Burton Township

Burton Township

Burton is the smallest town in the county, consisting of but one-third of congressional township 46, range 9. The township is drained by Nippersink Creek, and contains good farms and improvements.

Burton is one of the oldest settled towns in the county. It was settled by Englishmen, and the name English Prairie was bestowed upon the land and is still retained.

The first settler was Jonathan Imeson. He came from England and settled on section 18, in this township, in 1836, and still resides here. He is now seventy-five years old.

Other early settlers coming within a year or two were Richard Wray, sections 17,18; Stephen Lawson, section 18; Robert Richardson, section 18; Martin Hoffman, Win. Fowles, Richard TJpston, Joseph Rice, John A. Mann, and Joseph Blivin, all on section 30.

The English settlers after their arrival staked out their claims and then went on further west thinking to find more eligible lands. But not succeeding in this, they returned to their first choice only to find that a Yankee named John Sanborn had arrived and was occupying their claims. They asked him to quit. He would not. Words were multiplied, but with this result: Sanborn stayed and the Englishmen stayed. The English felt that an intruder was among them. One day when Sanborn was mowing a dozen or more of his neighbors came to him and ordered him to leave; he turned upon them with his scythe and drove the whole crowd. In the excitement Sanborn lost his hat. One of his visitors found it and kept it. Sanborn went bareheaded for several months until he could find time to go to town and purchase another. There was for a long time an unfriendly feeling against any but Englishmen living upon the English Prairie; but John Sanborn completed his days in the spot he had chosen for his home.

The first marriage in the township took place Nov. 30, 1837. Jonathan Imeson and Mary Wray were united in marriage by Kev. Joel Wheeler. Their son, Robert T. Imeson, was the first child born in the township.

The first religious services were held at Jonathan Imeson's house in 1843. The preacher was from Kenosha, then called Southport. The town now contains* two churches, Methodist and Episcopal. The cemeteries are as follows: Spring Grove, English Prairie, Stevens's, Cole's, Sanborn's and Wray's. The last two are private burying grounds.

Soon after the settlement begau, a log school-house was built on the Nippersink Creek and William Stearns taught a school of fifteen scholars.

The red school-house on section 8 was built in 1846. In it the first term of school was taught in 1846 by Miss Case. The house was built and the teacher paid with money raised by subscription. The town now contains two and one-half schools. One house is located on the line between Burton and Richmond. The value of school property is $4,000; the number of school children, seventy.

The first postoffice was called Blivin's Mills. It was established in 1851 with Joseph Rice as Postmaster. Rice held the office during his life-time; R. J. Osmann succeeded; then Mrs. Rice, widow of Joseph Rice; then Robert Tweed, the present Postmaster, in 1865. The name of the office was changed from Blivin's Mills to Spring Grove, Jan. 24, 1883. English Prairie postoffice was established about 1854. The Postmasters have been Gideon B. Cooley, Hirvey Wilson and C. Mead.

The first township election was held April 2, 1850. Darius Kingsley was Moderator and Nehemiah H. Austin, Clerk. The following officers were chosen: Sylvanus S. Stilson, Supervisor; Gideon Cooley, Clerk; Chauncy Sweet, Justice of the Peace; Harvey Wilson, Justice of the Peace; J. B. Plumstead, Assessor; Augustus Bradway, Collector; John E. Mann, Constable; Joseph E. Parks, Constable; Miles Cole, Overseer of the Poor; Alfred

Stevens, Wm. Buell and Darius Kingsley, Commissioners of Highways; Roadmasters, Wm. Buell, District No. 1; John Sanborn, District No. 2; Augustus W. Bradway, District No. 3; Jacob Jackson, District No. 4. At this first meeting it was voted that the name of the town, Benton, be changed to Nippersink. This vote seems to have been totally disregarded thereafter.

The town was first named Benton by Jackson Wray. It was afterward found that there was another town in the State by that name, therefore the name was changed to Burton, apparently by mutual consent - at least there appears no official record of the change.

The town officers for the present year (1884-'5) are as follows: Fred Hatch, Supervisor; Robert Tweed, Jr., Clerk; "Wm. Pierce, Assessor; J. W. Sanborn, Collector and Constable; Frank Cole, Commissioner of Highways; Dennis Halderman, Justice of the Peace.

Spring Geove

This place is named for the spring and the grove surrounding it. It was surveyed and laid out by Mr. Barnum. Wm. Fowles and Richard Robinson built the first houses east of the grove. Both were log buildings.

Saint Mary's Mission, Protestant Episcopal church, Spring Grove, Burton Township, was organized May 5, 1873, the organization being approved and sanctioned by Rt. Rev. Henry John Whitehouse, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Illinois. The following officers of the mission by him were appointed, viz. : Wardens, Robert Richardson and Robert Tweed; Secretary, Wm.

Slator; Treasurer, John Tweed. The first pastor was Rev. Peter Arvidson, who held week-day services in the school-house during the years 1869 and 1870. During the years 1871 and 1872 Rev. E. K. Miller, of Wilmot, Wis., held Sunday services. The church was in reality organized in 1868, though not till 1873 was it formally approved by the Bishop. The following is a list of ministers who have been appointed to this charge: Rev. D. Everhart, Rev. L. C. Lance, Rev. C. D. Mark. In 1882 the church began to lose its strength by deaths and removals, and were unabl to support a regular appointed minister for a time. Week-day services were held by Rev. Edward Richie. Since this date there has been only occasional preaching. The first members to unite with the church at the time of its organization were : Robert Richardson and wife, and daughters, Tarnar and Hannah; Robert Tweed, Joseph James, Mrs. James Ooulman, Mrs. Wm. Goodhand and daughter Anna, William Tarrington and daughter. Their house of worship was erected in 1873 at an expense of $1,500. It is a neat frame church, and will seat over 100.

Henry Broadley is a native of England, and was born May 7, 1804. He came to the United States in 1830, and settled in St. Joseph County, Mich., remaining there till 1842, when he came to McHenry County, and settled in Burton Township, on the farm now owned by John Lawson. In 1845 he bought the farm now owned by W. H. Broadley, remaining there till 1879, when he moved to Waukegan, 111. He was married in 1835 to Mary Burnell. They have had five children - John B., who was born in 1845, and died in 1864; Mary J., Ruth, Anna and William H. Mary and Ruth are married; Anna1 and William H. are living on the old homestead. Mr. Broadley was one of eight brothers, but three of whom are living - Thomas, George and Henry. The deceased are - John, Mathew, William, Stephen and Robert.

Lewis Hatch, a prominent and successful farmer of Burton Township, was born in Washington County, N. T., April 20, 1814, a son of Waite and Martha (Spencer) Hatch, natives of New England. His early life was spent with his parents, who, being in limited circumstances, were unable to give him the educational advantages he desired. He spent the most of his evenings in reading and study, often giving himself but four to six hours a day for sleep. He worked at anything he could get to do, keeping up his studies in the meantime till he was able to pass an examination, and then taught school at $15 a mouth. When twenty-three years of age he had saved $700, and wishing to try his fortunes in the West came to Illinois in April, 1837. He made the journey by stage, canal and on foot. Reaching the Fox Eiver in June he found land which pleased him and he staked out a half section claim. In the fall of 1838 or '9 he sowed his first crop of wheat where Wilmot now stands. During the next winter he split rails and worked at anything by which he could earn enough to pay his board. When the land came into market he entered five eightyacre lots which he afterward exchanged for land in Michigan. He subsequently entered 160 or more acres of land on Nippersink Creek, and bought a saw-mill which he ran several years, and then went to farming and stock-raising. In 1875 he moved to the farm where he now lives. His buildings were destroyed by fire on this farm in 1873 or '4, but he immediately rebuilt, and the buildings are much better than the old. His residence is a two-story frame, with all modern improvements. His farm buildings are the second best in the township. He has a landed estate of 1,300 acres and money at interest, 500 acres being in the homestead. Mr. Hatch was married in 1844 to Miss Mandana Cole, daughter of Miles Cole. They have had five children, four of whom are living - Miles F., in Washington Territory; Fred. L., on the old farm; Frank W., at home, and Martha L., wife of A. H. Hubbard, of Elgin. The sons have each taken a full course at the Illinois Industrial University, Champaign. Frank since took a two years' law course, one at Yale and one at the Chicago Union College of Law, graduating from the latter in 1882. Fred now has charge of the old homestead farm on the creek, and is raising blooded stock. He was married in January, 1876, to Anna M., daughter of E. H. and Olive Reynolds, of Boone County, 111.

John Reaney was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, and died in McHenry County, 111., Feb. 1, 1880. He married Janet Turner, daughter of James and Janet (Oliver) Turner, a native ot Roxburghshire, Scotland, born Jan. 28, 1817. They came to the United States in July, 1847, her parents having come four years previous, lauding at New York, and from there went to Buffalo, N. Y., thence via the great lakes to Kenosha, Wis., and from there to Lake County, 111. In 1864 they came to McHenry County, and located in Burton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Heaney had no children. Mr. Heaney, at the time of his death, had neither brother nor sister. In 1875 he made a trip to Ireland in search of relatives, but after a few months sojourn returned, having had a fruitless trip. Mrs. Heaney has two brothers and three sisters, viz. : - George, now of Lake County, married Bridget Dorsey, and has five children - Katie, Mary J. , Lizzie, Maggie and Nellie. Thomas married Janet Akins. He was disabled in the war of the Kebellion and since the death of his wife has been an inmate of the Soldiers' National Home, Virginia. Sarah, married Kichard Oxtoby, of Lake County, and has four children - Thomas, Janet, John and Eichard. Isabelle married James Neish and has four children - Elizabeth, James, Andrew and Isabelle. Jean married Richard Green; they moved to Calaveras County, Cal., over thirty years ago, and have four children - George, Alice, Robert and Ella.

Aaron Hoffman, one of the most successful and prominent farmers of Burton Township, was born in Somerset County, Pa., Oct. 1, 1824, a son of Martin L. and Hannah Hoffman, natives of the same county. His great-grandparents were natives of Germany, but were expelled from their native country on account of their religious convictions. They went to France, but were permitted to remain but a short time, when they were again driven out, and this second time had their property confiscated. From France they came, with two brothers of the great-grandfather, to America, and located in Philadelphia. He was a soldier in the Indian and Revolutionary wars. He also worked as a smith in the Government shops, and is said to have been a personal friend of General Washington, and held the rank of Major in the army. The great-grandmother of our subject was purchased by her husband for 150 pounds of tobacco. Aaron Hoffman came with his parents to Illinois and settled in McHenry County, June 6, 1836, and were among the first settlers of Burton Township. In 1850, with his father and Oldham Carrot, an Englishman, he went to California, and remained three years, working in the gold mines and fighting the Indians. He was acquainted with Colonel John Fremont, and served under him in a campaign against the Indians. He, however, tired of California, and in 1853 returned to his home in Illinois, arriving in McHenry County May 2. He purchased the farm now occupied by him in 1868, and by additions since made to it has now 453 acres. His average wheat crop is 1,000 bushels a year, and he now has fifty acres in corn. He has twenty-two head of Durham cattle and twenty-eight hogs. Mr. Hoffman married Isabella, daughter of John and Mary Cole, of

Pennsylvania. They have had eight children; but four are living - Oineretta, Mark F., Philip G. and William D. The deceased are - Douglas, Ida, May and Celia A.

Jonathan Imeson was born in England, Dec. 28, 1808, a son of Jonathan and Fannie (Tindil) Imeson. His father died in his native country at the age of thirty-five years, and his mother at the age of sixty. When twenty -five years of age Mr. Imeson came to the United States and located in English Prairie, now Burton Township, McHenrv Co., 111. He lived on section 13 forty years and then moved to his present home on section 18. The first year after coming to the county he lived alone in a sod shanty. Flour* was $20 a barrel, and for three weeks he lived on potatoes. He had to hide his bed from the Indians. Wolves and snakes were plenty. He was at one time visited by a rattlesnake which made its bed with him. Mr. Imeson was married Nov. 30, 1837, to Mary Wray, eldest daughter of Thomas and Alice (Midgeler) Wray. She was born in England, June 15, 1819, and came to the United States with her parents in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Imeson have eight children - Kobert, born Jan. 18, 1839; Alice, born in 1840, is the wife of Robert Smith, of Arthur, 111., and has three daughters - Mary, Orie and Alice. El zabeth and Mary (twins) were born in 1842, and now live in Neosha, Mo. Elizabeth married David Kirk and has our children - Charles, Frederick, Dalton and Idella. Mary married William H. Stewart and has four children - John, Alice, Harry and Fannie. Fannie was born in 1848, and is the wife of Albert G-ibbs, of Wisconsin. She has one child - Nellie. Frank Peirce, born in 1853, is single aud lives in Lake County, 111. Idella, born in 1857, married John Crane. John Milton, born in 1861, is at home. The eldest son, Robert, went to Minnesota in 1865 and remained seven years; from there went to St. Louis, Mo., and worked in the car shops five years; thence to San Francisco, Cal. While in California he partially lost his eyesight and returned to St. Louis, and a year later came home. He afterward went to Arkansas for the benefit of his eyes, aud kept a store in Eureka some time. Mr. Imeson's father's family consisted of five children - Elizabeth, Rebecca, Jane, Jonathan and Thomas. Our subject is the only one living. Mrs. Imeson's father died in Richmond, 111., aged seventy-two years. Her mother died in White Pigeon, Mich., aged forty-two years. Their family consisted of ten children, all born in England, save the youngest - Richard, Mary, Alice, Ann, Eliza-

Charles Mead, the eldest son of Tertullus Mead, was born in Patterson Township, Putnam Co. , N Y. , Aug. 12, 1822. He came to McHenry County, 111., in 1856, leaving New York March 25, and settled on section 8, Burton Township, where he has since resided. He owns a beautiful farm of eighty acres, and in 1873 built a fine residence. It is a two-story frame buildinc, 30 x 36 with awing 16x16. He is by trade a carpenter and has worked on a majority of the buildings in his section. He has been Postmaster of English Prairie postoffice twenty years. He has served as Justice of the Peace eleven years. He was married in New York in 1848, to Maria E. Smith. They have three children - Lyman Leroy, born May, 1855; Irene Zella, born in 1864, married March 22, 1882, to Selim K. Peirce, of Burton Township; and Eussell Edmond, born in 1865. Politically Mr. Mead has always been a Democrat. His mother died in New York State in 1852 aged fifty-two years. His father came to Illinois with him and died here in 1856 aged seventy-six years. There were ten children in the family. Our subject, James E., came to Illinois in 1856, but returned to New York in 1864. Erastus, Barney, William and Marcus all reside in New York, engaged in farming and carpentering. Marcus enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-second New York Infantry and served till the close of the war, when he was exchanged as a prisoner at Anderson ville. Maria resides in Oswego County, N. Y., the widow of Azor Hoyt. Mary married Oscar Cummings, also of New York. Caroline is unmarried and lives with her sister Maria. Theodore came to Illinois in the fall of 1856 and taught school the following winter. He was Superintendent of the schools of McHenry County two years. In 1862 he went to Washington and was in j the Quartermaster's department. He subsequently graduated from Alexandria College and is now Examining Surgeon in the Pension Office at Washington.

Mrs. Nancy Peacock is a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., born May 29, 1800, a daughter of John and Mary C. (Shell) Churchill, both natives of Herkimer County, N. Y. Aug. 6, 1845, she was married at Kenosha, Wis., to the late Joseph Peacock. They came to McHenry County in an early day and settled at English Prairie, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Peacock. Mr. Peacock was an Englishman by birth; he died March 5, 1884, aged eightyone years, an honored citizen of the county. Mrs. Peacock bad tour brothers and four sisters all of whom are dead except Alfred J. who lives in Iowa. One brother was drowned when small. Ira and Henderson both died in McHenry County several years ago. Her sisters all died in New York. They lived to maturity and left families.

Marvel Peirce was born June 23, 1814, in Pennsylvania, and died May 18, 1878, in Burton Township, McHenry Co., 111. He came to Illinois in 1838, stopping first in La Salle County, but soon after came to McHenry County and settled on the farm where his widow now lives. He was married in Nichols County, N. T., May 19, 1838, to Eleanor, daughter of "William and Elizabeth (Cline) White, of New York, who came to Illinois in 1839 and settled in De Kalb County. To Mr. and Mrs. Peirce were born eleven children, three of whom are deceased - Elizabeth died Dec. 18,1850; Hiram was killed Ojt. 2, 1862, at South Mountain; Allan W. died March 13, 1877, at San Francisco, Cal. William was born June 3, 1840, and was married Jan. 26, 1871, to Eliza Bowers. They have two children - Warren and Fred. Paulina was born April 20, 1843, and was married in February, 1861, to Leonard Stilson, who died in 1862, while serving in the war of the Rebellion. November, 1868, she married Frank Gates. She has five children. One, George, by her first marriage, was born in December, 1862, and was mai-ried March 15, 1883, to Belle Hick. The children by her second marriage are - Nellie, born November, 1870; Allen and Alice (twins), born July 1, 1875; and Earl, born July 12, 1879. Silas Peirce was born March. 22, 1819, and was married Dec. 26, 1877, to Lizzie Ricks, by whom he has two children - Edna and James. He lives in Illinois. Franklin Peirce was born Aug. 6, 1854, and was married Nov. 23, 1881, to Emma Ligett. He lives in Me nasha, Wis. Eleanor was born June 2, 1856; is living at home. Selim was born Feb. 20, 1858, and was married March 22, 1882, to Irene Mead. Ina was born April 1, 1860. Ida was born April 20, 1864, and was married Feb. 14, 1883, to August Bun gard. She has one child - Ray, born Nov. 28, 1883.

Robert Richardson was born in Walkington, Yorkshire, England, July 4,1811; was the eldest son of Francis and Tamar (Statters) Richardson. In March, 1832, he came to America. In 1836 he settled on English Prairie, McHenry Co., 111. In 1842 he rented his farm and went to Milwaukee, Wis. Being a mason by trade, he and his brother built the first brick building in that city. Jan. 12, 1843, he was married to Eleanor J. James, by Mr. Cooper,

Justice of the Peace, in the town of Greenfield, Milwaukee Co., Wis. Eleanor J. James was born in London, England, Oct. 31, 1822, second daughter of Joseph C. and Felicity (Thomas) James, who came to America in 1834, settling in Greenfield, Milwaukee Co., Wis. For three years Mr. and Mrs. Robert Richardson lived in Milwaukee, Wis. In November, 1846, they came to English Prairie, making it their home. Thirteen children were born to them, three of whom are deceased - Robert T., born Oct. 9, 1849, died Jan. 15, 1850; John T., born June 8, 1859, died Sept. 15, 1859; Robert E., born March 2, 1852, died Dec. 16, 1868. Those that are living are - Francis G., born Oct. 5, 1843, in Milwaukee, Wis., and was married April 3, 1872, to Sarah A. Emens, of Kenosha County, Wis., by Rev. Enoch Miller; they have six children - Robert E., Matthew L., Francis T., Webster C, Isabel M. and Chester. Tamar A. was born March 24, 1845, in Milwaukee, Wis., and was married May 26, 1877, to Miles F. Hatch, at San Francisco, Cal., by Rev. Frank Jewell; they have one child - Lewis M. The rest were born in the town of Burton, English Prairie, 111. Joseph H. was born Sept. 27, 1846, and was married March 6, 1879, to Clarrissa A. Motley, at Kenosha, Wis., by Rev. George Everhart; they have one child - Ada J. Hannah F. was born Jan 5, 1848; was married Feb. 25, 1880, to Henry Wheeler, at Algonquin, by Rev. Peter Arvedson ; they have two children - Jesse R. and Eleanor R. Eleanor H. was born Dec. 16, 1850, and was married July 4, 1872, to Solomon Godfrey, by Rev. Enoch Miller; they have three children - Robert R., Ettie M. and George A. Eliza E. was born Nov. 4, 1854; was married to William J. Overton, March 7, 1878, by Rev. Peter Arvedson; they have three children - James R., Sidney L., and Linford S. Sarah M. was born July 14, 1856, and was married April 11, 1882, to William P. Stevens, at Woodstock, Rev. R. K. Todd officiating; they have one child - Mildred R. Esther S., born Nov. 5, 1860; Jesse B., born Sept. 18, 1862, and Alfred E., born May 29, 1865, are at home with their mother, who was left a widow July 31, 1878. WilUam Slater, son of John and Mary (Bradburn) Slater, was born in Manchester, England, Aug. 9, 1816, and was married March 15, 1866, to Margaret Thompson, a daughter of James and Mary (Squire) Blyth. She was born in Scotland in 1808. Her father was a hat merchant, the firm being Blyth & Leslie, 3 and 4 North Bridge, Edinburg, and died very suddenly, in 1825. Her mother died in 1815. She had five sisters - Mary, Margaret,

Charlotte, Jane, and Jessie - all long since dead. In 1837 Bhe came to the United States, embarking at Liverpool and landing in New York City. Proceeded from there to Bedford, Ohio, and from there the next year to McHenry County, 111., coming from the East via the lakes to Chicago. Her husband, Mr. James Thompson, was very active in delaying the first land sales. Mr. King, a money loaner, of Pennsylvania, gave her a $20 gold piece for services rendered by her husband. After her marriage to Mr. Slater they settled on the old homestead on section 29, where they still reside. Both are hale and hearty. Mr. Slater has lived in this township twenty-two years, and eighteen years of that time has held the office of Town Clerk. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace two terms. He has been Secretary of the Bible Society a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Slater are an honored and respected couple of the township, and are living quietly and peacefully on their homestead.

B. A. Stevens was born in Burton Township, McHenry Co., 111., June 13, 1843. He wa^ reared on the farm and received a good common-school education, subsequently attending Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Chicago, one term. He resides on section 20, Burton Township, on 420 acres of land entered by his father. He in connection with farming carries on a dairy, milking thirty-two cows, and making about 150 pounds of butter a week. He was married Nov. 24, 1869, to Frances Stevens, daughter of Peter Stevens, a native of Vermont. They have three children

-Clara, Chester and Cora. Mr. Stevens has served his township as Collector, Commissioner of Highways, School Trustee and School Director. His father, Major Alfred Stevens, was born in Richmond, Vt, in 1803, and died in Racine, Wis., in 1869, aged sixty-six years. When he was six years of age he went to Pennsylvania, remaining there till June, 1837, when he came to English Prairie and took up a claim on section 20. Three years prior to his death he moved to Racine, Wis. He owned 740 acres of land in Illinois and as much more in Iowa. He was a farmer and made that calling a success, being practical, energetic and a good manager. He earned the title of Major in Militia in Pennsylvania. During the Rebellion he trained a company of boys. He married Esther Kellogg in Pennsylvania. She is now living in Nebraska, aged seventy-nine years. They had a family of nine children, all of whom are living - Oscar married Jane Grovero, and resides in Clear Lake, Iowa, engaged in milling. Warren married

Mary McWaspy, and is a wealthy stockman of California; he raises an average of 27,000 bushels of wheat per annum. Azor married Sarah Wood, and resides at Clear Lake, Iowa, engaged in milling and farming. Clara, the widow of Porter Kingsly, resides in Lodi, Wis. Henry is unmarried and resides in Oregon, where he owns 1,200 acres of land and 180 horses. B. A., our subject, is the fifth, son. Marion is a widower and resides in Nebraska, engaged in farming. Lafayette is unmarried and lives in Washington Territory. He is fond of travel and exploring; found the first coal ever discovered in the Territory. Delia, the youngest, is unmarried and resides in Nebraska with her mother and brother Marion.

Ghauncey Sweet was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Aug. 16, 1815, a son of George and Hannah (Van Ostrand) Sweet. His father was born April 14, 1786, and his mother August, 1789. They were married in Galway Township, Saratoga Co., N. Y., May 16, 1807. Their children are scattered, some living thousands of miles from their native hearth. George S. lives in Avon, Fulton Co., 111.; Norman, Julia and Charles live in Erie County, Pa.; Benjamin lives in Kansas; Henry, in San Francisco, Cal.; Eliza, in Elgin, Pa., and Chauncey, in McHenry County, 111. The father died in Washington Township, Erie Co., Pa., Feb. 17, 1872, and the mother in Elgin, Pa., Feb. 23, 1876. Chauncey Sweet was married April 10, 1864, by Rev. Mr. Caldwell, to Beata Bauer, daughter of John and Mary (Willard) Bauer, natives of Mechlinburg, Germany, who came to America in 1856, and lived in Burton Township. McHenry Co., 111., till October, 1864, when they moved to Nebraska, where they now reside. To Mr. and Mrs. Sweet have been born seven children, four of whom died in infancy. Of those living, Henry C. was born May 8, 1869; Beata M., born May 20, 1872; and Lewis E., born Nov. 11, 1879. Mr. Sweet came to Illinois in 1836 and settled in Burton Township, Mc- Henry County. In 1853 he went to California and remained six years, and in 1859 returned to (;McHenry County, where he has since resided. He died Jan. 28, 1880.

Robert Tweed was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Sept. 29, 1818, a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Robinson) Tweed, farmers of that country; his father died at the age of fifty-three years, and his mother aged eighty. He spent his boyhood days on the farm receiving a common-school education. He spent some time as a sailor, engaged in the coasting trade. He was married in October,

1841, to Sarah Tweed, with whom he lived nearly six years. She died Sept. 22, 1847, soon after landing at Grosse Isle, Canada, leaving him in a strange land with two little boys - Alexander and John. He came to America in 1847, and remained in Canada a short time. In 1848 he came to the United States, and located in Lake County, 111., remaining there ten years engaging in various vocations, such as fishing, sailing, farming and chopping in the pine forests of Michigan. In 1853 his health failed and he was unable to do anything for several months; when he recovered he began peddling tinware and notions, and engaged in this business for five years. He then rented a room in Spring Grove and opened a small store; he continued at the same place five years and then bought his present storehouse. His front room is 52x20 feet in size with a storeroom 30x15 feet. He carries a good stock of general merchandise. Mr. Tweed has been Postmaster since 1865. Oct. 8, 1853, Mr. Tweed married Fannie Tweed, a cousin of his first wife, by whom he has had two children - Fannie and Robert, making a family of four children in all. Alexander, born Aug. 26, 1843, served three years in the Union army in the Ninety-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteers; married Ida Morse and has three children - Amanda, Levi, and Mary. He is now a merchant of Fox Lake, Lake Co. , III. John Tweed was born Feb. 21, 1845, and is now a merchant in Fairfield, Clay Co., Neb.; he married Susan Smiley, who died May 25, 1884, leaving two children - Robert, and an infant daughter who died, Sept. 21, 1884. Fannie, born April 21, 1854, died Feb. 8, 1856, from the effects of a scald. Robert was born Nov. 18. 1855, and has been in the store with his father when not in school. He attended school in Waukegan, Ringwood and Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Chicago. Since 1879 he has been a partner with his father. He was married Nov. 2, 1880, to Fannie E. Belle, of Richmond Township, a daughter of John B. Bell. They have one child - Oliver Arthur, born Feb. 7, 1882. Mr. Tweed has been a member of the Episcopal church since 1842. Politically he is a Republican.