Auburn Township (part 2 of 2)

Hub. From Boston went to Dedhara, where he was employed in a wheel factory, at $35 per month, where his part of the work was driving spokes. Not fancying the work, he went to Worcester, but remained a short time, when he left there and went to Concord, where he was employed by E. R. Thayer, and remained three years. When he got the Western fever in his head from what he had heard from a man by the name of E. G. Loring, who had located in Winona, Minnesota, and had returned to Concord for his family. Taking his advice he came West, and located in Winona, at that time a small town. Nothing but small shanties, and the chilling winds, and drinking the Mississippi w^ater, made him sick, and was also sick of town, concluded he would leave. Took a boat and came down as far as Davenport, and from there went to Iowa City, where he made the acquaintance of a young man, and he not being sat'siied started out for Omaha, Nebraska. Being desirous of obtaining land, they proceeded beyond the Pawnee village, where they found land and pitched their tents, having taken provisions along with them. They remained until they had eaten up their provisions, then returned to Omaha, where he left his friend, embarked on a steamer, which he will always remember by the class of men it had on board. B y the description given by Mr. Morse they were the border ruffians. Long hair, slouched hats, with a bowie knife and a revolver in their belts, and were looking for a d - d Abolitionist. Came down to St. Joe, where he remained over one night, took the first boat for St. Louis. From there came to Girard, Illinois, where he stopped over night, but not liking the appearance of the town went to Springfield, but not finding work engaged to a man in the country by the name of William Search. He became acquainted with a man by the name of Babcock, who persuaded him to come to Auburn, where he purchased a small shop of James Babcock, eighteen by twentyfour, which he paid for by finishing and making eighteen wagons.

F.3L iWco/es, builder and contractor. Auburn, Illinois, was born in Cass county, Indiana, on the 31st day of May, 1841. His father, Nathaniel D., was a native of Virginia, where he left in an early day, and went to Ohio. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and re ceived a common school education. When eighteen years of age, went to learn a trade, and remained one year, which he followed up until 1862, when he started for the gold fields, and got as far as Denver, where he enlisted in the Third Colorado Cavalry. He was in one engagement, under General Shippington, fighting, and was in the service over one year, when he received an honorable discharge. Mairied Miss MaiyJ. Hollipater. She was born in Ohio,. November 6, 1841. There M'ere three children, two of whom are living: Eita Adrian, Isadore Jentiliska, member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 543, of Auburn, and also member of the Encampment at Springfield. Also the family are members of the Christian Church.

William JVorcross, boot and shoemaker. Auburn, Illinois, was born in Burlington county. New Jersey, on the second day of October, 1824; son of Samuel F. and Elizabeth (Britton) Norcross. There was a family of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters. The Norcross family was well represented in the Union Army, there being six who enlisted in the Thirty-third Regiment New Jersey volunteers. Samuel, who contracted a disease and died in 1865; George, Joseph, Jonathan, who was killed at Chancellorville, Elisha and Wesley. William, the subject of this sketch, enlisted in the One Hundred and First Regiment Illinois volunteers. Company G., and mustered in at Jacksonville, September 2, 1862. He participated in the following engagements: Holly Springs, Mississippi, where six companies were captured by the Rebels, companies A, B, G and H, only saving themselves by retreating to Coldwater, where the Irish Legion was then stationed, where they repelled the attack by Van Dorn, of seven thousand cavalry. Afterwards was attached to the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, and detached as scouts; from thence to Vicksburg, and on the twenty-fifth of March, run the batteries on the United States steam ram Switzerland, for which the men on board got a furlough for meritorious conduct, by U. S. Grant. After the expirations of their furloughs, they joined their regiment at Union City, Tennessee, being in September, 1863; thence to Bridgeport, Alabama, took part in a midnight fight; from there to the battle of Mission Ridge; thence to Knoxville, to release Burnside, when Longstreet held him besieged, and immediately after the siege returned to Chattanooga, marching across the country bare-footed, witbout shoes, with their feet bleeding so they could be tracked by the blood from their feet. May 2, 1864, started on the Atlanta campaign, and employed the enemy at Kingston, Dalton, Ressaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, and entej ed the city of Atlanta on the second day of September, 1864, being the first regiment in the city. At the time of Sher- man's March to the Sea was detailed as Forage Master of the first division of ordinance train, of the Twentieth Army Corps, and remained with Sherman until he arrived in Washing; on. Was mustered out at Bladensburg, Virgiilia, June 9, 1865; from there came to Springfield, where they were discharged and paid off June 20, 1865. He then returned to Waverly, where he engaged in the boot and shoe business, and remained there four years, when he worked at farming for a short time; he afterwards engaged in railroading for a short time. In 1872, he came to Auburn, where he has followed his trade since; married Miss Martha H. Pittit. She was born October 1, 1824. The fruits of this union was nine children, seven of whom are living, viz: Merrietta, Job, Joseph R., William Jr., Albert, Waller and Ella. Previous to coming to the Slate, Mr. Norcross held the office of Assessor and Collector of Burlington towt ship, New Jersey. Mr. Norcross came to the State in 1855, where he remained a short time, when he returned to New Jersey, In 1857 he returned to the West, where he has remained since, not living at any time, over sixteen miles from Auburn.

W. D. Patton, Auburn, Illinois, was born in this township on the 2.3d day of January, 1845; son of Malhew and Margaret (McElvain) Patton, natives of Kentucky. His grandfather Patton emigrated to Sangamon county in 1820, and located about two and a half miles southeast of Auburn. The family consisted of three sons and two daughters. When his father came to the county was a small boy; was reared on a farm to manhood, married and settled in the township, and raised a family of six grown children, two daughters and four sons. He remained on a farm until a few years previous to his death, when he moved to Auburn, where he died September 16, 1879; mother died June 2, 1865. On January 23d, 1867, married Sarah J. Mackey, who slill lives. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received a liberal education. In 1873, went to Pawnee townsliip, where he engaged in farming for several years, when he embarked in merchandising, wliere he remained two years, and in the spring of 1875 came to Auburn where he encfaged in the drug business the following November, and in 1880 the firm of Patton & Stout, was formed. In August, 1865, married Miss Addie M. Black, daughter of John Black. She was born May 25, 1847. There was one child, Minnie F., born December 24, 1867. His wife, Addie, died January 26, 1875. loved and respected by all v ho knew her. For his second wife Le married Miss

Caroline A. Jones, daughter of M. A. Jones of Ball township, born in Christian county, March 7, 1849. The fruits of this union was one child, Mabel Jones Patton; she was born in Auburn, Illinois, on the 7lh day of November, 1879. Mr. Patton is a member of the Masonie fraternity, Ark and Anchor Lodge, No. 354, and of Auburn Chapter, No. 92. Mr. Patton is a man with good business abilities, and has been identified with the county all his life, and has seen it change from its broad wild prairies, to one of the best cultivated counties in the State. At this writing the firm of Patton & Stout are doing an extensive business in the line of drugs, medicines and druggists' sundries,jwall paper, books and stationery, pocket and table cutlery, jewelry and hardware; also a complete line of groceries, handled in connection with country produce.

Dawson, Poley & Co., Auburn, Illinois, manufacturers of drain tile, brick, and proprietors of the Auburn Coal Shaft. Among the leading business interests of Auburn, we are pleased to mention the above fii'm. In the year 1878, Henry Dawson, Sr., and James K. Ruder embarked in the manufacturing of tile and brick, and continued up to February, 1881; in the meantime, opening up the Auburn Coal Shaft. In February, 1881, a company was formed, as follows: Henry Dawson, Sr., Henry Dawson, Jr., Benjamin F. Poley, C. M Poley and L. E. Ruder. A six and one-half foot vein of coal is found two hundred and sixty-eight feet from the surface, aud will compare favorably with any in this section of the country. Their capacity for making brick is one million per year, and tile, five hundi-ed thousand to six hundred thousand. They employ about forty men. In June, 1881, the shaft caught fire and destroyed the most of their buildings, causing a damage of $5,600. The capital stock is estimated at $2o,000.

Charles liaiich, farmer, postoffice Virden, Macoupin County, Ills., was born in Muhlenburg, County, Ky., on the 28th day of December, 1827; son of Jacob and Pauline (Poley) Rauch, who was married in 1824; two children being born in Kentucky, Andrew and Charles; and in 1829, he left his home in Kentucky and came to Illinois, in wagons, camping out and driving their stock, and located in Auburn Township, where he purchased land and made a farm. Soon after coming to the country, built what was known far and near as Rauch Mills, one of the first grist and sawmills in this part of the country that was run by water. Coming to the country in limited means, but by good management and close application to business, accumulated a fine property and at his early death, owned 2,000 acres of land, dying at the age of forty-seven, in 1843. Mother died February 5, 1 880. She was a member of the German Baptist church and died as she had lived - a sincere Christian. Mr. Charles Rauch has been identified with the county for more than a half century and has seen the various changes. Married Miss Mary Brooks, daughter of Wm. C. and Sarah Brooks, of Delaware. She was born June 22, 1838. There are a family ©f six children, three daughters and three sons, viz: Louise E, born November 3, 1861; Jennie B., born April 13, 1863; James C, born June 14, 1865; John B., February 24, 1868; Grace, born January 11, 1878; Chai'les M., born August 24, 1881. In politics, a Democrat, and has held several local offices in the gift of the people. Has two hundred and fifty-seven acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $"7 5 per acre.

Andrew Ratich, farmer; post office, Virden; was born in Muhlenburg, Kentucky, on the 14th day of August, 1825; son of Jacob and Pauline Rauch. Andrew came to the county with his parents, when he was four years old, and has spent over half a century in Auburn township. June 13, 1854, he married Miss Margaret E. Cassity daughter of Alexander Cassity, who was one of the pioneers of the county ; she was born in Kentucky, October 13, 1833. There were nine children, six of whom are living - Frank, born August 18, 1857; Clara, born February 19, 1861; Emma, born February 7, 1864; Elmer, born July 20, 1867; AUie, born September 6, 1872, and Edgar G., born November 8, 1876. Mr. Rauch has held several local offices of trust in the gift of the people, holding some township office ever since he was twenty-one years of age. Mr. Rauch has been in the county nearly all his life, and has seen all the changes, from a vast, wild prairie, to one of the best cultivated portions of the State, and can well be claimed as one of its pioneers. Is a member of the Masonic Order, Virden Lodge, No. 161.

Father 1). J. My an, Auburn, Illioois, was born in Peoria, Peoria county, Illinois, on the 3d day of August, 1852. Son of William and Margaret (Keller) Ryan, natives of Ireland ; father emigrating in 1847, and mother in 1850, and were married in 1851. There was born to them a family of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, all of whom are living. His father died June 9, 1880, at the age of sixtyfour. When the subject of tlis sketch was two j'ears old, his parents moved to Marshall county, where he remained on a farm until he was thirteen years of age, Avhen he went to LaSalle, where he commenced his preparatory studies, and remained there about a year and a half. Thence went to Niagara Falls, New York, where he finished his classical and divinity studies. In 1876, he commenced his first mission, at Grafton, Illinois, where he remained one year, and in the fall of 1876, came to Auburn, Illinois, where he has the charge of Auburn, Sugar Creek and Christian county congregations.

Jacob JT. Shutt, farmer, section thirty-iive, post office Virden, was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wagoner) Shutt; was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 10th day of October, 1834. His father was of German descent, and was born in North Carolina; mother a native of Georgia, born July 31, 1799. In 1810, came to Muhlenburg, Kentucky, where they were married. There were thirteen children, tenof whom lived to be men and women. In 1829, they emigrated to Sangamon county, where he bought a small piece of land of a man by the name of Black. Being in limited circumstances, he had to commence at the bottom and work up. Mr. S. accumulated a fine property prior to his death, owning five hundred acres of valuable prairie. He died in 1856. He had to put up with all the privations of the pioneers, going to Springfield and St. Louis with his grain and to do his trading, with ox-teams. When coming from St. Louis, was overtaken by the darkness, and lost his way, and had to remain until morning. The country was full of wolves at that time, and it was anything but pleasant to lie and hear the wolves howl.

Jacob W. was reared on a tarm, and received an elementary school education. When twentyone years of age, went to work for himself. When twenty-six, he married Miss Susan C. Gates, daughter of Daniel Gates, of Kentucky. By this marriage, there were six children, one of which died in infancy. The living are as follows: Laura C, Charles M., Elizabeth L., Amos E., Phineas E. Mr. S. died April 1, 1873. For his second wife, married Miss Fannie Bevins, of Kentucky, where she was born in 1844. By this union, there were three children, two of whom, James J. and Lewis B., are still living. Mr. S. has one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which is- under a high state of cultivation, with a fine home, valued at $10,000. He has been identified with the county all his life, and has seen all its various changes.

Seuuiger, who embarked in business in 1874, as the firm of Buck & Senniger. The following year, Captain W. H. Hummel bought the interest of Mr. Buck and continued in business up to 1878, when he bought his interest, and is at present sole proprietor. He carries a full line of shelf goods, stoves and everything else that is usually kept in a first-class store. He manufactures all his tin-ware, roofing and spouting. Mr. S. is located on the northwest corner of the square, in a large and commodious building twenty by sixty, two-story frame building, and carries a stock of $3,000. Mr. Senniger was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, December 28th, 1837. When seventeen years old he was apprenticed, where he remained four years. In 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, nine months men, and participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chandlorville. Previous to entering the army in 1861, he married Miss Mary DeBaugh. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1841. The fruits of this marriage was nine children, eight of whom are living, Mary F., George J., David V., Allie, Julia, John, Louis and Charles. Mr. S. is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic Order, Ark and Anchor Lodge No. 354, Auburn, Chapter and Commandery.

John F. Smith, of the dry goods firm of Smith & Hamlin, Auburn, Illinois, is a native of Germany, and was born in 1842. Being of an adventurous turn of mind, he emigrated to America, alone, in 1856. After spending a year in Chicago he came to Springfield, and has since been a resident of Sangamon county, save two years (1867 and 1868) spent as book-keeper in a bank at Carbondale, Illinois. In 1869, Mr. Smith located in Pawnee, Sangamon county, as a general merchant, and carried on business there until 1876, when failing health compelled him to sell out. During the first year at Pawnee his sales were $11,000, and in 1875 they aggregated $43,000. The rapid increase of $32,000 in six years, in a village eleven miles from a railroad, demonstrated the business qualifications of the man. After closing out, he settled nearly three years on a farm near Pawnee; when, having recuperated his health, at the solicitation of his friend, J. A. Abel, he re-entered the mercantile business in Auburn, in September, 1879, with a stock of general merchandise, embracing dry goods, boots and shoes, clothing, hats, caps and notions. Frank L. Hamlin bought Mr. Abel's interest in April, 1881. The firm carries a stock of $13,000 to $15,000, and has an annual trade of $40,000; the sales of 1881 being twenty-five percent, larger than those of 1880. Besides his commercial interests, Mr. Smith, in company with Mr. Abel, has been engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock, of which they ship about one hundred and twenty-rive cars a year. In 1870, Mr. Smith married Maty E. Jarred, who was born in Indiana, in 1846, but rear d in Sangamon county, Illinois. They have two children - Pearly, aged eleven years, and Lelia, eight years old. Mr. Smith was made a Mason in Pawnee, in 1869-70, and has taken the Royal Arch Degree; is also a member of I. O. O. F., Auburn Lodge. Mrs. Smith's father resides at Crow's Mill, Sangamon county, Illinois. Her mother died in 1869. Mr. Smith's parents both survive, and with four of their six children, reside in Germany, His only brother in this country lives in Northern Iowa.

Elihxi Stout, farmer and stock raiser, post office Auburn, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, January 30, 1816; son of Philemon and Penelope (Anderson) Stout. They were married in Kentucky, about 1810. There was a family of twelve children, six of whom lived to be men and women. In 1836, his father left his home in Kentucky for the Sangamo country, with team, where they arrived in due course of time, camping out on the way. It was customary in an early day, if they met movers, to ask them where they were going; remembers of asking a party (when they were coming through) where he was going, and he said to Iowa; being foreign to him, as he had never heard of Iowa before. Mr. Stout located in Ball tow^nship, where Philemon Stout now resides, where he bought an improved farm of three hundred and fifty acres, with eighty acres under cultivation, with a log cabin with two rooms, and known as the Dr. Dailey place, where his father remained until his death, which occurred in 1845. He was a member of the Baptist Church. At his death, was a large land owner, and one of the large and wealthy farmers of the county. The subject of this sketch married for his first wife. Miss Rebecca P. A. Patton, daughter of Colonel James Patton, by whom there was three children, two of which grew to manhood, James M. and Philemon. Mrs. Rebecca Stout died September 21, 1852; and Elihu Stout married Mrs. Sarah J. Moore, whose maiden name was Williams. By this union there was five children, Thomas E. and Charles H.; three died in infancy. Mrs. Sarah J. Stout died September 17, 1866. For his third wife, married Mrs. Margaret E. Davis, whose maiden name was Williams. Mr. Stout has held several local offices of trust; has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty-eight years. Is one of the large and influential farmers of the county, owning at one time seven hundred acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre. Mr. Stout has been identified with the county for forty-five years, and has lived to see the wild uncultivated prairies converted into one of the finest counties in the State.

X. C. Taylor,M. D. Auburn, Illinois, was born in Sa'igam.on county, Illinois, on the 9th day of April, 1854. Son of Ninian R. and Catharine (Halbut) Taylor. Mother a native of Virginia, and father a native of Illinois, who came to the county in an early day and located on a farm, which he followed for a number of years. Is at present engaged in the hardware and grocery business, at Williamsville. The Doctor received a good business education. In 1872, commenced reading medicine, with Dr. J. M. West, o£ Springfield, where he remained about four years; in the meantime, attended lectures at Rush Medical C'ollege, Chicago. In 1874 and 1875, attended Bellevue Medical College, where he graduated. He then returned to Springfield, where he entered into company with Dr. West, and remained one year, when he came to Auburn, where he has followed his profession since. The Doctor is a member of the District Medical Society ; also of the I. O. O. F., and Masonic Lodge, No. 354.

William P. Taylor^ farmer, section twentyfive, postoffice at Auburn, Illinois, was born in Morgan county, Illinois, December 22, 1835. Son of George and Polly E. (Tucker) Taylor, natives of Kentucky. Emigrated in an early day to Morgan county, where he made a farm and raised a family of ten children, all of whom are living at this writing, the youngest being thirtyone years old, and the oldest fifty-one. His father came to the county in limited circumstances, but by good management and hard work has accumulated a fine property, and today is living a retired life in Jacksonville, and himself and wife have lived together over half a century. William P. married Miss Mary McKain, in 1861. She was the daughter of John McKain, a native of Ireland. She was born in Springfield, Illinois, August 21st, 1840. By this union there were six children, five of whom are living: William W., Ulysses Mary F., Laura E., George E. Has one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which are under a high state of cultivation; value, $60 per acre.

John Ten Brook, farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Virden, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 19th day of February, 1811, son of Jacob and Richard (Tate) Ten Brook, of German descent; mother being born on the ocean just previous to being landed in New York. His grand-fathers, Ten Brook and Tate were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. There were three children of his father's, two of whom are living, William, now a resident of Douglas county, Illinois, and the subject of this sketch. In 1820, his father moved to Ohio, near Cincinnati, where he followed farming, and remained five years. He then removed to Parks county, Indiana, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of timber land, and commenced to make a farm, remaining there until his death. In 1833, married Miss Miry Wilkins, a daughter of Michael Wilkins, of Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1813. There were ten children, five of whom are living, viz: Joseph, Martha, George, M. D., Annie and Ashbell. In 1860, his family having a throat disease, thought perhaps a change would be beneficial, he sold out and went to Springfield, Missouri . Mr. T. saw that there was trouble brewing, so he concluded as he had considerable gold that the bushwhackers would want to count it for him, but not needing any help that way, made up his mind to return to Sangamon county, Illinois, knowing that it was one of the best farming sections in the State, and settled on the farm where he now resides. Mr. Ten Brook has a farm of three hundred and forty-six acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at seventy-five dollars per acre.

J. R. Trott, M. D., was born in Lenn, April 22, 1837; son of James J., and Rachel (Adair) Trott. His father was of Irish and mother of Scottish descent. His mother was a relative of Gen. Adair, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. His father was a missionary, and his field of labor was among the Cherokee Indians. The subject of this sketch attained only a common school education, and at- eighteen years old took up the study of medicine and his preceptor. Dr. J. T. Evans, whom he studied under three years, and graduated at the St. Louis Medical College in 1857. He then took a trip in the Western States and Territories, and for several yeai-s was in the west; in 1863, returned to Morgan county, 111., where he took up the practice of his profession and continued up to 1872, when he again made a trip to the Indian Territory, after which he returned to Virden, Montgomery county. 111., where he opened a drug store in

15, 1*799; married in December, 1823, Margaret F. Goodwin, a native of Freeport, Maine, and settled in Hallowell, in the same State. They have raised one son and three daughters, all of whom are* yet living. Several children died in infancy. Mr. Wadsworth spent the winter of 1839-40 in Mobile, Alabama, working at his trade of carpenter, and in the following spring he came up the river to Sangamon county, Illinois, stopping at Auburn, where the family of an old Maine friend, David Eastman, lived. He bought a small piece of land, worked thi'ough the summer, returned home in the fall, sold his Maine property, packed up, and started in October for the far West, as Illinois was then called. The goods were sent by ship around to New Orleans, and thence to Alton. The family were a little over three weeks en route, much of the journey (through the Middle States) having to be made by canal.

Mr. Wadsworth built him a home on South street, Auburn (old town), into which he moved in 1843, and still resides there - the only building left within the limits of the town. The venerable pair, one eighty-two, and the other eighty, with an unmarried daughter, constitute the household.

Mr. Wadsworth is one of the oldest Masons in Illinois, having taken the Chapter degrees about sixty years ago. He has ever been a very active and zealous member of this Order, and generally an officer. From his early manhood, he has been a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was postmaster at Auburn for ten years; has repeatedly held school cilices, and has been Notary Public for several years.

William A. Wallace, merchant. Auburn, Illinois, was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the Slst day of December, 18o8. Received a good business education in Springfield. When fourteen years of age he commenced driving a delivery wagon for J. W. Bittenger, of Springfield, and remained in that position for six months, when he was called into the office as bookkeeper, where he remained two years, when Mr. B. sold out and he was employed by iiis successor for a short time. He afterwards went to Mechanicsburg, wheie he was employed in a store for an uncle for three years. Then came J 91 - to Auburn, where he was employed as an agent a short time, when he embarked in his present business. Mr. Wallace commenced a poor boy, and by his own exertions has accumulated a fine property, and is one of the enterprising business men of the town.

William M. West, farmer and stock raiser, section thirty, post office Virden, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on the 30th day of April, 1828; son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Henderson) West; father of English descent and native of Delaware, and mother of Maryland. They were married in Maryland, and emigrated to Kentucky in an early day. There was a family of ten children, nine of whom lived to be men and women. In 1833, with a four horse team, they started for Morgan county, Illinois, where they arrived in due course of time; camping on the prairies and cooking by the way. Tiie first winter was spent in a log cabin, eighteen by twenty feet. The following sj^ring they moved to Macoupin Point, where he kept a stage stand, being twelve miles from any other habitation; and in the spring following, came to Auburn, Sangamon county, Illinois, and located near Sugar creek, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land of a man named Abells. The improvements consisted of a log cabin and twelve acres which were under the plow; where he made a farm and lived until his death, which occurred July 8, 1840. His mother, surviving him some years, died in 1863. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and sincere Christians, and left a large family to mourn their loss. William M. was married in 1855, to Miss Hannah Landes, a daughter of David Landes, of Kentucky. She was born in Sangamon county, April 22, 1838. They have six living children, Cornelia, Flora, William II., Annie Lucretia and Mary. In 1852, he bought his present place of one hundred and sixty acres, which was in its wild state, and through his own exertion has brought it under a high state of cultivation, and it is valued at |75 per acre.

Mr. West has held several local offices of trust in the township, and is at present justice of the peace. Mr. West has lived in the county for nearly fifty years; has seen the county from its infancy and wild state to one of the best counties in the State.

M. S Wheeler, M. D , Auburn, 111., was born in Belfontaine, Ohio, on tlie 29th day of September, 1838; son of John and Margaret (Donald) Wheeler; father of English descent and mother of American; father by trade wasa ship-builder, which he followed for many years; afterwards embarked in merchandizing, and owned and controlled a line of stages running from Cincoto Sandusky City. In 1852, came to Illinois, and located at Greenville, 111., where he purchased a farm, where M. S., received a liberal education. At the age of twenty-two, commenced the reading of medicine with Dr. Wm. P. Brown at Greenville, 111., where he remained three years in the time attended lectures at the Rush Medical College, Chicago. In the spring of 1864, commenced the practice of his profession at Trenton, Clinton county, 111., where he remained until the fall of 1866, when he came to Auburn, and after practicing one year, when he attended Rush Medical College and gra'iuated with honors, since which time he has prosecuted his profession here. By close attention to his business, has secured a large and lucrative practice, and is the oldest resident physician in the village. In 1869, married Miss Kate B.Harney, a daughter of Alfied Harney, an early settler of Auburn township; she was born in Morgan county. There are three children - John A., Thornton R., and Frank, members of the Masonic Lodge, No. 354, of Auburn.

St/lvanus J. Wineman, deceased, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 23d day of March 1823. Son of Philip and Jane Wineman, of this county, where he was reared on a farm, and received a common school education ; June 11, 1862, married Mrs. Margaret Kessler, who was born December 22, 1833, widow of George Kessler, who died August 12, 1859, leaving a family of two children - John W. and Florence Bell - who died January

22, 1860. Mrs. Wineman is the daughter of Eddin and Winfield Lewis, who emigrated from Kentucky in 1818, and located on Sugar creek, where he lived until his death, which occurred January 29, 1850, leaving a family of nine children to mourn his loss. Mr. Lewis was an energetic business man, coming to the county with nothing but his hands, accumulated a lai'ge properly, and at his death owned 1,000 acres of land. iVIrs. Lewis died previously in 1843. Mr. Wineman was father of two children, one of whom is still living - Mary A., born September 22, 1865. Mr. Wineman died July

23, 1875. At his death, he left a property of three hundred and twenty acres, since which time Mrs. W. has added eighty, making a farm of four hundred acres, being located near the village of An'- urn, and valued at %1b per acre. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, having been connected with that church since she was sixteen years of age.

Joel B. Wbolsei/, farmer and stock raiser, section seven, post office. Auburn, was born in Onondaga county. New York, on the 25th day of May, 1834; sou of Joseph and Percilla A. (Barber) Woolsey, who were married in Onondaga county, New York, May 4, 1831. There was a family of eight children, of whom six are living, Edward P., James D., George W., Simeon L., Amos H., and Joel B.; two died in infancy. In 1836, left his home in Onondaga county, New York, with his family and started then for the Far West, and located near Jerseyville, where he entered eighty acres of land, where he has resided since. Joel B. was reared on his father's farm where he received a limited education, remaining at home until he was twenty-one. When twenty-three he married Miss Martha Fitzgeralds, a daughter of Jessie and Elizabeth Fitzge raids, natives of Kentucky, who came to Jersey county in an early day, where she was born, April 28, 1839. By this union there were nine children, five of whom are living, Ella V., born September 18, 1858; Elizabeth, A. born November 26, 1866; Clara Z., born April 25, 1870; Frances S., born March 11, 1873; Daisy E., born March 7, 18 76. Mr. W. is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. lodges of Auburn; has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre. He came to the county in 1859 a poor man, and rented for some years but finally bought his present place, where he is comfortably located.

James M. Wyatt, (deceased). Auburn township, was born in Morgan county, Illinois, near Jacksonville, on the 8th day of April, 1829. Sou of John and Rebecca Wyatt, who came to that county in an early day. James M. was reared on a farm, and received a good business education. When seventeen years of age embarked in the mercantile business, which he followed for twelve years. In 1856, married Miss Martha J. Lutrell, daughter of John R. and Margaret (Duncan) Lutrell. She was born in Moi'gan county, Illinois, in 1836. There was a family of six children, all of which are living. Chas. E., John W., Ella M., Frederick S., Maggie A. and James M. In August, 1860, came to Sangamon county, and located six nales west of Auburn, on a farm, where he remained a few years, when he came to where the family now reside and remained until his death, which occurred July 27, 1875. Mr. Wyatt was a man that was highly respected by all who knew him. He was the embodiment of honesty and morality. The loss was severely felt by his death. He was buried by Auburn Lodge I. O. O. F., (assisted by the Auburn Lodges) of which he was a member. There was an appropriate address delivered by Dr. W. D. Wheeler, in an impressive manner. Mr. W. was a kind and indulgent father and husband. He died leaving a fine property of one hundred and eighty-five acres of valuable land, worth $15 per acre.

In the history of Auburn township, we have given short personal histories of a large number of the pioneers, and the best and most enterprising men and women in the township. In making selections of subjects for these brief memoirs we are not ignorant of the fact that we have omitted some - indeed, many - who are worthy an honorable mention in these pages. An endless amount of historical matter found in Sangamon county, has swelled this volume to proportions much larger than was at first contemplated by the publishers, and space would not, therefore, admit of a more extended biographical mention of the titizens of this township. In the notices given, we were compelled, for reasons given above, to confine ourselves to mere fact, leaving unwritten much that is really due the strong- hearted, hardy first settlers, and those who followed to I'ound up and polish the work.