Sangamon County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1881 (part 16 of 21)

In December, 1839, Mr. Gelling entered one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land now adjoining the village of Dawson, and settled on it, and soon after traded it for the land he now occupies, on section twenty-nine, in this township, three and one-half miles west of Mechanicsburg, and twelve miles east of Springfield, and two and one-half miles south of Dawson. His farm contains one hundred and twenty acres of good land, and is worth |60 per acre. When he came to America he worked at his trade of paper making, in New Jersey, as he had done in his native Isle of Mann, so that when he came to Sangamon county he knew but little in the way of farming; but has become, in the last forty years, skillful as a tiller of the soil, and has been successful. Having been a widower for nine years, he has been favored in having his sister, Ellen Charlotte, to care for his domestic interests. She was also a native of the Isle of Mann, where she was born in the year 1818, and came to America in 1852, at the request of her brother, with whom she has made her home since that time. Mr. G. has no other near relatives in America, except two nephews and two nieces, the children of a brother Robert, who died in this township a few years ago. Mr. G. has been a member of the M. E. Church for about thirty years, and his sister is of the same, first in her native Isle, and since, in this country. In 2)olitics they are Republicans,

O.P.Hall, born March 11, 1832_, in Shelby county, Kentucky, is the son of Benjamin L. and Eveline (Pickrell) Hall, and the only one of eleven children born out of Sangamon county. He came to what is now Mechanicsburg, with his parents, in September, 1833; he being about one year old. He was married in Sangamon county, January 20th, 1855, to Susan M. Short who was born October 14, 1833, in Pickaway county, Ohio, and came to Sangamon county, in 1846. They bad six children, five of whom are living, Wm. L., Lewis B,, J. Leslie, Rena, and Oscar E. Mr. Hall manages a large farm, and is extensively engaged in stock-raising. At his elegant home, surrounded by his intelligent and cultured familv, he enjoys life.

W. T. IIall',&o\\ of B. L. and E. Hall, lives on section thirteen; is a farmer and stock dealer; he was born December 21, 1844, in Sangamon county, Illinois; married January 9, 1872, in Jacksonville, Illinois, to Florence M. AYinn, who was born neat Urbana, Ohio, June 12, 1846, and died July 6, 1881. Mrs. Hall's parents. Dr. Chas. and Nancy (Branson) Winn, are both dead. Her father died August 17, 1847, and her 'mother, November 4, 1852. W. T. Hall and familymoved to Salina, Kansas, in 1872, and remained there until 1876, when he returned to Sangamon county. He was engaged, while in Kansas, in general house furnishing, hardware, undertaker's goods, etc., etc. He now has a fine farm, which occupies his entire time and attention.

Wm. F. Herrin, born November 18, 1836, in Sangamon county, is the son of James and Mary A. (McDaniel) Herrin, who came to Sangamon county in November, 1833, and located in what is now Clear Lake township. They are both dead. Mrs. H. died March 25, 1868, and Mr. H. August 6, 1881. Wm, F. married Mary A. North, September 10, 1863, the daughter of Robert North. They had six children: Belle N., James E., Chas. F., Burt Allen, died May 7, 1876 ; Carrie F. and Lettie A. Mr. Herrin lives in Buffalo; is engaged in farming and stock dealing. Mr. n. has one brother, David C, now living in Wheatfield township, and one sister, Mrs. Harriet F. Hewitt, residing in Menard county.

Jacob Morgan (deceased), son of Charles Morgan, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky^ May 20, 1808, and came to Sangamon county with his parents, in October, 1826, where he married Susan Correll, May 17, 1832, by whom he had four children: Josephus, born March 30, 1833, died January 5, 1877; Minerva, born November 8, 1834, died July 21, 1837; Caroline, born July 21, 1837, and married Geo, W. Hesser, and lives on a farm in lUiopolis township; Rufus, born September 16, 1840, died May 12, 1843, His wife, Susan, died October 15, 1848, and he was married again, November 22, 1855, to Mrs, Mary A, Wilson, whose maiden name was Stickel, She was born in York county, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1825. She, with her parents, who were of German descent, had moved to Macon county, in 1837, where they died; they were John and Mary Stickel. She had one son by her former marriage to Jas. J. Wilson, named

Acdifcw S. "SVikon, who was Lorn in Macon counly, Illinois, and married in Bloomington, to Mary idamilton, and had two children. He now resides in Washington, county, Kansas, where he has represented that county two terms in the legislature, and is now Judge of the Twelfth District there. Mrs. Morgan has had by her second marriage the following: Luella, horn September 4, 1856, died October 6, 1877; Selina B., born February 4, 1859, is single, and at home; Anna M., born March 3, 1861, also at home; Charles W., born September 4, 1863, with his mother on the farm, and yet single.

Mr. Jacob Morgan entered the land on which he resided for many years to the time of his death, October 23, 1877. There he located and remained nearly fifty years, being an influential and worthy citizen of the community, holding various offices of trust, and being a leading and useful member of the M. E. Church, and holding various offices thei'ein. The homestead is located on section twenty-one, about two and a half miles west of Mechanicsburg.

William Norred, was born March 9, 1809, in Louden county, Virginia. He was married in 1834 in that county to Elizabeth E. Dowdall, who was born there March 9, 1814. They lived in Frederick county, Maryland, until they had two children, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving November 6, 1838, and settled three miles northeast of Rochester, at the mills of Darling & Baker, where one child was born.

Charles H., was born January 19, 1842, in Sangamon county. He was a medical student, but laid aside his books in August, 1862, and enlisted in Company - , One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He was placed in charge of a medical dispensary for the regiment, and later of a hospital; served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged; attended McDowell College, at St. Louis, and graduated there. He was married in Logan county to Elizabeth Dalbey. They have two children, Charles Elmer and William Asbury. Dr. Norred commenced i^ractice at Dawson, but removed to Lincoln, Logan county, where he now resides, and practices his profession.

Mrs. Elizabeth E. Norred died September 1, 1843, in Sangamon county, and William Norred was married in 1845, in Loudon county, Virginia, to Mary Ann Daneil, who was born in that county, April 22, 1820. She died October 21, 1851, leaving one child, John W., born June 17, 1847, in Sangamon county,and married Mary Richardson, and lives in Middletown, Logan county, Illinois. William Norred was n arried December ]8, 1853, in Sangamon county, to Mrs. Martha Dowdall, whose maiden name was Enlow, a native of W^ashington county, Pennsylvania. She has one child by her first marriage, Silas R. Dowdall. Mr. ard Mrs. Norred had four children: Fenton M., Lauretta, Mary E., and Elizabeth C.

Nelson H. Phmiwer, harness manufacturer and dealer in hardware and stoves, Buffalo; opened business in that village in the fall of 1867, as a harness manufacturer. Seven years ago he put in a general assortment of hardware, and has since carried a stock in that line. He makes all grades of harness, and keeps in stock a variety of styles of saddles, whips and horse clothing. His annual sales aggregate from 85,- 000 to 86,000.

Mr. Plummerwas born in 1833, in Champaign county, Ohio; came to Illinois in 1856 and located a few years in Clinton, then moved to Decatur, and six years later came to Buffalo. In 1876, Mr. Plummer, married Miss Clay Cassity, who was born in Kentucky, and is the daughter of Allen Cassity, now a resident of Missouri, formerly railroad agent at W^heatfield, Sangamon county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Plummer have two children, Mattie E. and Lee Plummer.

Leonard P. JRogtrs, M. J)., Buffalo village, is the third of a family of ten children, nine living, of Uriah, and Hettie A. Rogers nee Myers, and was born April 20, 1852, in Fairfield county, Ohio. His parents w'ho were both natives of Burks counly, Pennsylvania, were married in 1845. Mr. Rogers learned the carpenter trade in youth and pursued it up to the time of his marriage, but has since devoted his attention to farming. In the autumn of 1854, he moved with his family to Illinois, and settled in Mechanicsburg township, Sangamon county, where they still reside two and a half miles east of Buffalo. The subject of this memoir was educated chiefly in ]>urlingtOB, Vermont; read medicine in Mechanicsburg, Illinois, and attended lectures in Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which he graduated with the degree of M. D., February 15, 1876. On March 10th following, he opened an office and commenced practice in Buffalo. In June, 1877, he was elected county physician, and has filled that office continually to the present time, by annual re-elections. Dr. Rogers has enjoyed a large and lucrative practice from the first, and now has all he can do. He is a member of the Sangamon county. Medical Association. His father was born in 1818, his mother, in 1827.

Josiah M. Thompson, dry goods merchant, Mechanicsburg, is one of a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, of John Thompson and Elizabeth Ferguson, who married and settled in Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he was born October 11, 1824, and was brought by his parents to Sangamon county, Illinois, at the age of eleven years. His father being a farmer, he was brought up to, and followed that avocation until 1857, then sold his farm, moved to Mechanicsburg, and in partnership with his elder brother, Harvey Thompson, engaged in the mercantile business, which they have pursued to the present time, under the firm title of H. & J. M. Thompson.

Harvey c% A. T. Thompson commenced selling goods in the burg, m the fall of 1849, and the firm continued till about 1857, when A. T. sold his part to J. M., and the firm of H. & J. M. Thompson has continued since that time. In the year 1837, William and Upton Radcliff had built the old house in which the Thompson firm opened, and continued till 1875, when the present firm built their present large brick house - forty-four by seventy-two, in which they deal in a general line of merchandise, suited to supply all needs of the community in these lines, of which their annual sales have been from $18,000 to $20,000. Politically, the brothers are staunch Republicans.

Josiah M. Thompson and Maggie Munce united in marriage in 1860. She was born in Indiana, in 1837. Her parents emigrated from county Down, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have three smwiving and two deceased children. The living are : Eliza, John A., and Thomas M. Mr. Thompson is a Mason, and member of Mechanicsburg Lodge, 229.

John Thompson was born March 28, 1783, in Pennsylvania ; went to Kentucky at twenty years of age, and there married Elizabeth Ferguson, who was born in Kentucky, June 18, 1791. They moved from Montgomery county, Kentucky, in the autumn of 1836, and settled one mile west of the village of Mechanicsburg. Of their nine children, four sons and two daughters are living. Mr. Thompson died in Sangamon county, Illinois, October 14, 1855. Mrs. Thompson died November 22, 1868, also in Sangamon county. He had previously been married, and had two children, both of whom, with the mother, are dead. The mother died when the

Andrew T. Thompson, banker, of the firm of Thompson & Brother, has been a resident of Sangamon county, Illinois, since the fall of 1836, and engaged in the banking business in Mechanicsburg, in company with his elder brother, Harvey Thompson, sijice December 1, 1873. The banking house is a private partnership, established under the laws of Illinois, and does a general banking, loan and deposit business. The deposits range from $25,000 to $80,000. The building occupied was erected for the purpose by the Thompson Brothers, in the summer of 1873, and is a-most substantial brick structure.

Andrew T. Thompson is the son of John and Elizabeth (Furguson) Thompson, and was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, January 30, 1827. At the age of nine years he was brought by his parents to what is now Mechanicsburg township, Sangamon county, Illinois, which has since been his home. In 1849, Mr. Thompson first started in business, on his own account, as a merchant by opening a general store in company with his brother and present partner, Harvey, in Mechanicsburg. In 1853, they erected the second building built in the city of Buffalo, and established a store of the same class there. Harvey conducted that store, and Andrew the one in Mechanicsburg. In 1858, the firm sold out the store at Buffalo, Andrew having sold his interest in the Mechanicsburg store to another brother a year or two previously. For a number of years subsequently, the subject of this memoir engaged in dealing in live stock before opening the bank.

In December, 1850, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth C, daughter of John R., anrt Louisa Groves, of Bath county, Kentucky, where she was born in 1833, but brought up from early childhood in Sangamon county, Illinois. Three children, two daughters and a son, are the fruits of their marriage, namely: Laura, now the wife of J. T. Fullenwider; Maggie and William W. Thompson. Politically, Mr. Thompson was a Whig in former years, and a Republican since 1856. He is a member

The history of this township is identified with that of Island Grove until 1869, when it was set off as a political townshij), iinder the name of New Berlin, the name of its principal village.

Among the earliest settlers were John and Thomas Kay, John Foutch, and a man by the name of Johnson. The latter, about 1830, purchased three thousand three hundred acres of land near Bates station. This land now includes several large farms owned by the Smiths and Browns, and includes most of the town of New Berlin.

The township comprises about thirty-one square miles or sections of land, which is entirely prairie land. This being the case, it will be understood by the reader of pioneer history that it was not settled at as early a date as other townships in the county where timber was in abundance. After it became known and realized that the prairies were valuable for other purposes besides grazing purposes, the land was quickly taken up and settlements made.

For many years this township, together with Island Grove, was considered the best stock raising field in the county, it being said that in 1865 there were more cattle-feeders and more cattle fed within eight miles of Berlin than any other point in Illinois. The Browns and Smiths especially were noted for their fine herds.

The first railroad ever built in the State, the Northern Cross, now the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific, passes through the township from east to west, entering on section twenty -four, township fifteen, range seven, and running southwest about two miles, it then passes due west, entering Morgan county from section twenty-seven. There are three stations in the township. Island Grove, New Berlin and Bates.

In schools, outside the village of New Berlin, which has one graded public school, and one parochial school, by the Catholics, there are now two school houses in the township, the three valued at 19,000.

As stated. New Berlin township was cut off from Island Grove in 1869, since which time it has had an independent existence Annual township elections are held the first Monday in April, each year.

The village of New Berlin was laid out in 1838, and its plat recorded as the property of Thomas Yates, and is described as part of the east half of the northeast quarter of section thirty, township fifteen, range seven. The date of the record is October 26, 1838.

The first building erected in the place was of brick, and built in 1836, and intended for the purposes of a general store, which was opened by Henry Yates, the* father of Thomas and Richard Yates, the latter of whom was subse(j[uently Governor of the State.

The first dwelling house was also built by Mr. Yates, and occupied by Phelan Jones. His daughter, Mary, and William Ratford were the first couple married in the place. In this same house the first death occurred - Mrs. Homer Starks.

The village of New Berlin presents a very neat and attractive appearance, and is a homelike town. It has a population of about four hundred.

its size in the State, with respect to both. The school house in the village is a large brick structure, capable of accommodating one hundred and fifty pupils. A graded school has been in existence since 1867. In addition, the Catholics have a parochial school, of which mention is made in the sketch of the Catholic Church; and the German Lutherans have, also, a school.

There are three church buildings in the village, owned respectively by the Catholics, German Lutherans, and Congregationalists, the latter having no organization, although a fairly prosperous church of that denomination existed here between the years 1869 and 1876. The Methodists and Baptists hold services every Sunday evening in the Congregational Church, but have no regular or formal organization.

The following is a history of the Eoman Catholic Congregation and Church, at New Berlin, Sangamon county, Illinois, from 1860 to 1881, from writings of Rev. F. Schreiber, to-wit:

Although no written account of the fact has been preserved, there is no doubt in the mind of the readers of Catholic Missions in the West, that divine services were held at the private dwellings of early settlers, long before the above date, (January 1860). But that is the date Rev. F. Schreiber assigns for the organization of a Catholic congregation, at this place; he says: "The present secretary, (now Vicar General and Chancellor) of the Right Rev. Bishop, of Alton, (the Bishop of Alton, at that time was Right Rev. H. D. Junker, consecrated April 17, 1857, died, October 2, 1868; the present Bishop is Right Rev. P. J. Baltes, consecrated January 23, 1870,) Very Rev. J. Janssen, at the time (1860) pastor of the German Catholic cougregation, at Springfield, being requested by some of the faithful Catholics, to attend from time to time, to their spiritual wants, at Ne^ Berlin, became the founder of this congregation. Inspiring the people with holy zeal for a church building, he had the pleasure of seeing it soon built."

Some of the oldest settlers still living here at th'e present time, (1881,) whose names appear on the subscription list, are the following: Theodore Kunst, Ferdinand Rustemeyer, Frederick Ludwig, Peter Kneftier, Joseph Burger, John Stork, Ferdinand Stelte, Henry Votzmeier, Bei"- nard Freitag, Philip Kress, among the Germans; and Martin Ryan, Patrick Murray, Patrick Ryan, John Haugh, Richard Barnes, Sr., James Sullivan, Thomas Ryan, John Walsh, and others, of Irish na'ionality and birth.

Very Rev. J. Janssen was transferred to Alton early in 1863, and was succeeded in Springfield by Rev. William Busch, who attended at New Berlin for the first time, according to the baptismal register. May 10, 1863. An addition was built to the church, during his three years attendance. He died of consumption.

The first resident pastor of this congregation, was Rev. Gustavus Miettinger, who took charge about the beginning of February, 1866. During his attendance, the house now occupied by the teacher, was bought and furnished. He has also died since then.

The second resident pastor was Rev. Francis Schreiber, now located at Bloomington, Illinois, who took charge July 18, 1867. In this year Theodore Kunst donated two acres of ground, three miles northwest of New Berlin, for a Catholic graveyard. The bell now in use in the steeple of the school house was also bought at this time, costing $87. In 1869, the cabinet organ still in use in the school was bought.

In 1870, the congregation had increased to such an extent that the church was much too small. Hence subscriptions were taken up and plans made to build the present elegant brick church. Dimensions of main building, forty-five by eighty feet; height, twenty-eight feet; height of steeple from ground, one hundred and four feet; sanctuary and two vestry rooms, eighteen by thirty-eight feet. Rev. F. Schreiber deserves great credit for his labor and zeal in collecting for, and managing the building of this church. Its cost up to the time he left (October 6, 1872) was about $17,000 of which he succeeded in paying about -1!> 11,000, and bought the large bell.

The third resident priest, who is still in charge, is Rev. John F. Mohr, who took charge January 27, 1873. During the first year (1873) he had the church plastered and painted, at an expense of near $1,500, and had a pipe organ placed in it, and a gothic alter, also a number of additional pews. In the succeeding years three Munich statues were placed in the church, and other improvements made. In 1879, the new pastoral residence was built and paid for, costing $1,300. Dimensions of new pastoral residence: main building, twenty-eight by thirty-two feet; and twenty-two feet high, and an L, (the former addition to old church), fifteen by eighteen feet, used as a kitchen; one front and one side porch, besides a little portico at east side of the I'esidence. During the year

1880, a picket fence was erected in front of the new residence and school, and furniture for the new residence bought, besides other improvements, and at the present time, August 1881, new fencing around the church property are in the course of erection.

From the above short sketch it will be seen that the Catholics belonging to the New Berlin congregation have not been idle, but have, under the guidance of their several pastors, accomplished much, during the last twenty one years, for the glory of God. Many who formerly lived here, and did their share, have removed fi'om here further West, and not a few have gone to their Eternal reward. The present number of families belonging to the congregation, which was considerably reduced by the formation of new congregations (one at Ashland, north, and another at Waverly, south of New Berlin), is about one hundred and fifteen, perhaps a few less, rather than more. The average number of Catholic children attending the parish school is sixty to sixty-five, taught by a male teacher.

For the better government of the village, it was thought advisable by many to incorporate. Accordingly, on the 12th day of August, 1865, an election was held to learn the will of the citizens. There were cast at this election, for incorporation, thirty-two votes; against incorporation, nine.

The ordinance describing the boundaries of the town of New Berlin is as follows: "That the boundaries of the town of New Berlin shall commence at the southeast corner of the north quai'ter of section nineteen, township fifteen, north of range seven west, thence east one mile, thence south one mile, thence west one mile, thence north one mile to place of beginning."

Thomas F. Bevans, merchant, residence, New Berlin, was born in Island Grove township, June 19, 1843; son of John D. Bevans. who was born in Maryland, October 5, 1 81 3, and Nancy (Foutch) Bevans, born January 23, 1824. They came to this County in 1828, and were married at Island Grove, January 2, 1842. They had eight children, three sons and five daughters, viz: Thomas F., the subject of this sketch; Mary R., now Mrs. Hawes Yates, of New Berlin; John, of Island Grove; Martha, Rachel, now Mrs. Rev. L. M. Goff, of Morris, Illinois; John D. died January 13, 1858, in Wapello county, Iowa. In an early day they lived in Springfield, where he followed clerking, and remained there until 1837; came to Island Grove after the death of his father and remained there until 1844, then moved to Wapello county, Iowa, where he purchased land and made a farm and remained until his death. In politics, he was an old line Whig, of the Henry Clay stripe; was a member of the M. E. Church, and also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received a common school education. When nineteen years old he commenced clerking for A. W. Cook, of Berlin, and remained with him one and a half years; from there went to New Berlin, where he formed a partnership with Mr. Cook, under the firm name of Cook & Bevans; remained together till 1865, when the partnership was dissolved; he then clerked for him until he sold out to Ross, Thon ifc Co. In 1866, he formed a partnership at Old Berlin with J. D. Batty; remained for eleven and a half years, sold out to W. B. Price & Co., then engaged to Hammon, Merrian & Co., wholesale grocers of Chicago, for a short time. He married Miss Caroline L. Collins, March 27, 1870, at Carbondale, daughter of Rev. N. G. Collins, a Baptist clergyman. She was born in Wheeling, Virginia, October 2, 1850. They had one child - Edwin F., born September 12, 1871.

Henry Boston^ farmer, post office, New Berlin, w^as born in Hanover, Germany, 1816. In 1844, he left his native country, coming to America in a sailing vessel, being nine weeks in making the trip; landed in New Orleans, and from there went to St. Louis, by steamer, arriving January 6, 1845, where he engaged to drive team. The following March he came to Island Grove township, where he worked on a farm for Captain James Brown, and remained with him four years; rented land of a man by the name of Staley two years; after renting three years of Dr. Brown he purchased eighty acres where he now resides; since that he has bought adjoining land, that he has now in one body six hundred and fifty-six acres, which is valued at $50 per acre. For his first wife he married Miss Charlotte Vondi, who was born in Germany. They had four children, three of whom are living: Louisa, Ilammon H. and Sarah Jane. Mrs. Boston died June 27, 1861, and for his second wife Mr. B. married Mrs. Minnie Salie, October 5, 1871. She was born in Frankfort-on-the- Rhine, Germany, in 182.3. In politics, he is a Republican, and a member of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Boston came to the country a poor man, but by hard work and economy has accumulated a fine property, and is one of the large and well-to-do farmers of the township.

Kentucky, November 21, 1818; son of Martin and Margaret (Grirasly) Coons, natives of Kentucky. They had five sons and three daughters, five of whom are living. In the fall of 1826, his father became dissatisfied with the institiition of slavery, and left Kentucky with his family for the far west; came with a spike team, camping out on the way, and arrived in Morgan county about the first of December, locating eight miles north of Jacksonville, on Indian creek. He moved into a log cabin, twelve by fourteen feet, where they remained one year. Thei'e were ten in the family. He made a claim, and afterwards sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, made a home, and remained imtil his death, which occurred in 1863. In an early day he used to go to St. Louis for his groceries, taking grain which he exchanged for his goods. Mr. C. came to this country in limited circumstances, having but $17 in his pocket, with a large family, and in a strange country; but with a strong arm and good constitution, he pulled through, and accumulated a fine property at his death. In 1844, J. E. married Miss Lacy Hays, daughter of John Hays, of Ohio; they had two children, John M., and Lucinda. Mrs. Coons died in May, 1847. For his second wife, Mr. C. married Miss Clarissa McDaughlin, who was born in Kentucky, December 18, 1828. There are six children: Mary E., Susan C, Henrietta, William G., David and Edward. In 1847, Mr. Coons came to this county where he rented for one year, then purchased his present home, where they havei'esided since; has two hundred acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $60 per acre.

L. W. Fulton, M. D., New Berlin, was born in Loudon county, Virginia, on March 6, 1837; son of William and Mary (Elgin) Fulton. He was twice married; by his first wife there were two children: Lee M., and Mary E., who was married to Robert Lynn, of Virginia; she died in 1879. By his second marriage there were three children, viz: William, a physician; Robert, a professor of elocution, of Kansas City, and Arthur. His father was an old line Whig, and at the time of the Democrat organization joined the Democrat party and affilliated with them until his death, which occurred July 17, 1864. In early life Dr. L. W., attended school until he v^^as seventeen years of age, then left his native place and came to Paris, Illinois, where he became acquainted wath Dr. Shubal York, and commenced reading medicine; he remained two years, then went to Kentucky, where he remained until 1863 or '04; then he attended a course of lectures at Ohio Medical College. The following fall commenced the practice of medicine in New Haven, Kentuckj^, in company with Dr. J. Gore, where he remained until he came to this State; still pursuing his practice until 1869, when he attended a course of lectures at Rush Medical College at Chicago. He graduated there, since which time he has followed his profession in New Berlin. He married Miss Annie E. King, a daughter of David and Sarah King; she was born in Illinois, and they have three children: Annie Lee, Charles R., and Percy K. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and Mrs. Fulton is a member of the Baptist Church in New Berlin.

Siginuiid Gibhart, farmer and stock raiser; post office. New Berlin; was born in the State of Baden, Germany, April 13, 1836. In 1854, he left his native country and came to America in a sailing vessel, being on the water forty days; landed in New York, where he remained two days; from thei-e he went to Rah way. New Jersey, where he worked on a farm and in a blacksmith shop. Hearing favorable reports from Illinois, he concluded to try his fortune on its prairies; came to Island Grove township, where he worked by the month most of the time, for Dr. Gibson. In February, 1862, he married Miss Jennie Fisher, born in Germany, in 1843; there were eight children, three of whom are living: John, Martha, and Jacob.

Mr. G. rented land until 1866, when he purchased the place where he now lives; has one hundred and twenty acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation; it is valued at |50 per acre; raises about seventy acres of corn, seventeen acres of wheat, and fourteen acres of oats. In politics, he is a Republican, and is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, of New Berlin.

John M. Gregory, liveryman, New Berlin, was born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, on the 15th day of October, 1837. Son of William and Sarah (Pierce) Gregory ; father a native of Virginia, and mother of North Carolina. They emigrated to Sangamon county in 1848, where they stopped on the head of Lick creek a short time. Thence went to McDonough county, Illinois, where they spent two years, then removed to Sangamon county, wnere they bought land; is at present living in New Berlin. Mrs. Gregory died May, 1869. The subject of this sketch married Miss Minerva L. Reynolds, a daughter of Joseph Reynolds, of New Berlin. She was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1838. The fruits of this marriage was one child - Wiliam E. Mrs. Minerva L. Gregory died in 1867. He again married Miss Rachel J. Hodgerson, a daughter of William and Jane Hodgerson, of Sangamon county, where she w^as born, in 1844. By this union there were four children, viz : Lee A., Sarah J., Nellie and Maud. In politics, he is a Democrat. His property in New Berlin is valued at §2,500. Mrs. Gregory is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Gregory has fourteen livery horses, and one carriage, one hack, and seven buggies.

George Hart, farmer and stock raiser, section thirty-three, post office New Berlin, was born in Prussia, Germany, April 1, 1821, Avhere he worked on a farm until 1853; then left his native country and came to the United States. He landed in New Orleans; thence by steamer, up the river to St. Louis; then to Jacksonville, where he worked by the month, on a farm, for a man by the name of Richards, one year; rented land until 1865. Bought a farm in Morgan county, where he remained until 1879; then bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all under a high state of cultivation, and valued at $50 per acre; has a fine orchard of five acres; raises sixty acres of corn, sixty acres of wheat, and five acres of oats; has one hundred hogs, fifteen cows, and six horses.

Ferdinand Keller, farmer and stock raiser, post office. New Berlin, was born in Baden, Germany, May 29, 1831. He followed farming until 1854, when he left his native country for the United States, coming in a sailing vessel; was caught in a storm, and forced to run into Portugal for repairs; remained one week; was one hundred and eighteen days in reaching New Yoi'k. From there he went to Easton, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in a foundry; remained six weeks, then went to Toledo, Ohio, for a few months, where he was employed by a railroad company in building a depot and track; then came to this township, where he worked six years, by the month. In 1859, he married Miss Frances Deitrich, who was born in Baden, Germany, in 1838. They have had seven children, viz.: Thomas, Agnes, Mary, Rosa, Maggie, Josephine, and Annie. After marrying, Mr. K. rented near Old Berlin, where he remained four years; then, in 1863, bought his present place of forty acres, which he has increased, until now he owns two hundred acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and valued at 860 per acre. He came to this country in limited circumstances, commenced at the lower round of the ladder, and by good judgment has accumulated a fine property and home, and is one of the

Maurice Lee, farmer and stock raiser, was horn in county Limerick, Ireland, in April, 1842. He came to the United States in 1855; landed in New York, where he remained a short time; from there went to New Jersey, where he attended school, and remained five years. In August, 1860, he came to Morgan county, Illinois, and lived two years; in 1862, came to New Berlin, where he rented until 1865; then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on the wild prairie, which he has succeeded in bringing under a high state of cultivation. He married Miss Emeline Campbell, who was born in this county, November V, 1848. They have had ten children, seven of whom are living, viz: Johnny, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, Barbara E., Annie, and Maurice. In politics, Mr. Lee is a Republican, and was once the nominee of the party for supervisor. He raises one hundred acres of wheat and thirty acres of corn ; has fifty hogs, ninety-seven head of stock, and nine horses. Mr. Lee came to the county a poor man, but by hard work and good management, has accummulated a fine property.

John Martin, f aimer, section thirty-one, post ofKce, New Berlin, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, March 25, 1819; was a son of Thomas M. and Mary (Harrison) Martin, natives of England, They had eight children, seven of which are living. In 1850, Mr. Martin came to the United States and stopped in Morgan county, where he worked by the month. In 1856, bought his present place, where he has resided ever since; has forty acres of land under a high state of cultivation, valued at |i60 per acre. In 1859, he married Miss Nancy Jackson, a native of Indiana; her parents came to the State in 1823, and located in Morgan county; she was born March 25, 1820. They have one child, John William, born in this county, April 1, 1860.

Mrs. Martin died and Mr. Martin married Miss Eliza Wonderlick, born in Germany, January 31, 1819; they have had eight children, four of whom are living, Christ., William, Caroline, and George.

John Mc Ginnis, farmer and stock raiser, post otiice. New Berlin, was born in County Clare, Ireland, June 24, J 824; came to the United States in May 1847, in a sailing vessel; after leaving Liverpool was caught in a storm, and was driven onto the northern part of Ireland, where they were detained one week; then started cut and made the trip in eighteen days, landing; in New York, where he remained a short time; then went to Monmouth county, New Jersey, and worked for Dr. Arthur V. Conover about four years on a farm ; then came to Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, where he worked on a farm for six months; was next employed at Morgan Mills for six months; afterwards was employed on the farm of Stephen Dunlap; worked for Theodore Stout for two years; rented land until 1863; then bought his first eighty acres of land. He afterwards bought ten acres of timber; in 1806 bought an adjoining eighty, and in 1876, bought his place where he lives, of one hundred and forty-two acres, making in all three hundred and twelve acres, nearly all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $55 per acre. He raises two hundred acres of corn, forty acres of wheat, thirty acres of oats. Has forty hogs, eleven cows and sixteen horses and mules. In 1850, he married Miss Ann Cain. She was born in Kings county, Ireland, in 1824. There were nine children born, seven of whom are living, viz: Cornelius, Daniel, Mary A., John, Patrick Henry, James and Rosie Ellen. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. McGinnis came to the country without money, but with a strong arm and good constitution, and a willingness to work, started at the bottom, and by hard work and good management accumulated a fine property.

Hev. John F. Mohr, New Berlin, was born in Ohio, February 2, 1839; son of John and Mary A. Mohr, natives of Bavaria, Germany; father came to this country in 1830, and mother in 1833; they were married in Munster, Ohio, in 1834. There were four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom have passed away except the subject of this sketch. His father died in 1847, and his mother died in 1864. When Rev. John F. Mohr was thirteen years of age, he attended St. Mary's Seminary at the Barrens for two years, then went to St. Thomas'^ Seminary, Nelson county, Kentucky, where he spent three years, then to St. Frances Seminary, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he finished his course of studies; was ordained at Alton, Illinois, November 24, 1861, by Bishop H. D. Junker. His first charge as pastor was at Prairie Du Long, Illinois, where he remained a short time, then to Red Bud, Randolj^h county, where he remained six years. During the last eighteen months of that period was Vice-President of St. Patrick's College at Ruma; also was President of the same institution for a short time. From there he was transferred to St.

Peler's and St. Pi.urs Cathedral at Alton, where he remained three years, then to New Berlin, where he is pursuing his pastoral labors up to the present time.

James R. Morrison, merchant and grain dealer, Bates, Illinois, was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 28, 1827. Son of William and Martha (Mathers) Morrison, also natives of Butler county, Ohio, where they were married, about 1824. The family consisted of two sons and two daughters, two of whom are living - James R. and Martha Ann; Mary died in 1852, and William P. in 1848. In 1853, his father came to Sangamon county, and stopped one year in New Berlin ; bought a farm, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1878. Mother died in 1876. In 1852, Mr. Morrison married Miss Sarah V. Auld, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Walton) Auld, of Ohio. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 27, 1833. They had six children, five of whom are living, viz : James F., William A., Mary M., Martha V. and Sarah C. B. After coming to this coimty, he followed farming four years, then was employed as agent, by the Wabash railroad company, at Bates, which position he held up to 1881. In the meantime he handled grain, and various branches of business. In 1879, he handled one hundred and two thousand bushels of corn and twenty thousand bushels of wheat; since that time has shipped about sixty thousand bushels per year. Mr. M. says he never cast but two votes in his life, and one of them w^as for Abraham Lincoln. He has one hundred acres of land, all under a high state of cultivation, valued at %h^ per acre. He has just commenced in the grain business, and carries a stock of $2,000.

Joseph Reynolds^ retired, farmer. New Berlin, was born in White county, Tennessee, April 20, 1810; son of Joseph and Mary (Sorrels) Re3- nolds; parents left Tennessee in 1810 for the far West, coming on three packed horses, on which they brought all their worldly goods, wife and two children, and located near Edwardsville. There was only one log cabin north of them in the territory, where a man by the name of Starkey lived. They remained in Madison county but a short time, then went to Greene county, built a cabin north of Macoupin creek, one mile north of wheie Carrolton now stands; remained nine years; made a farm; sold out and moved to Madison county, one mile west of Franklin ; took up government land and made a home, where he remained until his death, which occurred in September, 1862. His wife si;rvived him about four years. Mr. R. was a member of the Dunkard Church, and Mrs. R. of the Baptist. They had six children, five sons and one daughter, viz: Joseph, Samuel, Lewis, Minerva, Abraham - Levi, Joseph and Minerva, now living. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received a good education. He remained there until he was twenty -four years of age, when he married Miss Mary W. Clark, September 17, 1833. She was born in December, 1815. They had six sons and three daughters, of whom three are living, viz: Elzina J., James A. and Lewis C. Mrs. Mary Reynolds died January 27, 1854. For his second wife Mr. R. married Mrs. Nancy M. Lankston; she was born in Scott county in 1828. They had six children, only one of whom is living - Jacob T. Mr. R. has been a farmer till 1871, when he retired. He has held several local ofiices and has represented the people as their supervisor two terms. He has about tix hundred acies of land, which is valued at |30 per acre.

John Rhea, farmer and stock raiser, post office New Berlin, was born in Barren county, Kentucky, July 14, 1817; son of James and Rachel (Jolleff) Rhea. Was reared on a farm and received his education in a log cabin, attending about three months in the winter. He married Miss Julia A. Starks, November 14, 1839; she was born in Rutland county, Vermont, June"21, 1821; was baptized into the fellowship of the Berlin Baptist Church in 1842, and retained her membership in the same church until her death. She was deeply interested in the benevolence of the church, in ministerial education, home and foreign missions; she was a true Christian woman of the noblest type. A large concourse of people attested her worth at her funeral, at Berlin, Rev. J. Bulkley, of Alton, officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Rhea had seven children, four of whom are living, viz: James B., Stephen E., Thomas T., and Martha E. Mr. R. has been identified with the interests of the county all his life; has seen the broad prairies change from their wild and uncultivated state, to one of the best cultivated counties in the State. He can remember when there was but one house in Waverly, and at the time it was called Shurtleff Point. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and has been since its organization. He has a fine farm of three hundred acres near New Berlin, where he resides.

Thomas F. Rhea, farmer and stock-raiser, post office. New Berlin, is a brother of the preceding, and was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, July 27, 1824; son of James Rhea, born June 3, 1780, and Rachel (Jolleff) Rhea, born

November 16, 1783; were married in Virginia, November 20, 1801, and in an early day emigrated to Boone county, Kentucky. In 1812, he enlisted in the war and was with Commodore Perry, at the battle of Lake Erie. After the close of the war he returned to Kentucky, where he remained until 1820, when he left his Kentucky home for the lar west, or the Sangamo country, as it was called at that time. He located in what is now Jefferson county, Illinois, where he remained until 1827, when he came to Sangamon county, where he bought and improved eighty acres of land, with a log cabin into which the family moved, and remained until he could build a more commodious one. He remained here until his death, which occurred February 12, 1843. They were members of the Emancipation Baptist Church, and were instrumental in organizing the first Sabbath school in Berlin township. They died as they had lived, sincere Christians. The subject of this sketch came to this county when he was three years old; was reared on a farm, and received his education in the pioneer school house. He married Miss Lucinda Wilcox. She was the daughter of Ellis Wilcox, a native of Kentucky, and was born February 15, 1825. They had five children, viz: Annie L., born August 17, 1845; Clarinda, born August 1, 1850; Eliza E., born April 3, 1852, and died in childhood; Rebecca, born December 2, 1856, and died December 20, 1865; Lou, born December 1, 1869. Mrs. Lucinda Rhea died December 7, 1877, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church; was respected by all who knew her. For his second wife Mr. Rhea married Mrs. Louisa Yates, a widow of Henry Yates, deceased, who died October 3, 1871, leaving four children: Henrietta, Minnie L., Grace, who died July 20, 1872, and Laura. Mrs. Rhea was the daughter of Francis Arnz, who figured prominently in the political arena, in Cass county; held several local offices in the gift of the people, representing his district in the legislature; also was appointed Minister to Austria and Germany. Mr. Rhea came to the county in an early day; has seen it from its infancy to one of the most flourishing counties in the State. He has five hundred and five acres of beautiful land, all under a high state of cultivation, valued at -$50 per acre, and is one of the large and prosperous farmers of the county; has held several local offices, and represented his people as supervisor.

Josejyh S. Smith, farmer and stock-raiser, post office. Bates, is the father of the j^receding, and was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, July 21, 1827; son of Joseph Smith, who was born in Loudon county, Virginia, October 3, 1794. His parents moved to Harrison county, Ky., when he was seven or eight years old. At the age of fifteen he entered a store in Paris, Kentucky, as clerk, and afterwards became a merchant in Frankfort. He was married April 9, 1822, in Franklin county, to Sally Taylor, who was born November 22, 1807, in that part of Gallatin that afterwards became Trimble county, Kentucky. The family residence, at the time, was on a very elevated site opposite the city of Madison, Indiana, and was called Mount Bird. Joseph Smith and wife had four children in Franklin county, Kentucky, and moved to this count)' in October, 1834; he settled on Richland creek, in what is now Cartwright township, where two children were born. The father of Mr. Smith followed farming, and at the same time was in the mercantile business in Springfield, in connection with James F. Bradford. He represented Sangamon county in the State Legislature; died in August 1862, on the farm where he settled in 1834. His widow, Mrs. Sally Smith, resides with her son Joseph S., at Bates, in this county.

Major Smith the subject of this sketch, remained on the farm until the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in the Tenth Illinois Cavalry, and was commissioned as Captain of Company B; before leaving Springfield he was promoted to Major, serving his country nearly three years; previous to the expiration of the term of service, they vetei'anized and the Major resigned.

In the spring of 1865, he went to California, at that time he was handling corn, hauling it with mules from the Missouri river to Salt Lake, and receiving twenty-five cents per pound, or $14 per bushel. In 1867 he went to Abilene, Kansas, where he engaged in the traffic of Texas cattle; since 1875, he has been buying and driving them into Colorado and other parts, and handles ten thousand head a year. He has four hundred and fifty acres of valuable land, which is located near Bates Station, on the Wabash Railroad, valued at $60 per acre.

JJeuritt W. Smith, farmer and fine stock breeaer, is a son of Joseph and Sally Smith, who emigrated to this county from Franklin county, Kentucky, and he was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, December 13, 1844. He received an academic education, besides attending Bryant & Stratton's Business College, in Chicago and St. Louis. In September, 1864, he married Miss Adelia McConnell, a daughter' of Andrew B. and Augusta McConnell. She was 1 born in this county, February 22, 1845. They had four children: Sidney, Eliza, Temple, and Augusta. Mr. Smith is one of the large and extensive farmers of the county; has under his immediate supei'vision one thousand eight hundred acres of land; raises one thousand one hundred acres of corn; is also an extensive breeder of fine blooded stock, of which he has some seventy-five head of shorthorns on his place, and feeds. His corn crop averages from three thousand five hundred to five thousand bushels yearly.

In the years of 18*76 and 1880, he represented his district in the legislature, and in 1879, was elected supervisor of the township; was also elected chairman of the board. In politics, is Democratic.

John P. Stephens, farmer, post office. New Berlin, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1842; son of George W., and Martha (Patterson) Stephens. The family consisted of seven children, four sons and three daughters. In 1 848, his parents emigrated to Exeter, Scott county, Illinois, where they remained until the fall of 1875, when his mother died; they then came to this county. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantiy, and served three years. Participated in the battles of Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth, Vicksburg and at Jackson, Mississippi. After the war he returned to Scott county, where he followed farming. November 3, 1864, he married Miss Eliza Anderson, of Morgan county, Illinois, where she was born in April, 1843. They have had six children, five of whom are living: Laura B., Mary A., Ava L., Charles and Nellie. Mrs. Stephens died June 22, 1879, in this county. February 18, 1881, Mr. S. married Mrs. Harbour, widow of Levi Harbour, who was among the early settlers of Sangamon county. She was the daughter of Robert and Sarah Young, natives of Kentucky. Robert Young married Miss Elizabeth Breeding, in 1818, by whom he had three children: John, Jane and Louisa. John died while on his way home from the Mexican War; Mrs. Young died in 1825. For his second wife, Robert married Miss Sarah Vigus, in 1828; she was boi-n in Kentucky in 1808. They had nine children, seven of whom are living, viz: Joan, Sarah, Nathan M., William A., George W., Robert G., and Viola. In 1830, Mr. Young left Kentucky for Illinois, coming through with a team, Mrs. Young riding on horse-back on appck and carrying her infant. They camped out on the prairies and did their cooking by camp-fires. He located in what is now Scott county, near Winchester, where they remained one year, then went to Greene county, where Mrs. Young remained. Mr. Y. went to the Black Hawk War; was on the battle-field with General Stillman, and helped to bury the dead. After the war he returned to Greene county, and in the fall of 1832 to Kentucky, on account of sickness in that county. He remained until ] 853, when he thought he would again try his fortune in Illinois. He remained until his death, which occurred in Logan county, in 1876. Mrs. Stephens owns one hundred and eighty-seven acres of land underagood state of cultivation, valued at |5o per acre.

Ferdinand Stelte, farmer and stock raiser; post office, New Berlin; was born in Prussia, Germany, May 15, 1830. In 1857, he emigrated to the United States in a sailing vessel, and was seven weeks and four days on the water. He landed in New Orleans; thence, via steamer, to St. Louis, from there to Alton, then to Springfield, where he engaged to work by the mouth. In 1863, he married Elizabeth Knust, who came to this State one year previous; she was born October 24, 1845. There are seven children: Mary, born January 31, 1864; Gertrude, May 14, 1866; Francis, October 8, 1869; Minnie A., September 13,1872; Ann M., September 27, 1875; Maria C, April 16, 1878; August J., March 13, 1880. After his marriage, Mr. S. rented for four years, then bought his present place, of one hundred and sixty acres, valued at $60 per acre. He is a member of the Catholic Church.

Francis Taylor, farmer and merchant. New Berlin; was born in Fairfield, county, Connecticut, on the 27th day of November, 1821; son of Daniel and Sally Taylor, natives of Fairfield county, Connecticut, where they were married, and eight children, were born, four sons and four daughters, three of whom are living: Edward W,, now of Fairfield, county, Connecticut; William H., now a resident of Boston, and Francis. His father was a boot and shoe manufacturer and farmer. In politics, was an old-line Whig; his parents died in Connecticut, after living together more than a half century.

Francis was raised on a farm, and received an academic education. In 1845, he married Miss Henrietta B. Morehouse, a daughter of Samuel T. Morehouse; she was born in Connecticut, in 1827. By this union there were four children, viz: Mary C, Albert J., Frank I., and Edward H.; Mrs. Taylor died in 1862. He was again married, to Harriet R. Rumsey, a daughter of Aaron B.; she was born in Fairfield county,

Connecticut, in 1839; by this marriage there were four children, viz: Charles R., William F., Harriet S., and Frederick D. Mr. Taylor came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1851; the immediate vicinity of New Berlin was sparsely settled, there being but one store building in the village when he located and made a farm, and afterwards engaged in the real estate business; has nine hundred acres of land in Sangamon county, all of which is under cultivation, valued at $65 per acre; the present season he has four hundred and fifty acres of corn on his place. In 1881, he embarked in the mercantile business, in company with his son, where they carry a stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, and everything that is usually carried in a village store; carries a stock of 110,000. Mr. Taylor is a large dealer in western land, owning between two and three thousand acres.

Mr. Taylor has been identified with the county thirty years, and has seen the various changes. By good management he has accumulated a tine property, and is one of the large and well-to-do business men of the county. In politics, he is a Republican.

J. V. Thon, furniture, tin-ware and stove dealer, Berlin Illinois, was born in Prussia, Germany, December 12, 1833. When twentyfour years of age he came to the United States in a sailing vessel, and was forty-nine days in making the trip, landing in New Orleans. The vessel, having cholera on board, he had to remain on board for several days. He remained but a short time in New Orleans, then went to St. Louis, where he worked a short time, then came to Jacksonville, where he worked at anything he could get to do. He married Miss Eva Rodenheber, who was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, July 29, 1845; they have two children John, born January 10, 1867, and Katie, born June 22, 1868. He is a member of the Catholic Church of New Berlin, and in politics is a Democrat. Mr. Thon has a property valued at |3,000. Carries a stock of ii^3,000, of furniture, stoves and tin-ware.

William 31. Warren, banker. New Berlin, Illinois, was born May 27, 1828. Son of William B., who was born in 1802, and Ann (Price) Warren, born in 1811. They were married in Scott county, Kentucky, in 1827. They had five sons and seven daughters, five of whom are living, viz : William M., Phil., now of Springfield, a farmer and stock dealer; Maria A., now Mrs. William A. Turney, of Springfield; Louisa, now Mrs. Thomas Booth, of St. Louis ; Agnes, now Mrs. V. M. Kenney, of this county. In 1833, the parents of Mr. Warren left their Kentucky home, in wagons, and located in Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois. Mr. Warren was an attorney at law, but, on account of poor health, never followed his profession.

Major Warren was a man of action as well as words, and at the time of the breaking out of the Mexican war, was one among the first to give his services. Colonel Hardin, W. B. Weathertield and Major Warren organized the First Illinois Regiment. Colonel Hardin was to have command of the regiment, W. B. Weatherfield Lieutenant- Colonel and Mr. Warren Major. Mr. Warren participated in the Mormon war, and acted as Assistant Adjutant General. After the Mexican war was over he was elected Clerk of the Supreme Court, which oflice he held six years. He returned to Jacksonville where he dealt in real estate, and remained until his death, which occurred April 12, 1865.

The subject of this stetch attended school in Jacksonville until he was seventeen years old; in the meantime had fitted himself for surveying, which he followed from 1845 to 1866, being employed most of the time in Sangamon, Morgan and Cass counties. In 1849, he married Miss Prescilla A. Hitt, daughter of Samuel Hitt, of Kentucky, who came to Morgan county in 1832. She was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, October 19, 1829. They had eleven children, six of whom are living, viz: William B., a practicing physician of Old Berlin; Sally, Robert H., John F., Maggie and Agnes. In 1854, Mr. W. left Morgan county and came to Sangamon county, where he located on a farm, in the meantime, following surveying. In 1865, he was admitted to the bar, practiced in the circuit courts, and still follows his profession. In 1877, he embarked in the banking business, in New Berlin. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has held several local ofiices of trust in the gift of the people; has been supervisor eleven years, and five of those was chairman of the board. Mr. Warren has fifteen hundred acres of land in this county, all of which is under cultivation, valued at $50 per acre.

Lieutenant James H. Yates, farmer. New Berlin township, was born in Island Grove township, this county, son of Thomas and Nancy (Higgins) Yates, natives of Kentucky. He was reared on a farm, and received a good business education. In 1861, he enlisted in the Twentysixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company D, and participated in the battles of Island No. 10, siege aud battle of Corinth, Jack- sonville, Mississippi, and Mission Ridge. At the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted in the Sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company C, and was commissioned as First Lieutenant. On the 22d day of July, he was struck by a musket ball in the wrist; returned home on a furlough; while returning to his regiment, was detailed at Louisville, Kentucky, to take through a thousand head of cattle to Sherman's army, making him too late to go with Sherman to the sea, but later he joined him at Hilton Head, North Carolina; afterwards made a raid through the State, and at the terminus of the war, was mustered out in North Carolina, being discharged and paid off in Springfield. He married, in 1868, Miss Barbara Deibert. She was born in Germany in 1845. They had six children, four of whom are living: Frederick, Philip, Hawes, and Mattie. In politics, he is a Republican.

Pawnee township is located in the extreme southeastern part of the county, and was one of the earliest settled townships in the county. The soil is a deep black loam, well adapted to the raising of corn. The township is watered by Brush, Horse and Clear creeks, the former entering the township on section twenty-one, township thirteen, range five west, and passing in a northeast direction emerges on section two, same township and range. This creek was so named on account of the brush along its banks, which was so thick in the early day as to make traveling quite dilhcult. One branch of Horse creek enters upon section thirty-five, township thirteen, range five west, and the other upon section thirty-two, township thirteen, range four west, uniting on section twenty, the latter township and range, runs almost due north, emerging on section six, township thirteen, range four west. Tradition says the creek was so named from the fact that the dead body of a man was found on its banks at a very early day in the winter, and the next spring the horse was found upon its banks which the dead man had ridden.

Justus Henkle was the first settler in the township. He was born about 17*7 5', in Virginia. Elizabeth Judy was born about 1778, in Randolph county. They wei'e married in Randolph county, Virginia, and had eleven children in Virginia, and moved from there to Belleville, Illinois, in the fall of 1817. They moved from there to the San-ga-ma country, arriving about the middle of March, 1818, at the west side of Horse creek, in what is now Pawnee township, about one mile north of Pawnee. Mr. Henkle made improvements there, ard entered the land when it came into market. Mr. Henkle died in 1842. His son, Jacob, now owns the old homestead, and lives near by.

Martin Baker was the next settler after Henkle, and came the same year. He settled on the southeast quarter of section nine. Mr. Baker was from Tennessee. He only remained here about three years, when he returned to his native State.

William Baker came next, and settled upon the same quarter with Martin. He subsequently moved to what is now Rochester township, where he remained a few years, and then moved to Texas, where he died.

Joseph Dixon was among the earliest settlers on Horse creek. He was the principal mover in establishing Zion Chapel, in Cotton Hill township, to which he afterwards deeded five acres of land for church and cemetery purposes. His family are buried there, buthedied in 1844, at the house of a daughter, near Franklin, Morgan county, Illinois, and was buried there.

Elisha Sanders was also among the early settlers. He was born January 16, 1804, in Green county, Kentucky. He was married January 17, 1824, in the same county, to Jane haucett. They had three children there, and moved to Sangamon county, December 16,1829, and stopped two miles west of Springfield. Elisha Sanders was for many years a licensed preacher, previous to May, 1863, when he was ordained, at Horse creek regular Predestinarian Baptist Church.

Joseph Durbin was born about 1776, in what afterwards became Madison county, KentxTcky, He was married there to Elizabeth Logsdon, and moved his family to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in 1829, and settled in what is now Pawnee township.

The township of Pawnee was settled some six years before the school-master came, the first school being held in an upper room or loft of the log cabin of Justus Henkle, in 1824. John Johnson in the summer of that year succeeded in gathering some ten or twelve children together, and in»the room mentioned, endeavored to instil into their mind the difference between A and B. From this loft the next step was the old log school house, a description of which has been so often given, where are slab seats so high their feet could not touch the floor, without backs, and on one side the house a small opening covered with greased paper for window light, the old fire place, almost large enough to hold a quarter of a cord of wood, which the older scholars were often required to furnish, here they were instructed in the three R's - readin', 'ritin', and rithmetic. In reading it mattered not what book was pi'ovided, anything would do; in wi'iting the teacher who occasionally could scarcely write his own name, made pot-hooks and other symbols for those who were desirous of learning how to write. No arithmetic was required, the teacher having the only copy necessary, and he would give out the "sums" for one to figure and instruct the scholars "how to do them." All this has been changed in the last quarter of a century. The old log school house has given place to the more modern frame or brick, and the modern appliances for the school room has been provided in nearly all the school houses. Outside of the village in district number one, there is a graded school worthy of almost any town. Within the limits of this district, in Pawnee township, in 184*7, there were but two dwelling houses, one by William Bradley, on the north side of the creek, and the other by Elisha Sanders, on the south side. Between these two men there was a competition for the custom of the stage line from Springfield to Vandalia, by way of Seward's Point. In 1850, J. J. Megredy and Colby Smith, settled lower down on Brush creek. Smith on the land now occupied by Alfred W. Curtis and Megredy near his present location. In 1851, a log house was purchased on Lick creek, removed to and erected on a lot on the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section three, for a school house. The school section remaining unsold, and there being no money in the township for school purposes, it w^as necessary the school should be taught gratuitously. The first term was taught by J. J. Megredy in the winter of 1851-2. He had some twelve or fifteen scholars on his roll. The spring and summer following, school was taught iDy Miss M. A. Thompson, a niece of the present Judge Matlieny, the principal part of the salary being paid by Mr. Megredy and Mr. Smith. The second winter term was taught by B. F, Fox, Jr., and the summer term by Mr. Smith.

In 1852, the school section having been sold, the township was laid out into districts, [and the settlement around Brush creek became the first district. Megredy, Smith and Courtney were the first directors of the district.

A tax was assessed, by order of the directors of District No. 1, of thirteen or fifteen, for the purpose of raising means for the erection of a new and better school house. An effort was made by certain speculators to stay the collection, but without avail. A house eighteen by twenty-two feet was framed and placed upon the location agreed upon by the citizens interested, when by some means a special act of the legislature was secured, providing for the removal of the house to the prairie, beyond the reach of any family living in the district. The provisions of the act were carried out, and the house was removed. Those interested in having a school at once took steps to secure the passage of an act by the legislature empowering the directors to sell the house, which was accordingly done, it being purchased by J. J. Megredy, and by the district removed to the present location of the school building, on the northwest corner of section two, township thirteen, range five.

In 1856, the district was named Oak Ridge, and the school house then erected and occupied became known as the Oak Ridge school house. It was used until 1873, when it was sold at public sale, and purchased by Charles H. Lamb, for -1^34, and a new and more substantial edifice Avas erected, which was enlarged in 1879, to meet the increasing demands for school room. From 1879, the school has been classed as a graded school, Thomas McElvain being employed as principal, and occupying the position at the present time. There are one hundred and twenty-eight children in the district, eighty-five of proper school age. The school in its grade is reported by the County Superintendent as first class.

The first religious services ever held in Pawnee township was in 1819. The well known eccentric divine, Lorenzo Dow, while traveling in the west, and on a visit to Fort Clark, now Peoria, came to this neighborhood and preached one of his characteristic sermons. Revs. Rivers Corniack, William Sims, Peter Cartwright and other Methodist divines often visited the township in the early day, and preached the word of God in the cabins of the settlers before even school houses were known. There are two church edifices in the township, and over twenty in a radius of eight miles of Oak Ridge; and two religious denominations represented - the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian, each having a bouse of worship.

The first regular preaching appointment in the Oak Ridge or Brush creek neighborhood was in 1854, at the house of J. J. Megredy. A class was soon organized, embracing the following named: Charles Nuckolls, Daniel Megredy and Katie, his wife; Mrs. Lucinda Megredy, J. J. Megredy and A. R., his wife; Jacob J. Weber and Elizabeth, his wife; Colby Smith aud Eliza, his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, of the class, were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Previous to 1857, the meetings were held at the house of Mr. Megredy, when the appointment was removed to the school house and continued until 1869, when a church was built nearly opposite, on the southwest corner of section thirty-five; in size, thirty-four by forty-six feet, at a cost of $2,300. The following named have served as pastors since 1855: Elder Peter Cartwright, A. Bradshaw, Jay R. Bird, William Pallett, R. Clark, J. S. Barger, W. P. Paxton, Elder W. S. Prentice, John Burgess, A. C. Armentrout, S. S. McGinnis, George Stearn, Henry C. Wallace, W. Y. Hickox, J. B. Wolf, S. W. Druegan, G. B. Wolf, B. F. Hyde, and J. Q. Roberts, the present incumbent. The following named are the stewards of the church: P. W. Weber, J. H. Colean, W. R. Lockridge, Daniel Jones, W. R. Ford, T. B. Shepherd, and Hiram Walker.

A Sunday school was organized in connection with this church about 1855, and has continued to the present time. For several years it has held sessions during the entire year. G. P. Weber is the present Superintendent.

The Brush Creek Presbyterian Church was organized Decmber 31, 1870, by Rev. W. D. Saunders, of Springfield Presbytery. Those composing the membership on organization were, R. S. Brown, Sarah A. Brown, Charles G. Brown, Virginia A. Brown; John Brown, Mary A. Brown, William Poe, Margaret Ann Poe, Annie PI. Poe, James Clark, Jane Clark, Mary A. Clark, Horace Wells, Ellen Wells, Charles H. Wellfi, Job Fletcher, Francis Fletcher. R. S. Brown and Job Fletcher were electsd elders. A house of worship was completed in 1870, at a cost of 12,900. It is a frame structure, thirtytwo by forty-eight feet. The following named have served as pastors : Revs. William T. Tarbet, Aaron Thompson, Jones Herbut, and G. Pollock. Rev. W. A. Dunning is the present supply. The present membership is forty-four. A revival of great power was held in November and December, 1871, resixlting in about sixty conversions, some of whom united with the Methodists, Baptists, and Cumberland Presbyterians. A Sunday school has been in operation since April, 1871. Its average attendance is forty-five. Charles H. Wells is the superintendent ; John Brown, secretary and treasurer. The first church edifice was destroyed by fire, July 11, 1872. A second house of worship was erected the following fall, and completed January 1, 1873, at a cost of |2,700. It stands on the same foundation as the first building.

Church

Pawnee circuit was formed of the eastern portion of Chatham, Sangamon county, and the southwest of Bethel circuits. Christian county, in the year 1867, including Zion Chapel on Horse creek (an appointment of about fifty years standing, and at one time the eastern boundary of the old Sangamon circuit,) Oak Ridge, on Brush creek, and Pawnee Church, at the village of Pawnee.

Pawnee Church is the outgrowth of a revival held in the winter of 1864-5, conducted by Rev. W. M. Reed, of the Chatham circuit, and was commenced by Rev. James Guner, of Bethany circuit, and completed in 1865. Mr. Guner was succeeded by Rev. A. Orr, in 1866. These appointments were in the district of which Rev. Peter Cartwright was the presiding elder.

On the organization of the circuit. Rev. George Stevens was appointed as pastor. The first quarterly meeting was held at the McMurray chapel, November 16, 1867, and was in the circuit of Rev. J. L. Crane, presiding elder.

I'he first oflicial board of the circuit was. Rev. J. L. Crane, P. E.; George Stevens, Pastor; James J. Megredy, Secretary and Recording Steward; P. W. Weber, William H. Veatch,

In 1871, A. C. Armentrout, pastor. The value of the church property this year was estimated as follows: Four churches, $9,800; pastorage, Si, 800; total, $11,600.

Moral

In the early history of the western part of the township at Oak Ridge, on Brush creek, whisky was sold in any quantity by Jacob Greenwalt, whose house was a place of public resort, and the prominent characteristic of the people was whisky drinking, which continued until subdued by the steady, moral influence of those who atterward became citizens of the neighborhood. At the present time not one of the permanent citizens of Oak Ridge school district is in the habit of using spirituous liquors as a beverage.

Oak Ridge Police

During the war the farmers of Sangamon and neighboring counties suffered much from what was supposed to be an organized gang of horsethieves. The citizens of Ball and Pawnee townships living near Brush creek, organized the Oak Ridge police force June 14, 1864, having for its object the suppression of theft, the recovery of stolen property, and to secure the immediate protection of the laws. Among those taking an active part in its organization were J. J. Megredy, Joseph J. Weber, .Tosiah Lard, Samuel Davidson and J. Campbell. The follow^ing named were elected officers: Jacob J. Weber, Chief of Police; Thomas B. Sliepherd, Rape Funderburk, Samuel Davidson, John P. Crocker, Assistants; Josiah Lard, Treasurer; J. J. Megredy, Secretary. The organization continued to exist and held its meetings with more or less regularity until September 25, 1876. Between Auburn and Oak Ridge fourteen persons Vi^ere arrested for stealing horses during the time of its active existence, and much good was done.

Dark Deeds

Pawnee township has been disgraced by two foul murders since its settlement, that of John Baker and John H. Sanders, an account of which is given in chapter XX, imder the head of "Dark Deeds."

Justus Henkle built a small water grist-mill on section five, town thirteen north, range four west, on Horse creek, in 1822, with one run of stone. The stone was one picked up on the prairie, and was chipped with an axe. This was the first water-mill in Sangamon county. Mr. Henkle subsequently built two horse-mills for the purpose of supplying the demand.

Pawnee township was organized in 1861, and was composed of the west half of township thirteen, range four west, and all of township thirteen, range five west. In 1869, some twelve sections on the west were taken from it and given to Auburn. The following named have served in the offices and for the time mentioned.

1861. - A. S. Davenport, Supervisor; James J. Megredy, Town Clerk; James Campbell, Assessor; Edwin Doolittle, Collector; Wm. Humphrey, C. M. Campbell, Justices of the Peace; Edwin Doolittle, John W. Nuckolls, Constables; W. B. Fox, Overseer of Poor; Garred Young, T. J. Nuckolls, Wm. Speak, Commissioners of Highways.

1862. - A. S. Davenport, Supervisor; James J. Megredy, Town Clerk; James Campbell, Assessor; Edwin Doolittle, Collector; James Bennington, Constable; Wm. Speak, Commissioner of Highways.

1865. - J. W. Lochridge, Supervisor; J. J. Megredy. Clerk; James Campbell, Assessor; W. H. H. Bennington, Collector; Edwin Doolittle, H. C. Barnes, Justices of the Peace; J. J. Warren, John McKain, Constables; Dr. John Wheeler, Overseer of Poor; James A. Able, Commissioner of Highways.

1867. - H. R. Davis, Supervisor; James Campbell, Clerk; S. C. Proctor, Assessor; Geo. Hartsock, Collector; J. C. Griffith, Overseer of Poor; M. A. Davis, Commissioner of Highways.

1868. - Garred Young, Supervisor; James Campbell, Clerk; Philemon Stout, Assessor; James A. Able, Collector; W. D. Patton, Commissioner of Highways.

1869. - J. J. Megredy, Supervisor; S. C. Proctor, Clerk; Edwin Doolittle, Assessor; W. T. McClure, Collector; Edwin Doolittle, J. L. Stephens, Justices of the Peace; J. J. Warren, Chas. L. Megredy, Constables; J, B. Ogden, Commissioner of Highways.

1872. - W. K, Campbell, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; J. B. Ogden, Assessor; M. A. Davis, Collector, W. H. Jones, Commissioner of Highways.

1873. - Garred Young, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; J. B. Ogden, Assessor; Turner Saunders, Collector; J. L. Stephens, Wm. J. Wheeler, Justices of the Peace; J. J. Warren, Constable; H. R. Davis, R E. Sanders, Commissioner of Highways.

1875. - J. L. Stephens, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey Clerk; James A. Able, Assessor; Joseph Christopher, Collector; James Burt, Commissioner of Highways.

1877. - H. R. Davis, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; James A. Able, Assessor; C. W. Nuckolls, Collector; Wm. J. Wheeler, C. I. Pulliam, Justices of the Peace; J. J. Warren, Constable; W. W. Scott, Constable; R. E. Sanders, Commissioner of Highways.

1879. - H. R. Davis, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; William K. Campbell, Assessor; L. A. Seely, Collector; John Dozier, Commissioner of Highways; J. B. Weber, Justice of the Peace.

September 25, 1879, J. R. Barnes was elected constable, in place of J. J. Warren, resigned; George Young was elected Commissioner of Highways, in place of John Dozier, deceased.

1881. - H. R. Davis, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; William K. Campbell, Assessor; Michael Martin, Collector; William H. Nichols, Justice of the Peace; Green A. Call, Constable; Dunean McTaggart, D. H. Starkweather, Commissioners of Highways.

Village Of Pawnee

The village of Pawnee originally comprised, according to the plat, the south part of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section seven, township thirteen, range four west, and is pleasantly situated, and surrounded by a good country. Being several miles from any market, and the country being well settled, Samuel Fullinwider commenced here the sale of merchandise, in 1854, the store being under charge of J. R. Mengel, Mr. Fullinwider residing at Chatham. The neighborhood, at this time, was known as the Horse creek precinct, and its school house as the Horse creek school house. The next thing after starting a store here, was to have a post office. The post office depailmtnt was accordingly pelilioncd for tbe esiablifehment here of an office, to be known as the Horse creek post office. For some cause, the department objected to the name, and wrote to James W. Keyes, tben postmaster at Springfield, asking his opinion as to the advisability of establishing an office here, and asking him to suggest a name. He suggested Pawnee, and thus it Mas named. Isaac Mengel was made postmaster, and held the office until the spring of 1866, when he was succeeded by J. W. Blakey, who continued to serve until October, 1869, when he w^as succeeded by J. F. Smith, who served until 1876, when James A. Abel was appointed, Mr. Abel was succeeded, December 1, 1877, by W. E. Purcell, who discharged the duties of the office to September 1, 1878, when Dr. Charles Kerr was appointed, and served till in February, 1881, and was succeeded by John W. McClure. The office was made a money order office in August, 1881, and Gilbert C. Drennan secured the first order, in favor of the Journal Printing Company, Springfield.

A log school house was built here at an early day, and succeeded in a few years by a frame building. The school here was known as the Horse creek school. The house was used by the various religious denominations who desired to hold services therein. The district was organized in 1853, since which time free public schools have been held. The present school house was built at a later day, and the school was graded upon opening in the new house, into two grades.

The religious element of the place is represented by the Methodist Episcopal Church, a sketch of which is given in connection with the township, as part of Pawnee circuit.

The post office was established here sbortly after Mr. Fullinwider started his store, and Isaac R. Mengel was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded by J. W. Blakey, who served from the spring of 1866 to October, 1869. J. F. Smith was then appointed, and served until 1876, and was succeeded by James A. Able, who performed the duties of the office until the appointment of W. E. Purcell, December 1, 1877. Mr. Purcell retained the office until September 1, 1878, when Dr. Charles Kerr, the incumbent.

Henry C\ Barnes, post office, Virden, iNIacoupin county, was born in Devonshire, England, March 18, 1835; his father, Arthur Barnes, was also a native cf Devonshire, England, and was born in 1792; he served under Wellington in the battle of Waterloo, as a commissioned officer; his mother, Mary (Clark) Barnes, was born in 1608, in the same place; she belonged to the same family of Adams as did John and John Quincy Adams; they were married in England, in 1822, and had six children, as follows: William C, John C, Mary J., James, Henry C. and Emily. Henry C. came to this country in 1846; landed at Quebec; came to Chicago, and from there to Grafton, Jersey county; thence to Jacksonville, where he engaged in the marble business, attending school a part of the time; then went to Shurtleff College, where he took a classical course, and afterwards taught school at Alton, and elsewhere, April 11,1861. Remarried Miss E. J. Dobbs, daughter of John W. and Martha Dobbs, and their six children were: John L., born February 16, 1862; Annie E., March 5, 1865; Arthur E., August 24, 1866; Mary Jane, July 4, 1868; George W., September 21, 1870, and Bertha R., February 14, 1873. Mrs. Barnes died June 5, 1878, and February 2, 1879, Mr. Barnes married Elizabeth Dayton, nee Brockman, daughter of Zurrath and Isaac Brockman; they have one child, Emily H., born March 8, 1880, Mr. B. owns three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, and is engaged in general farming and feeding cattle and hogs for market,

John W. Blakey, post office, Pawnee, was born December 30, 1S41; his parents were John M, and Frances Blakey, natives of Culpepper county, Virginia; they were married and moved to Missouri about 1839; they had seven children, four sons and three daughters, all living, one of whom was a physician, two merchants, and one farmer. John W, was the sixth child, and was born in Howard county, Missouri; he remained there until July, 1864, then went to St. Louis to attend Commercial College; he graduated in October, 1864, having previously attended Central College, and was within six months of graduating when the war broke up the college. In 1865, he came to this county and settled at Pawnee, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits; this he has continued to the present time. May 7, 1867, he married Amanda E., daughter of Philip W, and Amanda E. Weber, who was born in this county March 3, 1846, and was educated at

Pawnee. They have had three children, Annie May, born April 22, 1808, and died September 5, 1868; Edgar L., born April 16, 1871, and Charles L., born May 4, 1875. Mr. B. was elected town clerk in 1870, and at each succeeding election since.

William K. Campbell, post office. Pawnee, is a son of Charles M. and Agnes (Shank) Campbell, natives of Princeton, New Jersey. The father was born in September, 1796. The date of the mother's birth is unknown. Their children were John, born in New Jersey about 1820; James, 1822; William K., 1824; Charles M., 1828, and Cornelia, 1833, The subject of this sketch was the third child, and came to Jersey county, Illinois, about 1840; remained there until about 1853, w^hen he came to this county, bought land, and made a farm. Mr. Campbell has been three times married. His first wife was Miss Abbie Minier, who died May 5, 1847, leaving one child, Agnes, born April 15, 1847. The second wife was Mary E. Noble, who died July 12, 1859, leaving five children, viz.: Julia P. Agnes K., Charles A., William H., and John S. Mr. C. married Miss Clara E. Gale, July 12, 1860. She was the daughter of Gardner and Sophronia Gale, natives of Vermont. The father was born in 1804, and the mother in 1806. The children of Mr. Campbell's third marriage are: Archibald A., born February 9, 1861; Mary S., August 3, 1863; Gardner G., April 1, 1865; Gardner W., March 21, 1867; Walter E., January 31, 1869; Philip W., March 21, 1871; Clara Lorena, December 13, 1873. Agnes died April 6, 1849; Mary S., January 19, 1866; Gardner G., January 29, 1866; Gardner W., August 25, 1872, and Julia, September 1, 1874. Mr. Campbell is of Scotch and German origin, and Mrs. C. of English. She had good educational advantages, having attended the Bordentown academy. His son, Archie, attends mostly to the farm. Mr. C. was supervisor of Pawnee township for two years, and is at present filling his third term as assessor.

Randolph M. Calliss, post office, Virden, is a son of Randolph W. and Hester Calliss, the former born in Virginia, March 16, 1817, and the latter in Pennsylvania, September 4, 1820; they were married in Ohio in 1838, and had seven children, as follows: Randolph M., born August 30, 1839; Joseph J., born June 30, 1841, and died April 8, 1868; Elizabeth E., born April 18, 1844, died July 4, 1874; Margaret M., born August 30, 1846, died April 26, 1874; Robert S.,born March 20, 1849; John V., born June 13, 1851; James W., born October 2, 1853. They came to Jersey county, Illinois, in 1846. The father died Januaiy 25, 1855, and the mother October 9, 187o. Ran dolph M., was the first child and came with his mother to this county November 15, 1858, where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Honor Orr, February 6, 1868, the former born in Virginia May 29, 1814, and the latter in Tennessee, May 7, 1815. They had five children, viz: Cora*^H., born March 4, 1869; Honor E., born October 13, 1871, died June 7, 1880; Freddie, born March 26, 1874, died April 12, 1874; Edwin J., born August 26, 1875, died May 13, 1880, and Maggie A., born January 23, 1878, died April 24, 1880. Mr. Calliss is of English and Scotch origin, and Mrs. Calliss of Welch and German. He owns eighty acres of land, valued at |50 an acre. Mr. C. was in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the war.

James Clark, post office, Virden, was the only child of John and Janet (Garrow) Clark, natives of Scotland; the mother was bora about 1783. He came to America with his mother, in 1853, and landed at New York; went to New Jersey for three years; came to Jersey county, this State, in 1856, and in 1857, came to this county, where he has since resided. June 20, 1843, he married Miss Jane Whyte, in Scotland, daughter of David and Jane Whyte. They have had f our children, namely: James W., born July 26, 1844; Jane, March 7, 1847; Mary A., August 8, 1851; Lizzie, July 31, 1859, died, August 24, 1866. Mr. Clark was naturalized in 1860, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He owns two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land; buildings large and commodious; makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle for market; also deals in stock on speculation; both himself and wife had good educational advantages.

Moses A. Davis, post office Pawnee, son of Luther and Annie M. Davis, the former born in Vermont, the latter in New York. Moses A. was the fifth child, and born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, from there came to Indiana, thence to Tazewell county, thence to Jersey county, finally locating in Sangamon county, in 1854, in Pawnee township. He was married in February, 1861, to Miss Emma Lough of Jersey county; they are of English extraction. Their children are, Frederick, born October 20, 1862; Charles, born September 25, 1864; Addie E., born November 26, 1869; Fannie, born December 26, 1871; Mary, born May 5^6, 1876. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, worth '1i>50 an acre. The advantages of education of himself and wife were limited.

Henry R. Davis, post office, Pawnee, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, October 14, 1832. His parents were Luther and Anna M. Davis; the father born in Chittenden county, Vellnoiit, and the mother in Herkimer county, New York. They were married in St. Lawrence county. New York, and had eight children, six sons and two daughters. They came to Tazewell county, this State, in 1841, remained there three years, then moved to Jersey county, residing there ten years, and in 1854 came to this county, where they entered land and made the farm adjoining where the son now resides. November 10, 1859, Henry R. married Miss Susan Williamson, who was born in Ohio, February 1, 1837. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Catharine S. Williamson, natives of Pennsylvania. Children, Luther K., born January 8, 1863; Olive J., November 19, 1865; Florence N., February 9, 1868; Ida Mary, July 14, 1871; Benjamin F., February 1, 1875;^ and Edna, January 26, 1880; Benjamin F. died March 21, 1877. Mr. Davis is supervisor of his township, and has been for several terms. He owns six hundred and fifty acres of land, valued at $40 an acre. Mrs. Davis, and infant son, died August 18, 1881, and are buried in Horse Creek Cemetery.

Samuel Davidson, post office, Pawnee, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Hall) Davidson, the father born in South Carolina in 1778; date of mother's birth unknown. They bad nine children, Lunnie, Samuel, Letitia, Elizabeth, William, Martha, John, Rachel and Elisha. Samuel was the second child, and born in Tennessee, October 19, 1821. He moved with his parents to Macon county in 1826, where his father rented land and commenced farming; remained there a short time, then moved to Macoupin county. In 1850, Samuel married Amanda Nuckolls, daughter of John and Ann Nuckolls, who came from Virginia to this State and settled in this county. Mr. and Mrs. D. have had nine children, as follows: Ann E., born April 25, 1851; John D., January 25, 1853; George W., March 12, 1855; Emma A., March 25, 1858, married to Samuel J. Stout August 31, 1881 ; Samuel M., September 5, 1861 ; Thomas J., March 4, 1864; Amanda, May 26, 1869; Miriam M., October 5, 1868; Charles C, June 5, 1872; John Douglas, died November 26, 1869. Mr. D. owns two hundred and forty acres of land, valued at. §50 an acre. Himself and wife have had very good educational advantages.

parents were John L. and Nancy J. (Dodds) Drennan, who were natives of Caldwell county, Kentucky, and of Irish descent; father was born February 18, 1808; mother was born January 30, 1819; they were married in this county, December 15, 1842 and had six children, all sons, viz: George L., Benjamin F., Gilbert C, Charles, David A., and Alfred L. David A. was the fifth child, and was brought up on a farm. September 6, 1876, he married AJiss Fannie White, daughter of John and Elizabeth White, of Christian county, who was born February 21, 1853. They have one child, Arthur Ray, born March 27, 1881. Mr. Drennan attended the district schools until he was seventeen years of age, then Lincoln University until the end of his sophomore year; he commenced reading medicine at Pawnee; studied one and a half years, and then attended Rush Medical College, at Chicago, Illinois, during the winters of 18 72, '73, '74 and '75, where he graduated, February 16, 1875; since which time he has practiced at Pawnee. His system of practice is known as the " regular," or alopathic, and he is meeting with good success as a practitioner.