Warren County, Illinois - The whole text, 1886 (part 13 of 25)

Joseph B., the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biographical notice, went to learn the trade of saddle-maker at the age of 16, at which he L served an apprenticeship of three and a half years, and again ten months under the instruction of another firm. He followed the same in the States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and finally settled down in Canton, Fulton County, this State, and opened a shop, which he carred on for 12 years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Vermont, same county, but remained only a year, when he again returned to Canton and embarked in the same business for four years. His next move was to Prairie City, McDonough Co, 111., where he engaged in business and remained until the year i86r.

In the latter year the call was made for brave hearts and strong arms to defend the Union flag, and Joseph B., a very patriotic gentleman, enlisted in the Seventh Regt. of 111. Vol. Cav., and served two years and four months, having held the position of Sergeant Saddler, but was discharged on account of disability. He then returned to Prairie City and again embarked in business, which he continued until the year 187 2, then coming to Roseville and interesting himself in his present enterprise, in which he has met with remarkable success and is doing a constantly increasing business. He has gotten up many new improvements in harness that have come into general use. He invented the first pad for a saddle, padding for a saddletree and the roller attachment to the "Sensible Combination Buckle." He is also the inventor of a combination halter, which is not only the best in use but cheap and durable.

In 1841, one of the most important events in the life of Mr. Joseph B. Maloney occurred, it being his marriage to Miss Jane Anderson, and of their union were born four children - Richard A., Joseph C., William N. and James M. Mrs. Malony 's demise occurred in 1850, and Mr. M. formed a second matrimonial alliance with a sister of his first wife, Miss Catherine Anderson, and they have become the parents of five children, only four of whom survive, as follows: Mary E., Nathaniel L., Margaret J. and Emma. Mrs. Maloney died in 1872. Mr. Malony is a Greenbacker in politics. He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Roseville.

ohn Wesley Bolon, Sheriff of Warren ' P County, was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Sept. 2, 1838. His parents, John and Eliza ( Joyce ) Bolon, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia, were married in the last named State ; settled at once in Ohio, where their five sons and four daughter were born, and where the senior Mr. Bolon died in 1848, aged about 63 years. John Bolon was a son of John and Mary Bolon and a descendant from a long line of English ancestry, who had emigrated to America many years prior to the Revolutionary War. John, the father of Sheriff Bolon, lived in Eastern Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming, and during the war of 1812, enlisted in the defense of his country. After he grew to manhood he moved to Virginia, where, in London County, he married his wife. During that same year he came to Ohio. His wife was the daughter of Col. Thomas B. Joyce, a native of Ireland. He had come to Virginia prior to the Revolutionary War, and with three of his sons took part in that memorable struggle. He was likewise one of the patriots who assisted in repelling the British invasion during the war of 1812. He was Colonel of a Virginia regiment, and proved himself to be a brave and gallant officer. After the death of his wife, he removed to Ohio, and subsequently to Illinois, and resided with his daughter, Mrs. Bolon, until his demise, which occurred at the advanced age of 97 years. In politics, he was an old line Whig. Mrs. Bolon brought her children to Warren County in 1855, after living four years in Indiana, and in Floyd Township, this county, spent the rest of her life, dying at the home of the subject of this sketch in 1868, aged 76 years.

John W. Bolon was pretty thoroughly educated at Hillsboro Seminary, in Indiana, where he spent four years, and after coming lo Illinois taught school probably two years, which, for himself, was an excellent means of further disciplining and forming his mind. Before leaving Indiana he read law some time with Judge Niblock, who has since served so many years upon the Supreme Bench of that State, but abandoned it and turned his attention to farming and stock dealing, which he followed uninterruptedly for 15 years. He now rents his fine farm of 160 acres in Floyd Township. While a resident of the township he served the people 12 years as Road Commissioner, one year as Constable, eight years as Supervisor and 14 years as School Director. He has always been a Republican in politics, is a good stump speaker, and in 1882, as candidate for Sheriff, ran far ahead of his ticket.

Mr. Bolon was married in Floyd Township, Jan. 21, 1857, to Lucinda Sigrnan, a native of Guernsey Co., Ohio, and daughter of Isaac and Julia (Spears) Sigman, a farmer of Floyd Township. His ancestors were German. Mr. and Mrs. Bolon's children are named: Alfred W., Charles M., Emetine, Nettie, Ella, John H. and Roy. The family are all connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bolo.i, himself, has been a member of that Church for many years and for the last 16 years has had license to preach as a local preacher. He is recognized as a fervent and eloquent teacher and is capable of doing great good in the cause of Christianity.

Some of Mr. Bolon's children have been married, namely: Alfred W. married Minnie, the daughter of Dr. Blair, of Abington, 111. They reside on the homestead in Floyd Township, and carry on the farm; Charles Milton married Mary Ada Goddard, daughter of Henry Goddard, of Floyd Township, this

Whatever of this world's goods, Mr. B. possesses, he has most diligently labored for. He inherited nothing in the way of property and when married had only $100 in money. He has been a hard working, frugal man and has won for himself a most enviable position in the estimation of his fellow citizens, as well as a fair conpetency. He is not only a genial gentleman, but possesses most excellent judgment and nerve, and few men in the county are so well fitted for the position he holds. Among the portraits of the leading men of the county given in this book may be found tha.t of Mr. Bolon. He is a truly representative citizen, and honors the work containing his features.

ohn A. Gordon, notary public, real estate and collecting agent, at Roseville, also a ^ surveyor and engineer, was born Jan. 10, 1835, in Mercer Co., Pa., his parents being William and Sarah (Dilley) Gordon, natives of that State. The parents came to this State in 1858, and purchased 80 acres of land located on section 32, Roseville Township, on which they located and where the father followed the occupation of a farmer until his death, in May, 1876 His wife still survives and resides on the old homestead one mile east of the village. The children were six in number, five of whom attained the age of majority.

John A. Gordon, of whom we write, was the eldest of his parents' children, and remained at home until he attained liis aist year, receiving a good education and assisting in the labors of the farm. He had, prior to attaining his majority, engaged somewhat in surveying and also in teaching school. During the winter of 1855-56, he was engaged in the latter occupation, in New Lebanon, Pa. In September, 1856, he came to Roseville, but previous to that, during the summer of that year, was employed by the Milwaukee and Missouri River Railroad, in Iowa, making the preliminary survey. In 1856, the winter of that year, he taught school, and continued in that vocation for three years. He next engaged as clerk and book-keeper for Emans & Woodmansee and was with that firm one year. We next, in 1865, find him in Chicago, where he is taking a regular business course of study at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, from which he received a diploma. He then returned to Roseville and was elected County Surveyor, which position he held until August, 1870, when he engaged with the Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis Railroad as station agent at Roseville, and held that position two years. At the expiration of this time he became interested in the furniture business and continued thus for ten years, when he sold out and opened an office on Penn Avenue, where he is at present located

Mr. Gordon was married in 1861 to Miss Philena Dilley, a native of Mercer Co., Pa., and a daughter of Stephen Dilley, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

In his political views, Mr. Gordon is a strong advocate of prohibition, casts his vote with that party, and was an active and energetic worker in the cause. Mr. Gordon has held the position of Police Magistrate and Village Trustee. He has quite an interest in the village plat of Roseville, and is regarded as one of the leading business men of that thriving little village.

rerrick Livermore, of Sumner Township, is one of the pioneers of 1839 who settled in Warren County, and is now one of the most prominent of the agriculturists of the township in which he is located. His birth took place Aug. 28, 1830, in Washington Co., Ohio. His father, Andrew Livermore, was a native of Shirley, Middlesex Co., Mass. The latter was the son of James and Polly (Kelsey) Livermore, The ancestral history of the family lias been preserved in the annals of Shirley, which were compiled by the Rev. Seth Chandler. The first progenitor in this country was John Livermore, who came, at the age of 28, to the New World, sailing from Ipswich, England, in April, r6j4, in the good ship Francis, John Cutting, Captain. John Livermore located in Watertown, Mass., and there his life terminated, April 16, 1684. He was a potter by trade. Oliver

Andrew Livermore was but seven years old when his parents removed from the " Old Bay State " to the, then, far distant West. The journey was made in the fashion so often recounted in this and other works of similar character, peculiar to the time, when there were practically no means of public travel. The long and difficult route, however, was safely traversed by team, and the family homestead established in Washington Co., Ohio. Andrew Livermore there attained to the age and condition of manhood, and there he was married to Betsey Fuller. Slie, too, was a native of Massachusetts, having been born in Essex County, in 1807. Her parents became pioneers of the "Buckeye State" when she was very young. After marriage, Andrew and wife settled on the homestead of his father, in Washington County, and resided there until their removal to Warren County, in 1839, that journey also being made in the primitive fashion of the earlier period, the family traveling to Illinois with four horses and a wagon. They brought with them all their portable property, and passed four weeks on the road.

The senior Livermore bought a farm in township 1 1 (now Kelly Township), and there proceeded with the work common to the pioneer residents of a new country. He built a hewed-log house and split " shakes " for a roof and puncheons for a floor. This place was occupied by the family until 1852, when it was sold and they removed to Point Pleasant Township. The father bought a farm, on which there had been a log house erected. Of this structure they took possession until time and circumstances were favorable for the building of a more suitable and convenient abode. The farm was put in the best possible condition and was the home of the father until his death. His demise took place Feb. 30, t88o. The family comprised ten children. Derrick, the subject of this biography, was the eldest. Russell was born April 3, 1832. His death transpired Aug. 28, 1850. Andrew P. was born Aug. 28, 1834, and died Feb. 5, 1881. John K. was born Aug. 9, 1836, and is living in Henderson County. Western T. was born Dec. 29, 1838. Jonas was born June 19, 1841, and died May 8, 1862. Oliver was born July 29, and died Aug. 28, 1842. Socrates was born Nov. 10, 1843; Charles C., Oct. 24, 1847; William R.,Oct. 6, 1850.

Derrick Livermore was nine years old when he accompanied his parents to Warren County, and in that county he has ever since made his home. He was brought up on the homestead of his parenis and lived with them until he became the head of a family of his own. His marriage to Betsey Stevens occurred Jan. 8, 1851. She was born in Sangamon Co., 111., Feb. 15, i83r,and is the daughter of James and Nancy (Miles) Stevens. Her father and mother were natives of the State of Kentucky, and joined the early pioneer element of the county where she was born.

At the time of his marriage, Mr. Livermore bought 80 acres of land on section 12, in the township of Cold Brook, in the same county where he had passed the years of his boyhood and youth, and entered upon the duties of manhood and which he has so thoroughly and creditably discharged. He built a small house on the estate and proceeded to the business of a farmer. There he continued to reside until he sold it and removed to Point Pleasant Township, in 1855, where he bought 80 acres situated on section 10, and where he repeated the experience of his former life in the township in which he at first located. He improved the land and made additional purchases, until he became the owner of his present estate of 400 acres, the whole of which is under thorough cultivation. The family of Mr. Livermore includes six children. Andrew J. resides in this (Point Pleasant) township. Joshua resides in Page Co., Iowa. Eugenie L. is married to B. L. Birdsail, of Point Pleasant. Mary A., Alice E. and Clara are still at home.

lohn Nicol Bruen, deceased, was born in Essex Co., N. J., Oct. 25, 1825, and died in Monmouth, Nov. 21, 1884. His father, William Bruen, was a descendant from Scotch ancestry, and his mother, Jane (Williamson) Bruen, from the German. They reared three sons and five daughters, Mr. Bruen being the eldest. John Nicol Bruen was educated at Bloomfield, N

J., and his father, who was a shoe manufaturer on a small scale, tried to educate him into the Order of the Knights of St. Crispin, but young Bruen protested after a few months' application to the rudiments of the trade, and the year 1844 found him farming in Henderson County, this State. An uncle of his, Mr. Bruen, owned an unimproved farm of 160 acres some ten miles from Oquawka, and it was U|x>n this tract of land that he gave our subject 80 acres if he would settle on it, and here he sought to establish an independency. Before assuming the dignity of a farmer on his own account, however, he hired himself out to a neighbor who paid him the paltry sum of $7 per month, probably advancing him to $8 per n.onth when he had grown more proficient in the essential departments. He brought with him from New Jersey a squirrel rifle and a silver watch. The first he exchanged for fence rails, and the second for prairie-breaking. His start in life may be accurately surmised from these facts, and it is proper here to state that he left his family a handsome competency. He owned a large tract of land in Mills, Montgomery and Pottawatomie Counties, Iowa, all of which ist now in a good state of improvement. In 1882 lie had between 2,000 and 3,000 acres of corn, 300 acre.' of wheat, 200 of oats and 1,200 head of hogs. He was also President of the Illinois Live Stock Company in Colorado, in which he was a heavy stockholder.

His first marriage was in 1848, to Miss Jane Sharpless, of Henderson Co., 111., who died in 1863, leaving three children - William S., Charles E. and Ida. Mr. Bruen came into Monmouth in 1875, and located, bringing with him the accomplished lady now his widow, who kindly furnishes the data from which this sketch is written. Before her marriage to Mr. Bruen, which occurred in Henderson County, Oct. 10, 1865, she was Miss Mary A. Martin. Her parents were Preston and Ann E. (Taylor) Martin, natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. They were married in the first named State, came to Illinois in 1838 and spent some years in Morgan County but the greater part of their lives was spent in Henderson County, where the present Mrs. Bruen was born. Mrs. Martin died Dec. 15, 1881. They had previously, on the 23d of March, 1881, celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Martin resides at Biggsville, 111., now in the 82d year of his age.

burg, 111., and taught four years in the public schools before her marriage. Her parents reared six sons and four daughters. Four of her brothers and one brother-in-law were in the Union army during the Rebellion. She is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Her husband also attended that Church, though not a member. He was always a liberal contributor to the support of the Church. In politics, he was a Democrat, though frequently voting for men identified with other parties. He was for several years a director and stockholder of the First National Bank of Monmouth. The success of Mr. Bruen may be attributed to his energy, perseverance and broad grasp of business enterprises. No man stood higher in the county in which he resided. His word was always as good as his bond.

Sigafoos, deceased, was formerly a resident on section 33 of Spring Grove Township. He was born in Sussex Co., N. J., Aug. 31, 1832. The death of his father when he was in infancy left him in the sole care of his mother, and he remained with her until he was nine years of age, when she was again married. He then undertook the management of his own affairs and he gave his attention exclusively to the work of obtaining a good and available education. He had already made considerable progress and he prosecuted his studies unlil he was qualified to teach in the public schools. He was occupied in that business until his transfer of his interests to Illinois, which took place in 1853. He was unmarried when he located in Warren County, and, associated with his brother, he bought a farm in Lenox Township. He passed the winters in leaching and through the remainder of the year he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits.

March 18, 1858, he was married to Flora Shaw. Mrs. Sigafoos was born in Hartland, Genesee Co., N. Y., Jan. 27, 1840, and was the daughter of William and Adeline (Stannard) Shaw. Not long after their marriage, Mr. Sigafoos bought the southeast quarter of section 33, in Spring Grove Township. They moved into a log house which stood on the place. There was besides a frame stable and some of the land was already broken to the plow. The new proprietor re -built the stable at once, and in 1871 he erected the commodious and good frame house, which has since been the family residence. His death took place April 29, 1881. The four children of which he and his wife became the parents are as follows : Warren H., residing in this township, born Dec. 2, 1859, and married to Dora Robinson in the same township; Hattie M., born Oct. 20, 1864, and now the wife of Charles Hart of Cameron ; Myrtle A., born March n, 1870; while the birth of the youngest child, Laura A., took place Nov. 19, 1870. Mr. Sigafoos was always prominent in his interest in educational matters and discharged the duties of School Director for many years. He was a Republican of strong principles.

William H. Shaw (father of Mrs. Sigafoos) was born in Hudson, N. Y., Oct. 27, 1802. He was reared to the estate of manhood in his native State and was there married to Adeline Stannard, March 5, 1829, who was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., July i, 1811. They located their home in Hartland, in the same county, and were there resident until 1841. In the year previous the husband had come to the West alone to seek a suitable location upon which to found a home. He came by the regular route of public travel to Chicago, whence he came to Warren County on foot. He had exchanged his farm in Hartland, Genesee Co., N. Y., for land in this county and on his way thither he went to Whiteside and Henry Counties. He had made the exchange without seeing the property in Illinois, but on looking it over he was entirely satisfied with the bargain he had made, and concluded to make the necessary arrangements for the accommodation of his family in Warren County and establish his home in the place of which he had become the owner. The farm was situated on section 1 1, in the township of Monmouth. There was a log cabin on the farm, of which he took possession and passed the winter on it. During that season he built a frame house for Mr. Talbot. He went back to his old home in the spring for the members of his household, and with them returned to Illinois for a permanent settlement. They reached their home in June. The log house was the abode of the family for a time, when the father erected a more suitable and comfortable home.

departed this life July 8, 1872. Their family included seven children in all. Two only are now living. Flora is the widow of Henry Sigafoos and lives in Spring Grove Township. Henrietta is the wife of Barnej Miller and they reside on the Shaw homestead, in Monmouth Township. A view of the home of Mrs. 'Sigafoos appears on page 450.

ewton P. Bruington, a resident of Alexis, has retired from the turmoil of an active business life. He is a native citizen of Warren County, having been born in the township of Cold Brook, July 16, 1845. Thomas Bruington, his father, was born in Breckenridge Ky., May 13, 1807. He was the son of James Jane (McGlothlin) Bruington. He was of Scotch-English origin, the mother being of Scotch ^descent

I Thomas Bruington was reared on the homstead of his parents, in the land of handsome women and '.good horses, and on the 22d day of January, 1822, succumbed to the charms of one of the belles of the Blue-Grass country - Miss Jane McGlothlin. She was a native of the same county as her husband and was born Aug. 14, 1809. In 1833, the father, determining that there was a broader field wherein to rear his growing family, set out for the State of Illinois, traveling with his household in the conveyance common to the journeyings of the pioneers of those days. He owned a pair of oxen and a wagon and by their aid the route was made. The method of operation was quite after the gypsy pattern and the journey was not wholly without interest and pleasure, notwithstanding its tediousness. The cooking was done by the wayside and the family slept in the wagon. Their destination was Warren Co. and on their arrival they made their first location in Barnett's Grove, in what is now Cold Brook Township. Mr. Bruington took a timber claim and built a log house. He placed the structure in the midst of the timber and split logs to make its roof. He cleared a few acres of timber and held possession of the property there about ten years. On selling out he moved to the prairie in the same township and built another log house. This the family occupied a few ye.irs and, as their circumstances improved, they erected a frame house for their accommodation. The father improved an entire section of land. About the year 1856 he determined to make another change, and on again selling out, he bought a farm in Kelly Township, or rather a large tract of land in the immediate vicinity of the line of Mercer County. There he erected a house, which was one of the first frame buildings in this locality. There he improved another farm and made the common additions of fruit and shade trees to his estate. This remained the homstead while he lived, until a very short time previous to his death he moved to the property belonging to the lady who became his second wife, in the same township. There he passed the latest years of his life. His demise took place Oct 9, 1882. His first wife died Sept. 18, 1849. 1° r^S9 he was married to Mrs. Annie Goff. She is still living. The issue of the first marriage was nine children, and six are yet living. James is a citizen of Kansas ; John M. lives in Texas. Elizabeth and Jane are deceased. George is a resident of the township of Cold Brook. Thomas lives in Mercer County. Newton P. is the subject proper of this sketch and is a resident of the township already named. Eugene lives in Spring Grove Township, and one child not mentioned.

Newton P. Bruington passed the years of his boyhood and youth in his native county ; was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools. In 1 8*1 he went to Idaho, crossing the plains with his brother John. They had a mule-train consisting of four animals and a wagon. They set out from Warren County on the rst day of April, of the year named. They made a halt of a few days in Marshall County, Iowa, and with that single exception pushed on to Omaha without pausing. There they replenished their stock of provisions and started from there in the latter part of April. They arrived at their destination about the istot August. Mr. Bruington interested himself in mining and continued that exciting and delusive occupation about 18 months. He then commenced packing goods from Umatilla Landing to the camps in the mountains. In 1863 he returned to Warren County. As soon as he was fairly at home he resumed the occupation of a farmer. In 1870 he bought land in North Henderson Township, Mercer County, and devoted himself to the rearingof stock. He was the occupant of the farm in North Henderson Township until 1879, when he sold out and came to Alexis. He bought a suitable residence, which has since been his abode. It is located in that part of Alexis which is situated in Suez Township, Mercer Co. Mr. Bruington is still the proprietor of 390 acres in North Henderson Township and also of 50 acres in Kelly Township, in Warren County. His acreage is all in first-class condition for farming, and he rents a part of the land ; the remainder is stocked and continues under his management. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., Alexis Lodge, No. 526. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

His marriage to Nannie Johnston occurred July 13, 1872. Mrs. Bruington was born in Breckenridge Co., Ky., March 30, 1854, and is the daughter of P. W. and Martha (Hayes) Johnston. Her parents were natives of Virginia. On the paternal side she is of English origin. The grandfather came to this country at an early day and settled in Virginia. On the maternal side she comes from old Virginia stock. Blanche and Walter are the names of the children )>- that have been born of her marriage to Mr. Bruington. Blanche was born July 22, 1872; Walter was born Aug. 30, 1878.

, illiam E. Porter, a member of that well known and highly respected pioneer family of which Joshua Porter was the head, was born Sept. 16, 1839, and is the third child of Joshua and Mary (Tinkham) Porter, of whom a sketcli is given elsewhere in this volume. William F. was born in what is now Spring Grove Township, where his parents had located as early as ^35. They came from New York, but were both natives of Vermont. They were of the agricultural class and were highly esteemed residents of Spring Grove Township until their deaths.

William E. received his early education in the district schools of the locality where his parents resided. When not attending school, his boyhood days were spent in assisting his father in his farm work. He first set out in life on his own account upon arriving at the age of 21. His father then gave him a farm of 80 acres. He subsequently inherited 40 acres more. He now has a well improved farm of 128 acres, which is one among the best farms in Spring Grove Township.

Upon the 2ist of July,- 1867, Mr. Porter was married to Martha E., daughter of Paul and Maria Hahn. They were residents of Knox County, 111., where Mrs. Porter was born. Her father was of German parentage and her mother a native of Kentucky. As the fruits of their union, Mr. Porter and wife had born to them three daughters - Altha May, Edna L. and Kate E. Mrs. Porter died at her residence, May 13, 1874. In |x>litics, Mr. Porter has always been a believer in and supporter of the principles promulgated by the Democratic party.

ohn Hodgson, one of the prominent young business men of Warren County, carrying on the trade of a merchant in Larchland, is a son of George and Margaret (McKinn) Hodg- ^ son, natives respectively of England and Scotland. They settled in the latter country, where they died. Their family consisted of eight children, John, our subject, being the sixth in order of birth.

John Hodgson was born in Scotland, on the zist of June, 1843, and when about 14 years of age came to Canada and there remained about two months. He next came to Buffalo, N. Y., and a year later to Henderson County, this State, remaining in the latter place until his enlistment in the army, which occurred in September, 1861, in Co. K, 361)1 111. Vol. Inf. He served three years without receiving any serious injuries. Upon his return from the war he located in Warren County and immediately engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he continued for about eight years, when he bought out the stock of general merch indise where he is at present located, in company with John M. Young, the latter gentleman selling out his interest in 1877; and Mr. Hodgson at present conducts the entire business. He has an excellent trade and it is constantly increasing. Mr. H. has been Postmaster of Larchland for nearly 1 1 years.

Wakrew Co Unty

ing party being Mary F. Stormont. They became the parents of one child, who died in infancy, and Mrs. Hodgson's demise occurred near Kirkwood about ten months after her marriage. Mr. Hodgson was again married Sept 5, 1872, near Kirkwood, to Ella S. Moore, who was born in Warren County, Dec. 23, 1845. Of the latter union nine children have been born - Robert R.., Horace J., Margie M., Ada M., Minnie E., John, Willie, George and one who died in infancy. Mr. H. has been Township Clerk, Justice of the Peace and held other minor offices within the gift of the people of the community in which he resides. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and politically Mr. H. affiliates with the Prohibition party.

. ames S. Byner, a resident on section 21, Spring Grove Township, became an inhabitant of Warren County in 1838, when he was ten years of age. Jacob Ryner, his father, was born in Montgomery Co., Pa., where he married Rachel Spencer, In the paternal line the family is of German origin and on the other side it is of English extraction. The grandfather of Jacob Ryner was born in Germany. The wife of the latter was a daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. In 1829, Jacob Ryner removed with his wife and children to the State of New York. He passed four years in the State trying to find what he considered a suitable place for a permanent location, and eventually removed to Lorain Co., Ohio. The family remained there until 1*838, when the transfer to Warren County was made. The elder Ryner was well-to-do and he came to Illinois with a couple of two-horse teams and two wagons, and they journeyed all the intervening distance with their aid. They drove a small red cow which supplied the necessary accompaniment to the corn mush which formed the principal part of the daily bill of fare. After a journey lasting nearly two months they arrived in Warren County. The father at first rented land of Bannister Gates, in Monmouth Tp., and in this manner continued to operate three years. In 1841 he bought a farm of a man named Talbot which was located on section i in the same township. This was the homestead until the death of the father, when 80 acres had been improved. The mother is still living. She has borne 1 1 children, nine of whom still survive : Spencer resides in Alexis. Daniel is a citizen of Wayne Co., Iowa. Josiah lives in Cold Brook Township. Jonathan is a resident of Clinton Co., Iowa. Emmeline married Ethan Cox, of Independence, Oregon. James S. is the next in order of birth. Henry lives in Clinton Co., Iowa. Jacob resides on the homestead. Eliza is married to Edward Morrow, of Nebraska. About the year 1845, the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ryner, went to Philadelphia on a visit. They journeyed with their own team, making the entire trip with horses and a lumber wagon. They started in August and returned to their home in Warren County in November of the same year.

Mr. Ryner, of this sketch, was in the first year of his life when his parents removed to New York, and was a small lad when the transfer of the family was made to Ohio. After their removal to Warren County ' he remained with them until 1852, when he joined a' party whose purpose it was to cross the country to the Pacific coast. He drove an ox-team to Oregon, t and arrived there after five months of travel. He "^ remained there two years, and during the time was engaged in farming. In 1854 he started for another overland journey with packed mult across the plains toward the scenes of his early childhood.

Sept. 14, 1854, he was married to Mary E. Wallace. She was born in Kentucky. After their marriage they located in Cold Brook Township. They maintained a residence there for i ?. years when they sold their property preparatory to a removal to Monmouth Township. Mr. Ryner bought a farm there on which he was the resident owner two years. He sold out again and went to Iowa and bought a farm in Wayne County. After a residence of six years in the Hawkeye State he returned for a permanent location to Warren County. He bought a farm of satisfactory location, upon which he is now living. It is in good agricultural condition and is well supplied with farm buildings.

Mr. Ryner's wife died in July, 1859, leaving two sons, George and Charles. He was subsequently married, Oct. 29, 1859, to Mary E. Gordon, the daughter of William S. and Anna (Wilson) Gordon. The former was a native of Washington Co., Ky., and a son of Rev. Joel and Nancy Gordon. Rev.

Joel Gordon was a native of Scotland, and at a very early day emigrated to the United States, and settled in Kentucky, where he lived until his death. He was a minister of the Baptist Church, yet was the owner of slaves. He reared a large family, and his son, William S., became a planter. He married and reared a family often children, of whom Mrs. Ryner was the fourth child. All of the children are living, married, and have families. The following is the record. Elizabeth J., wife of William White, of Stark Co., 111.; Joel W. lives in Oregon; Nancy A., wife of George Taylor, of Harrison Co., Mo. ; Carrie, wife of James Bryner ; Lucinda B., wife of John Gowings, of Burke Co., Iowa ; Melinda, married Milton Bryner, of Warren Co., 111.; Harriet is the wife of Peter Conniff, a resident of Ford Co., 111. ; Joseph lives in Benton Co., Iowa, and John near Youngstown, this County.

Mrs. Ryner was born Aug. 4, 1838, in McDonough Co., 111., where her parents moved several years before and settled on a farm. Her father and mother were both members of the Christian Church. In politics the former was a Whig in early life, but later became a Republican. He subsequently moved to Cold Brook Township, this county, where his death occurred in the autumn of 1859. His widow now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Carrie Bryner, a twin sister of Mrs. Ryner, at Mt. Auburn, Iowa. Nellie, Eugene, Laura and Ollie are the names of the children of the household of Mr. and Mrs. Ryner. Nellie married Adamson Shriver, and lives in Wayne Co., Iowa. They have one son, Carl. Mr. and Mrs. Ryner are members of the Christian Church *at Gerlaw, and in politics Mr. R. is a staunch Democrat.

^urney Jones. Among the energetic and IJjlJllE successful farmers of Warren County, is (Jp£F^' Mr. Furney Jones, who resides on section ?|s§ 34, Tompkins Township. He was born in yj^ Washington Co., Virginia, on the 131)1 of I April, 1846, his parents being Calvin and Rebecca (McQuown) Jones, natives of the same county and State as their son. They came to the State of Illinois and settled in Henderson County, {111854, where they rented land, on which they remained, cultivating and improving the same for four years. They then came to Tompkins Township, this county, where, in 1860, he purchased 80 acres on section 26, which, after living on for six years, he sold and bought land on section 34, to the amount of 160 acres, where they still reside.

Furney Jones, our subject, has always resided with his parents, and now owns 120 acres of the original purchase, and also has 80 acres in Ellison Township. He has all of his land in an advanced state of cultivation, and is well equipped with farm implements. Mr. Jones was married in 1877, to Miss Ellen J., a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Peter and Henrietta M. (Habliston) Mundorff. They were natives of the Keystone State, and are at present settled in Tompkins Township, having come to Illinois in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Jones' family comprises four children. Calvin O., Roscoe D., Henrietta and Fanny O.

Politically, Mr. Jones is a Republican, and belongs, with his wife, to the Methodist Protestant Church. He has served his township as Assessor and School Director, and is one of Warren County's most sub- : stantial and leading men.

,r. A. G. Vanhoorebeke, one of the most extensive and widely known importers of French draft horses in America, as well as a distinguished breeder of the famous Boulonnais horses, and a veterinarian of wide reputation, is a native of France. He was born at Ghent, capital of the French Flanders, Sept. 23, 1808. His father, Lucas Pierre Vanhoorebeke, was for over a half century Receiver of Revenues and Customs for the French Government in Belgium, and afterward held the same position some years under the Belgium Government.

The Vanhoorebeke family is one of the oldest in Belgium. They can trace their genealogy back to the 1 3th century, and many of its members have held honorable positions under the Belgium Government. Ferdinand Vanhoorebeke, brother of Dr. A. G, was a distinguished and most honored lawyer at the court of appeal at Ghent, Belgium, and his cousin, Emile Vanhoorebeke, was also a lawyer and member of the Belgium cabinet in capacity of Secretaty of Public Works till the time of his death, in 1870. Several of the Vanhoorebeke family yet occupy honorable and confidential positions.

Dr. Adolph Gustav Vanhoorebeke was second in the family of four sons, and at the institutions of learning in his native country received a thorough education in the French and Flemish languages. At 'he age of 25 he entered the renowned Veterinary College of Utrecht, Holland. From that institution he graduated with distinguished honors in 1831, and immediately afterward entered the French army as a veterinary surgeon, in which capacity he faithfully and honorably served his country for ten consecutive years. During this period of his life he traveled all over Continental Europe and carefully studied all the various breeds of horses known to that part of the globe.

In 1841, he quit the army and located in Antwerp, Belgium, where, for the space of nearly 20 years, he practiced his profession with marked success, and at the same time gave special attention to the heavy equine stocks that are bred in the Netherlands and in Northern France. But being a liberal in his refligious notions, Dr. Vanhoorebeke became a victim of pious persecution, and having been arrested for

1 expressing views antagonistic to the dominant Belgiac theology, he resolved to go where he could breathe the air of freedom and enjoy the right of free speech. It was in the year 1860 Dr. Vanhoorebeke sailed from Europe to the United States and settled in Illinois. Here, in the very heart of the virgin West, he found an ample field for the employment of his rare attainments in veterinary science and his thorough knowledge of the horses of Europe. Throughout a broad area of rich and rapidly growing country, he had not a single competitor, nor has he to this day. His splendid abilities, his vnried experience were, at all points of the compass, in supreme request. It was not long, however, till the growing demand for powerful freight teams in this country literally compelled him to subordinate the practice of his chosen profession to the work of an importer, and in 1865 he brought from France the premium draft stallions Hercules and Lucifer. The former of these was a Boulonnais of bay livery ; the latter was an Anglo-Boulonnais of black livery. Both of them had brilliant reputations as breeders in Europe, and they have fully maintained it in America. To the Doctor, therefore, rightfully and unquestionably belongs the honor of being the first importer who ever brought heavy horses directly from France to Illinois. J. W. Edwards, who was a co-operator with James A. Perry, made, in 1868, the second importation from France to Illinois, which importation consisted of Success and French Emperor. The latter animal soon died and Mark W. Dunham is the present owner of the former.

E. Dillon & Co. made the third importation from France to Illinois, and Mark W. Dunham, in 1872, made the fourth importation from France to Illinois.

It will thus be seen that it is certainly meet that Dr. Vanhoorebeke should have been the pioneer importer and breeder of French draught horses in Suckerdom ; for it is perfectly safe to say that he knows vastly more about those animals than any other horseman in the United States. For nearly 50 straightforward years, he made a close, intelligent study of the powerful equine motors of France and the Netherlands, right in the regions where they originated, and where the very best specimens of them have always been produced. He published several books on the subject, having in view the improvement of this useful breed of horses, and has without any doubt been one of the most active contributors to the desired result. Any man at all acquainted with the history of French heavy horses knows that the most ex .client of them are ever to be found in Bologne and French Flanders. So say Moll, Magne, Gayot, Lefour, and all other standard authorities of France. Dr. Vanhoorebeke, being himself a French veterinarian, who always ranked in Europe with the great authors just named, and having an experimental knowledge of more than half a century's careful observation and comparison in the field of French horse production may, without egotism, claim to be a full head and shoulders above all other men in America, who are now or ever have been engaged in the introduction of the draught blood of France into the United States, and his residence in Illinois is an honor to the State.

While yet he was at New Boston, he imported, in 1868, Brilliant, a Boulonnais bay; Pakolet, a Boulounnais bay; ard Leon, a Boulonnais gray. All these were prize breeders in France, having received both first and second premiums of the French Government.

In 1869, he moved to Monmouth, where he soon obtained the confidence of the best men of that section of the country, who seeing the usefulness of his enterprise patronized his work. Here he entered fully upon that career of importing and breed- ing which will constitute one of the brightest and most indelible pages of the agricultural history of the West. Almost every year since he located in Monmouth he has made an importation from France, having brought the last one in 1880. It has ever been his motto not to excel in numbers but in quality. That motto he has abundantly verified. He has never dazzled the American eye with his scores or his hundreds at one draw, but he has imported to the United States more horses that have stood A No. i in France than have all his competitors put -together. Of the 85 stallions (all either pure Boulonnais or Belgium Boulonnais) which he has brought over, every one of them was a prize animal - most of them first-prize animals - in the land of their nativity. Many of his imported horses were awarded prizes at the great expositions of Paris, 1878, London, 1879; Amsterdam, 1883, and Antwerp in 1885. These horses were the very cream of the Boulonnais (the horses of Bologne), and the Boulonnais are the very cream of French draught animals, if the acknowledged equine standards of France may be presumed to know anything upon the subject.

Dr. Vanhoorebeke has now 40 head of his celebrated horses at his beautiful place in the environs of Monmouth. Since engaging as an importer of these anin als, he has crossed the Atlantic Ocean 49 times.

He was first married in his native country, when about 35 years of age, to Hortense Adelaide Wouwermans, who died in 1855, leaving four children, one of whom, a son, has since died; another, a daughter, is in Europe, and two are now living in the United States. At Kingston, Mo., the Doctor was again married, Aug. 18, 1866, to Mmle. Henriette Biart, a highly educated and accomplished young lady, native of Belgium, and daughter of French parents. Their three children are named respectively, Adolphe, Florence and Alida. Adolphe has been attending school in France for the past four years, but is now a student at Monmouth College.

Mrs. Vanhoorebeke was born at Antwerp, Jan. 28, 1849, and belongs also to a distinguished family whose several members occupy high and honorable positions. Mr. Constant Biart, the cousin of Mrs. A. G. Vanhoorebeke, is a learned lawyer, a Senator, and President of the aim houses and orphan asylums at Antwerp, Belgium, and is much honored ; and many of this family occupy in France and Belgium places of honor and distinction. Mrs. Vanhoorebeke was the third in order of birth of a family of ten children. Her parents came to this country in 1864, and settled in Iowa, where they remained about a year. They then came to this State, and after a stay of two years moved to Kansas, where they remained one year and then returned to Europe. After remaining in the land of their nativity for a period of two years, they again set sail for America. Since then the family have j resided in various places in this country, and at this writing (January, r886) the father is in California ' with one of his sons, Victor, who is a surgeon in the ! regular army, but now on a leave of absence. Dr. Biart is a graduate of the St Ix>uis Medical College. The mother of Mrs. Vanhoorebeke is of Holland ex- j traction and is now living in Omaha with one of her daughters. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Biart, four are deceased. Of the others, Celina married Herman Hoffman and resides in Leavenworth, Kan. ; Hortense married Joseph Haag, and, also lives at that place; Charlotte married Dr. Charles Biart and resides in Omaha; Henry is now living at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands.

The portrait of Dr. Vanhooreb.eke, appearing on a preceding page, will be welcomed by the patrons of the Warren County ALBUM with as much satisfaction as the publishers experience in adding it to the unexceotional collection presented in this \vork.

_dward L. Blodgett, a farmer of this county, having a good title to 280 acres of land, located on sections 4 and 9, Hale 2y- Township, where he resides and is engaged in its cultivation, was born in Orleans County, N. J Y., Feb. 4, 1834. He received a common school education in Indiana, his parents having removed to that State when he was but six years of age. In the latter State, Edward L. lived, labored and developed into manhood. One year after attaining his majority, in 1856, he came to this State, locating in Henderson County, where he resided for upwards of a year, engaged in farming, then returned to Indiana. Two years he remained in the Hoosier State, and in the spring of 1860 came back to Illinois, this time locating in Warren County.

On coming to this county, Mr. Blodgett worked out for about four years, when he settled in Hale Township. He was a soldier in the late civil war, having enlisted Feb. 20, 1864, in the Tenth 111. Vet. Inf., and served his country for about 18 months. He was engaged in all the battles in which his company took part, participating in the grand review at Washington; was with Sherman in his march to the sea, and received an honorable discharge at the close of the war. He then returned to Warren County, and engaged in the vocation of agriculture, and has lived here following that occupation until the present time. The major portion of his land is under an advanced state of cultivation.

-at which time, -in Henderson County, Miss Dolly Vanwinkle became his wife. She was born in Jefferson Co., Iowa, and has borne her husband eight

.Wilson M., Joseph R., Margaret, Mary B., Edward L., Clara, James A. and Emma. Mrs. Blodgett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her husband politically is a believer in and a supporter of the principles advocated by the Republican party.

leri Rodgers Graham, M. D., a medical practitioner at Little York, was born in the township of Hale, in Warren County, Aug. 24, 1854. His parents are pioneers of the township where he was born, and are John R. and Mary (Rodgers) Graham. Dr. Graham obtained a good common-school education as a foundation, in his boyhood, and afterwards attended Monmouth Academy one year. In 1878, he commenced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of the medical firm of Hamilton, Marshall & Holliday, at Monmouth. After leaving their office, he matriculated at Rush Medical College

He inaugurated his careeer as a physician and surgeon at Cameron, in his native county, and operated there two years. Since 1883, he has prosecuted the business of his profession at Little York. He is building up a popular and prosperous practice, and his thorough preparation for the responsibilities of the calling to which he has devoted his life, is fast winning for him the confidence of a substantial patronage.

The marriage of Dr. Graham to Miss Emma Alcock, was celebrated Feb. 14, 1880. They have one child, named Frederick. The mother was born in Suffolkshire, England. The Doctor and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

'ohm Coddington, holding a good title to 200 acres of A No. i land, located on sec- ! tion 15, Berwick Township, where he resides and is engaged in the vocation of an agriculturist, was born in Warren County, Ohio, Aug. 9, 1828. He is a son of Win. Coddington, born in the State of Maryland, and who married Miss Naoma Ervin. She died in 1828, after having borne her husband nine children - Anner, Polly, Sarah, Angeline, Eliza, Benjamin, Samuel, James and John.

Residenceof Aaron Yarde, Alexis

Mr. Coddington is pleasantly situated on a fine farm of 200 acres, and he has the same under an advanced state of cultivation. On the place is a good residence, two stories in height, surrounded by good substantial outbuildings. In addition to the cultivation of his land, Mr. Coddington is devoting considerable of his time to the raising of fine stock, his specialty being the Short-horn, of which he has 27 head ; and in the raising of fine horses, his specialty is the Norman.

aron Yarde, a well-known and highly respected resident of Alexis, is a pioneer of Warren County of 1847. He is a native of Somersetshire, England, and was born Nov. n, 1810. His father was a farmer and he was brought up on the same place where his ancestors had lived for many years. He was the second in order of birth of a family of five children, namely: John, who was married to Mary A. Clement, a native of Somersetshire, England, and the mother of four children ; Mary A. became the wife of Isaac Hooper, and was the mother of eight children ; she is now deceased. Moses died at the age of 23 years; Daniel resides in his native place and is married to Miss Mary Rowlaud. They have a family of nine children.

The maiden name of Mr. Yarde's mother was Ann Cousins, who was the daughter of Bartholomew and Mary (Hawkins) Cousins, both of whom were born in 1778. The father died when Aaron was 17 years old, and he was then at liberty to choose a business in which he hoped to do better than as a farmer. He apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a stonecutter and a general stone-mason, and followed that business 12 years, in his native shire. After that, until 1843, he was occupied in farming. In April of the year named he sailed for this country. He was accompanied by his wife and five children, and the family took passage from Plymouth. They crossed the ocean in a merchant vessel and landed at the port of New York after a voyage of six weeks. From New York they went direct to Geauga Co., Ohio. Mr. Yarde bought a farm of 45 acres at the rate of $8.50 per acre. About one-third was under the plow, and the remainder was not cleared of the natural forest. Mr. Yarde built a small frame house sufficient for the accommodation of his household and proceeded to the work of removing the forest growth. He cleared 15 acres. In the spring of 1847 ne ^d his place for $ro an acre. While he lived there, in addition to the work of clearing the acreage mentioned, he had been engaged in work at his trade also. After making sale of his land he came to Warren County. He bought 80 acres of land on section 3, on what was then designated Township 12, and is now named Kelly Township. The whole place was entirely without improvements and the proprietor proceeded first of all to erect a structure for the shelter of his family. He built a small log house and stables, and broke and fenced 25 acres. He retained the ownership of the place until 1850, when he sold out and bought a farm on section 10, in the same township. It had been "improved to some extent, a frame house had been built on it, and it was all fenced. Mr. Yarde built a good barn and other farm-buildings and planted fruit and shade trees. The place contained 160 acres, and at trie time he determined to sell it, it was in an excellent condition for profitable operations.

In 1872 Mr. Yarde came to Alexis and took possession of the residence which is now occupied by his family. He is still an extensive landholder and the proprietor of a farm comprising 160 acres in Mercer County, situated two and a half miles from the village of Alexis. He also owns 17 acres of valuable land adjoining the place where he resides.

Mr. Yarde was married May 7, 1835, to Charlotte Cousins. She was the daughter of Bartholomew and Jane (Sweet) Cousins, and a native of Somersetshire. England. She was born Nov. 12, 1806. Of the eight children of whom they became the parents, six are yet living. Caroline H. is married to John M. Richardson, now deceased. She resides in Iowa and has seven children. Jessie, the widow of Charles Pine, resides in Kelly Township, and has a family of six children. Lucy is the wife of Isaac R. Greene, of Galesburg, 111., and has a family of seven children. Albert lives in Kelly Township, on the old farm and was married to Eliza Lyddon ; they have five children. Charlotte is married to B. F. Gilmore, of Nodaway Co., Mo. Charles F. P. is a citizen of Alexis, and a sketch of his business relations appears on another page. Mrs. Yarde died Oct. 6, 1870, on the old homestead in Kelly Township. Mr. Yarde contracted marriage a second time with Patience M. (Fraber) Allen, March 7, 1872. They were married in Knox Co.,111. She was the widow of Nelson Allen. Mrs. Yarde is a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y., where she was born July 4, 7810. She is the daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Herrick) Fraber; the former was a native of Germany and came to this country when quite young. The mother was born in New York, of English ancestry. Mrs. Yarde was the mother of three children by her first husband, all of whom died in infancy. She has a great fondness for children, and has reared no less than five, whom she has taken by adoption.

Joseph W. Vorwick. The only manufacturer of the Vorwick celebrated road-cart is located at Monmouth, where he began in a limited way to operate a shop upon his own responsibility in 1879. He first opened out as a repairer of all sorts of vehicles, his capital consisting of his strength and skill, but from the very beginning, almost, the capacity of his shop showed increasing business, until he now stands at the head as a manufacturer in his line in this country.

The patent of Mr. Vorwick, being an anti-horse motion road-cart, is the nearest a perfect success that has ever been reached in that most useful and economical of all vehicles. Mr. Vorwick was born at Fort Madison, Iowa, Feb. i. 1849, and was the eldest of five sons born to Joseph and Elizabeth Vorwick, natives of Germany. He was schooled at Fort Madison and Burlington, Iowa, and at the latter place, when about 1 6 years of age, began the trade of carriage painter, which he perfected at Galesburg, III , some ihree years later. From 21 to 29 years of age, Mr. Vorwick did "jour" work through the various cities of the country, and in 1875 planted himself at Monmouth, with the determination to man a shop of his own by the time he should arrive at the age of 30 years. That he succeeded has already appeared. In addition to the Vorwick Road-Cart, he manufactures all sorts of first class carriages and buggies, and the truth compels us to place his name in the ALBUM as the representative man, in his line, at the city of Monmouth.

Mr. Vorwick was married at Monmouth, in 1876, to Miss Jennie Eilenberger, daughter of Daniel Eilenberger, who died while a soldier in the Union army. Mr. and Mrs. Vorwick have two children - Ida and Maudie.

[illiam S. Paxton, a pioneer carpenter, contractor and builder, at Monmouth, was born at Rock Bridge Co., Va., Dec. 22, i8n. His fathe-, William Paxton, was a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch- Irish ancestry. His mother, Margaret (Struthers) Paxton, was born in Scotland. The senior William Paxton was a farmer, and brought his four sons up to that occupation. The family removed from Virginia to Ohio in 1812, and resided there up to 1831, at which time they came to Monmouth, settling soon afterward on a farm six miles northwest from town, where the old gentleman died in March, 1 86 1, in the 82d year of his age. His wife died in 1845, vvhen about 62 years of age.

William S. Paxton received a fair education at Xenia, Ohio, and from 16 up to 18 years of age, worked at milling. He then learned the carpenter's trade and followed it almost without interruption until 1854. Since the latter date he has been engaged in wagon making. As a carpenter and contractor he erected the first court house in Warren County, and roofed the first hotel. He returned to Ohio, in 1854, and lived in Erie County ten years. While there he enlisted in the Third Ohio Cavalry, but be-

The subject of our sketch was married in Erie County, Ohio, to Almira Harrison, who was born in Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y., April 7, 1815, and their only child, a daughter, Ella, is now (October, 1885) an accomplished teacher in the public schools of Nebraska.

Mr. Paxton has long been a member of the Presbyterian Church. Was an old line Whig, from the the funeral of which party he joined the Republican procession.

It will be seen by the date of his arrival here, that he was indeed an early settler, and he probably had more to do with the very inception of the town of Monmouth than any other man living. In fact his brother and F. B. Talbot, now living in Iowa, broke the first ground for the erection of the first building at this place. We should not forget to mention that he was Adjutant of the First Warren County regiment of Illinois Militia, in r834, and was connected with the organization until it was disbanded.

>rs. Mary Osborn is a pioneer of Warren County, and is one of the oldest living of vthe early settlers of Sumner Township. She was born in Gallia Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1810, and is the daughter of Daniel and Annie (Thorp) Moler. She is the daughter of pioneer parents, who located in the earliest period in the county in which she was born, and they lived there until 1825. In that year they went to Indiana and located about six miles from La Fayette. There their daughter was married to James Moffit. Their union took place Oct. 16, 1828. Her husband was born in the vicinity of Zanesville, in the Buckeye State. They lived in Indiana until the fall of 1832, and started thence for Illinois with an ox-team. They had at that time two children. They took with them the machinery for housekeeping and performed all the duties relating to the business of living on the route. When they arrived at the Illinois River, on their way, they determined to pitch their tent there for the winter. They moved into a vacant log house and when the spring opened they again yoked their oxen and pushed forward to Warren County. Mr. Moffit made a claim on the northwest quarter of section 19, in the (then) township 12, now Sumner Township. He proceeded to cut logs, and built a shelter of the primitive kind, common to pioneers. They were well off for cows, having driven three from Indiana. These furnished a good portion of their living while on the road and after their arrival at the places where they took up their abode.

On the 8th day of June, 1832, Mr. Moffit suddenly died. In the midst of the newly made widow's distress, the Indian difficulties that preceded the outbreak of the Black Hawk War made it necessary to put aside every other consideration. A block-house was erected for the protection of the settlers and for some time the women and children were kept in it for safety, while the men were in the fields. They were there when the murder of William Martin occurred, and saw the savages when they rushed from the field where their victim had been at work, bearing aloft the scalp. Mrs. Moffit was terrified and took one of her children in her arms and fled into an adjoining corn field. Her sister took the other and followed her. They ran into a field of buckwheat, where they laid down. They were in terror lest the children should cry out and reveal their hiding place. But the little ones kept still, and when the other men of the settlement returned from the fields they went back to the block-house.

Many of the women remained in the block-house until the termination of the Black Hawk War, and the defeat of the haughty chief who instigated it converted the Indians into fiends and made them subservient to the whites for personal considerations. Mrs. Osborn remained in the block-house until the fall of the year, when she again took possession of her cabin home. She was its occupant until her second marriage, but the land was managed by renters.

Aug. 21, 1834, she became the wife of John C. Osborn. He was born in North Carolina, Mar. 30, 1804. He passed the early years of his life there, and was married while he remained in the State of his nativity. His first wife survived her marriage but a short time. In 1 832 he came to Warren County. He made his first location near Monmouth. When he married his second wife he became the manager of her estate and continued to attend to its interests

The children of Mrs. Osborn by her first husband are both deceased. George P., Permelia A., Mary Jane, John M., Sarah E and Maria are the names of those who were born of the second marriage. The oldest is the manager of the homestead of his mother iilliam A. Mitchell. Among the prominent citizens of Hale Township, as well as successful farmers, we place the name of William A. Mitchell. He has a clear title to 240 acres of good farm land, in an advanced state of cultivation, located on section 3, Hale Township, where he is engaged in the vocation of his life. He is a native of Ohio, having been born in Greene County, that State, July 13, 1838.

When William A. Mitchell was about five years of age, his parents moved to this county, and here, in the public schools, he received his education, alternating his studies therein with labor on the farm. We say his education was acquired in the public schools, but it was only the rudimentary portion of the same, for he supplemented it by a course of two years' study at Monmouth College.

Soon after the Southern States had seceded and had demonstrated their intent,.by firing on Sumter, and President Lincoln had called for troops to aid in the perpetuity of the Union, Mr. Mitchell responded. He enlisted in August, 1861, in the 361)1 111. Vol. Inf., and for four years and three months did valiant service in the Union Army. He enlisted as a private in Co. C, and was promoted to Second Lieutenant of the same company. After participating in all the battles in which his regiment engaged, Mr. M. was mustered out of service at New Orleans, Oct. 8, 1865, whereupon he returned to this county, entered upon the peaceful pursuits of a farmer and has continued to reside here until the present time.

The marriage of Mr. Mitchell to Miss Sarah E. Caldwell, was solemnized in Sumner Township, March 8, 1866. Mrs. Mitchell was born in the township in which she was married, Sept. 5, 1848.

Mr. Mitchell, in politics, votes with the Republican party. He has held the office of Highway Commissioner and School Director, and, socially, is a member of Post No. 81, G. A. R., at Kirkwood. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

The parents of Mr. Mitchell, Robert K. and Rachel E. (Townsley) Mitchell, were natives of Ohio. They came to this county in 1843, and the mother died in Hale Township, July 14, 1851, and the father in the same township, Jan. 5, 1865. Their family comprised four children, of whom William A. is the eldest. The parents of Mrs. Mitchell, Thomas J. and Mary (Allen) Caldwell, were natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively. They were married and settled in this county, where her mother died July 29, 1868. Her father yet survives and lives in Sumner Township. We give a view of the residence and i farm building on page 474.

E. Lamphere a successful farmer, residing on section 36, Tompkins Township, where he is.the owner of 180 acres of good farm land, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., April 7, 1843, and is the son of Washington and Mary (Hall) Lamphere. The parents were natives of New York, from which State they came to Illinois, settling in Greenbush Township, where they remained for two years and where the faiher was engaged in far.ning. From the latter place the father moved to Tompkins Township and became the owner of 80 acres of land located on section ii. He settled on this land with his family and entered actively upon his labors as an agriculturist, and, by economy an-i laborious effort, succeeded in accumulating sufficient to purchase an additional 240 acres. He, with his family, continued to reside on his land in Tompkins Township until

J. E. Lamphere, the gentleman of whom we write, assisted his father on the farm, and received the advantages afforded by the common schools, developing into manhood. On arriving at the age of 25 years, he left the parental homestead and purchased 80 acres of land on section 36, where he is to-day residing, actively engaged in following his chosen vocation, that of an agriculturist. Possessing the same qualities as his father before him, of saving what he made, he has been enabled to add to his original purchase until he is at present the owner of 180 acres in Tompkins Township. He has just completed a fine residence, costing $2,200, and in addition to the cultivation of his land he is engaged to some extent in stock-raising.

Mr. Lamphere was united in marriage in 1867, with Miss Emma, the accomplished daughter of A. B. Billings, by whom he had two children - Ralph, who was born March 12, 1867 ; and Grant, who was born Feb. 5, 187 t. At the present writing they both are living at home. The wife and mother died in 1880, and Mr. Lamphere was a second time married, the lady chosen to share his joys and sorrows, successes and reverses, being Miss Mary Efnor, a native of this State and a daughter of George and Harriet Efnor.

fjljgenjamin H. Gardner is a pioneer of Warj|i ren County of 1834. He is a native of Virginia, and accompanied his parents to Kentucky when he was a mere lad. In the fall of the year named, in company with a considerable number of persons who, with himself, were desirous of finding a location in a free State, he came to Illinois. They came with ox teams and wagons, brought their provisions with them, and lived while en route in the Gipsy fashion. They arrived in Monmouth, Warren Co. Nov. 3, and

Mr. Gardner built his own cabin in township 1 2, range i, (Kelly Township) and in March, 1835, went to this township and made a claim of 125 acres of land on section 30. When the land came into market, he went to Quincy and secured it by purchase from the Government. He built a log cabin on the place the same season, and the farm has been his property ever since. He has been, meanwhile, a resident of Abingdon in Knox County, but has never relinquished the management of the farm. He removed to Knox County to give his children the benefit of the schools there. He has been the owner of other tracts of land and at one time was the proprietor of more than 400 acres in Kelly Township. His property is well improved and supplied with excellent farm buildings.

The year after he settled in Kelly Township, Mr. Gardner went on horseback to Greenbush, a distance of 25 miles, to procure iron to make a plow, and brought the material back with him in a sack. He then obtained the services of a blacksmith in making a " barshare " plow. In 1836 he opened one of the first coal banks in Warren County. It is lo- , cated on section 30, and the blacksmiths for a distance of 25 miles around came there for their - supplies of coal.

Mr. Gardner was born July 14, 1811, in Louisa ' County in the "Old Dominion." He is the fifth son of William and Catherine (Hollen) Gardner, both of whom were born in the same State in which their son first saw the light of day. Their parents were of English origin. They removed to Kentucky in 1815, crossing the intervening mountains with their team of four horses. They located in Warren Co., Ky., and were among the first of the settlers there. Two of the uncles of Mr. Gardner, Asa and Reuben, were soldiers in the War of 1812. The former was a lieutenant.

The advantages for the education of children in Kentucky were then very limited, and consisted of such as the common schools of that State at that time afforded. Mr. Gardner went from three to four miles on foot daily for the few months yearly in which it was possible for him to do so, and studied in a log school-house which had no windows. He was 23 years old when he started from his home for the purpose of finding a place to live beyond the line of slavery, which he believed to be the " sum of all villanies." He was a Democrat, but nevertheless an abolitionist of the most decided type, and a Free- State man. He left home on the 7th of October, as has been stated, and arrived in Monmouth Nov. 3 following.

His marriage to Jemima R. Wallace took place Jan. i, 1835. She was born in Warren Co., Ky., April 27, 1816, and was the daughter of William and Nancy (Smith) Wallace. She died Feb. 4, 1861, after giving birth to nine children. Nancy C. is the wife of H. J. Adcock, of Kelly Township; William is deceased; Mary A. married A. M. Johnston, of Nodaway Co., Mo.; Robert is a citizen of Fremont Co., Iowa; Amanda is deceased; George W. lives in the township of Cold Brook; Rebecca is not living; Benjamin F. has been dead some years; Benjamin E. lives in Kelly Township.

Aug. 23, 1864, the father was again married, Mary A. Deatherage becoming his wife. She was born in North Carolina, in Stokes County, March 28, 1824. She was the daughter of Achillis and Susan (Deatherage) Deatherage, who were of English ancestry, |l and was third in order of birth of a family of 13 children, six of whom are living. She came to this county with her parents, who first settled in Mc- Lean Co., 111., in 1832. Here they remained for four years, when they pushed further northward and found a desirable location _in Knox County. Mrs. Gardner was first married Oct. 14, 1841, to Samuel F. Patton, and by him became the mother of four children, two of whom are now living - George W., one of the county officials of Johnson County, and Julia, the wife of G. W. Gardner, of Cold Brook Township. Myra is the name of the only child of the second marriage. She married Emmet Barnett and now lives in Cold Brook Township. Mr. Gardner is a member of the Christian Church at Talbot.

There are few men in Warren County more widely known or highly esteemed than " Uncle Benjamin Gardner." He is one of the venerable pioneers who located here before the hand of civilization had disturbed the magnificent scenery of prairie and woodland. The green flowery carpet which covered the undulating surface of the broad prairies, skirted by forests and groves, must have formed a delightful aspect. The beautiful native flowers and the tall prairie grass have given place to fertile fields. All is changed, and no doubt the pioneers often long to behold the unsurpassed beauties of the scenery so common to them for a long time after they came here. As one of the most worthy of the pioneers, and a truly representative citizen of Warren County, the portrait of" Uncle Ben" Gardner is presented in this volume.

ndrew W. Simmons, owner of 479 acres of land, all of which is located in Greenbush Township, except a tract of 80 acres, which lies in Berwick Township, resides on section 8, of the former township. He is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Warren Co., that State, Sept. 2, 1816. He came to Illinois with his parents in October, 1816. The father of Mr. Simmons, James Simmons, married Miss Sarah Slice, in 1815, in Kentucky. She was born in 1798, in. that State, where her husband also first saw the light, in 1795. They both died in this township, the father in 1873 and the mother in 1855. Of their union 12 children were born - Andrew W., Sally, R. M., Alfred W., Francis M., C. R., William J., Nancy, Joanna, Diana, Arminda and M. V. W. Of this large family, eight survive; W. J., Sally, Nancy and Martin having passed to another world.

James Simmons came to Illinois in 1816, and settled in Madison County, near Troy, remaining there till 1833, when he removed to Warren County and located on what is now known as Greenbush Township, on section 5. He is credited with building the third house in that section of the county. Mrs. Simmons was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lee) Brooks. Her father was born in the State of Virginia, Feb. 22, 1791. The family came to Warren County in r836, settling in Berwick Township, where they both died, the father Sept. 19, 1842, and the mother Feb. 19, 1847. The fruits of their union were six children, four of whom survive.

The subject of this biographical notice formed a matrimonial alliance March 2, 1848, with Miss Asenath Brooks. She was born in Warren County, Ky., Jan. 7, 1825, and has borne her husband seven children, namely : Thompson F., Alfred, James, William W., Amanda, Freeman and Rowland. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, Thomas F. married

Warren. Co Unt Y.

Emily Hahn, and two olive-branches have blessed their union. Alfred lives at home. James is a farmer in Berwick Township, and the head of a family, his wife's maiden name being Margaret Holeman. Amanda, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Charles C. Ray, and has borne him one child. Wm. W., Alfred Freeman and Rowland M. reside on the old homestead. Mr. Simmons is the owner of 479 acres of land, 80 of which is located in Berwick Township, and the remainder in Greenbush. All of this large tract is under an advanced state of cultivation. He has a brick front residence on his home farm, 60 x 40 feet in dimensions and two stories in height, which was built in 1848. The place is also improved with a good barn, of commodious dimensions, which is 36 feet long by 30 feet in width. In addition to the cultivation of his land, he is interested in the propagation of a superior grade of cattle.

Mr. Simmons and wife are members^of the old school Baptist Church. Mr. Simmons was elected - Supervisor from Greenbush Townsnip, and has held that office for the past 17 years, being re-elected to the position last April by a large majority. He has also served 16 years as Justice of the Peace; as Collector, 1 1 years, and has held minor offices in his township for the past 25 years.

In his politics, he supports the Democratic platform. Considering that his accumulations are the reward of his own indomitable energy and perseverance, and that he is to-day the possessor of a competency, we are enabled in this work to justly record that the subject of our sketch is a model representative of his class, not only in Greenbush, but also in Warren County.

Terpenning, is a citizen of Kelly Township, and came to Warren County within the first year of his life, with his parents, of whom an account is given on other pages of this work in connection with the sketch of another son. (See sketch of John P. Terpenning.)

this township and county in 1836, and grew to the age of manhood within its limits. He lived with his father and mother until he was 31 years of age, and was most of the time, particularly at first, engaged in the pursuits of the farm. He was occupied also in the capacity of a collector, and traveled in the States of Illinois and Iowa.

His marriage to Catherine J. Kiger took place Feb. 25, 18156. Their children are named Albert L., Jessie A., Ulysses G., Parley D., Mindwell E., Jennie M. and Daisy R.

Mrs. Terpenning was born Oct. 17, 1836, in Galia,O., and removed from there to Stark Co., in 1839. A few years later another removal of her family was effected to Knox County. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Terpenning settled on the farm on which they are now living. It is a part of the homestead of his father, and is in good agricultural condition. In 1875 his buildings and the timber standing on his farm were badly injured by a tornado which swept over the place. His loss was estimated at $3,000.

llliam Meachum, the possessor of a good title to 1 60 acres of land located on section 21, Berwick Township, is a native of Livingston Co., N. Y., where he was born Aug. 22, 1843. He came to this State with his parents in 1854, and since that time has been actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. In fact, we may say he has spent his life until this date in that vocation.

Mr. Meachum was married Jan. 26, 1870, to Miss Mary M. Griffith, who was born in Indiana, July 23, 1840. She was the daughter of Judah Griffith, a native of New York, where he was born in 1796. Her father was of Scotch ancestry and moved from New York to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, with his brother, where he remained until 1839, when, in company with his brother and some six other families, he moved to a small town in Indiana, called Cadiz. At the latter place he remained some three years, working at the boot and shoe trade, and then, in 1842, came to this State and located near La Harpe, Hancock County. In 1848 he left that sec- tion and came to Warren County, where he resided until 1876, when he moved to Fremont Co., Iowa, and there followed his chosen vocation, agriculture, until the date of his death, in 1881. He was married to Miss Maria Rockwell, who was born in York State in 1808. She died in 1851, in this county, leaving to the care of her husband nine children namely : Patterson, Griffith, Eveline, Armina, Malinda, Carlos, Mary M., Ardin, Ambrose, Ansel and Phebe.

William Meachum and his wife are the parents of four children - Riley, born Sept. 8, 1871 ; Pearl P , April 21, 1873; Lucina E., Dec. 22, 1875; and - Laura B., Oct. 21, 1877. Mr. Meachum is pleasantly situated on his fine farm of 160 acres on section 21, Berwick Township, and in addition to his agricultural duties, is devoting considerable of his time to the raising of Norman horses. In politics, he votes with and endorses the principles advocated by the Greenback party.

ohn E. Alexander, attorney and counsellor £ at law, at Monmouth, was born in Frederick Co., Md., March 4, 1833. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Beckenbaugh) Alexander, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively and of English and German extraction. They reared seven sons and one daughter, John E. being the third in order of birth. The senior John Alexander, whose father, Jacob A., was a Colonel in the American Army in the War of 1812, was a carpenter by trade, but he failed to transmit any great deal of love for hard labor to the junior John. In fact, it is not known that he wished to, for it appears that the youth was kept pretty closely at school. He received a good preparatory training in the High Schools at Middletown, Md., and graduated with honors from Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pa., in the class of 1853. For ten years succeeding his graduation he taught school as a profession, the two years of 1853-54 being as Professor of English Branches at the Landon Military Academy at Urbana, Md. The distinguished General John R. Jones, afterwards of

Confederate fame, was the founder of the academy and was its principal. Col. John F. Keenan, Professor of Languages and Tactics, was in the Mexican War and served on Gen. Butler's Staff. Col. Keenan was also the author of the 39 articles or the " Code of Honor."

In 1857-8, Prof. Alexander was Principal of the Mercersburg (Pa.) Female Seminary, and in May, 1859, came to Monmouth and taught school for about a year in the basement of what is now Unity Church. From 1860 to r863, he clerked for E. S. Sweeney in the County Clerk's office, and in 1863-4 had charge of the Sheriff's office, under Riggs.

In 1864-70 he was engaged in the hardware trade, and in the latter year, in company with Col. Robert Holloway, laid out the town of Alexandria, now known as Alexis. He was the first inhabitant of the place and first agent there of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad. While in the County Clerk's office he began the study of law, which he dropped for a few years ; took it up again, was admitted to the Bar in 1877, and began practice at Alexis, from whence he came to Monmouth in 1883, and has occupied a most honorable position at the "

District Bar. Though coming late into the practice, his superior education and most thorough business training made the otherwise devious roads to an elevated position in the first profession in the land, to him one of comparative ease. He is regarded as a painstaking, careful lawyer, and an able advocate. He has been the recipient of no gratuities ; whatever of this world's goods he has acquired, and his possessions are ample, he has earned by individual effort and energy.

In politics, he is a staunch adherent to the principles of Democracy, and while an active worker in the interests of that great party, he is in no wise an aspirant to any official preferment. He was one of the founders of the Warren County Library, and is at this writing a Director in its Board.

Mr. Alexander was married in Washington Co., Md., Feb. 24, 1857, to Miss Mary C. Reichard (see biography of J. T. Reichard in this volume), and has had borne to him three children, namely: Bertha (Mrs. C. T. Page), Edward D. and Anna M. Together with his family, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in Masonry, Mr. A. is a prominent member of the Chicago Consistory.

aj. William G. Bond, a citizen of Monmouth, retired from- active business, was born in Jackson County, Ala., April 2, 1823, and is a son of Major John C. and Mary (Grimsley) Bond, natives of Tennessee, who combined in their make-up the blood of Celt and Teuton. (See biography of John C. Bond).

The subject of this sketch accompanied his father to Warrerk County in 1834, and grew to manhood upon the farm; in fact, he followed farming uninterruptedly up to 1862, and left it only to join the army in defense of his country. Aug. 26, 1862, Mr. Bond became Captain of Co. H, 8$d 111. Vol. Inf. In February, 1863, he was promoted to Major of the same regiment and was in full command thereof from June, 1863, until he was mustered out of the service, at Nashville, Tenn., June 23, 1865. His first battle was at Garrettsburg, Ky., in November, 1862; ,^-his second, Fort Donelson, February, 1863 ; next was with Wheeler, along the Great Louisville & Nashville Railway, in 1864, where they were engaged every day and sometimes twice a day for a month or more ; later on at Franklin and the six weeks' fighting of that campaign. The Major was twice wounded at Fort Donelson, once by a minnie ball and again by a shell, both times in the leg, but neither proved serious. From February to August, 1864, he was seriously ill from an attack of pneumonia, which seized him at Nashville and left him at Clarksville. While at the latter place and before sufficiently recovered to report to his command for duty, he acted as President of the Military Course.

Leaving the regular service, he went into the Quartermaster's department at Fort Donelson, and was there employed up to 1868, hunting up the dead and depositing their remains in the National Cemetery at that place. From here he entered the Revenue department and was employed as store-keeper on the Cumberland River for twoyears, going thence into the secret service of the Government, with headquarters at Clarksville, Tenn., up to 1873. In January, 1874, he returned to Monmouth, and the following December received the appointment of Deputy Sheriff, a position he filled for two years. His next and last official duty was performed as Sheriff of Warren County, being elected to that office three times in succession, namely : 1876-78 and '80, closing his services in 1882.

With such a record any man might be content to retire to private life. Wherever Maj. Bond has been placed, either by force of circumstances or of his volition, he has done his duty, and there is in neither his military or civil career any skeleton to haunt the closet of his prosperity. Maj. Bond was first united in marriage in Joe Daviess County, this State, when about 22 years of age, to Miss Elizabeth Henry, who died in 1863, while the Major was in the army, and left four children - Clarissa Ann, Looney M., Jesse W. and George C. To his present wife, Mrs. Mary E. Moore, nee Taylor, he was married at Dayton, Ohio, in 1868.

Maj. Bond went into the army a Democrat, but came out a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is an officer in the G. A. R., and one of the respected and well-to-do citizens of Monmouth.

'artin Sorenson is a farmer in the township of Spring Grove. His farm is located on section 9, and contains 80 acres. He is the son of Andrew and Anna (Mathaison) Sorenson, and he was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark, now a province of Germany, March 25, 1844. He is the oldest son of his parents, of whom an account is given on another page of this work in connection with that of the son and brother Frederick Sorenson. His father was a farmer in Denmark, where he was the owner of a tract of land, and the son was brought up to a knowledge of the business. He received the education common in that country.

In 1867 Mr. Sorenson came to the United States. He left the ship on which he made the voyage at Quebec, and came thence at once to Illinois. He first found employment with a farmer in Henderson County, and worked there through the first summer after his arrival. In the succeeding fall he came to Warren County and operated as a farm assistant until, in 1871, he went to Burlington, Iowa, and ob- tained a position to work in the railroad shops at that place. After a year there he came back to Warren County. In 1874 he bought land on section 30 in the township of Spring Grove, on which he was six years resident. He then sold the place and bought the farm on which he is now living. It contains 80 acres, and is all practically under cultivation. The buildings are good and substantial.

The father of Mrs. S. died July 25, 1864. The mother is now in this country, and living with her daughter. She was born March 20, 1818. There were two children in the family ; the name of the other sister is Maggie.

Mr. and Mrs. Sorenson, have three children - Andrew, Annie and Thora. The mother was born in Schleswig-Holstein. Mr. Sorenson is a Democrat.