Piatt County, Illinois - Biographical sketches (3 of 7 so headed), 1883

Biographical sketches

MR. SCOTT ARMSWORTH, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Virginia, September 9, 1806. His parents moved when he was just three weeks old to Ohio, where lie was reared. When Scott was eighteen years old his father died and the family concluded to sell out and go to Illinois. After the sale each had about $400. Four of the children and the mother finally came to this county. Now all are dead except Mr. Scott Armsworth. Samuel Armsworth came to the county about 1838, married Miss Ater, and settled on the north side of the river, in Willow Branch township. Two of his sons, James and Noah, are still living in the township. Rebecca Armsworth was the wife of Abraham Ater, and they came to the county about 1838. He died the next year, while she lived until 1847. Catharine moved with her mother to Piatt county some time between 1838 and 1845. She married George Matchler and settled on what is now the Allerton place. She died January 12, 1847, and her mother died while visiting relatives in Indiana. Mr. Scott Armsworth first moved on to his farm in Willow Branch township in 1845, having bought 120 acres of land, to which he added more later, now having about 360 acres of land, upon which he has put all the improvements. He built his farm residence in 1850. It has since been altered and now contains four good sized rooms. He was married April 14, 1840, and has had six children, but one of whom, Willis, is living. Ann married George Still and died in 1879, having had three children, Leona, Noah and Samuel. Mr. Armsworth recently moved into Cerro Gordo, where he owns three business houses, one of which is brick, and two residences.

MR. PETEK ADAMS, a farmer, was born in Kentucky in 1818. He moved from his native state to Ohio arid from thence to Illinois, and in 1839 came to Piatt county. He first settled on Willow Branch, where he found very few settlers. He moved to his present home in Cerro Gordo township in 1849. He owns 120 acres of land, which he improved himself, and upon which he has planted at least three hundred trees. Mr. Adams was married in 1845, to Sarah J. Peck. Two of their children are living, Angelo, who married Mary A. Ater, and

David S., who lives at home. In 1868 Mr. Adams took for his second wife Rebecca Johnston, a native of North Carolina. Thev have no children. Mr. Adams has held the offices of school director and road commissioner.

MR. JOSEPH AUTEN, stock dealer, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Ohio and was reared in Pennsylvania. He moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1851 and to Piatt county in 1856, and lived in Willow Branch and Cerro Gordo townships until he moved into town in 1872. He had previously moved to town in 1856, when he remained two years. Among Mr. Auten's first farming enterprises he hauled corn to Cerro Gordo at ten cents a bushel and sold it in the field for eight cents. It is pleasing to note the various changes anr) improvements since then. Mr. Auten was assessor of the township and belongs to the Cerro Gordo Masonic lodge Xo. 600. He was married in 1858, to Sarah McKinney, and has three sons : Frank, who taught as first assistant in the Cerro Gordo schools this past year, and Charley and John at home.

MR. STILLMAN BARBER, formerly of Milmine, now of Gonzales, Texas, is a native of Rhode Island, which state his grandfather and two uncles helped to stake out. He was born in 1821, and in 1857 moved to Piatt county, Illinois. He lived, however, near Carlinville, Illinois, previous to moving to Piatt county. When he first settled here he bought land where Mr. Henry Kuns lives and began making extensive improvements. At the time of his settling on it there was not a stick of wood on the place, but he soon had out a forty-acre apple orchard, which has yielded as high as a thousand bushel of apples a year. He set out two other orchards before leaving the county. After living about eight years on the farm Mr. Barber moved into Milmin, where he resided until 1875, when he went to Texas. While in Milmine Mr. Barber kept a store, was railroad agent and bought grain. He was also school director, treasurer and justice of the peace. He can justly be called one of the most energetic men of the county. Mr. Barber came to Illinois a bachelor, but was married in Madison county to Mrs. Mary A. Murphy nee Mary Clark, who had had four children, three of whom are living. John Murphy married Sarah Hays,has one child, Jno. Delmer, and lives on a farm north of Bement. Julia A. Murphy is not married and makes her home with her brother John. Robert married Mary Barber, has three children, James. George and Charles, a"nd lives in Unity township. Mr. Barber has had seven children, five of whom are living. Katie S. married Thomas W. East in 1873, has had three children, Victor, Herbert and Arthur, and lives near Milmine. She was bookkeeper in her father's store for several years. Mr. East has put most of the improvements on his 140 acres of land. He has a cottonwood and a maple grove of about six hundred trees. Margaret Barber attended the State Normal for one term and then studied at the State University at Champaign for two terms. She is now teaching at Luling, Texas. Moses, Ida and Clark are attending college near their home in Gonzales, Texas.

MR. HIRAM BARBER, merchant and postmaster, Milmine, is a native ot Rhode Island. He moved from there to Piatt county in 1858, settling two miles west of Milmine. He owned a farm of 136 acres, which he broke, fenced and improved himself. He sold this and bought a farm of 160 acres joining Milmine, part of which was improved when he purchased it. In 1879 he bought a lot, store and goods, and has since been a merchant. Mr. Barber was married in 1846, to Susan E. Sherman, who died, leaving two children : Mathew S., who married Jennie Stanton and lives in Kansas; Susan A., who is the wife of Wm. Briggs, lives in Chicago and has two children. At Mr. Barber's second nuptials, in 1857, he married Mary F. Briggs.

MR. F. A. BOWDLE, farmer, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Illinois in 1862. In 1868 he settled on his present homeplace of 160 acres, upon which he has made all improvements. He was married in Ohio, to Catherine "Willis, who died in 1860, leaving eight children, seven of whom are living. Sally E. is living at home. Wm. married Lucy McDonald, of Pennsylvania, and lives in Cerro Gordo township; they have two children, Frank A. and Jennie. Josephine married Daniel Immel, and with one child lives in Macon county. J. W. married Maria Gorman, has one child, Herbert, and lives in Cerro Gordo township. Maria C. married Uleric Born, and has one child, Selah. Emma J. is the wife of Mr. Humer. Mary is living at home. Mr. Bowdle has been school director for four years. He thinks that their neighborhood has changed somewhat in regard to morals since he first came into it. Now the people do seem to know what Sunday is, while some years ago all days seemed the same. He considers this county one of the finest he has ever seen.

MR. BENJAMIN BOWMAN, a farmer, is a native of Ohio. He moved from his native state when quite young, and was reared in Indiana. He moved to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1865, and settled on the place of eighty acres which he has principally improved, and which he now lives on. He was married in Ohio, to Marv A. Laird, and has had

MR. JONATHAN BURNS, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, is a native of Scott county. He moved from there to Macon county, and from thence to Piatt county in 1866. He lived in Bement township for a time, but for the last nine years has been in Cerro Gordo township, where he owns eighty acres of land, upon which he has made some improvements. He was married to Francis V. Burrows, of Scott county. They have had eight children, seven of whom, Chas. E., Alice M., Tho. W., Frederic F., Daniel, Jennie P. and Carrie are living. Mr. Burns went to the army from Scott county, in Co. F of the 61st 111. He was out nearly four years, but was never wounded. He served as second and first lieutenant, and was veteranized. He took part in the following engagements : Shiloh. Vicksburg, Mechanicsburg, Little Rock, Murfreesborough and The Cedars. Mr. Burns once had a narrow escape from bushwhackers in the grand prairie of Arkansas. He with others were out deer hunting, when they suddenly found themselves in the midst of their enemy. By a little maneuvering they escaped from the bushwhackers, who luckily were attracted elsewhere.

SQUIRE E. A. BARNWELL, Cerro Gordo, was born near Nashville, Tennessee. He moved from that state to Macon county in 1833. His father was then one of the early settlers of that county. His father was on a war vessel in the war of 1812. Mr. Barnwell lived in Macon most of the time previous to his coming to Piatt county. He lived there continuously from 1856 until 1874, when he settled in Cerro Gordo. After locating in this town he followed photography for a time, and now for the last six years has been police magistrate of the place. He has also held the office of town clerk for four years. lie is a member of the Masonic lodge, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1846. He owns a house and lot in Cerro Gordo. Mr. Barnwell and Susanna Wliidky were united in marriage in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1848. They have had five children, two of whom, E. A. Barnwell Jr. and Gracie R. are at home.

MR. SAMUEL BRANDEXBURG, farmer, is of German descent and a native of Kentucky. He mov7ed from that state to Illinois in 1864, and settled where he now lives upon eighty acres of land, upon which he has made all improvements. He was married in Kentucky, to Adaline Haggard. Their eight children are all living. David is married and lives in Kansas; Alvin is also in Kansas; Win., Jas.,

MR. JAMES K. CHAMBERS, a farmer near Cerro Gordo, was born in Kentucky. His parents, who were of Scotch and Irish lineage, and natives of the same state, settled in Macon county about 1831. Some of their children are still living in that county. James was married in 1848, in Macon county, to Elizabeth Dickey, a native of Tennessee; they have had eight children, seven of whom are living. Martha E. lives at home. Wm. married Belle Gancher, has one child, Guy, and lives on a farm near La Place. Isaac married Lenora Wells, and lives in Macon county. Lucy J., John, Margaret and Anna are all at home. Mr. Chambers lived in Macon county until about 1860, when he moved on a farm one mile north Cerro Gordo, where he has lived ever since. When asked if he had held any offices, he remarked : " Yes. I have had all I want." He has been school director, trustee, road commissioner, assessor- and supervisor. Mr. Chambers owns 360 acres ''of land, upon which he lias put very near all of the improvements. The farm is in good condition, well tiled and ditched ; and five hundred trees have been planted out. The crops on the place have all averaged well. From sixty to seventy bushels of corn to the acre, however, have been the highest. Mr. Chambers thinks that tiling is the salvation of the county. In 1881 the residence was remodeled, and it now contains seven rooms. Mr. Chambers is one of the few old settlers who seems not to long for the "good old times." He is very glad that he does not now have to go through what he once did ; that the market places are nearer than Springfield and Chicago. He thinks, too, that it is a tendency of the old settlers to underrate the hospitality of the people of the present time.

MR. ALEXANDER Cox, with Pitts & Green. Cerro Gordo, is a native of Woodford county, Kentucky, and moved from there direct to Cerro Gordo, May 22, 1856, where he has since resided. His grandfather and great-uncle were in the war of 1812, and one greatuncle served seven years under Washington in the revolutionary war. His forefathers have been in America since the settlement of the country. Mr. Alexander Cox was in the Mexican war, went from Kentucky, and served under Col. Humphrey. He was under Zachariah Taylor, sat and chatted with him many a day. He was in the battle of Buena Vista, and in several skirmishes ; was often shot at but felt no fear of being injured. When he left he was in poor health, but returned much improved. When Mr. Cox first came here all was open prairie; his brother remarked "if you live here one hundred years you will always have plenty of pasture." At that time there were only four houses in Cerro Gordo, depot, store-room, Mr. Cole's, and Mr. McKinney's, the first dwellings being built in the fall of 1855. Mr. Cox owns a farm of eighty acres one mile from Cerro Gordo, and also lot and residence. He improved one farm of 160 acres, which he sold. The subject of our sketch was married in 1849, to Hettie H. Price, and has six children living. Elizabeth, who is the wife of Andrew Barns, lives in Denver, Colorado, and has three children; Alexander H. married Anna Zimmerman, lives in Decatur, and has two children ; Chas. B. is with Lynn & Scruggs ; Matilda is at home; Hetty M. is the wife of Chas. A. Bowlby, lives at Fairmount, and has one child; John G. lives at home, and is night operator on the Wabash railroad.

MK. MATTHEW CREIGHTON, farmer near Cerro Gordo, is a native of Delaware. He moved to Ohio in 1840, and in 1852 settled in Piatt county. For the first year he lived in the Ater settlement, and then in 1353 moved to where he now lives. He owns 560 acres of land, upon which he has put all the improvements, including the putting out of hedges and the planting of about two hundred trees. His present residence was built in 1860. Mr. Creighton was married in 1849, to Maria Grove, and has had eight children, four of whom are iving. John R. married Rosa Huff, and lives in Cerro Gordo township; Noah, Sarah and Mary Etta are at home.

MR. V. B. CLIFTOIST, hardware merchant, Cerro Gordo, is a native of DeWitt county, Illinois. He moved from DeWitt to Macon county and in 1865 settled in Willow Branch township in Piatt county. In 1869 he moved into Cerro Gordo, where for a time he was in the milling and grain business, but in 1876 or 1877 he went into the hardware store. He was married in 1862, to Jane Lucas, and has had six children, five of whom are living, Josephine, Anna, Gilmer, Eddie and Oscar. He went into the army from DeWitt county in 1862, in Co. D, 107th 111. The principal engagements in which he participated were those of Knoxville, Franklin, Louden and Campbell Station.

MR. W. E. CODDINGTON, grocer and merchant of La Place, is a native of Ohio. From there he moved to Illinois and in 1879 located in Piatt county. He owns a residence and three lots in La Place and was married about 1872, to Dora Coifeen. They have two children, Mabel and Ray.

born in Montgomery county, Ohio, and moved from there to Carroll county, Indiana, and thence to Macori county, Illinois, in 1861 ; from there to Piatt county in 1862, locating in Cerro Gordo township. He moved into the town of Cerro Gordo and was for seven years engaged in the mill, and then opened a shop. He owns his residence and about three acres, and the shop with the lot on which it is built. Mr. Gripe was married in 1850, to Mary Zech, and has four children living, John (see his name) ; Daniel, who was married about 1874, to Mary E. Carver, and has three children ; Flora Belle, Artilla and Sylvan E. ; Daniel is with his father in the wagon and blacksmith shop ; he owns a house and lot ; Josephus and Allen are unmarried.

MR. J. CRIPE, hardware merchant, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Indiana. He moved to Illinois in 1861, and to Cerro Gordo in 1863. He became a partner in the hardware store of Clifton & Cripe in 1881, and owns a residence and two lots in Cerro Gordo. Mr. Cripe and Laura V. Galloway were united in marriage in 1876. They have one son, Harry Elmer.

MR. ELI GRIPE, a farmer near La Place, is a native of Indiana, from which state he moved to Macon county in 1858. In 1876 he moved to Piatt county, where he owns forty acres of land. He was married in Macon county, to Matilda Funk, and has had four children, three of whom, Simon, John and Levi, are living. Mr. and Mrs. Cripe belong to the German Baptist church.

MR. WILLIAM H. CLAY, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, and owner of eighty acres of land, came to Piatt county from Macon county in 1862. He was married in 1874, to Susan Lutz. They have had four children, two of whom, Austin L. and Elmer, are living. Mr. Clay went into the army in Co. A, 116th 111. Yols. He was in the engagement at Resaca and went with Sherman to the sea. He was wounded at Fort McAllister and had to remain in a hospital for several months.

MR. DANIEL CONKLIN, hotel keeper, Cerro Gordo, was born in New York, and moved from there to Macon county, Illinois, about 1851, after farming a year near Sycamore. He laid out the town he called "West Danville," building the mill and other houses there. He came to Piatt county in 1857, and at that time there were but three or four houses in Cerro Gordo, his being the fifth or sixth house in town. He says his grandfather helped to take and hang Major Andre, in the revolutionary war. Mr. Conklin has been constable several terms, and has caught many thieves. He considers himself the man who ferreted out John Huffman, who killed Julius Cumby near Milmine, and was caught in Oregon. Mr. Conklin has traveled some in the west, and is familiarly and notoriously known as "Uncle Dan." When he first went to Cerro Gordo he was a merchant, then kept groceries and general merchandise, but has been keeping hotel for ten or twelve years. Mr. Conklin was married in 1845, to Sarah Kelsey, and has had three children, who are all dead. His wife owns a house and several business houses in town.

MR. PHILIP DOBSON, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Yorkshire, England ; came to America in 1855, and to Piatt county in 1865, settling in Cerro Gordo township, where he owns about 500 acres, part of which he himself improved. Pie never bought an acre of land for less than $25, and it was raw prairie. He also owns a brick house and four lots in Cerro Gordo, into which he has recently moved. Mr. Dobson was married in England in 1855, to Isabella Morley, and they have seven children : Marj^ married Alfred Ba]$h, lives in Cerro Gordo township ; Sarah married Andrew Ankram, lives in Cerro Gordo township, and has two children, Lillie and Ora ; Belle keeps her brother's house ; Robinson M. lives on the farm ; Rachel is unmarried ; Annie recently married Wm. Brandenburg, a grocer in Cerro Gordo ; John lives at home.

NELSON DUELL moved from New York in 1859 to Cook county, Illinois, and to Piatt county in 1860, settling near Milmine. He owns his house and lot in Milmine, and also some lots in Bement. He moved into Cerro Gordo in 1881. Mr. Duell was married to Phoebe Mosier, and has ten children living. Malviria married Martin Yant, lives near Waukegan, and has three children ; M. E. married Mattie Minskey, lives near Bement, and has two children ; Louisa is the wife of Merrick Shepherd, lives in Minnesota, and has three children ; Ruth married Wm. McGaffey, lives east of Bement, and has five' children ; D. G. married Delia Edmunds, who died in 18T6, leaving three children, Maggie M., Ellen D. and Herbert ; Russel Duell is married, and lives in Minnesota ; Kate lives at home ; Lettie is the wife of Will Fisher (see his sketch) ; Holland and Charles are at home.

MR. GEORGE DOBSON, a farmer near Cerro Gordo, is a native of England. He came to America in 1858, and for awhile lived at Jacksonville. He bought land in Piatt county in 186-4, and in 1866 settled near Milmine, and about seven or eight years ago moved on the place 6f eighty acres where he now lives. Much improvement, including a great deal of draining, has been done since the place has been in his hands. He was married in Morgan count}', to Mary Peaker, who came with her father to America in 1851. Six of their seven children are still living, John W., Frederick H., George E., Charles E., Alice G. and Sarah Belle.

MR. GEORGE D. DILATUSH, farmer, La Place, claims New Jersey as his native state, from which place he moved to Logan county in 1868, and located in Piatt county in 1871. His present home farm of 240 acres was bought in 1870 and is in good condition. Tiling has been put in, ditches have been made, and at least two hundred trees have been planted, besides the making of other improvements. In fact Mr. Dilatush is one of the successful farmers of the township. In 1855 Mr. Dilatush and Cynthia Jeffries were united in marriage. Five of their six children are living : Frank V. has been a successful teacher of Monticello for several years ; J. J., Elmer E., Lida E. and William Henry are yet at home.

MR. "W. F. DONALDSON, postmaster, keeper of a bookstore, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Monroe county, New York. He lived in Kentucky for nine years, and then moved to Decatur, where he remained five months and then moved to Cerro Gordo in 1876. He opened a bookstore in that place in 1876, and about 1880 became postmaster. He owns his residence and one lot in the place, is a member of the Masonic lodge, and has been township clerk twice. He was united in marriage in 1862 to Mary McDunn, and has one son, H. W. Donaldson.

MR. THOMAS EAST (deceased) was a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Christian county, Illinois, in 1861, and in 1864 settled in Piatt county on a farm of eighty acres. He had but begun to improve the place when his death occurred in 1864. He was married in 1832, to Priscilla McCracken, a native of Ohio. They had fourteen children, seven of whom are living. Isabel, the wife of William L. Hammer, has six children, and lives in Decatur. Ann married Jacob L. Davis, who died, leaving four daughters. William H. married Ada Finegan, of St. Louis. He died from sickness contracted in the army, leaving one child. Leander died from wounds received in the late war. Quincy married Harriet East, and, with one child, lives in Ohio. Joseph is living at home. Wheatley is married and living near Milmine. Francis O., who died 1881, was one of the successful school-teachers of Piatt county. He was a student of the Normal University. Ulric, formerly a student of the same university, died in California at the age of twenty-three. Oscar is living at home and is a school-teacher. Homer has been a school-teacher, but at present has charge of the home farm. Mre. East still lives on her farm near Milmine. Many improvements have been made of late years. The farm is well ditched with open ditches, and about two hundred and fifty trees have been planted out. A new barn was built in 1873, and in 1SSO a new house was put up, all of which causes their home to be considered one of the neatest country-places of the county.

Mi;. DAVID ESPY, La Place, moved from Pennsylvania, his native state, to Illinois in 1851, and to Piatt county in 1874, locating in La Place. He was married in October 1851, to Ann C. Jackson, and has hud seven children, three of whom are living. D. Brainard is in Lintner, Sadie M. keeps house for her father, and Nellie J. is teaching in Mondcello. Mrs. Espy died August 16, 1880.

MR. ABRAHAM FUNK, farmer, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Pennsylvania. He left his native state in 1836 and moved to Bloomington, Indiana. In 1853 he came to Illinois, and settled in Willow Branch township. His next move was to Macon county, but he returned to Piatt county, and settled about one and a half miles from Cerro Gordo. When he first located near Cerro Gordo he boarded the railroad hands as the present Wabash railroad was being built. In 1881 Mr. Funk moved into Cerro Gordo, where he owns a house and three lots. In addition to this he owns forty acres of the eighty-acre farm he improved near the town. There are two houses, a barn, a stable and a good orchard on the place. Mr. Funk was married February 22, 1838, to Eliza J. McKinney, and four of their five children are living. Emily is the wife of Sandford Tracy, the mother of two children, Charles and Mary, and lives in Cerro Gordo township. Samuel M., a soldier in the army, married Sarah Chilson, lives four miles south of Milmine, and has six children living: Eugene M., John, Samuel, Elvaretta, Cora, Alice and Aaron. Amelia, the wife of William Edie, a farmer near Cerro Gordo, has three children, Albert, Walter and Charles. Theodore lost his first wife, ne'e Sarah Cantrall. His second wife was named Alice Richards, and he next married Alice Good, and is now living with his parents. He is a dealer in small fruits, having four and a half acres of the same.

MR. ENOS FARNSWORTH, farmer, Milmine, is a native of Virginia, London county. From that place he went to Ohio in 1851, and in 1853 came to Piatt county, settling upon -400 acres of land, upon a portion of which the town of Farnsworth is located. He improved this place, putting out some six miles of hedge, several thousand trees, and four orchards. There are three dwelling houses on the original farm. Mr. Farnsworth was supervisor of Cerro Gordo township four years. He was married in' 1870, to Susan A. Nesbitt, a native of Illinois, and has two daughters, Anna and Emma.

MR. JACOB FRYDENGER, a farmer near Cerro Gordo, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1823. His parents, who are now dead, came to America when he was three years old, and settled in Pennsylvania. He moved from that state to Ohio, from there to Iowa, and, in 1864, settled in Piatt county on the place of 160 acres% on which he still lives. He was married in 1857, to Nancy Jones, who died in 1873. They had six children, five of whom are living : Ida, who is one of the successful school-teachers of the county, Emma, Frank, Iowa and Ilattie. Mrs. Frydenger's father and stepmother have both died at Mr. Frydenger's since her death. He has a brother who lives with him, and the two are the only ones of their family living.

MR. JOHN FIELDS, blacksmith, Cerro Gordo, claims Yorkshire, England, as his native place. He came to Illinois in 1844, and located in Cass county, but in 1857 located in Cerro Gordo. He was married by Squire Howell, in 1857, to Semantha Long. He thinks this is probably the first marriage in the place. They have had eleven children, seven of whom are living : Dora, John, Blanch, Cliff, Clyde, Hoy and Maud. He went to the army, from Macon county, in 1862, in Co. A of the 116 111. reg., and participated in the battles at Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mission Ridge, most of the battles of the Atlanta campaign, and Kingston. He owns a house and lot, and a portion of the blacksmith shop, in Cerro Gordo, and is a member of the masonic lodge.

MR. PETER FOUTS, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, is a native of Indiana, from which place he moved to Macon county in 1856. In 1868 he settled on some rented land near Seven-mile Grove, but afterward moved to his present home place of eighty acres. He was married in Indiana, to Miss Frantz, and has had seven children, but six of whom are living : Jacob, Henry, Lizzie, John. Leonard and Mary Ellen. M. Fonts has held the office of school director, and is a member of the German Baptist church.

MR. PETER FOLRATH, who has the only exclusive boot and shoe store in Cerro Gordo, is a native of Germany. He came to America in 1848, and in 1864 located in Cerro Gordo, where he now owns his residence and two lots. He was married in 1855, to Margaret Davis, and has had nine children, seven of whom are living. These are,

Biogkaphical Sketches

MR. WILLIAM GULLIFORD (deceased) settled on a farm in Cerro Gordo township in 1857, and lived there until his death, in 1881. His wife died about 1879. Five of their children are living in Piatt county. James Gulliford died in Piatt county about nine years ago, leaving a wife and three children. Richard is living on his father's home place (see his name). Thomas died about two years ago, leaving a wife nee Knighten, and two children, who are living in the county. William married Mrs. E. Dailey nee E. Torrence, and has five children, Lillie, Blanch, James, Maud and Scott, and lives in Milmine. Emma is the wife of James Armsworth, of Willow Branch township (see his name). Ann married Reuben Fisher, and lives at White Heath. Eliza is the wife of Noah Armsworth, and lives in Willow Branch township.

MR. RICHARD GULLIFORD, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, is a ; native of England. In 1854 he came to America. The passage was a very stormy one, the vessel being struck with lightning once. After two years' residence in America he settled in Piatt county in 1856, where he has been most of the time since. He was married in 1868, to Elizabeth Trimby, a native of England. They have three children living, Alice, Harry and Arthur. Mrs. Gulliford had a very serious time in coming to America in 1864. The vessel struck a rock twelve miles from Portland, Maine. It was wrecked at eight o'clock at night and about sixty persons were drowned. It finally sunk with the baggage of all the passengers. Mrs. Gullitord was pulled out of the water by her hair. She with others were out all night, during which time her hands were frozen. Mr. Gulliford went to the late war from Piatt county in Co. E of the 107th 111. He was discharged on account of sickness, and again he went into the army in the 9th Iowa. The principal engagements in which he participated were those of Yicksburg, Lookout, and the battles during the march to the sea. He received a slight flesh-wound once.

MR. H. N. GREEN, hardware merchant, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Indiana. He moved from there to Illinois in 1865, and in 1868 settled in Cerro Gordo, where he now owns a residence and three lots. He and Rebecca A. Johnson were united in marriage in 1852 and have had seven children, six of whom are now living. Of these, Charles J. married .Sarah Kemp, has one child and lives in Arizona; May Alice ' married T. J. Wimmer, has one child, Lynn, and lives in Cerro Gordo.

The names of Mr. Green's other children are Ed. S., Harry T., Ora E. and Ralph Waldo. Mr. Green has held the offices of sciiool director and town trustee.

MR. ISAAC HOWELL, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Macon county, Illinois, in 1826 or 1828. He first settled in Piatt countj about one mile northwest of where he now lives. He moved onto his present farm of eighty acres in 1858 and has since made all the improvements on the place. He planted out about 250 trees and in 1878 built his neat and comfortable frame residence. He was married in 1843, to Maiy Widick, who has had eight children, five of whom are living. George married Sarah Widick, has one child and lives in Kansas. William went to the army in Co. H of the 39th reg. and was killed. Emily first married Tho. Manzey, who died. She next married Wrn. Allsberry, and with two children, John and Louis, lives in Cerro Gordo township. Ellen married Edward Zinn, has one child and lives in Cerro Gordo township. John married Anna Kelsey and is also living in Cerro Gordo township. Eva is a school-teacher and lives at home. Mr. Howell was quite a hunter from the time he could hold a gun until he was twenty years old. He has helped to kill at least fifty wolves, has killed as many as three or four deer a day, and for a good many years killed from thirty to forty deer a year. When quite young he lost an eye by the bursting of a cap when trying to kill a squirrel. Mr Howell owns some 320 acres of land besides what he has in his home-place.

MR. JOSEPH HOWELL, a farmer near Cerro Gordo, was born in Ohio, March 4, 1816. He moved to Indiana, and from there to Macon county, Illinois, about 1828. There was no Decatur then, and they were "near neighbors" to the folks living in what is now Piatt county. The family consisted at that time of James Howell, who died afterward in Macon county, his wife and two sons, Joseph and Isaac. Joseph Howell split the first rails made in Willow Branch township. He was employed by Mr. Jas. Piatt to fence land owned by Mr. John West, near the Willow Branch. He was quite a hunter when young and frequently killed as many as three or four deer a day and from thirty to forty in one season. This was his occupation when he had no other work. Mr. Howell moved into Cerro Gordo township in 1845. He owns 160 acres of land, upon which he has put all improvements. He has planted an orchard of 200 trees and has fenced the place twice. In 1870 he-built a nice brick house of twelve rooms, including basement. Mr. Howell may be considered one of the successful farmers and stock deaers of the township. He was married inl842, to Mary McCauley, who died. Her five children are dead also. Adam married Sarah Whitback and lived in Cerro Gordo township until his death. Mary J. died when seventeen years old. Elizabeth and Amanda died of consumption. Mrs.- Jos. Howell died^in 1869, and in 1871 Mr. Howell married Anna Zinn.

ME. DANIEL HOWELL, farmer, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Ohio ; came to Piatt county about 1845 and entered the land his son Henry lives on. His father moved to Jasper % county, Missouri, fourteen or fifteen years ago, and was in the Black Hawk -war. Mr. Howell was married to Elizabeth Abroms, who has been dead three years. They were old settlers on Friends Creek and had eleven children. Henry married Mary Ann Pemble in 1862, who died, leaving five children : Lizzie, Charlie, Arthur, May Pearl and Lenna. Henry Howell married his second wife, Caroline LeDow, in 1881. He is the only child living in the county, and owns 100 acres of the old farm near Cerro Gordo, which his father principally improved. Mary Ann Howell is the wife of Christopher Wigner, and lives in Missouri. John married Margaret Kerns and lives in Nebraska. Levi is unmarried ; Samuel is married and lives in Iowa; Martha married Andrew Allen, and lives in Sangamon count}", Jones is married and lives in Mis^uri.

MR. WILLIAM T. HAVENAR, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Moultrie county, Illinois, in 1850. He next moved to Piatt county, where he owns eighty acres of land. He was married iri Ohio in 1847, to Elizabeth Kitchens, and has had seven children, six of whom are living. James married Mary Hitchens, has three children, and lives in Ohio. Charles married Martha Thompson, and lives in Lake City. Sarah J. married Jaihes Madison, has four children and lives in Moultrie county. John B. married Alice Patrick, has one son, William, and lives in Cerro Gordo township. Anna, the wife of James Winings, has one child and lives in Moultrie county. William E. is still at home. Mr. Havenar was one of a family of eight brothers, six of whom went all through the late war, were in some of the hardest battles, but did not receive a single wound.

MR. O. D. HAXNA, carpenter and farmer of Cerro Gordo township, was born in Pennsylvania in 1819. His grandfather was in the revolutionary war, and was in sight of Valley Forge when Washington was there. His father, Ephrairn Hanna, was in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, and was at the siege of Fort Meigs and Fort Sandusky. He was discharged just before the battle of the Thames. Mr. Hanna, the subject of our sketch, moved from his native state to Virginia, and from there to Ohio, and thence to Illinois, and was an early settler, with others of his family, in Woodford and Livingston counties. Their name is in the history of both of these counties. Mr. Hannah was married in 1844, to Ann Thompson, who was born in Ohio in 1822. Six of their eight children are living. Mary E. married William Pitcher, and with one daughter, Theodosia M., lives in Cerro Gordo township. Phebe A., the wife of Richard Hanna, lives in Livingston county. Sarah E., S. L., B. F. and Stephen are living at home. Mr. Hanna was the first assessor of one of the townships of Woodford county after the township organization. He is one of the few persons who have succeeded in keeping a record* of some of the principal events of his life. The book in which he has kept such record was bought in Ohio about thirty five years ago. Mr. Hanna settled in Piatt county in 1878, and owns thirty acres of land in his homeplace.

MB. ANDREW HEMINGER, a farmer, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county in 1858. He rented a farm for a time, after which he bought his present home of 160 acres, upon which he has put all the improvements. He has put out about five acres of forest trees and two hundred fruit trees. His first wife, nee Rachel Long, died leaving one child, which is now dead. In 1877 he married Melinda Schoolcraft, who has had one daughter, Maud Heminger. In 1862 Mr. Heminger went to the army in Co. K of the 107th 111. He was in the battles of Franklin and Loudon. After the latter engagement he was detailed to the engineering corps. He was also at the siege of Knoxville, during which time he found Out what "hard times" meant. Mr. Heminger bought apples at the rate of one dollar a dozen while in the army.

MR. ROBERT HUDGEN, a farmer and school-teacher near Cerro Gordo, is a native of Kentucky. His father moved to Macon county in 1848. Robert settled in Piatt county in 1862, and in 1875 moved onto his present home-farm of forty acres. When he was a young man, and when Cerro Gordo was first started, he went to the place for the purpose of buying some town lots, but the swampy appearance of the country deterred him. He has taught school for about sixteen years of his life. While teaching in the fall of 1881 he fell from the rostrum, injuring one of his limbs so that he was obliged to stop teaching

MR. O. J. HARLAN, merchant, is a native of Fountain count}7, Indiana. He moved to Champaign county, Illinois, in 1841, and in 1870 moved from Macon coumry to Cerro Gordo, where he opened a store. He now owns his store building, a residence and two lots in the place. He was married in 1850, to Mary B. Maim, who died in 1858, leaving three children: Morgan; Julia C., who is the wife of George Grubb, of Macon county, and has two children, and Naomi, who married John Hays, has two children and lives at Springfield. Mr. Harlan was married again in 1859, to Sarah M. Ball, and has five children, Arthur A., John Marshall, Almitta, Florence E. and Lula May. Mr. Harlan is a member of the Masonic and I.O.O.F. lodges. He has been school director and at present is a member of the town board.

MR. FREDERICK HEATH, wagon-maker, Cerro Gordo, is a native of New York. He moved to Ohio and then in 1857 located in Willow Branch township. He came into Cerro Gordo in 1860, and for a time worked at carpentering. He now owns a house and lot in the place. He was united in marriage in 1852, to Flavilla Whitford, and has had nine children, five of whom are living. Alice, the wife of John Valentine, has one child, Arthur. The names of the other children are Fred A., Mary, John and Clyde. Mr. Heath went from this township to the army in Co. K of the 107th III., and participated in the battles of Knoxville, Resaca, and others in the Atlanta campaign.

DR. "W. M. HARSHA, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Adams county, Ohio. He went from that state to Texas, where he taught school a year, after which he attended the university at Lebanon, Ohio, where he graduated in the scientific and classical course in 1875. From Lebanon he went to Ann Arbor and attended the medical school in the University of Michigan. After spending a year in Florida, where he was engaged in orange culture, assisting in a drug store and in the practice of medicine, he returned to Cincinnati and graduated there in the Eclectic Medical College in 1878. After spending another year in Florida, he came to Cerro Gordo in 1879 and began the practice of medicine. His practice gradually increased so that it was necessary for him to have assistance, and in 1881 Dr. H. C. Jones became his partner. Dr. Ilarsha is also a partner in the drug store of " Harsha and McCrumb." He was married June 1, 1880, to Adelia S. Ilutchinson, a native of Ohio, and who was also a student of Lebanon. Dr. Harsha is at present a member of the town board.

MR. E. O. HUMPHREY, teacher, La Place, moved from Ohio, his native state, to Illinois, locating in 1868 in Douglas county. He moved in 1878 to Piatt county, where he has since been teaching school. He attended school at the State Normal and at Terre Haute, Indiana. He was married October 27, 1881, to Minerva Smith, a native of Bath county, Kentucky.

DR. HERBERT C. JONES, Cerro G-ordo, a native of Ohio, moved from there to Florida, where lie remained five years. He came to Cerro Gordo in 1881 and went into partnership with Dr. Harsha. He attended the Ohio University at Athens,. Ohio, and graduated from the Medical College of Ohio, in 'Cincinnati, in 1876. He first practiced medicine in Florida. Dr. Jones was married in 1879, to Florence Correa, a native of Brooklyn, New York, and has one child, Lindley. Dr. Jones is a member of the Masonic lodge of Cerro Gordo and past master of a Florida Lodge.

'MR. E. H. JEFFRES, miller, of the firm "E. H. Jeffres & Son," Cerro Gordo, is a native of New York, moved from there to Chicago in 1863, thence to Cerro Gordo in 1879, when he purchased the mill of which he is now proprietor. He went to the army from New York in 1861, as captain of Co. H of the 136th N. Y. Vols., and was in several battles, the principal of which was Fredericksburg. His regiment was under Gen. Sigel, of the reserve corps. Mr. Jeffres was married about 1853, to Emily Pattridge, who died, leaving one son, Geo. W., who married Florence Monroe, of Chicago. George is in the mill with his father. Mr. Jeffres was married again in 1865, to Mary A. Ward.

MR. DANDY KELLINGTOJST, a farmer and mechanic near Milmine, is a native of England. He came to America when nine years old, lived in Morgan county, Illinois, for a number of years, -and in 1867 moved to Piatt county, where lie owns 160 acres of land. The farm is drained with both open and tile ditches ; it is fenced with hedges and plank fence and there are about 300 trees planted on it. The crops on the place have averaged well from year to year, but in 1881 the corn averaged near sixty bushels to the acre. Mr. Kellington built his eight-room frame residence about 1867. He was married in 1855, to Sarah A. Coultas, a native of Morgan county. All of their eight children are living: Win. Tho., John 0., Geo. Henry, Hannah M., Newton, Mary Jane, Peter Dandy and Edgar Roscoe.

MR. ANDREW McKiNNEY, formerly a merchant of Cerro Gordo, is a native of Indiana, from which state he moved to Illinois, and located in Monticello, where he began housekeeping in a small frame house on the cite of the store building now occupied by W. E. Smith. He moved onto, a farm near Cerro Gordo in 1856, and was in partnership with A. L. Rodgers in the first store building of Cerro Gordo. He taught school in Monticello in the winter of 1848-49, in a small frame building a few rods southwest of the square ; had about thirty scholars, and he considers the school as one of the most interesting and pleasant he ever taught. He taught the first school at Cerro Gordo, and built the first residence in. the town. He improved a farm of 160 acres in Willow Branch, known as the James Sherman farm, and also one of sixty acres adjoining Cerro Gordo. He was quite instrumental in building the Presbyterian church in the town, and in fact was closely connected with advancing interests of Cerro Gordo uiral 1880, when he moved to Rawlins county, Kansas, where he owns 320 acres of land. He was united in marriage about 1847, to Mary A. Rogers, and has had nine children, six of whom are living. Mr. II. E. McKinney was married in 1878, to Mary F. Garver, and is now assisting in Moore & Go's store in Cerro Gordo. His wife has a milliner store in the town. Charles McKinney is in Denver, Colorado, and John is in Kansas. Nannie E. is the wife of Robert Turner, has one child and lives in Kansas. Lyle and Willie are both at home. Mr. McKinney while living in Piatt county held several of the township offices.

MR. ALEXANDER MoKiNJNEY (deceased) was a native of Kentucky. He moved to Indiana, and then to Illinois, thus being a pioneer of three states, as it were. He married Mary Orchard, who died in 1881, and the following are the names of their children : Eliza J. (Mrs. A. Funk), William, Andrew, John, Samuel, Isaac, Mary, T. X. and Martha (Mrs. Starr), who died, leaving two children. Mr. Alexander McKinney diod about 1878.

MR. ISAAC McKiNNEY (deceased), formerly a native of Washington county, came to Piatt county about 1848, and in 185(5 to Cerro Gordo, where he died in 1862 or 1863. He was united in marriage to Harriet Campbell, who died, leaving two children, one of whom. Miss Lillie McKinney, a student of Jacksonville, has been in the present county clerk's office several summers.

near Cerro Gordo, has been a farmer ever since, and now owns 120 acres of land. He is married, and has three children : Claude, Pearl and an infant. Mr. McKinney was sergeant in Co. K of the 107th 111. Inf.

MR. JOHN McKiNNEY, farmer, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, born in 1800, and moved from there to Indiana, in 1814. During the war of 1812 he was mail boy for the neighborhood and had great fear of encountering an Indian, but with all his constant fear and dread, he never met with a wild Indian. He had five uncles in the revolutionary war. Mr. McKinney moved to Macon county, Illinois, in 1849, came to Piatt county in 1852 and settled six miles north of Cerro Gordo. He came to Cerro Gordo about 1865, and lives just outside the corporation. He owns his residence and seven and a half acres of land. He has been an elder in the Presbyterian church since 1853. Mr. McKinney was married in 1824, to Jane Orchard, who died about 1840, leaving four children: Isaac N., who married Cynthia Hollmgworth, who died, leaving two children : Raymond E. married Clara Moyer, lives in Monticello and has three children ; and Alice, who lives with her mother in Cerro Gordo ; Emily McKinney married Chas. McKay, lives near Cisco and has three children, Jennie, Mollie and Edward. Mr. McKay owns a farm, part of which is in this county ; Sarah is the wife of Joseph Auten (see his sketch) ; Mattie J. is the wife of Sam'l McKay, who was a soldier in the late war and lives two miles south of Cerro Gordo. Mr. John McKinney married his second wife, Mrs. Andrew Rodgers, nee Eliza McClung, in Mount Tabor, Indiana, in 1843. She was a native of Virginia and had three children : Mary, who is the wife of Andrew McKinney ; Nannie married Josiah Fairchild, lives in Str^Paul, Minnesota, and has eight children ; A. L. Rodgers (see his sketch).

MR. J. H. MOYER, baggage and yard-master on AVabash railroad, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Ohio, where his father still lives, near Cir~ cleville. He came to Illinois in 1867 and began working for the Wabash road in 1869, where he has been ever since and has not lost a day or a month's pay since. Mr. Moyer was married in 1867, to Josephine Brandom, and has had five children, three of whom are living, Harley E., Winnifred and Charlie. Pie has been town collector two years, member of town board one year, superintendent of M. E. Sunday school two years. Mr. Moyer remembers that John Hoffman, the murderer, was in his company in the army. He says he was always ready for duty, was never sick, and was always ready to make a raid or

MR. WILLIAM MITCHELL, merchant and insurance agent, Milmine, is a native of Ohio. From there his father and family moved to Illinois, and now four of his brothers are living in Piatt county : John, who married Miss Tatman ; Jacob, Joseph and George. The subject of our sketch came to Piatt county in 1865, and in 1874 located in Milmine, where he owns four houses, twelve lots, and built a storebuilding in 1876. He was married in 1879, to Lillie Taylor, and has one child, W. H. Mitchell.

MR. JAMES MILLER, blacksmith, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Indiana, from which state he moved to Macon county in 1856, and thence came to Piatt county in 1870. He owns a house and lot, besides a share in the blacksmith shop in the town. He was married in 1870, to Hester A. Long, and has had four children, three of whom, Frank C., Lillie and Willie, are living.

MR. W. O. McCEUM, druggist, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1868. On the first of October, 1881, he moved in Cerro Gordo, where at present he is a partner in the firm of " Harsha & McCrum." He has been master of the Masonic lodge for one year. He was married in 1872, to Clara A. Cook, and has had two children, Frank and Millard.

MR. L. D. NOBLE moved from Ross county, Ohio, his native place, to Cerro Gordo, in 1865. Previous to coming here he had been carrying on the saddling business in Chillicothe, Ohio. After coming to this cQ.nty he improved 840 acres of land and now he owns 360 acres. The improvements consisted in breaking up the largest portion of it, the building of four houses, the making of seven miles of plank and wire fence and the planting of eight miles of hedge. He has also built three houses and a hay-barn in Cerro Gordo. He was left alone in 1870, having previously lost a baby daughter at Chillicothe, Ohio, and about five years ago an only daughter which was five years old.

MR. AMOS PECK (deceased) was born March 7, 1820, in Pickaway county, Ohio. He moved to Macon county, Illinois, in 1852, and located in the house his widow lives in July 26, 1857. He was married December 31, 1840, to Nancy Hathaway, who was born in Ohio in 1820. They had eleven children, eight of whom are living. Rebecca, the wife of Isaac C. Carpenter, has one child and lives in Decatur; Ellen married Isaac Wilson, and lives in Emporia, Kansas ; Jerome, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, married Mary Hays, and has one child, Pearl May ; George, who married Mrs. Sally Yount, is a barber in Decatur; Allison, who married Sarah E. Lettington, has three children, Ollie, Otto W. and Eldo ; Benton married Elizabeth Snyder, has one child, and lives in Nevada. Gyrene is a dress-maker in Cerro Gordo ; Amos Ezra is living in Nevada. Mr. Amos Peck went to the late war in Co. K of the 107th 111. Inf., and his sons Jerome and George were also in the war. Mrs. Peck had a husband, two sons and four brothers in the army, and all reached home safely except a brother who was killed at Fort Donelson. Mr. Peck died of small-pox in Cerro Gordo January 25, 1865.

MR. ISAAC PECK, grain merchant, Milmine, is a native of Ohio, and moved to Pike county, Illinois, in 1845. In 1856 he came to Piatt county and located in Willow Branch township, where he improved a farm, but sold it, and moved in 1872 to Milmine, where he now owns a house and two lots. He was married in 1839, to Mary A. Shanton, and they have four children ; Sarah J. became the wife of Henry Peck, but died, leaving seven children ; Elizabeth, the wife of Isaac LeFever, has six children and lives in Champaign county ; Angeline first married B. F. Crook, who died, leaving two children, and she then married George Dobson, and is now living in Cerro Gordo township ; Melissa, the wife of Charles C. Weible, and mother of one child, lives in Iowa.

MR. PETER PECK, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, is a native of Ohio. His father, Adinijah Peck, settled in Willow Branch about 1838, when Peter was a boy, and lived there till his death in 1861. Peter was married in 1858 to Rachel E. Shuman, a native of Willow Branch township. Her father, Matthias Shuman, married andirttfttled in this township at an early day. Her mother died there, and her father moved to Kansas where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have had three children, all of whom are living. Janetta, the wife of William E. Hickinan, has one child, Gertrude M., and lives in Cerro Gordo township. Franklin, Delia, Charles, Peter and Mendota are at home. Mr. Peck moved into Cerro Gordo township in 1861. He owns a place of 160 acres, upon which he has made most of the improvements, including the building of an eight-room brick house in 1875. He also owns some land in Macon county. Mr. Peck held the office of schooldirector for nine consecutive years, and has also been road commissioner.

MR. WILLIAM II. PECK, a farmer near Cerro Gordo, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved in 1869 direct to Piatt county, where he now owns a farm of 100 acres, upon which he has made most of the improvements. He was married in 1868, to Hager Peck, and has had one daughter, Mary. Mrs. Peck met with quite a serious accident October 18, 1880. Ever since she was a child she has been afraid of an engine, and once fainted when simply crossing a railroad track when the train was a mile distant. On the day previously referred to, Mrs. Peck and Miss Ida Frydenger attempted to cross the railroad track at Cerro Gordo. They heard no whistle, and did not see the approaching engine, which struck the hub of one of the back wheels of the buggy, throwing Mrs. Peck from the buggy and as "high as the top of the telegraph pole." The buggy was thrown fifty-two feet, and the mules, though so suddenly torn loose from the buggy, were neither frightened nor injured. Miss Frydenger fell quite near the railroad crossing and was but slightly injured. Soon about three hundred people had congregated, and it was found that Mrs. Peck's nose and one of her arms were broken. She was unconscious for three days, but finally recovered from the effects of the accident. The railroad company paid for the repairing of the buggy, paid the physician's bill and gave Mrs. Peck $800 in money.

MR. W. L. PITTS, grain merchant, Cerro Gordo, was born in Washington, Indiana, moved from there to Illinois in 1861, and located near Cerro Gordo. His father was in the war of 1812, got land warrant, and moved to Indiana in 1859. Mr. Pitts has been principally in the grain business since he came to Cerro Gordo. He occupies the mill and elevator which was built about 1859, and owns one half of each. He also owns his residence and one and one-half acres. Mr. Pitts was married in Minnesota, in 1856, to Julia Curtiss, and has five children, Arthur L., Chas. L., Cora A., Minnie L. and Jessie F. Mr. Pitts is an earnest temperance worker, and is at present supervisor of township.

MR. ALPHEUS B. PARMENTER, farmer, of Cerro Gordo township, was born in Ohio in 1822, and in 1868 moved from that state direct to Piatt county. He was married in Ohio, to Eleanor J. "Wood, and has had three children, only one of whom is living. Win. married Ida Rhinehart, has one child, and is living with his father. Mr. Parmenter went to the Mexican war in the 4th Ohio reg., was gone about sixteen months. He served as first lieutenant for four months in the late war, in the 32d Ohio reg., and in 1864 he went out as captain in the 136th Ohio reg., and was once placed in charge of a fort at Washington. He was a captain and a major in the state militia before the rebellion. He still has the swords which he used in the Mexican and in the late

MR. J. P. REPLOGLE, farmer, druggist and banker, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, from which state he moved to Indiana in 1828, and in 1854 he went to Iowa, coming to Piatt county in 1858. He moved into Cerro Gordo in 1880, and owns one of the finest residences of the county in addition to another dwelling, a business house and ten acres of land. Mr. Replogle was married in 1845, to Susan Spidle, a native of Ohio, and has eight children. For Dr. P. S. Replogle, see his sketch ; Lydia was married in 1868, to Sam'l Marker, a native of Ohio, lives in La Place, and has three children, William, Ella and Ora ; Samuel married Delia Hickman, has three children, and lives in Moultrie county ; Barbara graduated in 1882, in the National School of Elocution and Oratory in Philadelphia; Benj. Frank has charge of, and is partner in, a drug store ; Lizzie is the wife of Chas. ET Bright, of Gerro Gordo ; and the names of the other children are Sarah and Lucinda.

DR. P. S. REPLOGLE, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Carroll county, Indiana. After moving to Iowa he located in Piatt county in 1859, living in this county most of the time since. He obtained his medical education at the Bennett College, graduating in 1874, and after first practicing in Fayette county located as a physician in Cerro Gordo about three years ago Dr. W. W. Hartsell, a graduate of the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, is his partner. Dr. Replogle and Julia McClellan, of Delphi, Indiana, were united in marriage in October, 1879. Mrs. Replogle has been a successful teacher in the Cerro Gordo schools.

MR. JAMES RYAAT, farmer, is a native of Ireland. He landed in New York in 1848, and in 1865 settled in Piatt county. After living for a time in Unity township he went to Kansas, but returned, and in 1873 bought his present home-place of eighty acres, which he has since improved. He married Sabina Glynn, a native of Ireland. Six of their eight children are still living : John, Biidget, who is married and lives in Ohio, Mattie, Pierce, Archibald and Mary. Mr. Ryan has been commissioner of highways for seven years.

MR. G. W. STONER, a farmer and stock dealer of La Place, is a native of Kentucky. He moved to Macon county, Illinois, and then returned to Kentucky, after which, in 1874, he settled in Cerro Gordo township, where he owns 420 acres of land that was bought in 1864. He has improved this place quite extensively, and it is known as the

Bonnie Brook Stock Farm, upon which stock has been raised ever since he has been in the county. He was the first to introduce the Jersey red hogs in that section of the county. He also has well-bred cattle and horses and was probably the first person who introduced the well-bred trotting horses into the county. Mr. Stoiier was married in Kentucky, to R. Ann Grimes, who died in 1864, leaving one daughter, Kate, who married James L. Butler, and has two children, Anna W. and Minnie H. She is now the wife of Victor Hawthorne, a grain dealer of La Place, and has one child, Bessie L.

MR. JAMES SCHOOLCRAFT, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1810. He moved to Indiana in 1828, and from there to Illinois in 1864, and settled where he now resides, one mile north of Cerro Gordo. He owns 120 acres, put up house, barn and most of improvements on it, a good orchard, other trees, and has it well hedged and drained. Mr. Schoolcraft was married in 1836, to Nancy Ann Franklin, who died in 1838. In 1844 he was united in marriage to Catharine Miller, and five of their eight children are living. Melinda is the wife of Andrew Hermnenger, lives in Cerro Gordo township, and has one child, Maud ; Henry married Frances McCarty, lives on home-place, and has one boy, Charles Earnest, Isaac married Ida Sayler, lives in Cerro Gordo township, has one child, Nora ; Mary is the wife of Levi Meisenhelter, lives in Cerro Gordo township, and has three children, Edith, Ethyl and Mildred ; Jennie married Orlando McKinney, and lives in Willow Branch township.

MR. D. C. SAYLER, undertaker and furniture dealer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Indiana, moved from there direct to Illinois, Piatt county, in 1867, and came to Cerro Gordo in 1870. At first he was a carpenter, then he opened a furniture store. He owns his residence, a lot and one-half, and business house. ,Mr. Sayler was married in 1876, to lilllen Buck, and has two children, Gertie A. and Clyde L. The subject of our sketch was assessor four years ago, and has been village clerk for six years.

MR. JOHN SMITH (deceased), formerly undertaker and cabinet maker, Cerro Gordo, was a native of Pennsylvania, from which state he moved to Ohio, and from there to Macon county, and thence to Piatt county about 1855. He moved into the house Mrs. Smith lives in 1858, and died here in 1878. He was married in 1845, to Sarah Cole, and had eight children, six of whom are living: Eva married Mr. E. Stewart, and^has three children, Alma, George and Bert ; Llewellyn lives in Georgetown, Colorado; Maggie, the wife of Albert McClintock, lives in Cerro

Gordo, and has two children, Nellie and Maud. The names of the other children are Alma, Ezra and Elmer. Mr. Smith was a carpenter and did a good deal of work in about Cerro Gordo, helping to erect the Methodist Episcopal church and other buildings.

MR. B. F. STOCKS, principal of Cerro Gordo public school, is a native of Morgan county, Ohio. He moved from Ross county, Ohio to Macon county in 1863. He graduated at the State Normal University in 1875, and also graduated at the Wesleyan law school in 1881. He has taught as principal ol schools for about eight years, but anticipates beginning the practice of law soon. He was married in 1875, to M. Alice Pargeon, who was also a student of Normal, and a teacher in the state. They have had three children, two of whom, Herbert and Ralph, are living.

MR. JOHN K. SHIVELY, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, is a native of Indiana. He moved to Macon county, Illinois, in 1868, and in 1871 settled in Piatt county, where he owns a place of forty acres, upon which he has made some improvements. He was married in Indiana, to Elizabeth Henricks, and has had three children, Simon H., Samuel and Lydia, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Shively are members of the German Baptist church.

MR. D. W. SEITZ, farmer, was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He moved to Macon county, Illinois, where his father still lives, in 1855. In 1875 he moved onto a place in Piatt county, owned by Mr. W. Ennis, of Decatur. He has lived on this place ever since, has put up fences and buildings on it, has made ditches, and has planted out trees. He was married in 1872, to N. J. Williams, a native of Illinois. They have had four children, Cora, William E., Frankie and Jesse. Mr. Seitz has been school trustee in township 16 ever since he has lived at his present home.

MR. SAMUEL K. THOMPSON (deceased) was a native of Connecticut, from which state he moved to Ohio, and from there to Macon county, Illinois. His next move was to Piatt county, where, at the time of his death in 1868, he owned about 400 acres of land. He had begun making many improvements on his farm. He began quite a good system of drainage for his farm, by which he drained a large pond situated near his house. At one time he owned quite a good deal of property in Macon county. Mr. Thompson married Mrs. Smith Stuart, a native of Connecticut. Her first husband died in the east, leaving six children, four of whom are now living : Harvey married Ellen Wilson, has four children and lives in Kansas ; Eliada married Eva- line Smith, and died, leaving three children, Alma, George E. and Bert ; Flora, the wife of Aaron Cole, has seven children, John, Daisy, Georgia, Mary, Anna, Roy and Hattie, and lives with her mother on the home place ; Mary is the wife of Eli Drum, an editor of Bement, and has live children, Stuart, Lillie, Arthur, Hattie and Bennie. Mrs. Thompson now lives on her large farm near Cerro Gordo, and is a very shrewd business woman.

MR. GEORGE WALLIS, grocer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, and first came to America to stay about twenty-four years ago. Previous to this he had for some time followed the sea. He came from Wisconsin to Illinois, then to Piatt county, about twentytwo years ago. He was a blacksmith until seven or eight years ago, when he went into the grocery business. Mr. Wallis was the first journeyman blacksmith in Cerro Gordo, where he now owns his house, three lots and business buildings. Mr. Wallis was married in 1861, to Mrs. Kemp, who had four children.

MR. M. H. WILSON, a merchant of Lintner, is a native of Macon county. He was married in Cass county, to Miss Clara Jones, a native of Kentucky, and has one daughter, Ada E. In 1878 he moved to Piatt county and went into the merchandise business at Lintner.

MR. WILLIAM YOORHIES, a resident of Cerro Gordo township, is a native of Kentucky. Plis great-grandfather came to Kentucky with Daniel Boone and was killed at the battle of Boonesborough. His grandfather was one of the early settlers of Kentucky, and his old home place still belongs to the family. He took an active part in the war of 1812 with Gen. Harrison and with Gov. Shelby, the first governor of Kentucky. Mr. William Voorhies, Sr., a very active gentleman of near eighty years of age, spends a portion of each year at "Breezeland," his son's residence in Piatt county. Mr. William Voorhies, previous to coming to Illinois, spent about four years in study and travel in Europe. The most of this time was spent in Germany. He was married in Kentucky in 1865, to Miss Ellen Duncan, the daughter of a prominent citizen of that state. They have had four children, Mary, Elizabeth, Lilly and Ida. Mr. Voorhies came from Lexington to Illinois in 1865. At this time the place (the portion on which he now lives) of 3,200 acres was bought. This land was a part of the seven or eight thousand acres of land which Gen. John S. Williams, who was prominent in the battle of Cerro Gordo and who is now United States senator from Kentucky, owned at one time. Mr. Samuel Allerton, of Chicago, lately bought 2,000 acres of Mr. Voorhies' land.

The whole tract of land is under cultivation and is still under Mr. Yoorhies' control. The residence at " Breezeland " is somewhat in the style of Southern houses. It is a fine country seat, and at the time it was built was the only settlement south of the railroad.

MR. GEORGE C. WAGNER, ^grain dealer, La Place, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois. He moved to Piatt county in 1862 and to La Place about 1873. He owns a residence, barn, and six and onehalf lots in this town. His residence, of eight or nine rooms, is in a fine location and is the largest house in town. He also has an interest in some business houses in La Place, and owns a 190-acre farm in Moultrie county. Mr. Wagner was married in 1861, to Louise Fuller, a native of New York.