Assumption Township (part 1 of 3)

Assumption Township

The Illinois Gentral Railroad Gonqiany, on the completion of the road, laid out on the 6th day of June, 1855, what now constitutes the central part of the town of A.ssnmption, on tiie north-east quarter of section 2, town 12 X. range 1 east in lot and blocks undtr the name of Tacusa. It was surveyed by Leverett H. Clark, and certified to by N. A. Griswold, president of the company. The track-laying of the road was completed as far as Taeusa, in October, 1854.

The i)as.<enger depot and ware-house buildings were erected at once by the company, and other improvemeuts soon followed. John Gaghagan, a secticm boss, erected the first dwelling-house, and boarded railroad hands, and also opened a saloon.

The first store was erected and opened by Williams and Ilillabrant, in 1854. For two or three years Tr.cusa had but f'w buildings, and was nothing more than a railroad station.

After a time, Elsie E. Malhiot, having purchased most of the lands in the vicinity, laid out an addition on the south-west part of the town, with suitable streets, a public square, market place, grounds for church purposes, the " A.-suniption cemetery," Catholic cemetery - which he named Assumption, after his own plantatiem in Louisiana, virtually making but one town, though having two name.s. Taeusa was first surveyed by C. A. Manners, Kov. 1 , 1865, including the addition, and the name was changed to Assun)]itiou. The Canadian colonists, in 1857, mo.sth' settled in Malhiot's addition, and the town began to assume greater proportions. They erected twenty or thirty dwelling houses, a large three-story storehouse, a warehouse, a blacksmith shop and other buildings.

Marcus L. Barrett, a native of Massachusetts, came here from Pennsylvania, April 9, 1857, and kept a boarding-house for railroad hands. In a short time he purchased the lot and store-house. occupied by Williams and Hillabrant, and laid in a new stock of general store goods. He has since erected a block of building*, and has continued in business ever since he came here.

Joseph Mercer, a native of Virginia, next built and opened a general store. The ne.\t store w:is built by Horace Moorhouse, from Decatur, who opened a stock of general hardware.

In 1858 there were, in the older part of the town, a good store kept by Barrett and Seymour; a lumber yard by Charles 0?tcll ; a cabinet-maker shop; a blacksmith shop, and a variety of other mechanics. A post-office had been established with Geo. Hillabrant, as the first post-master. The population at this date- had increased to four hundred.

In 1858 a large flouring mill was erected by E. E. Malhiot. In connection with this he kept a large stock of sugar, from his Louisiana plantation, which he sold at wholesale jjrices to the citizens of Assumption township.

In the summer of ls59 Jacob Overholt and William A. Williams sunk a shaft 219 feet in search of coal, but were di.-a])pointed in finding it in paying quantities.

For some fifteen years after the location of the station Assumj>- tion was a point fir the shipment of all the goods and produce to and from Taylorville. It was the nearest station, and was fourteen miles distant. Large consignments of goods for Taylorville were received at Assumption. The great number of teams that were daily passing between these points added materiallv to the life and business interests of the place.

March 24th, 1866, a meeting was held by the citizens for the ]Hirpose of voting on incorporating the town, which resulted in 43 votes in iixvor and 3 against. An election was held March 31st, 1866, and the following trustees were elected : J. S. Mercer, L. A. Hoit, S.' Madison Moore, JI. H. Kibbe, E. E. Davidson. At the first meeting of the board J. S. fiercer was chosen president and A. B. Hammer clerk.

The Post Office was established in 1856, and George W. Hillabrant was the first post- master. The succeeding ones have been F. A. Seymour and J. A. Bridge.

The Catholic Church was built on tlie grounds donated by Mr. ]Malhiot, for that purpose, in 1858. Most of the Canadian population were of that faith. More recently they have erected a new and sightly structure.

The Presbyterian Church was the first Protestant church organized in Assumption. By authority from the Sangamon Presbvterv, May 7, 1859, Eev. H. R. Lewis organized tlie above church at the residence of Marcus L. Barrett. There were twenty-four member.s. S. C. Sheller and Wm. J. Calhoun were chcseti ruling ciders. The first communion was held the next day, March 8th, at the re.sidence of Jaejl) 0/erholt. There was no Protestant church or hall iu the place. The regular preaching exercises of the Sabbath were held in the railroad depot. A small church building was erected and dedicati'd June 23d, 1861, during the ministration e)f the Rev. Chirk Loudon.

There are at present five churches in the town, viz : Presbyterian, Baptist, Christian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic, all of which have neat and comfortable edifices.

had f(ir its business men gentlemen of energy and enterjirisc, who have spared no pains in advaneing the interests of the phiee. There are aliunt eight hundred iidialiitants.

Surrounded as it is, with a large nuinlier of well-improvi d and liighly-cultivated farms, Assumption is quite a shijiping point, aswill be seen from the list of h.adul ears shipped from here daring the year 1S79; - 307 car Inads of eorn, 278 of wheat, 89 i>f oats, 5 of rve, « of tlax see<l, 80 of hay, ;'i!» of hogs, 12 of cattle, and 5 of potatoes, making in value upward ot §150,000 shipped during the year.

The Asiuiiiption Grange, "So. Wo, was chartered November oil, 1873. The charter members numbered thirty. It now has a large membership, and is in a flourishing condition.

Cistom Mill And Elevator Assumption Merchant Mills

was erected in 1850, and is owned and operated by Overholt Bros. Has a run of three burrs. It is the oldest steam mill now running in the county.

Commercial Iiou.Se

The subject of the f illowiiig skeli'h is a native of Syracuse, Onondaga countN, New Yolk. He was born September 7th, 1835. His father, Mitclnl liirer, was a native born of the same co\inty and state. He followed the trade of .-hoomaking. In the spring of 1847, he moved to ]\lieliigan and settled in Braneli euunly, where he remained until his death, March 5th, 1804. On tin' r.lth of Februarv, 1832, he married Mary Campbell. She was a native of the same county and state. She at present lives with her daughter in Steuben county, Indiana. There were seven children born to them, three boys and four girls. J. M. Birce is the eldest son and second child in the family. His education was first obtained iu the common schools of Michigan. As lie grew to manhood his time was employed at work upon the farm. When at the age of nineteen he atten<led two terms at the Academy in Albion, Michigan, and then engaged in teaching jchool. He continued at the acailemy for three years, filling in the winter monllis in teaching. In this way he succeeded in getting a good education. He also attended two terms in Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, after which he worked on a farm and taught school. During this time he made up his mind to adopt the profession of law as the business of his life, and with this idea in view he read the standard text-books on that subject.

In the fall of 1800, he entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and, in the spring of 1861, was admitted to practice. He commenced the practice at Big-Rapids, in the northern part of the state, where he remained but two months, then returned homo, and remained there until 1865, whea he came to Assumption, Christian county, and worked at the carpenter trade until the fall of the same year, when he recommenced the j)ractice of his profession, and has so continued to the jiresent time.

On the 2d of April, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary W. Litllc. She is a native of New York, but was a resident of Michigan at the time of her marriage. By this union there have been two children, a bo}' and a girl, named Charles Mitchel and Stella Birce, aged respectively twelve and five years. In politics Mr. Birce is a republican. He cast his first vote for James Buchanan in i8-56, and Steplien A. Douglas in 1860. After the breaking out of the war he arrayed himself on the side of frecd(mi and e institutional liberty, and from that time to the present has voted and acted with the republican party. He is active in the cause, and ma)' be regarded as a stalwart. He has been frequently honoretl by being elected to offices of honor and trust in the county, and has represented his township no less than nine times on the Board of Supervisors, and this too, notwithstanding he belongs to the political party that is considerably In the minority in his township.

This is good and sufficient evidence of his standing and worth as a man and citizen. In 1877, he was republican candidate for the office of State's Attorney, but was defeated by a slight majority. He at present is a member of the town board of trustees, and has been town clerk since September, 1866, fourteen years. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is at present the W. M., of Bromwell Lodge, No. 4.51, A. F. & A. M., and is a bright and active Mason.

Upon the subject of temperance he is a prohibitionist. Mr. Birce. as a man, is much respected. As a lawyer he ranks with the best who practice at the bar of Christian county.

F. O. Pigeon

F. O. PIGEON Was born in Canada, June 20th, 1837. He received a liberal education in the schools of his native country. At an early age he entered a dry-goods and general store, and learned merchandizing. At the age of eighteen he concluded to go to New Orleans, and there engage iu mercantile pursuits. On his way there he stopped at Assumption, and here met a friend who induced him to give up his New Orleans trip and remain here. His first work was in a general store in the village of Assumption, owned by 'Sir. Barrett. This was iu 1857.

In 18.58, Mr. Pigeon opened a grocery and provision store. The same year he received a large contract from the Illinois Central Railroad Company to get out ties for the road. During his engagement with the railroad company he had as many as two hundred and fifty men in his employ. He furnished the ties from Joncsboro to Pulaski. In 1860, he made the trip to Pike's Peak, arriving there in July of the same year. In 1862, he sold out his grocery business. His object was to go to Wi;cousin. He stopped iu Chicago and purchased dry-goods to the amount of nine thousand dollars. These he took to Evansville, Wisconsin, and opened a store. This was in September, 1862. He remained in Evansville until February, 1863. His stock had increased in the meantime to eighteen thousand dollars. He then sold out the entire stock at an advance of ten per cent. ; returned to Chicago and settled up in full with the merchants of that place, who had kindly sold him the goods on time. When he made the purchase he was not in the possession of a dollar, but such was their confidence in his honesty, integrity and business capacity, that thev furnished him all the stock he wanted on his simple promise to pav. After settling he went to. Canada.

In the spring of 1864, he put in a stock of goods at Raxton Falls, Canada, where he remained until the 1.5th of April, 1865, when he came back to Assumption, Illinois, and opened a stock of dry-goods.

In 18:16, his brother Alphonse came from Canada, and was taken in as a partner. The firm of F. O. Pigeon & Brother continued until 1871, when F. O. Pigeon retired from the concern and went back to Canada, and remained two years. During his stay there he purchased a farm for his father and mother.

Ill 1873, he established a dry-goods house at (Ottawa, Canada. His youngest brother, H. H. Pigeon, who had been a clerk in the dry-goods house of J. V. Farwell & Co., of Chicago, came and assisted as clerk. He remained in Ottawa until 1874, when he sold o;it to his brother, H. H. Pigeon. He returned to Assumption an<l went into the store with his brother Alphonse, where he remained until 1877, when he commenced the grain and lumber trade, in which he has continued to the present time.

On the 1st of May, 1861, he was united in marriage to Jliss Lcapoldine Beauchanip. She is also a native of Canada. Mrs. Pigeon is an accomplished lady, and was educated at the Convent of Longuiel, Canada. She speaks fluentlv both the English and French languages, and is also well educated in the classical ?anguages, and well informed upim the current literature of the past and present.

Slv. Pigeon is one of the representative and prominent business men of the county. In addition to his mercantile pursuits, he has also dealt largely in real estate, and has at the present time a considerable body of land iu the county. He is also, in addition to his grain business, engaged in buying and selling real estate. In politics he is a democrat, and in religion a Roman Catholic.

Thus have we briefly sketched !Mr. F. O. Pigeon. In all of his busy life, and in his many business transactions, he has always sustained the reputation of a strictly honest and honorable man, meeting his obligations promptly and paying the last farthing. He has kept up his reputation with the merchants of Chicago, and iu his native country. This wa- the reasou he could purchase any amount of goods upon any reasonable time.

In his manners he is a polite, affable and agreeable gentleman, of good address and easy conversation, and one whom it is a genuine pleasure to meet. A view of his fine residence and farm can be seen on another page of this work.

The Cohenour family is of Welsh and German extraction on the paternal side and Irish on the maternal. The ancestors came to America long before the revolutionary war and settled in Pennsylvania, where John Cohenour, the paternhl grandfather, was born iu 1794. He was a native of Lancaster county. He came to Illinois in 1836 and settled in Pike county-, where he remained until his death, in 1869. He married Dorotha Lawrence; she also died in Pike countv, Ills. Jacob N. Cohenour, the father of William L., was born in Lancaster county. Pa., Dec. 11, 1811. He married Jane Likely, of Huntingdon county, Pa. She was born April 8 1811. Jlr. Cohenour came west in the fall of 1836, and landed in Pike county Nov. 4th of the same year. He was a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade, and worked at the business for a number of years. He remained in Pike county until his death, which occurred Nov. 15th, 1868. His wife died iu the same county April 9th, 1857. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Nancy Jane West. She died June 1.3th, 1S61. He afterwards married Sarah Layton. She died in 1869. By the first marriage there were nine children, four of whom are living. By the second one child, and by the third one boy, named Elmer Cohenour. William L., the subject of this sketch, is the second child by the first marriage. He was born in Pike county Sept. 10th. 1837.

mv :it ritt-iiilil, niiil rccrivi'il ;i fair eihu-iitioii in tlie Eii,i;lisli Iji-iiiicliis, .-^ndicioiit iit Ini^t tn lit iiim for the iirofession of toacliiiig- Al the UL'i' of fi.jlitiTM hiiiitcnMl a i;eii(r:il in Pitt.sfiolil, where he reiiiaiiiril a >horl lime, tin n wi nt In Xi'W Saliiii and siniit several yrar- in a ir'^ni fal stnrr. He llun spent one yrar in Kan.-as, anil nn liis rrtnrn In Illinois stoppcil in St. Clair I'liunty, where he f .lluwe.l leaehin- fur three years. ( »n the Kith i.f 1 )eeenilier, l.sii.!, he \va~ nnitril in inarriajje to Mi.ss Mary S. Moore, who is a nativi' of St. ( 'lair r iuntv. The Moore family is :in old one, and earne tn Illiiioi.s belnre tile State wa,* admitted into the Union. After lii.s marriage Mr Cohenonr removed to Bond county, and in the spring of 18G5 came to ClirLstian eounty and settled in Assninptiou township, wdicre he has continued to reside, engaged in farming. Six children have been born to I\Ir. and Mrs. Cohenour. Their names arc Charles Albert, Jacob Atlas, William Likely, Mirtie Jane, Plenry Howard and Cora Josephine All are yet beneath the parental roof. Pie is a democrat in politics. His first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas in ]860, since which time he has been a member of that political organization. He at present represents his township in the Board of Supervisors. His wife is a member (if the JI. E. Church. He is in habits a temperance man. He was in 1870 elected Justice of the Peace, and held the office for one term. His neighbors say of him that he is a good neighbor and nn honnrable, upright man, who has many friends wherever he is kiidwii.

The Coonrod family, on the paternal side, areof German extrac tion. Stephen Coonrod, father of the present family, was a native of Harden county, Ky. He was horn in 1797. He emigrated to Illinois in hSl'J, and settled in Wayne eounty, where he remained nine years,' after which he moved to Greene county, and located near Greenfield, and remained there until his death, which event occurred in December, 1872. His oceupation was that of a farmer. He was also a regularly ordained Bapli-t minister. Ih' inanied Candice Lee ; .she was born in 180!). Slic was also a native n|' Kentucky. The marriage was solemnized prior to Mr Coonrod's coming to Illinois. She died in Xovemlier, 18711. There were ten children born to them, eight of whom are living. The subject of this sketch is the seventh in the family. He was born in Greene county, Illinois, December 2d, 1830. He was reared on the farm and attended school during winter. Ilis advantages for receiving an education in his youth were exceedingly limited. lie remained at home until he was twenty-six years of age. He then went into Greenfield with his father, and in connection with his brother, engaged in general merchandizing, in which he continued until 18(i(j, when, in January of that year, he went to I'rairietmi township in Christian eoinily, whrrc ho lirel a i'arni, and for the next two years, engaged in the i-ukivati.m ol'tli - -oil He tle'ii went tn Maeon, in Macon county. Ills., where he remained one year, then one year in Stonington, and then came to Assumption and opened a drygoods store. One year later le"' sold out the store, an 1 six months afterwards engagnl in the groei'iv and iirnvi-ion bu.-inc-s, in which he has e iiitinnid tn the ]iresei]t.

On the 21.-t of Si-pteiiil»T, lS7i). In- was nniled in niariiage to Jliss Bettic li. Chiltnn, a native nf Virginia, but a resident of Jersey eounty at the tine' of her m.uriage. He and his wife are members of tie' Christian Church. He is an active and earnest worker in the ehiireh, and contributes very liberally towards its maintenance In polities he is a democrat. His first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas fir pivsiilent in 18i;0. On the subject of teniperanei' he is an advocate nl'lhi.' e.iusi>. He has been a menilirr of the lioard of trustees of his village. In his walk and conversation, Mr. Coonrnil is an upright Christian gentleman, and an honorable ni;in Such is the verdict of his friends and neighbors who have known him for a number of years. It is with pleasure tiiat we present him to our many readers, as one of the stirring, active business men of Assumiition.

Dudley J. Watson

The ^\'atsnn family on the paternal side are of English descent, and on the maternal, Irish. His grandfather, Nathaniel Watson, was a native of Virginia, and moved to Kentucky at an early day. Ilis son, Dudley (t., lather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Andei>on county, Ky., in 1812. He grew to manhood, married and remained in that state until the spring of 18-')7, when hs came to Illinois and .settled in Prairieton township. Christian county, w here he has remained to the present time engaged in farming, which has been the principal business of his life. He is also a regularly ordained minister in the Baptist Church. He married Jane Robison. She was also Ivirn and raised in Anderson county, Ky. Twelve children have been born to them, six boys and six girls. Ten of the children are still living. Dudley J. is the fourth in the i'aniily. He was born in Anderson county, Ky., June 11th, 1841. His schooling was obtained in his native state, and after he came with his father to Illinois. He remained and made his home at hi.s father's house until he was twenty-eight years of age, but he praclicallv commenced life for himself after he was sixteen years of age.

On the 28th of October, 1SU8, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah McDaniel. Her parents were natives of Kentucky. She, however, was born in Indiana, and came with her parents to Illinois wdiile she wa,s yet in her childhood. She was a resident of Mo.squito township, Christian county, at the time of her marriage. On the 5th of March, 187o, Mr. Watson came to Assumption and engaged in the grocery, provision, boot and shoe trade, in which he continued for five years, when he sold out, and in the fall of 1877 Commenced the business of baling, dealing in and shipping hay, in which he still continues.

Mr. \V. and his wife are members of the Christian Church of .Vssumption. He takes an active interest in that Christian organizatiini, and is among its most liberal supporters. He is a member of Bromwell Lodge, .V. F. & A. JI. No. 451, Assumption, Ills. Upon the subject of temperance he is radical, and an active advocate of the same.

In politics he cast his first presidential vote in 1864 for Gen. Geo. B. JlcClellan, and from that time to the present has been a prominent member of that political organization.

Mr. Watson is an old settler of the county. He came here in 1857, and since that time has been known as an honorable, upright citizen and hoiie.-t man.

S. A. e^- J. C. SILVFER. 'fur. sulijrets of the folliiw ing sketch were born in Fairfield county, Ohio, nn tin' 7tli of Nov , 1851, and 7tli of July, 1852. TheShafer i'aniilv is an nM one in the history of that state. Their great uncle, .\li.-alom .Shafer, was the first wdiite child born in Fairfield cnnntv. < ieo. A. Shafer, the father of the present family, was born in that state, as was aNn his firther before him. They were farmers and tillers of the snil. Some of them also engaged in the tanning bu.-iness. Gen. A. Shafer came west in 1854 and settled in Shelby cnunty, Illinois. Reentered two hunilred acres of land in Christian county. He sold out six months later at an advance of six dollars per aer.'. and then rennved to Tazewell eounty, in this

History Of Christian Couxty, Illinois

State, and .settled two miles east of Washington, where he remained until 1873, when ho removed to Christian county and settled in Assumption township, whera he at present resides. He married Catharine A. M3'ers. She is a native of Fairtii'ld c'liiuty. (5hio. Her father was a Penn.sylvanian by birth ; they were also an old family and among the first settlers of Ohio. There were seven rhildren born to them, four boys and three girls, all living except one son, who died in infanev- The education of the subjects of this sketch was obtained in the common schools of Tazewell county. They made rapid progress in their studies, and are now well qualified to carry on successfully tlie busine.-s of life. Both remained at home at work on the farm until 1872, when S. A. came to Assumption township, where he farmt?d during the summer month-, and returned to Tazewell county and taught school through the winter. He thus farmed and taught school for three terms. In 1877 he came to the village of Assumption and engaged in the hardware, tinware and agricultural implement trade. At that time he was associated in the business with J. K. Edmunds. This partnership lasted for seven months, w hen Edmunds retired and Charles Kincaide took his place and remained four months, after which J. C. Shafer, one of the subjects of this sketch, came in, and from that time to the present the firm of S. A. Shafer & Co. has continued. Both are young, active anil live business men, and it will be no fiiult of theirs if the community in which they live are not supplied with everything in their line of trade. Their stock is large, and consequently they are in a condition to supply the public with what they want. The additional fact that they sell goods at very small margins gives them a large trade through the surrounding country.

In politics they belong to the republican party. P.oth are members of the Independent Order of Forresters. S. A. is a member of the United Brethren Church, as are also his father and mother. J. C. and other members of the family are members of the J\I. E. Church. Both are members of the temperance organization and advosates of tho caus?.

John B. Kemerer

JOHN B. KEMERER Was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, near Lancaster, June 14, 18o7. The family on the the paternal side is of German ancestry, and on the maternal Swiss. Philip Kemerer, the paternal grandfather, emigrated from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Ohio in 1801, while that state was yet under territorial form of government. During ihe first administration of General Jackson, Philip Kemerer received a grant of 1000 acres, in consideration of services rendered as one of the pioneers of the state. The grant was located in Rn-s county. It was then not considered valuable, but since that time the city of Chillicothe has been erected upon it. Philip Kemeier died in Ohio. His son Joseph, and father of the present sketch, was born in Lancaster county. Pa. He died in Ohio, in September, 1847. His death occurred from milk-sickness, at the town of Finley, where he was on his way to Indiana to enter laud. He married Salome Bowser. She was of Swiss parentage. Her parents came to America about the close of the Revolutionary war. She was a resident of Ohio at the time of her marriage. She died in Assumption township, Christian county, Illinois, in September, 1868. There were ten children in the fomily - si.^ sons and four daughters. The eldest and two youngest sous are dead, leaving seven children who have survived the parents. Mrs. Kemerer came west to Christian county, in April, 1856. John B. had preceded them two years. He came here in the spring of 1854, and put up a shanty on the prairie, on land that the family had entered prior to this time. They had entered some 1200 acres. At the time he built his house, it was the only one on the prairie. After the fiimily fame, he made his home with them until 1859, when, in the spring of that year, he, in company with six others, made the trip to Pike's Peak. They left in March and arrived in Denver in June, and in July reached the Peak. While there, he was engaged for the most part in mining. He remained there for eighteen months, and then returned home. On the 7th of August, 1862, he enlisted in company G, 116th Regt. Ills. Inf'v. The regiment was raised in Christian and Macon counties, and was organized and rendezvoused at Camp !Macon, in Decatur. From there they were ordered to Jlemphis, and were attached to the Army of the Tennessee. They participated in the battles of Mission Ridge and Atlanta campaign, after which the regiment went with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. While in the service he was sightly wcundcd twice. He was mustered out June 7, 1865, at the close of the war, near Washington City, and discharged at Springfield, Illinois.

On the 7th of November, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Chambers, a native of Licking county, Ohio. She was burn Sept. 27, 1841. Her father, James Chambers, was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother was Nancy Lyons before marriage. She was born in County Antrim, in the north of Ireland. The date of her birth was 1812. She came with her father's family to America in 1825. Mrs. Kemerer was a resident of Montgomery county. Ills., at the time of her marriage. She came to Illinois in 1864. By this marriage there are three children - two daughters and one son. Their uames are Alma Adelia, Westcla Alfretta, and John JIartin Kemerer. 5Ir. K. and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

In politics, he is a republican. He was formerly a Douglas democrat. He is a member of Bromwell Lodge, No. 451, A F. ifc A. M. His wife is also a member of the Eastern Star Ma.sonry.

Mr. Kemerer is one of the old settlers of the township. When he came iierc the country was one broad expanse of unbroken prairie, over which roamed herds of deer, flocks of wild turkeys and wolves. Here ho has spent the best years of his life. He has seen the country grow from a comparative wilderness to be one of the favored spots in central Illinois, the landscape dotted over with farm-houses and thrifty villages. In life he has been reasonably successful. Few men have more friends, and none arc more kindly spoken of than John B. Kemerer and his excellent wife.

Miles B. Travis

MILES B. TRAVIS. Thi-: subject of this sketch is a native of Indiana county, Pa. lie was born January 2od, 1851. His father, Thomas M. Travis, is a native of the same state. He came to Shelby county. Ills., in 1855, and remained there until 1869, when he settled in Assumption, Christian county, where he still resides. He married Jane G. Barrett. She is a native of Virginia. There were thirteen children born to them, five of whom are living; the others all died in infarcy, except o.ic daughter, Cora C, who died in her thirtieth year. Miles B. is the third in the family. He received a good education in the excellent .schools of Assumption. In 1872, he engaged in the drug business, in which he has continued to the present time. On the 26th of Oct., 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Adams, a native of Ohio. She was a resident, however, of Assumption at the time of her marriage. There has been one child, a boy, born to them, named Lange B. Travis. He and his wife are members of the Pre.^bvterian Church. He is a member of the I. ( ). ( ). F., and is a radical temperance man and a strong advocate of tlie cause. In politics he votes the republican ticket. He ha.s, as stated above, been engaged in the drug trade since 1872. Mr. Travis is very ace immodating, of a pleasing address, and understands his business

Was honi in ('Iianiiiai5:n coiintT, « )liin, Jnly Odth, 18:i-5. The Milligau family is of Iri-li ancestry William, the paternal L;ranclfiitluT, in eniiipany with a hmther, eame from Ireland tu Anierita ahoiit the close of the revolutionary war. lie settled in Pennsylvania wlierc, in ITIto, William, his son, and father of the subject of the present sketch, was born. He was a tanner by trade, and carried on that business through life. He removed to Ohio between the years 1825 and 1830, and remained in that state during the balance of his life. He died in l«iy. He married Eliza Pollock. She was a native of Ohio county, Virginia. She survived her hns- JKind many years. Sunc years after his death she came west to Taylorvilh', Cliri-t;aa county, to join her children, and tiled there in November, 1870, at the home of Samuel Milligan, her eldest son. There were nine children by this union, five of whom have survived the parents. James R is the fifth sou in the family of eight boys and one girl. His education was obtained in the common schools of his native county. His father dying while he was yet young, he was deprived of the advantages of such an education as usually fidls to the lot of most youths. He was compelled at an early age to provide for his own maintenance, and made his home with his mother until his marriage. He worked around the country in the meantime, at such work as ho could find to do. In 1851, he commenced running a .steam engine. He remained at that business until 1857, when he came west to Illinois, and stopped in Taylorville with his brother Samuel, who had preceded him there the year befiire. The first four years in Illinois were spent in farming. In 18:11 ho removed to Taylorvillc, and worked for W. W. Anderson. In the fall of 1802 he went into the Forrest City mills, and continued there until April, 1S6G, wdien ho removed to Assumption, Christian county, Illinois, and there, in connection with Charhs Powel and Reuben Wilkinson, purchased a stock of lumber and engaged in the lumber, coal and grain trade. The partnership continued until 1871, when Charles Percy purchased Powel's interest. In 1875 Wilkinson retired, and since that time the firm of Milligan & Percy has continued the business. In 1871 the company built the present elevator and mill combineil, and since that time have also engaged in milling.

On the 29th of Ajiril. 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss jMargaret McCaHrey. She was Ijorn and raised in Covington, Ky. Seven children have been born to them - two .sous and five daughters. Their names are Mary Alice, Id;i Bell, Je.sse Anderson, now a resident of Diamond Springs, Morris ceuinty, Kansas, James Lawrence, May, Laurie and Lillie Jlilligan. All except Jessie A. are yet at home. IJoth he and his estimable wife and tuo eldest daughters are mendiers of the Christian Church. Hi- lakes an active part in sustaining that ('liii>lian organization, and gives liberally of his means to that end. In politics he gives in his adherence to the republican party. 11.' may lie classed among the original re- )iublicans, as his first presidential vote was east for John C. Fremont, in 1850, since wliieh time he has been a member of that |)olitieal jiarty. lie is an advoeateof the temperance cause, and has heeii iVe<|Uently elected as trustee of his village upon the Temperance Ticket. He has al<o been President of the P.oanl f ir several terms. He is a meml. r of the am-ieiit and honorable order of Freema>oiiry,aiid takes an aetiviparl iiitlMM\oiL ami delilieiations ofthat b .dy. lie has faithfiillv served the craft in tlie " lOaM " for a number of years, where he has presided with dignity and acoeptaliilitv, becoming the executive officer of a Lodge of Masons He is a bright Mason ami a good worker in the order.

This is briefly a sketch of the life of one of Assumption's active business men and best citizens. His life has been a success, not so much, perhaps, in the accumulation of great riches, but in the gathering together of sufficient of this world's goods to make him comfortable, and in the possession of good health and a mind freed from the perplexing, arduous duties of life, which corrode and frecpiently make existence a burden. He started in life unaided. What he has, has been the result of a life of industry, economy and frugality. He is liberal minded and charitable, and gives freely of his means to every worthy object. In the comnmnity -where he resides none stand hiiilier, nor have more character for integrity and honcstv than Mr. Milliiian.

T. F. Ras15Ach

The subject of this sketch is of Dutch descent. His grandparents were natives of Holland, and were among the early settlers of New York. His father, John M., was born in Herkimer county, ill that state. He was a contractor upon the public works fif the state. He remained in New York until his death, which occurred in 1858. He married Rosanna DeLong, who was of French ancestry. She died in 1852. There were fourteen children born to them, eight sons and six daughters. Seven of the sons are still living. Thaddeus F. is the seventh son and the twelfth child. He was born on the German Flatts, Herkimer county. New York, September 15, 1842. His boyhood days were .spent at home, and in the fcliools of his native county. His father being an invalid and dying while Thaddeus was quite young, he was compelled at an early age to provide for his own support. The first work he did was to clerk in a dry-goods store in Herkimer village, where he remained for two years. He then came west to Chicago, and from there to Sycamore, in DeKalli county, and clerked at the latter I)lace one winter, then came to Clinton, in DeWitt county, and from there in 1857, went into the Illinois railroad as newsboy, then brakesman, baggage master and up to conductor. He remained in the cmplovment of the Illinois Central road until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as a private in Co. "C," 13th Illinois Volunteers, for three years. Col. J. B. Wyman commanding. He went out in April, 1801, under the three months calls, and was sworn in to the three years .service on the 4th of May following. The regiment went to Caseyville, near St. Louis, laid there two weeks, and on the 5th of July, passed through St. Louis to Rolla, IMissouri. The first regular battle in which the regiment engaged, was at the assault on Vicksburg, in December, 18G1, in which they suffered severely. The command was better known as " Wyman's Brigade." They were more familiarly known as " Wyman's Grey Backs," from the fact that tlu-y had suits of rebel grey, one tliousanil of which had been (-aptured and sent to them, and worn by them as uniforms. After the battle of Vicksburg, the command came to Arkansas Post, and was in the engagement and capture of that place, after which they went to JMemphis, then to Pittsburg Landing, and from there followed Sherman in his famous march to the sea. After the battle of Vicksburg, Mr. Rasbach was taken sick and sent into hospital. He afterwards went with the regiment to Arkansas Post, and was in the battle, and also went to Pittsburg ]>aniling. There he again was sent to hospital, and from there was sent home on a forty days furlough. His furlough expired before he recovered ; he had it renewed, and when it again expired, his time of enlistment was out, and he dirl not return to the regiment.

He never fully recovered from the sickness while in the army, and it was two years after the date of his enlistment expired before he gained sufEeicnt strength to help himself. His discharge bears date .September 10, 1864. The first winter after his recovery he went back on the Illinois Central railroad, and stayed until spring. lu May, 1867, he went to New Orleans, and sold wooden- ware, brooms and brushes for his brother who was in business in that place. He remained ten months, then went to Galveston and Houston, Texas, and went to work on the Washington branch of the Houston and Texas Central railroad as conductor, where he remained for two years there and on the main line. He then returned north and went to work on the North Division of the Illinois Central. In 1869, he was sent by the company to El Paso, as yard-master. He afterwards was assistant in the freight office, and took charge of the baggage for the I C. and T. P. & W. railroads. From El Paso in April, 1871, he was sent to Assumption as station agent, and has been here up to the present. In 1874, he started in the hotel business in addition to his other duties, which he also continues. Ou the 11th of October, 18^8, he was united in marriage to Mirs Elizabeth Malone, a resident of Joe Davis county, Illinois. By this marriage there has been two children. The eldest, Julia May, died in her ninth year. Edith Estelle is yet living, a bright and winsome child. In politics Mr. Rasback is a republican. He is a member of the Lodge of A. F. & A. 51., No. 451, Assumption, Illinois. Both he and his wife arc members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a temperate man and an advocate of the cause. In this community where he has lived for a number of yiars he is regarded as an ujjright and honorable man. As an officer and station agent he is polite, aflable and accommodating, and gives good satisfaction to the patrons of the road, as well as to his employers.

J. A. Bridge

J. A. BRIDGE The Bridge family on the paternal .side are of Irish ancestry, and on the maternal German. The paternal grandfather was a native of New Jersey. He at an early day removed to Indiana, where he was killed by the Indians. Thomas Bridge, his son and father of J. A. was born in Butler county, Ohio. He is a farmer and blacksmith. He is now a resident of Camden, Preble ccunty, Ohio. He married Susan Wolf, who was born in the same county. Her father, John Wolf moved from Virginia to Ohio at an earlv day, and was one of the first settlers of that state. By this marriage there were three children, two boys and one girl. The subject of this sketch was the first-born. He first saw the light of d.ay in Preble county, Ohio, October 31, 1840. His youth was spent upon the farm and in the schools of his native county. After receiving a fair education in the common schools he spent one year in the Ohio Wesleyan University. When the war broke out he was among the first to enlist under the first three months call. He was a member of Co. " F," 20ih Regt. Ohio Vols. The regiment was ordered to West Virginia, and remained there doing provost duty until time of enlistment expired, when they were mustered out and he returned home and remained at work upon the farm until 1864, when he again enlisted in the 156th Regt., O. V., and did duty iu Eastern Virginia and Jlarylaud. The date of his enlistment expired in 1865. He then returned home and worked al the tanning business for one year and a half. In the spring of 1868 he came to Illinois and settled in Assumption. Here ho farmed for nine months, when he returned to Ohio and taught school one winter. In the fall of 1870 he returned to Assumption and went to work on the elevator that was then building, and afterwards weighed grain for Wilkinson <fe Co. for three years, then bought grain fur Cornner, afterward lor F. (_). Pigeon. He continued grain buying until 1877, when he was appointed postmaster. He then opened a stock of groceries and provisions in connection with the post-office, and slill continues in that trade.

In politics he has been a republican since 1864, when he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He was townjliip collector for six years, and appointed pott master in 1877, and now performs the duties of that office in a manner acceptable to the citizens of Assumption and viciiiify. He is a respected member of Bromwell Lodge A. F. tt A. !M. No. 451, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1863.

On the 10th of March, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss H. F. Mauzy. She is a native of Preble county, Ohio. One child, a son named Herschel L., is the fruit of this union ; he is engaged in farming. Mrs. Bridge is a member of the Christian Church. As a man Mr. Bridge has the confidence and esteem of his fellowcitizens. During the past year Mr. Bridge has also been engaged in buying and shipping live stoi-k.

Jame5 Ridge

JAME5 RIDGE. Tuis gentleman, one of the early settlers of Assumption township, is a native of England, and was born at the village of Stoke Rivers, Devonshire, on the 11th of January, 1829. His father was James Ridge, and his mother's maiden name was Charity Leworthey. He was raised in the vicinity where he was born. March 1st, 1851, he married Sarah Tucker, who was born iu the adjoining parish of Swirabridge. He had resolved to come to America, and consequentl v left England April 3d, 1851, and landed with his young wife at Quebec, May 5th, and from that place they came immediately to Illinois; an elder brother of his wife had settled in Greene count)-, of this State, and they went to that locality. Mr. Ridge was farming then until the spring of 1860, and then moved on a tract of land which he had purchased the preceding fall in Christian county. He began improving this tract. He was one of the early settlers on the prairie in his neighborhood. Mr. Ridge has since been farming in Assmnp'.ion township, and owns two huuc'reJ and seventv-six acres of land. He has two children, David James, who is farming for himself in Assumption township, and Sarah Ann. One child died in infancy. Mr. Ridge, in his politics, has been a member of the republican party ever since he took an interest in public affairs. His fir^t vote for President was cast for Abraham Lincoln Such is a brief sketch of one of the industrious and iii)right citizens of Asi-^umption township.

Francis D. Malhiot

The Malliiots were principally interested in the cstablishnjcnt of the French colony at A.ssumption. The family came from France to Canada about two hundred years ago, and settled at St. Peters, on the St. Lawrence river. Michael Malhiot, the father of F. D. Malhiot, was born at St. Peters, and took as his wife Marie Louite Deraars.

Francis D. Malhiot was born on the 6th of March, 1816, and was the next to the youngest of a family of ten children. He was raised at vSt. Peters. His father was one of the wealthiest farmers of that part of Canada. He received a good education, and began the studv of law soon after attaining his majority. While he was a student in the law office the rebellion of 1837 broke out, and he joined his fortunes with those of the insurgents, volunteering in a company of soldiers raised in Montreal. He took part in one or

In 1841), the year of the {.nvat excitement etinsei|Uent on the dicovcry of goltl on the Pacific coast, he wi nt to (California. Per llirce years and a-lialf he wa.s engaged in ndninu- gold, most of the time Hear Soiiora. Hi.s sncces.s was eniial lo that of mo>t of the g(dd .se(kers who throngx'd to California in e.xpeetation of an easy fortune. (.)n returning to Canada he built another saw-niill, at N'ietoria, on the Grand Trunk Railway. He had lUie flour-mill and two .saw-mills in operation at the same time.

In the year 1857 his brother, E E. Malhiot, purchased thirty si ctious (jf land, mostly in Assumption townshiji. Christian co , Ills. Francis D. Malhiot bought one section. They brought from Canada abou t one hundred French families, anil settled them on difi'ercnt portions of these tracts of land. The history of this colony is already well known to the people of the ciainty, iind is spoken of elsewhere in this work. !Many of the French iamilies still reside in that part of the county. The land was purchased from the Illinois Coiitral Railroad Companv. They founded the t jwn of -Vssuinption, receiving its name from the parish of Assumption, in Louisiana, in which Colonel E. E. Malhiot had his home. The former name of the railroad station was Tacusa. The house which Mr. ]\Ialhiot now occupies was the first built on the prairie i:i A.ssiimption township, and he has lived in it since 18.57.

Mr. and Mrs. Malhiot have had eleven cliildren, whose names are as follows: Marie Louise, now the wife of Lawrence Panneton, of Assumption town.slHp; Theodule P., now in the inercaiitile business at Radford; Arthur, who died of consumption, in 1872, at the age of twenty-three ; Marie Melvina, whose de.ith occurred in the year 1875, at the tige of twenty-twii; (_'lara jMarie, Philip X,

Politically, the Malhiot family has been attached to the democratic partv ever since their residence in the United States, and all its nundiers vote that ticket. E. E- IMaihiot died in Assumption tow n-liip, in 1875, and his family now reside in Louisiana. Francis I). Malhiot, since his residence in this county, has been altogether engaged in liirming. He has been eiiie of the best citizens of Assumption township, and is held in much respect for his many excellent traits of character. Though he has jiassed the vigor of youth, lie is fond of travel, and po.ssesses some of that sjiirit of adventure whieh seems to be never wholly absent from the French-Canadian lilood. After the discovery of gohl at the Black Hills, he went out to that licality, more for recreation and with the ]iurpose of regaining his health than with the object of seeking gold, ;,nd spent four months there during the year 1877.

Theodule F. Malhiot

Was born at St. Peters, Canada, on the 11th of Augu-st, 184G, and is the oldest son, and the third child, of a family of eleven children. He lived in Camida till 1857, when he accompanied his father to t hristiau county. He attended scliool in Canada before leaving that countrv, and the public schools of Assumption after coming to this couutv. For two years he was a student at St. Joseph College, at Teiitopolis, in Effingham county. He was seventeen years old when he left that institution, and afterward attended a course at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, at Springfield, with the purpose of fitting himself for a mercantile career. After leavintr school he was employed fir a time on his father's farm. From l.SCiS to 1.S7(.) he was in L uiisiana, spending the time principally on his uncle's plantation in A.ssumption parish. In the year 1871, after returning to Illinois, he formed a partner-ship with Alphonse Pigeon, and embarked in the mercantile business at A.ssumption under the firm name of Pigeon & Malhiot. After carrying on this business a year he returned to his father's farm, and was engaged ill farming till the summer of 1878. At that date he formed a partnership with F O. Pigeon, and opened a store at Radford, a station on the Illinois Central road, north of Assumption. He has since been engaged in business at that point, and is known as a ]iopular and successful business man. Beside selling goods the firm have been employed quite largely in buying grain, and have made Ra Iford quite an important trading point.

UCII of genuine historic importance and interest clusters around old Buckhart, for it was within its boundaries, that some of the earliest settlements in the county were made. It was not surveyed by the government until 1821, after which, for several years, the emigrants exercised "squatters' " rights.

The towiishiii of Buckhart is situated in the north-west part of the county, and, as now organizeil, it contains all of town. 14 X., range 2 \V.. and that part of town. 14 N., range \V., that lies

Buckhart creek enters town. 14 K., range 2 '\V., in section 24, and crosses in a north- westeruly direction, passing out on the north of section five. There are several small affluents of the South Fork flowing through the western jnirt of the township,- all of which give a supply of water for .-took purposes, and afford a good drainage.

width, along the east side of the South Fork, and also small patches scattered along Buckhart creek. The surface is a rolling prairie. The soil is a deep black loam, very fertile and productive.

The Springfield division of the O. & M. Railroad enters Buckhart township in section 31, at Sharpsburg, and passes out of the county at Carapbellsburg.

On the organization of the county, that part of its territory embraced within town. 14 N., range 3 W., was for many years incorporated into the West and South Fork precincts, for voting purposes. But as the county increased in population, and taking into account the inconvenience of crossing the river at times, the county court formed a new precinct, based on the petition of I. A. Ilalfird and fifty-seven otlier legal voters, on the seventh nf March, 1855, and named it Buckhart.

It was bounded as follows : - " Beginning at the point where the range line, between ranges two and three, intersect on the north with the Sangamon river ; thence south on said liue to Buckhart creek ; thence up said creek to the line dividing section thirty-two and thirty-three, town. 15 - 2 W. ; thence south on section line dividing town. 14 and 15 north ; thence east to the north-east corner of section three, town. 14 - 2 W. ; thence south four miles to the Taylorville precinct line, or the south-east corner of section 22, town. 14 - 2 W. ; thence west on said precinct line, until it strikes the South Fork of the Sangamon river ; thence down the river to the county line, and thence along the west and north boundaries of the county to the place of beginning." The house of John George on section 11, town. 14 N., range 3 W., was designated as the place of holding elections. John Fiery, Peter Porter and Beuj. Harris were selected the first judges of election ; Wm. P. Hazlett and Daniel De Camp were elected justices of the peace, and C. W. Graham and M. H. Berry, constables, June 4th, 1855. It was subsequently changed to its present limits.

Fikst Settlement

Of this township, as at jiresent limited, were as follows : - Titus Gragg, who came to the count}' in 1820, erected a cabin and made some improvements, bordering on the edge of the timber, a little south of the present site of Campbellsburg, and on the farm subsequently owned by John L. Cagle. When Samuel Williams emigrated to Sangamon county in 1821, it was the only cabin he came across, and slept in, after leaving the Wabash river, near Terre Haute. Titus Gragg was a brother of " Jake " Gragg, mentioned in the South Fork township history. He was a blacksmith, and did smithing for the early settlers. The whole of this family, with one exception, David B. Gragg, a grandson, died very suddenly, and it is thought very mysteriously. They all lie side-b3'-side on the same farm, with no stone to mark the spot. Their memory was perpetuated for a time, by some kind friend who carved their names in the bark of an overshadowing forest tree, which marked the spot for years.

Wm. McCallister was a pioneer settler as early as 1824. He settled and improved the James Weeden farm, a mile north-west of Edinburg. His family consisted of himself, his wife and two sons. The father, mother, and one of the sons died at this place. The surviving son was taken and kindly cared for by Shadrack J. Campbell ; and was taken afterward b}- an uncle to Missouri, and never heard from since. He was sole heir to fortv acres of land, which was sold for taxes.

John and Joseph Brown settled in 1825. They entered the W. half of S. W. quarter of section 3, town. 14 - 3 W., October 30th, 1829, and sold it to Esquire Shad. J. Campbell, March 30th, 1832,

In 1829, David Stokes emigrated from Todd county, Kentucky, and settled below Campbell's Point, erected a cabin and improved a farm, where he died in 1844. He raised a large family. Iverson Stokes, his son, was one of the proprietors of Campbellsburg, and is familiarly known in the county. The cabin of old father Stokes was used for man_v years by the Predestinarian Baptists, for holding their meetings. Elders Kit Stafford and Aaron Vandeveer officiating.

It is related by Robert Hazlett that during the winter of the deep snow, large lots of water-melons, stowed away in corn shocks b}' the boys in the early fall, were frozen solid. In March they were taken and thawed out by letting them down in the well, and they proved to be as sweet and fresh as when first picked from the vines.

Moses Martin improved and lived on the old Jesse Hauon farm, two miles south-west of Edinburg. He was an old settler ; a widower with nine children, and a blacksmith by trade. He moved to Arkansas in 1840. James Radford, his neighbor, was another pioneer, and lived on the farm now occupied by George W. Gawin.

William Bennefield settled near Campbell's Point, and at one time owned a distillery. Afterward he moved to the Blue Point farm, where in company with J. M. Wilkinson, he raised a crop in 1835. The winter previous he built a flat-boat, near Darling's mill, on the North Fork, loaded it with three hundred barrels of flour, and went down the Sangamon to the Mississippi river, and thence to New Orleans, where he sold the flour and realized a fair profit. On a second trip he died with cholera.

In 1834 James Weeden emigrated from Tenn., settled and improved the farm now owned by William W. Halford, his stepson, adjacent to Blueville. James Halford came to the county at the same time with James Weeden. They had much sickness, and a singular fatality attended these two fiimilies during the first year after their arrival.

Both families were domiciled in the same cabin. James Halford, a daughter and two sons died of the same fatal raaladv, commonly called "milk sickness." In James Weeden's family, his wife, a son and a Miss Mary Ann Hammond, residing with them, all died within the space of one week, apparently with the same disease. It is said that five of them lay dead on the same day.

The Fikst School-House

In those days it was customary for school-teachers to " board around " among their employers, whether as a " pay-school " or so much a month. From .58 to $10 per month, or -SI. 50 a scholar per quarter, was "reckoned" a fair compensation.

hisroport: " I organized a Suiiday-s.-I]n,,l at thf lilaek Jack schoolhouse, not far from ' CaniphellV Point.' \^ith fifteen scholars." There were also churches organized during the fir.^t settlement, the history of which may be seen in the ecclesiastical chapter of this work. Al.-o nuich of tiu- history of the churches and schools may be found in the tmvn.^, written liclow.

During the early settlenieiits of Buckhart there were many Indians loitering around this section of country, which was then included within the limits of Sangamon county, as was most of Christian at that time.

The chiefs name was -' Bas-se-na," or probably JMa-she-na, wlio it is alleged signed the treaty at the close of the Black Hawk war, on the loth of February, 1833. These Indians were mostly Kiekapoos. Thev were usually very polite ; only one of their number spoke at a time.

At one time near " Campbell's Point " a number of them had some difficulty with Jake Gragg, who it seems got the better of them. They fled across the South Fork to Esquire Miller's, im])loring his i)roteetion, as " Jake was after them with a sack full of sticks." They looked upon the Esijuire as a kind of legal protector.

" Bas-se-na," the chief, and some of his tribe had a fight with William Wallis east of Taylorville, using clubs and stones pretty freely. He had the copper-colored tribe arrested and taken before Esquire Campbell. They were fined five dollars and costs. Basse-na paid the fine and asked for a receipt, whereupon the following collocjuy ensued :

Indian - "Well, when me die me spec' to go to the Great Spirit's home. Werry well, when me gets to the gate Peter says : ' Go away, Indian, you steal.' I say, ' Werry well, what if I does, don't I pay um ?' Peter says, 'Show um receipt,' and if I don't have um I shall be forceil to go back and look through hell to find Esquire Campbell, to prove Indian pay um."

Supervisors - John Sharp, elected 1866; John George, 1867; reelected 18G8; John Sharp, 1869; Joseph Kemmercr, 1870; G. R. Sharp, 1871, and has been re-elected each succeeding year; James Masice, 1880.

This was a small hamlet, located at the head of the timber, six miles north of Taylorville, and two miles east of Sharpsburg. In early years it was noted on the maps as "Bethany." It had a post- ' office by that name, and David Robinson, who gave it the name of Robinson's Point, was post-master. The great Eastern stage passed daily by it, on the public highway from Shelbyville to Springfield. Mr. Robinson kept a store, and sold goods in this place for over two years in 1835-6-7. It is supposed to have been the first store in the county. It is said Mr. Robinson was too ambitious to become rich, and speculated largely in stock, and failed, involving some of his securities.

The store-house stood for many years near the residence of the late John Langdon, but it has since been moved, and now forms a part of the residence of J. M. Redfern, the present owner of the land, on which was located the town of Bethany, more popularly known as " Robinson's Point."

Blue Point

Was one of the old " land marks" of the county, and was familiarly known to the traveling public, half a century ago. It was one of Allen & Co.'s prominent Eastern stage stands. The old Traveller's Inn, with its porch in front, now the residence of Daniel De Camp, was built by Robert Allen, of Springfield, in 1838. The land on which this house was built, and Edinburg located, was entered by Abner and Joseph McLean in 1829, and by them conveyed to Archibald and Robert Sattley, Jan. 7, 1832, and they to others. In the chain of title, Abraham Lincoln was owner of it at one time. Robert Allen succeeded to the ownership of the land in Aug. 1837. Abner and Joseph McLean "squatted" on the land, and made some improvements in 1825. A " squatter's title " was as much respected in those days, as a land-office certificate is to-day.

A public house was opened, as early as 1830. As was the custom, this house had a well-furnished side-board. The laws of 1833 required that those who kept a public house and bar, should take out license to sell spirituous liquors ; that they should give bond to the county commissioners' court, that they would provide to keep lodging, diet and provender sufficient for the accommodation of four persons and their horses ; that if they gave credit for au aiiiuunt exceeding lift}' cents, for liquor, they should be debarred from recovering the excess by law ; nor should they charge a traveler more than twelve and a half cents a pint for whisky; or eighteen and three-fourths cents for a pint of brandy. The customary charge for meals to those traveling in the stage was twenty-five cents; the way-traveler twelve and a half cents a meal. Supper, ludging, breakfast and keeping horse, fifty cents.

This town sprang up about half a mile north of the Blue Point stage stand. At one time considerable business was done at this point, and several houses were erected. There being a demand for lots, it was surveyed by Richard !M. Powel, count}' .surveyor, for Wm. W. Halford, June 1, 1870. It was laid out near the centre of Section 14, T. 14 - 3. The streets were from 50 to 60 feet in width, and named Douglas, Logan, etc. Lick Creek branch runs through a portion of the town. The first store was opened bv W. T. Houston. Edgar Chapman opened the first drug store in April, 1868, in the west end of the place.

A correspondent of the Flar/, of August 26, 1867, sa3's: - " This place is the centre of a considerable countrv trade, one little store in it having sold over §11,000 worth of goods within a vear. There are now two stores, owned separately by Houston and Carlin. There is a blacksmith shop and plow manufactory, both of which are under the care of Cook & Cobb."

The Methodist Episcopal Chapel, which was erected in 1866, in the extreme west end of the town, was removed to Edinburg in 1875. J. H. Hatfield was the first preacher. The town also contained a neat two story brick school-house. The first teachers were : W. C. Shivers, principal, and Miss M. Cireenwood, assistant.

The first Board of Trustees were : W. W. Halford, president ; "W. Harrold, clerk ; J. W. Houston, Isaac Hart, S. W. Denny, and R. H. AVeeden. Police Magistrate. - John L. Culver. Constable. - A.. W. Halford.

This is the most thriving town between Taylorville and Springfield. It is located on the south-east corner of Section 14, T. 14 - 3, and was surveyed March 26, 1870, by John McGuire, for Daniel De Camp, on the old Blue Point site. It is beautifully situated in the edge of the timber, on high rolling land. Its streets are from 70 to 100 feet wide, and are named Washington Avenue, Lincoln, Douglas, etc. A small stream called Lick creek, passes through the centre.

Blueville, being the oldest place, a rivalry naturally sprang up between them, but was eventually settled by merging the two into one under the name - Edinburg. This was accomplished by a meeting of the two Boards of Trustees August 8, 1874, at which time they voted unanimously for the consolidation, and the two towns have since been under one corporation.

During the first year of its existence ( 1870 ), the town made quite a vigorous growth. Several very neat residences and business houses were erected, and the trade opened with flattering prospects.

Tiio first physician located here was Gusham Little, M. D., in the year 1870. The post-office was established in 1871, and Daniel De Camj) was the first post-master, and has continued to hold the office ever since. Joseph Gegan taught the first school in 1870. The first and only school-house built in the original part of Edinburg was in 1863, by the district, and is now used by the Edinburg schools. There is also a two-story brick school-house in the Blueville division.

The Methodist church, first erected west of Blueville, in 1866, was moved to Edinburg in 1875, repainted and otherwise improved. On the 16th of February, 1876, the first bell in the town was placed in the belfry and rang out its peals on the following Sunday.

The ('hristian church was built in 1872, at a cost of -$3,000. It is a frame structure 30x60 feet, and neatly finished. The building was somewhat damaged by a tornado, which swept through the town in 1875.

The town was incorporated under the general village law, in 1873, and the following were the first Board of Trustees: Daniel De Camp, President; I. N. Martin, James ]M. Campbell, A. D. F. Kcmmerer, Henry Wilhte, G. H. Peebles, E. R. White, Clerk; Wra. Wyscarver, Treasurer; J. W. Johnson, Police Magistrate ; C. M. De Camp, Police Constable.

Hovxe, Sign and Ornamental I'aiutrr - lionin A: ."Staples. Butcher Shops - John Y. Easley, George Ohlensclilager. Barber Shops - Wra. Hayes, Charles Lawrence. Srwin;/ Mai'hinr Ai/cnis -Charles Lawrence, J. H. Love & Bro. The popuhitiiin nt'the town is upward of seven hundred.

sii.\i;i'.si;UR(; is a small village situated in section 31 of town. 14-2, and is about five miles distant from Taylorville. It was surveyed or laid off into blocks by R. M Powel, JIarch 21st, 1870, for William Hargis, the original proprietor. The streets are fifty feet wide, and named Chestnut, Hedge, etc. It contains about one hundred and fifty inhabitants.

The first house was erected by A. D. Ebert in 1870. G. R. Sharp and K. A. Hanon, built and opened the first store in 1870. The first blacksmith shop was built by Joseph Hanon, and occupied l)y him in 1870. The post-office was established in 1871, and G. R. Sharp was first post-master. The first church erected was by the MethodLst denomination, in 1875. It is a frame buildings -36x50 feet in size. Price and Wilkinson erected an elevator here in the fall of 1877.

The present business in the village is as follows : W. D. Waller, Dri/ Goods and Groceries: J. B. Fenner, General Merthamlize, Drugs, and Post-viaster ; John H. Plargis, Blacksmith ; John F. Mason, Carpenter and Wagon Maker; F. A. McNeill, P%- sician and Surgeon; Price and Wilkinson, and O. S. Nash, Grain Dc(ders. The town wiis named in honor of H H. Sharp & Brother.

This was a slatiim cm tlie (_). A: M. It. R, sixteen miles from Springfield, and eleven from Taylorville. It is located in the northeast corner of section ten. It was surveyed and laid oft' in town lots May 27th, 1870, by R. M. Powel for Jno. Rodham, Iverson Stokes and .loseph Throwls. It adjoins the Canjpbell farm, and was named in honor of the old pioneer family.

The first house was erected by James R. Stokes in 1870, and a store-house was built and opened the same year by Allen Stokes, R. Stokes built a shop and did blacksmithing in 1870. There was also a depot and freight-house built in 1870, but it was taken down and removed by the company in 1877, since which time the station has been discontinued, and at present there is no business done in the place.

Among the old citizens of Christian county that lived within its boundaries prior to the organization may be mentioned the name that heads this sketch. He was born in Wayne county, Tennessee, November 22d, 1823, and w;is the son of James and Elizabeth Halford. James Halford was a native of South Carolina, where he married Elizabeth Hammonds; he then emigrated to Tennessee, where he lived a number of years. He had eight children born to him in that state, and in 1834 he emigrated with his family to Illinois, and in the spring of 1834 settled at Blue Point. He commenced the improvement of a farm, but died the following fall, aged about forty-five years. His wife, who survived him many years, afterwards married a man by the name of Weeden. Mr. Haltbrd was about eleven years of age when his fiithcr emigrated to this state. After his father's death he assisted his mother on tl\e farm, and after her marriage he lived with his stepfiuher until he was nineteen. His advantages for an education were very limited. At the age of nineteen he began the battle of life for himself His life occupation has principally been that of a farmer. For a time he was in the grocery business, and was interested in the lumber business for about two years in Blueville. He has been three times married, and raised a family of six children, viz : Mary Jane, now the wife of Dr. J. Peebles, living in Kansas; William S., married, and living in Edinburg; Benjamin F., also living inEdinburg; Canzadia M., the wife of James Roman, also in Edinburg; Ann E., and Harry, living at home. Mr. Halford, in 1872, built a fine residence near the site where his father built a cabin in 1834. He has lived to see a great change in Christian county ; he has watched its development from a wilderness thinly settled to a wealthy and prosperous county. When he was a boy, and even after he was grown u[), St. Louis was their market. He has hauled wheat to St. Louis and sold it for forty cents per bushel, and bacon for three cents per pound, and paid five dollars per barrel for salt. He has a fine farm of four hundred acres, lying adjoining the corporate limits of Edinburg. When he started out in life he was unaided, and what be has of this world's goods he has gained by industry and frugality. In politics he was originally a democrat, but now votes for the best men regardless of politics. Such is a brief sketch of one of Christian county's oldest citizens.

A CONSIDERABLE part of the development and growth of Illinois is due to her citizens of German birth, who are everywhere known for their industry and all the good qualities which go to make up peaceable and law-abiding members of the community. Among this class of citizens in Buckhart township is John Weiser, who has been engaged in farming in that part of the country since 1 869.

He was born at Olshei, in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, on the 1st of December, 1828. His parents were Philip and Mary Weiser. His father was a well-to-do farmer and land owner in the old country, but becoming dissatisfied with the monarchical spirit of the German government, he determined to emigrate to America and enjoy the freedom and equal advantages of republican institutions. He landed in New York in the fall of 1838. His family then consisted of a wife and seven children. After living two years in Pennsylvania, Mr. Weiser's father concluded that he could better his condition by moving to Illinois. Accordingly, in 1841, the family came to this state and settled in Cass county, about five miles south-east of Beardstown, then the county seat, on unimproved land which was entered at the government price. Their farming operations proved successful, and tract after tract was added to their original entry, until the farm comprised between six and seven hundred acres under good cultivation and with substantial buildings. Mr. Weiser's father lived on this place till his death, which occurred on the first day of August, 185.3. His mother still survives, and has her home with her son, the subject of this biography, and though seventy-eight years old, is in the enjoyment of a hale and vigorous old age.

Mr. Weiser was about eight years of age when the family came to this countr}', and in his thirteenth year when they removed to Illinois. He remained at home assisting on the farm until he was twenty-four, and then married Sliss Annie D. Musch, also a native

On the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Weiser was one of those patriotic men who stepped forward to save their country from destruction. He enlisted in company A., 27th Illinois Infantry. His company was commanded by Captain Smith, and the regiment by Colonel Buford. His regiment did its full share in sustaining the credit of the Illinois soldiers for hardihood and bravery, and took part in many a hard-fought battle. Mr. Weiser was in the battle of Belmont, the first engagement under Gen. Grant, Union City, Island No. 10, the siege of Corinth, Stone River, Lavergne, Chickamauga, Mi.ssion Ridge, Rocky Face, Resaea, Dallas, Mud Creek, and Kenesaw Mountain. In the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, he received a wound. He was discharged at Springfield on the 20th of December, 1864.

Returning to Cass county he resumed farming. He lived in that county till 1869, when he purchased the farm on which he now lives in Buckhart township, Christian county. He is known as one of the enterprising farmers and progressive citizens of Buckhart township, and a full page illustration of his farm is found on another page of this work. This farm embraces 345 acres of excellent farming land, and has substantial buildings and improvements. He has been content to lead the unobtrusive life of a peaceful farmer, and has no aspiration to hold public station, or to mix conspicuously in public affairs. Although ready to discharge every obligation resting on a good citizen, his time has been occupied with his farm, where he has found full scope for his energy and industry.

In politics, he is a member of the republican party. He has acquired an excellent reputation as a man of honesty and integrity, and is one of that class of citizens who do most toward developing the resources and promoting the prosperity of a country.

Was Ix.rn in Giles cuuiity, Virginia, August :'.l, ].s24. lie was tlie son of David and Sarah De Camp David De Camp was a native of Virginia. His father, Zac-hariah De Camp, was a native of New York. His i'ather and great-grandfather of Daniel De Camp was a native of France, aud emigratid t'l Ann rica lung piiur to the Kcvolntionary war, and was one of the tir>t settlers in Newark, New Jer-ev. He was an enterprising hnsiness man, uf guMd education, and accumulated <juite a liirtune. ISefore liis death he made a will l)ei|Ueathing his entire possessions to his twn sons, Zachai-iah and hrothcr. The realization of this estate wa- funded, and has not since heen reclaimed. Zachariah De Camp raised a family of eight children, of whom David Do Camji, father of the subject of our sketch, was the eldest son. He was born in the year 17112. Zachariah De Camp, when a boy, was placed as an apprentice to learn the hatter trade, in Elizabethtowu, New Jersey. When he grew to manhood he went tn Virginia, and suli-ei|UentIy went to Sali.-liury, North Carolina, where he afterward maiaied Miss l^lizabeth Kinder. He then returned to Virginia and settled in Monroe county, where he lived until his death. He raised a family of eight children, four boys and an equal number of girls, viz: David, Henry, John, De Porter, Mary, Sarah, Maria, and Elizabeth. John De Camp, now living in Springfield, is the only surviving member of the family. Zachariah De Camp's father left his estate in the hands of some institution in Newark, N. J., to be turned over to Zachariah and his brother when they became of age. Whether his brother ever drew his portion of the estate or not is not known, but Zachariah never received a dollar. He ijroved his identity, but before he drew his jiortion he was taken sick and died. Daniel De Camp is now making ett'orts, in connection with his uncle John, in Springfield, to recover this propert)' that is justly due the heirs of Zachariah De Camp. David De Camp was a soldier in the war of 1812. He went as a substitute for Joel Canterbury, wdio was drafted. After the close of the war, he returned and claimed the hand in marriage of Miss Sarah Ford, the only daughter of Louis Ford. They raised a family of eight children - six boys aud two girls, of whom Daniel De Camp was the fourth. He attended schoid very little during his minority, aud w'hat education he received he attained after he grew to manhood by his own exertions. At the age of eighteen he began to tire of the hills of Virginia, and desirous to better his condition in life, he turned his face westward in the fall of 1842. He arrived in Springfield, December of the same year. For a time he was engaged in teaming and driving stage. In 1845, he went to Galena, Illinois, where he took charge of part of the stage line running between Galena and jMilwaukee. He had charge of the West End, between Galena and Madison, Wis. In the spring of 1847 he returned to Springfield, and the fall following married Miss Pernecy Langley, a i-esideut of Cliristian county and daughter of Jesse and Sarah Langley. After his marriage, he opened a livery stable in Springfield, this being in 1848, a business he followed until 1852. In 1851 he bought a fiirm in Christian county, where he now lives. He subsequently sold out his livery interests in Springfield, and devoted his entire attention to his farm until 1862. He rai.sed a company and went into the late war, he being the captain of company D, 130th Ills. Vols., under Col. Niles. He was in the tenth division, 13th army corps, and was in thirteen hard-fought battles, among which were Magnolia Hill, Raymond, Champion Hill, Black River, Siege of Vicksburg, and battle of Mansfield, Louisiana, where he lost two-thirds of his company, among killed, wounded and taken prisoners. After that battle the regiment could not muster one hundred men, and the captain was placed in command over the remnants of four regiments that had i)articipated in the engagement ; the total amount ut' men were about four hundred. He returned to Alexander, on Red river, where the forces built a dam and floated the gunboats, seven in nnndjer, and transports over the falls at Alexander. Soon aftei- this, he received a sun-stroke, which disabled him for military serviei', and was foi'ced to resign, this being in the summer of 1864. lie went to the hospital at New Orleans, where he remained about twe weeks.and then returned to Baton Rouge, Mississippi, and from there iMUie. He was in the service just two years In 1870, he laid out the town of Edinburg, the railroad being built through his farm ; and since the w'ar he has devoted his time to farming, trading and handling horses, in which time he has fitted and started somi' very speedy ones. He now has some very promising colts, that he is just putting on the track. He has a half-mile track on his farm, with good barn and every convenience for handling fast horses.

In politics, he is a republican. He held the office of justice of the peace for eight years. When Edinburg post-office was established, in 1870, he was aiipfjinted post-master, a position he has held to the present time. In social life, the captain is one of the most genial of men, his society ever pleasant and agreeable. As a citizen, he is liberal, enterprising, and public-spirited, aud has ever taken an active part in all matters calculated to advance the material interests of his town and county.

E. S. HURLBLTTT, ( )XE of the prominent agriculturalists of Buckhart township, was born April 9th, 1821, in Odletown, Lower Province, Canada. His father, Elijah Hurlbutt, was a native of Connecticut, and of English ancestry. His mother, who was a Miss Patience Carpenter, was a native of Rhode Island, and of English ancestry. Both families settled in America at an earl)' day. Mr. Hurlbutt's parents were married in C!onuecticut, where they had ten cliildren born to them, aud afterwards emigrated to Canada, where they had two children born to them, viz.: Sarah and the subject of our sketch. Mr. Hurlbutt was about six years of age when his father emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Medina county, where he improved a farm and lived until 1857. They then emigrated to Illinois and settled in Woodford county, where his father and mother died. Jlr. Hurlbutt was married in Medina county, Ohio, in 1843, to Miss Mary Ann Houghlau, a native of Ohio. He followed farming while in Ohio, aud in 1857 moved -to Illinois aud settled where he now lives. His first purchase was eiglUy acres of raw prairie; he built a small house aud assiduously applied himself to the improvement of his farm. His farm now consists of three hundred and fifty-nine acres of well improved land with good buildings, a view of which can be seen in another part of this work. Mr. and Jlrs. Hurlbutt have acquired this pleasant home by industry aud economy. They have had a family of nine children born to them, five now living, viz. : Sarah F., now the wife of John T. Fowkes, living on part of the old homestead ; C. A., married and living also on part of the place ; Edwin F., married and living also near by ; Louis G. and Arthur E. now at home. Mr. Hurlbutt, in politics, is a republican ; his sous that have grown up also vote that ticket. He never has taken an active part in politics, desiring rather to devote his entire time to the farm. He has made wheat growing a specialty, and has never failed to raise a fair crop but once in twenty-two years since he has been in Illinois. His farm is entirely fenced with hedge, the most beautiful of all fences. He has upwards of four miles of hedge on his place all in good ccmdition. He is known as an enterprising and successful farmer, and a man highly esteemed by all.

Of the man}' prominent farmers who are mentioned in this work, none deserves a more conspicuous place than he whose name heads this sketch. He is a lineal descendant of that nohle and hardy hand of pilgrims, who left their native land on account of religious persecution, and embarked in the May Flower and came across the briny deep to America, and sought an asylum on the bleak and rocky shores of the New England coast. It was this little baud of pure men and noble women, who planted deeply and permanently the seeds of religious and political liberty, and first made patent the fact that man had the right to worship God acconling to the dictates of his conscience. The germ of liberty planted by them, on that cold and dreary coast, under such inauspicious circumstances and heroic faith, has grown to considerable projiortions ; and as the morning sun of religious freedom dawned and shed its effulgent radiance on this little band, has kept its onward march, until from this fountain-head, the spirit of liberty has permeated all peoples and every quarter of the globe. They were the nucleus around which clustered and grew that spirit which a little over a hundred years after culminated, and gave to the world the immortal Declaration of Independence ; the Magna Charta of Universal Liberty. Happy indeed is he who can trace his ancestral line back to this noble blood. Blood made noble; not by the acts of the putri<l and crumbling monarchies of the old world, but bearing the stamp of the ro\-al insignia of the most powerful republic on earth. Noyes Ladd was born in New London county, Conn., March 81st, 1822, and is the son of Noyes and Harriet Ladd. Noyes Ladd, Sr., was also a native of the land of "steady habits," and it was in that state that he grew to manhood and married Miss Harriet Z. Williams, who was the daughter of Capt. Elias Williams, a sea captain, and he was descended from

William Williams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The mother of Mrs. Ladd was the only daughter of Captain William Stanton, who did good service in bravely fighting and defending the firesides of the pioneers during the French and Indian war - and later, when the revolutionary conflict came on, he was the first to join that patriotic array in defence of freedom. The history and results of that ever memorable conflict are known to all ; the tedious marches and perilous hardship endured while poorly clad and fed, by that little army of sturdy yeomen, furnish a theme for the highest reverence and commendation. He received his first commission as Lieutenant in the British army from Gieorge the III., and fought for his king against the French and Indians, in the Canada campaign. And after the Declaration of Independence was promulgated, he joined the patriotic army, as above stated. His ancestors were also among those who came over in the May Flower. Noyes Ladd, Sr., followed the life of a farmer in Connecticut. He raised a family of eight children, seven boys and one daughter. His death occurred about 1840. His widow, eight years thereafter, with her family, started for the West ; her son, Noyes Ladd, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest. He had previously made a trip to this state, which was in the f;ill of 1848, and his choice of location finally settled upon Christian county, where he purchased land, and then returned to Connecticut to bring out his mother and the family. Previous to this time, Mr. Ladd had married Miss Phebe Williams, also a native of New London county. Conn. Mr. Ladd, wife and three children, his mother, four brothers and one sister, and wife's sister. Miss Elizabeth Williams, started for Illinois in the spring of 1849, to make for themselves in this state a permanent home. They had been lured from the land of their nativity by the ])]pa?ing stories that were tolJ tin'iii of tlie prolific soil ami genial diiiiafe, greeu-vordureil and flower-dcrk.d prairies, whose broad expansive plains were only eircumscribed by the lines of the horizon. This vision of beauty formed a picture of surpassinir loveliness, when in contrast with the sterile and rugged hills that they were leaving behind. Cheerfully did they say the last "ood-bye to the friends and conii>anions of their youth, as tiny started on tiieir inarch with their eyes basking in the radiance of the setting sun, little thinking that in a few short days, they woidd be overtaken by an accident, sail and dreadful in its consequences. On arriving in New York, the party took passage on the steamboat Empire for Albany, N. Y. And when off Newburg, and ai)out eleven o'clock at night, the boat came in collision with a lunilur schooner; she was badly damaged, and sank in deep water, an<l in less time than it takes to tell the story, the four brothers of Mr. Ladd were drowned. Their names and ages are as follows : Cyrus F. Ladd, aged sixteen years ; Darius I^add, fourteen years ; Nathan S. Ladd, twelve years ; and Elias W. Ladd, aged ten years. Mrs. Ladd, the mother, received severe injuries, from which she never fully recovered. It was with nuich difficulty that she was rescued, being taken through a hole made in the roof of the cabin. They lost all theirhouseholdeffects, and wearing apparel and money. Mr. Ladd found it necessary to purchase clothing in order to proceed on tlieii- journey. Jlr. Ladd arrived in Christian county in June, 1849, and settled near where he now resides, in Buckhart township. His mother made lier home with him until her death, June 7th, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd had four children born to them after they came to this county. They raised a family of seven children, of whom four are living, as follows : Harriet W., now the wife of A. S. Heddec, residents of this county. Curtis K. John P. W. and Jessie Y. Ladd. The three latter residing at home. On the '22d of Jlay, 1866, occurred the death of Mrs. Ladd. He was married to his present wife. Miss Eliza J. Kennard, on the .'lOth of January, 1868. By this union has been born to them a family of three children, namely, Eliza J., Emily A., and Lillie. Mr. Ladd spent his early boyhood days on a farm, and has continued to make farming the business of his life. He improved the place he is living on, which is among the good farms in the township ; a view of which can be seen on another page of this work. Mr. L. assisted in organizing the first school in Buckhart. He and Barnard Davis and H. Nation, were the first trustees ; they built the first school-house, and employed the first teacher, Charles Burdiek; the district comprised the whole of Township 14, Eange 2; the house was located on the present site of the school building near the residence of G. R. Sharp. The only surviving member of his father's family besides himself is his sister, Mrs. Ann E. Ralston, now a resident of Hillsboro, Illinoi-s. Mr. Ladd is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a man whose moral worth makes him highly esteemed in the community in wliich he resides. Li politics he is a republican, and is one of the zealous and stanch supporters of the principles of his party, and a man whose counsel is felt in the ranks of the party of this county. During the late Rebellion, the Union cause had in him a consistent and firm supporter. In reviewing briefly his career, we find a man who began the battle of life with but little of this world's goods to assist him, but being endowed with energy and habits of economy, he has been enabled to acquire for himself and family a comfortable competence. He is, in the fullest sense of the word, a self-made man, and as such, we take pleasure in presenting him to our numerous readers.