Sangamon County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1881 (part 18 of 21)

Charles F. Jlimiphreys, son of Alexander B. V. and Nancy R. Humphreys, was born February 3, 1833, in Woodside township, Sangamon county, three and a half miles southeast of Sj^ringfield, on the farm now owned by Joseph Shepherd. His school advantages were very limited, but every opportunity was used to a good advantage. On March 20, 1850, he, with his parents moved to what afterwards became South Fork township, Chr-istian county. On August 5, 1861, he enlisted as private in Battery C, Second Regiment, Illinois Light Artillery. He passed thi'ough all the grades of promotion up to Senior First Lieutenant, and was commissioned for that oflice June 25, 1864, but was not mustered as First Lieutenant. Was detached as acting ordnance oiRcer of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, serving about one year. Was relieved about the first of April, 1865, and appointed Adjutant of the regiment, which position he filled with marked ability until mustered out

August 5, 1865. After being honornbly discharged from the service Im- rfturned to his home in Chiittiau county, where he reniaimil \\v\\\ January 19, 18*75, at which time he was married to Miss Jane L. Williams, daughter of Samuel Williams, who was born in Sangamon county, June 1, 1835, After his marriage, he bought a part of the farm of Samuel Williams, his fatherin-law, containing the homestead and lying two miles southeast of Rochester, Sangamon county. He moved on this farm immediately after his marriage, and has lived with his father-in-law and his sister-in-law, and has since bought the remainder of the two hundred acres on which they live. Mr. Humphreys has been a member of the Christian Church nearly four years. In politics, he is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, the fij'st Republican candidate for President. During his residence in Christian county, he held several important township offices, and is now one of the school trustees of Rochester township. Mr. Humphreys is six feet two and a half inches tall and is well proportioned; his standing weight is two hundred and fifteen pc unds. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding his membership at the present time in Taylorville, in the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council.

Frank G. Horning, born in Baden, Germany, August 15, 1830; son of Jacob and Christena (Borrell) Horning, who were natives of Baden, Germany, and both are dead. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in Germany, and was raised on a farm. At the age of twenty-two he emigrated to America, and landed in New Orleans. From thence he went to St. Louis, and thence to Morgan county, Illinois, where he engaged as a faim hand for Samuel Westfield. Thence he came to Sangamon county, and located in the town of R*^ Chester, where he engaged as farm hand for Samuel Jones and John Higlimore. He was married in 1856 to Frances Mitchell, who was born in Kentucky in 1837. They have had thirteen children, eleven of whom are now living: Christena A., James F., Laura A., Frank J., John S., Lucinda C, Wm. Riley, George I., Otto, Bessie M. Robert and Viola have died. He now owns one hundred and six acres of land in Rochester township, which is under a fair state of cultivation, and worth $50 per acre. Politically he is Democratic.

John Johnson, a farmer, of Rochester, was born in Rochester township, Sangamon county, October 23, 1828, a son of Andrew and Maiy (Williams) Johnson. His father was from Scot-

The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and was raised on a farm; left to his own resources at an early day, he labored by the day and month, as employment offered, putting forth an unusual amount of energetic industry to maintain himself, and also to lay by something for future need. He devoted his time industriously to farm labor, and in March, 1849, mai-ried Phoebe Bell, born November 1, 1830, the daughter of Robert and Susannah (Baker) Bell. By this marriage they had five children: Isaiah B., John A., Minnie S., Lovina J. and Robert S., who died in infancy. His wife died February 17, 1871, and for his second wife he married Teresa Taff, June 1.3, 1873, Avho was born October 21, 1846, near Mechanicsburg. He is now the owner of three hundred and eighty acres of land, which is under good cultivation, and worth $50 per acre. He and his family are members of the Christian Chm'ch, at South Fork. Politically he is a Republican.

Mr. Johnson's son, I. B., was married to Anna Loveless, in April, 1871, and his father gave him a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, one-half mile distant, worth $50 per acre. His daughter, Laura, married Henry Hedrick, in December, 1870, and he also gave her eighty acres of land, two miles distant; she had five children, all of whom yet live, but Laura died August 20, 1881.

Samuel Johnson, farmer, in Rochester, was born September 18, 1831, in Sangamon county, Illinois, the son of Andrew Johnson, who was born in Dumfreeshire, Scotland, and came to America when he was a young man, and to Sangamon county as early as 1826 or '27. He was a millwright, and built a mill on the South Fork of the Sangamon river for Edward Clark. Andrew Johnson was married about 1827 to Mrs. Mary Barker, whose maiden name was Williams. He died in Sangamon county, Illinois. His mother afterwards married Greenbury Baker, and died May 12, 1842, and he died March 4, 1873.

The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and was raised principally on a farm. He was first married in 1852, to Lovina J. Baker; who was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and died March 24, 1856, aged twentythree years, six months, and one day; the daughter of Esquire and Margaret Baker. By this marriage he had two children, Jennette F., now Mrs. Joseph Sharp, and one who died in infancy June 20, 1853. His wife died March 24, 1856, and he married again to Louisa Taff, who was born in Sangamon county, the daughter of William and Teresa Taff, both residents of Sangamon county. They have had nine children, eight of whom are now at home with their parents, Mary E., Teresa A., James E., Ida F., Flora A., Martha C, Arthur, and Ira; Dora, deceeased. Mr. Johnson began life in moderate circumstances, and has by industry and close attention to farming, obtained two hundred and eighty acres of land, which is situated in Cooper, Rochester and Cotton Hill townships, under a fair state of cultivation, and worth $50 per acre. He is also one of the strong supporters of the Republican party, and its interests. Mrs. Johnson and three daughters are members of the Christian Church.

Andrew H. Kalb, son of Absalom and Susannah (Larkin) Kalb, was born in the city of Frederick, in the county of Frederick, Maryland, to which place his father moved soon after his marriage in 1809, and where the subject of this sketch was born January 20, 1812, from whence he moved with his parents and three brothers, in the spring of 1817, to Loudon county, Virginia, and in 1819, to Smithsburg, in Washington county, Maryland, and thence to Trough Creek Valley, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1822, and thence, in 1827, to Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and thence back to Loudon county, Virginia, in the spring of 1830, remaining with his parents and brothers, assisting in farm operations, and received a common school education, as the winter seasons gave him opportunity, till abont the age of nineteen. He learned the business of saddlery and harnessmaking, at which he continued for eleven years. He was married in Loudon county, Virginia, in the year 1836, to Ann James, daughter of Elijah James, and was born in the same county March 17, 1811, after which he changed his occupation and engaged in farming in the same county till the year 1850, when he moved with his family to Sangamon county, Illinois, whither his father and mother, with four brothers and one sister, had preceded him in the previous fall. Here the subject of this sketch tilled a part of a large tract of land owned by his father on the south fork of the Sangamon river, about five miles south of east of the city of Springfield, till about the year 1855. He purchased one hundred and thirty acres of the land, upon which he now resides, and an additional purchase of the original tract has increased his farm to two hundred and fifty acres, worth about $70 per acre, while he also owns one hundred and fifty-eight acres in Christian county, of this State. Mr. A. H. K. has had twelve children, of whom George K , Mary A., now the wife of George Waters, of this county; Elton A., and Edwin M., are living, while the following are dead: John R., James William, (who was killed in the Union service of the late war), Sarah C, Asbury R., Edgar F., Charles C, Supan R., and Emma Jane. For fifty-iive years Mr. K., has been a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics is a Republican.

I). G. Kalh^ the siibject of the following memoir, was born on the morning of the 4th day of December, 1815, in the city of Frederick, Frederick county, Maryland. His father, Absalom Kalb, born March 23, 1787, was a native of the same county; yet, being born in a house through which the State line of Pennsylvania and Maryland passed, there were but about ten feet of the latter that claim him as a native of the State. Absalom's father, John Kalb, was born November 12, 1761, in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, in what is now the county of Berks, at or near a place then called Bottsgrove, not far from what is now Reading, on the Schuylkill river. Here his father, also named John Kalb, settled at an early day, before the Revolutionary war, having emigrated from his native country, that of Polish Germany, where he imbibed the theory and spirit of freedom from political oppression, and left it to join the struggles then engaged in by the British colonies of North America. John Kalb, Sr., was born in the year 1733, and hence was in the prime of young manhood "when the struggle in the colonies commenced, and found him in their midst, imbued with the same spirit of freedom, where he was rearing a family of four sons and two daughters of like minds and spirits; and,M'hether the elder Kalb enlisted personally in the battles of the Revolution or not, it is certain that others of his household did, as numerous anecdotes of them go to show. And, no doubt, he had something in inducing his cousin, the Baron DeKalb, to cast in his fortunes with the people who, like their noble countrymen, the Polish Germans, were oppressed by stronger powders, and offer his gratuitous services, in company with that distinguished soldier and patriot, La Fayette, in freeing the oppressed Americans. Perhaps the readers of this sketch will allow a digression, in order to connect the history of Sangamon county with so brave and philanthropic a man as the Baron DeKalb, from whose ancestors came at least six of his name, who went out from Sangamon county as soldiers in the late war, where they joined a score or more of others of the same name and lineage, from this and other States of our Union, to fight and die, if need be, to maintain what their ancestors procured by treasure and blood, in company with the brave Baron DeKalb, during the struggle for American freedom; but we shall be brief on this point. He died from the effects of numerous wounds, while fighting at his post on the field of battle at Camden, South Carolina, August 19, 1780; and when the British ofticer came to condole with him, as he lay prostrate, DeKalb extended to him his hand, saying, '-! thank you for your generous sympathy, but I die the death I always prayed for - the death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man."

Many years after his death. General Washington, when at Camden, inquired for his grave; and after gazing upon it for some time, he breathed a sigh, and exclaimed: " So, there lies the brave DeKalb, the generous stranger who came from a distant land to fight our battles, and to water with his blood the tree of liberty. Would to God he had lived to share its fruits."

We find that there went out from the county of Sangamon, no less than a half dozen men of the name of Kalb, as true Union soldiers, in the late war of the Rebellion, all of whom came in the same direct line of ancestry, whose blood flowed in the veins of the brave Kalb of Revolutionary fame. The names of the six alluded to are: D. G. Kalb, the special subject of this sketch, and his two sons, already mentioned, also three of his nephews - John William, son of his brother Ezekiel L., and James William, son of another brother, A. H., both in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, and William A,, son of Jesse D., in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment. James William and William A., were killed in battle.

The great grandfather of D, G. Kalb, moved from Maryland to the wilds of Ohio in 1805, with his youngest son, George, from whom a numerous progeny have come, and many of whom are yet residing in Ohio, and in the late war there were quite a number of chaplains and soldiers of that name from that State.

In the autumn of 1849, the subject of this sketch came to Sangamon county in company wiih his father and mother, and several brothers. The father, Absalom Kalb, was favorably known in this county and city of Springfield, for the time of over sixteen years, to the day of his death, January 7, 1865, for his zealous adherence to the cause of the Union, as also for his fervency in the church of his early choice. The M. E. Church always found in him a true friend and liberal supporter, for more than sixty years. After his death his widow, Mrs. Susannah (Larkin) Kalb, made her home with the youngest living son. Dr. A. J. Kalb, in the city of Quincy, Illinois, and died there, April In, 1873.

D. G. Kalb was engaged in teaching about seventeen years of his life, from September 22, 1837, till 1854, and for about as long a time, from 1847 to 1864, he was a local preacher in the M. E. Church, of which he has been a member nearly fifty-five years. He enlisted as a soldier in the war of the late Rebellion, in Company G, One Hundred and Fourteen ch Illinois Infantry Regiment and served to the close of the war, a term of three years.

Mr. K. was married in 1841, to the widow of George W. Shutt, of Virginia, who, after the death of Mr. Shutt, came to Sangamon county in 1836, residiog in Springfield till 1841, and thus became an old settler of the county, and on her return to Virginia, on a transient visit, she was married a second time, thus connecting her husband, D. G. K., with the Old Settlers' history, till, by a residence of thirty-two years, now he is a bona fide old settler. Mrs. D. G. Kalb died at their residence at Willow Dale Farm, on Round Prairie, Rochester township, February 3, 1881. She had one child by the first marriage, who is now the wife of Philip Shutt, till lately, the publisher and editor of the Edgar county Times, in the town of Paris. By his marriage with the widow, Mrs. Eliza S. (Bennett) Shutt, Mr. K. had three sons, Ethelbert, William Edward B., and George B., and two daughters, Mary Abner and Julia Maria. The son, Ethelbert, enlisted in the Thirty-third Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, August 20, 1861, and served nearly four years, and was honorably discharged at the close of the wa'r. William Edward B., enlisted in the company and regiment with his father, March 26, 1864, and was killed in the battle of Guntown, Mississippi, June 10, 1864. George B,, and his brother, Ethelbert, yet live, as also the daughter, Mary Abner, who remains single, and resides with her father, at Willow Dale. The youngest child, Julia Maria, died January 10, 1859, at the age of four years. Mr. K. respectfully declines to be further interviewed, and refers to numerous older, and, as he modestly says, more worthy and prominent citizens of the city and county, with whom he has had a pleasant and profitable social acquaintance for more than thirty-two years.

B. and Amy (Meredith) Lawley. His father was born in Smith county, Tennesee, June 24, 1811, and came to Sangamon county in 1828. He remained one year near Springfield, and in the spring of 1829, moved to what is now Ball township, where he farmed until his death, in March 23, 1876. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in Sangamon county, and was raised on the farm. He was married in 1859 to Mary A. Gaines, who was born in Indiana June 26, 1842. They have had eight children, Sarah E., Amy J., Mary M., Margaiet L., Albert W., Charles A., Laura H. and Willie I. Willie died December 23, 1879, when an infant. Mr. Lawley moved to the present farm in 1878, and owns eighty acres of land situated in Rochester township, which is worth $50 per acre. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church and politically they are Republicans.

Milton I). McCoy, an old farmer and highly respected citizen, adjoining the village of Rochester, was born on the spot where he now resides, from which he has never moved his place of residence; his father settled upon it in the year 1818, and here Milton was born October 16, 1823. The land has never been transferred to any other owner than from his father to himself, as heir. His father, James McCoy, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, July 25, 1791, but his grandparents, John and Mary (Ebermen) McCoy, were born and raised in Pennsylvania, and were there married, and raised a large family, being the descendants of one of three brothers, who came at an early day, in the time of the American Colonies, from Scotland, two of whom settled in the South and one in Pennsylvania, and from whom all now known to be of kin in these jjarts have descended. John, the grandfather of him who is the leading subject of this sketch, was born July 11, 1763, and died October 26, 1823, and his first son was the father of Milton D. McCoy, and was born July* 25, 1791, as before stated; the next born was Polly, October 13, 1793, who died October 3, 1855; Elizabeth, born November 3, 1795; next Joseph E., born October 5, 1797; John A., born September 13, 1799, died July 14, 1835; Nancy, born November 16, 1801; Prudence, born March 10, 1804; Zillah, born March 5, 1806; Sophia, born October 5, 1809; Andrew T., born November 26, 1811; Jessie C, bora October 9, 1815.

James McCoy was married in 1814, to Jane Murphy, who was born of German parents, and raised ten children: Caroline M., born in Kenlucky, July 16, 1815, and married L. A Grims- ley, August IV, 1834; Sylvester G., born in Kentucky, April 28, 1817, married Mary Robinson, raised two children - James B. and Caroline M. - and died in 1844; Joseph E., born in Sangamon county, March 6, 1819, was the first white child born within what is now Sangamon county; Isaiah T., born in Sangamon county, May 16, 1821; Milton D., born October 16, 1823, on the farm on which he has ever since resided - fiftyeight years - and claims that no other man in the county has lived so many consecutive years on the spot where he was born.

On the farm is a mineral spring, of considerable notoriety, known as the Sulphur Spring, and gives name to the farm. A further account of this spring, by D. G. Kalb, is found in the history of the township. Mr. M. D. McCoy mirried Melcina A. Cooper, in Sangamon county, March 29, 1848, by whom he has had seven children; the fourth one, Valmore, born July 31, 1855, and died September 25, 1857. Of the other six: Sylvester J., born May 3, 1849, was married January 8, 1874, to Pauline Abel, and reside in Rochester. They have had four children: Milton A., died in his third year; Jay, born March 6, 1876; Eddie A., born December 29, 1878; Nina, born December 17, 1880. J. cob C, born October 19, 1850, resides near Cawker City, Mitchell county, Kansas; Louvilta Jane, born December 1, 1852, and married O. C. St. Clair, December 12, 1876, and has two children: Nannie M. and Milton N., and lives in Springfield, Illinois. Jesse K., born May 7, 1858; Mary M., born May 3, 1861, and Lillie C, born May 9, 1865; the last three are single, and reside with their parent.

Mr. McCoy has been an efficient and valued member of the M. E. Church since 1840, having been a steward thirty-eight years, and a class leader about the same time. His first experience as a member of a Quarterly Conference was forty-three miles from home, when Methodist preachers' circuits were much larger than at present. Having been recording steward and Sunday school superintendent for many years, it was his special duty to attend these quarterly gatherings of the official members of his church, and he was punctual in his duties. In politics he has been a Democrat, and as his party have been predominant in his township he has held, creditably and efficiently, many of the offices therein, and has been an advocate of education and tempei'ance.

Tennessee, December 18, 1800, and married Anna Burnett, by whom one child was born in Tennessee, named John Wesley, and they came to Sangamon with his brother. Rev. John Cooper, in 1819, where a second child was born. One child died, and the mother died February 22, 1824, (not 1830, as the Old Settlers' book states,) Jacob Cooper was married again, to Jane Kelly, of Springfield, and they had five children, Melcina A., Melvina C, Elzirah C, Almarida, and Wm. J. Jacob Cooper died August 22, 1864, and his widow, Jane Cooper, died August 24, 1864,both in Sangamon. Mr. M. D. McCoy's home farm consists of two hundred and fortyfive acres, and he owns some land in Macon and Logan counties; making a total of three hundred acres.

Mr. McCoy tells how they did in early times when they raided fiax and cotton, and worked them into clothing without machinery, and that not until the year after he was twenty-one did he ever wear a coat bought from a store. To supply themselves with meat in the summer time, they would stop their plow a little while before sunset and go to the woods and kill a deer, and if they failed in that by night, then they would easily find a wild turkey roost and get a load of that kind of game. To obtain bread they would take a sack of corn on each of two horses and trudge off to a horse-mill and grind with their own team; or, perchance he, when quite a small lad, would mount "Old Ben," the white ox, loaded with sacks of corn, and proudly wend his way to the same mill, and, with the bovine slowly turn the creaking mill as the corn fell from the hopper into the eye of the upper rough mill-stone, and when ground, again wend his way homeward with the coarse meal, whistling merrily as he proceeded over the prairie and through the woods. Often they were compelled, by reason of high waters, and impassable roads, to use a hominy-mortar and pestle, to convert their corn into something' like meal and hominy mixed, and use a punctured sheepskin to separate the coarse from the fine. Thus at night they prepared bread for the day following, and this for weeks at a time.

They attended meetings and Sunday school in their bare feet and without coats in summer time. The men and boys too, and often the women, would go eight or ten miles to house or cabin raisings, which were occasions of glee and gladness to old and young. Mrs. McCoy's grand-father, John Cooper, served in the Revolutionary war and also in the War of 1812, under General Jackson, atid her father, Jacob

Cooper, served in the Black Hawk war from Sangamon county. James McCoy, Mr. D.'s father, was in the War of 1812, and was one of the two who captured General Proctor's carriage, the General making his escape by cutting the harness loose and he and his driver mounting the team. He was also in many Indian skirmishes in those early days, and was the first constable elected in this, then a part of St. Clair county, and often then being obliged to leave Mrs. McCoy alone with the children. She was brave, and kept her gun, axe and other implements ready for use as occasion might offer, but as she treated the Indians kindly when they would occasionally come to the cabin to trade with her, giving them food to eat, she was seldom molested by them. She was a good marksman, and would now and then shoot a wild turkey as it carelessly came near her door, but did not go into the woods to hunt. She had a large family to clothe by means of the cotton and flax goods she manufactured by her own hands, yet she had skill, and found time to make horse-collars, back-bands, baskets, &c., of cornhusks and hickory bark.

Edmond Miller was born in Sangamon county, February 1, 1843, son of John C. Miller, who was born October 19, 1812, in Loudon county, Virginia, and came to Sangamon county in 1835, where he married Melvina Satley, who was born September 3, 1819, in Sangamon county. John C. Miller inherited a part of his father's estate of land in this township and went to farming, which he continued till his death, January 13, 1853. His widowed mother is living in the village of Rochester. Edmond's grand-father, Christian Miller, died September 14, 1842, and his grandmother August 20, 1864, both in Sangamon county.

Daniel Ott, livery, feed and sale stable keeper, in Rochester, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, November 22, 1839, a son of Abraham and Nancy (Shamblin) Ott, who was born in Virginia, and moved to Ohio, where he engaged in farming, until his death, February 1859. His mother still resides in the same county, in the town of Mechanicsburg.- The subject of this sketch received a common school education in the schools of Ohio, and was raised on a farm. In 1856, he came to Sangamon county, Illinois, and worked as a farm hand for two years, and then engaged in farming on his own account. He was married April 20, 1861, to Elvina Betts, who was born in Sandusky county, Ohio. They have had nine children, of whom six are now living: Mamie, Hermon, Elmer, Dan B. and

Bruce and Ashbury Olen. He continued farming in Rochester township till the fall f>f 18 72, when he sold out his farm and engaged in the livery business in Rochester, where he now is pi'epared to do all kinds of work in his line of business, having from seven to ten buggies, and an equal number of horses to meet the demands, and bas, beside, some of the finest stock in the county, which he has lately brought from the State of Kentucky. In politics he is, and always has been, a Democrat. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

Homer D. Parker, merchant and postmaster, the only child of Darius Smith and Jane (Stagg) Parker, was born in Warren, Washington county, Vermont, May 4, 1853. His father was born in Springfield, Vermont, November 10,1810, and his mother in Panton, Vermont, September 21, 1823. They were married July 23, 1845; his father's occupation was that of a miller. In May, 1855, he came to Sangamon county, Illinois, and located at Rochester, where he was employed as miller and clerk in the Rochester mills and store. He woi'ked in the mill when it was running and in the store when the mill was idle, until his death, December 6, 1857. The widowed mother now lives with her son. He was raised in Rochester and obtained a common school education by working for his board and going to school of winters, and working out by the month on the farm during the summer, from his tenth to his seventeenth year, at which time he began teaching school for a livelihood. He taught school for three and one half years, and in the fall of 1873, engaged as clerk for C. Carter & Co., with whom he remained one and a half years, removing from Rochester at that time to engage in business for R.' Kimball, at Mount Auburn, Illinois, with whom he remained until the 29th of March, 1876, when he opened a drug and grocery store, at Mount Auburn, Illinois, on his own account. He was appointed deputy postmaster there shortly after and held the post oflice in that capacity until March 17, 1879, when he was commissioned postmaster. He was married September 26, 1877, to Margaret Elizabeth Lawrence, who was born in Catawba, Clark county, Ohio, September 24, 1853. She is the daughter of Doctor John Heiskill, and Sarah Ann (Morris) Lawrence. Her father was born March 1, 1830, and her mother February 22, 1835, in Springfield, Ohio. They came to Christian county, Illinois, in July, 1854, and located at Mount Auburn, where the Doctor has since been engaged in the practice of medicine. H. D. and M. E. Parker have two children - Annie J., born August 16, 1878, and Ruth L.,.

born June 28, 1881. In April, 1880, James M. Firey and H. D. Parker purchased the old stock in the store formerly occupied by C. Carter & Co. Parker carried on business at both places until July, 1880, when he removed the stock from his Mount Auburn store, to the store in Rochester, where they (Parker & Firey) are now engaged in selling drugs, groceries, hardware, queensware, etc., and have a large and lucrative business. In politics he is a Republican.

George IV. Poffenberger^ Sen., a farmer of Rochester, was born in Washington county, Maryland, October 16, 181 7, the son of Christian and Mary (Brantner) Poffenberger. His father was born in Maryland and his mother in Virginia. In 1826, they moved to Franklin county, Ohio, and thence to Sangamon county, arriving October 28, 1839, and located in Rochester township, where he resided until 1846. He then moved to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he resided on a farm. His wife died in February, 1853, and he died in October, 1857. The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and was raised on a farm. He came to this county with his father and worked on a farm. He was married February 9, 1841, to Rachel Jones, who was born io Kentucky, September 16, 1814, the daughter of Andrew and Elenor (Goodwin) Jones, who came to Sangamon county in 1824, from Kentucky, and located in Rochester township, where they resided until their deaths. Mr. Poffenberger has had six children, of whom five are now living; John A., Mary E., George W., Eliza A. (now wife of Luther Osborn Meredith) and Edwin. He is now the owner of two hundred acres of fine farming land which is under good cultivation and worth $60 per acre. His wife and son Edwin are members of the Methodist Church. He is in politics, a Democrat.

George P. Sidener, Jr., a farmer, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, December 10, 1833, and came with his father, George P. Sidener, Sr., to Sangamon county in March, 1852, and settled near his present residence in Rochester township, where his father died in 1865, and his mother in 1866. George P., Jr., married Miss Hannah R, Eider, daughter of Samuel and Pha^be (Clinkenbeard) Elder, February 10, 1858, and has continued to reside in the same township ever since, farming his own tract of forty acres, worth $70 per acre, and at times renting other lands. He has had eight children, six of whom are alive: Charles Lincoln, Ada A., James G., Edward B., William A., and Freddie E., with two deaths, Phoebe, died in 18G0, at two years of age, and one in

Thomas C. Smith, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, March 31, 1848; son of Samuel B. and Mary E. (Shephard) Smith. His father was born iu Virginia, June 9, 1810, and died January 22, 1880. His mother was born in Shephardstown, Virginia, October 31, 1813. They came to Sangamon county in the spring of 1845, and located near Chatham, on Lick creek, and about 1867, to Rochester township. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in this county, and was raised on a farm. He was married in 1876, to Anna Craig, who was born in Scotland, September 27, 1853, a daughter of William and Mary (McL.iughlin) Craig, who came to Sangamon county in 1856. They have had three children, Mary E., born October 11, 1876; Samuel B., May 24, 1878; and Louella, born January 21, 1880. He resides on the home farm, consisting of two hundred and fifty-two and a half acres, which is under a fair state of cultivation, and worth $50 per acre. His mother resides with him, and has been a member of the Methodist Church fifty-three years. Mrs. T. C. Smith is a member of Christian Church. In politics they are Republicans.

LaxDson H. Smith (deceased), was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, February 20, 1831; sou of William and Elizabeth (Henderson) Smith, who also were born in Kentucky, and both are dead. The subject of this sketch went to Missouri at seven years of age, in 1838, where he resided for seven years, and from there went to Shelby county, Illinois, when he was twice seven years old, where he remained seven years, thence to Jackson county, Oregon, where he also remained seven years. He returned to Shelby county, where he engaged in farming in 1859, and in March, 1860, he was married to Caroline M. Bell, the daughter of Isaac and Susan (Stokes) Bell, who came to Sangamon county in 1831. Her mother died April 26, 1877, and her father in June 18, 1880. After their marriage they moved to the farm where she now resides. Mr. Smith died December 11, 1876, leaving a widow and four children, Alice, Riley, Anna and Susie. Their farm consists of two hundred and eighty acres of land, which is under good cultivation, and worth $00 per acre. She and her daughter Alice are members of the Christian Church at South Fork, and he was an elder in the same, fourteen years, to the time of his death.

1837, the son of Robert Sattley, Sen., who was Toovn in the vicinity of Vergennes, Vermont, October 21, 1788. He and his brother Archibald Avent with the family of Mrs. Lovina Hawley, a widow lady with two daughters and three sons to White county, near Carmi, Hlinois, in the fall of 1818. He was there married in February 1819, to Eliza Hawley, who was born March 7, 180J, near Vergennes, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Sattley moved to what now is Sangamon county, in June 1819, and settled about a half mile noith of where Rochester now stands, and then moved to the place where he lived until his death, March 27, 1842. His mother died June 13, 1800. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in Rochester township and was raised on a farm. He was married November 7, 1860, to Margaret J. Green, who was born in Virginia, May 10, 1839, the daughter of George M. and Mary (Miller) Green, who were natives of Virginia, and now of Sangamon county, Illinois, where her father now resides. His mother died in 1879. They have had four children, two of which, Robert and Ralph, died in infancy, and Mary E., Emma J. and Louann A. yet living. He is now the owner of two hundred acres of fine farming land, which is under a good state of cultivation and worth |50 per acre. In politics, Mr. Sattley is a Republican.

Asa Sterling, a farmer, Rochester, was born in County Down, Ireland, April 15, 1816; son of William and Agnes (Irving) Sterling, who also was born in County Down, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1824, and located at Newl)urg. New York, where they resided until their death. The father of A. Sterling was a merchant, from early life to the day of his death, which occurred about the year 1845. The mother died in 1824, soon after they came to America. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in New York, and at the age of sixteen learned carriage-making, Avhich he followed until twenty-one years of age, when he entered the store, and continued in the furnishing trade with his father till the death of the latter, and afterwards for a term of twentytwo yt ars. He was married in 1839, to Pha'be E. Carpenter, who was born in Newburg, New York, October 23, 1813, and was the daughter of James C. and Jane (McVeigh) Carpenter, both of whom are now dead. They have had four children, William J., and Edmond H. yet live, while two named Edmond and Mary Irving, are dead. On account of failing health Mr. S. quit merchandising and engaged in farming in New York, until the year 1868, when he moved to

Sangamon county, Illinois, where he pnrchased two hundred and fifty acres of land and ei'o^aged in farming. His land is in good cuudiiiwn and worth 175 per acre, being well and successfully cultivated. His two sons, now reside with him on the farm. He and his wife are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, in Springfield. Politically he is a Republican.

William A. Whitesides, farmer, Rochester township, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, November 5, 1815, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Graves) Whitesides. His father, Charles Whitesides, was born in 1785, in Virginia, and taken by his parents to Fayette county, Kentucky. They traveled in boats from Pittsburg down the Ohio river to Limestone - now Maysville - Kentucky. Charles Whitesides was married in 1810, in Fayette county, Kentucky, to Elizabeth Graves, who was born in 1788, in that county. They had five children in Fayette county, and in 1819, moved to Cumberland county, same State, where five children were born, and the family moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving June 30, 1831, in Springfield. In 1833, they moved to the vicinity of Williamsville, and in 1835 moved to German Prairie, northeast of Springfield, where he farmed until his death, March 31, 1836. His mother died June 25, 1855, in Logan county, Illinois. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in the State of Kentucky, and was raised on a farm. He came to this county with ^is parents, where he has continued to ret-ide ^ver since. He was married February 19, 1846, to Honor A. Branch, born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, March 24, 1827, the daughter of Edward and Rebecca (Cassity) Branch, natives of Kentucky, and came to Sangamon county in the fall of 1830, and resided in Rochester till the death of Mr. Branch, after which the widow made her home at the house of her son-in-law, and daughter for sixteen years, prior to her death, July 25, 1876, They have had twa children, Albert, born December 27, 1846, and died December 7, 1860, and Louisiana, born September 11,1849, who was married October 13, 1870, to Edward Miller, and died November 23, 1871. Mr. Whitesides has been an active farmer, and one of Rochester's best citizens. He is the owner of one hundred and forty acres of fine farming land, which is under good cultivation, and worth $50 per acre. He has given up farming on account of failing health, and now rents his farm, while he retires from active life, having recently purchased a good residence in I the village of Rochester.

The township of Salisbury is one of the northern tier of townships, and is the smallest in the county, being three square miles less than half a Congressional township.

The first settlement in Salisbury township was made in 1820. Among the early settlers were Solomon Miller, Marshal Duncan, Mrs. Abigail Coleman, William Yoakum, Fielding Harrison, William Kirkpatrick, Amos Batterton, Rev. John Antle, Christoi^her Mosteller, Job Ratcliff, Jacob Miller, James Fisher, John Duncan, Aaron Miller, Isaac Carlock, John Goodman, John Davis, Tobias Goodman, V. Crite, George Miller, and Clawson Lacy.

Solomon Miller was born about 1796, in Adair county, Kentucky. He was married there to Nancy A. Antle. They moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, and from there to Sangamon county, arriving in the spring of 1820, at what is now Salisbury. He died in ]858.

Marshal Duncan was born in 1783, or 1784, in North Carolina. He was brother to Rice and John. He went, when young, Avith his parents to Cumberland county, Kentucky. He left Kentucky with three children, and came to Sangamon county, Illinois; arrived in 1820 or I82I, in Salisbury township. He was there married to Hannah Miller, a daughter of John Miller. Died in 1858.

Mrs. Abigail Coleman, whose maiden name was Robertson, was born in Surry county. North Carolina, and was married there to Theophilus Coleman, who was born in Virginia. They had four children in North Carolina. Mr. Coleman became a soldier in the war with England in 1812. He never returned, and his family never knew his fate. Mrs. Coleman, with her four children, moved, in 1815, to Cumberland county, Kentucky, and to Sangamon county, Illinois; arrived in the fall of 1820, on Richland creek, in what is now Salisbury township.

William Yoakum was born in 1791, in Virginia, and when he was an infant his parents moved to Claiborne county, Tennessee, where his father died His mother moved her family about 1810, to Madison county, near Edwardsville, Illinois. They moved next to Montgomery county, and then to Sangamon county, arriving June 10, 1819, at the north side of Richland creek, in what is now Salisbury township. William Yoakum was married in 1821 to Sarah Simmons.

Fielding Harrison was born about 1777, in Rockingham county, Virginia. Anna Quinnwas born about 1779, in Culpepper county, Virginia. They were married in Culpepper, and made their home in Rockingham county, until they had one child. They moved about 1805 to Christian county, Kentucky; from there moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving November, 1822, at the north side of Richland creek, in what is now Salisbury township. Died in 1829 or ':50.

Amos Batterton was born May 3, 1772, in Loudon county, Virginia. Nancy Guthrie was born about 1776, in North Carolina, and her parents moved, when she was a child, to Madison county, Kentucky. They were there married and had one child, who was drowned in Kentucky river. They moved to Adair county and then moved to Madison county, Illinois, in 1818, and from there to Rock creek, in what is now Menard county, in 1820, thence to what is now Salisbury township, Sangamon county, in the spring of 1822, and settled one and a quarter miles north-

Rev. John Antle was born April 15, 1789, in Cumberland county, Ky. Elizabeth Buchanan was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Her parents moved to Lincoln county, Kentucky, when she was seven years old. Her father died in that county, and she went to live with a married sister in Cumberland county. John Antle and Elizabeth Buchanan were there married. The family then moved to Morgan county, Illinois, in 1829, and from there to Sangamon county, arriving January 9, 1830, in what is now Salisbury township. Mrs. Elizabeth Antle died September, 1844, and John Antle died August 30, 18(54; she in Menard county and he in Salisbury.

Rev. John Antle preached to five churches, called Separate Baptists. One each at Salisbury and McKinnie Settlement, in Sangamon county; Baker's Prairie and Sand Ridge, in Menard county, and one in Morgan county. The only pay he received or expected was the hope of a reward in a better world.

Christopher Mosteller was born in Buncombe county. North Carolina; went to Butler county, Ohio, when a young man, and was there married to Phoebe Sackett. They moved to Union county, Indiana; returned to Butler county, Ohio, and from there came to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the spring of 1830, in what is now Salisbury township. He died in 1834.

The first school house was of logs and erected in 1823, on the place now owned by Mr. Batterton. Cassell Harrison was the first teacher; John F. Harrison was the next teacher. There are now three school houses in the township, valued at $4,000.

Rev. James Sims has the honor of being the first to proclaim the gospel in this township. The exact date is unknown, but it was as early as 1822. Rev. John Antle was -probably the next. The first church building was erected by the Baptists, in the village. There is now one churcli building in the township, represented by three denominations, Methodist Episcopal, United Baptists and Christians.

William Kirkpatrick built a horse-mill on his place in 1821, which was the first mill of any description in the township. Robert Fielding and Reuben Harrison built a water-mill, for sawing lumber, on Richland creek, about a mile and a quarter from the village, at a very early date, which was of great convenience to the settlers. In 1833, Milas Goodman, John Sackett, and a man by the name of Holmes, built a saw and grist-mill on the creek, about a mile east of the village. After undergoing several changes in ownership, it is now owned and run by John Miller. The grist-mill has one run of burrs. In the winter of 1839, Thomas Kirkpatrick built a water-mill on Richland creek, half a mile south of the village, and sawed lumber. He abandoned it about five years after.

The township was organized in 1861, at the time the county adopted the township organization law. It was first given the name of Sackett, in honor of one of the leading citizens of the county, but subsequently changed to that of Salisbury, from the village of the same name.

Village Of Salisbury

The village of Salisbury was originally owned by Solomon Miller, who had it surveyed and platted January 9, 1832. Previous to this time a settlement had been formd here, and as it was several miles to any other village, it was thought a good place in which to build one up.

George Davis, in 1825, started a blacksmith shop about three-fourths of a mile from the present village, and was the first in the township to engage in blacksmithing. In the fall of 1832, he removed his shop inside the village limits and became the first of his trade in the village as well as in the township.

Henry Davis, a brother of George, commenced the manufacture and repair of wagons in 1832, and was the first of that occupation in the village.

Mathew Morehead came to the village in 1833, and opened a cabinet shop, the first here. At this time nearly all the furniture used by the settlers was made by hand, and according to order. The modern style of running a furniture store was then unknown. Henry Shepherd was the second cabinet maker in the place.

A village without its post oflUce is like the play of Hamlet, with the part of Hamlet omitted. On petition of a large number of the citizens living in the vicinity of the village, the postoffice department established here an office, in 1833. David McMurphy was the first postmaster. Among those who have since held the office are George McMurphy, Marion Duncan, Jason Miller, G. W. Miller, George Brahm and Thomas Yoakman, the latter being the present incumbent.

The villagers early set about the erection of a school house, which was built the first year after the platting of the village. The building was of logs, and served the purpose for several years. The second building was of brick. It was used until it became too small to meet the wants of the district, when it was torn down and a larger one erected of like material. The building has two rooms, and has been graded since 1868.

The Baptists organized a congregation in the fall of 1831, composed of the following named members: Solomon Miller and wife, Catharine Davis, Mollie Miller, Sallie Duncan, George Miller, Henry Miller, James Miller, Elizabeth

Miller, and Polly Miller. In 1835, the congregation erected a house of worship, in which they continued to worship for many years. They now meet in the Christian Church building, holding services.

A class of Methodists was organized in 1837, by Rev. Mr, Knoll, since which time they have continued to meet with more or less frequency. Salisbury is now in Athens circuit, and preaching services are held here once a month. A class meeting is held each Sunday. Rev. Kennett is the present pastor. The congregation worships in the Christian Church building.

Business Of Salisbury

Geo. W. Bailey was born on a farm near Rogersville, Hawkins county, Tennessee, March 12,1823. He lived therewith his father until nearly twenty-one years of age, when he was married to Miss Louisa A. Jones, in 1841. She was born in Tennessee, and was a daughter of Elisha Jones and Nancy Harmon. Mrs. Bailey died in 1851. When twenty-two years of age, Mr. Bailey enlisted in the Mexican War, under Colonel McClernand, in the Fifth Tennessee Infantry, and at the close of the war, in 1848, he came to Illinois, and settled in Rochester township, Sangamon county, where he remained twelve years, when he moved on the farm where he now resides in Salisbury township. In 1860, he built a saw-mill here on the creek, which he ran fifteen years. He then ran a portable mill three years, farmed two years. In 1879, took charge as a partner and superintendent of Primm's saw and grist-mill in Menard county, where he is still engaged. He was married to Eliza E. Sexton, August 21, 1852. She was born in North Carolina, and was a daughter of Thos. Sexton and Rena Sykes. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey had six children, five living, viz.: Thos. I)., John J., Mary E., Chas. W.,and Vashti Bailey. Mrs. Bailey was a member of the United Brethren Church. She died October, 1871. Mr. Bailey was married to his present wife. Miss Haley E. Cantrall, October 9, 1872. She was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and was a daughter of Joshua M. Cantrall and Sallie Cantrall. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have one child, viz., Sarah A. Bailey. Mr. Geo. Bailey raised Company H, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry Volun- teers, in 1862; was appointed captain of this company. He has held the position of justice of the peace since 1861, a position he still retains. He has held many other township offices. He is at present school director in his township. In politics, he is a Democrat. Mr. Bailey has his farm of one hundred and two acres, on which he resides, all under good cultivation. His father, Thomas Bailey, was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee. He was a farmer, and died in 1831. His wife, Melvina Moore, was born in Tennessee. She was a member of the Baptist Church and the mother of six children, three living. She died in 1862.

William Batterton, post office, Salisbury, was born in Kentucky December 14, 1801. His father, Amos Batterton, was born in Loudon county, Virginia, 1781. His mother, Nancy Batterton, was born in North Carolina, 1784. They were married in Kentucky, and were the parents of the following named children: David, Nelson, Anderson, William, Polly, Levi, Susan, Priscilla and Enoch George. Of whom David, Nelson, Polly, Anderson, Susan and Priscilla are now deceased. Father and mother both died in 1834.

Wm. Batterton came to Sangamon county in 1818, and was married January 1, 1833, to Eliza Gaines, daughter of Richard and Amy Gaines, who came from Virginia to this county in 1822. They had thirteen children, viz: Madison, born October 20, 1833; John, born January 8, 1835, died September 7, 1835; Richard, born July 19, 1836; Amy, born February 19, 1838; Robert, born August 4, 1839, died August 13, 1868; May, born February 27, 1841, died July 6, 1844; Henry C, born November 6, 1843; Mildred P., born May 4, 1846; Maria, born October 3, 1848; Sarah Eliza, born March 19, 1851; Charlotte, born January 29, 1853; George M., born May 19, 1854. Mr. B. owns two hundred acres of land, valued at $50 an acre. His sons, Robert and Madison, were members of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His educational advantages were such as the subscription schools of his day afforded.

Joseph S. Cantrall, was born on Cantrall creek, near Cantrall, Sangamon county, Illinois, October 16, 1841, where he remained until twenty years of age, when he went into the cattle trade, feeding and shipping until 1872, when he and two others laid out the town of Cantrall, Illinois. He then furnished ties and lumber for the S. & N. W. Railroad, from Petersburg to Springfield, and, in 1874, built the Cantrall Elevator, and went into the grain trade, his present occupation. He is now building a large corn-crib, at Cantrail, with a capacity of 75,000 bushels of ear corn; it is two hundred feet long and thirty-five feet wide. J. S. Cantrall was married to Miss Margaret A. Canterbury, January 16, 1868; the fruits of this marriage are two children: Daisy and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Cantrall are members of the Christian Church. In politics, he is a Republican; having cast his first vote for A. Lincoln. Mrs. Cantrall was born in Sangamon county, and is a daughter of John F. Canterbury, born in Fleming county, Kentucky, August 27, 1820; he was married in Sangamon county, February 22, 1842, to Miranda M. Brittin, who was the mother of six children.

The father of Joseph S., Levi Cantrall, was born in Botetourt county, Virginia. He was taken by his parents to Bath county, Kentucky, in 1789, where he was married to Miss Fannie England, November 30, 1809, and in 1811, moved to Madison county, Ohio, and to Madison county, Illinois, October, 1819, and December 4, 1819, moved where the city of Springfield now stands; on the oth he selected a location, and commenced building a cabin December 8, 1810; they had seven children; he died February 22, 1860, and she resides with her son, Joseph S., who is a Mason, and a member of Lavely Lodge, at Williamsville, Illinois.

Francis M. Duncan, was born on a farm in Menard county, Illinois, two miles northwest of Salisbury, Illinois, October 1, 1831. He lived there and in Hancock county until eighteen years of age, when he moved with his parents to the head of Richland creek, in Cartwright township, Sangamon county, where he remained two years. December 30, 1852, he married Miss Martha J. Yoakum; she was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and was a daughter of William Yoakum, born in West Virginia. He was a farmer. He died April 26, 1880. His wife, Sarah (Simmons) Yoakum, born in Kentucky. She was the mother of ten children; she died December 5, 1865. Some time after Mr. and Mrs. F. ^M. Duncan were married he bought a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres in section seventeen, where he resides. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church and have had eight children, viz.: Charles U., Laura H., William R., and James F., (who are twins) Jenetta A., George PI., Louisa E. and Mary J. Duncan. Mr. F. M. Duncan was a son of James T. Duncan, born in Kentucky, who came to Illinois at an early day and was one of the first settlers in Salisbury township. He was a farmer and died on July 9, 1856, and bis wife was Miss Polly (Penny) Duncan, who was born near Beardstown; sbe was a daughter of Robert Penny, who came down the Ohio river in a dug-out, and landed in Illinois in 1807. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and is still living in Salisbury, She was born in 1809, and was the mother of eleven children. F. M. Duncan has his farm of one hundred and eighteen acres all fenced and seventy acres under good cultivation and well stocked. In politics he is a Democrat and he cast his first vote for Buchanan for President.

Marion M. Duncan was born on a farm near Salisbury, in Menard county, Illinois, December 17, 1832. When he was twenty-three years of age he was married to Martha McMurphy, April 16, 1855; she was born in New York, and was the daughter of Archie H. McMurphy, born in New York. He died in 1877. His wife, Elizabeth White, was born in New York, and was the mother of eleven children. She is living at Salisbury, Illinois, with her son, Joseph McMurphy. Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Duncan are members of the Christian Church and have had six children, five living, viz: Mrs. Lucy C. Davis, Laura A., Margaret V., Omer L. and Elizabeth E. Duucan. The father of M. M. Duncan and W. T. H. Duncan, was born near Louisville, Kentucky, May 18, 1812; when a young man, learned the hatter's trade; he came to Sangamon county and settled in Salisbury township, in 1831; died in October, 1864. His wife, Eva (Miller) Duncan, was born in Kentucky, and was the mother of twelve children. She is still living and resides with her son, Thomas Duncan, at Salisbury, Illinois. Mr. M. M. Duncan has a farm of ten acres, in section thirty-two where he resides. In politics, he is a Democrat and cast his first vote for Harrison for President. His father, W. T. H. Duncan, was a Democrat, and for nineteen years justice of the peace, and held that office at the time of his death. Mr. M. M. Duncan has been town clerk eight or nine years, and was elected justice of the peace and resigned six months after and went to Springfield, and was engaged in the grocery business one year, when he clerked for Smith & Hay two years; then ran the Junction House, one mile below Springfie'd, two years, when he returned to Salisbury.

Balthus Faith, (deceased) was born in Germany July 28, 1811. He came to the United States with his mother, brothers and sisters when a young man, and settled in Maryland, and was married there to Miss Emily Gordon, August 16, 1851. She was born in Maryland, and was a daughter of George Gordon, born and died in Maryland. His wife was Miss Nancy (Crozier) Gordon, born in Loudon county, Virginia. She died in Iowa. Mr. F., came to Illinois in the fall of 1857, and settled on a farm in Fancy Creek township, Sangamon county, where he remained nine years, then, in 1867, bought the present homestead in section thirty-six, Salisbury township, where he died and where his wife and family now reside. His father was born in Germany, where he died. His mother's maiden name was Mary A. Gable; she died in Maryland some ten years ago. She was a member of the Catholic Church, and was the mother of seven children, five living, viz: Joseph, who married Miss Mary A. Galligan, daughter of Barclay Galligan, resides in Fancy Creek township; and John F., Rosa A., George H., and Margaret L. The mother of Mrs. B. Faith lives on the old homestead with four of her children, and has a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in section thirty-five. Mrs. Faith is a member of the Catholic Church, as was her husband until his death, which occurred April 14, 1848. In politics he was a Democrat.

George Gillen, tile manufacturer, Cantrall, Illinois, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1849; son of Jacob and Susan (Shenberger) Gillen, natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married, and eight children were born to them, four of whom are living, viz: Augustus, Noah, George and Lucy. In 1876, George left Pennsylvania and came to Illinois, locating at Kirkwood, where he was engaged in the post office department, and remained one year. He then went to Decatur where he embarked in the tile business, in company with a relative of his by the same name. They own two factories, one in Decatur, where they do a business of $12,000 a year, and one in Cantrall, where they do a business of $10,000 a year, employing ten men. This property, at Cantrall, is valued at $4,000, and was built in 1876, by the Cantrall Drain Tile Company. In 1879, it wag purchased by the present owner, George Gillen. It is the largest manufactory in the county; is four hundred by twenty-five feet, with drying capacity six hundred by twenty-five feet. It is run by a twenty-horse power engine, averaging three thousand tile a day, of all sizes. They are enlarging the factory, and it is furnished with the latest improved machinery, has two kilns, thirty thousand tile capacity, and he is now erecting two more with thirty thousand capacity. In politics, Mr. Gillen is a Republican, and a member of the Lutheran Church.

William I/. Gorden was born on a farm, in Menard county, Illinois, two miles north of Salisbury, December 8, 1836, where he lived until 1874, when he moved on a farm one half mile east of the old homestead, in Menard county, where he now resides. Mr. Gorden was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Gunterman whose maiden name was Grant, married August 12, 18*74. She was a daughter of Thomas Grant, and Mahala (Prater) Grant, she was a member of the United Brethren Church, and died Januai*y 18, 1872. Mr. M. and Mrs. W. H. Gorden have three children, viz: Viola E., William W., and Leslie A. Gorden. Mrs. Gorden had three children by her first husband, viz: Melissa B., Alice, and Mary. In politics Mr. Gorden is a Democrat, and cast bis first vote for James Buchanan. He owns a fine farm of eight hundred acres.

John Hale, was born on a farm, near Chanderville, Ohio, March 1, 1818. When eighteen years of age he hired to Thomas Phillips, to make wheat fans; followed that business until March 19, 1848, when he was married to Miss Sarah M. Lacy. She was born in New Jersey, and was a daughter of Clawson and Phebe (Force) Lacy; in 1850, bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, in section thirty-three, in Salisbury township, on which he still lives. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and have had five children, three living, viz: Oscar A., Ellis A., and Elmore E. Hale. In politics he is a Republican.

His father, John Hale, was born in Germany, his wife Kalista Hale was also born in Germany. They have three children living, viz.: John J., the i^ubject of this sketch, Alexander Hale, living in Athens, Illinois, Joseph, who went to California, and Oscar Hale, living in Peoria.

Marsden Hopwood, was born in Acruigton Lancashire, England, September 20, 1840, where he worked in the print works until seventeen years of age, when he come with his brother William to America, landed at New Orleans and thence to Morgan county, Illinois, finally coming t ) J*angamon county, in the spring of 1859. In 1858, his father, mother and family came to America and came to Salisbury township, Illinois, and his father, brother and himself bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, section twenty-two. Mr. Marsden Hopwood now owns one hundred and forty-four acres mostly under cultivation. His father, Rushton Hopwood was born in England, came to the United States and settled in Sangamon county, in 1859, he died in January 1870; his wife, Margaret Cock, was born in England. They had nine children. She died

October, 1868. Marsden Hopwood married Caroline E. Jordan March 22, 1872. She v as born in Athens, Menard county, Illinois, an<i was a daughter of John and Ellen (Cantrall) Jordan. Mr. and Mrs. Hopwood have three children, viz. Mary E., Rosa M. and Henry Hopwood. Mrs. Hopwood is a member of the Christian Church, and politically, Mr. Hopwood is a Republican and cast his first vote for A. Lincoln.

Williatn Ilopicood, was born in Lancashire, England, April 15, 1831. In 1857, he came to the United States. Moving about some few years he finally settled in Salisbury township, where he now I'esides. He was married to Miss Mary Doonin, January, 1864; she was born in Ireland, and was a daughter of Ned and Bridget (Blake) Doonin. The father of William Hopwood, Rushton Hopwood, was born in England; he came to the United States, and settled in Sangamon county; in 1858 he died here. His wife, Margaret Cock, was born in England; they were members of the Christian Church. Wm. Hopwood and wife have had five children, one living, Margaret A. Mr. Hopwood has a farm of one hundred and six acres, in sections twentytwo and twenty-three, where he resides.

William F. Irxiiin, was born in Menard county, two miles south of Salisbury, Sangamon county, October 21, 1837, where he remained until March, 1854, when he came with his parents to Sangamon county, and settled on a farm in section twenty-three, Salisbury township, on the east side of the river, and where he has remained since. He was married to Miss Ellen J. Williams, May 23, 1872. She was born in Springfield, Illinois, August 18, 1852. She was a daughter of James M. Williams. He was born in North Carolina, and settled in Springfield in 1835, and his wife, Mary Repherd, born in Pennsylvania, July 6, 1819. William F. Irwin was a son of Robert S. Irwin, born in North Carolina. He came to Illinois in 1827, settled in Menard county, and in 1854 came to Sangamon county, and bought an interest in a water-power grist and sawmill on Sangamon river. He afterwards owned this mill himself, and ran it until February, 1867, when it was torn down by the ice. At the time of his death. May 3, 1874, he had accumulated a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Salisbury township. His wife was Cynthia (Duncan) Irwin, born in Kentucky; was a member of the Baptist Church, and died April 6, 1872. Wm. F. Irwin and wife have had five children, four living: Warren H., Ruth A., and two children not named. Mr, W. F. Irwin owns a farm of one hundred and twelve acres in sections twentythree, twenty-six and twenty-seven, where he resides. He also owns twenty acres in section sixteen, Springfield township. He has held the offices of supervisor, assessor, town clerk, school director and treasurer in his township for a number of years, and is at present supervisor and school treasurer.

John M. Keltner, was born near Jacksonville, Illinois, July 24, 1830, and seven years after moved with his parents to Salem, Illinois; at that time it was the county seat of Menard county. His father kept the New Salem Hotel, and Abraham Lincoln boarded with him two years, and Lincoln painted the sign board of this hotel. During this time Mr. Lincoln kept a grocery store in Salem. John M. Keltner remained in Salem three years. When he was twenty-one years of age he went to work for himself; he worked in the stone quarries on Rock creek, in partnership with a man named Thompson one year, when he married Miss Nancy C. Keltner, August 20, 1852; she was born in Morgan county, Illinois, January 4, 1835; she was the daughter of Andrew Keltner, who was born in Kentucky, where he died in 1845, and Opha (Self) Keltner, who was born in Kentucky, and died in 1847; she was the mother of six children. After Mr. and Mrs. Keltner were mariied he ran a circular saw and grist-mill on Rock creek, eleven years, when he sold out and bought pi'operty in Salisbury, Sangamon county, Illinois, and opened a store of groceries and general merchandise, which he still runs. He is the present acting postmaster. His father, Michael Keltner, was born in Pennsylvania, and died August, 1876; his wife was Elizabeth (Rogers) Keltner, who was born in Adair county, Kentucky, and the mother of nine children; she died December 25, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Keltner have had eight children, two living: Chas. H. and Eva M. In politics, Mr. Keltner is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce.

Frank Mayer, was born in Wedenberg, Germany, July 12, 1831, lived there on the farm until twenty-seven years of age, then he came to the United States and landed in New York, and came direct to Springfield, Illinois, arriving here February 2, 1857. He worked in the brewery now owned by Frank Reisch, nine years; kept a saloon nine years, when he bought a farm of forty acres, in section thirty-five, Salisbury township, where he now resides. He married Miss Mary (Nowak) Mayer, October 17, 1863, at Springfield, Illinois. She was born in Bohemia, Austria. She was a diuojhter of Peter Nowak and Kate Laischky, born in Bohemia, Austria. The fruits of this marriage was six children, five living, viz: Minnie M., Albert. Lucy J., Lena, Sand, Frank, Jr. The father of Frank Mayer, was Frank Mayer, Sr., born in Wedenburg, Germany. He was a weaver, and died in 1835. His wife. Elector (Munding) Mayer, born in Germany. They had six children. F. Mayer has forty acres of land, all under good cultivation. In politics, he is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Seymour.

John A. Miller was born in Salisbury township, April 8, 1823, where he remained on a farm until his marriage to Miss Hannah J. Jackson, February 10, 184S. She was born in Wareham, Massachusetts, February 25, 1829; she was a daughter of Hosea Jackson, he was born in Massachusetts, in 1800, and a descendant of the old Puritan stock; he came to Illinois and settled in Gardner township, Sangamon county, in 1839; he was a miller and machinist; he died January 15, 1849; his wife. Silence Harvey, born in Massachusetts, she was the mother of one child, Mrs. J. A. Miller, she died February 12, 1865. After Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Miller were married they moved to Salisbury, Sangamon county, where he now resides. They are both members of the Christian Church, and have had a family of six children, four living, viz: Allen A., Reuben M., Harvey J., and Calista A Miller. The father of J. A. Miller, Solomon Miller, was born in Kentucky, he was a farmer and a member of the Baptist Church. His wife was Nancy Antle, born in Kentucky; she was a member of the Baptist Church, and the mother of twelve children.

John A. Miller has one hundred and twenty acres of land, one half mile north of Salisbury, Illinois, where he resides, and owns two hundred acres in Gardner township; he owns and runs a saw and grist-mill on Richland creek, in Salisbury township. In politics Mr. Miller is a Democrat.

Johanna Mulcahy, widow of Daniel Mulcahy, was born in the city of Limerick, Ireland, December 18, 1834. She came with her sister Bridget to the United States in 1858. They landed at New Orleans, and came direct to Springfield, where their brothers, John and Ed. Flynn, were. Mrs. Johanna (Flynn) Mulcahy was married here to Daniel Mulcahy, April 14, 1857. They were married in the old Catholic Church, on the corner of Seventh and Monroe streets. Some fourteen months after, they moved on Mr. Mulcahy''8 farm, in Salisbury township, section twenty-four, where he iiad one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, where she now remains with her family, and where he died, November 11, 1880. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1812, and came to the United States in 1847. He was a son of William Mulcahy, born in Ireland, where he died, and Bridget Mulcahy, who died in Ireland. Mrs. Johanna Mulcahy has had eight children, seven living, viz.: William, Patrick, Miss Mary E., Daniel, John, and Honora, She was a daughter of Patrick Flynn and Mrs. Margaret (Mulcahy) Flynn, who were born in County Limerick, Ireland, where they died. They had eleven children, five living in the United States: John Flynn and Mrs. Bridget O'Brien living in Springfield, Mrs. Johanna Mulcahy and Edward Flynn, who reside in Decatur, Illinois.

Nelson Olson was born on a farm twenty miles west of Christiana, Norway, June 22, 1833, When twenty-one years of age he came to the United States, landed at Quebec, Canada, and came thence to Springfield, arriving here in 1854; worked here in the Great Western Railroad Machine Shops, and for different parties, until the spring of 1858. In about 1865, came to Sangamon county and bought a farm of eighty acres, in section twenty-three, Salisbury township, where he now lives. He was married to Mrs. Mary A. Newbrew, whose maiden name was Johnson, May 9, 1855. She was born in County Tyron, Ireland, October 29, 1827. She was a daughter of Robert and A. M. Hamilton Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have had five children - four living - viz: Oliver R., Mrs. Emma J. Hopwood, Thomas H. and Newt N. Hopwood. The parents of Mrs. Nelson Olson were natives of Ireland. She died in Norway in 1S45. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are members of the Lutheran church. He has his farm of eighty acres, all under a high state of cultivation. In politics, is a Democrat.

Conrad Pfoffenhach, was born on a farm near the town of Woldcoppel, Germany, May 18, 1836, and when twenty years of age he came to the United States. He landed at New Orleans and came direct to Sangamon county, and worked for different parties in Salisbury township three years, when he bought a farm of forty acres, where he lived two years, when he sold this farm and bought fifty acres in Menard county, where he now resides. He was married to Miss Caroline Bosey, October, 1861; she was born in Prussia, Germany; she was a daughter of Ferdinand Bosey, born in Germany; he was a wagonmaker, and his wife was Miss Shaver, born in Germany; she and her husband reside in Salisbury township. The father of Conrad Pfoffenbach, Joseph Pfoffenbach, was born in Germany; he was a farmer, and died in Germany; bis wile, Mary Coufman, was born in Germany, where she died; she was the mother of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Pfoffenbach have had eleven children, ten living, viz: Mary, Henry, William, Joseph, Ella, Anna, Louisa, Francis, Carrie and Minnie. Mrs. Pfoffenbach is a merar ber of the Catholic Church, and Mr. P. is a member of the Lutheran Church. In politics, he is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Douglas.

Elisha Primm^ was born in Monroe county, Illinois, fifteen miles below East St. Louis, near the banks of the Mississippi river, October 24, 1814. He remained here on a farm until some five or six years of age, when he came with his parents to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving here May 1, 1820. The family settled on the farm now owned by William Cline. Mr. Elisha Primm lived there on the farm until twenty-three years of age, when he struck out for himself. He was soon after married to Miss Lucinda C. Glasscock, September 19, 1837. She was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, August 12,1819. She was a daughter of Daniel M. Glasscock, born in Virginia. He was a farmer, and died March 4, 1840, and his wife. Miss Mary (Lake) Glasscock, was born in Virginia. She and hus band were members of the M. E. Church, and had a family of ten children, six living. She died April 4, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Primm have had one child - Susan J. Primm - now the wife of William L. Rankin. He was a son of James and Anna Rankin. He and wife had eight children, six living, viz: Anna M., George M., William L., Louis T., Lucinda P. and Herman Primm, Rankins. The father of Elisha Primm, John Primm, was born in Stafford county, Virginia. He came to Illinois about 1806 or 1807, and settled in Monroe county, fifteen miles south of East St. Louis, on the banks of the Mississippi river, and his father settled near Belleville, St. Clair county, in 1805. John Primm, lather of Elisha, was justice of the peace for many years; was also deputy sheriff. He died August 9, 1848, and his wife, Ruth (Cox) Primm, born in the State of Delaware. She and husband were members of the M. E. Church, and had seven children, five living. She died February 3, 1856. Mr. Primm owns a fine farm of four hundred and ninety-two acres, all under fence, three hundred and ninety-two acres of which is under a high state of cultivation. The farm is valued at $55 or $60 an acre. Mr. Primm also owns the Primm grist and saw-mills, which was built in 1869, and has been rumiing ever since. In politics, Mr. Primm is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Henry Clay. Mr. Primm is of English and Welch descent, and Mrs. Primm is a member of ^he M. E. Church. Mr. and Mrs. Primm have a clock that was bought and set up in 1831, in Virginia, and has been running steadily for fifty years, and has never been out of order or had a tinker. It is a weight clock, and was invented by Eli Terry, and manufactured at Bristol, Connecticut, by George Mitchell.

A. F. Purimies, M. D., at Salisbury, Sangamon county, Illinois, was born on a farm near Pleasant Plains, June 11, 1839. The Doctor lived on this farm with his father until 1864, when he began to study medicine with Dr. J. B. Cloud, at Pleasant Plains, Illinois, and three years later attended the Rush Medical College, at Chicago. He then came direct to Salisbury, Sangamon county, Illinois, where he still remains, the leading physician of bis town. He was married to Miss Margaret S. Duncan, May 7, 1868. They have one child, Gilbert C. Purvines. Mrs. Dr. Purvines was born near Salisbury, Sangamon county, Illinois, and was a daughter of Squire W. H. Duncan, born in Kentucky. He was a farmer, and one of the first settlers of Salisbury township. He died in 1862, and his wife, Eva (Miller) Duncan, born in Kentucky. She and husband were members of the Baptist Church, and had a family of eleven children - all living. The father of Dr. Purvines, John G. Purvines, was born in Cabarras county, North Carolina. He was a farmer, and came to Cartwright township, Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1820, and in 1822, settled in this township, where he died on January 1, 1863. He was the first school teacher in Cartwright township. He also followed farming. His wife was Elizabeth (Coleman) Purvines, born in Noi'th Carolina. She and husband were membeis of the Baptist Church, and had a family of eleven children, seven living. She is still living in Pleasant Plains. Dr. A. b. Purvines owns a nice residence in the east part of Salisbury, where he resides. In politics he is a Democrat.

William U. Mhodes was born on a farm near Petersville, Maryland, September 23, 1828. He went with his parents to Knoxville, Maryland, where he attended school snd worked with his father at the carpenter's trade until twenty-three years of age. He then went to West Virginia, and helped timber the " Board-tree " and Kingwood Tunnels, on the B. & O Railroad. In January, 1854, went to Springfield, then worked for

Hannon & Ragsdale. He was married February 21, 1856, to Miss Anna V. Green. She was born in Virginia, and was a daughter of Geo, M. and Mary (Miller) Green, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes, in 1856, went to Rochester township, where they had six children, viz.: John D., Chas. W., Geo. W., Minnie B., Hattie E., and Mary O. Rhodes. Mrs. Rhodes died here, September 17, i8'70. Mr, Rhodes was married to his present wife. Miss Mary J, Marshall, May 25, 1871. She was born in Columbus, Ohio, ami was a daughter of John Marshall, born in Loudon county, Virginia, and died August 21, 1880. His wife. Miss Jane A. Wyatt, born in Virginia, the mother of eight children. She is still living on the old homestead in Salisbury township, Sangamon county, Illinois, where she and husband settled in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes have three children, viz.: Clarence M., Archibald F., and Laura A. Rhodes. In 1877, Mr. Rhodes moved on the farm where he now resides, in section thirty-two, Salisbury township.

The father of W. H. Rhodes, Peter Rhodes, Anas born in Maryland. He came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1864. He died November, 1876. His wife, Miss Elizabeth Feaster, was born in Montgomery county, Maryland. She was the mother of ten children, nine living, five girls and four boys. Mr. W. H. Rhodes has his farm of two himdred and forty acres under good cultivation, Mrs. Rhodes is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Rhodes, in politics, is a Democrat.

Frederick W. Shaferfwsis born in Prussia, Germany, December 31, 1834, where he lived until the fall of 1856, when he came to the United States, and landed in New Orleans. In 1865, came to Salisbury township and bought a farm of one hundred and five acres in section twentytwo, where he now resides. He was married to Miss Fredolina Schelble, February 15, 1866; she was born in Baden, Germany, she was a daughter of Benedict Schelble and Noi-thburg Spitznagel. who were born in Germany; he died in Germany, she died in Salisbury township, October 15, 1880, The father of Frederick W, Shaferf, John D., was born in Germany, where he died, September 13, 1854, his wife, Mary A., was born in Germany, she was the mother of eight children, two living, in America, viz: the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Ferdina Boose. Mr. and Mrs. Shaferf have three children, viz. Frederick J., Frederick W., and Mary T. Shaferf. In politics he is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

George Sharp, was born in Ogdensburg, New York, December 29, 1830. He remained here on his father's farm, and attended school until seventeen years of age, when he came with his parents to Illinois, and settled in Salisbury township. He was married to Miss Ellen Duncan, December 9, 1854; she was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and was a daughter of John Duncan, Sr., who was a farmer, and died in 1864 or '65. His wife, Sallie Miller, was born in Kentucky; she was a member of the Baptist Church, and the mother of twelve children; she died in 1850. In the spring of 1857, Mr. Sharp moved to California, where he remained until the fall of 1866, when he returned with his family to Salisbury. In April 1*7, 1874, he bought a farm of thirty acres in Salisbury township, west of the village, where he now resides; when he moved on this farm it was covered with timber; he selected a spot, built a house and moved his family into it; he now has it all cleared and under good cultivation and well stocked. His father, George Sharp, Sr., was born in Scotland, and was taken to Canada when small, where he remained until 1827, when he went to New York State; he settled in Sangamon county, in 1848, and died in 1852, with cholera, at Beardstown, Illinois, on his way from Cincinnati, Ohio; his wife, Mary A. Woods, was born in England, and was raised in Canada; she was a member of the Episcopal Church, and was the mother of eleven children, seven living. Mr. and Mrs. George Sharp, Jr , are members of the M. E. Church, and have had six children, four living, viz: Wm. A., George R., Kate and Daisy. In politics, he is a Republican.

Enoch Walker was born in Lowden, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1820. When twelve years of age moved with his parents on a farm in Wayne, (now Ashland county) Ohio, where he married Miss Elizabeth M. Wilson, June 22, 1847. She was born in Ashland county, Ohio, and was a daughter of Charles Wilson and Mary Anderson. In 1849, Mr. Walker moved on a farm in Indiana, where he remained ten months, when he came to Illinois and settled in Salisbury township, Sangamon county, the fall of 1850. Six months after he went to Gardner township and lived two years, when he bought and moved on the farm where he now lives, in section twentyeight, Salisbury township. His wife, Elizabeth M. Walker died April, 1853. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the mother of three children, viz: Mrs. Mary E. Mock, Mrs. Sarah J. Campbell and Miss Harriet Walker. Mr. Walker was again married November 30,

1853, to Miss Jane Hall. She was born in Ohio, and was a daughter of Margaret Rawlston. Mrs. Walker was a member of the Presbyterian Church and died July 13, 1854, Mr. Walker was married to his present wife. Miss Caroline P. Craig, December 4, 1854. She was born in Franklin, county, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of William Craig. His wife, Lillian S. Skinner, was born in Pennsylvania. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and has had six children - four living - viz: Lillian, John W., Annie E. and Enoch "W. Walker. The father of Mr. Enoch Walker, John Walker, was born in Pennsylvania. He was a farmer, and by trade a tanner. He settled in Gardner township, Sangamon county, Illinois, in 184'J. He died September 21, 1859; he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife. Elizabeth Skinner, was born in Pennsylvania; she was also a member of the Presbyterian Church and mother of ten children - eight living - six boys and two girls. Mr. Enoch Walker has a farm of one hundred and two acres in Salisbury township, under good cultivation.

James H. Wells was born on a farm in Clark country, Indiana, May 31, 1834. July 8, 1852, he was married near Salisbury, Sangamon county, to Miss Margaret J. Sackett, he lived on a farm in Menard county, until the spring of 1853, when he moved on a farm two miles south of Salisbury, where he lived four years then lived on a farm in the same neighborhood until 1860, when he bought a farm of eighty acres in sections twenty-seven, thirty-three, thirty-four and thirty-five, where he still resides. He now owns a farm of one thousand acres of fine land under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Wells began a poor boy, but by hard work and close application to business has gained a position he may well be proud of. He and wife have had a family of six children, five living, viz. Levi M., Harriett E., Harry R., Lelia and Richard Wells. James H. died when seven years of age. Mrs. J. H. Wells was born in Illinois, she was a daughter of Thomas Sackett and Polly Sackett. J. H. Wells was a son of James Wells and Balinda (Owens) Wells, the former born in Kentucky, the latter in Indiana. They had a family of five children and both parents died when Mr. J. H. Wells was a child. In politics Mr, Wells is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Buchanan for President of the United States.

George H. Yoakum was born on a farm three miles northwest of Salisbury in what is now Menard county, then Sangimon county. June 27, 1829, when four years of age, he moved on the farm where he now resides. His parents were William Yoakum, born in Virginia, a farmer who died April, 1880, and Sallie (Simmons) Yoakum, born in North Carolina. She was the mother of ten children, seven living, viz. Mrs. Mary A. Penny, George H. Yoakum, Martha Duncan, James C. Yoakum, Milton B., Isaac R. and Jesse J. Yoakum; she died on December 5, 1865. Mr. George Yoakum owns a tine farm of one hundred and five acres in section thirty, seventy acres of which is under good cultivation and valued at $40 an acre. He is a Republican, Philo Beers was born in 1793, in Woodbury, Connecticut. When he was about fifteen years old he was put to live with an elder brother, probably on account of the death of his parents. They could not agree, and he ran away, and was gone twelve or thirteen years, without his relatives hearing from him. During his ramblings he become acquainted with Dr. Joseph Bennett Stillman, who introduced him to his mother and sisters, at Morganfield, Kentucky. Mr. Beers always said that he made up his mind, on their first acquaintance, to have Miss Martha Stillman for a wife. The Stillman family moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, and Mr. Beers went to Carlyle, Clinton county, same State. He was first elected a justice of the peace, and after serving for a time, was elected to represent Clinton county in the legislature of Illinois, when it assembled in Yandalia. While residing at Carlyle he was married in Sangamon county, on the farm of John Poorman. In response to a letter of inquiry, the author of this book received from the clerk of Madison county, Illinois, a reply, in which it is stated that a license was issued at Edwardsville, October 27, 1820, for the marriage of Philo Beers and Martha Stillman; that it was returned, endorsed by Elder Stephen England, with the statement that he had solemnized the marriage, November 2, 1820. The clerk also stated that it was the two hundred and seventy-ninth license issued from that office. They are believed to have been the first couple married north of the Sangamon river in the State of Illinois; certainly the first in what is now Sangamon county. The first marriage under a license from Sangamon county was between Wm. Moss and Margaret Sims, April, 1821. .

The history of Springfield township is identified with that of the city, so much so that a history of the latter is virtually a history of the former, and the reader's attention is directed to the latter for many facts and incidents that might be related in this connection.

The township of Springfield comprises township sixteen, range five west, with the exception of that part comprising the city of Springfield.

Originally Springfield township, was about equally divided between timber and prairie. The surface of the county is rolling, especially where in close proximity to its principal streams of water. The soil is generally the same as in other parts of the county, and is particularly adapted to the raising of all kinds of cereals.

Springfield township is well supplied with natural streams of water, the principal of which is the Sangamon river, which enters the township on section one, and pursuing its usual tortuous course passes through the entire tier of sections on the north, passing into Gardner township from section six. Spring creek enters the township on section thirty, and running northeast empties into the Sangamon river on section three .

The early settlers of this township settled in what is now the city of Springfield, and in its immediate neighborhood. Among the early settlers in what is now Springfield township, outside the city limits of Springfield, were Andrew Elliott, Arthur Watson, Elijah Dunn, Lewis Mc- Kinnie, William L. Fowkes, David Newsom, George Donner, Jacob Donner.

George Donner, was born about 1786, in Rowan county. North Carolina, came with his parents to Jessamine county, Kentucky, and from there to Decatur county, Indiana. He was there married and had five children. Mrs. Donner died there, and Mr. D., with his family, came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in the autumn of 1828, settling about three miles northeast of Springfield. George Donner was married in Sangamon county to Mary Blue. Mrs. Mary Donner died in Sangamon county. Mr. Donner's five eldest children married in the latter coiinty, and in 1838 he took his two children by the second marriage, and, in company with bis son William and family, and his brother Jacob and family, moved to Texas. They raised one crop fifty miles south of Houston. Not liking the country, they all returned in 1839, and George Donner moved on the farm he left. About two years afterwards he married Mrs. Tarasen Dozier, whose maiden name was Eustace. George Donner was a good man. It is said, by his former neighbors in Sangamon county, that it appeared to be a pleasiire for him to do a kind act. For an account of the sad fate of himself and wife, see sketch of the Reed and Donner emigrant party.

Jacob Donner, about the year 1790, was born near Salem, Rowan county, N. C, accompanied the family to Jessamine county, Kentucky, thence to Decatur county, Indiana, and from there (in 1828) to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Hook, whose maiden name was Blue, a sister of his brother George's second wife.

Since the era of free schools and the adoption of the present system of public schools by the State, much has been done by the citizens of the township to promote the interests of its schools. In 1881, there were five brick and three frame school-houses, valued at $14,000. Considering its proximity to the city of Springfield, and the advantages afforded for a common and high school education in that city, this may be regarded as a splendid showing.

The people of Springfield township usually worship in the city. There is but one church, situated on section eighteen, the property of Pascal En OS.

George Bergen^ born at Madison, Morris county. New Jersey, April 5, 1824, was reared in Springfield, Illinois; is unmarried, and resides one mile east of Springfield.