Township, but only lived three years. The mother survived until July, 1880, when she died, aged eighty-two years. The father, although he lived but a short time after coming to Logan County, made a beginning, which his wife, assisted by Thomas C, completed. Mrs. Fletcher was a woman of great energy, and always possessed good health till near the close of her long life. Thomas C. was born in Madison County, Kentucky, in 1823, and was in his twelfth year when his parents moved to this county. He being the only son at that time, much of the labor and responsibility of rearing the younger children and making a home devolved upon him. He resided at the homestead until his marriage, which toolj place in 1851. His wife was formerly Mary Downing, a daughter of James Downing, and was born in Chester Township, April 22,'1828. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher have ten children - Edley L. and Edwin 0., twins; Francis E., Zachariah J., Louisa J. (wife of Henry H. Easly), Albert E., Willie C, John E., Addie L. and Alpheus Clark. Mr. Fletcher's farm contains 400 acres.

George Harcourt resides on section 34, where he settled in 1859. He owns a pleasant home and eighty acres of land, where he resides, also owning another farm in Laenna Township, besides timber land. Mr. Harcourt was born in 1827, in Rush County, Indiana, reared in Marion County, Indiana, and married in Howard County, Indiana. Mrs. Caroline M. Harcourt, the wife of the subject of this sketch, was born in West Yirginia in 1835, and removed with her parents to Ohio. She was visiting friends in Kokomo, Indiana, at the time of her marriage (1851) to Mr. Harcourt. The latter's parents, John and Mary Harcourt, were natives of Kentucky, who removed to Indiana, where they resided till their decease. Mr. Harcourt has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Politically his sympathies are with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt have had five children, four of whom are living - Louvisa, at home; Frank B., surveyor and land agent, in Trenton, Hitchcock County, Nebraska; Laura, wife of John H. Lord, telegraph operator at Springfield, Illinois, and Stillwell, piano and organ tuner, now a resident of Chicago. Clara, the youngest child, died at the age of six years. John M., a brother of the subject of this sketch, also two sisters, came to Logan County before our subject. John M. and one of the sisters are now living in Cowley County, Kansas, and the other Bister is deceased. Mrs. Mary Jane Harcourt, the wife of A. Q. Harcourt, of this township, is a sister of Mrs. George Harcourt. A. Q. Harcourt is a nephew of G. W. Harcourt, and came here in 854.

William Johnston, one of the most prominent farmers and stock-raisers of Logan County, resides on section 7, -(Etna Township, where he has lived since 1859. He owns 1,200 acres of valuable land, all but eighty acres being in this township. He has some of the finest grades of stock, keeping from 300 to 400 head all the time, and selling about 100 head annually. Mr. Johnston was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in October, 1831, a son of John and Catherine (Broene) Johnston. He was the first of the family to come to America, leaving his home iu 1856, and landing in Pike County, Illinois, in November of the same year. He was almost entirely without money when he reached Illinois, and was glad to obtain employment at grubbing at $10 an acre. He was subsequently employed as a farm hand at $10 a month. With the first money he earned he bought a yoke of ' steers, making his own yoke from a walnut tree he chopped down. He then broke twenty acres of land, and sowed it to wheat on shares, which he harvested with a cradle, realizing well on the crop. In 1859 he came to Logan County, in company with the Armstrong family, and his first land purchase was 160 acres, which is a part of his present farm, for which he paid $1,600. After breaking his land and sowing it to wheat, he sold half of it for what he gave for the whole. From that time he has been successful, and at one time owned 1,600 acres of land, 400 of which he has given his children. Mr. Johnston is a worthy representative of the hardy sons of the north of Ireland, many of whom became residents of Logan County, generally coming with no capital; but their characteristic industry, economy and honesty have won the prize, as is indicated by their fine cultivated fields and their laiige herds of cattle and swine. Mr. Johnston was married in Pike County, in 1857, to Kosanna, daughter of James Armstrong. She died in the fall of 1865. But one of their four children is living - Margaret, wife of Andrew Armstrong, of Chester Township. Two died in childhood, and one son, John James, was drowned in Southwest Missouri, February 11, 1884. He was born in ^tna Township, February 6, 1861, and married Margaret, daughter of Frances Keys. He had gone to Missouri with the intention of locating, his wife following him a week later. While crossing Muddy Creek, which had become swollen by the recent rains, he was swept away and drowned. His wife knew nothing of her loss till she reached Missouri, when she found they were searching for his remains, which were soon after recovered. She returned with her little daughter Kosa to Logan County, and now makes her home at her father's house. In June, 1866, Mr. Johnston married Margaret, daughter of Alexander and Isabella Irvine. The mother is deceased, and the father now makes his home with Mrs. Johnston. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have had nine children, of whom eight are living - William A., Catherine J., Thomas H.,lsabella L, George, May, Susan A. and Sarah E. Their youngest died in infancy. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

/. Michener is a native of Ohio, having been born in Clinton County, that State, in December, 1837. His father, Joseph Michener, came from Ohio to Macon County, Illinois, in the spring of 1857, where he died the following year. He was a native of Pennsylvania. Oar subject was reared to the occupation of farming. He has been a resident of Mtaa, Township since the fall of 1872, and is the grain-dealer at Chestnut, owning the only elevator at that place. Not only was he the first grain-dealer at this point, but he has been continually in the business since he first began. This is a very important grain point, and Mr. Michener does a good business, his average being about 300 cars per year. In poHtical principles he is a Republican. Mrs. Michener was formerly Miss Martha Whitaker, a daughter of Bland B. Whitaker. They have one daughter - Narcissus E., wife of Isaac "Wolcott.

Robert Parks resides on the northwest quarter of section 3, .iEtna Township, where he settled in 1867, buying at that time 175 acres, which he has since increased to 295 acres. He also owns town property in Beason. No improvements had been made when Mr. Parks purchased his farm, but it is now under cultivation. He has two dwellings on the place; one, which he occupies himself, he began to build when he first settled on the farm, but has enlarged and improved, till now it is one of the best houses in the township. He has done a large amount of tiling. He has an iron turbine windmill, which operates a mill for shelling and grinding corn and pumping water. Mr. Parks had a few thousand dollars to start with which he has increased by good management. In 1885 he embarked in the grain business in Beason where he is now meeting with good success. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, June 14, 1845. When he was but four years of age his parents, llobert and Mary Ann (Lyttle) Parks, with their family of nine children, came to America, settling in Pike County, Illinois. The family are all living now except the mother and one son, Francis F. The latter was killed by lightning in Pike County, at the age of eighteen years. The first of the family to come to Logan County was James Parks, an elder brother of our subject. He settled on section 9, ^tiia Township, on a farm of 160 acres, which he afterward increased to 240 acres. He now lives in Butler County, Kansas, where he owns 840 acres of land. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, being a fifer in Company D, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, Robert Parks, Jr., was married to Margaret Keys, born in Pike County, Illinois. They have eight children - Minnie O., Lyda E., Amos F., Pearl, James H., Kobert Lee, Mao;gie May and Roy. Robert Parks, Sr., and wife, came to Logan County at the same time as their son Robert, with whom they lived for fourteen years, when they went to Kansas to reside with a daughter, Mrs. Martha Slusser, where the mother died January 15, 1885. Mr. Slusser is a merchant at Benton, Butler County, that State. The children of Robert Parks, Sr., are residents of different States, but two being residents of Logan County.

Stephen F. Safly resides on section 12, on a farm of 160 acres. He has eighty acres of timber and sixty acres of farm land on section 13, besides having land elsewhere, owning over 400 acres in Mina, Township. Mr. Safly was born in Champaign County, Ohio, November 16, 1820, and when but a child his parents, Adam and Melinda (Ferrel) Safly, natives of Virginia, removed to Sangamon County, Illinois. They were among the pioneers of Sangamon County, and there the parents resided until their death. They had eleven children, all except one son living to maturity. Three of the daughters are now deceased. Stephen F. was the eldest child and was reared on the homestead. He was married near Springfield, April 6, 1849, to ITancy Prunk, born in Ohio in 1821. Her parents, John and Nancy (Smith) Prunk, natives of Virginia, removed to Clark County, Ohio, and from there to Sangamon County, Illinois, where they owned and lived on a farm near Rochester till their decease. They had eight children, all but one son living to be men and women. Mr. Safly continued living on the homestead after his marriage until January, 1853, when he came with his family to JEtna Township. The first land he bought here and the first land he ever owned was a part of his present farm. But little imrovement had been made when he purchased the place; a small log cabin and log stable had been built, and Mr. Safly with his family occupied the log cabin for eight years before he felt able to build his present fine residence, which cost about $1,200. His other improvenaents in the way of buildings are good. Mr. Safly, like most of the early settlers, had but little means when he came here, having just money enough to purchase his first land, 126 acres, at $9.50 per acre. He now has a fine productive farm, well improved. Politically Mr. Safly is a Republican and in early life was a "Whig. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Beason. Five sons and three daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs.

Safly; four sons and one daughter are now living - Mary J. Cannon, residing in JEtna Township; John M. and Adam E.., hoth residents of this township; William and Charles, at home. The deceased children died in infancy.

Thomas F. WhitaJcer resides at the homestead where his father, Bland B. Whitaker, settled in 1850. He was born in Chester Township, Logan County, December 1, 1837, and has always lived in this county, with the exception of two years spent in Macon County. He married Luzetta Taylor, born in Randolph County, Indiana, daughter of John Taylor, of Jay County, Indiana. Her father was a native of Ohio, but went to Indiana when only nine years of age. Her mother was a native of Indiana. In 1870 they moved to Oran Township, Logan County, but after a residence of one year and a half they returned to Indiana, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker have two children - Franklin I. and Vesta C. Politically, Mr. Whitaker is a Democrat, as was his father. He inherits his father's taste for music, playing the violin with much skill. He owns a fine farm near the homestead. His father was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, November 30, 1803, and in 1835 came to Illinois and settled in Jacksonville, Morgan County, removing in September, 1836, to Chester Township, Logan County, and in 1850 to ^tna Township, where he died August 23, 1870. His widow, our subject's mother, was born in Henry County, Kentucky, February 7, 1809, and is still in the enjoyment of good health. Her descendants are numerous, she having had fifty grandchildren, about forty of whom are now living. She has also nine great-grandchildren.

William S. WhitaTeer resides on section 20, and owns 430 acres of land, which, except a few acres, lies on sections 20 and 29. He has occupied his present farm since the fall of 1861. His father, Bland B. Whitaker (named after Bland Ballard, a noted Indian warrior), was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, November 30, 1803. He was reared in his native State, and was married in Gallatin County, that State, June 9, 1825, to Nancy Wigginton, born in Henry County, Kentucky, February 7, 1809. In 1827 Bland B. Whitaker removed with his family to Indiana, and in November, 1835, went to Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. There they remained but a short time, going thence to Bethel, in the same county, and coming to Logan County in September, 1836. They first settled in Chester Township, on section 25, where he purchased sixty acres of land, and resided till 1849, when he came to ^tna Township, and settled on section 29. Here he purchased eighty acres from the Government, and located more by land warrant. He ultimately owned 220 acres, and here he resided till his decease, August 23, 1870, leaving his widow, who is still living on the homestead. Mr. Whitaker was a man highly respected in the community in which he lived. In religion he was a Universalist, and in politics a Democrat. He was possessed of quite a mechanical turn of mind, which was a matter of great convenience in the early days, when mechanics were scarce. He was of rather a vivacious nature, playing the violin with much skill. He and his wife had fourteen children, ten of whom are living in 1885 - Susan E., wife of Isaac J. Lane, in Sedgwick County, Kansas; William S., our subject; Nathaniel M., a resident of Macon County, Illinois; Mrs. Lucy J. Lincoln, residing in Lincoln; Thomas F., living at the homestead; Seretta, wife of Alfred Christison, residing in Macon County, Illinois; Mrs. Martha J. Michener, living in Chestnut; Bland B., residing in this township; Mrs. Eliza H. Vandever, a resident of Barbour County, Kansas; and Lusetta, wife of Edward Anderson, residing in Macon County, Illinois. William S., whose name heads this sketch, was born in Indiana, November 13, 1831, and, though but four years old when he came to Illinois with his father, he remembers well the journey. The family came in a wagon drawn by four horses, the father driving with only one line, in the primitive style. They were accompanied by N. M. Whitaker. William S. has made five trips to Kentucky, two trips of which he went by wagon. August 18, 1861, he was married in Kentucky to Loucetta Wigginton, born in Kentucky, January 16, 1840. They have nine living children - Alfred A., born November 25, 1863; George E., August 25, 1865; Mertis B., December 25, 1867; John M., October 4, 1870; Mary, March 29, 1872; William E., February 12, 1875; Loucetta, May 28, 1876; Mulvilda, November 28, 1878; and Carmi V., January 30, 1882. They have four children deceased - Alinanza, born August 4, 1862, died October 10, 1862; EUenah, born September 13, 1869, died November 15, 1869; Louisa A., born December 17, 1873, died April 14, L874; and Bessie W., born July 13, 1884, died October 8, 1884. Mrs. Whitaker's parents were Sidney and Elizabeth (Spillman) Wigginton, natives of Kentucky, where they resided until their death, the former djiing in January, 1870, and the latter in August, 1865.