McLean County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 38 of 42)

HUGH LORMER, farmer, Sec. 3; P. 0. Towanda; one of old settlers of McLean Co., born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Jan. 1, 1834. At 2 years of age, he was placed under the care of a distant relative, with whom he lived until 12 years of age, when he started out for himself and secured employment with Mr. D. J. Baker upon a farm in New York for the next seven years, then was employed as clerk in a hotel for two years, and, when 21 years of age, he emigrated West and landed in Bloomington in the spring of 1855. He then found employment with C. Bell for four years, when he rented land and followed farming for seven years, and, in the spring of 1862, he located upon his present place, under a five-years lease, and purchased the place after a residence of four years. Mr. Lormer arrived in Bloomington with a capital not exceeding $8. He has, by his hard labor and perseverance, secured 125 acres of land, with good farm buildings, valued at $5,000. He held the office of Commissioner of Highways for a period of six years, and is now the present Supervisor of Towanda Township. His marriage with Caroline A. Burch was celebrated in New York March 10, 1858. She was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., April 1, 1834. They were the parents of five children, of whom two died in childhood. The living are - Frank B., born Nov. 14, 1860; Fred H., born Sept. 15, 1862; and Carr E., born Dec. 9, 1868.

CHRISTIAN MECHERLE, farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Holder; born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Jan. 15, 1830; he emigrated to America, and landed in New York June 17, 1852; he followed farming five years in Ohio ; in 1857, he came to McLean Co., and, in 1863, he and his brother Fred purchased their present place of 160 acres, upon which ihey have lived since 1865. The marriage of Christian Mecherle and Susan Hall was celebrated in 1865 ; she was burn in Ohio ; they have five children - Frederick, Will, Lucy, Laura and George. Republican ; Protestant.

WALTER NICHOLS, farmer, Sec. 28; P. 0. Bloomington ; born in Boyle Co., Ky., Dec. 29, 1805 ; his grandfather, Walter Nichols, emigrated and served in the American army during the Revolutionary struggle. The father of the subject of this sketch was born in Newport, R. I. He emigrated to Kentucky, and followed his trade of cabinet-maker until 1844, when he came to Illinois ; he died in Rushville, Schuyler Co. The subject of this sketch learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed until his marriage, when he purchased a farm of 800 acres, and followed farming and stock-raising in Kentucky until 1858; in the fall of 1860, he came to McLean Co., 111., and purchased Sec. 28, Towanda Township, where he has since lived ; he has since disposed of all, except eighty acres of the above, which he now rents to his son. His marriage with Elizabeth M. Thompson was celebrated Nov. 29, 1832 ; she was born in Virginia, and died Nov. 15, 1840, leaving three children - Mary H., Sarah T. and Nelson A. Upon the 16th of January, 1845, he was united in marriage with Martha Dunlap ; she was born in Fayette Co., Ky. ; they have six children now living by this union; having lost three by death, the living are Louisa, Nannie B., James M., Ella R., Mattie 0. and Walter; the deceased died in infancy. Presbyterian ; Democrat.

GEORGE E. RUCKER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 34; P.O. Bloomington; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in McLean Co.. 111., Jan. 25, 1849; he is a son of L. E. Rucker, one of our early pioneers. George E. Rucker attended the public schools in Bloomington until 15 years of age, after which he was employed as clerk for two years in Bloomington in different branches of trade, and the following six years was employed as book-keeper; in 1872, he located upon his present place, where he has 160 acres of land, all under a high state of cultivation, with the best of farm buildings, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. His marriage with Lucy E. Ballard was celebrated Dec. 25, 1871; they have two children by this union - William B. and Mary Bell - twins, born Aug. 14, 1873. Mrs. Rucker was a daughter of William L. Ballard, who was born in Kentucky, and came to McLean Co. in 1856, where his decease occurred in 1870. Baptist; Republican.

SMITH SAWYER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19; P. 0. Towanda; one of the old settlers ; born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Oct. 2, 1816, where he was raised to farm labor until 21 years of age ; he was then employed some four years buying and herding cattle, after which he engaged in the same business upon his own account, buying and driving to market in Ohio. About the year 1858, he located permanently in McLean Co., and for eight years was in the employ of Judge David Davis; in 1853, he purchased from the Government, eighty acres of his present place, at $2.50 per acre; a few years later, he purchased eighty acres more, and now owns 160 acres, with good buildings, all of which he has accumulated by his own exertion. His first wife was Eleanor Bunn ; she died without children. His second wife was Clarissa Misner; she died, leaving one child - Albert - who died in Douglas Co., Kan., of brain fever, at 22 years of age. His marriage with Mrs. Susan Whitty was celebrated in December, 1873 ; she was born in Clark Co., 111.; they have two children by this union - Theodore and Nellie. Republican. (

G. W. WHITE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 10; P. 0. Towanda. One of the old settlers of McLean Co., 111.; born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Aug. 19, 1842. He was brought up to farm labor, obtaining a common-school education. At 8 years of age, he emigrated with his parents, to Illinois, and located at Smith's Grove, Towanda Township, in 1850, and worked with his father until 1868, when he commenced farming 160 acres of land deeded to him by his father, upon Sec. 10, where he has since lived. He now owns 400 acres in Sees. 3, 10 and 11, all of is under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings. Aside from farming, he is extensively engaged in stock-raising and feeding, confining his business mostly to cattle and hogs. He feeds from 60 to 100 head of cattle, and 100 to 150 hogs. His marriage with Flora Rariden was celebrated April 6, 1870; she was born in Indiana March 10, 1855. They have three children by this union - Warren T., Emma G. and Maud. Mr. White is a son of George C. White, who was born in the State of New York Feb. 1, 1804. He emigrated to Ohio, in 1812, where he lived four years, then went to Clark Co., Obio, remaining there several years, where he was united in marriage to Julia A. Noal, Jan. 18, 1827; she was born in Randolph Co., Ohio, in 1806. They emigrated to Indiana in 1828, and located in Tippecanoe Co., where they lived until 1850. at which date they came to McLean Co., 111., where he entered 160 acres of land, to which he afterward added by purchase, until he had 240 acres of prairie, and some 160 acres of timber land. Mrs. White died March, 1864, leaving twelve children, all of whom are now living in McLean Co., with one exception. His marriage with Nancy Irvin was celebrated March 27,1868. Her maiden name was Nancy Pike ; she was a native of Virginia. Mr. White has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Baptist Church for nearly a quarter of a century. Upon arriving in Indiana, his capital consisted of one cow and 31 cents in money, and some cloth for a suit of clothes, which he exchanged for some corn. He erected a cabin, for which he hauled the logs three miles. His provisions became exhausted before he had completed his cabin, and he purchased a hog upon time, which he paid for by splitting rails at 50 cents per hundred, and during the winter worked at splitting and cutting rails. In the spring, he broke sod and put in eight acres of corn upon rented land, and after raising the second crop, he worked by the year for $140, and saved $100 out of his wages, with which he entered eighty acres of land, and which he afterward disposed of. Upon arriving in Illinois, he had twenty-five sheep, three horses and about twenty head of cattle, calves and yearlings, and $75 in cash.

WILLIAM WILSON, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Towanda ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; he was born in Fayette Co., Penn., May 1, 1822. His father, Smith Wilson, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America with six brothers, when he was quite a young boy. He married in Virginia, Latta Corbitt; she was born in Virginia. They emigrated to Pennsylvania from Virginia, in the early part of the present century. Mr. Wilson died in Pennsylvania when about 45 years of age. Mrs. Wilson died in Bloomington May 15, 1864, at the age of 72 years. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom five are living. The subject of this sketch assisted his father in farming until 19 years of age, when he learned the brickmason's trade, which he followed in Monongahela City for nine years, and continued the above business, with contracting and building, until he emigrated West and located in Bloomington in the fall of 1859, where he followed the same business until February, 1869, at which date he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and is engaged in farming 162 acres. He was married in 1849, to Eliza Curry. She died in Pennsylvania in 1857, leaving two children - James, born May 10, 1856, now living in Colorado; Belle, living in California. His marriage with Mrs. Louisa Kennedy was celebrated Nov. 23, 1864. Her maiden name was Newton ; she was born in Kentucky Sept. 30, 1835. She emigrated with her father, Henry Newton, to Illinois, in 1836, and to McLean Co., in 1844. They have two children by this union - Eddie, born Sept. 27, 1865; Gracie, Dec. 26, 1870. Mr. Wilson was elected Alderman of the Fourth Ward of Bloomington, for two years, and has held the office of School Trustee and some other petty offices in this township. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Presbyterian Church for the last quarter of a century, and is one of the Ruling Elders. Mrs. Wilson has been a church member for the same period.

JACOB AMSTAD, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. O. Downs ; born in Underwelt, Switzerland, February, 1826, where he attended the common school until 18 years of age, when he engaged in freighting, driving a six-horse team until he emigrated to California, in 1856 ; here he followed mining six years. He then came to McLean Co., 111., and located upon Sec. 35, in Old Town Township, where he has since continued to live ; he owns 163 acres of land mostly under a good state of cultivation, which he has made by his own hard labor, energy and industry. He was married Sept. 1, 1862, to Catherine Plemsear ; she was born in Switzerland May 19, 1840. They have six children by this union - Bettie, born Dec. 5, 1864 ; Harmon, born April 12, 1867; Agnes, born Nov. 26, 1868; Adeline, born Oct. 2, 1870; Anna M., born May 11, 1874; Jacob, born Feb. 20, 1876, and one who died in infancy.

WILLIAM BLUE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 34; P. 0. Downs ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co. : born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Feb. 11. 1836; he emigrated with his parents from Ohio, and located in McLean Co., 111., in the fall of 1836, being then 9 months old. His father, Zachariah Blue, upon his arrival located in Downs Township, one-half mile from where the town of Downs now stands, where he entered 160 acres of land, upon which he lived several years. He died in Downs Township, Oct. 9, 1858. Mrs. Blue died in the fall of 1871, upon the place now owned and occupied by her son. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until 23 years of age, until January, 1859. He then was united in marriage with Kate Wood ; sh# was born in Virginia June 17, 1841 . Upon his marriage, he purchased forty acres of his present place, all except five acres being timber and brush ; he then commenced improving his place, until he has brought it from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation. Upon locating here, he had but little means, purchasing his first forty acres, for which he paid $15 per acre, upon time. He has since added by purchase, until he now owns 256 acres of land, with good farm buildings, and which is now considered second in value to none in the township of its size ; 120 acres of the above being purchased at $50 per acre. The children of William and Kate

Blue are seven in number, all of whom are now living; their names are: Bert, born Oct. 17, 1860; Hattie, born May 10, 1864; Katie, born Nov. 30,1866; Delia, born April 23, 1870 ; William, born Oct. 22, 1872 ; Harry, born Feb. 24, 1875, and Gracie, born April 7, 1878. Mrs. Blue was a daughter of Joshua Wood, who was born Nov. 6, 1804; he emigrated from Virginia to Illinois, and located in McLean Co. about the year 1850. He died in Old Town Township June 3, 1863. He was married in Virginia to Ann Hedrick ; she was born in Virginia ; she died April 1, 1875. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living - George, Ahaz, Ezra, John and Kate.

S. W. BURKE, retired farmer and loan agent, Sec. 6 ; P. O. Bloomington. The subject of this sketch was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 20, 1824. He was brought up to farm labor until he attained his majority ; he then worked at the ship-carpenter's trade four years, and afterward followed the life of a sailor four years, most of the time upon the lakes. In the spring of 1850, he went to California, and followed mining one year, when he engaged in dealing in provisions and mining supplies four years, meeting with fair success. In the spring of 1855, he returned to Jefferson Co., N. Y , and purchased a farm, and engaged in farming for fifteen years, a portion of which time he resided in Watertown, N. Y. In the spring of H65, he emigrated to Illinois, and purchased 500 acres of Section 3, Old Town Township, McLean Co., upon which he located, and engaged in farming and stock-raising for four years, when he disposed of his farm for $25,500 cash, and, with his family removed to Bloomington, and purchased a residence on East Washington street, where he engaged in loaning money, and, in the spring of 1871, he purchased his present place of 300 acres, upon Sec. 6, where he has since lived and followed the business of farming, stock-raising and loaning money. His marriage with Hulda E. Burke was celebrated in New York March 13, 1856. She was born in Allen Co., Ind., April 6, 1834. They were the parents of seven children, of whom six are now living - Byron R., May E., Charles 0., Sada I., Reed and Clara A. : the deceased died at three years of age. The children all make their home with their parents.

A. M..BEAL, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Bloomington ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 17, 1831, where he followed farming until 23 years of age, when he engaged in school teaching a short time, and then again resumed farming, which business he continued until 1868, at which date he came to Illinois, and, with J. W. Doner, purchased 160 acres upon Section 5, Old Town Township. After farming two years, he disposed of his interest to Mr. Doner, and returned to Butler Co., Ohio, and followed farming until 1876, when he returned to McLean Co., 111., and purchased his present place of eighty acres, upon Section 5, Old Town Township, where he has since lived. His marriage with Lydia Yeakle was celebrated Nov. 8, 1857 ; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 17, 1833. They have two children by this union - Ada L., now Mrs. Milton H. Young, of this township, and Daniel J., living at home. Republican ; United Brethren.

IRA P. BEDELL, farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Holder. The subject of tnis memoir was born in Greene Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1834, where he followed farming until 1861, at which date he emigrated to McLean Co., 111., and, with his father, followed farming in Padua Township until the decease of the latter, which occurred Dec. 10. 1863. In 1866, he purchased his present place of eighty acres upon Sec. 2, Old Town Township, upon which he then located, where he has since lived. His father, Richard Bedell, was boin Nov. 20, 1805, in Greene Co., N. Y., where he was married to Jane Searles ; she was born July 16, 1812. They were the parents of two sons; the youngest - John; he lost his life while serving in the 94th Regiment 1. V. I., upon the 29th of August, 1863. Mrs. Bedell died, May 24, 1866. The marriage of Ira P. Bedell with Sarah T. Bingham was celebrated Sept. 16, 1863. She was born in Lake Co., 111., May 19, 1842. They have four children now living, having loat two by death. The living are - John S., born Nov. 3, 1866 ; Homer, Nov. 13, 1867 ; George E., Oct. 30, 1874; and Melvin W., April 30, 1877. The deceased died in infancy. Mrs. Bedell was a daughter of G. J. Bingham, who located in Lake Co., 111., at an early day, and came to Padua Township, McLean Co., in 1855, where his decease occurred Feb. 21, 1879. Mrs. Bingham now lives upon the old place.

DYER CO LAW, farmer; P. 0. Downs; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Highland Co., Va., Feb. 20, 1846. He is the son of William Colaw, who emigrated from Virginia and located in McLean Co. in 1854. His biography appears among the biographical sketches of Downs Township in this work The subject of this sketch emigrated with his parents when 9 years of age, and located in McLean Co. He attended the common school until 19 years of age, during which time he was engaged in farming in summer. He remained with his father until he attained his majority, when, upon the 15th of September, 1867, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Garr; she was born in McLean Co. Dec. 31, 1841. They have two children - Alpha, born Sept. 19, 1868 ; Lillie, May 21, 1872. Upon the marriage of Mr. Colaw. he engaged in farming two years in McLean Co. and three years in De Witt Co., and located upon Sec. 34 *in Old Town Township, where he has since lived. He is engaged in farming some 150 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Colaw have been members of the M. E. Church for a period of fifteen years. Mrs. C. is a daughter of Joseph Garr, one of the early settlers, who emigrated from Kentucky and located upon Sec. 34, in Old Town Township, McLean Co., in 1836, where he lived until his decease, which occurred March 15, 1844. He married in Kentucky, in 1820, Margaret Galloway ; she was born in Kentucky, and died in McLean Co. March 9, 1876, aged 76 years.

FREDERICK R. COWDEN, retired farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., and one of the oldest living of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Allen Co., Ky., Nov. 30, 1811 ; his father, James Cowden, was born in Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky at a very early day, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred about the year 1835. The subject of this sketch lived with his father and was brought up to heavy farm labor, until 21 years of age, and, in 1833, emigrated to Illinois and located in Greene Co., and, the following year, 1834, he entered eighty-one acres of land in this and Downs Township, which he at once commenced to improve. He built a hewed-log cabin, cutting and hewing the logs himself; his cabin was at that time considered of a superior quality, as it had a brick chimney and plank floor, the boards of which he sawed by hand ; he afterward built a frame addition, and in the cabin lived thirty years, and a portion of it is now used as a kitchen to his present residence. He has driven stock to Galena, 111., and St. Louis, Mo. ; his milling was done at Mackinaw, and afterward at Bloomington, which he considered quite near. At the time Mr. Cowden settled here, there were but few settlers ; some few had settled upon the streams and timber, but not a single house was to be seen upon the prairie ; there were no roads at that time, nothing but deer-paths and Indian trails, and to go to Bloomington or any point, a direct line would be taken, with no fence to obstruct the way. Such has been the progress of improvement during the forty-five years' residence of Mr. Cowden, that the whole vast prairie has been improved to such an extent that upon nearly every quarter-section stands one or more houses ; there was not a single railroad in the State at that time, while now you can reach a railroad by going a distance of five miles in nearly every part of the county, and within a distance of seven miles from where Mr. Cowden now lives, center eight railroads, one of which passes by his door, the station of which is located upon his land, and is named Gillum, in honor of Mrs. Cowden. He has suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life ; he was his own carpenter in building his first house, burning the bricks for the chimney ; he cut and split his own rails, broke his own prairie, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. His marriage with Polly (Gillum) Price was celebrated Aug. 17, 1842; she was horn in Kentucky Feb. 24, 1824; they had eight children, one died in infancy ; the living are - John J., born May 24, 1843 ; Amanda J., born Nov. 12, 1845; William R., born Dec. 19, 1847; Eliza A., born March 10,1850; Matilda B., born Aug. 16, 1852 ; Frank, born Dec. 22, 1854, and Elizabeth G., born Jan. 17, 1857 - all of whom are married and live within four miles of their parents. Of township and school offices, he has had his full share, having been Collector, Supervisor and School Trustee for most of the time of his residence here. Mr. Cowden had no capital when he located here, except one horse, which he rode from Greene Co. He borrowed the money to enter his first land, and paid it from the receipts of his wages, at $9 per month ; he has since, by his hard labor, accumulated about five hundred acres ; has given each of his children some $3,000 in land, and has reserved the old homestead for the support of himself and wife, who has nobly assisted him in accumulating all the above property.

JOHN J. COWDEN, farmer, Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the pioneers of McLean Co.; born in what is now Downs Township, McLean Co., May 24, 1843 ; he is the oldest son of F. R. Cowden, one of the early settlers of Old Town Township, and whose sketch appears among the biographies'of this township, in this work. The subject of this skech obtained a limited education, in a log schoolhouse, and assisted his father in farming until 21 years of age, and, upon Nov. 19, 1864, was united in marriage with Nancy C. Craig ; she was born in McLean Co. May 29, 1844; she was a daughter of Porter Craig, one of the early settlers of this county; they have no children of their own, but adopted a neice of Mrs. Cowden's, when 2 days old, which they have raised to its present age and educated as their own child ; her name is Nancy E. Cowden, born June 9, 1870. Upon the marriage of Mr. Cowden, he located upon his present place, where he has 130 acres, with good farm buildings. He now holds the offices of Commissioner of Highways and School Director in the district in which he lives.

JOHN COLEMAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bloomington ; born in Perry Co., Ohio, April 28, 1833, where he attended the common schools and assisted his father in farming until 20 years of age ; in 1856, he went to Iowa, returning to McLean Co. in 1857, and, until 1864, followed farming upon rented land in Downs and Old Town Townships ; he then purchased his present place, upon which he then located and where he has since lived ; he has 159 acres upon his home farm, under a good state of cultivation, with the very best of farm buildings, which are finely located and of which the surroundings are very beautiful, showing that a large amount of labor, care and expense have been expended upon the beautifying of the same ; he has a large and extended variety of fruits, as well as numerous kinds of trees and shrubbery, of native and foreign growth. His marriage with Elizabeth Reddick was celebrated in May, 1855 ; she was born in Ohio Oct. 20, 1838, and died Oct. 8, 1875. Upon the 27th of December, 1877, he was united in marriage with Emma Bozarth ; she was born in this county May 9, 1856 ; she is a daughter of John Bozarth, who emigrated from Ohio, and located in McLean Co. in 1854, and now lives in Bloomington Township.

LEWIS CASE, farmer, Sec. 25; P. 0. Holder; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Ontario, N. Y.. Feb. 27, 1809, where he was brought up to farm labor until 1824, and, at 13 years of age, emigrated to Huron Co., Ohio, from which place he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 25, Old Town Township, in 1833 ; his capital at that time consisted of one yokeof oxen and wagon (with which he hauled his family and worldly goods from Ohio), two featherbeds and bedding, and $50 worth of leather, which he traded for a cow, one hog and seven pigs, and provisions for the winter ; he managed to get in a crop of corn, and, in the fall, he lost his cow, four pigs and one of his oxen, which left him in a worse condition than when he located ; the following summer, he made a short poke and plowed his corn with his single ox ; he built his first house of hewed logs, besides which he got out the rails and fenced forty acres the first year; about the year 1835, new settlers came in and gradually increased until school districts were formed and churches were held. The first religious meeting held in Old Town Township was in the log house of Mr. Case, and in this log house the early settlers assembled from a distance of many miles, where they worshiped God some thirteen years. Mr. Case erected the first frame barn, in which were held two quarterly meetings, and where school was kept. Mr. Case first entered forty acres of land, upon which he erected a rude log cabin ; to this forty acres he has since added until he now owns upward of six hundred acres ; in the place of the log house stands the best of farm buildings, and his taxes have increased from 25 cents to $250. His marriage with Sarah Hendrix was celebrated Oct. 13, 1831, in Ohio: she was born in New York State Jan. 14, 1810 ; they were the parents of five daughters, of whom four are now living* viz , Mary A., Olive, Sarah and Hannah E. Mr. and Mrs. Case have taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been a member of the M. E. Church for about half a century, and their children all being members of the same Church. The writer of this article is inclined to give Mr. Case the credit of being the oldest continuous living settler of this township, but not feeling perfectly satisfied in this matter, he feels safe in saying that the two oldest continuous residents of Old Town Township are Lewis Case and Frederick R. Cowden.

ALEXANDER CRAIG, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 25; P. O. Holder; born in Carroll Co., Tnd., July 25, 1842 ; he was a son of Charles Craig, who was born in Ohio, and emigrated to Indiana at an early day, and then to Illinois in 1852; he located in McLean Co. in 1853 ; he died in 1855. The subject of this sketch followed farming until Aug. 5, 1862, when, at 20 years of age, he enlisted in Co. D, 94th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he served in the campaign of Missouri and Arkansas, and, in the spring of 1863, was sent down the river, landing at Milliken's Bend, and marched across the country to Warrenton, where they crossed the Mississippi, and in June took a position at the extreme left of Grant's army in rear of Vicksburg, remaining there until after the surrender of that place, which occurred July 4, 1863 : they then went up the Yazoo, and, after capturing Yazoo City, on July 13, went down the river to New Orleans, then to Brownsville, Tex., remaining there until August, 1864, when he was forwarded to Mobile Bay and was engaged in the battles of Ft. Morgan and Spanish Fort, andr after the capture of Mobile, was sent to Galveston, Tex., in June, 1865, and mustered out of service in July, and was discharged at Springfield in August, 1865, having served a little over three years ; he then came to Old Town Township and farmed upon rented land some five years, when he removed upon his present place in 1871, where he has since continued to live : he has 148 acres of land in Old Town Township, with good farm buildings, and forty acres in Downs Township. His marriage with Salhe B. Campbell was celebrated Nov. 9, 1871 ; she was born in McLean Co., October, 1843; she was a daughter of John Campbell, who emigrated to McLean Co. with his father, A. Campbell, in 1835, and was one of the early settlers. They have two children by this union - Elizabeth A., born July 21, 1872 ; Nettie B., born Sept. 23, 1875.

A. CAMPBELL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 24; P. O. Holder; an old settler of McLean Co., 111., born in Ireland March 27, 1826; he emigrated to America with his parents when 1 year of age. landing in New York in 1827; coming West, they lived eighteen months in Pittsburgh : then moved to Jessamine Co., Ky., where they lived eight years ; they then moved to McLean Co., 111., in 1835, and the following year located upon Sec. 26, in Old Town Township, where his father purchased eighty acres of land, and afterward entered and purchased some four hundred acres more ; here he lived until his decease, which occurred in August, 1873 ; Mrs. Campbell died June 12, 1869; they were the parents of four children, all of whom are now living, two in Padua and two in this township. The subject of this sketch made his home with his father until Feb. 26, 1852, when he was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Twining ; she was born in Pennsylvania June 2, 1833, and is a daughter of Thomas Twining, whose biography appears in this work ; they have seven children now living - Mary B., Thomas W., Elizabeth, Franklin E., Howard A., Charles C. and Nellie. Mrs. Campbell was a daughter of Thomas Twining, one of the early settlers and prominent men of Old Town Township, and whose biography appears among the sketches of Old Town Township in this work. Upon the marriage of Mr. Campbell, he settled upon his present place, where he has since lived during a period of a quarter of a century : he has 320 acres of well-improved land, upon which he has good farm buildings ; he also owns sixty acres, upon Sec. 26, 329 in other parts of the county, 106 in De Witt Co., 80 in Lee Co. and 80 in Kansas. A more extended mention of his parents is to be found in the biography of his brother, James A. Campbell, in this work.

JAMES A. CAMPBELL, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Holder; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in County Londonderry, Ireland, Feb. 27, 1822. He was a son of Archibald Campbell, who was born in Ireland in June, 1792. He married in Ireland to Elizabeth Shield : she was also born iu the same place in 1790 ; they emigrated to America and landed at Quebec in the summer of 1827 ; they then came to Pittsburgh, and, after living there eighteen months, went to Kentucky, where they lived some seven years, from which place they traveled by team to McLean Co., 111., being fifteen days upon the road ; they located upon the spot where James A. Campbell now lives, in the fall of 1835 ; he had at that time $1,600 in specie, good teams and plenty of provisions ; he was the wealthiest early settler that ever came to this township ; he first entered eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added by purchase until he had acquired some 500 acres. He took an active interest in the affairs of the township, and held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years ; he was a brickmason and plasterer by trade, and worked at his trade for twenty-five years in connection with farming. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church at the time of their decease, having been members previous to their marriage, lived and died consistent Christians. Mrs. Campbell died June 12, 1869, upon the old homestead. Mr. Campbell died Aug. 23, 1873, upon the same bed his wife died on. The subject of this memoir was raised to farm labor until quite a young man, when he commenced to work at the mason's trade with his father, often doing work for a distance of fifteen miles and upward from home, viz., Cheney's Grove, Blooming Grove, Le Roy and Bloomington. At upward of 20 years of age, he commenced for himself, and farmed in connection with his trade, continuing the same until about the year 1869, when he abandoned his trade, since which time he has given his attention to farming; he has, in his home place, 132 acres of land, which is the old homestead upon which he with his father located in 1835 ; he also owns 160 acres upon Sec. 24, making in all a farm of 292 acres. His marriage with Martha A. Shields was celebrated in Jessamine Co., Ky., Sept. 20, 1849; she was born in the same county April 24, 1820; they were the parents of seven children, of whom two are living - John T., born Dec. 5, 1854, and Mary Frances, Oct. 31, 1861 ; of the deceased, four died in infancy, and one, William R., was born Aug. 6, 1858, and died Feb. 25, 1875, in the 18th year of his age, from the effects of sunstroke. Mrs. Campbell was a daughter of James Shields, who was born in Londonderry, in Ireland, May 6, 1781. He married Sarah Blaclt in Kentucky; she was born in Kentucky Sept. 17, 1789. Mr. Shields died in Jessamine Co., Ky., June 20, 1865. aged 89 years. Mrs. Shields died June 14, 1867, at the age of 78 years.

S. L. CHAPIN, physician and surgeon ; Holder. The subject of this memoir was born in Marion, DeWitt Co,, 111., June 16, 1851 ; he attended the common schools until 18 years of age, after which he engaged in farming with his father until 21 jears of age, when he commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Tyler & Chapin, at Marion, pursuing his studies two years ; he then entered the Rush Medical College at Chicago, attending one term, and, in March, 1875, he located at Downs and engaged in the practice of medicine, and, the following fall, associated with Dr. James Montgomery, and erected a store and engaged in the drug business in connection with the practice of medicine, which business they yet continue, and have since added a stock of paints, oils, glass, putty, notions, and a complete stock of such articles as is usually kept in a first-class drug store, as well as a complete stock of groceries, provisions, etc. Their business card is to be found in the business directory of Downs, in another part of this work. In December, 1878, Dr. Chapin located at Holder, where he has a constantly increasing practice, and where he intends making his future home. His marriage with Ada P. Douthell was celebrated July 25, 1878 ; she was born in Jamestown, Penn., March 29, 1855.

J. M. DOOLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22; P. O. Bloomington ; born in Clark Co.. Ky., Nov. 11, 1830. He is a son of William Dooley, who was born in the same county, and emigrated to Illinois and located in Old Town Township in the spring of 1852, where he purchased 1,500 acres of land upon which he engaged in farming and stock-raising until his decease, which occurred June 6, 1869. The subject of this memoir remained with his father and assisted in farming and stock-raising until Jan. 17, 1853, when he was united in marriage with Susan J. Nelson ; she was born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Oct. 25, 1834 ; they have eleven children now living, having lost one by death ; the living are Florence M., William L., Romulus W., Annie T., Henry S., Samuel C, Charles W., Emma C, Raymond, Edney and Bernice. Upon the marriage of Mr. Dooley, he commenced farming for himself, which business he has since followed, with the exception of ten years he lived in Indiana. He settled upon his present place in 1864 ; he owns upon his home farm 373 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings, and 125 acres upon Sec. 20. Mr. Dooley is now Commissioner of Highways, and School Treasurer, and has also held the office of Assessor, and other petty offices.

0. G. DOOLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Downs ; born in Clark Co., Ky , Sept. 20, 1837. He is a son of William Dooley, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Old Town Township in the spring of 1852, where he purchased 1,500 acres of land and engaged in farming and stock-raising until his decease. The subject of this sketch attended the common school in Kentucky, and, after locating in McLean Co., he attended school at Bloomington one year, then, afterward, during the winter, in an old log schoolhouse in Old Town Township.' In 1859, he went with a party of twenty teams to Pike's Peak, being twenty days making the trip from Independence, Mo., to California Gulch, where he was clerk for J. H. Bean, from Kentucky, in selling merchandise and merchants' supplies, where he remained two years ; returning to McLean Co., he engaged in farming, which business he has since followed. He removed upon his present place in 1867, where has since lived ; he owns 290 acres of prairie and timber land, all of which is under improvement and upon which he has good farm buildings ; he is engaged feeding cattle and hogs, raising his own feed. His marriage with Amanda J. Cowden was celebrated in December, 1864 ; she was born in McLean Co., 111.; she is a daughter of F. R. Cowden, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., whose biography appears in this work. The children of 0. G. and Amanda Dooley are four in number, viz., John C, William F., Charles A. and Dwight. Mr. Dooley is now Assessor of Old Town Township, which office he has held for four years.

J. A. DAVIS, farmer. Sec. 34; P. 0. Downs; born in Greene Co., 111., Oct. 13, 1840 : he is a son of Ransom Davis, who was born near Salisbury, N. C, and emigrated to Greene Co., 111., when quite young, where he followed school-teaching, merchandising and farming until 1857, when he located in Bloomington, some two years, when he removed to Sec. 29, Old Town Township, until the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in the 33d 111. Regt., and served three years in the Union army; he then returned to McLean Co., and, in 1865, removed to Minnesota, where he now lives. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents and attended the common schools in Greene Co., until 1857, when he located in McLean Co., where he followed farming until December, 1861, at which date he enlisted in the 26th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was forwarded to the Army of Tennessee, and was in many severe battles, of which were Mission Bidge, siege and capture of Vicksburg, siege and capture of Atlanta, and with Sherman during his march through Georgia to the sea, arriving at Savannah to spend Christmas of 1864; he then marched north through the Carolinas and near Raleigh, N. C, Sherman received the surrender of Johnston ; he then marched through Petersburg and Richmond to Washington, where, after the grand review of the army, he was sent to Louisville, Ky., where he was mustered out of service, and received his discharge at Springfield in July, 1865, having served in the Union army three years and seven months ; he then returned to McLean Co., and farmed until 1871, when he engaged in the merchandise trade at Downs, and in 1872 was appointed agent of the I., B. & W. Railroad, at this place, which office he held some four years ; he then engaged in the merchandise trade some three years, during which time he was Postmaster. In March, 1879, he sold out his store and removed upon his present place, where he is now engaged in farming. His marriage with Nancy Mickel was celebrated Feb. 18, 1863; she was born in Ohio June 30, 1843 ; they have two children - Carrie V. and Ralph J. ; Mrs. Davis is a daughter of William Mickel, one of the old settlers and prominent farmers of Old Town Township.

NORVAL DIXON, farmer; P. 0. Holder; born in Clinton Co., Ohio, May 3, 1820; he was raised to farm labor, and worked upon the home farm until 22 years of age, when he engaged in boating, making trips from Ripley, Ohio, to New Orleans, taking down pork, flour, meal, potatoes, etc., the above way at that time being the only route to the sea coast, stopping at different points from Memphis down the river and disposing of the cargo to merchants and planters upon the way, the trip consuming from sixty to ninety days ; after following the above business some three years, in connection with farming, he engaged in the merchandise trade at Ripley, some four years, after which he was Constable and collecting agent until 1853, and the following spring came to Illinois, arriving in Bloomington in April, 1854 ; he then followed clerking for Ward & Gallager eighteen months, when, on account of ill health, he withdrew, and, in 1856, was appointed Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Moore, and also engaged in the general collecting business, and, in 1862, was elected Sheriff of McLean Co. In 1864, he was appointed Rental Agent in the Treasury Department, with headquarters at Memphis, where he remained until the close of the war. In 1863, he associated with L. Burr in the real estate, general collecting and abstract business, under the firm name of Dixon & Burr, continuing the same until the fall of 1865. In the winter of 1867, he obtained from Springfield the charter for the Bloomington & Normal Horse Railroad ; was elected President, and contracted to build the same. In the spring of 1870, he superintended the grading and building of the L., B. & M. Railroad from Bloomington to the State line, and the following year superintended the laying of the track of the same line, building the roundhouse at Bloomington, the different depots, water-tanks, etc. In April, 1874, he purchased his present place, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived ; he owns 160 acres upon his home farm, with good farm buildings ; he also owns land in different places in McLean Co., Iowa and Kansas. He was Vice President of the People's Bank from its orgairization until his removal upon his farm. He was married in 1849, to Mary Knickerbocker; she was born in Ohio, and died in 1859, leaving two children - Emma L., now Mrs. John K. Wood, of Bloomington, and Frank, living at home. His marriage with Catherine Kline was celebrated in 1861 ; they have one child by this union - Charles, living at home.

M. DUFFY, farmer and stock-raiser Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Holder ; Republican ; born in Philadelphia, Penn., Aug. 22, 1820, where he attended the public schools until 14 years of age ; he then engaged in farming in Chester Co. for a period of twenty-four years. In the spring of 1858, he emigrated to McLean Co. and purchased 160 acres upon Sec. 12, Old Town Township, where he has since lived. In January, 1864, he sold eighty acres of his land, and has since followed stockraising and farming upjn the balance. His marriage with Mrs. Lydia Rudd was celebrated March 25. 1858 ; she was born in Pennsylvania ; she has two children by her previous husband,

WILLIAM FLEMING, Postmaster, firm of Fleming Brothers, general merchants and dealers in grain, lumber and coal, and shippers of stock, Holder; born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., March 30, 1845; at 6 years of age, he emigrated with his parents to Fulton Co., 111., where he was raised upon a farm, obtaining a common-school education. In the spring of 1867, he removed to Old Town Township, McLean Co., and purchased 160 acres of land upon the spot where Holder now stands, when he engaged in farming until the completion of the L., B. & M. R. R., when he, with his brother, engaged in the above business, which they have since successfully followed. They are largely engaged in buying and shipping stock to Chicago, and also in buying and shipping grain to Toledo, Cleveland, Baltimore and Philadelphia, having purchased as high as 100,000 bushels of corn alone in a single season. His marriage with Helen Rudd was celebrated Oct. 10, 1873 : she was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 28, 1847 ; they have two children by this union - Harry, born July 6, 1875; Herbert, March 29, 1879. Mrs. Fleming was a daughter of John Rudd, who emigrated from Genesee Co., N. Y., and located upon Sec. 12, in what is now Old Town Township, McLean Co., in the fall of 1855, where he lived until his decease, which occurred in the fall of 1856.

JACOB FLEMING, firm of Fleming Brothers, general merchants and grain and stock dealers, also dealers in lumber and coal, etc., Holder; born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., June 2, 1841 ; his father, John Fleming, was born in Ireland in 1810, emigrated to America with his parents in 1820, and, in 1849, came to Fulton Co., 111., where he now lives. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until 20 years of age, when, in August, 1861, he enlisted in the 50th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he first served in the campaigns of Missouri and Arkansas, and was engaged in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, both battles of Corinth, Stone River, Altoona Pass, and marched with Sherman's army through Georgia to the sea, arriving in Savannah to spend the Christmas of 1864 ; he then marched North, participating in many engagements until the surrender of Johnston's army, after which he continued his march through to Washington, and, after the grand review of the army, was sent to Louisville, Ky., where he received his discharge in July, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly four years; he was promoted to Corporal, then to First Lieutenant of Co. G, of which he received the appointment and commission of Captain. After receiving his discharge, he returned to Fulton Co., where he followed farming and school-teaching two years, and in 1867 removed with his brother to his present place and purchased 160 acres of land and followed farming and stockraising until 1871, when, upon the completion of the L., B. & M. R. R., he, with his brother, engaged in the above business, which they have since successfully followed. His marriage with Susan Hughes was celebrated in June, 1864; she was born in Fulton Co., 111., January, 1843 ; they have five children now living, having lost two by death; the living are Fred E., Joseph B., Mary E., Ida H. and John R.

CHARLES FULLER, farmer and stock -raiser ; P.O. Bloomington; born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., March 16, 1816; his father, Oliver Fuller, was born in Vermont and emigrated to New York previous to 1812, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812 ; he married Sally Healey ; she was born in Rhode Island ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living; Mr. Fuller died in New York in 1858 or 1859, and Mrs. Fuller is now living at the advanced age of 92 years ; she now draws a pension for the services of Mr. F. in 1812. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farming until he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 4, where he purchased 653 acres of land, upon which he then settled, and has since followed farming and stock-raising. His marriage with Eliza A. Griffin was celebrated in 1836 ; she was a native of New York ; they have ten children now living, having lost one by death ; the living are Sidney C, Healey R., George O., Hiram, Charles, Edwin M., Lucinda, Alice, Amelia and Mattie. Mr. Fuller now lives upon the old farm, and has given each of his five sons that are married eighty acres, and all are living upon the home place within one mile of their parents ; although he is 64 years of age, is yet able to do a good day's work, and is engaged in farming 253 acres. All the above property he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife.

ORRIN LOOMIS, Jr., farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Bloomington. The subject of this sketch was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Nov. 18, 1838; he was a son of Orrin Loomis, Sr., who was born in the State of Connecticut in the year 1791 ; he emigrated West and located in Ohio in 1816, and was the second settler of the township; at that time there was an abundance of game, and it was not an unusual occurrence for him to kill beat's and other game ; he commenced clearing the timber from the land for his own use and his neighbors. He was married in Ohio Jan. 14, 1823, to Mary Ann Eyler; she was born in Connecticut, March, 1805; they were the parents of nine children, of whom seven lived to grow up and six are now living; they lived in Ohio until 1866, when they removed to McLean Co., 111., and lived in Old Town Township until their decease. Mr*. Loomis died Nov. 22, 1874 ; Mr. Loomis died Dec. 9, 1876 ; they lie buried in the beautiful cemetery at Bloomington, their graves properly marked by a monument of Italian marble. The subject of this sketch followed farming in Ohio until the spring of 1865, when he emigrated West, remaining one year; he then returned to Ohio, and was employed two years as express messenger with the American Express Company, after which he returned to Illinois and lived some two years, when he removed to Michigan and followed farming one year ; then came back and located in Old Town Township, McLean Co., and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed ; he owns eighty acres upon his own farm, all under a good state of improvement. His marriage with Marinda E. Harrington was celebrated in Ohio May 18, 1838 ; they were the parents of three children, of whom one died in infancy ; the living are Anna V. and Saloma.

EDWIN LOOMIS, farmer, Sec. 5; P. 0. Bloomington ; born in Medina Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1829 ; his father, Orrin Loomis, was born in 1791 ; he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1816, where he followed farming until he came to Illinois in 1866 ; he made his home with Edwin Loomis until his decease, which occurred Dec. 9, 1876. He married Mary Ann Eyler Jan 14, 1823, in Medina Co., Ohio ; she was born in Connecticut in March, 1805 ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom seven lived to grow up and of whom six are now living. Mrs. Loomis died Nov. 22, 1874. The subject of this memoir obtained a common-school education and was raised to farm labor and assisted his father until 1854 ; then he commenced farming for himself until the spring of 1865, when he emigrated to Illinois and settled upon Section 5, Old Town Township, McLean Co., where he purchased eighty acres, upon which he settled and where he has since lived. His marriage with Saloma A. Harrington was celebrated Aug. 14, 1854 ; she was born in Lake Co., Ohio, July 13, 1828; they have one child by this union, having lost one by death, named Gertrude C, born Aug. 14, 1856; she was married Oct. 28, 1875, to John J. Pearson, and died Sept. 26, 1876 ; the living - William P. - was born Oct. 3, 1865. Mrs. Loomis is a daughter of Otis Harrington; he was born in Berkshire Co., Mass., Feb. 14, 1803 ; he married Lyma Coming; she was born in New Hampshire in 1806; she died in 1831 in Lake Co., Ohio ; Mr. Harrington is now living in McLean Co. at the age of 76 years.

D. McBARNES, farmer; Sec. 15; P. 0. Bloomington; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Oct 1, 1821 ; his father, Dennis McBarnes, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in the year 1759 ; he went to Ireland when he was a young man, and, after working several years at the trade of harness-making, emigrated to America and located first near Philadelphia ; from there to Harrison Co., Ohio, where he purchased land and engaged in farming until his decease, which occurred in April, 1844, at the advanced age of 85 years. He married in Pennsylvania to Mary Voden ; she was born in Pennsylvania and died a few years after the death of her husband ; they were the parents of seven children, of whom four are now living. The subject of this memoir was brought up to work upon his father's farm in Ohio until he attained his majority, when he commenced farming for himself, which business he followed iu Ohio until he came to Illinois and located on his present place in the spring of 1853, where he has since lived, during a period of twenty-six years, and is consequently classed as one of the old settlers ; he owns eighty acres of well-improved land upon his home farm with good farm buildings and also eighty acres in Anchor Township, all of which he has, by good business management, accumulated. In politics he is a stanch Republican, having joined the above party upon its organization and has since labored for the success of the same ; he has taken a great interest in the cause of religion and education, having been a School Director many years and is now School Trustee ; he and his wife have been members of the Christian Church for a period of upward of twenty years ; the second oldest daughter being a member of the same church. His marriage with Mary Jane Dickey was celebrated in Harrison Co., Ohio, upon the 18th of September, 1847; she was born in Harrison Co. March 4, 1826 ; they were the pai-ents of seven children - Sarah J., born June 18, 1848 (she died March 1, 1870) ; Maggie, born Oct. 3, 1849 (now Mrs. Joseph Brookbank, of Anchor Township) ; John, born July 24, 1851 ; Agnes, Feb. 22, 1853; Hannah M., June 18, 1855; Elizabeth, May 14, 1857, and Edward, Nov. 8, 1858; of the children, the two sons are farming in Anchor Township ; the four daughters attended the University of Bloomington, both the Normal and Wesleyan, three of whom are engaged in school-teaching in McLean Co., the oldest of whom has taught ten years ; John attended the Normal three years ; Edward is now attending the Wesleyan.

JOHN J. PENN, farmer and stock-raiser; Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Holder ; one of the early settlers of McLean Co., born in Northamptonshire, England, Oct. 25, 1824; he emigrated with his parents to America, landing in New York when five years of age ; they lived in New York State five years, when they emigrated West and located in Harrison Co., Ohio ; his father, John Peim, was born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1777. He married in England to Hannah Watson; she was born in the same shire in 1787 ; she died in Ohio in the fall of 1845; Mr. Penn died at the residence of his son in McLean Co.v 111., in 1860, at the advanced age of 82 years ; they were the parents of thirteen children, of whom six are now living. The subject of this sketch engaged in teaming in Ohio until he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co. in the fall of 1851; he then farmed upon rented land until 1863; he first purchased ninety acres, for which he ran in debt $2,000, which he paid for in four years, and disposed of the same at a profit of upward of $2,000 ; he then purchased 160 acres of raw prairie, which he improved some four years and sold at a profit of $7,000 ; he purchased 157 acres of his present place in 1868, and settled upon the same in 1869, where he owns 238 acres with farm buildings, all of which lie has made by his exertions and perseverance. His marriage with Sarah J. Boyce was celebrated Sept. 12, 1844 ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Nov. 30, 1825 ; she was a daughter of William Boyce, who was born in New York State Oct. 14, 1797 ; he emigrated and settled in McLean Co., 111., in 1851, where he lived until his decease, which occurred May 7, 1879, in the 82d year of his age. He was married in Ohio to Sarah Reynolds ; she was born in Ohio in 1807, and is living upon Section 26, Old Town Township; they were the parents of twelve children, of whom six are now living.

WILLIAM H. PORTER, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Downs; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Aug. 31, 1839, where he attended school in winter and assisted in farming until 15 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois with his parents in 1854, and located upon Section 8, Old Town Township, McLean Co. ; here his father purchased 240 acres of land and engaged in farming and stock-raising some five years, when he removed with his family to Bloomington, from which place he continued farming in Old Town Township until 1877, when he retired from active business. The subject of this sketch continued farming for his father until 1873, when he settled on his present place, on Section 21, in Old Town Township ; he has 160 acres of land, mostly under a good state of improvement. His marriage with Amanda Rodman was celebrated Jan. 16, 1865 ; they have four children by this union, having lost two by death ; the living are Ellen, Frank, Eliza, and Camilla. Mrs. Porter was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Sept. 4, 1842; she is a daughter of Scamon Rodman, who was born in Pennsylvania and located in McLean Co., III., in 1853, and whose sketch appears among the biographies of this township in this work.

JAMES V. PORTER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17; P. O. Bloomington; was bom in Washington Co., Penn., Feb. 9, 1845 ; he is a son of James Porter, who was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Illinois : in the fall of 1854, he purchased land in Old Town Township, until he had secured 1,500 acres, and was extensively engaged in stock-raising, in connection with farming, and most of the time resided in Bloomington, to educate his children. The subject of this sketch attended the school mostly in Bloomington until 1870, when he attended the Wesleyan University ; some two years after, he engaged in farming upon Sec. 17, where he has since lived ; he owns 400 acres upon Sees. 16 and 17, and is largely engaged in raising and feeding stock - mostly cattle and hogs - in connection with farming ; he plants largely - averaging from one hundred to one hundred and fifty acres of corn, most of which is fed to his stock ; he fed, last season, some 400 hundred hogs and 150 cattle. His marriage with Elizabeth Armstrong was celebrated in 1871; she was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1848 ; they have two children - William S. and Isabella W.

SCAMON RODMAN, farmer, Sec. 23; P. 0. Holder; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; was born in Berks Co., Penn., Aug. 27, 1810; he was the second son of Joseph Rodman; was born in the same county and State, in the early part of the year of 1780. He married Mary Street ; she was a native of the same county, born in May, 1 785 ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living; they emigrated to Muskingum Co., Ohio, in 1821, where they lived until the decease of Mr. Rodman, which occurred in April, 1853; Mrs. Rodman died in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, in February, 1876, at 91 years of age. The subject of this sketch followed farming in Ohio until he emigrated to Illinois, reaching Bloomington Oct. 8, 1853 - driving by team from Ohio - being sixteen days upon the trip ; he rented land for two years near Bloomington, and, in the spring of 1856, he located upon his present place, where he purchased 120 acres of land, and upon which he now lives ; he afterward added, by purchase, until he had accumulated 320 acres ; he now owns 280 acres, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Eliza Woolf was celebrated Feb. 17, 1833 ; she was born in Fauquier Co., Ya., May 21, 1811; they were the parents of nine sons and one daughter, of whom one son is deceased; the living are - William. Francis A., James M., Samuel, Amanda (now Mrs. William Porter), Scamon C, Julius N., Winfield S., Oscar 0.; of the above, three served in the Union army, during the late war of rebellion - James, Samuel and Scamon. The eight sons, with their father, are all Republicans, and voted for Hayes. Mr. Rodman was formerly an Old Line Whig; and upon the organization of the Republican party, joined the same, and has labored for the support of the same. He has voted every general election, with two exceptions, since 1831 ; of township and school offices, Mr. Rodman has had his full share, having been first Supervisor of Old Town Township in 1858, which office he held five years ; Justice of the Peace twelve years: School Treasurer thirteen years, and other petty offices, having held one or more offices continually, since the organization of the township. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the M. P. Church since 1830 - a period of nearly one-half a century, and has held different offices in the church, for a period of forty-five years. Mrs. Rodman has been a member of the same church for forty years.

ROBERT REID, sheep-raiser, Sec. 30;. P. 0. Downs; born in the Parish of Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, Nov. 7, 1830, where be obtained a good, common-school education, and followed farming until he emigrated to America, landing in New York in the spring of 1852 ; coming directly to Illinois, he remained in Knox Co. several months, and, after seven months in Sangamon Co., he went to California, where he followed mining for eighteen months, when he returned to Illinois, and, in the spring of 1850, he hired out with Mr. H. Bishop, and worked with him until his decease, when he engaged in raising sheep, which business he has followed for nearly one-fourth of a century, and during which time he has made five trips to Scotland ; he now rents upward of four hundred acres of land, for which he pays cash, and then re-rents for grain, which he feeds his sheep, of which he has upward of seven hundred; he reserves some two hundred acres for sheep pasturage.

JOHN RODMAN, farmer, Sec. 22 , P. 0. Holder ; one of the old settlers of Illinois, whose birthplace was Berks Co., Penn.; he was born Dec. 5, 1817 ; he emigrated to Ohio with his parents, when 1 year of age, and located at Muskingum Co., where he attended school in an old log schoolhouse, with mud-and-stick chimney, the fireplace extending nearly across one end, and would burn wood eight feet long; the seats were of split logs, extending across the room, and around the walls being a desk for writing ; in 1 838, he commenced farming for himself upon rented land for thirteen years, when he purchased eighty acres of timber land, and improved, until he came to Illinois and settled in Old Town Township, McLean Co., Dec. 13, 1854 ; he then purchased 110 acres of land on Sec. 22, where he has since lived, during a period of one-fourth of a century ; he has since added, by purchase, until he now owns 230 acres, with good buildings, all of which, with the exception of $400, he has made by his own efforts. His marriage with Mary Jane Gray was celebrated Feb. 15, 1838 ; she was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, May 1, 1819 ; they were the parents of seven children, of whom three are deceased ; the living are Joseph L., Eliza (now Mrs. Homer Boyce), Edmund L. and Lucinda W.; of the children, two sons and one daughter are living less than one-fourth of a mile from their parents - the others living within three miles. Mr. Rodman has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been a member of the M. E. Church for forty years, and all the children are members of the same church.

JAMES RAYBURN, Jr., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in Madison Co., Ohio, March 14, 1836. He emigrated with his parents to Illinois in 1851. He attended school and assisted his father in farming until 19 years of age, when, upon Dec. 19, 1855, he was united in marriage with Susan Bishop; she was born in McLean Co., June 20, 1836. They have two children now living, viz., Ida May. born May 1, 1858, and Eda Bell, April 10, 1860. He has 280 acres in his home farm, and, aside from farming, is extensively engaged in feeding and shipping stock, feeding about 100 cattle, 150 to 200 hogs, 300 to 500 sheep, and some horses. Besides feeding the products of 250 acres of corn, he last season purchased some 3,000 bushels, which he also fed. He is now feeding sixty bushels of corn per day to his stock, which he ships over the C. & A. R. R. to the Chicago market. He and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian Church for a period of twenty-five years. Mr. Rayburn is the present Supervisor of Old Town Township, which office he has held for ten years in succession, the duties of which he has performed with credit to himself and satisfaction to his township. He is a son of James Rayburn, who was born in Virginia April 6, 1799. He emigrated with his parents to Ross Co., Ohio, at an early day, and followed farming until 1851, when he emigrated to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 30, Old Town Township, where he has lived for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1850, he was a member of the State Legislature of Ohio. Upon the 24th of September, 1816, he was united in marriage with Jane McCoy: she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, July, 1799, and was the first white child born in that county. She died Aug. 15, 1876. Mr. Rayburn now lives upon the home farm with his son, James, Jr. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since his youth, and is now one of the Elders of the First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington.

SAMUEL SCOTT, farmer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Downs ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in County Down, Ireland, March 28, 1836, where he attended the public school until 14 years of age, when he worked at farming and weaving in the linen mills for four years, and, in 1855, emigrated to America, landing in New York Jan. 15, 1856, having been ten weeks and five days making the voyage. Upon arriving in New York, his capital consisted of 7 oents. He then worked at farming in New Jersey two years, when he came to Illinois, arriving in Bloomington in the spring of 1858. He then worked as farm laborer for five years ; then he farmed upon rented land two years, and, in 1858, he purchased thirty acres of his present place, upon which he then located, and where he has lived since 1865. He owns ninety acres of well-improved land, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor. He married Maria Jamison in 1858 ; she was born in Ireland ; she died in Illinois Aug. 27, 1875, leaving one child - John - bom Sept. 15, 1860. His marriage with Mrs. Bridget Tulick was celebrated Sept. 22, 1876 ; she was born in Ireland. They have one child by this union - Mary J., born Aug. 21, 1877.

PATRICK SAVAGE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Downs ; born in County Kerry, Ireland, March 17, 1827, where he attended the public school until 13 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in the spring of 1840. His father, Jeremiah Savage, had preceded him ten years, locating first in Canada, where he lived five years, when he came to Rochester, N. Y., where he followed his trade of mason and stone-cutter, in connection with farming, in Monroe Co., N. Y., until his decease, which occurred in the winter of 1872. His widow survived him, and died in Rochester in April, 1879. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools during the winter in New York until 23 years of age, during which time he was employed in farming and working upon the canal-boats, after which he had command of a boat for three years. In the spring of 1851, he emigrated West, and worked in Effingham, Coles and Champaign Cos., getting out timber for the 111. Cent. R. R., for nearly two years, when he returned to Rochester and remained some three months. He then came to McLean Co., and resided in Bloomington one winter, being employed in chopping wood. The following summer, he and his wife were employed upon a farm; then he returned to Bloomington and followed farming and teaming some ten years, and, in January, 1866, he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived. He owns, upon his home place, 146 acres of land, with the best of buildings, which he has made by his continued hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife, to whom he was united in marriage Oct. 1, 1854. Her maiden name was Susan Fagan ; she was born in County Down, Ireland, May, 1829 ; she came to America when quite young. They have seven children now living, having lost one by death. The names of the living are Mary A., born July 3, 1855; Ellen, Feb. 23, 1857; Morris S., Dec. 13, 1858 : Frances, Nov. 8, 1860, died June 13, 1866 ; John B., born Nov. 6, 1862 ; Thomas, Oct. 17, 1864 ; Susan, Oct. 13, 1866; Elizabeth, Oct. 5, 1868. Mr. Savage came to Illinois without capital; he had not the means to purchase a bed, and used a tick made by Mrs. Savage, filled with straw, and made upon the floor. They had neither table nor chairs, using for a table a trunk. He purchased his first bedstead with the proceeds of his labor, cutting cord-wood at 50 cents per cord. He has steadily kept at work, until he is now one of the responsible farmers of McLean Co., having nearly 100 acres under fence and a good state of cultivation, and upon which there is no incumbrance.

JAMES SHIELDS, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Holder; born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Sept. 17r 1816, ; his father, James Shields, Sr., was born in Londonderry, Ireland, May 6, 1781 ; he married Martha Paul in Kentucky ; she was born March 24, 1783 ; he emigrated to America the second year of the present century ; he first lived in Virginia, then came to Kentucky, where he was married, and followed farming until his decease, which occurred in Jessamine Co., Ky., June 20, 1865. Mrs. Shields died many years previous in the same State and county ; three of their children by this union are now living - John, Hugh and James. The subject of this sketch lived with his father in Kentucky until 24 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Martha E. Mahan, March 26, 1840; she was born in Jessamine Co., Sept. 29, 1822; they were the parents of five children, of whom four are now living - Archibald, born July 14, 1842; Samuel H., Oct. 3, 1844: Parilee M., March 19, 1846; Milton H., Dec. 1, 1847; the deceased, Martha Jane, was born Jan. 16, 1841; she was married to Henry Zeigler, and died Oct. 23, 1873, leaving nine children. Mrs. Shields was a daughter of Elijah Mahan, who was born in Woodford Co., Ky., in November, 1801, and is now living at the advanced age of 78 years. Mrs. Mahan was born in Jessamine Co., Ky.. in March, 1802; her maiden name was Jane Scott; she died in March, 1877. They were the parents of seven children, six now living. Milton H. Sheilds, the youngest son of James and Martha (Mahan) Shields was born in Montgomery Co., Ind., December, 1847 ; he married Sept. 17, 1874, and is now living at home.

THOMAS TWINING, farmer and stock-raiser, deceased ; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Berks Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1808; he attended the common schools, and completed his education by a collegiate course of five years, the last two years of which were devoted to medicine ; in the fall of 1836, he emigrated to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 32, Old Town Township, and entered some 300 acres of land, and engaged in farming and stock-raising; he took an active interest in politics, being an Old-Line Whig, until the organization of the Republican party, after which he became an active and prominent member of the same ; he had no aspirations for office, but held some township and school offices, and was Justice of the Peace for many years ; he took a deep interest in the affairs of his township, and his influence with the County Court was of good effect; by his influence and labor the township saved $10,000 in the matter of voting assistance to the L., B. & M. Railroad ; upon his locating here, his capital consisted of less than $200 ; he borrowed money to enter his first land, and at the time of his death owned upward of 500 acres of land, besides his personal property. His marriage with Sarah A. Beam was celebrated March 8, 1832; she died July 17, 1845, leaving four children. He married for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth Randolph Jan. 28, 1849 ; she was a daughter of Benjamin Cundiff ; she was born in Virginia Oct. 15, 1816 ; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two are deceased. Mr. Twining died upon the old homestead Dec. 6, 1872. C. H. Twining, the only surviving child by the last marriage, was born upon the old farm Nov. 12, 1852, and has always lived upon the old place and in the same house in which he was born, a part of which is the original house erected by his father forty-two years ago. He owns upon his home farm 280 acres, and aside from farming is extensively engaged in stock-raising. Upon Jan. 6, 1873, he was united in marriage with Mary Savidge ; she was born in McLean Co. Jan. 26, 1854 ; they have three children now living by this union - Musetta, T. J. and Earl.

JEREMIAH WHITCOMB, farmer, Sec. 22 ; P. O. Bloomington ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., 111. ; was born in Vermilion Co., 111., Jan. 10, 1839 ; his father, Francis, was born in Grafton Co., N. H., Jan. 28, 1786; he emigrated West and located in Indiana in 1814 or 1815, and came to the Territory of Illinois in 1816, and located near Danville, Vermilion Co., where he engaged in the manufacture of salt ; after which, he followed farming until 1849, when he located. in what is now Old Town Township, McLean Co., where he purchased 300 acres in Sec.

21, upon which he settled ; he afterward added by purchase until he had accumulated upward of 700 acres in this and Padua Township. He married in Vermilion Co., 111., to Jane Evans ; she was born in Ohio in 1804; they were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living. Mr. W. died upon the home farm Jan. 16, 1872. Mrs. W. now lives with her son - Jeremiah, at the advanced age of 75 years. The subject of this sketch came to McLean Co. with his parents in 1849, and has lived upon the home farm for a period of thirty years, where he owns 160 acres with good buildings. He married upon the 27th of February, 1862, Lucinda Rodman ; she was born in Ohio ; they have four children now living - Sylvia A., Lillie M., William A. and Mary F. Mr. W. has had his full share of petty offices ; has held the office of School Trustee for seven years ; Town Clerk two years, and is now Justice of the Peace.

GEORGE P. WOOD, farmer. Sec. 33 ; P. O. Downs ; born in Pendleton Co., Va., July 26, 1826 ; he is a son of Joshua Wood, who was born in Virginia Nov. 6, 1804. He married in Virginia Anna Hedrick ; she was born in Virginia ; they emigrated from Virginia to Illinois and located in McLean Co., in 1850, where they lived until their decease. Mr. Wood died June 3. 1863; Mrs. Wood died March 28, 1865. The subject of this sketch made his home with his father in Virginia and emigrated to Illinois at the same time, where he remained with his father until 27 years of age, and, Aug. 31, 1854, he was united in marriage with Huldah Teter; she was born in Virginia, Nov. 14, 1831 ; they have six children now living, having buried three; the living are Charles A., born Dec. 22, 1855 ; Sarah R., born Aug. 18, 1857 : Permelia E., born March 2, 1861 ; Charlotte, born Jan. 30, 1863 ; Amanda S., born April 18, 1865 ; William D., born June 17, 1867 ; the deceased died in childhood. Upon the marriage of Mr. Wood, he rented land for two years, when he purchased land and improved the same, and sold, which business he repeated six times, when, in 1876, he purchased his present place, upon which he then located, and where he has since lived. He owns upward of 149 acres upon his home place, all of which is under fence and improvement.

JOHN L. YOUNG, farmer, deceased ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co., 111., born in Clark Co., Ky., Oct. 22, 1829 ; he was raised to farm labor in Kentucky until he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co. in the spring of 1852 ; in 1859, he purchased some land in Sec. 28, Old Town Township, which he settled on and improved until 1864, when he purchased the present place of 240 acres, upon which he located and where he lived until his death ; he also owned eighty acres in Kentucky, and a house and lot in Bloomington. He took a great interest in the affairs of his township, and was one of the prominent men of the township, and Supervisor of Old Town Township, at the time of his decease, which was his fourth year in succession. His marriage with Martha A. Dooley was celebrated Oct. 9, 1851 ; she was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., Aug. 16, 1832 ; they were the parents of nine children - Milton H., born Oct. 11, 1852 ; Lee, Dec. 3, 1854 ; Mary E., Aug. 23, 1857 ; Clara N., April 27, 1859 ; William F., April 8, 1861 ; Robert L., May 16, 1863 ; Florence B., May 9, 1866 : Obadiah L., Aug. 21, 1869; Minerva D., born May 2, 1871, died June 11, 1877. Mr. Young died Jan. 10, 1872; he lies buried in Bloomington Cemetery ; over his grave stands an Italian marble monument, erected sacred to his memory by his loving children. Mrs. Young was a daughter of William Dooley, who emigrated to Illinois in 1851, and located in McLean Co., in 1852, and was largely engaged in farming and stock-raising, owning some 1,500 acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred June 6, 1869 ; she lives upon the same place upon which she located in 1864.

JOSIAH ARTER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Stanford; was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, April 24, 1834. He came to McLean Co., 111., Feb. 17, 1857, and to Dale Township in the spring following, went back to Ohio in December, but returned to Dale Township the next February, and, in the fall of 1858, to Allin Township. He married Martha Ann Van Gorder, Feb. 28, 1867 ; she was born in McLean Co. May 16, 1843. Her father, Abraham Van Gorder, and her mother, Amanda Disbrow, were born in the State of New York, and moved to Ohio, and from there to McLean Co. in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Arter have four children - Delilah, born Jan. 10, 1868 ; Cora, Feb. 25, 1871 ; John, March 16, 1875, and Ida, March 4, 1877. He owns a farm of eighty acres and a fine home, and in politics is a Democrat.

MILTON BOZARTH, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Stanford ; was born in Christian Co., Ky., Jan. 15, 1832, and came to Brown's Grove, Allin Township, with his parents, Sept. 10, 1839, where he resided until he married. He married Anna Baker April 20, 1859; she was born in Rockingham Co., Va., Feb. 9, 1842. Her father, John Baker, was born in the same county ; also her mother, Sarah Richie. Mr. Bozarth's mother, Cynthia Bozarth, is living in Brown's Grove. Mr. Bozarth move! onto the farm where he now resides, in April, 1859. They have had five children, who all died in early infancy, except Franklin, who was born May 11, 1861, and died July 12, 1871. Mr. B. owns about 270 acres of land in Allin Township, and a fine residence. In politics is a Democrat.

ABEL BROOKS, broker, Stanford ; was born in Allin Township (formerly Mosquito Grove Township), March 6, 1852. He is the second son of Predey T. Brooks. He married Miss Livonia Summers, daughter of Dr. Andrew Summers, April 2, 1874; she was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Oct. 10, 1851. They have had two children - Myrtle, born May 19, 1876 ; died April 9, 1878, and Lee, born Dec. 17, 1878. In addition to his brokerage business, Mr. Brooks is engaged in the lightning-rod business.

MILES BROOKS, Police Justice; Stanford ; was born in Allin Township Oct. 8, 1845, and is the oldest son of Presley T. Brooks, who is the oldest living settler in Allin Township, and now resides in Eureka, Woodford Co., 111.; he was born in Hart Co., Ky., Nov. 9, 1821, and came here before the organization of the county of McLean, Dec. 29, 1842. He married Eliza Silvay Larrison. In the winter of 1829-30, he entered land now known as Brooks' Grove, and in March, 1830, moved into his log cabin. The Indians, wolves and deer had everything their own way, but the Indians were friendly. Miles Brooks, at the starting of Stanford village, went into the lumber and grain business, and has followed that with stock-buying and shipping ever since. In 1876, he was elected Police Justice, and re-elected in the spring of 1879. He married Miss Sarah R. Johnson, daughter of Caleb Johnson, of Danvers Township, May 13, 1869. They have two children living; - Alpha, born Sept. 27, 1874, and Pearl, July 17, 1877. The eldest died in early infancy, unnamed.

MALVINA B. CAVETT, farming ; P. O. Stanford ; widow of John Cavett ; he was born in Posey Co., Ind., May 22, 1817, and was raised a farmer, and always followed the business. He married Miss Malvina McReynolds Jan. 11, 1838; she was born in the same county, May 17, 1817, and they moved to McLean Co., Allin Township, in October, 1854; he died Sept. 5, 1870. They have seven children living - Mary Ann, born Oct. 31, 1844; John A., born March 23, 1846; Thomas W., born April 22, 1848; Margaret J., born Oct. 24, 1850; William W., born Sept. 1, 1855; Josephine S., born Oct, 5, 1858; Charles H. C, born Dec. 26, 1862, and James, deceased; Nancy E., born Jan. 3, 1842, and died Dec. 31, 1842. They own a fine farm of 200 acres - rolling prairie.

ROSETTA F1TZPATR1CK, farmer; P. O. Covel, Dale Township: was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, April 25,1841, and is the widow of James Fitzpatrick ; he was born in Boston, Mass., April 1, 1837. She came to this country with her uncle. John Cox ; landed in New York in 1845: they lived in New Jersey until the spring of I860, when they moved to Colorado. She married James Fitzpatrick in Denver City Aug. 22, 1860. They moved to Bloomington, McLean Co., 111., in the summer of 1865, and that fall bought the farm where she resides, in Allin Township. He died Dec. 17, 1873, in Bloomington. They have six children - James F., born in Denver City July 15, 1861 ; Mary E., born in Denver City April 25, 1863 ; John C, born in St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 5, 1866 ; Martin H., born on their farm Aug. 1, 1868 ; Robert E., born in Bloomington Nov. 26, 1870, and Rosette, born in Bloomington Nov. 25, 1872. She owns a nice home of 160 acres in Allin Township, and a house and lot in Bloomington.

AMOS W. HARRISON, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O.Stanford; was born in Andrew Co., Mo., July 28, 1844; went to Knox Co., Ohio, with his parents, in 1848, and to McLean Co., 111., in 1851. His father, Abraham Harrison, was born in Essex Co., N. J., Dec. 10, 1815, and married Nancy Kinkade in Knox Co., Ohio, Dec. 23, 1838; she was born in Maryland May 6, 1816. Amos W. Harrison married Miss Alice Ward in Macon Co., Mo., Oct. 20, 1867; she was born in McLean Co., 111., Feb. 1, 1850. They moved to Allin Township in March, 1878, where they now reside. They have three children - James A., born Aug. 10,1869; Ethel M., horn Nov. 12, 1873, and Bertrand 0., born Feb. 17, 1874. His brother-in-law, William Paul, and himself, own 238 acres of fine prairie, where he lives. In politics, he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM HILLVARD, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Minier, Tazewell Co., 111. ; was born in Vermilion Co., 111., Sept. 25, 1842 ; his father, John Hillyard, was born in Northampton Co., Penn., in 1799, and died in Tazewell Co. March 11, 1862 ; his mother, Sarah (Hatfield), was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in February, 1809 ; she resides with William Hillyard, the subject of this sketch, who married Miss Susan J.Colville Nov. 12, 1868 ; she was born in Harrison Co., Ky., June 29, 1839. They have four children - Mary E., born Aug. 25, 1869; John W., May 11, 1873 ; Edward A., March 3, 1875, and Sarah Maud, Dec. 11, 1878. Mr. Hillyard is a Republican.

CALEB JOHNSON, retired farmer, stock-raiser and dealer; P. 0. Stanford; was born in Monroe Co., W. Va., March 22, 1813. His school advantages were limited to a few months in a log cabin. He followed farming. Sept. 16, 1856, he started out with his family and household goods, all in four two-horse wagons, and eight horses, for his new home in Danvers Township, McLean Co., 111., where he had bought, the year previous, 560 acres of prairie and timber land. They reached their farm Oct. 13, following. He married Miss Eliza J. Beard June 27, 1839. She was born in Monroe Co., Va., Dec. 11, 1813. They have six children - Ward P., born June 8, 1840 (he married Elizabeth Deal); Madora E., born March 4, 1843 (she married George W. Holland); Sarah R., born April 11, 1845 (she married Miles Brooks, Esq.) : James W. was born Aug. 23, 1847 (he married Lois Rowel) ; John A. was born March 18, 1851 (he married Julia Lehmann) ; Louise S. was born March 7, 1855 (she married Frank P. Browning). One son lives in Kansas and two daughters in Missouri, the rest here. He now owns, altogether, 406 acres of land and, resides in Stanford. He is a Democrat in politics.

JAMES JOHNSTON, farmer, stock -raiser and fruit-grower; P. 0. Danvers; was bom in Greene Co., Ohio, Nov. 15, 1828 ; with his parents, moved to Allen Co., Ind., in 1836 ; he then, as now, followed farming. His early advantages for an education were confined to a rude log building ; but his was one of those persevering spirits that overcome many obstacles that, to many others, appear insurmountable, and for awhile himself taught school, and farmed, and, as his work shows, is not an indifferent carpenter and builder. In 1853, he started with his wife and chattels, in a two-horse wagon, for McLean Co., 111., for the place or land he purchased in Allin Township in 1852. They were eleven days on the road, camping in their wagon every night. He engaged in farming, and otherwise, so that he did not reach his farm until the spring of 1855. He married Miss Eleanor Jane Marr3, of Allen Co.. Ind., Dec. 8> 1852. She was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, June 13, 1830, and went to Allen Co., Ind., with her parents in 1849. They have four boys, viz. : Lucian C, born July 12, 1854 (he married Ellen B. Dickinson Jan. 1, 1878, and lives in Nebraska); Alva E., born March 16, 1859; Milo D., born May 30, 1866; Virgil W., born March 15, 1871. The last three are living at home with their parents. They own 165 acres of fine, rolling prairie and a fine house.