Piatt County, Illinois - Biographical sketches (4 of 7 so headed), 1883

MR. BENNETT ARMSWORTH, farmer, Milmine, was born in Ohio in 1828.. In 1844 he came to Piatt county, and lived with Mr. Scott Arms worth several years. He was stage driver for a time on the state road between Decatur and Mahomet, and again he drove a stage between Springfield and Peoria. This was his last driving, and, strange to say, while on this road he had his first "upset," and two young ladies, who were pitched into a ditch, we're the victims of his probably careless driving. After his career as stage driver was over he went to Ohio for a year, but came back to this county, and for nine successive seasons fed cattle. During this time he drove several lots of cattle to Ohio. He was married in 1855, to Martha Ater, a native of Ohio, and has had ten children, all of whom are living. Effie is keeping house for her uncle, Thomas Ater. The names of the other children are Charles, Frank, Emma, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Josephine, James, Bennett and Margaret. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Armsworth moved onto his present home-place of 160 acres. He has put all the improvements on this place, including the fencing of it, both open and tile ditching, and the planting of at least 300 trees. The present residence was built about 1867. Mrs. Armstrong owns eighty acres in the township. Upon our asking Mr. Armsworth for any unusual incidents which had occurred under his notice, he related a little experience he had in 1862 with a cattle thief. One night he was roused by a man driving cattle, who wanted him to take the cattle to Decatur. Mr. Armsworth first refused, but afterward consented, and it was arranged that he would meet the man at Decatur at a certain place and hour. He fulfilled his part of the contract, but did not find the man as anticipated. After getting permission to put the cattle in the depot pens he searched the city for his man, but failed in the attempt,, when upoA going back to the pens he saw a man slipping away. He called and finally overtook the man, who paid him for his trouble, and excused his tardiness with the plea of sickness. Mr. Armsworth went home, and not long after the same man called at his house at midnight to inquire the way to Decatur. It is Mr. Armsworth's belief that the man at that time had Mr. Daniel Stickle's cattle in his possession. Again Mr. Armsworth saw the thief at Bement and tried to prevail on the constable to arrest him. The man was caught at last, however, though not in this county, and let us believe that justice was rendered him.

MR. NOAH ARMSWORTH, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Piatt county. He married Eliza Gulliford in 1870, and has had three children, two of whom are still living, Elizabeth and Charity Lulu. He owns a farm of 160 acres, upon which he has made many improvements. He built quite a nice seven-room brick residence about seven years ago, has planted about seventy-five trees, and has done some tile draining. Mr. Armsworth did not escape being school director for about six years.

MR. FRANK ATER, farmer, Milmine, is a native of Ohio, and came, when fifteen years old, with his father to Illinois. He lives on the 169 acres of land which fell to his share from his father's estate. It was but little improved, however, when it came into his possession. He has planted hedges, made both open and tile ditches, and built both barn and house. The latter was rebuilt in 1879, and now contains six rooms and presents a very pleasant appearance. Mr. Ater planted out 300 fruit trees in addition to about 100 other trees. His wheat crop in 1881 averaged twenty-one bushels to the acre, which was an unusual crop for the season. In 1863 Mr. Ater and Eliza J. McArty, a native of Ohio, were united in marriage. Three of their five children are living, Adella May, Jennie Belle and Bertha Frances. These three girls have begun their musical education in a somewhat rigid manner. During their first term the three kept the instrument "going1' about eight hours each day. Mr. Ater has held the offices of school director and road commissioner.

MR. JOHN S. ATER, farmer, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Ohio. His father was born in Ohio and his mother in Virginia. His father was one of the first settlers of Willow Branch, and John thinks he gave the name to the township. Mr. John Ater was married in March, 1867, to Mary A. Towl. He went to the army in Co. K of the 107th 111. reg., and was in the following battles : those of the Atlanta campaign, Resaca, Buzzard .Roost, Nashville and Franklin. He was never wounded or taken prisoner. Mr. Ater has held some township offices. He was assessor in 1870, and collector in 1871. He belongs to the Masonic order, the blue lodge at Cerro Gordo, and the chapter at Bement, and has been a church trustee of the Sangamon church for nine or ten years.

MR. THOMAS J. ATER, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Piatt county. His father, Willis Ater, came to the county about 1837 or 1838, and took Miss Nancy Fisher for his first wife, by whom he had two children, Thomas Jef. and John. His second wife was Eliza Williams, now Mrs. Ezra Cline. He died in 1851. Thomas J. Ater owns 313 acres of land in Willow Branch township, and has. held his share of township offices. He was school director six or eight years, clerk for five or six years, has been collector, and in 1881 was assessor.

MR. NELSON ATER, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Ohio. His parents were from Ohio. Nelson came to Piatt county and settled on Camp Creek. After living there two years he moved to Willow Branch township, and has lived there ever since. He was married to Elizabeth Ward, who died, leaving one daughter, Sarah, who is still living at home. Mr. Ater is a member of the Odd-Fellows lodge. When we asked for some hunting or fishing stories, he let us know that he had enjoyed many a deer and wolf hunt. He told a fish story which must not be omitted. He, with four or five others, went seining to Hender- son Ford. With but three draws of the seine they got a spring-wagon bed of fish. The result of the excursion was that some were made sick and Dr. Hull was sent for.

Mu. HENRY ADAMS, farmer, Monticello, was born in Piatt county in 1846. He was married in 1871, to Mrs. liesstler nee Christina West, whose first husband died, leaving three sons, Marion F., Wm. A. and George M., all of whom are at home. Mr. Adams has had four children, three of whom, Chas. L., L. Y. Madison and Jesse, are living. He owns 200 acres of land in Willow Branch township, upon which he has made many improvements. He erected a neat sevenroom frame house in 1864, and has planted some trees. He owns a tile kiln, which he has worked two years. He has made on an average 8,000 tile a year, and can burn and dispose of twelve kilns a season. After Mrs. Adams' first marriage she lived in Monticello a time, and finally moved to the place heired from her father's estate, and has improved it a good deal.

MR. JAMES ARMSWORTH, farmer and tile-maker, Cisco, is a native of this county. His father's and mother's wedding was one of the first in Willow Branch township. James married Emily E. Gulliford, has four children, Wm. E., Samuel, Celia and Bertha, and lives in Willow Branch township. He and George Still are running a tile yard near his house. They have been working it about two years and burn about twelve kilns a season. James owns 335 acres of land, 160 of which was his father's, Samuel Armsworth, old farm, and he lives in the house his father built. This farm was one of the first improved in the township.

MR. MADISON ADAMS, farmer, Cerro Gordo, married Mary Zellars, and has three children, Eli Otto, Calvin Wesley and Olive E. He held the office of pathmaster for two years. He went into the army from Piatt county, in Co. E, 72d 111. The principal battles in which he participated were those of Yicksburg, Champion Hill, Franklin, Mobile and Nashville. He kept a diary throughout his entire three years of service. His father, Jacob Adams, settled in Macon county in 18-16, but lived temporarily in Piatt county for several years. Six of his children are living, five of whom are in Piatt county: Hamilton was in the late war, arid for the last ten years has been in Kansas ; he came back to Piatt county in 1881, and has six children, Wm. R., Frank, Otto C., Alpha, Madison and Flora; Eli C. Adams has three boys, Madison, Frank and an infant, and lives south of Milmine. Henry lives in Willow Branch township, and Sarah J., the wife of

MR. JOHN ALSBURY, farmer, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1830. He moved to Piatt county in 1865, and settled on the land he now lives on. He bought 240 acres, but has disposed of some of it. He was married in 1850, to Sarah A. West, who died September 23, 1866. Three of their six children are living, John W. and Sarah M. are at home ; Morrison M. is making quite a musician of himself; he first studied at Jacksonville and then went to Boston, where he has been under the personal instruction of Prof. Julius Eichberg. He has been giving lessons and entertainments in 'central Illinois for about two years. The violin he uses is of European make and was imported by Prof. Eichberg.

MR. WILLIAM BAKER, farmer, Milmine, was born in 1830, in Pickaway county, Ohio, and in 1858 moved direct from that state to Piatt county. However, in 1851-2, he had spent almost a year in this county. He remarks that in 1851 people had not "fairly given up that they could live away out here in the prairie." He moved into his present residence, which had been built by Mr. Warner, in 1866, but had lived on the farm some seven years previous. When he first moved on his farm there were no improvements in a direct line south for ten or fifteen miles, and wolves used to howl around the door-yard quite frequently. He owns 180 acres of land, upon which he has made most of the improvements. The place is well hedged, has some five or six hundred rods of tile-ditching and is all under cultivation. He was married in 1853, to Ann Jane Grove, who was born in 1834, in Ohio, arid came to Illinois in 1858. Their four children are all living. Thomas, a former student of the State Normal, and who has taught four terms of school, owns 100 acres of land in Willow Branch township, upon which he has put some of the improvements. His wife, nee Emma Tallman, a former student of the Wesleyan University, owns 180 acres of land from her father's estate, which is partially improved. A frame house of four rooms has lately been built on the place. F. Marion Baker, who has taught school two years, is living at home. Mary H. and Florence M. are also at home. Mr. William Baker has been school director for he ' ' don't know how many years, " assessor, town clerk and supervisor. He belongs to the Masonic lodge of Cerro Gordo.

state he moved west in 1843, passing through Piatt county. In 1856 he moved into Piatt county and settled on the farm he now lives on. He was married in Ohio in 1856, to Catharine J. Brown. They have had six children, three of whom, Oscar, Laura and Charles, are living. Mrs. Baker's parents located in Piatt county soon after Mr. Baker came. Several of her brothers died in the army. Mr. Baker belongs to the Masonic lodge at Cerro Gordo.

MR. ROBERT C. BLOOD, farmer, Cerro Gordo, is a native of New York, from which state he moved to Missouri in 1871, and in 1873 settled in Piatt county, on the farm where he now lives. He had been in the county, however, thirty years ago. For eight years he traveled to and from it while in the stock business. He has been working with stock ever since he was a child. When but twelve years old his father put him on the road in charge of 244 head of cattle, and, with five men under him, for a trip of 500 miles. He was somewhat overwhelmed for a time with the responsibility, but he got through all right, got the money for the cattle and paid off the men. Mr. Blood was one of the first men who ever took cattle from this state by the northern route, that is, via La Porte, Toledo and Buffalo to, New York. He has herded cattle many times on the ground where Champaign is located. He now owns 640 acres of land, which he has partially improved. He has put up some fences, made some ditches, and has planted at least 250 trees. His present residence stands in a grove of forest trees. He has as fine a location for a country seat as any one in the county. Mr. Blood has succeeded well in farming. Some of his hay and corn crops have been especially good. In 1874 near 400 acres of corn averaged seventy bushels to the acre. He was married in 1853, to Sylvina L. Fitch, a native of New York. Two of their three children are living : Robert is at home ; Ida married Mr. Wesley Humphrey, of Mexico, Missouri, but died in a year after marriage, leaving one son, Robert W. ; Luther has attended school at the Wesleyan University at Bloornington and Ladoga, Indiana, and has the reputation of being a good scholar.

MR. PETER CRONINGER, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Pickaway county, in 1818. He is of German descent and his parents were from Pennsylvania. In 1840 Mr. Croninger moved direct to Piatt county, where he had acquaintances, but no relatives. He bought land where he now lives in Willow Branch township, and now owns about 1,400 acres of land. He hauled the lumber for the first frame house he built after coming to the county from Indiana. The trips were made with four-horse teams and were the hardest drives he ever made. The wolves annoyed them and the flies were so persistent that the horses often seemed covered witli blood. Mr. Croninger's present residence is of brick, contains seven rooms and was built in 1867. He was quite a hunter at an early day in the county. Once when hunting wild turkeys he killed what proved to be a pea-fowl. He often, by huntin i-l hts and mornings of a month's time, would kill deer sufficient to fill a -l^ogshead with the hams. He still continues to have a reputation as a rail-maker. He lias made rails each season since he was a boy, and used to make as many as 200 rails a day. Mr. Croninger has been an extensive stock dealer. Several years ago he paid out $64,000 in one year for hogs alone* He found that hogs were more paying than any other stock he has handled. He has long been regarded as one of the most influential men of the township and has held the office of supervisor. He was married in 1840, to Cynthia A. Madden, who was born in 1817, and who came to the county in 1839. They have had but one child, Malon L., who married Anna V. Rinehart, has four children, Earnest L., Charles L^Nellie Grace and Pearl Franklin, and makes his home with his father.

MR. HANSON S. COOXROD, farmer, Cisco, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, June 25, 1815. He moved from his native state to Piatt county about 1857. He was one of the early settlers in his part of the township. For awhile after coming here he lived on the Johns place, which now belongs to Mr. Allerton. He was married in Ohio to Charlotte Martin, who died in 1875. They had nine children, five of whom are living: John H. married Melissa Watson, has one child and lives near Nevada, Missouri ; Sophrona E. married Jacob Andrews, has two children living, William and Charles Chester, and lives in Willow Branch township ; Lavina married Jasper Chandler, has two children and lives in Macon county ; Frankie is the wife of Joshua Hamilton, a dealer in farming implements at Cisco ; they have two children, twins, Bertha and Bertie ; Jeremy B. married Ella Woolington, has one child, Ethyl, and lives on the old home place. Mr. Hanson Coonrod was supervisor of Willow Branch township for several terms.

MR. AMOS CONAWAY, merchant, Cisco, is a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, from where he moved to Vermilion county in 1829, and in 1830 he reached McLean county, but it was not until 1852 that he came to Monticello, Piatt county. He married Elizabeth Boyd, of Champaign county. They have had nine children, all of whom are at home.

Jane (1, a successful teacher of the county, is now teaching in Monticello. Byron is with his father at Cisco. The names of the other members of the family are Hortense, Amos C., Lizzie, Nancy, James E., Mary E. and Allen R. Mrs. Conaway 's father, Stephen Boyd, was an early settler in Big Grove, Champaign county. He was there the night Nathan Henline was married, and has told how frightened Squire Byers was at the "falling of the stars." (See Mr. Henlinv. & s etch.) Mr. Conaway began keeping store in Monticello in 1864. and, with the exception of about two years, continued in the dry-rrwds business there until about 1879, when he went to Cisco and has done business there ever since, though he has resided most of the time in Monticello. Mr. Conaway gave us some incidents relating to the "big snow" and " sudden freeze." When his iolks moved to this part of the state they camped near Mahomet, on the snow, rather than go to a house where the whooping-cough was. The snow was so deep that when his mother was on a horse her feet would touch the snow. During the sudden change his brother rode a mile and a half, during which ride his clothes froze so stiff that the folks had to break them before he could get off his horse. Mr. Conaway was once telling of the sudden freeze when a man who used to live in Monticello spoke up and said that at that time he was driving a stage-coach and saw a deer struck so severely by that freezing blast that it froze stiff in its track. The man's age was reckoned on and it was found that he was three years old when he drove that stage-coach. Mr. Conaway was boarding at his brother-in-law's, R, M. Guy, in 1856, when Lincoln came to Monticello to speak. This is known as the first republican rally in this county. When Lincoln started to the court-house he invited Mr. Conaway to go along, but the latter remarked that he "would not be caught in such a crowd." This only illustrates the sentiment of the vast number of people of the county at that date.

WILLIAM B. CALDWELL' M.D., Ci^co, is a native of Missouri, to which state his parents moved from Illinois. During the year 1859-60 he studied medicine at Cincinnati, and i 1860-1 at Keokuk, Iowa. He graduated in 1874 at the Rush Medical College in Chicago. He move to Piatt county in 1874, and is living in Cisco. Previous to locating in the county, however, he taught three years at the Prospect school-house. He married Miss Mary Spencer, a native of Missouri, in 1864, and has had two children, Frank W. and Charles Burr. Since locating in Cisco he has built up quite an extensive practice, not only in Cisco, but throughout an area of country the radius of which is seven or eight miles. When asked to designate some of the most severe cases he had had, he spoke of the accident which occurred to James Armsworth's little girl. She was accidently shot by her brother, who was looking at a pistol. The ball passed to the right of the breastbone, between the third and fourth ribs, broke the seventh rib near the spine and lodged just behind the rib. Dr. Caldwell was sent for, and the ball was extracted while the child was under the influence of chloroform. The little girl was sick for sixteen months, but now seems perfectly well. If a person would like a glimpse in one of the happy homes in the county, we would advise him to spend a few hours in that of Dr. Caldwell.

MR. MICHAEL DILLOW (deceased) came to Piatt county in 1834, and was one of the first settlers in the Willow Branch township. He married Mrs. Shuman nee Rachel Cawbel, and had five children. Leah married A. W. Lingle, and lives in southern Illinois. Charles was killed during the Mexican war, when on his way to Mexico. His company was camped on the Rio Grande for the purpose of burying a comrade, when an Irish company came up and was fighting among themselves. Charles' company was ordered to quell the disturbance and he was killed. Nancy married Isaac Collins and lives in Kansas. Catharine Lavina married Edward Woolington ; she died of smallpox. He next married Miss Albert, and afterward took Miss Coon as his third wife, and now lives in Cisco. Michael married Matilda Thorpe in 1851, and in 1854 moved on to the place of 160 acres, where he now lives. Seven of their eight children are now living : Amos is living in Kansas ; Monroe married Mary Redenbaugh, and is a mechanic and farmer; Alice, now teaching in the county, attended school at Lincoln University, Logan county ; Samuel Burney, Mary and Sophrona are at home, while Lucinda, the next to the youngest, is in Lincoln. Mr. Dillow has held the offices of school director and township assessor. He is a Presbyterian minister. When speaking of this he made a remark which we will venture to mention. When being examined he was advised "never to tell he was a minister, for the sake ot saving a bill. " He says he tried to follow the advice. He has had charge of several congregations, but most of his work has been on Friends Creek.

MR. ADAM DORR, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Germany, from which country he emigrated in 1836. He lived about two years in New York city, seven years in Pennsylvania, and about 1844 he moved to Illinois. In 1862 he settled where he now lives, on Stringtown

Lane. At that time he bought eighty acres of land at $8 an acre. He had contracted for 160 acres, but as it was a wet year he persuaded the railway company to take back half of the land. He now says he would give at least $30 an acre if he had the rest. In speaking of improvements which have been made of late, Mr. Dorr remarked : "In the last twenty years Piatt county lias improved more than any county I know of." He was married in 1845, to Mary Evans, a native of Kentucky, arid has had six children, five of whom, are living : Henry married Corry Bowzer and lived in Willow Branch township at the time of his death in 1876. Mabary owns eighty acres of land in the township ; Annie married Irving Hinson, a farmer of the township, and has one daughter, Estella; William married Hattie Hinson, and has one son, Henry B. ; Olive and Oscar are both at home. Mr. Dorr has been school trustee nearly ever since coming to the county.

MR. BENJAMIN F. DOOLEY, farmer, Cisco, was born in Kentucky, in 1818, and is of German and English descent. He moved to his present home in Piatt county November 2, 1860. The house was built and the place was partially improved by Mr. Sam'l E. Clay ; Mr. Dooley, however, has added many improvements, including the planting of 730 trees, 207 of which are fruit trees and the remaining forest trees. He now owns eighty acres of land. When he first settled in the township there were but one or two houses between his place and Friends Creek. One house where Cisco now is, and Mr. Spencer's and Mr. Weddle's houses, were about the only houses in sight. The northwestern part of the township was covered with ponds and swamps. All this is changed now, and wheat and rye wave to the breeze where the swamp grass once held full sway. The settlers used sometimes to get lost in going to or from Monticello. Mr. Dooley was married June 7, 1843, to Sarah M. Jameson, a native of Kentucky, and who died January 10, 1880. Five of their nine children are still living : Wm. O. married Sarah E. Chase ; Elizabeth Ann became the wife of George Hummel, of Cisco ; Albert W. died when twenty-three years and Abel J. when seventeen years old ; Mary E. married Daniel C. Miles. Thomas P. and Emma are still at home. Mr. Dooley has done his duty as school director and road overseer, and was justice of the peace for four years.

MR, GEORGE DILSAVER, farmer, Monticello, is of German descent and was born in 1815, in Fairfield county, Ohio. He moved from Ohio to Indiana, where he lived three and one-half years, and then in 1846 came to Piatt county. In 1848 he bought his present homestead.

Upon settling in his little log cabin he underwent the usual trials of new settlers. Deer, wolves and prairie chickens were quite plenty. Prairie h'res were constant annoyances and did the usual amount of damage to this new settlement. He was married in Ohio in 1837, to Mary Winstead, who was born in 1815. They had five children, two of whom are living : Martha Ann married Wm. Dresback in 1860 ; he died in the army in 1863 ; she died in 1876, leaving two children : Marietta, who in 1879 married Wm. Duvall, has one child, Ford, and lives in Goose Creek township, and Elma, who in 1880 married Joseph H. Keller. Evaline Dil saver is living at home with her parents ; Man ton married C. Jane Prouse, has five children, Mary E., George P., Olive, Frederick M. and Roscoe, and lives in Willow Branch township.

MR. SAM'L D. HAVELY, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and was reared in Ohio. He came to Piatt county in 1837, and in 1838 moved into Willow Branch township. He made rails and fenced a half-section of land almost by himself. He was industrious, and, according to the report of a neighbor, would often work all day and not stop for dinner. He finally lost this farm to pay security debts, but now owns a half-section of land in another part of the township and is out of debt. He was married in 1826 to Elizabeth Wiley, who died in 1850, leaving four children: William is married and lives in Kansas ; Margaret married Washington Allsup, has four children and lives in Maroa ; her husband was quite wealthy, and the day he died he bought her a homestead of sixty acres joining Maroa; Mary became the wife of Isaac Reed, who died in less than two years, leaving one child ; his widow married B. Frank Widick, but died, leaving one child. Mr. Widick married again just twenty-two years after his first marriage, and in the same house. Minor Havely took Ellen Churchill as his first wife. Elizabeth Sherman, a relative of Roger Sherman of revolutionary renown, became his second wife ; they have one son, Samuel, and live in Willow Branch township. In 1852 Mr. Sam'l Havely married Mrs. Samuel Reason, nee Rachel Fout. Mr. and Mrs. Reason married in Ohio, from which state they came to Piatt county and lived near Monticello. Mr. Reason died of measles, near Monterey, during the Mexican war. He left three children, two of whom died of measles the same week, and the other, William, is still living, and has been married twice, the first time to Kate Conrow, and the last time to Anna Camden. Each wife had three children ; their names are Ella F., Josephine, Anna May, Laura B.,

Samuel and Pearl O. We suppose that Mr. Sam'l Havelj got his sobriquet of ''Captain" from the fact that he was once captain of a boat, and at an early day was captain of a light horse company in Ohio. He avers that he cut down the first tree that was ever felled on the site of the present city of Columbus. He cut a coon tree there in 1813, and in the same year the sale of lots for that city was cried out from the stump of the tree. Twelve years ago the captain made a visit to Columbus, and while there pointed out the site of the old coon tree stump. He says a "whole troupe of gold-spectacled people were present," and the hospitality of the city was given him. Mr. Havely illustrated to us in quite a vigorous manner the hardships which many of the pioneer settlers had to undergo. When they first came to the county they had to get their provisions at Springfield, Peoria, Chicago, and in Indiana. He tells of going to Chicago with six yoke of oxen and carrying about 100 bushels of wheat at a load. Once when on the road to that city, and when about seventeen or eighteen miles from home, the sole of one shoe came off. Soon the other gave out, and he went the rest of the way to and from Chicago barefooted. About 1838 he went to Decatur for salt, and upon finding that salt at that place was $16.60 a barrel, he immediately planned a trip to the Wabash for the article. He had quite an adventurous time on the way back with his salt, came near sinking the ferry-boat, but finally reached home and sold the salt at the rate of $12 a barrel, and that seemed cheap. Captain referred to quite an exciting wolf hunt that occurred in this county. People congregated from the neighboring counties of Macon and De Witt, and had some rare sport. Captain Havely and Wm. Barnes finally got track of a wolf, which ran toward Monticello. It was overtaken by the dogs and men right on the spot where the courthouse stands. After deliberating over the best way to dispatch the animal, Mr. Havely killed it with his stirrup. In those times it was quite common for people to have bloodhounds. Captain Havely once had twenty-two of the old Virginia stock of hounds. Captain Havely seems quite hale and hearty for a person of his age. During the summer of 1881 he went into the field and ploughed and harrowed three days.

ME. JOHN HEATH, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in New York in 1820, and is of English and Scotch lineage. He moved from New York to Ohio, from there to Macon county, Illinois, in 1852, and in 1853 settled on his present home-place, which was then raw prairie. At this time Mr. Austin Warner settled on part of what is now Mr.

Win. Baker's place. He now lives in Nebraska. Mr. Heath has improved all of the 150 acres of land which he now owns. By the use of some ten or twelve thousand tiles he has succeeded in putting nearly every foot of the land under cultivation. The place is well hedged, and six hundred fruit trees arid about seven or eight thousand forest trees have been planted. In 1854 Mr. Heath had forty acres in wheat, which yielded thirty bushels to the acre. He used the McCormick reaper for cutting it, and probably this was the first reaper used in the county. Part of the present residence was put up in 1 854 and part in 1872. When they first settled on the place a shed answered for a dwelling-place for the family until spring. In 1842 Charity B. Warner and Mr. Heath were united in marriage. They have had eight children, seven of whom are now living : Frances A. married Geo. Robertson, and has foui; children, Elona, Bertie, Grace and Josephine ; Harvey E. married Etta Snyder, and with two children lives in Nebraska ; Alfred B. is farming at home ; Ellen H. married Mr. Jas. Robertson, has four children, and lives in Nebraska ; Hubert A., a former student of the Wesleyan University, and a teacher of this county, is now located in Topeka, Kansas ; Eva G. is the wife of Edward Moyer ; Ora E. married Owen Hitch, and is living at home. Mr. Heath held the office of school director for two terms.

MR. THOMAS HIATT, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Lawrence county, Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county in 1856. He was married in 1861, to Harriet J. Moffit, a native of Ohio, and has had seven children, Clara E., Winfield S., Lorena F., Wm. IT., John E., Martha and Ethyl Maud.

MR. PATRICK B. HASSETT, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Ireland, from which country, at the instigation of his uncle, who lived in Canada, he came to America in 1845 or 1846. He came to Illinois in 1854, returned to New York, but in 1867 he settled in Piatt county. He married Ann Hogan, a native of Ireland, and has had four children : Mary, the wife of George Hickman ; George, Sarah and Willie.

MR. DAVID KUNS, one of the most successful farmers of the county, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Indiana. He moved to Macon county in 1853, and in 1856 settled in Piatt county on his present farm of 460 acres. This is considered "one of the best improved farms of the county." It is fenced with hedges into forty and eighty acre fields, and Mr. Kuns has planted on it at least 400 fruit trees, a three-acre grove of evergreens and a five-acre grove (planted in 1874) of ash, walnut, and other trees. He has succeeded in growing some chestnuts, and thinks that people should plant such trees more extensively in this part of the country. In 1867 or 1868 he erected one of the best and largest (containing eighteen rooms with cellar) brick houses in the county. Mr. Kuns was married in 1845, to Margaret Lamb, a lady of English and Scotch descent. They have had one son, Henry L., who married Ella Pierce in 1870, has three children and is now living near Gilroy, Santa Clara county, California. He moved there in 1877, but still owns a farm in Piatt county. Mr. and Mrs. David Kuns are prominent members of the German Baptist church, which they joined after coming to this county. No one who meets them can keep from admiring their great depth of character. The winter of 1881-2 Mr. Kuns and wife spent in California with their son.

MR. HENRY KUNS, farmer, Milmine, was born in Ohio in 1823. He moved from his native state to Indiana ' ' in the timber and among the Indians," but afterward, in 1864, moved to Piatt county and settled on the place which he bought of Mr. Stillman Barber. The present residence was on the place, the orchard was planted and some other improvements were made, but Mr. Kuns has built corn-cribs, cider and scale sheds, and a brick ; ' cooking-house. " He has also put out some hedge and 800 fruit trees and 2,000 forest trees, and has put in several hundred rod of tiling. There are some 327 acres in the home farm, upon which has been raised quite good crops. Mr. Kuns owns 160- acres in Willow Branch township, and two farms of 160 acres each in Cerro Gordo township. He has put all improvements on^these places, including the planting of some 600 trees on each place. He has also planted 700 trees on a 160-acre farm of his in Sec. 20 of Cerro Gordo township. Two acres of this farm he donated for a school-house. He improved the N.E. ^ of Sec. 20 in Cerro Gordo township, and gave it to his daughter. Another quarter-section of land, three miles south of Milmine, he gave to one of his daughters. He gave his two boys 160 acres of land apiece in Willow Branch township. Mr. Kuns was married in 1845, to Susanna Shively, who died in 1846. He was married again in 1848, to Caroline Spidle, a native of Pennsylvania, who was reared in Ohio, and married and lived in Indiana for about eighteen years. Eight of their nine children are living: John S., deacon in the German Baptist church, married Sarah Hover, has two children, Dora and Jesse, and lives in Willow Branch township ; David married Catharine Klinzman, has three children, and is farming in Nebraska. Barbara, the wife of Geo. W. Tracy, has two children and lives in

Christian county ; Hannali, tlie wife of George Tilery, lias one child, Manno, and lives in Cerro Gordo township; .Jacob, Noah, Mary C. and Daniel F. are at home. Mr. Kims is a minister in the German Baptist church. Mr. John Kuns has purchased 160 acres of land of his brother who went to Nebraska. He built a large barn in 1875, and in 1S7T a brick house containing seventeen rooms, with halls and cellars. It fronts the south, from which view it presents a fine appearance. He has planted on this place between two and three thousand forest trees and five hundred fruit trees. He has had excellent crops on this farm.

MR. JOHN KIEST, farmer and blacksmith, Monticello, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved in 1856, to Coles county. About 1868 he moved into Piatt county and has been blacksmithing ever since. His shop is now on Willow Branch. He was married to Rebecca Gray, and has had six children, all of whom are living, Win. P., Sophia R, Nathan B., Maggie E., Estella and Elrner.

MR. PETER Lux, farmer, Bement, was born in France, in 1813. He came to America when nineteen years of age, and started a blacksmith shop. He enlisted in the army and was a soldier for eight years, and in 1837 was called to help take the Indians west. He came back to Indiana in 1838, and that fall went west with another troup of Indians, returning to Indiana in March, 1839. In 1840 he started on his third trip west, returning in 1841, when he again began blacksmithing. He soon sold out and bought a farm four miles south of Logansport, Indiana. He remained on the farm two years, then renting it went to Logansport and again at blacksmithing. He sold his shop and, returning to the farm, built a nice house, which as soon as finished burned down, his loss being about $5.000. He then built a log cabin, in which he lived a year. Mr. Lux moved to Illinois in 1862, rented a farm for one year, then bought the farm on which he now lives ; for eight years lived in a small house, then built his present residence and barn. He has his farm in good condition, having done all the improving. It is wrell hedged, and he has an orchard of 250 trees. Mrs. Peter Lux was born in Hagertown, Maryland, in 1823. She was in Baltimore until she was fifteen years of age, then spent a year in Ohio, after which she came to Logansport, Indiana, where she married Mr. Lux. They have thirteen children, whose ages range from twelve to forty years, and whose names are as follows : John, Anna, Peter, Henry, Susan, Nicholas I., Martin, Jacob O., Clara L., Augustus IL, Charles W., Harvey A. and Sarah I\.

MR. WILLIAM MADDEN (deceased) was one of the early settlers in Willow Branch township, and after his locating here lived on one place until his death. He was first married to Miss Huffines, who died, leaving one son, Nelson, who married Melirida Reynolds, and with one child lives in Macon county. He was married again, to Almeria Chapman, who is still living, and is now the wife of Mr. Stephen Huffines, and has had four children since her last marriage. Leona, the wife of George Barnett, and David and Edward are living. After his last marriage Mr. Madden had five children, four of whom are living : Francis married Lydia A. Moore, who died, leaving six children ; he married again and moved to Kansas ; William married Ida Hopkins, has one child and lives is Missouri ; Mary married Thomas Glick, has two children, Olen and Charles, and lives on part of the home-place ; Cynthia married T. H. McCartney and has three children living, Lillie May, Nora Belle and Pearl Evaline. Mr. and Mrs. McCartney were married December 28, 1869, by Rev. Davidson, in a hotel in Cerro Gordo, with three other couples, Thomas Glick and Mary Madden, W. M. George and Miranda Reynolds, and W. A. McCartney and A. Y. S. Miles.

MR. WESTON MILES (deceased) was born in Virginia in 1807. He moved from that state to Piatt county in 1861. He lived with Mr. Samuel Miles the first few weeks until he built the house on his place of 160 acres. A part of this place has been sold since his death, which occurred April 27, 1875. He was married in December, 1837, to Sarah R. Simmons, who was born, in 1819. Their eldest son, Edward, married in 1865 Jennie H. Gale, a former school-teacher of the county ; they have six children, and are now living in Ogden, Champaign county, where Mr. Miles is in the grain and merchandise business. John S. married Sarah E. Andrews, has one child and lives in Ogden ; Ann R. married John P. Dresback, and has five children : Lena L., Charles, John, Jessie and an infant ; Mary C., the wife of Joel Rhinehart, of Deland, has two children, Alice and an infant ; William M. married Ruth M. Jackson, has five children, and lives in Champaign county ; Henry T. married Mrs. Miles, nee Alrnira Frederick, and is living at home ; Charles S. married Almira Frederick in 1876 ; he died in 1878, and his brother Henry married his widow ; Jesse married Emma L. Nogle, in 1878, and is* a druggist in Cisco ; David T. has been attending the Wesley an University at Bloomington ; Gertrude is at home.

ginia, and moved from that state to Piatt county, in 1855. In 1856 he settled on the place on which he lived at the time of his death, in 1881. He put all the improvements on the place, and built the homestead dwelling the winter of 1855-6, living the while in the kitchen of the house Mr. Jas. Armsworth now lives in. He first bought 160 acres of land, to which he afterward added eighty acres, but it has since been sold. In 1833 Betsey A. Simmons, born in 1815, and Samuel Miles were united in marriage. Their daughter Sarah, born in 1834, married Mr. Reuben Lowry (deceased); James V., a soldier in the late war three years, married Maria Lindsey, has three children, and lives near Foosland; William died when young; Mary J. married Henry Cornell, and lives in Champaign county ; they have nine children ; Thomas S., born in 1842, was in the army three years, married Harriet Crow, has two children, and now lives near Foosland ; Hannah C. was married in 1867, to Jesse E. Welton, has no children, and lives on the home-place ; David C. married Eliza Dooley, and has three children, Samuel F., Alberta G. and John Austin; Ann V. married Win. McCartney, has one son, Wm. E., and lives on what is known as the Madden place ; George W. married Clara McAllister ; Adam S. is living in Nebraska and Joseph L. is now in Missouri. Mrs. Miles survives her husband, and hag not lost her industrious manner yet. Mr. Samuel Miles lived to be the eldest of his family. He was a classleader and exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal church for a number of years before his death.

MR. WILLIAM H. MoARTY, farmer, Cerro Gordo, came from Ohio to Piatt county, and settled near Monticello. He is now living on land which he improved in the southern part of Willow Branch township. He was justice of the peace two terms and has been assessor of Cerro Gordo township. He married Annie Smith, of Ohio, and has had ten children, nine of whom are living : Wesley married Mollie Bear, has four children, Marion, Emma, Charity and Abbey, and lives near Cisco; P. D. McArty married I. McAlister, has three children, Clara A., James and Viola, and lives in Willow Branch township; Eliza J. married Frank Ater (see his name) ; William married Mary Creighton, has three children, Charles, Eldo and Ambrose, and lives near Monticello; Joseph C. was married in 1873, to Catharine Peck, has three children, Carson P., Eioria and Ada Florence, and lives on eighty acres of land in Willow Branch township, which his father improved ; Samuel is living with his parents ; Frank married Henry Sehoolcraft, has one child, Earnest, and lives near Cerro Gordo;

Newton is in McLean county, while Rosetta is living at home. Miss Isabel Peck has been making her home at Mr. J. 0. McArty's for several years. Her father, Daniel Peck, settled just in the edge of Macon county, about thity-one years ago. His death occurred about thirteen years ago, and his wife died in 1861. Three of the family are now living in the county.

MR. JOHN MOFFITT, farmer, Monticello, was born in Virginia in 1811. He moved from that state to Pennsylvania, and when seventeen years old moved to Morgan county, Ohio. Again he moved to Muskingum county, was married in Zanesville, lived in Pickaway county awhile, and from there, in 1855, he moved to Piatt county and settled on Goose Creek. After living on Dr. Hull's awhile he bought a farm, where he lived until 1865, when lie moved to Friends Creak, where he lived for eighteen months. His next move was to his farm of 300 acres not far from Monticello, where he now lives. He has made most of the improvements on this place, including the planting of at least one hundred and fifty trees. Mr. Moffitt was married in 1832, to Martha Dickson. Six. of their eleven children are living: Martha A. married Richard Morrison, a physician in Ohio, and has three children; Harriet J. married Tho. Hiatt, of Willow Branch township, and has seven children ; Henry Moffitt married Nancy Marquiss, has four children, and is a farmer in Missouri ; Edward Moffitt still lives at home; Robert married Etta Peck, has two children, Estelle and Roy, and lives in Willow Branch township ; Flora, the wife of John Hiatt, is living in Sangamon township. 'Mr. John Moffitt held the office of road commissioner for nine years.

MR. DAVID MOVER, farmer, Milmine, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio. His father was of German descent, was born in Switzerland, and came to America about 1808 or 1809. The subject of our sketch moved from Ohio to Carroll county, Indiana, and after seven years' residence there, moved to Piatt county in 1854, and lived one year southwest of Cerro Gordo, after which he moved into Willow Branch township. He owns 330 acres of land, which is well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer have had six children, three of whom are living : Mary E. married G. A. Clark, but died in 1880, leaving seven children, William, Ida, Charles, John, George, Clara and Freddie ; Isabella, wife of John A. La Fever, died in Macon county, leaving one child ; Clara married Raymond McKinney, a restaurant keeper at Cerro Gordo, and has three children, Charlotte, Cora and Loretta ; Edward was married in 1874, to Eva Heath, and has two children, lona and Charles ; be is a graduate of the Jacksonville Business College, and has a library of at least eighty volumes ; Ruth married William Cochran and lives in Willow Branch township. Mr. David Mover has been supervisor of the township for nine years.

MB. SAMUEL McCLURE, farmer, Bement, was born in Kentucky, from which state he moved to Indiana, and from there he came to Macon county, Illinois, in 1848, and in 1858 he settled in Piatt county on the land he now lives on. He owns 360 acres of land, upon which he has made most of the improvements. It is all under cultivation, is hedged, and most of it is tiled. Mr. McClure was married in 1851, to Eliza J. Farrow, and has had eight children, five of whom are living, Daniel, John, Frances, Theodosia and Liona. Mr. McClure is known throughout the vicinity as one of the enterprising farmers of the count}'.

MR. Jonx MINTUN, farmer, Monticello, was born in Ohio. His parents were of English descent and of Ohio. His father is still living in Ohio. His grandfather was in the war of 1812. The subject of our sketch was married in 1855, to Hester A. Truax, a native of Ohio. They lived in Ohio until 1863, when they moved to DeWitt county for a time, and then settled in Willow Branch township, where they have lived ever since. Of their children, one daughter is dead ; Stephen married Rosa Lewis, has two children and lives in Nebraska ;' Thomas married Georgia A. Lewis, has one child, Arthur, and lives in Willow Branch township ; Nannie was married in 1880, to Charles Henline, and lives in the same township ; Jesse and James are at home. Mr. Mintun's sister, Comfort Olm, came to the county the same time he did. Her husband, John Olm, was killed near Bender Ford in 1871. The horses ran off, threw him against a stump, and he was found dead. For over four years Mr. Mintun lived on Mr. Ailerton's farm of 2,700 acres. He boarded all the farm hands and was overseer of the entire farm. He is a successful farmer, as those who know him will testify. He is a member of the Masonic lodge.

MR. JAMES P. OWNBY, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Virginia, from which state he moved to Missouri. In 1871 he came to Piatt county, Illinois, but had been to and from Missouri several times before permanently locating in the county. He moved onto his present home-place in 1872. Eighty acres of the farm was heired by Mrs. Ownby from her father's estate. Mr. Ownby has improved the entire place. Their present six-room residence was built in 1875. About eighty trees have been planted, and some tile-ditching has been done. In 1871 Mr. Ownby and Mary A. Ater were united in marriage.

Four of their live children are living, James, Victor, Wada and Mary Alice. Mr. Ownby has been school director several terms and is now justice of the peace.

MK. GEORGE PECK, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Virginia in 1811. When he was three years old his parents moved to Pickaway county, Ohio, and lived there until their death. He was married in Madison county, to Elizabeth Denton, and for eighteen years lived in that county. His wife died, leaving six children, four of whom are living. Amanda, the wife of J. W. Wood, lives in Willow Branch township. Henry married Jane Peck, who died ; they had six children, Owen, Eva, Miles, Langdon, Loren and Maud. He next married a widow who had one child. Elizabeth Peck married Henry Propts and moved to Missouri. He died leaving four children, two of whom, Charles and Clarence, are in this county. His wife moved back to this county ; she married Tho. Riley, and is now in Missouri and has three more children. Louisa married Jacob Drum, who was a soldier in the late war for four years ; she died, leaving one child, Louis P., and Mr. Drum married again and went to Nebraska. Vandalia married George Thompson, lived in Piatt county three years and then moved to Kansas, where she died, leaving one child, Lura Vandalia, who now lives with her grandparents. James C. married Mary Chambers, has four children, Eugene, William, Charles and Josie Belle, -and lives in Willow Branch township. Mr. George Peck took for his second wife Elizabeth Kelso, whom he married in Ohio in 1850. The next year he moved to Macon county, and in 1852 settled on his present homeplace in Piatt county. At this time he hauled lumber and provisions from the Wabash. He kept the stage stand and post-office for five years, until Cerro Gordo was started. He also kept a regular country hotel for years. He often had as many as thirty or forty to stay over night. Of his children by his last wife, Emma A. married Levi Towl, has four children and lives in Macon county ; George Reed, who graduated at Ladoga, Indiana, in 1881, is now at home, as is also William Orlando. Mrs. George Peck's sister, who made her home at Mr. Peck's until quite recently, was married under quite romantic circumstances. A minister who preached in the-neighborhood went to his home and told a friend of this lady. The friend wrote to her, finally came to see her, and their marriage resulted after having seen each other but twice. He is now a minister in Terre Haute, Indiana. Mr. Peck has held various township offices. One has only to step into the dooryard even of his house to meet with that generous hospitality which characterizes pioneers. In personal appearance he is tall, fine looking, and appears in condition to live many a year yet. We have recently heard of the sudden death of Mrs. Geo. Peck.

MR. WILLIAM PECK, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in 1808, in Virginia. His parents were from the same state and died in Ohio. Four of their nine children came to Piatt county ; Adinijah and William came first, and afterward Enoch and Daniel. William came to the county in 1837, and settled where Mr. George Peck lives. He moved from there to Winnebago county and from there to La Salle county. He is now living about seven miles from Cerro Gordo. When Mr. Peck lived where Geo. Peck now lives he kept post-office for five or six yeard. Mr. Frink, one of the firm Frink & Walker, who owned the stage line from Springfield to Indianapolis, named this office Cerro Gordo. The name was afterward given to the town. William Peck was married in Ohio, to Mary Stookey ; she died leaving three children : Peter, who was in the late war three years, is a railroad engineer and lives at Hannibal, Missouri ; Amanda married Jacob Peck, has five children and lives in Macon county; Angeletta married Joseph Rock, has two children and lives in Texas. In 1863 William Peck was married to Sarah Johnson, of Ohio. By his last wife he has had five children, Clara Belle, Francis B., Susan, Blanch and Labon.

MR. MONROE PECK, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ohio, but was reared in Willow Branch, in Piatt county. He owns sixty-seven acres of land, which he has improved himself. About one hundred trees have been planted and a story and a half house erected. He was married in 1869, to Mary M. Williams, and has had three children, all living, Washington L, Oren E. and Everett E. When asked what offices he had held, he remarked, "I have never even been school director or roadmaster." Mr. Peck went to Texas in 1859, and before he could get home the war broke out. He was caught by the rebels, came near being hung, but was finally forced into the southern army, in Co. B of the 10th Tex. reg. He was taken prisoner at Jonesborough, Georgia, but in no way could he convince his captors that he was a northern man. They considered him a traitor. He was forced to enter the army in 1862, was captured in 186-1, but it was not until 1865 that he was released at Chicago.

Mi;. DAVID PECK, farmer, Milmine, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county about 1838. ' He was raised in this county from the time he was two years old. He is living on the first land he owned in the county. He has improved the eighty acres himself. About one and three-fourths miles of open and tileditching has been done, and about two thousand trees have been planted. He was married in 1865, to Rachel Crawford, who came to Illinois in 1863. They have had three children : Edgar, Florence and Addison. Mr. Feck has been school director for several years. He went to the army in Co. K of the 107th 111. Inf., and participated in the following battles : Siege of Knoxville, Campbell Station, Frankfort and Nashville. He was never wounded or taken prisoner.

MR. ENOCH PECK (deceased) came from Ohio to Illinois about 1839, and settled on AYillow Branch. He was one of the early settlers of the township, and at various times held most of the offices of the township, including that of justice of the peace and supervisor. He and his wife lie buried in the Sangamon cemetery. Eight of their children are still living in the township : Abraham Peck (see his name); Rebecca, the wife of George Matchler, is in Texas ; George Peck, jr., was about nine years old when his father moved to this county ; he owns 460 acres of land, a part of which he has improved himself ; he married Mary Peck, who died, leaving one son, Willis ; he next married Mary J. Jones, who has three children, Louis and Jennie Belle and James Bennett, twins. The names of Mr. Enoch Peck's other children are John; Monroe (see his name) ; Charity, the wife of J. M. Cook ; Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. Durham ; and James and Henry.

MR. ABRAHAM PECK, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ross county, Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county in 1839, and first settled on Willow Branch. He reached this county on the 28th of September, 1839, and he remembers that the ground was frozen and covered with about one inch of snow. He was married in 1844, to Catharine West, and has had thirteen children, eight of whom are living : Will married Belle Conner, but died in 1876, leaving two children, one of whom, Minnie, is now living ; Cyrus married Sarepta Cline, and lives on -Willow Branch ; George married Miss T. Ater, who died (he married again and is now living in Ohio) ; Mary, the wife of David Zimmerman, has two children, 1^. Y. and Frank, and lives in Willow Branch township ; Samaritha married Frank Connor, but died ; M. Fillmore is not married ; Miss J. married Robert Moffitt and lives on Willow Branch ; A. Lincoln, Rudolphus, Louis and Charles are at home. Mr. Peck held the office of school director four or five terms and was coroner for six years.

MR. ADINI.IAH PECK (deceased), was born in Ohio, in 1806. He moved from that state to Illinois in 1838, and settled on Willow Branch. He owned a hundred or more acres, where his widow now lives, and made most of the improvements on the place. He was married in 1827, to Mary Ater, and had nine children, eight of whom are living. His death occurred in 1862. Jane, now dead, was the wife of Peter Adams ; Mary married Cyrus Widick ; Peter is married and lives in Cerro Gordo township ; Aaron is unmarried and lives at home with his mother ; David married Rachel Crawford (see his name) ; Catharine is the wife of Elijah Taylor (see his name) ; Emily married John Grig wold, lives in Cerro Gordo township and has nine children, Maggie, Charles, William, Mollie, Emily, Catherine, Lou, Aaron, and an infant ; Miranda is still living at home ; Daniel married Maggie Sherman and has one child. Mrs. Peck used to undergo the usual hardships which came to all early settlers, but now she is comfortably situated in a neat si^-room frame house which was built not many years ago.

MR. JAMES H. PIPER, farmer, Monticello, is of German, Irish and English lineage, and was born in Pickaway county, Ohio. In 1853 he was induced by a man in Ohio to come to Piatt county and drive cattle to Ohio for him. After coming to the county he followed cattle feeding and driving for several years. During this time he was employed by William H. Piatt and George Reid. He was married in 1858, to Martha Jane Gay, a native of Ohio. Two of their three children are living. Their eldest son, William, was married in 1881, to Mollie Talbert. Charles E. is the name of the youngest son. Mr. Piper went to the army in 1862, in Co. D of the 73d 111. Yols. He engaged in the following battles : Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Resaca, at which place he was wounded in the arm. He was confined in the hospital for three months. The wounded arm still annoys him. He receives a pension. Mr. Piper gave us some incidents of camp life, but these we will reserve for the chapter of war anecdotes. In 1870-1 he was tax collector in Goose Creek township.

MR. HARRY P ARRIS n, farmer, Bement, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Illinois in 1863. He settled in Willow Branch township, and has lived there all the time, with the exception of two years. He owns eighty acres of land in Willow Branch township, which is partially improved. He was married in 1863, to Katie Folks, of Ohio, and has had eight children, seven of whom are living : Emma, Sarah, James M., John, Ada, Augustus and Seth W.

MR. JOHN REEVES, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Illinois, Champaign county, about 1858. In 1861 he moved to Piatt county- He rented land for a time, but now owns 280 acres of land, which he has partially improved. He was married in 1857, to Angeline Williams, of Ohio, and has had six children, all of whom are living, Turney, Wm. C., Edward A., Corrilda, Chas. O., and Alba Gertrude.

MR. JOHN A. SMITH, farmer, Monticello, a native of Ohio, moved to Indiana, from which state he moved to Illinois in 1872. He had been to and from the county, however, several times previous to settling in it. He was married in 1872, to Charity Ater, and has three children, but one of whom, Blanch Maud, is living. They own 160 acres of land, upon which Mr. Smith has made most of the improvements. Sixty trees, at least, have been planted. Mr. Smith went into the army from Indiana, but was never wounded or taken prisoner.

MR. ROBERT C. SALYERS (deceased) was a native of Kentucky, from which state he moved to Morgan county, Illinois, about 1863, and in 1870 he settled in Piatt county, where his son now lives. He was married in Kentucky, to Elizabeth Tutor, who died in that state. He died in Piatt county in 1881. Several of their children are now living in the county. Samuel lias been dealing in stock almost ever since he has been in the county. Charlotte A. is unmarried and still lives in this county. Rebecca died of consumption about ten years ago. John married Letitia Robinson, of Morgan county, has three children, Harrison, Oswald and an infant, and lives on his farm of 240 acres. William married Ella Rock, and lives near Monticello. Isaac died of lock-jaw about four years ago, and Eliza Belle died before she was of age.

MR. GEORGE M. TURNER, farmer. Bement, is a native of New York, from which state he moved to Piatt county about 1869, and settled in Bement. In 1875 he moved to a farm about two and one-half miles west of Bement. He owns a farm of 260 acres, part of which was improved when he took possession of it. The farm is ditched well with both open and tile ditches, and about three hundred and fifty trees have been planted on the place. Every yard of the farm is under cultivation. About fifteen years ago the place was sold at $10 an acre. In 1849 Mr. Turner and Hannah Rouse were united in marriage. They have had four children, three of whom are living. Wallace W. is at home. Carrie, who taught four years in Piatt county, is now the wife of Mr. S. N. Gallup, of Macedon, Wayne county, New York, and has one son, George N. Fannie is at home. Mr. Turner was a school director for three terras. He belongs to the Bement Masonic lodge No. 365, to the Bement chapter and the Beaumanoir commander j, K.T., of Decatur. He went to the late war in the 9th N. Y. Hy. Art. Cedar Creek was the principal battle he engaged in. He was wounded at this place and remained on the battle-field twenty-four hours, and while there the rebels dispossessed him of a portion of his clothing. He saved his life by bandaging the right limb, the main vein of which was severed, with bandages made by his wife before he left home. After being placed in the physician's care, each one who examined him from October till June remarked that a physician had surely found him very soon after he was wounded. But no, the thoughtful care of his wife and his readiness to apply a remedy were the only physician. His wife received five letters telling of his death, but at the same time received a few words from him. He receives a pension at the present time.

MR. WILLIAM H. TELFORD, merchant, Cisco, is a native of Marion county, Illinois. In 1868 he moved to Piatt and settled four miles north of Cisco. He moved to Cisco August 17, 1876 and opened a drugstore. He now has general merchandise, grain, coal, lumber, etc. At present he is building quite an extensive store building 24x124 feet, which will contain three rooms below and two halls on the second floor. , He was married in 1870, to Martha Nelms, native of Missouri, and has had seven children, six. of whom are living: Anna M., Charles, Clarence, Robert and an infant. Mr. Telford went to the army from Centralia in Co. E of the 70th 111. reg. He was again in Co. H of the 6th Cav. for twenty-two months. The battles at Nashville and Tallahatchie were the principal ones in which he engaged.

MR. WILLIAM TALLMAN, farmer, Monticello, has attended school both at the Wesleyan University and the State Normal, and at present is living on his fathers home farm. He has had charge of the place for several years,' has a good grade of stock, and has the farm in good condition. His father, Douglas Tallman (now deceased) improved the place of 525 acres. Mr. Tallman and his wife (now Mrs. Dr. Farm, of Monticello), had four children, three of whom are Jiving. Alice is the wife of Wilbur Stevenson. George died in California at the age of twenty-three. Emma is the wife of Mr. Baker, of Willow Branch township.

Illinois about 1835, and settled just above the mouth of Willow Branch in Piatt county. They camped in wagons until the little log house was built, and then moved into it before the door was entirely cut out. By his first wife, nee Eleanor Corder, who was born in 1818, and died in 1846, Mr. West had nine children, eight of whom reached the age of maturity. Elizabeth, who was the wite of Wm. Stewart, died in 1840. Eliza, was the wife of Mr. Geo. Wolf, who improved the farm where Mr. Jno. Moffett now lives. Both died, leaving no issue. Catharine, born hi 1827, married Abraham Peck. Rhoda was never married. Mary married Moses Savage in 1853. He died in 1855, leaving one daughter, Nora Hiatt. Mrs. Savage next married Peter Ecord. Christina is the wife of Mr. Henry Adams. Mr. John West married Hannah Denton in 1847. She died in 1851, and he took for his third wife Hannah Baily. In 1854 Melinda Johnston became his fourth wife, and in 1862 he married Nancy Rogers. His last wife is still living in Virginia. Mr. West was- quite an extensive land-owner. He entered about 600 acres of land, bought about as much more. In his will he gave 300 acres to each of his children, and 300 acres to his grandchildren. He was a zealous member of the Universalist church.

MR. CYKUS WIDICK, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Kentucky, who settled in Macon county in 1826, and in 1835 he came to Piatt county. His father, George Widick, settled on the place Cyrus now lives on. He was one of the earliest settlers of the township, and during his lifetime owned 120 acres of land. He died in April, 1857, and his wife followed him in 1863. Both lie at the Sangamon cemetery. Only two of their children, Cyrus and Mrs. Isaac Howell, are now living in the county. Mr. George Widick burnt a brick kiln in 1846 on the site of the Fair Ground. He was probably the first brickmaker in the county. The subject of our sketch owns 205 acres of land, upon which he has put most of the improvements. At least fifty trees have been planted and some tiling has been done. He has built a six-room frame house almost in the door-yard of the house his father lived in. He was married in 1851, to Mary E. Peck, and has had six children, four of home are living. Ira D. married Kate Rhinehart, and at present is living at his fathers. Jennie, the wife of Tho. A. Ayers, has one child and lives in Macon county. Ella and George are both at home.

MR. HENRY WATROUS, merchant, Cisco, was born in Ohio in 1820. He moved from this state to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1856, and settled at the entrance of what is known as Stringtown Lane. From there he moved to Friends Creek and about six years ago he settled in Cisco.

He was married in Ohio to Sarah Robinson. They had ten children, nine of whom lived to be grown. Mary J. married Jonas B. Garver. Frank married Clara Keller, has one child, and is a grocer of Cisco. R. Ann married Henry Combs, but died leaving two children, one of whom is now living. Evaline, the wife Bartley Parker, a farmer in Missouri, has two children. Rachel is the wife of John Banford, a grocer of Newburg, Macon county, and has three children. Amanda married Harvey Robins, has two children and lives in Macon county. Emma, the wife of James Bowers, has one child. Lucinda married Samuel Ransomer, and lives in Ohio. Thomas is not married. Mr. Henry Watrous took Mrs. Editha Smith, W0 Longnecker, for his second wife. Her first husband came to his death several years ago in a very tragic manner. We are indebted to Mr. Watrous for the following account. Mr. Smith and wife came home one evening after gathering blackberries. She went into the house, while he went to water his mule. He stayed so long that she sent the children for him. The family searched to no avail, and then the neighbors searched the woods and at about daylight the mule was found with Mr. Smith's lifeless body tied - with a rope that crossed around the neck and was knotted at the back - to it. The coroners reported that he came to his death by accident, but it looked to many very much as if he had been foully dealt with. Frank Watrous enlisted in the late war, but took sick before leaving Camp Butler, and his father went and took his place. He was out nine months in Co. D of the 73d 111. reg. He was discharged because of a wound and now receives a pension.

MR. JOHN W. WINN, farmer, Cisco, is a native of old Virginia. He moved from Harper's Ferry to Springfield, Illinois, in 1847, and in 1868 lie moved from Sangamon county to Piatt county. He first settled in Goose Creek township, but in 1878 he moved to Willow Branch township. The next year after settling in the county there were as many as fourteen houses going up in the neighborhood, notwithstanding the fact that when he first went on the prairie he thought he was going almost to nowhere. At that time in his neighborhood " dogs were the only fences" the people had for their land. Mr. Winn is living on rented land now, but he owns four houses and fifteen lots in Monticello. He was married in 1842, to Mary A. Derry, a native of old Virginia. Four of their nine children are living. Ann Matilda was the wife of John Haney, of Sangamon county, but she died, leaving one child. Lydia Ann is at home. William Leslie married Matilda Crow, has three children and lives in Champaign county. Emilv Virginia, the wife of Robert Simpson, of Foosland, has one child. Martha Jane is at home. Mr. Winn lias not escaped serving in some of the smaller offices of the township.

MR. ANDREW J. WILLIAMS, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Pickaway county, Ohio. His father was a native of Maryland and his mother of Ohio ; both are dead. The subject of our sketch came to Champaign county in 1859, and in 1861 settled in Piatt county. He was married in 1865, to Violet E. Hurst, a native of Sangamon county. The names of their children are Frank, Loton, Viola, Rosa, Maggie, Seymour, Scott and Chester. Mr. Williams owns a good-sized farm, which he has improved a good deal, and he is recognized as a successful and enterprising farmer. He belongs to the Odd-Fellows lodge. In 1862 he went in Co. H of the 107th 111. reg. to the late war. He enlisted as a private, was promoted to 2d lieutenant and then to 1 st lieutenant. The principal engagements in which he participated were those of Franklin, Nashville, Knoxville, Decatur, Resaca and Kenesaw Mt. He never missed a skirmish, a detail or battle of his regiment, was sick but seven days, and was discharged in July, 1865. When asked if he was ever wounded, he said "no," then smilingly added, "the only place I ever was hit was on the sword handle."

MR. CLARKSON C. WILLIAMS (deceased), a blacksmith and farmer, moved to this county in 1849 and lived here until his death, in 1852. He bought land of Mr. William LeForge, and his widow, with one son, Clark,, are still living on the place. Three of his sons and two daughters are still living in the county. Joseph William, a soldier of the late war, married Mary Williams, lives in Willow Branch township and lias five children, Eva, Mima, Joseph, Ruf'tis and Sylvia. Ralston Williams first married Harriet Hott, who died, leaving one child, Perry. He next married a daughter of Mr. Bartley. Margaret married Monroe Peck, lives in Willow Branch township and has three children, Irvin, Orin and Everett. Clark, the eldest son, and a soldier of the

MR. THOMAS B. WILLIAMS, farmer, Cisco, is a native of Pickaway county, Ohio. In 1866 he moved to Illinois, to Piatt county, and about fourteen years ago settled on the place he now lives. He owned and improved a farm of about ninety acres. He was married in 1866, to Sarah E. Dallas, and has had five children, Clairet R., Marion F., Anna Grace, Charles B. and Maurice. He went to the army in 1862, in Co. A of the 40th O. V. I., and in 1862 marched through Kentucky. He went to Nashville and was at the battle of Franklin, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He remembers one interesting foraging expedition, which lasted five days, in one of the richest and most beautiful valleys in the South. He took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mt, and was in a bayonet charge across a big cotton field owned by a rebel general.

MR. JOHN W. WOOD, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Virginia, in 1827. He moved from that state to Ohio, and in 1848 came to Vermilion county. He came to Piatt county in 1849, and lived for a time three and a half miles northeast of Monticello, after which he moved to his present home in Willow Branch township. He was married in 1856, to Amanda Peck, a native of Ohio. Seven of their eight children are living, Robert E., Jennie May, George L., Frank C., Benjamin N., Harry B. and Dick Milton. Mr. Wood has been school director and supervisor. He went to the army in July, 1862, as first lieutenant of Co. E, of the 107th 111., and was promoted first to captain and then to major. He took part in the following engagements : Buzzard Roost, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, and several skirmishes. He was also in the fourteen days' siege of Knoxville and reports life during that time as being very hard. They ate parched corn and bran bread. When the oxen got so poor they could not travel they were killed for meat, and several hogs that could not give the countersign were killed.

MR. JESSE YOAKUM, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ross county, Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1858. He had been to the county several times previously, however. He first settled in Willow Branch township, on land now owned by Mr. S. W. Allerton. At that time he owned land in Macon county, but disposed of it, and got possession of the place he now lives on. He now owns 700 acres, upon which he has made most of the improvements. The place is drained by three and a half miles of open ditch, and it has averaged good crops each year. About six years ago eighty acres of corn averaged eighty bushels to the acre, and the crop of 1881 averaged sixty-five bushels. There are two good bearing orchards, besides other fruit trees, on the farm. Mr. Yoakum has some of the finest stock which has ever been in Willow Branch township. The cattle are Short-horns, and the horses Clydesdale (Clydell), Norman and Persian. He erected his eight-room frame residence in 1879. It presents a very pleasant appearance from without, and one has only to glance within to discover that not only a housekeeper, but a homekeeper, dwells therein. Mr. Yoakum was married in 1861, to Alice McCoy, who died ten years later, leaving one daughter, Fannie, who died at the age of fifteen. He took for his second wife Miss Emma Elaine, a native of Indiana. One son, Win. Allerton, was born July 21, 1881. Mr. Yoakum has not escaped all the offices in the township. He has been road-master for one year, and school director eight or nine years.

MR-. SEYMOUR YOAKCM, farmer, Bement, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Indiana, and from there to Piatt county in 1862. He first settled on Dr. John's farm. He now owns 120 acres of land in Willow Branch township, has fenced it, ditched it to the extent of a mile or more of tiling, and has planted at least 100 trees on it. He was first married to Betty Arrowsmith, a native of Ohio, who died leaving one child, Theo. L. He next married Medora Waughop.

MR. JAMES T. VENT, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved in 1858 to Marion county, Illinois, and in 1859 he settled in Piatt county on the farm where he now lives, but it was then owned by Mr. James Ater. He owns 228 acres of land, twenty-eight acres of which are timber land, and has improved the place a good deal in the way of ditching, fencing, and the planting of about 200 fruit trees. In 1872 he built a neat frame residence. Mr. Yent has succeeded well, both in the raising of grain and in stock raising. In 1872 over fifty acres of corn averaged seventy -five bushels to the acre. The next year the average was sixty-five bushels to the acre. He thinks he once sold to Piatt & Kirby the heaviest car-load of hogs that ever went out of the township, or out of the county. The sixty-four hogs averaged three hundred and sixty-eight pounds apiece. He also sold to A. M. Piatt, in 1875, seventy-five head of hogs, which averaged three hundred and fifty pounds. Mr. Yent was married in 1865, to Elizabeth Ater, and has had six children, John W., Yiola, Charity, James A., Lizzie and Sabina J. Mr. Yent has been commissioner of highways for three years, and school director for eight or nine years.