McLean County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 31 of 42)

C. P. DICKERSON, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in what is now Randolph Township, McLean Co., 111., June 26, 1827 ; he is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, living settler now living who was born in this county ; his father, Michael Dickerson, was one of the first settlers of McLean Co., where he died Feb. 10, 1836. Calep B. Dickerson lived upon the farm with his mother until 22 years of age, after which he rented land and followed farming until 1851, when he purchased 100 acres of land upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he now owns 140 acres, with good farm buildings. He married Tabitha Buckles April 3, 1851 ; they have twelve children by this union, viz.: William E., born March 18, 1852; Mary J., June 19, 1854 ; Adaline, June 22, 1856; Franklin, July 8, 1858 (deceased) ; Henry D., Dec. 8, 1860 (deceased) ; James A., June 20, 1862 ; Wesley A., Nov. 23, 1864; Maranda Ellen, May 27, 1866; Charles, March 21, 1868 ; George, June 31, 1872 ; Tilden and Matilda A., twins, born June 18, 1876. Mrs. Dickerson was the daughter of Abram Buckles, who was born in Virginia June 28, 1800 ; he emigrated with his father and located in White Co., 111., in 1810. In 1819, he married Mary Williams, and, in 1832, he located at Buckles' Grove, McLean Co., where he died May 17, 1878. Mrs. Buckles died Dec. 19, 1876.

ELIADA DICKINSON, retired farmer ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Hartford Co., Conn., Sept. 1, 1810 ; he was raised to farm labor until 21 years of age, when he went to Bristol, Conn., and worked at the foundry business six years, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Griggsville, Pike Co., in June, 1836 : here he entered 400 acres of land, upon which he lived until 1859, when, selling his farm, he engaged in the merchandise trade at Perry four years, selling out in 1863, and purchasing 220 acres of land in Sangamon Co., upon which he lived two years; in the summer of 1865, he purchased 240 acres of land in West Township, McLean Co., which he deeded to his son, and afterward purchased 200 acres, upon which he lived until 1876, when he moved to Le Roy, and, in 1878, he purchased his present place, which contains twenty acres, one-half of which is within the corporation, and where he has since lived. Mr. Dickinson first voted for Jackson for President; he supported the Democratic party many years, joining the Republican party upon its organization, since which time he has been an ardent supporter of the same ; of township and school offices he has had his full share, and held the office of Justice of the Peace, while in West Township, five years. His marriage with Lois B. Fancher was celebrated Nov. 24, 1833 ; she was born in Bristol, Conn., Sept. 29, 1812 ; she died in Sangamon Co., 111., Nov. 10, 1864, leaving three children - Sarah Ann, born Dec. 10, 1839 ; David Monroe, Oct. 29, 1842, and Mary Thalia, July 5, 1847.

WILLIAM H. DOOLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Clark Co., Ky., Aug. 15, 1834 ; his father, William Dooley, emigrated from Kentucky in the fall of 1851, living in Bloomington until the spring of 1852, when he purchased 1,500 acres of land in Old Town Township, upon which he located and followed farming and stock-raising until his decease, which occurred June 7, 1869 ; his widow is now living in the same township. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until 20 years of age, when he was united in marriage, Oct. 12, 1854, to Eliza J. Noggle ; she was born in Ohio, May 7, 1835, (her parents emigrated from Ohio and located in McLean Co. in 1850) ; eleven children were the fruit of this union - John J., born Aug. 18, 1855, died Oct. 28, 1858 ; Alice C, born May 26, 1857, died March 22, 1874; LillieM., born Sept. 10,1860; Milton H., born Feb. 21, 1862; George E., born March 9, 1864; Mary A., born Nov. 1, 1866, died Sept. 4, 1872 ; Frank R., born July 26, 1868, died May 18, 1869; Damaris M., born April 11. 1870; Obadiah M., born Nov. 14, 1871 ; Hattie, born Aug. 12, 1875, and Lida B., born Nov. 4, 1877. Mr. Dooley moved upon his present place May 1, 1876; he has 920 acres in his farm upon which he has good buildings, his house being built during the summer of 1873, at an expense of upward of $7,000, and is considered by many, as the best farm house in the county ; he is extensively engaged in raising, feeding and shipping stock, of which he ships his hogs mostly to Indianapolis, and cattle to Chicago; he feeds from 125 to 150 head of cattle, and from 200 to 300 hogs, about 30 horses and some sheep.

JOHN DUNLAP, farmer, Sec 2 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. ; born in White Co., 111., April 21, 1827; his father, Moses Dunlap, emigrated from Tennessee to White Co., at a very early day, where he lived until about the year 1828, when he emigrated north and located* at Blooming Grove, and entered land joining the old home of Judge McClenn ; living here about five years, they went to Arkansas, but returned and entered land in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1834, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred May 6, 1858. Mrs. Dunlap died June 23, 1863. The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents to McLean Co. in 1828, and, with them, located upon Sec. 2, Empire Township, in 1834, where he has since lived with the exception of seven years, in which he was engaged in fanning in Marshall Co., Iowa, and Cherokee Co., Kan. Mr. Dunlap is an industrious, hard-working man, a good business manager, and much respected in the township in which he lives; he has accumulated a good property, and raised a family of ten children, having lost three by death; the living are - Henry, Josephine, Rosella, Moses, James, Stephen, William, Lucinda C, Margaret A. and Eliza. His brother James was one of the first white children born in McLean Co , being born in Blooming Grove, April 1, 1829; he never married, but made his home with his brother John until his decease, which occurred May 29, 1878.

P. C. ESKEW, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Patrick Co., Va., where he was raised upon a farm until 18 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co., November, 1834 ; he entered his first land, eighty acres, at Long Point Timber in 1837, upon which he erected a log house, and, in 1839, sold his claim with improvements ; he then engaged as farm laborer until 1841, when he followed farming for himself until 1846, at which time he entered eighty acres of land at Buckles' Grove, and, in 1852, entered eighty acres more adjoining, and afterward added twenty acres of timber, upon which he lived until 1877, when he rented his farm and removed to Le Roy, where he now lives. He married, April, 1837, Julia Troxel ; she died Aug. 18, 1838, leaving one child - Leona, born Aug. 14, 1838, now Mrs. Oliver Harding, living in Empire Township. He married for his second wife, Sarah Johnson. Oct. 7, 1841 ; she died June 11, 1876; nine children were the fruit of this union - Catherine, bora Aug. 27, 1843, (married Alexander Free,) she died in Kansas, May 1, 1876; James M., born Sept. 16, 1845, farming in Empire Townahip ; Louisa, born June 1, 1847, died March 6. 1864 ; Ellen, bora June 13, 1851, (married John Allen,) she died May 20, 1875, in Kansas; Matilda, born June 9, 1849, now Mrs. Jonas Arnold, of Downs Township; Martha A., Oct. 1, 1853; Mary, born Oct. 4, 1856, (married F. Phillips.) died April 6, 1876, in Downs Township ; Paran, June 16, I860, died in January, 1861. and William A., born March 10, 1862. His marriage with Mrs. Harriet P. Dickerson, was celebrated Feb. 13, 1877 ; she was bora in Hamilton Co., Ohio, March 20, 1828 ; she was a daughter of Jacob Karr, who emigrated from Ohio, and located in Empire Township in 1839, where he lived until his decease in 1840; her first marriage with Robert F. Dickerson, was celebrated Jan. 1, 1845: he was born in Hamilton Co., 111., Oct. 30, 1823 ; he emigrated West with his parents in 1825, and located in McLean Co., where he lived until his decease, which occurred Oct. 16, 1875; eleven children were the fruit of this union, viz. : Merritt M., bora Oct. 27, 1845, now merchant of Monticello, Piatt Co. ; James L., born July 4, 1847, now farming in Fayette Co., Iowa; Martha, born Feb. 20, 1849, now Mrs. George Pray ; Emma E., bora Nov. 16, 1850, now Mrs. F. Molesworth; Owen L., born Nov. 15, 1852, died in infancy; Clara, born Sept. 11, 1854 ; Mary, bora March 27, 1857, died in infancy ; Ida May, born March 25, 1859, now Mrs. John Pogue, of Texas; Robert F., born Sept. 25, 1861 ; Mary S., Sept. 24, 1863, and Harriet R., Oct. 11, 1865 ; of the above, four are now living at home. Mr. Eskew is a strong temperance man; has been a life-long Democrat; was never an aspirant for office, though often being urged to allow himself to run for office he always refused. Of township and school offices, he has had his share, having been Commissioner several years, School Director sixteen years, and Town Collector, of Downs Township, one year, and now holds the office of Road Commissioner in Empire Township.

T. D. FISHER, M. D., Le Roy: (whose portrait has a place in this work), was born in Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., Penn., Oct. 1, 1826; his father Abel was of Quaker origin, and was bora in Pennsylvania, June 3, 1788, and died March 19, 1876 ; his mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Stewart, was of Scotch descent, born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., and died June 29, 1840. Dr. Fisher lived at home until he was 21 years of age, and received his early education at the " Ligonier Academy ; " in the year 1848, he read medicine under Dr. T. Richardson, of Pleasant Unity, Penn., and, in 1850, attended his first course of lectures at Cleveland, Ohio, in the Medical Department of the Western Reserve Medical College ; in May, 1853, he commenced the practice of medicine in Le Roy, and having attended the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, during the session of 1856-57, graduated from that institution, and has ever since continued the practice of medicine in Le Roy, and has built up a large and lucrative practice. He was President of the McLean County Medical Society in the year 1876, and was also a member of the Illinois State Medical Society. He married Miss Henrietta Lisenbey, of De Witt Co., 111., in the year 1853. Dr. Fisher may appropriately be cailed a " self-made man," being eminently a man of self-reliance ; having accumulated the means by which to obtain a medical education by teaching school. He has always been a strictly temperate man, using neither tobacco, whisky or any intoxicating liquors.

M. R. GALUSHA, hardware merchant, firm of Beeney & Galusha, dealers in hardware, stoves, tinware, agricultural implements, farm machinery, etc.. Le Roy; bora in Madison, Jefferson Co., Ind., Nov. 22, 1844, where he attended school until 12 years of age; he then worked upon the farm in summer and attended school in winter until 16 years of age when he ran upon the Ohio River one year as cabin-boy. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in the army until the close of the war and was mustered out of service in the spring of 1865 ; he served in the army of the Tennessee, under Gen. Thomas, and was in several engagements, the heaviest being the battle of Nashville, on Dec. 28, 29 and 30, 1864, where the rebels, under Gen. Hood, were defeated with great loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. He remained in Nashville during the winter, and until he received his discharge, when he returned to Indiana, and in the fall of 1865 he came West, and located in Downs Township, McLean Co., TIL, where he followed farming until the fall of 1877, when he sold out and, in the spring of 1877, removed to Le Roy and associated with William H. Beeney in the above business, which he has since followed. His marriage with Emma Karr was celebrated Oct. 8, 1869 ; she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., 111., Nov. 14, 1850. They have two children by this union - Harry, born May 3, 1870, Jessie, Aug. 22, 1875. Mrs. Galusha was daughter of Jesse Karr, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. He emigrated from Ohio and located in this county in 1835. Mr. Galusha was the son of Hiram Galusha, who emigrated from Vermont, and located in Jefferson Co., Ind., previous to 1840, where he engaged in manufacturing tobacco until his decease, which occurred in 1852.

DANIEL GILMORE, farmer: P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Derry, Rockingham Co., N. H., April 6, 1807, where he attended school and followed farming and coopering until 22 years of age, when he made a trip around the world in the sailing ship Clay, which voyage consumed nearly two and a half years. In 1832, he emigrated South and located in Pope Co., Ark., upon the Arkansas River; here entered and purchased 1,000 acres of land, upon which he farmed and raised cotton, the latter being his chief product ; he then put up machinery for making cotton warp, which he manufactured largely and for which he found a ready market. He was also engaged largely in the general merchandise trade. The above pursuits he followed until after the breaking out of the rebellion, when he, being a strong Union man, was obliged to leave, by wnich he lost some $15,000; he came North in 1864, and located in Le Roy, McLean Co., ID., and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed. He married, Sept. 22, 1836, to Maria Scott ; she died Jan. 2, 1839. He married, for his second wife, Mary Jane Menefee, Dec. 22, 1 842 ; she died March 14, 1848, leaving two children - Martha and Daniel. Jr. He married, for his third wife Mary J. Nease, June 30, 1850; she died May 24, 1861, leaving three children - Alice, Hiram N. and William Sampson. His marriage with Mrs. Catharine Watson was celebrated Sept. 9, 1869 ; she has two children by her first husband, Levi L. Watson ; her children are Hattie A., now Mrs. 0. P. Joseph, and Jennie V., who remains at home. Mr. Gilmore was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he has been an active member of the same.

THOMAS D. GILMORE, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Warren Co., near Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 18, 1814. He attended school a limited time, until 12 years of age; he then went into the blacksmith-shop of his father, learned and worked at the trade until 22 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located on the spot where he now lives in the fall of 1836. He drove his team of oxen all the way from Kentucky, bringing with him his wife and two children and all of his property, which consisted of two yoke of oxen and wagon, one horse, saddle and bridle, his blacksmith tools, a few household goods and $4 in cash - the latter he invested in pork, obtaining one hundred pounds. He then put up a log cabin with puncheon floor, clapboard door, with wooden hinges ; a raccoon bedstead, with one leg, in which poles were inserted, the other ends being fastened in holes made in the side and end logs of the house ; boards were laid across from the side rail and upon one of the side logs of the house, when the rude structure was complete. He made stools, which were used for chairs, and a clapboard table. Having completed his house and manufactured the above furniture, he set up his forge, bis skill as a blacksmith soon became known, work poured in upon him, and he was kept constantly at work, his custom extending as far as Farmer City, Cheney and Randolph Groves. He would labor from 4 A. M. until 9 or 10 at night, and then attend to his chores. He had the misfortune to lose his i-hop by fire, and, the year after he settled here, his leg was broken by a tree falling upon him, which confined him to the house for four months. He first entered 40 acres of land, and has since added by purchases until he owns 155 acres, upon which he has lived since 1836, with the exception of a short time while on a visit to Kentucky He followed his trade here, with the exception of eight years in which he was engaged at his trade in Le Roy, until 1855, since which time he has given his attention to his farm. His father, Andrew H. Gilmore, was born in North Carolina, and emigrated to Kentucky when quite young, where he lived until he emigrated to Illinois in 1857, where he purchased land and built a house but a few rods from his son, in which he lived until his decease, which occurred Oct. 17, 1870, at the ripe old age of 98 years. Thomas D. Gilmore and Matilda Savage were married in Kentucky Jan. 2, 1834. Three children were the fruit of this union - Martha Frances, born Nov. 21, 1834, now Mrs. James W. Wright, of Le Roy ; Mary M.. May 1, 1836, died Aug. 15, 1863 ; and Joseph P., June 5, 1838, now living in Oregon. Mrs. Gilmore died Oct. 5, 1839. Mr. Gilmore married Mary J. Brannaman Dec. 11, 1840. She was born in Augusta Co., Va., Feb. 11, 1821. Six children were the fruit of this union - Andrew D., born March 2, 1842, died in infancy; Ira F., Nov. 10. If43, lives in Padua Township; Lucinda M., Jan. 14, 1850, now Mrs. R. C. Charleston, living in Kansas ; Kentucky G., Feb. 9, 1855, now Mrs. F. Hendricks, of Padua Township ; Elizabeth A., July 24, 1859; Augusta M., Sept. 16, 1862. Mrs. Gilmore was daughter of David and Mary (Hulderman) Brannaman, who emigrated from Virginia and located in Padua Township in 1836. Mr. B. died in the fall of 1846. Mrs. B. died in the spring of 1870.

E. E. GREENMAN, retired merchant and farmer ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Washington Co., Ohio, Jan. 23, 1816. His grandfather, Jeremiah Greenman, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army during the revolutionary struggle, and was a warm friend and associate of Gen. Washington. At the close of the war, he located in Washington Co., Ohio, where he died about the year 1827. His father, John Greenman, emigrated to Illinois with his family and located in the southeast part of Blooming Grove, Aug. 29, 1829. He taught school during the following winter, and, during the summer, clerked for James Allin, of Bloomington, while his sons raised a crop of corn upon eighteen acres of land rented of William Dimmit, upon land now completely covered by buildings, being located between the Court House and the Illinois Central Railroad. He entered his first land Feb. 2, 1830, being the west half of the southwest quarter of Sec. 4, and upon which now stands a part of the city of Bloomington, the whole tract being now improved by business and dwelling houses. His first house he built upon what is now West Washington street, where he lived until the spring of 1831, when he with his family removed to De Witt Co., engaged in farming during the summer, and died in the fall of the same year. The subject of this sketch, with the family, returned to Bloomington, and, the following year, raised a crop at Old Town, when he learned and worked at the carpenter s trade in Bloomington nearly two years, after which he went to Dixon's Ferry, Lee Co., where he assisted settlers in laying claims and erecting houses for six months, then to Plattville, Wis., where he followed his trade, selling goods and mining two years. Returning to Bloomington. he worked at his trade for one year, when he went to Iowa, and the next two years was engaged building a mill, farming and working at his trade. In the spring of 1842, he again returned to Bloomington and was engaged one year in peddling goods through the country with a one-horse buggy. In the spring of 1843, he was associated with S. D. Baker, now a prominent merchant of Bloomington, and engaged in the general merchandise trade at Le Roy, which business he successfully followed until 1858, when he retired from active business until 1865, at which date he engaged in the grocery trade, which he followed until 1869, when, on account of ill health, he retired from active business. In 1873, he was elected Township Treasurer, which office he has since held. When Mr. Greenman located at Blooming Grove, there were only thirty-seven families there. They have nearly all passed awav, there now being two or three living, of which Mr. G. is the oldest of the first settlers at Bloomington. His marriage with Martha A Pearce was celebrated Feb. 14, 1848. She was born in Champaign Co.. Ohio, Feb. 27, 1831. She died July 14, 1864, leaving three children now living, having lost five by death. The living are - Mary B., born Oct. 18, 1853, now Mrs. Scott Crumbaugh ; John E., Sept. 6, 1855 ; and Charles E., March 1, 1861.

0. S. HARDING, farmer and stock-raiser ; Sec. 4, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; bnrn in Henry Co., Ind., Dec. 12, 1826 ; his father, Saul Harding, was a native of Kentucky, and, with his parents was driven to Ohio by the Indians at a very early day ; they then removed to Indiana, and were among the first settlers of the State, living in Rush, Wayne and Henry Counties, emigrating from the latter county in 1841, to Wapello Co., Iowa. The subject of this sketch remained with his father, farming, until 21 years of age, after which he engaged in farming for himself until April 6, 1850, when he started by team overland to California, taking the Oregon route, crossing the Rocky Mountains at South Pass, and arriving at Placerville July 26, having been nearly four months upon the trip. He engaged in mining in the vicinity of Placerville, until November following, when he went to San Francisco and embarked upon a sailing vessel for home. He was landed upon the coast of Guatemala, from which place he packed across the country upon mules to New Granada, thence via San Carlos, down the San Juan River to the coast of the Caribbean Sea, thence to the Isthmus of Darien, from which point they sailed to New Orleans, where they arrived after a tedious and perilous voyage. He then returned to Jefferson Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1867, when he returned to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, where he has since lived. He owns upwards of 200 acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married Leona Eskew, Jan. 15, 1857 ; she was born in De Witt Co., 111., Aug. 14, 1838 ; eight children were the fruit of this union - Paran H. T., born Dec. 20, 1857 ; Julia H., born Dec. 11, 1859; William H., born March 6, 1862 ; Rufus A. J., born Jan. 22, 1864; Nimrod, born May 31, 1868; Cloey E., born Aug. 29, 1871 ; Mary E., born Jan. 5, 1874 ; Dolly May, born Feb. 3. 1877. Mrs. Harding is the oldest child of P. C. Eskew, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., and whose biography appears in this work.

EDWARD HEALEA, farmer ; P. 0. Empire. The subject of this sketch was born in Harrison Co.. Ohio, May 1, 1829 ; he was raised upon the farm of his father, until 19 years of age, when, in 1848, he rented land and engaged in farming until 1856, when, with four horses and a Pitt's thresher, he started West, continuing his journey until he arrived in Empire Township, where, after setting up his machine and threshing a few bushels, he disposed of the same and one team of horses, driving the others back to Ohio, and the following summer again brought a thresher to Empire Township, which he sold after using one season, and, in the spring of 1858, he removed with his family to McLean Co., where, after putting in his crop upon rented land, he ordered a threshing machine from Ohio, following threshing during the season for sixteen years ; he still owns this machine and now declares it to be as good as new. Mr. Healea continued to live upon rented land until 1868, when he removed upon his present place, which he had purchased in 1865, and which he has since brought from its wild prairie condition to a high state of cultivation. He owns 160 acres upon his home farm, upon which he has expended a large amount of skillful labor, as the pleasing surroundings of his dwelling will at once show. In front of his residence he has planted a large number of useful and ornamental trees of both native and foreign growth, and his familiarity with the names and nature of each of the many different kinds will show the careful study he has given to the same. He does not confine his farming to the raising of corn and grain. His grape-vines may be counted by the hundred He also raises a large amount of raspberries, cherries, peaches and apples, with which his neighbors are liberally and gratuitously supplied. He has for the past three years been engaged in shipping hay to New Orleans and the Eastern markets, the same being the production of his own farm. He is also largely engage-! in buying corn for J. 0. Peckham & Co., Providence, R. I., having purchased upwards of 12,000 bushels during the present season. His marriage with Amy Tilton was celebrated Feb. 19, 1848 ; she was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, Sept. 24, 1829 ; three children were the fruit of this union - George G.,born Nov. 29, 1849; John, born June 18, 1831, and William, born Nov. 6, 1861. They also have an adoDted daughter, Mary Healea, born Dec. 17, 1866.

LINDLEY HEFLING, farmer, Sec. 2. Town 21 ; P. 0. Empire. The birthplace of this gentleman was in Harrison Co., Ohio, Feb. 5, 1826. His father, Fielding Hefling, died when the subject of this sketch, was but 10 years of age, leaving six children, of which Lindley was the second son, and upon him and his elder brother fell the care and labor of supporting the family, which duty they nobly performed until each member was old enough to provide for himself. In his youth, he had the advantage of three months' schooling during the year; by close application to his studies and devoting his spare time to the same, he was able to obtain a fair education, and at the age of 17 years engaged in school-teaching, which occupation he followed in connection with farming, until upwards of 21 years of age, when he was united in marriage Aug. 20, 1848 to Elizabeth Gardner; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Oct. 20. 1827; he then rented land upon which he farmed for six years, when he removed to Illinois in 1855 ; he first located four miles from Bloomington for eighteen months ; he then removed to Old T^>wn Timber, where he rented land four years, when he purchased forty acres upon which he lived until 1865, when he then sold out and purchased his present place of eighty acres, where he has since lived. The children of Lindley and Elizabeth Hefling were nine in number, of which four died in infancy ; the living are - Sarah, born Aug. 26, 1849, now Mrs. Albert White, De Witt Co.; Anna M., born Feb. 18, 1851; now Mrs. Ross Arrowsmith, of Padua Township; Ada, born June 18, 1853, now Mrs. John Healea, De Witt Co.; Freeman D., born July 7, 1860 ; Lulu, born Sept. 14, 1867. Mr. H. has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of twenty-five years ; Mrs. H. having been a member previously. Township and school offices have been his in plenty, having filled the office of School Director many years in Ohio and Illinois ; was the first Town Clerk of Old Town Township, and two years Collector, and two years Collector in Empire Township, and Assistant Collector for two years, and other petty offices. He is a strong temperance man, which he carries into local politics, measuring to a certain extent the capacity of the candidate which he supports by his temperance principles.

D. 0. HOWARD, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept 2, 1821 ; he was the third son of Eleazer Howard, who was born in Windham Co., Conn., Aug. 20, 1793 ; he located in Ohio in 1840, and in 1851 located in McLean Co., 111., where he lived until his decease, which occurred March 17, 1872, in the 79th year of his age. He was married to Matilda Wood, in Connecticut, Feb. 1, 1815. Mrs. Howard was a native of Windham Co., Conn.; she was born Feb. 17, 1792 and died March 1, 1878. The subject of this sketch followed farming and milling with his father and younger brother until the emigration of the father to Illinois, after which, he, with his brother, continued the same until 1855, when he sold his interest in Ohio, and emigrated to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., where he has lived for a period of twenty-four years. He now owns upwards of 200 acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings ; his brick residence being built in 1863. his barn a few years later. Of township and school offices he has held his full share, having held the office of School Director seven years, Supervisor of the township two years, and other petty offices. His marriage with Sarah Ann Smiley was celebrated Feb. 23, 1847 ; she was born in Bradford Co., Penn.; she died May 8, 1848, having one child - Sarah, now Mrs. Geo. Riddle, born Feb. 19, 1848. His marriage with Sarah E. Smiley, was celebrated in Pennsylvania Nov. 23, 1852; she was born in Crawford Co , Penn., April 10, 1830; they have five children living - William H., born Dec. 1, 1853, married and engaged in farming and teaching ; Charles W., born Nov. 26, 1855, farming ; Homer D., born June 26, 1858; Frank, born May 7, 1863, and Mary M., born Nov. 29, 1866; the last four living at home Mrs. Howard's father, William H. Smiley, was, born in Bradford Co., Penn., in 1792. He was married to Susan Burch, in Crawford Co.. Penn., in 1823. and died in Bradford Co., Penn., Sept. 2, 1843. Mrs. Smiley was born in Crawford Co., Penn., Jan. 1, 1803, where she has lived for upwards of three-fourths of a century.

R. S. HOWARD, furniture and undertaker, Le Roy ; born in Madison Co., Ky, June 15, 1827; he was raised upon a farm until 17 years of age, when he commenced to learn the trade of cabinet-maker, which he followed until June, 1846, when he enlisted in the 2d Regt. Ry. Vol. Inf., to serve one year in the war with Mexico ; leaving Louisville with his regiment in June, he went down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, thence by vessel to Brazos, at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, then marched to Mexico, crossing at Matamoras ; he served under Gen. Taylor, and was in many engagements - the heaviest being the battle of Buena Vista, in which his regiment suffered severely in killed and wounded - among the former, the Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel and his Captain ; he remained in Mexico until June, 1847, when he, with his regiment, returned to New Orleans and were mustered out of service ; returning to Jessamine Co., Ky., he again resumed his trade, and after completing the same, he engaged in the furniture business until 1859, when he emigrated to Illinois and purchased a farm in Empire Township, McLean Co., upon which he located and followed farming until the winter of 1862, when selling out, he removed to Bloomington and engaged in the furniture trade for a period of ten years; closing out his business in 1872, he ihen came to Le Roy and purchased the furniture business of H. M. Morehouse, which he has since continued ; he admitted R. C. Hollowell as a partner in 1876, since which time the style of the firm has been Howard & Hollowell. Mr. Howard is a strong temperance advocate, and has never used intoxicating liquors, profane language nor played cards. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been an active member of the M. E. Church since 1844 - his wife becoming a member soon after. His marriage with Lavina Sageser was celebrated Dec. 27, 1848; she was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Dec. 17, 1830; they have no' children of their own, but have raised, from infancy, a nephew of Mrs. Howard's, by the name of Joseph S. Sageser; he was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., March 24, 1856. Mr. Howard has extende 1 to him all the advantages of a liberal education. After attending the common schools at Bloomington until 16 years of age, he entered the Commercial College, graduating from the same after a study of two years, when he entered the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, where he attended for four years; he is now attending his first course at the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia. Mr. Howard proposes to have him graduate from the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, during the coming year, after which he will return to the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and remain untd he graduates from the same.

CHARLES M. INGLE (deceased); one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Washington Co., East Tenn., Feb. 22,1829; his father, Henry Ingle, located in McLean in 1836 and followed farming until his decease, which occurred in the spring of 1849 ; his widow died Dec. 14, 1853. Henry Ingle was a shoemaker, and would peel the bark, dry and grind the same, then tan his own leather, which he would then manufacture into boots and shoes for the settlers for many miles distant; Charles M. Ingle also learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed during the winter for many years after the death of his father ; in 1857, he abandoned his trade, and gave his whole attention to farming ; he removed upon Sec. 2, Empire Township, in 1862, where he purchased eighty acres of land, to which he afterwards added, and at his decease, owned 120 acres, upon which he had good farm buildings. He took a deep interest in the cause of religion, and lived a consistent and devoted Christian life, having been an active member of the Baptist Church for a period of upwards of twenty years - Mrs. I. joining at the same time. His marriage with Hannah M. Bunn was celebrated March 9, 18o4 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, March 7, 1835 ; two children were the fruit of this union - one of which died in infancy ; the living - Lillian Jane, was born Aug. 9, 1858. Upon June 30, 1878, Mr. Ingle ceased from his labors, and passed down the dark valley, neither a great nor remarkable man, but a kind husband and father, a good neighbor, a true Christian, and one of whom his contemporaries will admit that his life was not a failure, and did not live in vain ; of his father's family of ten children only two now survive. The surviving daughter of Charles and Hannah (Bunn) Ingle was united in marriage with Charles W. James July 6, 1875; he was born in Coles Co., 111., April 10, 1851 ; he is a young man of good education, having attended the two universities at Bloomington for a period of three years ; he then followed teaching for seven years, and is now engaged in school-teaching during the winter, and farming in the summer upon the old farm of the parents of his wife. The children of Charles and Lillian (Ingle) James are two in number - Irus K., born Dec. 19, 1877, and Blanche N., born Sept. 15, 1878.

DANIEL JACKSON, (deceased) farmer; born in Fauquier Co., Va., Jan. 16, 1808; he was brought up to farm labor until 18 years of age, when he emigrated to Champaign Co., Ohio, living two years, then to Sangamon Co., 111., a short time, and in the fall of 1830, came to McLean Co. and laid a claim upon Sec. 5, Empire Township ; he made his home in the winter of 1830 and 1831 with John W. Dawson, and when not in his employ, made improvements upon his place ; in 1834 and 1835, he entered his claim of 160 acres, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred March 20, 1861. When Mr. Jackson located here, his property consisted of one yoke of oxen and one horse ; he worked, during harvest, at 25 to 50 cents per day ; he often made trips with his oxen to Chicago, taking up wheat, which he sold at 35 to 40 cents per bushel, receiving his pay in groceries, salt, leather, etc. His pine lumber, door, windows, etc., for his first frame house, he hauled from Chicago with oxen - the trip consuming about two weeks. Commencing in life without capital, he had, at the time of his death, accumulated upwards of five hundred acres of land, a part of which was his original claim, upon which he located in 1830. His marriage with Margaret Waldon was celebrated Feb. 12, 1832 ; she was born in Rockingham Co., Va., May 5, 1809 ; ten children were the fruit of this union, of which eight are now living - Mary Ann (now Mrs. R. R. Dalton), Elizabeth J. (now Mrs. Narley),

Esther (now Mrs. F. Wahls), Andrew, Ruth (now Mrs. Rehker), Margaret, Armanda R. and Daniel T. Mrs. Jackson now lives upon the old home, with her son Andrew; he was born May 5, 1840, and biought up on the old farm until Aug. 11, 1862, when he enlisted in Co D, 94th Regt. Vol. Inf., and went forward to battle for the Union; he served through the campaign of Missouri and Arkansas, after which he served in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama; he was in many severe engagements, among which was the battle of Prairie Grove, siege and capture of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Morganzia, Fort Morgan, Ala.; alter taking the above fort, he was engaged in several raids in Alabama, one of which was up the Fish River, where they destroyed the rebel salt works of upwards of 1,200 kettles; upon the 26th of March, 1865, was in the attack upon Spanish Fort, Mobile Bay, which continued until April 9, when it surrendered ; he was then forwarded to Galveston, Tex., when he was mustered out of service July 17, 1865, receiving his discharge Aug. 9, 1865, at Springfield, 111., having served in the Union army three years ; he then returned to Empire Township, and located upon the old place, where he has since successfully followed farming.

J. KEENAN, merchant and banker; Le Roy ; born in Clinton Co., Ohio, March 10, 1828. He attended school and assisted his father in farming until 18 years of age, when he engaged in business for himself in Ohio, the last four years of which he engaged in farming. Se'ling his farm in Ohio, in 18e>4 he came to McLean Co., and purchased a farm, upon which he lived until 1865, when he removed to Le Roy, and, after dealing in real estate one year, engaged in the dry goods trade, which business he has since successfully followed. In 1872 he added a general banking business, and does the only banking in Le Roy. He is also a? sociated with S F. Barnum in buying and supplying grain to the Eastern markets. They do an extensive milling business, supplying their choicest brands of flour in lots from a few sacks to a car-load. They also deal in lumber and coal, meeting the demands of Le Roy and the country tributary to it. His business card appears in the Business Directory of Le Roy. Mr. Keenan is truly a publicspirited citizen, and has probably done as much as any one to advance the interests of Le Roy. He is among the most successful and one of the wealthiest merchants in Le Roy. His marriage with Hannah Sidles was celebrated Oct. 8, 1848 ; she was born in Ohio, Jan. 5, 1828 ; they have four children now living - Walter M., born Nov. 17, 1850; Clara B., April 2, 1859 ; Arthur J., April 17, 1862; and Luther C, May 5, 1866. In the fall of 1866, Walter M. entered the Hillsdale College, where he attended two years, and in 1868 he entered the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and graduated in 1872, and, after completing his law studies, he associated in the law business with Baker & Osgood, remaining in this business until 1878, when he engaged in the dry goods commission trade, corner of Monroe street and Fifth avenue, Chicago, under the firm name of Albright & Keenan, which business he has since successfully followed. Clara B., after attending the High School at Le Roy, attended the Ladies' Seminary one year at Monticello, after which she entered the Female College at Evanston, where she attended two years, and is now receiving instruction at the Academy of Design, in Chicago.

JOSEPH KERSHAW, retired farmer; P. O. Le Roy; born in Lancashire, England, May 8, 1802, where he worked in the cotton mills until 24 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York Sept. 7, 1826. Upon landing, his capital consisted of one single copper penny. He then sold his bedding, and with the proceeds reached Boston, and walked to Stoughton, where he worked for the Stoughton and Canton Manufacturing Co., until he had a capital of $13, when he started to walk to New York, and on the way was robbed of all his money, save his copper penny. He worked at cotton spinning in the mills in New Jersey and Philadelphia, until 1830. when he emigrated to Williamson Co., 111., where he located eighty acres of land, and in 1836 entered eighty more, making a farm of 160 acres, upon which he lived until 1853, when he sold out and removed to Downs Township, McLean Co., where he purchased 400 acres of land, and engaged in farming and. stock-raising until 1870, when he removed to Le Roy, where he has since lived. His marriage with Hannah Robinson was celebraied in England. Sept. 3, 1823 ; she was born in England, Dec. 10, 1799, and died March 2, 1859, leaving five children now living - John W., Hannah, Francis, Mary Ann and I'hcebe. His marriage with Lucinda Gilmore was celebrated June 6, 1860 ; she was born Jan. 4, 1817 ; she emigrated from Kentucky, and located in McLean Co. in 1858 ; she is now in her b3d year, is in possession of all her faculties, and does all the household labor for herself and husband. Mr. K., now in the 78th year of his age. enjoys good health, and attends to the " chores" which his neat little place requires. He now keeps two horses and a cow, which he daily attends to. Arriving in New York without means, he has struggled against poverty, and succeeded in securing a good property, and has settled a good share upon his children, reserving enough to support himself and wife through life.

THOMAS W. KEYS, physician and surgeon, LeRoy; born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, Jan. 18, 1838; he emigrated to America when 10 years of age, and landed in New York, July 12, 1849; coming West, he, with his parents, located in Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where his father located 180 acres of land upon which he settled, and where he still lives. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and attended the common school until 18 years of age, when he engaged in teaching in the common school during the fall and winter for five years, during which period he devoted all his spare time to his studies to further advance his education.

At the age of 21 he was elected Superintendent of Schools; at the age of 23, he taught in graded schools, as Principal, at Taycheedah; in 1862, he was Principal of the High School at Mattoon, for one year, and in 1863, he attended Rush Medical College, at Chicago; in 1864, he was chosen Principal of the Public School at Lexington, and in the spring of 1865, commenced the practice of medicine at Rapp, Woodford Co., until the fall of 1868, when he was appointed Principal of the school at Atlanta, one year, and in 1869, he located in Le Roy, where he has continued the practice of medicine ; he is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, from which college he has his diploma, and also holds a diploma from the State Board of Health of Illinois ; he was elected to deliver the valedictory address at the time of graduating from the college at Keokuk. His marriage with Jennie McGill was celebrated Oct. 8, 1865; she was born in Erie City, Penn., March 28, 1848; her parents emigrated West, and located in Lexington, 111., in 1853, where they still live; the children of Thomas W. and Jennie (McGill) Keys are three in number - William If., born Oct. 28, 1866; Minnie F., born Feb. 1, 1870, and Carrie D., born June 1, 1873.

JAMES KIMLER, farmer, Sec. 28; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Loudoun Co., Va., Aug. 16, 1811; he emigrated with his father Moses Kimler. when quite young, and located in Bourbon Co., Ky., where he was raised upon a farm, until 1827, when he removed to Montgomery Co., Ind., living here until he emigrated to Illinois, in the year 1832 ; during the three years following, he was employed by his uncles John and Calep Kimler, near Bloomington ; in the winter of 1835, he went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he engaged in stock-dealing, buying his cattle in McLean and surrounding counties, driving them to Milwaukee, where they were disponed of, when he would return for another drove; he followed this business - several years, the last three years of which he was engaged in partnership with Benjamin Cox; in 1836, he, with Benjamin Cox, located a claim of 865 acres, in Milwaukee Co., Wis., which they entered, upon its coming into market in 1839, and sold the same in 1843 ; a portion of this claim is now built up with solid buildings; a part of the city of Milwaukee now standing upon the same; in 1843. he purchased seventy-six acres upon Sec. 17, Empire Township, where he lived until 1848, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and where he now owns 260 acres of land, within one mile of Le Roy. He was married to Cassandra Jane Clearwater, Jan. 28, 1838; she was born in Putnam Co., Ind., Oct. 22. 1821 ; their children were, Mary J., born Nov. 10, 1838; Elizabeth, born May 13. 1840, died Oct. 22, 1843; Martha E., born Aug. 24, 1842; Harriet B., born Feb. 13, 1845; Sarah C, born Dec. 17, 1847; Elizabeth A., born March 23, 1850, and Caroline, born May 20, 1853. Mrs. K.. was daughter of Reuben and Jane Clearwater ; her father was born in North Carolina, March 6, 1781 ; died April 9, 1865, in McLean Co.; her mother was born in Tennessee, June 20, 1781 ; her maiden name was Jane Miller; she died June 3, 1864; in 1835, Mr. Kimler's father, Moses K., came to Illinois and located upon Sec. 29; he died in Le Roy, February, 1850 ; Mrs. K. died at the residence of her son in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. K. have taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having joined the M. E. Church in Le Roy in 1840.

JOHN KLINE, farmer, Sec. 16; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Franklin Co., Penn., Feb. 27, 1827, where he attended the common schools, until 15 years of age, when he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until 1850, when he went to California via the Isthmus, sailing upon April 11 ; he was shipwrecked upon a reef of the Caucus Islands, upon the 25th of May, but after a detention of one week, resumed his voyage, reaching San Francisco, Aug. 13, having been four months and two days upon the trip ; he immediately went to mining upon his own account for eighteen months, meeting with fair success ; he then formed a partnership with Sam Austin, and engaged in dealing in provisions and mining supplies, freighting the same from Stockton to the mines with their own teams; he followed this business un.til June, 1853, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and in October, 1853, came to Bloomington, McLean Co., 111.; then to Le Roy, where he purchased a farm of 190 acres in Downs Township; he then worked at his trade in St, Louis, during the winter of 1853 and 1854; returning to Le Roy he rented his farm ; then went to Pennsylvania for the summer, and in the fall returned to Le Roy, and after working at his trade for Messrs. Gilmore & Wright a short time, purchased the interest of Mr. Gilmore, continued in business with Mr. Wright until Dec. 25, 1855; in the spring of 1856, he purchased seventy acres of his present place, to which he has added by purchase, until he now owns 140 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings ; he followed farming upon his present place from 1856 to 1858, when he again associated with his old partner, Mr. Wright, and continued the blacksmith trade, until 1862, since which time he has given his whole attention to farming ; he was one of the first Aldermen of Le Roy, serving two terms ; President of the Board of Trustees while Le Roy was a village ; Township Trustee several years, and Supervisor of the Township. His marriage with Ellen Buck was celebrated Jan. 15, 1856; she was born in Indiana, Dec. 7, 1830 ; she was the daughter of Hiram Buck, one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; Mr. Kline has seven children now living, having lost two by death ; the living are Lida, bom Oct. 29, 1856, now attending the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington ; Erwin, Jan. 1, 1858, living at home; Lenora, Sept. 1, 1859, now teaching at Le Roy; Clara, April 18, 1861, now teaching at Mansfield; Charles and Grace, twins, April 11, 1865; Harry B. and Irvin, twins! Aug. 4, 1869, the latter died in infancy.

D. L. MOREHOUSE, retired merchant and farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Lower Canada, near Montreal, Feb. 19, 1809 ; at 3 years of age, his father, with the family, was driven from home by the English, during the war of 1812, escaping without removing anything of value, save the horses which they rode, ana upon one of which Mrs. Morehouse rode, and took with her the subject of this sketch and an infant, making their way to Onondaga Co., N. Y.; they lived therrt one year, then to Genesee Co., and, in 1817, located in Orleans Co., where they lived until 1832. Mr. M. received a limited education in his youth, being employed in various pursuits for the support of his father's family, three years of which he worked upon the Erie Canal. In the winter of 1830, he attained his majority, and started out to seek his fortune, taking with him all his worldly possessions, which were tied up in a pocket-handkerchief; he worked that winter cutting cord-wood, at 16§ cents per cord, working in the woods, with the snow two to three feet deep, and receiving his pay in corn, at 44 cents per bushel, which he hauled to mar ket, a distance of seven miles, and exchanged for goods ; in the spring he hired out for one year, for $10 per month, and the two years following he worked eight months each year, at $12 and $13 per month. The following fall, he married his present wife, then a poor orphan, and the next day commenced to cut logs to erect his log house, which was a rude structure, with a stick chimney, plastered with mud, with stones piled up some three to four feet at the back, as a further protection from fire ; they then went a distance of seven miles and ran in debt $19 for such household articles as they were obliged to have, which debt was a source of great anxiety to Mr. Morehouse until liquidated, the following winter, by hauling staves; his first cupboard and table was an old chest, which answered the double purpose, and which he now has in his house as a relic. Having become settled in his log house in the spring of 1834, he commenced farming for himself, which business he followed until 1853, when he found his financial affairs would allow a wider field of labor, which he extended by engaging in the mercantile trade, and also purchased a lathe machine saw, grist and shingle mill, which different branches of business he successfully carried on until 1857, when he sold out his store, rented his farm and mills, and, coming to Illinois, he formed a business partnership, in the latter part of the year, under the firm name of Humphrey, Wakefield & Co., and engaged in the grocery and milling business at Le Roy. He sold his milling interest in 1859, and, in 1860, he, with his son Cyrus S., engaged in the general merchandise trade, which they followed until 1864, when his son succeeded in the business, and Mr. Morehouse retired until 1873. when he purchased the dry-goods store of T. J. Barnett, and after running the same several months, sold the stock to his son C. S., at Champaign City. Mr. Morehouse commenced life without capital, and has, by his own hard labor, economy and careful business management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, accumulated a good property; he has settled upon his children upward of $12,000, and has reserved enough to support himself and wife through life. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been an active member of the M. E. Church since 1830, his wife joining about the same time. Mr. Morehousehas held an official position in the Church nearly always since he was admitted a member ; is a hard worker ; contributes liberally, having donated $1,000 to the erection of the M. E. Church at Le Roy, and a like amount to the Centennial of Methodism, in 1866. His marriage with Mary A. Smith was celebrated Oct. 29, 1833 ; she was born in Morris Co., N. Y., April 19, 1810; six children were the fruit of this union - Olive A., born Oct. 15, 1834 (now Mrs. Dr. S. H. Birney, of Urbana) ; Hiram N., born Oct. 22, 1836 (now farming near Le Roy); Cyrus S., born Dec. 13, 1839 (merchant at Champaign) ; Amos R., born Feb. 9, 1842 (lumber merchant, Big Rapids, Mich.) ; Orrill M.,born July 5, 1844 (now Mrs. E. C. Barthlow), and Philo F., born Sept. 4, 1847, died Sept. 15, 1849.

J. W. MURF1ELD, farmer ; P. O. Empire; born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Aug. 18, 1821 ; he removed, with his parents, to Franklin Co., where he lived with them until i!l years of age, when he purchased a farm and engaged in farming in Franklin and Union Counties, until he emigrated and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in the spring of 1865 ; he then purchased eighty-seven acres of land, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Malinda McCauleyans was celebrated Dec. 31, 1843; she was born in Virginia July 5, 1816. and died in McLean Co., 111., July 30, 1875, leaving four children, viz., Barbara C, born March 21, 1846 ; Vianna, born April 11, 1852; John M. C, born July 8, 1854, and Madison E., born Oct. 11, 1857. Mr. Murfield married for his second wife Matilda J. Downing, May 28, 1876; she died Aug. 12, 1877. His nuptials with Mrs. Kate Clement were celebrated Feb. 11, 1879; she was born in Pennsylvania July 16, 1833 ; her maiden name was Kate Stine ; of the deceased children, two died in childhood, and one - Isabel J. - was born Aug. 23, 1847, married C. H. Cayton, and died Nov. 5, 1872, leaving three children.

AD.\M MURRAY, stock-dealer and livery stable, Le Roy ; born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, March 22, 1843, where he followed farming until 19 years of age, when he enlisted Aug. 22, 1862, in the 122d Ohio Vol. Inf.; he served first in West Virginia, then with the Army of the Potomac, under its different commanders, until the close of the war, being mustered out of service July 3, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio. He was in many hard-fought battles, among which were the battle of the Wilderness, Winchester, Petersburgh and at the siege and capture of Richmond. After his discharge, he returned to Ohio, and in the spring of 1866, came West, and located at

Le Roy, McLean Co., 111., where he has since lived ; he has been extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock to the Eastern markets, in connection with which he, in 1875, also engaged in the grocery and provision trade; ne sold his store in 1878, and now, in connection with his stock business, keeps the only livery stable in Le Roy. His marriage with Alexine McMakin was celebrated May 5, 1870; they have four children, now living, by this union - St. Elmo, Kate A., Ada and Charles P.

JOHN W. MAREAN, retired blacksmith, Le Roy; the subject of this sketch was born in the city of Frederickton, British Provinces, July 10, 1821 ; his father, Aaron Marean, was born sixteen miles north of Portland, in the town of Standish Cumberland Co., Me., where he lived and followed blacksmithing (with the exception of five years when he lived in the Provinces, from 1818 to 1823) until his death, which occurred in 1834; John W. removed from the place of his birth with his parents to their native place, Standish, when he was two years of age ; here he spent the days of his boyhood; attended the common schools during the [winter and worsed at blacksmithing during the summer until 17 years of age, when he finished his trade, which he followed in Standish until 22 years of age, when he removed to Portland, where he lived one year, then to Lewiston two years, and, in 1846, removed to Richmond on the Kennebec River, where he followed his trade until he emigrated West, when he located in Bloomington, McLean Co.. 111., in the spring of 1856; in the spring of 1857, he removed to Le Roy and followed his trade until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th I. V. I.; he was mustered in as Corporal of Company G ; he with his regiment went to St. Louis, and was engaged in the campaign through Missouri and Arkansas; then to Vicksburg and New Orleans, and, in the fall of 1863, was detailed to return to Le Roy and recruit for the regiment, remaining here through the fall and a portion of the winter ; he returned to his regiment, then at Brownsville, Texas, and, in the spring of 1864, went via New Orleans to Ft. Margan, Alabama, and, after capturing the above fort, remained there during the winter, and, in the spring, he was detailed to assist in making up a pontoon train, going to Mobile, from which place he marched across the country to Baton Rouge, on the Mississippi River; after the surrender of Lee, an order being issued for all soldiers on detailed duty to report to their regiment, he made his way back to Mobile, Ala., and joined his regiment, having, with a companion traveled a distance of upward of eight hundred miles upon a capital of 50 cents, being often placed in peculiar circumstances ; the writer of this article is inclined to the belief that the rebel element with whom he was contending, involuntarily contributed liberally to their support during this tedious and perilous journey ; in June, 1865, he was forwarded to Galveston, Texas, where he received a sunstroke which came near proving fatal, and his partial recovery may be attributed only to the careful nursing and skillful medical attention which he then received ; after recovering sufficient strength, he came via New Orleans and Cairo to Springfield, 111., where he was mustered out of service in August, 1865. Mr. Marean served in the army three years, and has his health much impaired from the effects of the hardships and exposure of army life, but more especially suffers from effects of the sunstroke received while in Galveston in the summer of 1865; to such an extent has he suffered from the latter cause, that he works but very little at his trade, devoting his attention to fine stock. His marriage with Emily Wilson was celebrated in Portland, May 18, 1846 ; she was born in Westbrook, Cumberland Co , Maine, June 18, 1818; three children were the fruit of this union - Sarah A., born March 12, 1847 (now Mrs. J. V. Smith, of Le Roy); George Edgar, Sept. 9, 1849 (now living at home); Annie Wilson, Nov. 14, 1851, died Aug. 24, 1852, in Richmond, Maine.

WILLIAM OLIVER, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Washington Co., Md., Jan. 30, 1808; he was the son of John Oliver, who was born in the North of Ireland Noy. 28. 1773, and located in what is now Ross Township, Ohio, in 1811; he was in the war of 1812, and, at its close, returned to his farm in Ohio, and followed farming until his decease, which occurred Feb. 12, 1852. The mother of William Oliver was born in Maryland Sept. 2 , 1789; her maiden name was Mary Beck; she died Sept. 13, 1852. William was the oldest son and was brought up on the farm until 26 years of age, when he rented land for several years, until he purchased a farm upon which he lived until he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 1, Empire Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1852 ; here he purchased 200 acres of land, upon which he settled, and where he has since lived. His marriage with Mary Cowvill was celebrated in Ross Co., Ohio, April 24, 1834 ; she was born in the above county May 14, 1803 ; six children were the fruit of this union, three of which are deceased, viz., William, born Feb. 2, 1843, died Feb. 18, 1864, and two which died in infancy ; the living are Mary Jane, born April 23, 1836, John, March 28, 1838, and Henry H., Feb. 21, 1841 ; the father of Mrs. Oliver was Eleazer Cowvill ; he was born in Virginia and died in Ohio at the age of 86 years. The maiden name of her mother was Jane McFarland, born in Massachusetts and died in Ohio, aged 74 years.

JACKSON OLIVER, farmer, Seo. 19 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Ross Co., Ohio, Feb. 13, 1817; his father, John Oliver, served in the war of 1812, after whieh he followed farming in Ohio until his death Feb. 12, 1852 ; he was born Nov. 28, 1773, in Ireland. The maiden name of Mrs. Oliver was Mary Beck; she was born Sept. 21, 1789, in Maryland, and died Sept. 13, 1852. Jackson Oliver emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 19, Empire Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1854; here he purchased 213 acres, to which he has since added by purchase until he now owns upward of six hundred acres, upon which he has good farm buildings ; he erected his two-story brick residence in 1860, and barn in 1870. Mr. Oliver was united in marriage with Clarissa Cutright Nov. 5, 1843 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, May 19, 1821 ; seven children were the fruit of this union, viz., Henry, Sarah J. (deceased), Robert, Leroy P., Lewis D., John W., and one which died in infancy ; they have also raised two orphans from infancy, one until 18 years of age, at which time she married ; the other is now 10 years, and is being educated as one of their own children. Mrs. Oliver was daughter of William Cutright, who was born in Ohio -luly 18, 1791, where he died Nov. 10, 1846. Mrs. Cutright was born Jan. 25, 1782, in Virginia ; she is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Oliver, and is in the 98th year of her age. Mr. Oliver has taken a deep interest in the cnuse of religion and education, having, with his wife, joined the C. P. Church in Le Roy in 1862, and has filled the office of School Director several years in the district where he lives.

BOBERT OLIVER, farmer, Sec. 30; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., born in Ross Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 1849; at 5 years of age, he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 19, Empire Township ; he is the second son of Jackson Oliver, whose biography appears among the sketches of this township in this work. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools until 19 years of age, and assisted his father upon the farm until 20 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Cornelia Watt March 17, 1870: she was born in Illinois Oct. 1, 1850; they have two children by this union - Pleasant Jackson, born Dec. 13, 1873 ; Milvin A., June 24, 1876. Upon the marriage of Mr. Oliver, he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has good farm buildings, and owns upward of fortytwo acres and works eighty acres belonging to his father. Mrs. Oliver is a daughter of Pleasant Watt, who was born in Kentucky and died in McLean Co., 111., March 26, 1876.

LE ROY W. PRAY, farmer and stock -raiser ; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Feb 21, 1840; he emigrated to Illinois with his father, Daniel Pray, and located upon Sec. 25, Empire Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1852, where he assisted his father in farming until

1861, when, after vain efforts to join a regiment from Illinois, the regiments having been made up, he went to St. Louis and enlisted as private in the 8th Mo. V. I., being mustered into service June 16, 1861; after being engaged in the interior of the State for a few months, they were stationed at Cape Girardeau two months, and from there to Paducah, Ky., where they remained until February, 1862, when they went up the Tennessee Biver to Ft. Henry, and from there to Ft. Donelson, on the Cumberland River, where, after severe fighting for two days, in which the 8th Missouri lost heavily, the fort was captured, with 15,000 prisoners, upon the 16th of February, 1862 ; he was next engaged in the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, from which place, while on the march to Corinth, he was wounded at the skirmish of the Russell House, May 17,

1862, and was sent to the hospital at St. Louis, where he remained a short time and returned home on a furlough: after returning again to the hospital he was refused a permit to join his regiment, but, watching his opportunity, he prepared himself, and, when the first detail was ready to march, he stole in their ranks and with them marched away ; by inquiry, he found his regiment lay at Memphis, where he succeeded in joining them, remaining here until December, 1862, when he was forwarded to Vicksburg, where, with his regiment, he was engaged upon the unsuccessful assault upon the above place on the 28th and 29th of December, 1862 ; he was then in the battle of Arkansas Post on Jan. 10 and 11, 1863, and, during a part of the winter, was engaged upon the canal opposite, which was within shelling distance of Vicksburg, and which rendered the labor dangerous and tedious; about the 17th of April, steps were taken for the reduction of Vicksburg, and from that date until the capture of the same, July 4, 1863, he was either on the march or in active service, being engaged in the battles of Jackson, Miss., on May 14 ; Champion Hills, May 16 ; seige and capture of Vicksburg; second battle of Jackson, July 14 to 18 ; he then returned to the rear of Vicksburg, remaining until fall, when they went to Chattanooga, Tenn., and engaged in the battle of Mission Ridge, which engagement was brought on by two companies of the 8th Missouri crossing the river, making their way in rear of the rebel pickets, when, capturing the same without alarming the rebel camp, they were sent to re-inforce the 9th Army Corps, but, before reaching Knoxville, the rebel army had withdrawn; during the winter following, he was stationed at Larkin's Ferry, guarding the pontoon bridges, and, in April, they started on the march to Atlanta, and were engaged in the battles of Rome Cross Roads, Lay's Ferry, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca and Kenesaw Mountain ; arriving within a few miles of Atlanta, he was sent back to St. Louis ; mustered out of service, receiving his discharge July 7, 1864, having served in the Union army upward of three years ; he then returned to Empire Township, where he has since followed farming, with the exception of two years, when he went to Nebraska and laid a soldier's claim. He married Sept. 14, 1864, to Mary, daughter of Hamilton Gilbert; she was born in this township July 15, 1844 ; she died June 14, 1876, leaving one child now living - John H., born Jan. 23, 1866. His marriige with Emily, daughter of James Bishop, was celebrated Aug. 7, 1877 ; she was born in Empire Township Aug. 30, 1843.

WILLIAM PFITZENMEYER, farmer and brick manufacturer; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Wurtemburg, Germany. April 14, 1827. He attended school until 14 years of age, when he learned and worked at brick-making until he attained his majority, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in May, 1848. Coming West, he worked two years at his trade in Pulaski, Logan Co. ; then two years in Bloomington, McLean Co., and, in 1854, returned to Germany, where he was married, March 27, 1855, to Sophia Rutter: she was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Jan. 18, 1827. Upon the 3d of May, 1855, he, with his wife, sailed from Germany, and landed in New York the June following. Coming West, he located upon Sec. 28, Empire Township, McLean Co., where he has since lived. He now owns sixty acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings, his two-story brick residence being erected in 1876. He cultivates about thirty acres of his farm, but has given his attention mostly to burning brick, of which he has burned as high as six hundred thousand in a single season. Two children were the fruit of this union - Sophia Matilda, born April 9, 1857, died July 28, 1862 ; Hugo Ulrich Gustav, born July 9, 1868.

WILLIAM M. ROSS, farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Empire; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1848, where he attended school and followed farming until 19 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in the spring of 1867. He then hired as farm-laborer, until he was united in marriage with Mary E. Ross, April 6, 1871 ; she was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Sept. 26, 1853 ; she was the daughter of Talmage Ross, who emigrated from Ohio, and located in McLean Co., in 1855. The children of William M. and Mary E. Ross were four in number, viz. : Lemuel Talmage, born Aug. 14, 1872; Harly Davi*, Sept. 25, 1874: William A.. Oct. 16, 1876, and George, Sept. 11, 1878. In 1871-72. he farmed upon rented land, and in Sept., 1872, he purchased eighty acres on Sec. 35, upon which he located in the spring of 1873, and to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 118 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings, all of which he has made by his own hard labor.

JAMES RUTLEDGE, (decea-ed) farmer; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born Feb. 22, 1808. He emigrated from Kentucky to Illinois, and located in McLean Co., about the year 1830, where he entered land, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred Nov. 30, 1863. He was united in marriage with Pruo"y Vandeventer, in Logan Co., 111. ; she was born in Tenn., March 6, 1816 ; she came with her parents to Sangamon Co. in 1825 ; when 10 years of age. she came with John Buckles to this county, and was the first white woman that ever cooked a meal's victuals at what is now known, as Buckles' Grove, Empire Township. They were the parents of seven children now living Mrs. Rutledge is now 64 years of age, and is now keeping house in Le Roy, and has moved but once during the past forty-seven years. In a brief letter, written by her, to be presented to the meeting of old settlers, she makes mention of her first meal, cooked at Buckles' Grove, as being the first meal cooked by a white woman at that place, she then being but 10 years of age, and the date being 1826. She also draws a beautiful illustration of the contrast between that date and the present, showing the wonderful changes that have since occurred.

AMOS RUTLEDGE, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy. This gentleman is a native of McLean Co.; born in what is now Empire Township, Feb. 17, 1841. He is the son of James Rutledge, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township. The subject of this sketch was brought up on the farm until he attained his majority, when he was united in marriage, upon the 25th of Nov., 1862, to Hannah Gilmore ; she was born in Ohio, and located in Illinois in 1856. He then commenced farming for himself, which he followed until 1867. He then engaged in the dry-goods and grocery trade in LeRoy one year, by which transition he lost some $6,000, and, leaving him largely in debt, he then engaged as farm-laborer, and has since successfully followed farming, and has paid up his liabilities in full. He is now largely engaged in farming as well as purchasing gra n, upon a liberal salary, for the firm of J. 0. Peckham & Co., of Providence, R. I., to which place he ships largely, having purchased upwards of 40,000 bushels during the last four months. The children of Amos and Hannah (Gilmore) Rutledge were six in number, of which five are now living, viz. : William, Etta. Almeda, Fred and Calla.

GEORGE M. SELLERS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Knox Co., Ohio, Sept. 8, 1837, where he followed farming until the fall of 1859, when he made a visit to Williamson Co., Texas ; after remaining during the winter, purchased a mule, upon which he started for home through the wilds of Texas and the Indian Territory. He arrived at Sinithton, Mo., upon the 18th of May, having made a trip of 800 miles alone, through a dangerous and perilous country. He then returned to Ohio, where he, with another party, purchased 1,500 head of sheep, and started to drive them overland to Texas; arriving in Edgar Co., he wintered his sheep, and, in the following spring of 1861, drove them to McLean Co., and herded the same for two years. In 1863 he sold a part of his sheep, and returned to Ohio, where he purchased 150 head of cattle, which he brought to this county and sold. In the springof 1864 hepurchased 136 acres of his present i lace, to which he has since added, until he now owns 230 acres, with good buildings, and is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. His marriage with Sarah C Bonnett was celebrated Oct. 8, 1863; she was born in Knox Co , Ohio, Oct. 21, 1835. They have two children by this union - Lizzie R., born Nov. 4, 1865, and Mary, born Sept. 19, 1871, died Sept. 20, 1873. Mrs. Sellers is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Yonntz) Bonnett, whose biography appears in this work. The father of Mr. Sellers, John Sellers, lives upon the place upon which he located in 1824, and is upwards of 80 years of age. He has held several offices, among which he was a member of the new Constitutional Convention in 1855. His wife died in Ohio in

1838. After the marriage of George M. Sellers, he lived a short time in LeRoy ; then two years in Bloomington ; since which time he has lived upon his pleasant place, situated within view of, and at a distance of one mile from, LeRoy. In 1877 he was elected as Highway Commissioner for three years, which position he now holds.

CHARLES STERLING, farmer, Sec. 4. Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Nov. 24, 1821 ; his father, Thomas Sterling, died when the subject of this sketch was 8 years of age, after which he assisted his mother until her second marriage, when he commenced labor for himself. His first wages were $4 per month, the receipts of which were used for the support of the family until he was 20 years of age ; he was then employed by one man for a period of seven years in succession, when he commenced to farm for himself, in 1846, which business he followed in Ohio until the fall of 1854, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Empire Township, McLean Co. The following spring, he, with his brother Samuel, rented land which they worked in partnership together, until he purchased 160 acres of land in Sec. 35, where he lived eight years, when, disposing of the above, he purchased his present place in 1864, where he has since lived. He now owns about 200 acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and economy, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage Dec. 17, 1848 ; her maiden name was Anna Kesler ; she was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1827 ; they had seven children by this union - Thomas, born Feb. 21, 1851, now practicing law at Springfield, 111. ; Isabella, Dec. 18, 1852, now teaching school at Decatur; Sarah E., Nov. 14, 1854, now Mrs. N. Vance, DeWitt Co.; John A., Feb. 1, 18 >7 ; Joseph, March 5, 1859; Eda Alice, Sept 9, 1862, and one which died in infancy ; of the above John A. and Joseph are now attending the Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Mr. Sterling has filled the office of School Director for several years, and is now School Trustee.

SAMUEL STERLING, farmer, Sec. 4, Town 21; P. 0. LeRoy; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Sept. 27, 1824 ; his father died when his family were quite young, after which he continued to live with his mother, working out what spare time he had until 18 years of age, when he engaged as farm laborer until he emigrated to Illinois and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1854 ; he then, with his brother, engaged in farming until 1859 ; then farmed alone for five years, after which he purchased forty acres, upon which he lived six years, when he disposed of the same and purchased eighty acres of his present place in 1871, where he has since continued to live. His marriage with Martha West was celebrated Sept. 18, 1860 ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Dec. 1, 1832 ; they have four children now living by this union, having lost five by death; the living are - John O, born Jan. 22, 1863 ;- Elizabeth, March 27, 1866; Ada B., Sept. 15, 1876, and James E., April 17, 1878. Mrs. Sterling was the daughter of W. H. West, who emigrated from Harrison Co., Ohio and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1855 ; Mr. and Mrs. West both died in McLean Co. in the fall of 1862.

JOHN TIPTON, farmer, Sec. 29; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Oct. 27, 1835, where he attended school until 11 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois with his parents and located in McLean Co., near where Towanda now stands; his father died some six months after his arrival, after which he remained with his mother and managed the farm until he attained his majority, when he rented land and engaged in farming for himself until 1870, when he purchased 120 acres of land upon Sec. 29, Empire Township, which he exchanged for his present place in 1878. His marriage with Nancy E. Rucker was celebrated July 4, 1871; she was born in Madison Co., Ky., and died in McLean Co., 111., July 4, 1873, leaving no children. Mr. Tipton is a brother of Thomas F. Tipton, a prominent lawyer of Bloomington, more generally known as Judge Tipton, having held the office of Judge for eight years; his sister, Mrs. William S. Tuttle, now lives in Saybrook, McLean Co.

SILAS WATTERS, retired farmer and merchant, Le Roy ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Stafford mk, Va., Nov. 19, 1803. At 11 years of age, in 1814, he, with his parents and brothers and sisters, crossed the Alleghany Mountains in a two-wheeled cart drawn by one horse ; the parents have since passed away, but the children, of whom there were nine, all are living, the youngest being 65 and the oldest 79 years of age. In 1830, the subject of this sketch located in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., where he has lived for a period of nearly half a century ; he first entered 180 acres of land, to which he afterward added until he was in possession of 640 acres, a portion of which he still owns. He has always followed farming and stock-raising, and for a period of ten years was also engaged in the mercantile business in Le Roy and neighboring towns. He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been an active member of the M. E. Church since 1825, and filled every office in the Church which is given to a layman ; he has had his full share of township and school offices, and held the office of Associate Judge of McLean Co. during the term of Judge McClum, in 1850-51. His marriage with Christiana Conaway was celebrated Feb. 12, 1824; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., June 9, 1799 ; she died Oct. 25, 1866, leaving four children, having lost two by death; the living are: Chalton D., born June 17, 1826; John T., born Aug. 22, 1827; America, born Nov. 9, 1828; Nancy, born Jan. 30, 1831. His marriage with Mary Jane (Baddeley) Barr was celebrated Dec. 21, 1868; she was born in Manchester, England, March 3, 1823 ; she emigrated with her parents in 1835.

CH ALTON D. WATTERS was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., June 17, 1826 ; he settled with his parents upon his present place in 1830, and is the oldest contiuuous resident upon any one place in Empire Township, having lived upon his present place for nearly half a century. He has always followed farming, and has in his home farm 221 acres, situated one mile from Le Roy, upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Sarah C. Moore was celebrated Dec. 29, 1852 ; she was born in Virginia, Sept. 20, 1829 ; eight children were the fruit of this union, of which six are now living - Silas, Miller C, John T., William, Christie Ann and Mattie May. BRUCE WATT, farmer, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch was born in De Witt Co., 111., June 19, 1855, where he attended the common school until ten years of age, when he located with his father upon Sec. 29, Empire Township, McLean Co., where he lived until the decease of his father, P. P. Watt, which occurred March 26, 1876. Mrs. Watt dicl in Logan Co., III., in October, 1853. The subject of this sketch lived in Le Roy one season after the death of his father, and in the winter of 1876 he purchased his present place, where he has since lived. His nuptials with Carrie Pence were celebrated April 26, 1877 ; she was born in McLean. Co., 111.. Sept. 25, 1857; they have one child by this union - Sibyl, born Oct. 31, 1878. MATTHEW D. WEBB, farmer, Sec. 33 : P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Union Co., Ohio, Nov. 23, 1845, where he lived upon his father's farm until 17 years of age, when he enlisted March 17, 1863, in the 96th 0. V. I.; he remained in camp at Columbus. Ohio, until April 1, when he was sent to Mew Orleans, and was engaged in the Red River Expedition, where he was in many engagements, among which was the battle of Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill; he then remained at Morganzia Bend a short time, after which he was engaged in the capture of Ft. Gaines, Ft. Morgan, Ft. Blakely, and Spanish Fort, when the city of Mobile surrendered to the Union forces, where he remained a few months ; when he was forwarded to Galveston, Texas ; then to Brownsville, where he was mustered out of service and received his discharge, in the early part of the summer of 1866, at Columbus, Ohio, after serving in the Union army for a period of over three years ; in September, 1866, he came to Illinois, on horseback, and located at Le Roy, McLean Co., where he followed carpentering a short time, and in 1871, he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and where he has a farm of eighty-five acres, two and one-half miles from Le Roy. His marriage with Nancy M. Rutledge, was celebrated Nov. 24, 1870; they have two children now living, by this union - Malinda M., born June 4, 1873, and Laura B., April 26, 1877. Mrs. Rutledge is the daughter of James and Prudy Rutledge, who were among the early settlers of McLean Co., and whose biography appears in this work.

GEORGE YONTZ WEST, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch was born in Knox Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1847 ; his father, John C West, was born in Knox Co., Ohio, and followed carpentering and farming until 1851, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., and in 1869, he removed to Taylor Co., Iowa, where he now lives. He was married in Ohio, to Susan Bonnett ; she was the daughter of John Bonnett, whose biography appears in this work; Mrs. West was born in Ohio, April 27. 1821; she died a few years after removing to Illinois, and lies buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, one mile east of Le Roy ; at 20 years of age, George Y. West, made his home with James Bonnett. and commenced dealing in stock, his first purchase being ten hogs; he has since enlarged his business, buying, feeding and shipping cattle, horses and sheep to Chicago and the Eastern markets; he located upon his present place in April, 1878, where he has about 100 acres of land, which he purchased in 1874. His marriage with Hester I. Scott was celebrated March 21, 1878; she was born in Clinton Co., Ind., March 1, 1853 ; she is the daughter of William E. Scott, now living in Empire Township.

JAMES S. WILEY, farmer, Sec. 36; P. 0. Le Roy; a native of Empire Township, McLean Co., 111.; born on the 5th day of Aug.. 1839 ; his father, James Wiley, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, June 10, 1810; he emigrated from his native country to the West India Islands, in 1828, where he was employed as book-keeper and overseer of a large plantation upon the Island of Jamaica until 1835, when he emigrated to America, and to McLean Co., 111., and until 1845, followed the mercantile trade at Le Roy and neighboring towns; he then engaged in farming, which business he followed until his decease, which occurred on the 5th of June, 1860 ; he now rests in the beautiful cemetery situated one mile east of Le Roy ; during his life he was largely ideniified with the interests of the township, was one of its most influential citizens and filled many offices, among which was Justice of the Peace for sixteen years, and was the first Supervisor of Empire Township, and held the office continuously until his decease. His widow now lives in Le Roy ; she is a sister of our much respected and worthy citizen Silas Waters, and is one of a family of nine children, who, with their parents, crossed the Alleghany Mountains in 1814, in a two-wheel cart, drawn by one horse; the children are all now living; the youngest now 65 and the oldest 79. James S. Wiley lived with his father, attended school and followed farming until 17 years of age, since which time he has given his whole attention to farming; he removed upon his present place, in February, 1869, where he owns 120 acres of land, under a high state of cultivation. His marriage with Kate Williams was celebrated Jan. 19,1869; she was born in McLean Co., Sept. 10, 1843; they have two children - James B., born May 27, 1870, and Daisy A., Dec. 20, 1872 ; Mrs. Wiley was a daughter of Aaron S. Williams; he was born in White Co.,

111., and was one of the early settlers of this county. He married Nancy Conaway, who emigrated with her parents from Kentucky, and located in what is now Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are now living in Normal.