Lawrence Township (part 2 of 3)

Hon. Robert Bell

THE Bell iamily, of which the subject of this sketch is a member, were among the pioneers and early settlers of Illinois. On the paternal side they are of Scotch- Irish ancestry. Members of the family emigrated from the north of Ireland to America some time prior to the Revolutionary war. They settled in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and from them have sprung a numerous progeny. The grandfather, Robert Bell, was a soldier of the Revolution. He entered the army under Washington while yet in his sixteenth year, and remained in the service during the entire term of the war, and was present when the war closed with the surrender of Cornwallis' forces at Yorktown. After the war he married a Miss Mary Caldwell, who was of Scotch descent. She died in Virginia. Robert Bell remained a resident of his native State until 1818, when he came west to Illinois, which State had just been admitted to the Union, and settled in what is now known as Wabash county, then a part of Edwards, at a point now known as Friendsville Precinct. He was a farmer, and followed that avocation until his death, which occurred in 1837. The offspring of his marriage with Miss Mary Caldwell were three children named George, Jane, who was the wife of E. S. Wallace, and Hiram Bell. The latter was the father of Robert Bell. He was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, March 3, 1798, and was yet in his early manhood when the family came to Illinois He received a good education and adopted surveying as a business. After the family settled in Illinois his time was much occupied in his profession, and he did most of the surveying in this and surrounding counties. In 1824, when the county was organized, he was appointed circuit clerk by Judge Wilson, who subsequently was Chief Justice of the State. Mr. Bell held the office of circuit clerk continuously from 1824 to 1860. He also held the office of county clerk until December, 1853, and was county judge several years ; in fact held all the offices up to such time as the increasing business of the county demanded a division of the labor. He was familiarly known as General Bell, having held the position of Brigadier General in the militia forces of the State. He died July 11, 1867. He married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Victor and Rebecca (Tucker) Buchanan, a native of Gallatin county, Kentucky. Her parents removed to Illinois in 1819, and settled in Lawrence county, then a part of Edwards. Mrs. Bell was born August 24, 1802. She still survives her husband, and at present is a resident of Mt. Carmel.

There were eight children by the union of Hiram and Elizabeth Bell - four of whom are still living - Robert, Rebecca Jane, wife of Robert Cravath, a civil engineer living at Green Bay, Wisconsin ; James Hiram and Clara Virginia, wife of N. M. Pilsbury, a hardware merchant, living at Fremont, Nebraska. Among those who died was Victor B. Bell, the eldest child, a member of the Illinois Legislature in 1852-'54, and a prominent lawyer, who practiced his profession in Mt. Carmel, and afterwards in Chicago and Washington City, and died in New Orleans, September 15, 1867, having never married.

Hon. Robert Bell, was born in Lawrence county in 1829. He received his primary education in subscription and select schools of Mt Carmel, and his literary training in the Indiana State University. He studied law under the direction and in the office of his brother, Victor B. Bell, and commenced the practice of his profession in Fairfield, Wayne county, Illinois, in 1855. In 1857 he returned to Mt. Carmel and continued the practice. In 1864 he formed a law partnership with Hon. E. B. Green, which still continues. The law firm of Bell and Green is well known throughout southern Illinois. They have a large practice in this and surrounding counties, and in the Appellate and Superior courts of the State, and in the Circuit and District courts of the United States. In 1869 Mr. Bell was appointed County Judge by the Governor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Thomas J. Armstrong.

Judge Bell belongs to the progressive order of men. Enterprises, having for their object the increase of the material wealth of the town or county, find in him an active and enthusiastic supporter. He was President of the Illinois Southern Railroad Company, which was merged into the Cairo and Vincennes in 1867, and assisted materially in having the latter road built. He was also President of the St. Louis, Mt. Carmel and New Albany, now the Louisville, Evansville and St. Louis Railway, and while president of the former organization, succeeded in having built and equipped that section of the road between Princeton, Indiana, and Albion, Illinois. The flourishing town of Bellmont, on this road, midway between Mt. Carmel and Albion, was named after Judge Bell ; and the station and post-office at the works of the Mt. Carmel coal company, on this railway, were named Maud, after a young daughter of Judge Bell who died in the spring of 1880.

Politically Judge Bell was originally a Democrat, his first vote for President being cast for Pierce in 1852. In 1860 he was a Douglas Democrat. During the war of the Rebellion he was a warm Union man, and made many speeches in aid of the recruiting soldiers, and supported all measures that had for their object the suppression of the Rebellion. His strong Union sentiments naturally led him into the Republican party, and during and since the civil war he has affiliated and acted with the latter political organization, and has been recognized as one of the Republican leaders of the State. From 1868 to 1872 he was a member of the Republican State Central Committee for the State at large. In 1878, he was the Republican candidate for Congress in the 19th District. In 1879 he was sent to i California by the United States Treasury Department as a special revenue agent to investigate alleged frauds in the revenue districts of the Pacific coast. In 1881 he was appointed by President Garfield as a commissioner to examine a section of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad ;n New Mexico. Judge Bell is an honored member of the ancient and honorable order of A. F. and A. M., also of Royal Arch and Knight Templar masonry.

On the 17th of November, 1858, at Madison, Connecticut, he was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Samuel N. and Martha (Brace) Shepard. Mrs Bell's father was a Congregational minister, and was pastor for thirty-one years of one of the largest churches in Connecticut. Mrs. Bell was born at Madison in that State, and was educated at New Haven, Hartford, and at Maplewood Seminary, Pittsfield, Mass.

There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bell nine children, five of whom are living, and the names of those who survive are : Emily Rosa, Collins Shepard, Edward Green, Catherine Elizabeth and Bertine.

Judge Bell has a high reputation as an orator, and many of his speeches and addresses have been published. He has also written several short poems, that have been printed in some of the leading newspapers in the United States.

Hon. Jacob Zimmerman

Is a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, born September 27th, 1831. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Steelsmith) Zimmerman. The family, on the paternal side, were "originally from Germany, - on the maternal, of Welsh extraction. His parents emigrated to Ohio in 1840, and settled in Stark county. Four years later they removed to Wyandotte county, in the same State, and there the father died. His wife and the mother of Jacob Z. still survives him, and is a resident of the latter county. Jacob Zimmerman received a good English education in the public and select schools of Upper Sandusky. At the age of eighteen he resolved to adopt the printer's trade as the business of his life, and with that idea in view, entered the office of the Wyandotte Pioneer, in Upper Sandusky, and in that office was " printer's devil," worked at the case, sub-editor and general utility man. He remained there about one year, and then went to Tiffin, Ohio, and worked at the case. Six months later he came west to Illinois, and stopped in the town of Marshall, in Clark county. There he found work in the office of the Illinois State Democrat, then owned and edited by Nathan Willard. He continued with the Democrat eight months ; then, in connection with a Mr. Summers, purchased that paper and the Marshall Telegraph, and consolidated them, and published a neutral independent paper na^oed the Telegraph. lu 1852 James C. Robinson, a distinguished lawyer and prominent politician of Illinois, then a resident of Marshall, but at present a citizen of Springfield, purchased Mr. Summers' interest in the paper, and became a partner of Mr. Zimmerman's. They changed the name to the Eastern lllinoisan, and converted it into a strong democratic newspaper. The latter partnership continued four years, when Mr. Z. sold his interest to his partner, and from Marshall went to Urbana, the county seat of Champaign county, and there, in connection with Mr. George N. Richard (with Mr. Z. as editor), published the Constitution, an able and influential democratic newspaper.

While connected with the lllinoisan in 1855. he estab- ' lished a paper at Greenup - the first democratic sheet published in Cumberland county - and conducted it in conjunction with the former paper. The democratic party of Clark county was in a disorganized condition when he assumed editorial control of the lllinoisan, owing to dissatisfaction with the delegate convention system of making nominations. To heal the dissensions, Mr. Z. drew up a plan of making nominations by primary elections, submitted it to a mass meeting, and secured its adoption. This was the origination of the primary election system of making county nominations in Illinois at least, if not in the county at large, and so satisfactory did it prove in that county, that it has since been adopted throughout nearly the entire State, and largely throughout the whole county.

In 1860 he sold out the paper at Urbana and came to Mt. Carmel, in this county, and here took editorial charge of the Democrat, and conducted it as a Douglas paper through the presidential campaign of 1860. His labors as editor and publisher of newspapers practically ceased in November, I860. Since that time he has, occasionally, temporarily assumed editorship of the local journals. As a newspaper and political writer, Mr. Zimmerman was far above the average. He wielded a sharp and vigorous pen, and many times proved to his political and newspaper contemporaries that he was a formidable antagonist to encounter in a pen-and-paper controversy. Articles from his pen were clear, concise and to the point, and showed a thorough knowledge of the subject kin I hand. After his retirement from the newspaper busi-

On the 25th of December, 1856, he married Miss Belinda B., daughter of Thomas S. aud Snrah D. (Cavalier) Hinde. She was born in Wabash county. Her father was one of the pioneers of Illinois, and the original proprietor of the town of Mt. Carmel. Mrs. Zimmerman, at the time of her marriage, was a resident of Marshall, Clark county Illinois, where she lived with her sister, who was the wife of Judge Charles H. Constable. She died in May, 1865, leaving two children, one of whom is yet living, named Frederick Hinde Zimmerman.

Ou the 13th of April, 1874, Mr. Z. married his present wife. Her maiden name was Emma Harris. She is the daughter of John and Mary (Brooks) Harris. The Harris family were also old settlers of Wabaih county. By the latter marriage there are two children, whose names, in the order of their birth, are: Herbert aud John H. Mr. Zimmerman is an honored member of the Order of Freemasonry, aud belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Knights Templar orders.

Politically, he has been a life-long and thorough paced democrat. He is most soundly indoctrinated in the tenets and principles of that political organization, and believes that on the ultimate success of its principles rest the future hopes, prosperity and perpetuity of a republican form of government in the United States. In 1878 his zeal in the cause of his party, aud worth as a man and citizen, received honorable recognition by being elected to represent his district in the Third General Assembly of the State. While a member of that body he secured the passage of a bill appropriating fifteen thousand dollars for the erection of a court-house in Mt. Carmel.

Mr. Zimmerman is a live, energetic, progressive business man. He was oue of the organizers of the Coal Mine Co. west of Mt. Carmel, aud the present and prospective development of the coal interests of Wabash county is in a great measure due to his energy and investigations.

Hon. Edward B. Green

Is a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania, born Dec. 29, 1837. His father, Thomas Green, was born and reared in Fairfax county, Virginia. He was of English ancestry, and the family were amomg the early settlers of the Old Dominion. During the war of 1812 he enlisted and served as a soldier in the army operating in Canada and on the northern frontier. At the close of the war he settled in what is now known as Blair county, Pennsylvania, then a part of Huntingdon, and there followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1875. He married Miss Martha Galbraith, who was descended from Scotch-Irish stock. Her ancestors were among the early j settlers of Pennsylvania. She was born and raised in ; Blair county, where she lived at the time of her mar- j riage. She still survives her husband, and at the present !

time is a resident of Clarion county, in her native State. By the aarriage of Thomas and Martha Green there were twelve children, ten of whom are still living. Edward B. is the youngest of the family. He received his primary education iu the public schools of his native county. Being of a studious nature and possessing earnest application, he soon fitted himself for the profession of teaching, in which he engaged while yet in his seventeenth year. The profession gave him enlarged opportunities for study and self culture, and he soon becaite proficient, particularly in languages. During the last year and a half of his residence iu Pennsylvania he occupied the Chair of Professor of Languages in the Academy at West Freedom, in Clarion county. In October, 1858, he came west to Illinois, and settled in Paris, in Edgar county. He had determined to adopt the profession of law as the business of his life, and with that idea in view, entered the law office of liis brother, Amos Green aud James A. Eads, prominent attorneys of Paris, Illinois, aud commenced the study. He read the standard text-books aud prosecuted his studies diligently until June, 1860, when he repaired to Carlyle, in Clinton county, then the residence of the late Sidney Breese, one of the justices of the supreme court, and was by him examined, aud upon his recommendation was admitted to the bar. Ou the 20th of the same mouth he came to Mt. Carmel, opened a law office, and commenced the practice, aud continued alone until 1864, when he formed a law partnership with Hon. Robert Bell. That partnership still continues, aud has existed for a period of almost twenty years. The law firm of Bell & Green is widely known throughout Southern Illinois. They have a large and lucrative practice in this and turrouuding counties, and in the circuit, appellate aud supreme courts. Mr. Green has confined himself strictly to the legitimate practice of the law. Upon the very threshold of his professional experience he recognized the fact that the law was a jealous mistress, who required of her subjects their undivided attention, severe and continuous application, - careful, patient investigation, if they would succeed and become eminent in the profession. Being impressed, and acting upon those wellknown facts, he has found no time to engage in other than the legitimate practice, nor has he given any branch or department special attention, but has coufined himself to the general practice.

In 1877 Judge Green's ability as a sound and thorough lawyer, and his worth as a man, received suitable and honorable recognition, by being nominated for the office of Circuit Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. In 1879 he was further honored by the nomination for a position upon the Supreme Bench of this State, but in both instances was defeated, owing to the fact that the canvass took a partisan turn, and the party who nominated him were iu a hopeless minority in the districts. His defeat was much regretted, as he would have brought to the bench ripe scholarship and a profound knowledge of the law, acquired by long years of practice and studious

Politically, Judge Green is a republican. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1862, and in all subsequent elections has voted and remained a staunch and active supporter of the principles and tenets of that political organization. In 1882 he was selected by his party as the standard-bearer in the Sixteenth Congressional District, and made the campaign for congress against Judge Aaron Shaw, the present incumbent, but was defeated by a small majority. He, however, demonstrati d that he was a s'mng and popular man, and made a vigorous canvass and succeeded in reducing the democratic majority of 1476 in the district in 1880, to 628, - and this, too, in the face of the fact that the great tidal wave of democracy swept other portions of the State, and threatened seriously to engulf the ruling and dominant party of the county.

On the 23d of October, 1861, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Lutes of York county, Pa. That union has been blessed with three children, whose names in the order of their birth are : Daisy, Pearl, and Paul Green. Mr. Green is an honored member of the 1. O. O.F., and A. F. and A. M. orders, and holds membership with the Lodges of Mt. Carmel. In his habits he is temperate, and an advocate of the cause of temperance. He, however, believes that temperance is a great moral question, and should be so treated, and taken out of politics, where it is too often made the stock in trade of the demagogue and political charlatan. He also takes an active interest in the cause of education, and by his zeal and energy lias succeeded, in connection with other members of the Board of Education, in building up the present excellent graded schools of Mt. Carrael.

THE subject of the following memoir, was one of the pioneers and early settlers-of Wabash county. He was also at that time the leading representative merchant of this section of the State. It is emiuently proper that a sketch of his life should be written arid published in a history of this county, so that the present generation may know something of the men who came here in an early day and braved the hardships and exposures of frontier life, that their posterity might enjoy iu perfect fulness the benefits arising therefrom. All honor to those brave men, who by their energy subdued the forests and wilds of thU country, and made it a habitable abode for the present generation. The first that is known of the Wo<xl's family is the will written in the year 1537, and passed down through the succeeding generations. It was an entailed estate and passed to his uncle's family. We attach the will verbatim:'

In the name of God amen I Michael Wood of Tenker Hey North Dean in the Vicarage of Hallifax & County of York Yeoman, Being in health yet Weak iu Body, but of Sound mind memory and understanding, do make Publish this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form Following to wit first of all y* all my ju-t Debts and funeral Expenses after my Decease be Discharged & paid out of my personal Efee By my Executors herein after named w' all Convinent Speed 2dly I Give & Bequeath to my well beloved Son Jos1'- Wood y' place called ye moorend Situate Lying & being in Norland in sd Vicarage & County w' all ye"Land & Appurtenances thearunto belonging no* in ye tenner & occupation of Jonas Bates, for & during my sd Sous natural, But after his Decease I Give yp same to his Son my Grands in Rob*- to hold to him & his Lawful issue If any Surviving after him for ever. But in Default of Such ! Issue I Give it to his Son, Joseph my Grandson & his i Children after him for ever Lawfully begotton or to be begotton of his Body, and in Default of Such Issue to ye next Heirs Decendant by Law : Also I Give to ' my 8d son Josh Wood Cottages w» 3 Crofts or Meadows thereunto adjoining or belonging Lying & being in sd north Dean w* thear appurtenances to hold to him & his Heirs & Assigns for ever he paying such Legacies thearout as I hearof appoint Which piirni.-ses are now | in ye Tenner & occupation of Joseph Hey Joseph Glead- | hil &Mary Leach. Also I Give& bequeath y° Remain- I der & Interest of my Leashold Estate for a term of I years yet to come, togath w* ye Indenture of Lease ! Whearby I hold ye same ye t,d Tinker Hey in sd Dean to have & to hold to him his Executors Administrators j & assigns According to yc tenner thearcf from & Immediately after my Dea Also, I give & bequeath to ye sd Jos1' Wood Children namely Mary Robt. Hannah Sarah Caroline Rebacco Judith & Joseph, to each Child Guinea to be paid to each as he or she shall come to age out of Real Est Called Moorend, from ye first martinmas & next ensuing Rents after my Decease Whearas during ye minority of such as are not yet at age to Receive ye Executors to Improve ye same to there Discretion for ye of Such Child or Children then Surviving till ye Seaverl Days of payment as they become due. Also I Give & bequeath to ray beloved Daughters Mary Wilkinson <V Dorothy Simpson to each one Crown Sterling for & During each of thear natural Lives 10 be paid out of ye other part of my Laud Estate Lying in north Dean before mentioned from ye Issuing Rents thence arising as they become Due ye first payment to be made to each Daughters out of sd Rent first Due after my Decease & so ma yearly after every year. Also my i personal Estate I Give to sd Jos1' Wood Mary Wilkinson & Dorothy Simpson to be Equally Divided among them after funeral Expences payments of Debtes & ! ye following Legacies are* paid & Discharged out of ye i same, to Wit to William Banaclongh my Servant I Give and bequeath £5.0,0 Sterling to be paid him at ye age j of 23 years Which Legacy I will be Improved for [ & to his use from one month after ray decease. Till he come of age to Rpc.l. if then Surviving to to Elizi- I beth Brooksbank my Servant I give & bequeath one : Guinea to be paid her in one month alter my Decease i & Lastly I give to my son Joseph my 15,'st Coat & Wast- ! coat on Condition he Gives to bd Win. Banaclough a Decent Good Wastcoat otherwise I Give & bequeatii these together w* all y° Rest of my Wearing apparril Liniien & Woolling &c to sd Bauaclough, it I hertby nominate & appoint Mr. John Taylor of ye Halla John fisher in s,'1 North Dean & John Staneliffe of Greenhead in Norland sd Vicarage Executors of this my Last Will & Testament hearby revoking all former Will & Wills heartofore made as Witness my hand, & Seal this 1- Day of January 1550 MICHAEL WOOD

John Stajtcliffe, Elizabeth Brooksbank

Signed Seal'd publish & Declared by ye Within named Michael Wood as & for his Last Will & testament in ye presences of us Who have hearunto Subscribed our names as Witness at ye Request in ye presence of ye Sd Testator & in ye presence of each other after ye Words, 1 of S'1 first Due were interlined in y° 35 Line, JOHN STAJTCLIFFE, ELIZABETH BROOKSBANK

Wm Stoxcliff Wm Stoncliffe

Joseph Wood, the great-grandfather of William Wood, was a cloth manufacturer of Halifax, England. His son Robert, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a man of great energy. He purchased a grant of land in America and set on foot a movement to raise a colony and settle in this country. He had ; large carved oak chests made and filled with clothing, and preparations were nearly completed for sailing, when the war for the independence of the colonies broke out and thwarted his plans. Robert Wood married Eliza, beth Ingham, one of three sisters of Crowstone Hall, (one of these sisters lived to be one hundred and fourteen years of age.) By that union there were seven children, whose names were Aaron, Moses, John, Robert, Bathsheba, Mary and Hannah. Bathsheba died in Baltimore, Maryland. His property was entailed and left to his eldest son. Moses, the second son, was the father of William Wood. He was born in Halifax, England, in 1765, and married Jane Beilby, daughter of John and Esther Beilby, of Wetwang. He remained in his native country until 181,9, when he with his family left the land of his nativity and settled in America. His family consisted of his wife, eight children and two servants. He also brought with him a tailor, shoemaker and blacksmith. The same oaken chests made by his father years before, were brought over. They sailed in the ship Mary Ann Isabella, from Burlington Quay. The owner of the vessel, Mr. George Baker, was a personal friend of the Wood family. After a tedious voyage of nine weeks and four days, they landed in Philadelphia, and from there proceeded to Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where they settled. There Mr. Wood purchased three hundred acres of land, nearly one- third of which has been occu pied as a part of the city. The remainder developed into valuable coal lands. When Moses Wood landed in Philadelphia he had several thousand dollars in gold, which he deposited in a Philadelphia bank for safe keeping. While prospecting in the valley of the Wyoming j for land, the bank broke, and he lost his deposits. He was therefore compelled to depend on home resources to complete his purchases in Wilkesbarre. In the settlement of the affairs of the bank, he, however, realized a part of his money by taking land located in Bradford county. The tract given in part payment was in extent two thousand acres.

Moses Wood resided upon his farm at Wilkesbarre, for many years after his settlement there, and educated and reared his sons in habits of industry and economy, and also gave them much practical knowledge of farming. He spent the latter part of his life in the city and there died in 1853, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. His wife died in 1852, aged seventy-two years. In 1823, he commenced mining coal and shipped it down the Susquf hanna river in keel boats or arks as they were called. He was among the first miners of coal in Wilkesbarre. At that early day the business was unprofitable. His sons became successful merchants and business men of Wilkesbarre. The children, the offspring of his marriage with Jane Beilby, are Sarah deceased, John B. born in 1803, was a wealthy merchant and banker and died at the age of seventy-five years. Moses deceased, William deceased, Abraham died in Trenton, New Jersey ; Mary, wife of Sanford E. Parsons, of Wilkesbarre, deceased. Isaac, a merchant, settled in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1868. Matthew died in Wilkesbarre ; AnnaM. became the wife of James Jones, cashier of the Wyoming National Bank of Wilkesbarre, deceased, and Esther E. residing in Trenton, New Jersey.

William Wood, of whom we write, was the third son of Moses and Jane Wood. He was born at Painslack, Yorkshire, England, in 1807, and was in his twelfth year when he came with his father to America, in 1819. He received a fair education and a thorough business training in his youth. At the age of nineteen he was united in marriage to Jane, daughter of Edward Parkinson, a- native of Kendal, England. Her father came to America in 1824, and settled in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. After his marriage Mr. Wood purchased eight acres of land adjoining the city of Wilkesbarre, and laid it out in lots and streets, thereby founding the village of Woodville, which was christened by that name at a public meeting of the citizens, called for that purpose by Mr. Miner, brother of the great historian, Charles Miner. Subsequently Mr. Wood engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with Benjamin Drake, at Wilkesbarre.

In 1836, (in his own private carriage) in company with his wife, he made the journey to Illinois, which was then considered the " Far West." The journey was a hard one, occupying six weeks of tedious travel, partially through an unbroken wilderness with here and there a log cabin, where travelers from many parts would meet to relate their various hairbreadth escapes, and to be fed upon the never varying corn dodger and bacon, and where the one room would often accommodate twenty persons for the night. A part of the journey was made over the great National Road, which was then the great thoroughfare between the East and West. A portion of it was macadamized then, and it was already filled with traveling vehicles moving westward with the seat of empire. Many of them came to grief in being unacquainted with the mud and swamps after leaving the finished part of the road. Mr. Wood spent the winter in Mt. Carmel, in Wabash county. The kindness and sociability of the people pleased him. He purchased a lot on Main street, near where the Mansion House now stands, and afterward erected a house on it. In the Spring of 1837, he returned east and spent the cummer, settled up his business there, and in the fall of the same year, came back to Mt. Carmel. He gave a glowing account of this country, and was instrumental in bringing many others here. The west then wanted sturdy settlers to subdue her forests and bring into cultivation her rich lands. That winter Mr. Wood entered ij to partnership with his brother and Mr. Miller, and opened a general store in Mt. Carmel.

In 1838, he opened a store at Friendsville, in this county, and had a post-office established there. He placed Ilobert Parkinson and William R. Wilkinson, two young men, in charge of it. In 1841, his brother, having returned east, and Mr. Miller dying, Mr. Wood made arrangements with Parkinson and Wilkinson to conduct the business, he furnishing the stock as against their labor. The firm of Wood & Parkinson took charge of the store in Mt. Carmel, and Wood & Wilkinson, of the stock at Friendsville. Mr. Wood then spent much of his time east, where he bought the goods and shipped them west, and took charge of the produce, grain and pork that was consigned to him by his western partners. The partnerships thus formed continued for seven years, and were a source of profit to all parties concerned. When Mr. Wood first came to Mt. Carmel it was a small, active, bustling frontier village ; emigrants were coming iu from all parts of the east; houses were scarce, and he was compelled, temporarily, to occupy a two-roomed house on Main street, below the hill. It was not lathed nor plastered, no floor over head, no partition except a curtain which was used in separating the rooms. There he lived until a better house could be secured. In 183r, he purchased a cannon stove in Pittsburg, Pa., brought it to Mt. Carmel, placed it in his store, and was the first to burn bituminous coal in southern Illinois. He returned to Wilkesbarre, after leaving here, and continued there his mercantile operations until 1857. During that time he laid out six acres more into lots and streets, a part of the homestead property which forms a part of the city of Wilkesbarre. He was closely identified with the commercial and banking interests of Wilkesbarre, and was one of the founders of the old Wyoming bank, a director of the same for many years. Both h« and his father were among the original subscribers of the stock. He was one of the founders of the Wilkesbarre Water Company ; a director until 1866, and retained his connection through life.

Mr. Wood settled in Mt. Holly, N. Jersey, in 1866, but, being restless under inactivity after an energetic business life, settled in Trenton, New Jersey, the same year, where he gave a part of his time to real estate business, and operated in it quite extensively, and caused the erection of some of the most substantial buildings in the city. In 1876, he built a cottage at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, where he, with his family, during the remaining years of his life, spent the summer months, returning in the autumn to his residence in Trenton, N. J.

of the State militia, of Pennsylvania; rising through the various grades to the rank of major. He was a man of correct habits, quick perception in matters of business, and was ever known as a man of strict integrity in all his business relations. The ancestors of the Wood family were Episcopalian in their religious belief, but his father and his own family have been identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. In early life he became a professed follower of Christ ; was a licensed local preacher and an ordained deacon. His discourses were clear and forcible. He was a member of the Local Preachers' Association from the organization of that body, and took great pleasure in attending its conventions, and in 1871, was its president. Among his last contributions to the church was that of $1,100 to the new chapel of State Street M. E. church, one of the most beautiful and complete Sunday-school rooms in the city of Trenton. - His last request was,thattheremainingdebtonthechapel, amounting to nearly $800, be paid. This has already been done.

His first wife was a devoted Christian woman. She died, leaving the following children : Mary J., George, who died at the age of eighteen ; Esther and Sarah. Mr. Wood was twice married, his second wife being Eliza, daughter of Capt. Thomas Coward, of Baltimore, Md., who followed a sea-faring life for twenty-five years. Mrs. Wood still survives her husband, and is a resident of Trenton, N. J. Mr. Wood was an affable and dignified gentleman; a man of strong onvictions, sound judgment, and strict integrity. The church has lost a wise counselor, and the community an upright and honorable citizen.

Hon. Silas Z. Landes

Eldest son of John and Dellah (Skelton) Landes. His parents were natives of Augusta county, Virginia. They came west to Illinois in 1856, settling in Edgar county. Subsequently removed to Henry county, Missouri, and in 1872 came to Wabash county, Illinois, where John Landes at present resides. His wife died April 28, 1864, in Edgar county. Silas Z. was born in Augusta county, Virginia, May 15th, 1842. He came west with his father's family in the year above-mentioned. He received his education in the subscription schools of his native State and in the Academy at Paris, Illinois. In 1861, he commenced the study of law in the office, and under the direction of Amos Green, of Paris, Illinois. During that time he supported himself by teaching school. He pursued his studies diligently, ard in 1863, at the August term of the Supreme Court, held at Springfield, Illinois, he was upon examination admitted to the bar. Iu May, 1864, he came to Mt. Carmel, opened an office, commenced the practice, and here has remained to the present Mr. Landes succeeded to a large and lucrative practice, which have been the direct result of close application, studious habits, and unflagging zeal and industry in the cause of his clients. In 1872, he was nominated and elected States attorney for the county of Wabash. Ke-elected in 1876, and again elected in 1880, and in that capacity has earned the reputation of being an able and vigilant prosecutor. In April, 1878, he was appointed Master in Chancery, and held that office until 1883. Politically, Mr. Landes is a thorough Democrat in all that the word implies. In 1S82, his zeal and fidelity to his party made him conspicuous as a suitable candidate for Congressional honors in this district. In the convention, which met at Olney to nominate a candidate for congress, he was placed in nomination, and led all competitors for about three hundred and fifty ballots at the close of the last ballot. Although being the strongest man in the convention, he withdrew from the race in the interest of harmony and good feeling. His withdrawal resulted in the nomination and subsequent election of Judge Shaw, as Congressman from the 18th district. In 1876, Mr. Landes was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee.

Mr. Landes came to Mt. Carmel in 1864 an entire stranger to the people. He had no strong influential friends to back him, but unaided and alone has made his own way. Whatever success he has attained, both in the law or in the accumulation of property, is owing entirely to his own industry and energy.

On the 31st of October, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara, daughter of Dr. Paul and Eliza J. (Gibson) Stars. Mrs. Landes was born in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. By that union there are three children.

Frank W. Havill

FRANK WALDEN HAVILL was born in Roscoe, Ohio, September 15, 1842. His mother was a native of that state, and his father was from Maryland. He was educated in the common schools of Ohio, up to the age of 14, when he came to Illinois in 1857 ; from that time to 1861 he worked as a day laborer. He enlisted as a private in Co. I. 40th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, at the age of 18, in 1861. He carried a rifle in the ranks over two years, and was then promoted to First Lieut., Adjutant, and Captain respectively. He was mustered out as Captain and Assistant Inspector General First Division Fifteenth Army Corps. He was twice wounded, being shot through the right leg at Pittsburg Laudiiig; Tennessee, and in the left shoulder in the charge on Kennesaw Mountains, Ga. During a portion of his term of service he was assigned to duty in Provost Marshal's and Secret Service Departments, and served for a time as Adjutant of Harrison's Tennessee Cavalry. During his term of service he was in the following battles and skirmishes: Pittsburg Landing, Russell House, No. 7, Siege of Corinth, Coldwater, Como, Lexington, Collierville, Altoona, New Hope, Black Jack

Knob, Kennesaw, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoochie, Peach Tree Creek, Ezra Chapel, Atlanta, Rough and Ready, Jonesboro, Turkey Creek, Griswoldville, Savannah, Cumbahee, Broad River, Columbia, Bentouville, Falling Creek, and Raleigh. He served a little over four years, having been in all the important campaigns of the west, and with Sherman in his memorable march to the sea.

Since 1872, he has been publisher and editor of the Mt. Carmel Register, a paper, which undsr his management, has taken a front rank in the country journals of the State. He is a member of numerous secret benevolent societies, and is especially well-known in Masonic, Workingmen and Odd-fellow circles. He was married to Miss Lizzie Willman in Friendsville, Illinois, in 1867.

Hon. Isaac N. Jaquess

THE Jaquess family are of French origin. Jonathan Jaquess, from whom the family was descended, died previous to the American Revolution. He had four sons, Jonathan, Isaac, William and John, and five daughters, Polly, Ruth, Susan, Massy and Letty. His eldest son was named Jonathan. He was born April 28, 1875. He went to sea when twelve years of age, and followed a sailor's life, at intervals, until twenty-seven years of age. He served in the war of the Revolution four or five years, both by land and sea. At the close of the war he married Miss Sally Jaquess, a third cousin, daughter of Samuel and Abigail Jaquess. His wife lived only thirteen months. He then married Mrs. Esther E. Koy, and moved from his home in Essex county, New Jersey, to Kentucky, in 1789, and settled near where Cynthiana now stands. His wife Esther died, leaving children whose names were Sarah Christina, and Isaac. The latter was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in New Jersey, Feb. 1st, 1786, and died June 5, 1812. He married Betsey Johnson, who died in Marion county, Missouri, February 16th, 1841. Her father, John Johnson, was a native of North Carolina, a noted Indian fighter in his day. Jonathan Jaquess, the grandfather of Isaac N., emigrated from Kentucky to Indiana in 1816, and settled in Harrison county, and from there removed to Posey county, where he died.

Isaac N. was the only offspring of Isaac and Elizabeth (Johnson) Jaquess. He was born in Harrison county, Ky., Feb. 10, 1811. He learned the cabinet-making trade in his youth. He went with his mother in 1828 to Marion county, Mo., and in the fall of 1831, came to Posey county, Indiana, on a visit to her friends, and while there came over to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, to see his uncle, W. F. Jaquess. Liking the town and people, he concluded to stay here and make it his future home. He commenced working at his trkde and continued in it for a number of years. He was elected constable and served for a time, and in 1844, was elected sheriff of the county, and continued to be elected for a number of years. He subsequently engaged in different business, merchandising principally, until about four years age, when he engaged in the lumber and saw milling business in connection with his son in-law, Mr. Chipman. In 1831, during the Black Hawk war he enlisted in Captain Jordan's company, served throughout, and was discharged at the close. During the late war he was chaplain of the 73d Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and served from February, 1864, until the close of the war. On the 20th of March, 1834, he married Miss Jane, daughter of John Tilton. She died July 1st, 1863. fehe was born in New Jersey, but came with her j parents to Illinois, while young. There were ten children by that uniou, four of whom are living. The others j died in infancy except Sarah, who was the wife of \Vm. i F. Chipman. She left one son named Paul. The names ! of the children living are, Laura, wife of Dr. T. J. Rigg, who have two children ; Ellen 8., wife of Richard ' Weaver. They have two children ; Isaac W., married I Mary Long, and have two children ; James Henry married Miss Dora Beachem. On the 13th of October, 1867, Mr. Jaquess married his present wife. She was Mrs. Catherine McClintock nee McGregor, and a native of Wabash county, Illinois. She had one child by her former marriage, named William T. McClintock, who married Miss Mildred Poole. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jaquess are members of the M. E. church. The former joined the church in his seventeenth year. Politically he was originally a Whig of the Emancipation school, and always anti-slavery. In 1856, he was one of the few voters in the Wabash county, who cast their ballots for John C. Fremont. In 1860, he voted for Lincoln, and from that time voted the Republican ticket. In 1874, he was elected to represent this district in the General Assembly of the State, and in that capacity served his constituents well and honorably. He is an avowed outspoken advocate of the temperance cause. He joined the first temperance organization formed west of the Mississippi, and from that time to the present has not swerved from its principles and teach-

Edward Miller

AMONG the old settlers and enterprising business men of Mt. Carmel is the subject of the following sketch. He is of German parentage. His father, Louis Miller, is a native of the province of Loraine, then a French province, now a part of Germany. He was born January [ 16, 1803. His father, Frederick Miller, was a native of the same county. Louis learned the carpenter trade in j his youth and worked at it until twenty-one years of age, ' when under the laws of the French government, he was j compelled to serve four years in the army doing military service. He performed that duty and then enlisted and served four years longer. After his discharge from the army he worked one year at his trade for his father-inlaw, Daniel Wise, and then emigrated to America, arriving at New York in the early summer of 1833. He took up his residence at Allentown in Pennsylvania, and j remained there until the fall of 1834, when he came west to Illinois and settled in Mt Carmel. He was attracted to this place by his brother in-law, Daniel Wise, who had preceded him here a few years. Here he followed the carpenter trade and remained a resident until 1847, when he removed to Gibson county, Indiana, and a few years later moved to Stewartsville in Posey county, where he at present resides. Although over four-score years, he is still vigorous and gives evidence that there are a number of years of life and usefulness yet in store for him. On the 6th of September, 1832, while yet a resident of Loraine, he married Margaret, daughter of Daniel Wise, who was born in that province in April. 1813. She is also still living. There were nine children, the result of that marriage; four sons and one daughter are living. The daughter, Eliza, is the wife of Cyrus Worth, and a resident of Mt. Carmel. Henry, the third son, was a soldier during the late war. E<1- ward, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest son. He was born in Allentown, Lehigh county, Penn., August 26.th, 1832, and was yet in his infancy when his parents moved west. Here in Mt. Carmel he grew to manhood, went to school and assisted his father as he grew older. After the family removed to Gibson county, Indiana, he worked on a farm until he was twenty-one years of age, then learned the carpenter trade and soon aft°r married and removed to Evansville, and there followed his trade until he embarked in the manufacturing of sash, doors, etc. His business ventures in Evansville to some extent proving a failure, he left there in 1875, and came back to Mt. Carmel, and here engaged in the manufacturing of sash, doors, blinds, and the general undertaking business, which he has by energy and a good management, worked up to its present standard. On the 24th of June, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline, daughter of Michael and Catherine Burrucker. She was born in Baltimore, Md., September 6th, 1837. Her parents were of German nativity, but were old settlers in the west. There have been born to Edward and Caroline Miller nine children, six of whom are living - five sons and one daughter. Their names in the order of their birth, are George, Edward, Eli, Clara, Jacob, and Jesse, all of whom are yet beneath the parental roof. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Evangelical church. Politically, Mr. Miller was originally a Democrat. In 1860, he voted for A. Lincoln, and since that time in all general elections he has voted the Republican ticket. He, however, is not partisan in his views, but conservative, and takes no further interest than to express his sentiments and choice through the right of ballot. Mr. Miller in life has been reasonably successful. He started in life poor, and what he has, has been the accumulation of his own toil (and the assistance of his wife) and the practice of rigid economy. He has raised and supported a large family, and at the sam* time maintained himself and added a little to his store while so doing. Mr. Miller may be regarded as one of the old settlers of Mt. Carmel. Fifty years has flid since he came here. .The place was then a small struggling frontier village. The changes and growth have all been made since he first became a resident here, then in his infancy, now in his mature age. In all these years, and among these people who knew him as boy and man, he has borne the name and character of an upright, honest man, and one who is of agenerous just disposition, seeking to follow the golden rule of do. ing unto others as he would have others do unto him.

Samuel R. Putnam

Is a descendent of one of the pioneer families of Illinois and Wabash county. The family were originally from Massachusetts. Howard Putnam, the great-grandfather of Samuel R., was born in Worcester, that state, February llth, 1762. He was a young man when the war of the Revolution broke out, and too young to enter the service at that time. He, however, espoused the cause of the patriots, and was for two years a soldier under Washington at the latter end of the war. Hannah Putnam, his wife, was born in the sa -e state, Aug. 16, 1763. Howard moved to New Brighton in Columbia county, New York, and there his sou, Samuel Putnam, the grandfatht-r of the present family was born, - the date of which was Sept.llth, 1787. He married Relief Chaffey, who was of Puritan stock, born in Westminster, Vermont, Dec. llth, 1796. She died in Wabash county, Illinois, Feb. 14th, 1859, having survived her husband thirteen years. Samuel Putnam emigrated to Indiana in 1817, about the time that state was admitted into the union. There his eldest daughter, Tryphosia, was born, September 2nd, 1817. The next year he came across the river into Illinois. His eldest son, Sylvester Putnam, was born in Wabash, then a part of Edwards county, Feb. 14th, 1819. Here Samuel Putnam remained until his death, which occurred March 10th, 1846. By the marriage of Samuel and Relief Putnam, there were five children, among whom was Chesterfield Putnam, the father of Samuel R. He was born in Wabash county, Illinois, Sept. 23rd, 1825 He in early life learned the trade of wagonmaker, which he followed for a number of years, then engaged in farming and substquently returned to his trade again, and at present is engaged in that business, in Mt. Carmel. He lived for a few years in Lawrence county, but with that exception, his life has been passed in Wabash county. He married Miss Elizabeth Baird, a native of Wabash co., who was born Mar. 8, 1826, and married Sept. 3rd, 1843. Her parents, John W. and Rebecca (Stewart) Baird, were natives of Kentucky, and were also among the early settlers of Wabash county. The offspring of the marriage of Chesterfield and Elizabeth Putnam, were Gilbert La Fayette, who was a soldier during the late war, and a member of the 1 15th Rtgt. 111. Vol. Infty. He contracted a disease while in the line of his duty during the war, and died, April 12th, 1868. Julia, the only daughter, is the wife of Seth Gard, aud a resident of Wabash county. Edgar

Newton, youngest son, married Ellen Ayres. She died January 5tb, 1882, having one son named Noble Putnam. Samuel R., the subject of this sketch, is the third in the family. He was born in Wabash county, Illinois, Oct. 19th, 1849. He was reared upon the farm, and received his education in the common schools of Wabash and Lawrence counties, and in the High School of Mt. Caruiel. In the Spring of 1868 he commenced the study of law in the office, and under the directions of Bell & Green, prominent attorneys of the Wabash bar. He read the standard text books, and pursued his studies diligently until the Spring of 1870, when he was examined as to his proficiency by a committee, upon whose recommendation the Supreme Court granted him a license to practice law. Soon after his admission he went to Eureka, Kansas, opened an office and commenced the practice. He remained there two years, then returned to Mt Carmel and continued alone in the practice for one year, then formed a law partnership with Mathews & Greathouse, under the firm uame of Mathews, Putnam & Greathouse, which continued five years. Upon its dissolution, the present firm of Putnam & Greathouse was formed. Mr. Putnam, while in the general practice, makes the probate business a specialty, aud in the line of the practice has been more than ordinarily successful. He is a young man, possessing studious and good habits, industrious disposition and an earnest desire to excel in his chosen profession. Politically, he comes from an old line Whig and Republican stock, and since 1872, when he cast his first presidential vote, has uniformly voted the Republican ticket. On the 21st of April, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Agatha E. Wienbach, a native of Wabash county, Illinois. One child, a son named Karl, has been born to them.

Valentine Smith

Is of German birth, born in Bavaria November 15, 1824. His parents, Adam and Ann (Full) Smith, were natives of the same place. The family emigrated to America in 1830, and settled near Strasburg, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and there lived until 1834, when they came west to Vanderberg county, in Indiana, and bought Congress land near Evansville. He purchased eighty acres and improved it, cleared it up, and there lived until 1844, when he removed to Vincennes, and died in August of the same year. His wife still survives her husband, and at present is a resident of Vincenues. There were eight children in the family, four sons and the same number of daughters. Of those three are yet living. Valentine Smith, the subject of this sketch, learned the trade of saddler and harness maker in Vincennes. In 1846 he moved over to Illinois, and settled in Grayville, in White county, and there opened a shop, and carried on the business, and continued in it until the war broke out. He then enlisted for three years under the first call of President Lincoln for

300,000 troops. He became a member of Company E of the 7th Regt., Ills. Cavalry. He was detailed as regimental saddler, and veteranized with his regiment, and remained in the service until the close of the war, having been in the service for four years and three months. He entered September 17, 1861, and was mustered out and discharged in December, 1865. He returned home to Gray ville, and on the 16th of January, 1866, came to Mt. Carmel and opened a saddlery and harness shop, continuing in the business for fifteen months, when he sold out, and in connection with Augustus Oldendorp, went into the saloon business. In that business Mr. Smith has continued to the present. Five years ago he added drugs and notions to his business. In 1846 he was united in marriage to Miss Evaline, daughter of Robert Coulter. She was born in Grayville, and there died in 1853. By that marriage there were three children - two sons and one daughter. The latter died during the war. The sons are William Edward, who at present is a resident of Texas, and Charles, who is at Lonu assisting his father. In 1868 he married -Miss Vina Hartmann, daughter of John and Mary Hartmanu. She died October 18, 1868. There was one child by that marriage, named Laura Vina Smith.

Mr. Smith is an honored member of the ancient and honorable order of Free Masonry, and is a member of Mt. Carmel Lodge. Politically he votes the Democratic ticket on State and National occasions. He however is not a partisan, but votes in local elections for the best men and best measures.

THE Schneck family are of German parentage, and date their ancestry back to the sixteenth century. Th.ey originally lived in Westphalia, Germany, but were driven out by wars and persecutions, and took up their residence at Stuttgart. Many of the family in after years became learned men and able writers, particularly upon theological subjects. John F., the father of Dr. Schneck, was born in Germany, August 23d, 1812. In 1839 he emigrated to America, and settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and there remained until 1843, when he removed west to Indiana, and settled at New Harmony, in Posey county, to which place he was attracted by relatives of his wife. He there followed the trade of carpenter for a number of years, but subsequently engaged in farming, in which he continued until his death in 1857. He married Miss Elizabeth Burkhart, of Lancaster, Pa, January 26, 1843. She was a native of Alsace, a province of France, born in 1823, but was only seven years of age when her parents emigrated to America, and settled near Millerstown in the above named county and State. She survived her husband many years, and died at New Harmony, Ind., in September, 1879. Jacob, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of the family of John F.

and Elizabeth Schneck. He was born near New Harmony, Posey county, Indiana, December 11, 1843. He was reared upon the farm, and received a fair English education in the schools of his native county. He remained at home until soon after the breaking out of the late war, when on the 13th of November, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company E of the 60th Regt., Ind. Vol. Infantry. He was captured while on the skirmish line at the battle of Jackson, which occurred a few days after the fall of Vicksburg. He was piroled and sent north. Owing to some irregularity in the exchange, he failed to be exchanged regularly, therefore did not rejoin his command, but re-enlisted, entering the naval service at Brooklyn, New York. The date of the latter enlistment was May 18, 1864. He was assigned to duty on a vessel that had a roving commission, and whose chief duty it was to watch and capture blockade runners. He was subsequently assigned to duty on theMetacomet, and took part in the naval campaign oif Mobile and at Fort Morgan and Spanish Fort. He was mustered out and discharged from the service at Philadelphia, May 31st, 1865. He returned home, and feeling the necessity of having a better education, went t< school and spent some time in the academy at Owenville fitting himself for the profession of teaching. In 1867 he went to Olney in Richland county, 111 , and taught school, and while there concluded to enter the profession of Medicine. He commenced the study under the direction of Dr Goslin, of Olney. The next year he came to Mt. Carmel, taught school and coniinued his studies under Dr. Wm. Graham . In the winter of 1868-69, he took a course in the Chicago Medical College. His money being exhausted, he was compelled to go back to teaching, by which means he secured sufficient funds to enable him to enter the Medical College for the second course. He graduated in March, 1871, with the degree of M. D. He commenced the practice in Mt. Carmel, which by close attention and uniform success, soon grew extensive and lucrative. Dr. Schneck belongs to the progressive order of physicians, and keeps fully posted in all the new methods and latest discoveries in the science of medicine. He is president of the Wabash Medical Society, and a member of the State Medical and Natural History Societies. He is a member of A. F. and A. M., belongs to Mt. Carmel Lodge No. 239, and Mt. Carmel Chapter No. 159. On the 28th of November, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of John and Mary Hartraann. One child, a son, has been born to them, named Sereno Schueck. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schneck are members of the M. E. Church. He is Republican in politics, and an advocate of the Temperance cause.

Isaac F. Price

lived until 1837, when he came to Wabash county, Illinois, and here died in the summer of 1838. William Price, his son, and father of the present family, came to Illinois, Oct. 29th, 1839. He was born in Delaware, February 15th, 1805. He settled in Wabash county and engaged in farming. He, however, was a shoemaker by trade. In 1863 he removed to Lawrence county, 111. and there continued his trade. He died Nov. 29th, 1880. In 1828 he married Elizabeth Walker. She died in June 1839. In 1841 he married Mrs. Sarah Hall nee Walker. She died in the fall of 1853, leaving four children, three of whom are yet living. Isaac Fletcher Price is the third in the family of the latter marriage. He was born in the northern part of Wabash county, Illinois, June 27th, 1848. He was reared upon his father's farm, and received a common school education in the public and subscription schools of his neighborhood, and remained at home until he reached his twentysecond year. During that time he learned the trade of shoemaking in his father's shop, and worked at it for three years. He then commenced clerking in a general store in Allendale, in this county, and continued in the business for eleven years, with the exception of a short time that he was compelled to abandon it on" account of failing health. In 1882 he received the nomination for the office of County Clerk, at the hands of the Democratic party in convention assembled, and in November following was elected. He then moved to Mt. Carmel and entered upon his duties as Clerk of the County, and at present is still acting in that capacity. His term will expire in 1886. Politically, Mr. Price is a member of the Democratic party, and a staunch and true adherent to the principles of that political organization, and uniformly votes that ticket. He is a member of the order of Free ind Accepted Masons and holds membership with Allendale Lodge, No. 752.

On the 26th of February, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma, daughter of William and Margaret (Crosin) McClane. Mrs. Price was born in Wabash county Illinois. Her parents are natives of Ohio. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Price. Their names are William Guy, and Floy Isabel Price. Mr. Price as a county official so far gives evidence of being very popular. He is possessed of good business qualifications, and an obliging disposition. He is industrious and active in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the routine work and duties appertaining to his office, and meets all who come in contact with him, whether in his official capacity or otherwise, in an affable and pleasant manner.

Alfred P. Manley

THE present county superintendent of Schools is a native of Wabash county, born May 3rd, 1853. His grandfather, Benjamin Mauley, was a native of New Jersey, and at an early date emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Muskingum county, and there married Julia Ford, who was also a native of New Jersey. In 1842, the Manley family came to Wabash county, Illinois, and here Mrs. Manley died. Mr. Manley soon after moved to Logan county, Illinois, and there died a few years later. Of the offspring of Benjamin and Julia Manley was Francis Perry, the father of Alfred P. Manley. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio. He came with the family to Illinois, and here studied medicine and practiced his profession, until his death, which occurred in 1862. He married Miss Maria Wiley, daughter of James Wiley, who was an old settler of Wabash county, and a veteran of the war of 1812. Mrs. Manley was born in this county, By the latter union there were seven children, four of whom have survived the father. Alfred P. is the third in the family now living. He received his primary education in the public schools of the county. Determining to adopt teaching as the business of his life, he commenced fitting himself for the profession by entering the National Normal School, at Lebonon, Ohio. Subsequently he attended the Normal School at Carmi, White county, Illinois, and at Mitchell, Indiana. At those schools he obtained special instruction and training for the profession. He taught his first school in 1875, and from that time to the present has been engaged in teaching. For the last two years, he has had charge, as Principal, of the grammar department in the High School of Mt. Carmel. In 1882, his zeal in the" cause of education, his worth as a man and citizen, received suitable and honorable recognition, by being elected Superintendent of the Public Schools of Wabash county. His elevation to t!iat office was the more flatter-- ing when it is remembered that he was elected as a Republican in a county that usually gives 200 majority for the Democratic ticket. His election may therefore be taken as an evidence of his efficiency and popularity. Mr. Manley is progressive in his ideas, and has already introduced wholesome and radical reforms in the school system of the county. Under his vigorous management, we hope soon to see the public schools of the county, second to none in the state. Politically he is a Republican. He is an honored member of the A. F. & A. M. and holds membership with Mt. Carmel Lodge 239. He is a member of the Christian Church, temperate in his habits and an advocate of the cause.

Samoniel Brothers

EDWARD and William Samoniel, the leading jewelers of Wabash county, were born in Louisville, Kentucky, but came to Mt. Carmel in 1857, and were here raised to habits of industry and business. They learned the jeweler's trade and worked at the business in different places. In 1876 they came back to Mt. Carmel, and opened a large stock of jewelry, musical instruments and fancy goods. In 1883 they commenced giving their entire time to the sale of all Ihe different manufactures of watches and clocks, of the Seth Thomas, Elgin, Waltham, Springfield and others, and also put in a large stock of musical instruments. They are good business men, and the public have learned to know that their warranty upon their goods means all that the word implies. They, with few exceptions, conduct the largest business of the kind in Southern Illinois.

Captain G. M. Keniepp

CHRISTIAN KENIEPP, the founder of the family, living in Wabash and Lawrence counties, Illinois, was a Hessian soldier captured at Trenton. He joined the colonial army, and after the war married and located in Geauga county, Ohio. He had four sons and several daughters, the eldest being the first white female child born in that section in Ohio. Of these sons was Charles, the grandfather of G. M. Keniepp. He married Miss L. Clark, and had a family of three sons and one daughter. Of these sons was Silas Keniepp, born July 29th, 1811, on his father's farm on Johnny Cake ridge, near Winchester. Geauga county. Ohio. He came with his uncle's family to Mt. Carrael in 1827, and here learned the blacksmith trade, in the shop of Jas. H. Beall, afterwards buying the shop and following the business for a quarter of a century. He moved to his farm near the city in 1859, and there died, April 18th, 1883. He married Jane, eldest daughter of Btauchamp Harvey, deceased, Dec. 8th, 1836, by whom he had a family of five sons and three daughters. His wife died Nov. 19th, 1874. He subsequently married Elizabeth Sharp, Dec. 25th, 1876; who still survives.

Captain Geo. M. Keniepp was born March 18th, 1838. He learned the blacksmith trade in his father's shop, move'd to the farm with his father and followed farming until, and since the rebellion. On the 17th of February, 18 4, he married Miss Rosalind Murray, by whom he has a family of three sons and two daughters. Mr. Keniepp enlisted Sept. 1st, 1861, as private in Co. " G," 48th Regt. Illinois Vol. Inft'y. Promoted 1st Sergeant March 1st, 1862 Promoted 1st Lieutenant (vice T. S. Bowers, transferred), Nov. 17th, 1862. Promoted Captain March 24, 1864, in Veteran service, same Regiment. Was discharged under Special Order No. 45, Jan. 28th, 1865. Accepted April 2, 1865, at Goldsboro, N. G! ' Was wounded by shell on the thigh and calf of left leg, | April 5th, 1862, at Shiloh. Again by gun-shot in left hip, at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1st, 1864, while Captain in charge of an advancing skirmish line. Came home on wounded leave. While en route for his Regiment, was detailed on special service under Special Orders of General Sherman, No. 274, Nov. 10th, 1864, in Subsistence and Q. M. Dep't, with Captain Shaw, at Louisville, Ky., on request was released and ordered to report to command, Jan. 8th, 1865; reached his Regiment at Beaufort, S. C., Jan. 21st, 1865.

He was in all actions of his Regiment except those j between Sept. 1st, 1864 and Jan. 21st, 1865, after which time he was second in command of his Regiment, occasionally having entire command, at one time closing up ; action at Duck Branch, S. C.

Left the Regiment for home April 2d, 1865 ; after I the urgent request of his Col. Maj. and Adj. and line officers of the Regiment, joined by General Oliver, commanding Division, to remain and oflering the Lieut. Col- ' onelcy of the Regiment. But after three years and eight } months' hard service believing the war over, having an honorable discharge, preferred home aiid its comforts to promotion after the fighting was done, (the Regiment was never in action afterwards), believing he had done j his duty faithfully to the best of his ability, gaining the lasting regard of the officers and men with whom he served,

He now resides on his farm, one and a half miles southwest of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, - is a member of the following secret Societies: Eureka Grange, P. of H., No. 784 ; Wabash Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F.; T. S. Bowers Post, No. 125, G. A. R.

William Seitz, Jr

THE Seitz family are old settlers of Wabash county. Christian Seitz, the father of William, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, January 20th, 1806. He emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore, Md., July 19, 1831. He settled at Pittsburg, where he remained until the spring of 1834, when . he came west to Evantville, in Indiana, and two months later came to Mt. Carmel. in Wabash county, and here he engaged in different callings, merchandising, etc., until a few years ago, when he retired from business. . On the 25th of Oct., 1832, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Elizabeth Shafer, by which union there were ten children - seven yet living. William Seitz is the only son living. He was born in Mt. Carmel,.. December 13, 1837. Here he grew up, and in 1853 commenced the trade of carriage making and continued at it until 1858, when he engaged in trading, butchering and other enterprises until 1867, whtn he formed a partnership with his father, in the bakery and grocery busines. In 1871 he purchased his father s interest, and from that time has continued alone. Mr. Seitz is a live, active business man, and has been very successful. On the 5th of January, 1860, he married Miss Henrietta Sanders, and by that union there are five children, whose names are, Elijah William, John Alexander, Alfred F., Ada Elizabeth and Mary Ellen. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. He is a member of the I. O. 0. F.

As before stated, Mr. Seitz belongs to the progressive order of men. He never allows his business to push him, but is in the lead and always ready for any enterprise that may appear, or in which there is a reasonable chance to improve his condition financially. He is prompt and honorable in all matter where his obligation is given, and in his intercourse with men he is affable, pleasant, and agreeable, and in consequence has a host of friends.

Dr. Jacob Lescher

ONE of the promineDt and able physicians of the past iu Mt. Carmel was Dr. Charles J. Miller. He was born in Dumbarton, Windham county, Vermont. The date of his birth was January 25, 1816. He entered Yale College with the intention of studying for the ministry. Soon after his graduation he went west to Ohio, and in the fall of 1840 came to Mt. Carmel, where he was employed for three years as teacher in the High School. He then commenced the study of medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. Jacob Lescher, of Mt. Carmel. He commenced the practice, and soon after removed to and located in Friendsville, and there lived and practiced medicine for a number of years. He returned to Mt. Carmel and 'formed a partnership with John J. Lescher, M. D., son of his preceptor, and together they continued the practice until the death of Dr. Miller, the date of which was May 9th, 1859. His faithfulness to his patients, and fidelity to his profession, was the cause of his early demise. Dr Miller was a member of the Presbyterian church, and presiding elder at the time of his death. On the 6th of January, i 1848, he was united in marriage to MissElvina Lescher. | She was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1817. By that union there were seven children, four of whom died in infancy. Jacob Marshal, in his early childhood ; Samuel Charles, another son in his 15th year ; Mary Alice, in her 12th year. Mrs. Miller is a resident of Mt. Carmel, and a member of the Lutheran church. .

THE father of Mrs. Charles J. Miller, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and adopted the profession of medicine, in which he became learned and eminent in after years. He came west from his native State to Ohio, in 1832, and the year following came to Mt. Carmel, and here remained until his death, which took place' August 31st, 1854. He was the father of ten children, five sons and five daughters - four sons and one daughter yet living. Dr. Lescher in his day read much, and had absorbed a vast amount of information upon almost every subject. His library at the time of his death was extensive, and embraced standard and miscellaneous works upon every popular theory, and fact of the day. He was the most generous and kind-hearted of men. His sympathies were always enlisted for the poor, and his donations and labors in that direction for their aid and benefit were frequent and generous, and none ever called in vain, or went away empty-handed. He was not a member of any church, neither subscribed to any of the formulated creeds or dogmas, but acted upon the golden rule of doing unto others as you would have others do unto you, and believed that in so doing he was fulfilling a large part of the requirements of the Divine law.

ROBERT PARKINSON (DECEASED). OXE of the leading business and represeatative men of Mt. Carmel in pa4 years was Robert Parkinson. He was a native of England, born in Westmoreland county, near the Yorkshire line, October 19, 1816. His parents, Edward and Mary Parkinson, with the family, emigrated to America in 1824, and settled in Newport township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where they farmed, and Mr. Parkinson followed his trade of stone-mason. A few years later he sold out and removed north to Susquehanna county, near the village of FriendsviUe, and remained there until 1836, when Mr. Parkinson came west to Illinois, and stopped in White county, and worked upon the stone bridge at Carmi. He died in White county a few years later. Robert was one of five children, the offspring of Edward and Mary (Beilby) Parkinson. During the residence of the family in Pennsylvania, William Wood, an Englishman by birth, married his sister Jane. Mr. Wood was a capitalist and one of the leading men of Wilkesbarre, the county seat of Luzerne. He took Robert into the store with him, and learned him merchandizing and trained him to business. In 1836 Mr. Wood and his brother came west to Wabash county, Illinois, and established a general store in Mt. Carmel, and bought and shipped the produce of this section of the country. Mr. Wood brought Robert with him in the spring of 1837, when he came west the second time, to assist him in the store as clerk. He entered upon his duties and remained in Mt. Carmel for one year, then Mr. Wood established a store at what is now known as FriendsviUe, and placed Robert in charge. At that time there were few houses there, and the country was sparsely settled. To give the village more prominence and attract the trade of the surrounding country, a post-office was established, and Mr. Parkinson named it Friendsville, in honor and recollection of the village of 'that name in Pennsylvania where he had passed his youth. He was appointed the first postmaster and held the office until 1841. In the fall of 1841 Mr. Wood concluded to remove back to Pennsylvania, which step was taken on account of the continued ill health of his wife. He made a proposition to Mr. Parkinson and Wm. RWilkinson, his two clerks, to enter into partnership with him and continue the business. An invoice of stock on hand was taken in both stores, and found to aggregate nearly eleven thousand dollars, about equally divided between the two stores. Mr. Parkinson was selected to go to Mt.Carmel, and Mr. Wilkinson to stay at FriendsviUe. Mr. Wood gave them three thousand dollars in stock, as an offset for services and time. The partnership thus entered into under the firm name of Wood & Parkinson, continued seven years. When the stock was run down and sold, Mr. Parkinson continued the business alone. During the life of the firm of Wood & Parkinson they were the leading merchants and produce shippers in Southern Illinois. They shipped large quantities of grain and pork, which was consigned to the eastern partner, and he would purchase gooJs in return and ship them west _ The management of the business mainly depended on Mr. Parkinson, who was then comparatively a young man ; but he was untiring, industrious, bold and aggressive, and possessed a quick, business mind. The business grew and prospered under his management. He thus laid solidly the foundations of his future business life. After the retirement of Mr. Wocd he continued the business alone for the greater part of his life. He occasionally had partners, but only for a short time. In 1852 he built the flouring and saw-mill at Gran I Rapids. He suffered severe losses at different times, but never gave up - the greater his losses, the higher his courage seemed to rise. He did not pine or fret, but went to work, and with his indomitable energy and perseverance, would wrench success from what others would abandon in despair. In June, 1877, he was one of the heaviest sufferers from the terrible cyclone that visited Mt. Carmel. His losses aggregated $35,000, and he was buried for three hours in the ruins of his building, which took fire, and it was only by the most herculean efforts on the part of the citizens that he was rescued from a horrible death. After a few days he was again at work and from the wreck gathered up his remaining resources, and soon was under way again. His credit, which he was always extremely careful of, was about all he had left, but it stood him good service now and enabled him to get started once more. His sons then went into partnership with him, and continued until his death, which took place April 8th, 1878. In his intercourse with men he was affable and agreeable, and made many strong friends, who were held to him as with hooks of steel.

On the 22d of November, 1842, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances J., daughter of Abraham and Hannah (Stewart) Russell. She was born in Wabash county, 111., August 9, 1824. Her parents were natives of Nantucket, Mass. Mrs. Parkinson died March 22, 1877. There were ten children by that union, six of whom are living : Abraham R. died January 23, 1880, in his twenty-fourth year ; James R., Ellen L., Mary E , Robert Edward, S. Frank B. are the names of the living. James R. and Robert Parkinson, under the firm name of Parkinson Bros., do a very large business in general merchandising, and also are extensive grain dealers. They have preserved the standing and credit that their father gave the house and name in his life.

James W. Rigg

SAMUEL RIGG, the father of James, was born in North Carolina, August 14, 1791. His father, Charles, was a soldier of the Revolution. He (Samuel) moved to Greenup county, on the Big Sandy, Ky., and there on the 27th of January, 1814, married Ruchael Beauchamp, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 27, 1794. Samuel Rigg moved to Illinois, landing in Mt. Carmel December 25, 1817. There were then five in the family.

father, mother, Charles, George and Mrs. Beauchamp, the mother of Mrs. Rigg. Mr Rigg settled where James W. now lives, and there died April 1, 1858. His wife died July 3, 1874. They were both devoted Christians, ; and joined the church while quite young. There were ; eight children, seven sous and one daughter : James W., the subject of this sketch, was boru on the place where he now lives, October 23, 1829. He was reared upon the farm, and remained at home uutil attaining his majority. In 1852 he married, then commenced farm, iing for himself, and still continues on the farm, a view of which can be seen on another page. He made a profession of religion in 1844, and joined the M. E. church, - and was licensed to exhort in 1853. On the 26th of January, 1867, he was licensed a local preacher by the Conference, in the Olney district. On the 16th of February, 1853, he was married to Justina, daughter of ] Peter and Justina (.loachims) Ravenstein. Her parents ] emigrated to America in 1851, and settled in Wabash county. There have been five children born to Mr. and j Mrs. Rigg. Their names are Elizabeth, Rachael, wife of John G. Seller, who have four children, named Rudolph Jacob, ( Elmira, dead), Justina Matilda and

Bertha Menetta ; Mitina Justina is the w ife of James Tanquary, Mary Bertha wife of George E. Gilkerson ; Peter Samuel married Matt Douglass, and have one son, named Earl Raoul ; Lincoln James is a student at the Southern Normal, at Carbondale, 111. Politically, Mr- Rigg is a Republican-Independent. In 1876 he was a charter member of the first Grange, and was appointed Gen. Deputy of Southern Illinois by the Master Grange.

John M. Harrison

WAS born in Vincennes, Knox county, Ind., Nov. 1st, 1844. The family on the paternal side is of English ancestry. The grandfather of John H., | came from England to America, when quite young, I and settled in Baltimore, and there married. By that union was John H., the father of the present subject, born 1806. When he grew to manhood he adopted the ministry, and was ordained as such in the Christian Church. He came west on a mission to preach, and settled in Vincennes, and while traveling upon the ! circuit, he was drowned in attempting to ford White ' river, in Green county. The date of his death was Oct. 23, 1845. He married Sarah P. Wheeler, a native of j Vincennes. She was the daughter of Henry D. and i Esther (Polk) Wheeler, old settlers of Indiana. There j were five children born to John H. and Sarah P. Har- ! rison. John H. is the youngest son. He received his primary education in the public schools and in the i University at Vincennes. He was brought up to habits ' of business and industry. He was in the woolen busi- : ness until twenty years of age, then began studying medicine with a view of adopting it as the profession of his life. He spent two years in the drug business in St j Louis. In 1874 he commenced the study of dentistry in Vincennes, and commenced business in connection with his preceptor in Colorado, traveling over the southwestern part of the state. He located for a while on Texas creek, and subsequently went to Texas, and in March, 1879, came to Mt. Carmel, Ills., and here located permanently. On the 15th of May, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Lotta, daughter of John P. and Elizabeth Young, of Knox county, Indiana. Two children were born to them, whose names are, Harry Young and Eleanor. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., and also a member of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. He is master workman in the beneficiary order of A. O. U. W., and treasurer of the Lodge of I. O. G T. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Harrison, by close attention to business and superior workmanship in the dental line, has built up a large and lucrative practice.

Thomas L. Joy

THE present editor and publisher of the Republican, Mt. Carmel, was born at Equality, 111., Sept. 5th, 1850. He is the son of Ephraim and Ellen M. (Seed) Joy. His father is a native of Wabash county, and his mother is of Irish parentage, from the north of Ireland. She was a resident of Lawrence county, Ills., at the time of her marriage. Mr. Joy entered the ministry of the M. E. church at an early age. By his marriage with Ellen M. Seed there were four children, two of whom are living - Thos. L., and Andrew F., at present connected with the Carmi Times, as editor and publisher- Thomas L. commenced the printer's trade at the age of fifteen, in the offioe of the New Era, Carbondale, Ills t and remained there six months. The next vacation he worked for four months in the office of the Alton Daily Telegraph. He next found employment on the Advocate, Belleville, Ills., where he served as an apprentice for one year, at the end of which time he entered the job office of Woodward & Tiernan, St. Louis, Mo., and served an apprenticeship of three years. From the latter place he went to Lebanon, St. Clair county, Ills., and for three months had charge of the mechanical de. partment of the Journal. He then went to Bridgeport, Lawrence county, in charge of the Courier. In 1872( in connection with his father and brother, under the firm name of E. Joy & Sons, he established the Carmi Times. Fifteen months later E. Joy retired, and the firm of Joy Bros, was formed, which continued until January } 1883. In August, 1880, Mr. Joy, on the part of the' Joy Bros , went to Cairo, and there established the Daily and Weekly News. This paper was issued as a daily for five months, then for six mouths it was issued as a semi-weekly, when the office was closed and the paper discontinued.

Robert S. Gordon

THE Gordon family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. John Gordon, the grandfather, was born in Wheeling, Va., in 1763. He married Mary McKinnon, of Washington county, Pennsylvania. Soon after moved to Hamilton, Ohio, from there to Cincinnati, then to Evaasville, Indiana, and in 1819 to Lawrence county, Illinois. There were six sons and two daughters in the family. Robert M., the father of Robert S., was the name of one of the sons. He was born in Washington county, Penn. He came west with his father in an early day, and to Wabash county, Illinois, in 1829, and settled in Mt Carmel. Here he followed merchandising and various other businesses, chief among which was hotel-keeping, brick-making, stock-trading, and subsequently studied law. Commenced the practice and drifted into politics, and became a local political leader. On several occasions he was a candidate for county office, and once for the legislature. In politics he was a Democrat of the Jackson school. He died Sept. 27, 1841. In 1823, at New Albany, Indiana, he married Elizabeth Collins, who was a native of Ohio ; born March llth, 1810. She died March 15, 1871. By the latter union there were two sons and four daughters. The eldest son died in infancy. Robert Squire Gordon, of whom we write, is the fifth in the family. He was born in Mt. Carmel, Wabash county, Illinois, August 26, 1838. His education in schools practically ended with his thirteenth year. He then became self-supporting. At the age of fifteen he commenced work on a farm. Soon after he went to his relatives in Charleston, Illinois, and there apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter trade. He served eighteen months when the war of the rebellion broke out. He then enlisted as a private, for the term of three years, in Co. B. 21st Regt. Ills. Vols. Infantry, Col. U. S. Grant, commanding. The Hate of his enlistment was May 9, 1861. He participated with his regiment in all the battles and skirmishes in which it was engaged up to Sept. 24, 1864, when he was detailed on secret service duty, and served in that capacity until the end of the war. He veteranized with his regiment; February 26, 1864. After the close of the war, Sept! 21st, 1865, he was detailed the second time by Major Gen. Stanley, and ordered on duty at Victoria, Texas, and finally mustered out and discharged Dec. 16, 1865, having been in active service four years and seven months. After Mr. Gordon's discharge from the service he remained in San Aatonia, Texas, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. From the latter place he went to Pleasanton, in Atascosa county, and there engaged in the grocery trade. In May, 1868, he returned to Mt. Carmel, and here soon after engaged in farming. In Sept. 1871, in connection with Henry Utter, engaged in the dry goods business in Mt. Carmel, in which they continued until March, 1873. He remained out of business until Nov. 1875, then opened a drug store, and has continued in the drug trade until the present.

Politically he was originally a Douglas Democrat. He cast his first vote for Stephen A- Douglas, and was a great admirer of the "Little Giant" of the west, whom he knew personally. At the breaking out of the war, he was a loyal and staunch union man, and gave evidence of the faith that was in him by shouldering his musket and going to the front, and served with a regiment that became one of the historic organizations of the war. In 1868, he voted for U. S. Grant, his old colonel and commander, for president, and from that time to the present has voted the Republican ticket. In 1876, Mr. Gordon was elected Mayor of Mt. Carmel, and re-elected in 1877, and served until 1879. During 1877, when the city was visited by the terrible cyclone he, with the aid of the committee, distributed $14,000, which was donated to relieve the sufferers. In 1881, he was elected one of the county commissioners, and is credited with being one of the first Republicans elected to that position on a straight ticket. He was also, for three years, a member of the Board of Education.

In July, 1868, Mr. Gordon was happily united in marriage to Miss Mary L., eldest daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Penstone) Utter. She was born in Wabash county, Illinois, May 18, 1836. Her father was born in New Jersey, and came with his father Major Henry Utter, to Illinois in 1818. Her mother is a native of the same State, and came here in 1823. There have been six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, three of whom are living - two died in infancy and one in early childhood. The names of those living are Amy Ellen, Robert Abraham, and Walter Spaffoi-d. Mr. Gordon and wife are members of the Christian church. Mr. Gordon attached himself to that religious organization in 1865, when at home from the army on veteran furlough. He takes an active interest in the church government, and has filled the office of elder deacon, and has been one of its trustees for a number of years.

He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the Mt. Carmel Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 239, and was W. M. for three years of Mt. Carmel Chapter, R. A. M., No. 159, and was its H. P. for three years. He was created a Knight Templar, by Gorin Commandery K. T., at Olney, Illinois. He was the first commander of T. S. Bowers Post G. A. R., No. 125, and at present is special mustering officer of the district.

John T. Burkett

THE Burkett family is of German ancestry. The great-grandfather emigrated from Germany to America, bringing with him an only son named John. They settled in York county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until his death, which was occasioned by the explosion of a powder-mill, about the year 1814. John, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, moved to Circleville, Ohio, and, a short time after, came down the river with his family, and located at New Harmony, Indiana. He there became a member of what was then known as the

" kew Harmony Community." He continued his residence in Po-ey county until his death. He was a regularly ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.