McLean County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 36 of 42)

JAMES R. COVEY, farmer; P. O. Le Roy; born in McLean Co , 111., Feb. 18, 1842; he is a son of C. Covey, whose sketch also appears in this wOrk ; he attended school and assisted his father in farming until Sept. 19, 1861, when he enlisted in the 39th Regt. I. V. I.; was first sent to Chicago, then Benton Barracks, Mo., then to Maryland, and was in the battle at Alpine Station, Va., Jan. 4, 1862; they were incorporated in the famous division of Gen. Shields, engaged in the battle of Winchester, Va., March 23, 1862, remaining with Shields during the Valley campaign; was then in the Peninsular campaign, then to Suffolk, Va.; from there to North Carolina, then to Port Royal, where he saw the naval engagement between the iron-clads and Ft Sumter; was engaged in the siege of Morris Island, S. O, wbich resulted in the occupation of Fts. Wagner and Gregg by the 39th, Sept. 7. 1863 ; they afterward engaged in the battles of Drury's Bluff. Bermuda Hundred. Deep Bottom and Deep Run ; before Petersburg Aug. 24 to Sept. 24, 1864; Chapin Farm, Oct 7, 1864; Darbytown Road, Oct. 13 to 27, 1864, and, during the entire fall, was engaged in continual fighting; in April, 1865, the 39th was engaged in the gallant charge upon the rebel works at Petersburg, which was the direct cause of the evacuation of Richmond the following night ; they then followed the retreating rebels, and succeeded in obtaining a position between Lee and Johnson, and, after severe fighting one day, Lee surrendered at Appomatox Court House ; he was then mustered out of service, and received his discharge Dec. 6, 1865, having served in the Union army upward of four years ; he enlisted as private : was promoted to Corporal Oct. 31, 1863, and to Sergeant Aug. 27, 1864; he re-enlisted as veteran at Hilton Head, S. C, Jan. 1, 1864 ; was wounded by a piece of shell at Morris Island, S. C, Sept. 14, 1863. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned home, attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington one term, taught school one winter, and, the spring of 1868, commenced farming for himself, which business he has since successfully followed ; he located upon his present place in 1875, where he has eighty acres, with good buildings. His marriage with Lizzie Jones was celebrated Oct. 8, 1868; she was born in Kentucky March 25, 1851 ; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two died in infancy ; the living - Hyatt E. - was born Sept, 1, 1875.

FRANK COWDEN, farmer; P. 0. Downs; born upon Sec. 31, Old Town Township, McLean Co., 111., Dec. 22, 1854; his father, Frederick R. Cowden, emigrated from Kentucky and located upon Sec. 31, Old Town Township, in 1832, and is consequently one of the very oldest settlers of McLean Co.; his biography appears among the sketches of Old Town Township, in another part of this work. The subject of this sketch attended the common school in his youth, and assisted his father in farming until 20 years of age; in December, 1874, he engaged in the merchandising trade, with his brother John J., at Gillum Station, which business he followed eighteen months, when he removed his stock of goods to Downs and associated with J. A. Davis in the merchandising trade, and continued the same until March 7, 1879, when he disposed of his interest and engaged in farming ; he has seventy-six acres of land, situated at Downs Station, with good buildings. His marriage with Harriet L. Adams was celebrated July 3, 1877 ; she was born in Downs Township. McLean Co., Jan. 12, 1859 ; they have one child by this union - Charles Elmer, born May 16, 1878. Mrs. Cowden is a daughter of Wiyett Adams, who now lives in Downs Township, and whose biography appears among the sketches of this work.

WILLIAM A CROOKSHANK; Sec. 6 ; P. O. Hey worth ; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1823. His father, William Crookshank, was born in the city of New York, and emigrated to Ohio in 1818, where he followed shoemaking until he removed to Illinois, in 1853, and settled in Randolph Township, McLean Co.; he met with his death by being run over by the cars on the Illinois Central Railroad, about the year 1862. He married Elizabeth Hathaway, of New York ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living ; she died in Ohio in 1826. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until 18 years of age, when he drove stock to Illinois, and located in Randolph Township in the spring of 1842 ; he then worked as farm laborer for seven years, his wages at that time being from $6 to $12 per month, during which time he saved from his low wages $250, with which he purchased a team and rented land, and engaged in farming for himself; he removed upon his present place in 1872, where he has ninety-two acres under good cultivation, upon which he has good farm buildings : he also owns twenty acres of timber in Randolph Township. His marriage with Emily C. Birdsell was celebrated January, 1850: she was born in Randolph Township May 16, 1833 ; she was a daughter of William Birdsell, one of the early settlers of McLean Co. The children of William A. and Emily Crookshank were six in number, of whom five are now living - Lucia F., born June 27, 1851, now Mrs. Charles L. Rutledge, of Heyworth ; Scott, May 20, 1854; John B., June 26, 1857 ; Jane, March 18, 1860 ; Harrison L., May 2, 1863 ; and one which died in infancy.

JOHN CUSEY, farmer, Sec. 2; P. 0. Heyworth. One of the early pioneers and prominent men of McLean Co ; born in Ashland Co., Ohio, April 9, 1822, where he devoted his attention to mechanical pursuits until October, 1836, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co.; he followed carpentering, cabinet-making, etc., until 1840, when he, with his father, engaged in contracting and building, continuing the same in McLean and adjoining counties for several years ; among their first frame buildings was the barn of Lewis Case. Mr. Cusey located upon his present place of 560 acres in 1868, where he has been extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising; he has been most constantly in public offices for many years, having held the office of Town Trustee twenty years ; Assessor, nine years; Supervisor, two years ; was elected in 1872 to represent the 28th Senatorial District in the State Legislature, serving four years ; during the late war of the rebellion he was appointed Marshal, or Enrolling Officer, of the 39th and 40th Districts, which position he held until the close of the war. About the year 1870 he traced a map and suggested to Mr. Fi-her, the Vice-President of the Narrow Gauge Railroad, the advantages of a railroad running west through McLean Co. Mr. Fisher acted upon these suggestions, and called meetings at Rantoul and other places, which resulted in the building of the Narrow Gauge Railroad from West Lebanon, Ind., to Le Roy. Mr. Cusey has been in every respect a public-spirited man, and has filled every office to which he has been elected or appointed with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. There are niiiny things of interest to the public that we should like to mention of him which this brief sketch will hardly admit and do him justice, a circumstance which the writer of this article deeply regrets. His marriage with Hannah Bishop was celebrated upon the 23d of Nov., 1843 ; she was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Jan. 30, 1824 ; she is a daughter of Jacob Bishop, who emigrated to Illinois in 1829, and now lives in Randolph Township, at the advanced age of 82 years, and is in possession of all his faculties. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cusey were nine in number, of which two are deceased; the living are Charity E., Thomas H.. John A., James C, Joseph M., Mary J., and Hannah E.

ISAAC F. DAWSON, farmer; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early settlers of McLean Co. ; his ancestors were among the early pioneers of McLean Co., and are prominently mentioned in another part of this work ; he was born in what is now Padua Township, McLean Co., Sept. 18, 1838; he lived with his father and followed farming until 23 years of age, when, upon June 17, 1861, he enlisted in the 20th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was engaged in the campaigns through Missouri and Arkansas, the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Britton's Lane, Fort Gibson, Jackson, Miss., Champion Hills, and upon the 19th of May, 1863, took a position in the rear of Vicksburg, and upon the 22d inst. took part in the gallant charge made upon the rebel breastworks, in which the Union army were repulsed with great loss ; here he remained until the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, and the following winter remained at Black River ; in the spring of 1864, he joined the army of Sherman, and was engaged in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain after his term of enlistment had expired ; he then returned to Nashville, where he received his discharge in July, 1864, having served in the Union army upward of three years; never was wounded nDr taken prisoner, but had his clothing shot through several times ; was never reprimanded nor put in the guard-house, nor was ever off duty. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned to McLean Co., where he has since followed farming ; he removed upon his present place in 1865. His marriage with Nancy Buck was celebrated Dec. 25, 1864; she was born in McLean Co , 111., Feb. 19, 1843; they have two children by this union, viz.: Maud E., born Jan. 13, 1872; and Claud E., born Feb. 23, 1876. Mrs. Dawson is the youngest daughter of Hiram Buck, one of the early pioneers, whose biography will be found among the biographies of Empire Township, in this work.

WILLIAM M. DAVIS, farmer ; P. O. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch was born in Greene Co., Tenn., July 1, 1838; he was brought up to farm labor until 18 years of age, when he learned and worked at the carpenter trade until the fall of 1862, at which time he was conscripted in the rebel army, and was sent to the defense of Vicksburg, and upon the surrender of the above place, he was paroled, and after returning home, made his way within the Union lines, enlisting in the 8th Union Tenn. V. O, Oct. 1, 1863 ; he served in the army of the Cumberland until 1865, when he was transferred to the command of Gen. Stoneman, and served under him until the close of the war, receiving his discharge Sept 11, 1865. He then came to Bloomington, where he followed his trade until 1869, when he engaged in farming which business he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in February, 1879, where he has eighty acres, for which he paid $30 per acre, all of which he has accumulated by his own exertions ; his wages for the first two years at his trade were $6 and $8 per month respectively. His marriage with Sarah J. Bowen was celebrated March 25, 18t>9 ; she was born in Mifflin Co., Penn., March 22, 1846 ; they have six children by this union - Bertha, Edney, Albert, Sumner, Amie and Millie.

WESLEY M. DICKERSON, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the old residents of McLean Co. ; born in Empire Township, Feb. 6, 1834. He is the youngest son of Michael Dickerson, who emigrated from Tennessee to Illinois and located in Empire Township in the year 1825 or 1826. The subject of this sketch remained upon the old farm until about 15 years of age, when he hired out at $6 per month as a farm laborer during the summer, and during the winter worked for his board and attended school ; he finished his education by attending the University, at Bloomington. He worked as farm laborer four years (the highest wages received was $7 per month), when he, with his brother Caleb, engaged in farming, raising corn which they sold at 10 cents per bushel ; he made several trips to Chicago, taking up grain and bringing back salt, groceries, etc, the trips consuming from fifteen to twenty days, during which time they camped out at night. In 1854, he purchased his present place of 140 acres ; he also owns twenty-six acres of land in Empire Township. In the spring of 1862, Mr. Dickerson met with an accident by being kicked in the stomach by a horse, which came near proving fatal, and for a long time his life was despaired of, and for a period of two years he was unable to labor upon his farm ; during which time he employed several physicians, and visited the mineral springs of the South, which proved of great benefit to him. His marriage with Maranda Chapman was celebrated April 27, 1874; she was born in Madison to., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1846; two children were the fruit of this union, of whom one is now living, viz., Viney Jane, born Sept. 30, 1876. Mrs. Dickerson was a daughter of William Chapman ; he died in Madison Co., Ohio, when Mrs. D. was quite young; the maiden name of his wife was Margaret Chapman ; she was born in Ohio ; she is now a widow a second time, her last husband losing his life while serving in the army during late rebellion ; she, with her father, Zadoc Chapman, are now living in Le Roy.

JAMES W. DOOLEY, farmer; P. 0. Downs: born in Kentucky Sept. 17, 1851 ; his parents removed to Bloomington when he was 6 months old, coming up the river to Pekin, and from there to Bloomington by team ; he then located where the town of Holder now stands, living there a few years, when he moved to Indiana and lived until the fall of 1864, when he returned to McLean Co., and purchased a farm in Old Town and Downs Townships, upon which he lived two years, and, in 1866, he settled in Putnam Co., Ind., where he now lives. The subject of this sketch lived with his father and attended the common schools until 1873. finishing his education by two terms of study at Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind., where he graduated in book-keeping; he located upon his present place Feb. 14,1879, where he has sixty-eight acres, upon which he has a good residence. Upon the 19th of October, 1876, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth G. Cowden ; she was born in McLean Co., 111., June 17, 1857 ; they are the parents of two children by this union - Arthur C, born July 23, 1877; Nellie B., Oct. 31, 1878; Mrs. Dooley is a daughter of F. R. Cowden, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., whose biography appears among the biographies of Old Town Township, in another part of this book.

S. C. DOUGLASS, farmer; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Bloomington, McLean Co., 111., Dec. 14r 1851 ; he is the son of D. B. Douglas, who located in Bloomington about the year 1849, where he lived until 1859, when he removed to Clinton Co., Ind., where he is now engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch removed to Indiana with his parents, where he was brought up tofarm labor until 1871, when he returned to Illinois, and, af<er working as farm laborer one year, farmed upon rented land in Padua and Belleflower Townships until 1877, when he located upon his present place, where he now lives. His marriage with Sabra E. Smitherman was celebrated Nov. 14, 1877 ; she was born in Wood Co., Va., Aug. 5, 1851 ; she is the daughter of William Smitherman, who was born in Virginia July 3, 1820: he married Mary Rice in Virginia; she was born in Virginia in April, 1826 ; they were the parents of four children, of whom three are now living ; the father of S. C. Douglass is Dennison B. Douglass ; he was born April 28r 18v0. Married Julian P. Goodheart Feb. 6, 1851 ; she was born in Bloomington Sept. 10, 1832, and died August, 1877 ; she was a daughter of William Goodheart, one of the eirly pioneers, and a prominent man of Bloomington.

L. DOWNS, deceased; one of McLean County's early pioneers; born near Nashville, Tenn., April 30, 1808; he removed with his parents to White Co., 111., in 1817, where he lived until he removed to McLean Co., and located in what is now Downs Township, and which was named in honor of Mr. Downs; his location here was in 1829, upon Sec. 7, where he afterward entered land, and was among the very earliest settlers of the county. He was a volunteer in the Black Hawk war and served under Col. Covel. He was united in marriage to Sarah Welch in 1836; she was born in Northampton Co., Penn., July 7, 1819; she was a sister of Henry Welch, whose biography appears in this work; they were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living - William, born Oct. 18, 1837; George W., Aug. 22, 1839; John D., Nov. 11, 1845; Solomon F., June 28, 1851; Albert P., Nov. 18, 1852, and Alfred E., Aug. 7, 1855, all of whom are now living in McLean Co. Mr. and Mrs. Downs were both members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, for many years previous to their decease, and lived and died consistent Christians. The decease of Mr. I>owns occurred Sept. 7, 1860; Mrs. Downs died Aug. 7, 1866 ; they lie buried in the beautiful family cemetery located in the forest upon the old farm, their graves being properly marked by marble tombstones placed at their graves, sacred to their memory, by their loving children.

GEOKGE W. DOWNS, farmer; P. 0, Downs ; one of the old settlers, his birth occurring in Downs Township, McLean Co., 111., Aug. 22, 1839 ; his father was L. Downs, whose biography also appears in this work. The subject of this subject attended the common schools and followed farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th Regt. I. V. I , and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was in all the battles, excepting one, in which the 94th was engaged - the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort, and all the skirmishing and scouting in which the 94th was engaged ; after the capture of Spanish Fort, the city of Mobile fell to the Union forces, and in June, 1865, he was sent with his regiment to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and, returning home; received his discharge at Springfield, 111., in August, 1865, having served in the Union army for upward of three years ; he then returned h jme and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed, living upon the old homestead where he was born. He has 154 acres of prairie and timber, the prairie being under a good state of cultivation. His marriage with Theodocia A. Myers was celebrated March 16, 1870; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1851 ; they have five children - Sarah, Henry L., Belle, Lavina, Elmer E. Mrs. Downs is a daughter of Henry A. and Lavina Myers, who located in McLean Co. in 1864, now living in Randolph Township.

ALBERT P. DOWNS, farmer, Sec. 7; P. 0. Downs; born in Downs Township, McLean Co., 111., Nov. 18, 1852; he is a son of L. and Sarah (Welch) Downs, who were among the early settlers of McLean t'o., and whose biography appears among the biographies of this township. The subject of this sketch attended school in his youth, and worked upon the old farm until Nov. 12, 1874, when he was united in marriage with Rebecca Lenien ; she was born in Ohio, Jan. 23, 1854 ; they are the parents of two children by this union - Josephine, born Aug. 19. 1875; Robert, Feb. 15, 1877; upon the marriage of Mr. Downs, he removed into his present residence, which he had erected previous to his marriage, and which stands upon the land that his parents settled upon in 1829. He owns eighty acres of prairie and timber, the prairie all being under a good state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Downs are members of the Church of the United Brethren.

E. F. EDWARDS, farmer, Sec. 3, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early settlers; born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1826 ; he attended school in Ohio until 14 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Le Roy, in 1840, at which time Le Roy contained some fifteen or twenty houses and two stores ; here he lived until 2U years of age, when he removed to Waynesville, De Witt Co., and engaged with his father in the drug business for two years, when he disposed of his business and returned to Le Roy, where he lived several years. In 1862, he removed upon his present place, which he had purchased in the fall of 1850 ; here he followed farming four years, when he rented his farm, and, in 1866, he removed to Bloomington and followed his trade three years ; he was then elected Alderman from the Third Ward, and was appointed by the Council Superintendent of Streets ; he successfully represented his constituents as Alderman of the Third Ward for six years in succession, and served as Justice of the Peace four years. In the spring of 1879, he returned to his farm, where he owns 166 acres, also 160 acres each in Butler and Morris Cos., Kan., and a residence and one and a half acres of land in the city of Bloomington. His marriage with Mary Pharis was celebrated Sept. 14, 1847 ; she wa-i born in Ohio in 1831 ; she died in February, 1856, leaving two children, one of whom is now living - Emeline E. ; the deceased, Oscar, was killed by being thrown from a horse over an embankment, near Le Roy, when 23 years of age. Mr. Edwards married for his second wife Celia A. Hedges Feb. 5, 1857 ; she was born Jan. 3, 1842, in Morgan Co., Ohio; seven children were the fruit of this union, of which six are now living - Ida I., Effie L., Elmer M., Lee E.. Mertie O, and Minnie C. (twins) ; the deceased died in infancy. Mr. Edwards is a Republican, having acted with the Republican party since its organization, and is a strong advocate of temperance. He has been a member of the M. K. Church since 1843, and has filled different offices. He is a son of Dr. David Edwards, who was a physician and a Methodist minister, and had a very extended practice ; he lived in McLean Co. several years, when he located in Morris, Grundy Co., and practiced several years, and died in Kendall Co., in 1857 ; Mrs. Edwards died two years previous.

WILLIAM ELLSWORTH, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Heyworth ; one of the early settlers of Illinois; born near Bowling Green, Ky., September, 1817; at six years of age he removed with his parents to Illinois, and located in St. Clair Co., where he lived until 19 years of age, at which time he went down the river to New Orleans, where he engaged for one winter chopping cordwood. In the spring he returned to St. Clair Co., his father having died during the previous winter; it fell upon the subject of this sketch to manage the farm, which he nobly did, and supported the family until 21 years of age. His marriage with Sarah Talbot was celebrated in 1840. She died in 1847, leaving three children - John T., George M. and Sarah J. His marriage with Mrs. Mary E. Chesney, was celebrated Nov. 8, 1848. Her maiden name was Pitts ; she was born in Tennessee, May 10, 1823. They are the parents of seven children, of whom one is deceased - Kincheon Albert, born Aug. 12, 1849 ; William S., born Feb. 2, 1851 ; Emily, born Jan. 2, 1855: Charles W., born May 13, 1858 ; Ezekiel W., born May 19, 1860; Mary B.f born Nov. 13, 1862, and one deceased. Mrs. Ellsworth was married to Robert Ohesney April 28, 1845; he died Dec. 22, 1847, leaving one child, now Mrs. John S. Bishop, of Randolph Township. Mr. Chesney was born in Pennsylvania, March 6, 1817. Mr. Ellsworth sold out in St. Clair Co., in 1860, and removed to McLean Co., where he purchased 190 acres of land, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived ; he has since added by purchase until he has upward of 900 acres of land, upon which he has four sets of farm buildings, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry; he also owns a flour and grist mill at Heyworth, which cost upwards of $20,000. The father of Wm. Ellsworth served all through the war of the Revolution; served three years during the last war of the Rebellion, in the 94th I. V. I.

Downs Toavnship

JOSEPH L. GOCHEE, farmer. Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Canada, July 1, 1831 ; ha removed with his uncle to Boston when a small boy, and, at 11 years of age, he started for himself, going to New York, where he was raised upon a farm, and at 20 years of age emigrated to Illinois, and walked from Peoria to Le Roy, where he arrived in the fall of 1851 ; during the following two years he cropped with H. C. Dickerson, then worked one year in the brickyard at Le Roy, after which he worked as farm laborer, getting from $8 to $12 per month for about six months, o%during the season, and, in winter cut cord-wood at from 30 to 40 cents per cord. In 1858, he purchased eighty acres of his present place, at $12.50 per acre, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 160 acres of land, which he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation, and upon which he has good farm buildings ; his residence being erected in 1873, and his barn in 1874. He was married Dec. 31, 1863, to Eliza A. Morgan; she was born in Rush Co., Ind., Aug. 5, 1844, and raised in Illinois. They have five children now living - Mary C, born June 7, 1865 ; Luella, born April 12, 1867 ; Tabitha Q., born Jan. 1, 1870; Thomas, born July 24, 1872 ; George, born July 24, 1875. Mr. Gochee commenced in life at 1 1 years of age, without capital, and has accumulated all of the above proper y by his own labor, energy and industry ; although having but a limited education himself, he is using every effort to educate his children. Mrs. Gochee is a daughter of George and Mary Jane Morgan, who emigrated from Indiana, and located in McLean Co., in 1844. Mrs. Morgan died in McLean Co., Feb. 7, 1869. Mr. Morgan now lives in Empire Township, one and a half miles from Le Roy.

AARON V. HAGEMAN, farmer, Sec. 5, Town 21 ; P. 0. Hey worth ; born in Somerset Co., N. J., May 13, 1845. He emigrated with his parents, when upwards of 3 years of age, to Illinois, and located in Fulton Co His father, Peter V. Hageman, was born in New Jersey, Feb.

24. 1811. He married Helen Voorhees, Jan. 18, 1843, in Somerset Co., N. J. She was born in the same county, Jan. 8, 1821. She died in Fulton Co., 111., July 21, 1854. Mr. H. died May 27, 1863. They now lie buried in the cemetery near Farmington, Fulton Co., 111. The children of Peter V. and Helen I Voorhees) Hageman were four in number, of whom one died in infancy. The living are - A. V., born May 13, 1845; Celena, June 2, 1848, now Mrs. F. L. Morris, of Batavia, 111.; Cynthia, May 29, 1851, now Mrs. D. W. Bradley, living in Abilene, Kan. The subject of this sketch attended school, and assisted his father in farming, until the decease of the latter, when he attended school a portion of the time for three years, among which was the Batavia Institute one term. He located upon his present place in 1870, where he purchased, eighty acres of land, where he has since lived. His marriage with Margaret W. Hughes was celebrated Dec. 19, 1871. She was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1845 ; she is a daughter of Richard Hughes, who was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1808, and died Aug.

25, 1850. He married Elizabeth Elder; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and died in Ohio Sept. 6, 1870. There were eight children, of whom six are now living. Mr. Hageman is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a ruling elder. His wife is also a member of the same church.

JOHN HOLFORTY, Sr., farmer, Sec. 19; P. 0. Heyworth ; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., June 20, 1821. His grandfather, Luther Holforty, was born in the North of Ireland, and was taken to this country by the British during the war of the Revolution. Upon arriving here he deserted and joined the revolutionary patriots. He was pursued, and had a narrow escape from being captured by the British, who passed over a brush-heap several times, under which he lay concealed. He was engaged at the battles of Valley Forge, Bunker Hill, and many other engagements, and served until the independence of the nation was established, and lived some fifteen years after this date. The father of the subject of this sketch, John Holforty, was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1785, and worked at carpentering and cabinet-making, until his death, which occurred in 1872, at the ripe old age of 87 years. He was married to Ann Sophia Rheinwood ; she was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1792. She was of German descent. She died in 1865, 73 years of age. Their children were ten in number, of which six are now living. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until about 12 years of age, when he hired out as farm laborer, expending the fruits of his labor for the support of his father's family, until 21 years of age. At the above age, the youngest children being capable of self-support, he continued farm labor until 25 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located in St. Clair Co., in the spring of 1847, driving all the way from Pennsylvania by team, being thirty days upon the trip. He then bought eighty acres of land at $3.37 and $5.37 per acre, running in debt $110, which he paid off after a period of five years, the delay being occasioned by misfortunes and sickness. He lived in St. Clair Co. until 1860, when he, with his family, removed to McLean Co., and. in the spring of 1861, he purchased his present place of 160 acres of prairie land, and twenty acres of timber, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived. He has added by purchase, until he now owns 200 acres of land, with two sets of farm buildings, and also 240 acres of land in Kansas, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry. His marriage with Barbara Lutz was celebrated March 11, 1845 ; she was born near Darmstadt, Germany, Feb. 7, 1822: she emigrated with her parents to America in 1829 or 1830. and settled in Pennsylvania, and, in 1840, emigrated to Illinois and located in St. Clair Co. Her father was a soldier in the army of Napoleon, and with him crossed the Alps, and was obliged to subsist upon the meat of dead norses, upon the retreat of the army from Moscow. Of 300 soldiers, only two survived to reach home. The children of John and Barbara (Lutz) Holforty were eight in number, as follows: Catharine A., John, George, Arthur B., Barbara, Miranda and Marion {twins), and Charles W. Mr. H. has been a member of the Church of the United Brethren lor the past forty-two years, Mrs. H. having joined about the same time. He is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and has never made use of intoxicating liquors or tobacco in any form. Of the above children, Catharine and Miranda are deceased.

JOHN HOLFORTY, Jr., farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Heyworth. The subject of this sketch was born in St. Clair Co., Ill , May 21, 1848, where he attended the common school, and assisted his -father in farming until 1860, when he emigrated to McLean Co. and located in Downs Township, in the spring of 1861. He then engaged in farming with his father during the summer, and attended school in winter until 1864, when he attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington one term, and, the following year attended the Normal University. He farmed daring the summer of 1866, and the following winter taught school and has since devoted his attention to farming. In the spring of 1870, he rented land, and has since farmed upon rented land, and upon land of his father, John Holforty, Sr. His marriage with Mary E. Adams was celebrated July 1, 1869 ; she was born in McLean Co. Jan. 3, 1831 ; they are the parents of two children - Bertie L., born Aug. 28, 1872; Ella Frances, Oct. 12, 1878. Mr. Holforty is the oldest son of John and Barbara (Lutz) Holforty, whose sketch appears in this work. Mrs. H is a daughter of Wiyett Adams, who lived upon Sec. 16, Downs Township.

E13FII HORNOR, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Downs; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1818. He was a son of Joseph Hornor, who was born in South Carolina in the month of November, 1790, and who emigrated, with his parents, to the Territory of Ohio in 1802, and lived in Ohio until 1834, then removed to Boone Co., Ind., in which State he was united in marriage with Miriam Hollingsworth ; she was born in South Carolina about the year 1794. They were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living. Mr. Hornor died in Indiana May 26, 1869. Mrs. Hornor died in the same State a few yearj later. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until he attained his majority, when, upon the 12th day of December, 1839, he was united in marriage with Anna M. Sweet; she was born in Richmond, Ind., Aug. 18, 1822 Their children were eleven in number - Francis M., born Sept. 16, 1840 ; died Oct. 3, 1863 ; William Perry, born Oct. 28, 1841 ; died April 1858 ; Miriam O, Feb 29, 1844 ; Esquire H., Aug 10, 1845; John J. N., March 26, 1847, died May, 1858; Joseph E., July 11, 1849; Winfield Scott, May 26, 1851 ; Sarah J., June 12, 1854, died in infancy; Isaac Newton, Jan. 14, 1856 ; Charles M., March 3, 1860, died in infancy; A. Lincoln, Oct. 20, 1865. Francis M. enlisted in the 94th Reg., Co. B, I. V. I., and died in Louisiana, while serving his country, in 1863. Upon the marriage of Mr. Hornor, he commenced farming upon his own land of 16U acres, deeded to him by his father, and continued farming in Indiana until 1851, when he disposed of his property, and, on the 11th of April, 1852, located upon his present place, where he had previously purchased 120 acres, to which he has since added until he now owns liOO acres, all under a good state of improvement, and upon which he has good farm buildings. Of township offices Mr. H. has had his full share, having held the office of Supervisor, Collector, Highway Commissioner and is now appointed Township Treasurer. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and, with his wife, has been a member since 1859.

T. J. IDEN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 28; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Licking Co., Ohio, March 10, 1841 ; his father, Thomas Iden, was born in Loudoun Co., Va., in 1792, and emigrated to Ohio and located in Licking Co., in 1829 or 1830, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred March 5, 1876. He married Elizabeth Hill; she was born in Loudoun Co., Va., in 1803, and is now living at the advanced age of 76 years. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools in Ohio, and followed the manufacturing of stoneware until 23 years of age, when he came to Illinois and located in Downs Township in the fall of 1863, where he worked as farm laborer until the 24th of December, 1868, when he was united in marriage with Rebecca Cochran ; she was born in Athens Co., Ohio, Jan. 5, 1839, and raised in Muskingum Co. ; they have three children by this union - John W., born July 23, 1870 ; Edgar H., born Aug. 4, 1873 ; and an infant, born Feb. 15, 1879. Upon the marriage of Mr. Iden, he rented the farm of Joseph Kershaw, and farmed one year; and the year 1869, he purchased his present place, upon which he located, and where he has since lived. He owns 160 acres upon his home farm, which he has mostly made by his own hard labor, and in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife.

JESSE JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Le Roy; one of the old settlers of McLean Cq. ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 30, 1808; his father, Isaac Johnson, was born in Washington Co., Penn., and emigrated to the State of Ohio, when it was a Territory ; he died in Butler Co., Ohio. He married Nancy Thomas ; she was born in Virginia, and died in Preble Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch lived at home, and contributed all his earnings to the support of the family until 18 years of age. when he learned and w irked at the cabinet trade until 1838, at which date he emigrated to Decatur Co., Ind., and followed farming and working at his trade until 1849 ; he then emigrated to Illinois, and located in Bloomington Township ; the following year engaged in farming in Old Town Township, and in the spring of 1854, settled upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has forty acres of land. His marriage with Barbara Chambers was celebrated in Ohio, Jan. 1, 1832 ; she was born in Ohio ; she died Nov. 8, 1832, leaving onechild - Barbara, now Mrs. Eliza Cusey. His marriage with Wilhemina Chambers, was celebrated in 1834; she died in Indiana, leaving four children - William O, Isaac, Thomas J. and Nancy J. His marriage with Lavina McAhren was celebrated May 26, 1840 ; she was born in Washington Co., Penn. ; her father, William McAhren, was born in North Carolina, and died in Shelby Co., Ind., in 1854 ; her mother died in the same place, in 1847 ; the children by this marriage were ten in number, of whom seven lived to grow up, viz. : Benjamin H., enlisted in Co. B, 94th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died while serving his country in Brownsville, Texas, in the summer of 1864 ; George W. , was also a volunteer of the 94th, but on account of sickness was not mustered into service; Sarah Jane ; Mary A. ; Elizabeth M. ; Samuel M. ; Lucinda F. and Lydia M. ; of the above, four served in the Union army during the late war of the rebellion. Mr. Johnson was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he with all his sons have been strong supporters of the same.

JAMES C. JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Heyworth ; one of the old settlers ; was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Sept. 13, 1823 ; his father, Nicholas Johnson, served as captain during the Black Hawk war; was born in Montgomery Co., Penn., and emigrated to Indiana, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred in 1864. He was married in Indiana, to Malinda Cloud; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., where she died in 1850. The subject of this sketch was raised upon the farm until 23 years of age, when he was united in marriage, Sept. 18, 1846, to Elizabeth Hargitt ; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., March 3, 1828; they were the parents of twelve children, of who n one is deceased ; the living are - Malinda, born June 26, 1847; Thomas W., June 17, 1849; Mary E.. Dec. 28, 1850; George S.. Jan. 23, 1854 ; Richard M., Jan. 3, 1856; William R., June 26, 1858; Sarah J., Nov. 11, 1860; Charles W., March 18, 1866; Alfred E. and Albert W. (twins), April 10, 1869; James A., Jan. 4, 1871 ; the deceased died in infancy. Upon his marriage, he rented land and engaged in farming until 1852, when he drove an ox team from St. Joe, Mo., to Sacramento, Cal., within a period of eighty- five days, which, at that time, was the quickest trip on record, of which mention was made in the Sacramento papers; he there engaged in mining several months, when he returned to Indiana and purchased a farm, and in 1856 sold out, and coming to Illinois, purchased 160 acres in Livingston Co., which he afterward exchanged for eighty acres of his present place in 1859, where he has since lived; he now owns 120 acres of prairie and five acres of timber. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, with seven of their children and two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law, are members of the Campbellite Church.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 2 j P. 0. Le Roy ; born in what is now Downs Township, McLean Co., Feb. 10, 1845 ; he is a son of James R. Johnson - one of the early pioneers - who was born in Kentucky in the year 1808, and emigrated to Illinois about the year 1830, and located in Downs Township, where he entered eighty acres of land, upon hich he lived until his decease, which occurred in August, 1866. He was married in White Co., to Mary Satterfield ; she was born about the year 1812; she is now living in West Township, McLean Co. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until the decease of the latter, when he continued to manage the old place for five years, after which he lived in W7est Township four years, and in January, 1878, purchased his present place of eighty acres, upon which he then located and where he now lives. His marriage with Maranda P. Collins was celebrated Oct. 12, 1871 ; she was born in McLean Co., Nov. 6, 1853; they have one child by this union - Nora Mabel, born Nov. 5, 1874. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Robert Collins, who was one of the early settlers, and whose biography appears in another part of this work.

D. C. KAZAR, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Downs. The subject of this sketch was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., 111., Sept. 28, 1848; he is a son of Lathrope Kazar, who emigrated from Ohio, and located in what is now the city of Le Roy in the year 1833; where he has since lived for a period of nearly one-half a century. David C. was the oldest son ; he attended the common school in his youth, and followed farming with his father until 21 years of age, when he engaged in farming upon rented land about two years; he then located upon his present place in 1873, where he and his wife have 110 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Mrs. Mary J. Williams was celebrated March 7, 1871 ; she was born in McLean Co., 111., April 6, 1840; they have one child now living by this union - Ira B., born June 4, 1874. Mrs. Kazar is a daughter of Alexander P. Craig - one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. - who located here about the year 1835. She was first married to Capt. C. Williams, one of the patriots of the late rebellion. He was captain of the 39th 111. Regt., and was killed, while serving his country at the battle of Deep Run.

JOHN W. KERSHNER, farmer, Sec. 27; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 15, 1833, where he attended the common school in his youth, and made his home with his father until 29 years of age, when, on the 22d of February, 1863, he was united in marriage with Malinda Liming; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1845. Upon his marriage, he rented land and engaged in farming, in Ohio, until 1870, when he, with his family, emigrated West and located in Empire Township, when, after farming one year, he removed to Randolph Township and farmed upon rented land, until the fall of 1878, when he purchased his present place, and, upon Jan. 23, 1879, removed upon the same ; he has eighty acres of well-improved land, upon which he has good farm buildings. The children of John and Malinda (Liming) Kershner are three in number, as follows: Samuel E., born Nov. '20, 1864 ; Joseph M., born May 14, 1867 ; Lewis 0.. born Aug. 27, 1877. Mr. K. is a son of Conrad Kershner, who was of German descent; he was born in Berks Co., Penn., Jan. 1, 1789; he was a member of the German Reform Church from infancy, and served for many years as Elder and Deacon, in Pennsylvania ; he located in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1857, where he died, Jan. "22, 1864 ; he was married to Susan Keller, in Pennsylvauia ; she was raised in Northumberland Co., Penn.; she died several years previous to the death of her husband ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living.

JAMES E. KILLION, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P. 0. Downs; born in Clay Co., Ind., March 3, 1828; his grandfather, Adam Killion, was a Revolutionary patriot, and served in the American army during the Revolutionary struggle, until he was captured by the British, from whom he, with two others made their escape: he died in Indiana, about the year 1821. The father of James E. Killion was Matthias J. Killion, who was born April 26, 1804; he married, upon the 18th of March, 1824, Nancy A. Barnett ; she was born in Indiana, Jan. 21, 1805 ; she died Nov. 13, 1843, leaving nine children, of whom six are now living ; Mr. K. married a second time, and has by his second wife twelve children, making twenty-one in all ; he now lives near his son James E., at the advnced age of 75 years, and in possession of all his faculties. The subject of this sketch is the oldest son ; he attended common school in his youth, and assisted his father upon the farm until 18 years of age, when he commenced as farm laborer, working by the month at farming and contracting at clearing timber and cutting rails .until 23 years of age, when he purchased 106 acres of land in Clay Co., and for which he paid in full with the receipts of his savings for the last five years previous. Upon the 27th day of August, 1851, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Ratliff ; she was born April 25, 1830, and died Feb. 16, 1858 ; they had four children by this union - Nancy E., born June 20, 1852, died Oct. 29, 1857 : Emily J., born March 31, 1854; Sarah A., born March 23, 1856 ; John N., born Feb. 5, 1858; died Oct. 10, 1858. His inarriage with Elizabeth Brown was celebrated Jan. 9, 1859, in Indiana; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind., May 1, 1836 ; they have fivechildren by this union - Malinda E., born Dec. 22, 1862 ; James 0., Feb. 26, 1863 ; William J., born March 14, 1865 ; Charley B. born July 1, 1870, and Nettie L., born Oct. 15, 1873. Upon the marriage of Mr. Killion, he built him a log house, with a stick chimney, in which he lived until 1861, when he erected a brick residence, in which he lived until 1865, when he disposed of his whole farm and came West ; he first purchased 106 acres, in Indiana, for which he paid $2.50 an acre, and which was perfectly wild and heavy timber; he cleared the timber and disposed of the same for $40 per acre. In April, 1866, he emigrated to Illinois and purchased 160 acres of land, upon Section 14, Downs Township, McLean Co., upon which he then located and where he now lives; he has since added, until he now owns 240 acres, which he has made by his own hard labor, energy and industry. He and his wife are both members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Mr. K. having been a member for twenty-two years, and Mrs. K. for a period of nineteen years ; they also have three children, members of the same church.

JOSEPH KINSEY, farmer, Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; Republican ; Methodist ; born in Wayne Co., Ind., Jan. 29, 1833; he is a son of Thomas Kinsey, one of the early settlers of McLean Co, now living in Randolph Township. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and attended school in his boyhood and worked upon the farm, until he emigrated to Illinois, with the family, and located in Randolph Township, where he hired out by the month, with Robert Stewart, for two years ; he farmed on shares one year, when he rented eighty acres of his father, in Downs Township, which he farmed for two years, when he purchased his present place, of eighty acres, upon which he located in 1874, where he has since continued to reside. His marriage with Mary Ann Kershaw was celebrated Dec. 10, 1857 ; she was born in Williamson Co., 111., and died Sept. 10, 1877 ; she was a daughter of Joseph and Hannah Kershaw, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work ; upon the 26th of Aug., 1877, she, with her husband, started to visit a sick relative in Le Roy; the horses became frightened and they were both thrown from the carriage ; Mrs. Kershaw received injuries causing a total paralysis below the shoulders; she retained perfect consciousness until the last, and died in great peace at her home, Sept. 10, 1877 ; the grace of God sustained her in her affliction, and she repeate tly exclaimed " The Lord's will be done ! all is bright." A large concourse of friends attended her funeral. His marriage with Mary C. Van Winkle was celebrated Jan. 3, 1878; she was born in McLean Co., June 1858; she is a daughter of John Van Winkle, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., now living in Downs Township ; they have one child by this union - Charles Henry, born Nov. 5, 1878.

WILLIAM KINSEY, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Wayne Co , Ind.. Aug. 31, 1837 ; he attended the common schools during his youth, a,nd assisted in farming until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and settled in Downs Township, in the spring of 1854, where his father, Thomas Kinsey, purchased 240 acres, upon which he moved, with his family. The subject of this sketch remained upon the farm until 23 years of age, when, upon March 5, 1862, he was united in marriage with Hannah Waddington ; she was born in Williamson Co., Feb. 9, 1846 ; she is a daughter of George Waddington, who was born in England, June 9, 1818, and emigrated to America in 1842 : he was married in Williamson Co , 111., to Elizabeth Kershaw ; she was born in England, Dec. 11. 1827, and is a daughter of Joseph Kershaw, now living in Le Roy, and whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work ; Mr. Waddington emigrated from Williamson to McLean Co. in the fall of 1857, where he purchased 160 acres of land, upon which he settled and lived until 1874, when he returned to England upon a visit ; after he returned home, he died, upon the 19th day of June, 1876 ; Mrs. Waddington died March 10, 1870 ; they are both buried in the Gilmore graveyard, in Empire Township ; they were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are now living! and nine are living in McLean Co. In August. 1862, Mr. Kinsey enlisted in Company B, 94th Regt. Vol. Inf., and served the fall and winter in Missouri and Arkansas, and was wounded in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., upon the 7th of Dec, 1862. and was sent to the hospital at Fayetteville, where he remained two months, and was then sent to Springfield, where he received his discharge, in March. 1863 ; he returned home and engaged in farming which business he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in the spring of 1867, where he has 160 acres of land under good cultivation, and upon which he has good build, ings. The children of William and Hannah (Waddington) Kinsey were five in number, of whom one is deceased ; the living are - George T., born May 18, 1864; Laura J., born Oct. 29, 1865 ; William Edgar, born Feb. 25, 1869; Elmer C, born Nov. 7, 1872; the deceased died in infancy v The parents of Mr. Kinsey live in Randolph Township, McLean Co.

WILLTAM S. LAFFERTY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in DeWitt Co., 111., Aug. 16, 1847; he is a son of W. H. Lafferty, who was born in Ohio, May, 1807, and emigrated to Illinois and located in DeWitt Co. in 1835, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred April 18, 1875. He was Judge of the Probate Court of De Witt Co, for a term of four years. During his residence in Ohio he was a Colonel of a regiment of milU tia until his removal to Illinois, when he resigned. He married Amanda Anderson ; she was born in Philadelphia, and now lives in De Witt. W. S. Lafferty lived with his father and attended school and followed farming until 15 years of age, and, on Feb. 24, 1864, he enlisted in the 39th Reg., I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he served in the Army of the James River, under Gen. Grant, in Virginia, and was engaged in many severe battles, among which we mention Fort Darling, Bermuda Hundred, siege of Petersburg, capture of Richmond; and surrender of Lee. He then remained in Richmond until the fall of 1865, when he was sent to Norfolk, Va., where he was discharged December, 1865. having served in the army nearly two years. He then returned to De Witt Co., and followed farming until he located upon his present plac in 1873, where he owns eighty acres of land, and farms 160 acres belonging to his wife. He is extensively engaged in stock-raising, feeding from fifty to seventy-five head of cattle a"d some one hundred hogs. His marriage with Laura E. Crumbaugh was celebrated Dec. 5, 1872 i she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Aug. 26, 1852. They have two children by this union - -Charleo A., born Nov. 7, 1873; Blanche May, June 16, 1877. Mrs. Lafferty is a granddaughter of Esquire Hiram Buck, who has a very extended sketch among the biographies, of Empire Township, in another part of this work. She is the oldest daughter of J. H. L, Crumbaugh, whose sketch also appears among the sketches of Empire Township.

WILLIAM R. LINTON, farmer, Sec. 3. Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Ohio, May 22, 1831. He attended school in his youth and followed carpentering and railroading until he emigrated to Illinois ab^ut, the year 1859, and located in McLean Co., and engaged in farming, which business he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in 1871, where he has since continued to live. His marriage with Nancy M. Brittin was celebrated Feb, 17.1861; she was born in McLean Co., Aug. 28, 1837; nine children were the fruit of this, union, of whom four are deceased ; the living are - Dorsey D., born Oct. 11, 1861 ; Andrew E.,. May 8, 1863; Minor B., Oct. 25, 1869; Cora, March 28, 1874; May B., Dec. 20, 1876. Mrs Linton was the second daughter of Nathan T. Brittin, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work

HENRY C. LOTT, farmer, Sec. 10, Town 21 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; born in Jefferson Co., Ind., June 2, 1829. His father, Jesse Lott, was born in Clark Co., Ky., July 15. 1800. He emigrated to Indiana with his parents at an early day, about the year 1812, where he entered land, and now lives upon land upon which he entered upwards of half a century ago. He was married in Indiana, to Elizabeth Heaton ; she was born in Virginia, and died in Indiana, August, 1853, The subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm until 28 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located in Dale Township, McLean Co., in October, 1861. Here he followed farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. F, 94th I. V. I. He served in the campaigns of Arkansas and Missouri, and was engaged in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. In the spring of 1863, he was sent down the Mississippi to Milliketi's Bend ; then crossed the Mississippi River at Warrenton, and joined the army of Grant, then in the rear of Vicksburg, taking a position upon the extreme left of the army, and continued the siege until the capture of Vicksburg, upon July 4, 1863. Upon the 12th of July, he went up the Yazoo river, and, after the capture of Yazoo City, went down the river to New Orleans ; then to Texas ; from there to Mobile Bay, where he was engaged in the capture of Fort Morgan and Spanish Fort. In the- spring of 1865 he was sent to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and received his discharge at Springfield, 111., Aug. 7, 1865. He then farmed upon rented land for five years, and, in 1870, purchased his present place of 1*20 acres, where he has since lived. His marriage with Susan A. Phillips was celebrated Dec. 25, 1856 ; she was born in Jefferson Co., Ind., May 17, 1832; they have six children by this union - Charles G., born Oct. 18, 1857; Franklin P., Sept. 8, 1860; Florence N., July 20, 1866; Leleah U., April 20, 1869; Jennie H., Oct. 14, 1870; Annie E., Sept. 14, 1872. Mr. Lott is a Republican in politics, and has always supported the Republican party since its organization. He has been a strong temperance advocate for the past quarter of a century. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for upwards of eleven years, Mrs. Lott having been a member at that time. Mrs. Lott was a daughter of Robert Phillips. He was a native of North Carolina; he removed to Kentucky when 3 years of age ; he married Rebecca Graham ; she was a native of Tennessee. They were the parents of thirteen children, all of whom lived to grow up and become the heads of families, and all lived Until April, 1879, when the circle of the children was broken by the death of the oldest brother. Mr. Phillips died in Indiana in 1857 ; Mrs. P. died Dec. 29, 1878. When Mr. Lott Was 21 years of age, he was employed by the month upon a flat-boat, running from Cincinnati to New Orleans, taking down from fifty to one hundred tons of provisions, hay, etc.; the boats cost from $100 to $200 to build, and, upon reaching New Orleans, would be sold for old lumber ; he would then work his passage back upon steamboats, and worked in this business for a period of seven years.

ANDREW J. LUCAS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Randolph; born in White Co., 111., Nov. 7, 1818. His father, William Lucas, was born in North Carolina, April 15, 1787. He emigrated to Illinois and located in White Co. at a very early day, and located in Blooming Grove in 1824, where he died. Dec. 16, 1839. He married Gooden Hendricks; she was born in North Carolina, Jan. 26, 1794, and died in McLean Co., March 26, 1840. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom are now living - A. J., born Nov. 7, 1818; Dorcas, Jan. 19, 1829, now Mrs. Dr. Reeder, of Lacon, 111. ; Benjamin L., Jan. 9, 1831, living in Bloomington. The subject of this sketch removed with his parents to Blooming Grove in 1824, and is among the earliest settlers of McLean Co,, and one of the oldest living settlers of the county. He remained with his father until his death, and, within a period of two months, lost by death his father, mother, two brothers and a sister. In the spring of 1840 he commenced farming for himself, which he continued for two years ; then he farmed on shares for three years. His marriage with Elizabeth Simmons was celebrated Dec. 28, 1844 ; she was born in Virginia, Feb. 5, 1819. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are deceased. The living are - Wilburn E., born July 9, 1847 ; Benjamin W., July 27, 1852; married and live at home. Mr. Lucas has lived in McLean Co. a period of fifty- five years. He removed upon his present place in January, 1879, where he has 217 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, upon Which he has good farm buildings. Mr. L. has been a member of the Christian Church for forty-six years, Mrs. L. and both children being members of the same Church.

JOHN L. McCOMB, farmer; P. 0. Hey worth ; born in Indiana Co., Penn., April 22, 1820; he was the second son of James McComb, who was born in the same county and State on Oct. 14, 1785, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred April, 1865. He was united in marriage with Jane Laughlin in 1813 or 1814; she was born in Indiana Co., Penn., April 27, 1788; they were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living. The subject of this sketch lived upon the home farm until 45 years of age, when, at the decease of his father, he disposed of his interest in Pennsylvania and emigrated to Illinois, locating in Knox Co. in the spring of 1866 ; here he engaged in farming one year, and, in the spring of 1867, he came to McLean Co., and settled on Sec. 6, Town 21, when he purchased 160 acres of land on Sees. 6 and 7, where he then located and where he has since continued to reside. In politics, Mr. McComb is a Republican, having identified himself with the Republican party upon its organization, and has since labored for the success of the same. He is a strong temperance advocate ; and has never made use of tobacco in any form. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for a period of thirty-five years, his wife joining two years previous. His marriage with Rachel Kelly was celebrated Nov. 7, 1843; she was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., in December, 1819; eight children were the fruit of this union, of whom one died in infancy ; the living now all reside within a circle of four miles of their parents, four of whom now live at home; the living are - Addison J., born Aug. 13, 1844 ; William H., May 22, 1846; Camden W., March 23, 1849; Cyrus C, June 15, 1853; Millard, Sept. 18, 1855; Harriet, April 30, 1858 ; Lizzie, November, 1860. Of the above, Addison J. and William H. served in the 206th Regt. P. V. I. during the last year of the war.

GEORGE H. McCOMB, farmer and blacksmith, Section 5, Town 21; P. 0. Heyworth; born in Indiana Co., Penn., July 16, 1822. He was a son of James McComb, who was born Oct. 14, 1785, in the same county and State, where he followed farming until his decease, Which occurred April, I860, upward of 80 years of age. He was married to Jane Laughlin in 1813 or 1814; she was also born in the same county, April 27, 1788; they were the patents of eight children, of whom five now survive. The subject of this sketch attended the common school until 18 years of age, when he learned and worked at the blacksmith trade until 1869, at which time he emigrated West and located upon his present place where he has since lived ; he first purchased eighty acres of land upon Sec. 5, to which he has since added by purchase until he now owns 160 acres of good prairie land, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage on the 10th day of March, 1847 ; she was born in Armstrong Co., Penn , Jan. 8, 182'J; her maiden name was Caroline Irwin; they are the parents of nine children - Corydon I., born Dec. 16, 1847 ; Mary A., Sept. 23, 1850; Emma V.. May 31, 1853 ; James B., Oct. 31, 1855; Thomas R., May 27, 1858; Elmer E., Aug. 20, 1861, died Sept. 13, 1869 ; George W., born May 31, 18 >4, died Aug. 14, 1870 (killed by being thrown from a horse) ; Carrie J., born Nov. 24, 1866, died March 5, 1870; Annie Bell, born Oct. 1, 1869. Mr. McComb was an old-line Whig, and joined the Republican party upon its organization, and has since labored for the success of the same He is a strong temperance advocate. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1848; his wife became a member about the same time ; three of the elder children are also members of the same Church.

CORYDON I. McCOMB, farmer and blacksmith, Sec. 32; P. 0. Heyworth ; born in Indiana Co., Penn., Dec. 16, 1847. He is the eldest son of George H. McComb, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Downs Township. The subject of this sketch attended the common school until 16 years of age, when, on Aug. 5, 1864, he enlisted in the 206th Regt. P. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was forwarded to the Army of the James, under Grant, with Gen. Ord as brigade commander ; he was first engaged in front of Petersburg, and was afterward transferred to the front of Richmond, until the evacuation, when he, with the army, followed in pursuit of Lee until his surrender in April 1865; he then did guard duty at Lynchburg, after which he went to Richmond and Baltimore, and returned home, being mustered out of service, and received his discharge in July, 1865. He then returned home and learned and worked at the blacksmith trade until 1869, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 5, Town 21, Downs Township, McLean Co., where he followed blacksmithing and farming until 1872, when he opened a blacksmith shop at McLean, where he followed his trade three years. He located upon his present place in 1878, and engaged in farming and blacksmithing. His marriage with Emily Ellsworth, was celebrated Nov. 24, 1875 ; she was born in St. Clair Co., 111., Jan. 2, 1855. They are the parents of two children - Minnie E., born Feb. 22, 1877, and an infant, born April 14, 1879. Mrs. McComb is the eldest daughter of William and Mary Ellsworth, whose sketch will be found among the biographies of Downs Township. The business card of Mr. McComb appears in the business directory of the township, in another part of this work.

JOHN McCONNELL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, April 9, 1832; his father, William McConnell, was born in Pennsylvania April 12, 1788. He married Catharine La Fever; she died in 1834; Mr. McC. died in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Oct. 2, 1876 ; he first came to Ohio upon a flat-boat down the river, early in the present century, and was offered for his boat a large tract of land upon which the city of Cincinnati now stands ; of their children, which were twelve in number, only four now survive; the rest all died of consumption. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools in his youth, and finished his studies at the Farmers' College, located upon College Hill, near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended two years; in 1854, he came to Illinois and purchased 160 acres of land, at $4.50 per acre, upon Sec. 35, Downs Township, McLean Co., and the following year located upon the same, and which he has since brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of improvement by continued hard labor ; he now owns 327 acres in his home farm and fifty acres of timber in Empire Township. Mr. McConnell was clerk of the meeting called to organize Downs Township, and assisted in the organization of the same ; township and school offices have been his in plenty, often holding two offices at the same time; lie has held the offices of Justice of the Peace fourteen years. Assessor two years, and Highway Commissioner, School Director and Trustee, one of the Executive Committee of the County Grange, and is now Master of the Downs Grange, No. 1163, and the present Supervisor of Downs Township, and Director of the County Insurance Company. His marriage with Martha Buck was celebrated June 17, 1862; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Dec. 14, 1838; they have three children by this union- Anna Belle, born March 18, 1863; Hiram E. and William M. (twins) Oct. 25, 1866 ; Mrs. McConne 1 is a daughter of Hiram Buck, whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Township, in another part of this work. When Mr. McConnell purchased his land, there were but few settlers upon the prairie; he commenced breaking prairie in 1856, with a team of eight oxen, six of which were perfectly wild and were handled with great difficulty. He commenced school-teaching in 1855, and taught for nine winters ; he has been a hard-working, industrious farmer, and by his correct business habits has placed himself among the large land-holders and successful farmers of McLean Co.

NELSON McDANIEL, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Downs; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., 111.; born in Monroe Co., Va., Nov. 26, 1815; his father, William McDaniel, was born in Virginia, where he followed farming until 1832, when he emigrated to Indiana and located in Boone Co. and followed farming there until his decease, which occurred in 1853. He was married in Virginia to Nancy Gore; she was born in Shenandoah Co., Va.; she died in Indiana about the year 1841 ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living. The subject of this sketch emigrated to Indiana when 17 years of age, and made his home with his father until 25 years of age, when, upon Dec. 16, 1840, he was united in marriage with Lucinda Gapen; she was born in Boone Co., Ind., Nov. 16. 1822; she died September, 1855, leaving seven children^-Parisade, Daniel, AVilliam S., Zachariah, Sarah N., Joseph N., Lucinda Le Boy; his marriage with Naomi Matthews was celebrated September, 1856; she was born in Virginia in 1827; they have three children by this union - Mary F., Caroline and Charles S. Upon the marriage of Mr. McDaniel, he farmed upon land given him by his father, for twelve years, when he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 2, Downs Township in April, 1852, coming all the way in companv with Eber Hornor by team, the trip consuming eleven days; upon arriving here , he commenced farming upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he now owns 160 acres, all of which is under good cultivation. Of town and school offices, he has had his full share, having been elected the second Supervisor of Downs Township, which he held for two years ; he held the office of Town Collector some four years, and School Director seven years, and other petty offices ; he was the first Collector in Downs Township, and as Collector he has successfully handled the funds of Downs Township for four years.

G. J. McGlNNIS, farmer, Sec. 26; P. 0. Le Roy; born in Lawrence Co., Penn.. April 14, 1842. He attended the common schools in his youth and assisted his father upon the farm until 18 years of age, when, on the 10th of September, 1861, he enlisted in Battery B, 1st P. V. A.; he served in the army of the Potomac under McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, McDowell, Meade, Pope, and lastly, Grant. He was in many hard battles, among which we mention Mechanicsvillle, June 26 and 27, 1862; Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862; New Market Cross Roads, June 30, 1862; the second battle of Bull Run, Aug. 28, 29 and 30, 1862; South Mountain, Md., Sept, 14, 1862; Antietam, Md.. Sept, 16 and 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862: Fredericksburg, April 30 and May 1, 1863, U. S. Ford, May 6, 1863; Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863; battles of the Wilderness, and the last one near Petersburg, in August, 1864. After serving his full time of three years, he reaeived his discharge on the 10th of September, 1864. Mr. McGinnis hal a brother in the same company, who died from sickness contracted while in the army. He personally was sick but one week during his whole term. Receiving his discharge, he returned home, and in the spring of 1865, emigrated to Illinois, and located in Woodford Co., where he purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he lived one year, when he sold out and purchased eighty acres in Marshall Co., and farmed eight years, and again sold and purchased his present place of 160 acres, in the winter of 1874, where he has since lived. His marriage with Nancy B. McCord, was celebrated Dec. 8, 1865; she was born in Lawrence Co., Penn., Aug. 7, 1840; they were the parents of six children, of whom two are deceased; the living are - William J., born June 23, 1867; John D., May 14, 1872; Bessie M., Oct. 28, 1876; Kobert S., Sept, 23, 1878. The deceased died in childhood. Mr McGinnis is a member of the M. E. Church, having become a member in 1859, his wife having been a member since 13 years of age

JOSEPH MARSHALL, physician, Sec. 31 ; Heyworth ; born in Fayette Co., Ky., June 24, 1832. He attended the common school until he was 17 years of age, when he went to M. Louis and entered the St. Louis University, where he attended three years, and from which he graduated in the spring of 1853, from both Medical and Literary Departments. He then returned to Kentucky, and engaged in the practice of medicine, in Fayette Co., until the fall of 1872, when he located in Bloomington, McLean Co., and practiced medicine until March, 1874, when he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived and followed his profession, having a good practice, which is yearly increasing. His marriage with Martha M. Goodwin, was celebrated Sept, 25, 1855 ; she was born in Fayette Co., Ky., March 9, 1838. They have* six children by this union - Ella J.. Ida E., Rachel J., Robert, Sallie R., Edmund S. Mr. Marshall was a son of Robert Marshall, who was born in Fayette Co., Ky., Jan. 1, 1800. Has always successfully followed farming, and is now living, in the 80th year of his age, in full possession of all his faculties, and able to attend to some light work. He was married to Elizabeth Evans ; she was born in the same county, in 1804, and she is still living, and daily performs her household duties.

SOLOMON MASON, farmer, Sec. 18 : P. 0. Downs ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., 111.; born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Oct. 13, 1801 ; he removed with his parents to Ohio in 1805, and located in Montgomery Co., where he followed farming with his father until 19 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Fryer. August, 1820; she was born in Kentucky Nov. 25, 1799 ; she died Dec. 31, 1850, leaving eleven children, of whom six are now living, viz., George, John W., Eliza, Sarah, Daniel and Mary. His marriage with Elizabeth Brooks was celebrated in 1854 ; she was born in Indiana August 31, 1815; they had four children, of whom three are living - Samuel B., William H., Charles A. Upon the marriage of Mr. Mason, he farmed upon rented land for twelve years in Preble Co., Ohio, when he purchased eighty acres, upon which he lived until 1839, when he came West and located in McLean Co., 111.; he settled upon his present place in 1840, where he has since continued to live during a period of thirty-eight, years; Mr. Mason commenced in life without capital : he had $100 left him only ; he has raised a large family, and now owns 240 acres of land upon his home farm, with good farm buildings, and 200 acres in Cropsey Township, Sec. 31, all of which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry ; he has suffered all the privations and hardships of frontier life, and, although now in the 78th year of his age, is in possession of all his faculties, and daily attends to the chores about his place. He has been a member of the United Brethren for a period of thirty years.

D W. MASON, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Le Roy ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Preble Co., Ohio, April 15, 1833 ; he emigrated with his father, Solomon Mason, and located in what is now Downs Township, McLean Co., 111., in the fall of 1839; his father now lives upon the same place upon which he located upward of forty years ago ; his biography also appears among the sketches of this township in this work. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools in his youth, and assisted his father in farming until 23 years of age, since which time he has been engaged in carpentering and farming for himself. His marriage with Susan Richardson was celebrated Aug. 14, I860; she was born in this county July 28, 1843; they are the parents of five children, four of whom are now living, viz., Orville H., born Aug. 23, 1861 ; Cornelia, June 24, 1863 ; Mary E., June 13, 1865, and Stanley L., Sept. 12, 1876. Mr. Mason removed upon his present place in 1877, where he has since lived ; he owns 120 acres with good farm buildings. He is a Republican in politics ; his first vote was for Judge David Davis. Mrs. Mason is a daughter of S. P. Richardson, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., and is now making his home with his son-in-law, D. M. Funk, at Bloomington.

SAMUEL MILLER, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Downs; born in Randolph Township, McLean Co., Nov. 17, 1845; he is the oldest living son of M. H. Miller, usually known as Hagar Miller, one of the early settlers, and whose sketch appears among the biographies of Randolph Township in another part of this work. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents and followed farming until February, 1864, when he enlisted in the 94th Regt. I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union. He joined the regiment at New Orleans, and went to Mobile Bay, where he was engaged in the siege and capture of Ft. Morgan, Blakely and Spanish Fort, by which Mobile fell into the hands of the Union army ; he was then forwarded to Galveston, Tex., where he was transferred to the 37th I. V. I., and was on detailed service until May, 1866, when he was mustered out of service at Houston, and received his discharge at Springfield in May, 1866, having served in the Union army two years and three months ; he then returned home and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed ; he removed upon his present place in 1872, where he has 160 acres of land upon which he has good farm buildings. His marriage with Emma Passwater was celebrated March 9, 1871 ; she was born in Randolph Township, McLean Co., and is a daughter of Clement Passwater, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; they have three children by this union - Rebecca E., Cora C. and Franklin H.

JAMES MONTGOMERY, physician and surgeon, Downs; born in County Tyrone, Ireland, Aug. 28, 1837, where he attended the subscription schools until 16 years of age, when he went to Manchester, England, and, after serving an apprenticeship of three years in a fancy grocery store, emigrated to America, landing in New York Nov. 1, 1856; after consuming the entire winter in New York and adjoining cities vainly seeking for employment, he purchased a drover's ticket, for $8, to Indianapolis, and upon arriving there continued his journey to Danville, 111., where he arrived with $3 and a good wardrobe ; the following day, he obtained employment with Dr. Fithian upon a farm, at $15 per month, and after working one year invested his earnings in young stock, calves and yearlings, which he held one year and sold at a profit of 100 per cent ; he then engaged in farming and stock-raising, until the spring of 1860, when he came to McLean Co. and purchased a farm near what is now Downs, and, after farming one year, commenced the study of medicine, and in August, 1862, enlisted as a private in Co. F, 94th Regt. I. V. I., and served as such through the campaigns of Missouri and Arkansas, siege and capture of Vicksburg, capture of Yazoo City, after which he went to Port Hudson, where he was appointed Assist-. ant Hospital Steward, and upon arriving at Brownsville, Texas, in 1863, was appointed General Hospital Steward, and continued his study of medicine under Dr. E. A. Carothers until 1864, when he went to New Orleans and passed examination before the Examining Board of the Army; and was appointed Assistant to the Medical Purveyor of the Department of the Gulf, which position he held until the close of the war ; while located in New Orleans, he attended the lectures of the Medical College, and the practical experience received while here, in surgery, has proved of more value than years of study and practice in civil life. At the close of the war, he returned to McLean Co. and engaged in the practice of medicine, and for two years continued his studies in medicine and dissecting under Dr. William Hill, of Bloomington ; he has continued the practice of medicine in Downs and neighboring townships since 1865, during a period of fifteen years of constant increase in his practice. He is a member of the McLean County Medical Society, and is appointed a member of the State Medical Society at their Convention, to be held at Lincoln during the summer of 1879. His marriage with Mary J. Savidge was celebrated May 12. 1861; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Aug. 31, 1842; they had six children, of whom three are now living - James E., born Feb. 9, 1862; Margaret E., July 1, 1867; Matilda F., Nov. 14, 1871. Mrs. Montgomery is a daughter of James N. Savidge, one of the early settlers of McLean Co., who located here in 1834, and now lives in Old Town Township.

THOMAS B. NULL, farmer. Sec. 14; P.O. LeRoy; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. 111. ; born in West Virginia Dec. 4, 1829. His father, Levi Null, was born in Lancaster City,

Penn., April 26, 1794 ; he emigrated with his parents to West Virginia when six years of age, where he was raised, upon the Pan Handle, a name given a narrow strip of land Virginia reserved to her own territory ; in 1852, he removed to Licking Co., Ohio, where he died Jan. 4, 1875. The subject of this sketch attended school and assisted his father in farming until 23 years of age, when he emigrated to Ohio, and upon the 22d day of November, 1854, he was united in marriage to Anna Keith ; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Jan. 5, 1837 ; they were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living - William C, born Sept. 27, 1855 ; Levi A., Dec. 24, 1857 ; Mary 0., Nov. 8. 1860, died Nov. 24, 1862; Charles J., born July 17, 1864; Ella A., Dec. 6, 1866 : Gussie L., April 9, 1877. Upon the marriage of Mr. Null, he commenced farming for himself in Ohio, which business he followed until he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 7, Downs Township, McLean Co., in 1858, where he rented land of L. Downs for six years, and, in the spring of 1865, purchased his present place, upon which he then located and where he has since lived ; he now owns 160 acres in his home farm, with good buildings, all of which he has made by his own hard labor. When he first came to this State, he was entirely without capital ; he did his plowing with one horse ; he then purchased another horse upon time, and in this way obtained a team, and for three years he battled against poverty without making a dollar ; during the fall of 1858, money was very scarce, and to obtain cash for labor was impossible: he, with his team, worked thirty-five days for seventy bushels of frostbitten corn.

REV. SYLVESTER PEASLEY, farmer ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Grayson Co., Va., Aug. 31, 1823. His father, Isaac Peasley, was born Aug. 30, 1798, in North Carolina. He was married in Grayson Co., Va., to Rachel Holsey. She was born in Virginia in 1803. They were the parents of eight children, of whom four are now living. Mr. Peasley died Oct. 16, 1851. His widow died in the spring of 1865. The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents to Illinois and located in McLean Co. in the fall of 1834. They lived in a log cabin with stick-and-mud chimney ; it had a puncheon floor and was in all respects a rude structure. They lived in this cabin for two years, when they built one of their own. Mr. Peasley lived with his parents several years, and upon the 3d of November, 1842, he was united in marriage with Mary Stillman. Six children were the fruit of this union, of whom one is deceased ; the living are - Granville, born Oct. 14, 1845; Rachel S., Oct. 29, 1848; Isaac, Oct. 24, 1851 ; John, July 16, 1854; Esther C, Oct. 13, 1859; and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Peasley died Oct. 2, 1863. His marriage with Mrs. Susan Crosby was celebrated April 6, 1864. One child was the fruit of this union, who died when upward of three years of age. Mr. Peasley has endured all the privations of frontier life ; he has made frequent trips to Chicago ; has been out twenty-six days in succession, exposed to the coldest of weather ; has waded the Kankakee River when his clothes were frozen as soon as he came out, and has slept on brush which he cut to protect him from the mud in the rainy weather. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having devoted a large part of his life to the cause, and has attended five churches. He has been an ardent worker in the cause of the Sabbath school, and still continues his good work. He was elected the first Supervisor of Downs, in 1858, which office he held for twelve years in succession. He was the first Postmaster in Downs Township, which office he held twelve years. He is now President of the McLean County Fire Insurance Company, of which he was a charter member. Mr. Peasley is a Republican in politics, having joined the party upon its organization, and has since labored in support of the same. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1840, of which he was an ordained minister, but was forced to discontinue preaching on account of weak lungs. He removed upon his present place in 1847, where he has since lived during a period of upward of thirty years. Mrs. Peasley remarks about the sudden change of 1836. The weather had been mild for some time ; rain had been falling, changing the snow to slush, when suddenly a cold wind-storm came and changed the temperature nearly sixty degrees in a very short time ; the face of the country was changed from water to ice immediately, and, as Rev. Mr. Peasley remarked, appeared like a picture of the polar regions.

JOHN PRICE, retired farmer; P. 0. Downs; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.: born in Mecklenberg Co., N. C, Jan. 23, 1802. His father was of Welsh descent, born in North Carolina Nov. 12. 1768. He removed to Kentucky at an early day, and to McLean Co., 111., in 1836, where he died Nov. 16, 1852. He was married in North Carolina to Sarah Beatty. She was born in Ireland in 1769, and died in this county in 1843. John Price emigrated with his parents to Kentucky in 1804, being then 2 years of age, and, with the exception of three years' residence in Tennessee, lived in Kentucky until 1830, when became to McLean Co., 111., and located eighty acres upon Sec. 4, Town 22, Range 3 east. From 1830 to 1836, he resided a part of the time upon his place here and a portion also in Kentucky, and, at the latter date, he located permanently with his family, and is admitted by all to be the oldest continuous resident of Downs Township. When he first came in here looking for a location, he rode from the place where J. E. Crumbaugh now lives to his present location, a distance often miles, at which time there was not a single white settler on the way, the country at that time being occupied by the Kickapoo Indians. Bloomington contained but a few log houses and one store, kept by James Allin, who kept a limited stock of goods, purchased at St. Louis. His voting-place was in

Bloomington until 1841, when he, with four others, petitioned the Court for a voting- place' which petition was granted, and was named, in honor of Mr. John Price, as Price's Precinct. Mr. Price entered land, as he was able, until he held patents from the Government to 1,000 acres, and a part of which he has lived upon for the past forty-four years. Of township offices he has held his full share, having held the offices of Town Treasurer and Justice of the Peace fourteen years, and other petty offices, and has taken a deep interest and has been looked upon as one of the prominent men of his township. The early settlers at Price's Precinct, unlike the pioneers of many localities, were religious people, and, like the ancient Israelites, experienced no trouble, in worshiping God even in the wilderness, and John Price generously donated the use of his house for a tabernacle. In this house, services were held by the Baptists, the Methodists and the Presbyterians, and was used as a place of worship some eight years. Upon Sept. 13, 1821, he was united in marriage with Matilda Rives. She was born in Franklin Co., Va., May 16, 1797. She was a daughter of Burwell Rives, who was one of the prominent men of Virginia, where he was born in 1772. He died in Kentucky in October, 1811. He was married in Virginia to Mary Gillum. She was born in Virginia in 1776, and died ten days previous to her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Price were the parents of eight children, of whom two now survive, viz.: Peter B., whose biography appears amoDg the sketches of this township, and Mrs, Frederick Couden, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Old Town Township in another part of this work. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Price was celebrated Sept. 13, 1871, at which there were upward of one hundred present, among which were four who witnessed the marriage ceremony fifty years previous. The presents were numerous and expensive, among which we mention two solid, gold-headed ebony canes, two pairs gold-bowed spectacles, $20 in gold, gold-band China tea sets, and many other presents, all of which spoke volumes of respect and esteem in which these early pioneers are held by their neighbors, relatives and friends.