Lilly, Illinois

Edward H. Bacon, farmer, stock raiser and brick-maker, sec. 13; Post-office, Lilly. Mr. B. is the owner of about 1,200 acres of land. He is a native of Oxford, Butler Co., O., having been born in tliat State March 13, 1827. His jiarents were Edward and Jane Bacon. His father was a native of X. J., and mother of l\'nn. Mr. B. received his education in the schools of his native State. He came to this county in the year 1860, and has been very successful in business matters. He was united in marriage March 15, I860, to Miss Sarah Worden, Of this union one daughter and one son

Passage source: History of Tazewell County, Illinois ; Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of State Laws, published 1879.

Charles Bergen has followed the occupation of farming since he came to this State. He located in this county in 1832 ; has only moved once since coming to the State and then only eight miles ; now resides on sec. 22. He is the owner of 720 acres of fine farming land. Mr. B. was born in Kings Co., N. Y., Jan. 21, 1806; his parents were Johannes and Johanna Bergen, natives of N. Y. He was educated in the common schools of his native State and was married Feb. 6, 1834, to Eleanor Maples. They are the parents of eight children - two boys and six girls - only three of whom are now living. Post-office, Lilly.

Passage source: History of Tazewell County, Illinois ; Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of State Laws, published 1879.

He had the pleasure of seeing three of his s(nis successful ])reachers of the Gospel, James, Alfred, and John. The two former went to the spirit land before him. He was an earnest advocate of the great temperance cause, and as early as 1842, in company with his sons, John and William, got up a Washingtonian society, writing the pledge with his own hand. He was often heard to say: "if this nation is ever overthrown, it will be caused by intemperance and })ride." He was also one of the first jireachers of his church who advocated a missionary society, and a new and improved translation of the Scriptures into our great English language. He advocated the establishing of high schools and colleges for the education of preachers and teachers ; and after his son, John, graduated at Bethany College, and entered into the work of establishing AValnut Grove Academy (now Eureka College), he gave him his full aid and support, and deserved more honor than any other man, living or dead, who lived as far from the College as he did, for the existence of that great seat of learning. During his career of near forty years in this county, besides constituting some twenty or thirty churches, he had the good fortune to induce many young men to enter the ministry. Tiie last earnest labor of his useful life was to aid in establishing a congregation and erecting a house of worship at Lilly, a new town near his own home. To this work he subscribed very liberally. His son William is now Elder, presiding over it. And his aged widow, now near 87 years of age, is a member of the Lilly congregation. His three living daughters also have their membership here, and are all active workers, both at home and for the foreign mission cause. The mother also gives freely to the mission work. Before taking any step in life, his standing question was, "Is it right?" His motto in action towards others was, "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." " Owe no man any thing," was his financial motto. Hence he never went in debt. For all reliijious dutv he said, "Give me a thus saith the Lord." His posterity, living and dead, number at the date of this writing, eighty-eight persons. The leading features of his life grew still more vivid as he drew near to his closing hour. His house, as he lay on his death-bed for many weeks, was truly a house of worship. As friends crowded around him from far and near, before each one took his last earthly farewell, he had a portion of God's word read, singing and prayer, and then followed the exhortation to be faithfnl. Thus there was worship from three to five times a day in his room. He was in his 80th year when he died. Shortly before he breathed his* last, he looked steadily into the face of his son John, who stood near him and said, " My Son, work while it is day. The night soon cometh when no man can work." " How short is life in which to do the great work for God, for Christ, for Humanity." He wrote his last will and testament with his own hand many years before he died, chosing Michael Hittlc, who had for near forty years stood by him and been true as a neighbor, a friend, and a brother in Christ, to see that he was hurried in a precise spot, and that his wife was laid to his right side. He committed to the care of his daughter, Jane, and her husband. Dr. S. K. Linn, his beloved and aged wife, having also left ample provisions for her support, then fell asleep, and rests, not like Jacob, with his fathers, but, like Abraham, with his children. As a souvenir for the many who dearly loved the old veteran, we place in this volume his portrait, and, also, that of his wife.

Passage source: History of Tazewell County, Illinois ; Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of State Laws, published 1879.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Mackinaw Township - it names this place 6 more 6 times.